Search

Widespread academic dishonesty among higher education (HE) students has been a concern for higher education institutes (HEIs). Ethics literature reports that unintentional plagiarism is more prevalent among HE students and the root cause is, limited or no awareness of nuances of ethics concerning plagiarism resulting in poor ethical judgments. This study attempts to examine what is students' ethical reasoning for unintentional plagiarism and how HEIs' ethical awareness efforts impact students' ethical judgments which ultimately shape their ethical behavior. The study also explored whether and how individual-level factors such as intrinsic religiosity, age, gender, and work experience moderate the focal relationships. A longitudinal quasi-experimental field study was conducted. The subjects of the study were 294 postgraduate students of an internationally accredited higher education institution in India. The pretest-posttest design involved a set of experimental manipulations reflecting the HEI's endeavors to explicate the unethical implications of plagiarism.

Acquisition of skills and its continual development may be considered as a defining element for the growth story of India, where we need to explore its integration with education. If we look back at the conventional model of education, we find that the success of those students totally depends on, what we don't see are the countless hours they consumed behind the divisions, improving their expertise, and edifying their skills. Today's Indian workforce is massively talented and adaptable. It focuses not only on economic, infrastructure and technical development but also tend to lead the nation towards industrial development, giving a global recognition in Indian Industry. The present paper explores how the institution, employer, and government need to collaborate to make sure that the employability skill honed by the graduates of higher learning institutions match with the needs of the industry and its job requirements. The study aims to consider the place of skills in the universities to draw a suggested framework with an initiative that may be introduced to promote such skills for dynamic entrepreneurship.

This paper is based on a larger doctoral study about Critical Sexuality Education with children in Delhi, India. It puts forth alternate research and pedagogic interventions, inspired by the 'real' world, to engage children on ideas about sexuality beyond the biological. After presenting a brief overview of political debates and state programmes about sex/uality education in recent years in India, I go on to detail two examples of Participatory Research with girls at a Shelter Home for street children. These involve spatial mapping of their neighbourhood and interviewing a woman E-rickshaw driver. The children-researchers collaborated with the researcher-facilitator to pose questions about gender, violence, equity, access, social justice and so on, vis-à-vis their own lived experiences and social realities.

COVID-19 has forced educators to switch to online teaching as the only viable option, whether through video lecturing or using other online teaching tools. Therefore, the study investigates university teachers' perceptions towards their continuing intention of using the online platforms after COVID-19 situations. To answer such questions, the present study conducted a survey of 242 faculties engaged in higher education teaching at assistant. We have conducted the present study using a sample of 242 faculties. Based on the framework of technology adoption model (TAM), this study investigates the research questions in the context of India. The study has adopted a mixed-method research design comprising both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The data were analyzed using partial least square structure equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results of hypotheses testing indicate that all the hypotheses based on were accepted in the complete sample and for the men's sample were accepted at p < 0.05 level. However, for the sample of women respondents, this was not the case. The study resulted that ease of use positively influences teachers' attitude towards online teaching. This study provides theoretical contributions by applying the TAM to measure post-COVID-19 online teaching intention of teachers working at universities and college levels in India. It could help policyholders in the education sector to design appropriate strategies for online learning and teaching process. Though COVID-19 has adversely hit most of the industries, some industries might have benefited from this as well. Particularly, industries are thriving in the online market place.

