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Year: 2022

How RSTKA’s floating hospital ship made an effort in reducing pollution emitted from its voyage

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Ksatria Airlangga Floating Hospital (RSTKA), which is three meters tall and 27 meters long, has a similar shape as ships in general. However, on the roof of this ship, eight pieces of solar panels are installed as a power source. RSTKA seeks to sail more environmentally friendly. Ship engines, which previously used fuel oil (BBM), are now hybrid by utilizing alternative energy.

“Since October 2021, RSTKA ships have been using solar panels. The cost of fuel can be reduced by using these solar panels,” said Mudatsir, captain of the RSTKA ship.

Mudatsir mentioned that the use of 1,500 liters of diesel fuel, which usually costs 15 million per month, can be decreased to as much as 500 liters at the cost of 10 million per month. “We’re glad because with these solar panels, it can be cost-effective,” he said.

“Solar heat from solar panels accommodates power in the battery, then it is directly connected to the electrical needs on the ship, especially for this RSTKA ship, there is medical equipment that must always be sterile and need electrical energy,” explained Mudatsir.

He added that the capacity of the solar panels themselves reaches 1800 watts. Although the source of electricity from the RSTKA ship is still hybrid, Mudatsir feels that the use of solar panels can reduce dependence on diesel fuel.

Independent waste management

In addition to using solar panels as a more environmentally friendly sailing effort, Mudatsir also shared how RSTKA manages the waste produced.

“On the way to East Nusa Tenggara, we started sorting waste based on organic and inorganic types, the organic waste is processed into oil or fuel,” he said. Meanwhile, inorganic waste is handed over to communities on the mainland for further recycling.

Waste pollution can be minimized by sorting and utilizing organic and inorganic waste. Until now, RSTKA ships continue to reduce the use of oil fuel and implement waste management. It is done so that the humanitarian sailing to provide healthcare services carried out does not cause more pollution. RSTKA always supports the implementation of environmentally friendly activities. (*)

Novel, sensitive, robust single-cell RNA sequencing technique outperforms competition

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

The novel terminator-assisted solid-phase complementary DNA amplification and sequencing (TAS-Seq) method provides high-precision data on gene expression

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is one of the most important methods to study biological function in cells, but it is limited by potential inaccuracies in the data it generates. Now, a research team from Japan has developed a new method called terminator-assisted solid-phase complementary DNA amplification and sequencing (TAS-Seq), which overcomes these limitations and provides higher-precision data than existing scRNA-seq platforms.

The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has revolutionized the fields of medicine and biology by providing the ability to study the inner workings of thousands of cells at one go. But scRNA-seq methods are limited by potential inaccuracies in determining cell composition and inefficient complementary DNA (cDNA) amplification—a process by which a double-stranded DNA that ‘complements’ the single-stranded RNA is generated and replicated millions of times—by the commonly-used template-switching reaction.

Recently, a research team from Japan, led by Assistant Prof. Shigeyuki Shichino and Prof. Kouji Matsushima of Tokyo University of Science, has developed a new and improved technique for scRNA-seq. The new method, terminator-assisted solid-phase cDNA amplification and sequencing (TAS-Seq), uses simple materials and equipment to provide higher-precision scRNA-seq data than current, widely-used technologies. “Our technique, TAS-Seq, combines genetic detection sensitivity, robustness of reaction efficiency, and accuracy of cellular composition to enable us to capture important cellular information,” reveals Assistant Prof. Shichino. The study was published in Communications Biology on June 27, 2022. The research team also included Associate Prof. Satoshi Ueha of Tokyo University of Science, Prof. Taka-aki Sato of the University of Tsukuba, and Prof. Shinichi Hashimoto of Wakayama Medical University.

TAS-Seq uses a template independent enzyme for cDNA amplification called terminal transferase (TdT). But TdT is difficult to handle. To surmount this challenge, the research team included dideoxynucleotide phosphate (ddNTP) as a ‘terminator’ for the cDNA amplification reaction. “ddNTP spike-in, specifically dideoxycytidine phosphate (ddCTP), stops the excessive extension of polyN-tail by TdT in a stochastic manner, and greatly reduces the technical difficulties of the TdT reaction,” explains Assistant Prof. Shichino. TAS-Seq also uses a nanowell/bead-based scRNA-seq platform, which allows the isolation of single cells in tissue samples, thereby decreasing cell sampling bias and improving the accuracy of cell composition data.

