The Influence of Social Media on International Students: Case Study Analysis of International Students from Arabian Gulf

Social media is increasingly becoming an important tool mainly for communication. However, organizations and institutions are embracing the platforms for marketing. Educational institutions have not been left behind in this regard, with most leveraging these platforms to increase their numbers while mainly targeting international students. This dissertation thus delves into the influence of social media on international students. The focus is on the effectiveness and efficiency of social media in influencing international students’ decision-making during selection of their preferred educational institutions

Automated and Surrogate Multi-Resolution Approaches in Genetic Algorithms

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from IEEE via the DOI in this record.Recent work on multi-resolution optimisation (varying the fidelity of a design during a search) has developed approaches for automated resolution change depending on the population characteristics. This used the standard deviation of the population, or the marginal probability density estimation per variable, to automatically determine the resolution to apply to a design in the next generation. Here we build on this methodology in a number of new directions. We investigate the use of a complete estimated probability density function for resolution determination, enabling the dependencies between variables to be represented. We also explore the use of the multi-resolution transformation to assign a surrogate fitness to population members, but without modifying their location, and discuss the fitness landscape implications of this approach. Results are presented on a range of popular uni-objective continuous test-functions. These demonstrate the performance improvements that can be gained using an automated multi-resolution approach, and surprisingly indicate the simplest resolution indicator is often the most effective, but that relative performance is often problem dependant. We also observe how population duplicates grow in multi-resolution approaches, and discuss the implications of this when comparing algorithms (and efficiently implementing them).Shaqra University, Saudi Arabi

Strategic management role in boosting hotel performance

The foremost aim of this paper is to examine the right linkage of specific market orientation, innovation strategy and organizational performance of 114 hotels in Malaysia. Data were drawn from census method on 475 hotels’ top and middle managers who are responsible for the progress of innovation and market orientation of their hotel. These research findings confirmed that all hypotheses give valuable indications on the strategic linkage of specific market orientation and innovation strategy to pursue for improved organizational performance. The results highlighted hotels pursuing competitor orientation focused on process innovation. Hotels that pursue customer orientation focused on service innovation. The result shows that competitor orientation, customer orientation, process innovation and service innovation have a significant effect on organizational performance. Remarkably, this research found process innovation partially mediates the association between competitor orientation and performance, while service innovation partially mediates the association of customer orientation and performance. The paper develops an integrated model that link specific market orientation, innovation strategy and organizational performance of hotels in Malaysia

Visualizing Evaluative Language in Relation to Constructing Identity in English Editorials and Op-Eds

This thesis is concerned with the problem of managing complexity in Systemic Functional Linguistic (SFL) analyses of language, particularly at the discourse semantics level. To deal with this complexity, the thesis develops AppAnn, a suite of linguistic visualization techniques that are specifically designed to provide both synoptic and dynamic views on discourse semantic patterns in text and corpus. Moreover, AppAnn visualizations are illustrated in a series of explorations of identity in a corpus of editorials and op-eds about the bin Laden killing. The findings suggest that the intriguing intricacies of discourse semantic meanings can be successfully discerned and more readily understood through linguistic visualization. The findings also provide insightful implications for discourse analysis by contributing to our understanding of a number of underdeveloped concepts of SFL, including coupling, commitment, instantiation, affiliation and individuation

Lessons Learned Framework for Efficient Delivery of Construction Projects in Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has the largest construction market in the gulf region. Nevertheless, the sector faces issues related to inefficiency and ineffectiveness in project delivery. This research aims to explore the impact of current practices across projects lifecycles, and to utilize findings to develop an integrated strategic construction project management framework (ISCPMF) that may pave the way to efficient and effective project implementation. To achieve this objective, the authors have traced the implementation processes of nine projects for data collection. This was based on a deductive approach with preconceived themes. Within-case and cross-case analysis was conducted. The data was complemented by holding three separate focus-group discussions with a total of nineteen participants, and the initial findings were cross-checked with six experts. The deficiencies that surround the pre-construction phase and disconnected activities that are carried out in different timespans represent the first barrier to implement projects successfully. This is coupled with low capacities contractors and non-proactive construction teams that lack a management toolbox to alleviate accumulated issues and control project progress. The unavailability of infrastructure and utilities did not ease construction nor made inspection possible, which led to late occupancy of facilities, waste of resources and failure to deliver the desired benefits effectively. The adoption of ISCPMF will institutionalize and bridge project phases. This may play a vital role in implementing projects efficiently and effectively and building data to benefit future projects. Though the research is limited to higher education facilities, the findings may be generalized to public construction projects

