The role of built environmental design in violence prevention in universities' campuses: Al al-Bayt University in Jordan as a case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-496
Author(s):  
Safa A.M. AlHusban ◽  
Ahmad A.S. AlHusban
Keyword(s):  
Violence Prevention ◽  
Environmental Design ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Continuous Control ◽  
Campus Violence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
The University

PurposeThe purposes of this research were to review, analyze, synthesize and define the principles, indicators and required design elements of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) and the potential role of the design of the courtyards in preventing campus violence; to examine the relationships between built environment design and campus violence inside Al al-Bayt University (AABU), Jordan; and to examine to what extent the design of the open public spaces and courtyards inside AABU meet the design principles of the CPTED.Design/methodology/approachThis research used descriptive-analytical approach, semi-structured interviews, archival records and videos to collect the location-based data of violent events and incidents that occurred on the campus of AABU (the locations of students' fights). Additionally, this research used AABU images; plans, spatial analysis, site visits and direct observations to analyze and assess the courtyards’ design and to examine to what extent the design of courtyards and open public spaces in AABU achieve the CPTED indicators, and the availability and the quality of the required design elements of CPTED and their role in violence prevention.FindingsThis research found that environmental-based design plays a major role in reducing crime opportunities and promote positive social behavior. This research found that the indicators to achieve the CPTED principles in all courtyard design inside AABU are very low and all the courtyards’ designs are not complied and conformed to the CPTED principles, and as a result, the design of the courtyards encourages and may facilitate violence in the university campus. It has been found that the availability and the quality of the required CPTED design elements are very low in all courtyards. Therefore, the existing design elements in all courtyards in AABU are not preventing the university violence. The correlation result revealed that there is significant relationship and strong/very strong negative linear association between the numbers of the students' fights and the applying of CPTED principles, indicators and required design elements (r = −0.85).Research limitations/implicationsThe data collected from AABU campus only and a larger study is certainly required to underpin these findings. Therefore, future research is needed to replicate and duplicate this research in order to expand the results.Practical implicationsThis research has implications for designing/redesigning the open public space and courtyards inside universities. This research recommended that redesigning all courtyards and applying the principles of CPTED are necessary to prevent campus violence. Redesigning includes adding landscaping elements, fountains, water features, pedestrian furniture, portrait, setting areas, new modern sculptures, shaded areas, lighting, memorial places, digital screens and cameras. Moreover, this research recommended that the university should pay more attention to continuous control, repair and maintenance to all courtyards after redesigning them. Finally, this research introduced a design proposal for one of the courtyards to apply the CPTED principles that promote positive behavior and prevent campus violence.Originality/valueIn the last few years in Jordan, some of the public and private Jordanian universities suffered from a newly emerging negative phenomenon, which is violence between students inside the campus. Many researchers and governmental institutions have stressed the urgency to explore the social, cultural, behavioral and environmental strategies that may effectively prevent campus violence. Additionally, little attention has been paid to the role of built environmental design in preventing campus violence. Moreover, no research assesses the applying of the CPTED principles and their indicators in courtyards’ design in Jordanian campuses.

Study of the perceived functions and the quality of physical boundaries of public spaces

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-250
Author(s):  
Saisanath G. ◽  
Subbaiyan Gnanasambandam
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Functions ◽  
Urban Security ◽  
Physical Attributes ◽  
Subjective Measurements

Purpose As an underlying entity in the discourses of privatisation of space, urban security and fear, boundary walls are considered as an impediment to the publicness of public spaces. But, the inevitability and potential of their physical attributes and functions is indicative of the lack of systemic knowledge on how to approach boundary walls, so that they contribute positively to the quality of urban spaces. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach Since boundary walls are constitutive of physical attributes that are embedded with multiple functions, the contribution of physical boundaries is premised on the interaction between objective and subjective measurements, explored in positive and ambiguous space types. In this study, the quality of physical boundaries is measured by an index and the perceived functions of the physical attributes of boundary walls are measured by a questionnaire survey. Findings This study found that positive and ambiguous space types not only affect the quality of physical boundaries but also the perceived functions of the physical attributes of boundary walls. Further, social and visual functions of boundary walls play a significant role in contributing positively to the quality of urban spaces. Originality/value By exploring the relation between quality of physical boundaries and their perceived functions, this study extends the meta-understanding of the role of boundary walls.

