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An analysis of customers’ perceptions and attitudes towards Islamic Banking services using components of customer relationship management (CRM) in the UK and Bahrain
No full textOver the past decades, the growth of Islamic banking (IB) has significantly been increased globally in retail and full-fledged banking. Islamic Economy (IE) is a driving force of Islamic finance and an alternative banking of conventional banking. The aim of IB is to bring interest (Riba) free, avoid uncertainty (Gharar) and risk-free return in banking and finance to bring social justice in the economy. However, at a time of such tremendous success, IB faces considerable criticism due to various issues such as quality products, services, management, and marketing. It may suggest that banking institutions must prove that their offerings are complying with the Shariah principles and are in line with customer’s expectations, which are also the objectives of Customer Relationship Management (CRM). To achieve the objectives, this study employed primary sources that help to raw information and first hand evidence while a mixed-method research was conducted. A valid total of 351 customers participated in the survey while 12 interviews were conducted among IB professionals in the UK and Bahrain.Among the key findings of questionnaire survey, perception and satisfaction towards Islamic bank of both the UK and Bahrain were comparatively positive than negative and minor in differences based on the statistical significance. Chi-square tests and regression analysis shows majority Muslim customers have influence in adopting IB services in Bahrain while lack of awareness is major factors among increasing British consumers to undertake IB services. Finding also suggests that there are high co-relations on satisfaction and recommendation in attracting customers towards IB services. On contrary, this study finds no co-relations and negative impact in adopting IB services due to familiarity of IB terms, gender, age or marital status among survey participants.However, interview among professionals revealed that the concerns are remained in innovative products, quality services, staff knowledge, role of Shariah scholars and authentic marketing. On the other hand, it is also found that lack of awareness among customers seriously hinders IB industry to grow its full potential. This confirms the greater needs of CRM implementation in IB industry. Another key finding is management and investment in IB, which is instrumental for survival of Islamic bank in the financial industry. Because bank professionals have serious doubt about the UK investor’s intension due to lack of funding which has reduced services and operations significantly. While in Bahrain, too many banks exist damaging the reputation of IB resulting merger or closing up the operations. This research suggested acquiring customer’s feedback seriously using operational components of CRM to reconnect customers with innovative products to regain customers’ trust and thus growth of Islamic banking. This research has also compared, contrasted, and synthesized the findings and made recommendation in line with CRM to Islamic financial institutions to undertake appropriate strategies and to implement them to bridge a bond between customers and IB’s products
A bio-based intrinsically flame-retardant epoxy vitrimer from furan derivatives and its application in recyclable carbon fiber composites
No full textThe recycling of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites (CFRPCs) is difficult because the thermosetting matrix is insoluble and does not melt. To overcome this problem, a furan-derived epoxy resin (HMF-GAN-EP) was synthesized from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and cured with a furan-based curing agent (DIFFA). The cured HMF-GAN-EP/DIFFA system showed excellent flame retardancy (UL-94 V-0 and LOI of 40%). The glass transition temperature, tensile strength, and tensile modulus of the cured HMF-GAN-EP/DIFFA system were approximately 234 °C, 67 MPa and 2273 MPa, respectively, all of which were higher than those of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)-type epoxy thermosets cured by 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) (151 °C, 56 MPa and 1744 MPa). The cured HMF-GAN-EP/DIFFA system could dissolve in a mixed solution of THF:HCl (8:2, v/v), making it possible for the recycling of carbon fibers from CFRPCs
Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure in Islamic Banking Sector A Case Study of Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD)
No full textOver the past sixty years, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and itsdisclosure has evolved from its origins in the West to encompass Islamic countries in thelast three decades. In the realm of Islamic Banking and Finance, CSR is both conceptuallyand practically integral, rooted in the principles of the Islamic moral economy. Thismandates Islamic banks to actively participate in and advocate for social initiatives,showcasing their dedication to CSR principles. Additionally, transparent CSR disclosurein this context is vital for fostering accountability and trust. Openly communicating theirsocial and environmental endeavours not only fulfils ethical responsibilities but also alignswith the values of stakeholders, contributing to the development of a sustainable andethical financial ecosystem. Despite CSR being active in Islamic Banking worldwide, therehas been a lack of research on the aspect of social responsibility reporting, particularly inBrunei Darussalam, where most businesses are either government or family-owned, withno capital market authority regulating such companies, and where BIBD is a publiccompany. Hence, further research and analysis