SOCIAL INNOVATIONS IN GEO-ICT EDUCATION AT TANZANIAN UNIVERSITIES FOR IMPROVED EMPLOYABILITY (GEOICT4E)

Abstract. Geospatial and ICT technologies are making an impact leap due to globally accessible open data solutions addressing environmental and social challenges, such as rapid urbanization, degradation of marine and land environments, and humanitarian crises. We are witnessing a rapid growth of innovations built on data and tools tackling local societal problems. At best, these can provide better opportunities for sustainable solutions and development. The need for geospatial expertise is growing globally, and the required skills and capabilities of experts are changing. Universities need to think that although the future jobs rely on experts’ geospatial data and technology skills, graduates need to have a strong conceptual and practical understanding of societal problems and capacity to co-develop solutions, which generate wellbeing and inclusive development. New generation university graduates need to master the interface between technologies’ potential and societies’ emerging needs, working in a multi-stakeholder environment and creating innovative and impactful solutions. In this paper, we present a model of institutional cooperation between five Tanzanian and three Finnish universities, aiming to tackle this transformative education challenge in Tanzania. GeoICT4e aims to develop innovative and scalable geospatial and ICT e-learning services for Tanzanian universities. Via this transformation, universities are aiming to enhance the future employment potential of the graduates with digital multi-competence skills. We present the overall methodology and key activities of the project cooperation, and discuss the opportunities and challenges related to this transformation, and use of open data and FOSS solutions particularly from the institutional and societal perspectives.

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26.A. Workshop: Assessing the role of policies and actions to address childhood obesity

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.1225 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

◽

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Childhood Obesity ◽

Stakeholder Engagement ◽

Special Focus ◽

Policy Options ◽

Sustainable Solutions ◽

Relevant Evidence ◽

Multi Stakeholder ◽

The Impact

Abstract Childhood obesity has grown to become one of the most dramatic features of the global obesity epidemic, with long-term consequences. The spread of obesity has been fueled by changes in social norms and living environments that have shaped individual behaviours making them conducive to excessive and imbalanced nutrition, sedentary lifestyles, and ultimately obesity and associated diseases. The STOP project will aim to generate scientifically sound, novel and policy-relevant evidence on the factors that have contributed to the spread of childhood obesity in European countries and on the effects of alternative technological and organisational solutions and policy options available to address the problem. STOP will translate the evidence gathered and generated into indicators and measurements, policy briefs and toolkits and multi-stakeholder frameworks. A special focus of STOP is understanding the stakeholders' networks and drivers of stakeholders' action. STOP will establish new ways for policy-relevant evidence to be generated, made available and used in the design and implementation of effective and sustainable solutions for childhood obesity at the EU, national and local levels. Each of the policy work packages will: Produce evidence syntheses and impact simulations for different policy approaches;Assess selected policy approaches and actions in children cohorts and other relevant settings;Devise policy toolkits and policy guidance to support the adoption and implementation of specific actions by relevant actors;Establish a country-based European accountability and monitoring framework in each policy area. The workshop aims to: Showcase the impact of different policy options evaluated throughout the STOP project;Increase participants' understanding and awareness of the opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of selected policies;Increase awareness of public health professionals of the importance of overcoming siloes in identifying and implementing public health policies;Increase the understanding of multi-stakeholder engagement. The discussion will explore the role of stakeholders across different policy areas. We will explore the different definitions of “stakeholders” and “multi-stakeholders” engagement. This will also be an opportunity to explore some of the benefits, risks and challenges around stakeholder engagement, and explore what are the different types of stakeholders involved in these policies as well as their roles. The workshop will offer an opportunity to: Inform participants about existing physical activity, regulatory and fiscal policies to address childhood obesity;Inform participants about new, innovative EU-level projects that aim to address childhood obesity;Outline preliminary findings of the STOP project with regards to the effectiveness of the evaluated policies;Identify some of the gaps and limitations of existing policies and discuss some of the steps to ensure successful policy implementation. Key messages Present new evidence on what policy approaches work in addressing key determinants of childhood obesity. Showcase findings on the attitudes of different stakeholders towards obesity policies, and debate the benefits, risks and challenges of multi-stakeholder engagement.

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The read–write Linked Data Web

Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences ◽

10.1098/rsta.2012.0513 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 371 (1987) ◽

pp. 20120513 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Tim Berners-Lee ◽

Kieron O’Hara

Keyword(s):

Future Development ◽

Linked Data ◽

Open Data ◽

Linked Open Data ◽

The Future ◽

The Web

This paper discusses issues that will affect the future development of the Web, either increasing its power and utility, or alternatively suppressing its development. It argues for the importance of the continued development of the Linked Data Web, and describes the use of linked open data as an important component of that. Second, the paper defends the Web as a read–write medium, and goes on to consider how the read–write Linked Data Web could be achieved.

