Accredited journals - the missing piece of your research puzzle?

Quite a few lecturers have been asking me how they can limit their results in a database to accredited journals only.

It is important to remember that you can limit your searching in a database to include only scholarly, peer-reviewed or academic journals - accredited journals is not a searching option.

Some of the reasons for this are that accreditation changes year on year and while there are international lists, countries also have their own local list of accredited journals. This makes it difficult for databases to keep such lists as search options.

How do you go about getting articles from accredited journals then?

To only search in accredited journals, you would have to have the names of those journals and then limit your searches in the databases to those specific journals only. (You simply add the name of the accredited journal in the search box and choose Journal title/Publication title/Source from the field box.)

The list of SA accredited journals is not too long and it fairly easy to read through and then identify the journals that would suit your topic.

The internationally accredited journals (ISI or IBBS), however, present a problem as the lists has over 15 000 journals covering all research disciplines and is searchable only with the ISSN, title or part of the title of the journal.

In other words it is extremely difficult to identify all the journals within a specific topic. It is much easier if you already have a reference to a journal to then look up the title in the accreditation list.

So in a nutshell:

• get the name of accredited journals from the lists and search by that journal only, or
• get articles you like and then check if they journals they are published in are accredited

Unfortunately, as with research, there is no easy or quick way.

Blending teaching and technology

(click on the image to enlarge)

Have you found EduCause Connect yet? It is part of the bigger EduCause which is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.

In EduCause Connect you can find articles and tools to help you use information technology in your everyday teaching.

Most relevant to you might be the topic Teaching and Learning with the categories being:

Assessment and Evaluation(254)
E-Learning(866)
Faculty(217)
Instructional Design(218)
Instructional Technologies(505)
Interaction and Engagement(146)
IT Integration(155)
K-12 Programs(28)
Knowledge Management(64)
Learners(186)
Learning(347)
Learning Space Design(199)
Library Projects(66)
Organizational Issues, Teaching and Learning(19)
Standards and Specifications: Teaching and Learning(16)
Teaching(276)
Virtual Community(146)

In each category you will find links to featured content, primary publications on the topic, wiki's, blogs, communities, events in keeping with the topic, authors on this topic, conference resources and other internet sources and more.

Some of the other popular topics include:
Cybersecurity(300)
Information Systems and Services(98)
Information Technology Management and Leadership(265)
Libraries and Technology(230)
Networking and Emerging Technologies(101)
Policy and Law(151)

Emerald suspending alerting and Table of Content services

Emerald recently found a bug in their system that affected the following services:

- Saved search alerts (for new articles on your topic)
- ToC (Table of Contents) alerts (for new issues of journals)
- Weekly digest.

They have identified the following issues:
- The alerting service duplicated the number of alerts that recipients received in their inbox
- Some content was out-of-date/incorrect.

To ensure that these problems do not continue they will be suspending these services until further notice.

Finally the wait is over!

Well, the wait is finally over! The Beijing 2008 Olympic has started - and it's going to be a great event.

Here is a selection of places you can use to keep up to date with the latest events, results and happenings in Beijing:

The official Olympic Website - read the latests Olympic news, see the fixtures, view results, meet the athletes and teams, view interviews of Olympic greats (past and perhaps even the present), read the newsletter, download Olympic wall papers and screensavers and even play online games.

Olympics on television - SuperSport is devoting 3 channels to the Olympics: SuperSport Xtra 1 and 2 and Olympic HD (only available with the DStv HD PVR decoder) If you've missed the action you can see the results on their SuperSport Olympics page as well.

News on the web - News24 has an Olympic channel, as does CNN.

A new Aviation wikipedia?

copyright: katman1972

A new website has been launched last month that aims to create a sharing space for pilots. "It's kind of like the Wikipedia for aviation," HowItFlies.com webmaster Keith West told AVweb

HowItFlies.com encourages pilots and aviators to share opinions, information, photos, videos, specs, and history of aviation.

