Exploring Internet Sites Essay

Nowadays Internet became primary informational source for overwhelming majority of people around the world. That is why, in order to earn customer goodwill, enhance the market and promote own goods or services, it is necessary for any enterprise at any market to place easy accessible, correct and comprehensive information about the company, its policies, strategies, products, prospects and so on, into World Wide Web. Official sites of such known companies, as Procter & Gamble, Nestle and Unilever are great examples of using advantages of Internet as an effective tool of marketing and promotion. It is remarkable, that these successful companies openly inform their customers about their financial situation and the results of specific researches, offer new career or investment opportunities for any visitor of the site. This definitely works for strengthening their image on global level. To my mind, the most attractive and interesting features for the customers are the sections about the products of the companies and some related fields like nutrition, beauty and style, etc. It is principally important to make information on the site practical and useful for any average or prospective customer. With this purpose, for example, P & G is using a very effective slogan â€Å"Expert Advice for Everyday Life†, which really works well, I believe. Undoubtedly, all three sites are very up-to-date and competent. I could not help noticing one obvious disadvantage of them all: extreme overload of information. It makes navigation more complicated for an average customer, who can be an average Internet user as well. Besides, I suppose that the sites of P & G and Unilever have too very bright and colorful designs. This can take customer’s mind off the site content and the product itself. Besides, to my mind, it affects seriousness of these companies to some extent. Certainly, Internet sites play important role and significantly contribute into forming consumer preferences and attracting new customers. The main advantage of such sites is making customer- producer communication much faster. When a customer wants to get some information, there is no need to make long phone calls and wait for consultations anymore. Now it is possible to find all necessary data on the site just with a couple of mouse clicks. Bibliography: Nestle. Nestle S. A. 2004. 06 Nov. 2006 . Procter & Gamble. P & G Everyday Solutions. 2006. 06 Nov. 2006 .   Unilever. Unilever N. V. 2006. 06 Nov. 2006 .

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The question of the respective interests of the two sides in the Hollywood conflict is ultimately a valid question in light of the article. However, perhaps before embarking on an exploration of what their respective interests might be, it would be wise to first clearly define what we are referring to when we reference the two sides of the debate. The clearest separation between the two sides shown in the article is that of the guilds versus the producers or movie houses. However, perhaps equally interesting is the gray area, which falls in between the two – for example, those members of a guild who are also producers. The point in this respect is to determine where those people lie on the scale of either being more biased toward the guild members (actors and writers) or toward the producers. If we take our two sides as defined, the producers versus the guild members then we are in a sufficient position to examine the respective interests of each side. It is immediately clear that this is a long-standing debate as we begin to examine the article, â€Å"On the morning of October 8, 1945, thousands of picketing film workers, some wearing white-painted civil defense helmets, were confronted by truckloads of scabs who attacked with lead pipes, monkey wrenches and nightsticks† (Cooper, 2001,  ¶ 1). From this inauspicious opening, we can already start to summon some idea of what the central debate might be. The principal concern of both sides of this debate is money – whether that money should be residual compensation for work performed on a completed product (for the actors and writers), or ongoing revenue from the marketing and sale of that product (for the producers).   While the article details the previous compensation rates for guild members, â€Å"When a consumer plops down $25 for a new DVD, for example, the credited screenwriter receives only 4 cents†   (Cooper, 2001,  ¶ 10) it also clearly indicates the desire of the guild members – for additional compensation in this regard. Therefore, we can clearly define the interest of the guild members as being that of what they might regard as adequate compensation for their work. However, this is not the only interest at work in the guild members, as we look deeper into the article and examine the strikes that have taken place previously. â€Å"After last year's costly six-month SAG-AFTRA walkout in the commercials sector, during which thousands of actors went without paychecks, there's little rank-and-file enthusiasm for another season without work† (Cooper, 2001,  ¶ 33). Clearly, given the fact that the previous strike had damaged lives and caused hardship to guild members, the guild members themselves would indicate among their interests the fastest possible resolution to any conflict between the guild and the producers. As mentioned in the article by one IATSE official, â€Å"You don't go on strike for six months to get what you could have gotten in the first week† (Cooper, 2001,  ¶ 15). Perhaps then, we have more than simply two sides at work in the conflict: the guilds, the guild members, and the producers. The producers, by contrast, clearly are eager to maintain the status quo. In one negotiation, specific figures are named, with the WGA scaling back its demands to a meager 25% increase, and being met with â€Å"an offer of a zero percent increase† (Cooper, 2001,  ¶ 13). It is worthwhile at this point to note that both sides have expressed interests and not positions. To clarify, the interest on the guild member’s side might be increased compensation, while a possible position for that interest would be the actual renegotiation of contractual agreements between the guilds and the producers. Similarly, on the producer’s side, the interest is maintaining the status quo, while the position would be the maintenance of existing contracts. To examine points, we should again discuss how those points affect both sides of the debate. The points are clear enough that they can be listed one by one. Due to the mild bias of the article toward the guilds, and guild members there are considerably more points presented from this side of the argument than the other. The first and simplest point is the sheer mass of guild members demanding better working conditions: â€Å"pent-up demand has reached a boiling point† (Cooper, 2001,  ¶ 5) mentions WGA vice president, Dan Petrie, Jr. Whether this demand and pressure is due to poor contracts with producers, or poor negotiations of the same is subject to debate, but is beyond the scope of this essay. Second, there are the many sides of the financial coin. Artists are concerned primarily with fair pay for the use of their work in both the original and recreated mediums. As mentioned in the articles, â€Å"artists are paid little or nothing in residuals for such reuse and resale of their work† (Cooper, 2001,  ¶ 9). This perhaps was less of a problem before the emergence of the Internet, and the growth of the International market. In fact, it is clearly stated that writers had previously accepted lower pay, however they â€Å"did so with the understanding that talent would eventually receive a fair share as those markets matured† (Cooper, 2001,  ¶ 10). According to the article, this is something, which has now happened. An additional aspect to the financial issues is the matter of what the article refers to as â€Å"transfer pricing† abuse – the maneuvering of intellectual property among subsidiary partners of a corporate owner at less than fair market value to reduce the required amount of residuals, which are eligible to be paid. Just as these points are the primary ones discussed in the article, there are none mentioned for the producers – other than their interest in maintaining the status quo, as discussed earlier in the essay. The primary conflict of money for the two sides is, according to the article, a major threat to the movie industry as a whole. As this conflict approaches resolution, the successful negotiation by the unions to a deal which will allow for substantial enough earnings to appease their member base while still allowing for enough profit for the producers, will prove to determine if the actor and writer guilds can escape their status â€Å"as pampered poodles.† (Cooper, 2001) References Cooper, M. (2001). Residual Anger. Retrieved February 11, 2007 from, http://www.thenation.com/doc/20010402/cooper

