Does Green Food Certification promote agri-food export quality?Evidence from China

The construction of a food certification system plays a vital role in upgrading export quality, which previous studies have largely overlooked. We match China's industry-level data of Green Food Certification with its HS6-digit export data of agri-food products to quantify the impact of Green Food Certification on export quality. We identify the significant and positive effect of Green Food Certification on export quality. The 2SLS estimation based on instrumental variables and a range of robustness checks confirm the validity and robustness of the benchmark conclusions. Further analysis discloses that Green Food Certification improves export quality by raising agricultural production efficiency and brand premiums. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect of Green Food Certification varies across regions, notably improving the quality of agri-food products exported to developed regions and regions with high levels of import supervision. Furthermore, among various product types, Green Food Certification significantly improves the export quality of primary products and products vulnerable to non-tariff measures. The above findings could guide the future development of agri-food quality certification systems, potentially leading to a transformation and promotion of the agri-food trade.

Construction and Reflection of Software Engineering Major Based on Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Certification

With the rapid development of information technology,the demand for talents in the field of software engineering is growing.In order to cultivate high-quality software engineering talents who meet the market demand,universities have continuously carried out the construction of software engineering majors.Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology(ABET)certification,as an internationally recognized higher education quality assurance system,provides important reference and guidance for the construction of software engineering majors.Guided by student learning outcomes and core competencies,combined with the characteristics of software engineering talent cultivation,the innovation of talent cultivation mode takes industry-education integration and school-enterprise cooperation as the main development paths and explores comprehensive reform of the major in terms of professional positioning and goals,curriculum system,teaching conditions,and teachers.This comprehensive reform model has effectively promoted the development of major construction and improved the quality of talent cultivation.

The Influence of forest certification on forest product trade

Forest certification is considered to be complementary to forest management policies and takes a significant effect on forest product trade. In recent decade, it has been followed with interest and approved by governments and forestry de-partments in the world. This paper analyzes the influence of forest certification on forest product trade in the world, including the interest in certification in exporting countries and importing countries, trade flow and business competition, and the demands for Certified Forest Products (CFPs) and also discusses the influence of forest certification on forest product trade in China.

Construction of the First Certification Evaluation Index System for Diabetes Specialist Nurses by Delphi Method

Objective: To establish an evaluation index system for the first-time certification of diabetes specialist nurses in line with the clinical nursing practice in China, and to provide a reference basis for government administrations and hospitals to formulate unified standards. Methods: After the research team has determined the theme, it will consult the development of A) specialist nursing through the library, Internet and electronic literature database;B) the history of the development of specialist nurses in diabetes and other fields;C) the selection criteria of specialist nurses;D) the training of specialist nurses system, assessment method;E) Specialist nurse certification body, evaluation standards and certification standards and other related documents, literature, books and report materials. The author established the preliminary index system through literature review, specialist interview and group discussion and used Delphi method to organize three rounds of 30 experts’ consultations. Results: A first certification evaluation index system including 8 fundamental indicators, 5 first-level indicators, 19 second-level indicators and 99 third-level indicators was constructed for diabetes nurses. Conclusion: The results of three rounds of expert consultation and demonstration are reliable, and the constructed index system is suitable for comprehensive evaluation of diabetes specialist nurses, which provides a basis for the effective management of nursing resources.

Development Strategy of Engine Bird Ingestion Certification Technology

The development strategy of the certification technology on engine bird ingestion is proposed after reviewing the development history of engine bird ingestion certification in developed Western countries,and analyzing technical characteristics during different developing periods.Moreover,the main issues of bird ingestion certification technology,development program and strategy for the turbofan engines industry are addressed in detail.Finally,the relevant technique development is investigated and the main objects of bird ingestion certification technology for the turbofan engines are summarized and concluded.

A distributed adaptive multi-hop certification authority schemefor mobile Ad Hoc networks

This paper theoretically analyzes a deficiency of the existing scheme, and proposes a distributed multi-hop certification authority scheme for mobile Ad Hoc networks. In our design, we distribute the certification authority functions through a threshold secret sharing mechanism, in which each node holds a secret share and multiple nodes jointly provide complete services. Certification authority is not limited in a local neighborhood but can be completed within multi-hop location. In addition, we replace broadcast by multicast to improve system performance and reduce communication overhead. This paper resolves some technical problems of ubiquitous certification authority services, and presents a wieldy multi-hop certification authority algorithm. Simulation results confirm the availability and effectiveness of our design.

