IT-based activity in physiology education: an experience from a developing country

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahinda Kommalage ◽  
Sampath Gunawardena
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Learning Centers ◽  
Passive Learning ◽  
It Capabilities ◽  
It Knowledge ◽  
E Mail ◽  
Geographical Locations

Information technology (IT)-based components are included as active learning activities in medical curricula that have been shown to be more effective than most passive learning activities. In developing countries, these activities are not popular compared with developed countries. In this study, an IT-based assignment was carried out in physiology for undergraduates in Sri Lanka. We assessed certain basic IT capabilities before the assignment and found that the capability of using MS Word, e-mail, and the internet was limited to 68.3%, 62.0%, and 49.2% of students, respectively, with 40.8% of students having some other IT capabilities. We found a considerable variation in IT capabilities among the students, which depended on IT learning at schools and the geographical locations where students came from. The main source of IT knowledge for students was an introductory IT course given in the medical school with the second source being private IT learning centers. Response to the IT-based assignment was very poor. The reasons for poor participation included a lack of time due to parallel subjects, poor IT knowledge, and poor IT resource availability. However, students were willing to have optional IT-based components and were aware that IT knowledge is important for medical students as well as doctors. This study shows the importance of improving IT knowledge in students and the need of improving IT resources in medical schools. With these improvements, physiology education can be enriched with more interactive IT-based learning activities, which help students to acquire knowledge more efficiently and effectively in developing countries like Sri Lanka.

Community Impact of Telebased Information Centers

2011 ◽  
pp. 298-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Falch
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Universal Coverage ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Community Centers ◽  
Communication Services ◽  
Community Impact ◽  
The World ◽  
It Capabilities ◽  
Point Of Departure

Telebased information community centers or just telecenters have been seen as the killer application to empower local communities in developed and developing countries to meet the challenges of the information society. The point of departure has been different in various parts of the world, and a number of quite diverse models for development of telebased information centers have been applied. While centers in developed countries, with an almost universal coverage of telephony services, have been focussed on enhancing IT capabilities and access to IT-based communication services, developing countries have also focussed on provision of basic telephony. This chapter presents the approaches taken in Scandinavia, Hungary, Western Australia and Ghana in order to reach these objectives, and discusses the experiences with the different models and the national strategies used for setting up telebased information centers with special attention to their applicability in developing countries.

Accounting Reforms for Accountable Public Sector Management

2020 ◽  
pp. 41-64
Author(s):  
Chitra Sriyani De Silva Lokuwaduge ◽  
Keshara M. De Silva Godage
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The Public ◽  
New Public ◽  
Public Sector Accounting

Accounting reforms in the public sector have become one of the most debated aspects of the public sector financial management during the last three decades. Following the steps of developed countries around the globe, Sri Lanka as a developing country made initiatives to adopt international public sector accounting standards (IPSAS). The purpose of this study is to analyse the progress and the challenges they face in adopting IPSAS as a new public management (NPM) reform in Sri Lanka to enhance public sector accountability. Public sector accounting reforms in the developing countries in Asia is relatively under researched. Using the NPM concept, this study attempts to fill this gap. This chapter argues that even though Sri Lanka has initiated the move towards adopting IPSAS, developing countries face practical problems in adopting reforms due to their contextual factors such as limited institutional capacity and resources, high political involvements in decision-making, and high informality.

Comparative study on Life Cycle Assessment of buildings in developed countries and Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isuri Anuradha Amarasinghe ◽  
Dumindu Soorige ◽  
Devindi Geekiyanage
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Environmental Friendliness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status

PurposeLife cycle assessment (LCA) has considerably contributed to increasing the environmental friendliness of buildings in developed countries. However, it is hard to find evidence on the application of LCA for buildings in developing countries; particularly, Sri Lanka. There is a lack of research to compare the status of LCA of buildings in developed countries vs developing countries. In this context, the purpose of this study aims to examine the status of LCA implementation for buildings between developed countries and Sri Lanka, a developing country.Design/methodology/approachThe exploratory research was adapted, and in-depth interviews were held with LCA professionals from Sri Lanka and developed countries, respectively.FindingsRelatively less attention has been paid to the implementation of LCA for buildings in Sri Lanka compared to the developed countries due to the time and effort required to collect life cycle inventory data and limited stakeholder understanding of the LCA. Hence, this study proposed improvements, including the development of LCA databases containing region-specific data and conducting programmes to raise stakeholders' awareness to address the gaps in Sri Lanka.Research limitations/implicationsThe identified LCA implementation process for buildings could be used as a guide for first-time LCA users, and it equally makes a valued reference for experienced practitioners.Originality/valueA limited number of the studies formulate a comparison between the LCA for building in developed countries and developing countries. This research attempts to address this knowledge gap.

