Weekly Customer Insight Library May 27, 2011
Posted by bean1 in : Uncategorized , add a commentThis weeks updates include:
Spencer, S. & Pobjoy, J. (2011) The relationship between immigration status and rights in the UK: exploring the rationale (Working paper no 86) Centre on Migration, Policy and Society
Notes that successive UK governments have expressed a commitment to ‘equality for all’, and assesses the extent to which these claims of inclusivity are true for migrants living in the UK. Maps the existing pattern of rights and restrictions for eight categories of migrants, setting out the rationales provided by government as to why a particular category of migrant has or has not been granted a particular right.
Adams, N. et al (eds)(2011)Households Below Average Income: an analysis of the income distribution 1994/95-2009/10 Department for Work and Pensions
Presents information on potential living standards in the United Kingdom as determined by disposable income in 2009/10, and changes in income patterns over time. Explains the methodology underpinning the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) statistical series, summarises the results, and gives an overview of the income distribution and the economic climate for 1994-2010.
Zver, M. (2011) Report on Youth on the Move: a framework for improving Europe’s education and training systems Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
Puts forward a motion for a European Parliament resolution on a framework for improving Europe’s education and training systems. Focuses on the need to unleash the potential of young people to achieve ‘smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’. Discusses financial support, youth and mobility, European higher education and the Bologna process, vocational education and training, the transition from education and training to work, and the employment situation for young people.
Bimrose, J. et al. (2011) Integrating new technologies into careers practice: extending the knowledge base
Examines the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) into careers information, advice and guidance (IAG) services across the UK, and the workforce development needs of the IAG sector as it moves towards greater ICT integration. Considers the changing landscape of IAG, including the interplay between public, private and third sector services, and differences between the four constituent nations of the UK.
YouGov (2011) Social mobility, careers advice and alumni networks: a Future First report into revolutionising careers advisory services in the UK
Presents the results of two polls carried out in 2010: one of 510 16 to 19-year-olds, looking at their views on current careers services offered to them; and one of 1,033 adults, looking at their views on the careers advice they received while at school and whether, and how, it had helped develop their subsequent careers.
Learning and Skills Network (LSN) (2011) Apprenticeships and higher education: good sound-bites, bad policy making
Notes that the Coalition Government has often mentioned apprenticeships and higher education in the same breath as alternative, but equally valuable, routes for learners, employers, and the economy. Warns that, while such comparisons make for good sound-bites, they can result in poor and unrealistic policy making.
Evidence Consulting (2011) How are Universities Responding to Enquiries from 2012 Prospective Undergraduates?
Provides the findings of a mystery shopping exercise involving eleven Russell Group and thirteen 1994 Group universities with two ‘new’ universities included for comparison. In each case a prospectus was ordered from the institution, with details taken as to the ease and time frame of the exercise.
Full details for any of the articles may be requested from Helenor.Fisher@gcu.ac.uk
Social Media To Promote Your Business May 23, 2011
Posted by alanh in : Marketing, social media , 1 comment so farSocial media marketing has become one of the most powerful and cost effective strategies to promote your business online, without having to spend a large amount on advertising budgets. According to The Marketing Data Box report by HubSpot, Blogs and Social Media have the lowest cost per lead generation compared to SEO, PPC and other marketing channels.
Why is social media marketing so effective? By creating quality content on a range of social networking sites you are able to:
- Increases your brand exposure and build leads
- Generate quality back links to your website and improve your SEO ranking
- Drive massive amounts of traffic to your website through social media sites- Share and publish your message to the world
- Engage with customers
Resource:
Weekly Customer Insight Library May 20, 2011
Posted by bean1 in : Uncategorized , add a commentThis week’s titles include:
The Observatory ( 2011) Borderless Report
- Paper containing a number of topical articles, namely:
- The ties that bind: Universities, multiculturalism and social cohesion
- The Indian Foreign Education Bill: Not just about branch campuses!
