Independence of the telecommunications regulatory authority in Palestine: Institutional challenges

This paper identifies view points of the Palestinian telecommunications sector's stakeholders with regard to regulatory independence and analyzes reasons behind the rejection of the 2009 Telecommunications Law that establishes an independent telecommunications regulatory authority. It sheds a light on the everlasting debate about necessity and viability of an unbiased, autonomous, and accountable regulator under occupation and political instability. The paper looks at the historical developments of the concept in the US and Europe and discusses political and social factors that played part in establishing regulatory authorities and placing safeguards that strengthen their independence and prevent them from being captured by any stakeholder. Then, through interviewing main stakeholders, the paper presents key issues of regulatory independence in Palestine. It first discusses the 2009 Telecommunications law and compares proposed safeguards to international best practices. Then it presents stakeholders' opinions and position regarding these safeguards. Finally, the paper makes some policy recommendation to ensure that a regulatory authority would be truly independent. --Telecommunications,Regulatory Independence,Institutional Reform

Using ensemble decision tree model to predict student dropout in computing science

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professionals play a key role in the development of an economy. STEM workers are critical thinkers as they contribute immensely by driving innovations. There is a high demand for professionals in the STEM fields but there is also a shortage of human resource in these areas. One way to reduce this problem is by identifying students who are at-risk of dropping out and then intervening with focused strategies that will ensure that these students remain in same the programme till graduation. Therefore, this research aims to use a data mining classification technique to identify students who are at-risk of dropping out from their Computing Science (CS) degree programmes. The Random Forest (RF) decision tree algorithm is used to learn patterns from historical data about first-year undergraduate CS students who are enrolled in a tertiary institute in the South Pacific. A number of factors are used which comprise of students demographic information, previous education background, financial information as well as data about students' academic interaction. Feature selection is performed to determine which factors have greater influence in students' decision in dropping out. Cross-validation techniques are used to ensure that the models are not over-fitted. Two models were built using a 5fold and 10-fold cross-validation and the results were compared using several measures of model performance. The results show that the factors corresponding to students' academic performance in a first-year programming course had the greatest impact student attrition in CS

Adopting smartphone applications for Second Language Acquisition: investigating readiness and acceptance of mobile learning in two Higher Education Institutions

Both university scholars and school teachers have witnessed a growing presence of smartphones and tablets inside classrooms over the last decade. This doctoral investigation analyzed students’ readiness and perception towards acceptance and adoption of smartphone applications for Mobile-Assisted-Language-Learning in English. Objectives were based on the importance of mobile learning nowadays and at verifying how second language acquisition applications were accepted and adopted by participants of this study held simultaneously at Universidade Tiradentes (Brazil) and Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal). Our first research question wanted to know if they were ready to the acceptance and voluntary adoption of virtual learning environments as a technology innovation, raising their awareness to the use of mobile apps as learning tools. A second research question analyzed which apps best contemplated participants’ linguistic needs and could be suggested for curriculum development in higher education institutions in Brazil and Portugal. The five applications selected to our research were: Babbel, British Council, Busuu, Duolingo and Speak English Daily. Through an analysis of the selected applications for Second Language Acquisition (SLA), the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) designed for L2 learning as well as the responses from participants it was possible to contribute to an adaptation of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology which we labeled UTAUT+M; the M standing for mobile. Elements of Connectivism are intertwined through this study and the convergence between m-Learning and SLA is perceived at the abundance of applications on the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android). The study was conveniently held at UNL, with graduates from Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas and Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia. At UNIT, participants were from the English Language, Petroleum Engineering and Biomedicine. The approach was mixed with qualitative and quantitative aspects and our Designbased Research (D-bR) focused on understanding how participants made use of these apps and the potential to language acquisition opportunities they provide. Using a cross-sectional survey with convenience sampling, we collected data from volunteers at the live presentations and also after a 60 to 90 days period to assess their use of the apps during it. Through descriptive statistics, we analyzed the data, coded it, separated in determinants and carried out frequency analyses of the attributes to better understand results and rates of acceptance and rejection from the sample. Our adapted UTAUT+M contributed to the understanding of the acceptance and potential adoption of mobile learning applications, which app could be recommended for curriculum development and how the contributions of this thesis can enhance English teaching and learning to these higher education graduate