Executive Research Report Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Executive Report - Research Paper Example So it has become necessary to look into the connections between tourism development and environment. Also, it has become necessary to identify various models of sustainable tourism. Blue Lagoon Cruises, the newly acquired client company, is facing certain problems which are to be solved at the earliest in order to ensure continuous growth of the company as it has experienced in the last 10 years. One of the problems is related to meeting the environmental demands while ensuring tourism development. This executive report illustrates the relation between tourism development and sustainable environmental preservation and suggests various ways to achieve profit while protecting environment. This research project intends to investigate the impact of tourism development on environment and suggests various ways to introduce sustainable tourism development which ensures both profit and environmental protection. This report will be highly helpful for the special stakeholder committee which consists of Blue Lagoon executives, investors, Kona government officials, various special interest groups like World Watch Group, and village groups. This report will give all these people a comprehensive understanding of the different models of tourism development, which ensure profit while addressing environmental concerns. This report will conduct the research by answering three queries. First of all, it will identify the impacts of tourism on environment by analyzing works like that of the United Nations. Secondly, by analyzing cases like Bonaire National Parks Foundation and the Blue Flag, this work will identify various successful environmentally sustainable practices adopted by various agencies around the world. Thirdly, it looks into cases like Green Globe, International Tourism Partnership to prove that it is in fact more profitable in the long term