- Curing the world: How medical schools reshape themselves as global brands
- Pay to stay: Branch campus fees discourage domestic student enrolment
- Around YouTube: Final exam flash mobs
Amabile, T. & Kramer, S. (2011) The power of small wins (progress at work), in Harvard Business Review, May 2011, pp71-80
Considers how managers can boost the productivity of employees by supporting their progress. Highlights the importance of making progress in meaningful work and argues that knowing how to promote progress is of vital importance in the effective management of people and their work.
Simms, M. (2011) Helping young workers during the crisis: contributions by social partners and public authorities
Examines the efforts being made by social partners and governments across the EU to help young people in the labour market in the aftermath of the global recession. Explains why young people are particularly vulnerable during economic downturns.
Jenkins, S. et al. (2011) What do employers want from an aligned employment and skills system? (Research report no 743) Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Investigates what employers want from a joined up employment and skills system, and how seamless employers and other stakeholders perceive the current system to be. Draws on a review of existing literature on employer perceptions and 41 interviews with stakeholders in government, public sector agencies, employer representative bodies and employers of varying sizes and sectors across England.
Berry, J. & Loke, G.(2011) Improving the degree attainment of black and minority ethnic students, Higher Education Academy
Draws together strategies and experiences of higher education institutions who participated in a national change programme to address the degree attainment gap between black and minority ethnic and white students, which other institutions can draw upon in planning their own activity to address what is widely acknowledged to be a challenging agenda.
Princes Trust (2011) Broke, Not Broken
The ‘Broke, not Broken’ report found that one in four of those from deprived homes (26 per cent) believe that “few” or “none” of their career goals are achievable, compared to just seven per cent of those from affluent families. The research, which highlights a clear aspiration gap between the UK’s richest and poorest young people, shows how a quarter from poor homes (26 per cent) feel that “people like them don’t succeed in life”.
Full details of any of the articles can be obtained directly from Helenor.Fisher@gcu.ac.uk
5 Ways Social Media Has Changed Marketing Campaigns May 13, 2011
Posted by alanh in : Marketing, social media, Thinking ahead, Uncategorized , add a commentInteresting article from mashable, find out more…
Weekly Customer Insight Library Update May 12, 2011
Posted by bean1 in : Internal Communications, Market Research, Marketing, Publications, Schools and Colleges, social media, Uncategorized , 4 commentsGood afternoon
This weeks updates include;
Day, K. (2011) All in this together (shared services), in Public Finance, No 5 May 2011, pp28-31
Discusses the increasing use of shared services in the public sector in an attempt to find savings. Describes recent activity in local government with regard to shared services. Argues that sharing is not a quick-fix option and should not be seen as the only solution. Suggests that phasing in shared services could be more effective.
Office for National Statistics (2011) Families and households in the UK, 2001 to 2010 (Statistical bulletin) ONS
Presents statistics on the number of families by type, and children in families by type. Includes statistics on household size, household types, and people living alone. Notes that in 2010 there were 17.9 million families in the UK, of which 12.2 million consisted of a married couple with or without children.
Adamson, J., Poultney, J, and Stutz, A. (2011) Increasing the engagement of young people in positive activities (Youth knowledge review 1) Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People’s Services
Notes that around 75% of young people participate in some form of positive activity, the most common form being sport and physical activity. Looks at barriers to participation and suggests that there is limited quantitative evidence about many of the principal perceived benefits of young people’s participation in positive activities.
Buie, E. (2011) Game to learn: computers can take lessons to the next level, in Times Educational Supplement Scotland, No 2211 22 Apr 2011, pp10-11
Suggests that the education system is failing to support the skill needs of the video games industry and calls for the re-direction of resources to prepare children for a digital world and its creative and commercial opportunities. Highlights the need for more rigorous computer science and programming skills alongside science, technology, engineering and maths that have a cross-curricular link to art.