into CSR disclosure within this context isjustified.This thesis aims to measure the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure levelof Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD). The study further seeks to examine the motivesbehind the CSR practices and its disclosure by the bank. Additionally, it identifiesinfluential internal and external factors impacting the practice of CSR and its disclosureof the selected bank. To achieve these aims, a mixed research method approach wasemployed, encompassing content analysis, a survey questionnaire, and semi-structuredinterviews. Content analysis provided a comprehensive overview of the CSR disclosurelevel in the bank’s annual reports, covering ten years from 2012 to 2021. Primary datawere gathered through a survey questionnaire to capture the perspectives of the bank’semployees regarding their knowledge of CSR and its disclosure, which was then analysedusing statistical description. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews were conducted withexecutive staff members and thematic analysis through coding was employed to identifysimilar patterns of answers. This study also employed the chi-square test to examine theimpact of three potential factors on CSR disclosure of the selected bank.The findings of this study indicate that the selected bank is actively engaged in CSRactivities and has a significant track record of disclosure of such activities in its annualreports. Moreover, it was also found that the bank's employees exhibited substantialknowledge of CSR, although their awareness of its disclosure within the bank wascomparatively lower. Despite this, the bank has demonstrated social responsibility andhas contributed to poverty reduction through its CSR practices since 2008. This researchrevealed that the bank’s motive behind practicing and disclosing CSR was to fulfil itsethical duties towards the community. Therefore, the initiation of CSR practice and itsdisclosure was driven by the bank, rather than being influenced by external pressure,such as regulatory bodies, as opposed to being influenced by internal and externalpressure. The study makes several contributions: first, as a case study, it bridges a gapin the literature and offers insight into the field of CSR and its disclosure in Islamic Bankin Brunei by employing institutional theory. Secondly, the study highlights the motivesbehind the Islamic bank’s CSR disclosure in its annual reports. Thirdly, it examines theimpact of internal and external factors on the bank’s CSR disclosure level. The studyemphasises the need for further research on CSR and its disclosure in the IslamicBanking sectors in Southeast Asia to enhance and compare the level of CSR disclosureamong counterparts and understand the factors influencing and impacting on CSRdisclosure
The effect of combined atmospheric plasma/UV treatments on improving the durability of organophosphorus flame retardants applied to polyester fabrics
No full textFollowing application of three commercially available, flame retardants (FR) to polyester and exposure to an atmospheric plasma in the presence or absence of simultaneous UV 308 nm excimer laser radiation, the retentions to a 30 min 40 degrees C water-soak for the mono- and dimeric cyclophosphonate (PE-CONC and PCO 900 respectively) and a 30 min methanol-soak treatment for the resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate) (RDP) agents were generally enhanced with respect to unexposed controls. These results suggested that the formation of PETFR bonding had occurred as a consequence of plasma/UV exposure. The effect of plasma/UV process sequence (pre-exposure and/or post exposure with respect to FR impregnation) as well as plasma gas type, showed that maximum post-soaking FR retentions occurred when both pre- and post-exposure conditions operated. Plasma/UV exposed fabrics both before and after soaking treatments were examined for morphological changes by SEM and surface phosphorus retention by EDX, FTIR-ATR, XPS as well as TGA/DTG/DTA, each of which showed evidence on the surface of changes in surface topography, increased phosphorus levels and modified thermal behaviour. When subjected to vertical fabric strip flammability testing, these changes were insufficient to generate significant changes in the burning rate apart from in post-methanol soaked, RDPcontaining fabrics where almost all plasma/UV process sequences reduced specimen burning rates. During all experiments, the presence or absence of the UV laser radiation appeared to have no obvious effect on post-soaking FR retentions, suggesting that its presence is not required since plasma activation alone appears to be the key to improving PET -FR bonding
Classification and clustering algorithms for medical data
No full textIn recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the amount of attention paid to the use of machine learning strategies within the area of medical data. Classification and clustering algorithms are two major kinds of machine learning algorithms that are frequently utilized for a variety of tasks in medical data analysis. These algorithms are employed in a variety of different ways. Clustering algorithms are used to group data points that are similar together based on their similarity or distance metrics, while classification algorithms are used to predict the class or category of a new data point based on the patterns learned from labeled data. Classification methods may be found in machine learning software. We present an overview of classification and clustering algorithms for medical data in this article, covering its uses, problems, and future approaches, among other things
Linking Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) and brand loyalty an exploratory study of the car insurance market in the U.K.
