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Barriers to Empowerment: Examining the Transition of Pakistani Women from Higher Education (HE) to Professional Life
Get PDFGender equality is essential for economic and societal advancement, as outlined in the
United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5. This research examines the obstacles that hinder
women’s progression from higher education to empowerment in Pakistan. Using a comprehensive
descriptive survey questionnaire, we collected quantitative data to gain insights from a diverse
sample of various provinces. The survey consisted of two sections: background information and
25 constructs of barriers from the existing literature. Data analysis involving 399 respondents
included descriptive and inferential statistics, cross-tabulation, and significance testing using non�parametric tests. The findings highlighted significant sociocultural, familial, and professional barriers,
with regional disparities underscoring the need for targeted interventions. Women respondents
consistently perceived barriers more keenly than men, underscoring the gender-specific nature of
these challenges. This study emphasizes the need for focused policies and educational initiatives to
address barriers and promote gender equality in Pakistan’s higher education and professional spheres
Artificial Neural Network Application in Construction and the Built Environment: A Bibliometric Analysis
Get PDFOver the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of various technologies in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction sector. Artificial intelligence has played a significant role throughout the different phases of the design and construction process. A growing body of literature recognizes the importance of artificial neural network applications in numerous areas of the construction industry and the built environment, presenting a need to explore the main research themes, attributes, benefits, and challenges. A three-step extensive research method was utilized by conducting a bibliometric search of English language articles and conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses. The bibliometric analysis aimed to identify the current research directions and gaps forming future research areas. The scientometric analysis of keywords revealed diverse areas within the construction industry linked to ANNs. The qualitative analysis of the selected literature revealed that energy management in buildings and construction cost predictions were the leading research topics in the study area. These findings recommend directions for further research in the field, for example, broadening the application ranges of ANNs in the current Construction 4.0 technologies, such as robotics, 3D printing, digital twins, and VR applications
Knowledge Foundations, Issue 12 - December 2023
Get PDFKnowledge Foundations publication (formally the UCEM e-library e-bulletin) is a compendium of news, views, research and resources relating to the educational sector and the built environment
Why mediation is gaining more attention With the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic, Brexit and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, construction disputes have intensified. Has this prompted a fresh look at alternative dispute resolution?
Get PDFDue to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the average value of construction disputes has risen. In recent years, the traditional dispute resolution methods have come under criticism due to costs, complexity, and delays. Subsequently, this has resulted in calls for collaboration and mandatory mediation.
Research on the use and perceptions of alternative dispute resolution and mediation is available (Agapiou & Clark 2012) but mainly from a pre-pandemic time. Therefore, a research gap is identified to establish whether perceptions of mediation have changed due to the negative impact of the pandemic and whether mandatory mediation would reduce the cost of disputes and provide for more collaboration. The research reviews the increase in UK construction disputes since the pandemic and analyses the perceptions of mediation and its implementation as a mandatory process. It also discusses whether current dispute resolution processes are sufficient and whether reform should be considered.
A mixed-method approach was adopted to the data collection, including a review of the academic literature, questionnaire, and interviews.
The findings inferred that the Covid-19 pandemic had drawn attention to the deficiencies of traditional dispute resolution. However, implementation of mandatory mediation either through the forms of contract or legislation would not be straightforward. Caution would need to be taken to ensure it does not become a ‘tick box’ exercise, resulting in a potential added expense. It prompts questions as to whether the focus should be on the further promotion of conflict avoidance and collaborative working to evoke cultural change to result in a less adversarial industry
Mattering vs belonging and the impact of academic advisors: online professional part-time students – a case study
Get PDFBelonging is not a new concept: it has been around for some time in higher education. The
‘What works? Student retention and success’ report concluded that ‘belonging is critical to
student retention and success’ (Thomas, 2012). However, this can be difficult to achieve
for some students such as those who study online. The research around a sense of
belonging amongst online students, who have limited time and opportunities to participate
in activities used to promote belonging at universities, is limited (Peacock et al., 2020).
With an increase in online and blended courses within higher education (Dumford and
Miller, 2018), mattering may be a more important factor for such students.
Mattering as defined by Dixon and Tucker (2008), is an individual’s perception that they
are important and are valued in their interpersonal relationships. Academic advisors have
a key role in mattering: by building individual relations with students they can have a
positive impact on feelings of mattering. McIntosh et al. (2020) found that students who
feel supported by their academic advisors go on to have successful tutoring relationships.
In a case study conducted within a Higher Education Institute that provides fully online
courses for part-time professional students, the author examined feelings of mattering and
belonging amongst level 5 and 6 undergraduate students. The case study found that the
individual mattering relationships were more important than belonging to students who
participated in the study. Students valued members of staff who went ‘above and beyond’
and showed care and mattering. Academic Advisors were key members of staff for these
mattering relationships.
If students feel that they matter, this may well lead to an increased feeling of belonging
and this is something that should be explored further.
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Knowledge Foundations, Issue 1 - January 2023
Get PDFKnowledge Foundations publication (formally the UCEM e-library e-bulletin) is a compendium of news, views, research and resources relating to the educational sector and the built environment
Willis's Practice and Procedure for the Quantity Surveyor, 14th Edition
No full textWILLIS’S PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE FOR THE QUANTITY SURVEYOR
The most up-to-date edition of the gold standard in introductory quantity surveying textbooks
In the newly revised Fourteenth Edition of Willis’s Practice and Procedure for the Quantity Surveyor, the authors provide a comprehensive and authoritative introduction to the core skills required by quantity surveyors. This latest edition is thoroughly updated to emphasize the use of information technology in construction, and contains new pedagogical features, new learning outcomes, and key learning points that relate the material specifically to the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC)
Lectures (20 hours) to international students in 2023 for Ecole Supérieure des Professions Immobilières, Paris Campus.
No full textThe objectives of the lectures were:
• To know how to build a property appraisal.
• To master the difference between value advice and expertise value.
• To be able to define different types of values.
• To be able to indicate the different methods of expertise.
• To know how to apply the comparison method in a simple case