The Role of Higher Education in Supporting Sustainable Rural Entrepreneurship

Author(s):  
Maria Claudia Diaconeasa ◽  
Florentina Constantin

This chapter refers to an empirical research that aims to analyze how the knowledge and skills acquired during undergraduate studies have been perceived by the graduate students and also how the higher education contributes to the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas. The research method identified as being more appropriate was a quantitative research based on an online survey established in accordance with the objectives set up. The participants in the research were the graduate students of the Faculty of Agri-food and Environmental Economy within The Bucharest University of Economic Studies. The findings are based on participants' open statements that could be important arguments to be taken into consideration for improving the decision making in higher education which would lead to the professional development of the graduates.

Author(s):  
Dharambeer Singh

Digital libraries, designed to serve people and their information needs in the same way as traditional libraries, present distinct advantages over brick and mortar facilities: elimination of physical boundaries, round-the-clock access to information, multiple access points, networking abilities, and extended search functions. As a result, they should be especially well-suited for the disables. However, minorities, those affected by lower income and education status, persons living in rural areas, the physically challanged, and developing countries as a whole consistently suffer from a lack of accessibility to digital libraries. This paper evaluates the effectiveness and relevance of digital libraries currently in place and discusses what could and should be done to improve accessibility to digital libraries for under-graduate students.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 475-481
Author(s):  
Kajal Kotecha ◽  
Wilfred Isioma Ukpere ◽  
Madelyn Geldenhuys

The traditional advantage of using Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to enhance work flexibility also has a drawback of enabling academics to continue working even after regular working hours. This phenomenon has been referred to as technology-assisted supplemental work (TASW). Although TASW enhances academics’ work productively, they also have a negative impact on their family-life. The impact TASW has on academics and on higher education institutions can be understood by measuring the phenomenon properly by using a reliable and valid scale. The aim of this study is too validate a newly developed TASW scale by Fenner and Renn (2010). This study adopted a quantitative research approach and used an online survey to gather data. The sample included academic from a higher education in South Africa (n = 216). The results indicate that the TASW is a valid and reliable measure of technology among the sample of South African academics.


Author(s):  
Baraka M. Kagombe ◽  
Michael P. J. Mahenge ◽  
Sotco Claudius Komba ◽  
Safari Timothy Mafu ◽  
Camilius Aloyce Sanga

This chapter emanates from a study which sought to investigate challenges of teaching and learning computer programming in higher education. The study was conducted at Sokoine University of Agriculture. The study had three specific objectives: first, to identify learners' prior knowledge on computer programming at the time of joining the university; second, to investigate learners' self-efficacy in computer programming course; the third objective was to evaluate the learning styles used by learners in the computer programming course. The study adopted a quantitative research method, grounded in experiential learning theory. The data was collected from respondents using questionnaires and the analysis of the data was done using statistical software. The findings indicate that inadequate computer laboratories, lack of competent staff in ICT-based instructional design, inadequate teaching and learning materials, and students' lack of prior knowledge on computer programming at the time of joining the university are the main challenges.


2018 ◽  
pp. 1505-1526
Author(s):  
Umar G. Benna

Africa is experiencing triple processes of high population growth, rapid urbanization, and digital transformation. The undercurrents of these processes suggest that the continent is turning from rural majority to urban majority, and this situation raises the question of where will this majority work? Arab Spring and the turbulent situation in the Middle East suggest what could be the result of inaction. This chapter attempts to answer this question by using exploratory research method to highlight the potential role of mainly young entrepreneurs to define, through online questionnaire responses, their preferred terrain of workplace creation in local areas, cities, rural areas and in the diverse regions of Africa as well as on the ubiquitous online work environment extending from home to anywhere in the continent. The chapter ends with a review of the observations and suggestions about future research.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Wen Tsai ◽  
Pei-Di Shen ◽  
Yi-Chun Chiang

In this paper, the authors reviewed the empirical mobile technology (MT) studies, and those focused on adopting and designing MT for students’ learning, published in SSCI journals from 2003 to 2012. It is found that the number of articles has significantly increased, particularly after 2008. Among the 74 published papers, most of them were conducted in higher education, as well as on computing domain. Furthermore, the quantitative research method was used more in MT and e-learning research. The findings in this study may provide potential direction and help policymakers in governments and researchers in professional organizations to allocate the necessary resources and prepare for supporting future research and applications of MT.


