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Publication The Finnish Education Puzzle: Dissecting the Performance Divide Between Native and Immigrant Students(2024-05-31) Sun, MichaelWhile Finland's education system is often praised internationally, a distinct academic divide exists between native Finnish students and their immigrant counterparts. This research combines quantitative analysis of national exam results—specifically those of the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)—with qualitative feedback from educators and immigrant student experiences. The study identifies key factors contributing to this divide, including socio-economic differences, language barriers, and family and cultural dynamics. The findings emphasize the need for more inclusive educational strategies and suggest tailored interventions to ensure that all students in the Finnish education system have equal opportunities for success.Publication Qualitative case study evaluation of hospital-led implementation of mobile reproductive & child health clinics in The Gambia: barriers, facilitators, and actionable improvements(2022-01-01) Patel, Ashna JRapid-cycle evaluation and implementation improvement of community health interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are systemically constrained by methodological and resource limitations. In this paper, we present and pilot an adapted approach using a modified version of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to identify barriers, facilitators, and actionable areas of implementation improvement of mobile rural reproductive and child health (RCH) clinics conducted by a major public hospital in The Gambia. We conducted site observations of RCH clinics (n=7), surveys of community health workers (n=5), and semi-structured interviews with relevant hospital staff (n=5) to obtain thick qualitative data for our analysis. In turn, we identified 28 facilitators and 47 barriers across 29 CFIR constructs, each informing an actionable finding for rural RCH delivery implementation improvement. We believe that with further testing and refinement, this approach can have widespread application for timely assessment and improvement of community health intervention implementation in LMICs.Publication Comparing the Mental Health Care Policies and Economic Effects in Australia and the United States: Implementing the “headspace” Centre Model(2022-01-01) Michelutti, Catherine JThe prevalence of mental and behavioral health problems is currently high in most, if not all, countries. In the U.S. and elsewhere we have seen the impact of an increasingly stressful time, as we live through the pandemic, social unrest, war, and divisive politics. Costs of mental health problems include not only the direct expense of treatment but also indirect costs of loss of productivity and the impacts on society, including substance abuse, family dysfunction, homelessness, crime, etc. The headspace model, which originated in Australia, is a new approach for addressing mental health issues for adolescents and young adults. After almost two decades in operation, this model has demonstrated an encouraging degree of success. Because of the positive results from Australia, several other countries have tried (or are trying) to adopt the same model, typically focused on the youth. This paper aims at exploring how the new Australian approach to mental health care might be applied more broadly across the population, and specifically, how the headspace model might be an example for designing services for adults in the U.S. Why focus on adults? Because their disorders are more likely to be more deeply embedded, they have more direct impacts on the economy and the community, and they do not have a safety net of a school system or parental influence.Publication The Financial and Economic Inclusion of Migrant Workers in Japan: A Case Study of the Technical Intern Training Program in Hokkaido(2022-01-01) Shimanuki, StacyAlthough the overall situation of migrant workers (TITPs) in Japan is relatively better than their counterparts in other regions of Asia due to higher regulation of migration, salary, and working conditions, there are still many issues to be addressed. The three main pain points of unstable salary, high debt, and lack of job standardization or mobility are largely due to a misleading history and structure of the TITP system in the first place, as well as an unnecessary and often abusive multi-level broker system. To resolve these root issues, this paper advocates for an eradication of secondary brokers, as well as an overhaul of most of the TITP system to the newly-created and much more stable Special Visa system, which would require the Japanese public to first learn to accept and embrace migrant workers as a necessary addition to Japanese society — not to mention, as fellow human beings with families to provide for and life dreams to pursue.Publication Addressing the Urban Planning Gender Divide: An Analysis of Urban Transport and Female Mobility(2021-01-01) Sane, Samidha MTransportation is the lifeblood of every city, serving as the initial point of contact for practically every individual seeking healthcare, employment, or education. Despite significant progress in recent decades, women still encounter significant disparities which shape their transportation behavior and experiences as well as their access to opportunities. Analyzing current literature on gender and mobility and conducting case studies and expert interviews, this paper aims to identify the key barriers to progress and recommend innovative solutions to community members and stakeholders. The findings give insights on how to address the urban planning gender divide and its implications on society at large.Publication Financial Inclusion of Migrant Workers in Singapore(2021-01-01) Shimanuki, StacySingapore is one of the largest hosting countries of migrant workers in the world, with up to 1.4 million migrant workers, mainly hailing from Southeast Asian countries with less opportunities for high-paying employment like the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. This population, and the remittances they send, are crucial to the economies of both the host country and the home country, not to mention the individual families that rely on the steady incomes earned abroad and sent home. Historically, migrant workers (MWs) have very little access to financial services; the majority are unbanked and rely on black market providers which specifically target migrants for short-term loans and remittances. However, cross-border money transfer is an intricate, heavily-regulated industry with many actors, and recently is gaining much attention given the increasing financial transactions each year and subsequent profit opportunity for any who can facilitate those transactions. This research seeks