Socio-Cultural Barriers of Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Practices in South Punjab Pakistan
Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is the basic right of every human being which directly influence health and social outcomes. Without adopting a project to its cultural settings, the project has very little or no chance for success or to be sustainable. The objective of the present study was to examine the socio-cultural barriers towards safe water, sanitation and hygiene practices in southern Punjab, Pakistan. It was a mixed method of research comprising qualitative and quantitative design. The qualitative data was collected through FGDs, and quantitative data was collected through an interview schedule. It was found that Cultural constraints like satisfaction and reliability towards traditional and myth-based norms are hampering the water, sanitation and hygiene practices. It is necessary to start comprehensive programs of WASH sector development with a special focus on social mobilization for the transformation of social norms along with resource allocation to improve WASH conditions/practices.
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Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Socio-Cultural, Cultural Norms, Social Mobilization, Southern Punjab, Pakistan
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(1) Hasan Ghaffoor
PhD Scholar, Department of Sociology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Muhammad Farooq
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
(3) Sadaf Mahmood
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
Development of Social Skills: A Study Comparing Male and Female Students' Social Skills in Public Schools of Lahore
The study explored the developed social skills between male and female students at the elementary level. A total of 550 Students were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling in the district of Lahore. Explored social skills included accepting criticism, showing respect, solving problems, accepting rights & responsibilities and tolerance of individual differences. A scale consisting of sixty-nine items was developed and standardized through factor analysis. The instrument was checked and ensured for reliability measures using Cronbach's Alpha (r = .75, p < .05). Five factors were identified through exploratory factor analysis using the principal component matrix measuring students' level of social skills at the elementary level. Results of the study showed statistically significant difference based on the gender of the student for the subscale "accepting criticism", revealing male students being more developed in social skill compared to their female counterparts, whereas female students were found more mature for the social skill requiring tolerance of individual differences as compared to male students. The study has implications for future researchers and school authorities.
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Social Skills, Elementary Level, Social Studies, Showing Respect, Accepting Rights and Responsibilities
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(1) Tallat Rashid
University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Kiran Shehzadi
University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(3) Farzana Yousaf
University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Examining the Psychosocial Barriers of Female Students in Academic Settings of Sindh: The Case of Public Sector University of Sindh, Pakistan
The collective responsibilities and rights of female students are ignored in the academic domain of Sindh, Pakistan. The third world countries are a mirror image of it and highlight their declining condition in the educational perspectives of female education. The twelve Psychosocial barriers are highlighted in this study. They are analyzed to know about their extent in female students in one of the Public sector universities of Sindh, Pakistan. The quantitative design was adopted, and a questionnaire was used as the instrument to measure percentages and frequencies. A five-point Likert Scale was selected for the process of data collection measurement from thirty female participants of the English department. The thirty female students represented four academic stages in a co-academic setting. After the analysis of data through SPSS software, the results affirmed that female students do face problems to pursue their higher education in the shape of psychological fears, uncomfortable situations, adoption of different rough attitudes against her existence in academics, dominancy of the male colleague in academic and societal boundaries, cultural and parental disparities in mind sets that ultimately results to the unawareness of societal conservative norms established in educational setting of Universities in Sindh, Pakistan.
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Barriers, Female, Psycho, Social, Students, University
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(1) Ali Siddiqui
MPhil Scholar, English Language Development Center (ELDC), Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
(2) Tania Shabir Shaikh
MPhil Scholar, Institute of English Language and Literature (IELL), University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
Empowering Online Methods of Student-Teacher Communication: The Opportunities and Challenges of Web-Based Technologies and Social Media During COVID-19 Lockdown
The use of web-based technologies and social media to enhance student-teacher communication is a growing trend in education in recent times. After the COVID 19 pandemic, the worldwide network has been widely used and the infrastructure for information quickly developed. This study aims to explore the perceptions of teachers and students about the use of web and social media during the COVID-19 pandemic at postgraduate level. Firstly, this study employs a questionnaire to examine student perception about uses of web-based technologies and social media. Data were collected from 500 students from different departments at the universities. Secondly, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 teachers. The findings indicate that the social media are revolutionizing communication systems and are helpful in on-line classes, with collaborative work and research coordination during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study recommended extensive use of webs and social media for efficient communication between teachers and students.
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Key Words: Web-based Technologies, Social Media, Enhancing Communication, Students
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(1) Nasrin Akhter
Associate Professor, Department of Science, University of Okara, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Muhammad Naseer Ud Din
Professor, Institute of Education & Research, Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat, KP, Pakistan.
(3) Muhammad Imran
Assistant Professor, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.
The Competencies and Knowledge Entrepreneurship relationship in Higher Education Institutes: Examining the Moderating Role of Organizational Climate
Higher education institutions, in the knowledge economy, have a significant role in encouraging innovation and ultimately accelerating economic growth by the creation and transfer of knowledge. This study concentrates on the construct of knowledge entrepreneurship in higher education institutions of the public and private sectors in Pakistan. It highlights the competencies required to enhance knowledge entrepreneurship in presence of an encouraging organizational climate. Using the dynamic capability theory, this study theorizes the essential role of Personal, Professional and social competencies of faculty members in Higher education institutions in creating and disseminating various forms of knowledge while the organization maintains support, encouragement, leadership and the vision to accomplish the same. Implications and areas for future research are highlighted for further expansion in literature.
