scholarly journals Building a Sustainable Future Through International ECE Partnership Programmes

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 458-474
Author(s):  
Åsta Birkeland ◽  
Minyi Li

Purpose: Taking a particular example of an international partnership programme, this article aims to discuss kindergartens’ participation in international partnership programmes as compelling vehicles for promoting early childhood education for sustainability (ECEfS). The partnership programme included Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, and kindergartens in Norway and China. Researchers, postgraduate students, kindergarten principals, and teachers participated in the programme, their key concern being to promote competencies for sustainability and agents for change. Design/Approach/Methods: The article is based upon research with a phenomenological approach to Chinese and Norwegian kindergarten teachers’ and principals’ experiences of participating in an international partnership programme. The data for this article consisted of reflective notes from the teachers and principals and recordings of teachers’ and principals’ reflections in a joint seminar in the kindergarten network. Findings: This article argues that ethical normative, dialogical, and anticipatory approaches are pivotal within international ECEfS partnership programmes. Originality/Value: The article has the potential to address international partnership programmes, involving different stakeholders, as vital in promoting ECEfS. It also urges international partnership programmes to promote glocality in ECEfS (i.e., local situatedness with global awareness).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.L. Cu Si

FH Münster University of Applied Sciences; Lib holding: Item - The Vietnamese Social Sciences at a Fork in the Road


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-96
Author(s):  
Anita Croft

The benefits of beginning Education for Sustainability (EfS) in early childhood are now widely documented. With the support of their teachers, young children have shown that through engagement in sustainability practices they are capable of becoming active citizens in their communities (Duhn, Bachmann, & Harris, 2010; Kelly & White, 2012; Ritchie, 2010; Vaealiki & Mackey, 2008). Engagement with EfS has not been widespread across the early childhood sector in Aotearoa New Zealand (Duhn et al., 2010; Vaealiki & Mackey, 2008) until recently. One way of addressing EfS in early childhood education is through teacher education institutions preparing students to teach EfS when they graduate.


Author(s):  
Gi-Don Na ◽  
Frank Kameier ◽  
Nils Springer ◽  
Michael Mauß ◽  
C. O. Paschereit

The acoustical characteristics of cooling fans are an essential criterion of product quality in the automotive industry. Fan modules have to suffice growing customer expectations which are reflected in the comfort requirements set by car manufacturers around the world. In order to locate dominant acoustic sources and to reduce the noise emission generated by a shrouded fan configuration, numerical simulations and experimental investigations are performed. The working approach considers variously modified fan geometries and their evaluation regarding arising vortex flow phenomena and their effect on a decreased sound pressure level (SPL) in consideration of an improvement or the constancy of aerodynamic fan performance. Particular emphasis lies on the analysis of secondary flows in the blade tip region by post-processing CFD-results. Due to the large number of geometrical modifications investigated and the importance of highly resolved eddy structures, a hybrid approach is chosen by applying the SAS-SST turbulence model in URANS simulations. The SAS (Scale Adaptive Simulation) delivers LES (Large Eddy Simulation) content in unsteady regions of a RANS-simulation and exhibits not nearly the high computational effort needed to perform a full scale LES. An assessment of the actual propagation of noise emission into the far-field is made by performing experimental investigations on the most promising modifications. The acoustic measurements are carried out in a fan test stand in the anechoic chamber of Duesseldorf University of Applied Sciences. The aerodynamic performance is measured in a fan test rig with an inlet chamber setup in accordance to ISO 5801. The measured acoustical and aerodynamic performances are validated by the industrial partner. The results of the acoustic measurements are in turn utilized to determine indicators of noise radiation in the numerical simulation. Within this work an innovative geometry modification is presented which can be implemented into shrouded fan configurations with backward-skewed blades. The new design exhibits a reduced SPL (A-weighted) of approx. 4 dB over the entire operating range while showing no significant deterioration on the aerodynamic performance. While the design was registered for patent approval cooperatively by the industrial partner and Duesseldorf University of Applied Sciences, further investigations regarding variations of design parameters are performed and presented in this paper. All numerical simulations are performed with ANSYS CFX, a commercial solver widely spread in the industry. Methods similar to those shown in this work can be implemented in the design phase of axial fans in order to develop acoustically optimized fan geometries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
Susanne Maier ◽  

The family-friendly university audit (“audit familiengerechte hochschule”) is studied. The audit is available to German universities in order to support a familyfriendly working environment. Practices of an auditor coordinating several workshops for rectorate, HR department and functionaries, as well as representatives of all university groups are considered. The experience of the auditing at the University of Applied Sciences – Public Administration and Finance, Ludwigsburg is analyzed.


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