Emefa Akua Amponsah, Maajid Zakaria Suleiman, Hafiz Adam and Victor Fannam Nunfam
Inadequate empirical evidence on the effect of personality traits, entrepreneurship education and university entrepreneurial support on green entrepreneurial intention outcomes…
Abstract
Purpose
Inadequate empirical evidence on the effect of personality traits, entrepreneurship education and university entrepreneurial support on green entrepreneurial intention outcomes among technical university students in Africa has hindered concrete policy interventions. Based on the planned behaviour and social cognitive theories, we assess the influence of personality traits and entrepreneurship education on green entrepreneurial intention of undergraduates at technical universities in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
We employed an explanatory cross-sectional survey comprising 1,329 Ghanaian undergraduate students to assess the research gap. An adapted 60-item instrument was used to measure outcomes for ten constructs (six personality traits, entrepreneurship education and green entrepreneurial intention) for the participants. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to model green entrepreneurial intention as a function of personality traits, entrepreneurship education and university entrepreneurial support while controlling for respondents’ background characteristics.
Findings
We observed a significant direct positive effect of all the personality traits, except subjective social norms and need for achievement, on green entrepreneurial intention. There was also a significant direct positive effect of entrepreneurship curriculum, teaching methods and university entrepreneurial support on green entrepreneurial intention. Our findings further provide empirical data to inform educators, researchers, policymakers and practitioners on the design of pragmatic curriculum, policies and interventions to inspire students into green start-ups.
Originality/value
This study is valuable for its novel approach of using an integrated theoretical and conceptual model to provide empirical validation for the burgeoning discourse around the impact of personality traits and entrepreneurship education on the green entrepreneurial intentions of technical university students in a developing nation. By synthesising diverse theoretical perspectives, this research enriches the understanding of how individual characteristics and educational experiences influence environmentally conscious entrepreneurial aspirations.
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Victor Fannam Nunfam, Norbert Adja Kwabena Adjei, Hafiz Adam and John Frank Eshun
The paucity of empirical evidence on the limitations of the industrial attachment programme of technical universities for enhancing students' human capital in Africa tends to…
Abstract
Purpose
The paucity of empirical evidence on the limitations of the industrial attachment programme of technical universities for enhancing students' human capital in Africa tends to thwart concrete policy options.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used the convergent mixed methods including 594 surveys, two focus groups and in-depth interviews to assess and accentuate the research gap in this study.
Findings
Evidence of constraints linked to the industrial attachment programme for developing students' human capital needs include limited funding, logistics and incentive for supervision, incompatible placement and exploitation and sexual harassment of students. Insufficient duration and intrusion of the industrial attachment programme due to labour unrests, inadequate collaboration and fears of student interns breaching organisations' confidentiality policies were also found to hinder the programme.
Research limitations/implications
The study's dependence on participants' perspectives has the possibility of being characterised by recollection prejudice. The comparatively limited scope and size of the study participants creates concerns of representativeness and generalisability of the study outcome.
Practical implications
The outcome of this study could yield significant practical implications for the planning and operations of the industrial attachment programme of tertiary institutions. It also provides information which could serve as the basis for future research and comprehensive evaluation of the programme's planning and implementation.
Originality/value
The authors have delineated empirical evidence on the constraints of the industrial attachment programme of Ghanaian technical universities to inform policy decisions on the planning, operations, funding and evaluation of the programme in collaboration with industry and government.
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This paper aims to analyze the legal interpretation of three Islamic financing products considered for approval by US authorities, from the United Bank of Kuwait and Guidance…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze the legal interpretation of three Islamic financing products considered for approval by US authorities, from the United Bank of Kuwait and Guidance Residential, even though the USA has not enacted any Shari’ah legislation in relation to the Islamic law of transactions (fiqh mu’amalat).
Design/methodology/approach
This paper primarily adopted qualitative document and content analysis, supported by quantitative numerical analysis, in reviewing legal interpretive letters from the US Office of the Comptroller of Currency and National Administrator of Banks (OCC) and the US Department of Revenue.
Findings
The research found that in assessing economic substance over legal form, each of the three products involved risk-free transactions and interest.
Research limitations/implications
The research had access to published OCC, Department of Revenue and US Patent Office material that fully disclosed the mechanics of each of the selected products.
Practical implications
The implication for the Islamic financial institutions involves Shari’ah compliance risk. When tested against the Islamic normative theory of lawful profit, it confirms that the products are non-compliant.
