Role of Private Universities in Bangladesh Higher Education

Role of Private Universities in Bangladesh Higher Education Role of Private Universities in the Higher Education of Bangladesh: A Case Study on USTC from Strategic Marketing Perspective Abstract The true growth of an economy depends on the development of a nation and its citizens as human resources and higher education plays an inevitable role in such context. Bangladesh is also not an exception to this. At present there are more than 52 private universities in the country. Therefore, now what matters in this connection is not the number but the quality. A good university must ensure quality education for its students. But to be an international standard institution of higher education it is not an easy job for a university. USTC is such a university that has already established itself as a leading private university in Bangladesh with international reputation for excellence. In a decade, it has achieved excellence in education in different disciplines through its dynamic and effective academic leadership. Due to stiff competition in the education sector in Bangladesh, private universities need to prove their quality and should develop constructive and effective marketing pr ograms and strategies for the purpose of survival as well as expansion.. Marketing products and marketing services are different. Some principles are the same, but marketing educational services need to consider many additional factors, changing the emphasis in some areas. It is not appropriate to use a products model for services marketing, as many of the additional concepts and principles, only applicable to marketing educational services, may be ignored or forgotten. This is because a strategic marketing approach has been followed to reveal the real scenario and condition in one hand and suggest the appropriate marketing strategies on the other hand. It is important for USTC to incorporate business acumen and marketing without delay. USTC is beginning to experience the reality of the world of business and finance and, as the competition increases, the aspects such as formulating marketing planning in an appropriate and scientific manner, marketing the right educational services b y the USTC, marketing of the USTC must be to the correct customers in the most appropriate places, the price of the educational packages should be right, marketing of USTC should be undertaken at the most effective time, etc., need to be ensured for timely consideration. This research paper examines the present situation of the USTC with a realistic evaluation of SWOT analysis aiming to develop constructive and effective educational service marketing plans, programs and strategies through the careful application and evaluation of strategic models and matrixes. This paper also includes key points which are based upon sound experience. There is a brief outline of the changes in the education sector within the last ten years, which have resulted in the need for realistic marketing. The models used here include Ansoff’s Matrix, Boston Consulting Group’s Matrix and SWOT Analysis to make the strategic marketing plans, programs and strategies suggested for the private univers ity industry in general and the USTC in particular more pragmatic and focused. 1. Introduction Distinguished economists and scientists have alluded to the importance of the growth of human knowledge through formal educational processes that plays significant role in the development of the economy of Bangladesh. Education is, of course, an investment for the future. A country that deliberately devotes a pro-portion of its resources for education and to improve the skills and abilities of its young people expects to see change in its economic and social performance in the years ahead. Education is seen as the essential factor for rapid economic growth and formal education controlled by the state as the indispensable instrument for improving the productive capacities of a population. Education or human resource development is termed as a powerful tool in achieving the economic development by providing the people with the necessary skills upon which development depends on. It spreads opportunity and creates hope, having a leveling and equalizing effect on society and creating a new class of persons owing their position to education and ability rather than birth. Actually, the purpose of education is to bring economic, social, political, cultural development and also mental, environmental, physical development of human being. It bring changes in human behavior and social mobility. It is the best investment for human being. The public sector institutions of the country are in utter disarray. Regularly increasing demand and inadequate facilities, and additionally the absence of conducive atmosphere in the campuses are driving away large number of students every year to our neighboring country and elsewhere. And, of course, those who can afford are going, and the rest leave their future on to their lucks. In such a frustrating situation, creating private sector facilities, under the provision of the Private University Act-1992, has brought a great relief for the students and their parents or guardians. Traditionally there has been little competition within higher education systems and it is believed that more intense competition between similar institutions for faculty, students, and resources will help improve standards by rewarding merit and performance. Competition also generally promotes beneficial innovations and overall quality improvements. It is also important to note that competition is exceedingly difficult to achieve through central decree, but requires a high degree of autonomy for academic institutions, allowing them to exploit their strength and overcome weaknesses. Adequate market information is also essential; without it, institutions will continue to thrive even when are weak. Service markets, and in particular