new An important aspect of RAD's initiative is supporting equitable digital access. The project considers how it can help reduce digital barriers and uplift Aotearoa’s standard of excellence. Investing in digital access and establishing trusted partnerships with stakeholders like businesses, government, schools, social service providers, libraries, marae, youth groups, and non-profits, RAD seeks to create a digitally skilled workforce. Encouraging others to support RAD’s mission, Scott commented, "We need funding. We need used laptops. We need repair clubs established in more schools and communities."... — IT Brief New Zealand, 10h ago

new In 2018, the University of East London welcomed Amanda Broderick as vice-chancellor and president to tackle a difficult set of circumstances. Her leadership has successfully delivered a wholesale transformation, enabling the institution to not only survive but to flourish and thrive. Implementing our ambitious and innovative 10-year plan, Vision 2028, was a vital way of re-envisaging our role as a university on a global scale, driving innovation and a clear, strategic “road map” to tackle the challenges facing the communities we serve. Our goal is to break down the entrenched structural barriers to opportunity for students and graduates from under-represented backgrounds and to address economic and health inequalities wherever they are found. — THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect, 19h ago

new Buildner presents the second edition of the Home of Shadows architecture competition. This event once again highlights the crucial interplay between light and shadow in creating functional and inviting living spaces. Natural light is not just a vital aspect in home design for its practicality, but it also transforms spaces into welcoming and comfortable havens. It enables architects to infuse emotion and ambiance into their designs, giving life to structures beyond their physical form. Similarly, shadows are not to be overlooked. They are essential in adding depth, texture, and mood to spaces. The strategic placement of architectural elements like windows or doors can dramatically affect how light and shadow interact, shaping the overall atmosphere of a home. The second edition of the Home of Shadows competition maintains its unique challenge. Participants are invited to design a home for a fictional couple, with a special condition - the total elimination of artificial light. Every submitted design is expected to demonstrate a deep understanding of how natural light influences architectural choices, and how it can be harnessed to create fully functional and aesthetically pleasing living environments. Contestants are free to choose any imaginary location for their design projects, offering a diverse backdrop for the exploration of light and shadow. Buildner looks forward to receiving innovative entries that showcase a harmonious blend of technical skill and creative insight, illuminating the endless possibilities that lie within the dance of light and shadow in architectural design. PRIZES 3 winning proposals, 2 special award recipients and 6 honourable mentions will be selected. Buildner (formerly Bee Breeders) will award a total of 7,000 € in prize money to competition winners as follows: 1st Prize - 3,000 € 2nd Prize - 1,500 € 3rd Prize - 1,000 € + 6 honourable mentions Buildner Student Award - 1000 € Buildner Sustainability Award - 500 € COMPETITION SCHEDULE Early Bird Registration: 30 October – 13 December Advance Registration: 14 December – 29 February Last Minute Registration: 1 March – 2 May Final registration deadline: May 2, 2024 Closing date for submission: June 4, 2024 (LONDON TIME) Announcement of the winners: July 15, 2024 More: https://architecturecompetitions.com/homeofshadows2/... — Bustler, 20h ago

new However, education is for public good; and a right. Any conversation around the funding should not aim at reinstating capitalism, but to improve the quality through appropriate funding. Even as government establishes a workable students’ loan scheme, there should be room for exceptional students. Profligacy in governance should seriously be addressed in order to free resources for national developmental including education. Leaving education completely to market forces is dangerous and may also result in ‘commoditisation’ of education. Nigeria has enough resources to fund education if profligacy and extravagance are excluded from governance, and education accorded priority in consonance with the position of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, recently said that the Federal Government cannot completely stop funding universities. — The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News, 22h ago

new The Women in the Sustainable Economy (WISE) Initiative, a flagship effort of the U.S. government, aims to increase women’s access to jobs, training, leadership opportunities, and finance in green and blue sectors, including energy, fisheries, waste recycling, forest management, and environmental conservation. It brings together governments, the private sector, foundations, civil society, and multilateral organizations to strengthen women’s economic security by focusing on three pillars: (1) promoting well-paying, quality jobs for women; (2) supporting women-owned, -led, and -managed businesses; and (3) eliminating barriers to women’s economic participation in green and blue sectors. — United States Department of State, 1d ago

new Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most crucial oil and protein crops, and contribute to more than a quarter of the protein utilized in both food and animal feed. It is widely acknowledged that cultivated soybean emerged through the domestication of its annual ancestor in the Yellow River basin. Therefore, the exploration of genetic resources within the origin region bears immense significance in advancing the global frontiers of soybean breeding.In comparison to the cultivar of Williams 82, ZH13 boasts higher genetic diversity and ecological type of origin reign. Furthermore, ZH13 is an ideal variety in the breeding strategy called “Potalaization”, which allows breeding of novel widely adapted soybean varieties through the use of multiple molecular tools in existing elite widely adapted varieties. To date, however, soybean genome analyses are incomplete and contain many gaps, which have so far limited in-depth investigations into its properties.To address this, a joint team of researchers from China, including senior author and co-corresponding author Dr. Yadong Wang from the Center for Bioinformatics, School of Computer Science and Technology at the Harbin Institute of Technology, and co-corresponding author Dr. Tianfu Han from the Institute of Crop Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, conducted a telomere-to-telomere (T2T) assembly of the Chinese soybean cultivar Zhonghuang 13 (ZH13), termed ZH13-T2T. The study was published in The Crop Journal.“Imagine you have a giant jigsaw puzzle, but it’s missing some pieces. This puzzle is like the genetic code, or the “recipe,” of ZH13. The missing pieces are like gaps in our understanding of this recipe,” explained by Dr. Yang Hu, co-corresponding author of the study. “In this effort, we used a super-advanced and precise method to find and fit in all those missing pieces. With this powerful tool, we could see everything—even the tricky parts that were hidden before”.The researchers used a multi-assembler approach to minimize biases and enhance assembly accuracy. Their assembly spanned 1,015,024,879 base pairs (bp), effectively filling in all the gaps from the previous analyses. In the process, they identified over 50,000 protein-coding genes, of which 707 are novel. ZH13-T2T was found to have longer chromosomes, 421 not-aligned regions (NARs), 112 structure variations (SVs), and a significant expansion of repetitive elements compared to earlier analyses.“We’ve delivered the first complete Chinese soybean cultivar T2T genome,” said Dr. Bo Liu, the other co-corresponding author. The complete, accurate genome sequence of the ZH13 cultivar can now be used to identify crucial genes, and genetic variants linked to desirable traits.”This information would also contribute to accelerating soybean breeding programs to develop new cultivars with specific enhanced traits, crop yields, improved resistance to pests and diseases, and adaptability to different regions and climates.“For instance, researchers can use the genomic information to manipulate specific genes that encode improvements in soybean traits, such as photothermal adaptability, oil content, protein quality, or tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressors," concluded by Baiquan Sun, an author of the study. — newswise.com, 1d ago

new Disability inclusion is central to the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The commitment requires corporates to collaborate with the government, partners, and other stakeholders to find innovative solutions for enabling the active participation of persons with disabilities in their full diversity, and their full inclusion in all decision-making processes. As we continue to strengthen our commitment to equality, structured interventions throughout the employee lifecycle of a person with disability will be necessary for realizing their ability to contribute of themselves. Access to knowledge and skills, practical tools, and assistive. — CXOToday.com, 1d ago

new Jessica Bwali, Global Campaigner at Tearfund, said: “For people in poverty around the world, how public finance is spent could mean the difference between life and death. Either money goes to dirty fossil fuels and contributes to more drought, flooding and suffering; or it ushers in a clean energy transition and a safer, brighter future. Communities on the frontline of the climate crisis can’t afford any more delays. Four out of five people in sub-Saharan Africa live without access to electricity today and this affects health services, education and livelihood opportunities. In Zambia, we use hydroelectric power, but we still suffer massive power cuts because of droughts. The Kariba dam, for example, relies on a flow of water and when there is no water, the power supply dips. Many people suffer abject poverty because of this. Securing the loss and damage fund for people living in poverty was a good start for the Climate Talks here in Dubai. The urgent challenge now is to make sure that wealthy nations genuinely stump up the cash, and that public finance benefits people on the frontlines of climate change.”... — Oil Change International, 1d ago

