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To explore the nature and extent of learning attained as a result of unaccompanied-by-faculty clinical nursing study abroad experiences and to answer the research question 'what is the nature and extent of learning during study abroad?'. Following the Covid-19 restrictions, international placement opportunities for student nurses are now resuming. In light of this, it is an opportune time for nurse educators to reflect and consider the effectiveness of clinical study abroad placements as contexts of learning, especially in relation to attainment of desired learning outcomes such as personal and professional growth and the development of culturally competent global graduates. This is an important area to research as specific understanding in relation to the extent of learning and variations in learning between students is limited. The study was situated within the interpretivist paradigm to elicit experiences of study abroad. Aligned to this, a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was applied to ensure these experiences emerged from the subjective horizon of student nurses. Following ethical approval, two semi-structured interviews per student (post-return and follow-up) were conducted with student nurses who had undertaken a study abroad experience. Phenomenological hermeneutical data analysis for multiple context research was undertaken and a change-transformative learning theory lens was additionally employed to the analysis to differentiate between the extent of and variations in, learning attained. Twenty UK and European student nurses, who were registered onto a study abroad programme prior to the Covid-19 restrictions participated. Variations between participants were identified in relation to the nature and extent of learning. Participants experienced personal and professional growth and they experienced transformation in relation to self as a person, learner and nurse. However, variations existed when considering the attributes of global graduateness and cultural competence development. Whilst participants changed by expanding their knowledge in relation to global and cultural issues, some participants also appear to have concurrently experienced a reinforcement of ethnocentric frames of reference. Analysis revealed that study abroad offered opportunities for students to experience change and transformation. Whilst students demonstrated learning in both the domains of change and transformation, transformative learning in all identified outcome areas was not guaranteed. Whilst transformative learning was apparent when considering personal and professional growth, less extensive learning was demonstrated when considering development of the attributes of global graduateness and cultural competence. The paper therefore recognises the complex nature of study abroad experiences and recommends continued investigation in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper analyses the extent to which an open access rail freight market has enabled new pan European rail freight services, using a case study within the context of policy. Methodology was: desk top analysis of European Union freight policy, from the Railway Directives, through successive White Papers, to the recent 2011 White Paper; review of rail freight market performance; semi-structured interviews with rail regulators; operational records from a novel, cross-border rail freight service from Western Europe to the Black Sea. Evidence to date is mixed. The research finds that new entrants can operate within imperfect open access environment, facing many barriers from incumbents, infrastructure managers, rail regulators, and terminal operators. Examples of issues are: infrastructure discrimination; non-transparent or liberalised energy supply; monopolistic shunting services; safety certification; terminal access restricting trade; weak or discriminatory regulatory authorities. The research identified key barriers: trust between partners, wagon availability, lack of single European driver certification and access to non-path infrastructure and services. The pilot was successful and is commercially viable, and succeeded in a hybrid block and single wagon-load train service, integrating new private entrants and Eastern state railways. The research identified a research agenda and implications for practitioners and policy makers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The paper makes uses of cognitive mappings developed from personal interviews with a number of European airline executives to examine the differences in managerial attitudes of low-cost and transitional carriers. In particular it explores the extent to which there is a convergence of views regarding the ways various airline models will develop in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]