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1 – 10 of over 177000The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on all facets of education. This led to educational institutions deploying blended and online systems for teaching and learning…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on all facets of education. This led to educational institutions deploying blended and online systems for teaching and learning. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of blended learning in promoting quality education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
The qualitative research design was deployed in this study and enabled the researcher to collect data via in-depth interviews. Twenty-five (25) tertiary institutions accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) were randomly selected to participate in this study. The registrars of the institutions were purposively selected and served as the participants for the study. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data collected via the interview. Ethical considerations were adhered to during the study.
Findings
The study established that COVID-19 had a devastating effect on tertiary institutions; multiple technological and open-sourced systems were deployed for teaching and learning; blended learning was adopted to augment the traditional face-to-face mode of teaching and learning due to its ease of use, usefulness and accessibility as it was used for quizzes and assignments, accessing lecture notes, among others. Despite these, the deployment of technological and blended systems was met with challenges that somehow affected effective teaching, learning.
Research limitations/implications
The study was limited to 25 tertiary educational institutions in Ghana. It was again limited to the COVID-19 era.
Practical implications
This research aids in understanding the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning and how blended learning is currently deployed and used in tertiary institutions in Ghana. The findings are relevant to policymakers and management of educational institutions as it informs them of the right method and tools to deploy for teaching and learning during pandemics.
Originality/value
As educational institutions globally are dealing with the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is prudent to look into how tertiary institutions in Ghana deploy blended learning to facilitate teaching and learning. Thus, this paper is original as it fills the relevant literature gap in terms of scope, setting, methodology and findings.
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Haruna Babatunde Jaiyeoba and Noor Yuslida Hazahari
Employee engagement has been identified as a prevalent issue affecting higher education institutions, particularly since the emergence of COVID-19. Therefore, this study aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Employee engagement has been identified as a prevalent issue affecting higher education institutions, particularly since the emergence of COVID-19. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the factors contributing to employee engagement in Islamic higher education institutions in the context of Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research design was used for this study, and a survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 340 staff members of Islamic higher education institutions in Malaysia. The proposed hypotheses underwent testing through the statistical technique of structural equation modelling, using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) and analysis of moment structures (AMOS).
Findings
The results indicate that training and development, trustworthiness, workplace spirituality, reward and recognition, management support and job autonomy significantly contribute to employee engagement in Islamic higher education institutions in Malaysia.
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited to the staff of Islamic higher education institutions in Malaysia. A comparative cross-cultural research approach may be preferred for a more comprehensive understanding. Therefore, future researchers are encouraged to consider this limitation when investigating the factors contributing to employee engagement in Islamic higher education institutions, particularly to confirm the cogency of our findings.
Originality/value
The findings provide valuable insights into the workforce factors that play key roles in developing a highly engaged workforce in Islamic higher education institutions. This study contributes to the enrichment of the literature in this specific area of study.
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Leviticus Mensah, Richard Arhinful and Jerry Seth Owusu-Sarfo
The purpose of this study was to leverage agency theory to examine the impact of board attributes on cash flow management in Ghana’s financial institutions.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to leverage agency theory to examine the impact of board attributes on cash flow management in Ghana’s financial institutions.
Design/methodology/approach
Data for the study was collected from the annual published financial statements of selected financial institutions, which were obtained from their respective websites. The sampling technique used was purposive, resulting in the selection of 15 financial institutions in Ghana, of which 10 were listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange and 5 were non-listed. The study covered a period of 10 years, ranging from 2011 to 2020. The two-step generalized method of moments estimation was used to determine the relationship between the board attributes and cash flow management.
Findings
The study found that board size had a positive and significant influence on net cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities. The study also discovered that the proportion of nonexecutive directors had a positive and significant influence on net cash flow from operating, investing and financing activities. In addition, it was revealed that the proportion of female directors on the board exhibited a positive and significant influence on net cash flow from operating activities but a negative and significant influence on net cash flow from investing and financing activities.
Practical implications
The study recommends increasing female representation on corporate boards to 25%, as women bring valuable skills, knowledge and experience that positively impact the financial institutions’ cash flows.
Originality/value
This study focused on the impact of board attributes on cash flow management within Ghana. It explored how corporate governance affects strategic decisions related to cash flow management, contributing original insights to this field of research.
