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BEIJING, August 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU) (“Tarena” or the “Company”), a leading provider of professional education services in China, today announced that it will release its unaudited financial resul…
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– Mobile-technology prototypes shift focus to bystander students, encouraging intercession
– #InnovateAgainstRape social-media launch invites ideas for products and services
PITTSBURGH, July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Amid increasing reports of sexual assaults among college students, the Integrated Innovation Institute at Carnegie Mellon University is applying its distinctive innovation approach to accelerate marketable solutions to combat acquaintance/date rape. Two novel product prototypes, targeted to the college population and designed by graduate-student teams, employ mobile technology to galvanize bystander intervention and engender shared community responsibility.
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The products, coined SPOT (A Problem) and NightOwl, are emblematic of the Institute’s continued mission to sponsor projects with a social purpose. In this case, the Institute ultimately seeks to help reverse what some students, lawmakers and others have deemed a “pervasive rape culture” in America, especially at the university level. Carnegie Mellon has filed provisional patents on both prototypes on the students’ behalf.
Of the roughly 12 million women enrolled in American colleges and universities, an estimated 20 to 25 percent, approximately three million, will experience rape or attempted rape.[1] Intimate partners or acquaintances perpetrate between 80 and 90 percent of such attacks,[2] with the majority committed by men. For myriad reasons that are widely debated, including the role of intoxication, fewer than one in 20 attacks are reported[3] and those that are have proved difficult to prosecute.
“Finding solutions to on-campus sexual assaults is as complicated as the issue itself and education-focused efforts need to be amplified with action-based solutions,” said Institute Co-Director Eric Anderson, an associate professor in the School of Design and associate dean of the College of Fine Arts “Those emerging from among the affected demographic may hold the most promise to engage peers and resolve the situation.”
Institute students addressed the problem of acquaintance/date rape as a market challenge – an unmet need – from a product development perspective, according to Institute Executive in Residence, Donna Sturgess. “They asked, what would be effective with this demographic? What could motivate action in an environment where social challenges may prevent someone from interceding?” said Sturgess, who oversaw the projects and is also president and founding partner of Buyology Inc., and former global head of innovation at GlaxoSmithKline.
Employing the Institute’s hallmark integrated-innovation methodology, graduate-student teams with engineering, design and business backgrounds developed the prototypes as part of their capstone projects underwritten by the Institute. Through extensive research they found: 1) most current solutions put the onus of prevention on potential victims making them susceptible to blame; 2) education efforts aimed at potential perpetrators are slow to spur social change; and 3) while bystanders may be best able to prevent attacks, people are hesitant to intercede, either from fear of consequences, lack of confidence in their assessment of the situation or an assumption that others will act.
Carnegie Mellon’s Interim Provost Nathan Urban calls this a “critical moment” as universities across the country confront this issue. “We are extremely proud to see potential solutions to this nationwide problem developed here at the Integrated Innovation Institute. Products such as NightOwl and SPOT could provide students and administrators with tangible but simple means to collectively reduce sexual misconduct. They represent an important first step toward changing student attitudes and reducing the incidence of rape, on campus and off.”
Generally, university-led efforts to address sexual violence have focused primarily on education programs and working with fraternities, sororities and clubs to curb binge drinking, hazing and other risky behaviors. However, no clear solution has emerged to fully prevent sexual crimes on campus.
“We are taking a long view of finding ways to ‘innovate against rape,’ with other potential solutions to follow,” said Jonathan Cagan, a Co-Director of the Institute, the Ladd Professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the College of Engineering. “Our approach at the Institute offers fresh, cross-collaborative thinking that has led to two viable, action-based tools intended as complements to continuing educational efforts and other solutions underway on college campuses.”
