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The World’s Best Student Campuses

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A student not only learns within the four walls of the classroom but also outside of it. A college’s campus is as important as other facets of a college. As the infrastructure of a university plays a crucial role in the development of a student, a lush green and spacious college campus with exceptional facilities is what students are focusing on these days.

Before applying to a college, whether it has a beautiful campus forms the basis of the decision for potential university students. There are a lot of things that make campus beautiful, but the splendid architecture and lavish gardens are some key things a student looks for.

Many of the world’s best universities are built in such a way that they represent the history of the city in which they are situated. Oxford University and Cambridge University are some examples of cases where a city has been made into a university campus. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognises many of the leading universities’ campuses as world heritage sites. Every building of an academic institute and its green space inspires creativity among its students and educates them about the rich heritage of the college.

Here are some of the world’s best college campuses having sheer beauty as well as highly esteemed programs for students.

Harvard University

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, Harvard is a world-famous private Ivy League research university. Founded in 1636, its main campus is spread over 209 acres. The campus is nearly three miles from downtown Boston and is covered by the Harvard Square neighbourhood. The administrative and academic buildings, libraries, and dorms are all present on the main campus. Harvard University boasts magnificent architecture with a variety of buildings that represents the American heritage.

The university’s main campus on Harvard Yard, Cambridge, accommodates all levels of undergraduate students – freshman, sophomore, junior and senior undergraduates.

Oxford University

The University of Oxford is located in Oxford, England, UK. It is the oldest research university in English-speaking countries and the 2nd oldest university in the world. It is also said that teaching at the University of Oxford started as early as 1096. Spread around the whole city of Oxford are the university’s campus departments, administrative buildings, student dorms, and other facilities. Some widely popular university buildings include the Sheldonian Theatre and Radcliffe Camera. The university consists of 39 semi-autonomous colleges and 6 huge private halls. Not only is the campus of oxford university the world’s second-oldest, but it also has the oldest university museum in the world.

Additionally, it operates the world’s largest university press.

The University of Copenhagen

Founded in 1479, The University of Copenhagen is Denmark’s oldest university and research institution. Some perks of being a student at the University of Copenhagen are as follows.

  • The university is divided into four campuses, with all the campuses integrated into Copenhagen city. 
  • Given the fairly small size of each campus, it is easy to move across from one campus to the other. 
  • While staying on campus, students can live a city life as well and keep the streets of Copenhagen abuzz. 
  • The University of Copenhagen boasts a combination of medieval plus modern era architecture. 
  • The university campus has picturesque administrative buildings, drawing inspiration from historic structures as well as modern architecture. 
  • With the campus being in the heart of Copenhagen, the university receives all the benefits of vibrant city life. 

University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia is one of the oldest public research universities in British Columbia, Canada. Established in 1908, this Canadian university has two beautiful campuses – one in Vancouver, and the other in Kelowna. It sports a humongous campus of 400 acres with the main campus at Point grey, around 6 miles from downtown Vancouver. The university ranks among the top 3 universities in Canada and is home to several gardens and research centres. The centre for plant research possesses about 8000 varieties of plants. The university campus is also surrounded by many beaches with a scenic view of the North Shore mountains.

The University of British Columbia has a very vibrant student life, with students coming from diverse backgrounds and partaking in activities and events across the year. British Columbia’s campus also has a Chan Centre for students to find an escape from the busy academic life and engage themselves in theatre and performing arts. However, it is easier said than done, as many of the students struggle with assignments and deadlines throughout the semester. Many services offer students an essay for sale that they can order as per their requirements hassle-free and allows them to pursue their other interests. This way, a busy student can have some time to explore the campus of their university and learn about its history.

Swarthmore College

A private liberal arts college, founded in 1864, Swarthmore College is located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. It is said to be one of the first coeducational colleges in America. The college campus is a mix of modern and gothic-style architecture, breathtakingly spread over 425 acres of land. What makes this college stand out from the rest is its hiking trails, an outdoor open theatre, and magnolia trees on campus. Swarthmore College’s green oasis is popular among students, tourists, and horticulture enthusiasts across the country.