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Mehrdad Leylabi, Sara Malekan and Mehdi Majidpour
The aim of this paper is to explain that what main characteristics financial technologies should have so that lead to improve the transparency of institutions and whether the…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to explain that what main characteristics financial technologies should have so that lead to improve the transparency of institutions and whether the integrated monetary banking system deployed in free-interest institutions has affected the transparency of these institutions in terms of those characteristics or not? In this study, the integrated monetary banking system will be studied subject to implementation of the Shafagh project.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the literature review and the experts' opinions, the principles of the research questions were explained. Then, according to the dimensions of the research conceptual model, questions related to research questions were considered as the item for analysis in the modeling of structural equations. In the next step, 278 employees and managers of interest-free institutions were selected, by simple random sampling method, to answer the questionnaire. Data collected is analyzed by using structural equations method.
Findings
The results of the analysis indicates that the impact of the dimensions of strategic, technical, organizational and cultural factors – identified as the main characteristics of a financial system in this study – on the transparency of the transactions of the interest-free institutions is significant.
Research limitations/implications
The results were obtained by focusing on the qualitative factors and also on the culture on free-interest institutions.
Practical implications
By investigating the issues and factors that the developers, consultants and institutions’ managers need to address and also giving a conceptual model, this study assists managers and generally financial institutions in developing an integrated banking system in a way that will be more likely to improve transparency in those organizations.
Originality/value
This study pioneers a comprehensive conceptual model, surpassing prior research that focused on isolated criteria. This novel approach enriches understanding of core banking systems' impact on financial transparency. This groundbreaking study uniquely focuses on free-interest institutions, traditionally presumed to be transparent but never before studied.
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Elizabeth Castillo and Roslyn Roberts
The purpose of this study is to assess how higher education anchor institutions (HEIs) voluntarily report their non-economic impacts. Its goals are to quantify the ease of public…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to assess how higher education anchor institutions (HEIs) voluntarily report their non-economic impacts. Its goals are to quantify the ease of public access to this information; strengthen the conceptual foundation for HEI impact reporting; and provide guidance for making HEI voluntary disclosures more accessible, comparable and systematic.
Design/methodology/approach
Using an exploratory mixed methods design and purposeful sampling, this study analyzed voluntary public disclosures of 41 anchor institution universities in the USA to assess how they communicate their public value creation to stakeholders. Data sources included impact reports, donor reports, annual reports and sustainability reports. The study also analyzed the accessibility of this information by timing how long it took to locate.
Findings
The sampled US anchor institutions communicate their non-economic impact to stakeholders in myriad ways using a variety of formats. Time required to find the reports ranged from 37 to 50 min, with an average of 42.30 min. Disparate reporting formats inhibit comparability.
Research limitations/implications
Only 41 anchor institutions were examined. The small sample may not be representative of the broader landscape of higher education institutions.
Practical implications
Findings offer guidance for improving voluntary nonfinancial disclosures to increase public confidence in higher education institutions while advancing community and global resilience. To strengthen voluntary disclosure practices, the study recommends using a standardized reporting format, framing HEI impact through socio-ecological resilience indicators, integrating reports and obtaining some form of assurance. These changes would enhance the credibility and comparability of the disclosures.
Originality/value
This research provides some of the first empirical insight into how US higher education anchor institutions report their value creation to the public. Its application of socio-ecological systems theory outlines an actionable conceptual foundation for HEI reporting by linking organizational, community and global resilience.
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Ge Zhang, Pengfei Chen and Si Xu
Given that the current sustainability assessment in higher education institutions primarily relies on qualitative methods with relatively limited quantitative tools, the purpose…
Abstract
Purpose
Given that the current sustainability assessment in higher education institutions primarily relies on qualitative methods with relatively limited quantitative tools, the purpose of this study is to design a tool that could be used to comprehensively assess the overall state of higher education institutions’ sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors based the “Model to Assess the Sustainability of Higher Education Institutions” on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework of economic, environmental and social factors, and established its primary dimensions as educational level, research capacity, community outreach, campus operations, campus experience and assessment reports. They designed the College Organisational Sustainability Scale (CO-SS) based on this research model, drawing their inspiration from the qualitative research tool, the Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire, and taking the following validation steps: expert review (n = 10), pilot testing (n = 150) and formal experiments (n = 1108). These steps were taken to optimise the scale items, test the model’s validity and assess its reliability.
Findings
After undergoing rigorous scientific validation, CO-SS was unequivocally confirmed as an effective and reliable tool, demonstrating its accurate reflection of the level of sustainability in higher education institutions.
Originality/value
The authors took an industry-specific approach by relying on the TBL and the Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire to construct and validate the CO-SS. Furthermore, the CO-SS has the potential to evolve into a self-assessment tool for higher education institutions, and a reliable foundation for data-driven decision-making in the realm of organisational sustainability at universities.