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Addressing the medicines access challenge through balance, evidence, collaboration and transparency: key take-away lessons of the 4th PPRI Conference

Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice ◽

10.1186/s40545-021-00300-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sabine Vogler ◽

Nina Zimmermann ◽

Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar ◽

Reinhard Busse ◽

Jaime Espin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Best Practice ◽

Access To Medicines ◽

Health Technologies ◽

Relevant Evidence ◽

Practice Models ◽

The Future ◽

Pricing And Reimbursement ◽

Multi Stakeholder

AbstractThe 4th PPRI Conference, held in Vienna in October 2019, addressed issues related to equitable and affordable access to medicines. A multi-stakeholder audience from around the globe discussed solutions and best practice models for current challenges such as high-priced medicines, limitations of current pricing and reimbursement policies and tight budgets for health technologies. A multi-faceted approach (so-called balance, evidence, collaboration and transparency/BECT strategy) was also discussed. This includes an improved balance of different interests and policy areas, generation of relevant evidence, collaboration between countries and stakeholders, and transparency, and was considered as the most promising pathway for the future.

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Cybersecurity Awareness Framework for Academia

Information ◽

10.3390/info12100417 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 417

Author(s):

Mohammed Khader ◽

Marcel Karam ◽

Hanna Fares

Keyword(s):

Industrial Sector ◽

Academic Institution ◽

University Graduates ◽

Academic Institutions ◽

Human Errors ◽

Attitudes And Behaviors ◽

The Core ◽

Policies And Procedures ◽

The Future ◽

Students Attitudes

Cybersecurity is a multifaceted global phenomenon representing complex socio-technical challenges for governments and private sectors. With technology constantly evolving, the types and numbers of cyberattacks affect different users in different ways. The majority of recorded cyberattacks can be traced to human errors. Despite being both knowledge- and environment-dependent, studies show that increasing users’ cybersecurity awareness is found to be one of the most effective protective approaches. However, the intangible nature, socio-technical dependencies, constant technological evolutions, and ambiguous impact make it challenging to offer comprehensive strategies for better communicating and combatting cyberattacks. Research in the industrial sector focused on creating institutional proprietary risk-aware cultures. In contrast, in academia, where cybersecurity awareness should be at the core of an academic institution’s mission to ensure all graduates are equipped with the skills to combat cyberattacks, most of the research focused on understanding students’ attitudes and behaviors after infusing cybersecurity awareness topics into some courses in a program. This work proposes a conceptual Cybersecurity Awareness Framework to guide the implementation of systems to improve the cybersecurity awareness of graduates in any academic institution. This framework comprises constituents designed to continuously improve the development, integration, delivery, and assessment of cybersecurity knowledge into the curriculum of a university across different disciplines and majors; this framework would thus lead to a better awareness among all university graduates, the future workforce. This framework may be adjusted to serve as a blueprint that, once adjusted by academic institutions to accommodate their missions, guides institutions in developing or amending their policies and procedures for the design and assessment of cybersecurity awareness.

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Education for Sustainable Development

Technology & Innovation ◽

10.21300/21.4.2020.2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Meghna Tare

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

South Carolina ◽

United Nations ◽

Informal Education ◽

Local Level ◽

The United States ◽

Education For Sustainable Development ◽

Sustainable Solutions ◽

The United Nations ◽

Multi Stakeholder

In 2003, in response to the United Nations (UN) Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, the United Nations University (UNU) Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability launched a global multi-stakeholder network of Regional Centers of Expertise (RCEs) on education for sustainable development (ESD). RCEs facilitate multi-sector collaboration and utilize formal, non-formal, and informal education to address sustainable development challenges in local and regional communities. In essence, RCEs are a tool for transformation to a more sustainable society, combining education and action for sustainable development. As we enter the new "ESD for 2030" decade, RCEs will continue to construct platforms for cross-sectoral dialogue between regional stakeholders and actors to promote and strengthen ESD at the local level. RCEs have committed to helping advance the five priority areas of action established in the Global Action Program on ESD and the new UN decade "ESD for 2030": advancing policy by mainstreaming ESD, transforming learning and training environments using whole-institution approaches, building capacities of educators and trainers, empowering and mobilizing youth, and accelerating sustainable solutions at the local level. RCEs are uniquely positioned to serve as shepherds in the realization of the new "ESD for 2030" decade. As of January 2019, 174 RCEs have officially been acknowledged by UNU worldwide, with eight RCEs in the United States: Georgetown, South Carolina; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Greater Atlanta, Georgia; Greater Burlington, Vermont; Greater Portland, Oregon; North Texas, Texas; Salisbury, Maryland; and Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. RCEs serve an essential role in the achievement of "ESD for 2030" goals by translating global objectives into the local contexts of our communities.