educational provider markets, have changed significantly in the last 15 years in Bangladesh. Education providers in Bangladesh face intense competition and must, therefore, take a vigorous approach to marketing. As the importance of higher education increase s more and more, it becomes absolutely essential to formulate its overall objectives and goals, content, organization and strategies etc. It is important to integrate marketing into the everyday business of education provision, although marketing is frequently seen as difficult by education providers in Bangladesh. One of the first actions for any education provider in Bangladesh is to define the term ‘marketing’. Faltermeyer (1994) suggests that many people, involved in the role of marketing, are not only unable to define the term, but generally regard ‘selling’ as being the same as marketing. Leppard and McDonald (1991) suggest that the organizations which attempt to subscribe to a full marketing process will be further along the pathway of evolutionary development, in terms of likely success for the education provider. It is important to remember that, although an education provider may have a marketing consultant, leader and/or co-coordinator, marketing is part of the role of all staffs employed in the organization (academic institution). If the USTC intends to be successful, and remain so in the competitive market, it needs to develop its marketing strategy carefully. When customers (students) begin to realize that other organizations (private universities) are ab le to deliver high quality courses at prices (tuition fees and other charges) lower than those of the USTC, business will be lost. It is, therefore, vital for everyone in the private university industry in general and USTC in particular to possess and implement the marketing philosophy in their areas of concentration and to be student centric. 2. Review of Literature The positive role of private Universities in the higher education in Bangladesh is now undeniable (Siddique 2005). The epoch-making Private University Act was passed in 1992. To meet the increasing demand for higher education and develop skilled, efficient and competent manpower the then Government felt the need for establishing private universities and approved the Private University Act 1992. Islam S. (2003) states that education was seen as the essential factors for rapid economic growth and formal education controlled by the state, as the indispensable instrument for improving the production capacities of a population. Most countries of the world are now facing the dilemmas of having to satisfy the need of the increased demand for education (Islam S. 2003). Higher education system needs to be flexible if they are to be the most effective (Muzaffar A.T. and Khan A.H. 2004). Education systems need to be able to adapt quickly to changing enrolment levels, to the rise and fall of dif ferent fields of study and to changes in the mix of skills demanded in the labor market. Muzaffar and Khan (2004) also argued that open systems are more likely to keep pace with significant external changes. Field (1991) indicated that the marketplace philosophy will be a necessity in education. Matin M.A. (2003) mentioned that still there is the necessity of many more private universities in the country, but they must not be allowed to grow in an unplanned way’. It should be noted here that all the private universities operating in Bangladesh must take into account ethical considerations when developing their marketing plans and programs. Education providers provide various services to the students (customers) and they need to apply marketing tools and techniques at various levels. According to Kotler (1991) services marketing is ‘ any act of performance that one party can offer to another that is essentially intangible and does not result in the ownership of any thing’ However as Kotler goes on to argue, no product is sold within the market place without an element of ‘service’ which may comprise a major part of the actual offer. Giles (1990) suggests t hat in market economy countries, the service sector has increased more than other industries. Stanton (1978) and Cannon (1986) indicate that the service is the central point of any marketing, i.e. the precise ‘product’ that the business is selling. There is, therefore, a wide variety of definitions. Stanton (1981) omits areas, such as credit facilities, from his definition. However, education providers may include credit facilities as an optional strategy to boost their uniqueness and the range of benefits that they can offer to the customer (student). An important point that needs recognition is that, if an organization wishes to be ‘market driven, it must be close to the customer. To do this effectively, it must adopt the principles of marketing. Levitt (1960) argues that satisfying the needs of the customer will create a cyclical process, which will generate further demand for the courses on offer. This parallels the Donabedian (1966) cycle of quality: product-process-outcome and, indeed, the work by Gronoroos (1984), who identified that there were three dimensions of service quality: outcome-process-perception. Both Lovelock (1984) and Bateson (1989) contend that marketing services in the not-for-profit sectors and marketing services in the profit sector are substantially different, in that the objectives of the organizations will produce marketing programmes which are manifestly diverse. Services are identified by four characteristics that differential them from products. Zeithaml et al (1990) and Beaven and Scotti (1990 ) identified these characteristics as (a) intangibility (b) perishability (c) inseparability and (d) heterogeneity. Some authors consider a fifth characteristic, the issue of ‘ownership’ (Lovelock, 1984; Cowell, 1991). Many leading authors suggest that there are limited applications for using a traditional marketing model for services (Shostack, 1977; Gronroos, 1978; Lovelock, 1981). They argue that the models, or tools, used for products cannot be simply transferred to services. Octon (1983) states that to define a not for profit sector organization is rather difficult, and such departments within universities need to make a profit in order to remain viable. With the ever increasing demands on the Universities budgets, cost effectiveness is clearly on the agenda. 