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A bibliometric analysis of research on perception towards covid-19 vaccines
(2021-12-31) Moosa, Visal; Shareefa, Mariyam; Shafeeu, Ismail
Since the onset COVID-19 spread in 2019, there has been a drastic rise in the volume of publications on COVID-19. As such, there is a need for an overarching understanding of the knowledge-base in this domain. Hence, the current study aims to present an overview of the knowledge-base on COVID-19, scoping it down to perception on vaccines, by employing bibliometric and science mapping analysis. We used the search terms ("covid-19" and ("vaccine"" or "vaccination") and ("perception" or "attitude" or "beliefs" or "perspectives" or "hesitance")) on the SCOPUS database. After refinement, the final dataset contained 1276 entries. The data were analysed using Microsoft excel to demonstrate the geographical trajectory of publications. VOSViewer was engaged in generating bibliometric networks for collaboration, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence. The results indicated that there is a worldwide contribution towards scholarly work on the topic. The co-citation analysis revealed that the literature on the topic can be mapped onto six clusters, the most significant of which reflects publication on efficacy and confidence in the vaccines, and challenges in building immunity against the virus. The keyword analysis demonstrated three major conceptual themes: medical/biological, health care provision, and social aspects, the last of which has attracted researchers in recent studies. Future researchers interested in exploring about perception towards COVD-19 vaccine may delve into the three specific themes of keywords, particularly on the social aspects.
A challenge made easy : contributing factors for successful multigrade teaching in a small school
(2020-09-01) Shareefa, Mariyam; Moosa, Visal; Zin, Rohani Mat; Abdullah, Nor Zaiham Midawati; Jawawi, Rosmawijah
The purpose of this case study is to investigate the factors that contributed to the success of multigrade teaching in a small school in Maldives. Data were collected using semistructured one-to-one interviews, observation of classroom teaching, and field notes. The interview was conducted with the principal of the school and four teachers who taught in multigrade classes while classroom teaching of three of the teachers were observed. Content analysis of the data revealed four major factors that contributed to successful multigrade teaching; leadership, professional development, structural support, and parent awareness. These factors could be considered to enable multigrade teaching in schools.
A framework for seeking the connections between technology, pedagogy, and culture : a study in the Maldives
(University of Waikato, 2017) Adam, Aminath Shafiya
Educational technology researchers have often overlooked the effect of culture on teachers’ use of digital technologies in their pedagogical practice. Several technology integration models, such as the Technology Adoption Model (TAM) and Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK), have also failed to explain the connections between technology, pedagogy, and culture. This paper argues that teachers’ pedagogical and technological practices cannot be fully understood without considering the social and cultural norms of their specific cultures. An ethnographic methodology, linked to Bourdieu’s (1977) habitus, is used to explore teacher educators’ practices in the Maldives. The author uses interviews, observations, focus groups, and the hanging-out approach to gather data from eleven teacher educators who work in a Maldivian university. Key findings demonstrate that teacher educators’ pedagogical and technological practices are influenced by their own culture, their early learning experiences in the Maldives, and their workplace (institutional context). Through this finding, the paper proposes a framework; namely, Pedagogical and Technological Cultural Habitus (PATCH), for understanding teachers’ pedagogical and technological habitus in various contexts. The PATCH framework provides a theoretical basis for designing technology-oriented professional development for professionals in various pedagogical contexts, including virtual and blended pedagogical spaces. It also contributes to the TPACK framework by adding an outer layer to its current theorisation to represent teachers’ backgrounds and habitus when examining their practices.
Academic leaders’ leadership styles in higher education institutions in the Republic of Maldives
(Global Academic Excellence, 2018) Waheeda, Aishath; Shaheeda, Fathmath
Assessing teacher readiness for inclusive education in Maldives : instrument modification and validation
(Routledge, 2020-10-27) Moosa, Visal; Shareefa, Mariyam; Adams, Donnie; Mohamed, Ahmed
Teacher readiness for inclusive education is frequently investigated in literature. However, the psychometric properties of a scale to evaluate teacher readiness for inclusive education in the Asian, specifically Maldivian, context are extremely scarce. This study aimed to modify the teachers' readiness for an inclusive education scale to determine if the modified scale was reliable and valid in the Maldives Context. A total of 628 teachers (258 males and 370 females) from seventy-seven schools participated in this study. In phase 1, the construct validity of the Maldives teachers' readiness scale was established through exploratory factor analysis. In phase 2, the tests of dimensionality, reliability, convergent and discrimi-nant validity was established through confirmatory factor analysis. Results supported a two-factor, 23 items scale. The scale may be utilised as a reliable and valid instrument to assess teacher readiness for inclusive education in the Maldivian context.
