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Article
Publication date: 13 September 2022

Kevin Kester, Mary Abura, Chaewon Sohn and Ella Rho

This comparative case study looks towards the diverse approaches of higher education to support peacebuilding, from policy and philosophy to pedagogical practices, in…

7155

Abstract

Purpose

This comparative case study looks towards the diverse approaches of higher education to support peacebuilding, from policy and philosophy to pedagogical practices, in conflict-affected and post-conflict settings. The achievement of global development goals is dependent on addressing access to quality education in conflict-affected contexts, including higher education. However, in settings affected by conflict, higher education is often perceived to be a luxury, not a necessity. This study, then, explores whether and how higher education might support peace and development through the unique perspective of the “three faces” of higher education in conflict contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is designed as a qualitative comparative case study. The research examines the work of university educators in two institutions in Afghanistan and Somaliland, highlighting the challenges and opportunities they face working in conflict-affected societies and their pedagogical responses to conflict. Data for the research were collected through in-depth interviews, documents, and digital artifacts with 12 university educators across the two institutions. The faculty teach a wide variety of subjects in the social sciences and humanities, subjects including and in addition to those specific to peace and development studies. To strengthen the interpretation of data, multiple coders were involved and intercoder reliability was conducted.

Findings

Findings indicate a number of challenges and opportunities that university lecturers and their institutions face in teaching for peace in conflict-affected contexts, particularly as it relates to the “three faces” of higher education to support, impede, or reveal the complicated nuances of peacebuilding in conflict settings. Member-checking was employed with participants to enhance the reliability of the analysis.

Originality/value

In the end, the paper contributes new empirical insights into higher education in conflict-affected contexts, particularly from the standpoint of faculty. Critical perspectives and implications for curriculum, pedagogy and research are offered.

Details

International Journal of Comparative Education and Development, vol. 24 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2396-7404

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 December 2023

Luz Esmeralda Hernández Martínez and Zeidy Edith Chunga-Liu

This research aims to determine the influence that work flexibility (WF) has on the happiness of workers through the work and personal life balance, work-life balance (WLB), as a…

Abstract

Purpose

This research aims to determine the influence that work flexibility (WF) has on the happiness of workers through the work and personal life balance, work-life balance (WLB), as a mediating variable, as well as the moderating role of gender between WLB and job happiness (JH). A structural model that describes the interactions between these study variables is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was used. The data were collected by non-probabilistic sampling, surveying 200 mid-level employees in small and medium industrial enterprises (industrial SMEs). The proposed hypotheses were analyzed and tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results confirmed the hypotheses presented. In the relation of WLB and JH, positive work-family and family-work interactions would result in a greater increase in JH in the women group compared to men, and special characteristics were found in the variables in the Mexican context.

Practical implications

This study will provide information to those responsible for the human resources departments of companies to design and implement good practices in which importance can be given to labor agreements involving WF and the implementation of WLB policies differentiated by gender to generate happiness at work.

Originality/value

The JH construct proposed by Fisher (2010) was applied, and its relationship with WF and WLB in a post-pandemic context was studied. The research applied to supervisors and area managers of industrial SMEs reflects the importance of considering the balance between their life and work to achieve JH, understanding it as job satisfaction and more commitment to work, in addition to considering the differences by gender.

Details

Journal of Management Development, vol. 43 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0262-1711

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 November 2009

Hsin‐liang Chen

The aim of this paper is to focus on discovering whether high‐tech professionals as a user community search for information from Wikipedia to fulfill their job duties and, if they…

1521

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to focus on discovering whether high‐tech professionals as a user community search for information from Wikipedia to fulfill their job duties and, if they do, how they share information with co‐workers and clients.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire was used, administered by a commercial provider. The questionnaire consisted of 15 Likert‐scaled questions to assess participants' agreement with each question along with an optional open‐ended explanation. A total of 68 participants successfully answered the questionnaire. Participants' Likert rating scores were analyzed by two‐way ANOVA, one‐way ANOVA and correlational analyses using SPSS.

Findings

The analyses examined relationships among participants' characteristics, their use of information resources for research and teaching, information‐sharing behaviors, and use/non‐use of Wikipedia. Findings indicated that the participants treated Wikipedia as a ready reference for general information. Their concern is that Wikipedia only has a limited number of entries available at this point. They suggested that Wikipedia needed to improve the contribution and editorial process and to make it more rigorous.

Originality/value

Personal information infrastructure affects how the high‐tech professionals surveyed use‐and‐share information from Wikipedia for work. In the current situation, the participants consider Wikipedia to be a developing information resource and show less interest in contributing to it. The project is an exploratory study and more considerations are needed for this research area.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 27 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

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