Objective: To use a qualitative approach to examine the perceptions of policy makers, general dental practitioners, dental hygienists, dental students and dental hygiene students in the Netherlands following the introduction of a direct access policy in 2006.Methods: Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were undertaken with a variety of policy makers and clinicians in the Netherlands. These were recorded and transcribed verbatim into MS Word documents. The transcripts were line numbered and subjected to thematic analysis to develop a coding frame using NVivo.Results: Four main themes are reported, which represent a subset of a policy analysis of direct access in the Netherlands. These were entitled: 'The narrative of implementation', 'Working models of direct access', 'Relationship between old- and new-style hygienists' and 'Public attitudes'.Conclusions: Working relationships within integrated practices in the Netherlands are positive, but attitudes towards independent practice are mixed. Good examples of collaborative working across practices were observed, but relationships between the professional bodies remain difficult seven years on since the introduction of the policy.
The central thesis of this book is that access to information represents a vital aspect of contemporary society, encompassing participation, accountability, governance, transparency, the production of products, and the delivery of services. This view is widely shared, with commentators and scholars agreeing that access to information is a key factor in maintaining societal and economic stability. However, having access to information does not guarantee its accessibility. Assuming that information is (cognitively) interpretable is incorrect, as many practical examples illustrate. In the first chapter, this book offers insights into the challenge of access to information in a digitalized world. The concepts of access and accessibility are addressed, elucidating their meanings and delineating the ways in which they are influenced by the exponential growth of information. It examines how information technology introduces a novel access paradox. The second chapter examines the challenges to access to and accessibility of information in a digitalized, hybrid world where code may be law, where there is an inescapable loss of privacy, where doing business opens and restricts access, where literacy is a necessity to survive ‘digital divides,’ and where environmental concerns may have an adverse effect on high expectations. The third chapter presents a review of theoretical approaches to access and accessibility from seven different research perspectives: information access disparity, information seeking, information retrieval, information quality, information security, information management, and archives management. Six approaches to information access and accessibility are identified: [1] social, economic, and political participation; [2] ‘smart’ and evolving technology; [3] power and control; [4] sense-making; [5] knowledge representations, and [6] information survival. The fourth chapter addresses the bottlenecks and requirements for information access and accessibility, culminating in a checklist for organizations to assess these requirements within their own business processes. In the fifth chapter, some perspectives on artificial intelligence and the future of information access are presented. The sixth chapter represents an attempt to draw conclusions and to bring this book to a close.
Airports have undergone a significant digital evolution over the past decades, enhancing efficiency, effectiveness, and user-friendliness through various technological advancements. Initially, airports deployed basic IT solutions as support tools, but with the increasing integration of digital systems, understanding the detailed digital ecosystem behind airports has become crucial. This research aims to classify technological maturity in airports, using the access control process as an example to demonstrate the benefits of the proposed taxonomy. The study highlights the current digital ecosystem and its future trends and challenges, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between different levels of technological maturity. The role of biometric technology in security access control is examined, highlighting the importance of proper identification and classification. Future research could explore data collection, privacy, and cybersecurity impacts, particularly regarding biometric technologies in Smart Access Level 4.0. The transition from Smart Access Level 3.0 to 4.0 involves process automation and the introduction of AI, offering opportunities to increase efficiency and improve detection capabilities through advanced data analytics. The study underscores the need for global legislative frameworks to regulate and support these technological advancements.
This project addresses the critical issue of staff shortages and training inefficiencies in the hospitality industry, particularly focusing on the hotel sector. It connects with the urgent need for innovative, and effective training solutions to equip (inexperienced) staff with hospitality skills, thereby improving service quality and sustainable career prospects in the hotel industry. The project develops and tests immersive technologies (augmented and virtual reality, AR/VR) tailored to meet specific training needs of hotels. Traditional training methods such as personal trainings, seminars, and written manuals are proving inadequate in terms of learning effectiveness and job readiness, leading to high working pressure and poor staff well-being. This project aims to break this cycle by co-creating immersive training methods that promise to be more engaging and effective. Hotelschool The Hague has initiated steps in this direction by exploring AR and VR technologies for hotel staff training. This project builds on these efforts, aiming to develop accessible, immersive training tools specifically designed for the hotel sector. Specifically, this project aims to explore the effectiveness of these immersive trainings, an aspect largely overlooked in the rapid development of immersive technology solutions. The central research question is: How do immersive AR and VR training methods impact job readiness and learning effectiveness in the hotel sector? The one-year KIEM project period involves co-creating, implementing, and evaluating immersive training in collaboration with Hotelschool The Hague and Hyatt Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht Hotel in real-life settings. The partnership with Warp Industries, a leader in immersive technology, is crucial for the project’s success. Our findings will be co-created and multiplied through relevant sector associations such as House of Hospitality. This project aligns with the MV’s Impact Level 1: Transitions by promoting innovative training strategies that can lead to a fundamental shift in the hospitality industry, thereby enhancing social earning capacities.
NHL Stenden hogeschool is een fusiehogeschool met een hoog ambitieniveau, waarbij onderwijs op basis van Design Based Education en onderzoek binnen de zwaartepunten Vital Regions, Smart Sustainable Industries en Service Economy met elkaar in verbinding staan en elkaar versterken. Binnen de hogeschool zijn inmiddels verschillende initiateven ontplooid op het gebied van de inrichting van de daarvoor benodigde onderzoeksinfrastructuur en het versterken van onderzoeksgroepen. Mede vanwege de coronacrisis is de (door)ontwikkeling hiervan vertraagd. Met de inzet van Impuls 2020 beoogt NHL Stenden hogeschool een versnelling van de noodzakelijke (door)ontwikkeling. Het overgrote deel van de subsidie zal ingezet worden voor de doorontwikkeling van het privacyimpact assessment en het onderzoeken en opstellen van een programma van eisen ten behoeve van advisering over een opslagdienst voor lopend onderzoek, een repository voor afgerond onderzoek en een Current Research Information System. Daarnaast zal de regeling ingezet worden voor beleidsontwikkeling en doorontwikkeling van het huidige ondersteuningsaanbod, informatievoorziening en het verhogen van bewustzijn onder onderzoekers. Een deel van de middelen zal worden ingezet om ondersteuning te bieden aan de versterking van twee beoogde penvoerderschappen voor de SPRONG-regeling: de onderzoeksgroepen Centre of Expertise Watertechnologie en het lectoraat Circular Plastics. SPRONG 2020 is vertraagd en in de tussenliggende periode moeten meerdere calls opgepakt worden. De regeling wordt ingezet voor activiteiten als netwerken, consortiumvorming en het opstellen van voorstellen binnen de KIA’s, waardoor de onderzoeksgroepen zich beter ontwikkelen naar krachtige onderzoeksgroepen. Impuls 2020 sluit aan bij de strategische keuzes van NHL Stenden hogeschool. Naast krachtige onderzoeksgroepen, die kennis en oplossingen ontwikkelen voor de drie genoemde zwaartepunten, dragen studenten van de hogeschool bij aan maatschappelijk relevant onderzoek. Kwalitatief hoogwaardig onderzoek vraagt om een effectief en efficiënt ondersteunend proces en goede voorzieningen. Met Impuls 2020 wordt juist deze gewenste versterking van de onderzoeksinfrastructuur en onderzoeksgroepen beoogd.
