Keberkesanan program industrial skills enhancement programme (INSEP) dalam membantu peningkatan kemahiran kebolehpekerjaan peserta program di pusat pembangunan kemahiran negeri

Pengangguran di kalangan siswazah merupakan satu masalah global dan ia menjadi satu isu yang hangat diperdebatkan di Malaysia baru-baru ini. Salah satu langkah untuk mengatasi masalah ini ialah dengan melaksanakan program Industrial (INSEP) di Malaysia. Tujuan kajian ini ialah untuk meninjau keberkesanan program INSEP dalam membantu peningkatan kemahiran kebolehpekeIjaan peserta program. Program INSEP yang dikaji hanya dihadkan kepada program INSEP yang dilaksanakan di dua (2) buah Pusat Pembangunan Kemahiran Negeri yang mewakili zon utara dan zon selatan. Kajian ini merupakan kajian tinjauan yang melibatkan kedua-dua data kuantitatif dan kualitatif. Responden yang dipilih secara rawak terdiri daripada 63 orang peserta yang telah tamat mengikuti program INSEP pada tahun 2005. Selain daripada temu bual, soal selidikjuga digunakan sebagai instrumen utama dalam pengumpulan data. Data dikumpulkan dan dianalisis menggunakan perisian Statistical Package for Social Science ( SPSS version 12.0) untuk mendapatkan data deskriptif dan menjalankan pengujian statistik. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan persepsi peserta terhadap kualiti program daripada aspek reka bentuk program, prasarana dan pendekatan aktiviti pembelajaran yang dilaksanakan berada pada tahap yang sederhana ( skor min 3.79). Hasil kajian ini juga menjelaskan bahawa pendekatan aktiviti pembelajaran yang dilaksanakan dapat membantu meningkatkan kemahiran kebolehpekeIjaan peserta selepas tamat mengikuti program INSEP ( skor min 3.89). Seterusnya, hasil ujian-t menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan pada tahap 0.05 terhadap peningkatan kemahiran kebolehpekeIjaan peserta sebelum dan selepas mengikuti program INSEP. Secara umumnya, hasil kajian ini telah menunjukkan perlaksanaan program INSEP telah beIjaya dalam membantu peningkatan kemahiran kebolehpekerjaan peserta setelah tamat mengikuti program tersebut

CPLD based controller for single phase inverters

The DC-AC converter, also known as inverter, converts DC power to AC power at desired output voltage and frequency. The DC power input to the inverter is obtained from an existing power supply. Nowadays inverters use high power switching transistors either IGBT's and/or MOSFETs. In addition, the voltage and frequency of the source can be adjustable. These single phase inverters and their operating principles are analyzed in detail. In this project, a full-bridge, single phase inverter that uses a digital Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to control the power switches at 18 kHz was constructed. The concept of PWM with different strategies for inverters is described. A type of filter is used to improve the distortion in the output waveform. A design and implementation of PWM by using complex programmable logic device (CPLD) from Altera MaxPlus II is constructed and programmed. The involved software, hardware, and suitable algorithm to implement and generate the PWM are developed in details. To verify the significant of this single phase inverter, the output voltage will be tested with resistive load and inductive load

CoachNet: The further development of a coordinated network for sport coaching in Europe

Leeds Metropolitan University (LMU), in partnership with the European Coaching Council (ECC), was successful in a bid to the European Commission under the Preparatory Action in the Field of Sport (EAC/18/2011). The project was designed to develop an innovative approach that would contribute to the strengthening of the organisation of sport in Europe as part of the ‘good governance, strand of the EU Preparatory Action in the Field of Sport. The primary objective was to examine ways in which the organisation of coaching could be enhanced in Europe, with a particular focus on the greater involvement of coaches in decisionmaking. In exploring ways to maximise the ‘voice of the coach’, the partnership between LMU and ECC was central to the project. ECC is the continental division of the International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE). Through its network, ECC was in a position to identify current organisational arrangements for coaching across Europe. LMU is a well established research and practice oriented university in the UK and played a lead role in coordinating the project and guiding the research methodology through its Sport Coaching and Physical Education (SCOPE) Research and Enterprise Centre. Varying arrangements for the development and management of coaching were observed through a study of European countries. Within this varied landscape, the representation of coaches was sporadic, ranging from no representative mechanism to a number of good practice examples that made provision for the tiered engagement of coaches depending on their role; sport and coaching status category. These examples included confederated models across sports; blended models across coaching status categories and single and multi-sport models for the engagement and representation of coaches. The study concluded that there is a need for a more considered approach to the involvement of coaches in decision-making, with a number of recommendations developed for consideration by member states and the European divisions of the International Federations. These recommendations proposed that the structure of ECC as the European arm of ICCE be reviewed, with the intention to more strongly engage organisations that have been established to represent the voice of coaches and leading to a re-structuring of the organisation. In this context, ICCE and ECC should play an even stronger advocacy, representative and action role in establishing coaching as a blended profession, which includes volunteer, part-time paid and full-time paid coaches. More coherent structures for the engagement of coaches in each sport and country are also recommended. This should occur as part of a wider commitment that the principle of listening to and hearing the voice of the coach should become more strongly embedded within the way in which sporting and related organisations operate. The EU is well placed to lead on this type of approach, ensuring the coaches are more fully engaged in social dialogue and in the process to further enhance the role of sport and coaching in Europe. Further research is also recommended on the nature, needs and demographics of the coaching workforce. All of these approaches need to be tempered with the realisation that coaches are individual decision-makers, operating in a wide variety of contexts and many of whom do not show a propensity for involvement in formal ‘representative’ structures. The need for alternative methods to connect with and engage coaches was, therefore, identified. These include a more segmented approach to engaging with coaches, depending on their coaching role and status, as well as the utilisation of more informal modes of web-based communication to connect directly with coaches in their daily lives. In all existing and future scenarios, the key role of federations at the national and international level in seeking, activating and allocating financial and other resources to connect with and support their coaches was highlighted. The findings have been notified to ICCE for formal consideration, leading to changes in the ways in which the voice of the coach is more clearly represented within the work of the organisation. ICCE should continue to work closely with the EU Sport Unit to ensure that the recommendations of this report are implemented and evaluated on an on-going basis