Problem Statement: The current higher learning institutions in developed countries have adapted to their changing role in a knowledge-based society It is time for developing countries like India to focus on Knowledge Management thus, the current study presents research undertaken in understanding the implication of Knowledge Management in the field of education in India. After analysing the need of Information and Communications TechnologiesICT for implementation of KM in Institutions of Higher Technical Education (IHTE) and identifying KM technologies, which academia felt could be leveraged to a greater extent, this study investigates the factors affecting the implementation and use of Knowledge Management technologies for enhancing research in IHTE. Problem statement: Realizing the importance and value of KM, the researcher has identified the key features to come out of a viable KM portal for enhancing research Institutions of Higher Technical Education Method: Data has been collected through a structured questionnaire given to 141 respondents covering 30 higher educational institutions in India, including both national as well as state level institutions. Designations of the targeted respondents in the IHTE have been categorized into two sections. The first one consists of management and senior academia, e.g. Professors, Associate Professors. These are considered to be the best addressees because they are the overseers of their institutions' operations and are likely to be the thought leaders of KM. The second section consists of assistant professors, lecturers, and research scholars who are using and also contributing to the KM system. Findings and Results: The results highlight that the academia supports the need for KM portal for research in IHTE. Three components of portal design as identified by academia of IHTE are: Research Initiation, Research Facilitation, and Research Commercialisation. A regression analysis further highlighted that there is a positive relationship between perceived benefits of research and Research Facilitation and Research Commercialisation. Based upon the above results, the portal has been designed for facilitating research in IHTE. Conclusions and Recommendations: The portal designed will facilitate the researchers in India as well as in other developed countries in identifying the new areas of research, avoiding duplication of research, and providing links of various funding agencies to support their research activities. Moreover, the portal will provide a platform for commercialising research. Thus, it is extremely important for IHTE to design a portal for simulating research activities, as research will not only enhance curriculum development but also help in enhancing the global image for the institution.

Every woman, man, youth and child has the human right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, without discrimination of any kind. This is enshrined in the Indian Constitution and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Enjoyment of the human right to health is vital to all aspects of a person's life and well-being, and is crucial to the realization of many other fundamental human rights and freedoms. Furthermore, the social rights of victims of crime and their sensitive needs for mental health support is based on the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, 1985 (Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly, non-binding principles upon member nations). Remarkable developments have taken place both internationally and nationally when it comes to prioritising child rights, but the links between child abuse, child labour and the care for a child's mental health are still absent. The role of mental health of rescued and victimised children is also absent in Indian case law. In cases of legislations concerning children and their rights, the author contends that mental health considerations must become an inextricable component of law, and therapists must be included in the legal framework both as an appreciation of evidence and for the future benefit of the child as a long term remedy. The author also stresses that specialist services should be made directly accessible to child victims, and professionals made available to provide individual support for each child.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to outline the critical success factors for crafting a strategic architecture for e-learning at HP University. Design/methodology/approach: A descriptive survey type of research design was used. An empirical study was conducted on students enrolled with the International Centre for Distance and Open Learning who were attending personal contact programs (PCPs) in professional courses so as to elicit the importance of e-learning in distance education programs. Findings: From the research questions for implementing e-learning it was found that the current practices of instruction are satisfactory, the centers where PCPs are not sufficiently equipped for the training of learners and resource persons at PCPs do not have interest in the ICT program although the learners are ICT savvy, but there is no regular electricity supply, sufficient facilities and consumables for the usage. Research limitations/implications: Although an empirical study was conducted, the respondents, the students, sometimes disclose the information and do not reply to the questions in good faith. Practical implications: The article addresses the critical success factors in crafting a strategic architecture for e-learning at HP University so as to implement e-learning for the benefit of the staff and the students. Originality/value: The article addresses the critical success factors for implementing e-learning in a traditional university environment. (Contains 7 tables and 2 figures.)

