This paper adds to existing literature regarding MBA selection processes and helps identify and better understand the needs that motivate consumers to pursue an MBA degree. Through a series of qualitative, one-on-one interviews with 17 brand-new MBA students or prospective students, this research found that while many people have "always wanted" to earn the advanced degree, most have toyed with the idea of a graduate business degree for many years. The most frequent reasons that people cite regarding their decision to seriously consider an MBA at a large southern university centers around four desires. These are, not surprisingly, the desire to earn more money, the desire to change careers, the desire to advance their careers by obtaining a required credential, and the desire for knowledge that can be obtained by earning the degree. Further, this research identified the single most important factor that prospects considered when determining which university to attend for the MBA degree: the university's ability to help make them more marketable or advance their career. Other answers included cost, university's reputation, convenience, program duration, the university's location, and the caliber of peers in the classroom.

Every state may face a bid for protection in embassies or consulates from persons looking for a shelter in dangerous situations to their lives and safety. Even though diplomatic asylum is more peculiar to Latin America region, no State is prevented from such seekers. Practical examples show that diplomatic asylum helped to safe thousands of people in countries where instability of governments exist, during wars or in situations where no other alternative of protection was available. Grant of diplomatic asylum is a problematic issue because it raises question which value should prevail: inviolability of premises or non interference into internal affairs, protection of human rights or sovereignty of State. This master thesis attempts to find out what is the current position of diplomatic asylum in the context of public international law and on what grounds it could be granted in embassies and consulates. For this aim, the thesis is focused on the evolution and main features of diplomatic asylum, on its relation with regional and universal international law instruments, on dominating positions to diplomatic asylum in the case law. International treaties, state practice and various positions of legal writers were analyzed in order to reveal grounds for granting diplomatic asylum. In the States where diplomatic asylum is recognized, it is granted according to the existing legal regulation. In the States where diplomatic asylum is not considered as legal institute, it is granted on... [to full text] / Kiekviena valstybė savo ambasadose ar konsulatuose gali sulaukti asmenų prašančių prieglobsčio dėl gresiančio pavojaus gyvybei ar saugumui. Nors diplomatinis prieglobstis yra būdingesnis Lotynų Amerikos regionui, nė viena valstybė nėra apsaugota nuo tokio prašymo. Praktiniai pavyzdžiai rodo, kad diplomatinis prieglobstis padėjo išgelbėti tūkstančius gyvybių ten, kur vykdavo dažna politinės valdžios kaita, per karus, ar tokiose situacijose, kur nebuvo galima rasti jokios kitos apsaugos. Diplomatinio prieglobsčio suteikimas yra problematiškas klausimas, kadangi nėra aišku, kam turėtų būti teikiama pirmenybė: atstovybės patalpų neliečiamybei ar nesikišimo į valstybės vidaus reikalus principui, žmogaus teisių apsaugai ar valstybės suverenitetui. Šiuo magistro darbu siekiama išsiaiškinti diplomatinio prieglobsčio svarbą tarptautines teisės kontekste, kokie yra galimi pagrindai šiam prieglobsčiui suteikti. Šiam tikslui pasiekti, didelis dėmesys skiriamas diplomatinio prieglobsčio vystymuisi ir pagrindiniams bruožams, jo santykiui su regioniniais ir visuotiniais tarptautines teises dokumentais, dominuojančia pozicija teismų praktikoje. Pagrindams diplomatiniui prieglobsčiui rasti buvo analizuojamos tarptautinės sutartys, šalių praktika ir skirtingos autorių nuomonės. Tose šalyse, kur diplomatinis prieglobstis yra pripažįstamas, jis yra suteikiamas pagal esamą teisinį reguliavimą. Kitose šalyse, nepripažįstančiose diplomatinio prieglobsčio kaip teisinio instituto, jis yra suteikiamas... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