The college campus is filled with lush green spaces, with more than a hundred types of roses lighting up the Dean Bond Rose Garden.

Final Words

It is a hard enough task to pursue higher education when the tuition fees are exorbitant. Moreover, it requires years of commitment and dedication. Henceforth, before applying to college, a student should make an informed decision by considering all aspects. No one would want to waste their time and money by going to a college they don’t like.

A college campus is said to foster creativity and innovation among students. It allows students to settle into their identities by providing them with the space they need to be who they are and find their calling. Choosing a college may depend on several factors but it is equally crucial to consider the campus a university offers. We have mentioned above some beautiful college campuses potential college students may consider from around the world.

Author: Diane Sherron

Diane Sherron has been in the content and research industry for almost a decade now. She has extensive experience in working with top companies across the world as a writer and editor. She enjoys traveling and exploring new destinations.

6 Essential Things You Need When Opening A Traditional Store

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Are you planning to open a traditional store soon? Opening a traditional store can be a daunting task. There are many things you will need even before you think of selling. Some of these items depend on the type of store you want to open and the products you want to sell. For example, a clothing store will need racks and hangers, while a grocery store will need shelves and coolers. Here are six essential things that you need when opening a traditional store.

A Weighing Scale

A weighing scale is among the essential things you need for your store. This will allow you to weigh the products you are selling. It is also essential for pricing purposes. There are different types of scales available in the market, and it is essential to choose one that best suits your needs. For instance, a simple grocery store will need a different type of scale than a wholesale store.

Some factors to consider when choosing a weighing scale include size, capacity, and accuracy. Size and capacity are essential because you must ensure that the scale can accommodate the products you will be selling. Accuracy is also essential because it will determine how accurate your prices are. Some regions require certification for certain types of scales.

A Cash Register or POS System

Another important thing you need for your store is a cash register or point of sale (POS) system. This will help you keep track of your sales and inventory. A POS system can be very helpful in managing your business. It can also provide insights into your sales and customers. There are many different types of POS systems available in the market, and choosing one that best suits your needs is essential.

When choosing a cash register or POS system, it is essential to consider the type of business you have. The system should be able to handle the number of products you sell and the type of transactions you make. Ensure that the system is easy to use and has all the necessary features.

Packing Bags

Packing bags are also essential for any store. These are used to pack the products that customers purchase. Some clients will not buy from your store if you do not have packing bags. There are different types of packing bags available in the market. The most common ones are made from paper, plastic, or cloth.

When choosing packing bags, consider the type of products you will be selling. For instance, fragile items will require stronger bags. You should also consider the size and shape of the bag. Some stores also use branded packing bags to promote their business.

Labels and Price Tags

Labels and price tags are also essential for any store. These help customers identify the products they want to buy. They also help you keep track of your inventory. There are different types of labels and price tags available in the market. The most common ones are made from paper or plastic.

Consider the type of products you will be selling when choosing the tags. For instance, some products require barcodes while others do not. You should also consider the size and shape of the label. Some stores also use branded labels and price tags to promote their business.

Signage

Signage is also essential for any store. This helps customers find your store, and it also helps to brand your business. Without signage, customers may not even know you exist or will go to your competitors, especially if they are in a high foot traffic area.

In terms of branding, your signage should be consistent with the look and feel of your store. This includes the font, colours, and overall style. Signs can be very expensive, so it’s essential to plan and budget for them accordingly. If possible, work with professionals to create the perfect signage for your store.

Display Cases

Your clients will want to see what you have to offer, and that is why having display cases is essential. Displays vary depending on the type of products you sell. For instance, a jewellery store will have different displays than a clothing store.

The most important thing to consider when choosing display cases is the type of products you will be selling. You should also consider the size and shape of the case. The materials also matter since some are more durable than others. For instance, wood is more durable than glass, but glass is classic and elegant.

