Archive of Journal
Volume 78, Issue 1, Jan. 2022

A KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT APPROACH TOWARDS RESOLVING ESTATE COMPLAINT MANAGEMENT IN A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTE IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

Volume 78, Jan 2022
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2022.1.7

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Abstract: This study tackles an existing problem relating to complaint management system on a particular higher education institution within the context of Brunei Darussalam. Prior to this research, the complaint management system was found to be lacking in terms of efficiency, effectiveness and timeliness when responding to complaints especially relating to technological facilities on campus. This study will approach the problem from a knowledge management perspective in which certain knowledge management tools will be employed to provide an effective technological solution for the acquisition, preservation and knowledge relating to managing complaints with regards to the overall campus facilities. These tools facilitate managers to convert information into both Islamic and conventional knowledge and connects people. The complaint management system especially requires a comprehensive system to generate, store, access, and analyse data of complaints so that these complaints can be handled systematically and efficiently. The system will also prevent future complaints from arising due to constantly updating knowledge on complaint prevention and timely maintenance on all campus equipment and facilities. The study makes use of qualitative analysis. Data was taken from the head of department from Estate sections. The findings explored the complexities of the management functions using CATWOE and RCA analysis to uncover problems relating to staffing, motivation, budget issues, and the routine processes that facilitate responsiveness to the complainants. Further research suggests using PDCA tool to come up with recommendations to make the complaint management system more efficient and effective.

Author(s): LIZA MARIAH AZAHARI, Faosiy Ogunbado; Suleiman Boayo; Noorhizrah Mohammad


IMPACT OF WORK EXPERIENCE ON JOB RETENTION: A CASE STUDY OF OMANI SCHOOL TEACHERS

Volume 78, Jan 2022
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2022.1.3

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Abstract: Experienced employees are the knowledge hub and most valuable asset of an organization. They are the real motivators for the young energetic fresh employees to set their successful career path. Years of experience in Education sector create more bonding with their service profession. The employees become more contributive, dedicative towards their service to students and society. This study would evaluate the impact of work experience on job retention among Omani teachers as case study. In this study 125 Omani teachers would be contacted by administering a Questionnaire on work experience and job retention. Statistical analysis was done using the statistical tool IBM SPSS 20.The findings of the study revealed that higher the job experience leads to high level of job retention among Omani teachers. The study concludes that there is a strong positive relationship between work experience and its impact on job retention thus it leads to successful job retention of Omani teachers.

Author(s): Karima Al Ghafri, Allah Dad, Khalaf Al Abri


DEVELOPMENT OF HOSPITAL HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION CHECKLIST

Volume 78, Jan 2022
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2022.1.2

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Abstract: The study aimed at identifying possible health hazards faced by healthcare workers. In the current study occupational health hazards were assessed and rated on hospital hazard index through the development of a checklist. It was a mixed method study carried out at different hospitals in Pakistan during March 2019 to September, 2019. In phase one of the study qualitative study design was implied; six focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with n= 52 healthcare workers, item writing was carried out after content analysis. In second phase cross sectional data was collected from healthcare workers including doctors, nurses, and paramedic staff N= 213 aiming at extraction of factors, determining psychometric properties, establishing construct validity and conversion of HHIC raw scores into hospital hazard index. In phase 3 data was collected from N=556 healthcare workers for carrying out confirmatory factor analysis. Exploratory factor analysis showed significant KMO value and Bartlett’s test of sphericity indicated significantly high correlations between the items. One-factor was retained through principal component analysis, direct oblimin rotation; explaining 17.37% variance. The one factor model of the scale was tested in AMOS further confirming the factor structure of HHIC. HHIC was a reliable measure and effectively categorized the data obtained on hospital hazard index highlighting need to eradicate the hazards faced by healthcare workers to ensure provision of safer healthcare for both the providers and receivers.