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Nabeel Nisar, Ali Raza, Pashmina Nisar Pathan, Muhammad Muzamil Sattar and Ubedullah Memon
This investigation is based on the rich experiences of alumni from a reputable public higher education institution (HEI) in Pakistan. Its primary goal is to assess and investigate…
Abstract
Purpose
This investigation is based on the rich experiences of alumni from a reputable public higher education institution (HEI) in Pakistan. Its primary goal is to assess and investigate the relationship between the institution’s long-term sustainability strategies and alumni impressions. The inquiry aligns with the global changing landscape of HEIs, which demands more robust and marketing-driven strategies to achieve long-term sustainability through engaging various stakeholders.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs a phenomenological research design to offer fresh insights into the effectiveness of alumni engagement practices. This research uses semi-structured interviews with nine alumni to contribute an interesting and important narrative regarding alumni’s experiences with engagement strategies.
Findings
The findings show that alumni strongly desire to maintain contact with their institution and support in various ways, thus signifying the importance of alumni engagement. In the broader context, alumni engagement can support HEIs to avoid the risks of losing education standards in financially strict times and achieve sustainable development.
Practical implications
By actively involving alumni, HEIs in Pakistan can support their sustainable development, strengthen their financial position, raise educational standards, access resources and more. This research provides a way for Public HEIs to attract external support to address the growing institution’s sustainability concerns and avoid the risk of deteriorating education.
Originality/value
The present research extends to the existing body of knowledge regarding Pakistan’s developing economy, while earlier studies have primarily concentrated on alumni studies from developed nations. The study has theoretically expanded the use of the stimulus-organism-response framework and introduced several new constructs not examined or utilized in earlier alumni studies.
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Rachel Fleishman, Dror Walk and Gad Mizrahi
As part of the evaluation of an experimental programme of surveillance of institutions for the semi‐independent and frail elderly using the RAF method, an examination was made of…
Abstract
As part of the evaluation of an experimental programme of surveillance of institutions for the semi‐independent and frail elderly using the RAF method, an examination was made of the licensing status, quality of care, and completeness of the surveillance process. Included in the examination were 126 institutions which underwent the surveillance process between 1990 and 1993. Aims to investigate whether the RAF method of surveillance was being implemented in a professional and uniform manner. Concludes that surveyors’ recommendations to grant or not grant a licence were usually based on findings about the quality of care. Nevertheless, in order to reinforce the relationship between licensing and quality of care, it was suggested that surveyors be given clear criteria of quality on which to base their recommendations regarding conditional licensing. It was found that the surveillance process is indeed implemented uniformly in long‐term care institutions of varying quality.
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Management institutions in Africa experience socio‐economic problems far worse than any which exist in the Western World. Solutions of the past are no longer relevant and are…
Abstract
Management institutions in Africa experience socio‐economic problems far worse than any which exist in the Western World. Solutions of the past are no longer relevant and are therefore inadequate. The IMF/World Bank's prescription for economic recovery in African countries seems to be having little effect. What is being done, and what should be done, to train staff in African management institutions to improve the situation?
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Edward A. Baryla and Douglas Dotterweich
This paper uses institutional characteristics and regional economic data to determine if institutional mission may help drive non‐resident undergraduate enrollment.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper uses institutional characteristics and regional economic data to determine if institutional mission may help drive non‐resident undergraduate enrollment.
Design/methodology/approach
A two‐stage least squares regression models is employed on 180 Doctoral, 333 Comprehensive, and 501 Baccalaureate higher education institutions to determine if there is a correlation between non‐resident enrollment and tuition for each of the separate mission‐based classifications.
Findings
The study finds a significant positive correlation between non‐resident undergraduate enrollment and tuition for both doctoral and baccalaureate institutions. There is no significant correlation between non‐resident enrollment and tuition for comprehensive institutions.
Research limitations/implications
Suggests that non‐resident undergraduate students are attracted to both larger flagship institutions, as well as to smaller institutions that are almost entirely focused on undergraduate instruction. Comprehensive institutions do not generally experience this phenomenon; however, the more selective schools within this category are also attractive to non‐resident students.
Originality/value
Attracting non‐resident students is an important issue for a higher education institution. This research article presents tantalizing evidence that institutional mission may be a factor in non‐resident enrollment. This may allow a higher education institution to garner excess returns when pricing non‐resident tuition, and in addition it may allow for some leeway in pricing resident tuition.
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