new In conflict settings like Myanmar, children and women with disabilities face exacerbated vulnerabilities. Displacement heightens their risk and limits access to essential services. They face limited access to critical services, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and an increased risk of gender-based violence (GBV). The United Nations is committed to prioritizing and strengthening protection mechanisms for these marginalized groups with compounded vulnerabilities. This involves ensuring their safety, access to life-saving services, and providing inclusive support systems. — ReliefWeb, 1d ago

new The United Nations is not deaf to examples such as those above and has worked towards improving life for women across the world – and this is the point where the mixed picture becomes clearer. Feminists often harness the platforms available through the United Nations and secure progress that would not be possible without the playing field made available by international organisations. Perhaps the best example of this came in October 2000, when the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 – a landmark in emphasising the value of equal participation of women, as well as their increasing involvement in the promotion and maintenance of peace and security. Furthermore, it recognised the disproportionate impact of conflict on women. The United Nations subsequently created several specialised groups, such as the Task Force on Women Peace and Security, as well as the Task Force on Violence Against Women, to uphold its commitment to the protection of women’s rights. Additionally, the United Nations has also provided women in impoverished countries with more access to resources and opportunities they would otherwise not have, for example through initiatives such as the UN Girls’ Education Initiative. Further, a large number of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (explored further in chapters 17 and 18) target issues pivotal to women in ways that are designed to be more nuanced in order to overcome some of the ineffective applications of prior efforts which tended to help some women more than others. — E-International Relations, 2d ago

new ...“Ensuring access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all is key to opening up a new world of opportunities for millions of people. Achieving SDG7 will benefit other SDGs related to climate change, economic opportunities and jobs, women’s empowerment, social justice, education and health. Unlocking finance for BESS investments is an important milestone that will enable the development of renewable energy at scale. We need new and innovative ways to mobilize all relevant stakeholders, which is why I am delighted that AFD is joining the BESS Consortium initiative. We are committed to sharing our technical expertise and financing solutions with the 10 first movers and bringing new countries on board to reach the +5GW target.”... — The Rockefeller Foundation, 2d ago

new 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐃𝐅 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 : https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/146977 The increased participation in cheerleading has led to a growth in demand for various cheerleading equipment market demand. The higher involvement of cheerleaders in sports has generated a greater need for uniforms, practice wear, and accessories. Moreover, the increase in number of cheerleading participants has increased the need for safety equipment such as mats, pads, and safety gear. As safety is a top priority in cheerleading and this equipment are essential to prevent injuries during practice and performances, which can surge the cheerleading equipment market size. In addition, more participation from worldwide have resulted into higher demand for training aids and accessories that can help cheerleaders improve their skills. It includes items like pom-poms, megaphones, cheer signs, and instructional materials. Manufacturers also capitalize on this demand by offering a wider range of products.Schools and other organizations are investing majorly in cheerleading programs, which is leading to increased cheerleading equipment market share. Moreover, schools, colleges, and organizations are allocating resources for cheerleading, which increases the demand for cheerleading equipment and accessories. Investment in coaching, training, and facilities has led to safer and more proficient cheerleading. Consequently, the need for safety equipment, including mats, padding, and safety gear to enhance the safety of participants, has increased and resulted in cheerleading equipment market trends.In addition, enhanced investment has made way for professional and competitive cheerleading programs which has proven to be opportunistic for the market growth. Manufacturers have explored opportunities to expand into international markets as cheerleading has gained popularity in different regions and countries. Furthermore, the adaptation of products to meet specific needs and preferences of different regions makes way for market growth.The integration of technological advancements in the cheerleading equipment market has driven innovation, enhanced performance, and has offered unique features, which has positively impacted the industry. The manufacturers of cheerleading equipment have constantly developed new and innovative products, such as safer and more comfortable mats and uniforms. Moreover, it has also fostered technological advancements in cheerleading equipment. The incorporation of technology, such as wearable devices for performance monitoring or training aids, has led to the development of new and improved products. In addition, high-speed cameras and video analysis software have assisted in evaluation of cheerleading routines and to identify areas for improvement.The mobile apps and online platforms also offer training modules, tutorials, and interactive guides for cheerleaders to practice and learn new skills independently. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications are also utilized to create immersive training experiences for cheerleaders which has enabled the cheerleaders to practice routines and stunts in a simulated environment. The rise in technological advancement has made way for manufacturers to create safer, smarter, and more innovative cheerleading equipment to meet the evolving needs of athletes and coaches which has further boosted the cheerleading equipment market opportunities.𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 : https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/146977 The rise in customization and personalization presents a significant opportunity field for the cheerleading equipment market. Manufacturers offer customized and personalized gear to cater the unique preferences of cheerleaders and teams, to enhance their sense of identity and brand recognition. Moreover, customization allows cheerleading teams to create a distinct and unique identity as it provides ability to choose colors, logos, and designs that reflect respective school or organization, which foster team spirit and cohesion. — openPR.com, 2d ago

