As the world’s psychoemotional, economic, and political landscapes evolve, so do the conditions and methods of work and education. Approaches to child-rearing and training future professionals are also changing. Each new generation faces its own challenges and unmet needs.

Research Shows Soft Skills That Students Are Missing

Among the qualities students need, researchers mainly name these five:

1. Communication is undoubtedly essential. If well-honed, it can help avoid numerous problems in teams. But it largely depends on a person’s experience, temperament, and emotional intelligence.
2. Critical Thinking. There’s a good reason this skill is ranked as missed. Today’s world is overloaded with information. It’s crucial for students to approach any information critically, analyze it, and verify its authenticity.
3. Problem-solving. The key skill here is the ability to identify and solve a problem’s root.
4. Creativity. We live in the age of innovation, and this skill is now demanded as the default option for students.
5. Teamwork is the ability to collaborate effectively within a team to achieve common goals. It is believed to foster critical thinking and the ability to find elegant solutions to problems.

Research suggests that all these skills can and should be developed. Let’s be honest: modern education precisely fosters these qualities. However, the students are responsible for taking advantage of what the program offers.

Go Beyond

Great question: which soft skill should we focus on most? But here’s a better one: why does research consistently overlook patience as an essential skill? It would seem straightforward: without being patient, little can be achieved. Yet, this very quality is not considered promising. And that’s a mistake.

We use it constantly and everywhere: in everyday life, in work, and, of course, in academia. The very nature of higher education requires a bottomless vessel of patience from the student. For higher education, where we are talking about academic degrees and research, a huge layer of patience and time is required, and this skill will become critical and decisive.

If you are writing a thesis, organizing your knowledge and daily work requires being patient. If you are conducting research, you need patience for every step, from preparation to conclusions. Even if you turn to the best literature review writing service for help, you will need patience to fill out the brief correctly and explain the task.

Patience In the Context of History

The metaphor comparing patience to a vessel is a common one. But its exact origins are shrouded in mystery. Some trace it back to ancient Greek philosophy, where patience was likened to a vessel that could be filled with water. Others attribute its genesis to biblical parables, where patience was compared to a chalice that could be brimmed with wine.

Patience finds its way into world literature in various forms. For instance:

• “The Epic of Gilgamesh” (3rd millennium BCE): “Patience is a weapon that conquers all.”
• “Hamlet” (1603) by William Shakespeare: “Patience is a virtue, but it has its limits.”
• “Anna Karenina” (1878) by Leo Tolstoy: “Patience is the key to happiness.”

Overall, defining patience as some kind of vessel is a cool tip. This powerful mental tool can and should help students understand and appreciate the importance of patience in achieving their goals.

The Role of Patience in Learning

Patience is demanded so we do not stop and move toward each new goal. Earning an advanced degree is not an overnight endeavor. It’s a journey that begins with small steps, each requiring a renewed investment of patience. From high school to college, university, master’s programs, and doctoral studies, the journey intensifies with each step, requiring an ever-deepening reservoir of patience.

Patience is the lifeblood of soft skill application. When it comes to mastering vast amounts of knowledge and seeking and analyzing information, our psyche draws upon patience as the primary energy source, fueling soft and hard skills along the way.

Soft Skill or Skill Launcher?

That’s the crux of the matter. Of course, patience is an ability in itself. But it’s the very same switch that launches other essential modern-world skills, such as creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Scientists and engineers have developed a new coating for plastic particles that are used in 3D printing, which significantly increases their functionality and opens up new possibilities for commercial application.

Researchers from the University of Nottingham’s School of Chemistry and Faculty of Engineering have used supercriticial carbon dioxide to create an efficient, effective and clean process to coat PA-12 polymer particles used in a 3D printing process

The researchers have demonstrated that the new coatings have the ability to add colour and anti-mould and fungal properties to the printing process. The research has been published in Nature Communications.

One of the most common commercial 3D printing techniques is powder bed fusion or laser sintering. In this process a layer of free-flowing polymer powder is laid down and a laser is guided by a computer generated design and melts the powder layer-by-layer. A new layer of powder is applied to the previous layer and once again the laser melts the powder together whilst simultaneously anchoring it to the layer below. This process continues until the designed part is complete, often consisting of thousands of layers.

Polyamide-12 (PA12) is a strong plastic that is often is often used in the 3D printing industry to print complex and detailed parts, commonly deployed in the automotive or aerospace industries.

The real benefit of 3D printing or additive manufacturing is in the design and production of bespoke and unique objects, but its limitations are in the materials and palette of available properties that limit the overall application space. This new process provides an easy route to the development of a wide range of material capabilities without compromising processability.

