International Journal for Innovation Education and Research
ISSN: 2411-2933 is an open-access peer-reviewed multidisciplinary research journal.
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Cognitive Development in A Creative Environment – Online Escape Rooms for Physics Classes
Our paper examines the pedagogical possibilities and methodological implications of online escape rooms created on the Genially platform for use in physics lessons. I will present the opportunities offered by Genially as an interactive presentation tool, research supporting the effectiveness of escape rooms in the classroom, and provide detailed methodological guidance for designing and implementing online escape rooms tailored to the topics of physics. My goal is to show how elements of gamification can be integrated into physics education to increase student motivation, deepen conceptual understanding, and develop problem-solving skills.
Copyright (c) 2025 Réka Bencsik, Dr. Dorottya Schnider (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Moderating Effect of Change Management Adoption on Senior Management Support and Customer Service Delivery for IT Projects in the Public Sector
Implementation of IT projects in the public sector continues to face significant challenges primarily due to lack of senior management support and resistance to change (Ahmed & Lodhi, 2022). Due to the limited research in this domain coupled with the high failure rates of public sector IT projects, the discussion still continues on the impact of senior management support on the successful implementation of IT projects (Ahmed et al., 2021). This research therefore sought to examine the relationship between senior management support for major IT projects, change management adoption and the benefits realized from the IT project in form customer service delivery within the public sector in Kenya. The research adopted a quantitative research methodology. Primary data was collected from 309 public organization in Kenya and analyzed. The Pearson's bi-variate correlation results revealed that senior management support and customer service delivery had a significantly moderate correlation. Additionally, change management and customer service delivery after an IT project implementation had a significant, strong positive correlation. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between senior management support and change management adoption. The regression results revealed that change management moderated the effect of senior management support on customer service delivery as a realized benefit from IT investments. These results were consistent with findings from related previous work done by researchers. The research also found the moderating effect of change management adoption on senior management support with the resultant improvement in service delivery to the public. Arising from these therefore, most public sector organizations (96.7%) having been identified as public service driven stood to benefit immensely from these research findings through incorporation of senior management and change management practices in all IT project implementations within the public sector. This research therefore recommends the adoption and practice of change management policies in all public organizations to enable realization of benefits from IT enabled investments. In addition, the research recommends consistent senior management and board level support for all IT projects in the public sector.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fredrick Bitta, Prof. Robert Oboko, Prof. Christopher Chepken (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Learning through Active Participation and Collaborative Thinking – The Sokoloff Method in Practice
In this article, we present a method—developed by David Sokoloff—that simultaneously supports maintaining students’ attention and motivation, while also promoting a deeper understanding of physical phenomena. Although Sokoloff originally applied the method at the college level, we adapt and demonstrate its use in secondary and primary school settings. In addition, we share a selection of experiments along with accompanying worksheets and teacher guides tailored to the method.
Copyright (c) 2025 Tamara Fekete-Nagy, Anikó Schramek, Klára Teodóra Baranyai (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Factors Influencing Student Retention in a Distance University in Mexico: A Case Study from the Students' Perspective
This research focuses on the analysis of the academic and socioeconomic factors involved in student retention. The study was conducted using a mixed approach that combines quantitative and qualitative methods, with a non-experimental design and exploratory scope. The aim was to identify the factors that have the most significant impact on the retention of students in the Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration and Management at the Universidad Abierta y a Distancia de México. For this purpose, a questionnaire was applied to students enrolled in the educational program. The results obtained from this survey indicated that the most significant factors contributing to student retention are external to the educational institution itself. These factors include the student's motivation, expectations, work, and personal context. Additionally, the emotional state of the student has been found to have a substantial impact on their academic performance. The research concludes that in order to enhance retention rates, the University must adopt a comprehensive approach that addresses not only academic factors but also psychological and personal factors that encompass the students' environment. To this end, the implementation of a comprehensive student support website has been recommended, encompassing psychological guidance to enhance motivation, augment technological skills, and facilitate effective time management. This initiative is designed to assist students in achieving a healthy balance between their academic, professional, and personal endeavors.
