Globalisation and rapid environmental change have created many challenges for public and private organisations across Iraq as a developing country, particularly in the higher education sector. This includes, for example, decreases in government funding; increased demand for higher education; a need for economic transformation, and related competitiveness of organizations. Such challenges require exceptional leaders and strategic planning in order to take action to improve. In Iraq, the higher education sector is still one of the main foundations in progressing the knowledge economy. Studies into leadership style, strategic planning processes, and the importance of leadership and organisational culture to an organisation’s success have been used to assist both public and private Iraqi colleges in responding to the challenges they face. Although, some studies have examined the interaction between leadership and strategic planning, and leadership and organisational success, there has been no empirical study that has investigated how these three variables interact together. Thus, this study aimed, firstly, to identify the current leadership styles and strategic planning processes in the colleges and the challenges they faced, and to gain an understanding from the perspective of the senior leaders themselves as to how they might best respond to the current situation. Secondly, based on the participants’ experiences, knowledge and perceptions, the study aimed to identify implications for both practice and policy to help improve the colleges’ outcomes. The study involved a mixed-methods approach and was conducted in two stages. During the first stage, the researcher gathered quantitative data by administering a survey package to 129 leaders (deans, associate deans, and heads of departments) across both public and private colleges in the capital city of Baghdad. During the second stage, the researcher gathered qualitative data to more deeply explore the survey results by conducting individual interviews with a sub-sample of 21 leaders from both college types (ten public and 11 private). In the data analyses stages, both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were applied to compiling tables and charts, and to test hypotheses, by employing the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Microsoft Excel, and NVivo. The results of study showed that both transformational and transactional leadership styles played a varied and vital role in the colleges’ strategic planning processes, and in turn their success. The fact that private colleges were ‘for profit’ and public colleges were ‘not for profit’, as well as their contrasting funding models, highlighted key differences between the two college types’ leadership and general modus operandi. While it was found that both transformative leadership and transactional leadership styles were necessary to address the challenges colleges faced in the Iraqi educational context, the impetus for change extended far beyond the need for professional development of leaders. The embracing of information communication technologies, and reliable Internet was seen as necessary in all aspects of the colleges’ work and provision for teaching and learning, and students’ success. This applied to both college types along with the need for closer adherence to government regulations and more focused government coordination of colleges’ administrative functions. Furthermore, implications for making successful improvements to practice also identified the need to manage the challenge of sociocultural influences on the appointments and promotions of leaders. It was concluded that a greater emphasis on teamwork and provision of incentives for staff, along with a ‘boost’ to pedagogy and practice, which could be provided through the adoption of information communication technologies and appropriate professional development strategies, would enhance the colleges’ ranks and the status of their qualifications. Also, theoretically, the study offers a value-add to leadership, strategic planning process, and organisational success literature in the form of a conceptual model that links these variables in the context of Iraqi higher education sector.
In current research Copper was employed for preparing a ternary system of Al–Si alloy in different (0.2–2.5 wt. %) the best was taken is (1.5%wt) of copper that circumstances of solidification for improving the mechanical performance of the available in aluminium alloy. Cast iron molds were prepared to obtain tensile strength testing specimens. Alloys were prepared by employing gas furnaces. The molten metal was poured into a preheated cast-iron mold. The obtained alloy structures were studied using an X-ray diffractometer and optical microscopy. The mechanical performance of the prepared alloys was examined under the influence of different hardening conditions in both heat and non-heat-treated conditions. The outcomes showed at the
... Show MoreThe variation of compression index Cc and swelling index Cs with the degree of saturation S was studied on unsaturated and fully saturated soils for different degrees of saturation (100%, 91%, 85%, 75%, 60%), several mathematical equations were found to describe these relationships, these equations can be used to predict settlement during the consolidation process in unsaturated and fully saturated soils.
Lasmiditan (LAS) was formulated as a nanoemulsion based in situ gel (NEIG)with the aim of improving its oral bioavailability via application intranasally. The solubility of LAS in oils, emulsifiers, and co-emulsifiers was determined to identify nanoemulsion (NE)components. Phase diagrams were constructed to identify the area of nanoemulsification. LAS NE was formulated using the spontaneous nanoemulsification method. Four NEs (F19, F24, F31, and F34) containing 7-15 % oleic acid (OA) as an oily phase, 40-55% labrasol (LR), and transcutol (TC) as emulsifier mixture at (1:1), (2:1), (3:1), and (1:2) ratio with 30-53 % (w/w) aqueous phase, having suitable optical transparency of 95–98%, globule size of 104-140 nm and polydisper
... Show MoreHelminthiasis is a significant economic burden on grazing cattle. Increased resistance to currently available synthetic anthelmintics used to treat helminthiasis, and anthelmintic residues in meat and dairy products pose a significant worldwide health threat. These obstacles require the development of new anthelmintics capable of combating drug resistance while also exhibiting improved safety profiles. Rhynchosia cana (Fabaceae) is a herb that has historically been used as a worm expeller. To evaluate the phytochemical profile and explore the anti-oxidant and anthelmintic effects of different extracts of Rhynchosia cana (R. cana) by In silico and In vitro methods. Using standardised chemical t
... Show MoreBackground: Menstrual problems with all manifestations ranging from life-threatening bleeding to amen- orrhea are considered patterns of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), which is until now a popular reason for referral to the gynaecologic clinic and requires a special diagnostic tool. Objective: To assess the accuracy of hysteroscopy in diagnosing endometrial pathologies and to compare it with sonographic and histopathologic reports. Patients and Methods: A prospective study conducted in the Baghdad Teaching Hospital on 60 Iraqi females having varying complaints from abnormal uterine bleeding in pre- and post-menopausal women, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain with normal or abnormal ultrasound findings. Office hysteroscopy was done and
... Show MoreBackground: Oral mucositis is regarded as one of the major complications of radiation therapy especially in patients with head and neck cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of glutamine in preventing or minimizing the development of mucositis of the oral cavity. Subjects and methods: Forty-six participants were randomly selected amongst those who were planned to receive radiation therapy for head and neck region cancers. They were randomly divided into two groups of 23 subjects, one group received glutamine and the second group received a placebo. Results: Glutamine had a statistically significant effect in reducing the occurrence and/or severity of oral mucositis in the treated patients compared to patients in the con
... Show Morethe study aimed to identify the impact of the types of cooking utensils in transition metal elements to food and the effect of acid and storage in the concentration of these elements. used five types of cooking utensils including aluminum. tefal, astainls steel, glass. (pyrex), and ceramic prepared in it the food meal. the same meals were repeated add to them acid. the estimate of mineral elements in the meal prepared before storage and after storage in refrigerator temperature degree. the result shows the increase of aluminum concentration in the meals that prepared in aluminum pot reaching 2.913 pmm while reached less concentration in the meal prepared in astainls pot reaching 0.325 pmm. the highest concentration of iron reached 25.2 p
... Show MoreThe current research aims to study social capital and its effect in enhancing the psychological empowerment of workers through the two variables of social capital within its dimensions (structural, relational, cognitive) and the variable of psychological empowerment within its components (ability, meaning, personal will and influence). The questionnaire was used as a main tool in the collection of data and with data collected from a sample of 168 employees in the Municipality of Samawa Municipality, which is part of the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works. The results of the research (The impact of social capital in enhancing the psychological empowerment of workersApplied research in the Dire
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