Runners World Magazine

Runners World Magazine Thesis: Although practiced running can be enjoyable and gratifying, being a consistent runner requires the highest level of self-discipline, and such self-discipline can propel the runner to achieve greatness in other areas (socio-economic and political) of his or her life.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on â€Å"Runner’s World† Magazine specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Introduction Many health experts and nutritionists continuously blame the modern sedentary lifestyles for the increase in incidences of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, high-blood pressure, heart diseases, and even cancer. These diseases have increased commensurate to the sedentary and non-active lifestyles that many people in the western world have adopted. The youth and even children in high schools and kindergartens in the western world are becoming increasingly non-active in their daily lives. Obesity rates amongst te ens and youth in the US, for instance, have soared to almost 30%, while those of the UK are steadily rising (Yang Nichols 2011, p 381). Therefore, a lack of exercise and exerting outdoor activities amongst citizens of western nations is a real public health concern. One of the exercises that many people are encouraged to take up is running or jogging. Requiring little skill, inexpensive attire, and applicable in nearly all habitable terrain, running is touted as one the activities that if adopted, can offer immense health benefits to an individual at little cost (Galli et al 2011, p 48). Running, as an activity, can be performed at any time of day, and may be undertaken individually or with other persons with similar inclination. However, practiced running requires the runner to be determined and follow a consistent programme to attain the full benefits of this form of exercise. Therefore, practiced running requires a very high level of self-discipline. The online runner’s m agazine, â€Å"Runner’s World† at https://www.runnersworld.com/, outlines the benefits of running, profiles famous politicians and political leaders for whom running is a hobby, gives tips on the best techniques to use for sustainable running, and also showcases the kinds of bodies that consistent runners acquire over time. As depicted in the online magazine â€Å"Runner’s World†, running as a form of exercise is enjoyable, gratifying and healthy. Runners gain good physiques, are disciplined, and achieve milestones like winning World Championships and Olympic medals. Moreover, they are highly self-disciplined.Advertising Looking for assessment on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, due to their practiced self-discipline acquired through patient and persistent running, runners scale the heights of their respective socio-political and economic pursuits. Alth ough running can be enjoyable and gratifying, being a consistent runner requires the highest level of self-discipline, and such self-discipline can propel the runner to achieve greatness in other areas (socio-economic and political) of his or her life. Running as an enjoyable, gratifying and healthy activity In â€Å"Runner’s World† magazine, the various runners featured are portrayed and pictured in happy poses. ,The runners featured at the home page, both real life actual famous persons and running models, all have admirable bodies and physiques. Various featured articles appearing at the home page of the magazine are geared towards encouraging the reader to take up running. The featured runners, by virtue of their smiling and contented appearance, portray an image of persons highly satisfied with, or drawing a lot of satisfaction from, running as a form of exercise. The body is thus portrayed as requiring exercise (running) in order to acquire the state of personal satisfaction depicted in the runners featured. As part of an individual’s journey towards self-actualization and attaining self- discipline through running, the magazine features articles on challenges that runners should take up, for instance competing in a marathon. Readers are also shown how running is tied to one’s health, a further incentive for the reader to take up running. Running and Admirable Physiques, and the attainment of World and Olympic Glory Besides simply running for leisure, self gratifying and health reasons, running in the magazine â€Å"Runner’s World† is also depicted as a pursuit that leaves the runner with an admirable and handsome physique, besides an opportunity for acquiring world wide fame and glory at the international level through participating in marathons, World Championships and Olympic contests. The form of body that â€Å"Runner’s World† magazine idolizes is one that is fat-free, slim and well toned. As s tated earlier, all the runners pictured in the home page of the magazine have bodies that fit the stated description to a greater or lesser extent.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on â€Å"Runner’s World† Magazine specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Because running is primarily a form of physical exercise, the ultimate aim of many individuals engaged in any form of physical exercise is to acquire a body that will earn admiration from others in society. Having an admirable physique, for many runners and aspiring runners, is the ultimate prize for enduring the rigours of practice through disciplined running (Gimlin 2010, p 270). One video featured on the home page shows a picture of a man with well-toned abdominal muscles. In the accompanying message for the picture/video, the reader is encouraged to practice the exercise that is shown in the video, with the promise that the result would be the reader acq uiring the same athlete-like body. Therefore, the magazine idealises the toned, slim and muscled body, similar to that of an athlete. Additionally, the news segment of the magazine features the triumph of the athlete Jenny Simpson of America. Simpson won gold in the 1,500 race in the ongoing World Athletics Championship, in a race that few US women have featured in or won in both the World Championships and Olympic games. As a featured athlete, Simpson represents two aspects of running encapsulated in the thematic content of â€Å"Runner’s World†. Firstly, her highly visible picture portrays an admirable body. Simpson is well toned and has an impressive and athletic body. Therefore, in a sense, she has the prototypic body that all runners and aspiring runners desire to have. Her comparatively bigger picture at the home page of the magazine thus serves to enhance further the body image of accomplished runners. Additionally, Jenny Simpson also represents achievement that demands respect and adoration from all. Winning a World Championship gold medal at the age of 25 years represents a milestone in her life, and encourages the reader to pursue his or her own milestones, both as a runner and in other aspects of his or her life (Sloman, Sturman Price 2011, p 324). Therefore, by reading of her achievement, the runner is motivated. To win a World Athletics Championship medal, though requiring higher training intensities, calls for as much discipline and sacrifice as the practice of every day running for health reasons. While for the athlete appearing on the podium is his or her goal ultimate goal, the non-athlete runner has enjoyment, health and a strong physique as his or her points of focus. However, both these sets of runners, although having different goals, require self-discipline and sacrifice to achieve their Theygoals. They both have to follow a strict and sometimes gruesome exercise regimen to achieve their different goals. Therefore, the impl icit message communicated is that runners have to be highly self-disciplined.Advertising Looking for assessment