Technical and Vocational Education and Technology Transfer: Departments of Civil Engineering Technology at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, PAAE&T, Kuwait, As A Case Study

Technology transfer is the main ingredient of technical and vocational education. The transfer of know-how and know-why can take several forms either within technical and vocational institutions boundaries such as: transfer of technology from research and development department to other academic departments or interactions and exchange of technology between academic departments. The transfer of technology can transcend technical and vocational institutions boundaries to allow a free transformation and exchange of technology with local and international industries and business. The main objective is to enhance the quality of technical and vocational graduates as well as to provide industries and business with the require skilled and semi-skilled manpower able to managing, maintain, adapt, and monitor the technology applied in various production processes. Therefore, for a successful transfer of technology, a mutual interest has to be achieved for both parties (the provider of technology and the recipient of technology). The management of technical and vocational education must exert their time and efforts to gain the best fruitful results from the transfer of technology in enhancing their academic capabilities (e.g., upgrading the standard of workshops and laboratories, applying and effective scheme for reviewing and assessing curriculum development, enhancing staff competencies) in order to meet the quality assurance standard in producing a high quality of graduates. In this paper, I present some of the empirical results and observations which describe the interactions between the supplier of technology (Civil Engineering Technology) and the recipient of the technology (PAAE&T) in the field of technology transfer. In other word, whether the PAAE&T have taken the opportunity, while building its new headquarter, in the transfer of technology from the supplier Civil Engineering Technology to its academic staff in its various Civil Engineering Academic Departments in its various colleges and institutions. The paper argues that, for effective and efficient transfer of technology, the recipient (PAAE&T) must ensure that the agreement with the supplier of Civil Engineering Technology include calluses that would allow the PAAE&T academic staff in the Civil Engineering Academic Departments in its various colleges and institutions to acquire the technology embedded in the agreement. The paper concludes that the transfer of technology and the building of a local scientific and technical infrastructure must be viewed by Kuwaiti decision-makers as a complementary to one another. Thus, reducing, to great extent, the level of dependence on expatriate, particularly in essential sector of the economy.

Exploring Availability of Seaweed for Biofuel Production in Bangladesh

This paper aims to explore whether seaweeds from the Bay of Bengal are available for commercial biofuel production. Seaweeds provide various ecosystem services from marine ecosystems that can be utilized as food, cosmetics, fertilizers, industrial chemical, or biofuel. Other than diversified usefulness, seaweeds could be used in a running vehicle. It can be used as an alternative source of non-renewable energy along with a high potential to produce environment-friendly fuel for the next generations. Developed countries are utilizing seaweeds as essential resources of biofuel with advanced technology, machinery, and skilled manpower. From the physiography of the ocean of Bangladesh, it can be found that seaweeds have a high potential to produce biofuel from the coast and offshore areas. Among different types of seaweeds, biofuel can be produced from lipid & fatty acid, carbohydrate, or protein in them. Therefore, a sustainable SWOT analysis has been conducted to explore the availability and potential of seaweeds for biofuel production. To produce biofuel in Bangladesh due to the lack of investment, advanced technology, well-equipped machinery, and skilled manpower are still in shade. However, if investment and technical equipment are embraced for producing raw material (such as specific species of seaweeds) for the biofuel production those could be exported to the nearest market.

Panel Discussion - Scope, Opportunities and Challenges of Agri-Journalism in India

Information is crucial for taking or arriving at right decisions, it becomes an economic action that can be produced, purchased and sold. Although, agriculture is a backbone of many countries, the investment in agriculture and rural development is still lagging. Communication for agriculture is not seen as a major priority and the role of the media as an effective player in agricultural and rural development. There is hardly any meaningful debate on farmers’ issues with facts and figures. There are hardly any media that covers exclusive news on rural India in general and agriculture in particular, although 70 per cent of the population lived there. The information on agriculture coverage is limited to a particular topic such as market and market prices, advertisement, stock market, etc., in most of the medium. Many a times, this piece of information might be written by an exclusive scientist, interested journalist or as usual by the news reporters, who have the journalist skills but, not able to translate things. There is a lack of skilled manpower to cover all aspects of agriculture such as crop production output, national GDP, overcome farmer problems, farm machinery and implements, farmer lifestyle, ways of doubling of farmer income etc. This panel discussion has come up with a suggestion to start a one year Post Graduate Diploma in Agri-journalism course to train the interested students, working professionals and the budding entrepreneurs to contribute to the industry as well as farming community.

How successful is the Industrial Institutes, Kuwait, in reducing dependence on expatriates?

