Understanding the principles and practises of assessment Essay Example for Free

Understanding the principles and practises of assessment Essay 1. Understand the principles and requirements of assessment. 1.1 Explain the functions of assessment in learning and development. An assessment has to be carried out to show that learning is taking place. The initial assessment will show me the learner’s knowledge, skills and capability in the hairdressing industry. The easiest and most effective way to show their understanding is by demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of the criteria that has been given. This can then help me and the learners to see if they have fully understood, and if not is should encourage the learner to ask questions. Sometimes a learner will need guidance to understand what exactly they have to learn, and if they are on track and how they can improve their skills/ techniques. For this to be effective it means that a thorough assessment will need to take place. Formative assessment is where a focus on monitoring the learner’s progress and response to instruction is taken place. This will allow me to observe the learners progress and then give feedback to the learner starting with positive first leading into the more negative feedback where I can then give information derived from the assessment to help improve the next time. Feedback is key and can be given in writing or oral. Learners can also do self assessments to reflect and monitor their progress. summative assessment take place at the end of an unit, this will help me find the right method for obtaining information about what has been learnt, and provides me with information about a students achievement of specific units. This can be done by getting the learner to create a project on a specified aspect of hairdressing e.g. colouring hair. This will then give me an understanding of the individual learner’s performance and understanding of the criteria that needs to be covered. Summative assessment is more formal and can be done through assessments, exams, professional discussion to confirm learn er’s achievement. 1.2 define the key concepts and principles of assessment Assessment is carried out to evaluate that learning has taken place. Assessment used as a progress of making judgements are important, as it helps me to measure where the learner is at, and also measures the attainment of knowledge and skills in the unit that is being assessed. It also helps me to ensure that learners are learning the right criteria.  Learners should know why they are being assessed and what they have to do to meet the assessment criteria. I should not assess the learner unless they are ready to be assessed. The validity of the learners work means that the work that is being produced is relevant to what is being assessed, and it meets the right criteria for the certain level. To ensure reliability of the learner, the work must remain consistent across all learners over a period of time. Evidence is key as it can determine the decision that is being made by me. Ensuring that the learner is doing the work and this it is kept up to date. The anticipated outcome of ass essment is that the learner will complete assessments of city and guild standards within the time frame given, with no assistance and show through answering questions so that they have full understanding of the subject. Evidence should be authentic, the only way I can gather authentic evidence is by observing, so I can witness the learner working. This work has to be produced solely by the learner. Sufficient work is important to ensure the work that is being assessed covers the requirements at that time. Benchmarking can help inform target setting for learners. If targets are not met the learners work will need evaluating so improvements can be implemented. Learners work needs to be current to ensure the learners are producing work that is relevant to the time of assessment. Work can be evaluated to inform current and future practise. Assessment has to remain fair, consistent and valid, to ensure all learners have equal and fair chance of receiving fair assessment. By following the awarding bodys criteria, when all judgements are made about a learner’s performance, it will ensure all assessment is marked to the same criteria to be fair with learners. My own interpretation and understanding of assessment requirements is important. It includes the transparency of making sure everyone who is involved in the assessment process clearly understands what is expected, and can see there is nothing untoward taking place. It is key that I am honest and open with the learners so they do not feel that they have achieved more than they have whilst under assessments. 1.3 explain the responsibilities of the assessor. My main role as an assessor will be to plan and carry out assessment according to the requirements of the qualification and specification of city and guilds. One of my responsibilities is to decide if an assignment having  been completed by the learner has reached the required standard, if it falls short of this then it is my responsibility to assist the learner in the understanding of the subject. To safeguard against standards failing my evaluation is then checked by and I.V, assessing both learner and myself. We both must maintain and improve the assessment process as they will then be assessed by an E.V. During planning my assessments for the learner it needs to be consistent and fair. I need to take into account individual needs of learners. An assessment could be an observation, test or questioning and when devising my own assessment I need to make sure it is at a level of achievements of that learner. There should always be a reason for my assessment, so then I can find out if the learner is ready to progress further. It is important I communicate with the learners so I can inspire and motivate them. I also need to provide feedback to the learners so that they can improve where needed. I should always remain professional and know my boundaries, not getting too friendly. Also I should be fair and ethical towards the learners with no favouritism. While carrying out assessments I need to make a right decision and be fair towards the learners.