The research team then verified the efficiency of TAS-Seq and compared it to the current, widely used scRNA-seq techniques, 10X Chromium V2 and Smart-seq2, using murine and human lung tissue samples. They found that TAS-Seq could not only detect more genes overall, but also identify more highly variable genes, when compared to major scRNA-seq platforms. Assistant Prof. Shichino says, “We found that TAS-Seq may outperform 10X Chromium V2 and Smart-seq2 in terms of gene detection sensitivity and gene drop-out rates, indicating that TAS-Seq might be one of the most sensitive high-throughput scRNA methods. We can detect genes across a wide range of expression levels more uniformly and also detect growth factor and interleukin genes more robustly.”

An added advantage of the new method is that TAS-Seq is less susceptible to batch effects. TAS-Seq data was also highly correlated with flow-cytometric data on the tissue samples, indicating that it can generate highly accurate cell composition data.

Speaking on the future, Assistant Prof. Shichino reveals, “We have already completed development of TAS-Seq2, an improved, extensively-optimized version of TAS-Seq. TAS-Seq2 has 1.5 to 2 times more sensitive gene detection in mouse spleen cells.” The research team has also established ImmunoGenetics, a venture company from Tokyo University of Science, to provide scRNA-seq services using TAS-Seq and TAS-Seq2.

scRNA-seq is an important tool for medical and biology researchers. The development of TAS-Seq and TAS-Seq2 will lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets for diseases and advancements in the field of ‘spatial transcriptomics,’ which also relies on solid-phase cDNA synthesis. It will also accelerate the development of single-cell omics technology, thereby promoting our understanding of the principles of biology and disease development and progression.

***

Reference

Title of original paper: TAS-Seq is a robust and sensitive amplification method for bead-based scRNA-seq

Journal: Communications Biology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03536-0

About The Tokyo University of Science

Tokyo University of Science (TUS) is a well-known and respected university, and the largest science-specialized private research university in Japan, with four campuses in central Tokyo and its suburbs and in Hokkaido. Established in 1881, the university has continually contributed to Japan’s development in science through inculcating the love for science in researchers, technicians, and educators.

With a mission of “Creating science and technology for the harmonious development of nature, human beings, and society”, TUS has undertaken a wide range of research from basic to applied science. TUS has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to research and undertaken intensive study in some of today’s most vital fields. TUS is a meritocracy where the best in science is recognized and nurtured. It is the only private university in Japan that has produced a Nobel Prize winner and the only private university in Asia to produce Nobel Prize winners within the natural sciences field.

Website: https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/mediarelations/

About Assistant Professor Shigeyuki Shichino and Professor Kouji Matsushima from Tokyo University of Science

Assistant Prof. Shigeyuki Shichino is part of the Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science. His research focuses on system genome science, including transcriptome, single-cell, and interactome network, and experimental pathology, including lung fibrosis, macrophage/fibroblast biology, and single-cell RNA sequencing. He has published 21 papers.

Prof. Kouji Matsushima is part of the Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science. His research focuses on inflammation, immunology, and cancer immunotherapy. He was conferred a Lifetime Honorary Membership Award by the International Cytokine and Interferon Society in 2019. In 2021, he won the Takeda Prize for Medical Science.

Neural network model helps predict site-specific impacts of earthquakes

Posted on by Hiroshima University

A new study published by Hiroshima University (HU) researchers in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America introduced a novel AI-based technique for estimating site amplification factors (AF) from data on microtremors of the ground.

Subsurface soil conditions, which determine how earthquakes affect a site, vary substantially. Softer soils, for example, tend to amplify ground motion from an earthquake, while hard substrates may dampen it. Ambient vibrations of the ground or microtremors can be used to investigate soil conditions. Measuring microtremors provides valuable information about the AF of a site, thus its vulnerability to earthquake damage.

“The proposed method would contribute to more accurate and more detailed seismic ground motion predictions for future earthquakes,” said lead author and HU Associate Professor Hiroyuki Miura.

The study used 2012-2020 microtremor data from 105 sites in western Japan’s Chugoku district. The model performed well on the test data, demonstrating its potential as a predictive tool for characterizing site AF from microtremor data.

DOI: 10.1785/0120210300

Chula Dementia Day Center helps prepare for old age with a clear mind and away from Alzheimer’s

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Dementia Day Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society prepares for Thailand’s anticipated aging society by offering various rehabilitation services to help slow down the decline of people with dementia, while planning to launch a professional course for caregivers, and establishing the “Bright Brain Club” to persuade people of all ages to learn and care for early brain health to avoid the possibility Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is the leading and most common cause of dementia in older adults. The higher the average life expectancy of Thai people, the greater the chance of dementia. Associate Professor Sukcharoen Tangwongchai, M.D. the Head of the Dementia Day Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, reveals that 6 out of 10 people with dementia are caused by Alzheimer’s disease. It is estimated that there are currently about 600,000 people with dementia in Thailand.