on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Runners as High Achievers The self-discipline required in keeping with a strict running schedule in order to maintain optimum health and admirable bodies, especially in non-athletic runners, is easily transferable to other aspects of the runner’s life. In â€Å"Runner’s World†, different prominent persons have been profiled, all expressing their love for the practice of running. These prominent personalities represent diverse sectors of society, indicating the all-inclusive nature of running. Sarah Palin, the former Governor of Alaska in the US, is one of those profiled in the magazine. In a Question and Answer session with the magazine’s writers, she tells of her love for running, a practice instilled in her by her parents. She states that running helps her achieve a sense of accomplishment every day, confessing that running is an extremely valuable part of who she is. Current Chicago mayor, Ralph Emmanuel, is also featured, and he shares his love for ma rathons, stating that running keeps him physically fit and healthy. The other prominent person featured in the magazine is Flea, the bassist for the popular band Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Despite their busy schedules, these featured persons make time exercise and run, and â€Å"Runner’s World† depicts them as role models for others in society. All the three mentioned persons look physically appealing, and seem to age gracefully, a matter partly attributable to their ‘running lifestyle’. The three high achievers in different realms of socioeconomic and political pursuits, being keen runners, portray runners as high achievers. As depicted in the magazine, the self-discipline that these three prominent persons posses, and one that has enabled them scale the heights of their different careers stems from the self-discipline required to be a consistent runner. Conclusion and Personal Analysis In conclusion, â€Å"Runner’s World† magazine idealises th e runner and his or her body as a healthy, happy, physically appealing and high achieving person. All models and people featured in the magazine have admirable physiques, with running as the form of exercise that helps achieve these bodies. The different segments of the magazine all strive to deliver this message. The theme of self-discipline as the most vital characteristic of the runner is prevalent in the magazine’s articles. Personally, the images depicted were a slightly unrealistic, because I know a lot of keen joggers and runners who are heavily built, and some who are even fat; yet these people jog or run every day. Therefore, the image of a lean, athletic and well-toned person as the ideal body image of a runner as depicted in the magazine is slightly unrealistic for me. As a keen runner myself, the depiction of the runner as a highly focused and self-disciplined individual applies. Creating time for running each morning requires a determined mind. However, as has be en depicted in the magazine, the practice of running helps me achieve focus, relieve stress and function at higher levels of concentration than the average person. Therefore, running as a form of exercise should be encouraged, because the health benefits for both the individual and society are numerous (Ross Thomas, 2010, p 4). Then a dawn of healthier, more active and less diseased individuals in the western society can be ushered. References Galli, N., Reel, J., Petrie, T., Greenleaf, C., Carter, J., 2011. Preliminary Development Of the Weight Pressures in Sport Scale for Male Athletes. Journal of Sport Behaviour, 34(1), pp. 47-68. Gimlin, D., 2010. Uncivil Attention and the Public Runner. Sociology of Sport Journal, 27(3), pp. 268-284. Ross, A., Thomas, S., 2010. The Health Benefits of Yoga and Exercise: A Review of Comparison Studies. Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine, 16(1), pp. 3-12 Sloman, L., Sturman, E., Price, J., 2011. Winning and Losing: An Evolutionary Approach to Mood Disorders and Their Therapy. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(6), pp. 324-332. Yang, Y., Nichols, L., 2011. Obesity and Health System Reform: Private vs. Public Responsibility. Journal of Law, Medicine Ethics, 39(3), pp. 380-386.

ETHICS FINAL Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

ETHICS FINAL - Assignment Example To others it is pivoting their institutions to greater heights of returns. Business ethics play a key role in establishing how such achievements are made. Quoting from the book â€Å"in the wake of the recent spate of corporate collapses in which management had engaged in questionable or illegal practices†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Text, page 282), is an indication of some of the ways that managers opt to take to realize the goals of the organization. It is trivial knowledge that each decision made is subject to some consequences. A business that practices ethical business protocol, is guaranteed a good reputation with other firms. Furthermore the financial state of the organization is improved considerably. A firm with a good reputation boosts of a huge number of customers, this is as a result of increased confidence in the firm. Such a firm assures customers of good quality products and services, thus it is destined to be favored by the general public. Poor business ethics are a setback to the progress of a firm. Notably business ethics trickle down from the highest management level to the junior management level, managers are delegated to be the role models, and it is their responsibility to ensure that this conduct trickles down the management levels. There are two theories that explain business ethics, according to Milton Friedman, the management’s main objective is to ensure that it returns considerable profits to the shareholders. This should be done without deception or abuse of power. Generally Milton advocates for social responsibility, but another group of people advocates for corporate responsibility. Unlike the social responsibility concept that argues that business ethics should be

RFID in the Context of Customer Services Research Paper

RFID in the Context of Customer Services - Research Paper Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that in the modern business world, there is a need for companies and firms to increase the quality of services they provide their customers or quality of goods and products they produce or manufacture. It is very hard for any company or a firm to regain popularity among their lost customers or improve their position in the market. To make a profit very often means to provide customers with better services. At the same time, a chosen marketing strategy of customers’ services improvement should be developed in compliance with the needs of the company; their assets, potential, set goals and many other internal and external factors. Moreover, with regards to a wide-spread nature of technological innovations, companies implement innovative technologies in customer services. In accordance with research conducted by†¦: â€Å"Technology does more than enable the creation of new or improved services. It may also impro ve consistent service standards of the company, and, what is more, important is to involve the customers in operations through self-service technology†. Therefore, the modern business world needs innovations. To keep pace with the globalized world every firm or company should meet new requirements and follow the developments of technologies. In order to appropriately introduce valuable innovative assets, it is relevant to assess their advantages and disadvantages. An individual-centered approach is high on the agenda in the modern business world. A customer is of crucial importance. The more customers the company has, the greater success comes.

