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Vol.07 No.08(2016), Article ID:68426,12 pages
Is the Social Integration Possible? The Role of Training among Young Adults Beneficiaries of Social Services Institutions
Marzanna Farnicka
University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland
Copyright © 2016 by author and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
Received 18 May 2016; accepted 12 July 2016; published 15 July 2016
The aim of the research was to verify the effectiveness of the steps taken to activate social in- tegration and the evaluation of the activities undertaken in that respect. The main assumption was that changes occur through the gaining of experience, its structuring and restructuring―par- ticularly in the area of self-knowledge and evaluation of life opportunities. In the study it was presumed that the process of experiencing something in a new group and improving communi- cation-related and professional skills could change the future prospects of an individual. Methods: The study involved 521 partizipants from two groups (unemployed and worked or studied). The following tools were used for the purpose of conducting the research: life experience question- naire, questionnaire of the sense of control over events, tool for investigating expected changes and self-esteem scale. Results: The results pointed to the need for adjustment of preventive treat- ment to the current stage of development, as indicated by developmental tasks and future expec- tations. The observed and analysed changes in the dimensions of self-knowledge before and after participation in the project indicate that the project gave the respondents the improved ability to evaluate themselves realistically and closer contact with the reality, thus offering them an oppor- tunity to change.
Adulthood, Professional Skills, and Activation, Support of Development
1. Introduction
One of the main ideas of social policy assumes mutual interdependence of all the social groups in a given society (Weber, 2002) . In many countries, social welfare ideas and tools concentrate on the process of activation and integration within the society. The main aim of activities undertaken in this field is to encourage active participation of individuals in the culture of a given society; this also relates to participating in forms of individual development offered by the state, such as education, work, community activities, and coming up with own proposals.
According to the theory of systemic family development, important factors affecting the psychological sphere are: individual activity, the impact of society and culture. Individual experience is gained through own activity of an individual in the family relations, in peer groups and in a broader social environment (Stratton, 2010) . The relations force the response of an individual and, having been processed by the psychological system, they are incorporated in the individual's inner world (Cervone & Pervin, 2013) . Developmental changes occur firstly in the substructures of the individual's psychological system and then, as a result of changes in the inner system. Subsequently, these changes are manifested in the functioning of the developing individual or in the family and they initiate developmental changes in this micro-system. The assumptions about the changes occurring over a period of time and the relations between events important in life, cultural pressure and the cycle of family development and individual development are the basis for a hypothesis that subsequent experiences, which result from the activity of an individual and rebuild his/her psychological system, may influence every participant of an interaction and even shift a family into further cycles of its development (Erikson, 2004) . On the basis of observation of functioning of some adults, their problems are related to the so called "risk developmental environment". The indicators of risk environment include the dysfunctional family with the presence of violence, addictions of parents, immigrant or reemigrant roots.
Psychological aspects of integration cannot overlook the so-called psychological stress/distress, the accult- urative stress―a burden that a person experiences when encountering other cultures, the psychological disorientation experienced by people trying to adapt to radically different cultural environments (Berry, Poortinga, Breugelmans, Chasiotis, & Sam, 2011) . The important thing is the communication between cultures, the comparison of psychological differences between them, the effort to discover distinctive psychological features of individuals living in individual cultures, and at the same time the effort to discover the general laws governing all cultures (Banks, 2008) . One of the models describing that root-taking and participation in culture may be the model was suggested by Bennett and developed on the ground of intercultural psychology (1986). Bennett (1986) described and analysed possible reactions to perceived cultural differences in the society dividing them into six stages. The first three stages are ethnocentric; further stages indicate the development of ethno-relativism, which enables a person to experience his or her own culture in the context of other cultures. Particular stages are connected with: (level/stage 1) noticing the differences between "us" and "them", (level/stage 2) finding one's own group identity (both in opposition to and in cooperation with the group that is considered to be the majority), (level/stage 3) acceptance of a given state of affairs, (level/stage 4) assimilation to the prevailing social order, (level/stage 5) creative adjustment to the situation (adaptation) and finally (level/stage 6) full integration, manifesting itself in creating the climate and conditions for the development of skills serving not only the purpose of survival in a given group, but also mutual intercultural exchange between "my group" and other groups.
The analysis of the cultural adaptation process carried out in the works of Pagani and Robustelli (2010) indicates that adaptation is a complex phenomenon consisting of two areas. The first area relates to the level of perception of differences in relation to one's own group and to the alien group. The second area relates to the level of acceptance for the difference between one's own group and the alien group. The researchers differentiate between two levels of functioning: low and high. At the low level of this complex thinking individuals use stereotypes and could be driven by emotions. The process of reality recognition is based on easy dimension: "alien- stranger-different" or similar―from one's own group. People functioning in those dimensions on the high level think about their own group and about "alien" group in a non-simplistic, multi-aspectual manner (Grzymała- Moszczy?ska, 2013) .
2. Theoretical Model for Study
The point of departure for the development of the research model was the temporal model of developmental changes (Trempała, 2002b) , in which the term temporal perspective is connected with the psychological dimension of time perception-from the past through the present into the future. The basic categories for the examining of temporal expectations are context and individual experience. The individual experience is organized within the framework of two systems: social knowledge patterns and self-knowledge patterns (Trempała, 2002a: p. 187) . In the field of social knowledge, two dimensions have been accentuated: the sense of normativity and generation gap. In the field of self-knowledge, such dimensions as self-esteem and sense of control over one's future are emphasized. In the analysed model, the processes of orientation towards the future, including motivation, planning and evaluation, are triggered on the basis of social knowledge and self-knowledge.
Another proposal, built around the notion of intention that contains all the motivational components leading to the implementation of the planned behaviour, is the concept of Ajzen (1991) . The main assumption of that model is a proposition that usually (i.e. in an ordinary situation) people behave in accordance with their intentions. Those intentions change over time, as a result of changes in one of the three groups of factors that influence them. These factors are: attitudes, subjective norms and behavioural control. Attitudes are linked to the beliefs about the effects of a given behaviour, i.e. evaluation of the influence of a given behaviour for an individual or his/her environment. Ajzen (1991) differentiated between two aspects of the sense of control: real (real resources, such as time, money, education) and subjective-related to subjectively perceived control over the events (I am persistent or: I cannot cope). In both presented theoretical proposals similar elements determining future conduct were indicated. These are: social knowledge, sense of control, self-esteem, evaluation of the significance of events and definition of expected action.
3. Research Aims
3.1. Research Subject
The research material has been collected thanks to the project of active integration carried out by one of the District Family Aid Centres1. The main objective of the project was to raise the social status of the region inhabitants by equipping them with expected2 professional and social skills that would enable them to find employment. The implementation of the project was to bring about changes of those attitudes that hindered participation in social life; this was to be done by increasing motivation for self-initiated activities aimed at improvement of own life and professional situation and by improving the ability to cope in difficult situations for beneficiaries of the Family Aid Centres. The assumed aim of the project was being achieved through tasks which were the four components of active integration: educational activation (information offered during 12-hour workshops and individual meetings, e.g. legal advice, communication skills, time organization skills), health activation (medical advice and interventions-10 hours), professional activation (professional training and courses e.g. hairdressing course, beautician course, fork lift truck operation, driving license, each course lasting 60 hours), and social activation (organization of cultural events and meetings). The participants were obliged to avail themselves of at least three activation instruments from the first three components of active integration of their own choice. The social component was obligatory.
The research questions assumed the form of two hypotheses and related to assumptions about the potential existence of individual differences between social welfare beneficiaries and persons representing the so-called "social majority" (not covered with any form of social welfare), as well as the potential for the change of thinking about oneself as a result of the conducted training-impact (Banks, 2008; Lindquist & Barret, 2008; Berry et al., 2011) . Hypothesis 1. assumed the following wording: Persons qualified for the programme are characterized by lower self-esteem, lower sense of control over their lives, less positive evaluation of events and less positive expectations towards the future than persons from the so-called social majority (see Figure 1).
Hypothesis 2. was formulated: As a result of the conducted activities―known as "the project"―changes are going to occur among its participants in the form of increased self-esteem, increased sense of control over one's life, more positive evaluation of events and more positive expectations towards the future.
