Islamic education elementary teachers’ degree of using e-learning skills in their teaching process, and its relationship with some variables, in Hail Region

This study aimed at identifying the Islamic education elementary teachers’ degree of using e-learning skills in their teaching process, and its relationship with some variables in Hail Region. And to achieve the objectives of the study; the researcher had used a questionnaire consisted of (33) statements covering two fields, and it has been applied to a sample of 90 male and female teachers during the first academic semester 2015/2016. The study results showed that the degree of possession of e-learning skills that the teachers of Islamic education have in the elementary stage in their teaching came significantly, and also showed that there are no statically significant differences due to gender and  teaching experience variables, and in the light of the study results the researcher presented a set of recommendations which will hopefully benefit the decision makers of educational policy, curriculum and teachers in schools for the universal use of e-learning in the educational system learning-processes, including the importance of mobilizing schools with capabilities that allows the use of innovative e-learning processing, and holding training courses for all teachers, through which they are updated on the newest techniques in the field of using e-learning.

Refurbishment Model for Qatari Neighborhoods

Present a model that remedies root causes of sustainability and livability issues as they are not tackledin Qatar’s current urban development plans with relation to the most basic unit of urbanism: theneighborhood. The developed model presents modifications to Al-Markhiya in short-, medium-, andlong-term implementation phases that include typical characteristics applicable to any Dohaneighborhood so that they could be easily adopted by municipalities as well as local communities.Developed model received favorable feedback when presented to a group of environmental and urbanplanning experts at the frontlines of developing and updating Qatar National Master Plan and detailsof urban planning regulations to poll their views on its applicability for greater. This study is expectedto influence decision makers in Qatar to pay the required attention to the enhancement ofneighborhood sustainability and livability. This model may be the stepping stone to future strategiesand plans of refurbishment as the next national goal post the World Cup to be hosted in 2022

EXPLORING SERVICE QUALITY IN THE ISLAMIC BANKING INDUSTRY IN KUWAIT: ANALYSIS OF CUSTOMER PERCEPTIONS

Service quality management is an important organizational factor, through which organizations differentiate themselves, compete, and take the lead in the marketplace. It is even more challenging for banks and financial services which, by and large, offer products and services that are difficult for customers to differentiate. Improvements in service quality are expected to increase customer satisfaction, which, in turn, will increase the banks’ ability to retain their customers, broaden their market share, and increase profitability. This study, hence, is an attempt to measure the perceived service quality of three Islamic banks in Kuwait; Kuwait Finance House, Kuwait International Bank, and Boubyan Bank. Additional dimensions are added to the service quality model (SERVQUAL) to measure the perceived service quality and the customers’ perceptions. Dimensions such as; Shari’ah compliancy, the competitiveness between Islamic banks in Kuwait, the technology factors, and the general customer satisfaction were incorporated to the respective model. The study aims to identify those dimensions that influence the level of customers’ perceptions in the sampled banks, examine the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction and assess the correlation between the Islamic banking variables and the SERQUAL dimensions. To attain these aims the study utilized a sample of 700 responses across the three Islamic banks. The study findings demonstrate an above-average level of satisfaction among the Islamic banks’ customers. ‘Compliance’, ‘empathy’, and ‘assurance’ were the most important dimensions as perceived by the Islamic banks customers in Kuwait. The results showed a significant relationship between customer satisfaction and some of the modified SERVQUAL dimensions namely; ‘empathy’, ‘assurance’, ‘compliance’, and ‘competitiveness’. The study also found that demographic factors have significant effect on the perceptions of service quality in Kuwaiti Islamic banks. Based on these results and findings, it could be concluded that in Kuwaiti Islamic banks customers are satisfied with the quality of services depending on their bank being Shari’ah-compliant and assured to deliver the promised services, employees being considerate and understanding, and finally being competitive by offering the best service with competitive charges. The study also confirmed that the avoidance of interest and other religious motives are the most important reasons why customers prefer to patronize the Islamic banks in Kuwait in general. However, when testing each bank individually, differences accrued in ranking the religious factor and being compliant with Islamic Shari’ah principles. The results are expected to provide both theoretical and practical contributions in the area of service quality management and customer behavior in Islamic banking. The overall findings are important for service quality managers to identify efficient and effective approaches for improving quality in their banks

The Case for Sustainable Concrete Waste Management in Qatar

The construction industry is a major generator of waste. There are many challenges associated with implementing sustainable methods to manage construction waste. While the construction industry in the State of Qatar has been adopting plenty of progressive practices, waste management, especially of concrete waste, has not advanced notably. In addition to the limited supply of limestone suitable for use as natural aggregate for concrete production in Qatar, the ability to recycle and reuse concrete waste is critical to reducing environmental impacts to meet national, regional and global environmental goals. Therefore, this research aims to identify the current status of concrete waste management practices in construction projects in Qatar exemplified by a local case-study project. Concrete waste was particularly monitored over the span of the construction stage of a large research and development facility in Qatar, benchmarking trends and practices on a certified “green” building. In response, this study addresses key challenges to concrete waste recycling and reuse to then recommend opportunities of advancements in local concrete waste management and reuse