Marketing demographics Essay Example for Free

Marketing demographics Essay The profile for the potential customers of Bob Bicycles consists of the following geographic, demographic, and behavioral factors: It is said that the immediate geographic target of the company is London. In terms of demographics, the company’s market segment includes male and female whose age ranges from 25 above. In a study conducted, it is noted that commuter cycling in the city is mainly dominated by white males with ages ranging from 25-44; this is because women is facing more barriers in cycling than men (See Figure 2). Most cyclists are also employers and employees who have seen the benefits of cycling with their health, economic and personal factors. As can be seen, children are not considered as a potential market since London is not allowing children to use bicycle for transport. Aside from this, other factors to be considered in the demographics of the potential customers of Bob includes the levels of bicycle usage, reasons for use, behavioral factors and geodemographic factors. Figure 2 Profile of Commute Cyclists 2006-2007 Behavior Factors. In terms of behavioral and cultural aspects, it can be said that Bob bicycles can be considered to have a big potential in London because of the high quality bicycles of Bob which meets the current trends in the bicycle market. In addition, there is a value attributed to the used of bicycle as a means of transport. There are various attitudes to cycling that should be considered by Bob in the London market (See figure 3). This result was based on the study conducted by TFL Omnibus Survey in 2007. Most of the perception of the individuals with regards to cycling is its economic, personal and health benefits. Figure 3 Attitude towards Cycling. Based on the analysis, it can be said that Bob’s plan of expanding his business in the London market, is very feasible and potential based on the current trends in business environment and the pool of demographics and potential target markets. Reference Automatic Traffic Count Data (2007). London Travel report 2007, 2007, TfL. Online available http://www. tfl. gov. uk/assets/downloads/corporate/London-Travel-Report-2007-final. pdf. Retrieve October 6, 2008. Heywood, C (2004). The Near Market for Cycling in London. Online available at http://www. tfl. gov. uk/assets/downloads/businessandpartners/cycling-market-report. pdf.retrieve October 6, 2008 Cycling Action Plan (2004). Creating a chain reaction The London Cycling Action Plan. Online available http://www. tfl. gov. uk/assets/downloads/businessandpartners/cycling-action-plan. pdf. Retrieve October 6, 2008 Cycling and Motorbikes (2008). Online available at http://www. bbc. co. uk/london/content/articles/2005/06/14/cycling_inlondon_feature. shtml. Retrieve October 6, 2008 Synovate Ltd (2008). TfL Omnibus attitudes to cycling, 2007, Synovate. Online available http://www. tfl. gov. uk/assets/downloads/businessandpartners/cycling-training-effectiveness-results-summary-2008. pdf. retrieve October 6, 2008.

Character Development in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay -- Franken

Character Development in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein   Ã‚  Ã‚   In any novel the author is free to create and shape their characters in whatever way they see fit. In Frankenstein, Shelley does an excellent job of shaping her characters, be it however minute their part in the story, so that the reader gets a clear picture of Shelley's creations. It seems that each character in Shelley's Frankenstein is created by Shelley to give the reader a certain impression of the character. By doing this Shelley creates the characters the way she wants us to see them. She tells us certain things about them and gives them certain traits so that they will fit into the story the way she wants them to. In particular I will examine the characters of the monster, Elizabeth, and old man De Lacey.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the more minor characters but still an intricate part of the story is the old man, De Lacy. He is the father of the family whom the monster watches after he has left his place of creation in Ingolstadt. The monster learns from the family and feels a closeness to them that is new to him. The fact that the old man is blind is no coincidence at all. Shelly purposely made him blind so he could not be influenced by the monster?s hideous appearance. When the monster finally works up the courage and the old man is finally alone in the cottage, the monster makes his move. He enters claiming he is a wanderer looking for a place of shelter and rest. As he tells of his predicament he seems to befriend the old man, appears to be fluent in the English language, and for all intensive purposes appears a normal person. It is not until the old man?s children arrive home and he is alarmed by the screams of Felix and Agatha, that the monster is seen a s any... ...are more complex such as the monster, some such as the old man are put in to make a point, and some such as Elizabeth are created in a way that augments the imperfections of others.   Each of the characters in Frankenstein has a role or purpose in the story and is created in a way that adds to the story line and the novel in general. By creating each character and shaping them to a specific likeness, Shelley has creates a complex story and one of English literature's greatest classics. Work Cited Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: A Norton Critical Edition. ed. J. Paul Hunter. New York: W. W. Norton, 1996. Works Consulted Levine, George. The Endurance of Frankenstein. Los Angeles: Moers, 1974. Patterson, Arthur Paul. A Frankenstein Study. http://www.watershed.winnipeg.mb.ca/Frankenstein.html Spark, Muriel. Mary Shelly. New York: Dutton, 1987.   