Construction of Performance Evaluation Index System for Enterprises Implementing Green Food Certification Based on BSC

According to the investigation results of 70 green food enterprises in Sichuan Province,the strategic targets of enterprises implementing green food certification are discussed by borrowing ideas from the Balanced Score Card.Balanced Score Card index system is selected and improved according to the changes of enterprises before and after implementing the green food certification system.Then,the performance evaluation index system of enterprises implementing green food certification is established.This index system has five strategic directions of finance,customer,internal management,social ecology,and learning and growth,and has 11 strategic targets,such as increasing operating profit,expanding market,improving the quality of staff,improving the production technology level,enhancing the core competence of enterprises,ensuring food safety,improving the physical quality of human,and protecting ecological environment.According to the principles of guidance,scientificity,comparability,feasibility,and significance,a total of 24 evaluation indices are established,including the change of product cost,change of product sales revenue,change of profit rate,change of return on investment,change of internal and external lost cost,change of the proportion of certified products in total sales and so on.

Sustainability and Forest Certification as a Framework for a Capstone Forest Resource Management Plans Course

Forest sustainability is the foundation of forestry and modern forest management. Originally the central concept was sustained-yield and maximum timber production and then multiple-use and other non-timber values gained importance. After the Rio Conference and development of the Montréal Process in the early 1990’s, forest sustainability rapidly gained importance and various forest certification schemes developed to certify forest products that were grown using sustainable forest management. Forest sustainability and forest certification have become critical topics in forestry curricula. The American Tree Farm System is one of the important North American forest certification organizations. Modern forestry curricula often include a capstone course where forest management plans are developed. We describe a capstone course at Clemson University under development that uses the management standards and management plan template of the American Tree Farm System as a framework for students to develop actual forest management plans for local forest owners. The material is integrated into a series of four courses leading up to the capstone course. The course offered a hands-on approach for students to create management plans using actual certification standards and the system’s management plan template. In addition, students received specialized training to qualify as auditors for the certification system. This is an example of forest sustainability being integrated into the forestry curriculum.

Distributed certification application via a trusted dealer

Distributed certification via threshold cryptography is much more secu re than other ways to protect certification authority (CA) 's private key,and c an tolerate some intrusions. As the original system such as ITTC,etc.,is unsaf e ,inefficient and impracitcal in actual network environment,this paper brings u p a new distributed certification scheme,which although it generates key shares concentratively,it updates key shares distributedly,and so,avoids single-po in t failure like ITTC. It not only enhances robustness with Feldman verification and SSL protocol,but can also change the threshold (t,k) flexibly and robu stly,and so,is much more practical. In this work,the authors implement the prototype sy stem of the new scheme and test and analyze its performance.

Participatory Certification of Organic Food Booms

On weekends,Ms.Ran,who works in the Internet industry,goes to the Beijing Country Fair to buy vegetables,fruits and yoghourt."Before when I bought fruits at the stalls along the streets,I always asked whether the fruit is suitable for pregnant women,"said Ms.Ran.She tried to learn if the vendor would admit the fruits had much pesticide residue,

Ecotourism certification and its progress in China

Since the middle 1990s, ecotourism certification has been given more and more attention to around the world.As a developing country with abundant ecotourism products, it is necessary for China to adopt certification to ensuresustainable development of ecotourism. But there are few products certificated until now in China. After reviewing thetrend of ecotourism certification in the world and summarizing its theory and method, this paper analyzes the progressand prospect of ecotourism certification in China, and concludes that certification in China is necessary and promising.

Effects of acquiring FSC forest management certification for Japanese enterprises using SmartWood Audits

We explore the organizational, environmental, and economic effects of sustainable forest management （FM） certification by Smart- Wood （SW）, one of the certification bodies accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council （FSC） to carry out certification in Japan. We closely investigated three enterprises： the Yusuhara Forest Owners＇ Cooperative, Yamanashi Prefectural Forest, and Ryujin-mura Forest Owners＇ Coopera- tive. Interviews with representatives of these entities provided crucial empirical information regarding the influence of certification on envi- ronmental assessment, rare-species protection, landscape-management planning, management objectives, and forest supervision. Attainment of FM status improved environmental awareness and engendered positive changes in assessing and managing forests and other natural resources but simultaneously imposed heavier economic costs.

Measuring Marketing Performance: Investigation into Practice and Certification

The content validity of marketing performance measurement metrics in China is reported. Based on the respondents in the research, the statistic analysis of relative importance, and the frequencies of use of marketing metrics are given. It is shown that the marketing metrics are consistent with market orientation, sectors and the role of managers, that affect the way in measuring marketing performance. The investigation results provide certified basis for developing marketing performance assessment systems in Chinese enterprises.

The promotion of international certification harmonization of welding fabrication industries

Enterprises and their products require corresponding international qualification when they participate in international market competition after China joined WTO. At present, the number of certified welding fabrication companies is still small. However, more and more enterprises are getting to realize the importance, and we have already had the following basic conditions: welding personnel qualification according to the international guidelines and rules, welding standards equivalent to ISO and EN standards, as well as full successful experiences of company certification gained through cooperation between China and Germany. So with additional industries’ support and government’s attention, company certification according to international rules will provide qualification guarantee for welding fabrication companies to participate in international market competition.