3. Rationale of the Study In the business strategy of any service provider organization, be it profit related or a not-for-profit sector organization, there are fundamental requirements. The USTC must develop an effective marketing strategy so that its objectives are clearly focused and the customer segmentation it intends to serve is appropriately identified. Within this ‘marketing strategy’ or ‘marketing plan’, the organization should be able to define its competitive edge, i.e. what advantages it has over its competitors. This marketing plan will also act as a set of sales forecasts and a budget by providing a solid framework for the marketing activities of the USTC. To adopt such a strategy means that the personnel required to develop marketing plans based on the expert knowledge and experience regarding the market issues, such as the competition, the customers and the best way to provide and consolidate the niche in the market that has been recognized. Unfortunately, as educatio n providers in Bangladesh move into the business arena, there is tendency to believe that no additional guidance or support is required to undertake this co-ordination and lead in marketing. This may then lead to marketing being conceived as a separate function, which has nothing to do with the achievement of the corporate business strategy and therefore, the mission statement. Moreover it is assumed that present marketing strategies of USTC is not up to the mark to gain competitive advantages in the very dynamic and challenging market. Considering the present condition and the importance of marketing this paper will emphasize on the development of a service centric comprehensive and constructive strategic marketing approach, policies and active plans. 4. Objectives of the Study The objective of the paper is to bring into focus the marketing issues that need to be taken into account by the private universities in general and the USTC in particular. It will investigate the prevailing marketing system, as employed by the USTC and how to utilize the strengths and opportunities and deal with the recent problems related to marketing and business. 5. Scope of the Study The present study is confined to the review of the present condition and formulation of a marketing plan for the USTC. The study will not be limited to the present data alone. The future growth of the USTC will be given due consideration. The limit of the future growth of the study will be decided by mutual agreement between USTC and the management of research team. Although the USTC is facing problem from the various types of management, administration and marketing issues, this paper will concentrate only on the strategic issues of educational service marketing. The study area will be limited within Chittagong and Dhaka. However, the study will include all the faculties and departments of the USTC to make the study more pragmatic and focused. 6. Methodology of the Study The study is based on both the primary and secondary data for an in-depth survey of various departments of the USTC. A sampling plan and questionnaire have been prepared for the collection of the primary data. Secondary data available in the various research reports and the data base of the USTC have also been considered. Questionnaires have been distributed to the randomly selected students, officers, teachers, administrator and other important stakeholders of the USTC. Interview of intellectuals, people from various professions will help evaluating their opinions on problem that they face in the USTC and other private universities in Bangladesh. The students under a course work assignment have been divided as field workers into a number of groups to visit various departments and faculties for collecting and recording the opinions of the concerned and evaluating their operations and marketing functions. In the study to develop effective and comprehensive marketing programs and strat egies, the BGC Model, Anosoff’s Matrix, and SWOT Analysis have been conducted. 7. Scenario of Higher Education in Bangladesh Most of the higher education providing institutions in the developing world are in the public sector. They are built, financed and staffed by the government. Since about 1950 there has been a rapid acceleration in the rate of growth of demand for educational services at all levels, the most notable at the level of higher education in the college and university level. In Bangladesh the demand for educational services started increasing since early 80s. As per Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, in 1992 the number of medical colleges, engineering colleges and universities were 17 (Govt. 13, Non Govt-4), all Govt. and 17 (Govt. 11. non govt. 6) respectively. But only a small percentage of these students gets the opportunity for higher education in the country. Besides, vast majority of those having higher education cannot find job opportunity. These clearly indicate the discrepancy between the need and the resources. This is not the whole truth. The education offered today is vastly non-pr oductive. Hence, the existing educational system has produced a large population of educated unemployed. It is now an admitted fact that no Government can employ all educated people both in the developing and the developed countries. While a country needs a large number of technically qualified persons in the various fields, the number of this group is far too small to satisfy the need of the country. This is applicable for all branches of technical education