Kaushalesh Lal and Shampa Paul
The educational institutions in India have been experiencing new educational technologies (NET)-led technical change for the last two decades or so. The purpose of this paper is…
Abstract
Purpose
The educational institutions in India have been experiencing new educational technologies (NET)-led technical change for the last two decades or so. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of NET (all possible forms of new technologies) and its impact on students enrolled in tertiary education institutions in India. The main objectives of the study are: to identify intensity of NET used by the students; to investigate whether use of NET is influenced by the financial nature of institution; and to examine the consequences of NET use.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on a primary survey of seven higher education institutions located in National Capital Region of India. The universities included are both private and public funded. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 201 students in these universities. Advanced statistical techniques have been applied for the analysis.
Findings
The study finds that the NET use enables students to communicate with their counterparts and faculty in a more effective manner. The use of digital technologies helps them to manage class activities in a better way. The NET use is found to be more relevant to engineering and science students which leads to better illustration of ideas and enhanced job prospects. The study finds that use of digital technologies is extensive in public-funded institutions. The significant contributions of NET use in improvement in learning are also found in the study.
Research limitations/implications
The major limitation of this study is the small sample size. It was not possible to increase the sample of students due to financial constraint. It is recommended that future research with larger sample could prove the robustness of the findings. Another limitation is the coverage of students only. The future studies may include the analysis of teachers’ views on NET adoption and its consequences.
Originality/value
The present study is an original work of the authors.
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Shampa Paul and Sashi P. Singh
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the objectives, priorities and criteria of digitization. It also analyses the open access initiatives adopted by the special libraries in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the objectives, priorities and criteria of digitization. It also analyses the open access initiatives adopted by the special libraries in National Capital Region of India. The paper further examines the motivating factors of using digital resources.
Design/methodology/approach
The research paper is based on primary survey of librarians and users of special libraries. Weighted index has been used to analyse the factors of digitization while factor analysis is used to study the open access initiatives adopted by the libraries.
Findings
Based on the primary goal of libraries, i.e. to increase their global visibility and the ultimate purpose of such digital projects is to provide greater access to their collections to promote research activities. The paper summarizes that increased accessibility is the most preferred objective; content value is most preferred criterion for digitization. The paper further identifies factors that motivated users to use digital resources.
Practical implications
The availability of digital literature not only helps the local users but provides access to their resources and thus increases the visibility of these libraries globally. The revelation of special libraries to undertake such ventures is not only helpful to establish better information availability and visibility but also to maximize its value and worthiness.
Originality/value
Most existing studies remain on the level of collecting data and interpreting specific cases on digital conversion but this paper not only interprets the reasons of digitization but also investigates reasons of user needs by factorizing them. This paper examines the objectives, criteria and prioritization of material for digitization. It further identifies the factors motivating users to access these digital resources.
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Whereas the extant literature on women's entrepreneurship is almost exclusively focused on developed nations, the effect of many context-specific issues of other countries on…
Abstract
Purpose
Whereas the extant literature on women's entrepreneurship is almost exclusively focused on developed nations, the effect of many context-specific issues of other countries on ventures of women has been overlooked. The study aims to reveal how political unrest, a common feature of the developing nation, can significantly affect the experiences of women in small businesses of that region.
Design/methodology/approach
This feminist research is conducted on Bangladesh, which is one of the most politically unstable countries in the world. The study conducts interviews with women to explore the adverse effect of political unrest on their small firms.
Findings
The feminist research reveals some problems of women business-owners concerning political unrest in this highly patriarchal context. It also discloses how political chaos challenges the government initiative in financially supporting women business-owners.
Practical implications
Policymakers of developing nations can be benefitted by taking into account the problems of women business-owners concerning political unrest, specifically the access to debt financing issues while designing policies for women's empowerment.
Originality/value
The article contributes to the women's entrepreneurship scholarship with reference to political unrest, a contextual issue of developing nations. Whereas the existing studies mostly concentrate on holding women individually liable for the limited scale of their business operation, this research potentially challenges the view by drawing upon political unrest as an external factor that negatively affects their ventures. The study further advances the prevailing knowledge by critically unveiling some gender-specific problems of women business-owners regarding political unrest.