Death certification: issues and interventions

A review of the literature suggests that errors in death certification are common. We reviewed the published literature to clarify what is known and what remains to be learned before evidence-based changes in medical education can be recommended. We searched the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database for articles that addressed death certificate accuracy and identified 159 articles of interest published from 1996 to 2010. Among these 159 articles, we found 83 that were relevant to our goals and objectives. Cause of death certification has been shown to be problematic and several interventions have been shown to improve its accuracy, especially if the intervention is interactive. However these studies have focused on short term gains rather than on long term retention and performance, leaving a significant data gap. We suggest a study design that could address this data gap.

The Practice of Forest Certification in Canada and the Lessons for China

Forest certification has become an important governance mechanism of improving forest management.The present situation of forest certification in Canada is introduced in this paper,and the measures for promoting forest certification in Canada are analyzed.By referring to the experience of Canada,several recommendations are put forward for promotion of forest certification in China.

Professionalism in GIS: International Aspects of the Certification Debate

GIS certification has been a contentious issue amongst geo-technology professionals for years. Many arguments have been advanced for it, the chief one being that certification is the only way through which a true GIS professional can be defined for the consumer public. There have been counter arguments, for example that certification will limit the widespread adoption of GIS technology, which is just a tool that anybody should be free to apply, or that it will only add another layer of regulation in a global political environment that favours increased de-regulation. The objective of this paper is to create greater awareness about GIS certification, which doesn’t exist yet in many countries, including some developed ones. Such increased awareness may encourage the standardization of GIS personnel qualifications, which could underpin a better, more dependable growth of the GIS industry, especially in the developing countries. Through analysis of key existing literature on the subject, plus the author’s own professional experiences, the paper explores the issues around GIS certification, looks at global trends on the issue and discusses the situation in the Kenyan GIS industry in respect of certification. The paper finds that there is a global move towards certification, and the relevant work of ISO has given the issue international attention. However, the paper also finds that the presence of a strong GIS professional association greatly assists in the development of a program for such certification, and that the lack of such an association makes it difficult to succeed.

Transition to Certification Schemes and Implications for Market Access: GlobalGAP Perspectives in Kenya

Voluntary pre-farm certification schemes especially GlobalGAP are increasingly defining market access for smallholders in developing countries. Their strict demand for financial and technical competencies and concerns for producer welfare and environmental conservation imply that transition to certified production could spell smallholders’ exit or shift to alternative markets for no-compliance. But what factors motivate successful transition to certification and does alternative market access exist for the unsuccessful transition? Multinomial logit estimates reveal training and higher farm assets base as key indicators of successful certification and organized production. However, a large cultivated land resource favours certification but disfavours transition to organized production. The results point to sensitivity of certification schemes to expertise on technical information and assets that enhance cultivation of quality, reliable and hygienic produce and economies of scale in farming. The transition to organized production seems efficient if technical knowledge and assets that enhance cultivation of quality, reliable and hygienic produce are present. The results imply that farmer expertise, farm assets and land resource are critical barriers for farmers transiting to certification schemes. This calls for concerted mitigation if smallholders in developing countries are to benefit from the lucrative premium markets in Western Europe.

The social welfare effect of forest certification under environmental spillovers

Forest certification has positive environmental spillovers.Considering environmental spillovers,this study ana‐lyzed the social welfare effects of forest certification using partial and general equilibrium methods.The re‐sults of the partial equilibrium analysis showed that social welfare in producing countries tended to increase under the market expansion of certified forest products.The general equilibrium analysis results indicated that,in autarky,or economic independence,the production amount of certified forest products could increase.If conventional forest products are imported and certified forest products are exported,then the level of utility in free trade condition is greater than that in autarky.If conventional forest products are exported and certi‐fied forest products are imported,then the price of imported products must be compared with the price of the autarky domestic market to determine the utility level of free trade and autarky.If the price of certified prod‐ucts is less than the price at the time of autarky,then the total utility level increases;otherwise,it decreases.The social welfare effect of forest certification can be increased through expanding the market demand of cer‐tified products and giving these products subsidies in production and price incentives in importing.

A Certification Framework for E-Commerce Digital Competencies

In this paper, we introduce a comprehensive certification framework for digital competencies. This framework delineates the regulations, processes, and administration necessary for executing certification of a particular subset of competencies within the DigComp framework. It stipulates distinct requisites for the methodology employed, assessment instruments, evaluation criteria, and procedures for awarding certificates. The framework encompasses the enhancement of fundamental skills, particularly digital competencies, as well as involving digitally disenfranchised demographics with technology. It can be used to evaluate and certify varying degrees of digital proficiency and to instruct individuals in utilizing essential business-to-consumer e-commerce functionalities.