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Knowledge Entrepreneurship, Personal Competency, Professional Competency, Social Competency, Organizational Climate, Higher Education Institutions.
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(1) Nida Kamal
Senior Lecturer,Department of Business Studies,Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(2) Bakhtiar Ali
Professor,Department of Management Studies,Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(3) Hina Samdani
Senior Assistant Professor,Department of Business Studies,Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Training Need Assessment for the Infusion of Tolerance, Peace and Social Cohesion among University Students
Tolerance, peace and social cohesion are the most significant and substantial values of society. In the scenario of Pakistan, the existence of above-mentioned values are prominently correlated with each other. The aim of this study was to assess the need of training program to counter the negative effects regarding the existing level of tolerance, peace and social cohesion among university students. Population of this study was consisted of Government College University Faisalabad. A questionnaire was used to collect the quantitative. 280 students were selected by using purposive sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical test were applied to assess the difference between their opinions. The findings of study demonstrated low level of tolerance, peace and social cohesion among university students and identified various factors affecting low level of tolerance, peace and social cohesion among university students.
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Tolerance, Peace, Social Cohesion
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(1) Anila Yasmin
PhD Scholar, Department of Education, GC University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Muhammad Naeem Mohsin
Associate Professor,Department of Education, GC University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
(3) Muhammad Ayub Buzdar
Assistant Professor,Department of Education,GC University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
Social Capital and its Impact on Business Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises of Sindh (Pakistan)
Social capital is a significant resource for Small and Medium-sized firms. Social Capital resources generate assets for firms which in turn contributes towards the performance of firms. The paper analyzes the relationship of Social Capital with SMEs Performance operating in Sindh. Research has investigated the impact of the personal, professional, associative, and institutional network towards performance. To attain the purpose of the paper, the data was gathered using a questionnaire from 395 entrepreneurs of SMEs of Sindh Province. The regression and correlation techniques are employed to evaluate the relationship and to investigate the hypothesis. Results revealed a significant relationship between Social Capital and Firms performance
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Business Performance, Social Capital, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
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(1) Saqib Wahab Mahar
PhD Scholar, Institute of Business Administration,Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur Mirs, Sindh, Pakistan.
(2) Ikhtiar Ali Ghumro
Professor,Institute of Commerce,Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur Mirs, Sindh, Pakistan.
Role, Status and Perception of Female Education Regarding Socio-Economic Development
This research work is to explore the role, status and perception of female education with respect to a budgetary change in District Peshawar. Education changes people leadership and makes them live with flexibility. The objectives were (i) To find the perception of female education regarding socio economic status (ii) to know the role of women as mother, wife and daughter, is to be assessed. The research study was restricted to Peshawar. For the administration of the study tool, a random sampling technique was used. A simple random sample, of 240 participants, of Peshawar District was chosen randomly. The main findings of the study included: (1) Somewhere between 5,001 and 10,000 Rs, wages of a mind sweeping number of respondents were consistent. In all cases, most respondents earned different settlement wells to Rs.5000; (2) the mostly respondents ensured criticality for the female as the directorate deals with budgetary problems and personality
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Socio-Economic Status, Learner Achievement, Social Factors
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(1) Waqar Un Nisa Faizi
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Islamia College Peshawar, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
(2) Wilayat Bibi
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
(3) Syed Shafqat Ali Shah
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan.
Tobacco Farming and Its Social Impacts on Farmers in the Rural Mardan, Pakistan
Despite the growing concern regarding the hazardous effects of tobacco by the international community, tobacco farming still prevails worldwide. This study was planned to explore how the rural farmers perceive the significance of tobacco farming in term of its social impacts on the farming community in district Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Tobacco farming was taken as independent variables and its social impacts on the farmers were selected as the outcome variable. The social impact variable was operationalized with sub-variables as income, social status, expanding kin relationships, labor opportunity, and linkages with people of different social background. Data were collected from 144 tobacco growers through structured questionnaire and analyzed through correlation and regression models. The study concluded that tobacco farming brings about positive impacts on the social status of the farming community by increasing their income, elevates their social status, expands kin relationships, and provides labor opportunity to the farmers.
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Community, Farmers, Impact, Social, Tobacco
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(1) Khalil ur Rahman
Assistant professor,Department of Sociology,Hazara University, Mansehra, KP, Pakistan.
(2) Syed Imran Haider
Assistant Professor,Department of Sociology, Allama IqbalOpen University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(3) Abid Ali
PhD Scholar, Department of Sociology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
A Perspective on Saudi Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy
This research analyzes the soft power and cultural diplomacy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Over the years, the Kingdom has been using its cultural diplomacy as an instrument of foreign policy for the promotion of its soft power at regional and global level. The analysis suggest the use of soft power and cultural diplomacy are part of Kingdom’s foreign policy, bringing a wider gesture of aptness and goodwill. In this sense, the study of cultural diplomacy allows the understanding of new concepts and ideas of international insertion, with the participation of higher education institutions, research centers, government agencies and non-governmental organizations. King Abdullah has pioneered this initiative of soft power projection of the Kingdom through cultural diplomacy. The study revolves around the era of King Abdullah (2005-2015) while significant reinforcement of this policy is undertaken by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS).
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Cultural Inclusion, Soft Power Public and Social
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(1) Abdulilah R Alkatheeri
PhD Scholar, Department of Politics and International Relations, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(2) Muhammad Khan
Professor, Department of Politics and International Relations, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.