Nowadays, no one can deny the role played by technical and vocational education in reducing the rate of youth unemployment, low rate of poverty, high wages, and livelihood for workers, particularly younger workers. Technical and vocational education is a dual type of educational system that permit students to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes mostly needed by industries and business. The quality of technical and vocational educations would facilitate the transformation of students from classrooms, workshops, and laboratories into real work environment. The success of technical and vocational education in achieving the its objectives would depend on the quality of management in forging a strong linkage with industries and business. The concept of working in a “black box” would not apply in technical and vocational education since industries and business are the main contributors in shaping students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Kuwait, as one of the gulf states, the shortage of indigenous skilled and semi-skilled manpower in noted in essential sectors of the economy (e.g., electricity and water and the oil sector). Key figures have appreciated the significant role of technical and vocational institutions in providing essential sectors of the economy with the skilled and semi-skilled national manpower in order to reduce, to great extent, the dependence on expatriates. The Sabah Al-Salem Industrial Institute, SSII, and Shuwaikh Industrial Institute, SII, was forged between 1992-1993, by the Kuwaiti Government with the aim to equipped local manpower with the know-how and know-why that are applied in local industries and business. The research is focus on measuring the perception of a sample of heads of supervisors at the Ministry of Electricity and Water and at the oil sector towards the quality of the graduates from the Sabah Al-Salem Industrial Institute, SSII, and Shuwaikh Industrial Institute, SII. The research is based on extensive field work that encompasses a review of the related literature, interviews with a sample of heads of supervisors at the Ministry of Electricity and Water and at the oil sector to assess the quality of SSII & SII, graduates. Finally, the research will argue that unless the Sabah Al-Salem Industrial Institute, SSII, and the Shuwaikh Industrial Institute, SII, recognize and appreciate the value of building a strong linkage with local industries, its contribution in tackling the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous in essential sectors on the economy will be below the government expectations, thus continuing relaying on expatriates for years ahead.

Cooling and Qualitative Study of Evaporative Cool Hydroponically Grown Maize Crop

A study of evaporative cool hydroponic chamber was made with respect to its cooling and qualitative evaluation for growth of maize. The daily average temperature and RH range of 35.5 to 36.1 0C and 37–77% respectively were observed under Evaporative Cool Hydroponic Chamber (ECHC). The cooling efficiency of ECHC varied from 57.61% to 83.33% with an average value of 74.06%. Fresh biomass yield of fodder maize was observed as 1.2kg/ft2 of tray area. Crude protein and crude fibre on dry matter basis of hydroponic maize fodder ranged from 13.1-13.08% and 15.30-15.31% respectively. The ECHC can be used as an alternative of high cost hydroponic fodder machines which can be locally fabricated and operated by semi-skilled manpower.

STATUS OF FISH HATCHERY AND NURSERY MANAGEMENT IN, DHANUSHA, NEPAL

The study was conducted to overview status of fish hatchery and nursery management. The main occupation of owners is hatchery business and 23% owners run as side business. 23% of respondents reared fifteen species including major seven species Rupchand, Puntius, Basai, Bhagi, Bata, Magur and Black carp. 30.8% respondents use brood stock from other hatchery of different place for cross breeding to reduce stress, inbreeding depression and to increase disease resistance, growth, performance and production. 61.53% respondents do not monitor the pond to check water quality pararameters like DO, pH and turbidity of water. The average hatchlings, fish fry and fingerling survivality was found 31.10%, 57% and 64% respectively. The problem encountered were flood, predator, unavailability of feed, hormone, fertilizer, skilled manpower and water shortage. The B/C ratio in private hatchery was 1.59 and 1.31 in government hatchery. Most of the respondents use motorcycle (53.8%) as means of transportation of fish seed. The main severe disease was learnaea followed by argulus. The inputs used in nursery management were less than that of recommended dose. High stocking density of fingerlings found (546.15kg/kattha). 69.23% of respondents sold fish, fry and fingerlings to distant market and 30.8% of fish farmers sold their fish seed products in local market. About 75%, 20% and 5% of hatchery fish seed production transferred through channel 1, channel 2 and channel 3 respectively. The problems faced in market were trader monopoly followed by open boarder, road inaccessibility, transportation loss and lack of market information

How successful is the Higher Institute of Energy, Kuwait, in reducing dependence on expatriates?