Education Governance in Bangladesh Essay

This traditional thinking of education as the ticket to the good life emerges in different ways and degrees in Bangladesh. Education is seen as something that is received rather than achieved and it has increasingly become dependent on certificates. Education in the largest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense, education is the process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one generation to another. The Government of Bangladesh places great importance on education and in this regard the Government has been trying to transform its huge population into human resource. Education for All (EFA) is the constitutional responsibility of the government. The constitution affirms equal rights in education for all. Since independence every government had taken several steps to increase the literacy rate in Bangladesh. But did they really work out? Our neighbor countries like India, Srilanka have made a great progress in literacy rate. But, where as the current literacy rate of Bangladesh is 63. 8 %. If all the steps were successfully implemented, then the rate would be around 80% (daily Janakantho, 24 July, 10). So, here is short description about the whole education system and the role of government in Bangladesh. Governance: Although the term governance is often used synonymously with the term government it tends rather to be used to describe the processes and systems by which a government or governor operate. The term government and governor describe the institutions and people involved. According to the World Bank†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Governance is â€Å"the traditions and institutions by which authority in a country is exercised for the common good. This includes (i) the process by which those in authority are selected, monitored and replaced, (ii) the capacity of the government to effectively manage its resources and implement sound policies, and (iii) the respect of citizens and the state for the institutions that govern economic and social interactions among them. According to the UNDP†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. â€Å"Governance is the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority to manage a nation’s affairs. It is the complex mechanisms, processes and institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their legal rights and obligations, and mediate their differences. † Education Governance: Education governance is concerned with how the funding, provision, ownership and regulation of education and training systems is coordinated, and at what level; local, regional, national and supranational. It is government who play the most significant role in coordinating education, the distribution of these responsibilities has been changing in response to calls for greater efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and democracy. Households, communities, and new kinds of private actors, are increasingly involved in many different aspects of education and training governance, raising questions about equity, participation and transparency. Objectives of Education Governance: To inspire and create enthusiasm among the learners in their thoughts, deeds and daily life to establish moral, humanitarian, religious, cultural and social values in personal as well as in national life. †¢ To develop awareness in the learners to protect the independence, sovereignty and integrity of Bangladesh. †¢ To make education pragmatic, productive and creative with a view to bringing about changes in the socio-economic conditions of the country and making the students into a dutiful and responsible manpower with scientific outlook and help them develop the qualities of leadership. To give special emphasis on primary and secondary education with a view to expanding education, to instill respect and eagerness for physical labor and enable the learners acquire vocational education for self-employment in all stages of education. †¢ To promote fraternity, moral values, generosity and fellow-feeling in people and make them respectful of human rights. †¢ To promote democratic values through fostering tolerance of one another’s views and help develop life-oriented, realistic and positive attitude for blossoming democratic awareness. To ensure proper quality at every level of education; to strengthen and widen the knowledge, skills and attitude acquired in the previous stage (in accordance with various aims and objectives of education): to enable acquisition of new knowledge and skills and to encourage people to contribute in the system of education, especially in the field of primary, secondary and vocational education. †¢ To emancipate the country from the curse of illiteracy. †¢ To create equal opportunities for education in accordance with merit and aptitude for the purpose of building a society free from disparity. To ensure gender parity in education and remove barriers of caste, creed and ethnicity in obtaining education. †¢ To ensure constitutional guarantee at all levels of education. †¢ To create aw areness about protection of environment. Structure of Education sector in Bangladesh: The education system in Bangladesh is characterized by co-existence of three separate streams. The mainstream happens to be a vernacular based secular education system carried over from the colonial past. There also exists a separate religious system of education. Finally, based on use of English as the medium of instruction, another stream of education, modeled after the British education system, using the same curriculum, has rapidly grown in the metropolitan cities of Bangladesh. However diverse the above streams may apparently look, they have certain common elements, and there exists scope for re-integration of graduates of one stream with the other at different levels. Different Streams in Education The mainstream education system in Bangladesh is structured as follows: – a. One or two year pre-primary education imparted in private schools/kindergartens, and informally in government primary schools for six months. b. Five-year compulsory primary education for the 6-10 year age group, imparted mainly in government and non-government primary schools. In metropolitan cities, however, government and non-government primary schools cater to the educational needs only of the poorer sections of the people, as the better-off families usually send their children to Private English Medium schools/ secondary schools that run primary sections as well. Very few NGOs however impart education for the full 5-year primary education cycle. c. On completion of primary education, students (11+) enroll for junior secondary education that spans over 3 years. At the end of this phase of education, some students branch out to join the vocational stream, offered at Vocational Training Institutes (VTI) and Technical Training Centers (TTC) run by the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Labor and Employment respectively, while students in the mainstream continue in government and non-government secondary schools