This collection provides data from an EU-funded Horizon2020 project “NEW ABC: Networking the Educational World: Across Boundaries for Community-building”, under the call H2020-SC5-MIGRATION-2018-2020. The project is led by Prof. Rachele Antonini at the University of Bologna. The research actions in the UK Team This collection details the data collected from the team in the United Kingdom, which was co-led by Prof. Sarah Crafter at The Open University and Prof. Guida de Abreu at Oxford Brookes University. The project was supported by Postdoctoral Researchers, Dr. Nelli Stavropoulou, Dr. Eleni Stamou and researcher Ms Kelly Lambert. The UK team undertook two ‘pilot actions’, similar to an intervention, which used participatory action research and co-creation as a key approach. The two interventions were: 1) Empowering young translators (Work Package 4) The aim of this pilot action was to produce participatory co-creative activities to emotionally and socially support young people who translate and interpre…
This qualitative intrinsic case study explores the provision of supportive care to people with inoperable pancreatic cancer and their family carers (FCs) in England. The aim of the research was to develop recommendations for optimising supportive care provision for this cohort. Sixty semi-structured interviews were undertaken with patients, their FCs, and HCPs, between May 2022 and November 2023. Patients and FCs were recruited through English NHS sites, Pancreatic Cancer UK (PCUK), and via social media. Thirteen patients and 12 FCs took part in interviews, with several participants from both groups interviewed on multiple occasions. Twenty-four HCPs, including specialist nurses, dieticians, and oncologists, were interviewed once only. Data were analysed thematically using the Framework Approach. Fitch’s Framework for conceptualising patient and FC’s supportive care needs (1994) was used as the theoretical framework for the study. The findings show that the rapid progression of the disease and the sympt…
Neurons are unique in their capacity to build complex systems of information transfer, which comes as a product of their ability to communicate with one another. Neuronal communication occurs at biological structures known as synapses the majority of which are chemical. Chemical synapses comprise a presynaptic neuron, which releases molecular messengers such as neurotransmitters, and a postsynaptic cell, which receives these messages and respond appropriately. To perform its specific role the presynapse utilises a distinct set of proteins at a site known as the active zone, which dictates the location and timing of neurotransmitter release. These active zone functions are thought to revolve around a central protein scaffold, which is visible under electron microscopy as a structure known as the dense projection. While several of the proteins localised to these structures are known, the removal of individual components typically has limited effect on the formation of the presynaptic active zone scaffold/ dense…
Introduction: Nursing students internationally entered challenging clinical placements during COVID-19. Lessons learnt could inform nurse education planning, particularly in preparation to implement future workforce plans. Aim: This study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on nursing students undertaking clinical placements across the UK, particularly the extent to which nursing education prior to and during COVID-19 had prepared them for placements, and to distil key messages for future nursing education. Methods: A UK-wide qualitative study was conducted using audio or written placement diaries and post-placement telephone or online interviews with nursing students from all years of study and from adult, children, mental health and learning disability disciplines. Transcripts were analysed thematically using the Framework Approach. A pre-survey collected participants’ demographic information, details and expectations of their upcoming clinical placements, and how well prepared they felt. Ethical appr…
This podcast series from the Public Engagement Network (PEN) at Oxford Brookes University is a platform for academics, across all faculties, to informally share, discuss and contemplate their research with the wider community
In this thought-provoking episode, Dr Jason Danely, a reader in Anthropology of Japan at Oxford Brookes, shares his ethnographic research on the lives of elderly individuals affected by Japan’s prison system. From stories of social isolation and repeat incarceration to the transformative work of community organisations, Jason highlights the challenges of reintegration and the urgent need for a more compassionate approach to justice. Tune in to discover how aging, care, and societal structures intersect in unexpected ways. You can find out more about Jason’s wider work on his staff profile: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/profiles/staff/jason-danely
This chapter explores the experiences of, and challenges faced by, women entrepreneurs in Palestine. The critical review of available literature revealed that the politically unstable context resulted in the transformation of traditional gender norms. The high level of unemployment and poverty have pushed Palestinian women to engage in entrepreneurial activities out of necessity. Nevertheless, Palestine still has a very low number of women’s entrepreneurial activities due to the structural and institutional challenges they face. Although many women are highly educated, they still face numerous barriers to entering the workforce, which have a negative impact on their human and social capital. Women entrepreneurs in Palestine not only fight the difficult political and security conditions but also patriarchal norms and structures. Therefore, they demonstrate resilience by defying their contextual embeddedness while contributing to social change. The advancements in technology and the affordability of using socia…
Background: A lack of awareness of who should conduct research, conflicting workload priorities, lack of research skills, lack of confidence and lack of supportive relationships are often cited as barriers for undertaking research within the perioperative environment. Building a robust research capacity for Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) and Theatre Nurses (TNs) to engage with and lead primary research is critical to develop perioperative clinical outcomes, as well as for professional and research excellence. Aims: To explore the attitudes of ODPs’ and TNs’ towards research. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed nationally between 1st October 2022 and 31st December 2022. The questionnaire received 164 responses from 114 ODPs, 44 TNs and six respondents identifying as other. Findings: These revealed that those with a positive attitude towards research were most likely to have obtained a Master’s level qualification (i.e., MSc) and had gained experience in research post-registration. Wh…