Dynamics of person-supervisor fit in relationship quality and well-being of university academicians

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibeawuchi K. Enwereuzor ◽  
Lawrence E. Ugwu ◽  
Ebele E. Nnadozie
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Homogeneous Sample ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The University ◽  
Moderating Role

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how the quality of a subordinate's relationship with his or her direct supervisor influences the subordinate's psychological well-being and to examine the moderating role of person-supervisor (P-S) fit between these two variables.Design/methodology/approachThe sample for this study consists of 418 academic employees of two federal universities. Relationship quality, P-S fit, psychological well-being and demographics were self-reported by the participants using existing scales. Hypotheses were tested with partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS 3.2.8.FindingsResults of the PLS-SEM showed that the positive relationship between relationship quality and psychological well-being was moderated by P-S fit, such that the relationship was stronger when P-S fit was low rather than high.Research limitations/implicationsThe small number of homogeneous sample size of university academic employees may not be representative of the general population of such employees within the country.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the importance of taking into account the complex interplay between relationship quality and P-S fit when optimising employee's psychological well-being is the focus.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, we are not aware of any studies that have examined the moderating role of P-S fit between relationship quality and subordinate's psychological well-being in the university context.

Zmiana modelu zarządzania i nadzoru nad jakością kształcenia w szkolnictwie wyższym. Perspektywa doświadczeń Republiki Federalnej Niemiec

2020 ◽  
pp. 137-149
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Szewior
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
University Management ◽  
Strategic Partner ◽  
Higher Education Reforms ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Desk Research

The author focuses on the manner and effects of German higher education reforms that have changed the model of university management. The point of reference is the quality of education and its role, how universities ensure it, and how it is verified through evaluation and accreditation. These elements divide the article into two parts: a part about quality and a part about evaluation and accreditation. The analysis includes the impact of global processes and Europeanization. The research approach is characteristic for public policies, sciences of management and quality. The theories used in this article: the theory of systems and neo-institutionalism, as well as perspectives: the university as an active strategic partner, entrepreneurial university, the third role of universities. The publication is based on desk research and on the analysis of processes.

Muslim women contribution to economic activities: a viewpoint

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Ridley
Keyword(s):  
Adam Smith ◽  
Muslim Women ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Role ◽  
Women In Business ◽  
Keynote Speech ◽  
The University ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight the role of Muslim women in economic activities. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is a historical account on the important role played by Muslim women in business and governance during the Islamic formative years. Findings – While women in the West still struggle with the rights to equal position and pay till today, Islamic teaching provides Muslim women with the rights to earn and spend as they wished as well as selected to lead economic activities based on their personal merit and wisdom. Practical implications – The paper highlights that Islamic Sharia does not discriminate Muslim women economically nor socially as often portrayed in the Western media. Islam outlines the specific rights and obligations of men and women to ensure development of a healthy society. Social implications – Society should appreciate that Islamic Sharia work out favourably for women. They are trusted to lead based on their own merit and wisdom and not for their beauty. Originality/value – This is a keynote speech delivered at the Islamic Perspective of Accounting, Finance, Economics and Management (IPAFEM) 2015 conference: 7th-9th April, Adam Smith Business School, The University of Glasgow – on the economic role played by early Muslim women.