Opening a traditional store can be daunting, but it will be much easier if you have the essentials. These include having a business plan, the right location, scales, a cash register or POS system, packing bags, labels and price tags, signage, and display cases. With these things in place, you will be well on your way to success. Ensure that you find the right items for your store and budget accordingly. With a bit of planning, you can open the store of your dreams.

United States to Ban Goods Made in Xinjiang China

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Under a new law the United States will ban imports of all goods made in whole or in part from any good from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, effective June 21, 2022. Companies need to use the next 180 days to ensure their supply chains do not include such goods.

President Biden signed into law Dec. 23 the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act, which effectively deems all goods mined, produced, or manufactured in the XUAR to be produced by forced labour in China. Even those not importing directly from China may have goods detained if the materials used to produce the imported goods in a second country are tied at any level to XUAR or specific entities or commodities associated with forced labour in China.

Under this law, imports of goods from the XUAR will be banned unless United States Customs and Border Protection determines that:

  1. the importer of record has fully complied with relevant guidance to be provided by CBP, as well as any regulations issued to implement that guidance;
  2. the importer has completely and substantively responded to all inquiries for information submitted by CBP to ascertain whether the goods were made wholly or in part with forced labour; and
  3. by clear and convincing evidence, the goods were not made wholly or in part by forced labour.

Any good from the XUAR that thus overcomes the rebuttable presumption of being made with forced labour will be included in a public list to be issued by CBP 30 days after making such determination.

Further, an interagency Forced Labour Enforcement Task Force will have to develop a strategy to prevent the importation of forced labour goods from China along with the following lists:

  1. entities in the XUAR that produce goods with forced labour
  2. entities working with the government of the XUAR to recruit, transport, transfer, harbour, or receive forced labour or Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, or members of other persecuted groups out of the XUAR
  3. products made wholly or in part by such entities
  4. entities that exported products made with forced labour from China to the United States
  5. facilities and entities, including the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, that source material from the XUAR or persons working with the government of the XUAR or the XPCC for purposes of poverty alleviation program or pairing-assistance program or any other government labour scheme that uses forced labour

The Task Force must seek public input no later than Jan. 24, 2022, and the public will be given no less than 45 days to submit comments. A public hearing must be held within 45 days after the close of the public comment period.

The State Department must then submit a report to Congress by March 23, 2022, that provides a strategy to address forced labour in the XUAR along with lists of (1) entities in China or affiliates that use or benefit from forced labour in the XUAR and (2) foreign persons that acted as agents of such entities or affiliates to import goods into the United States The final strategy to be developed by the Task Force must be in place by June 21, 2022.

Importantly, the UFLPA calls for the Task Force to provide guidance to importers with respect to the following:

  1. due diligence, effective supply chain tracing, and supply chain management measures to ensure they do not import any goods made with forced labour from mainland China and especially from the XUAR
  2. the type, nature, and extent of evidence that demonstrates that goods originating in mainland China were not made wholly or in part in the XUAR
  3. the type, nature, and extent of evidence that demonstrates that goods originating mainland China, including goods detained or seized pursuant to Section 307, were not made wholly or in part with forced labour

Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., has developed a program to help companies review their supply chain visibility. The STR program first provides a stocktaking of procedures, policies, and programs in place to evaluate the level of due diligence and reasonable care. Next is testing and tracking to review a shipment to determine if the procedures in place can timely provide the necessary documents to CBP to rebut a claim of forced labour. Finally, CBP will assist in responding to any CBP-issued detentions.

For more information on ST&R’s import compliance reviews and how they can benefit your company, please contact Charles L. Crowley at (914) 433-6178 ccrowley@strtrade.com.

Customs Attorney Charles Crowley

Customs Attorney Charles Crowley

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece

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Greece, among most of the countries in the world, was hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The Greek Government gradually took necessary measures and, ultimately, forced the country to a general “lockdown” on 23 of March.

This led most of the businesses to temporarily suspend their operations and activities, while, at the same time, they were allowed to suspend the employment contracts without being required to pay salaries or damages and cover social insurance obligations.

As a general measure, the country undertook the obligation to pay 800 Euros per employee whose contract was suspended.