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

New journal issues published in SAePublications

The new issue of Acta Commercii has been published in SAePublications:

1. The economic value of the 2010 Soccer World Cup Authors: Saayman, M.; Rossouw, R.; Published: 2008From: Acta Commercii, Vol 8, Pages: 1-14
2. Employee performance, leadership style and emotional intelligence : an exploratory study in a South African parastatal Authors: Hayward, B.A.; Amos, T.L.; Baxter, J.; Published: 2008From: Acta Commercii, Vol 8, Pages: 15-26
3. Developments and reforms in small business support institutions since 1996 Authors: Molapo, S.; Mears, R.R.; Viljoen, J.M.M.; Published: 2008From: Acta Commercii, Vol 8, Pages: 27-40
4. 'Hidden messages' emerging from Afrocentric management perspectives Authors: Van den Heuvel, H.; Published: 2008From: Acta Commercii, Vol 8, Pages: 41-54
5. The cotton farming pipeline of Malawi and South Africa : management implications Authors: Grundling, J.P.; Steynberg, L.; Published: 2008From: Acta Commercii, Vol 8, Pages: 55-63
6. A generic taxonomy of shopping motives among hypermarkets (hyper-stores) customers and the relationship with demographic variables Authors: Dhurup, M.; Published: 2008From: Acta Commercii, Vol 8, Pages: 64-79
7. Factors influencing the preparation, support and training of South African expatriates Authors: Vogel, A.J.; Van Vuuren, J.J.; Published: 2008From: Acta Commercii, Vol 8, Pages: 80-89
8. Day labourers in Pretoria, Windhoek and the United States - a comparison of two capitals and a different world Authors: Schenck, C.J.; Blaauw, P.F.; Published: 2008From: Acta Commercii, Vol 8, Pages: 90-102
9. Employment creation through public works programmes and projects in South Africa : experiences and potentials Authors: Thwala, W.D.; Published: 2008From: Acta Commercii, Vol 8, Pages: 103-112

Call for papers on Employee Relations: Are we having fun yet?

This forthcoming special issue of Employee Relations ‘Are We Having Fun Yet?’ explores the idea of organised fun at work as the latest employee engagement mechanism.

From fancy dress days and team based sporting activities, to chill out rooms, party nights or skiing and sailing weekends, an entire industry of laughter consultants’ prescriptions and methods has emerged to advocate and facilitate the creation of fun in the workplace. Yet, are we having fun yet?

It is timely for a fresh look at the notion of fun at work: what it is, what it does, and what it really means to people. This special issue calls for an assessment of the current fascination with this hitherto informal, subterranean social side of work, and the veracity of the very under-theorised association between fun, happiness and productivity. We call for papers that offer new insights into the impulse to ‘manage’ play, laughter, and fun at work; and also people’s reactions to efforts to contain, shape and exploit the creativity and energy to be found in shared humour and humanity in the workplace. Particularly we seek papers that combine original conceptual approaches with empirical studies that capture the actions and reactions of people involved in ‘fun’ cultures.

Papers may wish to, but are not restricted to:

• Present accounts or data on organisational initiatives around fun, and formal engagement with the social side of organising
• Explore the philosophical underpinnings and the case for and against the implied link between fun, workplace morale and productivity
• Critically appraise the science of happiness movement and related developments in positive organisation studies as a precursor to ideas about fun at work.
• Dialogue with consultants, practitioners, managers and employees about their intentions and experiences in this domain
• Reflect on the implications of the fun agenda for workplace practice
• Determine, whether indeed, we are having fun yet by offering a historical, structural, or geographical comparative analysis
• Consider who fun is for, who it omits
• Highlight methodological avenues for appraising workplace fun

Manuscript requirements

Manuscripts of between 3000-6000 words should be submitted to the editors no later than January 31 2009. Please email by Word document attachment, with Employee Relations in the subject line, to: Professor Sharon C. Bolton: sharon.bolton@gsb,strath.ac.uk and Dr Maeve Houlihan: maeve.a.houlihan@ucd.ie

For full manuscript submission guidelines please refer to the Employee Relations homepage at:

Closing date: JANUARY 31, 2009.

R7b spent on BBBEE and SMMEs in Gauteng

BuaNews Online reported that Gauteng is spending R7b on BBBEE and SMMEs in the province:

"The department is running a support programme for emerging contractors who have been awarded construction contracts, under the auspices of a trading entity known as Impophoma Infrastructure Support Entity.

