Pedagogy for its own sake: teacher’s beliefs about activity-based learning in rural government schools of Kashmir

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 311-327
Author(s):  
Wahid Ahmad Dar
Keyword(s):  
Policy Implementation ◽  
Education System ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
School Education ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Government Schools ◽  
Jammu And Kashmir ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rural Government ◽  
The World

Purpose This paper aims to explore the contextual problems and priorities that create tensions in the implementation of activity-based learning reforms such as learning enhancement through active pedagogy in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). By doing so, it aims to understand the relevance of activity-based learning (ABL) in diverse contexts as perceived by stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach Using qualitative data drawn from semi-structured interviews with 29 teachers, this study uses an anthropological approach to policy implementation to unleash factors creating a disjunction between policy text and policy practice. Findings Narratives from teachers reveal how critical awareness about context raises tensions and shapes beliefs about ABL. Their beliefs about ABL can be summed as “pedagogy for its own sake”, reflecting the perceived ineptness of ABL in bringing about considerable improvements in students learning outcomes. Reference to “outcomes” was invoked as a crucial recontextualising discourse in teacher’s pedagogic orientation which resulted primarily from the poor learning attainments of rural children in the prevalent outcome-focussed educational setup. Research limitations/implications The study is the first of its kind conducted in J&K and amongst very few around the world elucidating tension around the implementation of pedagogic reforms in underserved areas. This is the only study providing a critical analysis of pedagogic reforms in the school education system in J&K. Practical implications The study has significant implications in terms of helping immediate functionaries such as headmasters, teacher trainers and administrators and policy planners in understanding the dilemmas faced by teachers in enacting pedagogic reforms. It also adds to the field of policy implementation in terms of understanding the tensions of policy implementation at peripheries. Originality/value The study is the first of its kind conducted in J&K and amongst very few around the world elucidating tension around the implementation of pedagogic reforms in underserved areas. This is the only study providing a critical analysis of the school education system in J&K.

Accreditation and ranking of higher education institutions (HEIs): review, observations and recommendations for the Indian higher education system

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerald Ozee Fernandes ◽  
Balgopal Singh
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education System ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Academic Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Ranking ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
The World ◽  
Indian Higher Education

PurposeThe higher education system has been entrusted globally to provide quality education, especially to the youth, and equip them with required skills and capabilities. The visionaries and policymakers of the countries around the world have been working relentlessly to improve the standard of the higher education system by establishing national and global accreditation and ranking bodies and expecting measuring performance through setting up accreditation and ranking parameters. This paper focuses on the review of Indian university accreditation and ranking system and determining its efficacy in improving academic quality for achieving good position in global quality accreditation and ranking.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed exploratory research approach to know about the accreditation and ranking issues of Indian higher education institutions to overcome the challenges for being globally competitive. The accreditation and ranking parameters and score of leading Indian universities was collected from secondary data sources. Similarly, the global ranking parameters and scores of these Indian universities with top global universities was explored. The performance gaps of Indian university in global academic quality parameter is assessed by comparing it with scores of global top universities. Further, each domestic and global accreditation and ranking parameters have been taken up for discussion.FindingsThe study identified teaching and learning, research and industry collaboration as common parameter in the accreditation and ranking by Indian and global accreditation and ranking body. Furthermore, the study revealed that Indian accreditation and ranking body assess leniently on parameters and award high scores as compared to rigorous global accreditation and ranking practice. The study revealed that “research” and “citations” are important parameters for securing prestigious position in global ranking, this is the reason Indian universities are trailing. The study exposed that Indian academic fraternity lack prominence in research, publication and citations as per need of global accreditation and ranking standards.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of this study is that it focused only on few Indian and global accreditation and ranking bodies. The future implication of this study will be the use of methodology designed in this study for comparing accreditation and ranking bodies’ parameters of different continents and countries in different economic development stages i.e. emerging and developed economies to know the disparity and shortcomings in their higher education system.Practical implicationsThe article is a review and comparison of national and global accreditation and ranking parameters. The article explored the important criteria and key indicators of accreditation and ranking that would provide an important and meaningful insight to academic institutions of the emerging economies of the world to develop its competitiveness. The study contributed to the literature on identifying benchmark for improving academic and higher education institution quality. This study would be further helpful in fostering new ideas toward setting up of contemporary globally viable and acceptable academic quality standard.Originality/valueThis is possibly the first study conducted with novel methodology of comparing the Indian and global accreditation and ranking parameters to identify the academic quality performance gap and suggesting ways to attain academic benchmark through continuous improvement activity and process for global competitiveness.