Alzheimer’s specialist Associate Professor Sukcharoen Tangwongchai, M.D.
“Alzheimer’s” is an incurable disease, but we can slow the decline to the disease’s terminal stage as much as possible. However, diagnosis and treatment when symptoms occur may be too slow. This disease is not only the patients’ problem but also affects caregivers who have to take care of patients 24/7. It can cause stress and various forms of challenges for the caregivers. Therefore, raising awareness to prevent the disease is necessary for everyone,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen voiced his concern about the near future when Thai society becomes a full-fledged super age society in the year 2031 in which 28 percent of the population would be the elderly. This means the tendency to find more patients with dementia will increase drastically.

Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
Dementia is cognitive impairment in 6 areas: memory and learning, language use, concentration, management abilities, motor skills, and social thinking. This has an impact on a patient’s daily life and makes them dependent on their caregivers. Some may display mental or behavioral symptoms as well. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, of which early symptoms are memory loss.

“We may notice forgetful behavior. The person can’t remember what just happened, keeps repeating the same thing or question over and over again, misplacing things, like putting the phone in the refrigerator, the toothbrush in the pantry, kitchen stuff in the bathroom, forgetting appointments, or whether they have already eaten, etc. These symptoms are different from the typical age-related forgetfulness in old people. The early signs of Alzheimer’s are that these episodes happen frequently, and take a long time for them to ponder but could never recall what happened, while for ordinary people, they will remember much later.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen explained that in addition to forgetfulness that affects daily life, Alzheimer’s patients have difficulties in communication, concentration, reasoning, making a decision, or fixing problems. They would have faulty logic, dimensional and spatial problems, as well as sequential activities that they used to be familiar with such as using a phone or electrical equipment. Then their condition will worsen until they are unable to perform routine activities. They also would suffer personality changes. Some people may experience mood swings and become very irritable.

“The personality of Alzheimer’s patients will change, while they develop other mental or behavioral problems, such as paranoia, jealousy like never before, use of profanity, anxiety attacks, reduced interest in their surroundings, isolation from friends and family, passiveness, and seclusion from others.”

Risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a variety of reasons, with the main risk factors being:

-Aging: People between the ages of 65-70 have a 1-2 percent chance of getting the disease, which increases every 5 years.

-Females are at greater risk of developing this disease than males.

-People with a family history of the disease are at higher risk.

-Less educated people have a higher risk than those with higher education, perhaps because the latter are more likely to perform tasks that require analytical thinking, keeping their brain active at all times.

-Hearing loss because the deterioration of the auditory nerve causes the brain to be less stimulated.

-Severe brain trauma, such as accidents that cause concussions, or loss of consciousness

-Health conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease that are not treated or controlled.

-Obesity in middle age increases the risk

-Depression in the elderly

-Substance abuse, smoking, drinking exceeding 21 standard drinks per week.

-lack of social interaction, isolation

-Lethargy or lack of activities that allow brain exercise

“However, we may find Alzheimer’s disease in people 50 years of age or younger accounting for about 2-5 percent. This group of people has a history of parents or siblings suffering from the disease, and they are found to have mutated genes that are genetically inherited,” added Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen.

Early diagnosis increases the quality of life.
When there is a suspected onset of Alzheimer’s disease, the doctor will diagnose the case based on probing the patient’s history from the patient and close relatives or caregivers that can provide information about the patient’s daily ability and behavioral regression of brain function, along with subjecting the patient to a brain performance test using a visual assessment test on memory, concentration, decision-making, directions, language, and calculations, etc., followed by a blood test, CT or MRI brain scan to determine the root cause of the problem.

“The sooner the disease is diagnosed, the better the patients and those around them will be able to plan their lives to cope with the symptoms. Treating Alzheimer’s patients is not about curing the disease, but about planning their lives and supporting them based on the symptoms and problems to slow down dementia as much as possible,” Assoc.Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen emphasized.

Therapeutic activities for Alzheimer’s disease without medication
The approach to Alzheimer’s treatment is both drug- and non-drug-based. Drug treatment is used to help improve cognition and memory, relieve dementia, and improve brain activity, coupled with psychiatric drugs to treat the mental symptoms in question and improve the patient’s behaviors.

But most importantly there is the non-drug treatment, the main approach used by the Dementia Day Center King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, to care for people with dementia and their caregivers throughout its two years of service.

“The non-drug treatment is aimed at patients and caregivers care because successful caring for people with dementia for their improved quality of life, depends partly on caregivers. We focus on therapeutic activities to stimulate the brain, and cognition, reduce behavioral problems, and help patients practice more of their routine activities, says Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen.

“The nature of the activities is varied and three group therapy activities are offered each day, and also attended by caregivers so that they can apply what they learn to caring for the patients at home. Patients and caregivers are advised to attend the activities as a course of at least three days a week for three-month,” Assoc. Prof. Dr.Sukcharoen added while also mentioning that an assessment of the symptoms, basic abilities, and readiness of patients and caregivers is given before the activities so that the proper type can be offered.

