Sajjad Ahmad, Kanwal Ameen and Shehzad Ahmad
The purpose of this study is to investigate the self-perceptions of university information professionals about the current state of their soft skills and to highlight the barriers…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the self-perceptions of university information professionals about the current state of their soft skills and to highlight the barriers faced in the development of such skills.
Design/methodology/approach
A sequential mixed method research design using a questionnaire followed by in-depth interviews as data collection tools were used to achieve the objectives of the study. Self-completion questionnaires were used to collect the data from 560 respondents spread over 33 universities of Pakistan. Then, 21 interviews were conducted with purposely selected library and information professionals at the qualitative phase.
Findings
The findings of the survey revealed that the majority of the information professionals perceived themselves “moderately competent” in soft skills. Only 14.8% information professionals considered themselves “competent”. The qualitative findings revealed that university library and information professionals generally faced several barriers in the development of their soft skills that included “lack of administrative support”, “lack of personal commitment”, “lack of financial support by the parent organizations”, and so many others, which might have affected their current levels of soft skills.
Research limitations/implications
The possible limitation of this study may be the bias of the respondents, toward their self-judgment. During interviews, most of the assistant librarians were not comfortable and expressive. This might be due to lack of soft skills knowledge, interview anxiety and poor communication skills.
Originality/value
This research is the first study in Pakistan that dealt with the state of soft skills and barriers in its development among university library and information professionals having a large number (N = 372) of respondents.
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Sajjad Ahmad, Shehzad Ahmad and Kanwal Ameen
The purpose of this paper is to study the self-perceptions of university information professionals about continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities regarding their…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the self-perceptions of university information professionals about continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities regarding their soft skills.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative design using in-depth interviews was used. The population was all the information professionals working in the public sector universities of Pakistan, but the geographic range of the population, to reduce travelling expenses and to complete the study in time, the interviews were restricted to the universities of the capital city Islamabad and provincial capital Peshawar. A total of 21 interviews were conducted using a snowball sampling technique to select information professionals.
Findings
The findings revealed that only three information professionals attended CPD opportunities in soft skills. More than half of the information professionals stated that CPD programmes have an overall “good” impact on the development of their soft skills. Similarly, more than half of the participants stated that CPD training opportunities on soft skills are very limited. The majority of the participants held professional associations responsible for the development of information professionals’ soft skills. It was also found that communication and persuasion skills, self-management skills and interpersonal skills were the top three soft skill categories for which they urged CPD programmes.
Research limitations/implications
During interviews, most of the Assistant Librarians were not expressive and comfortable. This might be because of a lack of their soft skills knowledge, poor communication skills and interview anxiety.
Originality/value
According to the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind in Pakistan that dealt with the CPD opportunities regarding soft skills of university information professionals using a qualitative research design.
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Shehzad Ahmad, Muhammad Rafiq and Sajjad Ahmad
In the past two decades, the problem of gender disparities in the use of internet has attracted a remarkable interest of researchers. Several studies revealed that female internet…
Abstract
Purpose
In the past two decades, the problem of gender disparities in the use of internet has attracted a remarkable interest of researchers. Several studies revealed that female internet users were the disadvantaged group than males, because they had not the same access, experience and use frequency regarding the internet use. Moreover, the negative attitude of the society towards the females’ internet use also made them disadvantaged group. Prompted by these observations, this paper aims to examine gender differences in the use of internet among graduate students of a developing society – in public sector universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative research design using a questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 20.0 by using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Findings
The findings of this study, similar to previous studies, revealed differences among men and women. Majority of men possessed PCs and were more experienced than women. In addition, they were more skilled and faced problems of computer anxiety and distance with less intensity than women. In addition, women used internet mainly for social interaction, communication, entertainment and were more satisfied with some of the educational resources than men. However, men were more satisfied than women regarding the use of most educational internet resources and spent more time on these than women.
Originality/value
This is the first study in Pakistan that deals with gender differences in the use of internet among graduate students of a developing society – in public sector universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
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Nilankush Acharya, Kalidas Das and Prabir Kumar Kundu
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the influence of multiple slips on MHD Williamson nanofluid flow embedded in porous medium towards a linearly stretching sheet that has…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the influence of multiple slips on MHD Williamson nanofluid flow embedded in porous medium towards a linearly stretching sheet that has been investigated numerically. The whole analysis has been carried out considering the presence of nth-order chemical reaction between base fluid and nanoparticles.
Design/methodology/approach
A similarity transformation technique has been adopted to convert non-linear governing partial differential equations into ordinary ones and then they are solved by using both the RK-4 method and Laplace transform homotopy perturbation method. The consequences of multiple slip parameters on dimensionless velocity, temperature and concentration and heat and mass transfer rates have been demonstrated using tabular and graphical outline.
Findings
The investigation explores that the Nusselt number reduces for escalating behaviour of velocity slip and thermal slip parameter. Fluid’s temperature rises in the presence of generative reaction parameter.
Originality/value
A fine conformity of the current results has been achieved after comparing with previous literature studies. Considering destructive chemical reaction, reduced Nusselt number is found to decrease, but reverse consequence has been noticed in the case of generative chemical reaction. Mass transport diminishes when the order of chemical reaction amplifies for both destructive and generative reactions.
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Muhammad Waleed Shehzad, Md. Kamrul Hasan, Rida Ahmed, Shazma Razzaq and Shehzad Ahmed
Grit is a novel, rather an important psychological variable that has been associated with performance in the English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) context. However…
Abstract
Purpose
Grit is a novel, rather an important psychological variable that has been associated with performance in the English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) context. However, there is a dearth of research on the relationship of grit and pronunciation performance among EFL learners. Consequently, the current study sought to establish the association between grit and the pronunciation performance of Saudi EFL learners by employing pronunciation self-efficacy beliefs as a mediating variable.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative correlational research design was deployed in this research. Data were collected from 350 Saudi university EFL learners using questionnaires and a pronunciation test.
Findings
Findings indicated that both the dimensions of grit (i.e. perseverance of effort and consistency of interest) showed a significant and positive association with the learners' pronunciation self-efficacy beliefs. Also, the pronunciation self-efficacy beliefs showed a significant and positive association with the pronunciation performance. Lastly, findings indicated that pronunciation self-efficacy beliefs mediated the association between girt (i.e. perseverance of effort and consistency of interest) and pronunciation performance.
Originality/value
The study’s findings have implications for the EFL classroom. By incorporating grit and self-efficacy beliefs into students, teachers can enhance their students' English pronunciation performance.
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Saira Tanweer, Tariq Mehmood, Saadia Zainab, Zulfiqar Ahmad, Muhammad Ammar Khan, Aamir Shehzad, Adnan Khaliq, Farhan Jahangir Chughtai and Atif Liaqat
Innovative health-promoting approaches of the era have verified phytoceutics as one of the prime therapeutic tools to alleviate numerous health-related ailments. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Innovative health-promoting approaches of the era have verified phytoceutics as one of the prime therapeutic tools to alleviate numerous health-related ailments. The purpose of this paper is to probe the nutraceutic potential of ginger flowers and leaves against hyperglycemia.
Design/methodology/approach
The aqueous extracts of ginger flowers and leaves were observed on Sprague Dawley rats for 8 weeks. Two parallel studies were carried out based on dietary regimes: control and hyperglycemic diets. At the end of the experimental modus, the overnight fed rats were killed to determine the concentration of glucose and insulin in serum. The insulin resistance and insulin secretions were also calculated by formulae by considering fasting glucose and fasting insulin concentrations. Furthermore, the feed and drink intakes, body weight gain and hematological analysis were also carried out.
Findings
In streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats, the ginger flowers extract depicted 5.62% reduction; however, ginger leaves extract reduced the glucose concentration up to 7.11% (p = 0.001). Similarly, ginger flowers extract uplifted the insulin concentration up to 3.07%, while, by ginger leaves extract, the insulin value increased to 4.11% (p = 0.002). For the insulin resistance, the ginger flower showed 5.32% decrease; however, the insulin resistance was reduced to 6.48% by ginger leaves (p = 0.014). Moreover, the insulin secretion increased to 18.9% by flower extract and 21.8% by ginger leave extract (p = 0.001). The feed intake and body weight gain increased momentously by the addition of ginger flowers and leaves; however, the drink intake and hematological analysis remained non-significant by the addition of ginger parts.
Originality/value
Conclusively, it was revealed that leaves have more hypoglycemic potential as compared to flowers.
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Purpose: This chapter revisits digital financial inclusion as an international development agenda and discusses everything you need to know about digital financial inclusion…
Abstract
Purpose: This chapter revisits digital financial inclusion as an international development agenda and discusses everything you need to know about digital financial inclusion.
Methodology: This chapter uses conceptual discourse methodology to explain digital financial inclusion.
Findings: This chapter identifies the definitions of digital financial inclusion, the goal of digital financial inclusion, the components of digital financial inclusion, the types of providers of digital financial services, the instruments for digital financial inclusion, the benefits of digital financial inclusion, the risks of digital financial inclusion, and the regulatory issues associated with digital financial inclusion. It also proposes suggestions on how to make digital financial inclusion work for the good of all. This chapter concludes by offering some implications for policymaking and practice in the digital finance ecosystem.
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Seyi S. Stephen, Ayodeji E. Oke, Clinton O. Aigbavboa, Opeoluwa I. Akinradewo, Pelumi E. Adetoro and Matthew Ikuabe
The chapter introduced stealth construction as a transformative concept emerging in the construction industry, emphasising resilience and efficiency through innovative…
Abstract
The chapter introduced stealth construction as a transformative concept emerging in the construction industry, emphasising resilience and efficiency through innovative technologies, cutting-edge materials, and advanced methodologies. Drawing parallels to stealth aircraft, stealth construction aims to create buildings and infrastructure that blend seamlessly into their environments, minimising environmental impact and enhancing sustainability. This approach integrates smart materials, strategic planning, and covert practices throughout all construction stages, ensuring robust, adaptive, and discreet structures. Stealth construction represents a significant paradigm shift by prioritising energy efficiency, environmental responsibility, and resilience against natural disasters and cyber threats. It combines modern aerospace engineering principles with diverse construction practices to achieve construction invincibility, setting new standards for the industry regarding sustainability, security, and aesthetics.
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G.P. Ashwinkumar, C. Sulochana and S.P. Samrat
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the momentum, heat and mass transfer characteristics of magnetic-nanofluid flow past a vertical plate embedded in a porous medium…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the momentum, heat and mass transfer characteristics of magnetic-nanofluid flow past a vertical plate embedded in a porous medium filled with ferrous nanoparticles. The analysis is carried out in the presence of pertinent physical parameters such as aligned magnetic field, thermal radiation, chemical reaction, radiation absorption, heat source/sink.
Design/methodology/approach
The flow governing PDEs are transformed into ODEs using appropriate conversions. Further, the set of ODEs is solved analytically using the perturbation technique. The flow quantities such as velocity, thermal and concentration fields are discussed under the influence of above-mentioned pertinent physical parameters with the assistance of graphical depictions. Moreover, the friction factor, local Nusselt and Sherwood number are discussed in tabular form.
Findings
The results indicate that flow and thermal transport phenomenon is more effective in the case of the aligned magnetic field as compared with the transverse magnetic field. Also, the nanoparticle volume fraction plays a vital role in controlling the wall friction and heat transfer performance. The validation of the obtained results is done by comparing them with the results of various numerical techniques, and hence found them in excellent agreement.
Originality/value
In present days, the external magnetic fields are very effective to set the thermal and physical properties of magnetic-nanofluids and regulate the flow and heat transfer characteristics. The strength of the applied magnetic field affects the thermal conductivity of magnetic-nanofluids and makes it aeolotropic. With this incentive, the authors investigated the flow and heat transfer characteristics of electrically conducting magnetic-nanofluids over a vertical surface embedded in a porous medium. The authors discussed the dual nature of ferrous-water nanofluid in the presence of aligned magnetic field and transverse magnetic field cases. The influence of several physical parameters on velocity, thermal and concentration field converses with the succour of graphs.