The role of technical and vocational education in enhancing indigenous capabilities is highly discussed by authors, observers, and academics. In fact, there is a common understanding that technical and vocational education is a dual educational system that allow students to transfer what they have been learned in classroom, laboratories and workshops into real work environment. The success of technical and vocational education would depend on the management mentality in the ability in forging and effective and fruitful linkage with industries and business. It is a management responsibility to identify and determine the level of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are mostly required by the recipients of technical and vocational graduates. Kuwait, as one of the gulf states, the shortage of indigenous skilled and semi-skilled manpower in noted in essential sectors of the economy (e.g., electricity and water and the oil sector). Decision makers have realized the significant role of technical and vocational institutions in providing essential sectors of the economy with the skilled and semi-skilled national manpower in order to reduce, to great extent, the dependence on expatriates. The Higher Institute of Energy, HIE, was forged by the Kuwaiti Government with the aim to equipped local manpower with the know-how and know-why that are applied in local industries. The research is focus on measuring the perception of a sample of heads of supervisors at the Ministry of Electricity and Water and at the oil sector towards the quality of HIE graduates. The research is based on extensive field work that encompasses a review of the related literature, interviews with a sample of heads of supervisors at the Ministry of Electricity and Water and at the oil sector to assess the quality of field training program and the standard of the HIE graduates. Finally, the research will argue that unless the HIE recognize and appreciate the value of building a strong linkage with local industries, its contribution in tackling the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous in essential sectors on the economy will be below the government expectations, thus continuing relaying on expatriates for years ahead.

Descriptive literature review of human resource information systems (HRIS) adoption issues in the health sector, South Africa

No organisation is ever static. For several reasons, each organisation reviews its aims and objectives from time to time. These reasons may be internally or externally driven. They could also be politically, economically and or socially motivated. Research has established that most of the attempts at bringing about change are based on the needs of employees and customers. Essentially, for the purposes of better management of employees and customers, human resource information systems (HRIS) are touted as the panacea for effective and efficient health sector service delivery. Focusing on South Africa, this paper used the descriptive literature review method to determine HRIS adoption issues within the health sector of South Africa. As an important sector in any growing economy, the health sector in our view benefits from a constant review of its mission. Within the context of South Africa, substantial emphasis is yet to be placed on health sector effectiveness. Elsewhere, in other regions and continents, research on HRIS adoption within the health sector suggests that its adoption is problematic but useful. The South African health sector is yet to fully embrace this technology and as a result is suffering from employee dissatisfaction, brain drain, and general maladministration. Investment in HRIS research is therefore instructive especially within the context of South Africa. What we have found through this review is that investing in HRIS is crucial; however, it requires thorough consideration for its funding, infrastructural support, and skilled manpower among others.

Water Corrosion Problems and Sustainability of Water Supply Schemes

Water supply schemes should be technically and socially sustainable for smooth running, smooth operation and maintenances. Failure in either one of these leads to the whole system failure. Once the system is technically feasible, we can manage its social aspects. In this paper, we deal with technical sustainability of corrosive water, its impacts and the remedial measures. Corrosive water can severely damage intakes, metal pipes, cemented chambers, concrete reservoir and household plumbing systems. Hence, it is necessary to identify the corrosiveness of the water and should be neutralized. There are several solutions to this problem, however, they are not sustainable and economical for semi urban and rural communities. In this paper, we propose a sustainable, natural and economical solution to determine the corrosiveness of water and to effective technology to neutralize it. The proposed solution uses naturally available resources, hence makes it sustainable and affordable. Once the proposed method is deployed, it doesn’t require additional resources such as continuous monitoring, skilled manpower and electrical power cost etc. In this method, initially, the corrosiveness of the water is identified using parameters such as: total dissolved solid (TDS), pH, temperature, calcium and alkalinity. The corrosive water is then analyzed in laboratory. With carbon dioxide kinetic study, we verify the design of stabilization tank volume calculation. The research outcome is applied in the field to upgrade intake, pipe and fitting designs. The experiment in this research is conducted with the data obtained from several water supply schemes including Padampokhari water supply scheme in Nepal and tested in the same water supply scheme.

Influence of social entrepreneurs on community development in Enugu west senatorial district of Enugu state, Nigeria

Social entrepreneurship is not a new-fangled observable fact in Nigeria. Though the practice has constantly existed, for countless reasons, the concept is gaining reputation in current years. Although the focus has been on business entrepreneurship as a tool for economic development, the light is now on social entrepreneurship, which entails attempting to serious social issues for sustainable community development. Community development efforts have met with diverse challenges that hamper sustainability of the society. The appearance of social entrepreneurship as a cross move towards positive force for transforming communities put forwards the prospects of dealing with the key challenges of lack of support by government, deficiency of financial assistant, changing environment, out of pocket work, domination by wealthy founders and philanthropists, lack of skilled manpower, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, climate changes, health care challenges, insecurity and other social and economic issues. This paper throws light on who social entrepreneurs are what they do and the role they play in achieving sustainable community development. Using a conceptual framework defined social entrepreneurs, characteristics, principles and role of social entrepreneurs towards community development process. The paper concludes with suggestive principles that could provide an enhanced insight on the role of social entrepreneurs in community development. To enhance their impact, social entrepreneurs should involve beneficiaries trapped within socio-economic problems in the process of community development.