No full textThis research provides an original exploration and pioneering qualitativeexamination of Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) in the context of car insurancemarketing, with a particular focus on the mediating role of brand loyalty. Itintroduces a novel integration of CLV and brand loyalty, an area that has beenpreviously explored in consumer-packaged goods and retail sectors but never inmotor insurance. This study uniquely posits that brand loyalty is not merely aconsumer characteristic, but a dynamic, brand-specific construct thatsignificantly impacts CLV. The cohort under investigation consists of GenerationZ, a demographic that has been underexplored in CLV research. ThroughInterpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and semi-structured interviews,the research investigates the perceptions and experiences of this cohort, offeringnew insights into the psychological and emotional drivers of brand loyalty,particularly within the car insurance industry.The study also addresses a critical gap in CLV research by shifting the focusfrom life insurance to car insurance, an under-explored area in marketingliterature. By examining the intersections of brand loyalty, CLV, and customerretention in the car insurance industry, the research contributes to refiningstrategic marketing frameworks, particularly in targeting high-value customersegments and optimizing long-term customer relationships. The findings offeractionable strategies for enhancing customer satisfaction, reducing churn, andimproving profitability in a competitive, service-driven industry. This work not onlyadvances theoretical understanding but also presents practical implications formarketing practitioners, challenging traditional approaches and offering a freshperspective on how CLV can be applied beyond conventional sectors like retailand life insurance. The study underscores the importance of digitaltransformation in fostering long-term brand loyalty by leveraging technology anddata to create personalized experiences and predictive strategies for insurers. Italso emphasizes that brand loyalty is an ongoing process, highlighting the needfor insurers to remain responsive and consistently invest in customer satisfactionto maintain loyalty. Furthermore, the research delves into the potential ofemerging technologies, particularly autonomous driving, offering insurers newopportunities to innovate, adapt, and position themselves for future growth andleadership in the industry
Handwritten character evaluation and recommendation system
No full textCharacter recognition is a very popular machine learning application for example—OMR sheets are commonly used for grading purposes all over the world. It is a procedure of analysing human-marked data from documents like surveys and tests. The COVID-19 epidemic has had a negative influence on schooling, since it has caused students’ handwriting habits to deteriorate significantly. As a result, the goal of this paper is to propose a lightweight deep learning model that uses computer vision to aid in the practice, evaluation, and analysis of nursery students’ handwriting by evaluating sheets and pointing out major errors with an accuracy score that can be used to measure improvement. Recognition, evaluation, and analysis are the three primary components of the suggested paradigm. The steps are as follows: (1) Pre-processing, (2) deep learning model for feature extraction and classification, (3) predicting the letters in the supplied picture, (4) calculating the similarity index between the input image and the glyphs in the computer font, (5) matching the input image's stroke length and angles to font glyphs, and (6) displaying the character's score and analysis. The most accurate model for this process was 83.04%
From collaboration to transformation: A reflective exploration of student-staff partnerships for technology enhanced learning in Higher Education
