Topic: A "Fare" Go For Regional Communities – The Challenge Of Providing Accessibility To Regional And Remote Communities

The paper will discuss how the Queensland Government's regulatory framework, and program of subsidy support and infrastructure funding integrates to provide essential transport services for regional Queensland communities. Some of the unique challenges involved in the program are discussed. Queensland's program is also compared and contrasted with other states in Australia and the overseas experience. The impact of the program on local economies, quality of life and the relative efficiency of the services will also be examined.Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Sydne

Topic: A "Fare" Go For Regional Communities – The Challenge Of Providing Accessibility To Regional And Remote Communities

The paper will discuss how the Queensland Government's regulatory framework, and program of subsidy support and infrastructure funding integrates to provide essential transport services for regional Queensland communities. Some of the unique challenges involved in the program are discussed. Queensland's program is also compared and contrasted with other states in Australia and the overseas experience. The impact of the program on local economies, quality of life and the relative efficiency of the services will also be examined.Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Sydne

University choice : which attributes matter when you are paying the full price?

This article presents the results from a longitudinal study of students’ choice of university in England. Students were surveyed initially when applying for university (Wave One) and then again when they were about to embark on their chosen course (Wave Two). The results from Wave Two demonstrated a high degree of consistency with the Wave One findings: course and university reputation are far more important and fees are relatively unimportant. However, a key result across both waves was that patterns of utility for students with no parental experience of university were significantly different from students whose parents had attended university. The utility associated with different levels of entry qualifications, of fees and of university and course reputation, differed between social groups. The study suggests that the benefits of going to a highly rated university may be undervalued in families that have no direct experience of higher education. In addition, whilst females are more significantly put off by universities with low entry requirements, the qualitative attitudinal statements included in the follow-up study seem to indicate that so-called ‘softer’ factors may also influence their choice.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Delivering inclusive and accessible education via a change in pedagogical approach using the student voice: reducing a high failure rate module into a highly successful module

The need to prioritise student engagement through inclusive, student-centred education is increasingly recognised in higher education institutions across the Globe. This study investigates how incorporating the student voice in a UK university can transform a challenging core module within a Business Management degree. Students need to be viewed as customers and be listened to, as they invest significant time and resources into their education. Consequently, the student voice has become crucial as universities globally strive to achieve positive outcomes on national student experience instruments. In the UK, responses on the National Student Survey (NSS) can lead to improved rankings, and reduced attrition rates, which impact revenue. By making proactive changes with students at the heart of decision-making, this study employs a three-stage mixed-methods approach involving secondary data, pre-intervention interviews, and post-intervention focus groups to explore how student feedback informed pedagogical changes in an Accounting and Finance module. The findings highlight the value of co-creation with students, demonstrating that such engagement can enhance academic performance and lead to higher pass rates

Quality of life: international and domestic students studying medicine in New Zealand

International students form a significant proportion of students studying within universities in Western countries. The quality of life perceptions of international medical students in comparison with domestic medical students has not been well documented. There is some evidence to suggest that international medical students may have different educational and social experiences in relation to their domestic peers. This study investigates the levels of quality of life experienced by international and domestic students studying medicine. A total of 548 medical students completed the abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire. The focus of the analysis was to evaluate differences between international and domestic students in their early clinical years. The responses were analysed using multivariate analysis of variance methods. International medical students are experiencing lower social and environmental quality of life compared with domestic peers. International medical students in New Zealand have expressed quality of life concerns, which likely have an impact on their academic achievement, feelings of wellness, acculturation, and social adaptation. The findings reinforce the need for creating stronger social networks and accessible accommodation, as well as developing systems to ensure safety, peer mentorship and student support.published_or_final_versio

Noninvasive Monitoring of Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 in Human Skin Layers: Mechanical Interaction with Skin Components and Its Potential Skincare Benefits

Self-assembling peptides (SAPs) represent a rich source of building blocks that interact with biological structures. For instance, cosmetic SAPs like Palmitoyl hexapeptide-12 have gained increasing interest for their anti-aging properties. However, their short-term impact on the skin composition and mechanics remains unclear. In this study, a battery of label-free techniques is exploited to objectively monitor the effects of Palmitoyl hexapeptide-12 on human skin. Orbital trapping secondary ion mass spectrometry (OrbiSIMS) is used to discern between Palmitoyl hexapeptide-12 sol and gel forms, tracking its self-assembly and penetration within full-thickness human skin. Palmitoyl hexapeptide-12 is shown to permeate both stratum corneum and epidermal layers, initiating gel formation by harnessing endogenous ions. Hence, the ability of the peptide to strengthen and repair the skin barrier after delipidation is also demonstrated through a high-throughput mechanical characterization and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). Finally, the co-assembling properties of Palmitoyl hexapeptide-12 with native skin molecules are shown via in vitro tests and ex vivo histology. This study establishes a methodological benchmark for measuring the effects of cosmetic peptides on skin mechanics and hydration, introducing a platform to design SAPs capable of harnessing native skin molecules to create “biocooperative” structures with cosmetic benefits

Influence of country and city images on students’ perception of host universities and their satisfaction with the assigned destination for their exchange programmes

ABSTRACT: This research focuses on the effect that country image, city image and university image has on students’ a priori satisfaction with the assigned destination for their international exchange programme (Bachelor and Master). In particular, this study establishes six hypotheses related to the causal relationships among the different typologies of image and their effects on students’ satisfaction with the assigned destination to study at least one semester in a host university. In order to contrast these hypotheses, a quantitative research was carried out in the Spanish city of Santander (Spain), by obtaining a sample of 245 international students who participated in an exchange programme at the University of Cantabria. The research findings are: (1) students’ satisfaction with the assigned destination is positively influenced by the university image; (2) the university image is positively influenced by the city image; and (3) the city image is positively influenced by the country image