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Open universities have provided quality higher education through open and distance education to serve learners who could not attend traditional in-person universities. While open universities vary in terms of providing their services to learners at a distance, many have shifted to e-learning using cost-effective platforms. A common platform that is essential for online teaching and learning is the learning management system (LMS). While there are common processes observed among open universities in the way they use their LMS, there are also subtle differences caused by each institution's unique and special context. Their contextual challenges often drive them to develop technologies or techniques that may easily be adopted by others. Thus, benchmarking activities are often recommended for mutual improvement. In this regard, a comparative study of open universities in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Pakistan was conducted for decision-makers to understand how they could improve in providing quality education to their learners through Moodle, which is their primary LMS. The Delone and Mclean Model was used to systematically compare system, information, and service quality in e-learning delivered through their LMS. The authors hope that the results and recommendations from this study may help other educational institutions overcome similar challenges in their learning platforms.

While ChatGPT has recently become very popular, AI has a long history and philosophy. This paper intends to explore the promises and pitfalls of the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) AI and potentially future technologies by adopting a speculative methodology. Speculative future narratives with a specific focus on educational contexts are provided in an attempt to identify emerging themes and discuss their implications for education in the 21st century. Affordances of (using) AI in Education (AIEd) and possible adverse effects are identified and discussed which emerge from the narratives. It is argued that now is the best of times to define human vs AI contribution to education because AI can accomplish more and more educational activities that used to be the prerogative of human educators. Therefore, it is imperative to rethink the respective roles of technology and human educators in education with a future-oriented mindset.

This article reports data from a qualitative study conducted within the elitist English-medium schools in three cities of Pakistan to claim that theory building, and English teaching practices are still modeled on monolingual biases inherent in the orthodox notions of linguistic purism and Anglo-normative traditions of the 1990s. Orthodoxy is manifest in schools' strong emphasis on direct method and communicative language teaching, and essentialist language management where English is enforced as the sole legitimate language of academic and non-academic transactions. Native language use is attached a stigma and viewed as deficiency in the English language. Such Anglo-normative culture invokes guilty conscience in teachers and students as they disapprove native languages even when they know that they can serve as useful meditating tools for effective content transfer. Crucially, amid English gatekeepers' celebratory attitudes toward English as the sole legitimate language, some teachers still demonstrate deviation from the pervasive linguistic norms. Showing reflexivity and agency, these teachers ideologically oppose the official policy. They discursively generate spaces for negotiating and appropriating the official policies, which signifies that language policy can be a complex multi-layered process rather than a linear, discrete, or top-down phenomenon. Teachers' agency is interpreted as 'decolonial performativity'.

In higher education research, publication productivity and collaboration of foreign doctoral degree holders have been thoroughly examined in developed countries. However, they have been given less attention in developing countries such as Pakistan, despite their growing visibility and significance in HEIs. The purpose of this study was to examine faculty publication productivity and collaboration differences between foreign and domestic doctoral degree holders. The theoretical premise of the study was based on knowledge recombination theory and mobility approaches, and the study used a convergent parallel mixed methods design. The empirical data consist of 232 faculty members and 17 semi-structured interviews with university administrators collected from 14 public universities. The findings of the study revealed that foreign doctoral degree holders had not produced a greater total of refereed journal articles than their domestic doctoral holder colleagues. Qualitative findings also supported the quantitative findings of the study, as well as made a theoretical contribution to knowledge recombination theory and mobility approaches. Our findings suggested that mobility helps knowledge flows and knowledge gained from distant sources is significantly more creative when compared to domestic knowledge. Additionally, analysis demonstrated that certain foreign doctoral holders are particularly productive and could have benefited from unique knowledge not accessible to their domestic doctoral colleagues. The findings also recognized that those who move internationally and opt for foreign study could be beneficial for home countries and undoubtedly help institutions achieve their research excellence goals. Further discussion and implications are provided.

Open and Distance Learning (ODL) plays an important role in providing education to the students of rural and remote areas. In ODL, learning feedback and assessment process of learners requires time and cost using classical communication techniques. Emerging technologies like Mobile Assessment (M-Assessment) has gained momentum because of its potential as a useful electronic assessment tool available on widely used mobile devices. The mobile phone usage in Pakistan over the last ten years has been increased incredibly but the potential of Short Messaging Service (SMS) technology in assessment activity has not been fully explored. This study focuses on mobile SMS usage for formative assessment in distance learning environment of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). The key objective of this study was to investigate AIOU students' satisfaction about the technology acceptance model for M-Assessment. The software has been developed in open source programming language using SMS web-service on the backend to conduct mobile based quiz. The survey methodology applied to test the technology acceptance model for M-Assessment showed that the majority (87%) of the respondents are satisfied with this mobile assessment method. It was tested on 277 selected students of Intermediate, Bachelor and Master's level enrolled in English and Information Technology courses at AIOU. Around 90% of the respondents regarded it as one of the quickest assessment methods. It was recommended to use this software in the assessment of ODL students.

The study explored views of teachers about relationship between social behaviour and academic performance. The objectives of the study were to examine the effects of social behaviour on academic performance; compare academic results of students with social behaviour; investigate the importance of social behaviour on academic performance; and, suggest what necessary steps should be taken to improve the academic performance and social behaviour. The study was conducted in 15 schools which were randomly selected. In the study design, the students of 9th grade have been categorized as high achievers, average and below average from both streams i.e. science and arts. A questionnaire consisting of 25 items, was developed as research instrument of the study. The data were collected, tabulated, interpreted and statistically analyzed. Conclusions were drawn on the basis of data analysis. The study recommended that the social behaviour and academic performance were equally valued.