Products designed for a specific demographic
Understanding that the peak rate of victimization occurs in the 16-19 year-old age group, followed by those aged 20-24,[4] the student teams explored solutions that would be comfortable for the demographic – meaning inherently unobtrusive and inconspicuous from a social adoption standpoint – yet be effective as tools for interceding. The resulting prototypes:
The student inventors envision modifications to make the products useful in other venues, such as bars, concerts and large student group/professional organization events.
To spur public discussion the Institute has also established a dedicated “Innovate Against Rape” website, Facebook page and hashtag for social media (#InnovateAgainstRape) to encourage others to share their ideas for new products and services that could prevent sexual violence. Sturgess said the bold logo for #InnovateAgainstRape, with its toppled letter A, signifies the Institute’s mission to help mitigate the problem of sexual assault.
“No single entity can solve this issue, but the combined efforts and skill sets of nonprofits, businesses, academic institutions, activists, social organizations and others can help end sexual assault by addressing it from all angles,” said Peter Boatwright, a co-director of the Institute, and the Carnegie Bosch Professor of Marketing at the Tepper School of Business. “We look forward to engaging with other concerned groups as the Institute continues to pursue resolutions to this vexing societal problem.”
About The Integrated Innovation Institute at Carnegie Mellon University
The Integrated Innovation Institute, formally launched this year, is a joint initiative of the College of Engineering, the College of Fine Arts and the Tepper School of Business. The Institute is built on primary disciplines in product and service innovation covering functional performance (engineering), human interface (design), and economic value (business). The Institute focuses on education and research in innovation methods and practice and is unique among top educational institutions in that it unites the three disciplines to cross train students to become elite innovators, enhancing the effectiveness of thinking and generating results. The Institute confers professional master degree programs, conducts proprietary applied research, and extends its training through executive education, customized company programs and open-enrollment consortia.
About Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon is a private, internationally ranked research university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business, to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More than 12,000 students in the university’s seven schools and colleges benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. A global university, Carnegie Mellon has campuses in Pittsburgh, Pa., California’s Silicon Valley and Qatar, and programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Mexico.
[1] U.S. Department of Justice, “The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” 2000.
[2] U.S. Department of Justice, “Sexual Assault on Campus: What Colleges and Universities Are Doing About It,” 2005.
[3] U.S. Department of Justice, “The Sexual Victimization of College Women,” 2000.
[4] The Women’s Center, Inc.
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HONG KONG, July 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — “New World Facilities Management — Youth Square Management Experience Programme” (Programme) was successfully held. A total of 8 Form 4 and 5 students from 7 schools in Hong Kong have finished the 5 half days experience programme in Facilities Management Department and Y Loft of Youth Square and received the certificates.
In line with Youth Square’s 6G guiding principle, namely, Groom, Grow, Glow, Give Back, Green and Global Vision, the Programme provides students with opportunities to learn about the management and operation of facilities and hostel, deepen their knowledge about the industry and explore their interest in the related job positions. It also provides a learning environment for students with guidance of experienced supervisors to nurture self-confidence, strengthen communication skills and foster correct work attitude.
Nearly 50 applications from 21 secondary schools have been received for the Programme. An Interview Day was held on 8 July 2014 and 8 applicants have been selected by New World Facility Management Company Limited (NWFM) and the Education Bureau to participate in the Programme to experience the management and operation of Facilities Management Department and Y Loft of Youth Square for 5 half days between 16 to 17 July and 21 to 23 July. A career talk conducted by professional social worker from St. James’ Settlement on career planning has also been arranged for all applicants to help them understand the workplace needs, identify career paths, enhance self-confidence and equip them for future career development.
“Youth Square is a place full of challenges, energy and opportunities. Participating in the Programme enables me to apply what we learn in the school to the workplace, and the unique experience and exposure also helps me to further understand oneself and my career aspiration and planning. The Programme is indeed an invaluable opportunity to me,” Mr. Anson Chui, who experienced in Y Loft, said. While Ms. Michelle Chan, who experienced in Y Loft. mentioned, “Youth Square is a very good concept; it is a platform for the youth to develop while providing a whole range of facilities to unleash our potential. The Programme equips me for the future by learning more on the professional and job requirement of the relevant field.”