for a 2 year secondary education in their respective areas of specialization i. . humanities, science, commerce, etc. At the end of their secondary education, the students sit for their first public examination (S. S. C. ) under the supervision of six education boards. The students of religious education and English medium streams also sit for their respective public examinations, Dakhil, and O level, conducted by the Madrasah Educ ation Board, and London/Cambridge University respectively, facilitated by the British Council in case of the latter. d. After 10 years of schooling at primary and secondary level, students (16+) who succeed in passing the Secondary School Certificate (S. S. C. ) examination have the option of joining a college for a 2 year higher secondary education in their respective areas of specialization, or enroll in technical/ poly technical institutes for technical education. After 2-year higher secondary education, one has to sit for another public examination called Higher Secondary Certificate (H. S. C. ) Examination conducted by the Education Boards to qualify for further education. Students of Religious and English Medium streams also sit for their respective public examinations, Alim, and ‘A’ level, conducted by the Madrasah Education Board and London/Cambridge University respectively to qualify for further education. e. Under-graduate education of various duration (2 to 4 years) are offered to 18+ students at a number of public and private universities / degree colleges/technical colleges/ specialized institutions. Successful completion of a degree course is a pre-requisite for appointment to a white-collar civilian job. . Post-graduate education normally of 1-2 year duration is provided at universities and selected degree colleges and institutions. Key Organizations governing the education sector in Bangladesh: Many organizations are involved in the direction of higher education in Bangladesh, and there is no single overarching authority. The President of Bangladesh is the Chancellor of most of the universities and is responsible for the appoint ment of vice-chancellors. The Prime Minister is Chancellor of a limited number of universities. The Ministry of Education (MoE) is concerned with overall policy formulation, monitoring, evaluation and execution of education. Line directorates are responsible for supervision and control of their relevant institutions, and these are: †¢ Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE): including Madrasah and other special types of education. †¢ Directorate of Technical Education (DTE): Technical and Vocational institutions. The University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) established in 1973, acts as an intermediary body between the government and individual universities, and is responsible for all higher education. It reports to the Minister of Education through the Secretary of Education. Its main functions are as follows: 1. To assess the needs of university education and evaluate and recommend development plans to the Ministry; 2. To identify the financial requirements of the universities; 3. To allocate operating and development funds from the government to the various institutions; 4. To evaluate the use of funds and implementation of development programs; 5. To advise the Government on the establishment of new universities, including private universities, and expansion of existing institutions; . To collect and disseminate statistical information; 7. To advise the Government on proposals to grant the right to confer special degree awarding status on colleges. The National University (NU) is an affiliating university that controls the degree-granting colleges. Prior to 1992, degree colleges were affiliated with one of the existing universities, which established syllabi, set and administer ed examinations, and awarded degrees for students in the colleges. To reduce the burden on the universities, the NU was established to take over and organize the affiliated colleges in all fields except agriculture, engineering and medicine. The Bangladesh Institutes of Technology (BIT) Council (CBIT) co-ordinates the activities of the four engineering colleges that enroll around 3,200 students. It has virtually the same functions as the UGC, only for the institutes of technology. The Association of Universities of Bangladesh (AUB) co-ordinates the activities of universities in both academic and administrative matters. The AUB also leases with the government and the UGC on administrative and financial affairs. Management of the education sector in Bangladesh: Pre-primary education, generally recognized as a useful stage of education to smoothen the transition from home to an institutional environment and thereby contributing to reduced drop out rates at primary level has so long remained outside the purview of official education policy of Bangladesh. Its management therefore lies at present exclusively in the hands of the schools imparting such education and some NGOs running such schools. The Education Policy 2010 did however recognize the need for pre-primary education and recommended its gradual introduction to 5+ children in primary schools with a view to universalizing one-year pre-primary education. As provision of universal compulsory primary education has been recognized by the Constitution of Bangladesh as a state responsibility, the government has assumed direct responsibility of the management of primary education in Bangladesh, particularly in the wake of enactment of Compulsory Primary Education Act in 1990. The overall responsibility of management of primary education lies with the Primary and Mass Education Division (PMED) set up as a separate Division with the status of a Ministry in 1992. While the PMED is involved in formulation of policies, the responsibility of implementation of the same rests with the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) headed by a Director General. The different tiers of administration such as Divisions, Districts and Upazilas are manned by Deputy Directors, District Primary Education Officers (DPEO) and Upazila Education Officers (UEO) respectively. UEOs are assisted by a number of AUEOs each in charge of a cluster of primary schools. At the school level, there exist School Management Committees (SMC) formed as per government directives with certain well defined functions, and Parent Teachers Associations (PTA) playing a supportive role in building favorable teaching-learning environment in schools. The Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) and its subordinate offices in the district and upazila are solely responsible for management and supervision of primary education. Their responsibilities include recruitment, posting, and transfer of teachers and other staff; arranging in-service training of teachers; and distribution of free text books, and supervision of schools. The responsibility of school construction, repair and supply of school furniture lies with the Facilities Department (FD) and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED). The