A Proposed Educational-Administrative Vision for Activating the Role of Educational Media in Jordanian Secondary Public Schools in Addressing the Intellectual and Cultural Challenges

The present study aimed to offer a proposed educational-administrative vision for activating the role of educational media in Jordanian secondary public schools in addressing the intellectual and cultural challenges. The population consists from all the Jordanian secondary public school principals (i.e. 1227 female and male principals).  The sample consists from 127 female and male principals. It represents 10% of the population. A developmental survey-based approach was adopted. It was found that educational media plays moderate role in addressing the intellectual and cultural challenges in Jordanian secondary public schools.  There isn’t any statistically significant difference between the respondents’ attitudes which can be attributed to (gender, or academic qualification). However, there are statistically significant differences between the respondents’ attitudes which can be attributed to experiences for the favour of the ones who have 10 years or more. Based on the study’s results, the researchers proposed an educational-administrative vision for activating the role of educational media in Jordanian secondary public schools in addressing the intellectual and cultural challenges. The applicability of this vision was examined. Keywords: Educational media, intellectual and cultural challenges, secondary public schools, Jordan DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-33-13 Publication date: November 30th 202

The Moderating Effect of Managerial Environmental Concern on the Relationship between Green Innovation and Firm Performance: Evidence from Bahrain

This study aimed to demonstrate the relationship between environmental innovations and performance, both operational and financial, in the business environment in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as to demonstrate the impact of administrative environmental concern on this relationship. The question is whether Managerial environmental concern strengthens or weakens this relationship? Through a questionnaire distributed to 56 respondents working in administrative positions in (12) Bahraini companies, and through the use of hierarchical linear modelling analysis, the direct impact of green innovation was proven, as was the positive impact of Managerial environmental concerns on this relationship. The study recommended that more studies should be conducted by introducing more moderators and mediators’ variables to achieve a better understanding of the relationship between environmental innovation and performance. Proving this relationship will create a motivation for companies to take an interest in protecting the environment, which means unlimited positive impacts on the environment

The Effectiveness of a Group Training Program in Reducing Depression And Improving Adjustment of the Elderlies in Amman City

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a group training program in reducing depression and improving adjustment of the elderly in Amman City. The study sample consisted of (68) elderly people in the social development center in Amman. The sample was distributed into two groups:  an experimental group which received group training program to reduce depression and improve adjustment with an average of two sessions a week for four weeks, each session lasted (90) minutes, and a control group that didn’t receive any treatment. Two instruments were applied on the entire study sample; the first one was Beck’s Depression inventory, and the other was the scale of psychological adjustment (a pre-test), then a group training program was applied on the experimental group. By the end of the training program, the same study instruments were reapplied on all the study sample members (post-test), then ANCOVA to investigate the effect of the experimental treatment on both depression and adjustment. The results indicated the existence statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group on both of the study tools, as the level of depression decreased and the level of adjustment increased on the part of the experimental group compared to the control group. Keywords: Group training program, Depression, adjustment, the Elderly

The Moderating Effect of Managerial Environmental Concern on the Relationship between Green Innovation and Firm Performance: Evidence from Bahrain

This study aimed to demonstrate the relationship between environmental innovations and performance, both operational and financial, in the business environment in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as to demonstrate the impact of administrative environmental concern on this relationship. The question is whether Managerial environmental concern strengthens or weakens this relationship? Through a questionnaire distributed to 56 respondents working in administrative positions in (12) Bahraini companies, and through the use of hierarchical linear modelling analysis, the direct impact of green innovation was proven, as was the positive impact of Managerial environmental concerns on this relationship. The study recommended that more studies should be conducted by introducing more moderators and mediators’ variables to achieve a better understanding of the relationship between environmental innovation and performance. Proving this relationship will create a motivation for companies to take an interest in protecting the environment, which means unlimited positive impacts on the environment

Effect of Social Media in B2b Marketing: Invertigation of Ewom Effect in Oil and Gas Sector in Qatar

The radical growth of the internet is a factor affecting different sectors of the business environment, including changes in the marketing sector. The importance of social media communications in the marketing environment cannot go unnoticed. An important element of social media communication greatly influencing marketing is electronic word of mouth (eWOM) - involving consumer to consumer communication about products and brands- which influences consumer purchase decisions. Nevertheless, research on the importance of eWOM in the marketing of oil and gas is limited. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of social media in business to business (B2B) marketing through an investigation of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) in the oil and gas sector in Qatar. Possible solutions to the negative effects of eWOM will also be determined. Keywords: social media, eWOM, oil and gas, B2