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This piece documents the collaboration between a team of four University of Pennsylvania students and seven youth partners from across the Greater Philadelphia area who came together to discuss, understand, and take action toward civic issues impacting their communities. As youth arrived at the Civic Engagement Summer Program, a joint Philadelphia Youth Network and Netter Center for Community Partnerships High School Voter Project iteration, alongside adult facilitators, they navigated the complexities of civic literacy discussions and spaces. Together, the adult facilitators and youth participants engaged in dialogue about local government, pervasive gun violence impacting their communities, and voter registration inequities. This piece centers the following inquiries: What happens when educators consider the self-efficacy youth have with regard to addressing civic issues in their communities? What out-of-school civic literacy spaces and experiences might youth need to feel empowered to use their voices? What are the ways in which youths' existing literacies and knowledge inform the way they talk about the issues they wish to address? What role do local universities have in working with youth through educational forums to learn more about the roles voting and local government play in ameliorating community issues, such as gun violence? Furthermore, this piece considers how these questions arose as the collaborative worked toward shared goals together (Plummer et al., 2019). To address these collaborative inquiries, the team highlights five aspects of the Civic Engagement Summer partnership that enabled facilitators and youth to build trust: sustaining community partnerships, highlighting youths' existing funds of knowledge (Moll et al., 1992), cultivating civic efficacy, reimagining critical civic literacy alongside youth, navigating intergenerational relationships and learning, and centering relationships (Campano, Ghiso & Welch, 2018; Plummer et al., 2019). With youths' consent, this article shares the history of the Civic Engagement Summer, and the discussions and experiences sparked by the 2023 iteration.

We consider two local reparations cases--the Evanston Restorative Housing Program and Chicago reparations for police torture survivors. We argue that the programs are shaped by the differing political opportunities, the local context, and the social location of their advocates given that one was constructed within government systems in Evanston and the other largely by grassroots organizers in Chicago. Furthermore, both programs are criticized to varying degrees as being exclusive in their design and implementation. We term this exclusion a process of deliberative marginalization, whereby some of the most vulnerable and most directly affected beneficiaries of a redress initiative are left out of deliberations and implementation decisions about the initiative's design. Subsequently, this study shows both the promise and constraints of reparations policy at the level of local government.

Growing evidence warns about the detrimental effects of the stress induced by natural disasters on learning outcomes. Yet less is known about how political leadership could mitigate the adverse exposure to these events. Exploiting a natural experiment--the massive 2010 earthquake in Chile--as an exogenous shock and using fine-grained student data, we find that school disruption has a short and long-term impact on students' test scores. Moreover, our results indicate that learning losses were more pronounced in municipalities with a first-term mayor, in contrast to a nonsignificant effect in municipalities with a reelected one. We show that one of the pathways accounting for these effects is the ability of experienced bureaucrats to mobilize educational resources, highlighting the relevance of managerial capacities in times of crisis.

This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to investigate the dynamics of leadership, management, and performance in the context of drug prevention within schools under local administrative organizations. The research pursues three main objectives: (1) to examine the key elements of leadership, management, and performance related to drug prevention in these educational institutions, (2) to analyze the direct, indirect, and combined influences of leadership on the management and performance of drug prevention efforts, and (3) to formulate policy recommendations for influential leadership development models tailored to enhance the management and performance of drug prevention initiatives. Quantitative data were collected from 400 personnel within educational institutes under the Sisaket Local Administrative Organization, utilizing stratified random sampling and a questionnaire with a high-reliability score of 0.978. Concurrently, qualitative insights were from 12 purposively selected educational institutes in the same administrative context through the focused group. The analytical toolkit included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, structural equation analysis, and content analysis. Key findings indicate the appropriateness of utilizing trait-based, behavior-based, and situational leadership alongside Principles of management to construct a comprehensive structural equation model. The performance emerges as primarily influenced by Principles of management, all statistically significant at 0.01 level. In terms of policy suggestions, the focus centers on fostering a knowledgeable and collaborative team, developing leadership skills through cooperation, and creating an organizational culture that supportslearning and development. Thisintegrated leadership development approach isthe picture to significantly impact the effective management and prevention of drug abuse in schools under local administrative organizations.

