Focus on management and leadership in language centres: The needs and challenges of a language centre director

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-370
Author(s):  
Heidi Rontu ◽  
Ulla-Kristiina Tuomi ◽  
Petra Gekeler ◽  
Cristina Pérez Guillot ◽  
Sabina Schaffner

Abstract The organisational status and the main tasks of a university language centre are given different interpretations in different universities. Some language centres find themselves in a challenging situation where the centre’s existence seems to be at stake, whereas others prosper and find positively encouraging opportunities for the future. All this is reflected in the work of language centre directors across Europe. To discuss these challenges and to further develop the cooperation of directors, a Focus Group on Management and Leadership has been established by CercleS. The aim of the focus group is to create a low threshold-network for directors for sharing challenges and questions and by doing this to provide collegial support in management and leadership issues. The focus group conducted a survey in 2015 to learn more about the management and leadership challenges and the support needs of directors. In this paper, we will discuss the results of the focus group survey. The target is to discern common themes and develop recommendations for directors’ future professional cooperation. There will be a particular focus on sharing experiences and ideas for strategy work, staff development and funding, by creating a supportive professional network. Such a network includes a coaching and mentoring system for directors within the CercleS member language centres. The common theme is empowerment: supporting directors in a collegial framework to share experiences, develop their centres further, and increase their own personal well-being at work.

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110484
Author(s):  
Helen M. Beattie ◽  
Courtney A. FitzGerald ◽  
Sharon N. Koller ◽  
Karen S. Scott ◽  
Bernice Raveche Garnett ◽  
...  

Young people demand and deserve participation in shaping the health and well-being of their community. Getting to Y: Youth Bring Meaning to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (GTY) is a positive youth development initiative, whereby students analyze local youth health data and create change. This article adds definitive evidence to support the theoretical foundations of GTY expounded by Garnett et al. (2019). A mixed methods convergent study design, collecting quantitative data from pre- and postintervention surveys and qualitative data from focus groups, was enacted during the 2018–2019 school year. Survey participants were 256 students attending 20 Vermont middle/high schools. Surveys measured self-efficacy, health literacy, civic engagement, resiliency, and knowledge. Focus groups with 50 students solicited open-ended feedback. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests determined student-level change over time. Focus group transcripts were coded using grounded theory and a priori codes from the survey. Statistically significant improvements were seen in average scores from pre- to postintervention surveys in all five domains and differences in effect by gender. Results from the focus group complement the quantitative findings. Participation in GTY positively affected youth participant’s understanding of their own health and well-being and increased agency to take action on behalf of themselves and their community. As the Youth Risk Behavior Survey is available nationwide, GTY is poised for replication to critically engage youth with relevant data to inform social change.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yogesh Brahmankar ◽  
Madhura Bedarkar ◽  
Mahima Mishra

Purpose The purpose of this study is to understand the challenges faced by the higher educational institutes in imparting entrepreneurial education during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore the institutional response to handle the difficulties posed by COVID-19 through innovative educational initiatives. Design/methodology/approach To understand the challenges faced, data was collected from entrepreneurship students and entrepreneurship educators through focus group discussions. The study followed Kitzinger (1995) as data was analyzed in its entirety as a group and then individually. Groups and individuals were the focus of the analysis. The study applies the Kepner Trego problem analysis technique (KPTA) as the problem-solving technique adopted by the institute and SAP-LAP (situation, actor, process, learning, action, performance) to discuss the findings of the study. Findings The study found that to engage, encourage and enable students to study on their start-up/business ideas; it is important to facilitate peer interactions, internships in start-ups and meaningful engagement with alumni entrepreneurs. Some proactive interventions are also expected from institutes to energize the student community with positivity. It is also important to nurture the emotional well-being of budding entrepreneurs. Research limitations/implications The case study narrates the innovative and agile problem-solving approach of the business school during the pandemic. KPTA focuses more on appreciative dialogue and also helps to replicate the best from other situations to the problem areas. SAP-LAP method also helps practitioners to initiate the right new actions with targeted performance. Practical implications As a greater number of academic institutions impart entrepreneurship education today, the findings of the study would be relevant to the stakeholders, including students, educators and institutes. Social implications The study underpins the importance of the emotional well-being of entrepreneurs/student entrepreneurs and an innovative approach to keep the student moral high during such a challenging situation. Originality/value It is an ongoing exercise at a business school where the challenges were identified, analyzed and solutions were implemented using a structured methodology such as focused group discussions, KPTA and SAPLAP. The innovative initiatives not only engaged the student well but also were able to ensure their emotional well-being.


Author(s):  
Satu Pekkarinen ◽  
Helinä Melkas

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the innovation opportunities related to digitalisation in health care and elderly care services using a “pothole approach”. The study focuses on two innovative e-service concepts developed in Finland for enhancing the well-being of senior citizens: The hStick (health stick) and the mStick (memory and reminiscence stick). The data consist of 59 thematic interviews and focus group meetings, observation data and diaries collected in pilot cases. The innovation opportunities related to the novel e-service concepts are identified and explored using the pothole approach. The potholes in the stick system are first identified and then studied as sources and opportunities for potential future innovations. This study offers a novel perspective on research concerning technology and e-services and the various innovation opportunities made possible once technological and other shortcomings have been identified.


