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
This research aims to assess the practice of physical activities by people with intellectual disabilities and its challenges during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from their families' point of view. The research sample consisted of (87) individuals from families with intellectual disabilities in the Makkah region. The sample was selected by the simple random method where the researcher used the descriptive analytical approach. A questionnaire of (32) items was used as the research tool to collect data. The findings of the study showed that the assessment level of practicing physical activities by people with intellectual disabilities was low. The public facilities dimension ranked first with a moder
... Show MoreLandlocked countries are displayed geopolitical new geo-political and intended to
countries that do not have sea views, a phenomenon present in four continents of the world
are: Africa, Europe, and Asia, and South America and the number arrived at the present time
to the (44) state the largest number of them in the continent it arrived in Africa (16) countries
in Asia (13) countries and Europe (13) In the State of South America two. This phenomenon
emerged due to the division of federations and empires and colonial treaties and others. But
the negative effects suffered by these countries may vary from one country to another, since
these countries in the continent of Europe, for example, is different from the same cou
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Throughout Agriculture has mostly relied on the use of natural fertilizers throughout human history, which are compounds that increase the nitrogen levels in the soil. Modern agriculture was made possible by the introduction of synthetic fertilizers at the end of the 19th centuryproduction of agriculture. Their application enhanced crop yields and sparked an agricultural revolution unlike anything the world had ever seen.In the near future, synthetic fertilizers are anticipated to continue to have a significant impa ct on human life, both positively and negatively. They are frequently utilized for producing all t ypes of crops and are essential to plant growth. The significance of synthetic fertilizers is their ability to provide the soil w
... Show MoreThe properties of capturing of peristaltic flow to a chemically reacting couple stress fluid through an inclined asymmetric channel with variable viscosity and various boundaries are investigated. we have addressed the impacts of variable viscosity, different wave forms, porous medium, heat and mass transfer for peristaltic transport of hydro magnetic couple stress liquid in inclined asymmetric channel with different boundaries. Moreover, The Fluid viscosity assumed to vary as an exponential function of temperature. Effects of almost flow parameters are studied analytically and computed. An rising in the temperature and concentration profiles return to heat and mass transfer Biot numbers. Noteworthy, the Soret and Dufour number effect resul
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A study was carried out to determine the concentrations of trace metals in vegetables and fruits, which are locally available in the markets of Baghdad-samples of fourteen varieties of vegetables and fruits, belonging to Beta vulgaris, Brassica rapa, Daucus carota, Allium cepa, Eurica sativa, Malva silvestris, Coriandrum Sativum, Trigonella Foenum craecum, Anethum graveolens, Barassica oleracea, Phaseolus vulgaris, citrus reticulata, Py rus malus, and Punica granatum. Analysis for Cd,Pb, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn were determined by flame atomic absorption sp ectrophotometry. The results indicated that the Malva silvestris recorded the highest concentrations of Cd and Mn while Allium cepa showed the highest concentrations of Pb and Cu. But E
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