Being Unemployed Can Cause People

Being unemployed can cause people to lose their self-respectPopulation in Indonesia each year increases, also it is increasing the number of working-age, but it is not offset by the icrease in job vacancy. Large population of productive-age amount is not comparable with the extent job vacancy of unemployment, it also gave rise to social ills such as: robber, begger, pickpockets, vagrant, etc. Based on Psychological aspect, unemployment relative don’t have confidence in theirselves, it can be described on several examples : People who have a higher education but have not got a job, unemployment that caused by laid-off-employment (PHK), and people who don’t have any skills and low education. People who have a higher education but have not got a job, it because of some reasons: first they haven’t got a chance, second the job vacancy is not match with their education and the expertise that they had. It may not be a problem for a while but longer this causes Psychological insecurity for them, especially when dealing with friends who are already successful. Unemployment that caused by laid-off-employment (PHK) also trigger them to lose their self-respect. It causes Psychological burden that is shame because dischanged then they hard to get job again. It made them feel supressed by any condition. People who don’t have any skills and low education. This is a kind of people are relatively difficult to get a job either they want or deserve, it because they hard to adapt with the environment and lack of relation. In this case , skill and relation are important. From the examples above: People who have a higher education but have not got a job, Unemployment that caused by laid-off-employment (PHK), and People who don’t have any skills and low education, those are causes unemployment loses their self-respect. As you know that skills, education, relation and environment are the main capital in getting a job. Those not only who don’t have the skill or education as needed but also don’t have any relations or education will not have an opportunity to get a job. So, if we don’t want to be unemployment, from now on we should study hard, make a good relation as much as we can, and handle our emotion to avoid self-respect become our personality. Then, if we have been being unemployment, we should believe our skill, don’t ever give up with our condition, and learn from anyone or anything around us.

Mice of Men

Steinbeck uses different techniques to build up tension and atmosphere in the fight scene of ‘Of Mice And Men’. These methods include powerful images, vivid choice of words and speed of events. Personally, I think the most effective method is the contrast between Lennie’s gentleness and power. I think Steinbeck achieves the full potential effect with this technique, and it really adds to the images in the readers mind. John Steinbeck uses violence in speech to build up tension.Curley says â€Å"Come on ya big bastard. Get on your feet. No big son-of-a-bitch is gonna laugh at me. I’ll show you who’s yella†. This quotation shows the obscene language used in the fight scene, and how it builds up atmosphere. Curley speaks in an aggressive manner and this dialogue shows he was acting threateningly towards Lennie. Not only does the obscene language suggest his fury, it also acts as evidentiary support for how uneducated the ranch workers were.This i s also backed up by the fact that the boss doesn’t swear, suggesting he is slightly more intelligent than his employees, hence his authority. Curley is described as ‘handy’ earlier in the text, meaning he is a good fighter. He also tends to attack an easy target. Lennie is extremely vulnerable, despite his size. Therefore, Curley would be significantly improving his reputation by fighting Lennie, because people would be unaware of his vulnerability and just notice his appearance. The violence in speech is a very effective technique.

Basic Accounting Assignment Essay Example for Free

Basic Accounting Assignment Essay Generally Accepted   Principles, Balance sheet, Accounts receivable, Income statement, Debt, Liability, Double-entry bookkeeping system, Accounts payable 1- Explain the collecting, recording, classifying, summarizing, analyzing and reporting process of accounting. – Collecting:- Data obtained from various sources with the help of appropriate measures is called collection of data. – Recording:- Arranging the data into its chronological form is called recording of data. – Classifying:- Division of data according to nature of events is called classification of data. – Ledger is used for classifying transactions – Posting is the process of transferring transactions from journal to ledger. Summarizing:- This involves presenting the classified data in a manner which is understandable and useful to the management and other interested parties. Follow statements are prepared:- – Income statement – Balance Sheet – Cash flow statement – Analyzing:- The comparison of data in a business is called analyzing of data. For example, analyzing of present data with past data, or actual data with projected data. – Reporting:- Forwarding the results to financial users like chairman, directors, managers etc. is called reporting of data. – Discuss in detail the nature of accounts i. e. assets, expenses, liabilities, revenues and capital by giving examples. – Assets:- The resources of a business are called assets. They are of two types:- – Fixed Assets: Land, Building, Equipment, Vehicle etc. – Current Assets: Cash, cash at bank, A/c receivable, debtors, prepaid expenses. – Expenses:- The amount spent in a business wit h a view to gain profit in the future is called expense. Examples are rent expenses, salaries expenses, advertisement expenses etc. – Liabilities:- The financial responsibilities of the business for which it is liable are called liabilities. They are divided into two types:- – Fixed Liabilities (Bank Loan, Bonds Payable, Mortgage Payable. ) – Current Liabilities (Notes Payable, Unearned Income, Creditors. ) – Capital:- The amount of money invested by the owner in the business is called capital. – Revenue:- The incomes and the profits earned in the business through selling are called revenues. For example, Sales, Service revenue, Interest, commission earned. – Drawings:- The amount of money taken away by the proprietor for personal benefits is called Drawings. 3- Describe the accounting rule of debit and credit for accounts like assets, expenses, liabilities, revenues and capital. – Assets – Increase in Asset is debit. – Decrease in Asset is credit. – Liabilities – Increase in liabilities is credit. – Decrease in liabilities is debit. – Revenues – Increase in revenues is credit. – Decrease in revenues is debit. – Expenses – Increase in expense is debit. – Decrease in expense is credit. – Capital – Increase in capital is credit. – Decrease in capital is debit. – Select any twenty categories from the above and identify a transaction that will have the required effect on the business. 1- Purchased Goods on credit 25,000. 2- Gave services for cash 5,000. 3- Brought cash in business 65,000. 4- Adjusting entry of out standing salaries 9000. 5- Wa ges wrongly debited to Sales 400. 6- Salaries wrongly debited to Drawings 600. 7- Paid to accounts payable in cash 1500. 8- Goods returned by customer worth 650. 9- Withdrew cash for personal use 550 Basic Accounting Assignment. (2018, Oct 26).

American Cinena in the 60s70s Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

American Cinena in the 60s70s - Essay Example This was the age of the mini skirt and the war against racial stereotyping. This era also witnessed an increase in Television entertainment and the American Cinema hit an all time low in 1963 when foreign films gained dominance over the local cinema. This crisis caused intense financial difficulties within the American film industry. Hollywood cinema found its way onto television to counter this slump and there was an increased trend of shooting films abroad because of low budgets ("runaway" film productions).Cinema ticket prices were falling and film production still remained unaffordable. There were no longer the studio bound contract stars and at this point the film industry lost many of its valuable directors. There was a business diversification within the industry as studios like the UA and Hal Roach Studios sold off parts of their studios and others like Disney(Orlando ,Florida) created theme parks within their studios for added revenues. There was an inauguration of the Hollywood Walk of Fame at the Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. All these measures were the effort of the giant called "Hollywood" to stand back on its feet. This was the age of the first 'multiplex' movie theatre in 1963 invented by Durwood who went on run AMC Entertainment, which was the third-largest movie theatre company in the nation. The studios were fast being taken over and merged by multi-national companies soon after the sad demise of movie moguls like Harry Cohn of Columbia. The traditional, Hollywood studio era would soon be history, as more and more studios were acquired by other unrelated business conglomerates. Now there would be a time of "packaged" films and the independent company and independent p roducer. In 1966, Gulf and Western Industries bought Paramount which would later be headed by Robert Evans to give such hits as Rosemary's Baby (1968), Love Story (1970), The Godfather (1972), and Chinatown (1974) . The very famous movie of Cleopatra(1963), starring Elizabeth Taylor as the Queen of Egypt and future husband Richard Burton as Marc Antony was a budget disaster for 20th Century Fox, headed by Darryl Zanuck. One can of course not ignore the British Influences on American Cinema during this time as most Hollywood movies started to be made in Britain due to budget constraints.Examples are films like Becket 1964 and The Lion in Winter 1968. This influence can also be seen in films like Doctor Zhivago (1965) which was about the Russian Civil War which became very popular for its "European" influence. There was a reduction ,almost a complete phase out of producing "inflated historical epics". The influence of the British realism ( styled "Kitchen Sink") as well as the role of "Angry Young Man" - the hero who was economically and socially frustrated fast became a part and parcel of American movies. The era ended with when Jaws in 1975 and Star Wars in 1977 were released .These sequel based films were based on the new formula of Sci-fi and commercial blockbuster reality and nothing like what the decade of 1960's produced and made popular. The term Blaxploitation refers to a group of films that found immense popularity in the early 1970s as they were all about black nationalism and the Black Power rebellion with an all black cast. The reason these films were perceived as exploiting the blacks was because most of these films

Motivation and Applied Performance Practices Dissertation

Motivation and Applied Performance Practices - Dissertation Example The level of dissatisfaction is also analysed from the fact that the employee takes long leaves and also aims to leave the organization. Critical Analysis The issues highlighted in the case can be analysed using the framework of the Exit Voice Loyalty Neglect Model. This model distinguishes employee behaviour into two kinds namely a constructive and a destructive type. It also shows two forms of action namely passive and passive response (Harvey & Wenzel, 2001, p.41). In this case Wendy shows a destructive and active response in behaviour while Tanya shows a constructive and passive response. The response shown by Wendy largely implies negative effects on an organization whereas the opposite is reflected from the response shown by Tanya. The behaviour of the employee is largely an outcome of employee motivation and job satisfaction. Theoretically it has been stated that employee satisfaction is strongly correlated with motivation levels (Andrews & Johnson, 2002, p.152). In this case Wendy as largely de motivated following the promotion of Tanya that led to de motivation ultimately leading to dissatisfaction from the job. Stress Management It is very clear from the case that Tanya is suffering from stress following the state of events unfolded in the organization.