The objectives of this research were (1) to assess the suitability and feasibility of participatory approaches for the prevention and solution of drug problems of schools under Sisaket Provincial Administrative Organizations and (2) to create a consensus proposing a leadership development model that influences driving effectiveness, management and performance on drug prevention of schools under the local government organization. The informants were the study administrators and teachers who were responsible for prevention and correction drug problem of school, each group of 5 people, and the total of 10 people, obtained by purposive selection. The research instrument was a semi-structured interview. The interviews were conducted during January to March 2023. The research results showed that (1) Participatory approaches for the prevention and solution of drug problems of schools under the local administrative organizations in Sisaket Province of every created item had a suitability assessment at a level higher than the specified criteria and the possibility of implementing the guidelines; and (2) leadership development model that influences management and results of drug prevention operations in schools under the local government organization can be summarized in 5 issues: (1) raising awareness and education (2) developing communication skills (3) building trusted teams (4) being a good role model, and (5) self-reflection and assessment.

The role of the local government within the context of engagement and collaboration with universities has largely been understudied. Employing a cross-sectional design, this study of 67 universities and 78 municipalities from 29 states examines how collaborative capacity impacts university and local government perceptions of engagement and collaboration with each other. The findings indicate that local government trust is the primary catalyst for both engagement and collaboration between the parties.

The question whether money matters in education strikes at the foundation of America's democracy - an educated electorate. Despite decades of evidence that money does matter, the question still remains unanswered among many and even answered to the contrary of the evidence. It is important to fully understand that money does matter in American education, American lives, and America's future and to increase awareness of political and social factors that undermine that money matters for all students to learn.

This study examined the relationship between effective educational planning and teaching staff performance among public secondary schools in Zamfara State, Nigeria. A research null hypothesis was established to guide the research work. The study adopted correlational survey design. The population of the study comprised 24 public secondary schools with 670 in-service teachers. From the population of the study, a total number of 12 public secondary schools and 225 in-service teachers were sampled to serve as participants in this study using simple random sampling technique. The sample size was determined using Krejcie and Morgan's (1971) table of determining sample size. Two (2) self-structured questionnaires entitle: "Effective Educational Planning Assessment Questionnaire (EEPAQ) and "Staff Performance Evaluation Questionnaire (SPEQ)" were constructed and utilized as instruments for data collection. The data analysis was computed using Descriptive Statistics and Inferential Statistics. The Pearson Moment Product Correlation Coefficient analysis results (r=0.514, P<0.05) revealed that there is a moderate but significant relationship between effective educational planning and school staff performance among public schools in Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Based on findings, the study recommends that in order to maintain the high level of the effectiveness of educational planning in Nigeria, the Federal, State, and Local, and Governments as well as other relevant international and local organizations should put hands on deck in employing more professional planners and deploy them to the ministries and agencies for effective planning of education.

Introduction: The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a major challenge for countries, regardless of their level of development. Social branding is an emerging approach to health promotion for NCD prevention. In this paper, the process of social branding is documented as a case study to help researchers develop similar kinds of interventions in the settings in which they work. Methods: The process of developing a social brand is documented through conversations with the project team, observations in the field, interaction with community local members, and information gathered through photographs, videos and newspaper clippings. Results: The social brand focused upon in this study was named the "Aarogyachi Vaari" (Health Pilgrimage) inspired by the "Pandrapur Wari," a religious pilgrimage undertaken in the state of Maharashtra, India. Various stakeholders from self-help groups, panchayat raj institutions and schools from the local village collaborated successfully to implement the health event in a manner similar to the way in which diverse religious groups come together for the Pandrapur Wari religious pilgrimage. The Aarogyachi Vaari took the form of a strategically planned health event consisting of various health promotion stalls, many developed by local villagers themselves. The organisation of the event was aided by resource mobilisation within the local community. Discussion: Social branding can be an effective tool for health promotion in community settings. Studying people's cultural preferences and what makes them feel connected and excited can lay the foundations for the creation of a social brand that reflects their choices and helps them take up healthy behaviours on their own. It is possible to mobilise a community for health through social branding that is culturally relevant and connected to the interests and priorities of local people.