Sociology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 1026-1042
Author(s):  
Laura Connelly ◽  
Remi Joseph-Salisbury

Although literature on the role of emotions in teaching and learning is growing, little consideration has been given to the university context, particularly from a sociological perspective. This article draws upon the online survey responses of 24 students who attended sociological classes on the Grenfell Tower fire, to explore the role emotions play in teaching that seeks to politicise learners and agitate for social change. Contributing to understandings of pedagogies of ‘discomfort’ and ‘hope’, we argue that discomforting emotions, when channelled in directions that challenge inequality, have socially transformative potential. Introducing the concept of bounded social change, however, we demonstrate how the neoliberalisation of Higher Education threatens to limit capacity for social change. In so doing, we cast teaching as central to the discipline of sociology and suggest that the creation of positive social change should be the fundamental task of sociological teaching.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-15
Author(s):  
Abdul Nafi Himat ◽  
Habib Rahman Nazari

The aim of this study is to investigate the students’ purposes of using Facebook at Mirwais Khan Nika Zabul Institute of Higher Education, Qalat, Zabul province, Afghanistan. In this research, the quantitative research method was employed, and the data was collected from 115 students through a designed questionnaire. In addition, the respondents were selected through random sample. Additionally, the data was analyzed by implementing IBM 24 version of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and found out the frequency and percentage of the items as well reported in a table. Moreover, the findings of this research reveal that learners use Facebook for several goals such as for socializing in order to be socialized in a society, getting social information, read news and for educational purposes, but they did not practice Facebook for the aims to pass their time, and share photos with their friends on the Facebook.  JEL Classification Codes: A19, B10, B25, C10, C53


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (Number 1) ◽  
pp. 183-218
Author(s):  
Rasheed Mohammad Nassr ◽  
Alia Ahmed Aldossary ◽  
Haidawati Mohamad Nasir

Purpose – This study explored students’ perspective of using emotion-aware Vertual Learning Environment (VLE) in Malaysia’s higher education institutions. The purpose is to investigate the relationships among dimensions of Technology Readiness Index (TRI), attitude, intention to use VLE, and lecturer interaction. The outcomes concerned the emotions involved in the educational process of Malaysia’s higher education institutions. Methodology – Quantitative data were collected via an online survey from 260 students. An empirical analysis was then conducted using structural equation modelling (Smart PLS) in two phases: (1) examining the direct effect of students’ attitude on VLE adoption intention and (2) examining the indirect effect of constructs using lecturer interaction as a mediator. Findings – The findings revealed a significant mediating role of lecturer interaction on the relationship between attitude and intention to use VLE across the student cohort. Inhibitors, such as insecurity and discomfort, were less significant in affecting students’ attitude towards emotion-aware VLE. The results indicate that students are motivated to use VLE when lecturers understand their emotions and react accordingly. Significance – This is one of the studies pertaining to emotions in VLE and lecturer interaction in higher education institutions. The results facilitate an understanding of the pedagogical role of lecturer interaction as a practical learning motivation. It is of particular interest to curriculum and e-learning stakeholders looking to improve students’ interactions with the VLE systems. Apart from extending the current literature, this study has significant practical implications for education management in higher learning institutions. Keywords: Emotion-Aware VLE, Technology Readiness Index (TRI), Attitude, Intention to Use, Lecturer Interaction, online learning, Smart PLS, Higher Education.


Author(s):  
Y. G. Baligatti ◽  
Shilpa Danappanavar

<div><p><em>Rural Banking in India refers to a set up of financial institutions for the economic improvement of rural poor in rural areas. The Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank is the one of the leading RRBs in Karnataka and has occupied an unique place in the multiagency approach applied to provide agricultural and rural credit in rural areas of Karnataka. </em><em>The KVG Bank has the front runner in catering to the needs of the farmers, traders, rural artisans, Professionals, self-employed, contractors and all other sections of the society.</em></p><p><em>In this paper an attempt is made to evaluate the role of the Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank towards priority sector lending in Karnataka, through the parameters like disbursement of loan to various priority sectors like Agriculture, allied Activities, SSI units and Trade or Services. The study reported that,</em> <em>the KVG Bank has provided highest loan to agriculture as compare to other sector of the rural area and playing the significant role towards the development of agriculture sector. Further it is noted that the priority sector advances of the bank to allied activities is insignificant reflecting its utter negligence of allied activities.</em></p></div>


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 144-160
Author(s):  
Daniel Twesige ◽  
Faustin Gasheja ◽  
Kadhafi Isae Misago ◽  
Eugen Muvunyi

The coronavirus pandemic has not only challenged health systems, buthas also had a significant impact on education systems across the globe.This study analysed COVID-19’s impact on the student learning processin Higher Education Institutions in Rwanda. A quantitative research designwas adopted and pragmatism was selected as the research philosophy.Primary data was collected from 1 170 students in 30 institutions using aclosed-ended questionnaire. The data was analysed using descriptive andinferential statistical tools. The results indicate that the pandemic has led tochanges in the academic calendar, suspension of examinations, and final yearstudents being unable to conduct research and serve internships. Ithas also affected the quality of learning and learning from peers due tosocial distancing. Students in rural areas and those from vulnerable familieshave been worst affected. Key words: COVID-19, learning, higher education institutions, onlinelearning, students


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