Rising costs of production and the need for capital investment in the public water supply network in Ireland, has placed a strong emphasis on the need for water conservation and tackling the current high levels of lea...Rising costs of production and the need for capital investment in the public water supply network in Ireland, has placed a strong emphasis on the need for water conservation and tackling the current high levels of leakage (Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, 2015) [1]. Consequently, Irish Water which is Ireland’s national water utility has had to consider various business models and supply frameworks to demonstrate value for money. This has included those successfully implemented by Scottish Water. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare both national utility providers in terms of structure and financial performance. The results of this study showed that both utility providers differed significantly. The Utility has, indeed, tried to achieve “too much too soon” (O’Leary, 2018 [2];Donegal Now, 2016) [3]. Therefore, the initial results of this study suggest that, continuing to consider Scottish Water as the benchmark may generate unrealistic targets and expectations which in all probability may not be achieved.展开更多
For a long time,the history of“Scottish Literature”has been overshadowed by the concept of“British literature”,and thus Scottish literary heritage has been seen as“regional characteristics”.The Act of Union 1707...For a long time,the history of“Scottish Literature”has been overshadowed by the concept of“British literature”,and thus Scottish literary heritage has been seen as“regional characteristics”.The Act of Union 1707 led to a growing concern for Scottish national identity.In The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides,the famous Scottish-born biographer James Boswell chose to take advantage of Scottish literary heritage as a point of penetration to express his own Scottish national identity with Scotland in literature and Scottish literature.展开更多
Purpose–The purpose of this paper is to find out how to encourage the use of Web 2.0 in learning in higher education by investigating factors that would relate to and would encourage such behaviour.Design/methodology...Purpose–The purpose of this paper is to find out how to encourage the use of Web 2.0 in learning in higher education by investigating factors that would relate to and would encourage such behaviour.Design/methodology/approach–Three existing theories of technology acceptance underpinned this research and six constructs selected from these existing theories and one new construct from a pilot study were used to develop a conceptual model which constructs were operationalized into an online questionnaire(open and closed ended questions).Copies of this questionnaire were electronically distributed to all students in a higher institution of learning in Scotland.In total,203 responded.Correlation and regression analyses were performed on the quantitative data collected so as to validate the research model.A focus group of ten volunteer students provided opportunity for a follow-up interview that produced in-depth information which provided strategies for enhancing the use of Web 2.0 tools for learning in higher education.Findings–All the factors of the model,except perceived ease of use,positively relate significantly with use behaviour.The factors are perceived usefulness,facilitating conditions,motivation,prior knowledge,performance expectancy and social factors.Research limitations/implications–The study was performed at only one institution in Scotland.The implication of the study is that predictor variables(mentioned above in the findings)of the model should be taken into consideration when introducing Web 2.0 to students of higher learning.Practical implications–In the paper are discussed specific strategies and these include assigning roles to users with little participation,checking to ensure irregular users have access and e-mailing them to encourage participation.Originality/value–This is apparently the first time the key technology acceptance models have been synthesised and tested in Scotland with regards to the acceptance of Web 2.0 tools in learning in higher education.展开更多
In less than fi fty years since 1866,the Scottish missionaries made tens of thousands of Presbyterian converts and established eight churches in Manchuria.The most striking feature of the Scottish mission was the miss...In less than fi fty years since 1866,the Scottish missionaries made tens of thousands of Presbyterian converts and established eight churches in Manchuria.The most striking feature of the Scottish mission was the missionaries’skill in adapting to the incredibly complicated social,political and cultural environment in Manchuria.Their educational mission served as a niche for the Scottish missionaries to adapt to the social environment.Their medical mission and involvement in the famine and plague relief not only increased their popularity among the people but also helped them to establish contacts with the upper classes and power holders,including the Chinese,Russian and Japanese.John Ross,the pioneering Scottish missionary,found common ground between Ch ristianity and Confucianism,and between the Judeo-Christian tradition and the ancient Chinese moral values.Al though Ross had a strong belief in the ability of Chinese people,with the purpose of“making Confucianism the handmaid of Christianity”,his enquiry into Confucianism was tinged with cultural superiority and practicality.展开更多
文摘Rising costs of production and the need for capital investment in the public water supply network in Ireland, has placed a strong emphasis on the need for water conservation and tackling the current high levels of leakage (Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, 2015) [1]. Consequently, Irish Water which is Ireland’s national water utility has had to consider various business models and supply frameworks to demonstrate value for money. This has included those successfully implemented by Scottish Water. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare both national utility providers in terms of structure and financial performance. The results of this study showed that both utility providers differed significantly. The Utility has, indeed, tried to achieve “too much too soon” (O’Leary, 2018 [2];Donegal Now, 2016) [3]. Therefore, the initial results of this study suggest that, continuing to consider Scottish Water as the benchmark may generate unrealistic targets and expectations which in all probability may not be achieved.
基金Graduate Research and Practice Projects of Minzu University of China(Project No.:SZKY2022084).
文摘For a long time,the history of“Scottish Literature”has been overshadowed by the concept of“British literature”,and thus Scottish literary heritage has been seen as“regional characteristics”.The Act of Union 1707 led to a growing concern for Scottish national identity.In The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides,the famous Scottish-born biographer James Boswell chose to take advantage of Scottish literary heritage as a point of penetration to express his own Scottish national identity with Scotland in literature and Scottish literature.
文摘Purpose–The purpose of this paper is to find out how to encourage the use of Web 2.0 in learning in higher education by investigating factors that would relate to and would encourage such behaviour.Design/methodology/approach–Three existing theories of technology acceptance underpinned this research and six constructs selected from these existing theories and one new construct from a pilot study were used to develop a conceptual model which constructs were operationalized into an online questionnaire(open and closed ended questions).Copies of this questionnaire were electronically distributed to all students in a higher institution of learning in Scotland.In total,203 responded.Correlation and regression analyses were performed on the quantitative data collected so as to validate the research model.A focus group of ten volunteer students provided opportunity for a follow-up interview that produced in-depth information which provided strategies for enhancing the use of Web 2.0 tools for learning in higher education.Findings–All the factors of the model,except perceived ease of use,positively relate significantly with use behaviour.The factors are perceived usefulness,facilitating conditions,motivation,prior knowledge,performance expectancy and social factors.Research limitations/implications–The study was performed at only one institution in Scotland.The implication of the study is that predictor variables(mentioned above in the findings)of the model should be taken into consideration when introducing Web 2.0 to students of higher learning.Practical implications–In the paper are discussed specific strategies and these include assigning roles to users with little participation,checking to ensure irregular users have access and e-mailing them to encourage participation.Originality/value–This is apparently the first time the key technology acceptance models have been synthesised and tested in Scotland with regards to the acceptance of Web 2.0 tools in learning in higher education.
文摘In less than fi fty years since 1866,the Scottish missionaries made tens of thousands of Presbyterian converts and established eight churches in Manchuria.The most striking feature of the Scottish mission was the missionaries’skill in adapting to the incredibly complicated social,political and cultural environment in Manchuria.Their educational mission served as a niche for the Scottish missionaries to adapt to the social environment.Their medical mission and involvement in the famine and plague relief not only increased their popularity among the people but also helped them to establish contacts with the upper classes and power holders,including the Chinese,Russian and Japanese.John Ross,the pioneering Scottish missionary,found common ground between Ch ristianity and Confucianism,and between the Judeo-Christian tradition and the ancient Chinese moral values.Al though Ross had a strong belief in the ability of Chinese people,with the purpose of“making Confucianism the handmaid of Christianity”,his enquiry into Confucianism was tinged with cultural superiority and practicality.