Professor Christopher Tuck, Professor of Materials Engineering in the Centre for Additive Manufacturing in the Faculty of Engineering

Two key capabilities the new process can deliver are the addition of coatings for colour and anti-fungal and anti-mould properties. Currently the only options for manufacturers are grey or white powders and colour is added afterwards, now the team have created a range of coloured polymers that coat the PA-12 particles.

There are a few challenges facing the 3D printing industry due to limitations on the functionality of the polymers used. To tackle some of these challenges we have created a simple but effective approach to adding functionality by coating the particles. We’ve designed the coloured shell polymer so that it matches the mechanical and thermal properties of the printing polymer. Most importantly we’ve demonstrated this with the key polymer (PA-12) that is ubiquitous to the industry. Our new coloured polymeric powders work perfectly in the existing commercially deployed machines.

Professor Steve Howdle, Head of the School of Chemistry

Currently objects made using PA-12 can’t be used in moist environments due to the growth of mould and fungi. The new shell coating can also be used to develop coatings that prevent this from happening, opening up new possibilities for the use of 3D printed objects in new areas.

Professor Howdle adds: “A key benefit of this process is that it can easily be incorporated into current commercial 3D printing processes and this could be potentially transformative for the industry in widening scope by introducing new functionality, simplifying processes and importantly achieving all of this sustainably.”

Source: University of Nottingham

Legal practitioners increasingly recognize the significance of employing effective strategies to boost client retention and build repeat business. Here, we outline key tactics legal firms can utilize to cultivate client loyalty and encourage additional engagement with them.

Hire a Legal PR Firm

In the digital age, where information is abundant and choices are plentiful, legal PR firms play a pivotal role in shaping the perception of legal practices and cultivating client loyalty. Legal PR firms assist their clients in becoming thought leaders in their respective industries. 

This is made possible through creating (and distributing) engaging content, such as articles, speaking engagements, and media appearances that showcase expertise while building credibility – thus building client trust and loyalty in return.

Find a Reliable Virtual Assistant to Support Client Retention Efforts

As legal practices work to streamline operations and enhance client experiences, more are turning to virtual assistants to support client retention efforts. When you’re on the quest to find a virtual assistant, there are some considerations to keep in mind. For one, it is wise to hire virtual assistants with experience working within the legal field or alongside legal professionals. Familiarity with legal terms and processes will facilitate task completion more quickly while guaranteeing client interactions are accurate.

Strong written and verbal communication abilities are necessary for virtual assistants to represent your firm professionally. Make sure your choice possesses both written and oral communication abilities since that individual will interact directly with clients on your behalf.

Virtual assistants should possess expertise with relevant software and tools used by legal practices, including case management systems and virtual meeting platforms. Ensure their technological abilities integrate smoothly into your workflow by conducting thorough checks to assess them as potential hires.

Engage in Strategic Communications

Effective communication is fundamental to building and maintaining strong client relationships. Legal PR firms assist in crafting tailored communication strategies that resonate with clients. From personalized newsletters to social media engagement, strategic communication fosters a sense of connection and responsiveness, thereby reinforcing client loyalty.

Leverage Client Testimonials and Case Studies

Client testimonials and case studies serve as powerful endorsements of legal firms’ capabilities and successes, making an impressionable case to both existing clients as well as prospective ones. Legal PR firms strategically use case studies and testimonials across platforms like websites and social media to establish trust between existing and potential clients. This approach helps create authentic stories of client happiness and relatability.

Nurture Community Engagement

Legal practices that foster an atmosphere of community strengthen client loyalty by cultivating an interdependent network of peers and stakeholders, such as hosting networking events, attending industry forums, or supporting charitable endeavors. By building these bonds further with clients, legal firms are practically cementing their clients’ loyalty toward the firm.

Implement Client-Centric Practices

Legal practices themselves can also adopt client-centric approaches in order to foster increased loyalty among their client base and encourage recurring business. Delivering exceptional legal expertise requires more than legal expertise alone; it also encompasses responsiveness, empathy and meeting client needs promptly and effectively. By prioritizing client satisfaction at every touchpoint, legal practices can differentiate themselves while building long-term client loyalty.

Every client has distinct objectives and preferences; therefore, legal practitioners should strive to tailor their services according to these individualities in order to provide tailored legal solutions that reflect these differences. Such a methodological approach shows the firm’s attentiveness to client success while creating lasting loyalty from client satisfaction and building a sense of stewardship.

Source: Pexels

Solicit and Act on Client Feedback 

Regular client feedback offers invaluable insights into their experiences and expectations. Legal practices should actively seek it through surveys, interviews, reviews or any other means available. Doing this fosters long-term trust by responding quickly to client input while simultaneously strengthening loyalty over time. 

By actively soliciting this input and incorporating it into their practices, legal firms show a dedication to continuous improvement while developing deeper connections and positioning themselves as trusted advisors to their clients.

