Academic literature on the topic 'Supporting Environmental Education in Namibia (SEEN)'

This research was conducted based on the indicators of character education on environmental care which aimed to find out and analyze the school curriculum, the applying process of character education during learning in the class, the implementation, supporting factors, and hampering factors in implementing character education on environmental care. This was a descriptive qualitative research which focused on the indicators that must be achieved by the school and students. The main sources of this research were the school principal, the teachers and students of second and fifth grades. The data were collected using observation, interview, and documentation with the researcher himself as the instrument. The data were then analyzed using data reduction, data display, and conclusion. The data validity in this research used triangulation technique which was source triangulation. The results showed that the implementation of character education on environmental care was done based on the school curriculum in regular activities, spontaneous activity, exemplary, and conditioning; the applying process of character education during learning in the class and at school; the implementation of character education could be seen from eight indicators which had been achieved by the school, six indicators which had been done by low and high-class students. The supporting factors were also found at school in the form of infrastructure and the role of school environment. However, there were also hampering factors such as time issue which caused less maximal implementation and the lack of giving reward to the students who had cared with environment.

This paper responds to calls for an exploration into pedagogies of meaning within physical education. Developing meaningful educational experiences in physical education for lifelong movement involves supporting students to explore their personal experiences in movement and to use these to derive a greater understanding of themselves and the world in which they live. Following a brief overview of the role of meaning-making in physical education, a case study is offered as a practical example for how reflection can be utilised to explore movement as meaningful. The case study presents a series of steps that provide detail about a meaning-making process undertaken during a physical education class. Data suggest that setting aside time for reflection and the generation of rich movement narratives aligned to a ‘first rush of movement’, can shed light on what students find meaningful ‘in’ movement in ways that link physical education to experiences across varying social and environmental contexts. Through giving priority to bodily understandings of movement as felt, sensory experience, participants ( n = 44) were able to express meaning across a wide range of movement contexts. I contend that the exploration of student meaning in physical education is engaging, informative, and serves to extend possibilities for what curriculum is seen as legitimate in physical education by/for whom. The paper sheds light on the use of embodied meaning-making stories as a potential springboard for further exploration and activity in physical education.

The development of information technology lately can harm the character of a nation. One creative effort to overcome this problem is the character in educational institutions. This study aims to determine the application of religious character education. This research uses a descriptive-analytic method with a qualitative approach. The location of the study was at Bandung Hikmah Exemplary Junior High School, the subjects of the study were the principal, curriculum waka, educators, and students. The results of his research are; (1) religious character values that are applied are spiritual values and insanity, (2) implementation is carried out by integrating learning with various activities in school, (3) the supporting factor is adherence to discipline, while the inhibiting factor is environmental differences association and the community environment, (4) the results of the implementation of religious character education can be seen from the existence of self-awareness in religion and show good academic results.

Regulators around the world are dealing with a fundamental dilemma. Clearly, modern economic activity raises the standard of living but, on the other hand, it creates many environmental hazards that harm our quality of life. To balance these conflicting effects, they are interested in bringing about social equilibrium and for the value of marginal damage to be equal to the cost of reducing it. Excessive investment will result in too much damage to the standard of living, while under-investment carries with it excessive risks. There are two primary ways to approach these concerns regulatorily: through direct command-and-control regulation or through the development and promotion of market-based economic tools (other essential components, such as education and information, will not be covered in this article). Over the years, in many Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, the use of economic tools increased at the expense of direct regulation but, in Israel, there is still a tendency to use direct regulation. Since the beginning of the 21st century, however, Israel too has seen an increase in the use of economic tools. The article considers whether it is better to increase the use of economic tools at the expense of direct regulation. Its examination is based on six case studies from various environmental fields in Israel. The results of the research reinforce the argument that economic tools can achieve policy objectives more effectively while driving the market toward environmental improvement. However, it is almost impossible to clearly attribute other achievements, such as the achievement of advanced environmental goals, the development of environmental awareness or the strengthening of environmental regulation, to a particular regulatory approach. Therefore, the results should be seen as supporting evidence and not as absolute proof of the value of economic instruments.