3.2. Research Methods
The following tools were used for the purpose of conducting the research: Life Experience Questionnaire, Ques- tionnaire of the Sense of Control over Events, Tool for Investigating Expected Changes and Self-esteem Scale.
The Life Experience Questionnaire (Boszkiewicz, 1997) investigates the assessment of influence of certain
Time 1 Time 2
Figure 1. Variables and expected changes after training (model of study).
events on the life of an individual. The questionnaire used for the research contained 20 questions concerning events from young adulthood, such as choice of life partner, graduation from school, undertaking the first job, loss of job, birth of a child, moving into one's own apartment. Respondents defined the importance of a particular event (e.g. first work, graduation) on a 7-point scale, where 6 was extremely positive, 5-moderately positive, down to 0 meaning the evaluation of a certain life event as an extremely negative (Cronbach's Alpha for that tool was .76).
The Questionnaire of the Sense of Control over Events (Trempała, 2002a) enables the investigation of the respondents' sense of control over the selected aspects of life (professional life, family life, social life, economic conditions, own health, own appearance, free time). The respondents stated how often they had the sense of control over various spheres of life in a 1 to 5 scale, where 1 meant "I do not have any influence" (almost never), 2―rarely, 3―sometimes, 4―often, 5―"I have influence" (almost always), the Questionnaire consisted of 7 question. Cronbach's Alpha for that tool was .87.
Tool for Investigating Expected Changes. The direct question in questionnaire allows one to investigate the expected direction of life changes within 1 year, 2 years and 5 years. The respondents estimated the possibility of changes in particular spheres of life, such as health, career and family life. They defined the direction and intensity of changes with the 0 to 5 scale, where 0 meant that their life (in that particular sphere) would change for the worse, 1―would not get better, i.e. remain the same, 2―would slightly get better, 3―would get better, 4?would substantially get better, 5―was definitely going to get better. The tool included12 question. Cronbach's Alpha for that tool was .73.
The Self-esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1966) , with four additional dimensions of self-description added, as proposed by Dettinger & Hart (2007) . The respondent described to what degree he or she possessed certain traits and abilities, such as: attractiveness, sociability, diligence, intelligence, responsibility, honesty, independence, self-assurance and protectiveness, as well as ability to communicate and write business letters and CVs. The scale contained 12 items. Self-esteem was measured used scale from 1 to 5, where 1 meant "I do not possess that trait/skill at all" to 5 "I possess that trait/skill to a very high degree". Cronbach's Alpha for that tool was .84.
3.3. The Study Group
The study was carried out in two sub-groups of persons aged between 18 and 35. Members of the first sub-group (proper study participants) were recruited from among all the beneficiaries of the project carried out by the selected Family Aid Centre through purposive sampling based on the criterion of age (N = 321). Those were unemployed persons using social welfare in their young adulthood. Project recruitment was continuous and it was advertised on the radio and in local press. When accepting the application from an interested person, the recruiting employee talked to the applicant and noted down contact details, and also verified documents confirming eligibility for participation in the project. After positive qualification, the welfare employee working for the project invited the candidate for an interview. At that moment, the co-operation between the participant and the welfare employee responsible for conducting the participant's individual reintegration path would commence.
Control group consisted of persons at the same developmental level, coming from the same district. The selection was based on age (18 - 35), the fact of unemployment and the condition of not using the assistance of any welfare institution (N = 200). The researcher tried to make the gender structure of the control group similar to that of the study group (see Table 1).
The total number of participants was 521, of which 62% were project beneficiaries (321) and 38% were members of the control group (200).
4. Study Results
4.1. Comparison between Groups
In order to verify Hypothesis 1 related to differences between beneficiaries and control group members, comparisons of selected traits were carried out, with the Anova test used to compare mean values between the two groups (the adopted significance level was alpha = .05).
4.2. Expectation of Changes
Respondents from the control group expected positive changes within 1, 2 or 5 years and in the general perspective. They most often expected changes to occur in the family sphere and financial situation in the perspective of 2 and 5 years. As for health and professional life, the most frequent answers (70%) of control group members were―"it is not going to get better" or "it will get slightly better".
Meanwhile, persons from the study group indicated the answer "it will not get any better" in all spheres, in the perspective of 1 year, 2 years and 5 years. The only exception was the sphere of social life, where the respondents expected similar changes as the persons from the control group.
The statistical difference related to future expectations between the groups was statistically significant for expecting change in general and expected changes in family and health within 5 years (Table 2).
4.3. Self-Esteem
The results of conducted statistical analyses indicate that self-esteem related to intelligence was significantly lower among persons from the study group than among persons from the control group (Table 3), while the level of such traits as protectiveness, responsibility, independence and self-assurance was higher in the study group than in the control group.
4.4. Sense of Control over One's Life
Persons from the control group had much stronger sense of control over their lives in the financial sphere, professional sphere, relations with the partner, relations with other people and in the sphere of own health than
Table 1. Demographic characteristic of groups.
Table 2. Expecting changes in the perspective of 5 years―differences between the groups.
Source: own study.
Table 3. Self-evaluation of the degree of possessing a given trait or skill―differences between the groups.
Source: own study.
persons from the study group (cf. Table 4). It should be stressed that young people from both groups displayed a similar level of evaluation in such spheres as appearance, ways of spending free time and family relations.
4.5. Evaluation of the Impact of Events on One's Life
Persons from the study group evaluated events considered normative in early adulthood (choice of life partner, school graduation, starting the first job) as more positive than members of the control group (Farnicka, 2014) .
4.6. Comparison of the Study Group before and after the Participation in the Project
In order to verify Hypothesis 2, which assumed that changes are bound to occur among project participants in the form of increased self-esteem, increased sense of control over one's life, increasingly positive evaluation of events and future expectations, an analysis was carried out twice: before project commencement and three months after its completion. Most differences were found in the areas of expected changes, evaluation of the impact of events on one's life and sense of control over various aspects of life. To investigate the differences, t statistics for dependent groups was used.
4.7. Self-Esteem
Both before and after the project the respondents indicated mean values for the investigated personality traits (mean 3.5 on a 0 to 5 scale). However, one should note the changes that occurred between the first and the second evaluation. After the programme, differences were noted in the participants' responses in the following areas: evaluation of own intelligence, diligence, protectiveness, responsibility, independence, honesty (Table 5). It should be noted that some of the changes consisted in decreased self-evaluation of the intensity of personal traits. This related practically to all the variables with the exception of intelligence.
4.8. Knowledge and Skills
Respondents perceived themselves as possessing increased knowledge and skills in the following areas: knowledge of personal rights in the employment context, job-seeking skills and CV writing skills. However, their evaluation of their communicative skills lowered as a result of the project (Table 6).
Table 4. Sense of control over one's life―differences between the groups.
Source: own study.
Table 5. Differences in self-esteem related to the intensity of personal traits as a result of the conducted programme.
Table 6. Evaluation of the level of knowledge and skills.
4.9. Evaluation of the Influence of Life Events
In the evaluation of life events, an important change was noted for the area of professional life and evaluation of professional activity. The evaluation of all the events that changed related to the increase of their positive impact on life. Evaluations have gone up, which means that as a result of the project young men and women considerably changed their perception of those events. This may indicate that they have become more open to changes and that in the future they will be able to make more frequent attempts to change their professional situation (Table 7). The result may also indicate that political activity is one of the manifestations of social engagement.
4.10. Sense of Control over One's Life between Groups
The conducted study reveals that the sense of control only increased in the area of control over finances (student's t, mean in the 1st measurement 5.1; in the 2nd measurement 5.53; mean difference = −.59, t = −2.211,
Table 7. Differences in the evaluation of impact of events on life.
df = 246, p < .05). This may indicate that some motivation to act and to change one's professional and personal situation was indeed stimulated in project participants, but unfortunately that motivation seemed to be limited, as no changes in the sense of control over professional, personal and social life, health, appearance and leisure time were noted.
4.11. Expecting Changes
Respondents expected their lives to change in every case; over 70% of them expected their life to change slightly or significantly in the future (only in perspective of 2 years). Those expectations were higher after the programme completion than before its commencement. In the evaluation of expected changes, women were generally more optimistic. Before the programme more women than men expected things to change. After the programme those evaluations were no longer gender-dependent, which means that the level of expectation and motivation related to changes in life has risen in the male respondents group (Table 8).