Cultivate Long-Term Relationships

Establishing long-term client relationships is central to the success of legal practices. Legal practitioners should invest time in cultivating these connections beyond transactional matters, showing their long-term dedication and support of client well-being and success. By becoming trusted advisors and allies for clients, firms build loyalty while encouraging long-term collaborations.

In Conclusion

Improving client retention in legal practices requires adopting an integrative approach involving strategic communication, personalized service delivery, and ongoing relationship-building efforts. Legal practitioners can improve client retention through partnerships with legal PR firms, adopting client-centric practices, and taking advantage of virtual assistant support to foster long-term loyalty while driving sustainable business growth.

]]> https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/improving-client-retention-in-legal-practices-strategies-for-long-term-loyalty/feed/ 0 https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/why-personalized-learning-paths-are-pivotal-to-child-education-development/ https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/why-personalized-learning-paths-are-pivotal-to-child-education-development/#respond Thu, 04 Apr 2024 08:24:22 +0000 https://www.globalbrandsmagazine.com/?p=93967 Creating a viable brand is tough, but there’s something that can make this task much easier: personalized learning paths for children. If you want your child to become an incredible entrepreneur, the best thing you can do for them is provide an incredible education.

Personalized learning paths strike at the heart of individual potential and nurture it through customized educational experiences. These adaptable journeys consider learning pace, style, interests, and abundant other facets that make your child distinct. They’re pivotal in child education because they transform instruction from something mundane into extraordinary.

5 Reasons Why Personalized Learning Paths are Essential

Embark on a journey to uncover why personalized learning paths are essential for your child’s educational growth. 

Here are five compelling reasons that spotlight their importance. 

1. Caters to Individual Pace

Each brain has its own tempo for processing new information and conquering challenges – a truth that personalized education embraces fully. In fact, studies show an increase in memory performance when learners have more control over their study behaviors. 

When your child feels rushed, anxiety can loom large and negatively affect the learning environment. On the flip side, if they’re breezing through too quickly without being sufficiently challenged, boredom sets in – hampering motivation and decreasing their love for learning.

This is a big reason why online learning is so important here. Traditional classrooms have to keep pace with the school’s curriculum. A self-paced online course doesn’t have to. 

2. Addresses Specific Needs

When it comes to education, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Each child is born with a different set of abilities and challenges, meaning what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another. This is where personalized learning paths shine brightest.

Consider this: studies suggest that when individual learning needs are met, students can outperform their peers in self-instructional courses and standard classrooms. 

Likewise, personalized paths are tailored to your child’s specific educational needs. For instance, imagine if your child struggles with reading comprehension – a common hurdle for many. A personalized plan would zone in on building those critical skills incrementally. 

Tools like ABCmouse’s interactive reading program cleverly fit into this customized strategy. Through engaging storylines and characters they know and enjoy, children interact and learn at a pace that ensures they aren’t left feeling overwhelmed or discouraged.

3. Promotes Higher Engagement

Dive into any classroom, and you’ll spot that child – the one whose eyes glaze over as they disengage from a lesson moving too fast or slow. It’s an educator’s bane and a parent’s worry, but it underscores the need for personalized learning paths for all types of children.

Here are five compelling ways personalized learning boosts this critical element:

• Interest-Driven Content: Tailored education allows kids to explore subjects they like. Engagement levels can surge when students work with content that interests them.
• Achievable Challenges: Personalized learning offers that sweet spot between too easy and too difficult, keeping kids on their toes without toppling them over.
• Goal Setting and Tracking: Setting attainable goals gives kids a clear direction. Goal-setting can heighten student engagement by fostering a sense of accomplishment.

Personalized pathways are not just educational plans but launchpads propelling children toward enthusiastic and effective participation in their own development stories. This step places your children one step closer to creating a great brand identity once they become entrepreneurs.

4. Adjusts to Learning Styles

Learning styles are as diverse as personalities. The robust mosaic of how kids learn best is crucial to understand – and it’s exactly why personalized learning paths are transformative in education. Kids aren’t just empty vessels waiting to be filled with knowledge; they engage with information in unique ways, and recognizing this is paramount for their development.

Let’s break down these styles:

• Visual (Spatial): These learners thrive on imagery and spatial understanding.
• Auditory (Aural): For these children, discussions and lectures make concepts stick. 
• Read/Write: This group prefers interactions with plain text.
• Kinesthetic (Tactile): Hands-on approaches get these learners moving.

Based on averages, it’s more likely that your child is a visual learner. However, combining multiple styles is often the best way to teach your children. For example, people remember 50% of what they hear and see and 90% of what they say while they’re doing something. 

5. Fosters Independence

Envision a child taking the wheel of their learning journey with confidence. That’s precisely the brand of independence fostered by personalized learning paths. 