The current focus on the transmission of COVID-19 infection all over the world may probably distract public attention from psychosocial consequences of the outbreak in the affected individuals and in the general population. However, there is limited empirical information about its psychological impact on the people of diverse regions and nationalities. Hence, the study aims to understand the psychological impacts of COVID-19 and associated pandemic distress on the demographically diverse Indian population and the ways people are adopting to cope with them. A total of 261 respondents aged 18−73 years, representing more than 17 states of India, filled an electronic survey questionnaire. Survey research methodology following the mixed-method approach adopting both qualitative and quantitative methodologies was adopted. Results of the first phase of the study indicated significant psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on respondents during the first three weeks of lockdown, especially the pandemic anxiety and social isolation. Physical health, fitness, self-care, family connect, learning of the new skill sets and self-growth opportunity were found to be some of the functional ways to cope with pandemic in this phase, whereas passive acceptance was expressed as a dysfunctional strategy to cope with pandemic coupled with negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, frustration and irritability for others. However, phase two of the study with 20% of respondents in the sixth week of lockdown revealed the exhaustion of the learning phase, limited efforts for self-growth and increasing anxiety and frustration. A great proportion of respondents expressed fear of losing global business scenario and its direct or indirect impact on them. A need for consistent and dedicated mental health care was recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementation of Radio Frequency IDentification technology in libraries in a developing country like India has brought remarkable improvements in the services such as shelf charging-discharging, automated handling of materials, security, high-speed inventory and moved beyond security to become tracking systems that combine security with more efficient tracking of materials throughout the library, reduced the data entry errors, enhanced customer service, and records updates. This article is an attempt to assess the potential of these aspects after the implementation of RFID technology and factors responsible for the slow influx of the technology, as revealed in the reported literature covering the concerned libraries of India. It is hoped that the present study will help Librarians and Library professionals in improving the return on investment and proving the long-term security of the library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death worldwide attributable to a single infectious disease agent. India has more new TB cases annually than any other country. In 2008, India accounted for a fifth of the estimated 9.4 million TB cases globally. There is an overwhelming need for improving TB diagnostics in India through the use of cost effective, patient-friendly methods appropriate to different tiers of the country health system. Substantial progress has been made in India in the field of TB diagnosis and serious efforts have been made to herald the development of diagnostic tests for pulmonary TB, extra pulmonary TB and MDR-TB. Diverse approaches have been attempted towards improving smear microscopy, rapid culture and for differentiation between the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Several laboratories have developed in-house PCR assays for diagnosing TB with high accuracy. Approaches for distinguishing M. tuberculosis and/or Mycobacterium bovis infection and disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection in HIV-AIDS patients have also been described. Serological tests to detect antigens or antibodies to M. tuberculosis specific components by using cocktails of Excretory/Secretory protein antigens, Ag85 complex antigens, Hsp 65 antigen, RD1 antigens and Rapid Reverse Line Blot Hybridization assays to detect MDR-TB (mutations to rifampicin, isoniazid and streptomycin) have also been developed. Other methods like measurement of adenosine deaminase activity and use of luciferase reporter phages have also been explored for TB diagnosis. These advances in the Indian context are detailed in the present chapter. The validation and application of these methods in laboratory and public health settings is likely to result in improved TB diagnosis and contribute to effective disease management in India. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With the implementation of the wildlife conservation policies in India, there has been a positive change towards motivation of stakeholders in checking the destruction poised by the ever-growing pressure from human and livestock population. It is very relevant that principal stakeholders should be aware of the needs, beliefs, feelings and attitudes of each other. The study intended to uncover the need patterns of rural communities living around Bandhavgarh (BNP) and Ranthambore (RNP) National Parks of India in line with Maslow''s Need hierarchy model. This awareness about attitudes provides guidelines for predicting their behaviour in different situations and preparing the socially, culturally and personally acceptable eco-development plan for them. Results highlighted the moderate to low level