Below are the results of investigating the predictors of change of expectations towards the future in the sphere of professional life (Table 9). The significant variables for that variable were participants' age, sense of dignity and the acquired skills of job-seeking (cf. Table 8, R2model2 = .81, F = 8.02, p < .0001, hierarchic regression analysis). This means that, along with the participant's age, expectations were less positive. Meanwhile, job- seeking skills and honesty remained in a positive correlation.
5. Discussion
On the basis of the obtained study results one can conclude that the participation in the project not only raised the level of life competencies or professional skills of the participants but noticeably motivated them to change the way in which they functioned, both with regard to time management and in the social dimension connected with entering into new relations and assuming increased responsibility. Other observed results were the increased sense of control over one's life in various aspects, improvement of communicative skills, making self- evaluation closer to reality, recognition of one's competencies and improvement of professional qualifications. The obtained differences between project beneficiaries and persons from the so-called social majority constituting the control group in the analysed areas confirmed the assumptions about the existence of such differences. The study group members differed significantly from the control group in their lack of expectation of any changes, heightened self-esteem in selected dimensions, more positive evaluation of normative events on their lives and lower sense of control over their lives. That result justifies a conclusion that the choice of the control group was correct, as the results obtained differ from the classic results obtained in studies of differences between volunteers and non-volunteers recruited for research (Shaughnessy, Zechmeister, & Zechmeister, 2002) . Also, in line with the adopted assumptions, a picture of differences for specific personal traits was obtained. Intelligence was evaluated lower, while other traits higher than in the control group. That phenomenon-heightened self-esteem for personal traits, a more positive evaluation of events connected with one's own past life-may indicate the existence of a defense mechanism that is to serve the purpose of ignoring the differences between "us" and "them/others". That mechanism allows a person to value his or her own world and not generate any
Table 8. Change of expectations concerning the future (within 2 years' time perspective).
Table 9. Determinants of changes in expectations towards professional life.
Rmodel1 = .194; R2model1 = .038; change of R2model1 = .028; F = 7.19; pof F changes = .001 Rmodel2 = .285; R2model2 = .081; change of R2model2 = .043; F = 8.54; pof F changes < .001.
expectations towards the future. Project beneficiaries participating in the study were also characterized by low expectations towards the future and low sense of control over their lives. That specific combination of features (high self-esteem of personal traits, positive evaluation of life events, no expectations towards the future and low sense of control over one's life in the professional and economic sphere) could be considered as a characteristic difference between persons considered marginalized and persons well adapted to the society (Checkland, 1997) .
On the other hand, similarities in the two sub-groups should be stressed, relating to social life, own health and appearance. Those spheres, important for that age from the developmental point of view, received similar evaluations in the two groups. This may mean that the differences between the two groups result from the specific conditions prevailing in the socialization environment. Current problems connected with developmental tasks are evaluated in a similar way (e.g. influence on one's physical appearance).
On the basis of the obtained study results one can find out the significance of participation in proposed training and workshops for the change of expectations towards professional life in the perspective of 2 years and family life in the perspective of 2 years. The observed change mainly related to personal traits and competencies/skills connected with the professional sphere of life, such as intelligence, responsibility, independence, honesty and diligence, knowledge of one's rights, and CV writing. Obviously, these traits are also vital in everyday life. The change of evaluation of the impact on one's life was also mainly found for job-related events and political activity and control over financial situation.
The obtained differences (even in the form of the drop in the degree of possessed traits or skills) should be treated as a symptom of change of self-image and making it more real. This particularly refers to self-esteem (features such as responsibility, independence, diligence). That aspect was indicated by Gory?ska, Winiewski, & Zajenkowski (2015) , who emphasized the importance of the processes of self-deception for defending the self. Those mechanisms, operating as idealisation, reaction formation patterns, or for instance fantasizing and isolating oneself, are purposeful. Thus, one can conclude that those mechanisms sustain well-being of an individual making him or her oblivious to the differences between his or her group and the group of others and eliminating discomfort stemming from the differences between the "real self" and the "ideal self". Long-term use of those defence mechanisms leads to inadequate evaluation of reality. The activating significance of perceiving the difference between the ideal self and the real self may be analysed from the point of view of Higgins' concept of self-discrepancy (Higgins, 1996; Bąk, 2002) .
As for changes connected with participation in the project that occurred in the dimensions of social knowledge and self-knowledge, differences have been noted that authorize one to draw a conclusion that as a result of active participation in the project the respondents' real self-appraisal increased and therefore they came into closer contact with their environment and the reality. As a consequence of the project, they considerably changed their perceptions in the field of evaluation of selected events, as well as self-esteem and sense of control. The changes introduced by the project, i.e. the time and space organization and the necessity to exchange information, made the participants' motivation level change as well (Barrett & Kurzban, 2006; Rongi?ska, 2012) .
5.1. Prediction and Significance of the Training
On the basis of the obtained results for predictors of changes in professional life expected within the period of 2 years, we may note that no predictors were found there from the sphere of event evaluation or sense of control. Age was found to be the most significant (the younger the participants, the more they expected positive change), followed by honesty and job-seeking skills. Thus on the basis of the research results one can indicate that despite the significance of work on reality perception for the change of expectations towards the future professional life, the crucial thing was the change in job-seeking skills and age. The obtained results are in line with the existing knowledge of the flexibility of young people and their greater motivation for change and the importance of teaching them professional competencies. Bearing in mind the age of the study and project participants, self- improvement and achieving new professional competencies were considered essential. The period of young adulthood is the time of preparing for and undertaking various professional, social and family roles. From the point of view of the development of professional identity, the key value of the project was that it offered the participants the opportunity to think about themselves as employees and the opportunity to train in the profession (Erikson, 2004) . On the other hand, the connection between the change of events evaluation plus the sense of control and the change of expectations has not been confirmed.
5.2. Limitation of the Study
The researcher is well aware of the difficulties connected with the selection of the control group for the beneficiaries of the District Family Aid Centres as described in literature. Therefore there was no volunteer access to the control group; instead, the persons selected were the ones who were the most similar to the study group members and who passed the selection criterion. The study was conducted following the research plan with the control group, with initial measurement of the dependent variable in various groups. In order for that procedure not be confused with a full experimental plan, in the description of results it is indicated that the control group only served the purpose of comparing the level of analysed traits among participants and non-participants of the project before project realization.
6. Conclusion
The observed and analysed changes in the dimensions of social awareness and self-knowledge before and after participation in the project indicate that the project gave the respondents the improved ability to evaluate themselves realistically and closer contact with the environment, thus offering them an opportunity to change. Overall, project participants displayed high levels of motivation to act and, as a result of regular participation in the classes chosen by them, they experienced many changes in different areas of life.
The changes stimulated by the participation in the described project may be an example of a good practice of supporting the process of integration of people coming from groups/enclaves considered to be minorities in their local environment. It could be noticed as the first step from "illegality" to be a part of society (Ambrosini, 2016) .
The project results demonstrate that preventive work should concentrate on shaping and offering multi-dimen- sional support to the individual. This may trigger the processes of self-perception (i.e. perceiving the difference between the declared and the real self). Also, attention should be paid to activities from the sphere of professional knowledge that may tangibly increase the level of necessary professional skills. Such an activity may trigger a sequence of recognition and bring about real change in both perception and functioning.
In conclusion, it is worthwhile to note the need of including adults from a difficult socio-cultural environment in programmes that combine knowledge, practical useful skills and good psychological experience (self-esteem, com- munication, new group). Such programmes could improve competencies to protect social capital of societies.
Creating a social climate that encourages differences and diversity entails permission for the demonstration of conflicts, the revealing of which makes it possible to transcend hitherto prevailing stereotypes and trigger the sequence of cognitions (perception of real differences and similarities) that at last enables the search for common aims and tasks. Without awakening the real need to change, neither the best professional programmes nor the best specialists will achieve the intended effects. Openness, curiosity and stimulating the need to change through diminishing the distance are one of the key prerequisites for co-existence and transfer of knowledge, skills and joint co-functioning of many cultures in the future perspective.