Bankruptcy prediction using Altman Z-Score model : a case of public listed manufacturing companies in Malaysia
(2015-11) Odibi, Ishioma; Basit, Abdul; Hassan, Zubair
Over the years, serious attention has been to bankruptcy prediction models and the problems associated with predicting failure in corporate firms. Corporate failure prediction has become a very vital issue in finance especially given the fact that so many researchers have given so many different types of prediction model. In addition, the multiple discriminant analysis seems to be the best model that achieves a very high result of accuracy levels. In this study, 34 public listed manufacturing companies in Malaysia where used from 2010-2014. Companies were chosen from companies listed under the PN17 companies while healthy companies where matched using paired sample t-test using random stratified sampling method. Initially, the main aim or objective of this study was to examine the reliability and relationship of Altman’Z-score model to corporate failure and to investigate if all failing companies where listed under the PN-17 on the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange (KLSE) now popularly known as Bursa Malaysia. Findings showed that not all failed companies where listed under PN17 companies in bursa Malaysia. While all but one of the companies under the PN17 companies where in the safe zone in the fifth year. The Study findings showed four out of five financial ratios where significantly related in the prediction of corporate failure under the Z-score model. Also the regression analysis showed that the model is a great fit with significance of 0.000 and accuracy levels of 86% and 99.6%.
Being a dean in Maldives : academic leadership challenges
(2019-12-30) Waheeda, Aishath
The current study explored the challenges of effective academic leadership faced by deans in Maldivian Higher Education Institutes (HEI). A qualitative approach informed with grounded theory techniques was used in this study. Semi structured interviews were used for purposively selected deans (N=5) and academics (N=16) from seven different HEI in Maldives. The interview transcripts were thematically analysed and coded. The challenges of deans in practicing effective academic leadership in Maldivian HEI were found to be issues related to governance, academic leadership and personal capabilities. Suggestions for making the role more effective include, encouraging the distribution of leadership, providing leadership training, and, being more vigilant in dean recruitment based on professional and personal competencies.
Benefits of online assessments in higher education institutions : lessons from covid-19 pandemic
(INTI International University, 2023) Waheeda, Aishath; Muna, Fathimath; Shina, Aishath; Shaheeda, Fathimath
The unprecedented wake of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to move teaching and learning processes to online platforms. Although several studies have investigated aspects of online assessments, the benefits of online assessments have been a scarce area. Thus, the purpose of the current study is to explore the benefits of online assessment in HEIs in the Maldives from the lecturers’ and students’ perspective. This study used mixed methods with triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data. Purposive sampling was used to collect qualitative interview data from full time lecturers (N=30) and students (N=30) from 10 different HEIs and from 11 different disciplines. Data was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Simple random sampling was used to collect survey data from 85 lecturers and 312 students. SPSS version 23 was used to analyze the survey data using descriptive statistics. The findings of the study revealed that both lecturers and students found online assessments as an opportunity for self-growth. The data revealed that the lecturers learnt the very basics of technology and pedagogy, a variety of assessment methods and efficient ways of marking test papers and providing feedback to students. Students reported they got more acquainted with ICT basics and research skills. The study showed that online assessments were flexible, convenient and economical. In addition, the psychological issues faced in online assessments were less compared to physical examinations. However, some lecturers highlighted that physical exam answer scripts were easier to mark than online exam answer scripts. In light of the findings, it is recommended to incorporate technology driven pedagogy and assessments in the continuing professional development programs in HEIs so that lecturers are competent and well versed with the contemporary online assessments. In addition, the study implies the room for future programs on online modalities in a more structured manner for the access to higher education across the nation.
Case review for Rifas Hussain vs Hussain Abdul Gadir (2019/SC-A/99)
(2022) Ahmed, Aminath Rafa
Challenges and strategies to enhance online remote teaching and learning by tertiary institution educators : a literature review
(Scientific Research Publishing, 2021-04-01) Mazlan, Ahmad Farit; Mohamad, Maslawati; Reesha, Aishath; Kassim, Rosnani; Othman, Zarina; Kummin, Saadiah
In 2019, Covid-19 has been declared as a global pandemic. Online remote teaching and learning is the most practical solution to continue teaching and learning particularly at tertiary institutions. There is a drastic change from face-to-face teaching and learning to a fully online teaching and learning environment. Tertiary institutions need to ensure that they consolidate the curriculum and adjust it in accordance with online teaching and learning. In accordance with the new normal in teaching and learning, educators must adapt to new and creative strategies to engage students during online remote teaching and learning. This paper is a literature review on 1) the challenges faced by tertiary institution educators in online remote teaching and learning and 2) strategies that they used to carry out their teaching during this Covid-19 outbreak in order to overcome those challenges.
