bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Industry Clusters as a Location for Technology Transfer and Innovation
Authors: Hendry C. , Brown J. , Ganter H-D. , Hilland S.
Published: September 2010

The paper draws on a series of case studies of innovation in optoelectronics firms in Wales and the German state of Thuringia, in order to highlight the role of industry clusters in technology transfer and innovation. It begins by analysing relevant features of the industry at the national and regional levels, with the influence of policy on the development of the sector. It then uses data from fourteen cases to show how the focus of innovation and the needs of firms differ in the two regions. From this, a general model is constructed, to show how a localized cluster can contribute to innovation in the younger firm, while the more ‘mature innovator’ looks further afield. However, at a still later stage, the mature innovator may also benefit from the transfer of knowledge in a cluster, as it helps solve the problem of absorbing ‘tacit knowledge’ from ‘distributed R&D’.
The Knowledge Economy in New Zealand
Authors: Kirk C.M. , Bibby D.M.
Published: September 2010

Emanating from its ‘last bus stop on the planet’ remoteness, New Zealand has traditionally faced significant barriers to the development of its export base. In the new knowledge-based economies, many of these barriers no longer apply. In order to take advantage of this new global environment and turn around its declining economic performance, New Zealand must take a number of key steps. The authors propose an approach that will enable the country to develop a knowledge-based advanced technology sector that will: specialize in niche products; be flexible and responsive; have a range of products and services across a number of industrial sectors; and have a global market focus. In proposing this solution, they focus on the respective roles of government, industry, research providers and education providers, and make recommendations accordingly.
A US—EU Computer Science Curriculum Development Initiative
Authors: King Willis K. , Israel Michel
Published: September 2010

This paper describes the use of the Internet in an international project supported by the US Department of Education and the European Union's DG XII under the United States–European Union Programme for Cooperation in Higher Education and Vocational Training. The paper focuses specifically on a novel software project course. Students from both sides of the Atlantic work cooperatively to design and implement a piece of software in a semester project. As expected, there are major hurdles to overcome. The authors describe how the course is designed and implemented and documents the experience of offering the course the first time. There are a number of surprises.
University—Industry—Government Relations in China
Authors: Leydesdorff Loet , Guoping Zeng
Published: September 2010

Since 1992, a new Chinese innovation system has been emerging in terms of university–industry–government relations. In recent years, science parks, incubators, and high-tech development zones have been provided with strong incentives. The commitment of the Chinese government to the further introduction of a market economy has been elaborated with a focus on the knowledge base. The model of institutional adjustments has been replaced with systemic and evolutionary thinking about niche development and human resource management. Government interventions remain important for interfacing knowledge-based developments with those on the market. For example, new legislation on issues relating to intellectual property rights is crucial for the absorption of venture capital into these developments.
Technology Transfer Projects in Europe
Authors: Galbiati Mara , Edmondson Dave , Tochtermann Michael , Vercesi Paolo , Dölp Ulrich
Published: September 2010

Throughout Europe, technology transfer between academic institutions and industry is seen as an important mechanism by which to improve the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper evaluates the strategies, structures and success of schemes operated in three different EU countries: Germany, Italy and the UK. It would appear that such schemes are more successful in economically successful areas. A major finding is the difficulty in all countries of first identifying suitable SMEs for such projects and then persuading them to participate. It was also found that without the whole-hearted commitment of academic staff such schemes rarely succeed.
The Contribution of University Business Incubators to New Knowledge-Based Ventures
Authors: Grimaldi Rosa , Grandi Alessandro
Published: September 2010

This paper examines the role of university business incubators (UBIs) in supporting the creation of new knowledge-based ventures. UBIs are described as effective mechanisms for overcoming weaknesses of the more traditional public incubating institutions. They offer firms a range of university-related benefits, such as access to laboratories and equipment, to scientific and technological knowledge and to networks of key contacts, and the reputation that accrues from affiliation with a university. The empirical analysis is based on the Turin Polytechnic Incubator (TPI) and on case studies of six academic spin-offs hosted at TPI. While TPI does not effectively resolve such problems as inadequate access to funding capital and the lack of management and financial skills in its tenant companies, the networking capacity of incubating programmes is seen as a key characteristic that may help new knowledge-based ventures to overcome such difficulties.
Industry Perspectives on Licensing University Technologies
Authors: Thursby Jerry G. , Thursby Marie C.
Published: September 2010