No full textCollaboration between students and staff has increasingly gained recognition as a powerful avenue for enhancing the overall learning experience in Higher Education. Student-staff partnership projects offer a unique opportunity for students to actively engage with their programme of studies, influencing decision-making processes and contributing to the improvement of the learning environment. This reflective practice piece delves into the lived experiences of four students who embraced student-staff partnership in unique ways, each contributing their perspectives and invaluable insights to projects they were involved in. With an aim to shed light on the significance of reflecting upon these lived experiences, recognising the immense value they hold for students, staff and the institution as a whole, a critical narrative enquiry approach was used in addition to vignettes to understand the intricacies and dynamics of student-staff partnerships, unravelling the complexities and capturing the transformative effects of these collaborations on students. By examining the challenges and triumphs faced by these four student partners, we gain insights into the multifaceted nature of student-staff partnerships, their potential for growth, and the resulting impact on the higher education landscape
Social virtual reality helps to reduce feelings of loneliness and social anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic
No full textEvidence shows that the Covid-19 pandemic caused increased loneliness, anxiety and greater social isolation due to social distancing policies. Virtual reality (VR) provides users with an easy way to become engaged in social activities without leaving the house. This study focused on adults, who were socialising in Altspace VR, a social VR platform, during the Covid-19 pandemic and it explored whether social VR could alleviate feelings of loneliness and social anxiety. A mixed-methods research design was applied. Participants (n = 74), aged 18-75, completed a questionnaire inside the social VR platform to measure levels of loneliness (UCLA 20-item scale) and social anxiety (17-item SPIN scale) in the social VR platform (online condition) and real world (offline condition). Subsequently, a focus group (n = 9) was conducted to gather insights into how and why participants were using the social VR platform. Findings from the questionnaire revealed significantly lower levels of loneliness and social anxiety when in the social VR platform. Lower levels of loneliness and social anxiety were also associated with participants who socialised with a regular group of friends. In addition, findings from the focus group suggested that being part of an online group facilitates stronger feelings of belonging. Social VR can be used as a valuable intervention to reduce feelings of loneliness and social anxiety. Future studies should continue to establish whether social VR can help to encourage group formation and provide people with enhanced social opportunities beyond the COVID-19 pandemic
Exploring childbirth experiences through a Salutogenic lens
No full textWomen's experiences of childbirth have generally been considered through a pathological lens. Wider sociological arguments associated with salutogenesis stress the need to depict health on a continuum to help understand what constitutes positive health as well as ill-health. Similarly, to fully understand women's experiences of childbirth, it needs to be explored on a continuum, considering salutogenic and pathogenic factors. In this paper we report on qualitative data collected as part of a wider mixed-methods study to describe the continuum of women's different childbirth experiences (‘positive’ ‘neutral’ or ‘traumatic’). A mixed-method explanatory sequential design was undertaken comprising validated measures and in-depth interviews. Primiparous women who were expecting a healthy term infant were recruited and participated in an in-depth semi-structured interview at 12 weeks postnatal. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Ten women took part in an interview and three main themes were identified. The first theme ‘before it all started’ showed how stories impacted women, with women trying to ‘keep an open mind’ or ‘accepting and expecting the worst’. The second theme ‘arriving at the destination’ emphasised the importance of midwifery support through ‘continuous compassionate presence’ while others reported ‘feeling forgotten’. Finally, ‘the days that followed’ highlighted how women tried to ‘focus on the outcome’ while others ‘wished it had gone better’. This study identified how women's subjective appraisals of childbirth are on a continuum and influenced by several factors including birth narratives and the quality of midwifery care from the early onset of labour. The kinds of experiences associated with reports that the birth was ‘neutral’ are reported for the first time