Lecturers’ perspectives on using virtual classrooms in education: Challenges and Opportunities for the Post-COVID-19 Era

This study aims at examining the perspectives of university lecturers on using virtual classrooms in education in Palestine. This study used quantitative and qualitative data collection tools and analysis methods. The present cross-sectional study was carried out from January 10 to February 13, 2023, during the second semester of 2022/2023. An online questionnaire with 33 closed-ended questions was used to collect data. The study group consisted of teachers and lecturers (n = 311) who teach in Palestinian universities. The R cran program was employed for the statistical analysis of quantitative data. The Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used To determine whether demographic characteristics had a significant impact on teachers' perspective of virtual classrooms in education. The results showed that most of the participants (71.4%) prefer to employ virtual classrooms in education since they are just like in-person education as it is very organized with deadlines. There is a significant difference in the mean scores of the preference toward employing virtual classrooms among lecturers who have experience in the usage of technological tools and those who have no experience (p = 0.07). Lecturers aged 25-30 years were the highest in mean scores of preference (3.96 ± 0.32) and have a higher satisfaction toward using virtual classrooms (p = 0.01). In addition, teachers who attended courses respecting employing virtual classrooms have a higher satisfaction (3.6 ± 0.78) towards using it in education compared to those who did not attend any course related to virtual classrooms (2.91 ± 1.06) (p <0.001). Only 28.6% of teachers experience problems during distance teaching through virtual classrooms. Teachers face many obstacles related to the curriculum, students, and electronic environment. These obstacles might be contributed to the stress experienced by 35.70% of teachers during distance teaching. &nbsp

“Ambiguous State of Being”: identity construction in contemporary Arab-American (post-9/11) poetry

This study examines poetry written by Americans of Arab descent and the manifold ways in which ―national identity construction and belonging in terms of Race, Cultural Politics, and Feminism are portrayed in the discourse of various prominent, contemporary Arab-American poets. Using literary imagology as a methodological tool, the study investigates the various representations of identity/alterity expressed in these works. As such, the primary focus of the study is on the image of the Arab community in post-9/11 America, and the various cultural concerns of the spected community as portrayed in the literature (i.e. from an aesthetic, subjective perspective). Moreover, this study addresses the subsequent tensions and exilic notions encountered in contemporary Arab-American poetic discourse in its attempt to redefine and invalidate the image of being Arab, and by extrapolation, Muslim, in America after the incidents of the 9/11 attacks. This research focuses on sociopolitical readings of Anglophone Arab poetry in America in light of pertinent concerns of cultural and national identification patterns which, as this research attempts to show, form the essence of these works. The study addresses textual representations of identity and ―Self-image as well as alterity and ―Difference expressed in the poetic discourse in relation to cultural and ethnic stereotypes evident in post-9/11 American portrayal of Arab identity. Arab-American poetry in general alludes to the ethnic profiling of Arabs exploring various facets of the Arab-American experience, including displacement, adaptation, ethnic profiling, and stereotyping. The discourse on Arab-American marginalization and stigmatization in a post-9/11, American context is avid in scholarly/theoretical output on pan-ethnic Arab-American identity. Post-9/11 Arab-American poetic discourse (the spectant) attempts to confirm American national belonging, loyalty and affinity to both an Arab descent and American heritage. This study provides a thorough analysis of the images and attitudes of ethnic and cultural affinities presented in a representative sample of contemporary Arab-American poetry. The main aim is to inquire about the relevance of identity construction and its negotiation through literature in light of America‘s ―War on Terror and inclusion/exclusion of American citizens of Arab descent

Pluralismo bioético : aportes latinoamericanos a la bioética en perspectiva decolonial