Blee, E. (2011) Making learning Glow, in Agenda NI, No 46 Apr/May 2011, pp88-89
Discusses Glow, Scotland’s national intranet for education. Sets out the benefits of Glow, including its interactivity (providing web conferencing in remote, rural setting for example). Describes improvements which have already been made to Glow. Looks at the need for future improvements, including the use of open standards.
Peakin, W. (2011) Funding of the crowd (using the web to attract start-up funding), in Holyrood, No 253 11 Apr 2011, pp66-67
Discusses Kickstarter, a US-based concept, known as crowd funding, which allows concepts to be tested without economic risk. Explains that since its launch in 2009, it has raised in excess of $35 million for ventures in music, film, art, technology, design, food and publishing. Describes how the initiative works in practice and finds that the concept is being launched in the UK, by Bloom VC (venture catalyst), a Dundee-based company, which aims to support a wide range of start-ups, social enterprises and community ventures.
Blinder, S. (2011) Non European Students Migration to the UK, The Migration Observatory
This briefing sets out to answer key questions about how many students from outside Europe come to the UK, how long they stay, how many family members come with them, what they are studying, whether they work during their study here and how many of them change status and choose to settle permanently in the UK.
All Party Parliamentary Group on Migration (2011) Student immigration reforms and their anticipated economic impacts, APPGM
This paper draws upon available evidence to suggest that International students currently generate critical income for colleges and universities across the UK; Regional universities often function as a hub supporting economic development in their areas; and their success in fulfilling this function is influenced by their ability to attract highly qualified staff and students from across the world.
Hudzik, J. (2011) Comprehensive Internationalization: From Concept to Action, NAFSA
This publication explores the imperative of internationalization, particularly the emerging idea of comprehensive internationalization (CI). CI is an organizing paradigm to think holistically about higher education internationalization and how internationalization is evolving in the early twenty-first century in the United States to involve widening sets of objectives and people on and off campus.
Full details for any of the articles may be obtained from Helenor.Fisher@gcu.ac.uk
Weekly Customer Insight Library Update May 12, 2011
Posted by bean1 in : Market Research, Marketing, Publications, Schools and Colleges, social media , 2 commentsThis week’s updates include…
Browne, J. (2011) Living standards during the recession (IFS briefing note 117)
Simulates the effects of employment, earnings, interest rate and tax and benefit changes from 2008 to April 2011 and considers their effects on different types of family and at different points in the income distribution. Suggests that the median income before housing costs will fall by 1.6 per cent between 2008-09 and 2011-12, or £360 a year in 2011-12 prices.
Scottish Government (2011) Skills in Scotland 2010
Presents the results of the Scottish Employers Skills Survey 2010, with regard to recruitment, vacancies, skill gaps and training. Provides an overview of the context of the survey, including the perceived impact of the economic downturn on participating organisations and the challenges that businesses are likely to face in the next 12 months.
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) (2011) Learning in Scotland’s communities
Presents the findings of research into community and learning development (CLD), based upon inspections conducted by HMIE. Discusses the definition of the term ‘learning communities’. Considers some of the potential benefits of learning communities for tackling poverty, combating social exclusion and improving overall health.
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) (2011) Count us in: mind over matter – promoting and supporting mental and emotional wellbeing
Discusses whether pre-school centres, schools and colleges are good at promoting and supporting children and young people’s mental and emotional wellbeing, drawing on evidence from HMIe inspections of schools and colleges.
Spatial Economics Research Centre (2011) The long term impacts of migration in British cities: diversity, wages, employment and prices
Notes that British cities are becoming more culturally diverse, with migration a main driver. Draws on a new 16-year panel of UK cities to explore whether this growing diversity is good for urban economies.
Royal Society (2011) Preparing for the transfer from school and college science and mathematics education to UK STEM higher education
Looks at young people’s pre-university participation in science or mathematics in order to determine the characteristics of the student ‘pool’ available to undertake science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) first degree courses in the UK.