This paper investigates publication strategies of the most distinguished local government researchers in eight European countries. Drawing upon dependency theory, accumulative advantage theory and 'utility maximizing' theory, we compare publication strategies of scholars from countries that vary in terms of the distance from the core of academic knowledge production, also taking into consideration their career length (academic age). The two publication strategies compared are international visibility and domestic visibility. The analysis confirmed the hypothesis that younger scholars are more prone to adopt internationalization strategy which has been institutionally incentivized by NPM reforms. However, the difference among core, catching-up and peripheral countries is not as sizeable as expected.

Researchers have sought perspectives from students, parents, teachers, and school administrators to investigate the educational status of migrant children. This study sheds new light on the same topic by adopting the perspectives of local government officials. Specifically, it investigates the practices advocated by local governments to improve the educational equity of migrant children and the barriers they may encounter. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with government officials working in a provincial education department in East China. The findings indicated that the practices advocated by the local government showed the following five characteristics: (1) the key practices implemented by the local government were almost exclusively related to migrant children's access to education, (2) the local government paid greater attention to the primary and lower secondary stages of migrant children's education, (3) there was no task force dedicated to migrant children's education, (4) although several government agencies worked on migrant children's education, the provincial education department played a leading role, and (5) the local government did not work closely with private schools on migrant children's education because of a lack of trust. Evidence from this study also suggests three key barriers to promoting educational equity: lack of educational resources, uneven distribution of good teachers, and lack of reform of the household registration system. These findings have important implications for re-evaluating policies and practices promoting educational equity for Chinese migrant children at the state and regional levels.

Despite huge investments in the educational sector, many countries in Africa have not fared well in the education indices. This study examined the effect of teaching equipment and teachers' effort on learning outcomes in 744 Nigerian primary schools using Stochastic Frontier and Ordinary Least Square regression. The mean technical efficiency was 0.43 which showed most of the surveyed schools were technically inefficient. Also, 42.8% of public primary schools operate below 20% efficiency level as against 12.3% in private primary schools. Factors influencing efficiency include school ownership type, visits from the Local Government Education Authority Student-Teacher ratio, and school hygiene.

Background: Policy, research, and people's own experience in the UK consistently highlight the central importance of a home of choice for people with learning disabilities. Yet attention is mainly focused on the development of specialist as opposed to generic housing options for people with learning disabilities. Methods: This article reviews the findings from a major research study looking at the rented housing sector for people with learning disabilities. The study comprised of a review of local authority learning disability strategies; a 'national conversation' with key stakeholders; and thirty-five, qualitative interviews with people with learning disabilities who rent their own homes. Findings: The research found that local learning disability strategies are lacking in information on rented housing for people. A national consultation identified a range of challenges in accessing rented housing for people wishing to do so. Interviews with people with learning disabilities renting their own place confirmed some of these problems but also, crucially, highlighted the success for most who rented their own home. People liked renting and were managing their tenancies well with relatively modest support. Conclusions: The evidence points to the possible benefits of a greater focus on renting for people with learning disabilities.

Global policy mobilities have been studied predominantly at the national level of education, but their implications and effects at the subnational level have been disregarded. This paper analyzes Proyectá tu Futuro, the first social impact bond (SIB) for education and employability implemented in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since 2010, SIBs have become a booming type of policy, rapidly traveling and being adopted across countries and policy spheres. SIBs aim to align the incentives of the private sector--the third sector--and the public sector to obtain results while improving public-policy efficiency. However, often it is policy entrepreneurs' agendas and not results or efficiency goals that trigger SIBs' adoption. In this study, we analyze the diffusion of SIBs as policy mobilities and the processes of adoption and translation in the context of Buenos Aires. To this end, we draw on an analysis of policy documents, existing legal frameworks, and interviews with key actors. Our findings point to the role of "glocal" policy entrepreneurs as key agents for the adoption and translation of SIBs, as well as their capacity to advance their own agendas in the context of global policy mobilities in federal education systems.