scholarly journals Predictors of Attitudinal Outcomes in Mobile Advertising in Sri Lanka: An Emerging Market

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilasini De Silva ◽  
Jun Yan
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Mobile Advertising ◽  
Mobile Media

<p>Mobile media has been rapidly evolving in the market with novel technological features. It has captured the advertising field in a revolutionary manner. Unlike in developed countries mobile media is less popular in developing countries. This study has been designed to explore the Sri Lankan consumers’ attitudes towards mobile advertising. Self-administrative questionnaire was applied to collect data and 413 valid responses were gathered. The results show that, i) Demographics (age, family income) and ii) Experience with internet advertisements are predictors of attitude towards mobile advertising. Experience with internet advertisements has significant moderating effect on attitude on mobile advertising.</p>

scholarly journals What is Agritourism in Nepal?

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 170-178
Author(s):  
Kumar Bhatta
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
International Society ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Proper Definition ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Geographical Locations

The agritourism (AT) concept in Nepal is growing. However, a proper definition based on the characteristics of the Nepalese economy and agriculture has not been given previously. Therefore, this study aims to define AT based on the Nepalese geographical division. Based on the secondary data, the author fist presented the definition of AT in international society and compared the AT between developed countries and developing countries.  Then, the definition of AT based on the three geographical locations of Nepal i.e., Himalayan, Hilly, and Terai region, is given.  For the successful Nepalese AT, the target should be given to the trekkers and hikers.

scholarly journals CSR in SMEs: an analysis of donor-financed management tools

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 602-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Lund-Thomsen ◽  
Dima Jamali ◽  
Antonio Vives
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Developing World ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Predominant Orientation ◽  
Donor Agencies ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
E Mail

Purpose – This paper aims to analyze the potential and limitations of donor-financed management tools that seek to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. Drawing on key insights from three streams of literature relating to institutional theory, critical perspectives on CSR in developing countries and the literature on CSR and SMEs in the developing world, the potential and limits of donor-financed management tools aimed at promoting CSR in developing country SMEs are analyzed. Design/methodology/approach – Using official UN and Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development lists of all multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, 38 donors that might have produced such CSR tools were identified. The authors contacted them via e-mail and/or telephone, and conducted an extensive Internet search with the aim of identifying whether they had developed management tools aimed at promoting CSR in SMEs in developing countries. The authors then scrutinized the contents of the 11 tools identified and examined the extent to which these tools accord attention to contextual differences and specific peculiarities of institutional environments in developing countries; the extent to which these tools account for the silent or sunken aspects of CSR which have been prominently highlighted in the SME – CSR literature; and the extent to which these tools accord attention to the paramount concern for poverty alleviation in developing countries. Findings – Overall, the analysis testifies to the continued predominant orientation of these tools to the context of larger firms in developed countries, with insufficient tailoring or customization to the specific realities of SMEs in the South. Research limitations/implications – In-depth interviews with aid agency personnel, SMEs, workers or community members were not conducted. Hence, this study should be seen as an initial, exploratory desk study of the potential and limits of management tools aimed at promoting CSR in SMEs in the developing world. Practical implications – It is suggested that donor agencies could develop such tools in a bottom-up fashion by first mapping the silent CSR practices of SMEs in developing countries and then use this as a basis for strengthening existing CSR activities in SMEs instead of trying to impose new priorities from the outside. This might enhance the local relevance and applicability of these management tools. Originality/value – The study is likely to be the first analysis of the potential and limits of management tools that are developed by donor agencies with the aim of promoting CSR in SMEs in developing countries.

scholarly journals Developing tools to link environmental flows science and its practice in Sri Lanka

2014 ◽  
Vol 364 ◽  
pp. 204-209
Author(s):  
N. Eriyagma ◽  
K. Jinapala
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Environmental Flows ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Development Phase ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Estuarine Ecosystems

