Bachelor thesis | Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (LUC) (BA/BSc)
closed access
Zimbabwe’s education system has a complex history stemming from its colonial past.When the country gained independence in 1980, what followed was a complex period of reflection on the inherited...Show moreZimbabwe’s education system has a complex history stemming from its colonial past.When the country gained independence in 1980, what followed was a complex period of reflection on the inherited system of exclusion and division and how best to reform it.Despite the fulfilment of reforms that provided greater access to education for black Zimbabweans after independence, the basis of a philosophy of education was not completely established or achieved. As a result, there has been mirroring and continuity of colonial education structures in Zimbabwean schools in contrast to the perceived aims for a new philosophy of education. The purpose of this research is to understand how and whether decolonisation can take root in Zimbabwean private schools specifically. The research was carried out through semi-structured interviews with Zimbabweans in the field of education and analysis of the findings in the framework of decolonisation. The interviews added the lived experiences of teachers and parents to the research which provided insight from the various perspectives they have learnt and worked within the Zimbabwean education system. The main findings of the research revealed that despite the transformations made to education in Zimbabwe in the last forty-one years of independence, there is still great continuity with the British system of education which can have negative effects on the knowledge production and identity of a Zimbabwean student. There are however several reasons why these structures will continue to remain in place such as the feasibility of system transformation, the quality of the British system, as well as the silence around conversation of colonialism and the events that followed. The participants therefore highlighted that while decolonising education in private schools is essential the complexities of the country’s history, the resistance to changing the status quo and the timing, make it more difficult to achieve. Consequently, the research concluded that while achieving decolonisation in private schools may be a complicated and lengthy process, it can be made possible through reconciliation brought about by restorative justice amongst different races and generations of Zimbabwean citizens.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (LUC) (BA/BSc)
closed access
Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are long (≥ 2000 kilometers) tropospheric bands ofenhanced water vaportransport that, on average, transport more than double the flow oftheAmazon River. They are...Show moreAtmospheric rivers (ARs) are long (≥ 2000 kilometers) tropospheric bands ofenhanced water vaportransport that, on average, transport more than double the flow oftheAmazon River. They are responsible for 90% of poleward water vapor transport and have been linked toflooding and extreme rainfall events (EREs). While the impacts of this meteorological phenomenonhave been well-studied in some parts of the world, such as mountainous California, research on ARs in low relief regions is lacking. This study thus determinesto what extentARs are associated with EREs and precipitation in the Netherlands (NL) and whether this relationshipchangesspatially.NL was chosen as the study location as it is experiencing the effects of changing rainfall patterns and is a low-lying country with little relief. AR influences on one coastal city, The Hague, and one inlandcity, Maastrichtwereexamined. The scale of ARs is significantly larger than the surface area of NL, meaning that both cities are often affected by the same AR. Therefore, results between The Hague and Maastricht only differ slightly. By combining AR presence data with precipitation datathis study demonstrated that ~46% of all EREs are accompanied by an AReventin the two cities. Moreover, itwas found that 28.5% and 33.5% of all precipitation iscorrelated with AR occurrencesin The Hague and Maastricht,respectively. Lastly, rain days in Maastricht are1.9% more likely to be accompanied by an AR than in The Hague.This study supports the claim that ARs are an important factor in explaining EREs, which is highly relevant considering the predicted increase in AR occurrences due to climate change.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (LUC) (BA/BSc)
closed access
Aims: The aim of this research is to understand how effective contraceptive devices using algorithms based on basal body temperature can be at preventing unwanted pregnancies. Methods: Three...Show moreAims: The aim of this research is to understand how effective contraceptive devices using algorithms based on basal body temperature can be at preventing unwanted pregnancies. Methods: Three different databases (PubMed, Embase and Web of Science) were searched based on specific keyword profiles to yield a maximum of relevant articles. A total of 85 citations were reviewed from which 10 were included in this study as they met the precise inclusion criteria. The snowballing method was then employed to retrieve an additional 6 relevant articles. These studies were then rated (weak, moderate or strong) according to four criteria of quality assessment. Results: A total of 6 different devices were reviewed in this study: Natural Cycles, Daysy, LadyComp, Pearly, Cyclotest 2 Plus and Bioself 110 (and 2000). All of the 16 studies included in this review supported the idea that devices using algorithms based on basal body temperature were effective at preventing unwanted pregnancy. Considering all methods, the percentage of fertile days wrongly identified as fertile ranged between 0.07 – 7.5 (%) with some methods being more effective than others. The typical use Pearl index ranged from 0.5 to 9.8 and perfect use Pearl index from 0.7 to 2.0. Conclusion: The studies included in this systematic review demonstrate that algorithms based on basal body temperature can be effective birth control methods. The six different methods were all considered effective but difference in the quality of the studies included for each method might compromise some of these results.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (LUC) (BA/BSc)
closed access