How social commerce help business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

How social commerce help business - Essay Example Social commerce is a process of utilizing social media with the intention of facilitating businesses to perform marketing, buying, selling as well as sharing of products and/or services in both online and offline market segments (Zhou, Zhang & Zimmermann, 2013). In the recent business scenario, social commerce is identified to play an important role for businesses to perform their activities in the worldwide market segments in an efficient manner. Social media including Facebook, blogs and YouTube among others are used for promotion purposes and also for executing business transactions by firms with the targeted client base with the motive of improving its overall effectiveness and competitiveness (Zhou, Zhang & Zimmermann, 2013). Emphasizing on the notion that social media technologies are recognized to be playing a significant role towards the development of businesses, the paper will intend to emphasize on the factors which are deemed to be responsible for the success of social co mmerce in the contemporary business era. Success of Social Commerce In the present business environment, the development of technologies and the rising notion of globalization have been observed to intensify market competition. Moreover, consumers in the worldwide market segments are observed to be driven with modern technologies. In this respect, organizations, in order to execute their business activities proficiently and competently in international market segments should adopt the tactic of social commerce. It has often been affirmed that social commerce will assist business organizations to appropriately target worldwide consumers and maintain long run association with them with the virtues of the minimized gap between customer demand shifts and organizational service deliverance. It is in this context that organizations and customers with online technologies are facilitated with the opportunity of exchanging information in relation to products and/or services in a time and cos t efficient way. Moreover, the customers will also be able to acquire important information from trusted individuals about buying and selling decisions. In this context, organizations using social technologies will be able to provide consumers with enhanced shopping experiences in comparison to the organizations focusing solely on traditional approaches. Hence, social commerce also aids in developing a better relationship with consumers (Zhou, Zhang & Zimmermann, 2013). From a theoretical perspective, it can be affirmed that social commerce is a tactful blending of social networking technologies along with e-commerce. There are certain drivers which are seemed to be responsible for the development of social commerce. In this regard, the technological factors are considered to be a major factor responsible for the growth of social commerce. Moreover, the rapid progress of technology and communication sectors can also be identified to have increased the essentiality for organizations to adopt latest technologies in order to execute its business activities successfully. The government of a country is also perceived to formulate as well as implement policies and regulations with the intention of supporting technological development and Information Technology (IT) (SAGE Publications, 2005). It has often been argued in this regard that social comm

Strategy Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategy - Literature review Example This review will address the major aspects of capitalism in the society in the perspective of â€Å"Dead Man Working.† Mostly, these are the strategies the authors of this book recommend the society should adopt, as well as those they should not have taken in their course of combating capitalism. In this book, the authors portray the world today as good as dead because of the cancerous capitalism that prevails in various states. They recommend that what corporations and governments need is a change of strategy, especially in the managerial sector, as this will liven the dead world. Today, heavy capitalistic clouds cover the world. People are left helpless and have not taken any course of action to deal with this. People today have chosen to work and live, as this is the only option remaining, the alternative to capitalism. This trend persists among people as they wait for the unknown end, which could as well be the looming collapse of capital. However, this is not the right ap proach to face capitalism, as we shall see. The authors introduce the concept of emotional capitalism. This is the new face of capitalism today. The age of work ended, but it ironically adopted a different face evident in the present workers society, where everyone is obsessed with work. This book at the beginning describes a dead man working. He feels drained, and dead. This is his life routine, long office hours, compulsory team building sessions, and interactions with capitalist managers disguised as anti-capitalists. Working today is compared to a living hell. Working is neither living nor dying, it is a living death. However, the ‘dead’ man is expected by his corporation to wear a smile, and a jovial face. The authors attempt to show the difficulty presenting itself for any chances of the situation getting better. The new face of capitalism is hard to clear. First, the capitalistic managers in work places today wear the friendliness masks. Capitalists have become t actful in their strategies, as they even condemn capitalism and tyranny, and employ anti-capitalistic policies in corporations. In addition, they ask their workers to incorporate an element of fun in their work. This is a strategy to brainwash the employees from seeing the dark side of their work and the capitalistic face of corporations. Corporations today propagate the capitalistic culture and this has resulted in somatic desolation of employees, and these are considered â€Å"dead† but still working, as capitalism has squeezed life out of them. Most people do not like their work today. ‘Entering the workforce is like entering the grave† (4). This is a fact known by managers of corporations. They therefore employ other strategies to change the employees’ perception of work. For instance, â€Å"fun-sultants’ are invited in companies to make employees who work themselves to death have a moment of laughter. The authors break down the characteristics of the dead world in order to prove to the reader the state of the contemporary labor sector. Not all these characteristics happened naturally, rather, they are strategies adopted by governments, companies, as well as wealthy individuals to achieve their selfish interests, while blinding the public who will not read between the lines. The main characteristic is the liberal communism, a strategy employed by governments and corporations. Liberal communism embraces philanthropy at highest levels. No one hates philanthropy;

Krean kimchi culture research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Krean kimchi culture - Research Paper Example This is why kimchi is a special dish for them. In America and in other parts of the world, the dish has gained quite a following. By conducting research on my Korean friends, I discovered that kimchi as a culture is getting popular no matter in Korea or America. This is not only because of its tastes, healthy ingredients, nutritional value and its history, but also because it represents the spirit of the Korean people and culture. The world now is full of health products. Their manufacturers say the products will help clean people’s bodies, prevent diseases or sicknesses or help people live longer. Some of these products are supposedly organic while some come in the form of capsules or tablets that are made from chemicals. I find this fact ironic because I do not think chemicals can be good for the body. As for eating organic food, I have yet to appreciate the taste because sometimes it can be very unfamiliar to the taste buds. Hanging out with several friends from Korea, I found out that Koreans do not care for organic food or food supplements because they have their own â€Å"health dish†. This is what they call kimchi. I was further intrigued by kimchi when I discovered that it was being enjoyed around the world by non-Koreans, too. Health enthusiasts around the world have found out that the ingredients in the dish bring a lot of nutrition to one’s body. To find out more about this Kor ean delicacy, I conducted some research and personally interviewed some of my Korean friends. This paper is a collection of my friends’ experiences about kimchi. A non-American living in the United States cannot avoid eating fast food. The country is known for its McDonald’s, Burger Kings and iHops. These chains make eating convenient for the busy people in the country, foreigner or not. Koreans are no exception. However, since the K There are various kinds of Kimchi according to what main

Impact of English and TESOL in the Middle East Essay

Impact of English and TESOL in the Middle East - Essay Example As the report stresses the institutions that use English as a Foreign Language are broadly divided into two categories. The first category is institutions that teach the English language as a foreign language in non-English speaking countries. These institutions maybe international or local in nature and may conduct all their learning in English or offer it as a language course. The second category is learning institutions in English speaking countries, which tutor foreign learners to use English. The foreign learner maybe a student that is enrolled in a formal learning institution in pursuit of certification or an immigrant who enrolls in English classes in order to gain the use of the English language for daily living. According to the paper the discovery of oil in the gulf countries made it necessary for them to engage in economic activities with the rest of the world that were mainly English speaking. In fact, most of the imported labor that was needed was English speaking and th erefore made it necessary for businesspersons to learn the language. The technological advances in the world have changed it into a global village, which has forced many to learn English, which is the most commonly, used language in the world. The internet and globalization has bought on a change of lifestyle changes around the world. This has brought an awareness of goods and services around the world via the internet and media.  

Competetive Strategy - Hansen Natural Corporation Essay

Competetive Strategy - Hansen Natural Corporation - Essay Example An US firm Hansen Natural Corporation which markets soft drinks and beverages is considered for the purpose of our analysis. Soft drinks market is a highly competitive market in US and there are numerous small and large competitors already present in this industry. Policies are also suggested which will be useful for the company in the value creation over the next four years. One of the most critical issues regarding a business is the identification and development of a sustainable competitive advantage. It is much more critical when the business in concern is a small and emerging business where the market is already infested with numerous existent competitors. It has been found that many small businesses have often failed to develop competitive advantage over their competitors in the market. The entrepreneur of the business has to take steps in order to gain competitive advantage in their business. It is noteworthy to mention that the business community never welcomes new entreprene urs with open arms rather prevent the new entries from appropriating the market share from them. Thus development of competitive advantage is critical for a firm right from the entry stage to the end of the life of the business (Bressler, n.d., p.192) . Areas where the firms need to intervene in order to develop competitive advantage Small businesses are unable to compete with the large firms in terms of price as the price mechanism behavior remains in their hand due to market reputation as well as historical sales background. A typical behavior of a small firm can be given by an example in this case. Suppose a restaurant is opening and when asked its entrepreneur about the prospective a common answer is that, â€Å"we will offer good food at good prices† (Bressler,n.d.,p.193). Marketing mix elements can be viewed to deliver competitive advantage to the businesses. The elements of the marketing mix include product, price, place, and promotion. The companies have to concentrat e on these variables in order to gain competitive advantage. Cost also plays an important role in the competitive advantage paradigm (Rothaermel, n.d., p. 201). Big companies can negotiate lower costs and have advantages over the smaller companies. However there are possibilities of lowering the costs with the help of less capital equipment, location, overhead, lower distribution cost, lower labor cost, and lower investment cost. Before explaining them in brief with economic theories first of all we will discuss the characteristics of the market of soft drinks in US and its relevance with the Hans Natural Corporation. Characteristics of the soft drinks market in US In the present situation the soft drink industry is highly competitive for all the corporations involved in this business (Davies, n.d.). The soft drinks industry faces pressure from rival seller, new entrants to the industry, substitute goods, suppliers, and buyers. In the US soft drinks industry Coca-Cola, Pepsi Co and Cadbury Schweppes are the largest competitors. In 2004, Coca Cola’s working capital was around $1.1 billion and Pepsico’s total sales were $18.4 billion. Many small companies are also there like Facedrink, Arcadia Brewing Co, Banko Beverage Company, Carolina Canners Inc etc.( Beverage Companies, n.d.). The market is almost saturated and the growth is small. It is pretty difficult prospect for the new entrants in the industry. Another significant barrier