new As we recognize scientists with disabilities and their achievements, we also acknowledge remaining barriers in the field. According to ASM’s 2020 DEI Taskforce Report survey, scientists with disabilities represented about 18% of respondents. This is not representative of the 27% of the U.S. population that has a disability. To address these gaps, we aim to increase equitable inclusion and access within and across our activities, programs and offerings to ensure that ASM creates a more inclusive environment for a diverse community. With these efforts, we will work to build a membership that reflects the demographics of the U.S. population and the entire spectrum of professionals strengthening and promoting the field of microbiology. — ASM.org, 2d ago

new EDUCATION current efforts mentioned were surprisingly few given the large proportion of educators (approximately 30%) were in the room. This could be because many attendees were already familiar with how to compost, and the conversation was instead focused on how to expand ease of and access to composting services in the region. This by no means is a full and complete list of the efforts in Greater Chicagoland, but rather a small sample. Efforts from Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition (IFSCC) and Illinois Extension are well- documented due to the number of representatives from both organizations at the Summit. Other non-profits mentioned as currently providing education include Academy for Global Citizenship, Illinois Stewardship Alliance (ISA), Zero Waste Schools Program, SCARCE, The Conservation Foundation (Will County), and Urban Growers Collective. Special educational events and initiatives included 1-day compost collection events (such as the collaborations with Illinois Extension and partners like Plant Chicago, the Village of Park Forest, and Garfield Park Conservatory), International Compost Awareness Week (led by IFSCC), If It Grows, It Goes (a marketing campaign to spur compost usage from IFSCC) and Soil Health Week (led by ISA). Government-led education efforts were mentioned as coming from SWALCO (Solid Waste Agency of Lake County) and the City of Chicago’s pilot food scrap composting at NeighborSpace community gardens. The US Composting Council Composter Handbook was mentioned as a good national resource for educators. And it was noted that general composting education was happening in schools and via small community programs. A list of comments on Current Efforts in Education are displayed in Table 4, Appendix 1. INFRASTRUCTURE current efforts, like education current efforts, were not thoroughly documented with many comments needing to be recategorized as barriers or opportunities. In general, infrastructure current efforts fell into two broad categories, collection, and processing . Collection efforts were either free public drop off programs (Plant Chicago and Urban Growers Collective) and collection events or private fee-based drop-off and... — extension.org, 2d ago

new Climate change may create significant physical risks for Black populations in the United States, but it could create opportunities to address existing racial gaps, too. A concerted effort at understanding the impact of climate risk for Black workers, business owners, consumers, savers, and residents can help the private and public sectors identify racial gaps, allow for timely adaptation to build resilience against physical risks, and enable equitable access to climate finance opportunities. — McKinsey & Company, 2d ago

new ...“In the school setting, students often engage in insults, banter, teasing, shoving, pushing, and gender-specific conduct that is upsetting to the students subjected to it,” O’Connor wrote. “Damages are not available for simple acts of teasing and name-calling among school children, however, even where these comments target differences in gender. Rather, in the context of student-on-student harassment, damages are available only where the behavior is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it denies its victims the equal access to education that Title IX is designed to protect.”... — Education Week, 2d ago

new Reiterate its call on the de facto authorities to swiftly reverse the policies and practices restricting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Afghan women and girls, including related to their access to education, employment, freedom of movement, and women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in public life, pursuant to SCR 2681 (2023);... — ReliefWeb, 2d ago

new Policies should build on these successes while also recognizing that women shoulder disproportionate care responsibilities, have fewer economic resources than men, and have lower levels of literacy and access to technology. These inequalities are exacerbated by climate change. — UN Women – Headquarters, 2d ago

new SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 23 November 2023 - (NASDAQ: AMZN) – This holiday season, Amazon Singapore engages the local community with ‘Page to Page: Amazon Singapore Books Pop Up’, a unique and immersive reading experience happening from 2 - 17 Dec 2023 at Punggol Regional Library. The initiative will launch on 2 Dec 2023 with an opening ceremony, with invited guests that include children and family beneficiaries as part of the Amazon x Shop for Good wishlist initiative. To further underscore their support for the local community, Amazon Singapore will also be donating a total of $100,000 in cash to 4 local NPOs, including Children’s Wishing Well, Club Rainbow (Singapore), Fei Yue Family Service Centre and Glyph Community, to help children and youths in Singapore better learn, play, and develop in the long-run. The donations will be presented to representatives from the various NPOs at the launch of ‘Page to Page: Amazon Singapore Books Pop Up’. Amazon Singapore’s increase in support for underprivileged children and their families is aligned to the direction from the Forward SG Report 2023 to look to social empowerment rather than social assistance when it comes to supporting and uplifting lower-income families. This effort held at the Punggol Regional Library underscores Amazon’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of lifelong readers as well as the history of the company that began as an online book store. The pop-up promises an enriching experience for families and young school children, extending reading resources to the heartlands. Showcasing a tree adorned with books sourced from Amazon Singapore's diverse local and international sellers, the initiative fosters a sense of community, inspiring a passion for literacy during the festive season. Families are encouraged to join with their children, to cultivate a mutual love for reading and engaging in creative activities to craft special moments with each other. Under the Amazon x Shop for Good wishlist initiative, Amazon Singapore continues to work closely with local NPOs to understand the evolving needs of the underprivileged and channel resources to uplift and nurture them, especially children. In addition, the initiative serves to raise awareness and encourage the public to give to meaningful causes regularly and offers a platform for donating transparently. Delivering Smiles in Singapore this holiday season Amazon Singapore’s wishlist initiative started in 2020 to make giving and doing good a part of daily experiences for customers in Singapore, especially during the pandemic. As people shop on Amazon.sg for holiday gifts or everyday essentials, they can browse the items requested by NPOs on their respective wishlists, click to purchase them per their budget, and directly support the causes they are most passionate about. Each NPO’s wishlist is an updated depository of items which their beneficiaries currently need most and works as a self-serve tool—at no cost to NPOs—to inform customers on Amazon.sg what the NPOs need and their quantity. Customers who are keen to donate can select any listed item and quantity, make the payment, and have the items delivered directly to the NPOs’ specified address. This minimizes instances of mismatched items being donated to NPOs or the need to drop them off physically while offering the same vast selection, convenient shopping experience, and great prices that customers have come to expect from Amazon.sg. A total of 16 local NPOs are currently part of the Amazon x Shop for Good wishlist initiative: Arc Children’s Centre, Beyond Social Services, Blessings in a Bag, Children’s Wishing Well, Club Rainbow (Singapore), Engineering Good, Fei Yue, Glyph Community, New Hope Community Services, Singapore Red Cross, SHINE Children and Youth Services, Singapore Children’s Society, The Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf), SOSD, The Food Bank Singapore, and Willing Hearts. Joanna Tan, CEO, Children’s Wishing Well, said, “This donation initiative has enabled us to acquire food items for the children, books to enhance their learning and development, educational materials, and much more. As we approach the year's end, we look forward to ongoing support in ensuring our children have the essentials and educational resources they require.” Lim Si Hui, Co-General Manager, Glyph Community Limited, said, "Through the Shop for Good wish list, our aim is to enhance our capabilities with the essential equipment necessary for implementing our exciting new technology, coding, and AI programme! With products such as tablets as a critical tool, we can empower young children to thrive in the digital age." Teo Siang Loong, Executive Directior, Club Rainbow (Singapore), said, “We at Club Rainbow are elated by the endless possibilities that comes with this partnership with Amazon Singapore. Being part of Shop for Good has enabled our beneficiaries to receive many essential necessities such as milk powder and diapers. These items contribute to our monthly distribution efforts to support the basic needs of our low-income families. Books and many other educational resources will augment the learning and development of our pre-schoolers, primary and secondary school children through ongoing early intervention programmes, tuition sessions and enrichment activities. These initiatives are pivotal as key enablers to ease the financial distress for our vulnerable families, and empower them to live with dignity.” Arthur Ling, Chief Executive, Fei Yue Family Service Centre, said, “Our Shop for Good wish list eases the financial strain on low-income families, allowing them to prioritise their resources for other daily necessities. Through the distribution of milk and diapers to our Family Service Centres, we empower our social workers to provide essential support to our beneficiaries.” Customers can join Amazon in its season of giving by shopping for an NPO’s wishlist via amazon.sg/shopforgood. Hashtag: #Amazonsg #DeliveringSmileshttp://www.twitter.com/amazonsghttp://www.facebook.com/Amazon.sghttp://www.instagram.com/Amazon.SG... — SME Business Daily Media, 2d ago

