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.
Natural bitumen (NB) is a highly precious material and has drawn increasing attention due to its unique properties, especially since it is available in large quantities and has been used in limited fields. In this research, the exploitation of NB from sulfur springs as an alternative energy resource in the production of asphalt pavement is evaluated. It can be concluded from the experimental results that the chemical composition and surface morphology of NB samples are different from those of base asphalt. Besides, the rheological properties of virgin NB are not sufficient for paving work. To overcome this obstacle, NB from five different springs is modified with limestone filler (LSF) to enhance its properties. LSF is a natural material an
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The present work involved synthesis of serval new substituted tetrazole via Schiff bases for trimethoprim drug by two steps. The first step involved direct reaction of different ketones and aldehydes with trimethoprim producing the corresponding Schiff bases (1-10), whereas the second step, involved preparation new tetrazoles derivatives (11-20) through reaction of the ready Schiff bases (in the first step) with sodium azidein in dioxin. The prepared compounds were characterized by UV, FT-IR, and some of them by 13C-NMR, 1H-NMR spectroscopy and physical properties.
A new compounds of 2,4-substituted-1,3- thiazole containing amines [I] and [II], Schiff bases [IV] and [V], amides [VI]-[X],esters [XI] - [XIII], thiazolidinones [XIV]-[XVIII] and 1,3-oxazepines [XIX]-[XXV] were Synthesized and characterized by melting points, FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, 1HNMR,13CNMR, dept135and Mass spectroscopy. The liquid crystalline properties of the synthesized compounds were verified by using hot-stage polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The compound [I] was found to be nematic textures (N). The first series of this study [II]n display only enantiotropic nematic phase when n=1-5 while the compounds with n =6-8 display two mesophasese smectic C(SmC) and nematic ph
... Show MoreLowpass spatial filters are adopted to match the noise statistics of the degradation seeking
good quality smoothed images. This study imply different size and shape of smoothing
windows. The study shows that using a window square frame shape gives good quality
smoothing and at the same time preserving a certain level of high frequency components in
comparsion with standard smoothing filters.
Used vegetable oil was introduced to transesterfication reaction to produce Biodiesel fuel suitable for diesel engines. Method of production was consisted of filtration, transesterfication, separation and washing. Transesterfication was studied extensively with different operating conditions, temperature range (35-80o C), catalyst concentration (0.5-2 wt. % based on oil), mixing time (30-120 min.) with constant oil/methanol weight ratio 5:1 and mixing speed 1300 rpm. The concentration of Fatty acid methyl esters (Biodiesel) was determined for the transesterficated oil samples, besides of some important physical properties such as specific gravity, viscosity, pour point and flash point. The behavior of methyl esters production and the
... Show MoreThis study has been undertaken to postulate the mechanism of impact test at low velocities. Thin-walled tubes of 100Cr6 were deformed under axial compression. In the present work there are seven velocities (4.429,4.652,5.240,5.600,5.942,6.264, 6.569) m\sec were applied to show how they effect the load, change in length, also the kinetic energy. However, the comparison between the obtained results and the other studies (Alexandar[3] , Abramowicz[4], Ayad[5]) was made the present work and Ayad data show good agreement. Load, change in length, kinetic energy were determined to understand the impact test.
Abstract Objective: The study aimed to assess the factors contributes of patient with bladder cancer and to find out the relationship between the factors of bladder cancer with certain variable. Methodology: A descriptive study to assessment of factors that contribute to bladder cancer that was carried out Al-Karama teaching hospital, Al-Kendy teaching hospital, Specialty Surgery teaching hospital and Al-Yarmok teaching hospital for the period of November 2003 to August 2004. A purposive (non-probability) sample of (100) patients with bladder cancer. An assessment from was constructed for the purpose of the st
In this research PbS thin film have been prepared by chemical bath deposition technique (CBD).The PbS film with thickness of (1-1.5)μm was thermally treated at temperature of 100°C for 4 hours. Some Structural characteristics was studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD)and optical microscope photograph some of chemical gas sensing measurements were carried out ,it shown that the sensitivity of (CO2) gas depend on the grain Size and deposition substrate. The grain size of PbS film deposited on on glass closed to 21.4 nm while 37.97nm for Si substrate. The result of current-voltage characterization shwon the sensitivity of prepared film deposited on Si better than film on glass.
The predisposing factors and their effect on the increasing of vulvovaginal Candidiasis have been studied in this research. The result indicated that the highest of infection with vaginal Candidias was in the age of women with age of (21-30years) with vaginal itching and discharge, also the results revealed that the pregnancy was the main predisposing factor. The percentage of the infected pregnant Ladies was 33.7% followed by the women who used the IUCD and OCP 22.1%, those who used steroids 5.2% comparing with control women (without predisposing factors).The results also indicated that the most cases of infection were during the third trimester of pregnancy (where the rate of infedion) was 53.9%.-OCP- Oral Contraceptive Pills-IUCD- Intrr
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