The Dementia Care Center for Alzheimer’s disease
The Center is open from 9.00 am with 2 morning activities between 09.00-12.00, and one more activity in the afternoon from 1-2 p.m. Each activity lasts about 45 minutes due to the inability of dementia patients to concentrate for an extended period.

“Every morning, there is an orientation session with clients in a bright light therapy room, for about half an hour, followed by group activities for cognitive stimulation, such as brainteaser, crafts, and memory jogging which lets patients reminisce, and share good stories and feelings, art, cooking, singing, art therapy, music therapy, gardening, tree planting, recreational activities, and gaming, etc. Moreover, there are exercises such as stretching, yoga, and ADL Training (Activities of Daily Living) activities like brushing one’s teeth, taking a shower, combing one’s hair, eating, etc.”

In addition, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen said that the Center also offers “Seal Robot” therapy for people with dementia in many countries around the world.

“There are studies that suggest that seal robots can help people with Alzheimer’s disease communicate. Robots have touch sensors, and voice recognition, and can interact with patients. When patients carry, cuddle and talk to the robot, it can respond to them, and encourage them to communicate better.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen reveals that patients who participate in the Center’s various activities have shown improved memory and language ability, improved mood, decreased behavioral problems, and are generally happier. The Center also receives positive feedback from caregivers.

“The activities selected by the Center all help to stimulate the brain activity. The patients are happier. The activities are adjusted to suit the clients’ ability and motivate them to join next time. Some people, after completing the course, also want to come again for a new course. We also found that these activities can slow down the disease to a satisfactory level,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen emphasized.

“Caregivers also have a better understanding of how to care for patients, having learned how to cope with patients through activities. More importantly, it is the social interactions, which are not just among patients, but also among the caregivers, all of which is to improve the quality of life for both.”

In the future, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen said that the Center has plans to do more individual brain training for cases that have problems preventing them from participating in group activities. In addition, it will develop an online service platform using virtual reality devices and other innovations in collaboration with the cognitive impairment and dementia research unit of Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine, as well as offer an online course for professional caregivers of people with dementia.

The Clear Brain Club prevents Alzheimer’s before it’s too late.
Dementia is preventable, says Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen, reiterating evidence from several studies that people can slow the development of dementia at an early age.

“If you don’t want to have dementia, and to always have a bright brain, you need to start at an early age. Lead a healthy lifestyle, which is easy to do, starting with no stress, no depression, have social interaction, constant and regular exercise, annual health checkups, taking care of personal health issues, eating five groups of healthy foods, avoiding substance abuse and alcohol, abstain from smoking, sleep well, learn new things in life, do leisure activities, practice meditation,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen suggested.

For this reason, the Dementia Day Center has set up a “Bright Brain Club” to encourage the general public to recognize, understand, and possess skills to care for themselves, and their mental and brain health to prevent dementia when entering an advanced age.

“The club is established with no membership fees for anyone 45 years of age or older because people of this age who are preparing to go into the geriatric stage are beginning to have chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, the conditions which we need them to start paying attention to now. Most importantly, some people with stress, and depression from everyday life, if not properly cared for, early on will have a high risk of dementia in the future. Therefore, everyone should take care of their brain health before it’s too late.”

The Bright Brain Club is part of the Dementia Day Center located on the 15th floor of the Sor Tor Building Currently, there are about over a thousand members. Members can participate in regular club activities free of charge, such as workshops, seminars on physical and mental health issues, film screenings and discussions afterward, or listen to audio materials via podcast or YouTube.

“We want to encourage older people to prevent dementia early on by looking after themselves, paying attention to their physical and mental health to lessen the burden for their loved ones, the society, and the country in the future.So come and join our club,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukcharoen said.

Alzheimer’s care center Dementia Care Center
Contact the Dementia Care Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital for appointments to attend therapy or join the Bright Brain Club at the Sor Tor Building 15th Floor, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, The Thai Red Cross Society, Tel. +66-2256-40000 ext. 71501, 71507 or via Facebook “Dementia Day Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, The Thai Red Cross Society,” or visit https://www.dcarechula.com/

American University of Sharjah partners with University of South Carolina to offer dual PhD

Posted on by American University of Sharjah

Students pursuing a PhD in Business Administration (PhD-BA) with a concentration in finance at American University of Sharjah (AUS) or University of South Carolina (UofSC) will now have the opportunity to have their degree awarded dually by both universities. A new agreement between AUS and UofSC will allow their respective PhD-BA students to spend the second year of their PhD program abroad, benefiting from the experience of international study and the awarding of a degree from two high-ranking institutions.