The authors report results of a survey of industry licensing executives who identified personal contacts between their R&D staff and university personnel as the most important source of university technologies. Journal publications and presentations at professional meetings were also important. While the least important sources were marketing efforts by universities and canvassing of universities, a number of executives did indicate that they were important. For those who do not license-in from universities, the most important reasons for not licensing-in (other than limited overall license-in activities) were reasons related to the nature of university research. A number cited university policies regarding delay of publication and ownership.
Faculty Internship in Industry
Authors: Foroudastan Saeed , Nasab Ahad
Published: September 2010

Based on the authors' experience at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), an effective way for members of engineering technology faculties to keep abreast of new developments in their field is to establish a faculty internship programme. The internship programme at MTSU, fully supported by the university's industrial advisory council, is set up to be a very simple and paper-free process. Every semester one faculty member spends the entire semester working as an engineer at a local firm and continues to draw his or her normal salary from the university. The firm, in turn, reimburses the university for the cost of replacing the faculty member with an adjunct. Since the faculty member is employed as a contractor in the host company, he or she retains the employment benefits from the university.
Student Reactions to Industry Involvement in Case Delivery
Authors: Schaffer R. Andrew
Published: September 2010

This paper describes three distinct applications of a case methodology in which practitioners presented a workplace problem in class, received case presentations and recommendations from student teams, and then assisted in student evaluation. The paper also presents and tests four hypotheses – that the methodology results in: more student enjoyment, higher case realism, greater transferability to workplace situations, and more accurate perceptions of the partnering company. In all three studies, the hypotheses receive support.
Creating New Engineers for the New Millennium
Authors: Rajai Mark , Johnson Keith V.
Published: September 2010

This paper explores issues relating to the fields of engineering education that are constantly evolving. Business, industry, and higher education institutions must come to a consensus on what skills, talents and resources engineers need if they are to survive in a technological society. The authors investigate a growing division between higher education and industry. The results of a national survey by the US Consensus Bureau on hiring, training, and management practices in American business indicate an increasing conviction among employers that colleges and universities have not adequately prepared students for rapidly changing market environments. The authors also examine the issues that have apparently contributed to the divergence between industry and academia. To bridge the gap between industry and academia, guidelines are suggested that can result in producing a new generation of engineers. Data were gathered from a survey soliciting perceptions from business, industry and engineering students at various colleges and universities. The results of this survey are also discussed.
An Emerging Model for Vocational Training
Authors: Frick Jan
Published: September 2010

Norway's Rogaland Kurs og Kompetansesenter (Rogaland Training and Education Centre), serving the whole of the Rogaland County region, has developed an innovative method of providing vocational training to local industry through the formal education system. The courses offered range from secondary school to postgraduate level. Provision has been enhanced through e-learning based on experiences with the Internet gathered in research projects involving schools, higher education and industry – these projects are described in the paper. The author sees great potential in the model that has been developed for providing vocational training to industry in the region. The main challenges for the future are to make this a generally applicable model, so that it can be used in other regions of Norway, and to encourage cooperation among regions in course delivery.
East Asia and the Pacific, and WTO's International Tourism Summary for 2000
Authors: Bar-On Raphael Raymond
Published: September 2010

The World Tourism Organization (WTO) published preliminary summaries of international tourist arrivals and receipts for 2000, by region and for the major destinations. The global total of international tourist arrivals was estimated as 698 million in 2000 (excluding day-visits), about 7% up on 1999 (which had shown a 4% increase on 1998), with record arrivals for all six regions. Tourist arrivals are presented for 40 countries of East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) by six sub-regions, totalling about 112 million in 2000, 15% above 1999 and the highest regional increase in 2000. Receipts from international tourism in this region and hotel capacity and demand data are also presented. WTO estimated receipts from international tourism in EAP as US$75 billion in 1999 (including receipts from day-visitors, excluding international fares), 16% of the global receipts of about US$455 billion, which increased to about US$476 billion in 2000.
Estimating the Impact of Economic Factors on Tourism: Evidence from Hong Kong
Authors: Tse Raymond Y.C.
Published: September 2010

This study examines issues relating to the impact of economic factors on tourist expenditure and hotel room occupancy rate. The article first presents an overview of the tourism industry in Hong Kong, an examination of the particular aspects of the tourism industry, and an estimate of tourist spending and hotel room occupancy rates. Using an expectations model, real tourism expenditure is found to depend on expected income, expected exchange rate and price level. The results of the article also reveal that the equilibrium hotel occupancy rate is a function of tourist flows, exchange rates, price level and length of stay.
New Trends in the Growth of Tourism Employment in the UK in the 1990s
Authors: Thomas Barry , Townsend Alan
Published: September 2010