Glasgow Economic Review (2010) Glasgow economic/labour market indicators
Presents key economic indicators for Glasgow. Covers economic output, jobs, residents in work, economic inactivity, private investment and development activity, population, tourism, enterprises and office and business space. (Labour Market information folder)
House of Commons, Work and Pensions Committee (2011) Youth unemployment and the Future Jobs Fund: first report of 2010-11
Discusses the Future Jobs Fund (FJF), which aimed to help local authorities and other organisations tackle joblessness among young people. Looks at the design of the FJF programme and the reasons for its termination.
UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) (2011) The use of LMI in online career direction and learning
Looks at the responsiveness of the online careers market in providing Labour Market Information (LMI) and Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG). Considers what drives the provision of LMI in an online careers context, the extent to which national data and other publicly-funded sources of LMI are currently provided within the online careers market or could add value to the online careers market, and what the role of government should be in achieving the proposed transformation of IAG services in the context of an analysis of the current and emerging online careers market.
If you would like full copies of any of the articles mentioned, please contact Helenor Fisher at Helenor.Fisher@gcu.ac.uk
Weekly Customer Insight Library Update May 12, 2011
Posted by bean1 in : Market Research, Marketing, Publications, Schools and Colleges, social media , 2 commentsAs a resource to all staff, a selection of education related articles is available from the Marketing and Communication department’s Customer Insight Library, updated on a weekly basis. Updates detail a short synopsis of each article. This week’s updates include…………..
Mackintosh, K. (2011) Clearing the air (tackling smoking in Scotland), in Holyrood, Mar 2011, pp41-44
Reviews the benefits associated with the ban on smoking in public places which came into effect in Scotland in 2006: reduced hospital admissions for heart attacks, reduced child asthma rates and reduced smoking rates.
Bennion, J. (2011) Changing course (careers), in Planning, No 1906 8 Apr 2011, pp23-24
Considers what planners can do to avoid redundancy and improve their chances of a return to work following redundancy. Argues that training can help minimise the threat of redundancy, as well as assist in a return to work.
Rafferty, Frances (2011) Better technology skills can transform people’s lives, in Basic Skills Bulletin, No 91 Mar 2011, p14
Reports that a soon-to-be-published survey by trade union Unison has found that almost half of respondents would like to improve their IT skills. Includes a case study of ‘emergency’ response learning centres set up to help workers threatened with redundancy learn new skills and network.
Breznitz, S. (2011) Improving or impairing? Following technology transfer changes at the University of Cambridge, in Regional Studies, Vol 45 No 4 Apr 2011, pp463-478
Draws on a case study of the University of Cambridge to argue that the relationship between university contribution and industrial/entrepreneurial growth in the surrounding region is not as straightforward as some theory suggests, but depends to a significant degree on universities’ resources, policies and organisation, as well as on industry’s response to the knowledge and innovation they generate.
HM Government (2011) Opening doors, breaking barriers: a strategy for social mobility
Outlines the government’s approach to increasing social mobility. Reviews evidence and trends in social mobility, comparing the UK with other countries. Sets out action to be taken in the foundation years, including the promotion of early intervention, parenting assistance, support for high-quality early years services and access to affordable and high-quality early education and care.
Hodge, S. (2011) ‘Healthipedia’ (health literacy in a computer literate society), in Perspectives in Public Health, Vol 131 No 2 Mar 2011, pp62-63
Argues that health literacy has an important role to play in helping people make reasoned decisions about their own health needs. Suggests that while the internet provides enormous access to information, this has not substantially improved people’s comprehension of complex issues.
For further details and copies of the full articles, please contact Helenor Fisher at Helenor.Fisher@gcu.ac.uk
Views from an academic involved in social media May 5, 2011
Posted by stephenr in : social media , add a commentHere’s a good podcast that has a lecturer talk about how he got into social media, what he gets out of it and some handy tips for how to manage your workload.
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=433174293
It’s from the HE Comms series of podcasts.