Copyright (c) 2025 Emmanuel Magallanes Ulloa, Analí Melo Vazquez (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Nurses' Role In Reproductive Planning In A City In The Interior Of Minas Gerais, Brazil
The Institute for Applied Economic Research states that reproductive planning involves various actions that will help individuals who intend to build a family, defining the most appropriate time for this and the ideal interval between pregnancies. There are currently various contraceptive methods available in Brazil's Unified Health System, aimed at both men and women. Although nursing professionals play an important role in reproductive planning, there are weaknesses in their work. With this in mind, the aim of this study was to identify the role of nurses in reproductive planning within the scope of the Family Health Strategy. This is a descriptive, quantitative-qualitative study carried out with nurses working in Family Health units in a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. For data collection, a semi-structured interview was carried out which allowed for the collection of socio-demographic information about the participants and addressed issues related to reproductive planning. Five nurses took part in the study, most of whom were female and aged between 25 and 30. Most of the participants had a postgraduate degree, and there was a prevalence of between 1 and 3 years working in the field. Three categories emerged from this study: 1) Knowledge and health promotion activities; 2) Nursing consultations; 3) Challenges in reproductive planning. In view of this, it can be seen that in the nurses' work, the main actions aimed at reproductive planning are lectures, aimed mainly at adolescents. Nurses are unaware of some of the contraceptive methods available in the Unified Health System. Furthermore, the population's lack of knowledge is one of the main factors hindering nurses' work on the subject. Although there are difficulties, most of the participants showed that they were prepared to carry out a nursing consultation focused on reproductive planning. In view of the above, nurses need to be trained in sexual and reproductive rights and contraceptive methods.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nariman de Felicio Bortucan Lenza, Mariany Sthefanny Valeriano, Stéfany Aparecida Carvalho Oliveira, Elexandra Helena Bernardes Queiroz, Amanda Aparecida Borges, Camilla Borges Lopes Souza, Mateus Goulart Alves, Iácara Santos Barbosa Oliveira (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Classroom-Based Action Research: Facilitating a Robust Model of Teacher Professionalism
This paper highlights facilitating a robust sustainable model of teacher professionalism in enhancing teaching practices and contributing to educational improvement through classroom-based action research. It provides a comprehensive exploration of classroom-based action research, examining its enhanced connotations and elucidating its profound significance for teacher professional development. Typical and practical examples of research conducted by teachers were used to illustrate how classroom-based action research informs and enhances teachers' practices. Additionally, it delves into the various types of action research approaches typically adopted by classroom teachers, offering real-world instances to exemplify the viable methodologies. The synthesis of teacher-driven, context-driven, and data-driven research activities underscores their pivotal role in enhancing teaching practices and fostering student learning.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mingchu Luo, Nancy Albrecht, Qiting Liu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Navigating the Fake News Environment: Enhancing Media Literacy in the Digital Age
The proliferation of fake news in our time presents a major challenge to public discourse and informed decision-making. As social media platforms expose individuals to vast amounts of information, distinguishing between credible content and misinformation has become increasingly difficult. This paper examines the mechanisms that facilitate the spread of fake news, including clickbait headlines and emotional manipulation, which exploit cognitive biases and contribute to the virality of misleading narratives. Emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced media literacy, the study advocates for educational initiatives that equip individuals with critical thinking skills to assess information sources effectively. By fostering media literacy, societies can strengthen resilience against misinformation, promote trust in reliable sources, and support evidence-based decision-making in an increasingly complex information landscape.
Copyright (c) 2025 Tiegue Vieira Rodrigues https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Acquisition of experimental chemistry skills with the use of virtual laboratory simulations
The acquisition of laboratory skills is an essential aspect of any Biological Science degree. Access to the physical laboratory has been limited in recent years and as such alternative provision was necessary to ensure students learn these essential skills. This study focusses on the provision of virtual materials in the teaching and learning of the specific technique of acid-base titration on a Life Sciences foundation year chemistry module. To assess the efficacy of this alternative provision is in maintaining the acquisition of students’ experimental skills, worksheet outcomes were compared when students performed a titration themselves in the laboratory or virtually, using a Labster laboratory simulation. Student opinions of the virtual resources were generally positive, although perception of the utility of these virtual resources in student confidence to perform the experiment for real was lower for online only students. This study demonstrates that the use of virtual materials successfully supported student understanding of the technique of acid-base titration, with comparable worksheet scores between online and in person cohorts. However, the reduction in confidence levels in online students should be noted, highlighting the importance of providing a range of materials to support student learning; including performing physical experiments to acquire essential scientific laboratory skills and increasing confidence.