Impophoma leases fleet and plant equipment at reasonable prices to SMMEs, thus ensuring that they become sustainable concerns. Construction contractors also receive assistance with Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Registration plus free training on business planning, modelling and marketing. This takes place at three dedicated Construction Contact Centres in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

With regards to SMME Development, a total 1 687 BBEEE companies and 1 139 SMMEs were awarded contracts by the department. The value of these contracts amounted to about R4 billion for BBBEE and R2 billion in the case of SMMEs. On the other hand, the construction of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link has, in the 2007/2008 fiscal year alone, spent R1.89 billion in procurement and sub-contracting to BBBEE's and SMME's."

Be careful of the Impact Factor

I've received a few enquiries regarding the Impact Factor (IF) of certain journals.

Lets first start with what IF is:
IF was devised in 1955 to help select journals for the Science Citation Index and

"it is a measure of the frequency with which the "average article" in a journal has been cited in a particular year or period.

The annual JCR impact factor is a ratio between citations and recent citable items published. Thus, the impact factor of a journal is calculated by dividing the number of current year citations to the source items published in that journal during the previous two years.

The impact factor is useful in clarifying the significance of absolute (or total) citation frequencies. It eliminates some of the bias of such counts which favor large journals over small ones, or frequently issued journals over less frequently issued ones, and of older journals over newer ones. Particularly in the latter case such journals have a larger citable body of literature than smaller or younger journals.

All things being equal, the larger the number of previously published articles, the more often a journal will be cited." ISI Impact Factor

But the IF is NOT a way to assess the usefulness of a journal and should not be misused:
"The impact factor should not be used without careful attention to the many phenomena that influence citation rates, as for example the average number of references cited in the average article. The impact factor should be used with informed peer review. In the case of academic evaluation for tenure it is sometimes inappropriate to use the impact of the source journal to estimate the expected frequency of a recently published article. Again, the impact factor should be used with informed peer review. Citation frequencies for individual articles are quite varied." ISI Impact Factor

For step-by-step instructions on how to search for a journals IF, click and download the presentation Journal Citation/Impact factors.

Transportation Statistics

The US Dept. of Statistics has released the State Transportation Statistics for 2007. This report presents a statistical profile of transportation in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Some of the highlights include:

Transportation System Extent
All public roads: 4.02 million miles
Interstate: 46,630 miles
Road bridges: 599,766 1
Class I railroad trackage: 94,801 miles
Inland waterways: 29,627 miles
Public use airports: 5,233 (604 certificated for air carrier operations)

Commuting (percent of workers)
Car, truck, or van—drove alone: 76.0
Car, truck, or van—carpooled: 10.7
Public transportation: 4.8
Walked: 2.9
Taxicab, motorcycle, bicycled or other means: 1.7
Worked at home: 3.9

For South African Transportation Statistics the newest stats available is 2006.

Highlights include:
Transport
The total income for the transport industry in 2006 was R159 551 million.
The total income represents an increase of 7,1% per annum over the income reported to the corresponding survey of 2002 (R121 193 million).
The total expenditure for the transport industry in 2006 was R145 618 million.
The total expenditure in the transport industry was primarily made up of purchases (R48 684 million or 33,4%), and salaries and wages (R29 992 million or 20,6)%
The total number of persons employed in the transport industry at end June 2006 was 235 444. The total represents an increase of 0,9% per annum over the number of employees reported to the corresponding survey of 2002 (226 939)

Other SA transport statistics can be found at NationMaster - South Africa ; International Transport Worker's Federation; Dept of Transport annual report 2005/6

University News from Africa

SOUTH AFRICA: Students demand an end to racism/ Karen MacGregor
The South African Students Congress - the country's biggest student union - has called for students "to take up arms and fight racism" on campuses, for the sacking of the Minister of Education, a five-year plan to deliver free education and the renaming of Rhodes University because of its "imperialist" associations.



ANGOLA: Plans to regulate university expansion
Government plans to open public universities in different regions of Angola should resolve a number of issues in these areas, said Joao Saveia, Vice-rector of the Université Technique d'Angola (Utanga), according to the Angola Press Agency of Luanda.