This paper explores the leadership styles of fourteen elected female politicians in executive government positions, as communicated through the official Instagram accounts that were in use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven of them are, or were, heads of government, six are or were mayors, and one is the president of an autonomous region in Spain. These women are Angela Merkel (Germany), Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand), Sanna Marin (Finland), Mette Frederiksen (Denmark), Erna Solberg (Norway), Katrin Jakobsdottir (Iceland), Tsai Ing-Wen (Taiwan), Anne Hidalgo (Paris), Virginia Raggi (Rome), Ada Colau (Barcelona), Claudia López (Bogotá), Claudia Sheinbaum (Mexico City), London Breed (San Francisco) and Isabel Díaz Ayuso (Madrid Region). A comparative content analysis of 2,330 units was conducted over a 6-month period. The study analyses the hard or soft leadership style conveyed by the women politicians selected in relation to four variables: political ideology, generational affiliation, level of government and techniques used in communication. The results show that the values of the variables affect leadership styles; therefore, the assumption that all female politicians have a single leadership style is erroneous and related to gender stereotyping.

Since 2017, hostile anti-LGBTQ+ educational bills rapidly expanded. Using traditional and critical policy analysis across three Midwestern states, we examine (1) whether state and local policymakers (n = 60) adopted trans-inclusive protections aligned with the 2017 federal "Whitaker" ruling, (2) the spread and scope of state and local educational policies concerning LGBTQ+ people, and (3) relationships between LGBTQ and critical race theory (CRT) curricular bills. We find policy erasure in states without pre-"Whitaker" gender-inclusive nondiscrimination laws and expanded efforts to ban LGBTQ+ students from educational opportunities, spaces, and curriculum. LGBTQ+ and CRT curricular bans overlapped. We discuss the implications of policymakers leaning into exclusion over gender reforms.

This article examines the key role that adult learning and education (ALE) has played and continues to play in addressing the challenges faced by critical engagement with identities and crossing borders in the Mediterranean region. Despite the great cultural, economic and educational diversities characterising the region, the author explores whether a distinctive and recurring pattern of ALE exists or is likely to emerge. His analysis highlights historical and contemporary landmarks (features) of ALE in the region which exist alongside others from "mainstream" European education put forward by such funding agencies as the European Union (EU). While the landmarks are distinctive, they do offer recurring patterns which are characteristic of social-purpose ALE provision in the region. Much can be drawn from ALE in the Mediterranean, together with useful insights from other parts of the world, to foster intercultural engagement in response to mass migration in the region.

The article proposes and illustrates a methodological framework that aligns with the action-research models and utopian methodology in particular, although it represents a more substantial leap forward, especially regarding the distributed nature of decision making in the different processes of research/intervention, and its multiple and systematic nature (linking theory, practice and politics). It is developed through four main phases: i) collective identification of the needs and the object of the study, ii) expansive co-design of the action-research, iii) dynamic and multiagency implementation, and iv) critical and participatory reflexive evaluation. It is examined more specifically how the phases proposed here can be illustrated by an ongoing project called 360Education Alliance ("Aliança Educació 360") conducted in the context of Catalonia, Spain. It consists of a partnership presented in January, 2018, that currently involves more than 300 entities for promoting a community vision of education based on improving equity and social justice. Some opportunities deriving from this methodology are mentioned in the conclusion, emphasizing the transversal role of self-criticism as permanent inquiry of multiple agents involved in the process, including the participants themselves.

This paper will analyze the concept of Public Service Delivery as a Learning Cities in the Local Government Sector. The research has got great potential for Public Service Delivery as a Learning Cities based on the examples of Well-managed local government awards Thailand continuously awarded. The design adopted in the research used quantitative and qualitative methods to identify the most common factors contributing to Public Service Delivery in Learning Cities' backgrounds. The results showed that overall public service arrangements for local authorities for the fiscal year 2022 were good, accounting for 81.92% ([x-bar]=4.10, S.D.= 1.08) . The main points are the development of educational management, the development of learner potential, and the promotion of customs. Traditions, arts, culture, local wisdom, and tourism are at a reasonable level, and public services to promote the city of learning are connected to each issue of public service arrangements. The city of learning policy is managed through the development of policy networks through public learning activities that Knowledge Management and Urban Learning Manager However, analysis to find out. Gap Analysis found that the key gaps needed to be developed: demand side policy and Supply Side of policy Actor is Still very inconsistent. This issue is local; it needs to be more developed.