The design of an aerospace vehicle system is a complex integration process driven by technological developments, stakeholder and mission needs, cost, and schedule. The vehicle then operates in an equally complex context, dependent on many aspects of the environment, the performance of stakeholders and the quality of the design itself. Satisfying the needs of all stakeholders is a complicated challenge for designers and engineers, and stakeholder requirements are, at times, neglected in design decisions. Thus, it is critical to examine how to better incorporate stakeholder requirements earlier and throughout the design process. The intent of this research is to (1) examine how stakeholder considerations are currently integrated into aerospace vehicle design practice and curricula, (2) design empirically-informed and theoretically-grounded educational interventions for an aerospace design capstone course, and (3) isolate the characteristics of the interventions and learning environment which support students’ integration of stakeholder considerations. The first research phase identified how stakeholder considerations are taken into account within an aerospace vehicle design firm and in current aerospace engineering design curricula. Interviews with aerospace designers revealed six conditions at the group, interaction and individual levels affecting the integration of stakeholder considerations. Examining current curricula, aerospace design education relies on quantitative measures. Thus, many students are not introduced to stakeholder considerations that are challenging to quantify. In addition, at the start of an aerospace engineering senior design capstone course, students were found to have some understanding of the customer and a few contextual considerations, but in general students did not see the impact of the broader context or of stakeholders outside of the customer. The second research phase comprised the design and evaluation of a Requirements Lab and Stakeholders in Design Labs, two in-class interventions implemented in a senior aircraft design capstone course. Further, a Stakeholders in Design rubric was developed to evaluate students’ design understanding and integration of stakeholder considerations and, as such, can be used as a summative assessment tool. The two interventions were evaluated using a multi-level framework to examine student capstone design projects, a written evaluation, and observations of students’ design team meetings. The findings demonstrated an increase in students’ awareness of a diverse group of stakeholders, but also perceptions that students appeared to only integrate stakeholder considerations in cases where interactions with stakeholders were possible and the design requirements had an explicit stakeholder focus. Particular aspects of the aircraft design learning environment such as the lack of explicit stakeholder requirements, the differences between the learning environment in the two semesters of the course, and the availability of tools impacted students’ integration of stakeholder considerations and overall effectiveness of the interventions. This research serves as a starting point for future research in pedagogical techniques and assessment methods for integrating stakeholder requirements into technology-focused design capstone courses. The results can also inform the vehicle design education of students and engineers from other disciplines.

This doctoral thesis deals with the type of architecture that materializes when age-related problems become a long-term condition (LTC) and gradually restrain the individual’s ability to perform activities in daily life (ADL). Their life situation necessitates a support from relatives or municipal eldercare staff in order for them to continue to participate in everyday living. In addition, the architectural space requires a close adjustment to the personal panorama of cognitive or functional impairments. The habitat can be a flat appropriated many years previously or in a residential care home for dependent and frail seniors. Architecture for ageing with dependency demonstrates how space can be used either to affirm or oppress the older person’s attempts to maintain an independent life style. By use of design theory, case study methodology and a heterogeneous research strategy, this study uses a threefold approach—a retrospective, a contemporaneous, and a future-oriented approach—to explore frail older people’s interaction with the architectural space of residential care homes. This has resulted in seven papers that focus on aspects of these human interactions with the built environment. Based on twelve exemplary models, the research paper I concludes that national guidelines result in a homelike, a hotel-like or a hospital-like environment. Research paper II is a retrospective study that examines the use of architecture competitions as a socio-political instrument to define architectural guidelines. Research paper III focuses on dependent seniors’ spatial appropriation of the communally shared space of a ward in a residential care home. Research paper IV employs two environmental assessment methods from the architecture profession and gerontological research (TESS-NH) in order to evaluate the use of interior colouring when refurbishing two residential care homes while the residents remained in place. Research paper V displays a municipal organizer’s considerations to opt for an architecture competition as a means of renewing architecture for the ageing population. Research paper VI examines competition documentation of three municipal architecture competitions organized during the period of 2006 to 2009. Research paper VII, the final study, explores notions concerning the appropriate space for ageing found among a group of municipal representatives, and people from organizations defending older people’s right. It supplies a model for understanding the appropriate space for ageing. This study illustrates the absence of older people with frailties in the public discussion about appropriate architecture for ageing. During the 20th century, the multi-dimensional idea of an architectural space with a homelike appearance has been used to contrast the negatively charged opposite—the complete and austere institution. The overarching conclusion of this study is that architecture for dependent and frail seniors constitutes a particular type of built space that requires an extended dialogue involving dependent seniors, architects, building contractors and care planners in order to conceive appropriate architecture for the ageing society. / QC 20110921

The current research utilised a modified cyclical model of tracking teachers' efficacy beliefs from their source through to their implementation in teaching strategies. Key inclusions to the model were four factors (personal efficacy, teaching efficacy, classroom management efficacy and outcome efficacy) of teacher efficacy and four contextual considerations (culture load, learning load, language load and cognitive load) in relation to teaching students who have ESL. Data were collected through three studies, ultilising both qualitative methodologies (focus groups, hypothetical teaching scenarios) and a quantitative methodology (researcher-generated survey). Results revealed a two-factor model of teacher efficacy (not a four-factor model) with the two factors being personal efficacy (general teaching abilities) and teaching efficacy (overcoming environmental factors such as home life). Culture load and language load were significant contextual considerations given to teaching students who have ESL. Results of the research suggested that specific teacher training needs to focus on how to adapt curriculum to meet the needs of a diverse group of learners, emphasising in particular why chosen strategies should be used. More training is needed which involves learning how to include parents and other community members as valuable resources in the learning processes of the classroom.

