Special Summer Camps free essay sample

History development of childrens camps special options: adventure, tours, wilderness experience, ranches, space camps, artistic, academic, computers, sports. Each summer, an estimated seven-million children attend one of more than 12,000 day and residential camps in the United States. Some of these camps are set-up to provide educational opportunities for attendees, while other are designed to provide specialized opportunities in education, sports, or other specialized activities. This research examines the phenomenon of special summer camps. A special summer camp, as the term is used in this research, is a camp that focuses on a primary goal or has a special focus, as opposed to the more general type of summer camp that is devoted primarily to recreation. As a part of this research, a historical background of summer camps general

Thomas Green Case Study Essays

Thomas Green Case Study Essays Thomas Green Case Study Paper Thomas Green Case Study Paper Thomas green Case Study:- 1)Thomas Green was a high performing individual and could have been a very good leader, if he would have exhibited all the qualities of a true leader. Here is an analysis of Thomas’s leadership style based on Ancona leadership model. a. Inventing:- Thomas was very good on this quality of leadership. Soon after his promotion, when he met Davis, his boss, he was able to come with many new ideas and client responded very positively to these ideas. i. Another example of Thomas being inventive:-one of the market specialists who accompanied Thomas to several meeting during the special software project said that Thomas is very creative and can quickly think of new ideas on his feet. b. Visioning:- One of the very important example of Thomas being a visionary was that he know what he wants in his career. He was able to see the position where he wants to be in his organization. And using his inventing capability he was able to make a way to that promotion i. Another example of Thomas’s visioning skill:- In-spite of positive indicators of the market stats (as per Davis) Thomas was able to see that market is actually not going in that direction. Thomas was more close to the consumers. After he stepped into this new role he met many clients, their account executives and market specialist. Based on his meetings he was able to predict that 10% growth, which Davis forecasted was not achievable. c. Sense making:- Thomas was good in this skill also. His ideas made sense to clients (clients responded well to his ideas). Also he was able to convince McDonald that he is a better fit for the new senior marketing specialist position. While in meeting he was able to invent new ideas for his clients which totally got the clients interested in his ideas. d. Relating: This was something Thomas fell behind on. McDonald informed him that he is walking into a tricky situation; still he was not able to relate this warning to Davis’s behavior. During Budgeting and forecasting meeting he openly challenged Davis’ forecasted growth of 10 %. He was not able to relate that Davis was doing this forecasting for past several years and Thomas is the young new guy, challenging Davis Openly will make Davis very upset. In addition he was not able to relate to McDonald either. After the promotion he did not follow up with McDonald to keep him posted of the dynamics going on between him and Davis. Further he was not able to relate to his clients. He was able to walk them through the benefits they will get based on his idea, however, he was not able to provide data supporting his ideas. Green was a high potential worker, if he has been more successful in relating to the people around him then he could have been very strong and influential leader. 2) When this new position of senior marketing specialist opened up, Davis expected to choose the new person. However, McDonald made decision to hire Green. Davis started to act from power as Green was directly reporting to Davis. In first meeting Davis although appreciated Thomas’s new and creative ideas, he also said that these would have been more effective if he had been able to provide supporting data. From the position of power he was able to set targets for Thomas, which was not very realistic. He used his power as boss to decide Thomas’s perception of reality as this lack of enthusiasm. Soon Davis and Thomas both landed in the â€Å"Right† zone of negotiation. Davis acted his right to know Thomas’s schedule and his plans for growth. Additionally he also acted his right to get follow-up on requested information. Thomas at the same time was acting on his rights to be able to voice his perception that 10% of growth for his region is not a possible target. In response to Davis’s complain about his schedule he defended by using the argument of his right to make decision on his trip to maximize the output. Although they were started acting from rights and power, they landed into the interest zone very soon. They based their conflict on the performance of their individual goals. Davis wanted to show a better growth in regions under him, whereas Thomas did not wanted to set a target which he could not achieve and be a failure. In my view, if they could have tried harder to relate to each other or invent a way to relate to each other, then they could have settled for a common interest. Green should make extra effort to be in good terms with Davis. Especially after knowing that Davis’s first instinct would have been not to like him. Thomas should provide all the answers and follow-up to Davis on time by taking help from one of this marketing specialist. Also this marketing specialist can update Thomas’s calendar. Thomas should have other marketing specialist develop data to support his ideas and present them in a nice presentable format to be presented to Davis and also the clients. On the other hand Davis can also ake a step towards relating to the new situation where Davis is the new senior Marketing Specialist and try to take maximum advantage of his positive qualities. He should trust Thomas in growth forecasting as Thomas is closer to the consumer and has more exposure to the real picture. Historical data is not always the correct way to forecast. I they both make and attempt to relate to each other using these ways, they can definitely resolve th e dispute. 3)Thomas Green is not very experienced in his current role. Based on my experience from Eric Peterson case, going forward, Thomas can do following things to be a better fit in his organization. a. He should send a weekly update:- i. Thomas has been working very hard to meet clients and the market specialists to generate new business. Still Davis thinks that is a total waste of time. If Thomas sends weekly update to Davis and request a weekly feed-back from him, this will make Davis feel more valued, and the correct/useful work will be on Davis. Your progress in weekly updates will also make sure that Davis does not think that Thomas is not enthusiastic about work. i. The bad side of this strategy is that this may give Davis more opportunity to beat on Thomas. This can make Thomas very frustrated and can result in poor performance. b. Clarify your rights and power: i. Thomas was the new senior marketing specialist for this region and Davis was forecasting for this region. Thomas should clarify on this rights and responsibilities with Davis as well as McDonald. It will make more sense for a person, who is responsible for generating the growth to make the forecast of growth. ii. There is a possibility that this will add to Davis’s anger and he may come as if Thomas is taking away Davis’s Job. Davis can use this power to add to Thomas’s problems. c. Take the opportunity when it presents itself:- During the first appraisal meeting with Davis, Thomas could have explained his work in details and clarified Davis’s doubts on his work rather than accepting all the charges. Or after receiving the forwarded email he should have really worked hard to change Davis’s perspective in 30 days. This could have been highest on his list. Or after receiving the forwarded email, he could have McDonald and convinced her of the work he was working on. Or take one of Davis’s questions and relate the answer to what he is working on along with the success plan to resolve the issue. i. Davis will have no or less complains about him, also it will show that you are giving importance and respect to Davis. ii. A possible bad side to this approach is that he may totally freeze Thomas’s initiatives to expand and grow reasoning that this does not relate to the question at hand.

