A STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPING AND ENHANCING INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AND GRADUATE EDUCATION AT AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY (ASU)

This paper provides a detailed Strategy for developing and enhancing interdisciplinary research and graduate education at Ain Shams University (ASU), Cairo, Egypt. However, in this study, the following research questions were put into consideration: How can interdisciplinary education and research flourish while maintaining strong backgrounds in the disciplines? How can universities lower or remove barriers to faculty participation in interdisciplinary education and research and create porous, flexible, less redundant environment that facilitates the flow of ideas, people and resources across disciplinary boundaries? What are the requirements for the establishment of interdisciplinary graduate programs

PLANNING FOR ESTABLISHING STEM EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WITHIN FACULTY OF EDUCATION - AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY AN INTERDISCIPLINARY MODEL

The goal of the Egyptian Ministry of Education is to establish twenty-seven STEM schools over the course of five years . Teachers lack adequate support, including appropriate professional development as well as interesting and intriguing curricula. There is a real problem faces the Ministry of Education, that is the qualified STEM education teachers, in the main time there is no an academic department of [STEM] Education in the Egyptian universities preparing STEM education teachers , provide appropriate professional development and expand and enhance STEM Education in Egypt in significant ways. The objective of this Study is to propose a plan to Establish a Department [STEM] Education within the Faculty of Education - Ain Shams University

Obesity and oral health among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates

PhDAims: To investigate the relationship between oral health and obesity in adolescents attending Public and Private Schools in Sharjah City, United Arab Emirates. Methods: 1094 adolescents attending secondary school in Sharjah City were asked to participate in a randomised cross-sectional study, (QMREC2007/60). Two separate structured questionnaires were used to determine; 1. The demographic details, dietary habits, physical activity and oral hygiene practice from the adolescents and 2. Socio-economic and general health from their guardian. A two part clinical examination i) dental caries (WHO, 1997) and oral cleanliness (Pitts et al., 1997), ii) measurement of height and weight to calculate BMI was also carried out. Data analysis included descriptive, univariate and multiple regressions. Results: Full dataset on 803 adolescents was obtained and used for analysis. The study response rate of 93% resulted in 50 % male, 40% UAE nationals and 66% attending Private school. The mean DMFT was 3.19 (SD 2.9), 25% were caries free, mean BMI was 21 and 15% were obese. A significant association between DMFT and BMI was found (r=0,097, p=0.006), with each extra 10 point in BMI there was a 0.57 increase in DMFT. The DMFT predictive model confirmed significant association of father’s education (p<0.001), gender (p=0.008) and ethnicity (p=0.001). Positive significance of age (p<0.001), consumption of tea with sugar (p=0.024) and soft drinks (p<0.001), whereas three daily meals (p=0.009) and visiting the dentist (p=0.007) were protective. The BMI model confirmed positive significance of age (p<0.001), school fees (p=0.005), obesity in family (p<0.001) and soft drink consumption (p<0.001). Three daily meals (p=0.007) and increased drinking frequency of milk (p=0.026) were found to be protective. Conclusions: Analysis of the final model suggests that there is no clear relationship between obesity and dental caries, but that the consumption of soft drinks was a leading predictor for both diseases (obesity and dental caries)

Safety assessment on GMO products: a review / Umi Sarah Khadri

By 2050, it is predicted that the food production will increase about 70% in the countries with developing economies. It was estimated 40 that years later the population will increase together with the demand of the food. One way to solve the problem is by using genetically modified crops which are major product of global in food industry. As we know, the struggle against pest and disease encourages more GM crops to be produced. However, rapid growth of GM crops into agricultural practice has caused a debate due to direct or indirect effect on human and environment. Despite enhanced yield potential, risk and biosafety concerns related to GM crops are the main issues need to be addressed. A review to assess safety on GM crops is necessary to prove the safety of GM crops. The objectives of this review are to review safety and nutrition value of GMO‟s products with non-GMO‟s products and to review an evaluation of GM products relative to both human health and environment. A multicomponent safety assessment was applied on GM crops to ensure that they are safe as food from non-GM crops in term of allegenicity, toxicity, adverse nutrition change and gene flow. The GMO‟s products safety was currently observed

Strategic Future Directions for Developing STEM Education in Higher Education in Egypt as a Driver of Innovation Economy

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education has been achieving growing international attention. As the world economy is becoming more diversified and dependent on innovation, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills and expertise are progressively more needed for competition and development. Egyptian students are less competitive with other countries in STEM fields. With this new movement in education to focus more on STEM, Egyptian policymakers need to develop strategic future directions for developing STEM education in higher education in Egypt as a driver of innovation economy. The main objective of this paper is to propose strategic future directions for developing STEM education in higher education in Egypt as a driver of innovation economy, to achieve this objective the paper starts by outlining historical perspective regarding the roots of STEM education, and then followed up with the attempt to conceptualize and define the basic terms of the paper. It then outlined the features of STEM education as a national priority, since it is a driver of innovation economy. The contemporary current status of STEM education efforts in Egypt was analyzed by utilizing SWOT analysis. Finally, strategic future directions for developing STEM education in higher education in Egypt were proposed. Keywords: STEM education, Innovation Economy

Public Universities Faculty and Leaders' Perspectives on the Role of Public Egyptian Universities in Developing National Innovation System