e.g. medical, engineering, agricultural, pharmaceutical, business studies. In fact in all technical branches need many more qualified personnel than are available today. And yet avenues for education in these specific fields are limited. As a result, the number of Bangladeshi students studying abroad is almost three times more than the number studying in all our Universities, Engineering and Medical Colleges. These are the rich and the privileged groups. They do not suffer the consequences and in fact they take it as a pride to send their boys and girls for studies abroad. Not even for moment they think how much they are depriving the country of the hard earned foreign exchange and degrading the prestige of the nation in the eyes of the outside world. What is even more important is that the outcomes of such ventures are nothing less than fatal for the country. Most of these students who are trained abroad are a great loss for the nation and some of them even hesitate to identify themselves as Bangladeshis. Bringing up in a different cultural environment where family link is too loose and the religious bondage is very weak it is rather too much to think of bringing them back to their homeland. 8. Background of the USTC The journey of USTC began on May 13, 1989 with the establishment of the Institute of Applied Health Sciences (IAHS) along with 42 students. It continued to function as an Institute under the University of Chittagong. The University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC) was established as a full-fledged Private University soon after the Private University Act 1992 came into force when IAHS became its constituent body. The Janasheba Foundation was its sponsoring organization and National Professor Dr. Nurul Islam was appointed as the Founder Vice Chancellor of the USTC by the Chancellor of the University and the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Since then USTC started functioning with two faculties, namely, the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Basic Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The MBBS and B. Pharm (Hon.) Programs are offered by these two faculties. These two faculties have been doing more than expectations and it is a matter of pride that t he USTC has almost 33% foreign students today. The USTC has opened up a new horizon for the business community of the country by launching a new faculty entitled â€Å"The Faculty of Business Administration† which is indeed, another bold step by the USTC in fulfilling its mission of expansion of higher education through private initiative. Another Faculty entitled ‘Faculty of Science. Engineering and Technology (Department of Computer Science and Engineering) has been functioning with encouraging response from the students. As global economies and communities in transition continue to present new challenges to solve, the necessity of lifelong learning continues to grow. Considering this USTC started operating in Bangladesh to develop unique and innovative programs, to provide learners of Bangladesh with new skills and capabilities and to tap into the emerging knowledge of our complex and changing world. The USTC is significantly able to maintain international linkages as well and it also remains solely dedicated to placing knowledge in the hands and minds of the learners. Sources of Fund and Janasheba Foundation Over and above the donations received from some philanthropists and the Anwara – Nur Welfare Trust, obligatory contribution by the guardians for the development activities in addition to admission fees have been the financial resources of the institution so far. In order to safeguard the interest and protect the project, the need for establishing a trust (Foundation) was keenly felt. Janasheba Foundation was thus formed and registered with the Societies Act XXI of 1860 in 1991 with National Professor (Dr) N. Islam as its Founder – Chairman. Activities of the Foundation include Community Health, Social Welfare and Technical Education. The USTC is thus a logical outcome of this program. IAHS/USTC in International Forum IAHS became reputedly known at International level because of its Founder-Chairman the renowned National Professor Dr. Nurul Islam. In 1978 there was a major International Conference at Almaata which recommended expansion of Community Based Medical Education. The Coordinator of this effort was an organization in the Netherlands namely University of Limberg Mastrichtt City. It formed a Network of Community Based Educational Institutions for Health Science (in short Network). This Network was recognized by WHO and it was engaged in speedy expansion of Community Based Medical Education in the East and the West. The then Secretary – General of this Network Dr. Jacobus M. Gritt invited proposed IAHS to join the Network in October 1985 after hearing about the proposed IAHS activities and programmes from Dr. Nurul Islam Dr. Islam promptly submitted an application of membership on behalf of IAHS to the authorities of the Network. In 1986 the executive Committee of the Network granted Associate Membership to IAHS. That membership prompted the actual establishment of IAHS with the crowned success. In September 1987 Dr. Nurul Islam being invited by the Network attended its conference in Patia (Thailand) and took the opportunity to evaluate the experience of different countries in community based medial education. In 1990 from October 7 to 12 this Network held its â€Å"Second International Symposium on Problem Based Learning†. In this conference Prof. Nurul Islam joined along with one teacher and two students from IAHS. Present Status of USTC Located at the picturesque site near Foy’s Lake, the USTC has opened up a new horizon for the quality medical, pharmaceutical, business and modern technology education in the country. The primary objectives of establishing USTC are to improve the quality and standard of education in Science and Technology with special emphasis on