Baban Tengah Hamlet, Mulyorejo Village, Silo District is a unique village. However, in its uniqueness there are several problems. Seen in the educational aspect, elementary school institutions are very important because the first foundation of children is to become the nation's next generation. However, along with the development of the children experience moral degradation. As in Baban Tengah hamlet, there are minors who have committed criminal acts by drinking alcohol and smoking. This is of course a problem in the world of education. From this, it is necessary to preserve culture and habituation of positive activities in order to form and enhance student character with various formal, informal and non-formal learning processes. This research use desciptive qualitative approach. As for the collection of data and information in this study using observation techniques, interview documentation and triangulation. The results of this study indicate the concept of local traditions, the results of local traditions, supporting and inhibiting factors in improving the character of students. Dusun Baban Tengah Desa Mulyorejo Kecamatan Silo merupakan desa yang unik. namun di dalam keunikannya terdapat beberapa permasalahan.Terlihat pada aspek pendidikan, lembaga sekolah dasar menjadi sangat penting karena pondasi pertama anak menjadi generasi penerus bangsa. Akan tetapi seiring berkembangnya zaman anak mengalami degradasi moral. Seperti halnya di dusun Baban Tengah terdapat anak di bawah umur sudah melakukan tindakan kriminal dengan meminum-minuman keras dan merokok. Hal ini tentu menjadi permasalahan dalam dunia pendidikan. Dari hal tersebut diperlukan pelestarian budaya dan pembiasaan aktivitas positif guna pembentukan dan meniingkatkan karakter siswa dengan berbagai proses pembelajaran formal, informal maupun non formal. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif kualitatif. Adapun dalam pengumpulan data dan informasi dalam penelitian ini menggunakan teknik observasi, wawancara dokumentasi dan triangulasi. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan konsep tradisi lokal, hasil tradisi lokal, faktor pendukung dan penghambat dalam meningkatkan karakter peserta didik.

Purpose of Study: This research aims to explain children's honesty through the snake and ladder media. This study was conducted in Cahaya early childhood education age 4-5 in Jembatan Merah, Surabaya. By choosing this media as a supporting medium that allows children to be honest. This research will bring the child into real-time situations to introduce moral education through a field trip. There were several aspects that must be considered in determining the purpose of planting honesty in early childhood, there were age, physical aspects and psychological aspects of children. Several factors can also influence the development of the child's honesty value, innate (internal) and environmental (external) factors. Methodology: This research used qualitative research to describe the results. Subjects this research were 9 children of Cahaya early childhood education aged 4-5 years in Jembatan Merah Surabaya, with the reason that in this institution happened the problem of children still not able to care and keep everything, to say honestly, admitted a mistake and forgive a friend who was mistaken. This research used descriptive qualitative data analysis. The research instrument was obtained through observation with the observation sheet, interview with teacher and child, and documentation during activity with snake ladder media. Results: The results of research, it was known that the children were able to care and keep things together, accustomed, to tell the truth, willing to admit mistakes, apologize if they were wrong and forgive friends who were mistaken. The four indicators seen children begin to develop so honesty in children can be taught in schools by using the snake ladder media honesty. Implications/Applications: The implantation of early years children’s honesty can be conducted through learning activities that use interactive media to children. In accordance with Gagne's opinion, media is the various types of components in the student environment that can stimulate students to learn.

The disadvantage of a medical approach to health lies in some traditional factors. First, doctors clearly distinguish between healthy and ill people (patients) and are ordinarily reluctant to deal with transitory conditions. In Ukraine, health improvement is primarily related to medical intervention and rarely to psychological, sociological or physical education. In addition, doctors do not take into account the wide variety of factors affecting humans, especially internal ones, and focus mainly on physical, environmental and biological causes of pathologies. However, a valeological approach to health includes medical, biological, psychological and social factors. Most importantly, it elaborates a philosophy of health, which allows one to improve it at all levels of human activity. Thus, health is seen as a personal matter rather than the object of medical research. The ontological basis of valeology connects it with other social and even global aspects of humanity, including spiritual and creative development, prevention of violence, protection of rights and freedoms, which, taken together, imply developing humanism in the broad sense. The justification of valeology-oriented learning and life is somewhat complicated since health is acknowledged as a value in case of its loss or threat to it. The main task of the teacher is to overcome valeological factors which negatively affect the consciousness supporting health preservation and promotion. In addition, there is a new stereotype among the general population that doctors are “unprofitable” for the patient to heal: financially, medicine seems to be interested in maintaining long-term, process-oriented, rather than result-oriented therapy. The ontological basis of valeology connects it with other, social and even global aspects of humanity.