Este ensaio pretende apresentar subsídios para proposta bioética em perspectiva decolonial como parte da expansão de projetos epistêmicos, políticos e estéticos latino-americanos para além dos projetos hegemônicos eurocentrados. Para tanto, o trabalho inicia com breve discussão a respeito da autorrepresentação que o conhecimento produzido na Europa faz de si mesmo, problematizando sua “vontade de poder”, além das estruturas pelas quais se legitima(ra)m epistemicídios. O debate avança no sentido de expor alguns dos elementos comuns à perspectiva decolonial para, então, aportar suas contribuições para o debate bioético contemporâneo, desaguando no chamado pluralismo bioético como potência para um pensamento outro.This essay presents benefits of a bioethical proposal from a decolonial perspective as part of the expansion of epistemic, political and aesthetic projects in Latin America beyond European-centered hegemonic projects. To that end, the work begins with a brief discussion on the self-representation that European-produced knowledge makes of itself, questioning its “will for power” and the structures by which it justifies epistemicide. The debate continues by exploring some of the common elements in the decolonial perspective to then provide its contributions to the contemporary bioethical debate, arriving at the so-called bioethical pluralism as the source for alternate thinking.Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar elementos para una propuesta bioética en perspectiva decolonial como parte de la expansión de los proyectos epistémicos, políticos y estéticos latinoamericanos más allá de proyectos hegemónicos eurocentrados. El trabajo comienza con una breve discusión sobre la autorrepresentación que el conocimiento producido en Europa hace de sí mismo, cuestionando su “voluntad de poder”, así como las estructuras mediante las cuales se legitiman epistemicidios. El debate prosigue exponiendo algunos de los elementos comunes a la perspectiva decolonial para, a continuación, aportar sus contribuciones al debate bioético contemporáneo, sobre todo, al llamado pluralismo bioético como potencia para un pensamiento otro

Sustainable Development Goals Disclosure Practices through Integrated Reporting: An Empirical analysis on European Financial Institutions

The goal of the study is to investigate the state of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) disclosure in European financial institutions’ Integrated Reports. As a research approach, manual content analysis was adopted. The study developed a disclosure index as a research tool comprised of the 17 SDGs. The empirical analysis shows that the most disclosed goals were SDG13 (Climate Action), where all the reports disclosed the measures taken by the companies to achieve this goal, followed by SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), as 10 reports disclosed detailed information on this goal. Also, the results provide evidence that SDG2 (Zero Hunger), SDG14 (Life Below Water), SDG15 (Life on Land), and SDG16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) came in the last place, respectively. Practically, the study encourages companies in all sectors to adopt the SDGs in their integrated strategy to create better value for stakeholders.The goal of the study is to investigate the state of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) disclosure in European financial institutions’ Integrated Reports. As a research approach, manual content analysis was adopted. The study developed a disclosure index as a research tool comprised of the 17 SDGs. The empirical analysis shows that the most disclosed goals were SDG13 (Climate Action), where all the reports disclosed the measures taken by the companies to achieve this goal, followed by SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), as 10 reports disclosed detailed information on this goal. Also, the results provide evidence that SDG2 (Zero Hunger), SDG14 (Life Below Water), SDG15 (Life on Land), and SDG16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) came in the last place, respectively. Practically, the study encourages companies in all sectors to adopt the SDGs in their integrated strategy to create better value for stakeholders

Hoarding versus circulation of wealth from the perspective of Maqasid Al-Shari'ah

Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to explore the issue of hoarding and dishoarding in modern context, especially as it relates to circulation of wealth, an important economic objective from Islamic viewpoint. Design/Methodology/Approach - This paper presents a survey of scholarly positions on the issue of hoarding and circulation of wealth from Islamic perspectives and analyzes how these positions affect the shaping of financial and economic dimensions of life in our contemporary time. The paper draws on the primary sources, the Qur’an and hadith, and examines the positions of the classical and contemporary scholars, especially in the context of the growing interest in finance, financial system and economy from Islamic perspective. Findings - The paper identifies the fact that the notion of hoarding (kanz) needs significantly revised understanding as money as a concept and tool has evolved substantively in modern times. It also examines variant positions regarding the concept of hoarding and finds more merit in favor of the position that paying zakat is not enough to be exempted from the Qur'anic implications about hoarding. It also identifies and examines securitisation, such as sukuk, as an important tools for better circulation of wealth. Research Limitations/Implications - With the advent of Islamic finance in modern times, sukuk has emerged as one of the most popular capital market instruments. Such instruments can be more relevant for development and shared prosperity, where the notion of hoarding (kanz) is properly understood and the gravity of entrenched propensity to hoarding (kanz) is recognised. Practical Implications - Capital market and its instruments, such as sukuk, can be very useful tool for prevention of hoarding and facilitating circulation of wealth. However, greater awareness about the ways and means by which hoarding exists widely in modern times is essential to enable Islamic finance to serve the people and the humanity from Islamic viewpoint. Originality/Value - Hoarding and dishoarding are not widely explored topic in contemporary literature on Islamic economics and finance. This paper makes a valuable contribution in its attempt to bring the problem of hoarding and the challenge toward greater circulation of wealth to highlight