of satisfaction of basic level needs. A stepwise motivational plan has been suggested for the better implementation and acceptability of eco-development planning among rural communities, which may motivate the people to lend their hand towards effective conservation of eco-system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Participatory approach to forest management started in India with the National Forest Policy, 1988, when joint Forest Management (JFM) was introduced. The study conducted the attitudinal analysis of 110 stakeholders from 14 villages forest committees of Madhya Pradesh State of India, which were constituted under JFM programme. Results indicated that both forest officers and rural communities were in the process of developing positive attitudes towards each other and a significant improvement in the inter relationship between the two was found. Rural communities were not able to express a clear attitude towards functioning of forest committee and role of women. However, they had a clear positive attitude towards forest protection and management. Forest officers were also not clearly positive in their attitude towards forest department in terms of freedom of working and participatory approach as they wanted more freedom in their work environment with limited external pressures. It was felt that JFM is yet to be institutionalized and joint efforts on the part of all the stakeholders are essential. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Concentrated brines and bitterns rejected from various processes contain mineral salts of economic value. For example, sulphate-rich bittern generated at saltworks in the Rajasthan state of India exceeds 3 million tons annually and requires adequate treatment. Resource recovery from such unutilized by-products presents a sustainable waste management approach. This work presents the development and evaluation of a process for sodium-sulphate (Na 2 SO 4) recovery from sulphate-rich bitterns using an integrated process combining cooling crystallization, filtration, and drying as major unit operations. A parametric study has been conducted to investigate the effect of various operating parameters on product (anhydrous sodium-sulphate) yield and quality. Chemical analysis, TGA, P-XRD, and SEM-EDX techniques were used to characterize the product quality and purity. Based on the parametric studies, a sodium-sulphate production process was designed, and material & energy balance was established. The mass balance calculations have shown that 1 ton of anhydrous Na 2 SO 4 (~97 wt% purity) can be produced from 6.31 tons of bittern having a sulphate ion concentration of about 140.8 ± 6.94 g/l. Subsequently, the economic feasibility of a 5 ton/day anhydrous Na 2 SO 4 capacity plant has been evaluated using the cost and profitability analysis. The engineering-economic calculations suggest that the sodium-sulphate production from bittern can be economically favourable, achieving a payback period of 3.5 years. The optimized parameters and economics presented in this paper could significantly help implement an actual sodium-sulphate recovery unit using sulphate-rich bittern as feed. [Display omitted] • Techno-economic feasibility of sodium-sulphate production from bittern is evaluated. • The effect of different parameters on product yield and quality has been investigated. • One ton of anhydrous sodium-sulphate (97% purity) can be produced from six tons of bittern. • Sodium-sulphate recovery from sulphate-rich bittern can be economically favourable at higher plant capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thermostable cellulases are in constant demand for several biotechnological applications. Two thermophilic bacterial strains PW1 and PW2 isolated from Tattapani hot spring were found to have cellulolytic activity. Subsequently, PW1 and PW2 were identified and mined for genes encoding cellulase activity. Results: Sequencing of the 16S rDNA of PW1 and PW2 identified them as Bacillus sp. PW1 (Acc no. KU711837) and Bacillus sp. PW2 (Acc no. KU711838), respectively, which clustered in the clades containing thermophilic members of Bacillus sp. and Geobacillus species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that despite the morphological and sequence identities, Bacillus sp. PW1 and Bacillus sp. PW2 are different at the genetic level. The cellulase genes (~ 1.1 kb) of the two bacterial strains were amplified using primers designed against related thermophilic cellulases. Sequencing of the cellulase gene amplicons of PW1 and PW2 revealed that they encode proteins of 280 and 206 amino acid residues, respectively. Sequence and domain analysis of the protein products of PW1 and PW2 revealed that they belong to M42 family of aminopeptidase/endoglucanase. The PW2 endoglucanase coding sequence was submitted to Genbank under accession no. MH049504. The structures of putative endoglucanases of PW1 and PW2 were generated using 1VHE.A as template, which showed the presence of vast proportion of random coils. Molecular docking of the modeled endoglucanase proteins with various substrates and products of cellulases showed that carboxymethyl cellulose and maltose exhibit the highest binding affinity, while xylan and glucose the least. Conclusions: The two thermophilic bacteria PW1 and PW2 and their endoglucanase gene can be further utilized for recombinant production of thermostable cellulases for their application in industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]