Despite being absolutely necessary for the confrontation of the pandemic outbreak, the measures had dramatic consequences for the businesses and the Greek economy in general. In regards with the businesses, the most negative impact was the drastic fall of their turnovers and consequently their inability to perform their debt obligations, even for financially healthy companies.

For this reason, the Greek Government has proceeded to the announcement of new measures, of financial nature this time, with a purpose to keep Greek businesses, to the extent possible, intact from the impact of the “lockdown” or at least to restrict the negative consequences.

Measures announced to be taken from May 2020

The Greek Government announced on 28th of April the undertaking of financial measures in order to relieve the Greek businesses and employees that were hit by Covid-19 outbreak and support the recommencement of the economy.

The most important measures in relation to businesses are:

  • Financial aid to the Greek SMEs through loans granted by the Greek State that will be repaid in the next years with minimum interest rate based on each company’s performance. The total value of the aid will be 1 billion Euros, while each company will not receive more than 500.000 Euros. The main criteria require, first, the companies’ turnover to decrease due to Covid-19 outbreak and, second, the companies not to proceed to lay-offs.
  • Financial aid to the Greek SMEs through grant regarding business loans interest payments for a 3-month period, provided that these companies were still performing on their debt obligations in relation to these loans and they have not proceeded to lay-offs.
  • Starting from May 2020, the Greek companies will be able to receive business loans by the Greek banks up to the amount that correspond to the 25% of their turnover with Greek State guarantees.
  • Suspension of VAT and assessed tax debt payments to the Greek State, however if a company pays the April 2020 instalment, a 25% discount is provided. Again, one of the necessary requirements is for the applying companies to retain the employment positions.

Considering that most of these applications can be made electronically through platforms, our law firm assist our clients in the electronic filling and submission of these applications. It, also, uses its contacts to get additional information, if needed, by making using of the available electronic means, so that the applications are properly filled. In these harsh times, the firm provides its advisory services with the best possible manner to assist the companies – clients, especially those hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Greece’s Economy

These liquidity measures are expected to relieve the Greek businesses which were forced to stop operating for more than one month and are now gradually being able to get back to their activities. The measures are considered to be of vital importance if taken into account that the country had just exited an 8-year financial recession implementing harsh economic re-adjustment and austerity measures. Except this, tourism constitutes the backbone of Greece’s economy and the largest contributor to its GDP and it is expected to be severely affected for 2020, as Covid-19 crisis broke out just before the summer.

According to the recently published IMF’s World Economic Outlook report, the projections for 2020 have been substantially altered, as the “lockdown” applied by the most of the Eurozone countries will have immense impact on their economic status.

In particular, Greece is expected to lose approximately 10% out of its GDP for 2020, in contrary to the 2.2% GDP increase that was projected for the same year before the coronavirus outbreak. However, the country is forecasted to return to growth in the next year, to 5.1% for 2021. Despite the deeper economic impact for 2020, Greece’s recovery is projected to be more dynamic than other economies, such as Spain’s and Italy’s.

This fact is justified by the timely actions of the Greek Government in response to the coronavirus outbreak and the periodic consequences of the tourism’s underperformance for 2020.

In the aftermath of the pandemic

The gradual lifting of the pandemic measures, starting from the 4th of May, earmarks the return to “normality” which will not be the same as known before. The epidemiologists warn that the pandemic is not over yet and the perils of another outbreak cannot be ignored.

For this, the Greek Government has set, alongside the economic relief measures, certain rules in order to restrict the possibilities for the pandemic to break out again.

These measures purport to minimise the personal contacts that could lead to the spread of the virus.

Among these rules, the most important for the companies are:

  • Flexible schedules must be followed for the next months, so that people attend their working place alternately.
  • Teleworking must be encouraged, where possible, to avoid unnecessary contacts.

Our law firm, trying to be in line with the recent legislation, has applied new methods in the working environment and in the manner, it delivers its legal services to our clients by making use the capabilities that technology offers today.

Indicatively, the firm conduct their usual internal meetings only by electronic means through live video calls, while meetings with clients and fellow advisors are made through teleconferences maintaining the level of the services in the same standards as before.