Challenges in implementing online assessments at Maldivian higher education institutions : lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic
(Asia Pacific Academy of Science, 2024-01-05) Muna, Fathimath; Waheeda, Aishath; Shaheeda, Fathimath; Shina, Aishath
The COVID-19 pandemic forced Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to abruptly adopt online assessments in place of traditional assessments, posing several challenges especially in the developing countries. The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges experienced by lecturers in implementing online assessments at HEIs in the Maldives, during the time of COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected using qualitative, semi-structured interviews from a purposefully selected sample of 30 lecturers representing eleven different disciplines and ten HEIs in the country. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis method. Findings revealed seven major themes which include difficulties in keeping up with the fast-changing assessment policies; students lack of awareness on institutional assessment policies and procedures; inadequate infrastructure and work-space to deliver online assessment; lack of technological competency of lecturers and students; issues related to work-load and time management; lecturers’ competency in designing online assessments; addressing student diversity; and ensuring academic integrity. In the light of these findings, it is recommended that both students and lecturers need to be made aware of institutional assessment policies, better training needs to be offered for lecturers to enhance their skills in designing and implementing online assessments so that they can offer more authentic online assessments that would enhance academic integrity.
Challenges of women leaders in higher education institutions in the Republic of Maldives
(2018-06) Waheeda, Aishath; Nishan, Fathmath
The underrepresentation of women in senior administrative positions in higher education institutions is found in many research studies across the world. Similarly, in the Maldives, the higher education sector is gender imbalanced with more males in higher positions than females. This study explored the challenges faced by women leaders in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Republic of Maldives. The instrument used in this mixed methods research was a survey questionnaire of three sections, followed by interviews. Section One comprised of items for demographic information of the participants. Section Two comprised of 13 items on a five-point Likert scale of which item four required participants to denote whether being a woman in HEIs was challenging. Section Three of the survey questionnaire comprised an open-ended question which required participants to list their challenges in HEIs. The questionnaire was administered to randomly selected women leaders (N=12), from five HEIs in the Maldives. The data from item four of section two of the survey questionnaire were analysed for frequencies and percentages, while the data from the open-ended question in from section three of the survey questionnaire and the interviews were analysed thematically. The challenges experienced by women leaders in HEIs in the Maldives were found to be the heavy workload, lack of career development opportunities, voice not being heard, and lack of support. To empower women in HEIs in the Maldives, it is recommended for employers to offer flexible work schedules, focus on productivity, offer diverse professional development and training opportunities, provide mentorship and support networks, tackle persistent sex-discrimination, and strengthen pay equity.
Comparison of lecturers’ competency in Maldives higher education institutes
(2023) Zuha, Aishath; Waheeda, Aishath; Wong, Chee Hoo
Researchers in the past have found that instructors’ levels of competence have an important effect on their ability to teach. This research aims to determine if there is a quality gap in Maldives’ higher education institutions between public and private institutions and between full-time and part-time lecturers. An online structured questionnaire was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey as part of the quantitative research strategy. Lecturers from both public and private universities took part in this investigation. The Mann-Whitney U test found a statistically significant difference between public (M= 67.52) and private (M= 48.07) institution lecturers in terms of competency; U= 829.50, p= 0.021. However, lecturers’ competency mean rank scores of full-time lecturers (M= 64.82) and part-time lecturers (M= 59.34) indicate the difference of mean scores of lecturers’ competency was not statistically significant, U= 937.50, p= 0.55. It is likely better recruitment and in-service professional development policies at public institutes are established at the institutional level, thereby improving lecturers’ competency compared to private institutes.
Correlation between lecturers’ professional development activities and their competencies in Maldives higher education institutes
(2021-09-30) Zuha, Aishath; Intan, Marfarrina Omar; Waheeda, Aishath
The quality of higher education (HE) is one of the key areas the higher education system of the Maldives focuses on to develop and expand the sector. Two of the factors that contribute to and influence the quality of HE are professional development (PD) and lecturers’ competency. However, in the context of Maldives, although efforts are made in the area of PD, little to no research has been conducted in this area. Hence, the purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between lecturer PD activities and their competencies in Maldives’ higher education institutes. A quantitative research design was adopted, which conducted a cross-sectional survey by administering a structured online questionnaire. A total of 171 lecturers participated, which included both full-time and part-time lecturers from two public and two private institutions. Data analysis revealed that there is a weak positive correlation between PD activities and lecturers’ competency; r s (129)= 0.232, p= 0.008. It is also possible that PD activities conducted do not cater for the needs of lecturers, and a culture where structured and individual PD activities are supported and encouraged is not efficiently established. In light of these findings, it is important to strengthen and expand the existing PD policies and focus on providing effective PD sessions on topics and areas that are most needed for lecturers, rather than on generic topics. This study contributes to the empirical literature on PD in the context of Maldives and to the overall development of the HE sector.