Whistleblowing policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Whistleblowing policy - Essay Example In both public and private organizations, incidents of unethical and unprofessional conduct by the employees are common occurrences. The actions of such employees can take different forms, including sabotage, misappropriation of funds, espionage among other deeds against the professional ethics and conduct of an organization (PwC, 2011). The effects of such actions in an organization can be severe to both the company as well as the public, depending on the magnitude of the action. However, Boyle (1990) noted that any action that goes against the code of ethics of a particular organization, regardless of how small causes irreparable damage, which could herald greater economic and public image of the company. Adler and Daniels (1992) defined whistleblowing as â€Å"the public interest disclosure whereby a fellow worker reports a concern about the misconduct or omissions of the fellow colleague(s) and or employers that may cause danger to other people or the organization.† Most a ctions of misconduct involve theft and compromising on the safety of fellow workers and the public. The importance of whistleblowing in an organization cannot be overemphasized especially in the current competitive world market, which exposes organization to insecurity in order to undermine the competitive edge in business. In this regard, many corporations are increasingly formulating whistleblowing policies as a measure of preempting such attacks. Voluntarily instigated whistle blowing policy is one of such measures and according to Lewis (2001), the disclosure should be made in good faith, meaning that the confession should made out of real concern about a wrong action. In this regard, making maliciously motivated disclosures based on false accusations does not amount to whistle blowing. For whistleblowing to perform in the best interests of the company, Lewis (2001) notes that the whistleblower should have reasonable conviction that the information in his or her knowledge is sig nificantly correct even if it could turn to be untrue later. Raising grievances or complaining does not amount to whistle blowing because such talk in an organization is usually personalized, where employees could complain of being mistreated or sabotaged. In this case, a whistle blower should not be a person who has direct personal interests on the result of any given exploration or investigation to their concerns that they might have raised. A whistleblower should raise real concerns so that other in authority can address the problem (Jesse, 2010). Organizations have different areas of concern and they include but not limited to the incidents where an employee defrauds the organization, physical or emotional abuse of patients such as the elderly and vulnerable groups in medical setting. Moreover, faulty machines or equipment that expose operators and clients to risk in addition to situations where employees are bribed to award grants tenders and other approved monetary transaction s in an organization(Jesse, 2010). Whistleblowing could serve in an organization’s interest by enhancing better risk management practices (Adler and Daniels, 1992). However, employees should be empowered so that they can have enough confidence to report matters of concern without suffering from any form of physical, psychological and financial consequence. It is important for organizations to have effective risk management practices to prevent incidents of costly litigations, higher insurance premiums, damaged reputation of the organization in addition to loss of lives, jobs and even being subjected to stringent investigations (Adler and Daniels, 1992). In this regard, instigated voluntary whistle blowing can help in triggering early warning systems for employers. This could enable organizations to enforce effective policies that provide clear framework for taking action against culpable employees and employers. If employees voluntarily voice their concerns in an organization without being forced to approach an external authority, employers would often have the

Project Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Project - Annotated Bibliography Example In line with the existing situation, the author wants a change of approach including the evaluation of the different psychological conditions to ascertain the extent of usage. The argument by the author is based on the research findings that are indicated in the article. In conclusion, the author addresses vital issues existing in the treatment of psychological diseases which are also important for both patients and doctor. In fact, little or no research has been conducted to develop the standards of severity of the disease. Therefore, there is not a conclusive finding or a premise to which the disease can be compared or used to treat the disease. The article covers the issues that have attributed to the finding illustrated and offer suggestions to support of treating the disease. The article by Pao and Bosk address anxiety with respect to sick children and adolescents. The article focuses on the impact of anxiety disorder on ill children. The focus of the article is on anxiety which is a common reaction but targets medically ill children as the scope of the research. The impact of sickness and its contribution to Anxiety disorder is the subject of the article. The authors state that chronic medical illness is a risk factor for the development of anxiety disorders. It may occur as a secondary event resulting from secondary biological mechanisms which may be related to the child’s medical illness. In fact, other issues may affect the medically ill child and contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. These issues include parental anxiety resulting from the child’s situation. In conclusion, the article addresses important issues in handling medically ill children with respect to anxiety disorders. Sauter, F. M., Heyne, D., & Westenberg, M. (2009). Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxious Adolescents:Developmental Influences on Treatment Design and Delivery. Clinical child & family Psychology Review, 310-335. The article by Floor M. Sauter, David

Writing an Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Writing an Argument - Essay Example Obesity is not a simple disease resulted from one factor. But it is rather a chronic condition that develops as a result of genetic, behavioral and environmental factors. In addition, it is associated with heart disease, heart stroke, high blood pressure, and even cancer. Undoubtedly, obesity is sky high as two-thirds of the American population is obese. It is evident that children in this current generation has a shorter life expectancy due to high rates of obesity as opposed to children 2 decades ago, which is highly shocking. According to this article, â€Å"Obesity has become a huge phenomenon that is big of a hazard as smoking is adolescence.† Without a doubt, obesity is a prevalent problem that is detrimental to society and must be addressed for the health and the wealth of the future generations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity along with physical inactivity caused 400,000 U.S. deaths. In addition, obesity is linked with major health problems such as diabetes,  heart disease,  high blood pressure, arthritis, and  stroke. According to healthamericans.org, almost 60% of children in America are  obese and the rates continued to increase in an alarming rate in 23 states. With the current economic recession, obesity rates will continue to increase since nutritious foods will become more expensive. Clearly obesity has detrimental effects on individuals, and attempt to understand the root causes of obesity. Medical experts after intensive research have contributed four major factors that cause obesity. One of the main causes of obesity is due to lack of physical activity. Physical inactivity remains as a top cause for obesity than any other factors. A study conducted by medical experts proved that a lack of vigorous physical activity is the main contributor to obesity for adolescents. This has been a huge issue especially with the advent of technology. Young adults are more likely to stay home and indulg e in TV rather than engaging in physical activity. This concern has been prevalent in American society as obesity rates have staggered amongst teens. The key element is to ensure that adolescents get the necessary physical activity in order to prevent them from being obese. The second leading cause of obesity that plagues our society is poor nutrition. According to womenfitness.net, intake of excess calories and consumption of food that are high in fat, sugar, and sodium are proven to be linked to obesity. In addition, studies conducted by the National Institute of health, implementing a meal plan that is rich in lean protein, high in fiber and minerals, limiting sugars and fats can drastically lower the chance of obesity. Poor nutrition has been a huge factor that has prolonged this issue. Recently, many schools have rectified this issue by eliminating trans-fat or sugary snacks out of their cafeteria. This has somewhat rectified the issue and made students make healthier alternati ve choices. Another major issue trending in the realm of nutrition is junk food. It is evident that the young generation which is constantly being bombarded with â€Å"supersized meals.† If the younger generation understands the consequences of their nutritional habits, they are more like to modify their lifestyle that can benefit their health. In addition, the younger generation understands the importance of having a good sex appeal, which can push the youth to eat healthy, exercise and adapt a healthy lifestyle. For instance, the education system and the food industry clearly promote an unhealthy eating habits couple with no physical activity for children. It is evident that these factors are key elements towards the rise of obesity rates in society, which must be addressed as