medical, pharmaceutical and social sciences. It also aims at developing human resources at home and in the developing countries with special emphasis on the South-East Asia. The USTC is now operating through four faculties which are (i) the Faculty of Medicine (ii) the Faculty of Basic Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (iii) the Faculty of Business Administration and (iv) the Faculty of Modern Science and Technology. The number of students of the USTC is more than 1500 of which more than 350 are from abroad including nationals of India, Jordan, Nepal, Malaysia, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, KSA, Sadan and UAE. The teacher – student ratio is 1:8 on an average. The courses offered in the USTC are MBBS, B. Pharm., B.Sc. in Computer Science and Technology and BBA. After passing the final MBBS examination, the doctors get provisional registration with the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) to take part in one year internship training as intern. After satisfactory completion of the training, they get permanent registration with the BMDC. Having had the privilege of establishing the university with IAHS as its first institute, the USTC did not have much difficulty in expanding its infrastructure. USTC is the first among the private universities which has it own infrastructure facilities including academic building, 250 bed hospital, large ad modern central library with a modern auditorium and two residential halls of which one is for female and the other for male. Female students reside in Gulmeher Hall and foreign students are accommodated in Sayedur Rahman International Hall. The hospital titled Bangabandhu Memorial Hospital is going to be extended into and another 500-bed Unit-II medical complex. Construction work is going to start a second campus of USTC in Dhaka. Side by side within a short time two post graduate programs, MBA and Family Medicine Diploma are now running in the Dhaka Campus. The academic plan of USTC is based on UGC approved courses and curriculum in which lectures are supplemented by tutorials, demonstrations and practical laboratory assignments. Sufficient lecture halls, tutorial rooms and laboratory facilities are available for all departments. The hospital is recognized by the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons to offer postgraduate training in Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics and Pathology. Existing laboratory facilities are as per requirement of the BMDC and are now being expanded for OPD and indoor patients. USTC has academic partnership programmes with several foreign institutions. The USTC central library is going to be the largest medical library in Bangladesh with more than five thousand books, four thousand journals, and other resource materials. A newsletter is published from the library containing news about the university activities and useful information for the general practitioners in easily understandable way for health educati on. The focus of USTC education is its MBBS degree which lays emphasis on community exposure from the very beginning. The purpose is to produce physicians capable of working in a rural setup with limited facilities in different social environments. This helps in the growth of leadership among the trainees. The MBBS degree is recognized by the Government of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, World Health Organization, General Medical Council of Great Britain, Ireland Medical Council, etc. USTC is a member of the International Network of Community Oriented Health Sciences, Maastricht, the Netherlands. And the B. Pharm. Degree is recognized by the Bangladesh Pharmacy Council. The present status and golden success of USTC is achieved by the members of the institution, under the strong leadership of Prof. (Dr) N. Islam. At present the USTC is a dynamic private university of further and higher education set on an exciting global expansion. It gives the students not only the opportunity to attain an internationally recognized degree but also to grow a knowledgeable and competent individual. This is because students study in a multi-cultural environment and get the chance to have a one-to-one professional relationship with the lecturers and management as a whole. Choosing the USTC today will definitely make the student a better person tomorrow. Since 1992 thousands of students have successfully taken the programs of USTC and utilized their qualifications to reach the highest levels in their chosen professions. A qualification gained through the USTC is a key to a successful and exciting future. 9. Findings It has been revealed from the study that the journey of the private university industry in Bangladesh is now going through the growth phase of its life cycle. So, a substantial amount of work is required to be done. However, the following points may be considered worthwhile for the successful performance of this industry in Bangladesh. 9.1 To cope with the societal needs and therefore, to become a center of excellence for medicine, hospitality management, business management, marketing, information technology, shipping and the other related fields in the education sectors, a number of creative leaders among the academicians and administrators of the private industry in general and the USTC in particular have to be developed who will actively contribute to learning and creation of knowledge. 9.2 USTC is a truly international institution of higher learning, attracting students from many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. USTC reflects the needs of the global economy and world for well-trained professionals, able to speak English and one or more other languages with a solid International education combined with an international cultural background. Such graduates of USTC have excellent prospects of employment in the reputed companies in the various professions like Doctors, Executives, Pharmacists, Academician, IT Professional and many other professions. Prof. N. Islam wants to ensure that the USTC leading and representing the private university industry will make a significant contribution towards better international understanding by educating students in an international environment and preparing them for international careers. 