to examine the current status, barriers, and potential solutions of the financial inclusion of migrant workers in Singapore, in the context of migrant workers throughout Asia. First, what is the extent of MWs’ financial inclusion or lack thereof, and what measurable impact does that have on their lives in terms of economic situation and social mobility? Second, who are the actors trying to increase their financial inclusion, what challenges are they facing (excessive regulation, low uptake due to lack of awareness or trust, etc.), and how can those barriers be eased?Publication Sustainable Development in Lithuania: An Emerging Market Case Study(2021-10-15) Vlessing, Zachary MIn June 2021, a group of researchers from ESG analytics firm Impact Cubed published research that analyzed country level progress in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals form the international standard on 21st century development, advancing economic, social, environmental, and democratic values. Utilizing a pathway analysis to track a country's trajectory in achieving the goals, this groundbreaking study found that Lithuania has the strongest pathway towards Sustainable Development in the world. To understand both what has driven this progress and what can be done to further capitalize on their success, field research was conducted in Lithuania with first-hand accounts from Lithuanian leaders. Representatives from government ministries, impact-oriented businesses, non-governmental organizations, and national publications all contributed to these findings. DRIVERS OF PROGRESS 8 key drivers are identified as contributing to Lithuania’s position as a leader in SDG progress. These insights can be broken down into 3 main categories: Geographical Position, Political Situation, and Progressive Business Ecosystem Geographical Position Resource Rich - Lithuanian large forests and fresh water sources provide climate benefits and minimize the risk of over exploitation Nordic Influence - Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark are bringing influence and investment that are shaping Lithuanian practices in their image Energy Independence from Russia - New connection to European power grids have made Lithuanian energy more sustainable and affordable Political Situation European Union Support-Green New Deal and Sustainability Reporting from the EU is rapidly affecting how politicians and businesses view the climate crisis Domestic Political Support - Policies targeting various SDGs such as plastic waste, alcoholism, and forest coverage have proved to be effective in developing a more progressive society Progressive Business Ecosystem Emergence of Corporate Sustainability-Increased consumer demand for impact-oriented products is shifting companies towards maximizing social impact as well as profit Growing Entrepreneurial Hub - Favorable business regulation is causing foreign nationals to return home and attracting top talent to develop new ideas Rise of Impact Financing-Success of Green Bonds is raising significant capital for green energy and infrastructure RECOMMENDATIONS To capitalize on the promising progress achieved to date, 3 primary recommendations emerge: Move Sustainable Development to the Prime Minister’s Office - Current ownership of the SDGs within the Ministry of Environment is unable to tackle the full scope of the SDGs, which run across ministries Revitalize the SDG Expert Network - Engagement from the Expert Network is crucial to build partnerships and encourage lawmakers to pursue policies that achieve the SDGs Develop Institute of Sustainable Finance - Creation of an Institute would make Lithuania a regional leader in facilitating investment into projects related to sustainability and social developmentPublication Analyzing the effectiveness of a Dairy Cooperative/The cost of Milk Production(2011-01-01) Shah, ParthAgricultural cooperatives have been a unique way of addressing the concerns of the producers and consumers regarding pricing, storage, marketing, and other such activities of bringing the commodity to the market. One of such sectors is the dairy, where there are cooperatives in both the developed and developing countries. Amul Dairy, a milk cooperative in India is, synonymous with quality of its milk and milk products as well as fair prices to both the consumer and producer. In this paper, we examine the effectiveness of Amul by comparing the procurement prices offered by the dairy cooperative to the cost of producing milk. We must caution about the conclusions that we draw from this project as the study is conducted in only one village out of the many where Amul operates.Publication Evaluating the Moral and Legal Considerations of Banning Cashless Businesses(2020-01-01) Meng, JamesPrior to 2019 in the United States, zero cities and only one state—Massachusetts—banned businesses from refusing cash payments. However, beginning in January 2019, countless cities and states began proposing or instituting bans on cashless businesses including New Jersey and Rhode Island, as well as Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New York City. Many lawmakers have joined this wave of bans under the perception that businesses refusing cash payments exclude and, by extension, discriminate against certain groups, including low-income or undocumented individuals. This paper examines the different rationale that can be applied to cashless business bans. Specifically, this research provides a legal overview to public accommodations and the standard for upholding a ban intended to prevent discrimination. The paper then goes on to apply an “Undue Burden Test” to cashless payment policies to identify whether accepting cash poses an undue burden to businesses. Utilizing existing scholarly research, news articles, and reports, this paper draws conclusions on the viability of cashless business bans and introduces potential responses to the burden accepting cash payments might cause.Publication Assessing Different Mechanisms of Community Engagement in Urban Farms in Philadelphia, U.S.(2021-01-01) Shen, AngelaPrevious research has indicated that urban agriculture offers a wide variety of health, economic, and social benefits for participants. Urban farms need to consider what factors and mechanisms allow them to engage more of their community to share these benefits. Examining four case studies of urban farms across Philadelphia, this paper strives to illuminate the lessons and themes of community engagement in urban agriculture. I draw upon information from prior research, online sources, in-person site visits, and semi-structured interviews with farm operators. The findings offer insight into how events and programming, marketing and outreach, leadership and vision, funding and partnerships, and physical design all interact to shape an urban farm’s ability to engage with its community.