History Of Copper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

History Of Copper - Essay Example The alloys were harder, making alloys to be extra useful and by 2500 BC, bronze was used by a large group of people, this brought up what historians called bronze era (Leskinen 2009). By 1500 A.D, copper in art started in western countries and it was inform of bronze sculptures. Some places in the East a place called Nara Buddha, a monumental sculpture in bronze dates back to 751 A.D.The next discovery was about copper plating that started in the mid-1600s.tis technique was use used in ship building, to protect the ship from storms. In the modern world there has been improvement in the modern world due to technologies that have emerged. The improvement started to change and to grow to meet the need of the society. This includes flash smelting which began in 1949 and in 1990 copper oxide was first used as a superconductor. The Bronze Age abruptly ended at around 12000 BC, this was due the interference of the international trade routes and the breakdown of the ancient world. Areas where tin was supplied dried up. Is led to the introduction of iron not because it was better than copper but because of its availability (Leskinen 2009). Antecedently, Rome started to be served with copper by copper mines in Spain and Asia and as the empire became big a lot of copper increased in the system. And Spain could produce about 15000 tons of refined copper per anum.It is known that brass an alloy of copper was first dived at this time (Leskinen 2009). This gives a report on history of

Analyze readings and tv episode Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Analyze readings and tv episode - Essay Example However, it is noticeable that the recent trend represents a paradigm shift in celebrity development. What is apparent is a programmatic shift in the way the contemporary celebrity is developed through concurrent media – television and internet-based branding in particular. Thus, no longer are only the elites with their extraordinary levels of consciousness considered as an important pool of personnel to be regarded for mainstream celebrity, as Hearn illustrates, â€Å"Psychoanalytic  concerns about unconscious  identity formation are for the most part, left to the side here, as are any claims about essential human nature† (198). This has paved way for Ordinariness amongst the recent wave of celebrity development, which, rest assured, has always enjoyed a certain repertoire amongst the discourses of mass celebrities along with denoting essential ingredients of various film and televised content (Bonner). Turner refers to this phenomenon as the demotic turn (153-154) which signifies a convergence of ordinary and celebrity. While there is inherent contradictoriness in the discourses of celebrity itself, as a celebrity by nature cannot be ordinary once elevated by mass appeal, this contradiction is what enhances the apparent widespread acceptance and validation of reality tv shows and the celebrity development it engages in. ... sess singing skills to audition and be judged by a panel in order to partake further in various singing formats with the promise of a reward for the winner in the form of a contract with a leading record label. The participants are initially screened by a panel but later voted on by the general population in a seemingly democratic process of selection. The particular episode in question was part of season 11 episode 1, and was aired on January 18th, 2012. Analysis Turner’s principles of demotic turn were primarily aimed at the understanding of recent celebrity proliferation in mass media. His focus was to determine how self-branding techniques in popular media such as reality TV shows, DIY internet websites, radio talk shows etc. serve to exacerbate the systematic popularization of ordinary people in order to classify them celebrity status. His acknowledgement of the self is characterized by self-recognition, a distinct identity that is argued in the public’s redeeming eye, accepted and promoted. Reality TV accounts for a certain kind of recognition of self as well, as witnessed in American Idol over its tenure. Participants occasionally have to make their case in front of the judges in terms of qualities other than singing, which the show wholly comprises of. Turner cites William Hung as an example, who although never qualified past the screening process, argued that he did not have any training in singing or dancing which he seemed to believe identified him as unique (154). However, he most certainly classified as entertainment, and was rewarded by the show in subsequent re-runs of his audition as part of the show’s promotion. He engaged in a modern form of promotion that Hearn describes as a by-product of self-branding, a methodic interpretation of brand