9.3 The need of the individual student is taken very seriously and every effort is made to create a positive learning environment. Most of the USTC Professors have, in addition to their distinguished academic background, practical professional experience in their areas of concentration. Prof. (Dr) N. Islam is committed that the USTC will not only train and prepare students thoroughly for their future professional tasks, and give them a sound educational background but also will consciously prepare them for their future leadership role. This is achieved not only through special courses and seminars on leadership, but also is emphasized in the context of regular coursework. The faculties and administration of USTC are committed to the goal that students become imbued with the entrepreneurial spirit. At USTC the leader wants to prepare each student to take initiative and venture out on his or her own. The educational effort at USTC puts special emphasis on developing international and c ross cultural competencies through acquiring foreign language skills. 9.4 To improve the quality and standard of education in Science and Technology USTC has given special emphasis on the development of sound Computer, Medical, Pharmaceutical and Social Sciences Programs and courses. 9.5 To become a truly international institution attracting students from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds, USTC has already established alliance with the various associations and social institutions of the South-East Asia region and the Middle East. 9.6 All the students both national and international get benefited from the professionalism, knowledge and expertise of the faculty members and administrators of USTC. 9.7 To draw more attention from the students and the society USTC accepts the transfer of credits of the equivalent courses or programs of the UGC recognized universities. 9.8 In its all degree programs USTC has included a wide range of subjects which will familiarize the students with th

Jk Rowling

Although she writes under the pen name â€Å"J. K. Rowling† her name when her first Harry Potter book was published was simply â€Å"Joanne Rowling†. Her publisher Bloomsbury feared that the target audience of young boys might be reluctant to buy books written by a female author, and requested that she use two initials, rather than reveal her first name. Born on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England She attended St Michael's Primary School. Her headmaster, Alfred Dunn, has been suggested as the inspiration for the Harry Potter headmaster Albus Dumbledore. She attended secondary school at Wyedean School and College.Rowling has said of her adolescence, â€Å"Hermione [A bookish, know-it-all Harry Potter character] is loosely based on me. She's a caricature of me when I was eleven, which I'm not particularly proud of. † Rowling read for a BA in French and Classics at the University of Exeter, and after a year of study in Paris, she moved to London to work a s a researcher and bilingual secretary for Amnesty International. In 1990, while she was on a train trip from Manchester to London, the idea for a story of a young boy attending a school of wizardry â€Å"came fully formed† into her mind.She told The Boston Globe that â€Å"I really don't know where the idea came from. It started with Harry, then all these characters and situations came flooding into my head. † Rowling then moved to Porto, Portugal to teach English as a foreign language. [25] While there, on 16 October 1992, she married Portuguese television journalist Jorge Arantes. Their child, Jessica Isabel Rowling Arantes was born on 27 July 1993 in Portugal. [36] They separated in November 1993. [36]HYPERLINK l â€Å"cite_note-36†³[37]In December 1993, Rowling and her daughter moved to be near her sister in Edinburgh, Scotland. 18] During this period Rowling was diagnosed with clinical depression, and contemplated suicide. [38] It was the feeling of her ill ness which brought her the idea of Dementors, soul-sucking creatures introduced in the third book. [39] In 1995, Rowling finished her manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on an old manual typewriter. The book was submitted to twelve publishing houses, all of which rejected the manuscript. [36] A year later she was finally given the green light (and a ? 1500 advance) by editor Barry Cunningham from Bloomsbury, a small British publishing house in London, England.Soon after, in 1997, Rowling received an ? 8000 grant from the Scottish Arts Council to enable her to continue writing. [49] The following spring, an auction was held in the United States for the rights to publish the novel, and was won by Scholastic Inc. , for $105,000. In June 1997, Bloomsbury published Philosopher’s Stone with an initial print-run of 1000 copies. Five months later, the book won its first award, a Nestle Smarties Book Prize. In February, the novel won the prestigious British Book Aw ard for Children’s Book of the Year, and later, the Children’s Book Award.

Genetically Engineered Foods Essay