In addition, NWFM will conduct next round of “Visits to Youth Square and Y Loft” activities in the next academic year. Through visiting Youth Square and Y Loft which are managed and operated by NWFM, students are able to know more about the company profile and business nature, as well as daily operation of facilities management and Y Loft. NWFM’s staff will also share their career development experience with students to let them learn more about the industry. Please refer to the website of NWFM www.nwfm.com.hk for the details of next round of visit activities to be held in the next academic year.
Youth Square has been embracing the mission of youth development. This year, NWFM which manages and operates the Youth Square has participated in the “Business-School Partnership Programme” (BSPP) conducted by the Education Bureau for the first time. It provides a series of activities including “New World Facilities Management — Youth Square Management Experience Programme” and “Visits to Youth Square and Y Loft” to let youths experience workplace and plan for career.
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BEIJING, June 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Walmart has agreed to sponsor the translation of a Food Fraud Prevention online course to the Mandarin language. The course was developed by Dr. John Spink, Professor at Michigan State University (MSU) and Director of the University’s Food Fraud Initiative. Dr. Spink, a recognized expert in this area, has joined Walmart in their efforts to help customers, regulators, suppliers and retailers increase public awareness of food fraud prevention in China and prevent food fraud through joint efforts in the market.
MSU’s first Food Fraud Prevention Overview was originally conducted in May of 2013 and it has only been offered in English. Since its debut, the massive open online course (MOOC) has seen over 800 participants from 48 countries take in the free course. Following the first MOOC, there has been great interest in follow-up courses and translation into other languages. The Walmart sponsorship of the first language translation of the MOOC into Mandarin is a critical next step in protecting against food fraud and improving the global food supply chain.
This two-week MOOC is offered free to anyone, anywhere, who has Internet access. The first Mandarin version of the two-week course will be offered in two sections, on August 5 and August 12. It is especially targeted to be a tool to help food companies in China further strengthen their food fraud prevention and surveillance programs.
Participants of the MOOC will gain important insights into the reasons food fraud continues to be a major issue in the global supply chain. The course will draw on a wide range of current experience and expertise, infusing many real-world applications and problem-solving exercises that will provide a framework for success in the future.
Frank Yiannas, Vice President of Food Safety for Walmart said, “At Walmart, we take the issue of food fraud very seriously. Because prevention of food fraud is a shared responsibility and education is a key to deterrence, Walmart is delighted to be able to help Michigan State University make the course more broadly available to regulatory officials, industry professionals, consumers and other stakeholders in China.”
Dr. Spink said, “We are grateful for forward–thinking companies like Walmart who are working, and investing in, improving the safety of the world’s foods.” He elaborated that, “When we rapidly expand the education and awareness building at this early stage in the development of the science, we can more efficiently establish a starting point and trajectory of our actions.”
“Food fraud has been recognized as a common challenge not only for retailers but also the whole supply chain,“ Walmart China Chief Compliance Office Paul Gallemore said. “As the largest retailer in the world, Walmart intends to leverage global food safety expertise and best practices to help our suppliers address the problem together in order to provide even greater assurance of food product quality, authenticity and safety to our customers.”
The retailer recently announced they are continuing to invest heavily in food safety for China with their total investment for 2013, 2014 and 2015 reaching 300 million Yuan. A portion of this investment has been heavily focused on supplier training and management. Walmart is helping suppliers understand and comply not only with China’s regulations, but the company’s extensive and rigorous food safety policies. Meanwhile, the company will perform additional testing and tougher standards for suppliers in 2014, increasing DNA testing on meat products by 100 percent and facility audits and inspections of primary producers by more than 30 percent from 2013. Walmart China has also taken a zero-tolerance policy on food fraud.