Famous Thinkers Essay Example for Free

Famous Thinkers Essay There are many famous thinkers that have lived on this earth who have made significant changes to everyones lives. A couple famous thinkers stand out amongst them all. These two are Mr. Bill Gates and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Their contributions society have been great and were based off of their personal, social and political environments. They had both sought to solve problems or issues that people faced and they were able to provide solutions and implement them. The solutions they provided all followed a creative process, which will be compared to each other, and their ideas will be critiqued to discuss what they could have done differently. Contributions to Society Mr. Bill Gates and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have both contributed to society in different ways. Bill Gates had gained immense wealth through the creation and sales of Microsoft Windows, and he is using this wealth for philanthropic reasons. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contributes to societies throughout the world. Their contributions range from providing vaccines in Africa, to financial services for the poor in the United States. These contributions affect society as they provide better health by helping prevent illness and helping better the lives of those less fortunate. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lead the change in gaining equal civil rights for African Americans by using nonviolent civil disobedience. The Environment Mr Bill Gates and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived in different environments which attributed to their creativity in solving problems or issues. Bill Gates was raised in a financially responsible family, and attended a preparatory school which allowed him to focus on computer programming. This environment allowed Bill Gates to excel in what he loved and create the Microsoft organization. Bill Gates gained enormous wealth through his creation of Microsoft, which he now uses for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived in a rough environment. He grew up where African Americans where considered a lesser person and were segregated because of their race. This eventually lead Martin Luther King Jr. to take lead in the civil rights movement, which brought him to direct the march on Washington, D.C and give his I Have a Dream speech. Solving Problems or Issues Mr. Bill Gates and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. both address issues in society. Bill Gates addresses issues across the world, where Martin Luther King Jr. addresses civil rights issues in the United States. Bill Gates, through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, currently aids in numerous issues throughout the world. Some of the more widely known issues are support for better education in the United States, and contributions to providing vaccinations in Africa. The issues that Bill Gates seeks to solve is poor education in the United States and to prevent disease and death in developing countries. Martin Luther King Jr. had addressed the civil rights issues to help gain equal rights for African Americans in the United States by use of nonviolent civil disobedience. Solutions The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation works through funding other non-profit organizations working towards the common goal of helping impoverished people, providing health services in developing countries, and helping better the education system in the United States. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a solution to bring the people together and spread the word of equal civil rights through speech, and motivation. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at several different venues through the United States prior to the I Have a Dream speech in Washington, D.C. At the I Have a Dream speech, over 250,000 people attended and marched, showing non-violent civil disobedience. (The Nobel Foundation, 1964). Comparing the Creative Processes Bill Gates creative process was very simple in the fact that he has money, and wants to do good with it. His process was to create the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, find non-profit organizations that share a common goal, support them financially and repeat the process. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a more complex creative process, where he had to bring the African American people together and get the leaders of the United States to listen. Martin Luther King Jr. began by traveling the United States, speaking where civil rights of African Americans where being denied. Through his speeches and travel, he brought together the African American people and accomplished the goal of gaining equal civil rights (The Nobel Foundation, 1964). Critique of Ideas The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation can take an active role in their philanthropic ideals. The foundation currently supports other non-profit organizations that work toward the foundations goals. If Bill Gates could turn the foundation around and actively work towards their goals by doing something themselves, they may achieve greater success as other organization seeking support can follow their lead. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. should not have done anything different. His motives of showing the world that the African American people are humans too, and deserve equal civil rights was conducted in a non-violent manner and accomplished his goal to gain equal civil rights. Conclusion Mr. Bill Gates and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. have provided great contributions to society across the world and in the United States. Their environments helped bring about this desire to contribute as they had both sought to solve problems or issues faced by society. The solutions they provided all followed a creative process, which Bill Gates could have done a better job at and Martin Luther King Jr. couldnt have done better. References Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ King, M. L. (2003). I HAVE A DREAM. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/394023549?accountid=35812. Ruggiero, V. R. (2009). The art of thinking: A guide to critical and creative thought (9th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Longman. The Nobel Foundation. (1964). Martin Luther King Jr. Biographical. Retrieved from http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html

The Focus Of The Foreign Affairs Politics Essay