The PhD-BA at UofSC is offered by the Darla Moore School of Business, one of the United States’ most renowned business schools. The Moore school is the top-ranked business school in the US for international business at both the undergraduate and graduate levels (U.S. News & World Report) and the faculty are recognized as the world leader in research published in the Journal of International Business Studies, since its inception in 1970 (JIBS, 48(9).

The AUS PhD-BA is offered through the university’s School of Business Administration (SBA). AUS is currently ranked by Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings as top in the UAE for business and economics (2022). SBA’s MBA is recognized as being in the Middle East and Africa’s top 10 and among the world’s top 250 in the QS Global MBA Rankings (2022). In the recent QS World University Subject Rankings (2022) AUS was named number one (tied) in the UAE and among the top 250 universities globally for accounting and finance and number one in the UAE and among the top 250 in the world for business and management studies. The same rankings also placed graduates who have studied business and management and accounting and finance at AUS as being the top choice for employers in the UAE.

According to Dr. Narjess Boubakri, SBA Dean, the new dual program presents unique opportunities for ambitious students looking to achieve at the highest levels.

“A PhD from either Darla Moore or SBA is an impressive feat. However, having a PhD degree from both institutions will be enormously beneficial to students looking to accelerate their position as business leaders or pursue careers in academia. For many AUS students, undertaking a PhD abroad is not practical given work or family commitments. However, this dual degree program now makes a PhD from abroad possible for these students, as they need only spend one year abroad. Such experience will give them a wealth of international connections and an appreciation of diverse cultures.”

Students in the program will be under the supervision of faculty from both universities, and their research dissertation will be co-supervised by faculty from both AUS and UofSC. However, students will need to take only one comprehensive exam, which will be administered by both institutions and the time to complete the dual program is the same as the standard program. Due to limited places, admission to the program will be competitive. Those who are successful will benefit from assistance in applying for visas, insurance and housing for their time abroad. Students will also be eligible for scholarships and stipend support to assist with academic and living costs.

Professor Kendall Roth, Senior Associate Dean of International Programs and Partnerships at Darla Moore, said:

“Partnering with one of the most prestigious universities in the region is a real honor and very exciting for us. Combining AUS’ strengths in finance with our 30+ years as the top research and educational program in international business will be a fantastic experience for the dynamic student. We also look forward to new collaborations between our professors at the frontiers of research in international business and finance.”

Applications for AUS’ PhD-BA are now open for Fall Semester 2022. For more, see www.aus.edu/sba/department-of-finance/phd-in-business-administration-phd.

Thammasat University, Lampang Campus strengthen communities, upgrading entrepreneurs and local products

Posted on by Thammasat University

Thai Khadi Research Institute, Thammasat University studies and researches on ‘King Narai Medicine Pharmacopoeia’, decoding and updating to be present. Currently, up to 4 formula were successfully completed.

Assoc. Prof. Roj Khunanaek, Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Thammasat University and Former Director of the Thai Khadi Research Institute. As a pioneer educator of the “King Narai’s Medicine Pharmacopoeia” revealed that from the study of medical palm leaf scriptures in the reign of King Narai the Great that have been passed down from generations known by the name of “Phra Narai’s Medicine Pharmacopoeia”, which is over 300 years old of the Thai Khadi Studies Institute, Thammasat University is found to compose good properties medicinal formulas and are very useful.

However, being an ancient medicinal formula, people today may have misunderstandings or misinterpreation. Thai Khadi Research Institute, Thammasat University therefore, has been systematically studying and researching the wisdom of traditional Thai herbal medicine since 2009 with the aim of reviving the medicine according to the King Narai’s Medicine Pharmacopoeia to be accurate, easy to understand and present.

Thai Khadi Research Institute, Thammasat University has been able to restore 4 formula of the King Narai’s Medicine Pharmacopoeia, namely, Herbal tonic (Ya-Tha-Phra-Sen), Herbal compress (Phra-Aung-Kob-Phra-Sen-Tueng-Hai-Yon), Mahajak oil (Nam-Mun-Ma-Ha-Jak) and Herbal tonic pills (Ya-Hom-Dum). Thai Khadi Research Institute has also published the book “Inheriting wisdom, the King Narai’s Medicine Pharmacopoeia” that portrays the details of the aforementioned four medicinal preparations for those who are interested as well.

Assoc. Prof. Rungrawee Temsirirekkul, Faculty of Pharmacy, Thammasat University mentioned about the properties of the 4 medicinal formulas, namely: 1. Herbal tonic, which is used for applying to adjust displaced tendons, cure paralysis, cure tendon tightness, cure cramps, cure osteoarthritis or pain, swelling, redness, hotness in the knee and ankle joints, and aches.