National Curriculum and Text Book Board (NCTB) is responsible for the development of curriculum and production of textbooks. While the Ministry of Education (MOE) is responsible for formulation of policies, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) under the Ministry of Education is responsible for implementing the same at secondary and higher education level. The NCTB is responsible for developing curriculum, and publishing standard textbooks. Seven regions based Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) are responsible for conducting the two public examinations, S. S. C. and H. S. C. , in addition to granting recognition to non-government secondary schools. DSHE is divided into eight zones, each in charge of a Deputy Director assisted by two Inspectors, and two Assistant Inspectors. District Offices are headed by District Education Officers (DEO). There exist three different levels of supervision. BISEs are responsible for accreditation of non-government secondary schools. However, because of lack of inspection capacity, the work is delegated to Zonal Inspectors and DEOs. The Directorate of Inspection and Audit of MOE with a small manpower of 24 Inspectors are responsible for periodic qualitative and quantitative evaluation of non-government schools. Each zone has two Inspectors and two Assistant Inspectors to inspect all schools covered by the zones. At the school level, in case of non-government secondary schools, School Management Committees (SMC), and at the intermediate college level in case of non-government colleges, Governing Bodies (GB), formed as per government directives, are responsible for mobilizing resources, approving budgets, controlling expenditures; and appointing and disciplining staff. In government secondary schools there does not exist any SMC. The Head Master s solely responsible for running the school and is supervised by the Deputy Director of the respective zone. PTAs however exist essentially for ensuring a better teaching learning environment. The Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) is responsible for planning, development and implementation of technical and vocational education in the country. Universities in Bangladesh are autonomous bodies administered by statutory bodies such as Syndicate, Se nate, Academic Council etc. in accordance with provisions laid down in their respective Acts. While the private universities are regulated by the University Grand Commission (UGC). Regulation/Licensing authority Under the President’s Order No. 10 of 1973, which established the UGC, the UGC has the right to visit the public universities or to have them visited by teams of experts as and when necessary for evaluating programs and assessing their needs and requirements. The establishment of a private university requires the formation of a non-profit corporation or foundation and the Private Universities Act stipulates a series of conditions for establishing a private university. Some of them are given below: †¢ A security deposit of Taka 50 million in interest-bearing government bonds. Transnational Report – Case Study: Bangladesh (October 2003) page 18 of 36 †¢ A minimum of two faculties. †¢ Permission to rent office space only for 5 years, before building their own campus. They should own land of at least five acres. †¢ Programs and courses to be offered must be approved by the UGC before students are admitted. †¢ Five percent of places must be reserved for free studentships to ‘poor but meritorious’ students. Following establishment, the UGC has the authority to periodically monitor, visit and evaluate the performance of private universities, regarding the numbers of qualified teachers, library books, facilities, approved curricula, and to recommend de-certification if institutions fail to perform according to agreed-upon standards. The National University reviews and approves the applications of all degree col leges that seek Government recognition. Applications are reviewed against minimum criteria for facilities, teaching staff, and library and laboratory facilities. Approval must be reaffirmed for all institutions each year and institutions can be de-affiliated. Guidelines of Ministry of Education: †¢ Human resource development is at the core of Bangladesh’s development efforts and access to quality education is critical to poverty reduction and economic development. The Government is committed to undertaking structural reforms that are expected to bring significant improvements in the education sector. Bangladesh’s commitment to education has been clearly stated in its Constitution and development plans with education being given the highest priority in the public sector investments. Education sector allocations are currently about 2. 3 percent of GDP and 14 percent of total government expenditure. Maintaining this commitment to the education sector is imperative in order to achieve Education for All (EFA) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). †¢ The management of the education system falls under two ministries – the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME, responsible for primary education and mass literacy) and the Ministry of Education (MoE, responsible for secondary, vocational and tertiary education). Overall there are more than 17 million students at the primary level, and over 8. 0 million at the secondary level. Enrolments at the tertiary level are relatively small but growing very rapidly. †¢ Bangladesh has made significant progress, especially in regard to increasing access and gender equity, both at primary and secondary levels. Gross primary enrollment rates rose from 90 percent in the late 1990s to 98 percent in 2003, while a corresponding increase in enrollment rates at the secondary level rise to 44 percent. Gender parity in access to primary and secondary education has also been achieved. These achievements are particularly spectacular when compared to countries in the South Asia region and other countries at similar levels of per-capita income. †¢ The Government is strongly committed to alleviating the existing problems in respect of management and quality through reforms across the education system. At the primary level, MoPME is supported by a multi-donor group through the Primary Education Development Program II (PEDP II), which aims to strengthen educational access, quality and efficiency. In order to address issues at the secondary and higher levels, MoE has developed a medium-term framework for the secondary education sub-sector, focusing on quality improvements, policy measures and specific actions needed to reform the system. The development of this medium-term framework has benefited from an extensive range of consultations and workshops with stakeholders at the central, district, and upazila levels. The main objective of reforms being proposed is to address systemic governance issues aimed at raising the quality and cost-effectiveness of service delivery, and improve equity of access in secondary education. †¢ MoE is aiming to move towards a devolved system of governance within the current