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MENGENALPASTI ISU-ISU DALAM USAHA MENTRANSFORMASI SEKTOR PERTANIAN DI NEGERI TERENGGANU (Identifying Issues in the Efforts to Transform the Agricultural Sector in Terengganu State)
No full textDasar Agro makanan Negara 2021-2030 telah dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan dan agensi-agensi pertanian dalam memastikan sektor ini dapat memacu pertumbuhan ekonomi, meningkatkan kesejahteraan rakyat serta mengutamakan sekuriti makanan dan nutrisi. Melalui Jabatan Pertanian, wujud program-program dan bantuan sokongan untuk para petani mendapatkan maklumat bagi meluaskan dan mengembangkan hasil pertanian mereka. Walaubagaimana pun, setiap usaha yang dilakukan oleh pelbagai agensi berdepan dengan isu yang membabitkan kelemahan peranan kedua belah pihak, iaitu petani dan agensi pertanian yang terlibat. Kajian ini memfokuskan kepada aspek keberkesanan dan isu yang dihadapi agensi dalam sektor pertanian, khususnya di negeri Terengganu. Ianya memfokuskan kepada enam dimensi yang dikemukakan Boettiger et. al (2017) iaitu i) strategi dan komunikasi, ii) pemasaran, iii) agen perubahan, iv) penentuan skala, v) perubahan mindset, dan vi) polisi yang fleksibel. Kajian dilakukan melibatkan seramai 18 orang responden dari lapan buah daerah yang dipilih dari agensi, petani atau peladang dan dua orang dipilih mewakili kerajaan. Dapatan kajian memberikan gambaran tentang kepentingan meningkatkan strategi komunikasi dua hala, meningkatkan strategi pemasaran dan juga pengukuhan agensi sebagai agen perubahan.
Kata kunci: Agensi pertanian, transformasi, enam dimensi, metodologi, kualitatif.
ABSTRACT
The National Agro-Food Policy 2021–2030 has been implemented by the government and agricultural agencies to drive economic growth, improve public well-being, and prioritize food and nutritional security. Through the Department of Agriculture, various programs and support mechanisms have been introduced to provide farmers with access to information aimed at expanding and enhancing their agricultural outputs. However, efforts by these agencies continue to face challenges stemming from weaknesses on both sides—namely, the farmers and the agricultural agencies involved. This study focuses on the effectiveness and challenges faced by agricultural agencies, particularly in the state of Terengganu. It emphasizes six dimensions proposed by Boettiger et. al (2017): (i) strategy and communication, (ii) marketing, (iii) change agents, (iv) scale determination, (v) mindset change, and (vi) flexible policies. A total of 18 respondents from eight selected districts were involved in this study, comprising representatives from agencies, farmers or cultivators, and two individuals representing the government. The findings of the study provide insights into the importance of enhancing two-way communication strategies, improving marketing strategies, and strengthening the role of agencies as agents of change
AN EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) FROM ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVES
No full textIn recent years, the growing emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) has prompted the need of firms to integrate the sustainable development goals (SDG) with the ethical framework, particularly the religious aspect in their business operations. The objective of this study is to explore how Maqasid al-Shariah’s divine ethical framework complements and diverges from the secular models of SDG and ESG in promoting human welfare, sustainability, and moral governance. The qualitative desktop research methodology is employed to systematically assess the previous academic literature, laws and regulations, Islamic publications and latest ESG frameworks. This study reveals that Islamic finance principles, that are rooted in the Al-Quran, Al-Hadith and Maqasid al-Shariah, have been proven to significantly align with the fundamental values of ESG by fostering the environment protection (khalifah), social justice (adl) and finally, fair and equitable governance (amanah). However, due to the inconsistencies of metrics for both, few gaps are identified in integrating ESG into the Islamic finance framework. This study contributes to the literature by discussing the conceptual framework that integrate ESG, SDG and Maqasid al-Shariah principles in finance context. From the policymakers’ perspective, the findings may assist them in understanding the ESG policies and how they aligned with the Islamic values
Tahap pengetahuan am dan amalan terhadap Web 2.0 dalam kalangaan bakal guru pengkhususan Pendidikan Moral di Universiti Utara Malaysia
No full textKemajuan teknologi yang semakin pesat berkembang, pengetahuan dan amalan terhadap teknologi Web 2.0 dalam kalangan bakal guru Pendidikan Moral masih berada pada tahap yang membimbangkan. Kekurangan pendedahan dan latihan yang sistematik terhadap teknologi ini berpotensi menghalang bakal guru daripada memanfaatkan sepenuhnya inovasi digital dalam memperkayakan proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti tahap pengetahuan tentang Web 2.0 dan amalan penggunaan Web 2.0 dalam kalangan bakal guru pengkhususan Pendidikan Moral di Universiti Utara Malaysia. Seramai 76 orang bakal guru dari pengkhususan ini terlibat dalam kajian ini. Pemboleh ubah bersandar ialah amalan penggunaan Web 2.0, manakala pemboleh ubah tidak bersandar terdiri daripada komponen tahap pengetahuan Web 2.0, jantina, semester pengajian dan pengalaman menggunakan Web 2.0. Data bagi kajian ini diperoleh melalui instrumen soal selidik dengan menggunakan skala Likert lima mata. Data yang dikumpul dianalisis dengan melibatkan statistik deskriptif iaitu peratusan, skor min dan sisihan piawai. Korelasi Pearson (r) digunakan untuk menentukan tahap hubungan antara tahap pengetahuan dengan amalan Web 2.0 dalam kalangan bakalguru. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa bakal guru pengkhususan Pendidikan Moral di Universiti Utara Malaysia mempunyai tahap pengetahuan tentang Web 2.0 adalah sederhana, manakala amalan Web 2.0 berada pada tahap yang tinggi. Dapatan hubungan menunjukkan tahap pengetahuan Web 2.0 mempunyai hubungan yang positif dan signifikan dengan amalan terhadap Web 2.0. Berdasarkan dapatan kajian, kajian ini juga memberi implikasi terhadap Pendidikan Moral sekali gus memberikan sumbangan kepada pihak pusat pengajian, universiti dan kementerian. Beberapa cadangan juga telah dikemukakan pada akhir laporan kajian ini