Cross-cultural adjustments and expatriate's job performance : a study on Malaysia
(2013-11-03) Hassan, Zubair; Diallo, Mahmoudou
The purpose of this study is identifying the impact of cross-cultural adjustments on expatriate’s job performance. A conceptual framework comprises of four (4) factors (cross-cultural training, organisational and family support, personality, and emotional intelligence) is used to examined the impact of cross-cultural adjustments on expatriate’s job performance. A multivariate likert-scale questionnaire (scale from 1-5) has been developed. A sample of 100 respondents has been used from five private colleges in Malaysia to collect the data using convenience sampling method. Simple linear regression and correlation analysis was conducted using SPSS 20. Regression beta coefficient and correlation coefficients were generated to test the hypotheses and to establish the causal effects of cross-cultural training, organisational and family support, personality and emotional intelligence on expatriate’s job performance. Also regression analysis was conducted on to establish the overall cross-cultural adjustments and its impact on expatriate’s job performance. The result of the research shows that personality and organisational and family support have significant and positive impact on improving expatriates job performance. The result shows a positive relationship between cross-cultural training, and emotional intelligence and expatriates job performance, although these relationships are not significant. However, the overall crosscultural adjustment has a significant and positive impact on expatriate’s job performance. Therefore this study concluded that improved cross-cultural adjustments would improve expatriate’s job performance, where personality, organisational and family support has most significant impact on performance. Therefore managers at education sector should take initiatives and pay more attention to the personality of expatriates during its recruitment of expatriates, which would enable them to perform better. Further research could be undertaken on different context or by increasing the sample size to test the all the cross-cultural adjustment initiatives to confirm previous research finding. Also future research should be undertaken on different context or by increasing the sample size by widening the research context to ensure validity and reliability of the results.
Cultivating entrepreneurial culture among students in Malaysia
(Cracow University of Economics, 2021-01) Hassan, Zubair; Lashari, Muneeb; Basit, Abdul
Objective: The objective of the article is to examine the factors influencing the cultivation of entrepreneurship culture among private higher education institutions in Malaysia. Research Design & Methods: A sample of 300 students from private higher education institutions in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, was selected using a convenient sampling technique. The data were analysed using structural equation modeling via AMOS, 22.0. Findings: The result of the study indicates that empowerment is the only factor that has a positive and significant effect on cultivating entrepreneurial culture. We found that all other factors have no significant effect on cultivating entrepreneurial culture in the studied context. Implications & Recommendations: This study will enable education institutions to foster the entrepreneurial spirit among their students by focusing on empowering the students to carry out their tasks. This study recommends empowering students in their learning to promote entrepreneurial culture through the curriculum, assessment designs, and industrial engagement. Contribution & Value Added: This study contributes to the existing literature on promoting entrepreneurial culture among students by establishing the key determinants of entrepreneurial culture through risk-taking behaviour, innovation, creativity, and empowerment. One of the unique aspects of this research is that these four factors are studied together and tested based on what academic institutions in Malaysia do to cultivate entrepreneurial culture among the students.
Cultural impact on teacher-educators' use of technologies in their pedagogical practices : a study in the Maldives
(The University of Waikato, 2014) Adam, Aminath Shafiya
A substantial body of literature discusses the complexity of integrating technology into teachers’ pedagogical practices. However, the literature provides limited understanding about the impact of teachers’ culture on their use of technologies. I argue that technological and pedagogical practices of teachers cannot be fully understood without considering the social and cultural norms of their specific cultures. This paper aims to explain the impact of Maldivian culture on teacher-educators’ technological and pedagogical practices. My research used an ethnographic methodology linked with Bourdieu’s (1977) habitus as a lens. The data were gathered from eleven teacher-educators who work in a Maldivian university context. The process of ethnography took place during two visits to the research site. In the first visit, I spent six weeks “hanging out”1 with the participants, interviewed them individually, and observed six participants’ classroom teaching. In the second visit, I spent five weeks hanging out and organised focus groups with ten participants. Accordingly, follow-up interviews were carried out with five participants to clarify the main understanding of teacher educators’ habitus. The finding was generated through various strategies adhering to grounded theory. Key findings demonstrated that teacher-educators’ technological and pedagogical habitus was influenced by the cultural practice related to their learning norms and some aspects of their institutional context. The study revealed that teacher-educators adopted specific technologies available in their workplace relying on benefits gained for their pedagogical purposes. However, these pedagogical purposes were much influenced by the social cultural norms of the Maldives. As a result, the participants formed technological (PowerPoint-assisted) and pedagogical (content-oriented) habitus. This study offers valuable insights for understanding the impact of culture and habitus on teachers’ practices and their use of technologies both in schools and university contexts.