In this design case, we report our design and playtest of a form of alternative reality, educational simulation that we call a playable case study (PCS). One of the features that make our simulations unique is how they are designed to implement a principle called This Is Not a Game, or TINAG, meaning that the affordances we design into the simulation suggest to students that the experience they are having is real, in contrast to the way the artificial nature of the experience is highlighted in many computer games. In this case, we describe some challenges we encountered in designing a PCS to align with TINAG, along with how the situation in which we play tested the simulation highlighted other ways in which the principle of TINAG was challenging to achieve.

Background: Local governments increasingly rely on sales taxes to raise revenue, often justifying the need for a local sales tax increase with a specific programmatic goal, such as better education or transportation. In Washington State, the legislature explained that a local sales tax increase was necessary to support criminal justice because criminal justice requires more police, courts, and jails. Objective: Informed by decades of literature questioning the efficacy of fighting crime through police, courts, and jails, the objective of this study seeks to use empirical evidence to explain whether the social fabric offers indicators that can better define criminal justice and thus inform local tax policy so that local sales tax revenue may be used to prevent crime rather than fight it. Method: The study compiled a 29-year history of 36 social variables across all 39 Washington counties to determine whether crime is predictable and what is most predictive of crime. Pearson coefficients of determination were calculated to identify cross-sectional associations between social variables and crime variables. An ARIMAX predictive model was then constructed to test the predictive power of the multivariate time series. Results: The study finds that crime is predictable and social observations specific to how a child grows up are consistently predictive explanatory variables of crime. There is reason to believe that the most effective action state and local governments can take to promote criminal justice and prevent crime is to leverage their taxing power to ensure that every child (a) has access to food and basic necessities, (b) is raised in a safe and stable home, and (c) graduates from college.

This study aimed to investigate the process of a top-down motivational approach in university--community engagement (UCE). We conducted a qualitative single case study in Indonesia using direct observations and semistructured interviews with 16 informants in three categories of actors: university, local community, and intermediary. Our main finding is that all actors are motivated by a top-down motivational approach. The university provides service to the community to fulfill its obligation to the government, and the local community is obligated to follow the village chief's directive to participate in community service. As an intermediary between the university and the community, the village chief supports community service because participation will make the chief (and community) eligible to receive grant funds from the central government. These empirical findings provide a new understanding of how UCE works in a country that employs top-down government to implement its regulation at the grassroots level.

The objective of research is to explore educational significance inherent in the rule of law, and the implications of social policies pertaining to regional budgeting that safeguard salt farmers and enhance the efficiency of salt production. To accomplish these goals, a normative legal research design was employed. The findings of the study revealed that the social policy pertaining to salt farmers emphasizes the attainment of moral and mental values rooted in ideological principles and the foundation of the state. Understanding the legal regulations related to moral and mental values can shape and strengthen character and capabilities of salt farmers. This, in turn, fosters compliance with the rules and regulations established by the local government, thereby promoting their effective implementation. The second finding highlights the link between the implemented social policies and the budgeting system for the development of the Minapolitan Area, which relies on funding sources' authority. Unfortunately, the Minapolitan Area development program primarily focuses on boosting fish cultivation and fish catches, which may not adequately address the concerns of salt farmers in Madura. Consequently, there is a possibility that the welfare of the Minapolitan area of the Madura region and the economic security of coastal communities, particularly fishermen, might not experience significant improvements. The expected implication is that the juridical construction through legal education contained in the Regency Regional Regulation on the Protection and Empowerment of Fishermen, Fish Farmers, and Salt Farmers serves as the foundation for implementing diverse budgeting policies. These policies seek to establish legal certainty and enhance the welfare of salt farmers, guided by the principles of utilizing state finances while considering the unique characteristics of the region's potential.