Development of predicting model for safety behaviour based on safety psychology and working environment

The increasing trend of occupational accident due to unsafe act and unsafe condition especially in construction site suggests the need for more proactive safety assessment model. Therefore this research aimed to establish a prediction model of safety behaviour based on safety psychology and working environment factors in construction site. Theory of Planned Behaviour (TpB) was adapted to examine on the prediction model of safety behaviour among construction workers using safety psychology representing unsafe act and working environment factors representing unsafe condition. A modified perception questionnaire named Safety Psychometric Model (SPM) was proposed based on TpB questionnaire and safety attitude questionnaire (SQA). Previously, the approach has successfully applied in health care and manufacturing sector. The questionnaire has been validated by three industrial and academic experts. A total of 554 respondents among 92 construction site were selected as the subjects for analysis. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) was use for analysis purpose which involve correlation, regression and structural equation analysis. The results demonstrated that safety psychology and work environment factor was related positively with safety behaviour intention. The elements of workers’ attitude, subjective norm and perceived control that form the safety psychology context found to be significantly has the ability to predict safety behaviour. The demographics variances of personal and education background, working experiences and training background also determine as the factors of safety behaviour of the construction workers. The research also successfully established a safety behaviour prediction model that named Safety Psychometric Model. The model can be benefited by safety practitioners, organizations and researchers to explore the safety behaviour prediction. It also enhanced the knowledge in the area of employee behaviour prediction and modelling

On the volume of the set of mixed entangled states

A natural measure in the space of density matrices describing N-dimensional quantum systems is proposed. We study the probability P that a quantum state chosen randomly with respect to the natural measure is not entangled (is separable). We find analytical lower and upper bounds for this quantity. Numerical calculations give P = 0.632 for N=4 and P=0.384 for N=6, and indicate that P decreases exponentially with N. Analysis of a conditional measure of separability under the condition of fixed purity shows a clear dualism between purity and separability: entanglement is typical for pure states, while separability is connected with quantum mixtures. In particular, states of sufficiently low purity are necessarily separable.Comment: 10 pages in LaTex - RevTex + 4 figures in eps. submitted to Phys. Rev.

Students satisfaction of the industrial skills enhancement program (INSEP)

Policy makers in higher-education institutes have recently paid closer attention to graduate enrichment programs such as INSEP. The program aimed to prepare unemployed graduates with ‘ready to work’ knowledge and skills. The objectives of this study are to examine the satisfaction of the former students of the INSEP program in regards to three aspects, including inputs, implementation and learning impacts of the program. This study adopts the quantitative approach, using a set of questionnaires as an instrument. The sample size used for the study includes 71 respondents out of 82 graduates. This study was conducted one year after the students completed the INSEP program. The findings in regards to the program’s inputs showed that the students were satisfied with the content of the program, but were less satisfied with the quality of the teaching staff and infrastructure. The students were also less satisfied with the implementation of the program, especially the implementation of industrial training. In regards to learning impacts, the students were more satisfied with the program’s impacts on soft skills, compared to technological knowledge and skills. This study sheds light on several aspects of the program that need further improvemen

Potential application of LDPE plastic waste into tiles

Plastic has interesting characteristics which makes it the most used material in the world. However, plastic is known to be a non-biodegradable material which unable to naturally decompost in soil and thus contribute to environmental issue. As alternative, plastic waste has been recycled to produce quality and sustainable construction materials as the source is abundant. Thus, this study is carried out to utilize plastic waste particularly low density polyethylene (LDPE) and with sand in manufacturing tiles in two different sand and plastic waste ratios of 2:1 and 2:2. The tiles manufactured were further analyzed for their water absorption and compressive strength. It was found that the tiles made of mixture ratio of 2:2 have higher compressive strength and lower weight compared to that of 2:1 ratio. The average weight of tiles for 2:1 ratio was 891.59 g, while ratio 2:2 produced tiles with weight of 1319.5 g. Tiles manufactured from the plastic waste also showed better water absorption and compressive strength compared to normal cement tiles

Separability criterion and inseparable mixed states with positive partial transposition

It is shown that any separable state on Hilbert space ${\cal H}={\cal H}_1\otimes{\cal H}_2$, can be written as a convex combination of N pure product states with $N\leq (dim{\cal H})^2$. Then a new separability criterion for mixed states in terms of range of density matrix is obtained. It is used in construction of inseparable mixed states with positive partial transposition in the case of $3\times 3$ and $2\times 4$ systems. The states represent an entanglement which is hidden in a more subtle way than it has been known so far.Comment: It is improved and extended version of the former manuscript, in particular the theorem concerning finite decomposition of separable states has been included, 14 pages, RevTe