Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2011 Edition
A Review of Entrepreneurship Education for College Students in China
Mansheng Zhou and Haixia Xu
Abstract
Partly as a result of the rapid growth in Chinese higher education, graduate placement has become a critical issue facing colleges and universties. In response, one of the policy initiatives adopted by the Chinese government is for higher education institutions to put an emphasis on entrepreneurship education. In 2002, the Ministry of Education launched a pilot program on carrying out entrepreneurship education in nine prestigious higher education institutions in China. Since then, many colleges and universities have adopted this innovation in education. This study attempts to examine entrepreneurship education as an innovative solution to the challenges facing higher education in China. It first introduces the background for promoting entrepreneurship education in China, analyzes the entrepreneurship education programs and activities in three selected universities, assesses the state of entrepreneurship education both from a student perspective and also through a comparison with developments in the United States, and concludes with recommendations for further developments in entrepreneurship education in China’s colleges and universities.
Key words: China; entrepreneurship education; higher education; innovation
Managing Soil Erosion in Northern Ireland: A Review of Past and Present Approaches
Donal Mullan
Abstract
In recent decades, the off-site transport of sediment and nutrients from agricultural land into the neighbouring natural and built environment has become a more pressing environmental sustainability issue than the on-site threats of soil erosion in many of the world’s temperate regions. In the temperate region of Northern Ireland, recent studies have highlighted the off-site issue of soil erosion by water in the present day, and projected that the problem may become more widespread and serious in a changing climate. This review paper examines how this problem is being managed in the present day, and draws on examples of policy in other countries to consider how the role of policy needs to be modified for more effective management. Farmers are generally not adhering to present-day policy and “keeping their land in good agricultural and environmental condition”. A range of suggested changes in policy and practice is offered, ranging from educating farmers on erosion mitigation and remediation to developing specific policies aimed at targeting soil erosion and conservation as their sole objective. An increase in the evidence base from measured erosion rates in the field is postulated to be the most likely route to achieving policy changes.
Key words: soil erosion; muddy floods; off-site impacts; policy; farmers; agriculture
The Psychological and Neurological Bases of Leader Self-Complexity and Effects on Adaptive Decision-Making
Sean T. Hannah, Pierre A. Balthazard, David A. Waldman, and Peter L. Jennings Peter L. Jennings
Abstract
Complex contexts and environments require leaders to be highly adaptive and to adjust their behavioral responses to meet diverse role demands. Such adaptability may be contingent upon leaders having requisite complexity to facilitate effectiveness across a range of roles. However, there exists little empirical understanding of the etiology or basis of leader complexity. To this end, we conceptualized a model of leader self-complexity that is inclusive of both the mind (the complexity of leaders’ selfconcepts) and the brain (the neuroscientific basis for complex leadership). We derived psychometric and neurologically based measures, the latter based on quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) profiles of leader self-complexity, and tested their separate effects on the adaptive decision-making of 103 military leaders. Results demonstrated that both measures accounted for unique variance in external ratings of adaptive decision-making. We discuss how these findings provide a deeper understanding of the latent and dynamic mechanisms that underpin leaders’ self-complexity and their adaptability.
Key words: leader complexity, self-complexity, neuroscience, adaptability
Non-linearity in timing the equity market and debt-equity choice of UK firms
HafezaliIqbalHussain, Noor Hafidzah Jabarullah
Abstract
We empirically test the market timing theory of capital structure of issuing behavior of UK firms and find that the debt-equity choice decision is non-linear. In line with the previous literature, we find that managers are more likely to issue equity (debt) when equities are overvalued (undervalued). In further analyzing the issuing pattern, we find that managers’ inclination towards equity issues during periods of overvaluation is non-linear as it is only significant during periods of slight overvaluation and insignificant during periods of excessive overvaluation. On the other hand, probabilities of issuing debt significantly increase only when equities are excessively undervalued. Our findings suggest that managers’ take into account other considerations when timing the equity market and poses some interesting questions on the viability of market timing as a stand-alone theory in explaining the capital structure puzzle.