Genetically engineered or genetically modified foods are foods that are simply the result of alteration in the original genes of an organism such as a plant or an animal in order to blot out a characteristic or trait of the original organism. Because this involves the transfer of genes, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) are also known as â€Å"transgenic† organisms (Robert Sacerich-GMO, Genetically Modified Foods and Conspiracy Theories). GE foods can be contrasted with organic foods which are basically foods which undergo a ‘non-synthetic’ method of processing before distribution to the public. This issue holds immense global importance because it is considered to be an alternative to solving the World Hunger crisis by supplying GE foods to countries with an inadequate supply of food (Anup Shah GE Technologies will solve world hunger; Jeffrey Heit, MD-Genetically Engineered Foods ). In this paper, the relative advantages and disadvantages of distributing GE foods to the public will be discovered and weighed. The notion of GE technology being the sole alternative to solving World Hunger will also be investigated along with the prospect of using organic food instead of GE food. In the article, Is GE food safe?, Anup Shah argues that although there is a possibility the use of GE foods can be beneficial to the general public, it cannot be said that this will last forever. The importance of this dilemma is being measured by the fact that there is absolutely no scientific proof at the moment to predict the effects of these crops in the foreseeable future, though we might know a great deal about their initial benefits to health and industry. David C. Pack agrees with this point of view and states that man has tampered with the very core of our food supply as part of the continuing quest to â€Å"out-do† God. He goes on to talk about the ‘unpredictability’ of altering genes. Stating in an example that certain genes from a flounder—a fish—have been inserted into tomatoes in order to give them a longer shelf life and that splicing genetic segments of one species into the genes of another could never occur naturally, he goes on to measure the importance of this issue by comparing data from original research work that had been carried out to determine the relative advantages of ‘golden rice’ and ‘soybeans’ compared to the regular varieties available in the market (David C. Pack -Genetically Engineered Foods Why the Controversy?). Jeffrey Heit, MD, in Genetically Engineered Foods confirms that that the use of GE foods might entail a cheap and efficient industrial  system but the public might not benefit from it the way we think it will. For instance, the use of peanut genes in tomatoes might adversely affect people allergic to peanuts and tomatoes being irreplaceable ingredients in almost all kinds of curry based foods aggravate the situation. On the other hand, some authors like Amy Norton argue that Vitamin A deficiency can cause blindness and, because it dampens immune system function, leaves children more vulnerable to becoming severely ill from infections. If all children in deprived areas were given enough vitamin A, up to 2.7 million deaths could be prevented each year according to statistics. Genetically engineered capsules rich in vitamin A could be provided to the children in the aforementioned deprived areas. UNICEF has a program to give young children vitamin A capsules twice a year (one capsule is good for a six-month supply of the vitamin). A range of foods naturally contain vitamin A or vitamin A precursors – from liver, fish oil and eggs to spinach, carrots, mango and red peppers. But again, those foods may either be locally unavailable, depend on season, or be priced beyond what most families in developing nations can afford (Amy Norton- Genetically modified rice a good vitamin A source 14; Janice Jones- Advantages & Disadvantages of Organic Foods). In another article the author, Bryan Walsh talks about the relationship between ‘humane eggs’ and the way the laying hens are brought up or bred. He hints at the possibility of there being something worse than genetic engineering at hand, which is the way animals are brought up in farms, more specifically chickens. Hence, if such a relationship exists then there seem to be more pressing matters at hand than just the apparent side-effects of GE foods (Bryan Walsh-Vital Farms: Raising the Ultra-Organic Egg). Christie Wilcox adopts a different approach by targeting some of the myths held by people in favor of organic farming as opposed to genetically engineered farming. She talks about how pesticides are used abundantly in organic farming, how organic food is not healthier than GE food and how it is not ideal for the environment; ideas that are common amongst the general public about organic food (Christie Wilcox Myth busting 101: Organic Farming > Conventional Agriculture). Backing up the aspect that genetically engineered foods are unsafe and should not be distributed to the general public since their after effects have not yet been discovered, Anup Shah states in an article how worldwide polls indicate a high public demand of labeling GE food so as to  enable the public to choose their preference of food. She points out that any failure to do so implies that the public is ignorant. Is it ‘justified’ to keep the public in the dark just because we think the public is too ignorant to grasp the significance of GE food? On the other hand, is it okay to not label food as genetically engineered or not genetically engineered because of the growing apprehension that there will be competition between GE based and non GE based food companies? ( Anup Shah- Public Concerns and Protests on GE Food). While some believe that genetically engineered foods are generally regarded as safe. There has been no adequate testing, however, to ensure complete safety. There are no reports of illness or injury due to genetically engineered foods (Jeffrey Heit, MD- Genetically engineered foods). On the very other end, some people believe that genetically engineered technology is our only hope in abating the ongoing World Hunger problem. However, some people disagree. The idea that genetically engineered technologies can solve world hunger is ‘unreliable’. It might have the ‘potential’ to abet the ‘developing’ nations in fighting the food crisis but it is amongst the many other alternatives present. A significant number of people in the third world countries are unable to get food because it is expensive, not because it is unavailable. As