New evidence on tourism employment in the UK in the 1990s shows major departures from patterns of change of the 1980s and from other sectors in the 1990s. In the 1990s the tourism sector no longer seemed to exhibit the exceptionally rapid growth that had been almost an article of faith for those who build economic development strategies around tourism. The growth in the number of tourism-related employees became little different from the growth of employment in general, but there was significant redistribution across types of work and sub-regions. Tourism still has the highest proportion of part-time workers but, in marked contrast to many other sectors, it has now tended to move away from part-time employment. There is, however, heavy differentiation of experience across areas, and London, which dominates in absolute terms, departs radically from the general tourism pattern: it has high growth and a marked move towards part-timers. These surprising findings have implications for debates on the quality of jobs in tourism and on the role of tourism in economic development.
Forecasting Turning Points in International Visitor Arrivals in the Balearic Islands
Authors: Rossello-Nadal Jaume
Published: September 2010

The aim of this paper is to forecast turning points in international visitor arrivals to the Balearic Islands using the leading indicator approach. The paper prepares two indexes, one for the UK and one for Germany using macro-economic variables. The UK and Germany are the major tourist markets for the Balearic Islands and represent more than 80% of international visitor arrivals. Previous studies have used econometric models and time-series models to forecast the number of international visitor arrivals, but uncertainty persists.
Franchising from the Franchisee's Perspective
Authors: Grünhagen Marko , Mittelstaedt Robert A.
Published: September 2010

The focus of this article is on the emergence and development of multi-unit franchising in the USA from the franchisee's perspective. After a historical summary of the development of franchising from a marketing viewpoint, a typology of different franchisee types is provided, and the multi-unit franchising paradox is presented. The article offers a discussion of reasons why individuals might be enticed to become multi-unit franchisees. Emphasis is placed on entrepreneurship as a possible motive for sequential owners' involvement as multi-unit franchisees. The article concludes by providing encouragement for future research to investigate the issue empirically.
Human Resource Development in Small Firms
Authors: Beaver Graham , Jennings Peter
Published: September 2010

This paper offers a critique of existing approaches to training in small firms. It is primarily concerned with the relationship between organizational and managerial development and examines the contribution and value of training processes. The underlying premise is the belief that training can and should be a powerful agent of change, facilitating and enabling a company to develop its capabilities, thus enhancing profitability.
Hybrid Rice for Tomorrow's Food Security: Can the Chinese Miracle be Replicated in Other Countries?
Authors: Janaiah A. , Hossain Mahabub , Husain Muazzam
Published: September 2010

The growth in rice production in Asia fell from 2.6% between 1966 and 1990 to 1.4% during the 1990s, mainly due to a deceleration in yield growth in the most intensively irrigated environments, where farm-level yields had already reached about 6.0 t ha–1. At this threshold of yields, farmers required more groundbreaking technology to elevate yields in highly productive environments. Inspired by the success of the ‘Chinese miracle’, policy makers and research managers in tropical Asia considered hybrid rice, an innovative technology, as an option to sustain growth in rice production. Rigorous research efforts over the past decade have led to the release of a few promising rice hybrids in India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and the Philippines. This paper aims to assess the prospects for replicating the Chinese miracle of hybrid rice success in other Asian countries, where political systems and other socioeconomic conditions differ from those in China. The authors evaluated farmers' experiences with hybrid rice in India, Bangladesh and Vietnam. The analysis indicates that the particular political system and other socioeconomic factors, and not the inherent economic superiority of this technology, were the driving forces behind the success of Chinese hybrid rice. Thus in other Asian countries, where these factors are not evident and where market forces operate freely (apart from Vietnam), it is unlikely that the success of Chinese hybrid rice will be replicated in toto. Although hybrid rice has a yield gain of about 15–20% over the existing high-yielding modern varieties outside China, it is not attractive to farmers because of higher input costs and lower market prices due to its inferior grain quality. Thus currently available rice hybrids are unlikely to find potential demand in the targeted environments (irrigated rice systems) in the tropics. Hybrid rice would be successful on farms outside China if quality and seed production practices were to be improved and if there was proper deployment planning based on a microlevel analysis of the socioeconomic factors likely to affect its adoption.
Does Large-Scale Cropping of Herbicide-Resistant Cultivars Increase the Incidence of Polyphagous Soil-Borne Plant Pathogens?
Authors: Termorshuizen A.J. , Lotz L.A.P.
Published: September 2010