Abstract. The term "Environmental Flows (EF)" may be defined as "the quantity, timing and quality of water flows required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods and well-being that depend on these ecosystems". It may be regarded as "water for nature" or "environmental demand" similar to crop water requirements, industrial or domestic water demand. The practice of EF is still limited to a few developed countries such as Australia, South Africa and the UK. In many developing countries EF is rarely considered in water resources planning and is often deemed "unimportant". Sri Lanka, being a developing country, is no exception to this general rule. Although the country underwent an extensive irrigation/water resources development phase during the 1960s through to the 1980s, the concept of EF was hardly considered. However, as Sri Lanka's water resources are being exploited more and more for human usage, ecologists, water practitioners and policymakers alike have realized the importance of EF in sustaining not only freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, but also their services to humans. Hence estimation of EF has been made mandatory in environmental impact assessments (EIAs) of all large development projects involving river regulation/water abstraction. Considering EF is especially vital under the rapid urbanization and infrastructure development phase that dawned after the end of the war in the North and the East of the country in 2009. This paper details simple tools (including a software package which is under development) and methods that may be used for coarse scale estimation of EF at/near monitored locations on major rivers of Sri Lanka, along with example applications to two locations on River Mahaweli. It is hoped that these tools will help bridge the gap between EF science and its practice in Sri Lanka and other developing countries.

Emerging Nutrition Gaps in a World of Affluence - Micronutrient Intake and Status Globally

2011 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred Eggersdorfer ◽  
Paul Walter
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
New Science ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Micronutrient Intake

Nutrition is important for human health in all stages of life - from conception to old age. Today we know much more about the molecular basis of nutrition. Most importantly, we have learnt that micronutrients, among other factors, interact with genes, and new science is increasingly providing more tools to clarify this interrelation between health and nutrition. Sufficient intake of vitamins is essential to achieve maximum health benefit. It is well established that in developing countries, millions of people still suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. However, it is far less recognized that we face micronutrient insufficiencies also in developed countries.

Country Rankings of Women's Status: An Alternative Index

1995 ◽  
Vol 34 (4III) ◽  
pp. 1025-1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmeen Mohiuddln
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Women's Status ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Implicit Assumption ◽  
Women’S Status ◽  
Country Rankings ◽  
Population Crisis ◽  
Status Of Women

The purpose of the present paper is to formulate a composite index of the status of women and to rank both developed and developing countries on the basis of that index. This index is presented as an alternative or complement to the current status of women index, published by the Population Crisis Committee (PCC) and used by the World Bank and the United Nations, which focuses on indicators measuring health, education, employment, marriage and childbearing, and social equality. The paper argues that these indicators have a poverty-bias and measure women's status in terms of structural change rather than in terms of their welfare vis-ii-vis men. The PCC index is also based on the implicit assumption that women's status in developing countries ought to be defined in a similar way as in developed countries, thus including primarily only those indicators which are more relevant for developed countries. To remedy these defects, the paper presents an alternative composite index, hereafter labelled the Alternative Composite (AC) index, based on many more indicators reflecting women's issues in both developed and developing countries. The results of the statistical analysis show that the ranking of countries based on the AC index is significantly different from the PCC index.

International Economic Assistance in the 1970's — A Critique of Partners in Development (Review Article)

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-490
Author(s):  
Nurul Islam
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Foreign Aid ◽  
International Aid ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Economic Assistance ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Service Charge ◽  
The Developed Countries ◽  
Defence Expenditure

Foreign economic aid is at the cross-roads. There is an atmosphere of gloom and disenchantment surrounding international aid in both the developed and developing countries — more so in the former than in the latter. Doubts have grown in the developed countries, especially among the conservatives in these countries, as to the effectiveness of aid in promoting economic development, the wastes and inefficiency involved in the use of aid, the adequacy of self-help on the part of the recipient countries in husbanding and mobilising their own resources for development and the dangers of getting involved, through ex¬tensive foreign-aid operations, in military or diplomatic conflicts. The waning of confidence on the part of the donors in the rationale of foreign aid has been accentuated by an increasing concern with their domestic problems as well as by the occurrence of armed conflicts among the poor, aid-recipient countries strengthened by substantial defence expenditure that diverts resources away from development. The disenchantment on the part of the recipient countries is, on the other hand, associated with the inadequacy of aid, the stop-go nature of its flow in many cases, and the intrusion of noneconomic considerations governing the allocation of aid amongst the recipient countries. There is a reaction in the developing countries against the dependence, political and eco¬nomic, which heavy reliance on foreign aid generates. The threat of the in¬creasing burden of debt-service charge haunts the developing world and brings them back to the donors for renewed assistance and/or debt rescheduling.

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