Key words: Capital structure, equity mispricing, market timing, UK firms
“Effective Executive Communication, the Bhagavad Gita Way”
T.S.Balakrishnan
Abstract
Communication is the life blood of an organization. As free blood circulation is a must for the survival and growth of human body, so is free flow of communication a must for an organization. The Bhagavad Gita is literally translated as „Song Celestial‟ and is essentially a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, the most important among the Pandava Princes. Gita forms part of the famous epic „Maha Bharata‟ and it consists of 18 chapters and 700 stanzas. Gita is one of the basic books of Hinduism. In this paper an attempt is made to interpret a particular stanza of Gita as an infallible guide for effective communication. According to Gita, effective communication is that which contains the truth, which is beneficial to the listener, pleasant to hear and which is made only after self study. An executive who follows the guidelines provided by Gita for effective communication is sure to have good rapport with his bosses and subordinates and also will accomplish the objectives of his communication.
Key words: Austerity of speech, Base emotions, Bhagavad Gita, Communication, Self study
Adopting Mobile Learning in Tertiary Environments: Instructional, Curricular and Organizational Matters
Boris Handal, Jean MacNish and Peter Petocz
Abstract
This qualitative study looked at the instructional, curricular and organizational factors impacting on the adoption of mobile learning in a higher education institution. Academics expressed their views on a variety of educational issues likely to enhance or hinder the effectiveness of the innovation. Teachers requested more professional development in a number of key areas including the integration of the technology into teaching and learning. Likewise, resolving vital issues such as workload, equity to access and effective policy making were seen as key to successful adoption. Technical issues such as having good wireless connectivity, need for efficient technical support, access to mobile devices and an understanding of their operational limitations with respect to desk/laptops were also highlighted. The study revealed a number of alternative perceptions and misconceptions, about articulating effective mobile learning pedagogies. For instance, staff expressed concerns about the risk of exposing students to superficial learning when mobile learning experiences were not well designed, the prospect that the devices might distract students from learning, as well as a possible deterioration of the quality of interaction between academics and students. Recommendations to reconcile those alternative conceptions with best practice principles are outlined.
Key words: academics; perceptions; mobile learning; curriculum; adoption
Modeling Dynamics of Diffusion Across Heterogeneous Social Networks: News Diffusion in Social Media
Minkyoung Kim, David Newth and Peter Christen
Abstract
Diverse online social networks are becoming increasingly interconnected by sharing information. Accordingly, emergent macro-level phenomena have been observed, such as the synchronous spread of information across different types of social media. Attempting to analyze the emergent global behavior is impossible from the examination of a single social platform, and dynamic influences between different social networks are not negligible. Furthermore, the underlying structural property of networks is important, as it drives the diffusion process in a stochastic way. In this paper, we propose a macro-level diffusion model with a probabilistic approach by combining both the heterogeneity and structural connectivity of social networks. As real-world phenomena, we explore instances of news diffusion across different social media platforms from a dataset that contains over 386 million web documents covering a one-month period in early 2011. We find that influence between different media types is varied by the context of information. News media are the most influential in the arts and economy categories, while social networking sites (SNS) and blog media are in the politics and culture categories, respectively. Furthermore, controversial topics, such as political protests and multiculturalism failure, tend to spread concurrently across social media, while entertainment topics, such as film releases and celebrities, are more likely driven by interactions within single social platforms. We expect that the proposed model applies to a wider class of diffusion phenomena in diverse fields and that it provides a way of interpreting the dynamics of diffusion in terms of the strength and directionality of influences among populations.
