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.
Abstract:
Background: Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), an adipokine that participate in a lipid metabolism or insulin resistance through a complex regulatory network. Recently, RBP4 was reported to be associated with many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk factors in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aims to study the correlation of serum RBP4 with some markers of glycemic control, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity in T2DM Iraqi patients.
Subjects and Methods: one hundred fifty participants were enrolled in this coss-sectional study, 120 of participants were T2DM patients and 30 were apparently healthy individuals to serve as control gro
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The preparation, spectroscopic characterisation of complexes derived from the mixed ligands with CdII, ZnII and CoII metal ions with Schiff base, Dithiocarbamates (DTCs) and 8-Hydroxyquinoline are reported. The compounds that prepared have been defined via; chloride content, F.T-IR, UV-Vis 1H-NMR spectroscopy and C.H.N.S, as well as conductance and magnetic susceptibility.All data which collected from such methods specified complexes with 6 coordinates in solution and solid states. The biologicalactivity that is related to all the prepared compounds which were screened for their antimicrobial activitiesagainst (G+ and (G- )). The data that collected from biological activity indicate that complexes will have extra activity against such teste
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An experiment was conducted at botanical garden of Department of Biology ,College of Education (Ibn-AL –Haitham ,University of Baghdad during winter season of 2010 -2011.The aim of prsent study is to investigate the effect of Garlic (Allium sativum) extract and root extract of Ginger(Ziniber officinale)in two concentration of both extracts (20% and 30%)on growth and yield of (Cicer arietinum).The result showed that both extracts increased plant hight ,Chlorophyl content ,relative growth rate (RGR).Absolute growth rate (AGR),seeds yield .seed weight average ,biological yield ,carbohydrate and protein percentages in seeds,in comparsim with control plants .
Complexes from the ligand (2-hydroxy benzaldine)-4-aminoantipyrine with some transition metal ions V(l?),Cr(lll),Fe(lll) and Co(ll) were prepared in the presence of the co-ligand 1,10-phenanthroline in alcoholic medium. These compounds were characterized by the available techniques: FT-IR ,UV-Visible ,magnetic susceptibility, Flame atomic absorption technique as well as elemental analysis and conductivity mesurments .From these spectral studies, a square pyramidal structure proposed for V(IV) complex and an octahedral geometry for Cr(III),Fe(III) and Co(II) complexes. The biological activity of the ligands and their complexes were evaluated by a gar plate diffusion technique against three human pathogenic bacterial strains: Pseudomonas ae
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Introduction: Sleep, an essential therapeutic part of human physiology, Sleep problems was widespread among students in medical colleges, and excessive stress and the pressure of holding grades can affect their sleep quality. The relationship between sleep, stress and cognition/learning is far more complex than perceived. Material and Method: Cross sectional study was conducted in Al-Kindy College of Medicine, during the period from (2022 to 2023) academic year. The electronic questionnaire was distributed among all students. Analysis of data was carried out using IBM SPSS version 24. Results: A total of (500) medical students' online surveys were analyzed from AL-Kindy College of Medicine, The highest number of participants was fro
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Schiff base N,N'-Bis-(4-dimethylamino-benzylidene)-benzene-1,4-diamine has been synthesized from 4-dimethylaminobenzenaldehyde and benzene-1,4-diamine. The structure of Schiff base was obtained by (C.H.N.) microanalysis, Mass, 1HNMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectral methods and thermal analysis. Metal mixed ligand complexes of some metal(II) salts with Schiff base ligand and anthranilic acid were prepared in the molar ratio (1:2:2), (Metal):(SBL)2:(Anthra)2, (SBL)= Schiff base ligand, (Anthra) =anthranilic acid and Metal= Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II). The thermal behaviour (TGA) of the complexes was studied. The prepared complexes identified by using mass, thermal analysis, FT.IR and UV-Vis spectrum methods, on otherwise flame
... Show MoreIn this paper ,six new mixed metal ligand complexes are reported with Cephalexin (Ceph.H)as a primary ligand and Dimethylglyoxime (DMG) as secondary ligand with metal Chloride [MCl2 .nH2O. M=Mn(II),Co(II),Cu(II),Ni(II) and Zn(II),n=0-6] ,CrCl3.6H2O.The complexes are of (1:1:1)(Metal:Ligand: Ligand) Stoichiometry.The structures of these complexes are confirmed by using FT-IR and UV- electronic spectroscopies, magnetic moments, melting points, molar conductivity measurements and the metal % analysis revealed that the complexes analyze indicates a four coordinated as (A)=[M(HDMG) (Ceph)] .M=[Ni(II)and Zn(II).Six coordinated as (B) = K2[M(DMG)(CePh)(H2O)]. M= Mn (II),Co(II) and Cu(II) and (C)=[Cr(DMG)(Ceph)]Cl2. Interestingly, the in-vitro anti
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