Scheme of Instruction, Examination and Syllabus Essay Example for Free

Scheme of Instruction, Examination and Syllabus Essay NOTE: EHM indicates that the course is drafted by the Department of Humanities. EME indicates that the course is drafted by the Department of Mechanical Engineering. ECE indicates that the course is drafted by the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering. EEE indicates that the courses is drafted by Department of Electrical Engineering. EEM indicates that the courses is drafted by Engineering Mathematics Department. EEP indicates that the course is drafted by Engineering Physics Department ECE 320 Soft Skills is common for all Branches ENG 1001 ENGLISH – I Credits 2 Periods Theory Tutorial / Lab 2 1 Exam Hrs. 3 Sessional Marks 30 Exam Marks 70 Total Marks 100 The emphasis on English Language is enormously increasing as an effective medium of communication in all sectors the World over. As a consequence of this, the acquisition of effective communication skills in English has become most important to the students to flourish in their careers. In this connection there is a need to train the students to equip themselves with the necessary skills required for effective communication in English thereby enabling them to get a good placement immediately after the completion of their under-graduate courses. To meet the objectives of developing proficiency in English communication the following curriculum is designed for favorable consideration. CURRICULUM: THEORY AND PRACTICE (LANGUAGE LAB) 1. A textbook with focus on skills approach. Intended to develop the language skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading Writing. 2. Vocabulary a) One – Word Substitution b) Words often Confused – Pairs of Words c) Synonyms and Antonyms d) Foreign Phrases e) Phrasal verbs derived from the following dynamic verbs Go, Get, Run, Take, Look, Hold, Put, Stand, Etc. f) Idioms and Phrases 3. Grammar a) Error Analysis b) Tense c) Voice d) Concord e) Articles and Prepositions 4. Writing Skills a) Prà ©cis Writing b) Note Making c) Letter Writing – (Letters of Enquiry, Invitation, Regret, Congratulations, Condolences, Complaint, Breaking the ice.) d) Reading Comprehension e) Content Writing : Paragraph Writing and Essay Writing Practice (Language Lab) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Spoken English : Varieties Speech Mechanism The consonant and vowel sounds of English Word Accent Accent in Connected Speech Rhythm and Intonation conversation Textbook Prescribed: Select essays and short stories from Srivastava, B., and Mahesari, V.K. (Ed.) Modes of English Prose (An Anthology of prose selections). Reference Books: 1. Sharma, G.V.L.N., English for Engineering Students. 2. Margaret M Maison, Examine your English, Macmillan 3. Krishnaswami, N. and Sriram, T., Current English for Colleges, Macmillan 4. Krishnaswami, N. and Sriram T., Creative English for Communication, Macmillan. ENG 1002 MATHEMATICS – I Credits 4 Periods Theory Tutorial / Lab 3 Exam Hrs. 3 Sessional Marks 30 Exam Marks 70 Total Marks 100 Partial Differentiation and its Applications Functions of two or more variables, partial derivatives, homogenous functions – Eular’s Theorem, Total Derivative, Differentiation of implicit functions, Geometrical interpretation – Tangent plane and normal to a surface. Change of variables, Jacobians, Taylor’s theorem for functions of two variables, Jacobians, Taylor’s theorem for functions of two variables, Errors and approximations, Total differential, Maxima and minima of functions two variables, Lagrange’s method of undetermined multiples, Differentiation under the integral sign – Leibnitz Rule, Involutes and evolutes. Multiple Integrals and their Applications Double integrals, Change of order of integration, Double integrals in polar coordinates, Areas enclosed by plane curves, Triple integrals, Volume of solids, Change of variables, Area of a curve of a curved surface, Calculation of mass, center of gravity, center pressure, Moment o f inertia, Product of inertia, Principle axes, Beta function, Gamma function, Relation between Beta and Gamma functions, Error function or probability integral. Solid Geometry (Vector Treatment) Equation of a plane, Equation of straight line, Condition for a line to lie in a plane, Coplanar lines, Shortest distance between two lines, Interaction of three planes, Equation of sphere, Tangent plane to a sphere, Cone, Cylinder, Quadric surfaces. Infinite Series Definitions, Convergence, Divergence and oscillation of a series, General properties, Series of positive terms, comparison tests, Integral test, D’Alembert’s ratio test, Raabe’s test, Logarithmic test, Cauchy’s root test, Alternating series – Leibnitz’s rule, Series of positive or negative terms, Power series, Convergence of exponential, Logerithmic and bionomial series, Uniform convergence, Weirstrass M-test, Properties of uniformly convergent series. Fourier Series Eular’s formulae, Conditions for a Fourier expansion, Functions having point of discontinuity, Change of interval, Odd and even functions – Expansions of odd or even periodic function, Half range series, Parseval formula, Practical harmonic analysis. Textbooks: Higher Engineering mathematics by B.S. Grewal Mathematics for Engineering by Chandrica Prasad Reference Books: Higher Engineering Mathematics by M.K. Venkatraman Advanced Engineering Mathematics by Erwin Kreyzig Textbooks: Theory of Matrices by Shantinarayanan Higher Engineering Mathematics by B.S. Grewal Advanced Mathematics for Engineering Students, Manieavachgon Pillay, Ramanaiah Reference Books: Higher Engineering Mathematics by M.K. Venkataraman Advanced Engineering Mathematics by Erwin Kreyozig Engineering Mathematics by P.P. Gupta A textbook on Engineering Mathematics by N.P. Bali ENG 1004 PHYSICS THEORY Credits 4 Thermodynamics Heat and work, First law of thermodynamics and applications, Reversible and irreversible process, Carnot cycle and efficiency, Entropy, Second law of thermodynamics, Entropy and disorder, Entropy and Probability, Third law of thermodynamics, Thermography and its applications. Electromagnetism Concept of electric field – Point charge in electric field, Dipole in an electric field, Gauss law, Some applications, Electric potential and field strength, Potential due to a point charge and dipole. Magnetic field – Magnetic force on current, Torque on current loop, Hall effect, Ampere’s law, B near a long wire, B for a solenoid and toroid, The Biot-Savart’s law, B for a circular current loop. Faraday’s law of induction, Lenz’s law, Calculation of inductance, L-R circuit, Energy stored in magnetic field, Induced magnetic fields, Displacement current, Energy density in electric and magnetic fields, Poyn ting vector S. Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic waves (both differential and integral forms), Magnetic properties of materials, Paramagnetism, Diamagnetism, Ferromagnetism, Ferrite and its applications. Optics Interference – Principles and superposition – Young’s experiment – Coherence – Interference of thin films, Wedge shaped film, Newton’s rings, Michelson interferometer and its applications. Diffraction – Single slit (Qualitative and quantitative treatment). Polarisation – Polarisation by reflection, Refraction and double refraction in uniaxial crystals, Nicol prism, Quarter and half wave plate, circular and elliptical polarization and detection. Lasers and Fibre Optics Spontaneous and stimulated emissions, population inversions, Ruby laser, Gas laser, Semiconductor laser, Applications of lasers. Fibre optics, Optical fibre and total internal reflection, Acceptance angle and cone of a fibre, Fibre optics in communications, Optical parts in fibre, Fibre optic sensors. Periods Tutorial / Lab Exam Hrs. 3 Sessional Marks 30 Exam Marks 70 Total Marks 100 Theory 3 Ultrasonics Production of ultrasonics by magnetostriction and piezoelectric effects – Ultrasonics and diffraction pattern, Applications of Ultrasonics. Modern Physics The quantization of energy, Photoelectric effect, De Broglie concept of matter waves, uncertainty principle, Schrodinger wave equation, application to a particle in a box. Elementary concepts of Maxwell-Boltzman, Bose-Einstein’s and Fermi dirac statics, Fermi dirac distribution function (no derivations), Free electron theory of metals, Band theory of solids, Kronig penny model, Metals, Insulators and Semiconductors, Ferroelectrics and their applications. Super conductivity, Meisner effect, Types of superconductors and applications of superconductors. Nanophase materials – Synthesis, Characterization of nanostructured materials, properties and applications. Renewable Energies – Solar, Wind and tidal – Applications. Books Recommended: 1. Engineering Physics by R.K. Gaur and S.D. Gupta 2. Physics by David Halliday and Robert Resnick – Part I and Part II 3. Modern Engineering Physics by A.S. Vadudeva 4. University Physics by Young and Freedman 5. Materials Science by V. Rajendra and A. Marikani 6. Nonconventional Energy by Ashoke V. Desai

My Childhood Essay Example for Free

My Childhood Essay When I started pre-school, I found it difficult to speak English because I spoke Chinese at home. I was distracted and frightened when I attended school in our Los Angeles neighborhood, and crime was a constant concern for us. It worried my parents to see that I was losing interest in school, so they moved me to Chino Hills after I finished 7th grade to live with my sisters, hoping that the environment would be a better place for me. The different atmosphere I was in changed my perspective on education. The students in Chino Hills are very competitive in their academic pursuits which motivated me to try harder and work up to my potential. The realization that a different environment can make a huge difference brought much confidence to me; I began developing better judgment and making better decisions toward my education. As I approached high school, I was beginning to understand the importance of an education. Although my parents remarks about school were simply for me to behave, I knew they also wanted me to have a good educational opportunity. My first year as a freshman in high school was difficult for me; it became evident that I didnt know how to manage my time. As every con has a pro, I knew that time management was no exception. Mastering the art of time management can reap great rewards, and by ignoring it I found myself facing great disappointment with my grades. At the end of the day, I tried to reflect on my performance and soon realized I have accomplished little. In my sophomore year of high school, I began to manage my time more wisely and took my education more seriously, and realized that it did not take much to use time management in an efficient manner; but the rewards were fulfilling because my grades had greatly risen. My course work and grades became obvious to me that I still had trouble managing my time. I soon started to decompose my goals, making it possible to tackle them one step at a time and realized as I progressed, my time management bettered. During my junior year, Procrastination was the biggest barrier to time management I had to face. I found it difficult at times to start working; however, I realized not working was related to the fear of poor results than it is to the actual difficulty of the work. My junior year gave a spark to my life; it helped me create a target to aim for, which is to attend a top 4 year  University and pursue my dreams in the medical field.

