Cross-Border Mobility and Critical Cosmopolitanism among South Texas University Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-54
Author(s):  
Brendan H. O'Connor
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Research Question ◽  
South Texas ◽  
Border Crossings ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Ethnographic Interviews ◽  
International Border ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The U.S

Background/Context A growing body of literature addresses the experiences of transnational students, but relatively little research has focused on students who negotiate international border crossings on a regular basis. This study documents the role of cross-border mobility in the lives of university students in Brownsville, Texas (U.S.)/Matamoros, Tamaulipas (Mex.) and links students’ transnational experiences to their development of critical cosmopolitan identities and perspectives. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study This study explores South Texas university students’ lived experiences of cross-border mobility at a time of sociopolitical upheaval in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands and illuminates how specific forms of mobility can shape students’ educational and social subjectivities. Research Design An insider-outsider researcher and two undergraduate insiders collaborated to design and implement the study. An online survey was used to gather basic information about students’ cross-border mobility and educational experiences; subsequently, 16 focal participants were selected to participate in ethnographic interviews. Interview data were analyzed in NVivo using a two-cycle coding process and triangulated with survey data. Findings/Results Cross-border mobility offered academic and social benefits to the participants, but the benefits of mobility were inextricable from its drawbacks. Participants acknowledged the everyday difficulties associated with cross-border mobility; they also believed that these difficulties made them more responsible and successful. In addition, while participants spoke openly about the impact of violence on the borderlands, having to navigate this reality allowed them to develop a powerful form of insight connected to “knowing two versions” (one from each side of the border) of events. Conclusions/Recommendations The results invite researchers and educators to engage more critically with the cosmopolitan voices of students from areas often regarded as sites of marginality, poverty, and violence, such as the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. Participants’ cross-border experiences simultaneously challenged and benefited them; these experiences gave them opportunities to construct, traverse, and inhabit a wider range of emotional geographies where they could make sense of their relationships to people, events, and places on both sides of the border. On the border, conflict of the heart or of the nation has but one cure: recognition of jointness

scholarly journals Perceptions of Study Conditions and Depressive Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among University Students in Germany: Results of the International COVID-19 Student Well-Being Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Mayara Matos Fialho ◽  
Franca Spatafora ◽  
Lisa Kühne ◽  
Heide Busse ◽  
Stefanie M. Helmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
University Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
German Student ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being

Background: Results of previous studies examining the impact of the SARS-CoV-1 epidemic in 2003 on university students' mental well-being indicated severe mental health consequences. It is unclear how the current COVID-19 pandemic and the changes in study conditions due to federal regulations affected mental well-being in the German student population. We examined university students' perceptions of study conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigated associations between study conditions and depressive symptoms.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Germany in May 2020 at four universities (N = 5,021, 69% female, mean age: 24 years, SD: 5.1). Perceived study conditions, as well as sociodemographic information, were assessed with self-generated items and the CES-D 8 scale was used to determine depressive symptoms. Associations between perceived study conditions (academic stress and academic satisfaction), in general, and confidence to complete the semester, in particular, and depressive symptoms were analyzed using generalized linear regressions.Results: Fifty-four percent of survey participants felt that the university workload had significantly increased since the COVID-19 pandemic; 48% were worried that they would not be able to successfully complete the academic year; 47% agreed that the change in teaching methods caused significant stress. Regarding depressive symptoms, the mean score of the CES-D 8 scale was 9.25. Further, a positive association between perceived study conditions and depressive symptoms was found (p < 0.001), indicating that better study conditions were associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Results of the generalized linear regression suggest that better student mental well-being was related to higher confidence in completing the semester.Conclusions: This study provides first insights into perceived study conditions and associations with depressive symptoms among students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Findings underline the need for universities to provide intervention strategies targeting students' mental well-being during the course of the pandemic.

scholarly journals Texas-Mexico Cross Border Truck Operations: Are Mexican NAFTA Trucks Unsafe?

2010 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason West ◽  
Robert Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Public Safety ◽  
Border Crossings ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Texas Department ◽  
Vehicle Inspection ◽  
Mexico Border ◽  
Service Rates ◽  
The U.S

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) border safety inspection facilities (BSIF) have been in operation, in temporary and permanent forms, since 2001. This paper presents inspection results on trucks inspected at Texas BSIFs from 2003 to 2006, comprising over 326,000 vehicle inspection records. Analysis indicated that Mexico domiciled trucks have lower out-of-service rates than U.S. trucks at most Texas/Mexico border crossings. This finding is noteworthy since border (drayage) vehicles are older on average than typical Texas highway trucks and counters the opinion that trucks from Mexico are unsafe and therefore should not be allowed to enter the U.S.

scholarly journals The Impact of Organizational Context on the Levels of Cross-Border E-Commerce Adoption in Chinese SMEs: The Moderating Role of Environmental Context

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 2732-2749
Author(s):  
Anaf Abdulkarem ◽  
Wenhua Hou
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Environmental Context ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Moderating Role

