The delicate balance between teaching and research in university makes professional agency an imperative topic to be studied in teacher development research. The importance of teacher agency for p...Show moreThe delicate balance between teaching and research in university makes professional agency an imperative topic to be studied in teacher development research. The importance of teacher agency for professional development and sustainable educational change is increasingly recognized. This interview study highlights lecturers’ experiences regarding ways to influence and develop their teaching practices. Lecturers stated that they would like to do more educational development. Findings also indicate that the concept of professional agency should be adapted to the particular context of university teaching. Our study therefore provides a more specific interpretation of professional agency applied to teaching. Show less
International nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) provide essential aid and public services to less-developed countries. Although most literature focuses on Western INGOs, Asian INGOs have also... Show moreInternational nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) provide essential aid and public services to less-developed countries. Although most literature focuses on Western INGOs, Asian INGOs have also become globally active. Little is known about what motivates INGOs to provide services in other regions, such as Latin America. In this study, we seek to identify the criteria Japanese INGOs use to select Latin American recipient countries. We propose that Japanese INGO operational location decisions are a function of Japanese foreign policy agenda, Japan-recipient country business relations, and recipient country’s need and liberalization. Using data from Japanese INGOs working in Latin America and 24 Latin American countries on contextual, macroeconomic, and demographic indicators, we find that the significant factors driving INGO decisions to operate in Latin American countries are need and the presence of Japanese businesses in the recipient country. Results have practical implications for foreign aid targeting and economic development. Show less
We examined the development of international adoptees from infancy to young adulthood, and factors influencing developmental outcomes in middle childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. The... Show moreWe examined the development of international adoptees from infancy to young adulthood, and factors influencing developmental outcomes in middle childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. The results for cognitive development (Chapter 2) showed that early malnutrition influenced cognitive and health-related outcomes, but its consequences did not extend to socioeconomic success later in life. The human brain seems capable of adapting to changing environmental influences, but earlier placement in a positive family environment should be preferred (see also Chapter 1). The adoptees in the Leiden Longitudinal Adoption Study were exposed to few adversities due to their early adoptive placement, and the combination with the nurturing environment of a permanent adoptive family resulted in positive cognitive and socio-emotional outcomes (Chapters 2 and 3). Our results for longitudinal (sensitivity) and concurrent relations (reactivity to infant crying) with attachment representations in young adulthood (Chapters 3 and 4) clearly point to this role of the family environment in predicting social-emotional outcomes. High parenting quality is important, also in families where children do not share a common genetic basis with their parents. In sum, adoption can be seen as a positive intervention and the (adoptive) family environment matters for children growing up from infants to young adults. Show less
This is the first time developmental outcome following hearing screening in children with permanent childhood hearing impairment was studied in a unique, pseudo-randomized design. We found that... Show moreThis is the first time developmental outcome following hearing screening in children with permanent childhood hearing impairment was studied in a unique, pseudo-randomized design. We found that early detection of hearing loss by newborn hearing screening (and subsequent early intervention) is beneficial for the development of children with permanent childhood hearing impairment, although their development at 3-5 years is not yet comparable to that of children with normal hearing. We showed that the yield of the current hearing screening program is large, but that there is ample room for improvement in the timing following early detection of hearing loss. We would like to emphasize that the aetiology of permanent childhood hearing impairment should be investigated and the cause taken into account when evaluating the development of the child. Show less