Company and market analysis of BMW

Company and market analysis of BMW Businesses and enterprises become competitive in the market by consistently attracting and retaining customers. They have to do this by exchanging different kind of assets with consumers like: sufficient information, money, bonds, products, services, rank, and sentiment. In these cases of exchange, both the company and the consumers get benefitted.1 Recent update on our BMW cars overall sales rate: 7% rise 9.1% rise 2004 3.2 % rise 2005 1.5 % rise 2006 2% rise 2007 3% rise 2008 5% fall 2009 4.7 % fall Last two years we are suffering decline in sales rate. As our BMW Company is trying to overcome from the consistent decline of sales, we have to analyze some questions precisely. What should we sell in the market for the consumers? What will attract them to buy our cars? What will prompt them to buy that our good or service? What gives them the optimal utility? Understanding of consumer behavior will answer these questions very easily. This report contains the meaning and analyzing consumer behavior and its significance to make our BMW Company overcome from its measurable situation. The word consumer behavior is defined as, the behavior that consumer show when they are purchasing, searching, using, analyzing while buying, evaluating and disposing the product and services which they look forward to assure their wants. Consumer behavior give importance on how consumers always make their decisions to spend their available assets (time, money, effort) on consumption of various products and services.[ G.S. Gupta, 2004, P 119] Customers and Consumers The term customer refers to someone who on a regular basis purchases any products and services from a particular shop or company in the market.2 The term Consumer is defined as someone who is engaged in any of the activities those are stated in the definition of consumer behavior. So their difference is based on the terms of a specific company or firm. The term consumer behavior can be classified into two different kinds of consuming units: the personal consumer and the organizational consumer.3 The personal consumer means an individual user. The person purchase goods and services for his or her own use, for the use his/her household, for his/her family or as a gift for a friend in any occasion. The organizational consumer this generally refers to the profit and not-for-profit organizations, government agencies (local, state, and Federal), and institutions (such as schools, hospital, and prisons), which purchase products, machineries, utilities, equipment, and service to run their organizations. How to remain competitive in the market? To become the most desired company in the market a company has to give more value and importance to the consumers than the other rival companies provide them. Customer Value refers to the distinction between all the utilities received from a total product and all the costs to buy those benefits and utilities. A company has to be more responsive and helpful to the consumers needs than the competitor companies in the market. A specialized analyzing of customer behavior is the key factor for strategic marketing formulation. The organizations success or failure, decline in sales or surplus in sales depends on the consumers reactions to this specific marketing strategy. Marketing strategy starts with the analyzing of market segmentation, target market which means, the current state of the business environment, other rival companies and customers.4 The next stage is research on marketing mix. The marketing mix includes the product, price, place and promotion to the target market. The final stage will be the computing the outcomes of the company because of the current marketing strategy and consumers reaction to it. Consumer attitude refers to the consumer emotions like: their thought, feelings, and approach toward some elements of the business and marketing environment such as a retail store, promotions or product. Tri-component attitude models and the multi-attribute attitude models provide a somewhat different perspective on the number of component parts of an attitude and how parts are arranged or interrelated. Impact of External Influences on consumer behavior There is a huge impact of external influences on consumer behavior. The external in fluencies includes: Global and national culture, their subcultures, family, income, social class, opinion leaders etc.5 Now I will discuss a variety of factors those have an impact on consumer behavior. Besides, in this section it will be discussed about how our company should deal with these factors and how there will be augmentation of our car sales by dealing with these factors. 1)Factors those effects families and households purchasing decision: Families have higher incomes than the households. Because in the families more people are employed comparing to the households. There are some factors which have a great impact on the purchasing decisions of the families and households. We should give a vast significance on these factors. Besides, we have research some other factors like: age of head of household or family, marital status, presence of children, and employment status. a)Age of head of household or family: If the age head of the household or the family is not that much then it is very easily understood that the person is not that experienced. So he will be in great confusion in making purchasing decision like: buying or not buying products. For attracting them we should take some steps. Like: We have to make some business promotions where it is shown that a young head of a family is buying our cars and get satisfied in the end. Like: BMW 5 Series 523i SE 4dr Saloon6. If the head of the family is experienced then we have to launch some unique modifications in the BMW cars like: inclusion of NOS, Ejector seat and extra exhaust tips etc. because the person is really capable of making a good purchasing decision. On the other hand, we can launch some business promotions for them as well. b) Marital Status: Most of the young people of our country are unmarried. So we have to bring those modifications in our cars which really attracts the young generation a great deal. Like: we need to make some cars with gorgeous and attractive colors which really attracts the young generations. Besides, these modifications can be: bringing on fantasy and sensation in the BMW. For the married people we have to launch those products which help one in their married life and in the family. Besides, we have to make certain modifications in our current products so that it will be greatly convenient for the families and households. For example: we need make more promotions for some cars with great space into it so that the whole family can ride on to it.7 Like: BMW 3 Series 320d [184] Sport Plus Edition 5dr Step Auto Diesel Touring6 c) Presence of children: If there is the presence of more children in the families then there will be need of more space in our cars for their use. So we have to give emphasis mostly in these kinds of families to sell our product. Besides, we have to launch certain cars with more space.7 Like: BMW 1 Series 123d M Sport 2dr Step Auto Diesel Convertible or BMW 1 Series 135i M Sport 2dr DCT Coupe6 2) Family adaptability: Family adaptability is the ability of a family system to change its current situation of structure, relationships and relationship rules when there is a situational, economical and developmental change and stress. Family adaptability should be understood by the company while selling off their products and services.7 3)Status: Status means, the position that is achieved or acquired by someone in a family or a group in the society. Besides it includes the rights, approaches towards society and duties associated with that acquired position. Status is defined in the depending upon the factors of age or sex, family, occupation, and friendship or common interest. We have to analyze the status section carefully. If a person is in high status then we have to launch certain BMW cars with luxurious and unique facilities for them. Like: BMW 3 Series 330d SE 5dr Step Auto Diesel Touring ( £29,015 or  £505 per month) or BMW 5 Series 520d SE 5dr Step Auto Diesel Touring ( £29,598 or  £501 per month)6. If a person is in low or middle class status then we have to launch economical cars for them as well as making promotions for those economical products as much as possible. Like: BMW 5 Series 520d SE 4dr Step Auto Diesel Saloon ( £27,271 or  £455 per month) or BMW 3 Series 320d Efficient Dynamics 4dr Diesel Saloon ( £22,514 or  £367 per month) 6. On the other hand, we can sell our present product in an economical way to those consumers. [Loudon, 2001, P 200] 4) Norms: Norms are the rules and standards that the families and the groups within the society are expected to follow by heart and soul. So we have to conduct thorough market research about what the certain families and groups want for them. We have to sell our products and services to them by meeting their needs. Besides we can make certain modifications in our cars for certain groups. In this way we can overcome from our decline in sales. [Loudon, 2001, P 200] 5)Socialization: Socialization is defined as, how a young member of a group or family learns the norms, values, culture of that specific family and group. Consumer socialization refers to the way of how a consumer learns their function as an effective consumer in the market. This process is generally for the young generations. So we should sell our product to them by making unique modifications in our so that it attracts them greatly.3 Like: BMW 5 Series 520d SE 4dr Step Auto Diesel Saloon6 6) Power: Groups and families have power to influence their members purchasing decision and behavior. There are several sources of power within a family or a group. These includes: reward power, coercive power, legitimate power, expert power, and referent power. We have to utilize these forms of power to influence and attract consumers.3 We can use all three types of such group influence when developing several marketing promotions. Informational influence in promotion generally demonstrates powerful and experienced members of a group using a BMW. This will be a kind of message for the other members of the groups. The message can be like this: if you are or want to be in a group such as this one, you should use this car. It does not mean that the other members will be accepted or well rewarded by the group members for using it or punished for not using it. The message is really this: Everyone finds this car and its service the best among all. So all should use this brand without any hesitation including the members of that group or family. 7) Culture: Cultural changes affect the consumers in terms of their behavior and purchasing decision. So, understanding this has major implications for the formulation of marketing strategy. These typically include; product-planning, distribution channel, promotions, and target market decisions.3 a) Product Planning: We have to assess consumers present and emerging needs those will help us to identify new product launching and accomplish better product positioning among the target markets. b) Distribution Channels: Altering consumer-value scheme may guide to diverse shopping models, and innovative channel may be essential to attain customers. For customers who are time-pressured, retailers may offer home service for them which will be very much competitive for them. Retailers may use discounts and provide special offers to unemployed consumers. C)Promotion: Effective and precise promotions also help to make a purchasing decision. d) Market Segmentation: Familiarity with consumer assessment orientations provides a quantifiable set of variables, related to their needs. Some management theories on external influences on consumer behavior:8 The greater the social orientation on consumer the greater will be consumers propensity to accept family and social norms _So we have to take moves according to their needs as they will be more driven to their family and norms. We have to sell our cars in a way that it will meet the needs of certain families and norms. So their choice will be our first target and we have to sell our cars and modify our cars according to their choice. The greater the potential of a market choice to fulfill social aspirations or reduce social risks, the greater the chance of a consumer to make a positive purchasing decision _So we have to launch our cars in a way that it doesnt give rise to social risks and fulfill the social aspirations. Besides, we have to analyze what are their social aspirations and risks. We have to launch our cars according to their social culture. Consumers will have greater propensity to engage in relationship with such market that is recommended by the opinion leader of referral networks. _ In this case we have to convince the specific opinion leaders of specific referral networks by meeting their needs. We have to understand what kind of services and facilities they want from our car. We have to launch our car in such ways. Web references: 1 The customer is always right Online at http://www.bme.eu.com/article/The-customer-is-always-right/ [28 Aug, 2010] 2 Customer Satisfaction online at http://www.bmi-t.co.za/?q=content/customer-satisfaction [28 Aug, 2010] 3 consuming unit, socialization, power, culture/ Consumer Behaviour by Mr. Lawal Bello Online at http://www.nou.edu.ng/noun/NOUN_OCL/pdf/mkt%20724.pdf[28 Aug, 2010] 4 Marketing From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing [29 Aug, 2010] 5 Consumer Behavior Online at http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/economic/friedman/mmconsumerbehavior.htm [29 Aug, 2010] 6 BMW Automobiles Online at http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/homepage/ [29 Aug, 2010] 7 FAMILY INFLUENCES DECISION MAKING Online at http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-articles/family-influences-decision-making-family-decisionmaking-1014177.html [29 Aug, 2010]