administrative structure. In this system the central government will be responsible for formulating policies, financing, setting quality standards, and monitoring and evaluation etc. , while lower levels of government will be responsible for administering the system. MoE is empowering officials at the district and upazila levels to take greater responsibility in monitoring school performance and ensure public disclosure of information (e. g. , SSC passing rates, teacher absenteeism, class sizes, etc. ) related to school quality. †¢ To ensure appropriate financial controls, MoE is implementing a Financial Management Reform Program (FMRP). This is intended to increase accountability and transparency in the use of resources Main laws governing education in Bangladesh: The legal basis for higher education is complicated, with some laws deriving from colonial time sand others from the Pakistan era. There may be fundamental change in the governance and administration of higher education in the near future (World Bank, 1999b). Currently, the universities have autonomy (by the parliamentary acts) to work within the UGC-given parameters, and the same is true for degree colleges under the NU. Public Universities Ordinance (1973) is the governance framework for public universities in Bangladesh. This order dictates the selection procedures for the 4 statutory bodies of the university — syndicate, senate, academic and finance councils– and this is sometimes seen as the root cause of much of the politicization of the public university campuses. University Law (1993) grants considerable autonomy to individual public universities. Non-Governmental (Private) Universities Act (1992) (Amended 1998, 2002 and in 2010): This Act regulates the establishment of private universities in Bangladesh. Major Initiatives taken by the Ministry: Education Commission 2003 submitted its report in March 2004 and GOB has initiated actions to review and prioritize its 880 recommendations concerning each stream and level of education. Actually many of the recommendations made by the Education Commission are already in the process of implementation and many are in the pipeline for implementation. Some of the actions are taken in this respect are described below: †¢ Government has enacted Primary Education (Compulsory) Law in 1990 to achieve the universal primary enrolment by 2005 †¢ More then 98% of secondary schools are non-government. But Government pays 90% of the teacher and staff salary of these institutions †¢ Bangladesh has sustained increased government allocation in education sector from the 1990s †¢ Government is currently providing subsidies to create demand for education in favor of the poor and girls †¢ Government has initiated the decentralization of primary and secondary education management structure †¢ Government has established an autonomous Nongovernmental Secondary Teachers Registration and Certification Authority in order to recruit qualified and trained teachers in secondary level institutions †¢ A large project for the improvement of teaching quality at the secondary level institutions is underway †¢ A new apex body named National Teachers Training Authority by restructuring existing National Academy for Education Management (NAEM) is on card. This proposed institution would train both public and private sector teachers from 2005/06 †¢ Reorganization of National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has also started with the objective to separate functions of the Board into two units, e. . , curriculum and textbook. This would enhance competition in textbook production and publishing and enable Board to concentrate on curriculum development †¢ A separate entity named Independent Textbook Evaluation Committee (ITEC) has been established for designing transparent criteria under which individual textbook manuscripts will be evaluated †¢ Privatization of textbo ok production and publication has already started for grades 6 to 10. Publication of all textbooks at the secondary level will be privatized by 2007 †¢ An Accreditation Council is being established which would function as a watchdog over the private universities in order to monitor the teaching standard of universities Major Reforms Undertaken by the Government: †¢ Introduction of unitrack curriculum in secondary level education from 2006 †¢ School based assessment (SBA) in secondary level education †¢ Reform of existing examination systems in secondary level education †¢ Privatization of Textbook Writing and Publication Re-organization of Managing Committee/Governing Body of the Non-Government Educational Institutions †¢ Formation of Oversight Committee for Supervision of Teaching at Classrooms †¢ Sanction of MPO on the basis of performance of educational institutions †¢ Strengthening of Teachers’ Training †¢ Delivery of Textbooks to the Students on Time †¢ Development and Modernization of Secon dary, Technical and Madrasha Curricula †¢ Retirement and Welfare Fund for Non-Government Teachers †¢ Establishment of 10 Foreign Language Centers Distribution of 20000 computers in secondary level educational institutions including Madrashas †¢ Training of secondary level teachers’ in computer applications †¢ Restructuring of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education †¢ Restructuring of National Academy for Education Management (NAEM) †¢ Restructuring of Personnel of Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Jessore, Barisal, Comilla, Sylhet) and NCTB Government Education Policy: In order to maintain a modern, scientific and effective education system, Bangladesh Government attaches highest priority to the improvement of education sector. With this objective, the Government of Bangladesh had established several Education Commissions and Committees since the independence of the country. Despite repeated demands from professionals and from wider society, a comprehensive statement of the national education policy or long term strategy for education for Bangladesh has historically been elusive. In terms of higher education, the sector has grown in an ad hoc manner (especially the private sector), without reference to national development goals in terms of numbers of graduates, quality of provision, or subject relevance. However, in recent years the government has increased its investment in education services, whilst also encouraging greater private investment at all levels of the sector. It also introduced a National Education Policy (NEP) in 2000. The government sees the education sector as crucial to its overall national socio-economic development for the labor market, developing the research base, and for facilitating knowledge transfer. The Fifth Five Year Plan (1997-2002), and the National Education Policy (NEP), 2000, under the Awami League government (1996-2001), made important recommendations concerning the development of higher education in Bangladesh. However, with a change of government in October 2001, the fate of the NEP are uncertain, although indications suggest that they are so far following the recommendations of the NEP.

`` Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been - 1447 Words

Immaturity is a term most commonly associated with adolescence. As a young adolescent, high school is the center of the world and it is difficult to see beyond that. Social status is vital to Connie, the lead character in â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?,† written by Joyce Carol Oats. School is her chance to be who she does not get to be at home. Like Connie, many other adolescents try to act older than they really are. Teenagers are especially prone to this because their brains are not fully developed. As a fifteen year old, Connie is somewhere in between childhood and adulthood. This causes her to struggle with the concept of maturity. Due to her immaturity, Connie confuses her ability to command attention from boys with the desire to have them pursue her sexually. Unable to tell these two apart, Connie is rendered helpless at the hands of the potentially dangerous Arnold Friend. Before we can analyze Connie’s interaction with Arnold Friend, we must first look at how immaturity affects her behavior on a daily basis. Since she is only able to focus on her social status, Connie often acts vain. She is consistently glancing back at her reflection to make sure is still pretty. She wants to remain young and beautiful, two qualities that are important to her. This demonstrates her immaturity by illustrating how she is afraid to become an adult. As Connie turns to check her appearance in every mirror, she is looking back into the past rather than the future. She isShow MoreRelatedWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?1021 Words   |  5 PagesWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been? By Joyce Carol Oates A short story titled Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? tells a tale of an adolescent girl who suffers consequences of growing up in the unsupportive environment and the society preoccupied by the media. It is considered to be the most famous work of Joyce Carol Oates, an American writer, the winner of many significant literary awards and a two- time candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature. The story was firstRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?1882 Words   |  8 PagesThrough its contrasting reality and dreamlike scenes, Oates’ â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† uses details from a true American horror story to convey a message about society, youth and a loss of innocence. Arizona native Charles Schmid murdered Alleen Rowe on May 31, 1964. Schmid was considered a serial killer and was subsequently arrested and convicted of the heinous crimes that he was accused of. The profile of Schmid as a short man who wore makeup , wigs and altered boots to makeRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Essay2193 Words   |  9 Pagesshort story â€Å"Where are you going, where have you been?† and Flannery O’Connor’s â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find,† readers will dismiss the idea of the existence of any similarity in the stories of a fifteen year old girl and a grandmother. However, upon closer inspection, it is easy to appreciate how these two seemingly polar opposites are actually structured to invoke the same feelings in readers and to explore the same concepts. A close examination of â€Å"Where are you going, where have you been?† and â€Å"ARead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?1528 Words   |  7 PagesThe Cultural Revolution and Sexual Desires in Oates’s â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been† The late 1950s was a time of cultural revolution which had a large influence on the American youth. â€Å"As the next decade drew near, issues such as civil rights, war, women s rights, and the sexual revolution would deeply affect many American teenagers. The conservative family values and morals that predominated in the 1950s were just beginning to be challenged as the decade came to a close† (Moss andRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?989 Words   |  4 PagesArnold Friend, a main character founded in the short story, â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† by Joyce Carol Oates, is often a debated by many readers to be a demon, a crazed stalker and maniac, or in fact Lucifer himself. After reading the short story and analyzing the details of the characters, Arnold Friend really stands out and leaves many unanswered questions on what the author was intending to do with this particular character in identifying who he really is. After thoroughly analyzingRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?843 Words   |  4 PagesIn the short fiction Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? tells a story about a young 15-year-old girl named, Connie. Connie spends her time meeting boys, lounging around the house and going out with her friends. One night an unusual man makes a threatening gesture to her in the parking lot of a local drive-in restaurant. Until, one day the unusual man pulls up in her driveway in a gold colored car. The man introduces himself as Arnold Friend and asks Connie to join him for a ride. During theirRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?1733 Words   |  7 PagesWhere there is desire, there is hope, despair, and struggle. Joyce Carol Oates illustrates animatedly the asphyxiated struggle of desire in her short story â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† The story narrates the life of a young girl, named Connie, and her fated and enigmatic confrontation with a strange ma n. Feeling trapped in her own home with her own family, Connie, a self-conscious and rebellious teenager, tries to figure out a way to identify herself with the world around her. HerRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?1946 Words   |  8 PagesIn the short story, â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† the author, Joyce Carol Oates, creates Connie, an average fifteen year old girl, who rebels against her parents and begins to discover her sexual appeal as she grows up. At times it seems that Connie wants to grow up too fast. All her attention goes to her looks, music, and boys. Connie is a dynamic character who goes through an emotional rollercoaster when she meets the mysterious Arnold Friend. At first he seemed like just anotherRead MoreWhere Are You Going? Where Have You Been?1546 Words   |  7 PagesWhere Are You Going? Where Have You Been? In the short story, Where are you going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates, Connie flaunts her beauty to receive attention from the opposite sex and is lead to temptation. The antagonist Arnold Friend, who symbolizes the devil, shows how simple it is to take away your safe haven through sinister acts. Connie is split between how she acts and portrays herself at home, and how she acts whenever she is with her group of friends. Connie refuses toRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?723 Words   |  3 PagesPsycho, Demon, Dreams, Oh My! â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† by Joyce Carol Oates is a short story about a 15-year old girl named Connie that falls in the trap of Arnold Friend. There are many interpretations to this short story, and many arguments have fought back and forth to find out the true inside meaning to find out what the reason was for Joyce Carol Oates to write this story. There are hundreds of analyses for this story out there, but I am going to just be talking about three;