new All of the children who attended the meeting at Otts-Rubenstein’s house were recommended for different CPS schools, but Otts-Rubenstein said she still had concerns. She said many of the schools might not have the support that they need. She notices things that the district might not, she said.It will take a lot for the migrants — who have never left their children with others — to trust city officials to provide adequate care. She said it took a lot for her to trust the school where she now sends her daughter.Otts-Rubenstein was especially disappointed by the district’s assessment of Keinymar and made a list of points the district missed: trauma care to help her cope with the stress of the long journey, visual impairment resources, technology to keep her engaged, direct nursing assistance and transportation.“The fact that she doesn’t have a paraprofessional included on the bus, right? That’s a big problem and a big miss. Why did I catch that and the committee didn’t?” she asked.She said Keinymar’s family shouldn’t accept the district’s academic goals for Keinymar without asking for additional staffing and support.“We can revisit goals and make them more cued into Keinymar once she is able to attend school safely,” wrote Otts-Rubenstein in an email to the district.Students with disabilities are protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, said Rachel Shapiro, managing attorney in the special education clinic at Equip for Equality. If parents don’t agree with the district’s designation for their child, she said, they can schedule a mediation to look at other types of accommodations.“Special education students always have a right to go to school,” she said. “It’s important for parents to understand that, even if they’re not U.S. citizens, that their kids have these rights.”... — Governing, 2d ago

new She added that “As a stakeholder in the HR industry, I believe the government plays a role in shaping the landscape for economic development and wealth creation. Government strengthening educational platforms by investing in a robust educational framework that aligns with the demands of the contemporary workforce. It includes fostering partnerships between educational institutions and industry players to ensure graduates are adequately prepared for the dynamic challenges of the workplace. Introducing comprehensive Employment insurance schemes through centralized platforms can be a transformative step. Such initiatives would provide a safety net for individuals in between jobs by offering financial support and access to skill development programs that enhance employability. Reviewing and modernizing existing labour laws is imperative to meet the current economic landscape’s demands. This involves ensuring that regulations are flexible, adaptive, and supportive of innovation. A balanced approach is crucial to safeguard workers’ rights while creating an environment conducive to business growth and job creation. There is the need to continuously foster a conducive environment for entrepreneurship. It can be achieved by simplifying bureaucratic processes, offering financial incentives, and providing mentorship programs to encourage the establishment and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).”... — The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News, 2d ago

new The AI floodgates opened in 2023, but the next year may bring a slowdown. AI development is likely to meet technical limitations and encounter infrastructural hurdles such as chip manufacturing and server capacity. Simultaneously, AI regulation is likely to be on the way.This slowdown should give space for norms in human behavior to form, both in terms of etiquette, as in when and where using ChatGPT is socially acceptable, and effectiveness, like when and where ChatGPT is most useful.ChatGPT and other generative AI systems will settle into people’s workflows, allowing workers to accomplish some tasks faster and with fewer errors. In the same way that people learned “to google” for information, humans will need to learn new practices for working with generative AI tools.But the outlook for 2024 isn’t completely rosy. It is shaping up to be a historic year for elections around the world, and AI-generated content will almost certainly be used to influence public opinion and stoke division. Meta may have banned the use of generative AI in political advertising, but this isn’t likely to stop ChatGPT and similar tools from being used to create and spread false or misleading content.Political misinformation spread across social media in 2016 as well as in 2020, and it is virtually certain that generative AI will be used to continue those efforts in 2024. Even outside social media, conversations with ChatGPT and similar products can be sources of misinformation on their own.As a result, another lesson that everyone – users of ChatGPT or not – will have to learn in the blockbuster technology’s second year is to be vigilant when it comes to digital media of all kinds.Tim Gorichanaz, Assistant Teaching Professor of Information Science, Drexel UniversityThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. — GovTech, 2d ago