The Focus Of The Foreign Affairs Politics Essay The Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Wisma Putra as it is commonly known has been mandated to pursue the nations foreign policy in accordance with the Federal Constitution of Malaysia with the objective of protecting and promoting the nations interest at the international level. Malaysias foreign policy is premised on establishing close and friendly relations with countries in the community of nations.   It will continue to respect the internal affairs of other nations and advocate a policy of non-interference recognizing the sovereignty of nations. Since Malaysias independence in 1957 till today, the vision of our foreign policy remains consistent that is to safeguard Malaysias national interests as well as contribute towards a just and equitable community of nations.   This is achieved through upholding the countrys sovereignty and promoting universal peace; fostering friendly relations with foreign countries and protecting Malaysias interests in the regional and international arena.   In other words, Malaysia will continue to consolidate its relations with other countries and international organisations, both at the regional and international level. In line with the objectives of promoting and protecting Malaysian national interest abroad, the Ministry has established a total of 105 missions in 83 countries and appointed 53 Honorary Consuls who provide support and assistance in promoting Malaysias interest abroad. Since the independence of Malaya in 1957, the nations foreign policy has gone through several phases of significant transition with different emphases under five previous premierships.   The policy has been largely determined by the established national characteristics and succession of political leadership as well as by the dynamic regional and international environment. Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia held a markedly anti-Communist and pro-Western posture as the era saw the country threatened by the Communist insurgency.   The foreign policy during Tunkus time had to take into consideration the bipolar power struggle between opposing ideas of democracy and communism. Under the stewardship of Malaysias second premier Tun Abdul Razak, Malaysias foreign policy began to shift towards non-alignment and internationalism with Malaysia joining the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). A period of consolidation ensued under Tun Hussein Onn with ASEAN becoming the cornerstone of Malaysias foreign policy following the collapse of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) in 1975, the withdrawal of the US military presence from Southeast Asia and the invasion of Kampuchea (now Cambodia) by Vietnam. During the premiership of Tun Dr. Mahathir in 1981, Malaysia began opening its doors to foster relations with more nations and became a symbol of a rising developing country.   Under Tun Mahathirs tenure, the nations foreign policy began adopting a much greater economic orientation in the countrys external relations while championing the rights, interests and aspirations of developing countries.   This approach led to the advocacy of the South-South Cooperation, a more proactive role in the G-77, the establishment of the G-15 and saw the Look East Policy being instituted.   This shift to the East greatly influenced Malaysias economic development.   Malaysia became the voice of the developing world and was a role model for many developing countries as it become well known for its active stance at the UN and other international conferences.   Malaysias participation in peacekeeping missions under the UN is also a testimony of the nations seriousness in instilling the will of the international community.   Since 1960, Malaysia has committed troops to Republic of Congo, Bosnia Herzegovina, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Western Sahara, Iraq, Timor Leste and Lebanon. The fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi continued to ensure that Malaysia was active in the international arena.   During his tenure, Malaysia played an instrumental role in the formulation and adoption of the ASEAN Charter which has been ratified by all ASEAN member states and subsequently entered into force on 15th December 2008.  During this period, Malaysia was also active in expanding the focus of OIC from being an organisation focused solely on political issues into one which focuses on the socio-economic development of Islamic countries.   The Islam Hadhari concept which promotes a form of civilisational Islam was also introduced by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and was accepted and recognised by the OIC member states at the 3rd Special Summit of OIC at Makkah in December 2005. Under the leadership of Prime Minister YAB Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak, Malaysia will continue to project a forward-looking and pragmatic foreign policy whilst continuing to facilitate trade, attract foreign investment as well as project Malaysia as a stable and peaceful country. Upon taking office in April 2009, the Prime Minister also stressed that Malaysias foreign policy under his administration would be shaped significantly by the 1Malaysia: People First, Performance Now concept. Among the key elements of the 1Malaysia concept is in realising the strength of Malaysia lies in its diversity.   This concept bodes well with the main vision of Malaysias Foreign Policy that is to protect and promote interests abroad and at the same time responsibly and effectively contribute towards the building of a fair and just world.   Dato Sri Najib believes that the interconnectedness of nations in the world means that Malaysia would benefit in applying 1Malaysia in its efforts in diplomacy and foreign relations. Synonymous with the 1Malaysia concept, Malaysia will continue to maintain close relations with all countries in the world and will continue to work with like-minded nations in pursuing national interest. YAB PM also introduced the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) that identified Key Results Area (KRAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the Ministry as a promise of commitment by the Government to the rakyat.   In line with this, the Ministry has identified 14 Key Performance Indicators to measure the success of the Ministry. The KRAs of the Ministry are as follows: a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Protection and promotion of Malaysias interests bilaterally, regionally and internationally through proactive diplomacy; b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Realisation of an ASEAN Community by 2015 via the ASEAN Political Security Community Blueprint, ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint and ASEAN Social Cultural Blueprint; c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Enhancing Malaysias standing in the international community particularly in the framework of 1Malaysia in an ever changing geopolitical scenario; and d.