we can see, the issue of a country’s economy is closely tied with the world hunger problem in this case (Anup Shah- GE Technologies will solve world hunger). There are various questions we need to ask ourselves if we want to determine the ‘safety’ GE food to human beings. In the event that this technology achieves its current aim, who will benefit more, people in need or the people who need more? If we are not able to predict the potential side effects of genetically engineered food, is it safe to miss this one chance to revert poverty or even world hunge r for that matter? If not, then will not taking the leap be worth it in the long run? â€Å"One reason why GE technology is being given the go-ahead is that there is a lot of money and profit involved in this. Hence from a business perspective it is more favorable, for example to produce crops that can be resistant to your pesticides (so that you can apply more of them).† Keeping this perspective in mind, is it ‘moral’ to jeopardize the prospect of â€Å"hunger free† countries? Does the expression man ‘tampering’ with nature also apply to scenarios in which Genetic engineering has helped the human race develop the food market? (David C. Pack-Genetically  Engineered Foods Why the Controversy? David C. Pack) The author mentions how the cross breeding of seeds needs to be prevented so as to prevent any food anomalies in the industry. Considering how different animals like cows and buffaloes are cross-bred, how justified is it to combine and merge the habits of different animals who are otherwise different in various aspects? Whereas the problem of â€Å"World Hunger† is concerned, if it cannot be solved by GE crops and is linked to poverty instead, will the eradication of poverty solve the predicament of world hunger? If hunger is an effect of poverty where poverty is a political and economic issue then politics influences how it is produced; who it is produced by and for what purposes it is produced. David C. Pack would also agree: â€Å"Even the problem of world hunger cannot be solved using this technology since the yield of GM crops is even lesser than that of natural (regular) crops† (David C. Pack -Genetically Engineered Foods Why the Controversy?). In conclusion, nothing can be said with absolute certainty about the pros and cons of using this kind of technology but what can be done in this field is research in order to determine the magnitude of change it is capable of delivering in the long run. References †¢Alexandra Sifferlin -California fails to pass genetically modified foods labeling initiative http://healthland.time.com/2012/11/07/california-fails-to-pass-gm-foods-labeling-initiative/ †¢Amy Norton Genetically modified rice a good vitamin A source http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_128308.html †¢Anup Shah -Is GE Food Safe? http://www.globalissues.org/article/189/is-ge-food-safe †¢Anup Shah -GE Technologies will solve world hunger http://www.globalissues.org/article/190/ge-technologies-will-solve-world-hunger †¢Anup Shah -Public Concerns and Protests on GE Food http://www.globalissues.org/article/196/a-huge-wave-of-public-concern †¢Bryan Walsh -Vital Farms: Raising the Ultra-Organic Egg http://science.time.com/2012/10/22/vital-farms-raising-the-ultra-organic-egg/

Goryeo Kingdom Ancient Koryo or Korea

Before the Koryo or Goryeo Kingdom unified it, the Korean Peninsula went through a long Three Kingdoms period between about 50 BCE and 935 CE. Those warring kingdoms were Baekje (18 BCE to 660 CE), in the southwest of the peninsula; Goguryeo (37 BCE to 668 CE), in the north and central part of the peninsula plus parts of Manchuria; and Silla (57 BCE to 935 CE), in the southeast. In 918 CE, a new power called Koryo or Goryeo arose in the north under Emperor Taejo. He took the name from the earlier Goguryeo kingdom, although he was not a member of the earlier royal family. Koryo would later evolve into the modern name Korea. By 936, the Koryo kings had taken on the last Silla and Hubaekje (late Baekje) rulers  and had united much of the peninsula. It wasnt until 1374, however, that the Koryo kingdom managed to unify almost all of what is now North and South Korea under its rule. The Koryo period was notable both for its accomplishments and conflicts. Between 993 and 1019, the kingdom fought a series of wars against the Khitan people of Manchuria, expanding Korea northward once more. Although the Koryo and Mongols joined together to fight the Khitans in 1219, by 1231 the Great Khan Ogedei of the Mongol Empire turned and attacked Koryo. Finally, after decades of fierce fighting and high civilian casualties, the Koreans sued for peace with the Mongols in 1258. Koryo even became the jumping-off point for Kublai Khans armadas when he launched invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281. Despite all the turmoil, Koryo made significant advances in art and technology, as well. One of its greatest accomplishments was the Goryeo Tripitaka or Tripitaka Koreana, a collection of the entire Chinese Buddhist canon carved into wood blocks for printing onto paper. The original set of over 80,000 blocks was finished in 1087  but was burned during the 1232 Mongol Invasion of Korea. A second version of the Tripitaka, carved between 1236 and 1251, survives to this day. The Tripitaka was not the only great printing project of the Koryo period. In 1234, a Korean inventor and Koryo court minister came up with the worlds first metal movable type for printing books. Another famous product of the era was intricately carved or incised pottery pieces, usually covered in celadon glaze. Although Koryo was brilliant culturally, politically it was constantly being undermined by influence and interference from the Yuan Dynasty. In 1392, the Koryo kingdom fell when General Yi Seonggye revolted against King Gongyang. General Yi would go on to found the Joseon Dynasty; just like the founder of Koryo, he took the throne name of Taejo.