Over the next century, effects of climate change are expected to increase. Especially in cities, with high population densities, these effects can be magnified. Two of the most pressing issues in...Show moreOver the next century, effects of climate change are expected to increase. Especially in cities, with high population densities, these effects can be magnified. Two of the most pressing issues in cities are: 1) increasing temperatures and the urban heat island effect, resulting in thermal discomfort for citizens and thermal stress on the environment and 2) biodiversity loss, due to urbanisation, which fragments natural habitat and disrupts ecosystems. Key to mitigating these issue in cities are greenspaces, which can cool temperatures and support biodiversity. This paper examines how spatial characteristics of tree-based greenspaces affect cooling, and relates this to ecological connectivity, using The Hague as a case study. A preliminary spatial data analysis of the greenspace cooling effect was done using remote sensing based on Landsat satellite imagery using a Geographic Information System, and further analysed with multivariate regression. The analysis of connectivity was done using Fragstats software. The results indicated that the Greenspace Cooling Island effect does occur in The Hague and that the area of the greenspace, area-perimeter ratio of the nearest neighbouring greenspace and the distance to the nearest neighbouring greenspace can explain the temperature reduction (TA). The cooling range (GR) could not be explained by any of the spatial characteristics. Regarding connectivity, street trees exhibited a higher degree of connectivity, whereas forest was more aggregated. Together, this suggests that smaller, closer tree-based greenspaces can lead to more temperature reduction in a city, but that enlarging greenspaces can also have a similar same effect. The findings of this research form a first step for the assessment of GCI in Dutch cities and can be build upon for further research that can be applied to urban planning to develop greenspaces in cities in the face of climate change.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (LUC) (BA/BSc)
closed access
The integration paradigm in many Western states, among them Germany, for long expected incoming immigrants and people with a migrant background to assimilate to the dominant culture in order to...Show moreThe integration paradigm in many Western states, among them Germany, for long expected incoming immigrants and people with a migrant background to assimilate to the dominant culture in order to integrate. Contemporary German authors who themselves have a migrant background are increasingly questioning this paradigm. This capstone, in taking an interdisciplinary historical and sociological approach, outlines how those authors construct migrant identities in non-fiction literature (academic sociology, essays, autobiographies) and on social media. Reading the selected works first against the sociological discourses on assimilation theory and identity formation theory, and second, as a response to the recent and historical situation of immigration in Germany, this capstone seeks to draw a more comprehensive picture of how migrant identities are constructed. Taking an approach that values the personalized perspectives of authors with a migrant background, this capstone identifies them as part of an emerging discourse that allows for them to participate in and steer the discussion. In critically engaging with the classical literature on assimilation theory, the findings of this capstone indicate that migrant identities are constructed by reclaiming previously loaded terms, in finding confidence in one’s social position as “the other,” and by forming migrant communities as an exercise of solidarity.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (LUC) (BA/BSc)
closed access
On 16 November 2012, the United States passed the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012, followed by the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act in 2016. This act allows...Show moreOn 16 November 2012, the United States passed the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012, followed by the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act in 2016. This act allows the US to employ targeted sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses and corruption. The European Union created a similar regime, the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, in 2020, which also targets individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses but does not target those accused of corruption. While targeted sanctions avoid collateral damage to entire countries, they often lack safeguards for the listed individuals. This study is a comparative, doctrinal analysis that looks at the effectiveness of the due process mechanisms in the US Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. Both of the sanction regimes have several due process mechanisms in place which protect the rights of individuals yet in some areas, such as specific delisting criteria, they are lacking. In general, the EU regime has more effective due process mechanisms than the US act, though even the EU regime is still not perfect.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (LUC) (BA/BSc)
closed access
Since 2001, billions of aid money have been pumped into Afghanistan to improve the lives of civilians, especially women. The plight of Afghan women has mobilised many NGOs to come into the country,...Show moreSince 2001, billions of aid money have been pumped into Afghanistan to improve the lives of civilians, especially women. The plight of Afghan women has mobilised many NGOs to come into the country, but not much has improved. This research attempts to find the reasons as to why so few improvements have been made, by using interviews with NGO employees working in Afghanistan to supplement and update the existing literature. Afterwards, a final analysis will be presented, combining the literature and the data from the interviews into one evaluation of the obstacles to the improvement of the position of women. The research question is: What are the obstacles to the improvement of the position of women in Afghanistan? It concludes that the main obstacles are more or less similar to the ones identified in the literature, namely the ineffective government, corruption, backlash against reforms, the deteriorating security situation, low quantity and quality of education, child marriages and baad. The research also identifies two new problems not yet identified by the literature: the tribal and religious norms regarding women and “Afghanistan fatigue”.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (LUC) (BA/BSc)
closed access
