TRANSFORMATION VARIABLES IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

<p>The higher education sector faced increasingly tense to transform due to the digitization that reshapes the world in the 21st century to strengthen and improve the teaching and learning environment. The present critical success factors driven by global-profit-making reform institutions are affected by both external and internal issues. This systematic article review expounds on the instrumental transformation variables that influence higher education institutions globally. The exploration of these variables is not a new phenomenon in this research field and has long gained numerous scholars' attention. However, most of these past inquiries overlooked the effects of cultural and contextual components, where the higher education landscape perspectives are often underrepresented. Hence, this study aims to fill this gap by critically reviewing a considerable amount of past studies on the changes in Asian educational institutions. The Systematic Review approach was adopted for data analysis, accessing main journal databases and search engines through Elsevier, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, Emerald and EBSCO. The search efforts resulted in a corpus of 33 articles were reviewed. As a result of the thematic analyses, eight main themes were formulated namely, Globalization, Income Generation and Financial Implication, Institutional Policies, Knowledge Management, Learning Innovation, Governance in Institutional Restructuring, Synergy, and Leadership as dominant variables for the higher education sector. Several recommendations were also presented for the reference of relevant parties and future scholars. </p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0963/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Parental Experiences in the Management of Children with Syndromic Craniofacial Diagnoses in Malaysia

INTRODUCTION: Patients with syndromic craniofacial diagnoses (SCD) require coordinated overall management and remain a parental challenge. This study assessed the parental experience and psychological outcome, as well as the evaluation of professional and community support, received in Malaysia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Craniofacial Experiences Questionnaire (CFEQ) was used to assess parents of SCD children registered with the Combined Oro-Craniomaxillofacial Clinic in University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur. RESULTS: Thirty parents participated in this study with their children’s age ranged from 2 months to 14 years old diagnosed with Apert, Crouzon, and Pfeiffer syndromes, as well as other SCD such as Goldenhar, Pierre Robin, and Nager. The majority of parents felt anxious whenever their child underwent an operation despite having positive perceptions of the outcome. Most respondents did not see the condition as handicap although 6.7% of parents were embarrassed by their child’s appearance. The majority of the respondents were worried about the financial implication, had to be occasionally absent from work due to their child’s regular appointments, and felt depressed while only a quarter of respondents socialised less and struggled to meet parenting needs. Most respondents received positive comments, were treated with respect, and obtained adequate support from both health professionals and the community with regards to their childcare. CONCLUSIONS: Although most parents were concerned about their children’s condition, only minimal social stigmatisation was noted. Parents were satisfied with the emotional and physical support received from healthcare professionals and the community. Understanding parental experience may contribute to the improvement of multidisciplinary syndromic craniofacial management.

Extent and financial cost of cassava postharvest loss along the cassava value chain in Kwara State, Nigeria

<p>Cassava has been identified as Africa’s second most important staple food after maize, in terms of calories consumed, with Nigeria as the World leading producer. This study estimated postharvest loss of cassava along the cassava value chain in Kwara State. It estimated the size of postharvest loss of cassava; analysed the factors responsible and the financial implications of loss; and identified the strategies employed in the mitigation of loss in the study area. A three-stage random sampling technique was used to select 117 cassava farmers whom were administered structured questionnaire to elicit data analysed by the study. Descriptive statistics, Shannon’s diversity index and Tobit regression model were the analytical techniques utilised. The results show that 68 % of the loss occurred at the harvesting. The loss was estimated to be about 3.8 t ha^-1. The financial implication was valued at $ 300 ha^-1. Analysis of the factors responsible for cassava postharvest loss showed that the quantity expected at harvesting, household size and age of the farmer were significant factors affecting cassava postharvest loss. The result also revealed that farmers mitigate these losses by processing the roots and reburying unused roots into the soil. Steps needed to reduce loss have to take these factors into consideration to improve the economic status of cassava farmers-processors.</p>

A comparative analysis of financial affordability in Islamic home financing instrumentsin Malaysia

Purpose This study aims to compare and contrast the financial affordability of Islamic home financing instruments such as bay’ bithaman ajil and musharakah mutanaqisah (MM) offered by various home financing institutions in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach Mathematical simulations were carried out in examining the financial affordability (or lack thereof) of various Islamic home financing by both Islamic commercial banks (ICB) and financial cooperatives (FC). Findings This study has shown that MM by FC is a workable, more financially affordable option to potential homeowners. Unlike ICB, MM by FC uses rental rates as a benchmarking tool because of its inherent nature of flexibility. Research limitations/implications MM by FC has the potential to reduce the cost of home acquisition (purchase affordability) and the amount of monthly installments (repayment affordability) of homeowners in Malaysia. Originality/value This study shows the financial implication of unaffordable Islamic home financing instruments may have on the Malaysian households, which were derived from using official data from various government agencies.

Foetal Wastage in Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Slaughtered at Katsina Central Abattoir, Katsina State Nigeria

Foetal wastage through slaughter of pregnant camels was evaluated for a period of six months (from July–December, 2017) at Katsina abattoir. A total of 738 camels were slaughtered within the study period out of which 456 (62%) were females. 64 (14%) of the number were pregnant. It was observed that, of the 64 Foetuses, 15 (23%) were in the first trimester, 30(47%) were in second trimester and 19 (30%) were in third trimester. Estimated financial losses annually through slaughter of pregnant camels at Katsina central abattoir was ₦16,640,000. It was concluded that relevant government agencies should ensure enforcement of policies relating sales of pregnant camels for slaughter. Adequate ante-mortem inspection be carried out, enlightment campaigns on farmers and butchers on the financial implication of slaughtering pregnant camels.

Paying the Price: Understanding the Opportunity Cost of Dedicated Research Time during Surgical Training

The pursuit of dedicated research time during surgical residency prolongs training and delays entry into practice. Currently, there is a lack of research quantifying the financial implication of this delay and trainees’ understanding of its impact on career earnings. An opportunity cost analysis was performed regarding the impact of delay due to training within general surgery and selected subspecialties. An anonymous survey was distributed to general surgery categorical junior trainees in 2017 at a large academic hospital in the Northeast to determine understanding and beliefs regarding dedicated training on career earnings. For all specialties analyzed, dedicated research time was shown to negatively affect career earnings. The net cost was highest among those intending to pursue cardiothoracic surgery and lowest for those intending to pursue surgical oncology. A total of 26 of 35 (74%) present research residents and clinical residents intending to perform dedicated research time responded to an anonymous survey. On average, survey respondents underestimated the impact of dedicated research time on career earnings by $1.4 million. Dedicated research time during general surgery residency carries a substantial opportunity cost to overall career earnings. General surgery residents lack understanding of both the direction and the magnitude of this opportunity cost.