Musa Matovu and Ainol Madziah Zubairi
– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the lecturers’ self-perceived competencies and practices in assessing students.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the lecturers’ self-perceived competencies and practices in assessing students.
Design/methodology/approach
An Assessment Practices Inventory Modified was administered to a sample of 329 randomly selected lecturers from six universities in Uganda. Factor analysis and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were used to address the research questions.
Findings
The results of factor analysis yielded a factor structure of four variables; design, administration, interpretation, and application. The MANOVA multivariate test results highlighted differences in assessment competencies and practices among lecturers in the different academic levels (Wilks’ λ=0.732, F(16, 313)=5.624, p<0.05, η2=0.075), and in the interaction between type of university, specialisations, and academic levels (Roy's largest root=0.073, F(8, 313)=2.543, p<0.05, η2=0.068). The Tukey HSD post hoc test results revealed that lecturers in the specialisation of education were different from their counterparts in other specialisations, in interpreting assessment results. Academic levels differences existed in all the dependent variables (design, administration, interpretation, and application). No differences existed in assessment competencies and practices between lecturers in the different types of universities.
Originality/value
Lecturers have been found to differ in their assessment competencies and practices, according to their specialisations and academic levels. It has been recommended in this study, that, assessment training programmes be made mandatory to all lecturers in universities, in order to bridge the gap their competencies and practices in assessing students.
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Keywords
Musa Waziri, Ahmed Zubir Bin Ibrahim and Zainal Bin Md. Zan Bin Md Zan
Although the literature has shown that government intervention programs on poverty alleviation have now become a common practice and accepted policy framework in tackling the…
Abstract
Purpose
Although the literature has shown that government intervention programs on poverty alleviation have now become a common practice and accepted policy framework in tackling the menace of poverty which has remained the major challenge to all leaders around the globe. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of (conditional cash transfer, youth empowerment and microcredit scheme) on poverty alleviation in Niger state-Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
The hypotheses of the study were tested using personally administered questionnaires survey method; 442 valid and useable questionnaires were obtained for the study, while PLS-SEM path modeling was adopted to evaluate the statistical relationship between those three programs and poverty alleviation. According to the statistical result of the study, the research constructs have a satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. Therefore the study has established a strong positive relationship between government intervention programs and poverty alleviation. The socioeconomic assessment of the respondents further justified the above assumption.
Findings
Also, the research findings of this study may found to be beneficial to the government, international organization, researchers particularly those who are conducting research on poverty reduction programs.
Research limitations/implications
The study used the perceptions of the beneficiaries of those programs in nine selected local government areas within the three senatorial districts in Niger state-Nigeria.
Originality/value
Similarly, the findings of the study would offer some meaningful contribution to the body of knowledge on studies related to poverty alleviation programs like conditional cash transfer, youth empowerment and microcredit scheme, where expert in that field would explore the advantage of these findings by utilizing the impacts of those programs on the beneficiaries for policy framework.
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Rahul Priyadarshi, Srikanta Routroy and Girish Kant Garg
The literature review of post-harvest supply chain (PHSC) losses is carried out and analyzed in this paper followed by bibliometric analysis of the literature.
Abstract
Purpose
The literature review of post-harvest supply chain (PHSC) losses is carried out and analyzed in this paper followed by bibliometric analysis of the literature.
Design/methodology/approach
The literature survey is performed across various dimensions such as PHSC losses, PHSC risks and PHSC sustainability (waste management and waste reduction). One hundred thirty research articles during the period of 1989–2020 were considered for the review.
Findings
The PHSC losses have been identified in this literature survey. The calculation and mitigation strategies stated by various researchers in the literature are addressed. The important loss mitigation dynamics are also presented to reduce the PHSC losses and to improve food availability.
Research limitations/implications
The major focus is given on the PHSC of agriculture produces. However, research articles from fish and meat supply chain are excluded as they follow a different perishability curve.
Practical implications
The current work will add value to the agriculture supply chain literature, provide a platform for PHSC losses and provide assistance/guideline toward loss calculation, loss mitigation, improved rural employability, improved rural entrepreneurship and improved revenue generation.
Social implications
The performed research will assist the researchers, entrepreneurs and farmers to understand the current scenario of food wastage at different stages of the supply chain better. It will provide the guidelines for calculation and mitigation of various stated PHSC losses. This study will be helpful to enhance food availability and food security in post-coronavirus crisis.
Originality/value
The paper explores and highlights PHSC loss calculations and mitigation strategies to identify the postharvest loss situation and better utilization of fresh produces.