With the rapid technological developments, cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) as a sector is also expanding rapidly. In the past couple of decades, China has become a major force in promoting and developing CBEC and, therefore, it was needed to explore the various antecedents and outcomes of Chinese CBEC to expand the understanding and existing CBEC scholarship. Ample studies have been conducted to understand the antecedents and outcomes of CBEC. However, limited studies have explored such variables which can mitigate the adoption of CBEC. With this background, this empirical study was focused on addressing this gap by studying the moderating role of environmental context between organizational context and the four levels of CBEC adoption with the help of a technology-organization-environment framework. SMEs operating in China were targeted for data collection, where data were collected through an online survey. A final sample size of 208 was recorded. It was found that the organizational context has a direct and positive impact on all four levels of CBEC adoption. Furthermore, the moderating role of environmental context on Level 1 and 2 was not supported. Finally, the moderating role of environmental context on Level 3 and 4 was supported by the data. It was concluded that the organizational context plays a significant role in shaping CBEC at all four levels, whereas the environmental context has the potential to mitigate the relationships between organizational context and CBEC Level 3 and 4.

scholarly journals Did Trump's Tweet Disparaging Trudeau Impact Canada-U.S. Border Crossings?

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Kane ◽  
Ariana Popa ◽  
Queenie Li ◽  
Paul Sommers
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
The United States ◽  
Border Crossings ◽  
Dummy Variables ◽  
International Border ◽  
The Impact

  The authors examine the impact of President Donald Trump’s June 9, 2018 tweet disparaging Group of 7 (G7) summit host Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Canada – United States border crossings over the Peace Bridge.  The Peace Bridge is one of the busiest international border crossings in North America that connects Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York.  A regression analysis of daily automobile crossings between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019 (using seasonality dummy variables and controlled for year fixed effects) revealed a statistically discernible reduction in the number of crossings (both east into the United States and, to a lesser extent, west into Canada) seven, fourteen, and even thirty days after the tweet.  Words have consequences. 

scholarly journals Confinement, Comfort and Health: Analysis of the Real Influence of Lockdown on University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5572
Author(s):  
Antonio Millán-Jiménez ◽  
Rafael Herrera-Limones ◽  
Álvaro López-Escamilla ◽  
Emma López-Rubio ◽  
Miguel Torres-García
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Good Relationship ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the population worldwide into lockdown. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of this measure on the health and comfort of university students and the role that the characteristics of the home may have played. It is essential to differentiate between the terms comfort and health both from the medical and architectural perspectives, as there are differences between the two concepts that are, nonetheless, shared by both disciplines. An online survey was fulfilled by 188 medicine and architecture undergraduate students at the University of Seville, Spain. In terms of health, 89% suffered neuropsychiatric disorders (56% anxiety and 49% depression), 38% gained weight and 59% reported alcohol consumption. In relation to comfort, the majority rated their home positively, comfortable in terms of room temperature and noise at night, and they had a good relationship with cohabitants. However, those who did not have a balcony or terrace would have liked to have open spaces They would have also liked to increase the size of their bedroom, where they spent most of their time and where they studied. A built-up environment gave them a sense of being imprisoned, while those who enjoyed open spaces found a sense of peace. The absence of open spaces in the house, the environment and the impossibility of making the most frequently used spaces more flexible may have had negative impacts on the health and comfort of university students during confinement.

scholarly journals Community organizations’ perspectives on the impact of a nursing student-led academic-community partnership program

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Sydney Hausman-Cohen ◽  
Nali Asamoah ◽  
Christina Yee ◽  
Isabel Braun ◽  
Morgan Shick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Nursing Student ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Community Organizations ◽  
Community Partnerships ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Community Partners ◽  
Community Initiatives ◽  
The Impact

Academic-community partnerships can have a direct positive impact on community partners and university students. Community Champions, a student-led program, promotes local outreach and engagement with a variety of community initiatives. The purpose of this study was to assess community partners’ perceptions of the Community Champions program to better support the goals of the community and to complement prior research evaluating the impact of the Community Champions program on university students. The study used a 27-item survey, consisting of 20 Likert-scale items and seven open-ended questions. Eighteen community partners were invited via email to complete the online survey. Quantitative responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative responses were reviewed for themes to generate future recommendations. Fourteen of the eighteen community organizations responded to the survey (78% response rate). Assessment of community partners’ perspectives were synthesized across four themes: motivations, benefits, challenges, and general satisfaction. Community partners indicated that sharing labor and resources to enhance community health goals were key factors in creating mutually beneficial partnerships. Building effective academic-community partnerships is essential to increasing student engagement, while also addressing priorities of community organizations. Academic student programs that engage the community can positively impact both the community partners and university students.

scholarly journals Transport Sector Impacts of a Border between Ireland and Northern Ireland after a Hard Brexit

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Khaoula Morchid ◽  
Margaret O’Mahony
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Border Crossings ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Processing Times ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