Transgenic resistance to broad-spectrum herbicides is increasingly seen in various crops. With transgenic herbicie-resistant (THR) cultivars, application of broad-spectrum herbicides is no longer limited to the pre-emergence stage of the crop. Post-emergence application of these herbicides may be more effective in obtaining sufficient weed control compared with currently used herbicides, and herbicide treatment can be delayed compared with that in non-THR crops, thereby controlling weeds at a larger plant size. A well known side effect of glyphosate and glufosinate ammonium is the emergence of so-called ‘herbicide-synergists’, ie opportunistic root pathogens that accelerate the killing of roots that are herbicide-sensitive. These opportunistic plant pathogens, multiplying in the dying roots of weeds, may affect THR crops. In addition, suppressive effects of glyphosate and/or glufosinate ammonium on the saprophytic and antagonistic microflora have been reported and may enhance the activity of root pathogens. The authors hypothesize that delaying herbicide use in THR cultivars to optimize weed control results in increased infections by root pathogens. Controlled field experiments on the interactions between crops, pathogens and weeds are required to test this hypothesis.
Role of Seed in Disease Transmission and the Need for Effective Seed Health Testing Centres in Nigeria
Authors: Wada A.C. , Bdliya B.S. , Turaki Z.G.S. , Imolehin E.D. , Misari S.M.
Published: September 2010

The seed is an important propagative material for most food and pasture crops. Seed-borne diseases of cereals, grain legumes, fibre, root and tubers, ornamentals, pastures and vegetable crops cause decreased yields and, in some cases, total loss of affected crops. The provision of efficient seed health testing centres is an insurance against outbreaks of diseases. This paper presents a general as well as a specific review of seed-borne diseases of most crops. Suggestions are made for the establishment of improved, well staffed and equipped seed health testing centres in Nigeria.
Adaptation of Fruit and Vegetable Production Systems in Mediterranean Europe: An Approach from the Study of Agricultural Farms in Four Small Regions of France, Italy and Spain
Authors: Aulagnier M. , Giraud G. , Reggazzi D. , Bertazzoli A. , Cabellero P. , Cases B. , De Miguel M.D. , Caratrava J. , Canero R.
Published: September 2010

This article presents a joint project carried out by four European research institutes. The project is focused on the adaptation of fruit- and vegetable-producing farms in Mediterranean Europe. It is based on empirical studies carried out in four agricultural districts located in France, Italy and Spain. The same scientific approach was adopted for each of the studies, featuring: (i) farm characteristics and diversity, (ii) modelling through linear programming and simulations. The work shows that, in addition to local pressures, new adaptations are implemented in all districts in response to three general objectives: profitability, risk and external demands, and at three levels: technical, farm and collective actions.
Farm-Level Economic Impact of Biotechnology: Smallholder Bt Cotton Farmers in South Africa
Authors: Ismael Yousouf , Bennett Richard , Morse Stephen
Published: September 2010

This paper describes the method and findings of a survey designed to explore the economic benefits of the adoption of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton for smallholder farmers in the Republic of South Africa. The study found reason for cautious optimism in that the Bt variety generally resulted in a per hectare increase in yields and value of output with a reduction in pesticide costs, which outweighed the increase in seed costs to give a substantial increase in gross margins. Thus, these preliminary results suggest that Bt cotton is good for smallholder cotton farmers and the environment.
Animal Disease Epidemics: Implications for Production, Policy and Trade
Authors: Burrell Alison
Published: September 2010

The outbreak of a highly infectious animal disease in a disease-free area is an ever-present risk. Recent epidemics in European livestock populations illustrate that the cost in terms of eradication, lost production and trade disruption may be high. In this paper, the implications for the meat and livestock industry, government policy and international trade rules are considered. The need for strict biosecurity and effective contingency plans is stressed. Options such as private insurance, animal tracing systems and emergency vaccination are discussed. Current measures for controlling animal disease epidemics raise various social and ethical issues that complicate the policy makers' task.
Food Security: Sustainable Food Production in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Amalu Uche C.
Published: September 2010

Falling world grain stocks, rising grain prices and the poor economic situation of Africa have, since 1995, made food security a major issue. Structural adjustment programmes, the crushing burden of debt, the collapse of commodity prices and mismanagement of national economies have rendered African people even poorer in terms of per capita income and quality of life than they were in the first decade after the attainment of independence. Yet Africa is rich in many ways — for example, in virgin land for agriculture and in mineral resources, including energy. It is rich above all in its people and their determined spirit to face all disasters, natural and man-made. In line with this spirit, Africa is moving ahead on a new consensus that food security through enhanced agricultural production is the continent's most fundamental development issue. Although the economic plans of successive African governments have stressed the goal of food self-sufficiency, the food sector has received little investment or political priority. Africa continues to rely on food aid and food imports, which consume a large part of its meagre export earnings. The increasingly limited capacity to purchase food abroad and the bitter experience of depending on emergency aid are honing a clear determination that Africa must marshal the resources to grow its own food and so release the creative energies of its people to contribute fully to their own development and well-being. Top priority should be given to food security during this process, as no country can consider itself free until it has the wherewithal to provide for the basic needs of its people.
Innovations in Organic Resource Management: Experiences from Kenya's Forum for Organic Resource Management and Agricultural Technologies
Authors: Omare Musa N. , Woomer Paul L.
Published: September 2010