Offsite construction in the Australian low-rise residential buildings application levels and procurement options

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tong Lin ◽  
Sainan Lyu ◽  
Rebecca Jing Yang ◽  
Linda Tivendale
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Rise ◽  
The World ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Selection Of

PurposePrefabricated housing has become a boom industry across the world; however, the uptake of offsite construction (OSC) approaches in Australian low-rise buildings is rather low compared with high-rise buildings in other countries. This study aims to investigate and analyse the adoption of different levels of OSC approaches and the selection of different procurement options in Australian low-rise residential buildings.Design/methodology/approachThe research objectives were pursued through a mixed research method. An empirical questionnaire survey was carried out with 35 professionals in the Australian building and construction industry. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 interviewees and analysed using thematic analysis method in NVivo software.FindingsThe research results found that the most suitable OSC level for Australian low-rise buildings is components-based prefabrication and identified the barriers to OSC uptake for each OSC level. The study also showed that the best option of procuring prefabricated products is from Australian manufacturers, followed by Australian suppliers/dealers and overseas manufacturers. Panelised prefabrication and components-based prefabrication are ranked as the most suitable OSC approaches for Australian manufacturers. Modular prefabrication is regarded as the most suitable for overseas manufacturer, while components-based prefabrication is the most suitable for Australian suppliers/dealers.Originality/valueThe selection of various OSC approaches and different procurement options in the low-rise residential buildings are scarcely explored topic, and thus, this study provides knowledge of interest for both researchers and practitioners.

Learning film production

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 296-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leona Bunting ◽  
Margaretha Herrman ◽  
Marita Johanson
Keyword(s):  
Education System ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Film Industry ◽  
Intrinsic Value ◽  
Film Production ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to contribute knowledge about learning linked to the film industry by investigating how film producers reason about learning for and in the profession. Design/methodology/approach – This study is based on semi-structured interviews with 20 film producers, both university and workplace trained (UWT) and workplace trained (WT). The content analysis is based on the transcribed dialogues. The study is empirical, explorative and qualitative. Findings – The interviewees consider networks to be of utmost importance for gaining entrance to and continuously finding work in the film industry. They also reason about required knowing and what learning practices are available. Although formal education is not advocated by all, it can hold intrinsic value for the individual. Traditions of learning are being scrutinized, and critical reflection is replacing naivety and emotionality. Practical implications – Different aims regarding learning in the formal education system and film industry result in a gap which needs to be bridged to challenge conserving and reproducing patterns of learning. Collaboration is suggested as a solution benefiting both the individual learner and the film industry. The resulting knowledge from this study can thus be used by the formal education system and the film industry when developing forms for collaboration surrounding learners of film production. Originality/value – The focus presented in this paper of learning in and for film production has been sparingly addressed in previous research.

Divergent notions of “quality” in healthcare policy implementation: a framing perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Husayn Marani ◽  
Jenna M. Evans ◽  
Karen S. Palmer ◽  
Adalsteinn Brown ◽  
Danielle Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Implementation ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Framing Analysis ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hospital Funding ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
Quality In Healthcare

PurposeThis paper examines how “quality” was framed in the design and implementation of a policy to reform hospital funding and associated care delivery. The aims of the study were: (1) To describe how government policy-makers who designed the policy and managers and clinicians who implemented the policy framed the concept of “quality” and (2) To explore how frames of quality and the framing process may have influenced policy implementation.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a secondary analysis of data from a qualitative case study involving semi-structured interviews with 45 purposefully selected key informants involved in the design and implementation of the quality-based procedures policy in Ontario, Canada. The authors used framing theory to inform coding and analysis.FindingsThe authors found that policy designers perpetuated a broader frame of quality than implementers who held more narrow frames of quality. Frame divergence was further characterized by how informants framed the relationship between clinical and financial domains of quality. Several environmental and organizational factors influenced how quality was framed by implementers.Originality/valueAs health systems around the world increasingly implement new models of governance and financing to strengthen quality of care, there is a need to consider how “quality” is framed in the context of these policies and with what effect. This is the first framing analysis of “quality” in health policy.

scholarly journals European influence in ITU-R: the end of an era of dominance?