Cite this paper
Marzanna Farnicka, (2016) Is the Social Integration Possible? The Role of Training among Young Adults Beneficiaries of Social Services Institutions. Psychology,07,1092-1103. doi: 10.4236/psych.2016.78109
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- 24. Trempala, J. (2002b). Models of Psychological Time in the Research on Time Perspectives. In J. Trempala, & L.-E. Malmberg (Eds.), Adolescents' Future-Orientation: Theory and Research (pp. 111-122). Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.
- 25. Weber, M. (2002). Economy and Society: An Outline of Interpretive Sociology. In N. W. Biggart (Ed.), Readings in Economic Sociology (pp. 3-4). Oxford: Blackwell Publishers Ltd.
1The project was carried out in the years 2010-2013 and funded by the European Social Fund (Sub-measure 7.1.2.). The project with training lasted 3 months and was prepared as part of implementation of the grant entitled "Action for the social integration of inhabitants of the Zielona Góra district" in the years 2008-2013 financed by the EU from the Human Capital Development fund.
2Expected-according to the list obtained in co-operation with the Employment Office.


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Sarah Palin, the one-time Republican Vice-Presidential candidate, who now spends much of her time penning online screeds against both Republicans and Democrats… has penned an online screed demanding President Obama be impeached.
The former governor of Alaska, who rose from obscurity to become one of the most divisive characters in American political culture during John McCain's failed presidential run in 2008, has published a column on the Breitbart.com website, saying, "enough is enough of the years of abuse from this president".
Speaking of the humanitarian crisis on the border between Mexico and Texas, a demarcation that has witnessed an influx of more than 50,000 children in recent months, many fleeing violence in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, Palin wrote: "His unsecured border crisis is the last straw that makes the battered wife say, 'no mas.'"
A prominent notion on right-wing talk radio and among Tea Party groups is that Obama is deliberately allowing the US to be flooded by illegal immigrants in an effort to change the demographics of the country, a transformation that, long-term, would be advantageous to the Democrats at the voting booth. The Going Rogue author echoed this sentiment in Tuesday's column, arguing: "Without borders, there is no nation… Obama knows this. Opening our borders to a flood of illegal immigrants is deliberate. This is his fundamental transformation of America. It's the only promise he has kept."
This is not the first time Palin has questioned whether Obama should be removed from office, with a Facebook post in late 2013 accusing the President of toying with "impeachable offences" over the US debt limit. However, Tuesday's offering is far more strident, calling directly for the President to face impeachment as his "rewarding of lawlessness" is causing "irreparable harm".
She continues: "It's time to impeach; and on behalf of American workers and legal immigrants of all backgrounds, we should vehemently oppose any politician on the left or right who would hesitate in voting for articles of impeachment… The many impeachable offenses of Barack Obama can no longer be ignored. If after all this he's not impeachable, then no one is."
Earlier this month, three buses carrying illegal migrants, mainly women and children, to a processing facility in Murrieta, California, were forced to turn around after they were met by an angry mob waving flags and holding placards that read, "return to sender" and "no new illegals".
Immigration has become a hugely divisive issue in the US in recent years, with Congress refusing to act on much-needed immigration reform. Under the Obama presidency, increased resources have been sent to shore up border security, while an estimated 2 million migrants have been deported under the current administration.
In June, Palin rounded on her own Party (as well as Obama), threatening to leave the GOP over inaction at the plight of "young illegal aliens flooding across our border into horrendous conditions".

subset: commoncrawl


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Journeys Ashore Spotlight: 'Cabo San Lucas Ziplining Adventure' Truly Is an Adventure
Holland America Line asked Guest Roland if he would send in an article about his recent Journeys Ashore experience in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on his recent Westerdam cruise, and he was more than happy to oblige! Roland took the "Cabo San Lucas Ziplining Adventure" and it certainly is a great option for guests who like an adrenaline rush in a safe and exciting environment.
The Cabo San Lucas Ziplining Adventure is listed as a very active excursion — it carries the three-hiker symbol on the Holland America Line website and shore excursion brochure — and it is not for the faint of heart. The tour is for someone who is relatively physically fit, as it requires hiking, climbing and hanging on for dear life. OK, that might be a little exaggerated, but from my experience and the comments of my fellow zipliners, this was more active than most Holland America Line shore excursions. Sign me up!
The tour begins with a 13-minute tender ride from the ship to the dock in Cabo San Lucas. From there, we climbed into an air-conditioned van, but only after being weighed to ensure we didn't exceed the tour's 260-pound weight limit. We then drove 70 minutes up into the Sierra Madre mountains through an arid, largely uninhabited region populated mainly by saguaro cactus and mesquite scrub.
Upon arrival at our destination, we mounted a Unimog truck. These German-built 1962-model yellow trucks are ubiquitous on excursions run by Cabo Adventures and sister company Vallarta Adventures. They are made for climbing and descending steep inclines, rolling over rocks and through rivers.
Which was handy, as we jounced off on a 45-degree incline down one side of a valley through a shallow river bed and up the other side to the base camp. Our driver Alvaro characterized the jostling ride as a "Mexican back massage," the first of many self-deprecating and amusing descriptions we were to encounter over the course of the day.
Once at base camp, we were all outfitted with gloves, harnesses and helmets, and given a thorough safety briefing.
We were told to only hold the lower rope or we would go home with a rope burn, or "Mexican tattoo," on our arm, and to keep our digits away from the rope guide. In fact, it was a very thorough safety briefing that helped allay the nervousness of several first-timers in the group. Indeed, throughout the entire day, our guides clearly kept our safety their chief focus.
Following another Unimog ride and a group photo, we hiked a bit farther up the mountain to the first zip — a relatively short run of about 100 yards — to get the hang of the equipment and ensure everyone was comfortable and following instructions.
In all, there are seven zip runs totaling about a mile in length, according to Jonathan Jimenez, the tour supervisor. He said overall, the tour covers about 1,500 feet of altitude from the first run to the final 1,640-foot run — the last and longest of the day.
In the middle, there was an exciting (and I mean that in the sense of terrifying) walk across a single-rope bridge followed by a climb up a rock face using ladder handles and toe-holds set in the rock.
The final zipline run of nearly 1,700 feet was over a valley with a river at the bottom and several uninterested cows who didn't seem fazed at all by humans whizzing by overhead. The views were incredible, if short-lived because it's a ZIP line. There was an additional rappel down the canyon and another ladder climb up the other side, but I and about half the group opted to take the easy way — another zip across the canyon — though those who participated said it was fun.
This was my best zipline experience ever — better than similar shore excursions in Costa Rica or the Caribbean. What set it apart, besides the fantastic vistas, was the friendliness and professionalism of the guides.
Note that this is a very active and at times physically demanding excursion. Not too demanding, but it's hot and there's a fair amount of uphill hiking between zip platforms. Water and Gatorade stations are provided at strategic locations along the way, so participants can stay hydrated and sit and rest in shaded stops at several zip platforms.
The shore excursion description says to wear long pants, but I suggest shorts (you do need close-toed shoes), as it would be much cooler and more comfortable.
Back at base camp you'll have the opportunity to sample handmade quesadillas and frijoles, and you can purchase a DVD or thumb drive with photos of yourself in various death-defying poses for $39 to $49. It's worth it because the professional photographers get shots that tour participants could never get — and these are memories one does not want to forget, even if they do bring back the dry mouth and sweaty palms of the day.
Remember that Journeys Ashore can be booked pre-cruise so you can avoid the disappointment of your first choice filing up. Once your cruise is booked, click HERE.


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Song#: 1254
Date: 11/20/1982
Debut: 78
Peak: 47
Weeks: 9
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: After her commercial peak in 1974 with the album "Court and Spark," Mitchell's albums contained less and less pop-oriented material so that by the time 1979's "Mingus" came out, she was flirting with some full-on jazz. Never known as a singles artist, Mitchell grabbed a few chart appearances over the years with her best being the #7 "Help Me" in 1974. As the 80s started, Mitchell began work on a new album whose songs were inspired by the rhythms of current popular artists like The Police and the Talking Heads. The return to a more pop-influenced sound combined with a changeover to the Geffen label resulted in "Wild Things Run Fast." The album was well-received and it got Mitchell a rare pop chart entry with this single. Although it couldn't get into the Top 40, it was her best charting single since 1974.