Key words: macro-level diffusion; dynamic influence; meta-populations; social media
Assessment of Industrial Safety Education Programmes In Manufacturing Industries In Kaduna And Niger States Of Nigeria
Atsumbe, B.N. Ohize, E.J1. Abutu, Francis, Amine J. D
Abstract
Loss of working hours, low productivity and the loss of human and material resources due to negligence of safety and industrial safety education programme has become an incessant problem in manufacturing industries. This research study therefore focused on the assessment of industrial safety education programmes in the manufacturing industries of Kaduna and Niger states of Nigeria. The study sought to identify the industrial safety education training needs of the industries; the potential sources of industrial accidents in workshops/laboratories of manufacturing industries and the suitable instructional methods used by the industries to ensure safety and accident prevention in the industries. A 45 item questionnaire was used to collect data from management staff and factory workers from 24 manufacturing industries spread across Kaduna and Niger states of Nigeria. Mean ( X ) and Standard Deviation (S.D) were used for data analysis. The study among others found that: a conducive working environment greatly reduce potential sources of accidents and identifies appropriate industrial safety education training needs of the industries in addition to the instructional methods adopted. The study also recommended that: Federal Government should ensure monitoring and strict compliance with factories laws to save human and material resources and to create a conducive working environment for industrial workers in Nigeria.
Key words: assessment, manufacturing, Kedua, Nigeria
Relationship of Attitude and Achievement of Secondary School Students
Jubraj Khamari and Nibedita Guru
Abstract
For quite understandable reasons and supportive empirical research evidences, it can be stated with brevity that, „Education‟ has been considered and accepted as a very powerful instrument for development, growth and function of an individual in particular and that of the Nation in general. The level of education of an individual is undoubtedly determined, controlled, conditioned by certain non-cognitive factors in addition to the cognitive factors. Of these non-cognitive factors, the concept ‘Attitude’ has drawn the attention of many researchers and educationists for improvement of the academic performance of the children reading in secondary schools. There by attitude towards education, teacher, family and society influence academic achievement of the secondary school students. Hence the present study is going to be researched to that problem entitled “Relationship of Attitude and Achievement of Secondary School Students”.
Key words: Attitude towards education, Attitude towards family, Attitude towards society, Attitude towards teacher, Academic Achievement
A Review of Entrepreneurship Education for College Students in China
Mansheng Zhou and Haixia Xu
Abstract
Partly as a result of the rapid growth in Chinese higher education, graduate placement has become a critical issue facing colleges and universties. In response, one of the policy initiatives adopted by the Chinese government is for higher education institutions to put an emphasis on entrepreneurship education. In 2002, the Ministry of Education launched a pilot program on carrying out entrepreneurship education in nine prestigious higher education institutions in China. Since then, many colleges and universities have adopted this innovation in education. This study attempts to examine entrepreneurship education as an innovative solution to the challenges facing higher education in China. It first introduces the background for promoting entrepreneurship education in China, analyzes the entrepreneurship education programs and activities in three selected universities, assesses the state of entrepreneurship education both from a student perspective and also through a comparison with developments in the United States, and concludes with recommendations for further developments in entrepreneurship education in China’s colleges and universities.
Key words: China; entrepreneurship education; higher education; innovation
 [Abstract-PDF]
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[References]
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4.1.1.2011.1
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Managing Soil Erosion in Northern Ireland: A Review of Past and Present Approaches
Donal Mullan
Abstract
In recent decades, the off-site transport of sediment and nutrients from agricultural land into the neighbouring natural and built environment has become a more pressing environmental sustainability issue than the on-site threats of soil erosion in many of the world’s temperate regions. In the temperate region of Northern Ireland, recent studies have highlighted the off-site issue of soil erosion by water in the present day, and projected that the problem may become more widespread and serious in a changing climate. This review paper examines how this problem is being managed in the present day, and draws on examples of policy in other countries to consider how the role of policy needs to be modified for more effective management. Farmers are generally not adhering to present-day policy and “keeping their land in good agricultural and environmental condition”. A range of suggested changes in policy and practice is offered, ranging from educating farmers on erosion mitigation and remediation to developing specific policies aimed at targeting soil erosion and conservation as their sole objective. An increase in the evidence base from measured erosion rates in the field is postulated to be the most likely route to achieving policy changes.
Key words: soil erosion; muddy floods; off-site impacts; policy; farmers; agriculture
| [Abstract-PDF]
|
[References]
|
4.1.1.2011.2
|
The Psychological and Neurological Bases of Leader Self-Complexity and Effects on Adaptive Decision-Making
Sean T. Hannah, Pierre A. Balthazard, David A. Waldman, and Peter L. Jennings Peter L. Jennings
Abstract
Complex contexts and environments require leaders to be highly adaptive and to adjust their behavioral responses to meet diverse role demands. Such adaptability may be contingent upon leaders having requisite complexity to facilitate effectiveness across a range of roles. However, there exists little empirical understanding of the etiology or basis of leader complexity. To this end, we conceptualized a model of leader self-complexity that is inclusive of both the mind (the complexity of leaders’ selfconcepts) and the brain (the neuroscientific basis for complex leadership). We derived psychometric and neurologically based measures, the latter based on quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) profiles of leader self-complexity, and tested their separate effects on the adaptive decision-making of 103 military leaders. Results demonstrated that both measures accounted for unique variance in external ratings of adaptive decision-making. We discuss how these findings provide a deeper understanding of the latent and dynamic mechanisms that underpin leaders’ self-complexity and their adaptability.
Key words: leader complexity, self-complexity, neuroscience, adaptability
| [Abstract-PDF]
|
[References]
|
4.1.1.2011.3
|
Non-linearity in timing the equity market and debt-equity choice of UK firms
HafezaliIqbalHussain, Noor Hafidzah Jabarullah
Abstract
We empirically test the market timing theory of capital structure of issuing behavior of UK firms and find that the debt-equity choice decision is non-linear. In line with the previous literature, we find that managers are more likely to issue equity (debt) when equities are overvalued (undervalued). In further analyzing the issuing pattern, we find that managers’ inclination towards equity issues during periods of overvaluation is non-linear as it is only significant during periods of slight overvaluation and insignificant during periods of excessive overvaluation. On the other hand, probabilities of issuing debt significantly increase only when equities are excessively undervalued. Our findings suggest that managers’ take into account other considerations when timing the equity market and poses some interesting questions on the viability of market timing as a stand-alone theory in explaining the capital structure puzzle.
Key words: Capital structure, equity mispricing, market timing, UK firms
| [Abstract-PDF]
|
[References]
|
4.1.1.2011.4
|
“Effective Executive Communication, the Bhagavad Gita Way”
T.S.Balakrishnan
Abstract
Communication is the life blood of an organization. As free blood circulation is a must for the survival and growth of human body, so is free flow of communication a must for an organization. The Bhagavad Gita is literally translated as „Song Celestial‟ and is essentially a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, the most important among the Pandava Princes. Gita forms part of the famous epic „Maha Bharata‟ and it consists of 18 chapters and 700 stanzas. Gita is one of the basic books of Hinduism. In this paper an attempt is made to interpret a particular stanza of Gita as an infallible guide for effective communication. According to Gita, effective communication is that which contains the truth, which is beneficial to the listener, pleasant to hear and which is made only after self study. An executive who follows the guidelines provided by Gita for effective communication is sure to have good rapport with his bosses and subordinates and also will accomplish the objectives of his communication.
Key words: Austerity of speech, Base emotions, Bhagavad Gita, Communication, Self study
| [Abstract-PDF]
|
[References]
|
4.1.1.2011.5
|
Adopting Mobile Learning in Tertiary Environments: Instructional, Curricular and Organizational Matters
Boris Handal, Jean MacNish and Peter Petocz
Abstract
This qualitative study looked at the instructional, curricular and organizational factors impacting on the adoption of mobile learning in a higher education institution. Academics expressed their views on a variety of educational issues likely to enhance or hinder the effectiveness of the innovation. Teachers requested more professional development in a number of key areas including the integration of the technology into teaching and learning. Likewise, resolving vital issues such as workload, equity to access and effective policy making were seen as key to successful adoption. Technical issues such as having good wireless connectivity, need for efficient technical support, access to mobile devices and an understanding of their operational limitations with respect to desk/laptops were also highlighted. The study revealed a number of alternative perceptions and misconceptions, about articulating effective mobile learning pedagogies. For instance, staff expressed concerns about the risk of exposing students to superficial learning when mobile learning experiences were not well designed, the prospect that the devices might distract students from learning, as well as a possible deterioration of the quality of interaction between academics and students. Recommendations to reconcile those alternative conceptions with best practice principles are outlined.
Key words: academics; perceptions; mobile learning; curriculum; adoption
| [Abstract-PDF]
|
[References]
|
4.1.1.2011.6
|
Modeling Dynamics of Diffusion Across Heterogeneous Social Networks: News Diffusion in Social Media
Minkyoung Kim, David Newth and Peter Christen
Abstract
Diverse online social networks are becoming increasingly interconnected by sharing information. Accordingly, emergent macro-level phenomena have been observed, such as the synchronous spread of information across different types of social media. Attempting to analyze the emergent global behavior is impossible from the examination of a single social platform, and dynamic influences between different social networks are not negligible. Furthermore, the underlying structural property of networks is important, as it drives the diffusion process in a stochastic way. In this paper, we propose a macro-level diffusion model with a probabilistic approach by combining both the heterogeneity and structural connectivity of social networks. As real-world phenomena, we explore instances of news diffusion across different social media platforms from a dataset that contains over 386 million web documents covering a one-month period in early 2011. We find that influence between different media types is varied by the context of information. News media are the most influential in the arts and economy categories, while social networking sites (SNS) and blog media are in the politics and culture categories, respectively. Furthermore, controversial topics, such as political protests and multiculturalism failure, tend to spread concurrently across social media, while entertainment topics, such as film releases and celebrities, are more likely driven by interactions within single social platforms. We expect that the proposed model applies to a wider class of diffusion phenomena in diverse fields and that it provides a way of interpreting the dynamics of diffusion in terms of the strength and directionality of influences among populations.
Key words: macro-level diffusion; dynamic influence; meta-populations; social media
| [Abstract-PDF]
|
[References]
|
4.1.1.2011.7
|
Assessment of Industrial Safety Education Programmes In Manufacturing Industries In Kaduna And Niger States Of Nigeria
Atsumbe, B.N. Ohize, E.J1. Abutu, Francis, Amine J. D
Abstract
Loss of working hours, low productivity and the loss of human and material resources due to negligence of safety and industrial safety education programme has become an incessant problem in manufacturing industries. This research study therefore focused on the assessment of industrial safety education programmes in the manufacturing industries of Kaduna and Niger states of Nigeria. The study sought to identify the industrial safety education training needs of the industries; the potential sources of industrial accidents in workshops/laboratories of manufacturing industries and the suitable instructional methods used by the industries to ensure safety and accident prevention in the industries. A 45 item questionnaire was used to collect data from management staff and factory workers from 24 manufacturing industries spread across Kaduna and Niger states of Nigeria. Mean ( X ) and Standard Deviation (S.D) were used for data analysis. The study among others found that: a conducive working environment greatly reduce potential sources of accidents and identifies appropriate industrial safety education training needs of the industries in addition to the instructional methods adopted. The study also recommended that: Federal Government should ensure monitoring and strict compliance with factories laws to save human and material resources and to create a conducive working environment for industrial workers in Nigeria.
Key words: assessment, manufacturing, Kedua, Nigeria
| [Abstract-PDF]
|
[References]
|
4.1.1.2011.8
|
Relationship of Attitude and Achievement of Secondary School Students
Jubraj Khamari and Nibedita Guru
Abstract
For quite understandable reasons and supportive empirical research evidences, it can be stated with brevity that, „Education‟ has been considered and accepted as a very powerful instrument for development, growth and function of an individual in particular and that of the Nation in general. The level of education of an individual is undoubtedly determined, controlled, conditioned by certain non-cognitive factors in addition to the cognitive factors. Of these non-cognitive factors, the concept ‘Attitude’ has drawn the attention of many researchers and educationists for improvement of the academic performance of the children reading in secondary schools. There by attitude towards education, teacher, family and society influence academic achievement of the secondary school students. Hence the present study is going to be researched to that problem entitled “Relationship of Attitude and Achievement of Secondary School Students”.
Key words: Attitude towards education, Attitude towards family, Attitude towards society, Attitude towards teacher, Academic Achievement
| [Abstract-PDF]
|
[References]
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4.1.1.2011.9
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