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT, INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE ARAB MAGHREB UNION: THE ROLE OF ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY AND GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES
No full textThis paper investigates the direct effects of FDI inflows and institutional quality on the economic growth of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) countries over the period 1996 to 2022. The study also evaluates whether institutional quality influences the relationship between FDI and growth by incorporating an interaction term between FDI and institutional quality. Institutional quality is measured using the control of corruption score of the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI). The analysis is based on panel data estimation models, with the Hausman test applied to choose between the fixed effect model (FEM) and the random effect model (REM). The results reveal that FDI inflows do not significantly impact economic growth in AMU countries. Also, institutional quality does not directly influence economic growth, reflecting the underdevelopment of institutions in the region. Instead, the coefficient of the interaction term is negative and significant, suggesting that institutional quality negatively impacts the FDI-growth relationship. Inflation and labor force index are found to significantly and positively influence economic growth. Surprisingly, the human capital index exerts a negative effect on economic growth in AMU countries. The policy implications in respect of these findings include that the policymakers in the AMU countries should pay specific attention to the development of human capital and improving absorptive capacities from institutional quality to perceive FDI as a growth driver
THE TRANSFORMATIVE USE OF USER-GENERATED CONTENT: DISCOVERING THE FINE LINE BETWEEN PERMITTED USE AND COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT FROM A MALAYSIAN PERSPECTIVE
No full textUser-generated content or more commonly known as UGC has revolutionized the digital landscape by allowing individuals to create, share, and engage with various forms of copyrighted content across digital platforms. This paradigm shift in content creation and distribution has introduced new challenges in copyright law concerning the transformative use of copyrighted work. Balancing the exclusive rights of the right holder as a content creator and copyright user and the interests of society has become increasingly complex in the face of rapid digital innovation and creative expression. Determining whether the transformative use of copyrighted material qualifies as permitted use under the Copyright Act 1987 within copyright exceptions requires careful consideration of the existing legal framework. Hence, this article aims to explore the ability of the current legal framework to identify the fine line between permitted transformative use and copyright infringement in relation to user-generated content. The results demonstrate that the existing legal scheme does not provide permitted use for transformative use of works without the consent of right holders. This article also seeks to discover the possibility of alternative approaches that could effectively resolve the issues related to the transformative use of user-generated content within the existing legal framework. The outcome of this article is to contribute to a broader discussion surrounding the issues of transformative work and user-generated content
DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESSOR SELECTION: EVIDENCE FROM FAMILY-OWNED SMES IN MOROCCO
No full textThe increasing mortality rate of family companies worldwide makes the investigation of the problems of succession one of the priorities that has fascinated the community of researchers recently. This study contributes to the analysis of the succession issue from the successor\u27s point of view, through the investigation of the potential successor selection process and choice of determinants. This study\u27s originality is in its attempt to scrutinize the phenomenon in question through the entrepreneurial and sociocultural lens. Also, this study aims to present some managerial implications that can support the founders of Moroccan family-owned SMEs (Small and Medium sized Enterprises) in setting up a succession process which will enable them to select their potential successors in an effective way. A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews was conducted with six managers of five Moroccan family-owned SMEs. The research will contribute towards the scholarly debate about the succession issue, which is considered a significant field that deserves a deeper analysis, especially in the context of Moroccan family-owned SMEs. The results of this study also revealed that there is a heterogeneity of issues in the selection of potential successors from one family business to another and from one business family to another. Indeed, the trust between the predecessor and the potential successor, as well as between the latter and the other stakeholders, the business families’ subjective norms (i.e., nepotism, primogeniture, patriarchy), the successor’s involvement, the willingness, the motivation, the level of education, the knowledge and the accumulated experiences, are the main determining factors considered when selecting the potential successor of family SMEs
EXPLORING THE ROLE OF FACEBOOK IN SUPPORTING SENIOR ENTREPRENEURS