South Africas Weather and Natural Disasters :: South Africa Climate Environment Essays Papers

Weather One of the many unique aspects of South Africa is its intense cultural background and tradition. It is very common in South Africa to know several myths about different towns and cities and to pass the stories on to each generation. There are some myths that explain all sorts of various aspects of South African life, but more importantly, there are some that relate to the weather. One of these myths has to do with a weather pattern that occurs everyday in Cape Town, and is one of the great myths of South Africa. The myth has to do with Table Mountain, the central mountain in Cape Town. Although the myth has been around for many generations, the weather aspect it relates to is true and still happens today. To begin, one must understand that Table Mountain sits in the center of Cape Town, while the town inhabits a circular form around the mountain. Table Mountain has become a focal point of the city and attracts many tourists to see it and also some venture up via the cable car. It seems very fitting that this mountain would be the focus of a very famous story in South Africa. The story goes as follows (it is told in many variations, this is as told by Lauren Smith, who studied in Cape Town in the spring of 2004): Their once was a man in Cape Town who was very well known and respected. He would smoke his pipe more than anyone else in Cape Town. Every afternoon he would smoke on top of Table Mountain. No one could ever out smoke this man, he was simply too good. One day, someone approached him and challenged him to a smoking contest. He agreed, figuring there was no way anyone could possibly out smoke him and he would surely win. The two contestants went on top of the mountain and smoked and smoked all afternoon. They smoked so much that it created huge billows of smoke that collected atop of the men and rolled down the mountain towards the Cape Town. The outcome of the bet is somewhat insignificant in this, because it is the billows of smoke that relate to today’s current weather patterns in Cape Town. In any case, the man realized he was smoking ag ainst the devil because the devil wasn’t affected at all by the smoke he was inhaling.

The Runaway Brain by Christopher Willis :: Willis Runaway Brain Essays

The Runaway Brain by Christopher Willis Christopher Wills has written a fascinating chronicle of human evolution in a style that will keep the reader glued to the book to find out what happened next. The Runaway Brain is organized into four sections. First Wills addresses The Dilemmas, the many problems that students of evolution encounter mainly from public perception of the subject and from the many prejudices of those involved with the work. The question of where our species first appeared is a particularly contentious one, although it is now widely accepted that the species originated out of Africa. There are, regardless, those who still disagree and especially at first, many dismissed an African origin out of hand. Wills' second main issue is that of the transition to actual "humanity" and if it occurred once or twice. As he discusses in the chapter entitled "An Obsession with Race", those who deride those of African descent often use the multiple origin theory as one that justifies racism. Wills decries this abu se of the science and firmly argues against those that would use evolution to further racist propaganda. He also takes issue with those who insist on believing that all of humanity came from one Eve and one Adam, instead putting forth the theory of the "mitochondrial Eve"; that we all descend from the mitochondrial DNA, but that we do not in fact descent from two individuals. Wills' own slant on the issue is that humans are involved in a feedback loop which he calls the "runaway brain". Wills claims that humans are unique in that they have culture which has developed. The culture injects an otherwise unknown into the evolutionary process. Humans, Wills says, had advanced brains which allowed them to create a complex culture. The culture challenged their brains and led to more complex brains as the species involved. This process continued to repeat and is still repeating today. This is what Wills claims is driving us towards our ultimate best. The second section of the book is titled The Bones and tells the story of the archeological remains of the ancestors of humanity. Wills creates a fascinating tale as he describes the lives, feelings and desires of the people involved in finding these bones. Not only does he describe the find and its significance to the understanding of evolution, he also tells the story of the finder making the section more of a human drama than a dry telling of facts. The Runaway Brain by Christopher Willis :: Willis Runaway Brain Essays The Runaway Brain by Christopher Willis Christopher Wills has written a fascinating chronicle of human evolution in a style that will keep the reader glued to the book to find out what happened next. The Runaway Brain is organized into four sections. First Wills addresses The Dilemmas, the many problems that students of evolution encounter mainly from public perception of the subject and from the many prejudices of those involved with the work. The question of where our species first appeared is a particularly contentious one, although it is now widely accepted that the species originated out of Africa. There are, regardless, those who still disagree and especially at first, many dismissed an African origin out of hand. Wills' second main issue is that of the transition to actual "humanity" and if it occurred once or twice. As he discusses in the chapter entitled "An Obsession with Race", those who deride those of African descent often use the multiple origin theory as one that justifies racism. Wills decries this abu se of the science and firmly argues against those that would use evolution to further racist propaganda. He also takes issue with those who insist on believing that all of humanity came from one Eve and one Adam, instead putting forth the theory of the "mitochondrial Eve"; that we all descend from the mitochondrial DNA, but that we do not in fact descent from two individuals. Wills' own slant on the issue is that humans are involved in a feedback loop which he calls the "runaway brain". Wills claims that humans are unique in that they have culture which has developed. The culture injects an otherwise unknown into the evolutionary process. Humans, Wills says, had advanced brains which allowed them to create a complex culture. The culture challenged their brains and led to more complex brains as the species involved. This process continued to repeat and is still repeating today. This is what Wills claims is driving us towards our ultimate best. The second section of the book is titled The Bones and tells the story of the archeological remains of the ancestors of humanity. Wills creates a fascinating tale as he describes the lives, feelings and desires of the people involved in finding these bones. Not only does he describe the find and its significance to the understanding of evolution, he also tells the story of the finder making the section more of a human drama than a dry telling of facts.

A Feminist Reading of Updikes Rabbit, Run Essay -- Feminism Feminist

A Feminist Reading of Rabbit, Run  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   I do not like Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom. This creation of John Updike, this man who abandons his pregnant wife and young child, and his alliance to the late 1950's feeling of unrest and rebellion makes me angry. Many times throughout this novel my cheeks flushed furiously and I could not contain my exasperated sighs. When I read the last sentences of Rabbit, Run and closed the book, I was disappointed. It was not because Updike fails to make it clear where or to whom Rabbit runs (home to his wife? back to the prostitute?). Surprisingly, I was most disappointed because the novel had come to an end. Although my reaction to Rabbit was negative, it was a very strong reaction; I had become emotionally involved. Because Updike created this anti-heroic but fascinating main character, I was absorbed into his world. I do not like Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, but because Updike's writerly skill, I understand him. And, by understanding him, I am able to realize the importance his place i s among the most influential (particularly American) literary characters.   Part of the reason that Updike's novel (and the subsequent three Rabbit novels to follow) has become such an essential piece of literature in the American tradition is Rabbit himself. Although he is not likeable, there are various important aspects and depths to the character of Harry Angstrom that cannot be overlooked. Some critics choose to look at the surface and explore Rabbit's nature comparatively with rabbits (the animal). There are many instances when we do see Rabbit acting much like his namesake. For example when he visits his parents home Updike describes this in very rabbit-like terms: Rabbit stealthily approaches hi... ...h him for anything.    Works Cited Detweiler, Robert. John Updike. Indianapolis: Indiana University, 1984. 33-45.    Kielland-Lund, Erik. "The Americanness of Rabbit, Run: A Transatlantic View." New Essays on Rabbit, Run. Ed. Stanley Trachtenberg. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993. 77-94.    O'Connell, Mary. Updike and the Patriarchal Dilemma. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1996. 13-36.    Pinsker, Sanford. "Restlessness in the 1950s: What Made Rabbit Run?" New Essays on Rabbit, Run. Ed. Stanley Trachtenberg. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993. 53-76.    Stevick, Philip. "The Full Range of Updike's Prose." New Essays on Rabbit, Run. Ed. Stanley Trachtenberg. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993. 31-52.    Updike, John. Rabbit, Run. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1960.   