Work ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 755-766
Author(s):  
Basem Gohar ◽  
Michel Larivière ◽  
Nancy Lightfoot ◽  
Elizabeth Wenghofer ◽  
Céline Larivière ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Nurses and personal support workers (PSWs) have high sickness absence rates in Canada. Whilst the evidence-based literature helped to identify the variables related to sickness absenteeism, understanding “why” remains unknown. This information could benefit the healthcare sector in northeastern Ontario and in locations where healthcare is one of the largest employment sectors and where nursing staff have high absence and turnover rates. OBJECTIVE: To identify and understand the factors associated with sickness absence among nurses and PSWs through several experiences while investigating if there are northern-related reasons to explain the high rates of sickness absence. METHODS: In this descriptive qualitative study, focus group sessions took place with registered nurses (n = 6), registered practical nurses (n = 4), PSWs (n = 8), and key informants who specialize in occupational health and nursing unions (n = 5). Focus group sessions were transcribed verbatim followed by inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four main themes emerged, which were occupational/organizational challenges, physical health, emotional toll on mental well-being, and northern-related challenges. Descriptions of why such factors lead to sickness absence were addressed with staff shortage serving as an underlying factor. CONCLUSION: Despite the complexity of the manifestations of sickness absence, work support and timely debriefing could reduce sickness absence and by extension, staff shortage.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e028076
Author(s):  
Patricia Olaya-Contreras ◽  
Katarina Balcker-Lundgren ◽  
Faiza Siddiqui ◽  
Louise Bennet

ObjectiveThe prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among Iraqi immigrants to Sweden is high and partly related to sedentary physical activity and calorie dense food. The aim of the present study was to explore perceptions, experiences and barriers concerning lifestyle modifications (LSM) in Iraqi immigrants to Sweden at risk for T2D.DesignA qualitative thematic analysis was conducted on data collected from gender-specific focus group interviews which took place during a culturally adapted randomised controlled intervention study addressing motivation to lifestyle change, self-empowerment, behavioural modifications and sociocultural barriers to LSM. Seven focus groups were held, with an interval of 1–4 weeks between January and May of 2015; each session lasted approximately 1.5 hours.SettingThe city of Malmö, Sweden.ParticipantsOut of 27 women and 23 men assigned to the intervention group, 19 women and 14 men who attended at least one focus group session were included in the study.ResultsParticipants expressed awareness of the content of healthy lifestyle practices. They also expressed numerous social and cultural barriers to LSM connected to irregular meals, overeating, food and drinking preferences and family expectations. Overeating was described as a consequence of social and cultural norms and expectations and of poor mental well-being. Facilitators for reaching successful LSM were connected to family involvement and support.ConclusionOur study reports that facilitators for LSM are connected to presence of family support. Preventive actions addressing family involvement may benefit Middle Eastern immigrants at high risk for T2D to consider healthier lifestyles practices. Identification of sociocultural barriers and facilitators for LSM are crucial for successful health promotion in minority populations at risk for T2D.Trial registrationTrial registration number:NCT01420198for the MEDIM-study; Pre-results.


2020 ◽  
pp. 174619792097179
Author(s):  
Denise M Polk ◽  
Madison A Pollino

Young South Africans who live in contexts of poverty face many challenges and obstacles in their attempts to rise out of their circumstances. However, adding support in the form of well-being teams who take ownership of promoting well-being may facilitate resilience and serve an important supportive function. Four different well-being teams participated in a focus group interview. They consisted of teachers, learners, parents, and a mixed group. The theory of positive communication provided a framework to understand the themes that emerged. Therefore, in an effort to level the playing field for these young South Africans, the educational system should create more spaces that enable and facilitate learning and that promote positive communication.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-344
Author(s):  
Trista Hollweck