In recent decades there have been many decentralisations of governance tasks to subnational governments, sparking much debate among academics and policymakers. However, consensus on the effect of...Show moreIn recent decades there have been many decentralisations of governance tasks to subnational governments, sparking much debate among academics and policymakers. However, consensus on the effect of decentralisation on public service delivery is lacking, likely due insufficient empirical analysis in developed countries and lack of attention to micro-level and institutional factors. Moreover, most research focusses primarily on productivity and efficiency outcomes, neglecting quality concerns. This study fills this knowledge gap by assessing factors determining abilities of local governments to successfully implement decentralisation policies. The case studied is that of decentralisation of social care to Dutch municipalities under the Social Support Act of 2015. Effects of local physical, human, and fiscal capital will be examined through regression analyses of all 355 Dutch municipalities over the period 2017-2019. In doing so, it addresses a lacking understanding of determinants of local government capacity in the Netherlands. Findings indicate Dutch municipalities are constrained in service delivery by available physical capital. Tax bases provide insufficient financial resources and municipalities significantly rely on block grants to cover costs of service delivery. Moreover, expenditures of municipalities increase after decentralisation without resulting in increased quality of care. Implications of this study include need for micro-level data on local human capital levels and objective measures of quality of local public services. However, it is also concluded that data-driven policy analysis should be done carefully due to difficulty assessing determinants of local government capacity and interdependence between factors.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (LUC) (BA/BSc)
closed access
In recent years, a debate has emerged around the potential of plastic pollution to direct attention away from other, arguably more urgent environmental issues, such as climate change. Little...Show moreIn recent years, a debate has emerged around the potential of plastic pollution to direct attention away from other, arguably more urgent environmental issues, such as climate change. Little research has examined pro-environmental behavior (PEB) spillover from engaging in action against plastic pollution (plastic PEB) to supporting climate change policy. In this study, 81 undergraduate students at a university in the Netherlands completed a plastic cleanup activity as part of a sustainability-focused course. Subsequently, these students, as well as 80 students in a control condition, completed an online survey assessing frequency of engagement in plastic PEB, climate change concern, environmental self-identity, and support for a campus climate change fund. Results showed no spillover from plastic PEB to climate change policy support. However, this study also investigated the potential mediating effect of climate change concern, which revealed that frequency of engagement in plastic PEB had a significant positive effect on climate change concern, but climate change concern had no effect on climate change policy support. These findings suggest that encouraging individuals to engage in plastic PEB can increase awareness and concern about climate change, yet there is a disconnect between climate change concern and climate change policy support. The results of this study have implications for those interested in PEB spillover between different environmental issues, specifically using widespread initiatives, such as plastic cleanup activities and recycling, to increase awareness and policy support for other sustainability efforts.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (LUC) (BA/BSc)
closed access
Background: Over half of the population of the Netherlands has a chronic health condition. A large proportion of the care of people with chronic conditions is done by themselves and requires...Show moreBackground: Over half of the population of the Netherlands has a chronic health condition. A large proportion of the care of people with chronic conditions is done by themselves and requires continuous adaptation to the context of that moment. The “Intelligent lockdown” in the Netherlands has changed this context throughout its various phases. Objectives: There is little knowledge on what self-care looks like in the lives of people with chronic health conditions and how a crisis situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic influences self-care routines. The objective was to examine how the COVID-19 lockdown has affected the self-care behaviour and routines of people living with a chronic condition. Methods: Qualitative researched methods were used to gather the stories and experiences of participants with chronic health conditions. A seven-day, daily activity logbook was used to list the self-care behaviours of the day. This was then used to contrast and compare self-care activities to before the COVID-19 lockdown and during the various phases of the lockdown. The results of the logbooks were then used to conduct interviews with the participants, with the aim of verifying and clarifying the logbook entries. Results: The sample was made up of 10 participants with an age range of 20-67, seven of whom identified as female and three as male. People with physical as well as mental chronic health conditions were included. The limiting of space due to the lockdown caused clashes and overlaps of spaces with different functions. This led to the disruption of self-care routines concerning movement, socialisation, and food. The theme of responsibility towards and dependency on family and friends also emerged. The COVID-19 measures took away many of the healthy coping mechanisms those with mental health conditions relied on. Opportunities for exercise were limited by the closing of sporting facilities and the weather, with home-workout being complicated by lack of structure and social motivation. The participants indicated that they believed their experience with continuous adaptation had helped them adapt to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: This study showed that self-care behaviours and routines are interconnected. Most self-care behaviours were aimed at maintaining mental health, though those with mental health conditions experienced an extra challenge because their usual coping mechanisms were disrupted. Pandemic response policies must be examined for differential impacts on multiple groups, and ways to mitigate potential negative impacts.Show less