Purpose The slogan “Go Green” has been embraced by a range of organizations including businesses and universities in recent decades. Within higher education academic libraries, as a key service unit in their parent institution, have an important role to play in supporting this mission. The authors have seen many academic libraries strive to “Go green” by designing a green library, whether a new build or renovation. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper discusses how the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Library formulates, develops and implements its green strategy and how the strategy has gradually reshaped its services. First, the authors consider how the concept of sustainability has affected services provided by academic libraries, and why green strategies are a practical and feasible approach. The authors then use CUHK Library as a case study, siting the development of its green strategies in the context of, the University’s approach to sustainability and the wider CUHK community, and ultimately the Library’s overall strategic plan. The third section describes how the library implements its green strategies in different areas, from the daily operation of library offices and services offered to users, to the planning of a library extension and broader sustainability initiatives. Issues of evaluation are discussed and the authors conclude the paper with future plans. Findings There are very few academic libraries in the USA that are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified. Originality/value The authors argue that pursuing a green building may not be the strategic focus for many academic libraries. In taking a more holistic approach to sustainability through practical measures, academic libraries need to formulate and develop wider green strategies beyond a green building. “Go Green” impacts not only the attitudes towards the environment but also changes the way academic libraries serve their users and community.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the factors that influence the mindset of youth in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in choosing entrepreneurship as their future employment. It also suggests the pathway to improve the role of the universities as strategic drivers in inducing an entrepreneurial mindset. Design/methodology/approach An exhaustive literature review of extant research followed by an exploratory study was conducted. Furthermore, to understand factors influencing the role of universities, interpretive structural modelling methodology is applied to evolve a hierarchy-based relationship among the strategic factors. Findings The results of empirical research suggest that young people in the UAE rank entrepreneurship as their first employment choice. However, most of them have not attended any formal entrepreneurship-related course in school or in college. The study also suggests that individual and environmental factors influence the entrepreneurial mindset of both males and females in the UAE. The structural model developed in the study indicates that to give an impetus to the entrepreneurial mindset, the government must create a supporting environment with UAE universities playing the role of a catalyst. Practical implications Professional entrepreneurship instruction is seen as a strategic tool to stimulate financial and societal growth. The results could provide insights for both entrepreneurship educators and policymakers and will boost their commitment to promote the entrepreneurial mindset within UAE society by enhancing and developing traits associated with entrepreneurial success. The results support recognition of the factors that induce educational programmes and economic incentives targeted at the development of sustainable entrepreneurial culture and ventures in the UAE. Originality/value The study is an effort to highlight the role of higher education in envisaging and cultivating entrepreneurs in a fast-growing developing country through a survey and a hierarchy-based model.