Integration Theory And Policy Development In The EU Essay

Integration Theory And Policy Development In The EU - Essay Example The EU ozone policy grew from scientific research conducted on the ozone layer in the 70’s which showed that industrial pollutants including those produced by certain home appliances and household sprays were having great and far-reaching effects on the ozone layer surrounding the Earth. To minimize potential hazards and set international standards, the EU together with its executive body the European Commission partook in the framing of multilateral environmental agreements. Since the EU was the biggest exporter of CFC’s due to surplus production, its involvement in developing an ozone policy was crucial. However, the EU is dependent on the effectiveness of the EC and the subsequent participation of the member states into agreeing with the policy. In implementing this EU policy, the two grand theories of integration, neo-functionalism, and intergovernmental work in different ways. One of the earliest policies that illustrated the theory of neo-functionalism was the Com mon Agricultural Policy in the 1960s (Lindberg 1963). A neo-functionalistic approach uses the technical and scientific knowledge of ozone depletion data and the substances causing the effect, to allow technocrats in the EC to draw out schemes that curtail or eliminate the use of ozone depletion substances (ODS). Integration using the neo-functionalistic method permits a sharing of scientific knowledge among similar sectors in the various member states, enabling manufacturing and technology companies in those states to implement a common strategy.... Integration also causes a natural spill over of knowledge and activities into other associated sectors (EPSnet). A functional-spill over occurs when certain processes are functionally connected to each other due to the intermeshing of the economy (Lindberg and Scheingold 1970: 117). The common goal of eliminating ODS needs no mandate and thus the populace of the EU is left out. The formation and implementation of an agreement relating to regional issues compels the various states to adopt the common policy (Schmitter 1969). A few public interest and environmental groups may be involved in the process and together a common strategy may be formulated but by and large the institutions of the EU are on their own in the decision making process. The problem that may arise is when a state is slow to implement the policy thus stalling the integration process. On the other hand, an intergovernmental approach would elevate discretionary powers of the EU member states rather than the supranational institutions. Since the states themselves remain the principal arbiters of integration, they possess decision making powers as to whether or not the EU ozone policy should be implemented locally. Here too more powers rest with the national executives of the states and their advisory boards. Their decision to accept or reject the EU ozone policy can override the power of the supranational institutions of the EU such as the European Commission. The consequence is that unequal implementation in the entire EU with some states applying the ozone policy while others rejecting it or delaying its implementation. With the intergovernmental approach the main issue of ozone depletion is never truly addressed by common consensus. Various

Good Will Hunting Biopsychological Approach Essay Example for Free

Good Will Hunting Biopsychological Approach Essay The biopshychological approach to Wills behavior would suggest that he is like he is because of his brain chemistry. The chemicals in his brain cause him to respond violently to pressure. The make up of his genetics cause him to be the way he is and he would be this way no matter how he was raised. This approach would also suggest that he could be changed by drugs to balance the chemicals in his brain. Behavioral Approach: The behavioral approach would imply that all of Wills behavior is learned and he is a product of his environment. He is violent because he was probably beaten as a child and as he grew up he learned to handle his problems through violence. He kept up this behavior because he was never punished severely enough to get him to stop. He learned that he could go to court and talk his way out of his situations which did not give him any reason to stop doing what he was doing. He also learned not to get to close to anybody or open up to them. This was learned because some of the people in his life who were supposed to love him had abandoned him. Psychoanalitic Approach: The psychoanalitic approach would indicate that Wills behavior was from his subconscious mind and were impulses from childhood experiences. For example, Will was beaten up in kindergarten by a bully, later on in his life he sees the bully and starts a fight with him. His decision to fight was made subconsciously from an impulse from a childhood experience. When he was a child he was also abused by his parents. Later in Wills life, he often resorts to violence subconsciously due to his childhood beatings. Humanistic Approach: The humanistic approach would state that Will makes his decisions based on free will and is basically a good person. Will is how he is because that is how he wants to be. Will does not realize until later in life that he has to much potential to waste his life. Will is an overall good person. This is shown in his in his actions throughout the movie, for example, when he decided to keep working construction instead of taking a job with mil itary intelligence because he would rather help people by making housing than get people killed. Cognitive Approach: The cognitive approach would suggest Will is how he is because that is how he sees himself. Will is a well educated man but for most of the movie Will sees himself as a nobody who will work for cheap and stay in the ghetto. Once his intelligence is noticed realizes that he has the opportunity to use his knowledge and make something of himself. Sociocultural Approach: The sociocultural approach would say that Will is how he is because of influences from society. Society usually views people from the ghetto as people who will never make something of themselves so he feels the same way about himself. Society expects people from the ghetto to resort to violence to solve their problems. This is why Will usually resorts to violence in tough situations. Society also does not allow for men to open up and share their feeling freely. This is the reason why it is so hard for will to open up and get emotional.