Why has gift exchange been an important topic for anthropology Essay - 2

Why has gift exchange been an important topic for anthropology - Essay Example Nevertheless, one of the means by which anthropology can draw meaningful inference based upon the similarities that exist between otherwise different and diverse groups. For instance, anthropology has long been focused upon social customs relating to marriage and the means by which individuals pledged themselves to another, or to a specific religious union, throughout much of their lives. Within the modern world, this construct is no as marriage. However, marriage is not the only shared anthropological similarity that exists throughout almost all cultures. Indeed, there are many cultures that have been studied throughout the course anthropological research that do not indicate such a union to have existed. As such, using marriage, or a similar construct, to draw inference upon all people and to measure cultures and other differentials based upon it is an inherent flaw. Within such a dynamic, the analyst can come to appreciate the importance that gift giving, both as a norm and has a behavioral complement of culture and society, has come to be regarded as a fundamental least common denominator that exists between peoples. Whereas differentials with respect to gift giving have been denoted by a litany of different anthropologists, the similarity and practice and form that exists within almost each and every culture or group that has thus far been analyzed is one of the reasons why this particular practice is of such profound importance towards understanding human society and the means by which evolutionary culture has shaped the globe. One of the most famous anthropologists to approach the issue of gift giving is that of James Laidlaw (Whitehouse & Laidlaw, 2007). The underlying purpose for this particular scholar being referenced within the beginning of this study is contingent upon the way in which he sought to define the four basic criteria that gifts represent; seemingly regardless of the culture in which

Case analysis Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Analysis - Case Study Example This was also to address the uniform distribution of the vertical load on the two wheels through the creation of a design that could vary the normal force and rotational velocity applied to the burnishing tire to ensure that one wheel is not overwhelmed which might lead to the bursting of the tire on that wheel. The track surfaces used for wet traction tests develop non-uniformity in grip levels over time, the antilock braking system prevents the wheel from skidding in low traction situation, the main aim of the project under this report was to develop an implement that can be attached to a tractor and powered by the tractor’s power take off. This implement was to function in the exact fashion as an ABS system. This was to ensure that even at times when the strip surface had developed less grip capability the tire would still hold on to the track without skidding. i.e. To provide constant grip over time. In the project under this report, it was required for the team to create a design for an implement which can be attached to a tractor and driven by the tractor power take-off, which could be used to rotate the tires so that it could burnish or scrub the surface of a test track as the tractor moves the implement along the surface. In order to avoid constant scrubbing this implement was to offer the capability to change the vertical load on the tire, the goal is to enhance the effectiveness of the burnishing process by increasing the time period between the needed burnishing, decrease the time required to burnish, and achieve the target coefficient of friction consistently over the entirety of the test area(L. Beaver, A. Drew and J. Leitzsey). The solution to this problem was based majorly on the constraints on the design of the traction method, the solution to the constraints mainly focused on speeding up the current burnishing process and providing more even coverage while creating a design that would be easy to operate and maintain. The

Why do legal professionals need to understand the elements of Essay

Why do legal professionals need to understand the elements of researching both primary and secondary sources - Essay Example These primary law of each of each system came from three sources which are the laws, cases and adjudications in the courts of the United States. The example of statutes are composed of the Constitution of the United States and the law passed in Congress. Example of cases on the other hand are opinions about jurisprudence issued by courts while adjudications are administrative agency materials (University of Cornell). Secondary sources are needed because they determine what law applies to the research. In essence, secondary sources are category of legal materials that is not considered primary source or information beyond the Constitution, laws and opinions of the court. The example of secondary sources could include but not limited to legal encyclopedias, treatises, legal periodicals and practice materials (University of Cornell). They may also include scientific journals and other research. Secondary sources are helpful materials that are a â€Å"rich source of citations† to the primary