2. Herbal compress, having properties to loosen and relax stiff tendons, relieve stress and promote deep sleep.

3. Mahajak oil, having properties from the specific properties of each type of herbs. Thus, it was assumed that Mahachak oil might be effective in reducing pain due to its anti-inflammatory effect and can also heal wounds from antibacterial effect, anti-inflammatory effect, and accelerate wound healing.

4. Herbal tonic pills, relieves fever along with thirst, headache, and arthritis which are symptoms of the common cold or influenza.

International collaboration in the emerging field of student agency and self-formation

Posted on by Editorial Team

In early June, a symposium organised jointly by Lingnan University’s Institute of Policy Studies, and the University of Oxford’s Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE), examined the emerging field of student agency and self-formation in higher education.

In general, the existing literature has emphasised higher education’s role in human capital creation. By contrast, the symposium drew attention to the active role of students, emphasising their agency and identifying higher education as a process of reflexive self-formation.

Around 100 participants were in attendance, both on-site at the Lingnan University Campus in Hong Kong, and online. The event highlighted, yet again, the value Lingnan University places on nurturing international, inter-university collaborative partnerships throughout all its activities. The University has already developed an extensive, and growing, network of links that stretches out, not only across Greater China, but around the globe.

Setting the scene

After the distinguished speakers and all those participating had been welcomed by the symposium’s primary organiser, Lingnan’s Dr Yusuf Ikbal Oldac, Professor Simon Marginson, Director of the CGHE, underlined the importance of supporting students in developing their own agency. “What we are attempting to do is position the notion of student centred-ness more effectively, to ground it more effectively, and move from the notion of a consumer, with the weak power of a consumer, to a strong, self-educating agent,” he said.

In his introduction to the event, Lingnan Vice-President Professor Joshua Ka Ho Mok hailed the significance of this symposium in encouraging collaborative research in the field. “We have speakers from universities in eight regions or countries, including, but not exclusive to, the UK, the US, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Turkey, Australia and Switzerland. This demonstrates the importance of international cooperation,” he said.

Tackling universal questions and identifying cultural differences

A range of important topics were covered in the symposium’s four sessions.

Proceedings began with a conceptual discussion on self-formation which opened with two illuminating presentations. First, GCHE member Ms Soyoung Lee, set out her belief that more empirical and conceptual development was required as a basis for research in this field. Then, Dr Lili Yang, of the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Education, compared the Confucian xiushen (self-cultivation) and German Bildung perspectives on student formation in Higher Education, and advocated adopting a combination of their complementary aspects.

Along with sessions on the agency and self-formation of international students, and on student agency and engagement, the symposium included a discussion on employability. In her presentation in this session, Dr Thanh Pham from Australia’s Monash University described the way in which the type of agency graduates’ could exert was dependent on the career stage they were at, and the scale of external support and resources available to them.

Next, Dr Weiyan Xiong of Lingnan University’s School of Graduate Studies, noted the sharp rise in unemployment among Mainland graduates, and looked at obstacles to student, and graduate, self-formation. Based on his research Dr Xiong pointed to culture-related obstacles, such as gender stereotyping and family pressures, as the most problematic challenges to be tackled.

Please click here to review the highlights of the Symposium.

Cloud nine: How to be happy 101

Posted on by Editorial Team

Happiness is many times described as elusive and fleeting, but could the feeling of joy be taught? Afifah Darke explores how several institutions approach this topic and why learning how to be happy could be an important life-long skill.

“Don’t worry, be happy”, Bobby McFerrin’s whistling song, which can usually get every person in a room up for a little jig, is deceptively simple. Just be happy. The rest of the song, however, doesn’t provide much insight on the “hows”, but tips on happiness seldom provide further wisdom behind them.

For Dr Jaime Kurtz, Associate Professor of Psychology at James Madison University (JMU) in Virginia, approaching happiness and mental wellbeing from the position of simply willing it can cause harm. A common misconception about being a happy person, for example, is that one should be cheerful all the time, she observes.

“That just makes people more stressed and puts more pressure on them. I hear a lot of ‘I should be happier. My life is so good. My family’s healthy,’,” she points out. “That’s toxic positivity… and a recipe for unhappiness.” Dr Kurtz is the director of JMU’s summer programme, Exploring the Good Life in Scandinavia, where she leads college students on a tour of two of the world’s happiest countries: Denmark and Sweden. In the two-week course, students observe and conduct interviews on cross-cultural differences in well-being, as well as carry out “happiness-boosting” exercises of their own.

I believe that university is really an opportunity for children to develop into adults, to discover what they are, who they are, what they really enjoy.

“If there are ways to teach students scientifically-backed strategies for how to reap all the benefits out of life, I think that that’s a really worthwhile thing,” she tells QS-GEN. “Why do [students] go to college? It’s not just about training them for jobs, it’s teaching them, hopefully, how to think and how to live well, which benefits them.”