A Look At Technical Education In Bangladesh

A Look At Technical Education In Bangladesh The Peoples Republic of Bangladesh is a country in South Asia which became independent in 1971 after a glorious nine months of liberation war with Pakistan Army who killed three millions Bangalees. Bangladesh literally means The Country of Bengal. Lying north of the Bay of Bengal, on land it borders India and Myanmar, and it is a close neighbor to China, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan. Bangladesh is surrounded by India in The West, North and North-East and Myanmar to the South-East. It is situated between 20034 and 26038 North Latitude and 88001 and 92041 East Longitude. It has an area of 147,570 sq. km. and a population of nearly 140 million. It has a population density of 948 persons per sq. km., which is the highest in world. As the name The Country of Bengal suggests that Bangladesh is an ethnically homogeneous country. Among the different ethnic groups Bengalis 98Â  % and the remainder are mostly, Santhals, Chakmas, Garos, Biharis, Oraons and Mundas. Variations in Bengali culture and language do exist of course. The estimate of religious makeup from the 2001 census reported that the population was 89.58% Muslim, 9.34% Hindu, 0.62% Buddhist, 0.31% Christian and 0.15% Animist. With the highest density of population in the world and slow economic progress, the people of this country are trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty. Over 50% of the people who live below the poverty line are not able to provide for their basic needs and amenities. With 140 million people, Bangladesh is the eighth largest in the world in population. It is also one of the most densely populated countries and endowed with limited natural resources. Bangladesh has to rely, more than most developing countries, on its human resources for progress and prosperity. Educational Structure of Bangladesh The present education system of Bangladesh may be broadly divided into three major stages, viz. general education, madrasha education and technical education. Here I am discussing about technical education in Bangladesh. Technical Vocational Education For the students whose interests are not strictly academic may find technical-vocational programmes more interesting and more valuable for their future. Government tries to ensure that the course curriculum should be relevant to students interest and aspirations while at the same time it should address the needs of the job market. a. Primary level. There is no technical-vocational institution in primary level of education. Ebtedayee in the first level (Primary level) of madrasah education has no scope for technical-vocational education. Accordingly, technical vocational education in Bangladesh is designed in three phases under two major levels of secondary and tertiary level of education. b. Secondary level. Vocational courses starts from secondary level. The certificate courses prepare skilled workers in different vocations starting from ninth grade after completion of three years of schooling in secondary school. At this level the courses are diversified in different vocations spread over 1 to 2 years duration. Recently, 2 years duration vocational courses have been introduced at the higher secondary level in government managed vocational training institute (renamed as Technical School College). Diploma courses prepare the diploma engineers at the polytechnic institutes. This course spread over 4 years duration after passing the secondary school certification examination. There is a technical education board called Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB), which grants affiliation to the technical institutes. It conducts examinations of the students completing different courses in different vocational and technical education, and awards certificates to the succe ssful candidates. TVET System in Bangladesh: An Evaluation Strengths Entrance is reasonably competitive at all levels of formal skill training. Well-developed exit standards exist, i.e., skill testing and certification is well developed and managed. The Technical Education Board (TEB) is small, self-supporting and a relatively effective organization for developing curricula and trade tests. Good models exist for skill training by non-government institutions (including UCEP and MAWTS). There are also good models of industry involvement in providing child labor not only with basic education, but also with vocational training through non-government institutions, including both UCEP and a similar but cheaper model, Suravi. TTCs and VTIs have become more flexible in their non-regular programs by offering short term training programs on a cost-recovery basis in the afternoon and evenings to those who have completed their formal schooling. Several comparatively good quality public training institutions exist, including some of the TTCs under the Ministry of Labor and Manpower, The Surveyors Training Institute under the Ministry of Education and some of the rural training centers of the Ministry of Youth. Weaknesses The overall impact of the formal TVET system within Bangladesh is minimal. The output of technical/vocational education at the certificate level amounts to only 1.8 percent of the graduates at SSC level, and the output of diploma technicians is only 1.4 percent of the output of HSC holders. Moreover, formal training is miniscule in relation to the informal ways the people actually become skilled. The outputs of the formal system account for only a minute fraction of the occupational skills acquired each year. Moreover, relatively few of the graduates of formal VTIs enter local employment, at least in trades. TVET has a poor record in terms of placement of graduates in employment, including only about 60 to 65 percent for TTCs and about 40 percent for VTIs. Unemployment is also common among graduates of polytechnics. Those who do not get jobs are often employed overseas as unskilled labor in jobs that do not require their specific training. Those who do not find jobs often seek furthe r studies at higher levels if they are eligible. The public system is not contemplated by a widespread or vigorous system of non-government vocational training (non-government institutions and proprietary institutions). External Efficiency The main problem is lack of sufficient linkages with employers and the labor market. Employers typically do not participate in determining content of training programs. Courses tend to be offered in response to social demands not based on labor market surveys and analysis. Labor market information is not collected systematically. Employers