Social implications
The social implication is customer awareness of Shari’ah non-compliance in the USA and the impact for other jurisdictions carrying the same products.
Originality/value
The significance of this research for Islamic banking product design and development is that it enhances the ability to block the legal means to an unlawful outcome (sadd al-dhara’i), thereby avoiding harm (al-darar) attributed to usury (riba), and upholding what is in the public interest (maslahah), to fulfil one of the objectives of the Shari’ah (maqasid al-Shari’ah), which is to protect wealth (hafiz al-mal).
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Mohd Hafiz Hanafiah and Muhammad Izzat Zulkifly
This study aims to examine the relationships between tourism destination competitiveness (TDC) determinants and tourism performance. This study specifically assessed the soundness…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the relationships between tourism destination competitiveness (TDC) determinants and tourism performance. This study specifically assessed the soundness of the TDC attributes and evaluated their ability in explaining tourism performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The Dwyer and Kim’s (2003) destination competitiveness integrated model (IM) was used. Secondary data of 115 nations available from the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) and other international reports were also used. The hypothesised relationships were tested via partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).
Findings
This study confirms that the core resources, complementary condition, globalisation and tourism price significantly explain tourism performance. Results have shown differences in the competitiveness level and actual performance among nations, highlighting specific limitations of the current TDC model and TTCI report reliability.
Research limitations/implications
Future study could segment the sample base on destinations characteristic and then analyse it based on smaller sub-samples of similar destinations. Moreover, drivers of destination performance in developed and less develop destinations are quite diverse.
Practical implications
The incorrect competitiveness ranking evaluation will affect inward investment decisions. This study framework enables policymakers to arrive at more informed decisions than merely relying on the original competitiveness rankings.
Originality/value
The widespread acknowledgment of the importance of competitiveness for a tourism destination's success suggests that there is a crucial need for sound benchmarking of countries’ competitive capabilities. The proposed competitiveness determinants aid the policymakers in identifying the best competitiveness and tourism performance predictors, as well as how to identify crucial factors affecting the rankings.
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Asfandyar Khan, Ahsan Nazir, Abdur Rehman, Maryam Naveed, Munir Ashraf, Kashif Iqbal, Abdul Basit and Hafiz Shahzad Maqsood
This review deals with the pros and cons of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on human beings and the role of textile clothing and the chemicals used for textiles to protect from their…
Abstract
Purpose
This review deals with the pros and cons of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on human beings and the role of textile clothing and the chemicals used for textiles to protect from their harmful effects.
Design/methodology/approach
UV radiation (UVR) which has further divided into UVA, UVB, and UVC. Almost 100% of UVC and major portion of UVB are bounced back to stratosphere by ozone layer while UVA enters the earth atmosphere. Excessive exposure of solar or artificial UVR exhibit potential risks to human health. UVR is a major carcinogen and excessive exposure of solar radiation in sunlight can cause cancer in the lip, skin squamous cell, basal cell and cutaneous melanoma, particularly in people with the fair skin.
Findings
This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the harmful effects of UVR on human skin, factors affecting UV irradiance and factors affecting UV protection offered by textile clothing.
Originality/value
Effect of fiber properties, yarn properties, fabric construction, fabric treatments and laundering has been reviewed along with the identification of gaps in the reported research. A comparison of inorganic and organic UV absorbers has also been given along with different testing and evaluation methods for UV protective clothing.
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Hira Jamshed, Sadaf Noor, Hafiz Yasir Ali, Hafiz Muhammad Arshad and Muhammad Asrar-ul-Haq
This study analyses the organizational consequences of work–family conflict (WFC) among female nurses in health care sector. Moreover, this study focuses on the moderating effect…
Abstract
Purpose
This study analyses the organizational consequences of work–family conflict (WFC) among female nurses in health care sector. Moreover, this study focuses on the moderating effect of intrinsic motivation on the association between WFC dimensions with different organizational outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
Data are collected from 347 female nurses working in health care sector at Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan and Bahawalpur regions of Pakistan, using random sampling technique. Regression analysis is used to test the hypotheses of this study.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that WFC conflict lowers job satisfaction, affective commitment and organizational citizenship behaviour. Contrary, WFC reduces job satisfaction, affective commitment and organizational citizenship behaviour and increases turnover intentions among female nurses. Moreover, intrinsic motivation moderates the association between WFC and certain organizational outcomes.
Originality/value
The study offers valuable insights for female nurses at health care sector about WFC and finally leads to theoretical contributions and practical implications for the healthcare sector of Pakistan.