Author(s): Rubina Hanif, Haleema Saadia Khan and Nelofar Kiran Rauf and Tahira Hameed


ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (HEIS): DEVELOPMENT, ISSUES & SCOPE

Volume 78, Jan 2022
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2022.1.1

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Abstract: This paper comprehensively analyzes and interprets the Structure, Developments, Scope, and Issues of Entrepreneurship Education in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in Europe and recommends some insights to consider more aspects for the development of EE in the continent. For this, the paper has extracted data and analyzed for with a conceptual discussion from eighteen recently published research articles and eight recent reports of the European Commission (EC) and The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and others. For the data extraction and analysis, the Qualitative Simple Descriptive Analysis method (Suter, 2014) has been adopted. which is a contested useful method for testing cause-and-effect connections of social, educational science. According to the method adopted, there are two main types of descriptive analysis: first, Studies that explain events, and second, Studies that have aimed at finding inferences or causal relationships. This paper has chosen the first paradigm of the method to analyze and describe events related to entrepreneurship education using various data sources from recently published papers and reports. Readers will experience the detailed reflection of events in the paper through the literature cited. Data extracted shows in recent years the field of Entrepreneurship Education (EE) has become more relevant in European countries than in the United States among all continents. Also, it has got the pace of the lifelong learning process. In general, the HEIs across the continent are playing their role in the expansion of the field but either many also are facing such deficiencies too. More currently the major courses of EE at HEIs in the EU, are primarily focusing on the growth of entrepreneurial awareness, skills, and attitudes, and are allowing students to think and behave entrepreneurially to potentially realize these opportunities. But on the policy implementation level, rich policy diversity for teaching methods, approaches, and techniques for providing and handling entrepreneurship training in higher education require greater attention. Also, the lack of teacher training, HEIs-Industry relations, and managerial roles are evidenced.\nWhether huge numbers of HEIs in Europe have made substantial efforts to move entrepreneurship out of the context of pure business administration to make it more attractive for other disciplines and institutions to integrate EE courses into their curricula. Instead of this, in the smaller countries and smaller HEIs, the lakes in governance, policy implementation, and resource allocation issues are widely evidenced. \nMost of the HEIs in Europe have integrated EE courses in extracurricular activities but still few cases with extra-curricular, entrepreneurship teaching issues have also been found. Recent trends, scopes, and HEIs, and other organizations\' roles in Entrepreneurship Education (EE) in Europe are discussed in the paper. This paper can be a potential citation source to understand the current EE position in European HEIs and their role in the development of the field.

Author(s): Hemoon Kalani, Roopa Rani, Bukhari Zulfiqar Shah, Maha Raja Dahar, Saira Joher, Chen Shiyi


THE IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEMIC SUPPORT FOR STUDENTDRIVEN SOCIAL MEDIA LEARNING ON CAMPUS IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Volume 78, Jan 2022
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2022.1.6

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Abstract: The use of social media during the COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a critical factor for academic continuity on university campuses globally. This paper reviews the use of social media as a learning tool among a large sample of students from selected Nigerian universities during this period. The study employed a survey research design among undergraduate students in Oyo State, Nigeria. A set of online survey Google forms was used to explore how undergraduate students learn during this pandemic. A sample size of 450 was purposively selected from the three universities, but only 153 online survey responses were valid for the data analysis. Descriptive statistics of frequency, mean and standard deviation were used in analysing demographic variables and research questions. The research findings indicated that students were ready for the new change to digital learning. Researchers recommended that both the academic community and government support building resilient social media networks on campus among students and lecturers, including skills development and ready access to devices and the internet. \nKeywords: social media in education, connectivism, WST model, higher education in Nigeria, blended learning, COVID-19

Author(s): Aderinsola Eunice Kayode, Linda Z. Linganiso


INDIVIDUAL EDUCATIONAL TRAJECTORY OF A YOUNG TEACHER: THE FOUNDATIONS OF FORMATION

Volume 78, Jan 2022
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2022.1.4