There are two alternative paths for humanity and the environment, and man's actions over the next few years will determine which path is taken. In one future, agricultural landscapes become depleted by an overpopulation of desperate peasant farmers, many of whom are forced to migrate to cities, only to discover garbage, crowded slums and squalor. But in the other more optimistic scenario, smallholders practise environmentally responsible, market-oriented agriculture resulting in rural prosperity and a flow of goods to clean, vibrant urban areas. The Forum for Organic Resource Management and Agricultural Technologies (FORMAT) is assisting Kenyans to pursue the second path, one in which organic resources in the countryside and cities alike are being creatively recycled and profitably processed.
Performance of Fisheries Sector Planning in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Sanzidur , Ahmed K.K.
Published: September 2010

The overall planning performance of the fisheries sector in Bangladesh over the past three decades was evaluated. Performance has been unsatisfactory largely due to contiguous overestimation of the planning targets and the existence of serious financial, technological, institutional and social constraints. Despite the remarkable growth in export earnings and a stable GDP contribution of 3.2–5.6%, budget allocations remained extremely low (0.7–1.4% of total outlay) in subsequent plan periods. Production from marine fisheries performed satisfactorily with slow growth in recent years, while inland fisheries with initial poor performance showed improvements from the mid-1980s owing to increased productivity in culture fisheries, particularly in pond aquaculture. Targets should be determined with the aid of a thorough review of past performances and there is an urgent need to streamline the implementation capability. Also, a shift from production-oriented planning and seeking technical solutions only to addressing broader institutional and social issues affecting the fisheries sector is essential. Government should emphasize the development of small-scale fisheries, strengthen extension–research linkage, improve infrastructure, build partnerships between relevant agencies and shift its top-down approach to planning towards a participatory bottom-up approach so as to release existing bottlenecks.
Empowerment of Women on an Agricultural Research Farm in India: A Success Story
Authors: Sastry R. Kalpana , Manikandan P.
Published: September 2010

At the heart of all research activities in agriculture lies the huge power of human resources, which helps to galvanize scientists into action. This disorganized force of workers, called the labour force, comprises both men and women to be employed on an equitable basis. As in other areas of work, women working on the farm have certain stereotyped roles in an otherwise supposedly non-gender-specific domain. This paper looks into the presumptions, problems and prospects of these neglected, but essential women workers on agricultural research farms. It highlights the experiences and issues that have emerged from a novel experiment involving the empowerment of farm women. In the case presented, empowerment was achieved through a threefold strategic approach. This involved education to promote positive self-image and self-confidence, skills development, and creating an awareness of social change. Various initiatives were promoted on a sustained basis to bring about the change process. These included adult literacy programmes, payment of wages to individuals through their bank accounts, on-site skills development and training, participation of workers in decision-making meetings to develop action plans and set targets for their respective areas of work, acquisition of gender-friendly equipment, health campaigns, etc. All these brought about gradual but perceptible changes in their attitudes and behaviour. The result of this empowerment process was reflected in enhanced qualitative and quantitative outcomes. A crucial factor in the success and sustainability of this empowerment process was the support and visionary outlook of top management. The lessons from this case study can serve as motivating factors for other agricultural institutions to experiment.
Contributions of Men and Women to Food Crop Production Labour in Africa: Information from COSCA
Authors: Enete Anselm , Nweke Felix , Tollens Eric
Published: September 2010

It is widely reported that women provide the bulk of food production labour in Africa. Since efficient targeting of improved technologies demands an understanding of who is likely to use them, and new farm technologies have often been inappropriate for women's needs, this paper presents the relative contributions of men and women to food production labour in six major cassava-producing countries of Africa. The paper is based on farm-level information collected within the framework of the Collaborative Study of Cassava in Africa (COSCA). While the number of fields in which women provided more labour for each farm task increased consistently from the initial farm operations, such as land clearing and seedbed preparation, through sowing (planting) and weeding to the final farm operations such as harvesting and transportation, for which women provided more labour for the largest number of fields, the reverse was the case for men. The relative number of households where females provided more field labour than males was higher among female-headed households than among male-headed ones. Such households were characterized by a lower working age male/female ratio, and/or were engaged in tree crop production, which often absorbed male labour. Villages where females provided more field labour than males were more common in remote areas where access to markets was poor and population density sparse, or in countries where men had fled the villages because of political repression. Such villages were also more common among non-Muslim communities than among predominantly Muslim societies. On the whole, however, men contributed more labour in significantly more fields than women in most places. These observations suggest that it could be misleading to generalize that women are providing the bulk of food production labour across Africa. They provide clear evidence of gender division of labour on the farm, and help to explain gender bias in agricultural extension efforts in Africa. Recommendations that pre-harvest extension activities should be mainly directed at women have hardly been heeded. It is recommended that these activities should be targeted at both men and women, but more towards women where men have fled the villages for political reasons or for commercial ones such as poor market access opportunities.
Building Regional Innovation Capacity
Authors: Walshok Mary L. , Furtek Edward , Lee Carolyn W.B. , Windham Patrick H.
Published: September 2010