ReduxReview: This rock chestnut certainly gets a Joni makeover (just check out the opening) and it works quite well. When it comes down to it, Joni is not known for "fun" songs so this one is a nice change of pace. She puts a nice, new wave-influenced turn on the tune that brings the song into the future. I could almost hear Linda Ronstadt on this as well. I wouldn't say that this single should have done any better than it did, but it did show that Joni had a fun side and possessed the ability to do something in a more commercial vein - if she wanted to. (P.S.: Joni is one of my absolute favorite artists. Her 1971 classic album "Blue" is currently my favorite album of all-time. It is required listening in my book.)
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: This was Mitchell's first and only song to reach the chart that she did not compose. Written in 1957 by the famous team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, it was first recorded by Elvis Presley and released on his "Jailhouse Rock" EP in 1957. Although it did not reach the pop chart, the song did hit #14 on the R&B chart. Buddy Holly also released a version that found its way on to the UK pop chart in 1958.


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Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Review
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Review
Does a phone need five cameras on the back?
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 may not be the most finely polished phone on the market, but you get plenty of hardware for your money.
- Smoothly curved glass front and back
- Great zoom cameras
- High-quality 108MP main sensor
- Camera is slow
- Protruding camera housing
- Some software quirks
- Low-light images aren't best in class
Key Specifications
- Review Price: £474
- 108-megapixel main camera
- 5 cameras on the back, including a 2x and 5x
- 6GB RAM, Snapdragon 730
- 128GB storage
- Headphone jack
- 5260mAh battery
- 6.47in OLED display, FHD+
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is a mid-range phone with some high-end device design traits. It has more cameras than sense and an expensive-looking, curved-glass front.
A 108-megapixel camera and massive 5260mAh battery are headline numbers that are sure to attract some attention.
This isn't quite the world-beater you might expect in other respects, however. Its camera is slow; there are some day-to-day issues that make it seem more sluggish than it is. And while the battery is sizeable and lasts okay, you might expect even better stamina for its spec.
There's still plenty to like here, but the cheaper Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro and Oppo Reno 2 may be a better choice for some.
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Price
The Mi Note 10 isn't officially on sale in the UK or USA yet. However, it's available for as low as £333 from sites like Gearbest (RRP £474).
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 design – A almost-premium look, but the fingerprint scanner is hit and miss
In some areas, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is made to the same standard as a phone costing twice the price. Its sides are metal, and both the front and rear of the device are substantial, curved pieces of glass. There's no plastic border sitting between the metal and glass either, which is highly unusual for a phone costing less than £600.
This invites comparisons to handsets such as the Huawei P30 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S10, both of which are more expensive. But it's the camera housing found on the rear of the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 that you may well notice first.
It's huge and protrudes, noticeably so considering the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 isn't an ultra-slim handset to start. Xiaomi has a good excuse: the phone's battery is significant in size. But what I get from the Mi Note 10's design is that it's a phone that's made to wear a coat – the silicone case that comes in the box.
In fact, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 feels almost incomplete without its silicone case, which smooths out the carbuncle of camera.
If you want a phone that looks and feels super-expensive at around £400, the Oppo Reno 2 arguably pulls this off better than the Mi Note 10. Oppo has made that handset attractive whether in or out of a case.
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is all about the curves, although it's a shame then that in the case you're unlikely to really get to appreciate them. Note, too, that the Mi Note 10 doesn't offer any water-resistance. This is the norm at the price, but again reminds that similarity to phones double the price is actually somewhat thin.
The handset's in-screen fingerprint scanner isn't nearly as good as those of top-end phones, either. Picky about finger placement, highly sensitive to moisture and prone to mis-reading a perfectly good imprint, you might resort to using face unlock instead. As in-screen scanners become more common in mid-range phones, slightly dodgy units such as this are now quite common.
Its performance dipped over the course of a week or so. While it improved a little after re-training the scanner to recognise my finger, it's still far from ideal. The fact that rear and side finger scanners have been largely excellent for years now makes it the unit here all the more annoying.
That's enough negativity for now, though. The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 feels better than any Samsung phone at the price, and you don't get a curved front with the Oppo Reno 2.
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 also has an IR blaster. It enables the Mi Remote app, which lets the phone act as a universal remote, sending out the same commands as your TV remote (as long as it isn't a flashy Bluetooth one).
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 screen – An OLED panel and all the benefits this brings
A motorised front camera is the most obvious feature lacking in the Xiaomi Mi Note 10. Xiaomi includes these in other phones, but here we get a more conventional teardrop notch.
The inclusion of the former would have made the Mi Note 10 the full package – a curved front, undisturbed by notches. But even the hyper-aggressive Xiaomi has to establish a limit.
The Mi Note 10 has a 6.47in screen, an OLED panel with a 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution. It's an excellent screen for the money. You may find larger, but you won't find much better, particularly if the curvy front appeals.
Not had a phone with an OLED panel before? They offer unparalleled contrast and super-deep colour. You can choose between a super-saturated or more natural colour profile, or one that changes the screen character based on ambient lighting.
With the Mi Note 10, I've had no trouble at all with the auto brightness setting – which can be an issue on less well-optimised phones. Plus, there's enough brightness – a claimed 600 nits – to get by comfortably on brighter days.
However, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 does seem to have an odd bug that makes the screen flash bright for a fraction of a second when unlocking. It isn't catastrophic; more disconcerting.
The screen is sharp, bold and rich, and it supports 1080p Netflix. HDR support is here, too – and, not surprisingly, looks excellent in a room with controlled lighting that lets you appreciate the brightness of the display.
How do rivals at the price compare? The Samsung Galaxy A70 screen is of an even more generous size, and the Reno 2's is effectively larger for movies since it doesn't have a notch.
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 software – The lack of an app drawer disappoints
The Mi Note 10 runs Android 9 with Xiaomi's MIUI interface. Its visual style is similar to that of Huawei; it's not as rounded as Samsung, and not as stiffly sharp as Oppo's.
I have no real issues with the software's looks, but customisation is limited in one important respect. There's no app drawer in MIUI. Any apps you install end up on homescreens – and, unlike Huawei's UI, there's no option to add a dedicated app area.
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 has an extra homescreen packed with widget-like shortcuts to Xiaomi apps and tools. It's just as useful as it sounds (not very), and I've ignored it almost entirely when actually using the phone. You probably will too.
Personally, the lack of a proper app screen bumps MIUI down to the lower rungs of Android interfaces for me. But if you're not similarly attached to one, the Mi Note 10's software is perfectly fine.
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 performance – It isn't the fastest, but it's a decent performer
A mid-range processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, beats at the heart of the Mi Note 10. It's the same chipset that comes in the Oppo Reno 2; Samsung's Galaxy A80 has the similar Snapdragon 730. This "G" version simply has higher-clocked graphics hardware for slightly better performance in games.
In practice, this works well. You can play Ark: Survival Evolved comfortably at High graphics, with the resolution slider set at around 70%. PUBG runs well maxed-out – just turn on anti-aliasing to get rid of the jaggies.
Day-to-day performance is technically sound, as you'd hope from a device with a good CPU and 6GB of RAM. However, it ends up feeling flaky thanks to a slightly unreliable fingerprint scanner and the odd screen-flash unlock effect mentioned in the display part of this review.
The Mi Note 10 also isn't the fastest phone you can get from Xiaomi at the price. Its Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro costs less but has a far more powerful Snapdragon 855.
According to Geekbench 4 and 3D Mark, that phone has around 70% more CPU power and well over twice the GPU power.
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 camera – Punchy and engaging images that will have you taking more
The camera is where you'll discover the Xiaomi Mi Note 10's most significant performance issues. It's slow.
There's shutter lag of around half a second, and the processing of images takes a very long time. The reason becomes clear on taking a closer look at the tech inside.
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 has a 108-megapixel main camera, which uses pixel binning to output 27-megapixel images. You could argue this is better thought of as a 27-megapixel camera then, since the Samsung S5KHMX sensor is primarily designed to shoot at that resolution, and actually uses an algorithm to shoot 108MP images that sound like its natural output.
Either way, there's a lot of data to process in each image. 108-megapixel shots end up at around 35MB each.