This study aims to emergency medical services(EMS) and their efficacy within the purview of Local Administrative Organizations (LAOs) in Thailand. As the responsibility for EMS has transitioned from public hospitals to LAOs, it has prompted inquiries into their efficiency. This research endeavors to scrutinize the determinants influencing the performance of EMS managed by LAOs. To accomplish this objective, we embraced a quantitative research approach. Data was obtained from 636 individuals who had availed emergency medical services, chosen through purposive sampling. Questionnaires were used to collect data, and the IOC index was employed to ensure data integrity. Descriptive statistics elucidated and assessed various variables. Multiple regression analysis was conducted with a statistical significance level of 0.01 to unearth the associations between administrative factors and the performance of EMS by LAOs. This research uncovers a positive, moderate-level correlation between administrative factors and the performance of EMS by LAOs. Specifically, factors such as community engagement, service preparedness, operational efficiency, budget allocation, resource availability, and staffing levels were identified as noteworthy predictors of EMS success by LAOs, explaining 60.8 percent of the variance. The outcomes of this study have practical implications for EMS management by local authorities, not only in Thailand but also in other regions grappling with analogous challenges. This research contributes to the ongoing endeavors to enhance pre-hospital care and emergency response, ultimately preserving lives and mitigating the repercussions of emergency illnesses and accidents on communities.

This paper should be of interest to the readers of this journal because it addresses a subject that has received little scholarly attention; namely, local government cybersecurity. The U.S. has over 90,000 units of local government, of which almost 39,000 are "general purpose" units (i.e., municipalities, counties, towns and townships). On average, these governments do not practice cybersecurity effectively (Norris, et al., 2019 and 2020). One possible reason is that they do not adopt and/or implement highly recommended cybersecurity policies. In this paper, we examine local government adoption or lack of adoption of cybersecurity policies using data from three surveys. Norris, et al, 2019 & 2020; Hatcher, et al., 2020; and Norris and Mateczun, 2023. It will probably not be surprising that our first finding is that, by and large, local governments still do a poor good job of adopting and implementing cybersecurity policies. Thus, our first recommendation is that these governments must take whatever actions are needed to ensure high levels of cybersecurity. If they do not, the consequences will be painful and costly, as demonstrated by examples presented in the text. Among these actions, we next recommend that local governments adopt and effectively implement the highly recommended cybersecurity policies discussed in the concluding section. Last, as we have recommended previously, we again call upon local governments to create and maintain within their organizations a culture of cybersecurity -- one in which all parties in these governments fully understand and support cybersecurity at the highest levels in their governments.

The study investigates the effectiveness of intergovernmental fiscal transfers for reducing educational inequality in Indonesia. Using panel data of 34 provinces of Indonesia from 2011 to 2019, this study examines how intergovernmental fiscal transfers, namely, the General Allocation Fund (DAU), Special Allocation Fund (DAK), and School Operational Assistance Fund (BOS), can influence the education Gini ratios, representing the distribution of educational equity. Applying the generalised method of moments estimation, the study shows that the DAU and DAK increase educational inequality owing to ineffective formulation and utilisation. Fortunately, the BOS can effectively reduce educational inequality since it is used to finance school operations and provide free education for citizens. The study suggests the need to improve local government spending on education towards more non-routine expenditure to increase the quantity and quality of education. Several improvements are required in teacher and school management and budget planning, followed by regular monitoring and evaluation.

Educational governance is the focus of much discussion among both academics and development practitioners internationally. Decentralisation is seen as a core tool for promoting democracy, good governance and economic development. However, although education decentralisation and trust are interrelated dimensions of governance and democracy, they are seldom considered together and rarely contextualised within educational governance and policy studies. The qualitative study described here used interview data from stakeholders to investigate the relationship between the social dimension of trust and the structural concept of decentralisation in Benin (West Africa). The findings suggest that trust in local government officials is a precondition for the effective devolution of education responsibilities. However, parents and teachers remain sceptical about devolution, partly as a consequence of Benin's pre-colonial and colonial history. The paper outlines the implications for governance systems seeking to link decentralisation to trust in order to both mediate and enact policy choices and decisions.

