EUREKA: Social and Humanities
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Internationalisation of higher education in the new normal in universities: university management perspectives
Full text linkUniversities are universal communities where knowledge is transmitted. It is expected that such knowledge should be globally relevant. Internationalisation of Higher Education is the integration of global dimensions into the delivery of higher education. New normal came because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted every sector of human life including education. This had a great effect on public universities as most of them lacked the capacity to switch online. This constituted a setback for the academic calendar. The mixed method research design was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select two states based on concentration of universities. These include Ogun State with 12 universities and Osun State with 11 universities. Both States have the highest number of universities in Nigeria. The Management is represented in the study by Heads of Department (HODs). Sixty HODs were selected from Ogun State, while 55 HODs were selected from Osun State. The study found out that internationalisation in universities is faced with challenges, which include funding and insecurity among others. The paper recommended among others the need for all beneficiaries of university education to be involved in funding universities to cope with the realities of the new normal
Women's agency during the COVID-19 pandemic in the absence of male migrants: changing gender roles and social relations
Full text linkThis article is an account of the expression of women’s agency during the COVID-19 pandemic in the absence of male migrants and the subsequent changes in gender roles and social relations in a patriarchal Muslim society in rural Bangladesh. In doing so, the study explores the patterns of local and transborder networks of women during the pandemic and their strategies for household survival amid hardship. The study is based on 25 in-depth interviews, 10 life history interviews and 3 informal group discussions with women and men from migrant and returned migrant households. The findings of the study indicate that although there is no significant change in the roles of women in extended or joint households, some women in nuclear households are engaged in income-generating activities and are active for the survival of household members during the COVID-19 pandemic whereas in some exceptional cases, women consider the time as an opportunity to increase the household income by applying their intelligence and wisdom. The study follows intersectional and post-structural approaches and suggests that the pandemic period creates a situation, in which some women in migrant households get the advantages to widen their room for maneuver within patriarchal social codes. The study thus contributes to the field of migration and feminis
Mozambican commercial bank liquidity and its determinants
Full text linkDespite the Central Bank of Mozambique's best efforts to assist commercial banks through a range of policies and regulations, the majority of these banks have been unable to satisfy their liquidity obligations on time, resulting in unacceptably large losses that have forced mergers or necessary resolutions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the factors that affect Mozambican commercial banks' liquidity using bank-specific and macroeconomic data from 2013 to 2022. Data was analysed using unbalanced panel regression analysis (PRA). Specific bank data were gathered from a sample of eight commercial banks, which control 95 % of the market share in the banking system bank's annual report, which was accessible on their websites, while macroeconomic data were gathered from World Bank reports and Central Bank of Mozambique’s reports from 2013 to 2022 (10 years). Financial statements from the commercial banks were used for all statistical calculations for the years 2013 – 2022. The research findings show that bank liquidity was significantly and positively impacted by the GDP, inflation, loan interest rates, amount of non-performing loans, capital adequacy, and bank profitability. There was no statistically significant variation in bank size when it came to the decrease in liquidity. According to the report, Mozambican commercial banks should be more focused on deposit mobilization to preserve a healthy liquidity buffer and enhance liquidity performance. Therefore, by presenting results on the current liquidity position and the macroeconomic and bank-specific factors influencing the liquidity of commercial banks in Mozambique, this study hopes to add to the body of current literature. The research study suggests strengthening the fiscal and monetary policies to improve bank liquidity control and monitoring systems in compliance with Basel III regulations
The role of information technology innovations on organisational performance: a case study of selected SMEs
Full text linkInformation technologies have been widely recognised for their capability to add certain value to organisations in terms of strategy and operation. Studies regarding SMEs and IT in different contexts across the nations of the world have shown that SMEs are confronted with technological issues leading to a low adoption rate of IT. This research propounds that IT innovation is an indispensable tool for gaining a competitive edge over business rivals.
This research presents empirical evidence to validate the existence of a positive influence of adopting IT innovations to improve organisational performance. This will be achieved by measuring variables, such as organisational performance and information technology using the balanced scorecard.
Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used with multiple case study designs to attain the study objectives. Convenience sampling was used to select the participating SMEs, while purpose sampling was used to select the 47 participants that were interviewed. An interview guide was designed to have a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was transcribed, coded, analysed and interpreted using content analysis to provide transparency to the findings.