San Diego, California is now one of the most innovative regions in the USA. In the past fifteen years it has transformed itself from an economy dominated by defence contracts, tourism and real estate into a major centre for academic research and high-tech industry This article examines the various means by which this transformation has been achieved and suggests that the experience of San Diego offers guiding principles for developing innovative capacity in regions elsewhere in the USA and in other countries. The paper concentrates on the three major ‘hooks’ that the authors identify as critical to successful, regional development: (a) the store of intellectual capital in the region; (b) the character and extent of catalytic business and financial networks; and (c) the breadth and depth of the advanced skills and knowledge of the human capital. With specific reference to San Diego's biotechnology and telecommunications clusters, the authors demonstrate how non-profit research institutions have created powerful research clusters in the region and how these clusters, in partnership with technology-focused networks of business and professional leadership, have provided those three essential ingredients. While certain elements of the San Diego story are attributable to the specific history and assets of the region, the key factors that have shaped its growth suggest principles of economic transformation that are applicable throughout the world.
Women in Italian Universities
Authors: Giacometti Miretta
Published: September 2010

This paper provides an overview of the position of female academics at national level in Italy and within the University of Bologna in particular. Special reference is made to the scientific disciplines and faculties, usually considered the most difficult for women to penetrate. Both the percentage of women involved in academic activities and the status of their career advancement are examined. Women's attitudes towards academic disciplines are also discussed, with reference to young women's perceptions of science. The enrolment percentages of female students and the percentage of female graduates from scientific faculties at the University of Bologna in the past ten years are highlighted. The objective of this analysis is to identify the most appropriate targets for equal opportunity policies focused on higher education, at both national and local levels.
Consider Velasquez: Reflections on the Development of Entrepreneurship Programmes
Authors: Mitra Jay
Published: September 2010

This paper is concerned with ‘ways of seeing’ entrepreneurship. The study of entrepreneurship is compared to a painter's study of his or her subject. The detail lies in the values and symbols, which inform the portrait or the landscape in which the entrepreneur evolves. The detail also informs the conceptualization and implementation of the programmes for a variety of audiences. The paper outlines some of the conceptual underpinnings for entrepreneurship programmes across the world, and how such programmes emerge in different contexts, especially within higher education institutions. The pursuit of entrepreneurship education poses certain challenges both for the higher education system and the student, and the author discusses these issues and how they have influenced the development of a postgraduate programme in entrepreneurship in his university.
New Horizons in Industry and Education
Authors: Papadourakis George M.
Published: September 2010

This special issue of Industry and Higher Education is devoted to a selection of papers from the Second International Conference ‘New Horizons in Industry and Education’(NHIE 2001), held on the island of Milos, Greece, in September 2001. In this introductory article the author provides an overview of the conference, summarizes the most important presentations, and offers personal reflections on the conference outcomes.
Improving the Critical Communication and Decision-Making Interface between Engineers and Managers
Authors: Levitt Steven R.
Published: September 2010

This paper presents several concepts critical to improving the interface between engineers and managers. A case study approach is used to illustrate fundamental problems that continually result in negative and disastrous consequences for organizations, including: (1) differences in the roles, functions, and decision-making prerogatives of engineers and managers; (2) different communication styles that lead to the misinterpretation of information; and (3) ethics of institutional taken-for-granted paradigms that perpetuate and exacerbate communication failures.
Provision of Distance Education within the HE Sector
Authors: Gerrard Bill , Gerrard Catherine
Published: September 2010

