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.
Background: Hypothyroidism is a decrease in the production of the thyroid hormones and leads to gland dysfunction. Ashwagandha extract was used as an ayurvedic treatment and supposed to be as antihypothyroidism agent.
Objectives: to investigate the impact of ashwagandha (Ash) extract on propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroidism in rats.
Subjects and Methods: The rats were divided into three groups, control group, PTU (hypothyroid) group (6mg/kg/day by oral route), PTU (6mg/kg/day by oral route) +Ash (50mg/kg/day by oral route) treated group. All treatment continued for
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This article investigates Iraq wars presentation in literature and media. The first section investigates the case of the returnees from the war and their experience, their trauma and final presentation of that experience. The article also investigates how trauma and fear is depicted to create an optimized image and state of fear that could in turn show Iraqi society as a traumatized society. Critics such as Suzie Grogan believes that the concept of trauma could expand to influence societies rather than one individual after exposure to trauma of being involved in wars and different major conflicts. This is reflected in Iraq as a country that was subjected to six comprehensive conflicts in its recent history, i.e. less than half a century; th
... Show MoreThe research consists of four chapters, and the research aims to uncover the melodic and rhythmic aspects of the Iraqi Sufi chanting (Thalilah as a model) as one of the models of Sufi chanting in Iraq that is held at the tomb of Sheikh "Abdul Qadir Al-Kilani". As for the temporal limit of the research, it is from 2011 to 2012.
The researcher selected two samples for the research sample:
1. Separation of the Thalilah of the Prophet Al Adnani
2. Separate the chanting of prayers
According to the musical analysis, the researcher prepared the search tool, which consisted of eight paragraphs, for a special standard system in line with the research objectives. The validity and reliability of the instrument was verified by experts to
The UN organization is considered one of the most important organizations at the international level. It has accomplished multiple tasks and roles of many different issues and events that hit the developing and advanced world countries. It has performed a series of procedures and laws that have had an impact on ending the wars and conflicts that plagued some countries and continued for a period of time in the past. Moreover, it has improved the level of the international relations between a number of countries due to the problems and incidents took place between them. It has relied on finding solutions and treatments for humanitarian problems such as the preservation of the environment, preventing the spread of epidemics and diseases Thi
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Modern asphalt technology has adopted nanomaterials as an alternative option to assert that asphalt pavement can survive harsh climates and repeated heavy axle loading during service life and prolong pavement life. This work aims to elucidate the behavior of the modified asphalt mixture fracture model and assess the fatigue and Rutting performance of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) mixes using the outcomes of indirect Tensile Strength (IDT), Semicircular bend (SCB) and rutting resistance; for this, a single PG (64−16) nanomodified asphalt binder with 5 % SiO2 and TiO2 have been investigated through a series of laboratory tests, including: Resilient modulus, Creep compliance, and tensile strength, SCB, and Flow Number (FN) to study their potential
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This study been conducted and applied in Alrashed Health Center/Mahmodia Sector/ kerigh Sector/Ministry of Health/Baghdad City, and conducted on samples of women who are suffering from iron deficiency (Hemoglobin%) in blood for the year 2013. Fifty women been selected (married, unmarried), their ages ranging between 19-40 years old, they been given dried grinding spinach tablet. The dose been given was 3 tablet/day/4-6 weeks, after taken the percentage of Hemoglobin and Uric acid for all studied samples before and after dried spinach tablet given. It was appeared from samples analysis primarily and statically for 50 women, that 4% upon them only suffering high Iron deficiency (8.0-9.9 mg/100ml), 38% upon them suffering from middle iron def
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