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Provision of prompt and effective services locally and abroad. Malaysia has also maintained excellent relations with other countries, bilaterally and multilaterally through existing regional and international mechanisms of ASEAN, UN and other organisations which we are a member of. Malaysias foreign policy is structured upon a framework of bilateralism, regionalism and multilateralism where its outreach is likening to a pattern of concentric circles.   ASEAN forms the core priority of Malaysias current foreign policy, in consideration of our neighbours as our closest allies.   Looking further afield, as a country with a strong Muslim majority, Malaysia also gives importance to the solidarity of the Ummah and the spirit of cooperation among the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).   Malaysias status as a developing nation makes it imperative for the country to engage actively in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Commonwealth, Group of Seventy Seven (G77), Developing Eight (D8), Asia Middle East Dialogue (AMED), Far East Asia Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).   No less important is the countrys continued active participation in the Commonwealth, the United Nations and other international organisations.   Through these organisations, Malaysia has sought to promote the South-South Cooperation among the developing countries and the Muslim world.   Malaysia also advocates the Prosper thy neighbour policy to enhance economic relations and cooperation with its neighbouring countries through Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMTGT) and other entities. Malaysia will continue to play a significant role in the various multilateral issues that affect our interests.   These issues include disarmament, counter terrorism, trafficking in persons, climate change and environmental issues.  Ã‚   As a member of the UN, Malaysia is a firm believer of international peace and security and an upholder of international law.   Malaysias election as the President of United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for 2010 and the Chairmanship of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were a further testimony of Malaysias positive international image. Malaysia will also continue to engage with like-minded nations, both in the region and beyond in ensuring its sovereignty and economic well being are preserved and protected.   Malaysia will continue with the principles of engagement and cooperation rather than isolationism and unilateral action.  Trade and investment opportunities will continue to be explored with our traditional trading partners and at the same time to develop strategic partnerships for trade and investment with countries in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and other parts of Asia. In the decade leading up to 2020, Malaysia would have to deal with great changes in the global environment whilst improving and upgrading the countrys domestic conditions.   In recognising this challenge, it is vital that Malaysias foreign policy continues to focus on protecting national interests while responsibly and effectively contributing towards the building of a fair and just world. The fundamental principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect for territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of disputes as well as mutual benefit in relations are the guiding principles that would continue to guide Malaysias relations with other countries.   Ã‚  These principles have stood the test of time. Indeed, our steadfast adherence to these principles, supported by a consistent foreign policy, has established for Malaysia a credible image in the eyes of the international community. OBJECTIVE   Implementing foreign policy is a complex and challenging task. With the dynamic environment of world politics, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs to be constantly aware of changes and be able to effectively respond to ensure that Malaysias sovereignty and national interests are adequately protected and Malaysias views and positions are duly articulated in the international arena. The Ministry will coordinate and work closely with relevant Ministries and Agencies to establish workable terms of reference in implementing Malaysias national interests and to coordinate marketing and branding strategies for Malaysia abroad. In the formulation of foreign policy, every country has its own objective. In the case of Malaysia, it is as simple as the pursuit of Malaysias national interest at the international level. The Malaysian government will strive to ensure that Malaysia continues to play an active role in international relations for the benefit of the country. Principal emphasis in the pursuit of Malaysias foreign policy objectives include: Maintaining peaceful relations with all countries regardless of its ideology and political system; Adopting an independent, non-aligned, and principled stance in regional and international diplomatic affairs; Forging close relations and economic partnerships with all nations, particularly with ASEAN and other regional friends; Promoting peace and stability in the region through capacity building and conflict resolution measures; Playing an influential leadership role as Chair of the ASEAN, Non-aligned Movement (NAM) and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) (As we did in the last few years); Participating actively and meaningfully in the United Nations, especially in the efforts to end injustice and oppression, and to uphold international law; and Projecting Malaysia as a leading example of a tolerant and progressive Islamic nation. FORMULATION OF FOREIGN POLICY    Malaysias foreign policy is basically an extension of Malaysias domestic policy. It is designed to defend and promote the countrys national, political, security, economic and other vital interests. It is geared towards promoting a peaceful regional and international environment, which would give Malaysia space to achieve all its national objectives without disruption from external threats.    Despite the diversity of views regarding the perception and explanation of foreign policy, no foreign policy can be formulated in a vacuum. It must serve to function in a dynamic environment. Malaysias foreign policy is no exception. Various geographical, historical, social and political determinants contributed to shaping the nature of Malaysias foreign policy and the conduct of the countrys international relations.    