Background: Many different concepts have been invoked in the literature to describe coordination between scientific and policy practices. However, a framework to understand different types of this boundary management is lacking, which allows 'linear' models and 'gap' metaphors to persist. Objectives: To operationalise the multidimensional 'proximity' approach from innovation studies in the context of coordination work between science and policy and employ it in a case study of hybrid research spaces in the port city of Rotterdam. Method: Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with scientists, policymakers and policy researchers involved in collaborative knowledge labs. Findings: Different proximity dimensions can both stimulate and impede productive interactions in collaborations between science and policy actors. There is no uniform mechanism to overcome coordination problems and different knowledge labs use different combinations of proximities. Discussion and conclusions: We conclude that the concepts of cognitive, social, organisational and geographic proximity enable a fine-grained articulation of the balancing act required for successful and enduring collaborative knowledge work between scientists and policymakers. The operationalisation of proximity for structured science-policy interactions led us to the insight that an analytical distinction can be made between "ordering" and "operating" enactments of proximity. Ultimately, we interpret this as two types of politics of knowledge production, and call on policymakers, researchers, and other involved parties to take this into consideration when organising structural knowledge collaborations between research and policy practices.

By reflecting on the research journey in an ethno-case study, this study attempts to identify the potential and limitations of critical realist grounded theory (CRGT) that hitherto remain unsubstantiated. My research sought to uncover how a Cambodian NGO's rights-based approach fostered people's transformative learning (TL) towards claiming their rights to development and how various structures influenced the extent of their TL. CRGT enabled the elucidation of the stratified realities, particularly land grabbing that influenced people's TL, through the abduction and retroduction processes. However, using CRGT--which treats people's meaning-making as a point of departure--and progressively focusing on the structures through the same processes led to the lack of empirical data on the structures. Therefore, I suggest some measures to overcome this issue.

Purpose: This paper explores a district government's role in using school networks to transform turnaround schools in rural Shanghai, China. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative case studies were conducted. Findings: Findings showed that the C District government varied its power in initiating school networks; collaborative networks were developed but addressed local problems in a limited manner and collaborative networks had difficulties innovating to solve novel problems. Originality/value: This article presents an "external-internal context" framework for understanding local government's role in school networks and turnaround school transformation in China.

In this article, we explore and discuss how the clustering of values in local educational governance manifests in the case of inclusion. Public values and the role that these play as mediating factors are important in local governance processes; however, they are often overlooked in empirical studies. Inclusion is interesting because it is currently one of the most dominant political aims in education. Based on extensive data from interviews with municipal administrators in Norway, the following three aspects were important in their meaning-making around inclusive education: (1) an assumed common understanding of inclusion; (2) a general approach to adaptation; and (3) a broad view on school development. These largely reflected public values, such as equality and participation, rule of law and accountability, professional autonomy and innovation. However, because the values are clustered in particular ways, inclusion largely becomes a practical and didactic issue. This is important to discuss as the municipal level arguably needs to be involved in analytical discussions to enhance inclusive education. Professional autonomy and accountability are both emphasised and may create value conflicts. How public sector values are mediated and clustered with each other should be discussed, as how this is done give directions for educational practices.

Action researchers are empowered because they carry out research "with" rather than "on" participants. Likewise, the Tanzanian government has been attempting to devolve power to the people since independence. The latest efforts started in the 1980s and focused on the devolution of power from central government to the people through local governments. The uniqueness of the decentralization process and the associated reforms in the country have attracted some scholarly attention, with researchers asserting that the existing model of local government, famously known as Decentralization by Devolution (D-by-D), has considerable potential. However, past research on decentralization has generally been disempowering. Using Action Research (AR), this study aimed to explore strategies to empower local marginalized communities, as co-researchers, to identify key local challenges in accessing public resources, notably water, and enable them to take initial steps towards addressing them through existing local government structures. The application of AR suggests that Tanzania has strong local government structures that can accommodate the participation of marginalized communities in the management of water and other public resources. Nevertheless, local communities need to be empowered through participatory approaches to best interact with the local government structures and ensure accountability in the management of such resources.