Info ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Ali El-Moghazi ◽  
Jason Whalley ◽  
James Irvine
Keyword(s):  
European Countries ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Allocation Mechanism ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
The World ◽  
Spectrum Policy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the European countries in Region 1 of the Radio Sector of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-R). More specifically, the focus is on the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 meeting to explore whether European influence is in decline. Design/methodology/approach – This article adopts in-depth case study of the 700-MHz issue. Qualitative data are drawn from semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders who participated at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 meeting. Findings – This article concludes that the influence of European countries in the ITU-R in Region 1 has changed. The influence of Arab and African countries has increased, with that of European countries declining. However, European countries remain more influential than their African and Arab counterparts. Research limitations/implications – This article sheds light on an often overlooked but pivotal element of the international spectrum allocation mechanism. Originality/value – This article sheds light on important developments in the international spectrum policy that are largely overlooked in the current debate.

scholarly journals Improving research labs’ performance through project management guidelines: a case study analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Antonio Pacheco Junior ◽  
Rosley Anholon ◽  
Izabela Simon Rampasso ◽  
Walter Leal Filho
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Theoretical Foundation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Management Guidelines ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Centralized Management ◽  
Methodological Procedures

PurposeThe article aims to critically analyze the project management developed by research laboratories of a Brazilian university in order to enhance their performance. For this, a critical analysis was performed to identify existing opportunities about the management of schedules and resources. Additionally, a software was developed to enable performance improvement.Design/methodology/approachThe methodological procedures used were literature review, for a theoretical foundation, and case study conducted with semi-structured interviews, documentary research and on-site visits. Through a detailed critical analysis of the laboratories' management, it was possible to understand the activities developed and map the main difficulties observed.FindingsA total of five plausible points of improvement were identified, namely reduced teams and accumulation of activities; team seasonality; centralized management; deviations from projects and schedule control. Based on the theoretical foundation, it has been proposed adjustments to minimize the mentioned difficulties that can greatly contribute for better management efficiency of multiple research projects. In addition, a software was structured based on the proposed improvements. The laboratories' performance was monitored for a month and significant improvements were observed.Practical implicationsThe information presented here may be of great value to other researchers interested in enhancing research laboratory performance.Originality/valueThe academic literature presents several examples of project management guidelines application in different organizations; however, there are few studies about the application of them in research laboratories and how to improve their performance.

Combating corruption in Cambodia

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophal Ear
Keyword(s):  
World Bank ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Political Will ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transparency International ◽  
Policy Context ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
The World

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical analysis and survey of Cambodia’s recent efforts to combat corruption. It explores the policy context, perceived extent of corruption, causes of corruption, anti-corruption measures, evaluates those anti-corruption measures, and provides policy recommendations. Design/methodology/approach – This paper reviews the literature on corruption and anti-corruption efforts in Cambodia. It relies on available data from the World Bank and Transparency International, and compares these data over time. Findings – The paper shows that corruption in Cambodia is pervasive and that anti-corruption efforts are limited because of a lack of political will. Existing anti-corruption measures designed with loopholes must be amended, but implementation remains the primary challenge. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the limited literature on combating corruption in Cambodia.

Leadership and higher education fundraising: Perspectives from Malaysia

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-75
Author(s):  
Adrian Paul Jarvis ◽  
Pradip Kumar Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Education System ◽  
Shared Vision ◽  
Transformational Leader ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
The World ◽  
Key Drivers

Funds raised from philanthropic giving have become a key element in the long-term finances of higher education institutions around the world, presenting leaders, primarily principals, with a range of novel challenges that have not, hitherto, been key drivers of leadership. This article explores the problem by reporting on qualitative research that looked at how fundraising is carried out in the Malaysian higher education system, which has recently experienced profound changes to its financial landscape. Data were generated by semi-structured interviews with fundraisers from a range of higher education settings. It was found that for fundraising efforts to succeed, they must be spearheaded by an active principal who adopts the stance of transformational leader towards potential donors, forming a long-term relationship based on a shared vision. He or she is likely to be supported by a fundraising team that will be more transactional in approach and style.

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