Our foreign policy seeks to promote mutual tolerance and cooperation amongst all countries that make up the fabric of international community. To this, Malaysia pursues an independent, principled and pragmatic foreign policy which rests on the values of peace, humanity, justice, and equality. Malaysias foreign policy is also premised on the principles of respect for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the affairs of other nations, peaceful settlement of disputes, peaceful co-existence and mutual benefit in relations. Due to globalization and the rise of powerful non-state actors, such as Multinational Corporations (MNCs), non-governmental organizations, and a variety of transnational groups, it is imperative for small nation states to cooperate even more closely. To this, Malaysia maintains friendly diplomatic, and trade relations with many countries throughout the world.    As a trading nation, we advocate a multilateral rule-based global trading system which would promote and safeguard the interests of all countries, whether developed or developing, in a fair and equitable manner. In this respect, Malaysia has long advocated the economic principle of prosper-thy-neighbor and not beggar-thy-neighbor. We believe that the global economic infrastructure should be that prosperity will beget prosperity. CRITERIA AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MALAYSIAS FOREIGN POLICY   Malaysias foreign policy is guided by three criteria: a) First, it must be a CREDIBLE policy: Exudes trust and confidence from other nations. In this regard, it has to be based on certain  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   internationally cherished principles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Serves the countrys best interest and remain a responsible member of the international community.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   b) Second, it must be an ENLIGHTENED policy: Takes care of the interest of its citizens above all else.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Brings international recognition and admiration for Malaysia and   allows Malaysians to be good citizens of the     Ã‚  Ã‚   world. c) Third, it must be a CONSISTENT AND COHERENT policy:   Makes Malaysia an acceptable and reliable partner in interstate affairs. Succeeds in making Malaysia the preferred brand name in international relations. EVOLUTION OF MALAYSIAS FOREIGN POLICY    Foreign policy is not static. Its formulation is essentially a dynamic process. Hence, over the years, our foreign policy has evolved, taking account of the change in leadership as well as developments in the ever-changing global political and economic landscapes. Moreover, the advent of globalization and the transformation of interstate relations brought about by new and rapid changes in information technologies necessarily means that our foreign policy has to be adjusted and fine tuned to meet new challenges in a globalised world. The style and approaches in enunciating Malaysias foreign policy may differ in keeping with the personality of each past and present prime minister of Malaysia. A critical examination of Malaysias foreign policy since 1957 would show its steady evolution characterized by notable changes in emphasis, which took place with the change in Malaysias political stewardship. Briefly;   a) In the period 1957-1969, our country has just gained its independence. During this post independence period, under our first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, our foreign policy was geared towards the survival of our newly independent nation. Our foreign policy then was markedly anti-Communist and pro-western in posture with close links to the Commonwealth. We were also a strong opponent of apartheid. Our posture towards regional cooperation also began to take root with the birth of ASA (1960), MAPHILINDO (1963) and ASEAN (1967). b) In the period 1970 -1976, under Tun Abdul Razak, as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Malaysia began to identify itself as a Muslim nation. The search for new friends substantially increased the importance of NAM to Malaysia. We became markedly non-aligned and postured towards neutrality, peaceful co-existence and independence. We also began to distance ourselves from major powers, put strong emphasis on regionalism and developed contacts and diplomatic relations with communist countries. Investments from other than British sources began to be also welcomed.   c) A period of consolidation ensued under Tun Hussein Onn (1976-1981) with ASEAN becoming the cornerstone of Malaysias foreign policy following the collapse of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) in 1975, the withdrawal of the US military presence from Southeast Asia and the invasion of Kampuchea (now Cambodia) by Vietnam. The First ASEAN Summit was held and Malaysia signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Bali in 1976. Further emphasis on independence, non-alignment and equidistance from the major powers was also made. d) A more dramatic shift in emphasis occurred when Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad took over as the fourth Prime Minister in 1981. Malaysias foreign policy stance began to take a much greater economic orientation than ever before, coupled with a strong and nationalistic defence of the rights, interests and aspirations of developing countries and the advocacy of south-south co-operation. Tun Dr. Mahathirs premiership saw the pursuit of numerous new initiatives such as: Antarctica as the Common Heritage of Mankind. The Look East Policy (LEP). Championing of the cause of developing countries on major social issues like environment, human rights and democracy. With the advent of globalization, Malaysians identified both the beneficial and adverse impact of globalization to the developing countries. Pro-active and passionate approach on Apartheid and Palestinian issues. Islamic Unity Chairmanship and hosting of the 10th OIC Summit, hosting of 1st Expo OIC, formation of D-8. International peace and security Malaysias membership in UNSC, peacekeeping role in a number of countries such as Cambodia, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Namibia and East Timor. Malaysia also actively championed against selectivity, double standards and pre-emptive action outside the ambit of the UN. Terrorism Malaysia forged strong regional and international cooperation in combating terrorism, strongly advocated against profiling by religion or ethnicity, proposed multifaceted approach in combating terrorism including identifying and eliminating the root causes, hosted OIC Foreign Ministers Meeting on Terrorism in 2002, established SEARCCT to primarily focus on training and capacity building. Opening of New Frontiers: Active bilateral engagements with African, Latin American and Eastern Europe countries, particularly in trade, investment and transfer technology in the spirit of South-South Cooperation. Includes