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When the Experimental Lab is Itself the Experiment: Making Someone Else’s Design Work

International Journal of Designs for Learning ◽

10.14434/ijdl.v12i2.29132 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 59-78

Author(s):

Jesse Strycker

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Faculty Member ◽

Learning Spaces ◽

Design Work ◽

The Future ◽

Multi Stakeholder

The redesign of learning spaces has been a growing trend in education, especially higher education. The redesign of such spaces takes time and involves a variety of stakeholders, sometimes resulting in ill-defined designs. This can be exacerbated when individuals leading such efforts depart and there is not a consensus on the design, sometimes leading to vendors having a disproportionate say in final implementations. Understanding these differences and finding a way forward can fall on new stakeholders who are tasked with supporting such spaces after most of the foundational decisions have been made and/or carried out. This case explores one faculty member and designer’s experiences with helping to both design for and define such an ill-defined space. Included in this case are the story of the design of the space pieced together from before the author started his employment and the story since he became a stakeholder, stumbling blocks encountered after the space was built, strategies employed in the interim, discussing a path forward, and finally sharing realizations made during the process which will help his future efforts with designing such multi-stakeholder spaces in the future.

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IMPACT OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ON USER BEHAVIORS IN URBAN DISTRICT PARK

Journal of Urban and Environmental Engineering ◽

10.4090/juee.2019.v13n2.336352 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 336-352

Author(s):

Do Duy Thinh ◽

Nguyen Van Xuan ◽

Nguyen Ngoc Long Giang

Keyword(s):

Public Space ◽

Local Governments ◽

Open Space ◽

Mapping Method ◽

Urban District ◽

Open Spaces ◽

Rapid Urbanization ◽

User Behaviors ◽

The Future

Urban open spaces (e.g. urban parks) play a pivotal role in improving the quality of life of city dwellers through accommodating various physical and social activities, while further creating social coherence for sustainable development. Due to the shortage of open green spaces in the city, caused by rapid urbanization in developing countries, some big, long-standing urban public spaces such as district parks have been retained, and improved to serve as the main public space for local people. However, such spaces commonly provide outdated, low quality facilities that discourage people from using the park. To satisfy users’ needs, local governments have launched campaigns to improve parks based on the ideas of domestic or foreign designers. The purpose of this research is to explore different behaviors of residents in an open space in Da Nang (Vietnam) which can support the future development and improvement of local open space in accordance with environmental behavior theory. User behaviors were identified and categorized based on their activities in the open space, collected using the place-centered behavior mapping method. Results of the statistical analysis revealed that this open space could be divided into three types, each of which had four dimensions: public facilities setting; openness; accessibility; and recreational facilities. The findings showed some aspects that need to be considered during the development process of open space as follows: 1) increasing the quantity and quality of public amenities; 2) separating accessible space and/or buffer space from already used space inside the park, particularly in the entrance zone; 3) providing space adjacent to the lake; and 4) removing obstacles (e.g. walls around the park) to give a clearer view from inside the park to the streets outside and vice versa. Also, the calculation model of evidence-based designs provides input data for re-planning or creating public space/parks to help designers, planners and authorities improve or design better open spaces in the future.

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Smart Cities and Governance

Handbook of Research on Global Challenges for Improving Public Services and Government Operations - Advances in Public Policy and Administration ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-4978-0.ch024 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 464-483

Author(s):

Özcan Sezer ◽

Mehmet Avcı

Keyword(s):

Smart City ◽

Smart Cities ◽

Action Plan ◽

Public Agencies ◽

Rapid Urbanization ◽

Social Challenges ◽

Public Resources ◽

Strategic Goals ◽

Smart Governance

Cities are futures' crucial elements, playing an important role in economics, social and environmental. As closer to individuals, cities face some challenges in terms of problems caused through the rapid urbanization process. Hence, governments and public agencies at all levels should use smart techniques including technology for sustainable development, better quality of life for citizens, and finally, an efficient use of scarce public resources. In this sense, Turkey plans to apply a smart city concept in Turkish cities as worldwide and published 2020-2023 National Smart Cities Strategy and Action Plan document with four strategic goals, nine targets, and 40 actions. This chapter aims to reveal the institutional, fiscal, and social challenges on smart governance, which is the most important dimension of smart city, for Turkey. In this respect, there are some challenges on smart governance in Turkey in terms of legislation, institutional, transparency and accountability, participation, e-democracy, and citizens.

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