Copyright (c) 2025 Victoria Louise Allen-Baume https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Prevalence of vulnerability to depression among healthcare workers in Kiambu level 5 Hospital, Kenya
This study aimed to establish the preference of vulnerability to depression among healthcare workers in Kiambu Level 5 Hospital, Kenya. Guided by Basic Psychological Needs theory and self-determination theories, a convergent research approach was adopted, employing both ex post facto research design for quantitative data and phenomenological research design for qualitative data. A total of 146 healthcare workers participated in the study. Quantitative data were collected using questionnaires, while qualitative data were gathered through interview schedules. The results indicated a high prevalence of vulnerability to depression among the participants. Out of 144 healthcare workers who participated in this study, 1.4% reported experiencing normal ups and downs, 22.2% showed mild mood disturbances, 33.3% were classified as having borderline clinical depression, 38.2% experienced moderate depression, and 4.9% were found to be severely depressed. These findings call for immediate action to enhance mental health support for healthcare workers. It is essential to develop and implement targeted interventions that address their psychological needs and foster a healthier work environment. By recognizing and responding to the mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers, stakeholders can facilitate resilience among this crucial workforce, ultimately ensuring better care for patients and a healthier workplace culture.
Copyright (c) 2025 Joseph Mullingah Maingi, Dr Mokua Gilbert Maroko, Dr Jane Gathoni Nyutu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effectiveness of Lean Construction Principles on Project Efficiency in Central Jordan's Construction Projects
Purpose – Clarifying and measuring the effectiveness of flexible construction principles on project efficiency in construction projects in central Jordan. Design/methodology/approach – This study is considered one of the quantitative studies that provide a numerical explanation to prove the effectiveness of lean construction principles in project efficiency in construction projects in central Jordan. The study sample was selected randomly from a homogeneous community of consultants and contractors who hold engineering membership from the Jordan Engineers Association. Results– The results indicated that the comprehensive application of the principles of flexible construction (value definition, value stream mapping, flow creation, pull instead of push, and Pursuit of Perfection) leads to improvements in the level of efficiency in construction projects in central Jordan. Originality/Value - This research highlights the research gap related to the application of flexible construction principles by the construction sector and reveals the concepts related to project efficiency. In addition, this research is considered one of the few studies that studied the extent to which the Jordanian construction sector applies flexible construction principles and its effectiveness in improving project efficiency.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hanan Abdelrahman Al-Edwan , Mohamad Al-Adwan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Stress and Work Performance among Administration Police Officers at Police headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya
This study investigated the relationship between stress and work performance among Administration Police Officers stationed at the Nairobi Police Headquarters in Kenya. Employing a descriptive research design, the study was underpinned by Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress theories, facilitating an analysis of psychological distress and its effects on occupational efficacy. The participants were randomly selected in a sample size of 169 respondents. Data was collected primarily using structured questionnaires. Findings reveal a significant concern regarding work-related stress, with 35.5% of officers reporting fatigue, 32.0% expressing dissatisfaction with work allocation, and 34.3% indicating inadequate time for personal activities. Notably, 39.6% attributed their diminished performance to work overload, while correlation analysis identified a weak positive relationship between work stress and performance (r = .164, p = .033), suggesting that higher levels of stress may marginally correspond with improved performance. These findings highlight an urgent need for strategic interventions within the national police force, including comprehensive wellness programs focused on stress management and enhanced communication strategies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Centrine Sophy Wasike, Dr Mokua Gilbert Maroko https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Relationship between relatedness satisfaction and vulnerability to depression among healthcare workers in Kiambu level 5 Hospital, Kenya
