Future strategy for higher education with specific reference to Scottish universities

The developed economies are now considered to be entering the growth phase of knowledge-based economic activity. The universities are increasingly seen as a critical vehicle for knowledge creation and knowledge transfer in order to produce educated citizens that will facilitate economic growth. The secondary data on the pressures facing universities suggest that the universities need to be more competitive, flexible and efficient. Empirical data was collected from a series of student expectations and satisfactions surveys at one of the Scottish universities. Analysis of these suggests that generally students seem to demand for a wider option of delivery from the university. The students broadly do not seem to be content with massification of higher education that includes distance learning delivery. This raises a potential conflict with regard to culture in that the culture that best facilitates the students' acceptance of massification of higher education will include distance learning delivery. Therefore, this research has been conducted to explore and determine the current, future and desired culture of three Scottish universities. This research also determined how culture in these three Scottish universities may be structured to best meet the future requirements of knowledge-based economies. The Organisational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) developed by Cameron and Quinn was used to measure the current, future and desired culture in Scottish universities. From the OCAI, it would appear that the staff in these three universities consider the current culture to be a Hierarchy culture and that a Market culture will be emphasised in future in universities. The Delphi study also indicates that if a market driven culture can be developed then universities can exploit new knowledge in the economy in which they reside and this will enhance their international competitiveness. Thus, in the future, a Market culture will develop in universities that place emphasis on customer requirements and winning in the market place. However, the focus on a Market culture will be achieved by emphasising broadly on the large numbers of standardised procedures, rules and policies governing what people do, and which are strongly associated with "resistance to change", which is often confused with critical questioning of strategy. However, the desired culture is the collegiate culture (Clan culture) with a focus on ongoing commitment to excellence, increased flexibility, staff empowerment and cross-functional teamwork. This raises a potential conflict in higher education environments. The Delphi study indicates that other stakeholders in higher education want universities to stimulate greater success in knowledge creation and knowledge transfer activities. The universities are expected to increase their economic contribution through collaboration. Scottish higher education should build upon its strength by addressing it weaknesses in order to realise its opportunities and avoid threats. Effective leadership and management are essential in universities. This intensifies the need for a desired culture that can best facilitate the development of universities in the future. Therefore, to address the two conflicts in the higher education environment and to best facilitate the development of universities in the future, it is proposed that there is a need for universities to devise flexible strategies to engage stakeholders to identify issues, propose solutions, and become partners in implementing the changes needed. The universities should cultivate a Clan culture to better facilitate knowledge creation and knowledge transfer activities, and consequently become more customer focused with regard to the likely future expectations from students in terms of programme provision, teaching methods and the whole experience as a student. To facilitate this, it is proposed that tools such as European Foundation Quality Management (EFQM) model could be used to focus activities.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Future strategy for higher education with specific reference to Scottish universities.