UK-MALAWI: Project to reduce medical brain drain/ Clemence Manyukwe
Scotland's University of Dundee has launched a pilot project aimed at reducing Africa's medical brain drain, through a partnership with the University of Malawi's college of medicine that will see selected final year students undergoing four-month placements in the southern African country.


EGYPT: Medical school enrolments to be slashed/ Ashraf Khaled
Although he came top of his class in this year's secondary school certificate examinations Hassan Abdel Fatah, 19, is unlikely to achieve his dream of attending medical school. An Egyptian court recently upheld a request from the Doctors' Association, an independent union, that the number of new medical students be slashed because of pressure on standards and an over-supply of doctors. In line with the ruling, the number of new enrolments at medical schools will be cut by 14%, from 7,800 to 6,700.


TUNISIA: Higher education must 'professionalise'
Tunisian Higher Education Minister Lazhar Bououni has stressed the need to instil an entrepreneurial culture in students and to implement higher education reforms passed in February, reported La Presse of Tunis. The reforms include raising the quality of education, decentralisation and improving management efficiency, as well as strengthening the systems of evaluation and allocating posts.

University news from the West

Here is a roundup of HE news from the West ...

Report sets out new vetting system for research staff A new integrity office detecting misconduct could be on the horizon

Artistic licence The rise of digital and conceptual art, and a declining interest in traditional craft skills, is forcing art departments to reinvent themselves. Hannah Fearn investigates

Lecturers' feedback efforts 'misguided' Students need to play a more active role in assessment, an expert claims. Olga Wojtas reports

NO MYSTERY HERE
The cultural bias against serious study of science and technology is rarely recognized as a reason for American students' poor performance, Peter Wood points out.





WHEN A SYLLABUS IS NOT YOUR OWN
Is it plagiarism when a colleague borrows your syllabus and then uses it in its entirety for his own course?





IT'LL END IN TEARS
Conflict between the inventor of a medicine for dry eyes and the university where she worked highlights the pitfalls in commercialization of academic discoveries.


'JUST LIKE REAL LIFE'
The University of Phoenix imports real-world scenarios, flaws and all, into many of its courses.





NEW ZEALAND: Women-only scholarships challenged/John Gerritsen*
In a case that could have repercussions around the world, a Victoria University of Wellington academic has queried the legality of tertiary education scholarships for women. Institute of Policy Studies senior research fellow and acting deputy director, Dr Paul Callister, created a storm of debate in New Zealand when it emerged he had written to the country's Human Rights Commission about the issue.





EUROPE: Researchers told: be less nationalistic/ Alan Osborn
Research in European Union countries is too national in focus to be fully effective, says the European Commission. The commission says this poses a major obstacle to the ambitious Lisbon strategy for giving the EU a global lead in technology by 2010.
EU: Legal status for major research projects/Keith Nuthall
The European Commission has proposed the creation of a new legally distinct organisation for incorporating major research projects so they could operate without paying sales tax. Under proposals from EU research commissioner Janes Poto_nik, the special bodies - called European Research Infrastructures - would have the authority to conclude agreements with universities and other higher education organisations outside the EU.


BRUSSELS: Report on reforming Europe's universities
Since the introduction of the Shanghai ranking of world universities it has been clear that European institutions are under-performing. A new report by the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel - titled Higher Aspirations: An agenda for reforming European universities and written by senior scholars from Belgium, the US and Spain - recommends gradual raising of spending on higher education by 1% of European Union GDP over the next 10 years to approach American funding levels, increasing university autonomy, fostering greater student and faculty mobility, improving success rates and developing competitive graduate schools.











Court Strikes Down ‘Overbroad’ Harassment Policy


Ruling by U.S. appeals panel, in case involving Temple U., could make it much easier to challenge public colleges’ nondiscrimination policies. more


Keys to Hiring Women in Science
Campuses are full of both success stories and horror stories about the recruitment of women to positions in science and engineering departments. There are search committee chairs convinced that they know what worked — and would-be professors who never bothered applying for positions because they didn’t feel welcome.