The mental health of healthcare professionals has become an increasingly pressing concern, particularly in high-stress environments where exposure to traumatic events is frequent. This study aimed to establish the relationship between relatedness satisfaction and vulnerability to depression among healthcare workers in Kiambu Level 5 Hospital, Kenya. Guided by Basic Psychological Needs theory and self-determination theories, a convergent research approach was adopted, employing both ex post facto research design for quantitative data and phenomenological research design for qualitative data. A total of 146 healthcare workers participated in the study. Quantitative data were collected using questionnaires, while qualitative data were gathered through interview schedules. The results indicated a weak positive correlation (r = 0.072, p = 0.389) between relatedness needs satisfaction and levels of depression, suggesting that as the satisfaction of relatedness needs increases, the severity of depression tends to increase slightly. The findings revealed a significant proportion of healthcare workers reported various levels of depressive symptoms, with those dissatisfied with social support being particularly vulnerable. Specifically, 73% of these individuals experienced mild mood disturbances or higher, and none of the participants lacking satisfactory social support reported normal mood fluctuations, indicating a complete absence of emotional stability. The study also highlighted strong negative emotional outcomes among those with inadequate social support and poor interpersonal connections, with higher rates of moderate (38.5%) and severe (7.7%) depression symptoms among those unhappy with their social environment. Conversely, while some participants who experienced good connectedness reported better mood outcomes, a substantial portion still faced various degrees of mood disturbances. Additionally, healthcare workers reporting work-family conflicts exhibited alarming trends in depressive symptoms, with over 80% experiencing mild to severe depressive symptoms and none reporting normal mood fluctuations. This emphasizes the stress that healthcare workers endure in balancing professional and personal responsibilities, leading to heightened emotional distress.
This paper mainly studies object detection methods based on Transformer. Transformer, as a natural language processing technology, is widely used in computer vision tasks such as image classification and object detection. This paper introduces an object detection method based on scale point cloud Transformer, which provides a new research direction for object detection in the future.
Copyright (c) 2025 Jiayin Li, Yixin Ma, Jiagu Pan, Xing Xu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The study aims to explore the familiarity of EFL teachers with the concept of key lifelong competences and examines their preparedness in integrating them in their classes in Greek schools. Quantitative research was carried out using a questionnaire (N=95) comprising in total 15 questions and exploring aspects such as the EFL teachers’ perceptions of the FL curriculum, their familiarity with the concept of key competences and their preparedness to integrate them in their teaching practice along with potential barriers they face and solutions in coping with them. The data from the questionnaire was processed using descriptive and inferential statistics and revealed that almost half of the teachers are aware of the term competence and to a considerable extent prepared to integrate key competences in their teaching context. The EFL teachers are adequately aware of multilingual competence and are highly prepared to integrate it in their classes, given the distinct emphasis placed on multilingualism in Greece. On the contrary, competences such as entrepreneurship, and citizenship are the least known to teachers. It should be noted that the EFL teachers identify barriers in implementing all competences which indicates that focused training on promoting a gradual complete immersion of the entire educational system in the principles of key competences should be considered.
Copyright (c) 2024 Dora Chostelidou, Athina Karakasidou https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Residual-Based Numerical Viscosity Regularization Approach for Higher-order Finite Volume Discretization of Scalar Hyperbolic Conservation Laws
A Space-time finite volume method is utilized to construct a parameterized family of two-step explicit higher-order schemes for scalar hyperbolic conservation laws. Utilizing a local space-time expansion of the flux-integral form of the equation error, generalized quadratures of local grid functions of the solution and the associated local source term are formulated to couple grid points within the domains of dependence and influence of new updates about the centroid of each space-time control volume. Optimal quadrature parameters for the discretization are then determined through a minimization of the error expansion to account for local space-time fluxes to all neighboring mesh points within the computational domain. % Hence, a more accurate space-time descriptions of the leading numerical viscosity coefficients in the residual errors are then characterized based on the space-time coupling of the desired set of mesh points utilized in the discretization about the centroid. Consequently, the quadrature weights and the time step sizes are optimized to control and regularize the residual errors to minimize nonphysical oscillations. Numerical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the discretization method in minimizing the associated nonphysical oscillations in numerical solutions.
Copyright (c) 2024 Yaw Kyei https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
This article aims to perform the logistic viability analysis of PAC for West Africa using the AHP multicriteria method. This port contributes largely in the country's economy through customs and tax revenues, the formation of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and also in international trade. Four criteria (quality of infrastructure and services, equipment productivity, and logistics cost of cargo) were modeled. With the result, the port infrastructure criterion is most important, followed by the port equipment criterion. Showing the importance of each port logistics viability criterion (infrastructure, service, equipment, cost), the alternative long-term logistics viability is preferable to the medium-term and short-term. The application of the AHP shows in its result that for long-term port logistics viability, it is preferable to invest more in modern and quality infrastructure and equipment.