Technical services and user service improvement

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 505-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Huang ◽  
Katherine Wong
Keyword(s):  
Point Of View ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
University Of Oklahoma ◽  
Online Catalog ◽  
Efficient Processing ◽  
The University ◽  
Technical Services

PurposeFrom the cataloging librarians' point of view, this paper aims to present how technical services, especially the cataloging department, can play important roles in the improvement of user services.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines the practices of the University of Oklahoma Libraries.FindingsThe paper identifies several aspects in which technical services can enhance the quality of user services, especially in the cataloging department. A library's online catalog becomes the first point of access to the library's information resources. Its quality can be improved and enriched in many ways to raise users’ satisfaction. Aside from the improvement in technical aspects, efforts should also be made to promote collaboration between technical and public services so as to ensure efficient processing of materials and to meet the needs of library users.Originality/valueThe value of the paper is in showing that the quality of an online catalog and the cooperation between public and technical services are two of the key factors in achieving high quality of user services.

Great minds think alike: does leader-follower similarity in construal level of the work enhance leader-member exchange quality?

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sevgi Emirza ◽  
Alev Katrinli
Keyword(s):  
Mental Representation ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Interpersonal Relationship ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Construal Level ◽  
Leader Member Exchange ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Member Exchange

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate whether leader-follower similarity in construal level of the work, which indicates the degree of abstraction applied to mental representation of the work, influences the quality of interpersonal relationship at work.Design/methodology/approachFirst, an interview study was conducted to adapt the work-based construal-level (WBCL) scale. Then, a survey study was conducted for hypothesis testing. Data collected from 245 matched supervisor-subordinate dyads were analyzed using multi-level modeling.FindingsResults revealed that dyadic similarity in work-domain construal level is positively related to leader-member exchange (LMX) quality. As a leader and a follower become similar to each other in terms of mental representation (i.e. construal level) of work, they experience higher relationship quality.Originality/valueThis study enhances the current knowledge of the role of cognition and cognitive similarity in leadership processes.

University as a vehicle to achieve social innovation and development: repositioning the role of the university in the society

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lwando Mdleleni
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The University

Purpose This paper aims to explore the role of university in promoting, generating and sustaining social innovation (SI). It aimed to understand how higher education institutions have extended their contribution beyond the traditional function of teaching and research to perform in socio-economic problem-solving. It looks at the kinds of contributions which universities potentially make to SI processes, and the effects that this has on the direction and magnitude of SI, and by implication social development. This was done by drawing lessons from a SI project that the University of the Western Cape has been involved in, i.e. Zenzeleni Networks Project. Design/methodology/approach To address the research question with this framework, the author adopted an exploratory research design using a case study. This research is qualitative, exploratory and descriptive, based on a case study built with secondary data. Findings This paper submits that universities can potentially function as key role players in promoting SI initiatives and fostering social transformations. Universities contribute with different kinds of resources and inputs to foster new SI ideas. Originality/value The paper suggests that socially innovative university projects may contribute to community social sustainability maintaining social cohesion by increasing social capital and providing resources for the empowerment of the marginalised communities. In so doing, they contribute to overcome social exclusion and promote more sustainable forms of development at community level. More research is needed on how universities can build community networks with local community partners, who can use the insights of academic research to replicate interventions and move to scale.

The role of transformative healthcare technology on quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Asif Salam ◽  
Saleh Bajaba
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Service System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care System