It’s about equipping kids with knowledge and the self-assurance to take initiative. A study that specifically looked at EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classrooms showed a massive improvement in engagement when students had more autonomy as opposed to less. 

By allowing your child to have a say in what they’re learning and how they’re learning it, you’re essentially handing them the building blocks of ownership. They feel a sense of control that can ignite an intrinsic motivation – a spark that, once lit, rarely extinguishes. 

It lays down roots for lifelong learning, where curiosity drives pursuit far beyond classroom walls, and that’s a very important skill to have for any budding entrepreneur.

Personalized Learning Improves Our Ability to Learn 

As we wrap up our exploration into personalized learning paths, remember that the journey of education is as individual as your child. If you’re ready to see them flourish academically, emotionally, and creatively, then consider embracing these tailored strategies.

Researchers from Newcastle University have identified a link between reducing the stigma of poverty in schools and the reading and maths attainment of pupils.

One in three UK children are currently living in poverty. Whilst the report acknowledges that schools alone cannot tackle poverty, they “can implement policies that tackle the stigma of poverty and ensure that the school day is more equitable”.

The finding comes from the article Does tackling poverty related barriers to education improve school outcomes? which analysed the impact of Poverty Proofing© the school day. The work was led by Dr Morgan Beeson and Professor John Wildman, from Newcastle University Business School, and Dr Josephine Wildman.

Poverty Proofing© the school day is a nationally recognised programme that works with schools to remove barriers for students living in poverty.

The research team looked at primary schools in the North East, comparing 38 primary schools that had recently undergone Poverty Proofing, to the region’s other 292 primary schools.

They found that pupils from all financial backgrounds benefitted from improvements in attainment. Over a two-year period after schools took action to remove barriers for those living in poverty, scores improved by approximately 5%.

To confirm this trend, the team separately analysed groups of children who received free school meals and therefore most likely to be living in poverty, and those who were not. The research pointed to a potential improvement in engagement in learning as a result of a reduction in disruptions caused by the consequences of poverty.

John Wildman, Professor of Economics at Newcastle University said: “Poverty is a trap that weighs heavily on children. If schools can make sure that poverty is left at the school gate, our results suggest that educational outcomes can improve and perhaps, in the long run, help pupils escape that trap.”

Morgan Beeson, Research Associate at Newcastle University, said: “What makes this research exciting is that by supporting children most impacted by poverty, the school environment can be made better for every child. The substantial impact on children’s learning underscores the urgent need for policy makers to consider interventions like Poverty Proofing.”

The research was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC North East and North Cumbria (NENC).

Lorna Nicoll, Operations Lead – Poverty Proofing at Children North East, said: “Every year our teams speak to over 30,000 children, families and staff about the impact finances have on their experiences of the school day. Time and time again we see financial pressures impacting pupils’ opportunity to thrive, whether through hunger, lack of learning resources, bullying or missing out on special moments. It is a huge milestone for researchers to demonstrate the link between our work removing those barriers and the educational outcomes and attendance of children in school.”

Changes schools have made as part of Poverty Proofing include making it harder to identify children accessing free school meals, ensuring that all cost-related support is given discretely, minimising or eliminating curriculum and after school clubs costs and giving families long notice periods about costs so they can financially plan.

Source: Newcastle University

Cambridge researchers have used artificial intelligence to predict the healthiness of café, takeaway and restaurant menus at outlets across Britain and used this information to map which of its local authorities have the most and least healthy food environments.

The findings, published in Health & Place, highlight the double burden faced by people living in the most deprived areas, where there tend to be more food outlets per capita – more than double the number in the least deprived areas – and these outlets tend to be less healthy.

‘Out-of-home’ food – whether that’s food eaten in a pub, café or restaurant or takeaway food – is an increasing part of how many people eat. But this food tends to be higher in calories, saturated fat and salt and less nutritious than food prepared at home.

Studies have shown consistently that the more an individual eats food out of home – especially fast food – the poorer the quality of their diet and the higher their body weight. In the UK, there also tend to be more fast food outlets in more deprived neighbourhoods.

Not all menus are equal, however – some will be healthier than others – but little is known about whether there are differences between neighbourhoods in the healthiness of out-of-home food outlets.

“Given the link between the food environment and diet, it’s important to understand how healthy this environment is at a local level. This will empower local authorities to take action to try and improve the consumer food environment.”

Yuru Huang, a Gates Cambridge Scholar at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge

To explore this, Huang and colleagues examined menus from almost 55,000 food outlets on Just Eat, an online food ordering and delivery platform. Each outlet’s menu was given a healthiness score of 0-12 (with 12 being the healthiest) based on a number of factors including: the number of special offers (such as meal deals or family meals), desserts, salads, chips, milk, water, and the diversity of vegetables.