Copyright (c) 2021 Alphonse Hounsounou, Hito Braga de Moraes, Maamar El Robrini https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0
Android-based Mobile Flower Trading Applet Design
The flower trading applet mainly uses JavaScript language for page editing, and the finished product is produced through the Tencent cloud applet micro-match functions. The system is divided into two parts of merchants and consumers, compared with the products on the markets ,the functions are richer, and in addition to providing normal flower trading services, it also contains functions such as flower arrangement and sharing, flower raising tutorials, etc., which basically realizes the overall management of flower services. The applet aims to provide one-stop service for users to buy flowers and grow flowers by providing more perfect services for businesses and consumers where users are located.
Copyright (c) 2024 Tianduo Wang, Yujin Zhang, Lihua Gong, Yiwei Shen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
UAV Logistics Technology: Challenges and Prospects
With the vigorous development of e-commerce, the field of logistics distribution is facing more and more challenges. In order to meet the growing demand for delivery and enhance the shopping experience of consumers, drone logistics technology has gradually attracted attention. In recent years, drone technology has made great progress in the field of logistics distribution. However, its development still faces many challenges. These include the lack of technological maturity, legal and regulatory restrictions, security and other issues. At the same time, drones flying in urban environments need to overcome many obstacles, such as air traffic control and ground obstacles. Despite the challenges, the application prospects of drone logistics technology are still broad. Especially in the field of end-city delivery, drones can break through the limitations of traditional delivery methods, improve delivery efficiency and reduce costs. Through the comprehensive utilization of distribution resources such as drones and vehicles, the optimization and coordination of distribution networks are expected to further promote the development of the logistics industry. The future research direction will focus on the precision delivery of UAV logistics, the optimization of logistics supply chain and the collaborative application of multiple distribution methods. In view of the existing problems, this paper puts forward some improvement suggestions, including strengthening technology research and development, improving relevant laws and regulations, and improving flight safety. At the same time, future research should pay more attention to the collaborative operation of drones and other distribution methods, as well as the application exploration in specific scenarios, so as to provide effective support for the further development of UAV logistics technology.
Copyright (c) 2024 Wenjie Wang, Yujin Zhang, Yiyang Zhang, Yuhan Jiang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
People with disabilities and the context of inclusion in distance learning undergraduate courses
Distance Education had significant advances in recent years in the country. Thus, it is of great importance to investigate the current scenario of students with disabilities in Higher Education in this type of education. In this context, the present study addresses the process of inclusion of people with disabilities in distance learning undergraduate courses in public and private institutions in the metropolitan region of São Luís/MA, specifically, in the municipalities of São Luís, São José de Ribamar, Raposa and Paço do Lumiar. Preliminary findings indicate that these institutions need to have in their actions and services, qualified human resources, accessibility in information and communication, among others, so that people with disabilities can insert themselves, learn and conclude their courses.
Copyright (c) 2022 Paula Estrela da Silva Nunes, Thelma Helena Costa Chahini https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Influence Of Principals’ Leadership Practices on Collaborative School Culture in Public Secondary Schools in Tiaty East and Tiaty West Sub-Counties, Kenya.