The findings of the study showed that SMEs rely on some IT innovations to manage and market their products and/or services. IT innovations bring about speed delivery and efficient communication, propagated by digital technologies
The role of IT innovations on organisational performance should not be discarded because non-usage of IT is tantamount to poor organisational growt
Prospect and challenges of integrating indigenous knowledge systems into the Natural Science curriculum in schools
Full text linkThe study explored the prospect and challenge of integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) into the Natural Science (NS) curriculum in schools. An interpretivist research philosophy was employed to guide the data collection process that utilized a qualitative research approach and a case study research design. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data from purposively selected NS Heads of Departments (HODs), NS teachers and Head masters in Phongola schools. Findings revealed that IKS has benefits in the NS curriculum, such as contextualising education and acting as learners’ prior knowledge, promoting diversity in class and making it possible for teachers to use field trips and traditional visual materials when delivering instruction in NS classes. Findings also revealed that integrating IKS into the NS curriculum faced challenges like a lack of government commitment to review education policies, lack of IKS study material in schools and extinction of IKS. It was recommended, that the Department of Basic Education should review its policies and integrate IKS as a full knowledge strand in the NS curriculum, document IKS as a full knowledge stand in the NS text books and incorporate IKS in teacher training programmes. Schools should use IKS custodians in communities as resource persons and also involve parents to help their children with their homework on IKS related topics and activities
Comparative study of mediation practices in European countries
Full text linkThe article «A Comparative Study of Mediation Practices in European Countries» is an analytical review of the effectiveness and features of mediation in the context of different European countries. The authors conduct a comparative analysis of mediation practices in the selected countries, identifying similarities, differences and successful methods, used in conflict resolution. Using case studies from different countries, the article examines aspects, such as mediator selection, procedures, consent practices and enforcement.
The results of the use of mediation in various fields, including family, commercial and socio-political conflicts, are discussed. The authors note the positive impact of mediation on social relations, reducing the workload of judges and increasing confidence in the justice system.
The article provides an in-depth analysis of the effectiveness and features of mediation in the context of different European countries. The article focuses on the structure and organization of mediation processes in different European countries. Case studies are used to examine such aspects as the selection of mediators, mediation procedures, and the importance of the parties' consent.
The analysis emphasizes the positive effects of mediation, such as improving social relations, reducing the burden on the judicial system, and building confidence in dispute resolution mechanisms.
The article also emphasizes the importance of comparative study of mediation practices in European countries in order to enrich the experience and develop more effective methods of conflict resolution. The results of this study are relevant both for mediation professionals and for legislators and decision-makers seeking to optimize mediation practice in their countries
Participative decision making: implications on organisational citizenship behaviour in a public higher education institution
Full text linkDue to the authoritarian administrative style, used by educational institutions, where those in charge make decisions and middle and lower-level employees simply carry out orders without providing any input, participatory decision-making has gained popularity in the educational setting. Nevertheless, higher education institutions are at a crossroads since they are unsure how to handle the problems, posed by a highly dynamic environment, and the rapid changes that are occurring. Thus, academic staff has been required to take on extracurricular duties to enhance institutions to those that are formally outlined in their job descriptions. In this context, developing OCB and ensuring its sustainability has become increasingly crucial for boosting universities' effectiveness. Based on the social exchange theory, this study aims to assess how participative decision-making can constitute a key idea in modern management that impacts employees’ organisational citizenship behaviours in two campuses of a public higher education institution in South Africa. Data was collected from a post-positivist perspective, a quantitative research method, and a convenience sampling technique to select a sample of 253 academics, through a structured questionnaire. Based on the results of the descriptive analysis, employees reported a medium level of participative decision-making and agreed to display the five organisational citizenship behaviours. Using Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression models, the study found a positive relationship between participative decision-making and the five dimensions of organisational citizenship behaviour. Therefore, the study recommends that employees should be more involved in the decision-making for them to display organisational citizenship behaviour. However, public higher education institutions should establish a strong data-driven culture and train staff members to be proficient in code and quantitative concepts; and senior management has to develop rules with open access to the most important metrics
The challenges of gender inequality on sustainable development in leadership in Africa
