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.
A numerical investigation is adopted for two dimensional thermal analysis of rocket thrust chamber wall (RL10), employing finite difference model with iterative scheme (implemented under relaxation factor of 0.9 for convergence) to compute temperature distribution within thrust chamber wall (which is composed of Nickel and Copper layers). The analysis is conducted for different boundary conditions: only convection boundary conditions then combined radiation, convection boundary conditions also for different aspect ratio (AR) of cooling channel. The results show that Utilizing cooling channels of high aspect ratio leads to decrease in temperature variation across thrust chamber wall, while no effects on heat transferred to the
... Show MoreSixty samples of commercially available contact lens solutions were collected from students at the Pharmacy College/Baghdad University. The types of lenses used varied from medical to cosmetic. They were cultured to diagnose any microbial contamination within the solutions. Both used and unused solutions were subject for culturing. Thirty six (60%) used samples showed bacterial growth, fungal growth was absent. Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounts for the highest number of isolates (25%) followed by E. coli (21%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (6.6%), Pseudomonas fluorescence (5%) and Proteus mirabilis (1.6%) respectively. Only one (1) unused (sealed) sample showed growth of P. fluorescence.
... Show MoreThe pathogenicity of S. saprophyticus was studied in mice. A group of white mice were injected transurethrally using a catheter with S. saprophyticus S67 cell suspension in a concentration reached 109 CFU/ml. concomitantly, the role of its peptidoglycan in the pathogenicity was studied by injecting another group of mice with 0.3 mg/0.2 ml of partially purified S. saprophyticus S67 peptidoglycan extract. After autopsy, kidneys and urinary bladder showed several histopathological changes both in cells and peptidoglycan injected mice, included: hydropic degeneration, glomerulus shrinkage, congestion of renal vessels, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and dekeratinization in urinary bladder.
A new azo dye, 5,5-[1,2-phenylenebis(2,1-biazenediyl)]bis[8-quinolino], was synthesized by reacting the diazonium salt of o-phenylenediamine with 8-hydroxyquinoline. The ligand was subsequently used to prepare a series of metal complexes with V(IV), Fe(III), Cr(III), Mn(II), Mo(VI), and Ru(III). The ligand was characterized using 1H and 3C-NMR spectroscopy, while the metal complexes were analyzed using UV-Vis, FT-IR, and mass spectrometry, along with thermal analysis (TGA, DSC), (C.H.N.), conductivity measurements, magnetic susceptibility, and metal and chlorine content analysis, the results indicated that the ligand exhibits tetracoordination. The complexes predominantly formed octahedral geometries, except for the vanadium complex, which
... Show MoreObjective: Schiff’s and Mannich bases of isatins are an important group of heterocyclic compounds which are of great importance in medicinal chemistry as antimicrobial agents. In the vision of these facts, new bis-Schiff bases and Mannich bases of isatins were synthesized. Methods: Three different bis-Schiff bases (3a-c) have been synthesized by reacting isatin, 5-fluoroisatin and 5-methoxy isatin with thiophene-2- carboxaldehyde using hydrazine hydrate to link between the carbonyl compounds, and then these bis- Schiff bases were condensed with two different secondary amines (piperidine and morpholine) separately, and formaldehyde to form the Mannich bases (4a-c and 5a-f), respectively. Results: The structures of the newly synthesized com
... Show MoreThe aim of the research is to:. Preparation and implementation of special educational units using multimedia to learn the skill of scrolling from below. 2 to recognize the impact of the use of multimedia in learning the skill of scrolling from below. 3 to identify the differences between the tests after the two groups research in learning the skill of passing from the bottom volleyball. The research represented the students of the first stage and the sample of the research was drawn randomly and the number of (50) students were divided into two experimental and control groups and each group (25) students were used standardized tests and conducting pre-tests and the implementation of the main exp
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The research the impact of the application of some of the production system tools in the specified time, which can be adapted in the service sectors (banking sector) over the improvement and increase the quality of banking services, and highlights the research problem in the low quality of banking services provided to customers because of the reliance on traditional banking systems in the provision of services Because of the lack keep pace with global developments in the banking industry, and the goal of research is to clarify the applicability of the production system in the time specified in the service sector and th
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