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Abstract: The formation of a young teacher is a complex process that requires detailed study. Along with the aging of teaching staff, the increase in vacancies in schools, the increasing need for a highly qualified teacher, the task of training and accompanying a young teacher who is able to successfully adapt and gain a foothold in educational organizations is being actualized. The purpose of this work is to analyze the problem space of a young teacher\'s professional activity in order to create complex conditions for his professional development and consolidation in the education system. It is based on a systematic approach that allows the collection of primary information, processing and analysis, generalization and description, followed by the design and testing of system measures of various formats and levels, and also contribute to the formation of system-forming horizontal and vertical interactions between young teachers, pedagogical university and employer. Based on the screening study of professional difficulties of 83 young specialists of the Altai Territory education system in 2014-2016 and 2021, the main directions of designing a system of adaptation and support for the professional development of young teachers in the Altai Territory were determined. The study revealed that from 2014 to 2021, young teachers became more demanding of their knowledge and work skills (32%), more clearly understand the mindset to determine their own trajectory of professional growth (25%), better adapt to the conditions of professional activity in rural areas (16%). In total, 6 directions are identified that form the conceptual basis for the educational space formation of a young teacher: \"The trajectory of professional development\"; \"Development and improvement of professional competence of a small school specialist\"; \"School of responsible parenthood and teacher-parent interaction\"; \"The specifics of teaching and educating gifted and highly motivated children\"; \"Social networks as a tool of a teacher\'s professional communication\"; \"The role of digital technologies and robotechnics in the development of educational space\".

Author(s): Kuznetsova Yu. A., Matveeva N. A., Veretennikova L. A., Zabneva E. I.


AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CHALLENGES FACING SMMES IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SECTOR

Volume 78, Jan 2022
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2022.1.5

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Abstract: The purpose of the research was to investigate the challenges facing Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME’s) in the Telecommunications sector within the Johannesburg area. Although the government acknowledged SMME development as important to economic growth and a vehicle to job creation, SMME’s are struggling within the Telecommunications sector. The research explores and understand the operational struggles, competitive market environment and Covid-19 affected market space that further contribute to the high SMME failure rate within the first two years of establishment. The research conducted a qualitative approach dealing with the subject or insider’s viewpoint. Findings from the research highlighted that there is a lot of work to be done in SMME enablement to realise the benefit of SMMEs that are fully functional, profitable and creators of lasting and real employment. The respondents suggested various recommendations and strategies that will create an environment for them to flourish and address the challenges currently facing them. Finances were identified as just lagging government support and intervention as one of the most important enablers that would assist the SMMEs to compete and be market drivers for sustainability, growth, and development by 2030.

Author(s): Jeremiah Madzimure, James Johannes Abrahams


PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS' PERCEIVED USEFULNESS OF THE ASYNCHRONOUS TEACHING PRACTICE IN THE COVID-19 ERA

Volume 78, Jan 2022
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2022.1.8

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Abstract: The purpose of teaching practice as theorised from Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is to equip pre-service teachers with real-life experience of teaching in the actual school setting under the supervision of experienced teachers or mentors in their respective places of primary assignments. However, due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), educational institutions globally were all closed to comply with the nationwide lockdowns instituted by various national governments, South Africa inclusive. This was done to discourage gatherings, reduce the rapid spread of the virus, and also practise social distancing. Consequently, the university introduced a new approach to teaching practice – the asynchronous method to ensure the aim of the programme was achieved. It is on this premise that this study explored pre-service teachers’ perceived usefulness of the asynchronous teaching practice in the COVID-19 era. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was employed as a theoretical framework. The study, located within the interpretive paradigm, employed a qualitative research design to generate data through recorded lessons and document analysis from 21 participants who were purposively selected as sample. The thematic method was employed to analyse the data generated. Findings from the analyses revealed pre-service teachers’ exposure and adaptation to the new ways of teaching practicum, exposure to the diverse use of technologies in the classroom, and opportunity to grow as well as the opportunity to work at their own pace. The study provided implications for curriculum reform in higher education.

Author(s): Peter Oluwaseun Merisi, Raymond Emekako, Dagogo William Legg-Jack, Andre Bechuke