Narrow Results

This study aims to analyze the effect of internship participation on university graduates’ overall employability and uses Korea’s Graduate Occupational Mobility Survey data in order to track university graduates’ employment prospects. Our findings reveal that participation in internships increases the employability of young adults, and that this impact is slightly greater for male college graduates than for female college graduates. Meanwhile, in order to supplement the reliability of our results, we conducted additional analytical tests, including a placebo test and an intensive sensitivity analysis test. It turns out that the estimated treatment effects on the placebo outcomes are of a small magnitude, with no statistical significance. In the analysis which includes simulated confounders, it appears that the risk of omitting relevant confounders does not threaten the baseline estimates.

With a focus on research conducted after Hong Kong reunited with China in 1997, this paper documents how the Nepalese immigrants living in Hong Kong processed their decision to either stay in Hong Kong or return to their home country. A review of 40 studies targeting Nepalese immigrants who chose to stay in Hong Kong found that these families were primarily influenced by: 1) their immigration history, including their roles as Gurkhas in the Hong Kong military and their contributions to the local labor force, and 2) their quality of living in Hong Kong versus Nepal. Among these 40 studies, only seven offered statistics with direct input from Nepalese research participants. Their responses show that the three different generations of Nepalese living in Hong Kong, while contributing to the cultural richness in Hong Kong, have experienced profound social exclusion. This article seeks to compile research findings to define issues facing Nepalese in Hong Kong and offers suggested solutions to the question: How can social workers help Nepalese in Hong Kong obtain economic and educational opportunities to enhance their quality of life? Implications for further research and social service interventions are explored with attention to social inclusion and promoting higher education opportunities.

Improved access to credit influences socio-economic growth. Accordingly, financial support schemes have been used widely as a development tool to help underserved individuals grow and elevate themselves out of poverty. Uplifting women, who are subject to unfair treatment because of gender biases, have been a major target of these programs. Therefore, the present study examines one such government microcredit scheme, the Mudra Yojana, which supports individuals financially to start an enterprise or expand the existing one by providing collateral-free loans. Further, it encourages female participants by charging lower interest rates. The present study, based on 417 female beneficiaries from the tribal districts of West Bengal, India, investigates how financial support has benefitted women in their socio-economic growth. It evaluates the scheme’s effect based on women’s employability and empowerment level. To analyze the data, the study employs ordered logistic regression, Wilcoxon Sign test, effect size, etc. The results suggest micro-credit through Mudra Yojana encourages female entrepreneurship, raises earnings and employability, and thereby empowers them financially, socially, psychologically and in the political arena. The findings of these studies reinforce the fact women could be “active agents of change” and play an important role in both the family and society.

The South East Physics network (SEPnet) is a collaboration among nine universities in the South East of England, working together to deliver excellence in physics. By sharing resources, we are able to add much more value to our departments, students, and subject than we could achieve individually. Our core ambitions include ensuring the sustainability of physics in our region, enhancing the employability of our students, delivering advanced training, securing the pipeline of future students, opening up new research opportunities and breaking down barriers to improve the accessibility of physics for everyone. We believe that SEPnet provides a tried and tested model that could be rolled out by others to improve the academic excellence of other disciplines in different regions.