opening of Diplomatic Missions and extension of Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program (MTCP) in these countries. Economic Orientation: East Asia Economic Cooperation (from EAEG to EAEC to ASEAN +3). Regional Development Cooperation Growth Triangle concept such as IMTGT, IMSGT, BIMP-EAGA. Group of 15 (G15) first advocated by Malaysia. Economic diplomacy reverse investments prosper thy neighbors, South-South cooperation, MIGHT, Langkawi International Dialogue (LID), South Africa International Dialogue (SAID). e) In the period 2003   and onwards, under the leadership of Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, foreign policy initiatives were further refined and fine- tuned to project: Pragmatic response in meeting the current geopolitical and economic challenges. More sophisticated articulation of Malaysias views. Substance as a dynamic extension to existing policies. Influential leadership role as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and ASEAN; and Malaysia as a leading example of a tolerant and progressive Islamic Nation Islam Hadhari The evolution of the countrys foreign policy under successive prime ministers reflects a pragmatic response to the geopolitical and economic changes of their times. To be continually relevant to the countrys needs, foreign policy cannot remain static. But whilst changes in emphasis have become a general feature of Malaysian foreign policy, continuity has also been evident. Both the change and continuity mark a higher level of confidence and maturing of the country in the conduct of its international affairs. Indeed, in many ways Malaysias leadership role has been recognized on several issues of deep interest to the developing world.    As a trading nation, we are very much dependent on a peaceful international environment for our well being. Naturally, our foreign policy has to be oriented to allow for a greater focus on economic diplomacy. In the past, when we were producing mainly raw materials for the world, Malaysia had to compete with only a handful of countries. But now, when we have become an industrialized trading nation, we have no choice but to work harder, to compete better and to find new markets for our goods and services. We must find better ways to do business with the outside world. We need to find niches in which we have a competitive edge.    Towards this end, Malaysia has implemented a number of policies that have a strong foreign policy component that will contribute to the creation of a strong, dynamic and resilient economy. These policies include amongst others: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢LookEastPolicy à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ReverseInvestment-ProsperThyNeighbour à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢MalaysiaIncorporated à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢South-SouthCooperation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢MalaysianTechnicalCooperationProgramme(MTCP) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Langkawi International Dialogue CONLUSION   One significant phenomenon that will impact strongly on Malaysias foreign policy as we move forward is globalization. Our greatest challenge would be to extract the best from the process of globalization and to give our best to the system. And in return to contribute towards making the world a much more peaceful and equitable place to live in, to provide leadership within our region and to demonstrate exemplary and responsible membership of the international community. On the political front, we see the end of the cold war. Yet the world today is no safer than we had been led to believe. The so-called friendly global village has not come about. Old conflicts either refuse to die or simply have a way of coming out of their graves to haunt us. In the meantime, new conflicts, at times much bloodier and brutal than the old ones, continue to emerge and rage or remain unresolved. Added to this, two other issues of great concern also remain, namely terrorism which continue to threaten Terrorism which continue to threaten the lives and property of innocent victims; and The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction which brings fourth the prospect of nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare. It is important; therefore, that our foreign policy be geared towards ensuring that more and more nations sign and ratify the relevant international conventions such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and the Convention on Land Mines (CLM). The economic dimension of globalization has been even more disappointing. The financial crisis that descended upon East Asia in 1997 brought about not only social misery and economic disaster but political instability as well. Massive Unemployment, negative growth, stock market crashes and severe currency devaluation have pulled down millions of people below the poverty lines. And now, we are anxiously watching the effects of the possible economic meltdown following the global financial crisis. The severity of the situation calls for the whole business of economic globalization and financial and trade liberalization to be seriously addressed. This is another biggest foreign policy challenge for Malaysia. Malaysia will continue to press for the reforming the international financial architecture that is so prone to speculative manipulations and frequently excessive fluctuation. Malaysias activism at the international front has of course attracted attention and reaction from various quarters. Until recently, Malaysia had been the target for criticism for being too vocal. But this is something that we need to take in our own stride if Malaysia is to be proactive at the global level. Our foreign policy principles have stood the test of time. Indeed, our steadfast adherence to these principles, supported by a consistent foreign policy, has established for Malaysia certain credibility in the eyes of the international community. Malaysias initiatives at various regional and international fora have put the country on the world map. Increased economic prosperity and political stability has in fact enabled Malaysia to carve its own niche in the international scene. Making its presence felt has allowed Malaysia to exercise some influence in setting the international agenda. Being less dependent on foreign aid and assistance, Malaysia has been able to speak up on issues that other developing countries feel constrained to voice for fear of retribution by the major, particularly western, powers. The years ahead therefore would see our foreign policy specially oriented towards not only ensuring Malaysias domestic success but also internationally, as a geopolitical and economic player at the global level.