How learning theories inform knowledge

How learning theories inform knowledge The NMC (2008) stipulates that as nurses we must maintain our professional knowledge and competence regularly through participation in appropriate learning and practice activities that will maintain and develop our competence and performance. Therefore, this essay will aim to explore and analyse how learning theories informed knowledge development in clinical settings. I will examine the principles underpinning the facilitation of learning and assessment. I will demonstrate my knowledge and understanding of the theoretical concepts in an episode in which I facilitated learning to residents while on placement. Finally, I will use the reflective model by (Gibbs, 1988) to reflect on the strategies used within the episode and discuss the implications in relation to my future role as a nurse. I observed most residents having fast food and fizzy drink regularly for lunch. I was deeply concerned because of my duty of care as a nurse (NMC, 2004) and because previous research has shown the risk of malnutrition was commonly associated with people with psychosis which predisposes them to host of physical health problems (Bottomley and Mckeown, 2008 and Hallpike, 2008). I had a discussion with my mentor of my intention to use the weekly communal meeting to carry out health promotion on healthy eating, considering the fact that most of them were on various antipsychotic medication which predisposes them to become obese. Timms (2008) said that a huge majority of people with mental health problems are most likely to have weight issue due to side effects of their antipsychotic medication. My mentor agreed to table it before the residents in the next meeting to gain their consent in compliance with NMC (2008). The residents consented to it and were quite interested because some them said they were really concerned about their weight. We agreed on a date for me to facilitate the learning that will empower the residents to take responsibility for their health and make a positive change. A vast majority of physical health problems are caused by people lifestyles and their failure to see the risk associated with their daily habits. Kiger (1995) defined health as a state of balance between different facets of life suggesting that it is a dynamic concept which he termed movable. This means is that our lifestyles can alter the balance resulting in an adverse effect on our health. As facilitators, it is essential that we have a clear understanding of the different learning styles in order to tailor our teaching to meeting the varied approach of our learners. This is because learners are intrinsically different and preferred different ways of learning. Teaching is a purposeful intervention aimed at promoting learning and causing learning to happen. While Kiger (2004) defined teaching as a process of enabling people to learn through the dissemination of information and advice; it creates room for people to express their feeling, clarify their thought and acquired new skills. Roger (1996) defined learning as a kind of change often in knowledge but also in behaviour. Reece and Walker (2002) said that learning brings about change and that teaching and learning proceeds pari passu and cannot be treated in isolation. I spent time engaging with the residents so as to build a therapeutic relationship based on trust whilst observing their behaviours. This was to enable me to identify their preferred style of learning so as to increase ease of transmission of knowledge. Kolb (1984) developed the experimental learning theory (learning by doing) by this he suggested that learning is not fixed but formed from previous experiences. Kolb learning theory which is cyclical suggested that people have different learning style and he identified four distinct learning styles as shown in figure 1 below. This includes concrete experience (having an experience), reflective observation (reflective on their experience from a different perspective), abstract conceptualization (drawing their conclusions) and active experimentation (putting theory into practice). For effective learning to happen Kolb said all this four must be taking into context when planning a teaching session. Honey and Mumfords learning cycle is sl ightly different from Kolb system. Honey and Mumford (2000) identified four different types of learners which must be taken into consideration when planning a teaching session. These include the activists, they like learning situation that presents them with new challenges, problem solving, and role play and uses the first opportunity to experiment; reflector like brainstorming and learning activity that gives room for observation, thinking and reflecting on what they have learned; theorist like to research into fact before taking it onboard, they prefer a step by step approach and pragmatist like practical based learning and been given the opportunity to try out techniques and getting feedback in return. In view of fact that people have varied approach to learning and considering the fact that its a group teaching. I intend to present my teaching to my mentor first to get feedback on whether I have considered all the four learners identified by both Kolb and Honey and Mumford. Health promotion is a vital aspect of our nursing intervention. Ewles and Simnett (2003) defined health promotion as the process of empowering people to take proactive action and improve their health. They identified five approaches which must be considered in health promotion and this includes medical, behaviour, education, client-centred and societal change. It is important that we use an approach that encompasses congruence, empathy and respect in assisting our client (Roger, 1996) instead of coercing them to change their life style. it is imperative that we aware that teaching the client requires consent and that the client has the right and autonomy to refuse any intervention even though it can result to death provided they have the mental capacity to make informed decision (Mental Capacity Act, 2005 and NMC, 2008). DH (1996) states that the client must be provided with vital information about their health, so that they can make informed choice about the treatment options, life styles changes and behaviour. Because of this we sort residents consent by providing them information on what the teaching is all about so that they can make informed decision. Kemm and Close (1995) said that there is high tendency for client to learn if teaching is directed to meeting their needs, interest and within their ability. Effective communication plays a vital role in facilitating learning. As nurses the way we communicate and the kind of rapport we build with our client plays an essential role in empowering or disempowering them (Brown, 1997). Good communication skills act as therapeutic tool in delivery a holistic and person-centred care (Burnard, 1992). Our role as facilitator should be to explore and support our client to build that intrinsic motivation to make a change in their life, strengthen their commitment to change and then develop a plan to fulfill that change (Miller and Rollnick 2002). The responsibility for change lies purely on the client however as facilitator we should use an approach that confront the client with the idea of need for change without been persuasive and argumentative rather we should create an environment that show a sense of genuinity, respect and empathic understanding through collaboration and working in partnership with the client. Individuals personal values, beli efs and altitude are motivating factors for self-directed learners. Based on my assessment and the fact that the residents are adult learners capable of self-directing their learning, I chose andragogical instead of pedagogical teaching style. Pedagogy is the art and science of teaching children, it is a teacher- centred while andragogy is the art and science of assisting adults to learn and it is learner-centred. Andragogical approach help learning to take place because of the clients own willingness and it helps learners to learn what they want to learn (Knowles, 1990). Over the years educational psychologist and educationalist have developed models and learning theories (Hincliff, 2004). These include the behaviourist, cognitive or humanistic. I chose the humanistic approach in facilitating the teaching in order to meet the residents learning needs. The humanist theory as explained by (Maslow, 1943) is concerned with individual fulfillment and self-actualisation. Bandura (1977) stated that learning take place as a result of social interaction through observation and mimicking others whom the learner look up to. To facilitate learning; a conducive learning environment, learning material suited to the learners level and their knowledge base must be noted (Quinn, 1995).In view of this, I planned and gathered all the necessary resource taking into account the residents varied learning styles and I ensured the environment was conducive for leaning, spacious, quite and with the right temperature The residents belong to the theorist, pragmatist and reflector learning styles based on my assessment using (Honey and Mumford, 1982). Prior to the start of the teaching, I introduced myself and asked how many of them like burgers and French fry; majority said they liked it. I explained the rationale for the teaching session. I gave them handout I prepared for the session which contains literature and picture which were simple to understand and which they could keep and refer to later at their convenience. I also used video clip from YouTube to facilitate the learning process http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp0nc4kY-tc . I explained to them that most of the fast food they eat is made from hydrogenated oil which is rich saturated fats and that this raises the cholesterol level in the blood because the body find it difficult to break it down. This bad cholesterol gradually blocks the arterial wall which could lead to anterosclerosis, stroke and heart diseases. One of the residents then asked what is cholesterol? I explained the meaning and told them there was the good and bad cholesterol. I encourage them to go check out their cholesterol level. I encouraged them to buy food products rich in unsaturated fat and low saturated fats when shopping for food products. I brought out some food products to show them how to check for this information on the food pack. Then I brought out more food products for them to pick out which one contain high saturated and low unsaturated fats and vice versa to test their understanding of the lectures; they did perfectly well identifying the products. I applauded them for a job well done. I showed another video clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAFTcfaA-pc on You Tube on the kind of food that is healthy, which can raise the good cholesterol which the body need. As a facilitator I encouraged them to adopt a healthier lifestyle by eating more fruit and vegetable, drinking more water instead of fuzzy drink and to cook their meal and to exercise by going to gym or taking a light walk at least once a day. The teaching session was an interactive one with room for question and answer session. I thanked them for their collaboration and for making the teaching successful. Their willingness to learn was awesome. I provided information on what make a balance diet and some activities aim at dealing with weight issues in the communal lounge see appendix. As nurses its imperative that we reflect daily on our professional and clinical practice. Gibb et al (2005) stated that constant reflection allows learning to occur at every given opportunity and that it improves practice. I felt competent though initially nervous teaching the residents. I was able to facilitated residents learning by building a rapport through which I observed their learning styles and knowledge base which made it possible for me to tailor the teaching to their varied learning approach. I believe the teaching session met the outcome of enlightening the residents on the need for healthy eating and lifestyles change based on the feedback I got at the end of the teaching. The session was collaborative and interactive with the residents fully involved in the discussion and asking appropriate when seeking clarification. The residents during the evaluation felt they are now self aware of the danger associated with unhealthy eating and that the handout, leaflet and the use of video during the teaching session were very useful. Residents said they will eat healthier now when asked what they think about fatty foods at the end of the teaching session. My mentors feedback was encouraging but said I was a bit too fast in my presentation. I am aware as a registrant, that my professional development is ongoing and that as I progress in my training I will become more confident in facilitating learning. Conclusively, I have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the principles underpinning the facilitation of learning and assessment. Therapeutic relationship and effective communication is the key to facilitating learning. Through therapeutic engagement I was able to understand the varied learning approach of the residents based on Honey and Mumford learning styles. As facilitators, it important that we work collaboratively, encouraging and supporting our client to build that intrinsic motivation to make change in their life by using an approach that encompasses congruence, respect and empathy rather than coercing them which is inimical to holistic and client-centred care. Reflecting on the teaching session and feedback from both the residents and my mentor has given me insight on ways to improve my teaching skills and this will form a basis for my future role as nurse.