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of the COVID-19 health-care system quality (HSQ) and its impact on the individual (satisfaction) and social (quality of life [QOL]) outcomes in the context of a transformative health-care delivery system using service-dominant logic (SDL). Design/methodology/approach A sample consisting of 1,008 individuals who have experienced the COVID-19 health-care system was drawn from four different regions of Saudi Arabia using the simple random sampling technique. The survey was conducted using an online survey and 1,008 respondents answered, based on their experience and knowledge of the COVID-19 health-care system. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied to test the proposed research model. Findings The study findings suggest that service system satisfaction (SAT) significantly mediates the role of the HSQ in delivering and enhancing the QOL. HSQ also has a significant role to play on the SAT as well as the QOL. These findings contribute to the body of knowledge on SDL in the context of HSQ in understanding the significant role of technologies can play in enhancing service satisfaction and better QOL during a crisis such as COVID-19. This study also improves the understanding of the importance of customer-centricity, real-time visibility through tracking and tracing of service flow, agile decision-making, fewer but better-defined service objectives, and finally shaping mindsets and behaviors of all the relevant parties involved in the HSQ service delivery process. Research limitations/implications One of the major limitations of this study is that, although COVID-19 is an ongoing global pandemic, cross-sectional data were collected in only one country. The findings may not be generalizable across subsequent waves of the pandemic. The best practices of HSQ could be studied around the globe and the results used to support continuous improvement. Originality/value This study advances the understanding of the SDL in the context of a transformative health-care system for a transitional economy by focusing on individual and social well-being during an unexpected crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also contributes toward the understanding of the roles of enabling technologies to improve the service delivery system which results in an improved SAT, as well as better QOL for the society at large. Based on SDL this research validates the HSQ model, relevant measures and its overall impact on SAT and QOL in the context of a transformative health-care service system in Saudi Arabia.

Analysing and evaluating environmental information disclosure in universities: the role of corporate governance, stakeholders and culture

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Mauricio Flórez-Parra ◽  
Maria Victoria Lopez-Perez ◽  
Antonio M. López Hernández ◽  
Raquel Garde Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Stakeholder Participation ◽  
Environmental Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Actions ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Environmental Information Disclosure ◽  
Internal And External Factors ◽  
The University

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the internal and external factors related to the disclosure of environmental information in universities which reflect the actions carried out in these universities. Design/methodology/approach Taking as reference the first 200 universities in the Shanghai ranking, several factors associated with the degree of environmental information disclosure in universities – governance dimension, the relationship and participation of stakeholders, position and prestige as signs of the quality of the institution and cultural concern in the university’s country for the environment – are analysed. Findings The results obtained show that the size of the leadership team, stakeholder participation, the position of the university in rankings and cultural concern in the university’s country for the environment are determining factors in the university’s environmental actions and, consequently, in their disclosure. Other factors – such as the size of the university, the level of self-financing and financial autonomy – do not affect the disclosure of environmental information. Originality/value Scant research exists on the environmental commitments of universities; this paper aims to fill that gap. Their role as the main channel of research and as instructors of future professionals makes them points of reference in society. Research on university ranking has traditionally focussed on teaching and research results, but environmental issues are becoming increasingly important. This paper enumerates the factors that influence the dissemination of environmental information in the most prestigious universities. This research also provides an original approach by considering not only top-down but also bottom-up strategies through communication channels and the incidence of cultural factors.

scholarly journals The Role of Strategic Thinking Patterns in the Quality of Administrative Decision Making

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Ahlam Ibrahim Wali ◽  
Muzaffar Hamed Ali ◽  
Ahmed Azan Sharif
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Strategic Thinking ◽  
Managerial Decision ◽  
Holistic Thinking ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
University Leaders ◽  
The University ◽  
Diagnostic Thinking

The aim of the research is to identify the role of strategic thinking patterns (holistic, abstract, diagnostic, schematic) among the university leaders in the faculties of the University of Salahuddin / Erbil. In order to reach this goal, (The type of holistic thinking, the pattern of abstract thinking, the pattern of diagnostic thinking, the pattern of schematic thinking), while the third axis of the dependent variable relates to the quality of administrative decision making. The questionnaire was distributed to 100 respondents Aclasia and the meanings of the deans and heads of scientific departments, has been pursuing the analytical descriptive approach as a way to research was the use of statistical methods SPSS to get to the search results, and research found a set of results 1-There are levels of (types of strategic thinking and quality of administrative decision-making) among the university leaders in faculties of Salahuddin University / Erbil. 2-There is a positive positive relationship between all types of strategic thinking and the quality of administrative decision-making 3- There is a significant impact of the types of strategic thinking in the quality of administrative decision - making. Based on the findings, the researchers recommended that the university leaders at the university be given an interest in strategic thinking as an important factor in the quality of managerial decision making

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