As not every food outlet is on Just Eat, the team turned to an artificially-intelligent ‘deep learning’ model, trained on a subset of Just Eat data, to predict menu healthiness of every out-of-home food outlet in Britain – a total of almost 180,000 outlets. These outlets were classified into four categories:

• cafés, snack bars, and tea rooms
• fast food and takeaways
• pubs, bars, and inns
• restaurants

The only information available for all out-of-home food outlets were the outlets’ names and hygiene ratings. When the team tested their model, they found that the outlet’s name was the best at predicting the healthiness of its menu.

While the complexities of menu healthiness cannot be accurately captured by name only, the researchers validated their results against a different set of test data from Just Eat to that used in the model training, and against real menus from outlets in Cambridge and Peterborough to demonstrate that the model works.

Restaurants were found, on average, to have the healthiest menus, followed by: cafes, snack bars, and tea rooms; pubs, bars, and inns; and lastly fast food and takeaways.

The team used geographical data to map the food outlets, summarising the average menu healthiness of all out-of-home food outlets at the local authority level. Local authority districts with the highest menu healthiness scores included City of London, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster. The local authority districts with the lowest menu healthiness scores were Northeast Lincolnshire, Luton, and Kingston upon Hull.

The researchers found that, in general, the higher the level of deprivation in an area, the lower the average menu healthiness across its out-of-home food outlets – and all four categories of food outlets tended to be less healthy in more deprived areas.

Not only that, but out-of-home food outlets also tended to cluster in more deprived areas. In the most deprived areas, there were 8.39 food outlets per 1,000-3,000 people, compared to just 3.85 in the least deprived areas.

“There’s a clear pattern between the healthiness of menus at out-of-home food outlets in an area and its level of deprivation. This can create a ‘double burden’ for people living in deprived neighbourhoods, where there are more outlets and these tend to be less healthy, compared to less deprived neighbourhoods.”

Yuru Huang

“On top of this, there are studies that show, for example, that people with the lowest income were more likely to be obese when living in areas with a high proportion of fast-food outlets. This could even create a ‘triple burden’ for people living in these areas.”

The researchers acknowledge that the menu healthiness score does not capture the intricate nuances of the menu, such as portion size, cooking methods, and levels of food processing. This could be important, as interventions such as healthy catering awards introduced by local government focus on aspects like smaller portion sizes, reducing salt, and switching cooking oils.

This work was supported by the Medical Research Council and Gates Cambridge.

Source: University of Cambridge

With so many things on your plate, managing stress is crucial for your overall well-being and students’ academic success. It is no wonder that students these days face severe anxiety and tension due to their workload.

Think about it!

They are not mature enough to handle the same sort of pressure that a professional employee goes through. So, being in tension is very common for them.

The best part is that there are solutions to go through it!

Yes! You have heard it right. Managing stress is possible with the cumulative progress of your study structure. Whether working on assignments or dealing with the final examination, your tactics will create a difference from others.
When it comes to dealing with the assignment deadline or completing too many tasks at once, Ivory Research may fall under your attention. They have efficient and experienced researchers and writers who can make things happen for you quickly.

This, in turn, is going to help you manage your stress in many ways. However, that is not all!

Effective Ways Of Managing Stress As Students

As a student, managing stress can be a challenging task, especially with the ever-increasing workload. From assignments to exams and deadlines, students often find themselves overwhelmed and anxious.

However, it is essential to understand that managing stress is crucial for academic success and overall well-being.

Here, we will discuss ten effective strategies for managing stress as a student. By implementing these strategies, you can reduce stress levels, stay organized, and achieve a healthy balance between your academic and personal life.

So, let’s dive in and explore these strategies in detail.

Prioritize Your Tasks

Making a to-do list and prioritizing tasks based on their importance and deadline is an effective strategy for managing stress levels. By staying organized and breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable parts, you can reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed and increase your sense of control.

Additionally, crossing completed tasks off your list can provide a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep going.

So, start making your to-do list and prioritize your tasks to manage your stress and increase productivity.

Take Breaks

It’s great to hear that you understand the importance of taking regular breaks. Indeed, taking a 5-10 minute break every hour can do wonders in reducing stress and increasing productivity.

You can stretch your body, take a short walk, or simply close your eyes and rest for a while. It will help you recharge and refocus your mind, making you feel more energized and productive.

Practice Time Management

Time management can be the best solution to manage stress in your daily life, especially as a student. Effective time management can help you complete your tasks in advance while giving you enough space to live your life as well. It is essential to understand the importance of effective time management in life. By managing your time effectively, you can reduce stress levels and increase your productivity.

As a student, you have so many things to do, from attending lectures to completing assignments and preparing for exams. It can be overwhelming at times, but with proper time management, you can handle it all efficiently.