The Life of an Engineering Student :: Engineer Education Papers

The Life of an Engineering Student I'm drinking cocktails out of a coconut on the beach when the Ocean begins to beep. It's 7:00am, Monday morning. I throw the alarm clock across the room and it crashes on the opposite wall. Subconsciously, I drag myself out of bed. Blind without my contacts and still lying on the beach sipping cocktails in a far off land, I don't realize the bedroom door is closed until my nose impacts it. My nose gives, the door doesn't. I stagger into the bathroom, start the shower, and plop in my contacts. I massage my chin, which is sporting two days of scruffy growth. I tell myself that I'll shave tomorrow. The shower's hot for the first two minutes and then it turns cold. My eyes fire open for the first time. I wonder why a building designed for twenty people can only handle one person taking a shower. I towel off and drag a comb across my head. The deodorant is there, but it seems my toothbrush has walked off. A finger has to act as a substitute. I slip on a pair of flannel boxers. They have a tear down the leg from fatigue due to heavy wear. It takes months for a new pair of boxers to become comfortable, hence, no man ever throws his shorts away. Dissolved by the cyclic loading of the wash machine, boxers just don't make it out of the laundry one day. It's a mystery that men still ponder while sipping a beer at the bar on a Friday night. My jeans haven't been cleaned in days, but that doesn't matter. A T-shirt and shoes add the finishing touches. I check my watch. It's 7:35am and there's no way I'm going to make it for my 7:45 mechanics of materials lab. I jump on my mountain bike in full stride and blow four red lights on the way to Engineering Hall. I nearly knock over a poor frosh who carelessly steps into the bike lane on University Avenue. Clipping his backpack, I turn my head to see if I knocked him over. I don't fret it because freshmen are pretty ductile when it comes to things like that. Besides, I'm sure I didn't cause any permanent trauma. The Professor has started the pre-lab lecture when I enter the room. "This is a common stress-strain diagram for low carbon steel.

Worldview Paper – Secular Humanist Worldview

The Secular Worldview is a religious worldview in which â€Å"man is the measure† — mankind is the ultimate norm by which truth and values are to be determined. According to Secular Humanism, all reality and life center upon human beings. In fact, we act as God. The Secular Worldview is a comprehensive view of the world from a materialistic, naturalistic standpoint. Therefore, the Secular Humanist sees no place for the supernatural or immaterial. â€Å"There is no place in the Humanist worldview for either immortality or God in the valid meanings of those terms. Humanism contends that instead of the gods creating the cosmos, the cosmos, in the individualized form of human beings giving rein to their imagination, created the gods. † Secular Humanists believe that there is no God, that science and the scientific process have made God obsolete. Humanists believe that only matter – things we can touch, feel, prove, or study – exists and has always existed. Man is only matter (no soul or spirit). No supernatural explanation is needed for the existence of this matter. Naturalism says that only matter exists , things you can touch, feel, and study. The Humanist trusts the scientific method as the only sure way of knowing anything, so if something cannot be observed, tested, and experimented on, it doesn’t exist. Since you can’t observe God, hell, the human mind or spirit, or conduct experiments on them they can’t, and don’t exist. Since the Secular Worldview rejects the existence of God, human beings get to decide on standards and values. Humanists believe that science, reason, and historical experience are sufficient guides for figuring out what is right or wrong in any situation. These standards will not always be the same, as each person has a different background and reasoning. Therefore, the standards and values – ethics – are relative. The Humanist Manifesto II states, â€Å"We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience. Ethics is autonomous and situational, needing not theological or ideological sanction. Ethics stems from human need and interest. † The theory of Neo-Darwinism purports that natural selection acts on genetic variations within individuals in populations and that mutations (especially random copying errors in DNA) provide the main source of these variations. Because positive mutations seem to be rare, Neo-Darwinism contends that evolution will be a slow, gradual process. Without naturalistic evolution, there is no Secular Worldview. Anything else would demand a Creator, which would mean that man is not the source of all things. Secular Humanists believe that science has proven the theory of evolution to the extent that it is no longer a theory but a scientific fact. According to this â€Å"fact,† man is the most highly evolved of all creatures, and is now responsible for directing and aiding the evolutionary process

Analyze Common Characteristics Of Effective Institutions Of Learning Term Paper

Analyze Common Characteristics Of Effective Institutions Of Learning Term Paper Analyze Common Characteristics Of Effective Institutions Of Learning – Term Paper Example s of learning have to be effective in the service they provide to their therefore, it is common to find some common characteristics among effective institutions of learning. For an institution of learning to be considered effective, it must be able to achieve all its objectives, which are mainly centered on improving students’ literacy in the schools. According to DEECD (2011), the main objectives of effective institutions of learning are to pursue excellence and to achieve literacy-learning outcomes for their students. According to DEECD (2011), the first characteristic of effective institutions of learning is having shared vision and goals, which ensure a unity of purpose in the provision of education to students. Having shared vision and goals also involves having consistent practices in schools. The second characteristic of effective institutions of learning has to do with purposeful teaching and leadership, where the school administration is expected to have efficient org anization, clarity of purpose, well-planned lessons and adaptive practice. The third characteristic is the presence of high expectations for students and teachers, where the instructors take an active role in supporting the performance of their students in learning. The instructors are also expected to provide an intellectual challenge to their students. Accountability is also an important characteristic of effective institutions of learning, where the instructors are expected to have a focus on improving students’ results in learning, continually exploring students’ progress, and reviewing ways of improving the learning process. The last characteristic of effective institutions of learning is the availability of a stimulating and secure learning environment, which ensures that the self-esteem of the students is raised, and the discipline standards in the institution is kept high. ReferenceDepartment of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). (2011). Charact eristics of Effective Schools. Retrieved on January 16, 2011 from:

Qatar Influence in the World

Qatar Influence in the World Statement of the Research Question The main research question that my thesis will cover is, ‘How does Qatar use soft power to strengthen its global political influence?’ This question will provide an opportunity for me to study the various processes of soft power that Qatar has and/or continues to utilize to strengthen its political influence not only in the Middle East, but also across the world.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Qatar Influence in the World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is evident that Qatar has emerged as one of the most influential Middle East countries in the world’s political affairs. This thesis will be a revelation as to how such a country has achieved its current position. Introduction Since 1995, following the takeover of leadership by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani through a peaceful coup d’etat, Qatar has been transformed from a little-known tiny count ry into a major economic and political powerhouse in the Middle East and, in extension, the world (Evans and Grant 42). In the last 18 years, the country’s leadership has been engaged in a protracted effort to transform it into a globally recognized and respected modern state (Brannagan and Grix par. 3). Being the world’s richest country in terms of per capita income, which stood at USD$ 448,246 in 2008, Qatar has managed to achieve tremendous successes in its short history (Hey 42). Its enormous wealth and a leadership that is keen on putting the country ‘on the map’ in the Middle East make it a major political player in the Arab World. Its influence in the world is growing (Beaumont 3). The main question is how such a country can achieve so much within such a short period. According to Brannagan and Grix, Qatar presents a good example of how soft power can be used to propel a nation’s influence in the global political affairs (par. 5). In the last 15 years, the country has invested heavily in building an appealing image to the world without using military or other forms of hard power. This move has allowed the country to gain a substantial political influence (King 16). The country has used its enormous resources to put in place measures of not only making Qatar an important investment destination for many nations and companies, but also as an important economic ally of many other states (Antwi-Boateng 39).Advertising Looking for proposal on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Further, its close and friendly association with western countries such as the US and the United Kingdom has separated the country from the politics of the Middle East, hence creating an appealing image to the world (van Ham 10). Other major areas of focus have been on the creation of an image of the country as a top tourism and sporting destination (Amara par. 3). For a long time, its neighboring rich, populous, and influential neighbors such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran among others have over shadowed the country (Worth 7). Owing to the fact that it was the last Arab country to discover its oil wealth, it is a recent entrant into the politics of the Middle East. So far, it has been successful in its push for becoming a key player in the region. For instance, while the UAE’s Abu Dhabi has been the major tourist and financial hub of the region, Qatar’s Doha has gained a strong footing against the former with an increasingly busy Airport, a key indicator of the country’s connectedness to the world (Brannagan, Mubanga, and Wolff par. 2). Further, its global financial assistance to many countries has also put the country into the league of nations where it provides billions of dollars for humanitarian and development purposes in disadvantaged populations and countries across the world. The country has also invested heav ily in education of its citizens, thus bringing it to the forefront of nations that offer quality education to their citizens. Education is a major factor of power for top nations such as the UK and the US (Joseit par. 1). The current position of Qatar as having a substantial and increasing power and influence in global political affairs has not gone unnoticed. This position has been captured in various researches and articles to this effect. My thesis aims at studying how Qatar has used soft power to create its growing influence and presence in global political affairs. This topic is interesting since the country is succeeding in an area that many other countries have failed. For a long time, to gain political influence in the world affairs, many powerful countries such as Russia, the USA, China, and the UK have used hard power, through military and economic processes (Worth 7).Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Qatar Influence in the World specifically f or you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Consequently, the success of Qatar in gaining global political influence without using hard power presents a new approach to the understanding of power and hence the significance of the study (Nye ‘Soft Power’ 96). The thesis will create an understanding of how Qatar uses soft power through four main areas that include foreign aid, cultural institutions, tourism, and sports diplomacy to gain and maintain its global political influence. Relevant Literature A substantial amount of research that has focused on the growing influence of Qatar in the global political affairs is available. However, much of the research focuses on the increasing influence of the Middle East countries on the global political affairs. With some efforts being dedicated to Qatar, it is a clear indication that the use of soft power by the small Middle East country has not gone unnoticed. In addition, the existing research has majorly focus ed on the economy of the country as the main avenue through which it has amassed power in the global political affairs. The first and most relevant research article is titled, ‘The rise of Qatar as a Soft Power and the Challenges’ by Osman Antwi-Boateng. The research is important and relevant to my thesis since it comprehensively covers the various ways through which Qatar exercises its soft power. According to the article, Qatar exercises soft power influence through what it refers to as attraction and ‘carrots’. In terms of attraction, the article points to the strong political stability, close relationship with the US, progressive higher education system, and effective income redistribution policies (Antwi-Boateng 42). The country also uses carrots through the media (Aljazeera Network), sports investments, and foreign aid policy to advance its soft power across the world. In this study, the author explores how Qatar exerts its soft power in its foreign p olicy in addition to how it addresses