More than half of British voters chose to leave the European Union (EU) leading to a series of negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU. The withdrawal of the UK from the EU is widely referred to as Brexit. As the only country that shares a land border with the UK, the impact of Brexit on Ireland is expected to be greater than on any other European country. The objective of the research is to evaluate the potential impact of Brexit on the transport sector in Ireland at a micro level by focusing on cross‐border commuters and by also assessing the impact on road freight transport. Potential crossing scenarios are examined at six crossing locations. Assuming a hard border is implemented, each crossing is modelled in VISSIM, a microscopic traffic flow simulation software, using traffic data from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and dwell time estimated based on the US–Canada border crossings. Six scenarios are considered to determine the impact on cross‐border traffic at different flow conditions and with varying levels of technology used in border infrastructure leading to short versus long processing times. The paper evaluates travel measures including delays, queue lengths and emissions. The worst‐case scenario has a vehicle delay of 18.4 min and the highest delay‐associated costs across all locations modelled are estimated at €60.7 million per year. Estimated emissions generated at the border crossings raise concerns about environmental impacts of a hard Brexit. Interviews with stakeholders emphasized the critical role of technology in reducing the impact of a hard Brexit on cross‐border commuters and on the freight sector. A key finding is the importance of using technology tools to facilitate controls and reduce processing times. The results indicate that technology use leads to significant time and cost savings as well as reduced environmental impacts.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study (C-19 ISWS)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioulia Solomou ◽  
Fofi Constantinidou ◽  
Maria Karekla ◽  
Charis Psaltis ◽  
Andreas Chatzittofis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
University Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Academic Stress ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
Academic Satisfaction ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on the mental health and well-being of different populations including young adults. This study replicates and extends previous research by evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of college students in Cyprus, a Mediterranean island with unique sociocultural and genetic characteristics, and to identify risk factors related to the poor mental health of university students. Behavioral changes in the students before and during the quarantine period were also examined. A total of 387 university students completed an online survey coordinated by the Young Universities of Europe (YUFE) network. Results indicated that most of the sample (89.3%) reported depressive symptoms. Academic stress and academic satisfaction were associated with depressive symptoms and loneliness. Specifically, students with greater academic stress and lower academic satisfaction reported more symptoms of depression and felt lonelier. Younger students with poorer economic capital were more likely to feel depressed, and younger college students with higher academic stress were more likely to feel lonely. The results of t-test analyses indicated that quarantine affected students’ time and type of study turning to online studies and to moderate physical activities. The present study’s findings add to the existing literature and support the development of new measures to support students, both financially as well as psychologically.

scholarly journals An Investigation of Pakistani University Students’ Socioeconomic Classes, Gender and Dimensions in Epistemological Beliefs: Dependencies and Interlinks probed by Structural Equation Modeling Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 629-643
Author(s):  
Rafaquat Ali ◽  
Furrukh Bashir ◽  
Hafeez Ur Rehman ◽  
Rashid Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
University Students ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Epistemological Beliefs ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Socioeconomic Background ◽  
Modeling Approach ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
The Impact

Epistemological beliefs impact all aspects of students’ academic and learning behaviours. The different dimensions of epistemological beliefs comprise structure, source, certainty, ability to learns and speed to learn. The students’ naive and inadequate epistemological beliefs can have negative impacts on their regulation of learning, self-efficacy, interest in study, academic performance and persistence in studies. Likewise, the socioeconomic background can explain various differences in students’ beliefs. Epistemological beliefs have social and cultural underpinnings as well. For these reasons, the researchers examined the impact of university students’ socioeconomic classes on their epistemological beliefs. In survey research design, the data were collected from university students in an online survey. The structural equation modeling approach was chosen to detect significant regression paths in the model. The lower and upper lower socioeconomic classes were found to have significant impact on students’ epistemological beliefs. The variable gender did not appear to make significant contribution to students’ epistemological beliefs. The naive beliefs can severely impact university students’ academic behaviour, therefore epistemological beliefs of students from lower and upper lower socioeconomic backgrounds should be challenged and improved.

scholarly journals The Impact of E-Learning on University Students’ Learning of Sport Skill Subjects During the Covid-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-216
Author(s):  
Fatin Adira Murad ◽  
Azlan Ahmad Kamal
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Movement Control ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The Impact

The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly altered the education system globally shutting down face-to-face (f2f) learning in order to prevent the spread of the disease. The Malaysian government implemented Movement Control Order (MCO) starting in March 2020 creating a new norm for Malaysian citizens’ working, educational and social environments. Work from Home (WFH) became part of the new norm for most working people with university students having no choice but to continue their education via Open and Distance Learning (ODL). Thus, this study investigates the impact of e-learning among university students studying sport skill subjects during this pandemic. An online survey was distributed to 152 students in their second to seventh semester majoring in Physical and Health Education to (1) investigate the well-being of students during online classes (2) identify the effectiveness of sport skill subjects learned online among the students and (3) study the relationship between online lectures and the effectiveness of learning sport skill subjects. A descriptive research design was used to describe the effects of e-learning among the students. The findings revealed that students did not suffer any psychological distress during online classes but indicated a lack of confidence in their capabilities in executing the skills in real life. No significant correlation was revealed between lecturing online and the effectiveness of learning sport skill subject learned among the students.

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