This paper presents a summary of the findings of a recent survey of the way in which UK higher education institutions (HEIs) are offering distance education (DE) courses, the types of courses being offered, and their modes of delivery From analysis of the findings of this survey, it is apparent that the emphasis of HEIs is very much on the exploitation of available teaching technology in the delivery of DE courses. However, teaching at a distance is quite different from face-to-face teaching, and the evidence suggests that many HEIs fail to implement any meaningful academic staff training for the new role of DE tutor. The authors consider the difficulties this presents to academic staff who are required to move from face-to-face teaching to online facilitating. The paper concludes with an examination of the current provision of staff development and training within UK HEIs and suggests the type of academic staff training required if DE courses are to become truly core activities.
Extending the Relevance of TSA Research for the UK: General Equilibrium and Spillover Analysis
Authors: Cooper Adrian , Wilson Alan
Published: September 2010

Focusing on the example of the UK, this paper describes and discusses work being undertaken by Oxford Economic Forecasting Ltd (OEF) to extend the relevance of Tourism Satellite Accounting (TSA) for policy assessment and formulation. The research embeds the analysis of the travel and tourism (TT) sector in a general equilibrium framework and considers the implications of spillovers between TT and the supply-side performance of the rest of the economy. The paper is organized as follows. Section (a) briefly describes the advantages and drawbacks of the traditional approach to tourism satellite accounting, based on demand-side analysis and input–output modelling. Section (b) discusses the use of computable general equilibrium (CGE) models to incorporate TSA analysis into a model of the whole economy, and again a number of advantages and weaknesses with this approach are highlighted. Section (c) outlines the model developed by the authors to analyse the interactions between the TT sector and the rest of the UK economy. Section (d) discusses possible spillover effects (or externalities) resulting from changes in TT for the supply-side performance of the rest of the economy, drawing on the insights of endogenous growth theory. It also describes OEF's econometric research on the relationship between the transport infrastructure and the supply-side performance of the UK economy, and how these effects are incorporated in the model described in Section (c). In Section (e) the authors use their model to analyse the impact of illustrative shocks to travel and tourism in the UK. Section (f) sets out their conclusions and highlights areas for further study.
A Note on Modelling Tourism Revenues in Croatia
Authors: Payne James E. , Mervar Andrea
Published: September 2010

An econometric model of revenues from international tourism for the transition economy of Croatia is estimated over the period 1993:1 to 1999:4. It is found that European Union GDP and the real effective exchange rate are significant factors influencing Croatian tourism revenues. Moreover, the 1995 military action by Croatia to regain authority over the territories occupied in 1991 had an adverse effect on tourism revenues. There is also evidence of seasonal variation in tourism revenues, with the tourist season from July to September exerting the largest impact. Finally, the estimated econometric model is robust with respect to the model's residual diagnostics and stability of the regression coefficients.
The Americas: Part 2 and WTO Summary
Authors: Bar-On Raphael Raymond
Published: September 2010

The Americas form the second largest destination region in international tourism. The World Tourism Organization reported total receipts from inbound tourism of US$136 billion in 2000, 11% above 1999 (in current US$, including receipts from day-visits but excluding international fares). The revised receipts and principal hotel data are presented for the 54 countries (by sub-regions).
Comparing Orlando Leisure Travellers to Travellers to other Florida Destinations
Authors: Reece William S.
Published: September 2010

This paper measures the impacts of demographic and distance variables on household leisure travel to Orlando, Florida, and to other destinations in Florida. The paper examines travel to Florida from other states for rest and relaxation, sightseeing, outdoor recreation, and entertainment. We find significant differences between households with Orlando as the destination and households with other Florida destinations. The results are based on individual household data from the 1995 American Travel Survey (ATS) conducted by the US Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Shift-Share Analysis in Tourism: Examination of Tourism Employment Change in a Region
Authors: Sirakaya Ercan , Choi Hwan-Suk , Var Turgut
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this paper is to present and demonstrate the usefulness of the dynamic shift-share method in examining the performance of the tourism industry using time-series employment data for the State of Texas and the USA, and to compare its results with those of the traditional accounting based shift-share analysis. The findings show that, compared to the US average, the change in employment in Texas was mainly due to the strong national economy and not to the region's competitiveness or sectoral make-up. According to the findings, the use of a dynamic shift-share model eliminated one theoretical problem inherent in the classical static method.
The Economics of Quality in the Hotel Business
Authors: Skalpe Ole , Sandvik Kåre
Published: September 2010

There are few empirical studies on the economics of quality, and case studies and anecdotes dominate current research. This paper proposes that quality requires resources (input) and that quality has positive effects on economic performance (output). The study is based on quality ratings from 400,000 customers and detailed accounting information from more than 500 hotels. It demonstrates both that quality has positive effects on the hotels' economic performance and that superior quality requires economic resources.
Challenges and Issues for Tourism in the South Pacific Island States: The Case of the Fiji Islands
Authors: Rao Maheshwar
Published: September 2010