The developed economies are now considered to be entering the growth phase ofknowledge-based economic activity. The universities are increasingly seen as acritical vehicle for knowledge creation and knowledge transfer in order to produceeducated citizens that will facilitate economic growth. The secondary data on thepressures facing universities suggest that the universities need to be more competitive,flexible and efficient. Empirical data was collected from a series of studentexpectations and satisfactions surveys at one of the Scottish universities. Analysis ofthese suggests that generally students seem to demand for a wider option of deliveryfrom the university. The students broadly do not seem to be content withmassification of higher education that includes distance learning delivery. This raisesa potential conflict with regard to culture in that the culture that best facilitates thestudents' acceptance of massification of higher education will include distancelearning delivery. Therefore, this research has been conducted to explore anddetermine the current, future and desired culture of three Scottish universities. Thisresearch also determined how culture in these three Scottish universities may bestructured to best meet the future requirements of knowledge-based economies. TheOrganisational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) developed by Cameron andQuinn was used to measure the current, future and desired culture in Scottishuniversities. From the OCAI, it would appear that the staff in these three universitiesconsider the current culture to be a Hierarchy culture and that a Market culture will beemphasised in future in universities. The Delphi study also indicates that if a marketdriven culture can be developed then universities can exploit new knowledge in theeconomy in which they reside and this will enhance their internationalcompetitiveness. Thus, in the future, a Market culture will develop in universities thatplace emphasis on customer requirements and winning in the market place. However,the focus on a Market culture will be achieved by emphasising broadly on the largenumbers of standardised procedures, rules and policies governing what people do, andwhich are strongly associated with "resistance to change", which is often confusedwith critical questioning of strategy. However, the desired culture is the collegiateculture (Clan culture) with a focus on ongoing commitment to excellence, increasedflexibility, staff empowerment and cross-functional teamwork. This raises a potentialconflict in higher education environments. The Delphi study indicates that other stakeholders in higher education want universities to stimulate greater success inknowledge creation and knowledge transfer activities. The universities are expected toincrease their economic contribution through collaboration. Scottish higher educationshould build upon its strength by addressing it weaknesses in order to realise itsopportunities and avoid threats. Effective leadership and management are essential inuniversities. This intensifies the need for a desired culture that can best facilitate thedevelopment of universities in the future. Therefore, to address the two conflicts in thehigher education environment and to best facilitate the development of universities inthe future, it is proposed that there is a need for universities to devise flexiblestrategies to engage stakeholders to identify issues, propose solutions, and becomepartners in implementing the changes needed. The universities should cultivate a Clanculture to better facilitate knowledge creation and knowledge transfer activities, andconsequently become more customer focused with regard to the likely futureexpectations from students in terms of programme provision, teaching methods andthe whole experience as a student. To facilitate this, it is proposed that tools such asEuropean Foundation Quality Management (EFQM) model could be used to focusactivities

Do ethnic differences in cord blood leptin levels differ by birthweight category? Findings from the Born in Bradford cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that South Asian individuals have higher fat mass for a given weight than Europeans. One study reported that the greater fatness for a given birthweight may increase with increasing birth weight, suggesting that any attempt to increase mean birth weight in South Asians would markedly increase their fatness. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine whether differences in cord leptin values between White British and Pakistani infants vary by birth weight category. METHOD: We examined the difference in cord leptin levels between 659 White British and 823 Pakistani infants recruited to the Born in Bradford cohort study, by clinical categories and thirds of the birth weight distribution. RESULTS: Pakistani infants had a lower mean birthweight but higher cord leptin levels than White British infants [ratio of geometric mean(RGM) of cord leptin adjusted for birth weight = 1.36 (95% CI 1.26,1.46)]. Birthweight was positively associated with cord leptin levels in both groups, with no evidence that the regression lines in the two groups diverged from each other with increasing birthweight.The relative ethnic difference in cord leptin was similar in low (<2500 g), normal and high (≥4000 g) birthweight infants(P-value for interaction = 0.91). It was also similar across thirds of the birthweight distribution [RGM (95% CI) in lowest, mid and highest thirds were 1.37 (1.20, 1.57), 1.36 (1.20, 1.54) and 1.31 (1.16, 1.52), respectively, P-interaction = 0.51]. CONCLUSIONS: We found marked differences in cord leptin levels between Pakistani and White British infants but no evidence that this difference increases with increasing birthweight

UK-born Pakistani-origin infants are relatively more adipose than white British infants: findings from 8704 mother-offspring pairs in the Born-in-Bradford prospective birth cohort