By prioritizing your tasks and allocating specific time slots for each task, you can make the most of your time and get things done on time. This will reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed and increase your sense of control.

Moreover, effective time management will also help you achieve a healthy balance between your academic and personal life. You can allocate time for your hobbies and interests, spend time with your friends and family, and take care of your mental and physical well-being. This will not only reduce stress levels but also help you lead a fulfilling life.

Exercise Regularly

Exercise has been shown to be an effective stress and anxiety reducer. It is essential to make it a part of your daily routine to notice the positive impact it has on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Regular exercise promotes the release of endorphins, which are natural mood boosters. It can also help you maintain a healthy weight, improve your sleep quality, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

So, whether it’s going for a run, taking a yoga class, or simply going for a walk, make sure to prioritize exercise in your daily routine for better stress management.

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep-deprived people are never good at their work, and mostly they are inconsistent. Do you want to become a member of this category?

If not, then sleep well and give yourself enough time. If you think that you can sleep well one day and do other things without sleeping much, it can create inconsistency in your lifestyle.

As a result, you can experience poor academic performance and be under more pressure. Instead, try to get a good night’s sleep every night to make the next day energetic.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Deep breathing, meditation, and yoga are effective relaxation techniques that can help reduce stress levels. Taking a few deep breaths can help calm your mind and body, while meditation and yoga can help you achieve a state of relaxation and inner peace.

So, whether it’s taking a few deep breaths before an exam or practicing yoga in the morning, make sure to incorporate these relaxation techniques into your daily routine for better stress management.

Eat A Healthy Diet

A healthy diet can boost your energy levels and improve your mood. Going for a balanced diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.

Do you grab anything from the chart?

If not, it’s time to follow it and be healthy with a proper diet.

Seek Social Support

Seeking support from friends, family, or a therapist can be a great way to manage stress and feel more supported during difficult times.

Talking to someone you trust or a professional can help you gain perspective on the situation, identify coping strategies, and feel less alone in your struggles.

It is essential to remember that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. So, do not hesitate to reach out to your loved ones or a therapist if you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed.

Take Care Of Yourself

Self-care is essential for managing stress. Taking time to engage in activities that you enjoy can help you relax and recharge. Whether it’s reading a book, listening to music, or spending time in nature, self-care activities can reduce stress levels and improve overall well-being.

It’s important to prioritize self-care and make time for it regularly. Remember, taking care of yourself is not selfish; it’s necessary for a healthy and happy life.

Research by TISA and the University of Nottingham shows that providing balanced, contextualised risk warnings resulted in an approximately 14% increase in cash invested in Stocks & Shares.

Women responded by increasing their investments the most, so reformulated risk warnings could help close the gender investment gap.

This is part of a broad industry Inclusive Investing campaign convened by TISA to encourage savers to invest.

If you can help people to better understand the risks of investing in stocks and funds, they are more likely to invest. Participants in this study moved around 14% more of their cash into investments when extra context and a graphic making clear the benefits from investing were added to the standard risk warning.

These were the findings of large-scale randomised control trials by The Investing and Saving Alliance (TISA) in collaboration with the University of Nottingham. In the trial, participants were asked how they would hypothetically allocate £10,000 between cash savings, stocks and funds.

TISA found the people who are less likely to invest are the people most sensitive to the improved risk warnings tested. Highlighting long-run returns increased the amount invested by 21% for women, compared with seven per cent for men. This also had stronger effects among those with low financial confidence.

TISA is calling on the industry to update perfunctory risk warnings, so they actually help consumers make informed decisions about the risk of investing, in line with the Consumer Duty.

This work demonstrates the power of harnessing partnerships between industry and academia to innovate and create better outcomes for UK consumers.

Read the full report here.

Carol Knight, CEO, TISA said:

“We are calling on firms to think deeply upon the findings of this report and take action to create more inclusive communications for investments, particularly for simple products like S&S ISAs. TISA believes that we, as an industry, can do more within the current regulatory framework to help consumers make better informed financial decisions around investing. Diverting surplus cash balances to investing could build household resilience and deliver better outcomes for consumers.

Nathan Long, Senior Policy Analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown said:

“This work that boosts the amount people are prepared to invest in the stock market by over 10% is truly a mic drop moment for the industry.

“Risk warnings are seen by every client, on every page of a website and yet don’t get the TLC they deserve in order to improve decision making. Instead, they’ve been shackled by an industry that has been overly cautious on this issue, focusing on disclosure overload rather than improving client comprehension.

“The tests were feasible within the current rules and the consumer duty encourages firms to look at outcomes, not inputs. This work has the potential to be super charged under FCA and HM Treasury plans to bring in Targeted Support, allowing firms to slim down options to help consumers.”