Change Detection Accuracy and Image Properties: A Study Using Simulated Data

Simulated data were used to investigate the relationships between image properties and change detection accuracy in a systematic manner. The image properties examined were class separability, radiometric normalization and image spectral band-to-band correlation. The change detection methods evaluated were post-classification comparison, direct classification of multidate imagery, image differencing, principal component analysis, and change vector analysis. The simulated data experiments showed that the relative accuracy of the change detection methods varied with changes in image properties, thus confirming the hypothesis that caution should be used in generalizing from studies that use only a single image pair. In most cases, direct classification and post-classification comparison were the least sensitive to changes in the image properties of class separability, radiometric normalization error and band correlation. Furthermore, these methods generally produced the highest accuracy, or were amongst those with a high accuracy. PCA accuracy was highly variable; the use of four principal components consistently resulted in substantial decreased classification accuracy relative to using six components, or classification using the original six bands. The accuracy of image differencing also varied greatly in the experiments. Of the three methods that require radiometric normalization, image differencing was the method most affected by radiometric error, relative to change vector and classification methods, for classes that have moderate and low separability. For classes that are highly separable, image differencing was relatively unaffected by radiometric normalization error. CVA was found to be the most accurate method for classes with low separability and all but the largest radiometric errors. CVA accuracy tended to be the least affected by changes in the degree of band correlation in situations where the class means were moderately dispersed, or clustered near the diagonal. For all change detection methods, the classification accuracy increased as simulated band correlation increased, and direct classification methods consistently had the highest accuracy, while PCA generally had the lowest accuracy

Teacher Evaluation in Kuwait - Evaluation of the Current System and Consideration of Risk-Based Analysis as a Principle for Further Development

Evaluation is an essential component in education. Through evaluation, educationists can identify what has been achieved, what needs to be improved and what should be developed. Educational evaluation can be applied to several areas, such as curricula, students, teachers and schools in general. This study focuses on teacher evaluation and argues that teacher evaluation systems should be more effective in accurately determining teacher performance, should support the making of fair decisions in relation to sanctions or rewards and should support professional development. The aims of this study were firstly to analyse and evaluate the current teacher evaluation system in Kuwait, and secondly, to suggest an alternative teacher evaluation system based on a ‘Risk-Based Analysis’ approach. This study used a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to gather data. In particular, a questionnaire was designed to collect teachers’ perspectives on the current system and was distributed to 599 teachers in nine primary schools in three Kuwaiti educational districts. Interviews were conducted with nine head teachers and twelve inspectors in order to obtain more in-depth data regarding the current system. The study also carried out additional interviews with the same head teachers and inspectors, and held a focus group with 45 teachers, in order to probe their views concerning the proposed alternative system. The results of this study have revealed that the actual purposes of the current system are primarily focused on achieving summative evaluation, while the desired purposes of teacher evaluation are to secure both summative and professional development. The current system most frequently uses observation to evaluate teacher performance; however, participants expressed a desire for a broader range of evaluation tools to be used. The study found that teachers more frequently have discussions with, and receive written feedback from, heads of departments as opposed to the other two evaluators (head teachers and inspectors). They rated the value of the discussion and written feedback from heads of departments as more valuable than that which is given by the other two groups of evaluators. The study also found that teachers’ views were clustered, with some teachers indicating that the current system does not support them in their performance development and others indicating that it does. Finally, the study found that adopting the alternative system would improve the validity and reliability of teacher evaluation, would link teachers’ performance with promotions and rewards while introducing sanctions for underperforming teachers, as well as would facilitate and promote professional development

A Radio Determination of the Time of the New Moon

The detection of the New Moon at sunset is of importance to communities based on the lunar calendar. This is traditionally undertaken with visual observations. We propose a radio method which allows a higher visibility of the Moon relative to the Sun and consequently gives us the ability to detect the Moon much closer to the Sun than is the case of visual observation. We first compare the relative brightness of the Moon and Sun over a range of possible frequencies and find the range 5--100\,GHz to be suitable. The next consideration is the atmospheric absorption/emission due to water vapour and oxygen as a function of frequency. This is particularly important since the relevant observations are near the horizon. We show that a frequency of $\sim 10$ GHz is optimal for this programme. We have designed and constructed a telescope with a FWHM resolution of 0$^\circ{}\!\!$.6 and low sidelobes to demonstrate the potential of this approach. At the time of the 21 May 2012 New Moon the Sun/Moon brightness temperature ratio was $72.7 \pm 2.2$ in agreement with predictions from the literature when combined with the observed sunspot numbers for the day. The Moon would have been readily detectable at $\sim 2^{\circ}$ from the Sun. Our observations at 16\,hr\,36\,min UT indicated that the Moon would have been at closest approach to the Sun 16\,hr\,25\,min earlier; this was the annular solar eclipse of 00\,hr\,00\,min\,UT on 21 May 2012.Comment: 11 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA