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This paper aims to explore contribution of informal learning space - Research Cafe - to enrich research learning experiences of graduate students. Developing strong research skills among graduate students is a prime focus of higher education around the world. Thereby, universities are striving to maximise opportunities that can foster and enrich students’ learning experiences of research; however, the focus is mostly confined to formal opportunities such as research method courses and thesis writing. The provision of informal learning spaces has been recognised as a useful tool for fostering research learning experiences of graduates. This reflective paper is among a few focusing on a model of student-led informal learning space for enriching research experiences in higher education in the context of Pakistan.

This paper uses a reflective approach to generate a metalogue. The research experiences shared by the participants were further reflected by the authors after each research café session. The authors then shared their collective metacognitive reflections with each other, generating a metalogue, which was used as the data set. The metalogue was analysed thematically to generate themes.

Findings reveal that the research café is an informal space to promote academic socialisation by providing a conducive environment, peer support and informal supervision opportunities to foster the research learning experiences of graduate students. Importantly, the model presented in this paper provides a complimentary pathway for boosting learning experiences.

This paper would be useful for graduate students, faculty and university manager to acknowledge the potential of informal learning spaces in promoting research learning experiences. This paper highlights opportunities for replication, and further empirical research are needed to establish the efficacy of research café.

This study contributes to the global debate about graduate research learning experiences through informal learning space, which is yet to be explored, particularly in developing contexts like Pakistan. The idea of the research café is original, as it was conceived keeping in consideration the contextual and cultural aspects. The methodology used in this paper was specifically derived which can be replicated by other researchers.

This study aims to explore whether and how leaders’ attributes, understanding of and attitude towards quality assurance (QA) shape their practices towards effective implementation of QA in universities.

Using qualitative case study, the data were collected from nine institutional leaders purposively selected from two universities. The data, collected through semi-structured interviews, were analysed using thematic analysis technique.

The findings revealed that personal attributes of leaders such as understanding of QA, attitude towards QA and practices shape leadership style either as transformational or compliance leader. The transformational leader implements QA procedures with the intention of bringing improvement in teaching learning and research quality. In contrast, the compliance leaders are primarily concerned with implementation of QA procedures merely to fulfil the requirements of an external regulatory body.

This study acknowledges that certain other factors (e.g. demographics, institutional policies or practices) might have an influence on leadership practices. Using the framework of this study, further quantitative and/or mixed methods research can expand by bringing more factors that can shape leadership practices.

The role of leadership is significant to the success of any university. A plethora of studies have reported various aspects of successful leadership in higher education (HE). However, in the changing nature of HE due to the emergence of formal QA, there is paucity of research that focusses on the role of leader’s attributes in the effective implementation of QA procedures.

The study is aimed at examining the impact of ESG on the financial performance (FP) of firms and determining the difference between the impact of ESG on market-oriented financial performance measure (Tobin’s Q) and internal productivity-based financial measure (ROA). The study has also explored the influence of managerial ability and institutional quality as moderating variables on the relation between ESG and the financial performance of firms (both measures of FP: Tobin’s Q and ROA).

The study is quantitative exploratory and uses panel data of 687 publicly listed companies from the year 2013–2023. Data has been acquired from the reputed data providers and OLS regression has been used for panel data analysis with fixed effects.

The study reaffirms the positive impact of ESG on the financial performance of firms. Each pillar of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) has been found positively related to both measures of financial performance (Tobin’s Q and ROA). The study reveals that managerial ability and institutional quality, acting as supplementary variables, moderate the relationship between ESG and financial performance of firms.

A limited sample comprising data from only 687 firms was used for the analysis. The latest data was not available, therefore, data from 2013 to 2023 was used in the study.

This study indicates that ESG practices, which are mostly discretionary in Emerging Economies, can be induced through institutional pressures and ensuring higher quality managers. Policymakers in government institutions have to determine the inefficiencies, corrupt practices, and inconsistencies in policies that lower the effectiveness of institutions making them business-unfriendly. At the organizational level, policymakers need to ensure that responsible positions in the organization are held by managers with higher managerial ability. It is also to be ensured by shareholders that managers do not over-invest in ESG-related projects, particularly in organizations with weaker financial status. For managers, it is important to understand the positive benefits associated with ESG, even though they are in the long term.

In Emerging Economies, the official monitoring and regulatory mechanisms are weak, and lack a supportive attitude toward ESG initiatives. Voluntary and proactive firm-level environmental and social initiatives need to be encouraged and rewarded by institutions with public acknowledgment. ESG should be given priority by organizations for improving the quality of services and better social impact of businesses on society.

Most of the past research explored the impact of ESG on financial performance in advanced countries or in emerging markets in a single/limited number of countries or industries. Also, past studies investigated the impact of institutional quality and managerial ability on ESG/financial performance in separate models. Conversely, this study has used a multi-country and multi-industry sample for more generalizable findings. Against the backdrop of the institutional environment of Emerging Economies, the study extends Institutional Theory and Upper Echelon Theory to include the role of managerial ability and institutional quality in the relationship between ESG and firms’ financial performance.

Ijara is one of the exchange contracts that is based on selling benefits and services. There are several forms of Ijara: Ijara specified objects, specified work and hiring a private or joint employee. The target of all these is obtaining a benefit. For instance, in the specified Ijara, the lessee desires to obtain a benefit from a specified person in particular, and in the forward Ijara, the purpose is obtaining the benefit in accordance with specified specifications. Indeed, Islamic banks can obtain these benefits through Ijara them from their providers and re-Ijara them to customers upon request. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to determine the Shariah ruling of the Islamic law of Ijara persons' benefits. Moreover, it aims to determine to what extent is it possible to consider Ijara and selling the benefits prescribed in disclosure and as a financing instrument in Islamic banks aiming at providing citizens with services, mainly in the virtual era.

The current research is framed within the descriptive and analytical research through illustrating the nature of Ijara, its conditions, pillars, evidence of its legitimacy and its kinds as well. The methodology used attributes the Quranic verses to their contexts in the Holy Quran and authenticates the noble hadiths of the Prophet.

The current research concludes that it is legally permissible to lease these benefits and re-lease them. However, in the specified Ijara, the hired person must perform the work himself and it is not permissible to be replaced by a third party, whereas in the forward Ijara, the contracted work is permitted to be carried out by a third party as long as it complies with the specifications required and contracted.

This study contributes to the current literature by providing a guide to Islamic banking regulators to promote Ijara in Islamic banking.

The purpose of this paper is to address the impact of induced magnetic field in mixed convective stagnation flow of TiO₂-Cu-water hybrid nanofluid towards a stretchable sheet. Non-linear thermal radiation and heat source/sink are accounted. Flow of hybrid nanofluid is discussed. Non-linear partial differential expressions are converted to ordinary ones through appropriate transformations.

The obtained systems are solved for convergence solutions via homotopy analysis method. Graphical results are discussed for different physical variables on the velocity, induced magnetic field and temperature fields for both Cu water nanofluid and TiO₂-Cu-water hybrid nanofluid. Finally, the effect of different physical variables on skin friction coefficient (C_fx) and Nusselt number Nu_x in the presence of water nanofluid and TiO₂-Cu-water hybrid nanofluid are discussed.

Velocities and induced magnetic field are increasing functions of mixed convection parameter and nanoparticle volume fraction. Temperature rises for higher radiation parameter. Skin friction is greater in case of Cu-water nanoliquid, while Nusselt number is less for Cu-water nanofluid when they are compared with hybrid nanoliquid TiO₂-Cu-water.

No such work is not yet present in the literature.

This study aims to examine the flow characteristics of Ree–Eyring fluid between two rotating disks. The characteristics of heat transfer are discussed in presence of viscous dissipation, heat source/sink and nonlinear radiative heat flux.

Nonlinear flow expressions lead to ordinary ones through adequate similarity transformations. The ordinary differential system has been tackled through optimal homotopic method. The impact of different flow variables on the velocity field, entropy generation rate and temperature fields is graphically discussed. The surface drag force and heat transfer rate are numerically examined via various pertinent parameters.

By minimization of values of stretching parameter and Brinkman number, the entropy generation rate can be controlled. The entropy generation rate enhances for higher values of magnetic parameter, while the Bejan number is decreased via magnetic parameter.

No such work is yet published in the literature.

This paper aims to address the flow features of Ree–Eyring fluid between two rotating disks subject to the magnetic field. Heat transfer features are discussed through viscous dissipation and nonlinear thermal radiation. Impact of thermophoresis and Brownian movement are elaborated. Physical characteristics of entropy generation optimization in nanofluid with homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reaction are discussed.