Systematic Approach to Managing Ohs

MODULE 1 SYTEMATIC APPROACH TO MANAGING OHS ASSESSMENT Module 1 PROJECT 1 Write a detailed report on the implementation of a systematic approach to managing OHS. Your report might be theoretical or based on your specific workplace. Ensure that you include the following: ?Requirements for record-keeping ?Sources of OHS information and data ?Consultative arrangements ?OHS action plans ?OHS specialists (internal or external) and technical advisors ? Other functional areas ?Proposed changes to the workplace Stakeholders Construction Australia is the company that I am employed by. Our company offers services in refractory installation to all major industries. We are involved in the construction and maintenance of boilers, kilns, ovens, incinerators, etc. in power generation plants, heat treatment plants, chemical plants, steel mills, oil refineries and many more. We conduct high risk work such as demolition, confined space entry, working at heights, and work at extreme temperatures mainly in major hazard facilities.Due to the nature of our work it is vital that we have a system in place to manage Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). A systematic approach to managing OHS allows us to follow a structured framework that ensures primarily, we reduce the risks of injury or illness in the workplace or anyone affected by our activities and that we comply with all relevant laws and legislation. The main elements of an Occupational Health and safety management system (OHSMS) are: †¢Commitment and policy †¢Planning †¢Implementation †¢Measurement and evaluation Review and improvement These elements are incorporated into the system and involve consultation at all stages with stakeholders and key personnel of our organisation. The basis of this approach is a cycle of continuous improvement as illustrated below in fig. 1: When establishing a more systematic approach to managing safety, it is helpful to understand where your organisation is in terms of OHS mat urity. Four levels of system maturity can be considered: †¢Immature (Troubled) †¢Reactive (Responsive) †¢Attentive (Managed) Mature (Value-Adding) Our company is at a mature level as we have established structures, systems and processes in place. We also have a shared belief that OHS is a critical aspect of personal and organisational performance and focus continually on improvement and ways to reduce risks. An effective OHSMS requires the participation of all parts of the organisation. To gain this commitment from people, senior management takes an active role in leadership, allocation of resources, consultative meetings and regular reviews of OHS.The first step in the systematic approach to OHS is to develop a comprehensive OHS policy that states the overall objectives and sets out the company’s commitment to health and safety. The policy should be sufficiently clear and be capable of being read by all relevant parties, internal and external. The policy shoul d be endorsed by the most senior person, such as the CEO or managing director. Beroa’s OHS policy is attached to appendix A. Action plans are a vital part of the planning and implementation process.The organisation needs to determine the key regulatory requirements they must meet and also get an understanding of their major OHS risks and how they will be identified. Objectives, targets and key performance indicators (KPI’s) need to be set. These should incorporate both lead (e. g. number of safety audits conducted) and lag (e. g. number of lost time injuries) indicators. Lead indicators are commonly referred to as Positive Performance Indicators (PPI’s) that focus on assessing how successful an organisation is performing.Using a combination of both lead and lag indicators will provide the best outcomes. A plan is vital to ensure targets are reached in a systematic way and it should be linked to the organisation’s strategic plan. The plan should allocate r esources and timelines and can be used to monitor development of the OHSMS. Appendix B is a Beroa action plan that we have in place. It outlines the systems that we use to ensure that we are compliant with legislation and we are fulfilling the objectives of our OHS policy.We use policies and procedures, inductions, meetings, toolbox meetings, consultation, pre-start checks and regular training and development to deliver all our processes. Our documented policies for hazard identification and hazard/risk assessment, make sure that we remain regulatory compliant through our business activities. Consultation with workplace personnel, OHS professionals, insurers and other relevant group is undertaken to ensure that we develop a safe workplace and mentality. We aim to translate legislation into a language that can be comprehended at all levels.This allows people to understand and participate with feeling unsure or confused. Beroa has an open door policy on all aspects especially OHS. Con sultation is the best tool that we use in our workplace. The changing nature of our working conditions on a constant basis means that we need to know what is going on so we can make sure that we remain compliant and that our systems are working appropriately. Our consultation procedure (Appendix C) acts as an information highway between management and employees, so that if any changes are required they can be made, documented and then implemented into the system.We use the consultation processes with all stakeholders that are involved in our OHSMS, these include but are not limited to: †¢Management †¢Administration †¢Clients †¢Employees †¢Suppliers †¢Unions †¢Work cover and other relevant authorities †¢Insurers †¢Public †¢OHS and technical experts All information gathered from stakeholders is considered and used in the development of our systems, policies and procedures. The applied procedures that our company has in place allow us t o constantly monitor and evaluate our performance.Daily toolbox discussions, training, weekly meetings, management meetings, safety audits and safety checklists (Appendix D) are some of the tools we use to monitor and evaluate. Major policies are reviewed every 2-3 years or as required. The nature of our work requires that we retain specific records for specified times in order to comply with legislation. These include: Confined space entry- we retain entry permits for 1 month, risk assessments/JSA for 5 years, training records for the term of employees employment plus 7 years and any notifiable incidents for 2 years after the incident occurs.Health monitoring records- these must be kept for 30 years after they are recorded and 40 years for asbestos related documents. These records must be kept confidential. Hazardous chemicals register- we keep registers of any chemicals that are stored. We list them and keep material safety data sheets, which are readily available to employees or anybody that could be affected by the chemical. We have two methods of record keeping, hard copy and electronic. All documents are kept on both. Within the electronic system we have a sub-system called Timberline.This system is passcode protected and has restricted access; all personal details and personal health records are kept in this system for confidentiality. Our OHS manager has access along with relevant management. Project files for each client are kept and updated after completion of each project. Documents included include attendance sheets, JSA’s, toolbox meetings, materials and equipment, inductions, training, client feedback, performance reports, safety audits and observations. Employee records such as inductions and qualifications are also kept and updated when needed.We also keep lists of OHS safety representatives and are readily accessible and up to date. OHS affects all aspects of an organisation. An effective OHS system allows other functional areas to thri ve and exploit the benefits. The reduction and elimination of work place injuries will reduce the cost of workers comp premiums, limit sick days and reduce the money spent on rehabilitation, all this eases the strain of budgeting systems and also allows more resources for training and information of OHS.Public relations will find it easier representing our positive results in safety and compliance to existing and future clients, public and relevant authorities. It will also reduce the workload of administration allowing them time to work on other aspects of the business. Our OHS system allows our employees to take an active role in all aspects in relation to the system. This gives them a sense of ownership and the drive to make sure that we reach and outperform our goals and objectives.