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on a qualitative case study that examined the potential benefits, challenges and implications of the mentor–coach (MC) role as a supportive structure for experienced teachers’ well-being and sense of flourishing in schools.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative case study used data collected from surveys, interviews, focus groups and documentation. Data were coded and abductively analyzed using the “framework approach” with and against Seligman’s well-being PERMA framework. In order to include an alternative stakeholder perspective, data from a focus group with the district’s teacher union executive are also included.FindingsUsing the constituting elements of Seligman’s well-being (PERMA) framework, experienced teachers reported positive emotion, engagement, positive relationships, meaning and accomplishment from their MC experience. However, the MC role is not a panacea for educator well-being. Rather, the quality and effectiveness of the mentoring and coaching relationship is a determining factor and, if left unattended, negative experiences could contribute to their stress and increased workload.Research limitations/implicationsThe data used in this study were based on a limited number of survey respondents (25/42) and the self-selection of the interview (n=7) and focus group participants (n=6). The research findings may lack generalizability and be positively skewed.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the current lack of empirical research on the MC experience and considers some of the wider contextual factors that impact effective mentoring and coaching programs for educators.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (s1) ◽  
pp. 96-96
Author(s):  
Karen D. Calhoun ◽  
Kent Key ◽  
E. Yvonne Lewis ◽  
Susan J Woolford ◽  
E. Hill DeLoney ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: o To review the community’s recommendations on how to rebuild trust in the Flint community. o To review effective community engagement strategies utilized with the Flint Special Projects for project conceptualization, participant recruitment, data analysis, project oversight, and dissemination. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The study population includes nearly two hundred residents representing seniors, youth and diverse ethnicities recruited to participate in eleven focus group meetings. The population also represents the general public who attended informational meetings in Flint, Michigan to learn about the crisis and allow residents to voice their opinions and concerns during the onset of the crisis. The project is a mixed methods community based participatory research effort that utilized community decision making in all phases of the effort such as pre-conception, implementation, dissemination and advocacy to encourage the community’s recommendations are adopted at policy and institutional responsiveness levels. It includes three community engaged research efforts: (project 1) A qualitative analysis of community sentiment provided during 17 recorded legislative, media and community events, and (projects 2-3) two mixed methods efforts utilizing purposive sampling of stakeholders whose voice may not have been heard. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The project presents a qualitative analysis of the community’s voice during the onset of the man-made disaster when the community first became aware of the emergency manager’s plans to switch the water source. It also reflects current perspectives of community voice since the projects are scheduled to end late February 2019. Findings from a trust measure administered to nearly two hundred residents will be presented, along with a qualitative analysis of focus group findings among segments of the population (seniors, youth, and diverse ethnicities) who may have been left out of narratives on the water crisis. Finally, the project will compare empowerment and resiliency approaches being utilized in Flint, Michigan to recover from the disaster with other approaches grounded in literature and theory. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Communities of color often experience social determinants of health which negatively impact their health, well-being and human rights. Some Flint citizens are experiencing negative health consequences (i.e., rashes, brain and behavioral sequelle, fertility, etc.) as a result of the disaster, and are uncertain of health outcomes in the future. This is the first project to rigorously document and analyze levels of trust and mistrust in the city of Flint since the water disaster occurred. The qualitative research will guide future clinical research that will benefit this traumatized community experiencing high levels of mistrust (i.e., government, elected officials, etc.). The community engaged methodology involved residents and study participants in all phases of the project including project oversight, validating and analyzing data, and dissemination. This methodology will contribute to existing literature and theory on community based participatory research, community engaged research, team science and citizen science. The approaches empowered a call to action among residents, for example, seniors who attended two senior focus group sessions shared “they are hopeful and have a purpose,” resulting in the creation of a council (with officers) at their housing complex to advocate for the well-being of seniors during the recovery process. Recruitment methodologies were extremely successful due to resident level trust in community leaders and community partner organizations. Finally, the project’s examination of approaches encouraging empowerment and resiliency will provide lessons learned for other communities challenged with crisis.


2005 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 520-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anniza de Villiers ◽  
Kholeka Koko-Mhlahlo ◽  
Marjanne Senekal

AbstractObjectiveThe aim was to contribute to the nutritional well-being of young children living in Duncan Village by investigating factors that influence clinic attendance of mothers and to formulate recommendations for optimisation of accessibility of primary health care (PHC) clinics in the area.DesignPHC clinic accessibility was evaluated by assessing the experiences of mothers who attended clinics in the area as well as the experiences of health care workers (HCWs) in these clinics of service delivery and its recipients (mothers/children), using the focus group technique. The ATLAS/ti program was used to analyse the data in the following steps: preparation and importing of the data, getting to know and coding the data, retrieval and examination of codes and quotations, creation of families and creation of networks.SettingDuncan Village, a low socio-economic urban settlement in East London, South Africa.SubjectsFocus group discussions (four to seven participants per group) were conducted with four groups of mothers who do not attend PHC clinics, six with mothers who do attend the clinics (including pregnant women) and four groups of HCWs.ResultsFour networks that provide a summary of all the major trends in the data were created. The results clearly indicate that mothers in Duncan Village perceive and/or experience serious problems that make it difficult for them to attend clinic and even prevent them from doing so. These problems include both the way they are treated at the clinics (especially the problem of verbal abuse) as well as the actual services delivered (no medicines, no help, disorganised, long waiting periods, being turned away). The main problem experienced by the HCWs with service delivery seems to be a heavy workload, as well as the fact that many mothers do not come for follow-up visits.ConclusionEfforts to increase the accessibility of PHC clinics in Duncan Village should focus on improving the relationship between mothers and HCWs and the heavy workload experienced by these workers.


2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Djohan Djohan

The aim of these research is to study the effects of laras toward the listener emotional well-being. From the psychology of music point of view, this research attempts to understand the emo- tional well-being of the listeners. These study may be primarily cog- nitive or may consist of the frequency with which listener expe- rienced pleasant and unpleasant emotions. The samples were every- one whose have an experienced on listening the gamelan in their everyday life. Through quasi-experiment and purposive sampling, the 73 samples listened to two songs that composed in slendro nem and pelog lima’s scale and also interviewed in focus group discus- sions. The results shown that the pelog’s scale influenced more to the emotional well-being of the listeners than slendro’s scale.


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