The Confusion Behind Computer Advertisements :: Media

The Confusion Behind Computer Advertisements Advertising is the key ingredient to a company’s success, so it’s pretty common for a company to go to extreme levels to sell their products. â€Å"There are six basic consumer behavior decisions when it comes to creating a desire for a brand name or product. 1. Problem Recognition: The consumer decides that he or she needs something. 2. Search: The consumer gathers information about ways to satisfy this need. 3. Evaluation of Alternatives: He or she weighs the plusses and minuses of the alternatives. 4. Decision: The consumer decides what to buy. 5. Purchase: He or she buys it. 6. Post purchase Evaluation: The consumer decides whether he or she bought the right thing. In realty, human beings are resourceful enough to find what they need without ads† (Kaufman, 2004). However, ads do as much damage as it does good. Pushing more and more ads down consumers’ throat is not going to necessarily make them want to buy that product; Internet pop-up ads are a prime example. The abundance of ads is not the only problem. Many ads can be misleading in what they are really trying to sell you; Dell is a good example of misleading ads. Travis a dell computer customer writes in an Internet complaint, â€Å"we ordered a dimension 8200 series but we were late in receiving the camera kit. When we did receive the camera kit it wasn’t the right one for that computer, but Dell still wouldn’t take it back because it was already past the 30-day warranty† (Travis of Kalispell, MT, 2004). Best Buy is also guilty of using misleading advertisement, which leads to even more serious accusations. Katherine of Hartsdale (2004), NY wri tes, â€Å"for Christmas my mom bought me a Playstation 2 and several games. One of the games wouldn’t work so I tried taking it back to Best Buy.

Essay --

Dreams Occur Only During REM Sleep Many individuals believe that you can only experiences dreams during the REM stage of sleep. The REM stage is one of five stages that people pass through when they go to sleep ever night. REM is an acronym that stands for rapid eye movement. The REM stage was discovered by the two scientists, Kleitman and Aserinsky (Suzuki et al., 2004). During their research they observed that when their patients were woken up during the REM phase, they were capable of recalling their dreams most vividly. Since then the REM has always been associated with dreaming. During REM sleep, dreams tend to be longer, more bizarre, and more complex. However, this is not the only stage of sleep in which people dream. In fact there are multiple stages of sleep in which a person can dream (Behn, Ananthasubramaniam, & Booth, 2013). In order to better understand how this myth originated, the original research by Kleitman and Aserinsky must be looked at in further detail. After discovering the human rapid eye movement sleep stage (REM), they documented that dreams were obtained most frequently when the patients were woken up from the REM sleep (Suzuki et al., 2004). Many scientists began conducting studies on REM sleep and dreams. They found a strong connection between an electrophysiologic phenomena and participants experience during REM sleep. Electrophysiologic phenomena is defined as, â€Å"the electrical properties, characteristics of living organisms, and the processes of organisms or their parts that are involved in generating and responding to electrical charges† (Brown, 2010). This means that during REM sleep, our brains is experiencing high activity. This explains why the REM stage is associated with longer, more complex... ...g the REM stage. Non-REM dreams are similar to thinking about something briefly during the day, whereas REM dreams are more comparable to thinking intensely about something. The duration in which you are in the stages differ as well. The REM stage last of about two hours a night. Non-REM last for about four to six hours. The intense dreams experienced during the REM sleep is a result of heightened brain activity (Hartman & Zimberoff, 2012). The quality of sleep we get during the REM stage and non-REM stage differ greatly. Therefore, it seems only logical that the way we dream would differ as well. We dream more intensely and vividly during REM sleep but that doesn’t mean that we don’t dream in non-REM sleep. It just simply means that we dream differently. Even if we dream in a less intense way during Non-REM sleep, we are still capable of dreaming during this stage

The Cask of Amontillado Essay -- Literary Analysis, Allan Poes

In Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado,† the main character, Montresor, leads his enemy, Fortunato, into his catacombs, and there buries him alive by bricking him up in a niche in the wall; Poe gives no actual reason for this except to say that Montresor has been â€Å"insulted† in some way. In his Science Fiction work â€Å"Usher II,† Ray Bradbury adopts many of Poe’s works in creating his story—including pieces from â€Å"TCoA.† What separates Bradbury’s work from other authors who borrow works and re-imagine them (Gregory Maguire’s Wicked, Geraldine Brooks’s March, and Peter Carrey’s Jack Maggs, for instance), is that â€Å"Usher II,† in its imaginative way, is trying to be one with its predecessor. Bradbury seeks to retain Poe’s love of the double and the secretive (Gothic mentalities where the reader is meant to be a bit uncertain about what they’re reading and what†™s going on) while adding, most notably regarding â€Å"TCoA,† the things Poe never had much care for: a beginning, an end, and reason—thus making â€Å"Usher II† not only an homage to Poe’s work, but a companion piece whose beating heart lies within the original work. Poe, according to Professor Epstein of the Queens College English Department, wrote for the climax, got you there, and then left; examples of this can be found in â€Å"The Black Cat† and â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart,† where Poe cuts out right before the cops are about to slap the chains on the narrators, and, as will be illustrated below, in â€Å"TCoA.† In â€Å"The Philosophy of Composition,† Poe writes, regarding the structure of his stories, â€Å"It is only with the denouement [the final revelation showing the outcome, or untying, of the plot] constantly in view that we can give a plot its indispensable air of consequence, or causation, by ma... ...has taken Poe’s â€Å"TCoA† whole, just as it is, and made it his own by tinkering at the edges, giving it a beginning, and, because the main character has knowable reasons for doing what he’s doing, a proper conclusion that doesn’t leave the reader feeling as if they’ve been pushed to the top of a mountain and then left there to get down themselves. In â€Å"Usher II,† Bradbury takes Poe’s masked figures and lifts them for the reader (if not for the characters, who need to die because they aren’t familiar with Poe). Bradbury hasn’t stolen Poe’s work, nor has he altered its effect; he has, instead, added his own sly creativity to a master storyteller’s work by expounding upon what was already there. I think that even Poe, who so valued originality, would have been amused by Bradbury’s retelling of his work. (Either that, or lead him down into some dark and dusty catacombs.)

Philippines is a developing country Essay

  It can be seen in the increase of establishments, the growing number of tourists and the attraction of foreign investors and businessmen. One contributor for the country’s development is education. Many foreigners choose to study in the Philippines. They are attracted to the country’s high quality of education that comes in low prices compared to other countries. Philippines is also an English speaking country and foreigners find it easier to adapt to the warm Filipino culture because of this, survey says that there is a yearly increase in the number of foreign students with South Korea having the largest number of enrollees. The tuition fee in schools in the Philippines ranges from 700Php – 3,000Php. For foreigners, if converted to their currency, the tuition fee is cheap. But for Filipinos whose average monthly income plays around 10,000Php – 12,000Php, education is expensive. They see education as a luxury and not a necessity. In the Philippines, the quality of education varies with the financial status of the student. Most of the schools that offer high quality education are costly. Foreigners can afford it and call it low priced but an average Filipino family opts to enroll their child in a public school. In other countries, being enrolled in a public school is better because it means you have high grades. In Australia, there is only one state university. It is well funded by their government. It has state-or-the-art facilities and the teachers are of high caliber. Only students with high grades can enter this school. But in the Philippines, many state universities are established. Because of this the budget is divided to smaller amounts and is distributed to the different schools. Public schools are funded by the government thus their services, if not cheap is offered free while private schools are expensive. Their facilities also differ because private schools can afford state-of-the-art facilities and provide a learning conducive environment. On the other hand, public schools just wait for sponsorship or the government’s allocated budget which is even not enough as salary for teachers. Also, because of over-population, the teacher to student ratio in public schools is 1:60 or 1:70 in two shifts per day which is beyond the ideal 1:25 or 1:40 on one shift per day. Public schools use gyms and open spaces as makeshift classrooms where noise from pedestrians and vehicles cannot be ignored. The teachers try to adjust to  these situations and use microphones or shout. Teachers are also forced to handle two or more subjects which are even outside their specialization. This poses a threat to the quality of education they can provide to students. Public teachers are unsung heroes of the country. They are the ones suffering because of the government’s lack of prioritization. A teacher’s wage is not even enough for them to live a decent life but they still continue their profession. .