Microfinance offers one way to combat poverty by providing access to credit and financial services to low-income borrowers. We argue that the interconnectedness of the socioeconomic and ecological system as well as the reliance on ecosystem services make it important to provide microcredit from a full sustainability perspective. We used the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, a scientific based systematic and strategic approach, to create a principle-based model of a microfinance institution operating in a socioeconomic and ecologically sustainable manner. This model was then compared with the circumstances in which these institutions currently operate. We then explored how taking a full sustainability perspective could meet current challenges and maximise opportunities. After a prioritisation process, we made recommendations on how these organisations could strategically move towards sustainability.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka socialsekreterares överväganden inför ett beslut om huruvida en polisanmälan bör göras vid misstanke om fysisk misshandel av barn och vilken betydelse barnperspektivet får i övervägandet. Socialsekreterare ställs dagligen inför svåra bedömningar och beslut som påverkar familjer på ett eller annat sätt. Enligt Socialstyrelsens vägledning är det för socialtjänsten en möjlighet men ingen skyldighet att polisanmäla fysisk misshandel av barn. Bedömningen läggs på socialtjänsten att utifrån varje enskilt fall göra en professionell bedömning om en polisanmälan bör göras. Detta övervägande om att göra en polisanmälan vid fysisk misshandel av barn har undersökts genom en kvalitativ studie i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer med fem socialsekreterare. För att få ett bredare perspektiv kom respondenterna från olika delar av landet samt olika stora kommuner. Den teoretiska referensram som valts i denna studie är Eileen Munro´s modell om effektivt arbete med skydd av barn. Denna belyser de problematiska ställningstaganden som det sociala arbetets praktik innebär. Studien kommer fram till att det är en komplex sammansättning avvägningar som ligger till grund för hur huruvida socialsekreteraren väljer att polisanmäla en misstänkt barnmisshandel eller inte. Personliga värderingar och erfarenheter påverkar socialsekreterarens syn på misshandelns karaktär och allvar. Barnperspektivet skiljer sig mellan socialsekreterare som genom egna erfarenheter och tolkningar skapar ett perspektiv på vad som kan anses vara bäst för barnet. Den straffrättsliga logiken ställs mot den sociala utrednings- och behandlingslogiken som bromsas upp av förundersökningssekretessen. Relationen mellan socialtjänsten och familjen är betydande för övervägandets utgång. Det är viktigt att behålla en god relation till familjen vilket kan bli problematiskt eftersom vad som är bäst för barnet inte alltid överensstämmer med föräldrarnas åsikter. Barnet rättigheter hamnar ofta i konflikt med föräldrarnas rättigheter. Intuition även kallad magkänsla fyller en funktion i övervägandet men anses inte legitim att grunda ett övervägande på. Samtidigt är det den som indikerar att något är fel och som driver socialsekreterarens vilja att samla mer information. / The aim of this study is to investigate the social secretary´s consideration before a decision on whether a police report should be made in cases of suspected physical abuse of children and the importance of the child´s perspective in this consideration. Social workers are daily confronted with difficult judgments and decisions that affect families in one way or another. According to the Swedish social board it is for social services a possibility but no obligation to make a police report of physical abuse of children. The social services shall from each individual case make a professional assessment if a police report should be made or not. This consideration about making a police report about a physical abuse of children has been investigated by a qualitative study in the form of semi-structured interviews with five social workers. To get a broader perspective the respondents came from different parts of the country and various sized municipalities. The theoretical framework adopted in this study is Eileen Munro's model for effective child protection. This highlights the problematic positions as social work means in practice. The study concludes that there is a complex composition of considerations that underpin how whether the social worker chooses to make a police report of a suspected child abuse or not. Personal values and experiences affect social secretary's views on the nature and seriousness of the abuse. The meaning of the child's perspective differs between the social workers that through ones own experiences and interpretations create a perspective on what can be considered best for the child. The legal logic is set against the logic of social investigation and processing that is slowed down by the confidentiality of judicial investigations. The alliance between social services and the family are important for the considerations outcome. It is important to maintain a good relationship with the family, which can be problematic because what is best for the child is not always consistent with their parent’s opinions. The child’s rights are often put in conflict with the rights of parents. Intuition or, so called gut feeling fulfil a function in consideration but is not seen as legitimate to base a consideration of. At the same time it indicates that something is wrong and the intuition is what drives the social secretary's desire to gather more information.