new Most importantly, the RISE grant helped Northeastern purchase its simulators, which include a birth simulator, a pediatric simulator and two adult simulators. Using the simulators students can do everything from listen to heartbeats and breathing sounds to insert a catheter and their patients are even able to talk to them and answer questions.Instructors shared that the simulators are invaluable because they help students grow their confidence and figure out what they still need to learn while realizing just how much they already know. Plus, it's a great place for students to apply what they've learned in the classroom.Nursing students commented that the simulators help make them more comfortable, teach them time management, provide valuable hands-on experience outside of the classroom and allow them to work on their critical thinking skills."I like simulation because it is a place for me to make errors and not have to worry about killing the patients," Brandon Williams said.Before watching a demonstration of the birth simulator, the group heard from Jennifer Garcia, a student who benefited from the RISE grant and in May will be graduating with an RN (Registered Nursing) degree. From California, she was working a dead-end job when her sister was accepted into NJC's program and encouraged her to enroll. After taking a job at Sterling Regional MedCenter as an inventory associate to make sure that healthcare was right for her, she fell in love almost immediately and went to work earning her CNA degree."Being from out of state it's been very difficult for me," Garcia said, explaining that the cost for her to attend Northeastern is much higher than a student who has lived here all of their life. "I wasn't sure I would be able to afford it and then came the RISE grant. It just lifted this great burden off me and I was able to focus all of my time and attention into preparing my skills.""I am very grateful to the RISE grant for everything it has given me because I feel that I have a purpose," Garcia added, sharing that she plans to work in the community when she graduates.Next, Giacomini shared how for years, she and Brower discussed how they could partner with students coming in, who often come from a country where they were a veterinarian or a doctor but now they need to get the skills and credentials to be able to work in the United States. Through the RISE grant, they were able to remove the financial barrier for some of the students and it also helped them create an integrated education and training program.Northeastern found a cohort of students whose language proficiency was just enough that they could have a basic conversation but they needed language skills specific to a CNA, which they got through a customized English training that was developed. The college also worked with them on workforce preparation skills like communication, time management, learning cultural differences, etc."It was great to finally pilot this program that we'd been trying for so long to get together," Giacomini said, adding that now those students are recruiting others to the CNA program.Next, was the simulation, which involved a pregnant woman who came in stable but started deteriorating with her heart rate and blood pressure showing signs of distress and her oxygen level dropping. She then experienced an eclamptic seizure due to high blood pressure and when the mother awakened it was determined she was in labor. The mother went on to deliver a healthy baby girl, who was examined for any problems and vaccinated.After the simulation, the group heard from Shelly Griffith, CEO of Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center, one of Northeastern's main clinical sites for both nursing and CNA students."We rely heavily on (NJC) to help train CNAs, individuals who are looking to pursue an entry point into the medical field," she said. "The beauty of NJC is they have been able to flex some schedules and be able to accommodate those who may need to be working full-time while they are looking to grow their career options."NJC's program is especially critical given the shortage of healthcare workers. Griffith shared Eben Ezer has a need for 20 CNAs right now,"What's happening is the demand for our service is significant and so people are having to go on a wait list, which means that many people, their needs are not being met because nursing homes throughout the rural communities are not able to meet that need because of limited staffing levels," she explained.Following her remarks, guests had a chance to try out the simulators themselves.The day ended with a panel discussion that included Tamara Durbin, executive director of Northeast Colorado BOCES; Kyle Stumpf, Superintendent of Holyoke School District; Danielle Ongart, Executive Director of Colorado Department of Education's Student Pathways; and Misti Ruthven, Director of Education and Training Innovation for the Office of Governor Polis.They talked about the importance of career connected learning as it benefits both students and the economy by opening students' eyes to career opportunities they might want to consider. Stumpf mentioned the success of his district's internship program.The group also talked about some of the barriers that exist to providing this, the biggest being cost, especially in northeast Colorado where it costs a lot to transport students from their school to another school that offers the program they're interested in. There is also the challenge of trying to ensure all students have equitable access. Durbin pointed out that students who live in northeast Colorado need to have the same opportunities available to them as those on the Front Range.During a question and answer session with the audience, Trae Miller, executive director of the Logan County Economic Development Corporation, pointed out that internships and apprenticeships sound great but the state requirements that go into those and the reporting aspects create a barrier for businesses to participate in those programs. He also shared that students need help with basic skills such as showing up on time and learning how to take instruction.Ongart suggested there needs to be a regional entity in place to help students and businesses navigate this, so it doesn't all fall on the district or the business, and Stumpf mentioned his district teaches a class an hour a day with all of those skills and they also provide businesses with funding to help offset the costs of doing an internship.State Sen. Byron Pelton asked why the state is reinventing the wheels with apprenticeships, instead of learning from what's in place now. He said his frustration with recent legislation regarding apprenticeships is "you're going to have a lot of outside forces that are going to try to do their best to send it one way or the other when we need to just worry about the entire workforce, not just a little part of it; we need to worry about the entire workforce." Pelton pointed out in two years, half of Colorado's electrical trade will be retiring, "so we've got to get more people in there," he commented.He also said would like for time in college courses to count toward credit for both college and high school, which he plans to introduce a bill to require."We realize the importance of apprenticeships and we have challenges in trying to determine those opportunities for youth in high schools and have that be seamless for them," Durbin said, adding that it's something they are working on.©2023 Journal-Advocate, Sterling, Colo. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. — GovTech, 2d ago

