This book is an important contribution to the understanding of the complex education policies of the twenty-first century. It unites world renowned comparatists of education in an effort to respond to the challenges raised by the multidimensional and multi-scalar aspects of education policies. In their attempt to decipher the tangled world of education policies, the authors underline the power of numbers, the power of networks and the power of new concepts and methodologies. The power of numbers – education through numbers via students’ assessments and national or international testing impacts upon our educational choices and reinforces its instrumental aspects. The power of networks – sheds light on the complexity of the education global governance network by focusing on how international governmental organisations (IGOs), such as UNESCO, the OECD and the World Bank carry out policy and on the intricate ways an educational concern becomes part of the international agenda. The power of concepts and methods – policymaking is increasingly dynamic and involves many different stakeholders, including states, private corporations, IGOs, scholars and non-profit organisations. Contributors to this volume have developed new conceptual and methodological perspectives to study the circulation of educational models worldwide. A relational notion of space, the concept of ‘diaspora’ as a space of relations of social actors or the global comparative approach and a methodology drawn on actors-network theory are among the propositions yielded by the authors in order to make sense of and grasp the complexity of education policies today. This book was originally published as a special issue of Globalisation, Societies and Education.

You've probably heard the expression "It's not what you know, it s who you know." Well, there's a lot of truth to it. Of course you always need to work hard at your endeavor of choice ("what you know"). Your value in the business world depends on what you can do for people. Therefore, you must have a skill, information or expertise that others will consume that people will pay for. BUT, having that skill, information or expertise is often not enough to maximize your potential. You need people a network to help you distribute your skills. You need people to help you find a job, a loan, customers, or the right partner. The Skinny on Networking: Maximizing the Power of Numbers is about creating and maintaining your network. Illustrated, narrative and easily read in about one hour, this book condenses the thinking of experts, authors and celebrities alike and presents them in an entertaining and engaging format. In The Skinny on Networking yo uwill learn how to: maximize your reach on the internet; get to the people you need; create networking gravity; employ the principle of weak ties; think like a boomerang; expand your social capital; build a reciprocity field; utilize connectors; move beyond your comfort zone; cold call; leverage initial meeting.

Are all film stars linked to Kevin Bacon? Why do the stock markets rise and fall sharply on the strength of a vague rumour? How does gossip spread so quickly? Are we all related through six degrees of separation? There is a growing awareness of the complex networks that pervade modern society. We see them in the rapid growth of the internet, the ease of global communication, the swift spread of news and information, and in the way epidemics and financial crises develop with startling speed and intensity. This introductory book on the new science of networks takes an interdisciplinary approach, using economics, sociology, computing, information science and applied mathematics to address fundamental questions about the links that connect us, and the ways that our decisions can have consequences for others.

Modeling, Simulation, Design and Engineering of WDM Systems and Networks provides readers with the basic skills, concepts, and design techniques used to begin design and engineering of optical communication systems and networks at various layers. The latest semi-analytical system simulation techniques are applied to optical WDM systems and networks, and a review of the various current areas of optical communications is presented. Simulation is mixed with experimental verification and engineering to present the industry as well as state-of-the-art research. This contributed volume is divided into three parts, accommodating different readers interested in various types of networks and applications. The first part of the book presents modeling approaches and simulation tools mainly for the physical layer including transmission effects, devices, subsystems, and systems), whereas the second part features more engineering/design issues for various types of optical systems including ULH, access, and in-building systems. The third part of the book covers networking issues related to the design of provisioning and survivability algorithms for impairment-aware and multi-domain networks. Intended for professional scientists, company engineers, and university researchers, the text demonstrates the effectiveness of computer-aided design when it comes to network engineering and prototyping.

This two-volume encyclopedia provides a thorough introduction to the wide-ranging, fast-developing field of social networking, a much-needed resource at a time when new social networks or "communities" seem to spring up on the internet every day. Social networks, or groupings of individuals tied by one or more specific types of interests or interdependencies ranging from likes and dislikes, or disease transmission to the "old boy" network or overlapping circles of friends, have been in existence for longer than services such as Facebook or YouTube; analysis of these networks emphasizes the relationships within the network . This reference resource offers comprehensive coverage of the theory and research within the social sciences that has sprung from the analysis of such groupings, with accompanying definitions, measures, and research. Featuring approximately 350 signed entries, along with approximately 40 media clips, organized alphabetically and offering cross-references and suggestions for further readings, this encyclopedia opens with a thematic Reader′s Guide in the front that groups related entries by topics. A Chronology offers the reader historical perspective on the study of social networks. This two-volume reference work is a must-have resource for libraries serving researchers interested in the various fields related to social networks.

In the not too distant future, internet access will be dominated by wireless networks. With that, wireless edge using optical core next-generation networks will become as ubiquitous as traditional telephone networks. This means that telecom engineers, chip designers, and engineering students must prepare to meet the challenges and opportunities that the development and deployment of these technologies will bring. Bringing together cutting-edge coverage of wireless and optical networks in a single volume, Internet Networks Wired, Wireless, and Optical Technologies provides a concise yet complete introduction to these dynamic technologies. Filled with case studies, illustrations, and practical examples from industry, the text explains how wireless, wireline, and optical networks work together. It also: Covers WLAN, WPAN, wireless access, 3G/4G cellular, RF transmission Details optical networks involving long-haul and metropolitan networks, optical fiber, photonic devices, and VLSI chips Provides clear instruction on the application of wireless and optical networks Taking into account recent advances in storage, processing, sensors, displays, statistical data analyses, and autonomic systems, this reference provides forward thinking engineers and students with a realistic vision of how the continued evolution of the technologies that touch wireless communication will soon reshape markets and business models around the world.