Background: Previous studies have shown markedly lower birth weight among infants of South Asian origin compared with those of White European origin. Whether such differences mask greater adiposity in South Asian infants and whether they persist across generations in contemporary UK populations is unclear. Our aim was to compare birth weight, skinfold thickness and cord leptin between Pakistani and White British infants and to investigate the explanatory factors, including parental and grandparental birthplace. Methods: We examined the differences in birth weight and skinfold thickness between 4649 Pakistani and 4055 White British infants born at term in the same UK maternity unit and compared cord leptin in a subgroup of 775 Pakistani and 612 White British infants. Results: Pakistani infants were lighter (adjusted mean difference −234 g 95% CI −258 to −210) and were smaller in both subscapular and triceps skinfold measurements. The differences for subscapular and triceps skinfold thickness (mean z-score difference −0.27 95% CI −0.34 to −0.20 and −0.23 95% CI −0.30 to −0.16, respectively) were smaller than the difference in birth weight (mean z-score difference −0.52 95% CI −0.58 to −0.47) and attenuated to the null with adjustment for birth weight (0.03 95% CI −0.03 to 0.09 and −0.01 95% CI −0.08 to 0.05, respectively). Cord leptin concentration (indicator of fat mass) was similar in Pakistani and White British infants without adjustment for birth weight, but with adjustment became 30% higher (95% CI 17% to 44%) among Pakistani infants compared with White British infants. The magnitudes of difference did not differ by generation. Conclusions: Despite being markedly lighter, Pakistani infants had similar skinfold thicknesses and greater total fat mass, as indicated by cord leptin, for a given birth weight than White British infants. Any efforts to reduce ethnic inequalities in birth weight need to consider differences in adiposity and the possibility that increasing birth weight in South Asian infants might inadvertently worsen health by increasing relative adiposity

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on sunscreen usage in preventing skin cancer among university students

Solar ultraviolet radiation is one of predisposing risk factors for skin cancer. The use of sunscreen plays a vital role in the prevention of skin cancer. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to sunscreen use in the prevention of skin cancer among undergraduate students of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (n=78) in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FSK), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (FKAB) and Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanity (FSSK). Majority of the students used sunscreen. The mean level of knowledge for FSSK students was the highest compared to FSK and FKAB students. Next, the mean level of attitude for FSSK students was higher than the FSK and FKAB students. Meanwhile, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in attitude between FSSK and FKAB students. FSSK students demonstrated highest mean level of practice compared to FSK and FKAB students. Finally, FKAB recorded the lowest number of students with high knowledge and the usage of sunscreen with statistical significance (p<0.05) between the level of knowledge and the use of sunscreen. This indicates that there was a linear association between level of knowledge and the use of sunscreen among FKAB students. In conclusion, knowledge, attitudes and practice were generally satisfactory among UKM students. However, periodic awareness could be applied to instill a healthy habit of using sunscreen in future

Improving social capital: future cultures in Scottish higher education institutions.

Case study of three universities on culture that best facilitate the development of knowledge in the 21st centur

Improving social capital: future cultures in Scottish higher education institutions.

Case study of three universities on culture that best facilitate the development of knowledge in the 21st centur

Nutrient Content, Phytonutrient Composition, Alpha Amylase, Alpha Glucosidase Inhibition Activity and Antioxidant Activity of the Stoechospermum Marginatum Collected in Pre Monsoon Season

The objective of this study was to investigate the nutrient content, phytonutrient composition, physicochemical properties, alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibition activity and antioxidant activity of the brown algae Stoechospermum marginatum collected from Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu, India in pre monsoon season (June- September, 2015). Six and eight hours of ethanol and aqueous extract of Stoechospermum marginatum were used for phytonutrient screening, alpha amylase, alpha glucosidase inhibition activity and antioxidant activity. From the results of the study it is understood that Stoechospermum marginatum contain a high amount of carbohydrate, protein, crude fiber and phytonutrients like tannin, flavonoid, saponin, alkaloid, terpenoids, steroid and total phenolic content. The physicochemical properties namely Water absorption and Swelling power were very promising. Alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibition activity was recorded to be high in both aqueous and ethanol extracts of eight hour extraction than in extracts taken from six hours extraction. Antioxidant activity was detected using DPPH, FRAP, beta carotene scavenging and H2O2 assay and found to have a high radical scavenging activity. Stoechospermum marginatum possess a valuable amount of total phenolic content and other phytonutrients and physicochemical properties, it may the reason for the potential inhibition of alpha amylase, alpha glucosidase and antioxidant activity. It is concluded from the study that the brown algae may be incorporated into foods to enhance their nutritional and therapeutic value