Normal shots are packed full of detail; 108-megapixel shots even more so. There's a slight painterly quality to those ultra-high-res images, common to "AI" algorithm-assisted shots. However, I'm impressed by how natural they continue to look, and how different they are to the 27-megapixel images.
The character of the images relies on fairly high contrast, with rich colour. It's a high-energy look, not a neutral one. But shots taken with the Mi Note 10 are consistently punchy and engaging.
The camera is also unusually good at dealing with the light levels of tricky scenes such as sunsets, and tends to overexpose sky-free nature scenes less than most mid-range phone cameras I've used in 2019.
The Mi Note 10's 108-megapixel images tend to display significantly more purple colour noise than 27-megapixel pictures. However, this sort of makes sense when you consider that combining pixels should theoretically increase its ability to weed such distortion. In addition, I only noticed the purple haze when zooming in to the images.
I'm also impressed by most of the other cameras that feature on the Mi Note 10's rear. There's a 2x zoom, a 3x zoom lens the phone crops into for 5x images, an ultra-wide and a dedicated macro.
The macro sensor is the only real "dud". I took a trip to the park with the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 during testing to see whether it takes close-ups better than the 5x zoom or 108-megapixel modes. In almost all situations I was able to get better results from the other cameras, cropping to get close.
Close-up focusing is the main benefit of the macro camera. And, unlike many of these mini-macros, it does have autofocus. However, since the sensor is a piddly 2-megapixel resolution, it can't actually render much detail, even with perfect focus.
You get the finest of macro-like detail using the main camera
It works for remedial macro shots, where you want to get close and have a fairly shallow depth of field. But for actual macro-level detail capture, it's a bust.
The zoom results are much better. Most mid-range phones take poor pictures at 5x. The Mi Note 10 takes good ones, even if it does "cheat" and crop into a 3x zoom, 8-megapixel sensor to achieve them. It feels like a real native zoom, without the digital obfuscation of zoom-by-processing. I find this makes the camera more fun to use, and helps offset the frustration of its lethargic feel.
Its ultra-wide 20-megapixel camera is similar. You don't see the quality drop-off of some mid-range phones, and so you'll end up using it more.
Night image quality is a slightly mixed affair. Shoot using the auto mode and the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 takes slightly vague-looking low-light images. Texture detail increases hugely when you use the Night mode, and the shadows are lifted significantly for a less dark-looking image. They're not as good as the Pixel 3a XL's night shots, but they're good enough.
And after all the complaints about speed, Night mode doesn't take that long to shoot – just a couple of seconds. There's still a wait for processing after the shoot, but it's the exposure capture that actually stops you going about your business.
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 doesn't remotely mine the capability of the 108-megapixel sensor for video. Samsung says it's capable of 6K video capture, but the phone taps out at 4K, 30 frames per second. Why? It's the hard limit of the Snapdragon 730G processor, according to Qualcomm.
Xiaomi has made surprisingly good use of this 108-megapixel sensor, but we'll likely see it exploited even further in other phones.
However, video versatility is otherwise great, as you can shoot using any of the cameras. And since the 2x and 5x views both have optical stabilisation, they're genuinely usable.
There's one more slightly pedantic point to make here. What is the point of having 2x and 3x zoom lenses in a phone that also has a 108-megapixel 1x camera? Smarter use of software could remove the need for one of these cameras.
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 battery life – Generous capacity that will easily outlast rivals
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 has what sounds like a ridiculously large battery – it has a 5260mAh capacity. This is huge for any phone, particularly one with a 1080p 6.47in screen.
The battery lasts well, although in my experience it didn't come close to the Oppo A9 2020 I tested recently. The level of power remaining by the end of the day fluctuates between 30% and 50%; it's enough to give those who abuse their phones all-day comfort. But on hearing that the Mi Note 10 has a 5260mAh capacity battery, you might expect two days of solid use between each charge.
While this isn's something I saw, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 still comfortably outlasts most handsets, including many of those in the £800-1000 price bracket.
Should I buy the Xiaomi Mi Note 10?
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is a good phone that, like most Xiaomi handsets, is attractively priced. The quality of the hardware included for the money is good – or much better in the case of the camera lineup. The main 108-megapixel camera impresses, as does the quality of its zoom images.
However, this handset is lacking a degree of polish. The camera is slow, it isn't the most attractive of phone despite all that curved glass, and the fingerprint scanner performance is poor.
Nevertheless, despite all its flaws the Mi Note 10 is still a good-value phone that offers similar photo composition flexibility as the Huawei P30 Pro.
How we test phones
We test every mobile phone we review thoroughly. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly and we use the phone as our main device over the review period. We'll always tell you what we find and we never, ever, accept money to review a product.


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Because it's Fun by The Fool Theatre 愚者剧场, Drama Centre Black Box, 12 – 21 October
The inaugural production for The Fool Theatre, Because it's Fun shows how bullying is omnipresent in our society and how it affects our mental well-being. Don't miss this mind-blowing new play by playwright Tung Ka Wai and artistic director Xavier Kang, founders of The Fool Theatre.
More information here.
Temple by Cake Theatre, SOTA Drama Theatre, 18 – 20 October
Temple sees the invention of a mythological universe where all the quarters of the world are at odds. This multi-layered experience infuses physical composition, visual style and sound architecture, in an exploration of the various notions of 'Temple'.
Temple was commissioned for the Singapore Arts Festival 2008 and was first performed in 2008 in Singapore and at the Napoli Teatro Festival Italia in Naples Italy. Ten years since its inception, Cake sees the re-staging of this work. Find out more here.
GTM 2018: P7:1SMA Dance Workshops by P7:1SMA Ltd in conjunction with Got To Move 2018, an initiative by the National Arts Council (NAC), 14 Oct, P7:1SMA Studio at Stamford Arts Centre
In the Asli workshop, participants will be introduced to movement phrases of one of Singapore Malay basic folk dance called Tari Asli Kuala Deli. The focus will be on sharing about Malay customs that form the wisdom of Malay folk dance. In the NOVA workshop, participants will be introduced to hints of Norhaizad's movement rigour rooted in the embodiment of Malay folk and contemporary practice. The focus will be on sharing about how motivations that drive movements can be the start of new creations.
More information here.
Dastak: By Invite Only by NUS Naach, NUS University Cultural Centre, 17 October, 7:30pm
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and numerous other apps have dominated our online activity over the last five years. We are indeed increasingly spending more time on voyeuristic apps that look into people's lives and let other people look into your lives. NUS Naach, NUS's own Bollywood dance group, presents ironic perspective on voyeurism through exploring the tension between attention and vulnerability when we engage in social media. Find out more here.
Note: All information is correct at the time of publication. Please confirm directly with the organisers/event websites. ArtsEquator is not responsible for any changes to the schedule of events. If you have an event you'd like us to highlight, please email events[at]artsequator.com.


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Creating a Leadership Development Program for High-Potential EmployeesDeveloping high-potential employees requires investing in their skills. Learn how to craft a leadership development program.
September 25, 2018
Lately, some companies have chosen to shift the focus of their leadership development programs to high-potential employees. These employees possess skills necessary to thrive in management or senior roles, but need additional coaching before taking on new roles. Developing and grooming high-potential employees requires a well-rounded program that focuses on specific skills relevant to your organization's needs. EBSCO Corporate has outlined the steps required to create a program that will help your employees reach their full potential.
Outline Critical Competencies
The first step to creating any corporate learning program is deciding the focus. With a leadership development program, you should identify eight to 12 key competencies that your training will focus on. These competencies should include critical soft skills such as project management, teamwork, communication, time management, and more. You can identify these competencies by utilizing employee surveys to see where your company can improve. It may also be helpful to review your organization's mission statement for a quick refresh of goals. Make sure that your final list is broad enough that it is inclusive, yet not overwhelming for your audience.
Identify High Potential Employees
While outlining your program's critical competencies, you can also begin identifying high-potential employees for your program. Be sure to focus on employees who thrive in their current role and are always eager to take on responsibility. If you are unsure of who fits that description, speak with senior managers and get their feedback.
Curate Your Content
Your next step is finding content that is suitable for your program's goals and audience. Use free online resources to track down reading and videos on your chosen competencies. Be sure that your content is actionable and that employees can put the concepts into practice immediately. If you are having trouble finding the right content for your program, explore curate corporate learning tools such as EBSCO's Accel5. Accel5 is a microlearning solution that features videos, business book summaries, and articles spotlighting best practices from an unparalleled group of business leaders.