Full text linkThe study explored challenges to gender proficiency in leadership to achieve sustainable development in Africa. The challenges to gender proficiency in leadership affect the achievement of sustainable development in Africa. The study discovered several social barriers hindering gender proficiency towards achieving sustainable development goals, which include the existence of social and cultural norms and gender-based differences in leadership, as confirmed by some researchers. The existence of these differences has been overlooked; hence it remains a reality that women are underrepresented in leading management positions in general on the ground, and particularly in leadership roles. The main question is if women’s call to occupy leadership positions is a complete reality or it is purely a pursuit for political acceptability. Gender gaps in the workforce over the last two decades remained largely unaffected, notwithstanding the increased number of women who have acquired education. Qualitatively, data was primarily collected through secondary content. The need to improve the education systems in low and middle-income countries is recommended, as all countries can reap the benefit of optimizing their deployment of female-skilled professionals and leverage their talent. This is actually one perspective to look at this opportunit
Risky sexual behavior and associated factors among in-school adolescents: a school-based, cross-sectional study
Full text linkDespite increased sexual education, secondary school students in Nigeria are still engaging in risky sexual behavior. This may be due to various social, psychological, and physical factors. The study looked at how family structure, peer pressure, and self-esteem affected the likelihood that adolescents in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, would engage in risky sexual behavior. For this study, a descriptive research design using correlational data was adopted. The study adopted the purposive sampling method in selecting 200 in-school adolescents. Valid and standardized instruments including risky sexual behavior rating scale (α=0.758), peer pressure scale (α=0.714), self-esteem scale (α=0.826) and family structure scale (α=0.827) were used for information gathering. Three research questions were raised and answered.
Data collected was analyzed using simple percentages, Pearson product-moment correlation, and multiple regression statistical method at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that risky sexual behavior of secondary school students is significantly correlated with peer pressure (r=.594; p<.05), self-esteem (r=.605; p<.05), and family structure (r=.521; p<.05). The value of R=.783 and adjusted R2=.613 were observed. The analysis of variance, performed on the multiple regressions, yielded an F-ratio value of 98.056. In terms of the magnitude of contribution, self-esteem made the most significant contribution (β=.509; t=8.647; p<0.05) to the prediction, followed by peer pressure (β=.342; t=3.545; p<0.05) and family structure (β=.223; t=1.348; p<0.05).
Based on these findings, it was concluded, that peer pressure, self-esteem, and family structure influence risky sexual behavior of adolescents. It is therefore recommended, that students’ sense of self is very important and should be improved and also that students should be guided, particularly in meeting different categories of people in the school setting, such as peers, teachers, and others with varying degrees of sexual attitudes because it affects the students’ sexual behaviors
The influence of family stru cture on children's academic achievement: evidence from some selected secondary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria
Full text linkStudies into the elements that influence students' academic progress have drawn the interest and concern of teachers, counsellors, psychologists, researchers, and school officials in Nigeria. The foundation of society is the family, which is generally understood as a couple raising their children or a group of individuals living under one roof and typically under one head. Every family is thought to want their children to do well in school. However, a lot of elements, such as economic pressure, lead families to lose interest in their children's academic endeavours. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between secondary school students' academic achievements and their family structure in Oyo State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was utilised for the study to collect data because it helped the researcher found to standardise data collection, categorise data for statistical analysis and collect data at a lower administrative cost. Descriptive and correlational approaches were also applied. Correlational design helps identify the relationship between two variables, while the descriptive design accurately describes the events as they actually occur. Therefore, it was possible to establish a connection between the type of family and the pupils' academic performance. One-way ANOVA was used as the statistical tool to analyse the data. This decision was taken after running the descriptive analysis of the dependent variables. According to the study's findings, family structure and their socioeconomic position, parenting, and upbringing affects pupils' academic achievements in secondary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria. Also, family structure affects parental support, class concentration, and the self-esteem of students. Additionally, there is a correlation between students' academic success in secondary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria and the family structure. The study findings indicate that the provision of basic needs (food, shelter, and clothing), mental wellbeing, adequate economic resources, harmony in the parents' relationship, and soundness of the parent-child relationship were significantly influencing the academic performance of students in secondary schools in Oyo State, Nigeri