TRANSITION TOWARDS GREEN FACILITY MANAGEMENT: BRIDGING THE KNOWLEDGE GAPS OF FACILITIES MANAGERS

The building industry has experienced a widespread transition towards green buildings and consequently a growing need for green facilities professionals to maximize green building potential in terms of energy efficiency,water conservation and waste reduc-tion in their operational stage.Green buildings have unique technological systems that require facility managers to have relevant knowledge and skills to conduct proper facilities management and maintenance planning to maximize the potential of green buildings.It is important,then,to investigate whether knowledge gaps for facil-ity managers exist with respect to green buildings,and if so,how these knowledge gaps could be bridged.Though several studies have investigated the operation and maintenance processes of green buildings,few studies considered facility managers’knowledge and skills regarding green facility management(GFM).Set in the context of Singapore,this study aims to holistically investigate the knowledge and skills of managing green buildings in the community of facility managers,including their per-ceived differences between green and conventional buildings,the difficulty of GFM,the knowledge gaps of GFM and the underlying reasons,as well as how the gaps could be bridged.A total of 90 survey responses were collected and eight interviews with key stakeholders were conducted,which indicate facility managers believe green build-ings do have special features that require unique knowledge and skills,and currently knowledge gaps do exist hindering the transition towards GFM.Therefore,this paper derives plausible solutions to bridge the knowledge gaps,such as establishing holistic subsidies for those facility managers participating in training programs of GFM.This study provides references for researchers and relevant governmental departments to better understand industry professionals’knowledge gaps in the transitioning process towards a green built environment,and to make better policy decisions bridging the knowledge gaps and thereby facilitating the green transition process.

Compiling and Mapping an International Climate Change Database: Worlds of Gaps and Unevenness

Daily and weekly reporting events of climate change and impacts on populations, cultures, economies and politics at local, national, regional and international scales suggest the need to construct databases that will be useful in future scientific inquiry and global human/environmental policies. That need is evident in constructing a geographic or locational knowledge base that examines countries, regions and cities. This study constructs a database on the impacts of climate change using Google Scholar entries for 200 countries and capital cities. A series of maps reveal the vast unevenness in the database, especially between Global North and Global South countries. The discussion explores these sharp differences and suggests future research topics for much-needed global, interdisciplinary and international research.

Prediabetes and cardiovascular complications study:Highlights on gestational diabetes, self-management and primary health care

International collaboration on the prediabetes and cardiovascular complications study started in 2013.In 2017,a reflection was reported.Incompleteness of documentation and screening of antenatal cases for gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)was concerning.Hence,further observations have been made that warrant an update.The objective of this review is to highlight gaps between clinical knowledge and practice in GDM,diabetes self-management and primary health care(PHC)for rural dwellers.We followed a descriptive field notes method.Antenatal records of patients screened for GDM with incomplete documentation were examined to determine incompleteness of data in those that also met the criteria for GDM risk assessment.Experiences on development of a diabetes register and education and notes on behavioural change wheel were also reviewed.Other data included cross-sectional evaluation of activities of daily living at two private hospitals.Up to 29%had high GDM risk factors,which fulfilled selection criteria for laboratory screening.Demographic data was complete in all women;however,incomplete documentation was observed with as much as 98%of basic data.High levels of physical activity were found in the population,and health lectures proved effective in food choices.The workforce need for diabetes care seems underestimated,but this may be better understood with reactivation of PHC services.The observations highlight behavioural change wheel issues on GDM and PHC services that need concerted focus.Two proposals are to advance the use of a‘risk assessment and screening sheet’for GDM screening and enlightenment of stakeholders on the central hub role of PHC in diabetes management.

Developing Open RDI and Education in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences

Open Science(OS)and Research has reached mixed maturity levels in Finland.The meaning of the national project in the ecosystem of Finnish universities of applied sciences(UAS)is to enhance and elaborate OS and Open Education(OE)activities.Future actions were defined based on a survey and interviews carried out in the Finnish UAS sector during 2018 and 2019.The aim of both data collections was to evaluate the current status and attitudes towards open Research,Development,and Innovation(RDI)among staff members.Another purpose was to define the need for internal support services concerning open RDI and OE and to identify knowledge gaps.The results revealed several gaps in understanding OS and OE initiatives.Real-life actions were mostly vague,and the respondents experienced the need for support.On the other hand,the attitudes towards open RDI were positive,and the issue aroused questions and reflections.This study revealed gaps in knowledge and actions in Finnish UAS sectors.These results have been the basis of development actions such as joint workshops,educational webinars,and common instructions.The future plan includes the establishment of an experts’network for supporting open RDI and Education.