Developing and grooming high potential employees requires a well-rounded program that focuses on specific skills relevant to your organization's needs.
Prepare Your Audience
Prior to the program, have your audience complete "pre-work," such as reading relevant book summaries or articles, or watching video clips that will prepare them for their upcoming training. Ensure that the content is efficient – employees should spend no more than ten minutes a day on their pre-work.
Hold Your Program
Your leadership development program should be customized to your company's needs, while also utilizing some general ideas. You want to be sure that your program is long enough to be effective, but not so long that employees will fall behind with their work. Many companies have found that two to five days is an ideal amount of time. Another useful tip is to partner each attendee with a counterpart, or "buddy." As buddies, these employees will be responsible for holding each other accountable both during and after the program. Finally, be sure that you are checking in with employees throughout the program to assist with any questions or challenges that they may face.
Following Up
A successful program does not end once the training is complete. Be sure to follow up with attendees at various points. Immediately after the program has concluded, give attendees access to a corporate learning solution to help them continue their development. About a month after the program, check in with the high-potential employees to see if they are still speaking with their buddy – if they are not, encourage them to reach out. Finally, once you have run your program multiple times, send out another company-wide survey and review the results
A leadership development program for high-potential employees is an exciting way for your company to improve and focus on the future. Download our infographic from Accel5 to receive the key steps required for a successful program.


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ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, MSc
Apply now | |
Course Duration / ECTS | 4 semesters / 120 ECTS |
University degree | Master of Science (MSc) |
Admission Requirements and Curriculum |
· Students must hold a Bachelor's degree (or comparable degree) in an equivalent or related field from an accredited Austrian or foreign institute of higher education. · Curriculum |
Language of instruction English | Proof of language proficiency |
Dates and Deadlines | · The dates and deadlines change every semester. · The current deadlines and dates can be found here. |
Information on the department and departmental student representatives |
Are you already a student at the PLUS and want to take up this study program as well – or switch? Please contact the Office of Admissions via the link below.
If you still need help or advice after enrolling (registering for a study program), you will find important links here.
What will I learn?
The scientific disciplines of ecology and evolutionary biology research on the units, structures, functions and changes within our biotic environment. A deep and scientifically based understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes is a prerequisite for the conservation, protection and sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources. This includes understanding the interactions of organisms with each other and the environment, as well as the adaptive differentiation of species, populations and individuals in terms of their genetic characteristics, ecology, morphology, physiology, and developmental and reproductive biology at various spatial and temporal scales. The Master course in Ecology and Evolution provides a thorough, forward-looking, and high-quality education in these areas. It is characterized by an integrative, experimental, interdisciplinary and internationally competitive approach to education and research.
What makes Salzburg so special as a place to study?
Salzburg is the ideal place for studying ecology and evolutionary biology. The geographical position at the margin of the Alps does not only offer plenty of possibilities for recreation, but also for field courses, practical courses and master topics. The integration of theoretical foundations of ecology and evolution with research-related field and lab courses in a variety of scientific disciplines is definitely a plus in this MA course. Students are usually integrated in ongoing national and international research projects and acquire high general research skills.
Which career opportunities do I have?
A thorough ecological and evolutionary education is of highest scientific and societal relevance and offers a broad range of professional opportunities to graduates: Research and teaching at universities and other educational institutions; employment in zoos, botanical gardens, museums, natural history collections, management of National Parks and other protected areas; contributions to the private and/or public-administrative sector, participation in political, economical and societal decision-making processes, e.g. in agencies dealing with nature and environmental protection, landscape conservation and energy supply (such as documentation and management of biodiversity, management of sustainability and resources, climate change research); applied research, development and consulting in the pharmaceutical/medical sector, environmental chemistry, food-technology and -industry, agriculture, gene technology, biotechnology, etc.; botanical and zoological forensics; employment in media, scientific journalism, and publishing sectors.
Postgraduate degree:
Doctoral Programme at the Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences
Assoz. Prof. Dr. Andreas Tribsch
Head of the curriculum committee Ecology and Evolution
Hellbrunner Straße 34, 5020 Salzburg
Tel.: +43 662 8044-5504
Fax.: +43 662 8044-142
Photographs: © Luigi Caputo (1-3)


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Newsletter Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
The phone line was down recently and is now fixed. Apologies to anyone
who was trying to get through and who could not do so.
Refugee Drop-In - Thank You
Thank you for your donations of hard-boiled eggs last weekend. We were able to take 140 eggs to the drop-in for refugees in East Finchley. A big thank you also from the team at the centre! Next date for your diaries: 7th May.
Mass for Bereaved Parents – 11th March 2017, Westminster Cathedral
On Saturday 11th March at 2.30 pm at Westminster Cathedral a Mass for bereaved parents will be celebrated by Bishop Paul McAleenan. During Mass, after the homily, parents will be invited to write the name of their deceased child on a card and the cards will be taken along with the offertory to the sanctuary. It's a time to remember, to pray, to give thanks and to entrust deceased children to the Lord. All are welcome to attend.
Pilgrimage to Fatima 14th-20th September 2017
There is a special pilgrimage to Fatima being organised for the centenary year of the apparitions. The pilgrimage will include Santiago de Compostella and will be led by Fr Luis Tomas of the Consolata Mission House here in Finchley. Four nights in Fatima, two nights in Santiago de Compostella. Cost: £679. Further details: Tony O'Byrne 0208 361 1300.
First Holy Communion Course Takes a Break
There will be no First Holy Communion classes tomorrow 12th or on 19th February because of half term. Next session: 26th February – usual time and place.
Christian Meditation Group
There is a Christian Meditation Group which has already started – in Nazareth House, 162 East End Road, every Tuesday morning at 10.30 am – after the 10 am Mass.
SVP – Senior Citizens Lunch
The SVP would like to thank everyone who helped to make the Senior Citizens' Lunch such an enjoyable afternoon. Special thanks to Billy Faughnan and Michael O'Hare for the fantastic live music.
Gospel Choir Rehearsal on 26th February – All Welcome
Come along and sing with us on Sunday 26th February at 11 am in the Large Hall (pancakes served by our teenagers!). All ages and abilities welcome. We'll be preparing for 10 am Mass on Sunday 5th March. Liz and Sandra, firstname.lastname@example.com
Next INCENSED Youth Group (ages 10-18)
Pancake party! Join our next youth group meeting on Sunday 26th February at 11 am in the Large Hall. New people always welcome. Contact Sandra – firstname.lastname@example.com
Lenten Film Evening – Letters from Mother Teresa
Join our Lenten film evening on Friday 3rd March, at 8 pm in the parish centre and watch 'Letters from Mother Teresa' starring Juliet Stevenson (2014). The film explores the life of Mother Teresa through letters she wrote to her longtime friend and spiritual director, Father Celeste van Exem.
Grassy Area between the church and the parish centre
Please note that you must not let your children play on the steps or the strip of lawn immediately behind the church. If they play on the lawn above the steps please make sure that there is at least one parent present at all times.
Bishop Douglass School Magazine
Copies of the Bishop Douglass School magazine The Douglass are available free to anyone who wants one.
Growing in Faith Campaign Update
Although it's three years ago since this diocesan fundraising campaign was completed in our parish, both the Westminster diocese and our own parish of St Mary's East Finchley continue to benefit from the 116 generous parishioners who have pledged donations over five years. By the end of last year they had donated £101,000 towards our goal of £150,000. In the diocese, this giving is helping to train new priests, care for sick and retired priests, and fund Caritas projects like Bakhita House for the victims of human trafficking. In our own parish, those making donations through their pledges to the campaign are helping to fund our parish project through the youth and Christian formation work of Sandra Lipner. Thank you for your generous support.