No full textSenior entrepreneurs are increasingly turning to social media platforms, notably Facebook, to promote and grow their businesses. Despite often having limited technical skills, senior entrepreneurs recognize the benefits of using social media as an essential tool for business communication and marketing. While there may be initial resistance to adopting social media, its benefits for businesses are widely recognized, making it a valuable entrepreneurial tool, facilitating communication and marketing efforts. This area of research is significant due to the global rise in the aging population and the growing trend of seniors transitioning into entrepreneurship after reaching retirement age. This qualitative investigation employed semi-structured interviews complemented by observations to explore the use of Facebook among senior entrepreneurs. Ten participants were interviewed face-to-face, with observations conducted based on insights gathered from these interviews. The findings indicate that senior entrepreneurs utilize Facebook to a moderate extent, primarily constrained by their limited digital knowledge. However, numerous features on Facebook remain unexplored, presenting potential opportunities for further business innovation within this demographic. This investigation provides insights into the adaptation of senior entrepreneurs to social media, particularly Facebook, as a tool for enhancing their business activities
UTILIZING GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS TO ENHANCE RETENTION OF KNOWLEDGE IN ESL WRITING SKILLS
No full textPurpose - Writing is a difficult skill to master and improve, especially for students who learn English as a second language. Thus, this study explores the impact of employing graphic organizers on the writing performance of Form Four students and their knowledge retention. These students were 16-year-olds at the time of study. Furthermore, the investigation delves into the perceptions of students on writing methods.
Methodology - This study employed a quasi-experimental design. The experimental group received instructions applying graphic organizers and the control group received instructions applying the conventional method. Pre-test, Post-test 1 and Post-test 2 were utilized to collect the data. The sample comprised 120 Form Four students chosen as intact groups from two schools, there were 60 students in each group. The study lasted for 11 weeks. One-way ANOVA and Repeated Measures were used to analyze the data collected from the Pre-test, Post-test 1 and Post-test 2, while the qualitative data gathered from the semi-structured interviews were investigated using thematic analysis for emerging themes.
Findings - The quantitative results indicate that the experimental group performed significantly better than students from the control group in their overall writing skills and retention of knowledge in writing. Findings from the qualitative data supported the quantitative findings which revealed that incorporating graphic organizers in writing boosted students’ motivation in writing and facilitated their learning, especially in the domain of content, organization, elaboration of ideas, and language.
Significance - ESL teachers could use graphic organizers as an alternative method to improve students’ writing skills. Teacher training should prepare teachers to use methods that effectively utilize graphic organizers in the writing process.
ENGLISH AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN CONTENT COURSES: EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES AND PRACTICES THAI TEACHERS FACE
No full textPurpose - Previous studies have generally focused on TESOL teachers in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classes, this study however, investigates English Medium of Instruction (EMI) in non-English language teaching contexts. This study fills a gap in the current literature on EMI by analyzing the problems and practices of 46 Thai university lecturers who use English as the medium of instruction in various subject fields.
Method - Utilizing an explanatory mixed-method study design, data was gathered through a survey questionnaire and interviews. This methodology facilitated the acquisition of a thorough comprehension of the perspectives and obstacles encountered by Thai lecturers using EMI in content courses.
Findings - The results of the study indicate that Thai lecturers generally hold different attitudes towards the use of EMI. Their apprehension stems from the degree of readiness of the students, including a perceived deficiency in skills and linguistic proficiencies, and the extent of help provided by the institution. Despite the challenges, Thai lecturers demonstrated flexibility by employing several pedagogical approaches within the classroom setting to accommodate the distinct requirements of their subject matter.
Significance - The study\u27s relevance resides in its implications for policy formulation, curriculum design, and teacher professional development initiatives. The results of this study have highlighted the significance of providing customized assistance to lecturers and the necessity of implementing comprehensive approaches to enhance the efficacy of EMI in other academic fields
IMPUNITY AND DEMOCRATIC QUALITY IN LATIN AMERICA (2015-2021): PATTERNS OF CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE
No full textIn 2019, a wave of protests broke out in many countries in the Latin American region. It started in Chile and spread to Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. In 2020, it spread to more countries in the region: Argentina, Brazil, Panama, Honduras, and Peru. Even today, outbreaks of violence can still be observed across the region. Although they have different origins and consequences, common elements can be observed. The origins of the problem can be traced back to the linkage between two variables: one related to the malfunctioning of the region\u27s justice systems as reflected in the levels of impunity. The other factor is the quality of Latin American democracies. The aim of this piece of work is to explore the possible relation between those two factors for Latin-American countries between 2015 and 2021. To do this, certain variables of both aspects are studied through Pearson’s Correlations. The result of the statistical analysis is shown and discussed in the main part of the paper. Finally, some ways of action are proposed to try and give a possible solution to this problem