Research on the Australian Education Export Industry Essay

Executive Summary The following report provides a detailed analysis of the four sectors in the education industry in Australia, which are: Higher Education, Vocational Education and Training (VET), English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) and the schools. The report starts interpreting trends from the industry in Australia, analyzing numbers of enrollments and commencements of students in each sector, as well as their nationalities. With these numbers we have an overall idea of the scenario, which shows that Higher Education is the Over Performing sector, followed by ELICOS, VET and schools. A second stage of the research is the PESTEL analyze, which observes the Political, Economical, Social, Technological and Legal conditions of Australia, with the conclusion that Australia has a stable government, strong economy and high currency, great quality of life, invests widely in technology and gives incentives to international students to come to Australia. The data provided by PESTEL helped with the SWOT analyzes of the industry and sectors in Australia. The findings shows opportunities manly in students that progress in more than one course in Australia, which already lead us to consider ELICOS as a good sector to invest. After the secondary data gathered, a qualitative research was created and is here presented showing that all the interviewed international students are having a positive experience in Australia and more than half would enroll in a different course after finishing the current one. As a result of the findings, ELICOS course was pointed as a better option of investment – since higher education has risks of high costs and perceived quality. Private institutions offering ELICOS and VET come up as an even better choice, since almost one quarter of international students progress from ELICOS to VET. New South Wales is recognized as a better location for investment, since the majority of students choose that state as a destination. A few schools offering ELICOS and VET were identified as an option for investment, however a more detailed analyses of their internal data would be necessary to point out with certainty which one would be the best option. 1. Introduction 1.1 Background Students from all around the world choose Australia as a study destination, wishing to gain a top-quality education. Each year, Australia becomes even  more popular, with many new international students enrolling in courses around the country. In 2013, 526,9321 international students enrolled in education programs in Australia, representing a 2.6% increase over 2012. Most of the international students in the country are studying in the Higher Education sector, followed by the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, the English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) sector and the schools sector. 1.2 Purpose of Report The aim of this report is to research about the education export industry in Australia. The report was commissioned by the Group April with the aim to analyze the trends in the following education sectors: VET, ELICOS, Higher Education and Secondary School courses. The Market Trends will be interpreted in order to identify their impact on the education sector, as well as potential opportunities and threats to the industry. 2. Interpreting Market Trends For the purpose of this research we will analyze the number of international students commencements (number of students starting a new course) and enrollments (enrolling in a course) in the country. According to Australian Education International, the total value of commencements and enrolments students has been growing steadily in the last ten years. We will analyze the data the number of international students from all sectors from 2010 to 2013. The following chart shows the summary of commencements from 2010-2013. Chart 01: International Students Commencements from 2012 to 2013 Source: http://www.austrade.gov.au/Education/Student-Data/2013/ In addition to that data, we also have the table below, comparing the number of commencements and enrolments per year and course: Table 01: Enrolments and Commencements from 2012 to 2013 With the data provided, we can see that in 2013 Higher Education Sector ranked first by volume of commencements and enrolments. VET had the second  largest volume of enrolments but third in commencements. ELICOS ranked second in volume of commencements, but third in enrolments. From 2012 to 2013, the number of commencements in Higher Education increased by 8.1%. The ELICOS commencements also registered 21% growth in the same period. The VET sector commencements have been declining in the last 4 years, but had only a minor decrease from 2012 to 2013 (0.1%). Schools accounted for only 2.9% of commencements, declining steadily in the past years. It is possible to notice that even though Higher Education is the over performing sector, ELICOS is also gaining more relevance over the past years. The Chart 01 shows that VET sector has been declining over the years. When considering number of enrolments for each sector, the top nationalities differ between the categories. The Australian Government also provides the following data: Higher Education enrolments: China (39.9%) and India (7.2%) VET: India (21.5%), China (10.5%), Republic of Korea (7.3%) and Thailand (6.6%) ELICOS: China (25%), Brazil (8.7%) and Thailand (7.9%) Schools: China (46%) and Vietnam (10%) The top five nationalities present in number of enrolments in 2013 contributed to 52.1% of the total, which were: China (28.5%), India (9.3%), Republic of Korea (5.2%), Vietnam (4.9%) and Thailand (4.1%). When looking directly at students visa granted, the last five years have also showed a majority of Chinese, Indians and Koreans students, differing only in the last two countries. The chart below shows the student visa applications granted by the top five countries of origin: Chart 02: STUDENT VISA APPLICATIONS GRANTED BY TOP FIVE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN Source: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features20Dec+2011 Accessed on 29/10/2014 As per the chart above, China represents the majority of international students, with approximately 50 thousands student visa granted in 2011. China also represented in 2013 the majority numbers for all education sectors. Also, over 90% of Chinese ELICOS students went on to do further study in Australia in 2012.2 The Australian Financial Review points out that  the most likely reasons why Australia became a destination for so many Chinese students can be due to the increase of the middle class of the country and the geographical proximity to Australia. 3 India still represents the second largest group of international students, even after drastically dropping from 2009 and on. The plunge on numbers came specifically after a series of attacks on Indian students in 2009.4 South Korea comes in third in the represented numbers of granted visa, followed by Malaysia and Brazil. There is also a strong relationship between the Australian Dollar rates with the number of students’ commencements per year. The table below shows the number of students’ commencements versus the average rate for AUD/USD Dollars. Year It becomes even more noticeable when represented in a chart how one factor is influencing the other. The lowest the Australian dollar rate is, the higher the number of commencements becomes. On the other hand, as the Australian dollar rate increases the commencements decreases proportionally. The following data can be seen in the next chart: Chart 1.1. – Students Commencements vs Australian Dollar Rates 2.1Over Performing and Under Performing Sectors Analyzing the numbers of commencements of each area in the last 4 years, it is possible to say that the three Over Performing sectors would be: Higher Education, ELICOS and VET. The three Underperforming sectors are schools, VET and ELICOS. Compared to the three other sectors, the Schools sector is small and has been declining over the past years. To proceed with the study of which sector would be more interesting to invest on, a PESTEL (Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal) and SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis will be made. 2.2 PESTEL Analysis: The following analysis intend to identify the Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal Australian conditions, in order to provide enough data to clearly present its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats afterwards. Political The Australian Government is a constitutional monarchy, being under a federal system. For that reason, Australia can be considered a stable country. The Government also has innumerous initiatives regarding international students, such as the International Students Strategy of Australia. With those initiatives, Australia’s Government acknowledges the importance of international students for the country and seeks to protect the country’s reputation for high-quality education and for being a safe, welcoming and culturally diverse place to live.7 Economical The Australian economy has experienced continuous growth and also features contained inflation. It is one of the largest capitalist economies in the world with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$998.3 billion (2013 est). The service sector dominates the economy, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of jobs. 8The unemployment rates are considered low (6.1% in September of 2014), however the part-time employment has decreased recently.  Those numbers may affect international students, since they can only work on part-time contracts. The Australian Dollar Currency has been maintained stable over the past few years, valuing 0.88 US dollars in October 2014. A strong currency is a factor of great impact on international students, since the exchange rates may affect their decision. 9 Social Australia population is composed by a majority of white people (92%), followed by Asians (7%) and aboriginal and other (1%). The official language is English, which is one the main reasons for international students to choose it as a destination. It’s considered a welcoming country for people from overseas. Australia is also known per its high quality of life, safeness and great education institutions. Environmental The weather conditions and the natural landscape in Australia are positive aspects of the country when seen by students. Travelling interest has a major impact on students’ decision. Technological Australia is a modern country that invests in constant evolution of its Technology. The Government invests heavily in national science agencies, as well as providing about AU$2.5 billion to Universities10 to support research and research training activities, and this is complemented by research funding from the private sector, non-profit organizations and state governments. That factor might influences in the Higher Education numbers for international students. Analyzing the worldwide situation, we can also point out that the technological changes have been providing advances in several sectors, as well as education. With the improvement in technological resources and Internet speed, a wide variety of courses online are being offered – even by top quality know universities. That factor might also have great influence in students’ decision. Legal There are many requirements for applying to a student VISA in Australia,  which had also been in constant change throughout the last few years. Most of the Government reforms were introduced in response to the Knight Review (2011) of Australia’s student visa system, such as the streamlined visa processing and new arrangements for post-study work visas. At the same time that changes came to facilitate the students’ application, it can give a negative image to international students, since there’s always a risk of changes in the law if there’s an interest to renew their VISA. 2.3 SWOT The following SWOT analyses will provide data about the education industry as well as the sectors in Australia, pointing out its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Strengths High-quality education: Australia is a worldwide destination to many students by its top quality of education. Australia’s English language teaching is mainly highly regarded worldwide. Permission to work and study: The student visa permission to work up to 40 hours fortnightly is a decision factor by many students that have to work while studying. Proximity to Asian countries: Considering that many Asian countries look for English speaking countries to study, Australia stands out for its proximity to the continent. Highest quality of life: Australian has the highest quality of life in the world, according to the OECD Better Life Index organization, analyzing the categories: income, housing, jobs, community, education, environment, civic engagement, health, life satisfaction, safety, and work-life balance. Tourist VISA and working Holiday students: Many international students come to Australia through tourist visas or working holyday visas, being allowed to study ELICOS to up to 14 weeks in the first case and 4 months in the second one. That gives an extra advantage for this sector, since they are easier to apply to. Weakness VISA requirements: Australian VISA requirements changed recently in 2012, accepting the recommendations of Knight11. Event though it brought positive changes to facilitate the VISA process, the constant changes in VISA requirements might make long term students consider if any changes will still come up. High price and competitors’ countries quality: Australia was  pointed by a HSBC report as the most expensive destination for higher education for international students. Besides that, when it comes to perceived quality of higher education, it was ranked in 5th by Chinese parents (staying behind USA, UK, Germany and Hong Kong). 12 Opportunities Growth in numbers of higher education international students: a new British Council report has predicted that the number of international students of higher education will reach 3.8 million by 2014.13 Strengthening of the student VISA from Canada and USA: With modifications in student VISA requirements of competitors’ countries, Australia comes up as an option for new students. Major events in the country: Major events are frequently being held by Australia, calling international attention and being an extra reason for students to choose the country as a destination. The Commonwealth games, which will be held in 2018 in the Gold Coast, might have a big influence in student numbers, especially for short-term courses (such as ELICOS). Students’ progression from different sectors: Many students progress from ELICOS to higher education or VET, most likely had been on a package arrangement where the ELICOS study was a precondition for undertaking the next course. 14 Threats Changes in New Zealand student visa: The recent changes in New Zealand student visa now allows more English language students to work part-time, becoming a even bigger competitor to Australia as an destination.15 Crimes against international students: Any crimes and racist acts against international students have an impact in international students numbers. With the murder of four international students in Brisbane since November of 201316, the exposure by national and international media can damage the safeness image of the country. 3.0 Approach for research After our secondary research about the education market in Australia, a qualitative study was made with international students in order to find out the reasons and influences that made them choose to study in the country. An  online questionnaire was made and answered by 18 students. 3.1 Qualitative Analysis The nationalities interviewed were: Brazil, USA, Chile, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic and France, from which 61% were Brazilians, 11% Italians and 28% of each other nationality. Chart 03 – Nationalities Half of the students are enrolled on ELICOS courses, one third on VET and 17% on Higher Education. None of the interviewed is studying on secondary school. The schools of study vary between the following: ILSC Brisbane, Shafston, Queensford, ALS, Queensland Academy of Technology, TAFE, Bond University, University of Western Australia, Australian College Sports and  Fitness, Hetc Harvest, VIVA College and Melbourne University. All the interviewed students declared that their experience in Australia has been positive so far and 67% would enroll for another course in the country and consider living in Australia permanently (from which 22% are current ELICOS students). More than half of the students (56%) considered studying in a different country before choosing Australia, being mentioned the following: New Zealand, Canada, USA, Ireland, South Africa, UK and Germany. An open question also asked the students to describe briefly why their experience in Australia has been positive or negative, and it was mentioned the different cultures/nationalities present in the country, opportunity to meet new people, personal and professional growing, independence, improvement of English, great quality of life, good weather, new challenges and travelling (Refer to appendix 1 for further details). 4.0 Recommended Sector The following section will explain which sector have been identified as the best business opportunity, based on the interpretations of marketing trends and qualitative analysis sections of this project. Based on the report findings, we can see that two sector are in great advantage: Higher Education and ELICOS. While Higher Education has been the sector over performing in the last years, the forecast for that sector may  not be favorable – especially due to the competition of different countries that offer lower costs of studying and are increasing high-quality study reputation. To open a new University or other Higher Education school would be a great risk for investors, considering that it would take time to build their brand awareness and reputation. More than that, the costs for buying an existing private institution would be much greater in that sector. The second over performing sector was considered ELICOS, since the numbers of commencements and enrolments have been increasing constantly. When it comes to ELICOS, it is also an entry door to other courses in Australia – as many students that proceed from ELICOS to VET or Higher Education. ELICOS students may also be on student visas (currently around 60%) or visitor, working holiday or other VISAS (around 40%).17 ELICOS sector is also divided in a wide range of courses, where as the main courses offered in Australia are: General English, English for Academic Purposes, Exam Preparation Course, English for Special Purposes, English for Teaching and Study Tour. These options are closely aligned to the need of the students, attracting all sorts of international students. 4.1Competitor Analysis ELICOS courses are provided in a wide range of institutions and sectors. According to the Knights review (2011), the ELICOS activities occur in almost all parts of the international education sector: â€Å"Unpublished National English Language Training (ELT) Accreditation Scheme (NEAS) research shows that of the 269 active providers in 2010, 100 were stand†alone ELICOS providers, 99 were private VET providers and another 18 were publicly owned VET providers, 32 were universities and the remaining 20 were schools. The numbers of ELICOS students in the different providers also varied significantly. 24 providers had a capacity for 50 or less students. 81 providers had a capacity for between 51 and 150 students. But more than half of all registered providers, 164, had a capacity for more than 150 students at a time.† (KNIGHT, 2011, p. 64)18 Considering that data, it is a better investment to buy an existing institution than opening a new one, since there are a wide number of competitors already. Since the majority of students choose to study in New  South Wales, as we can see per the chart below, the best investment would be in NSW state. Chart 07 – International Student Enrolments & Commencements by State and Territory (2010) Source: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features20Dec+2011 – accessed on 30/10/14 The private VET providers that also offer ELICOS as an option can be considered a good investment option, since AEI researches show that 23% of ELICOS students in Australia eventually progressed to VET. 19 New South Wales Government also tells that Private VET colleges and institutions are very popular with international students, with the majority of international students in NSW studying at a private college.20 That data confirms that a private ELICOS institution that also offers VET will be a good choice. The following private schools in Sydney stand out as options that provide ELICOS and VET courses: ILSC Education Group: ELICOS and VET provider Since the number of students and financial reports of each institution are not publicly available, there isn’t enough data to point with certainty which school would be a better option for investment. However, a more detailed analysis can be made as a secondary step of this report. 5.0 Conclusion This report objective has been centred on identifying the over performing  sectors on the industry of education, which we believe have been successfully reached. The data provided will give be used by the Group April to decide which sector is the most promisor. We would recommend Group April to closely look at potential schools with extensive knowledge and good reputation, besides being costly competitive and well located. Finally, throughout the whole project, attention was maintained to remain realistic based on the investor budget and interest in industry. The findings of the interpreting trends section as a whole were summarized in a SWOT analysis table to facilitate its understanding. Considering the overview of the over performing sectors the best choice considered for investment was the ELICOS sector, since is growing at a very good pace. SLIC will remained opened for further discussion of the content of this report, as well as for conducting a second phase of research. Question: Describe briefly why did you found your experience in Australia positive: Student 1. â€Å"I had a substantial improvement in my English level at the same time I could know different cultures (not just Australian) and met many interesting people.† Brazil, Male, 21-25 years old, ELICOS Student Student 2. â€Å"Because there are many differences between Brazil and Australia. Most of the social problems that we have in Brazil are almost nonexistent here. The quality of life is extraordinary.† Brazil, Male, 26-30 years old, ELICOS student Student 3: â€Å"Positive: Friendly citizens, Weather, Good opportunities of work† Brazil, Male, 26-30 years old, ELICOS student Student 4: â€Å"To be completely independent, Know about new cultures; Learn new languages† Chile, Male, 26-30 years old, ELICOS student Student 5: â€Å"Due to the people I met† Spain, Male, 26-30 years old, ELICOS student Student 6: â€Å"Because Australia still giving me a lot of opportunities to grow personal and professional.† Brazil, Male, 26-30 years old, VET student Student 7: â€Å"New experience and challenges, meeting new people, improving my English, travelling† Czech republic, Female, 31-40 years old, ELICOS student Student 8: â€Å"Good people, opportunity to work, grow up by myself.† Brazil, Female, 26-30 years old, VET student