More than just the A, B, Cs

While Dr Kurtz believes university should prepare students for all facets of life, more often than not, the pressures of being a college student mean happiness and well-being may not always be a top priority. In the UK, a study by the Prince’s Trust in 2022 revealed that 46 percent of young people have experienced feelings of self-loathing, and almost a quarter agree they will never recover from the emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. College students in the US are also struggling, according to the Healthy Minds Study in the fall of 2020. Around 39 percent of American college students reported experiencing depression, and 29 percent have gone through mental health therapy or counselling in the previous year.

Dr Ties Van der Werff, who teaches Eternal Pursuit of Happiness at the University of Amsterdam, tells QS-GEN he has noticed how his students are increasingly living on their phones, which he says, is not helping them to become any happier. With the rampant use of social media, the idea of “the good life”, if without any critical reflection, makes it seem like happiness is gained through consumption, says Dr Ties. “What I see with my students is that they’re sometimes so anxious and pressured. The pressure… to look good, and the pressure to get a boyfriend or girlfriend,” he adds.

This is where universities, and classes like the one led by Dr Ties, play a role, as they guide students to reflect on the concept of happiness, relate technological developments to happiness, as well as apply insights to their daily lives.

For lecturers like Professor of Developmental Psychology in Society Bruce Hood at the University of Bristol in the UK, teaching was becoming increasingly difficult because students were so concerned about their performance. “It really took away the joy of learning,” says Professor Hood. “Maybe I’m just old-fashioned, but I believe that university is really an opportunity for children to develop into adults, to discover what they are, who they are, what they really enjoy. It shouldn’t be a continuation of school,” he states.

The fluffy stuff

There are always naysayers who think that happiness cannot be taught, and Professor Hood confesses that even he was initially sceptical about positive psychology courses. He used to ask himself: “To what extent do they make a lasting impression?”.

“Now, I call myself a cautious convert in that I do believe that [the class] does leave a lasting impression on not all, but some individuals.”

With a focus on positive psychology, the class prepares students with resilience, he says, and “to deal with life a bit better”. “It’s about reframing negative events and thinking about them in context and proportionally and responding in that way.”

Dr Ties also believes such classes are essential for students to flourish. “It might be a fluffy subject in the sense that it doesn’t give you certainty, but this is exactly what we need right now because the world is not certain,” Dr Ties says firmly. “We need to train students to face uncertainty, ambiguity, and how to cope in a world of change.”

Canadian-based Dr Catherine O’Brien, the founder of Dawson College’s Sustainable Happiness programme, believes in a world of so much “apocalyptic storytelling”, classes like this can let people focus on solutions. “[These problems] can feel too big, we can feel start to feel hopeless in face of how catastrophic it is… part of what we can find with sustainable happiness is helping people to feel more resilient because they maybe have not understood exactly how to take care of their own well-being,” she says.

“We need to train students to face uncertainty, ambiguity, and how to cope in a world of change.”

Feeling on top of the Earth

Dr John Zelenski, Professor of Psychology at Carleton University in Canada, believes that the Earth is so intimately interconnected with people that “when nature suffers, humans are likely to suffer too”. Therefore, when people connect with nature and appreciate it, they also seem to treat it better, he says. Dr Zelenski, who is a researcher and director of the Carleton University Happiness Laboratory, constantly encourages his students to go out into nature. “Putting people in nature pretty reliably puts them in a good mood,” he says. “If the weather is very bad, even nature videos can be a little mood boost,” he laughs.

While there may be some parts of nature, like snakes or spiders, that are unlikely to make people happy, putting people in nature reliably puts them in good moods, he says. “As we face things like climate change, and other environmental problems, I think getting people into nature is both good for their wellbeing and potentially good for the environment.”

Sustainable happiness is happiness that contributes to individual, community, or global well-being without exploiting other people, the environment, or future generations.

Happiness is also intrinsically linked to nature and the environment for Dr O’Brien and Chris Adam, Manager of Dawson College’s Sustainability Office. “Sustainable happiness is happiness that contributes to individual, community, or global well-being without exploiting other people, the environment, or future generations,” according to Dr O’Brien. As part of the programme, students learn how the choices they make in their personal life affect the environment, what they could do to live in a more sustainable manner, and how to use nature as “a mentor”. “If we can use nature, and positive experiences in nature to bring down the stress that so many students feel, that would release the creativity and imagination problem solving that we need in our institutions,” says Adam.

Describing the programme as a “magical” 20-hour certificate, students can celebrate what it is to be human and explore their capacity for wanting to be a good person, to live a good life, and to help others, says Adam. He reminds students, “If we want to be good people, if we want to do good for the world, that’s a skill. We need to take the time to reflect on it, support each other, and then do something that that takes our words into action.”