“Our research showing that more contextualised risk warnings that make clearer the risks of different types of assets, over different periods, can change investing decisions in ways consistent with better investment performance. We encourage firms to test and adapt this approach in their customer communications.”

John Gathergood, Professor of Economics at the University of Nottingham and co-author of the research

Simon Farrant, Head of Business Development at Fidelity said:

“Informing investors about the risks they take is a critical duty for investment firms and we are pleased to support this work which challenges the traditional thinking in this area. The findings in this report provide new insight and a call to action especially in the context of the differing reactions to standard warnings on men and women, which we believe will benefit both consumers and the industry.”

Lavanya Menon, Business Risk Director at Lloyds Banking Group said:

“This piece of research has been eye-opening – it has uncovered so much valuable insight into the barriers that people, especially women, face when making investment choices. The fact that standard disclosures and warnings can be a barrier was surprising and worrying at the same time. We must now – together as an industry – to use this insight to foster greater inclusivity and help more people feel confident, informed, and supported to achieve their financial goals.”

Peter Neufeld, Partner at EY Seren said:

“Helping people make better financial choices, both for themselves and the people that matter most in their lives, is at the heart of financial wellbeing. I am really excited to work with TISA and the membership to improve the way we talk about investment to give consumers more confidence in making decisions that are right for them and will positively impact their future, and create a more inclusive investing environment here in the UK along the way.”

Source: University of Nottingham

Unveiling Economic Realities

At its core, economics education equips individuals with a robust analytical framework to decipher the complexities of the global economy. It offers insights into how economies function, the interplay between different economic agents, and the impact of government policies on economic outcomes. By understanding these dynamics, future leaders are better prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The study of economics fosters a critical mindset, enabling individuals to evaluate the efficacy of various policy instruments and business strategies against the backdrop of economic theory and empirical evidence. This is well attested by Kelvin Hong, founder of a leading economics tuition provider for Junior College students in Singapore, who shared that “many former students go on to read economics in the universities and eventually climb the corporate ladder or become distinguished public servants. I believe our economics classes played a part.”

Cultivating Strategic Decision-Making

For C-suite executives, the relevance of economics extends to strategic decision-making. A deep understanding of economic principles aids in forecasting market trends, assessing competitive dynamics, and making informed decisions about investment, pricing, and resource allocation. Economics education teaches the importance of marginal analysis, opportunity costs, and the maximization of utility, which are essential concepts in the realm of business strategy. These tools empower executives to optimize their organizations’ performance and navigate the complexities of the business world with a nuanced understanding of economic forces at play.

Enhancing Policy Formulation and Implementation

Policymakers equipped with an economics background are better positioned to design and implement policies that promote sustainable economic growth, stability, and equity. Economics education imparts knowledge on the causes and consequences of unemployment, inflation, and income inequality, among other issues. It also provides a framework for evaluating the trade-offs associated with different policy choices. Understanding these economic fundamentals is crucial for crafting policies that are not only theoretically sound but also pragmatic and responsive to the needs of society.

Fostering Global Perspectives

The global economy is characterized by interconnectedness and interdependence. Economics education promotes a global perspective, encouraging future leaders to consider the international implications of domestic policies and business strategies. It highlights the significance of trade, foreign investment, and international financial flows, providing insights into how these elements shape economic outcomes across borders. By appreciating the global context, policymakers and C-suite executives can make decisions that enhance international cooperation and contribute to global economic stability.

Encouraging Ethical Considerations

Economics education also plays a pivotal role in instilling a sense of ethical responsibility. It raises awareness about the socioeconomic impacts of economic decisions and the importance of considering the welfare of all stakeholders. This perspective is crucial for both policymakers and corporate leaders, as it promotes the pursuit of policies and business practices that are not only economically efficient but also socially equitable and environmentally sustainable. An ethical approach to decision-making ensures that the benefits of economic activities are broadly shared, contributing to a more inclusive and just society.

Nurturing Innovation and Adaptability

In an ever-evolving economic landscape, the ability to innovate and adapt is paramount. Economics education fosters a culture of innovation by encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and the application of theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges. It prepares future leaders to respond creatively to economic uncertainties and to leverage technological advancements for economic progress. This adaptability is essential for navigating the rapid changes characterizing the modern economy, ensuring that organizations and economies remain resilient in the face of disruptions.

Conclusion

The role of economics education in shaping future policymakers and C-suite executives cannot be overstated. It provides the analytical tools, strategic insights, ethical foundations, and global perspectives necessary for effective leadership in today’s complex economic environment. By fostering a deep understanding of economic principles and their application to real-world situations, economics education prepares the next generation of leaders to make informed, innovative, and responsible decisions that will shape the economic landscapes of the future. As the world grapples with unprecedented economic challenges, the need for well-educated economic thinkers in leadership positions has never been more critical. Through continuous learning and application of economic knowledge, future leaders can contribute to sustainable economic development, social progress, and the well-being of societies worldwide.