Also, the firm in order to protect its personnel applies a repeating working schedule enabling a certain number of associates/partners to attend the office each time, while in person meetings with clients are scheduled, where absolutely necessary, applying the hygiene rules.

Duane Morris Celebrates Black History Month 2020

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During Nolan Atkinson’s nearly 25 years at Duane Morris, his focus on his thriving commercial litigation practice never prevented him from making sure he used that position to continue the work of people like Vashon. Nolan, a participant in the 1963 March on Washington, was instrumental in the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group, Inc., a consortium of law firms and corporations committed to increasing ethnic and racial diversity in Philadelphia’s larger law firms.

Nolan was a tireless contributor to the Conference of Minority Partners in Majority Corporate Law Firms, a constituent entity of the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession of the ABA and numerous other groups focused on diversity. He was the first Chief Diversity Officer at Duane Morris and served in that role for eight years.

Fittingly, when the City of Philadelphia wanted to establish the role of Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Mayor Jim Kenney turned to Nolan. Since 2016, Nolan has brought his energy to knocking down the barriers that had historically kept the city’s large workforce racially and economically divided and creating a culture that attracts talented, diverse leaders to Philadelphia government.

Diversity & Inclusion:

Helmed by Joseph K. West, who succeeded Nolan in 2016 as Duane Morris’ Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, the firm’s diversity and inclusion program is managed with the objective of utilising the best talent worldwide in solving legal problems. The firm recruits a diverse pool of lawyers that collectively possess an awareness of cutting-edge 21st century issues—legal, social and economic—for which clients require solutions.

Joseph, in addition to being an active litigator representing domestic and global companies, is a nationally recognised subject matter authority in the field of diversity and inclusion, and leader of the firm’s unique Diversity and Inclusion Consulting Group which focuses on crafting sustainable diversity and inclusion programs and solutions for corporate entities.

Earlier in his career, Joseph successfully leveraged his role as Head of Global Outside Counsel Management at Walmart to establish and meet diversity and inclusion goals through its outside counsel spend, for which he is recognised as being at the forefront of building the business case for diversity.

Joseph also facilitated the company’s role as an initial signatory to the Inclusion Initiative with the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms. Joseph went on to spend five years as President and Chief Executive Officer of MCCA, tripling membership in the national advocacy group for corporate diversity and inclusion issues.

In 2019, Joseph was the recipient of the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award: Diversity & Equality from Chambers and Partners.

How Artificial Intelligence Will Directly Affect The Media Industry

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Many media companies from around the globe are anticipating the affect that artificial intelligence (AI) will have on the way they do business. The dynamic nature of technology trends demands its continuous evolution from publishing to a digital media company. Progress has been made in terms of content, as well as in terms of technology used to gather and publish information.

Artificial intelligence now possesses a larger pool of data to work with and automate so as to generate reports and other forms of content.

But How Will AI Affect Your Business?

Data Collection

Content in media is generated in all visible media formats. Relevant keywords, sentiments, and entities, along with topic classification is computed. Image classification is used for face detection or finding important parts of an image. All this data is then used to build a knowledge graph for ease of content search, recommendations, and relevant content syndication.

The second part of data collection is around collecting time series data on what content is consumed by the end user. This helps the algorithm match user interest with content meta data.

Insights Utilisation

The insights obtained from text mining allow for trends to be identified and leveraged in order to solidify a target audience and appeal to their interests. Historical analysis of trending content helps the editors focus on the topics they would want to write and distribute across social media. By serving relevant ads for a target audience, the ROI for the advertisers can be improved resulting in increased revenue for the publisher.

High performing advertising campaigns then become templates for future campaigns and low-performing ones can be analysed for their defects.

Customer Feedback

Algorithms can also help formulate responses to questions posed by customers. A direct outcome of this report would be the ability to weed out fake news that may be published by backlinking their sources and exposing their inaccuracies.

Smart artificial intelligence would be able to perform these semiotic analyses to determine accuracy.