General Muslim Religion Essay

Islam is the world’s second great monotheistic religion (Armstrong, 2002). Islam, an Arabic word, comes from a root word meaning commitment or surrender: hence the foundation of Islam is submission to the will of the Only God, Allah. The word ‘Muslim’ also itself means ‘one who lives his life according to Allah’s will (Esposito, 2002). Allah also has laid down the five pillars of foundations of Islam which are: 1. Confession of faith (shahada): the basic idea of Islam which is submission to Allah’s will 2. Prayer (salat): An exercise done five times daily to remember Allah’s influence in a Muslim’s life 3. Fasting (Roza): In the month of Ramadan for a month 4. Almsgiving (Zakat): Annually by rich Muslims at the rate of 21/2% of wealth 5. Pilgrimage (hajj): Once in a lifetime What holidays or events are important to your religion and why? The Muslims follow the Islamic calendar which is based on the position of the moon and their holidays fall accordingly to it. This includes 1. New Year which for them is the first day of Hijra (migration) when we celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s departure from Mecca to Medina in AD622 2. 12th Rabi-ul-awwal that is the birthday of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) 3. Shab-e-Baraat (night of forgiveness): In preparation of Ramadan, Muslims seek to forgive old grievances against each other and beg for mercy from their Lord 4. Lailat-ul-Qadr (night of power) when the Holy Quran was revealed to the Holy Prophet. It takes place on the 27th of Ramadan. 5. Eid-ul-Fitr which takes place after Ramadan and is like Christmas to the Muslims 6. Hajj: The pilgrimage which constitutes the fifth pillar of Islam is one of the most important events in the Muslim calendar and takes place in the month of Hajj 7. Eid-ul-Azha: Another Christmas type celebration which celebrates the end of the Meccan pilgrimage and animal sacrifices are made during the three days How does your group handle conflict? What are some examples of conflict? If there are criminal or family conflicts, they can be resolved through Islamic courts which decide the cases according to Shariah or the Islamic law. These are practiced in almost al Muslim countries though such Shariah courts are disallowed in western countries and over there Muslims must follow the law of the country they are residents of. One of Britain’s MPs recently suggested that Shariah courts be allowed in Britain also but this created uproar by non-Muslims who were afraid of Islamization. Other then that, if the solution of an issue is not mentioned in the Quran or its explanation is murky, knowledgeable Islamic scholars gather together to find an answer to a certain problem and it then becomes a rule of the Shariah. This practice has been prescribed by Allah to keep Islam updated with emerging problems in this fast changing world. What is the focus of your religion? The focus of Islam for Muslims is again submission to Allah’s will. This can be done through reading, understanding and following the word of God, which Muslims believe to be the Holy Quran. They should also follow the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) called the Sunnah and only then can they live the life of a true and complete Muslim. For the Western world though, the focus of Islam has always been its fascist beliefs and what they consider to be its outdated traditions, not understanding that there is only a minority of Muslims who distort the name of Islam by interpreting it so harshly. Who are your current leaders? Who are leaders of the past? Like most religions, Muslims have also had pious men of God lead them by example. There have been a total of 124000 prophets sent by Allah though the Quran only mentions 25 of them. The first prophet was Hazrat Adam and the final and undoubtedly the greatest prophet was our last prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). Allah revealed in the Quran that no more prophets shall come after the Holy Prophet (PBUH). After the prophets, came numerous Caliphs or religious leaders. Currently, tough there are learned Islamic scholars in the Muslim world; there are no leader as such. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) in the words of Allah was the Seal of the Prophets. How do your members participate and what is expected? All Muslim males are required to congregate in a mosque for the five daily prayers, especially the afternoon Friday prayers (Clark, 2003). For Muslim women, assembly in mosques is not mandatory. Other then that, all Muslims are required to uphold the basic principles of Islam by fulfilling all their obligations. Are there any special requirements, such as fasting, personal sacrifice? Fasting is the third pillar of Islam and without fasting, a Muslim is incomplete. It is prescribed for Muslims in the form of a month long abstinence from food and drink, accompanied by intense devotional activity. Physical relations and swear words are also prohibited to be performed or uttered. Similarly, smoking, losing temper, telling lies and all negative activities are also discouraged. Fasting, as is made clear by Allah, is not to be taken as self torture but mainly a way for Muslims to learn about patience, fortitude and self sacrifice and also to realize the plight of the needy and poor. During Eid-ul-Azha, Muslims are also required to sacrifice goats in God’s way and share the meat with the poor. Where do you see your religion in 25 years? What changes have occurred recently? Keeping in mind the fast growing popularity of Islam, I see Islam in 25 years, as the world’s largest religion. This is because as the concept of religion is dying in the west and more churches are being converted to museums and restaurants, Muslims, now more than ever are embracing their faith with a greater fervency and non-Muslims are also converting to Islam which they accept as a complete way of life and not just a religion. Muslims have now grown more receptive to Western ideas and Ijtehad or consensus helps keep Islam updated with the modern world. How has the modern world changed the direction and or movement of your religion? The recent of War on Terror, which often tends to depict Islam as a rigid and extremist religion has resulted in more Muslims delving deeper to understand their religion (Lewis, 2004). This has led to increased knowledge of Islam and a growing number of Muslims defending their faith as actually a very flexible one. My religion’s name has been besmirched by a few misguided individuals who believe suicide bombings and terrorist activities are completely acceptable in the eyes of God which is not at all the case. Islam’s very basis is peace. Are there any other validated forms of the religion practiced? What are some of the factors that have contributed to changes in ideas or customs? The Muslim sect is predominantly divided into Sunnis (around 80%) and Shiahs. The major difference between them is the way in which divine guidance is discovered. Sunni Muslims take their stand on the consensus of the community making known the Sunna (Holy Prophet’s example) of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Shiah Muslims look instead to inspired teachers and Imams who are descendents of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Other sects include the Aghakhanis who are followers of the Aga Khan who considers himself a spiritual leader sent by God. His followers believe the five pillars of Islam to be non-mandatory, preferring to give charity to the poor instead. They don’t share the Muslim taboo associated with drinking. Many believe theses changes have occurred due to undue influence of the West. Other sects are the Qadianis and Bohris. Conclusion Muslims all over the world follows a religion known as Islam which is a monotheistic religion. The word Islam means to submit oneself to god. There are almost 2 billion Muslims around the world practicing the teaching of Islam making it the second largest religion of the world. The follows the teachings of Prophet Mohammad on whom a holy book Quran was revealed. The faith of a Muslim is based on five pillars of Islam that are tauheed, salaat, zakat, hajj, and fasting. References Book Armstrong. (2002). Islam: A Short History. Esposito, J. L. (2002). What everyone needs to Know about Islam. Clark. (2003). Islam for Dummies. Lewis. (2004). The Crisis of Islam.