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Rizwan Ali, Jin Xu, Mushahid Hussain Baig, Hafiz Saif Ur Rehman, Muhammad Waqas Aslam and Kaleem Ullah Qasim
This study aims to endeavour to decode artificial intelligence (AI)-based tokens' complex dynamics and predictability using a comprehensive multivariate framework that integrates…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to endeavour to decode artificial intelligence (AI)-based tokens' complex dynamics and predictability using a comprehensive multivariate framework that integrates technical and macroeconomic indicators.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study we used advance machine learning techniques, such as gradient boosting regression (GBR), random forest (RF) and notably long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, this research provides a nuanced understanding of the factors driving the performance of AI tokens. The study’s comparative analysis highlights the superior predictive capabilities of LSTM models, as evidenced by their performance across various AI digital tokens such as AGIX-singularity-NET, Cortex and numeraire NMR.
Findings
This study finding shows that through an intricate exploration of feature importance and the impact of speculative behaviour, the research elucidates the long-term patterns and resilience of AI-based tokens against economic shifts. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis results show that technical and some macroeconomic factors play a dominant role in price production. It also examines the potential of these models for strategic investment and hedging, underscoring their relevance in an increasingly digital economy.
Originality/value
According to our knowledge, the absence of AI research frameworks for forecasting and modelling current aria-leading AI tokens is apparent. Due to a lack of study on understanding the relationship between the AI token market and other factors, forecasting is outstandingly demanding. This study provides a robust predictive framework to accurately identify the changing trends of AI tokens within a multivariate context and fill the gaps in existing research. We can investigate detailed predictive analytics with the help of modern AI algorithms and correct model interpretation to elaborate on the behaviour patterns of developing decentralised digital AI-based token prices.
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Hafiz Habib-ur-Rehman, Haroon Idrees and Ahsan Ullah
Deeni Madaris of Pakistan and their libraries are playing an important role in educating the large fraction of society. They have always been engaged in the development of social…
Abstract
Purpose
Deeni Madaris of Pakistan and their libraries are playing an important role in educating the large fraction of society. They have always been engaged in the development of social and cultural values of the Pakistani society. This study aims to investigate the organization of information resources and their utilization at Deeni Madaris libraries in the central Punjab, Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative research approach was adopted for this study. A questionnaire was developed on the bases of related literature and discussions with experts of librarianship as well as Islamic studies in Pakistan. The questionnaire was sent to 49 Deeni Madaris, of which five did not have libraries and four did not respond. Forty (81.6 per cent) Deeni Madaris responded and provided the relevant data about their libraries. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS 22. Mostly descriptive statistics were applied to calculate the frequencies, percentage, means and standard deviations. A two-tailed t-test was applied to check the impact of cataloguing and automation on the use of information resources.
Findings
It was found that majority of the respondents developed their own classification and cataloguing methods for the organization of information resources and did not have a proper retrieval system. Majority of the respondents were providing lending services to readers. Teachers and final-year students were the key users of the libraries. They mostly referred to books, theses and serials written in Urdu and Arabic language. The situation of library computerization was very weak; only 19 libraries had computers and 11 of them have partially automated the library activities. Library automation and catalogue put positive effects on the use of library resources.
Originality/value
The exploration of the literature showed that libraries of Madaris in Pakistan have always been a priority, but these libraries did not get a position in the library literature as they deserve. This study will fill this gap.
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Syammon Jaffar, Adam Abdullah and Ahamed Kameel Mydin Meera
This paper aims to discuss the opinions of current Shariah scholars on the concept of debt money in the present-day fiat money system.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss the opinions of current Shariah scholars on the concept of debt money in the present-day fiat money system.
Design/methodology/approach
Research design of this paper is a quantitative investigation of Shariah experts by distributing a questionnaire to them. As majority of Shariah scholars are also Shariah advisory of the current banking system, it is important to find out their level of knowledge on the issue of debt money created by the commercial banking system through the fractional-reserve banking (FRB) system.
Findings
Based on this investigation, most Shariah scholars are unaware of and confused about the mechanics underpinning the creation of money, especially with respect to FRB as it is practiced by the conventional and Islamic banking systems.
Originality/value
Based on this research, it is recommended that these scholars should improve their understanding of the operation of the fiat money system and its consequences. It is recommended that, in future, Shariah scholars should think “outside of the box” by creating Islamic financial instruments that do not resemble those of the conventional system.