The tone and tuning of musical instruments has the power to manipulate our appreciation of harmony, new research shows. The findings challenge centuries of Western music theory and encourage greater experimentation with instruments from different cultures.

According to the Ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras, ‘consonance’ – a pleasant-sounding combination of notes – is produced by special relationships between simple numbers such as 3 and 4. More recently, scholars have tried to find psychological explanations, but these ‘integer ratios’ are still credited with making a chord sound beautiful, and deviation from them is thought to make music ‘dissonant’, unpleasant sounding.

But researchers from the University of Cambridge, Princeton and the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, have now discovered two key ways in which Pythagoras was wrong.

Their study, published in Nature Communications, shows that in normal listening contexts, we do not actually prefer chords to be perfectly in these mathematical ratios.

“We prefer slight amounts of deviation. We like a little imperfection because this gives life to the sounds, and that is attractive to us,” said co-author, Dr Peter Harrison, from Cambridge’s Faculty of Music and Director of its Centre for Music and Science.

The researchers also found that the role played by these mathematical relationships disappears when you consider certain musical instruments that are less familiar to Western musicians, audiences and scholars. These instruments tend to be bells, gongs, types of xylophones and other kinds of pitched percussion instruments. In particular, they studied the ‘bonang’, an instrument from the Javanese gamelan built from a collection of small gongs.

“When we use instruments like the bonang, Pythagoras’s special numbers go out the window and we encounter entirely new patterns of consonance and dissonance,” said Dr Harrison, a Fellow of Churchill College.

“The shape of some percussion instruments means that when you hit them, and they resonate, their frequency components don’t respect those traditional mathematical relationships. That’s when we find interesting things happening.”

“Western research has focused so much on familiar orchestral instruments, but other musical cultures use instruments that, because of their shape and physics, are what we would call ‘inharmonic’.

The researchers created an online laboratory in which over 4,000 people from the US and South Korea participated in 23 behavioural experiments. Participants were played chords and invited to give each a numeric pleasantness rating or to use a slider to adjust particular notes in a chord to make it sound more pleasant. The experiments produced over 235,000 human judgments.

The experiments explored musical chords from different perspectives. Some zoomed in on particular musical intervals and asked participants to judge whether they preferred them perfectly tuned, slightly sharp or slightly flat. The researchers were surprised to find a significant preference for slight imperfection, or ‘inharmonicity’. Other experiments explored harmony perception with Western and non-Western musical instruments, including the bonang.

Instinctive appreciation of new kinds of harmony

The researchers found that the bonang’s consonances mapped neatly onto the particular musical scale used in the Indonesian culture from which it comes. These consonances cannot be replicated on a Western piano, for instance, because they would fall between the cracks of the scale traditionally used.

“Our findings challenge the traditional idea that harmony can only be one way, that chords have to reflect these mathematical relationships. We show that there are many more kinds of harmony out there, and that there are good reasons why other cultures developed them,” Dr Harrison said.

Importantly, the study suggests that its participants – not trained musicians and unfamiliar with Javanese music – were able to appreciate the new consonances of the bonang’s tones instinctively.

“Music creation is all about exploring the creative possibilities of a given set of qualities, for example, finding out what kinds of melodies can you play on a flute, or what kinds of sounds can you make with your mouth,” Harrison said.

“Our findings suggest that if you use different instruments, you can unlock a whole new harmonic language that people intuitively appreciate, they don’t need to study it to appreciate it. A lot of experimental music in the last 100 years of Western classical music has been quite hard for listeners because it involves highly abstract structures that are hard to enjoy. In contrast, psychological findings like ours can help stimulate new music that listeners intuitively enjoy.”

Exciting opportunities for musicians and producers

Dr Harrison hopes that the research will encourage musicians to try out unfamiliar instruments and see if they offer new harmonies and open up new creative possibilities.

“Quite a lot of pop music now tries to marry Western harmony with local melodies from the Middle East, India, and other parts of the world. That can be more or less successful, but one problem is that notes can sound dissonant if you play them with Western instruments.

“Musicians and producers might be able to make that marriage work better if they took account of our findings and considered changing the ‘timbre’, the tone quality, by using specially chosen real or synthesised instruments. Then they really might get the best of both worlds: harmony and local scale systems.”

Harrison and his collaborators are exploring different kinds of instruments and follow-up studies to test a broader range of cultures. In particular, they would like to gain insights from musicians who use ‘inharmonic’ instruments to understand whether they have internalised different concepts of harmony to the Western participants in this study.

Source: University of Cambridge