complain that the government is unable to change curricula quickly (i.e., introduce new courses, expand those in demand and reduce or close those for which demand has slackened) to keep up with technological changes in enterprises (TEB, for example, updates curricula once every five years). Polytechnics, in particular, were slow to integrate computers and instrumentation as integral parts of training in all fields. The clientele of formal vocational training (VTIs and TTCs) tends to be inappropriate. Those with grade 8 qualifications often aspire to further education and white-collar occupations; many have little or no intention of entering the job market and practicing the trade skills acquired. Training institutions lack linkages with local labor market surrounding the institution. This is caused by excessive centralization and rigidity in the system. The heads of training institutions must follow uniform training programs and cannot alter curricula to meet local circumstances. Financial controls are also inflexible and institutional managers cannot give incentives and rewards for good teacher performance. In short, there is a lack of delegation of authority to the heads of training centers. Training institutions do not carry out occupational analysis of the skills in demand in the local area. Training is rarely provided for upgrading those already employed in occupations, including skills in the non formal sector. Few girls are being provided the opportunity to learn skills needed for formal sector employment; reasons include lack of hostels and secure transport, as well as traditionally low demand by employers for female workers. Women in the labor market have few places where they can receive training for raising their incomes through productive activities. Underprivileged youth tend to be screened out of the education system before qualifying for entry into vocational training. Stipends in technical and vocational education are provided on the basis of merit rather than need. Internal Efficiency Training is virtually free and heavily subsidized. Most students receive stipends and many receive subsidized hostel accommodation which adds to the cost per student of training. Substantial resources are wasted in technical and vocational training at present, even though the system is underfunded. Student teacher ratios are only about 10 to 12:1. Training courses focus on certification and last longer than strictly necessary for occupational purposes. Over centralized administration makes it difficult for institute directors to economize on resources. However, recent introduction of the SSC and basic trades programs for students in TTCs/VTIs has led to increase in the internal efficiency of institutions. Underutilization of physical capacity is no longer a problem, and completion rates are better than they were easily in the 1990s. Still, the operating costs of vocational training are high, probably in the order of $300/student per year (24 times the cost of a student in primary ed ucation). Effectiveness Low quality is reflected in relatively low pass rates for many vocational and technical training institutions. About one-third of those who finish technical-vocational courses fail to pass the final examinations. Several factors account for the poor results. The managers and instructors of training institutions lack incentives for good quality teaching. Over centralized control means school directors take few initiatives. Instructors lack accountability, as evidenced by poor attendance rates. Most instructors have not had industrial experience in the skills they are paid to teach. Funds are lacking for in-service training of teachers or industrial attachments. There are few promotions possibilities to provide incentives to staff. Many instructors have occupied the same positions for decades without any opportunities for updating or enrichment. Dead wood tends to accumulate among teaching staff with few, if any, opportunities for recycling. In theory, 60 percent of the time is devoted to the acquisition of practical skills, but in practice it is much less. Most VTIs, polytechnics, and specialized degree programs suffer from outdated, obsolete, and worn out equipment. No budgets are provided for maintenance of equipment, and little for consumable supplies. The share of total revenue spending allocated to TVET declined by about 17 percent, from 2.4 percent in 1990/91 to 2.0 percent in 1996/97. It declined further to 1.5 percent in 1997/98. Capital investment in TVET virtually dried up in the 1990s. Within the institutions students receive group, rather than individual, training. Lesson plans and job sheets are rarely used in the training. Institutions, consequently, cannot properly impart the intended practical training. At the diploma level, intended internships for students at the end of their studies are often not implemented. As a result, polytechnic graduates have not acquired practical shop floor skills. The outcomes are that most graduates of vocational and technical programs are not skilled, and few go into appropriate occupations. Government Plans and Policies No national policy exist on the long term development of occupation training, but two recent documents, the Fifth Five Year Plan and the proposed National Education Policy, point to directions of intended changes. The Fifth Plan calls for enrollments in technical and vocational education to be increased from 3 percent at present to about 20 percent of the total at secondary level. Accordingly, the plan emphasizes expansion of the number and capacity of training institutions in line with emerging technologies. Specifically, the government plans to build dozens of new polytechnic institutes, VTIs and TTCs. In addition, it intends to establish other textile and leather degree colleges, a technical teachers college, and a vocational teacher training institute. By 2002, enrollments are projected to increase from 4,500 students in polytechnic institutes to 20,000; from 2,600 in other technical and vocational institutes to 44,000; and from 12,800 in basic trade training to 30,000. The Fifth Plan also calls for diversification of course offerings in line with emerging technologies. Private involvement is to be encouraged in the delivery of technical vocational education. In addition, the Plan proposes creation of an adequate base for labor market analysis and research on TVET, strengthening staff development programs, and forging closer links between training institutions and local economies. The draft National Education Policy, which was prepared without consideration of fiscal constraints on the