This paper describes university faculty and leaders' perspectives on the role of Public Egyptian universities in developing national innovation system(NIS), as universities are often cited as a critical institutional actors in national innovation systems, most of the literature on national innovation systems defines them as the institutions and actors that are critical for the creation, development, and diffusion of innovations. This qualitative study is based on interviews with 73 University Faculty and Leaders in  Egypt, finds possible advantages for Public Egyptian universities to develop national innovation system, as well as a number of barriers that hinder the Public Egyptian universities to develop national innovation system. The main objective of this paper is to discuss the relevance of innovation systems to economic growth , analyze the Egyptian NIS beginning with a brief introduction of the role of innovation and an examination of the elements that comprise national innovation systems, interaction between various actors involved, and shows how the Public Egyptian universities are important players in developing the National Innovation System. One important theme in this paper is to define the challenges that faces the Public Egyptian universities to substantially support NIS. Three existing Frameworks ( “Mode 2 ” ,”Triple Helix” and “Entrepreneurial University) to explain the significance of universities linkages to NIS  are discussed, and the context of developing innovation systems in Egypt and the government initiatives in that regard will be explored. Keywords: Innovation ,National Innovation System; Egyptian universities; knowledge Innovation; education reform;  Mode 2;  Triple Helix

A Proposed Systematic Framework for Applying Hoshin Kanri Strategic Planning Methodology in Educational Institutions

Hoshin Kanri is a methodology that was developed in Japan in the late 1960s. Now, it has become an essential component in numerous institutions that are implementing new management systems and concepts such as Balanced Scorecard (BSC), TQM, and Lean Management or Six Sigma. Hoshin Kanri is a management method used for reinforcing strategic work. In spite of a number of Hoshin Kanri success stories in many sectors and a variety of institutions, little research attention has been given to the implementation of Hoshin Kanri methodology in educational institutions. This research supports an increased focus on Hoshin Kanri methodology in Strategic Planning for educational institutions. The main aim of this paper is to propose a systematic framework for applying Hoshin Kanri strategic planning methodology in educational institutions. In achieving this aim, the meaning and origins of Hoshin Kanri were defined, the foundations of Hoshin Kanri planning methodology were analyzed, the factors influencing the implementation of Hoshin Kanri planning in educational institutions were discussed, and a structured process for implementing Hoshin Kanri planning in educational institutions was developed

Hydro tropes as promoters in soap flotation

Soaps, the salts of fatty acids are generally used as collectors in the flotation process to separate salt type minerals. Some times light diesel oil is mixed with soaps and the emulsion is used as collector. Addition of detergents to soaps not only enhances the collector efficiency but also reduces the consumption of soap. Urea a known hydro trope is found to improve the flotation efficiency of soaps. Our current testing is indicating that other hydro tropes such as tri sodium citrate and sodium salicylate are also effective in improving the flotation efficiency of soap and also the soap-LDO emulsion

Strategic Alternatives for Transforming Public Egyptian Universities to World-Class Universities

In the past decade, the term “world-class university (WCU)” - also called “globally competitive universities”, “world-class”, “elite”, or “flagship” universities- has become a catch phrase. This is simply not only for improving the quality of learning and research in higher education, but is also more significant for developing the competency to compete in the global higher education marketplace through the acquisition and formation of advanced knowledge. The main objective of this paper is to propose strategic alternatives for transforming public Egyptian universities to world-class universities. In achieving this objective, the paper starts by attempting to construct an operational definition of a world-class university. Then, it outlines the features of world-class university, the requirements for transformation into world-class universities, the challenges involved in achieving world-class universities, and the key problems and challenges of the Egyptian higher education system. Finally, the selected statistical population of the research include higher education experts [N=57]. Thus, a mix method of using a questionnaire and conducting interviews were used. The research questions are: 1- What does it mean for a university to be a world-class university? 2-What are the essential features and characteristics of a world-class university? 3-How does the ecosystem influence the performance of universities? 4-What are the present performance, problems, and challenges of the Egyptian higher education system? 5-What are the higher education reform initiatives in Egypt? 6-What are the requirements that could upgrade public Egyptian universities to world-class universities? 7- What are the existing challenges of developing world-class universities? 8-What strategic alternatives have been developed for transforming public Egyptian universities to world-class universities? Therefore, one-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test was used to analyze the data. In addition, the result obtained in the study shows the use of collaborative strategic alternative rather than to upgrade the present Public universities, or create or merge them together

Flipped Learning As A New Educational Paradigm: An Analytical Critical Study

A literature on the flipped learning model has been reviewed. Therefore, the new form of education is worthy enough to be further studied. It is believed that flipped learning has gained great attention of many researchers as a result of what educators are implementing at their classrooms. The main objective of the paper is proposing an educational analytical critical framework for flipped learning that has powerful effects for who are concerned with educational development. The broad groundwork of literature on the flipped learning, described as the inverted learning, provided a foundation for the present study. This groundwork of literature used the term flipped learning and examined its effects on the pedagogy in education. The educational analytical critical framework of flipped learning developed in this paper includes components that reveals different views of flipped learning from just a “fashion” of adding more mechanism to the classroom to it is as a tool for shifting present pedagogy customized according to the individual needs of the learners instead of the whole group. The components of the framework are: instructional foundations, learning theories, Bloom’s taxonomy, and conceptual framework of the flipped education that is discussed in the light of its connection to the educational foundations of flipped learning. Research method used was descriptive method and method of philosophical analysis