We’ve all seen the numbers—In 2016, the Institute of International Education (2020) reported a 3% decrease in first-time enrollment of international students in the United States, amounting to nearly 10,000 students. This initial dip, a first since the Institute for International Education began collecting data in 2005, has continued in both 2017 and 2018 (see Table 1). Some in the field have attributed the trend to an increase in the price of education, heightened global competitiveness, and a decrease in sponsored scholarships from key markets. However, many have also pointed to the U.S. political climate following the election of President Donald Trump (Glum, 2017; Rose-Redwood & Rose-Redwood, 2017; Saul, 2018; Smith, 2017). While some international educators have called the impact of Trump immigration policies on international college students trivial, other institutions have noted concerns over the experiences of international students (Deruy, 2017; Pottie-Sherman, 2018). In response to the 2016 election, a number of institutions quickly reacted with messages of support to their international community. Universities across the nation leapt to action. Most notably, the #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign swept the nation, with more than 380 institutions of higher education participating (NAFSA, 2020). With its “America First'” vision, the Trump administration has focused its efforts in three main areas of immigration: border security, interior enforcement, and employment (The White House, 2018). The President has encountered setbacks in achieving some of his goals, but many proposed changes in immigration law have succeeded (Pierce, 2019). Among his most recent actions are presidential proclamations that suspend certain employment-based visas to preserve domestic jobs and support the U.S. economic recovery amid the Coronavirus pandemic. In order to pursue its aggressive immigration agenda, the administration has crafted and adopted a powerful narrative for the American public that has been distributed through digital and news media. It can be argued that this narrative, employed as a tool for supporting policy change, has had an impact on the feelings of safety, security, and belongingness for many people, including international students and scholars in the United States. The Narrative Policy Framework (Shanahan et al., 2018) argues that stories are integral in shaping the entire policy cycle, from agenda setting through implementation. It acknowledges a narrative’s four main structural elements: setting, characters, plot, and the moral of the story. Beyond its structure, the Narrative Policy Framework also suggests that policy actors may utilize strategies to move their audiences in one direction or another, serving as a powerful catalyst for change (Shanahan et al., 2018). Burgeoning literature in the field of international student services hints at this connection between an increasingly unwelcoming environment for international students and their growing feelings of insecurity (Bartram, 2018; Mathies & Weimer, 2018; Rose-Redwood & Rose-Redwood, 2017). International student support offices across the world may vary in organizational structure and the range of services they provide, but all share the responsibility of assisting international students in their educational and cultural transition to campus (Ammigan & Perez-Encinas, 2018; Briggs & Ammigan, 2017). As international educators, it is our responsibility to reach across disciplines for tools that help us better understand and serve our communities. While some of us have institutional responsibilities to administer regulatory compliance with shifting immigration policies and procedures, we must also acknowledge that the support model for our students may need to be recalibrated so we can directly address the potential impact of other environmental factors, including political narratives. Below, we offer a few recommendations for administrators and support staff to consider as they bolster support for their international community. Incidentally, these propositions might also be relevant to many non-U.S. institutions that are addressing similar situations and issues on their respective campuses internationally. Provide access to accurate immigration advising. Amid confusion and varying perspectives on changing immigration policies, it is important for designated university officials to remain accessible to students and scholars who seek timely and factual guidance on their visa status and employment options as per official government regulations. Establish an open forum for addressing concerns. Some students, despite struggling to understand the effects of a changing political climate, may experience social withdrawal and hesitate to come forward. Institutions must consider creating a safe and supportive space for dialogue. This also includes regularly assessing the needs and challenges of their students. Partner with service offices, academic units, and student organizations on campus to develop collaborative resources that can help address the overwhelming fears and anxieties among international students and scholars, and ensure their wellbeing and academic success. Develop initiatives with local government and community organizations to create a welcoming home and friendly setting for international visitors. International student support offices can play a leadership role in developing supportive networks and connections with the wider community. Implement culturally sensitive orientation programs and early interventions that support international students during times of high stress to help them with their academic, social, and cultural adjustment to campus. As university administrators and staff recognize the impact of political narratives on the wellbeing of our international communities, it is critical that we remain proactive in providing support services that are intentional and inclusive in nature. Such initiatives not only enhance the student experience but can help advance diversity and internationalization efforts across the institution.