Smartphones and people with intellectual disabilities: An international comparison of contextual social barriers for effective usage

Mobile devices are becoming ubiquitous. However, very little research has been carried out on the use, benefits or barriers of this technology by people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID), either in an educational or social context. This paper explores self-reported constraints upon usage of smartphones by ID in a study conducted in the UK (with 59 participants) and replicated in a smaller scale in Brazil (23). The studies explored these issues via in-depth group and individual interview and observation. In both countries, similar 'self-imposed' barriers were elicited, with different emphasis. The categories 'reluctance to reveal oneself online' and 'concerns about factors beyond one's control' (viruses, unreliable hardware) were more evident in UK participant comments. Factors in the category 'burden of responsibility', specifically fear of assault were emphasized by Brazilians. Constraints imposed by supporters, in both groups, included prohibitions, restrictions and usage monitoring, especially with regard to social media. These constraints were justified as being to protect the individuals. External barriers such as usability issues, cost management were mentioned by both groups. Overall, use of the technology by this cohort can be seen as a tension between enablement and control, with emphases on different aspects of these forces related to the social conditions prevailing in each country. All rights reserved. Copyright 2020

Attempts to Replicate the Skills, Attributes and Capabilities Associated with International Mobility in an Online World: A Case Study

In recent years, obstacles to physical mobility, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, have hastened the turn towards online platforms for educational and social activities. Many study abroad programs have had to adapt to such circumstances and embrace virtual environments in the face of limited physical mobility. In this case study, we look at how one multi-university program, the UGPN Academy, was able to expand international student learning efforts despite travel limitations due, in part, to adapting to online communication technologies and environments. Through comparison of surveys administered to participants pre- and post-participation, students reported that having an online community as a source of social support, as well as learning about different experiences during a global pandemic, were two strengths of the program. In addition, students reported becoming more familiar with different online technologies as well as feeling more open to people from diverse backgrounds and international careers. These findings contribute to a further understanding of Internationalisation at Home (IaH) as a useful model that can be extremely valuable in its own right. Although IaH is not a replacement for physical mobility, it may provide its own benefits, such as providing a collaborative, diverse online community as a source of social and professional support, networking and opportunities for international learning experiences for students who are unable to participate in traditional study abroad programs. Diversifying and further integrating such virtual platforms can then be seen as a part of best practices rather than a replacement for traditional modes of international cultural exchange

Banif Bank: Value creation in the Maltese market

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and EconomicsThe entry in a new market is always a major strategic challenge for a firm: competing in different regions and dealing with the specific conditions. This work project describes the entry of a new bank in the Maltese market, by exploring a new positioning. Through the real case of Banif Bank, this case intends to evaluate the potential of value creation in that industry, by first assessing its attractiveness and profitability. Then, Banif Bank positioning is analized to conclude if it can create a competitive advantage that would be sustainable in the long term

Connected Brazil and digital humanities: the perspective of interpreting museums in Porto Alegre

A connected society implies a new concept of cultural patrimony which starts to exist when the space is changing from physical to the one of data flow. Cyberspace and new technologies in cultural institutions provide up-to-date information to their public that has the potential of acting as a co-author by creating and sharing. Accessing cultural information of the museum's collection online through the screen or electronic device is a global trend and leads individuals to interact, exchange knowledge and absorb social change. Can one think that it is the “Digital Age” that is imposing itself on teaching during the pandemic? Can you imagine that everyone will migrate to digital on equal terms, including the population most vulnerable to poverty? Are digital educational resources within easy reach of the entire student community? Do all families have sufficient digital literacy and financial conditions to assist and enable their children to access and use digital tools? The answers seem obvious. It is not possible to disregard or pretend to be a minor problem, which was known before the covid-19: the digital inequality. It has already been revealed that the place where you live defines insertion in the digital world. The outskirts of Porto Alegre, like many others in Brazil, are full of families with school-age children who face serious obstacles to accessing the world wide web. Difficulties ranging from not being able to buy a computer to being unable to pay the cost of equipment or connection services. That is why they are classified, in the surveys, as “second-class users”, for making use of the internet based on more limited tools, such as cell phones, limited data access and access in public places. Digital inequalities connected with the pandemic. The article analyzes the connected Brazilian society and characterizes its involvement in the social media using the example of the museums of the city of Porto Alegre