various challenges in advancing its influence. Antwi-Boateng begins by noting that the country is an exception of its neighbors who are facing political instability or other major hurdles affecting their influence in Middle East and in extension, the world (47). Firstly, in his study, Antwi-Boateng notes the importance of sport as a major source of soft power for Qatar (51). The Study gives an example of the 2006 XV Asian Games that Qatar hosted successfully. Further, the country has successfully bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup (Antwi-Boateng 51). The two events have greatly enhanced the country’s reputation and image, especially in the Middle East and the Muslim World.Advertising Looking for proposal on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Secondly, the study highlights the increasing use of football diplomacy and cultural institutions that have been characteristic of Qatar in the last few years. Antwi-Boateng regards Qatar’s sponsorship of Barcelona, a world’s re-known Spanish club as well as its purchase of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), a French club, as major steps that the nation has taken to improve its influence through the world’s most popular game (48). The country invested a whooping USD$190 million in Barcelona’s sponsorship and another USD$ 63 Million for acquiring a 70% stake at PSG (Kamrava 540). The study identifies Qatari’s involvement in sporting, especially football, as in line with Nye’s assertion that culture is a major element of soft power (‘Public Diplomacy’ 102). Football provides an opportunity for Qatar to be in popular culture to display its own civilization due to the wide audience that the game receives across the world (Dorsey 4). The stu dy identifies foreign aid as a major aspect through which Qatar has gained and maintained its soft power. According to the study, Qatar is ranked at the 20th place worldwide in terms of the percentage of its population’s giving and first position in the Middle East and Arab Countries (Antwi-Boateng 45). According to the study, foreign aid is linked with positive goodwill, which enhances the country’s reputation among its beneficiaries. This move is in line with Nye’s claim that such efforts lead to legitimate power in the eyes of others (‘Public Diplomacy’ 99). For instance, in 2010-2011, the nation’s development and humanitarian aid amounted to more than USD$ 1 billion (Brannagan and Grix par. 2). Its foreign aid policy has been majorly focused on Arab countries that have been experiencing political instability due to the Arab Spring (Kinninmont 5). For instance, Qatar has advanced a low interest loan of USD$1 billion to Tunisia. It has also offered to employ over 20,000 Tunisians in Qatar while at the same time funding the construction of subsidized houses to the tune of USD$ 37 million (DOHA2012 18). The country has also provided financial support amounting to USD$ 3 billion loan facility to Egypt. Besides, it has also offered humanitarian aid support to many countries, including the US (Ministry of Foreign Affairs par. 2). This study is very relevant and central to my thesis since it comprehensively covers different processes through which Qatar exercises its soft power. By recognizing sporting and foreign aid as major ways of gaining soft power, the paper goes a long way in terms of proving the relevance of my study. Other studies that have also addressed Qatar’s soft power are also relevant to this research. One these researches is titled, ‘Qatar: A First-Hand Account of Soft Power’, by Brannagan, Mubanga, and Wolff. In the study, Brannagan, Mubanga, and Wolff point out the increasing influence in the regional and global political affairs (par. 4). The study identifies the increased efforts of Qatar to become a top tourist destination. Further, there have been more efforts to market the country through its unique culture to the world. The research is also relevant to this study since it covers cultural and tourism aspects through which Qatar seeks to gain influence in regional and global political affairs. Another important study that is relevant to my thesis is, ‘Qatar’s Soft Power Gamble: The FIFA World Cup 2022’ by Paul Brannagan and Jonathan Grix. In the study, the focus is on the growing participation and presence of Qatar in the international sports, and more importantly, its successful bid for hosting 2022 world cup games (QTA par. 2). Hosting such an event will be in line with the nation’s plans of becoming a top tourist destination since it will present a prime opportunity of displaying the country’s culture and attractiveness to billions of spectators across the world (FIFA par. 6). The study will be important for my thesis since it will provide important information and support on the increasing use of sporting and tourism as a means of gaining soft power for the Middle East country. Data In my thesis, I will use both primary and secondary data to address the main research question. There is a considerable amount of data that can be drawn from different secondary sources. For instance, Qatar’s Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics offers a rich source of data and important figures that can support different assertions of my research paper such as foreign aid and investment in sports and tourism. Further, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website also offers significant information on Qatar’s foreign policy and foreign aid, which are both central to my research (par. 3). Owing to the high number of other studies that the research relies on, this study will offer an important platform of accessing and drawing secondary information. Primary data sources will include the use of interviews, surveys, and questions that will be targeted to specific population groups privy to Qatar’s soft power. For instance, interviews will be conducted on people such as lecturers and professors who can offer expert opinion on Qatar’s growing political influence in the Middle East and the world at large. Online survey will also be important in providing important information on the opinions of different populations on Qatar’s growing influence. The primary data is important in incorporating the information that will be obtained through secondary data sources. Outline of the Argument In the last two decades, Qatar has emerged from a little known and less influential nation to a major player in regional and global political affairs. During this time, with a major economic transformation, the country has used different approaches to acquire legitimate power and influ ence over other nations. Of these approaches, military muscle power and economic maneuvers, which have traditionally been the source power for many countries, have not been used by the country. Instead, the country has used other