This study sought to investigate teacher, learner and parental perceptions and understanding of a whole school approach in environmental education (EE). There were five schools piloting environmental education through a whole school development approach in the Oshana Region of Namibia. The study was conducted in two rural schools in the Oshana Region. The schools were selected because they participated and piloted the infusion of environmental education themes in the curriculum through the whole school approach during the Supporting Environmental Education in Namibia (SEEN) project piloting phase from 2001 to 2005. This study was shaped and informed by international theories, practices and perspectives of a whole school approach as cited in chapter two of this study. In other words a whole school approach has provided theoretical background information and a practical framework on which this study was built. A whole school approach provides a theoretical understanding of how the school community, the biophysical environment, as well as the curriculum can benefit from EE projects through a whole school development approach. The whole school approach, discussed in this study, provides an opportunity to see the link between the whole school approach and ESD in order to understand the role a whole school approach plays in the implementation of ESD in Namibia. The research took the form of an interpretive case study focusing on a study of two teachers, two learners, and two members of the community. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, document analysis and site observations. This study was undertaken two years later after the Supporting Environmental Education Namibia (SEEN) pilot project phased out. The findings indicate that despite the training and support received by the schools during the operation of the Supporting Environmental Education Namibia (SEEN) pilot project, schools are still experiencing problems with the application of a whole school approach. The findings revealed that the curriculum should provide guidelines and examples to support teachers on how to integrate environmental education in the teaching and learning process. The results of the study indicate that teachers, learners and members of the community have a limited understanding about how a whole school development approach in environmental education is linked to Education Sustainable Development (ESD) and the four dimensions of the environment.

Tutors are key supporters within semi-distance education and as such comprehensive support of tutoring is necessary to provide the best possible support to learners. This case study investigates how tutoring can be better supported within a semi-distance part-time professional development course in environmental education. The course, aimed at adults working in environmental education fields, is seen as an important strategy for helping participants become critical, reflexive and active environmental education practitioners who can start working on solutions to environmental issues. This study found that most challenges to successful tutoring lay in the availability and competence of human resources within Namibia. Additionally improvement in the management of tutor and learner support systems, information, guidance and enrolment and finally of learning resources is seen as essential to better support a successful tutoring process. An alternative model of tutoring is offered as a way of overcoming the major tutoring challenges outlined in this study.
Educational Studies
M.Ed.

Latvia has a significant number of lakes, even eventually more as 10 000 as they never been fully accounted, but just comparatively small number are subject to lake governance, since the entire national lake governance system is still under development and currently mostly municipalities themselves are step-wise developing and realising lake management plans, but municipal capacities vary significantly. According to EU Water framework directive, there are four river basin management systems established in Latvia, having related water and risk management documents in place, as well as, in the past decade, there have been both national and regional level planning guidelines developed for lake and river waterbodies management, but all mentioned has been not yet utilized in local practice, having some legal responsibilities’ and admin capacities’ deficiencies. Despite this, there has been seen slow improvement of the water quality and socio-economic usage of lakes, but more in the lake management practice is to be done, accounting also for climate change. The goal of this research was to study the municipal level lake management practice developments, applying general research-and-development (R&D) framework approach and researching particularly the status and development trends of the three governance’s dimensions’ employment – governance content by socio-ecological system (SES) approach, governance segments as for main stakeholders’ involvement and participation, as well as, the set of governance instruments, especially, institutional/administrative ones. There were chosen pilot municipalities, having diverse and successful lake management approaches utilised, and, for the first study stage, document analysis and semi-structured interviews with related municipal specialists were done, using case study research (CSR) methodology application. There were recognized five lake management approaches, even in most municipalities in Latvia, particularly in rural ones, lake management is traditionally done by the scarce municipal territory administrative units and Utilities departments/services, and, only limited number of municipalities, also particularly studied, have developed and are employing for lake management also nature resource/environmental departments, while only in few municipalities there are established special municipal lake management agencies. Promising looks NGO sector management approach used by some municipalities, both top-down either bottom-up establishment chosen to apply, but as most perspective could be recognised complex approach (cross-sector) management practice, where most or all above mentioned approaches are combined and complementary supporting each other, within particular municipality. All studied municipalities possess certain lake management success stories, to be studied further in very detail, however, in general, there is to be seen still limited understanding and utilisation of the SES approach, also still potential of various stakeholder’s involvement and pro-active development of all complementary governance instruments, even many of instruments are available in studied municipalities, but lake communication instruments (information, education/training, participation and lake-friendly behaviour) are mostly underdeveloped.