recommendations, calls for the major portion of the education budget to be shifted towards TVET. Under the policy, all secondary schools would have vocational streams; NFE would be provided for all school dropouts at existing training institutions after hours, and short courses would be introduced for those particularly technicians in the job market. The structure of diploma training would be extended by six months and the internship by three months. A credit system of student accounting would be introduced to facilitate progression of graduates to the next higher level. Individuals and private enterprises would be expected to share the costs of training, although it is not explained how this would be accomplished. In service training for teachers would be provided systematically. Finally, an overall industrial advisory council would be established to coordinate service offeri ngs among the many government and non-government providers. The Fifth Plan and the proposed National Education Policy touch on many of the critical issues in TVET. Positive features include explicit reference to the need for enterprise linkages at the central and institution levels; emphasis on training provision for new clientele, including upgrading and out-of-school youth; diversification of programs, including training in entrepreneurship; and encouragement of private involvement and beneficiary financing by students and employers. These are important priorities. The next step is to plan to accomplish them. The main weakness of the plan and policy are their emphasis on expansion and greater public financing of TVET. Without needed reforms, plans for across-the-board expansion risk imposing existing rigidities on even larger numbers of trainees. Such expansion would dilute the capacity of the public sector to service adequately the existing institutions and may exacerbate unemployment among the graduates. Apparently no demand studies were done as a basis for selecting the new fields of study. Where needed, expansion could be accomplished at lower cost by expanding existing institutions (e.g., the textile and leather institutes) rather than creating separate new facilities. This underscores the impression that expansion is being sought for political rather than economic reasons. As stated in the 1995 ADB review, IT is possible to conclude that the present intake and training programs are more admissions-oriented than based on real industrial demand. Priority Issues Among all the problems in the system of TVET, four overlapping issues stand out as the most important. They are discussed in sequence below: Lack of linkages with the job market. The TVET system tends to be disconnected from the job market both formal and informal employment. Employers do not participate in setting training policies. Public training institutions do not have mechanisms for consultation with employers, and no incentives are given to managers or instructors to establish them. Moreover, the centralized system of training in which curricula, staff, and resources are all controlled from Dhaka also limits the possibilities of capitalizing on local responsibilities and initiatives. When there are not enough jobs for graduates, programs should be geared more to gainful work in the informal sector, e.g., livelihood skills, entrepreneurship, and self-employment. In sum, a key objective for TVET should be to forge closer links with formal and informal job markets. Lack of impact on poverty reduction. This is a question of the clientele of the system. TVET is almost exclusively geared to in-school male youth in grades 9 and 10 as part of SSC Vocational. The effectiveness of this approach should be evaluated. Similar programs have not proved cost-effective in other countries. Many of the graduates of SSC Vocational have no intention of entering the occupations for which they have been trained. Technical education is also narrowly focused on in-school clientele, whereas surveys show that only one third of practicing technicians have ever received formal education in the field. This calls for more in-service and upgrading training for those in the workforce. TVET needs to diversify its clientele. Vocational training, in particular, has the potential to make a greater impact on poverty reduction by helping trainees become self-employed or generate income. Another main objective for TVET should be to broaden its impact through diversification of cli entele and programs. Ineffectiveness of training support and delivery. One of the main constraints on solution of problems in TVET is the prevailing view that the government must finance and provide training through a centralized system of control rather than seek an efficient division of responsibilities with the private sector. In contrast with the relatively weak performance of the government financed and operated institutions, the non-government sector has demonstrated albeit on a very small scale the capability to develop local needs-based curriculum customized to the experiences of trainees. Above all, several non-governmental institutions have established effective links with employers and have achieved impressive employment rates for their graduates. One of the challenges will be to find ways to expand the service delivery of effective non-governmental institutions in vocational and technical education. On the other hand, the government provides key support on which non-governmental institution s must rely. This support includes such things as development of favorable policy environments, training of instructors, development of teaching materials, and research/information on the employment market. A key objective for TVET is to shift funds towards more effective modes of delivery and strengthen the supporting role of the public sector (as opposed to direct provision) Under-financing. TVET is expensive. It requires more instructors per student than general education because of the requirements for practice in workshops. It requires money for equipment, in-service training and consumable supplies. Most of these necessary inputs are lacking or insufficient in public institutions at present. Most institutions look to the central government to solve this problem, but it does not have the funds. External financing is seen by some as an alternative solution. However, external financing would be unsustainable. In several years, the problems of under-financing of equipment and supplies would reemerge and the problem would not have been solved. An important objective for TVET, therefore, is to mobilize non-public resources in a sustainable way to overcome chronic problems of under-financing.