The paper identifies and analyses challenges and issues facing the tourism industry in the most developed South Pacific island state, the Fiji Islands. Many of the challenges identified can be attributed to the interplay among historical factors and events, and the vested interests associated with them. The colonization of Fiji, the historical role of foreign capital in its growth and development, the conflicting socio-economic and political demands of the two major ethnic groups (the indigenous Fijians and immigrant Indo-Fijians), the issue of property rights, and more recently the coups of 1987 and 2000 and the resultant political instability are discussed in relation to the growth and development of the tourism industry. The author also discusses the impact of the coups on the tourism industry and the role of private–public partnerships in the industry's recovery following the coups.
Women and Self-Employment
Authors: Marlow Susan
Published: September 2010

There has been a notable increase in the number of women entering self-employment in the UK since the 1980s, such that by 1997 women represented approximately 26% of the self-employed population (Office of National Statistics, 1997). Existing evidence pertaining to this area has largely focused upon the challenges presented specifically to women when entering self-employment and whether their problems are associated with their gender. Whilst there are dissenting opinions, the evidence would appear to suggest that women will experience challenges within self-employment that can be related to their gender. This has resulted in suggestions for specific policies or initiatives to assist women to overcome these barriers, and also suggestions regarding specific behaviours that women might adopt to help themselves and to serve as role models to other nascent female ‘entrepreneurs’. This paper offers a critique of the dominant focus of the literature pertaining to women and self-employment and upon the so-called ‘solution’ to the problem of female entrepreneurship. Rather, it is suggested that the prevailing literature has almost completely failed to cite the analysis of women in self-employment in the larger feminist debate regarding female subordination, androcentric norms and masculinized hegemony. Hence, the dominant analysis in this area represents women as blemished men who must be assisted to become honorary men, and in so doing will then achieve within the existing paradigm of entrepreneurship. For as long as this analysis persists, our comprehension of the experience of femaleness and self-employment will only be partial.
Gender Differences in Small Business Owner-Managers
Authors: Stanger Anthony , Roffey Bet , Forsaith David , McInnes Elspeth , Petrone Franca , Symes Chris , Xydias Maria
Published: September 2010

Based on the findings of a literature review of over 425 articles and reports on women in small business commissioned by the Department of Industry, Science and Tourism in Australia, factors that have a gender-specific impact on women in small business are identified. These factors include age, education and experience; motivations, values and risk-taking; business and financial planning; financing; training and business assistance needs; networks and mentoring; and legal issues. Suggestions are made on how the help and advice of accountants and other assistance providers may be influenced by these gender differences.
Female Entrepreneurs in a Transitional Economy
Authors: Kitching Beverley M. , Jackson Pamela A.
Published: September 2010

Many questions can be raised about the position of women in business in China. Has the reform period given women greater opportunities to enhance their economic and social status? What proportion of new small businesses are owned by women and how does the situation in China compare with that in other countries? Are women involved in large businesses? Are women in managerial positions in private business? Are women as motivated as men to achieve managerial positions? Do men and women in China manage businesses differently? Do men and women have different personnel management styles? What are the career options? Are women subject to discrimination and harassment in the workplace? Does the ‘glass ceiling’ exist in China? Are the issues of concern for Chinese businesswomen similar to those of businesswomen elsewhere or are their experiences determined more by specifically Chinese social and economic conditions? These questions are being examined through ongoing research conducted in Yunnan province in south-west China and in Shanghai and Suzhou in eastern China using literature search, questionnaire survey and structured interviews with women working in both state-owned and private business.
Start-Up Business Evaluation Model Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process
Authors: Lee Sang Suk , Osteryoung Jerome S.
Published: September 2010

This study develops a start-up business evaluation model for small and medium-sized firms using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The intention is to provide a feasibility test for start-up businesses by calculating the relative weights of the various success factors in new entrepreneurial firms, and thus to develop a methodology for measuring the Start-up Business Index (SBI). The paper focuses on determinants in the start-up process of successful businesses in the USA and Korea that are considered by the entrepreneurs as having been necessary factors in their success.
Virtual Incubation of Research Spin-Offs
Authors: van Tilburg Jaap , van der Sijde Peter , Molero José , Casado Pepa
Published: September 2010

This paper explores the concept of ‘virtual incubation’. Based on the notion of the virtual organization the authors develop this concept and relate this to phases in the development of companies (from pre-start-up to growth). Next the different tasks a virtual incubator can fulfil are developed and illustrated with some examples of virtual incubators that are already operational in Europe. The final section of the paper draws conclusions regarding the commitment of stakeholders, the best focus for virtual incubation and the kind of services required. One interesting option is the combination of a non-virtual incubator with virtual elements.