Customer perceived practice of CSR on improving customer satisfaction and loyalty
(2013-04-11) Nareeman, Aishath; Hassan, Zubair
The main purpose of this research is to examine the impact of perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices or initiatives on customer satisfaction and loyalty. A conceptual framework comprises of 4 elements (economic, legal, ethical and philanthropy) developed by Carroll (1991) is used to examine the CSR practices and its impact on customer satisfaction and loyalty. A multivariate likert-scale questionnaire (scale from 1-6) has been developed with one additional dimension (customer satisfaction) and its impact on loyalty. A sample of 152 respondents has been used to collect the data using convenience sampling method. Regression and correlation analysis is conducted using SPSS 20 on both modified and full version of data-set to conform the results of analysis is consistent and accurate. Regression beta coefficient and correlation coefficients were generated to test the hypotheses and to establish the causal effects of economic, ethical, legal, philanthropy on customer satisfaction and loyalty. The results shows that there is a significant and positive impact of CSR dimensions of economic, ethical, and philanthropy on both customer satisfaction and loyalty. The result shows a negative relationship between legal CSR dimensions and customer satisfaction and loyalty. This result is confirmed by correlation analysis as well, which is run on both full version and modified version of data-set generated after exploratory factory analysis. Also this research found that there is significant and strong positive relationship between improved customer satisfaction and loyalty. This study concluded that increasing perceived CSR practices such as economic, ethical and philanthropy CSR will improve both customer satisfaction and loyalty. Therefore manager at corporate sector should take initiatives to increase perceived CSR practices to improve customer satisfaction in order to retain and build loyalty of customer. Further research could be undertaken on different context or by increasing the sample size to test the legal dimension of CSR to confirm previous research finding.
Customer perceived values associated with automobile and brand loyalty
(2015-04-20) Moosa, Muhammad Yousif; Hassan, Zubair
The purpose of this study is identifying the customer perceived value associated with automobile and examining its impact on customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. A sample size of 198 respondents was chosen from various points in Jeddah, Saudi-Arabia using convenient sampling. A multi-factor CPV questionnaire with a Likert-Scale from 1-5 was used to collected the data to determine customer perceived value associated with automobile and its impact on customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. To ensure reliability and validity of the data set, sample size only includes respondents who have been using/driving an automobile for a year. Descriptive statistics shows that the most significant perceived value associated with automobile is functional value followed by emotional value and epistemic value. Social value was the least reason that respondents purchase an automobile. In terms of correlations, this study found that overall customer perceived value associated with automobile is highly correlated with customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. Bivariate multiple regression analysis shows that there is a significant and positive impact of FV and CV on customer satisfaction. We do not find any significant influence of EV, EPV and SV on customer satisfaction. However we found that there is a significant and positive impact of EV, FV and CV on customer brand loyalty. Again we did not find any significant impact of SV and EPV on brand loyalty. The current study contributes to the body of research by investigating the combined impacts of customer perceived value on automobiles using one instrument on cross-sectional setting. This research shows that customer perceived value associated with automobile is crucial in increasing customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. Future research should be undertaken on different context or by increasing the sample size by widening the research context to ensure validity and reliability of the results.
Demystifying the impact of teachers’ qualification and experience on implementation of differentiated instruction
(2023-01-01) Shareefa, Mariyam
According to many educators, teachers’ knowledge and experience are identified as key factors that facilitate effective classroom instruction. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of teachers’ experience and qualifications in the implementation of differentiated instruction (DI). The study employed convergent mixed method design with 400 teachers surveyed, out of which 16 were interviewed, and 8 teachers’ classroom teaching sessions were observed. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to analyze data collected from instruments that were adapted from previous studies. The survey data were analyzed using inferential statistics of ANOVA, while interview transcripts were analyzed using content analysis method, and observation checklists were analyzed using a mixed approach. Findings of these analyses showed that there is no significant difference in teachers’ implementation of DI based on their experience, while teachers’ qualifications showed otherwise. These findings indicate the importance of teachers’ pre-service and in-service professional development in the area of differentiated instruction. Further research is required to confirm and crossvalidate these findings in other educational contexts.

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