This article was abridged from 2022 QS World University Rankings by Subject. Download the full edition.

Trebas Institute showcase academic offer, career opportunities at Canadian Music Week

Posted on by Global University Systems

Trebas Institute recently took part in the Canadian Music Week, held at the Intercontinental Toronto Centre between 6 and 11 June.

Now in its 40th year, Canadian Music Week (CMW) is Canada’s leading annual entertainment event dedicated to the expression and growth of the country’s music, media and entertainment industries.

Representatives from the Trebas Toronto Campus were present throughout the event, animating the branded booth of the institution and engaging with visitors, industry experts and potential partners. Many people stopped by, to learn about the programmes available and the career opportunities for graduates. In addition, it was heartening to see several Trebas alumni.

“Trebas Institute is delighted to have participated as an exhibitor during the 40th anniversary of Canadian Music Week, the premier annual music business and networking event in Canada,” said Mohamed Slimani, Vice President of Operations at Trebas Institute. “The music summit covered many elements of the entertainment industry, much like the diverse range of specialized training available at Trebas Institute at our campuses in Toronto and Montreal”

As a creative career college, Trebas Toronto campus offers a wide selection of programmes in audio engineering, film and TV production, and event and entertainment management. Expanding on a portfolio mainly dedicated to visual arts and entertainment, the institution also offers programmes in digital marketing, cybersecurity and data analytics.

Gary Taylor, Senior International Consultant from Canadian Music Week said; “We had the pleasure of hosting Trebas Institute as one of our Trade Show participants this year. Besides their booth activity and Mentors Cafe sessions, we worked together to provide 100 custom T-shirts to CMW and Trebas volunteers. Designed by Trebas, they celebrate CMW’s 40th anniversary and Trebas’ pro-active approach to higher education in the music industry and the Entertainment business at large. It was a real pleasure working with the Trebas Team!”

Participation in the event was an occasion for Trebas to showcase its range of courses, and illustrate what skills students can expect to learn and how it would further their professional development. Graham Knipfel, Executive Director, Industry, Training & Indigenous Initiatives at Global University Systems Canada, said: “Thank you to all involved in welcoming back thousands of participants in-person to Canada’s longest-running music industry conference.

“I can say with confidence to those looking to enter this exciting and growing sector through higher education, that those who successfully complete programmes at Trebas Institute can count on gaining applied skills and a competitive edge.”

During the event, Trebas held a Scholarship Raffle prize draw, giving potential students the opportunity to secure scholarships to study at Trebas for a total value of $7,000 (CAD). The winners will be able to use the scholarship against the tuition for Audio Engineering & Production/DJ Arts for the October 2022 and January 2023 intakes.

For Trebas, participation in CMW 2022 marked an important step in further establishing its position. Jeff Wright, Head of Audio Engineering and Production/DJ Arts, said: “It was great to connect with industry peers and prospective students. Toronto is sometimes viewed as the ‘hub’ of the music industry in Canada. With the Trebas Toronto Campus being so close to the venue I was excited to have our students participate. I look forward to the next generation of talent development here in Toronto and right across Canada.

For more information visit https://www.trebas.com/

Trebas Institute

Trebas offers programs in music, film, business, technology, and program management. Their goal is to provide education that gives students a competitive edge in their chosen industry, while constantly updating offerings to keep pace with the changing marketplace.

The campus boasts state-of-the-art equipment for sound and video production, and classes taught by expert instructors with industry experience. All this prepares students to leave their mark in their chosen field.

 

Many of Trebas’ alumni have gone on to win major awards and work for big industry names, like Virgin and Universal Music Group.

HKAPA School of Dance and Akram Khan internship programme

Posted on by Communications Office

As part of the collaboration between The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts‘ School of Dance and the Akram Khan Company in the 2021/22 academic year, eight final year students from the School of Dance were selected after three rounds of rigorous online auditions to participate in a seven-week internship in London. The internship started in late January, as the fifth wave of the pandemic swept through Hong Kong.

Coping with much uncertainty arising from Hong Kong’s Covid restrictions and constant changes in travelling regulations, the students began their internship online before travelling to London for the remaining five weeks. They were assigned to understudy particular roles in one of the Akram Khan Company’s latest productions, Jungle Book Reimagined. Despite the new environment and intense rehearsals posing many challenges to the students, they all engaged fully in a professional company environment, made swift progress and equipped themselves to be ready as professional dance artists.

Two of the students, Yam Wing-nam and Jan Mikaela Bautista Villanueva, were selected to attend the three-week production residency and the world premiere in Leicester. Mikaela’s excellent performance earned her a place as a guest artist at the world premiere and a contract with the Akram Khan Company as a professional dancer.