The nonlinear system leads to ordinary one through the implementation of adequate transformation and then tackled analytically for a convergent series solution by homotopy analysis method.

The prime objective of the present research has been given to investigate entropy generation in Ree–Eyring fluid flow between two rotating disks subjected to the magnetic field. Vital features, namely, Brownian motion and thermophoresis have been addressed. Total entropy rate is computed using the second law of thermodynamics.

No such work yet exists in the literature.

This study aims to understand the role of drivers, underlying challenges and, consequently, the implications of the reverse knowledge transfer (RKT) process for the multinational enterprises (MNE)s.

A dyadic qualitative research design was used with a cross-country design covering perspectives from both the headquarters and subsidiaries from the USA, Denmark, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. In-depth interviews were conducted with managers in multiple sectors such as information technology, telecommunications, project management and engineering.

The study reveals the constraints and drivers of the RKT process, and furthermore elaborates on the implications for MNEs. RKT can lead to the development of new processes, subsidiary independence and intra-organizational knowledge transfer. Besides, it can entail challenges such as position insecurity for subsidiaries and a blurring of the MNE market vision. The findings demonstrate several implications for the MNEs.

The study highlights the direct implications of RKT for the multinational enterprises. The findings serve as a practical guide for global managers seeking to improve their competitive edge.

The study presents a framework of the RKT process from emerging market subsidiaries to parent companies, that demonstrates the role of drivers, underlying challenges and implications of the RKT process for the MNEs.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the entropy optimization in magnetohydrodynamic hybrid nanomaterials flows toward a stretchable surface. The energy expression is modeled subject to dissipation, heat generation/absorption and Joule heating. Here silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) as nanoparticles and propylene glycol (C₃H₈O₂) as base fluid, respectively. Furthermore, the authors discussed the comparative study of molybdenum disulfide and silicon dioxide diluted in propylene glycol. The total entropy optimization rate is computed through implementation of the second law of thermodynamics.

The nonlinear partial differential system is reduced to an ordinary one through implementation of transformation. Newton built-in shooting method is used for computational results for the given system. Influences of various flow variables on the temperature, Bejan number, velocity, concentration and entropy generation rate are examined graphically for both nanoparticles (SiO₂ and MoS₂). Gradients of velocity and temperature are computed numerically for various physical parameters. Also, take the comparison between the present and previously published results in tabulated form.

For higher estimation of ϕ both temperature and velocity are enhanced. Entropy optimization and Bejan number have the opposite outcome for viscosity parameter. Temperature and velocity have opposite behaviors for larger values of magnetic parameter. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) is more efficient than silicon dioxide (SiO₂).

No such work is yet published in the literature.

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a two-year long study carried out in order to evaluate the corrosion performance of mild steel bare bars (BB) and epoxy-coated rebar (ECR) in concrete under a simulated harsh environment of chlorides.

The blocks are subjected to Southern Exposure testing. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear polarization resistance (LPR) and Tafel plot are performed to measure the polarization resistance and corrosion current densities of these rebars. Knife-peel test was performed to assess the adhesion between epoxy and underlying steel after two years of exposure.

Mild steel BB showed a high corrosion current density of 1.24 µA/ cm² in Tafel plots and a very low polarization resistance of 4.5 kΩ cm² in LPR technique, whereas very high charge transfer resistance of 1672 and 1675 kΩ cm² is observed on ECR and ECR with controlled damage (ECRCD), through EIS technique, respectively. EIS is observed to be a suitable tool to detect the defects in epoxy coatings. After two years of immersion in 3.89 percent NaCl⁻ solution, the mild steel BB were severely corroded and a considerable weight loss was observed, whereas under heavy chloride attack, ECR showed no deterioration of epoxy coating and neither any corrosion of underlying steel. Results of this study show that the durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures with respect to corrosion could be enhanced by using ECR, especially in harsh climatic conditions.

The corrosion performance of mild steel and ECR in concrete under a simulating splash zone environment is evaluated. EIS was used to evaluate the health of epoxy and corrosion state of underneath steel rebars. EIS was able to detect the defects in epoxy. The durability of RC structures could be enhanced in harsh climate regions by using ECR.