An ideal collaborative school culture in the two sub-counties should entail teacher’s collaboration, teacher’s involvements in decision-making practices, effective open communication and high teacher motivation. The current situation in Tiaty East and Tiaty West sub counties is that the area is plagued by poverty and frequent banditry, this has made the school environment in the areas to be hostile and the safety of both the learner and the teacher is not assured. A hostile school culture of collaboration can cause the problem of poor performance to persist since there are no harmonious relations among teachers, and teachers work in isolation. As a result, the principals’ task is to create an enabling school climate towards the creation of a collaborative culture of the school. The purpose of this study was to find out influence of school principals’ leadership practices on collaborative school culture in public secondary schools in Tiaty East and Tiaty west sub-counties. The objectives of this study were : to determine influence of principals’ mentorship practices on collaborative school culture and to establish how principals’ communication practices influence collaborative school culture. The research approach was the qualitative research and a cross-cultural study design with two cases and multiple units of analysis within each case. This study was grounded on the perspective that valuable insights about the issue of principal leadership practices and collaborative school culture can be obtained from a target population of 77 comprising of principals (1), teachers (156), support staff (276) and student leaders (328). A sample of 161 respondents; 1 principals, 31 teachers, 56 support staff and 64 student leaders was selected using purposeful sampling. The main instrument for primary data collection was use of interview schedules for principals, teachers and support staff and focus group discussion guides for student leaders. Data analysis was done using Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDA); ATLAS. Ti 9. The study found that the principals invited mentors for staff development to improve collaboration, ultimately positively impacting on student outcomes to promote a collaborative secondary school culture. Moreover, on principals communication practices, school meetings and social media especially Whatsapp groups are used to engage the school community in communication.The study concluded that principal's mentorship practices, and principal's communication practices are integral and symbiotic in creating a positive and collaborative school culture. On building positive collaborativecultures, the study is beneficial to future researchers in the field as they can expound more on other principals’ leadership practices and it will also contribute to existing research data. The study recommended that principals should involve teachers and other stakeholders in mentorship process in the schools. Key words: Collaboration, decision-making, motivation, mentorship, communication.
Copyright (c) 2023 Kibata Peter Karo, DR. Gilbert Nyakundi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Bats Diversity in Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia (KUSTEM)
The study of bats diversity was conducted in Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia (KUSTEM) from July until December 2004. The objective is to examine the diversity of bat species in KUSTEM area for conservation purpose. Ten mist nets were used as the capturing device. Species identification was based on the forearm measurement, weight, sex, maturity status and their reproduction. Bats were released after identification. A total of 99 individual bats were captured, comprising of two families and four species. Three species were frugivorous bats, Cynopterus brachyotis, Cynopterus horsfieldii and Eonycteris major from the family Pteropodidae. One insectivorous species, Kerivoulla papillosa was captured from the family Vespertillionidae. Cynopterus brachyotis is the highest captured individual and species, representing 70.97% of total capture. Shannon-Weiner index is 0.8569 and Simpson index is 0.4504. The bat diversity in KUSTEM is influenced by the capture device and duration of study.
Copyright (c) 2013 Widad Fadhullah, Wong Chee Ho https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0
Influence Of Occupational Stress on Work Performance Among Kenya Police Officers in Njoro Sub-County, Kenya
Police Officers are exposed to a high level of stress due to heavy workload, long working hours, and exposure to traumatic experiences emanating from daily duties. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of occupational stress on work performance among Kenya police officers in Njoro Sub-County. The study was based on the role stress theory which explains how individual roles and expectations influence the outcome of individual responsibilities and how these functions cause occupational stress and affect work performance among police officers. The study adopts a descriptive survey design. The study targeted a population of 367 police officers. Stratified sampling was used to select a sample size of 104 respondents. The data collected through self-administered structured questionnaires were used as the research instrument to collect the data. Descriptive statistics were used in analyzing the data where the results were presented in form of tables, graphs, charts, frequency, and percentages to give meaning to the study. The results show that out of 104 questionnaires administered 81 were returned indicating a response rate of 77.88 percent. The study established that the majority of the respondents perform poorly due to stress they experience from work and that there is a strong influence on performance attributed to the poor communication network, lack of serviceable equipment, lack of support, lack of motivation, role conflict, heavy workload and long working hours. The study recommends that the National Police Service should focus on the causes of poor performance among the police officers and develop a strategy for addressing the gap to better service delivery. Develop counseling programs in the police syllabus and sensitize officers on the need of sharing problems that affect their work performance. Finally, the government should increase budgetary allocation and mobilize more resources and training to help them acquire skills to improve police public relationships and improve work performance. The study, 1therefore, recommended for a similar study be conducted in the national police service in other Sub-Counties in Kenya to compare the findings.
