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Nutrition students’ employability skills: need for a graduate employability framework
- S. McLeod, A. Ng, K. Furness, R. Belski
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- Journal:
- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 83 / Issue OCE1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 May 2024, E104
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- Article
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For a qualified nutritionist to obtain registration with the Nutrition Society of Australia they must first demonstrate that they meet a set of competencies relating to required nutrition knowledge and skills(1). However, theoretical knowledge and a technical skillset may not be enough to actively contribute to the workforce as a new graduate(2). Employers have previously expressed a desire for nutrition graduates to also develop employability skills in undergraduate studies to be better prepared for the workforce(3). Universities across Australia appear to have heterogeneous approaches to building nutrition students employability skills. To better understand student workforce readiness and employability skills, the research team undertook a mixed-methods study. A validated work-ready tool was used to survey undergraduate nutrition students self-perception of work readiness (n = 88) and semi-structed interviews of students pre/post nutrition industry placements (n = 18) were conducted to assess factors impacting student understanding and development of work readiness. Preliminary data from the survey showed higher levels of perceived ability related to higher age in, written communication (P<0.05), decision making (P<0.05), working unsupervised (P<0.05) and managing challenges (P<0.05). Lower age showed lower perceived ability in understanding how to apply skills (P<0.001). Lower levels of work experience showed lower perceived ability to work in a team (P<0.01), collaborate (P<0.01), work under pressure (P<0.05), and identify problems (P<0.01). Thematic analysis from interviews revealed themes related to improved confidence following a placement experience, communicating to stakeholders, the importance of translation skills, the benefits of networking and self-efficacy. The results suggest there are numerous identified gaps and significant room for improvement. To have a systematic approach to skill development, universities training nutrition students should consider developing a framework that builds understanding and scaffolds skill development across year levels. An employability framework has the potential to increase students employability skills and knowledge, enhance student confidence and increase graduate employment.
Seedling growth and leaf surface morphological responses of three rangeland weeds to ultraviolet-B radiation
- Nancy H. Furness, Mahesh K. Upadhyaya, Douglas P. Ormrod
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- Journal:
- Weed Science / Volume 47 / Issue 4 / August 1999
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 12 June 2017, pp. 427-434
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The influence of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on seedling growth and leaf surface characteristics of important rangeland weeds Cynoglossum officinale L. (houndstongue), Centaurea diffusa Lam. (diffuse knapweed), and Tragopogon pratensis L. (meadow salsify) was investigated in a greenhouse by exposing seedlings to 0, 7, or 11 kJ m−2 d−1 of biologically effective UV-B radiation. UV-B radiation reduced leaf, stem, and root fresh weights, leaf area, and leaf: shoot ratio and increased shoot dry matter content, specific leaf weight, and leaf greenness of C. officinale seedlings. Leaf, stem, and root fresh weight, and leaf area of C. diffusa seedlings decreased, whereas shoot dry matter content, specific leaf weight, leaf: shoot ratio, and leaf greenness were unaffected. T. pratensis seedlings exposed to UV-B radiation had diminished leaf greenness, but no change was observed in leaf or stem fresh weight, leaf area, or leaf: shoot ratio. Uniseriate trichome abundance in C. officinale seedlings increased and trichome orientation changed in response to UV-B exposure. UV-B treatments decreased uniseriate trichome abundance in C. diffusa; glandular trichome abundance and the ratio of glandular: uniseriate trichomes were not affected. T. pratensis seedlings showed no change in the amount of epicuticular wax on the adaxial leaf surface in response to UV-B irradiation. Shoot dry weight was not influenced by removal of epicuticular wax prior to UV-B exposure. Results suggest that epicuticular wax is not an important factor in acclimation of T. pratensis seedlings to UV-B radiation. Susceptibility to UV-B–induced damage was greatest for C. officinale seedlings and least for T. pratensis seedlings. Modification of plant morphology or reduction in growth induced by enhanced UV-B radiation may influence competitive relationships between rangeland weeds and their associated forage species.
Allelopathic Influence of Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale) and Its Modification By UV-B Radiation
- Nancy H. Furness, Barbara Adomas, Qiujie Dai, Shixin Li, Mahesh K. Upadhyaya
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- Journal:
- Weed Technology / Volume 22 / Issue 1 / March 2008
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 January 2017, pp. 101-107
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Influence of aqueous leaf extracts, leaf residue, and leached-leaf residue of houndstongue, a noxious rangeland weed, on seedling emergence of forage grasses was studied. Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) effects during houndstongue growth on subsequent germination and growth-inhibitory activity of leaf extracts were investigated. Addition of glasshouse-grown houndstongue leaf extract to mineral soil decreased emergence of crested wheatgrass by 13% and prairie junegrass by 20% at 14 d after sowing. Idaho fescue emergence was unaffected. Incorporation of houndstongue leaf- and leached-leaf residue into soil (0.4 g residue : 20 g soil) delayed emergence of forage grasses. At 14 d after sowing, houndstongue leaf residue spread on the soil surface (0.2 g residue : 20 g soil) tended to inhibit seedling emergence more than leaf residues incorporated into soil. In separate experiments, houndstongue plants were grown at 0, 4, 7, and 11 kJ/m2/d biologically effective UV-B radiation for 6 wk, and leaf extracts (0.5, 1, 2, and 4% wt/v) were prepared. Exposure of houndstongue to increasing UV-B dose during plant growth generally increased the inhibitory activity of their leaf extract on prairie junegrass germination. Crested wheatgrass and Idaho fescue seedlings incubated in extracts of houndstongue leaves exposed to UV-B, compared with leaves grown in a UV-B–free environment, had decreased root lengths. Leaf extracts of plants exposed to elevated UV-B levels had higher absorbance at 300 nm, indicating greater concentration of UV-B–absorbing compounds. This study suggests houndstongue leaf extracts and residues inhibit seed germination and seedling emergence and that UV-B may enhance their allelopathic influence on some forage grasses. Field studies are needed to confirm the allelopathic influence of houndstongue under rangeland conditions.