approaches to gain soft power. So far, it has been successful. My thesis will seek to discuss the various approaches of soft power that Qatar has used to gain its political influence in the Middle East and around the globe. These approaches include the use of culture, tourism, foreign aid, and sports. The thesis will discuss each of the above approaches in an attempt to show how they have helped Qatar to gain its influence and prominence in the global political affairs. Frameworks The first framework will be a theoretical structure that will focus on the concept of soft power. Drawing heavily from Joseph Nye’s ‘Public Diplomacy and Soft Power’, the framework will guide the thesis in providing an understanding of what constitutes soft pow er and how Qatar has been successful in gaining political influence through its well-calculated use of various processes of gaining power. Nye’s article comprehensively covers and brings forth the concept of soft power by comparing its effectiveness with the use of hard power (Nye ‘Public Diplomacy’ 102). It is evident that although hard power still dominates what constitutes power in the global political influence, soft power approaches have emerged strongly as an option for many countries that cannot exercise hard power. By utilizing the ideas brought forward in Nye’s article, my thesis will be able to cover the use of soft power by Qatar as it continues to emerge as a major power in the Middle East and in the global political environment. My research will also adopt the conceptual framework, which will focus on how the ideas of my thesis will be organized and presented to answer the main research question. It will also focus on how Qatar frames its appr oaches in order to gain power over other nations across the world. The framework is important since it helps to link the theoretical framework to real life examples of how soft power can be utilized successfully. By covering each of the areas and approaches through which Qatar has exerted its influence globally, the plan will be an important part of the conceptual framework of helping to answer various questions that arise from the process of answering the main research question. Chapter/Section Outline The thesis will begin with a background discussion on Qatar’s past and current status. It will show how it has gained an influential status over the years in the Middle East and beyond. This information will form an important part of the thesis. It will provide the foundation and basis for my research. The background information will include Qatar’s growing economic significance in the Middle East in terms of how it has been able to extend its influence beyond the regio n. The second section of thesis will focus on various ways through which Qatar gains its power and influence in its region and across the world. In this section, the first component to be covered will focus on how Qatar uses foreign aid to attain power and/or exert its influence across the world. The second component will focus on Qatar’s use of cultural institutions, including education and arts to grow its profile as a top education and cultural destination in the world, an achievement that has made it gain considerable power over other nations. The third component of coverage will be tourism and how Qatar, through the Qatar Tourism Authority, has put in place efforts to turn Qatar into a top tourist destination in the Middle East. The last component is the use sport diplomacy that Qatar has adopted to market itself to the world. These strategies include its successful bid to host 2022 World Cup games, its sponsorship of major European clubs such as Barcelona, and its acqui sition of Paris Saint-Germain among many other sporting activities that it has shown interest. Contribution of the Research The paper will contribute to the growing field of knowledge on soft power with Qatar as a good example of its effectiveness. It will be an important knowledge base for future studies that will be focused on Qatar and other nations’ influence on global political affairs using soft power approaches. Amara, Mahfoud. The Pillars of Qatars International Sport Strategy, 2013. Web. e-ir.info/2013/11/29/the-pillars-of-qatars-international-sport-strategy/. Antwi-Boateng, Osman. â€Å"The Rise of Qatar as a Soft Power and the Challenges.† European Scientific Journal 2.1(2013): 39-51. Print. Beaumont, Peter. â€Å"How Qatar is taking on the world.† The Guardian July 20. 2012: 3. Print. Brannagan, Paul, and Jonathan Grix. Qatars Soft Power Gamble: The FIFA World Cup 2022, 2014. Web. e-ir.info/2014/01/18/qatars-soft-power-gamble-the-fifa-world-cup-2022 /. Brannagan, Paul, In’utu Mubanga, and Mads Wolff. Qatar: A First-Hand Account of Soft Power, 2014. Web. e-ir.info/2014/03/20/the-state-of-qatar-a-first-hand-account-of-soft-power/. DOHA2012. Offering a helping hand, Qatar is a good neighbor around the World. Doha: The UN Climate Change Conference, 2012. Print. Dorsey, James. â€Å"Qatars sports-focuses public diplomacy policies backfiring.† Daily News Feb. 10. 2014: 4. Print. Evans, Gareth, and Bruce Grant. Australias Foreign Relations in the World of the 1990s. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1999. Print. FIFA. Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani visits FIFA President in Zurich, 2014. Web. fifa.com/worldcup/qatar2022/news/newsid=2441686/. Hey, Jeanne. Small States in World Politics: Explaining Foreign Policy Behavior. Boulder, CO: Lynne Reinner, 2003. Print. Joseit, David. The Art Effect, 2013. Web. aucegypt.edu/gapp/cairoreview/pages/articleDetails.aspx?aid=614. Kamrava, Mehran. Mediation and Qatar i Foreign Policy. Middle East Journal 65.4(2012): 540-556. Print. King, John. National Branding: Coverage and Perceptions of Qatar in Major World Newspapers. Working Paper. Tennessee: East Tennessee State University, 2007. Print. Kinninmont, Jane. â€Å"From football to military might, how Qatar wields global power.† The Guardian February 3. 2013: 5. Print. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Qatar Foreign Aid Over QR3 Billion, 2013. Web. mofa.gov.qa/en/SiteServices/MediaCenter/News/Pages/News20131111082549.aspx. Nye, Joseph. Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics. New York, NY: Public Affairs, 2004. Print. Nye, Joseph. â€Å"Public Diplomacy and Soft Power.† The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 616.1(2008): 94-109. Print. QTA. A New Chapter of Pioneering Association, 2013. Web. psg.fr/en/News/003001/Article/64010/A-new-chapter-of-a-pioneering-association. van Ham, Peter. The Rise of the Brand State: The Postmodern Political Image and Reputation. Foreign Affairs 80.2(2001): 2-17. Print. Worth, Robert. â€Å"Qatar, Playing All Sides, Is a Nonstop Mediator.† The New York Times July 9. 2008: 7. Print.

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