Copyright (c) 2023 Noah Suter Biwott, Benard Wamalwa, Gregory Kivanguli https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Conceptualizing University Autonomy and Academic Freedom: Reflections on state of Autonomy and Academic Freedom in Public Universities in Kenya
There has been mixed view on the understanding and implication of the terms university autonomy and academic freedom. Different people have used the terms to imply different things, with academia looking at it as absolute freedom of universities to run their affairs. On the other hand, political leaders have taken these terms as delegated and thus needs to be exercised to enhance society’s social economic value. There is a consensus that university autonomy and academic freedom is a fundamental anchor of universities world over. Differences in conceptualization of these terms have resulted in friction between the political leaders and scholars. This paper therefore aimed at crystalizing the common bases of use and application of the terms with a view of creating a common understanding across the divide in order to reduce the tension. The paper also gives reflections on how the university autonomy and academic freedom has been perceived and applied in Kenya public universities. The debate on university autonomy and academic freedom seem to have evolved overtime and appears to have settled on a common conceptualization world over. The paper observes that, the terms university autonomy and academic freedom implies allowing universities adequate latitude to run their affairs in a way that it optimizes stakeholders’ value.
Copyright (c) 2023 Milton Kiura Njuki, Wanjira J, Kimencu L https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Practices and Challenges of Educational Material Management in Secondary Schools of Wolaita Zone, Snnpr.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of school principal’s leadership in school improvement program in Wolaita Zone government secondary schools. Descriptive survey research design was employed to describe the phenomena to the study. In Nine woreda , ten secondary schools were selected through simple random sampling. 10 students’ representatives under sample woreda and 30 principals were selected through availability sampling technique. Furthermore, 120 teachers participated in the study by using simple random sampling technique. Questionnaire was prepared for teachers and principals. Focus group discussion and document analysis were also used to validate the data gathered through questionnaires. Frequency, percentage, standard divisions, means and person’s correlations were used to determine the relationship between variables. The result of the study indicated that educational leaders ineffectively providing textbooks and other teaching/learning materials mission, and goals of the school, creating a Conducive environment to facilitate supervisory activities in the school by organizing all necessary resources, curriculum monitoring and evaluation and low participation of stake holders improving SIP implementation for effectiveness of principal’s leadership. Besides this, principals used several approaches in supervising the implementation of instructional practices. Some approaches like use of students to monitor teacher lesson attendance and visiting class to observe a teacher were rarely used. Most principals involved their subordinates in decision making. Schools faced challenges that include inadequate trained teachers and learning/ teaching materials, inadequate science laboratories and lack of time to check on the teachers’ and students’ work by principals. Study recommends that the school provide more learning materials and facilities like science laboratories and libraries. The woreda education office have better to employ more teachers to the schools with understaffing in order to relieve the current teacher of the work load and ensure timely syllabus coverage as this will significantly impact to effectiveness of principals. Principals have better to delegate mores duties to their stake holders in order to save time to assess both the students’ and teachers’ commitment to their work.
Copyright (c) 2023 Tadele Tesfaye Labiso https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Sustainable Logistic Management Plan as an alternative to minimize budget difficulties of Higher Education Institutions
Brazil has increased its scientific production in the past four decades, with public universities playing a major role in scientific and technological research in the country. Recent cuts in governmental budgets to these institutions put them at risk of closing down, impacting not only education, but also research and development in the country, thus threatening the future of the national science and technology system. Sustainable actions may help universities to overcome this crisis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the implementation, in 2008, of a Sustainable Logistic Management Plan (SLP) at the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA). Indicators were collected by UFCSPA Environmental Management Commission (EMC) and were publicly available. The study analyzed indicators such as water and energy consumption and special waste production to assess trends in environmental aspects and their respective impacts. The number of graduate and undergraduate courses at UFCSPA increased during the period, therefore most indicators showed an increase in resource consumption in absolute values. However, a decrease was observed when consumption was analyzed per capita. Accordingly, overall consumption of electricity increased 143% from 2008 to 2020, whereas a reduction per capita was observed. Special waste production increased 46% from 2013 to 2020, but per capita production remained stable and water consumption, despite having an average annual increase of 8%, also had a per capita reduction. This study shows how sustainable actions implemented by UFCSPA affected the use of resources, reducing the consumption of water, electricity, disposable materials, and waste per capita. Therefore, we can conclude that the actions implemented by the university in 2008 and monitored by the EMC in the SLP contributed significantly to achieving financial balance in the institution.
Copyright (c) 2024 Thiago Tepasse Brum, Fernanda Corte Real Corrêa, Janira Prichula, Ana Beatriz Gorini Veiga https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0