new The nation’s housing crunch has many officials blaming short-term rentals for taking shelter off the market. A 2016 article in the Harvard Law & Policy Review suggested that short-term rentals “[reduce] the affordable housing supply” by removing long-term rentals from the housing market and keeping local residents from moving in.Dozens of localities throughout the United States have regulated short-term rentals.But none has gone as far as New York City.“The law and rules effectively ban short-term rentals in New York City and are a stark contrast to cities around the world that have enacted fair and balanced short-term rental rules,” wrote Theo Yedinsky, Airbnb’s global policy director, in a June letter on the company’s website.Airbnb says it worked for years to find a compromise.“These rules are an outlier and stand in contrast to the approach of other cities around the country, going as far as to prohibit New Yorkers from sharing their homes when they are away for work or travel, hosting more than two guests at the same time, and requiring that they must certify they understand numerous lengthy and complicated city codes,” the company wrote in a prepared statement in response to Stateline.González said policies to regulate the short-term rental market in both domestic and international cities have varied, from capping the length of a rental stay to restricting the number of guests to requiring the host to be on the premises.“If New York City’s policy is successful, it could embolden other cities to follow suit and use this as a way to not only rein in this industry, but possibly address these long-term rental housing crises,” said González. “I think there will be a lot learned in the next few weeks and months on whether this is an effective policy measure.”One of the consequences of the city’s crackdown on Airbnb listings is already taking shape. More than 90% of the city’s current Airbnb rental stock of nearly 40,000 units — of which 3,746 are short-term rentals — is unlicensed, according to Inside Airbnb, a housing activist group that tracks the platform’s data.The fear of rising hotel prices and the dearth of legal rentals are prompting some tourists to turn to short-term rentals listed on Craigslist, part of a burgeoning alternative market of unregistered, unlicensed short-term rentals in the wake of the city’s restrictions.For travelers such as Dustin Smith and his fiancée, Carly Barnes, it’s worth the risk when they visit New York City for the first time on Dec. 21 for a two-week stay.“New York is already stretching our budget just to eat and sightsee, so if we can get a good deal on the internet, without paying an arm and a leg for a hotel, we’ll take that chance,” Smith, who lives in Louisiana, told Stateline.Christian Klossner, executive director of New York City’s Office of Special Enforcement, told Stateline that his office will monitor the short-term rental industry as a whole, including those spaces advertised on Craigslist and other sites. Hosts who violate the ordinance face a possible fine of $5,000, and platforms could face penalties up to $1,500. — GovTech, 2d ago