Youth Worker sought by Westminster Justice and Peace Commission
This role is to promote peace and social justice concerns in schools and parishes across the diocese. Energy and enthusiasm to encourage young people to make a difference in the world around them is key. See diocesan website for details. Closing date Feb 21st 2017. Visit: http://rcdow.org.uk/diocese/jobs/youth-worker--westminster-justice--peace-commission-1/
Vacancy for Part Time Teacher of Economics at St Michael's Grammar School
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School, in North Finchley, London N12 7NJ, has a vacancy for a part-time Teacher of Economics, wtih effect from April 2017. Closing date 12:00 noon Monday 20th February 2017. Further information and an application form please go to the School website: http://www.st-michaels.barnet.sch.uk/Pages/staffvac.php or ring St Michael's on 020 8446 2256.
Looking for Residential Care?
Nazareth House in East Finchley has just completed a full refurbishment programme and have vacancies. If you wish to go and see, please contact Christine Small – General Manager on 0208 883 1104 or Sister Celine-Marie, Sister Superior on 07778 512144.
Our Lady of Lourdes Bow Lane N12 – Nursery Applications Sept 2017
Our Lady of Lourdes, Bow Lane, N12 are still accepting Nursery Applications for September 2017. If your child was born between 1st April 2014 and 31st March 2015, and you wish to apply, please contact the school on 0208 346 1681 for an application form.
Pray for the sick esp. Sister Sheila, John & Carmel Bates, Cathy Walker, Finola Hickey, Kelly-Marie O'Donnell, Pat Gleeson, Annette O'Gorman.
Parish Collection Last week's collection came to £ 1124.05 Many thanks.


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I talked about ChemSpider in a previous post but if you are serious about finding information on substances there is a chemistry database like no other: SciFinder.
Just last year Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), a division of the American Chemical Society, announced that the database was moving from the software version to the web. Since then there have been a number of changes to SciFinder, along with a newly redesigned CAS website. For example, there are great interactive SciFinder training videos for all aspects of substance and reaction searches that point out new features.
What sets Scifinder apart is not just the chemical literature, with articles, patents, dissertations, etc., going back over 100 years, it is how they bring together a wealth of information on reactions, structures, properties, and commercial sources, and link it all to substances with unique identifiers, called CAS Registry Numbers. That means that if you come across the name of a compound in an article that you do not recognize you can use the Explore Substances search in SciFinder and find out just what it is.
McGill students, faculty, and staff can now benefit from unlimited access to SciFinder (registration is required) so let me know it works for you.
CAS does have a free search engine for substances of general interest if Common Chemistry is more your thing.


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Whilst comparing different authentication schemes such as HTTP Basic Authentication vs. HTTP Digest Access Authentication, one-way SSL vs. two-way SSL, SAML vs. WSS or OAuth 1.0 vs. OAuth 2.0 one notices that they all address similar problems when it comes to apply signatures in order to achieve the known AAA principles. However, the way and where digital signatures are applied, especially to new authentication protocols such as OAuth, can open new and interesting scenarios to secure API.
The numerous feedback received from the "Authentication vs. Authorization with OAuth" blog (Knupfer Rainer, Bricalli Cristina. 2016) shows that we have maybe indeed put too many irons in the fire. We introduced different OAuth specification versions, we mentioned Bearer Tokens and signatures, briefly evaluated the pro and cons of PKI vs. shared key and designed an overall architecture of a self-registering portal. That's a lot! It was to our great satisfaction that the requirement of strong authentication for confidential exposed information has been understood. However, we feel the need to go one step further to clarify different aspects regarding signatures and token type in the context of OAuth that often lead to confusion.
Technical architects and software engineers often need to deal with many details, different types of architectures, technical specifications and buzzwords and so it may happen that "subtle" differences such as signing the request and tokens do not emerge straight away. While the first secures the communication between two parties, the signed tokens are used to protect token integrity and are necessary to establish a trusted relationship between the authorization server and protected resource.
(Source: Understanding Trust-Direction. 2016)
Referring to the previously written blog post, the OAuth 1.0a 2-legged usage falls in the category of protecting the request. As a "collateral" effect, we achieved strong authentication. However, apart from the fact that OAuth specification was originally developed to protect insecure communication, the stated objective was to create an authorization delegation protocol (hueniverse. 2016). In this delegation process, the acquired token for accessing the protected resource plays the most important aspect.
In the token context used with the OAuth2.0 specification, we encounter the Bearer Token Profile (RFC 6750, 2016) and the Message Authentication Code (MAC) Token Profile (OAuth 2.0 Message Authentication Code (MAC) Tokens. 2016). Comparing Bearer Tokens and MAC Tokens is like comparing cash with credit cards. While the former can be used by anyone without legitimation, the MAC Tokens must be first signed in order to be used and validated thereafter. In fact, the MAC Tokens specification defines how clients must sign the OAuth 2.0 request required by the service provider. As a matter of fact, the Bearer Token must be used in a trusted environment with secure HTTPS communication channel. In contrast, MAC Tokens can be used in different scenarios such as: Integrity protection over insecure channels, Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) or End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) over multiple hops. Similar to the signed request, a signed token has the benefit of offering an authentication and non-repudiation mechanism.
The idea behind a MAC is to produce a message that is impossible to create without the secret key. The HMAC integrates a hashed message and the key using the HMAC-SHA1 or HMAC-SHA256 algorithm (Krawczyk et.Al., 1997) so that the receiver can check the integrity and authenticity.
Message authentication code (Source: Wikipedia. 2016)
The good thing about this method is that it's not necessary to have a complex PKI infrastructure in place or deal with various aspects of the X509 certificates such as the certificate authority and chain of trust. As with any symmetric key encryption solution, the parties need to deal with key distribution and protection of secret keys. OAuth 2.0 is mainly a 3-legged protocol that accesses the protected resource with the previously exchanged Authorization Grant for an Access Token and so the token is used to calculate the MAC.
In order to validate the request, the OAuth 2.0 MAC Token Profile defines the mac_key, a session key used as the key to sign and the encrypted shared key embedded in the access_token. Of course, this profile uses nonce and timestamp in order to detect and mitigate replay attacks but this is the approximate way this profile exchanges the secret over the wire.
A bit confused after reading both blog posts? Is it not controversial to advocate the OAuth 1.0a 2-legged schema with PKI infrastructure in one discussion and then go on to "promote" the OAuth 2.0 3-legged schema with symmetric encryption? A consultant would answer, yes but … it depends. Indeed, securing API is not a trivial matter that can be solved without raising doubts. The best approach would be to technically compare the two specifications and find the right usages, but this is not up for discussion here. For the sake of simplicity, we can assert that OAuth 1.0a is definitively a secure and tested signature-based protocol successfully used in enterprise environments. Even if OAuth 2.0 seems to be an evolution, in reality it is a different approach security wise. At present, enterprise environments with security gateways in place still tend to adopt OAuth 1.0a while OAuth 2.0 is mainly used in social networks where more moderate security is required. The MAC Token profile is more sophisticated to implement for the client and the resource server. Furthermore, the proposal has not yet been finalized and verisimilar it is not widely adopted by the IT-industry.
hueniverse. 2016. Beginner's Guide to OAuth – Part III : Security Architecture | hueniverse. [ONLINE] Available at: https://hueniverse.com/2008/10/03/beginners-guide-to-oauth-part-iii-security-architecture/. [Accessed 13 September 2016].
RFC 6750 - The OAuth 2.0 Authorization Framework: Bearer Token Usage. 2016. RFC 6750 - The OAuth 2.0 Authorization Framework: Bearer Token Usage. [ONLINE] Available at: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6750. [Accessed 13 September 2016].
draft-ietf-oauth-v2-http-mac-05 - OAuth 2.0 Message Authentication Code (MAC) Tokens. 2016. draft-ietf-oauth-v2-http-mac-05 - OAuth 2.0 Message Authentication Code (MAC) Tokens. [ONLINE] Available at: https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-oauth-v2-http-mac-05. [Accessed 13 September 2016].
Krawczyk, Bellare, Canetti. 1997. HMAC: Keyed-Hashing for Message Authentication. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2104.txt. [Accessed 14 September 2016].
Knupfer Rainer, Bricalli Cristina. 2016. Authentication vs. Authorization with OAuth, Does It Really Matter?, Available here (Accessed: 16th September 2016).
Understanding Trust Direction. 2016. Understanding Trust Direction. [ONLINE] Available at: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731404(v=ws.11).aspx. [Accessed 27 September 2016].
Wikipedia. 2016. Message authentication code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Message_authentication_code. [Accessed 27 September 2016].