Gaining a quantitative understanding of metabolic behaviour has long been a major scientific goal. Beginning with crude mass balance experiments and progressing through enzyme kinetics, single-pathway models and collaborative efforts such as a community- based yeast reconstruction and onwards to the digital human. The primary goal of this research was to generate a large-scale kinetic metabolic model of yeast metabolism. As a community our ability to produce large-scale dynamic metabolic models has typically been limited by the time and cost involved in obtaining exact measurements of all relevant kinetic parameters. Attempts have been made to bring about a greater understanding by using computational approaches such as flux balance analysis, and also laboratory approaches such as metabolic profiling. Unfortunately these approaches alone do not go far enough to allow for a rich understanding of the metabolic behaviour.Methods were developed that allowed known data such as fluxes, equilibrium constants and metabolite concentrations to be used in first-approximation strategies. These made possible the construction of a thermodynamically consistent model that was reflective of the organism and growth conditions under which the known data were measured. Efforts were made to improve the strategy by developing already known dynamic flux measurement techniques so they were more reflective of the type of data required for constructing the metabolic model. The model constructed, using data from a specific yeast strain in a continuous culture environment, and included 284 reactions. The model showed a reasonable reproduction of system behaviour after perturbations of extracellular glucose above and below the operating conditions, after identification and substitution of just two exact rate laws of reactions that showed high control over the system. The methods developed require little knowledge beyond the stoichiometric matrix in the first instance, and as such, are applicable to any organism that has a reasonably comprehensive network reconstruction available.

Music is not mentioned to a large extent in the curriculum for Swedish preschools (National Agency, 2016). Preschool teachers don’t have any guidelines to relate to in their planning and implementation of music activities. This creates a complexity when working with music. Because of this further knowledge is needed in this area and that is why this study aims to illustrate didactic considerations in the planning and implementation of music activities in the preschool. This can further lead to inspire others to implement music in the preschool. The study looks closer at how music is valued and used as a didactic learning tool. This is done with the help of a questionnaire aimed at active preschool teachers (30 participants) and one interview. The study has a didactic perspective as a theoretical starting point and the results are analyzed and connected to the didactic triangle (Wahlström, 2015) and the didactic questions what, why and how (Ferm Thorgersen, 2012).   The result determines that music is a legitimate tool for developing children’s knowledge in several areas for example language, mathematics, science and movement. The result illustrates didactic considerations, how music activities are formed and the priority when planning and implementing music activities. The study also illustrates different ways of working with music and the preschool teachers relation to music. By contributing with new knowledge the study can therefore make it easier for others to work with music together with children in the preschool. If there are clear goals for learning and the activity is characterized by children’s influence can this lead to rewarding and fun music activities in the preschool. / Musiken har få nedslag i förskolans läroplan (Skolverket, 2016). Förskollärare och barn­skötare har därför inga tydliga riktlinjer att förhålla sig till i planering och utförande av musikaktiviteter tillsammans med barnen. Det skapas därför en komplexitet i arbetet med musik. Ytterligare kunskap behövs inom detta område och därför syftar studien till att synliggöra didaktiska överväganden i planering och utförande av musikaktiviteter i förskolan. Detta kan således leda till att inspirera flera att implementera musik i förskoleverksamheten. Studien fokuserar närmare på hur musik värderas och används som ett didaktiskt verktyg för lärande. Detta genomförs med hjälp av en enkätstudie riktad mot verksamma förskollärare och barnskötare (30 deltagare) och en intervju. Studien har ett didaktiskt perspektiv som teoretisk utgångspunkt och resultatet analyseras och kopplas till den didaktiska triangeln (Wahlström, 2015) och de didaktiska frågorna vad, varför och hur (Ferm Thorgersen, 2012).   Studiens resultat fastställer att musiken är en verksam metod för att främja barns utveckling inom flera områden som till exempel språk, matematik, naturkunskap och rörelse. Resultatet synliggör didaktiska överväganden, hur musikaktiviteter utformas och vad som prioriteras i planering och utförande. I studien synliggörs också olika arbetssätt och förskollärarnas och barnskötarnas relation till musik. Genom att bidra med ny kunskap kan studien därmed underlätta för andra att arbeta med musik tillsammans med barn i förskolan. Om det finns tydliga mål för lärandet och aktiviteten präglas av barnens inflytande kan detta bidra till givande och lustfyllda musikstunder i förskolan.

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