This study aimed to explore the principal's perceptions about, and strategies for, increasing students' active participation in the day-to-day affairs and decision-making at a secondary school located in a rural, mountainous region of Pakistan. By exploring the principal's leadership practices, this study aims to answer the question, 'how can school principals promote students' participation in school leadership and, in turn, how can such participation ultimately lead to a socially just and democratic community?' To us 'school leadership' is not a set of skills or positional authority that lies in one individual -- the principal -- but it is a practice which is widely distributed and engaged by a range of people including students in the day-to-day affairs and business of the school. Although, students' participation in curricular and co-curricular activities and decision-making processes in schools is widely studied elsewhere, there is hardly any study on this topic in the context of Pakistan, particularly with reference to rural schools. Therefore, an empirical investigation based on a qualitative case study method was conducted to collect data from the principal as well as from other members of the school community regarding the leadership practices that promote students' active participation in school affairs. The findings of the study reveal a number of interesting and contextually relevant strategies used by the principal as well as the gaps between his beliefs and practices and the challenges he faces in increasing students' participation in various activities and decisions at the school.

Purpose: Quality assurance (QA) in open and distance learning (ODL) has always become universal concerns of stakeholders. The quality of ODL has been confronted with challenges in terms of the diversity of inputs, processes, the complex supply chain management of ODL and recent paradigm shift into online learning. Assuring the quality of ODL are daunting tasks at individual, institution and system levels. Completed before the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, this study aims to better understand the implementation of QA system in three Asian open universities (OUs), namely University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Universitas Terbuka (UT), Indonesia and Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative method was employed involving analysis of documents of the three Asian OUs and focus group discussions and interviews with management and staff. Data collected were then analyzed to draw conclusions and possible recommendations. Findings: Findings of this study presented good practices, challenges and rooms for improvement of the QA system in the three Asian OUs. Focusing on students and stakeholders in their QA effort, this study has revealed that quality begins with inner self and is multidimensional. QA is principally viewed as continuous improvement, as mechanism and assessment and as effort at exceeding expectations of students and stakeholders. The recent challenge for QA is to embrace a delicate process of ODL transformation into online digital system. The recent COVID-19 outbreak has further implications and challenged QA implementation in ODL in higher education into the next level of complexity. Practical implications: This study revealed the diversities in how OUs met the societal needs of their respective stakeholders and addressed the challenges ahead for QA in ODL. Originality/value: These findings were expected to enhance the understanding of the theory and practice of QA in ODL and to contribute to quality improvement of ODL programs.

Rural subregions of the developing countries are suffering from many physical and socioeconomic problems, including scarcity of basic education institutions. The shortage of education institutions extended distance between rural localities and education institutions. Hence, to curb this problem, this research is aimed to deal with the basic education institution's shortage, according to available local standards and demographic features. This is an attempt to lower down the distance between the rural population and basic education institutions. Data were collected through interviews, field visits and from the concerned authorities of the study area. The basic education institution's shortage is determined up to the year 2035, which could help in formulating education policy plans. It is expected that local people's accessibility towards rural education institutions can be increased, which may put a positive impact on the declining literacy rate of a rural population.

In a pioneering study undertaken in Pakistan, urban men's sexual behaviors, perceptions and knowledge regarding sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS were determined by employing both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Focus group discussions were carried out initially and followed by a structured cross sectional survey that interviewed 2400 men in six cities. While most men (90%) had heard of the term HIV/AIDS however nearly a quarter of the respondents had misconceptions regarding its mode of transmission. HIV/AIDS was generally perceived as a disease acquired by indulging in "immoral" activities. Knowledge regarding other sexually transmitted infections was negligible. The results from this study point to the need for developing awareness campaigns in Pakistan that mitigate stigma and reduce vulnerability. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)

This qualitative case study presents the reasons of teachers' job dissatisfaction in the government educational institutes in Pakistan. This case study is based on the two factor theory of Herzberg. The results of this case study reveal four core factors that cause job dissatisfaction among teachers in the public sector universities in developing countries Asia such as Pakistan. These three core factors are management lobbying, leg pulling/politics against teachers, poor working conditions and Grouping among teachers. The first three factors were conceptualized before recoding the empirical evidence, while the third one (grouping) was discovered during the research process. Therefore, impact of grouping in educational institutes on job dissatisfaction needs to be researched more to identify the group dynamics which might lead to job dissatisfaction. (Contains 1 figure and 1 table.)

Pakistan's urban air pollution is among the world's worst, wreaking havoc on public health and the economy. Although the country's environmental protection act and the climate change act recognize the dual challenges of air pollution and climate change, it lacks an integrated national strategy to manage both simultaneously. Based on simulations with the GAINS model (an integrated assessment model) through soft coupling with the EnerNEO Pakistan model (an energy-economic model), we assess the benefits of climate policies and air pollution control measures on air quality and public health for Pakistan under the baseline and alternative scenarios. Our results reveal that Pakistan's current air pollution control measures are insufficient to meet the country's air quality standards under the baseline scenario. Implementing sustainable development strategies will reduce nationwide PM 2.5 -related mortalities by 24% in 2050 compared to the baseline. While advanced control measures have the potential to improve air quality and human health in Pakistan, when combined with national sustainable development strategies, they have the potential to halve greenhouse gas emissions (implementing SDG 13 indicator on climate action) and save on emission control costs approximately by a quarter (0.32% of GDP) by 2050. This appears to be a significant co-benefit in terms of air quality (environmental), health (social), and cost (economic), implying that Pakistan's future policymaking should prioritize cost-effective co-control of air pollution and greenhouse gases. [Display omitted] • We studied air quality and health co-benefits under alternative policy scenarios. • Current legislations would result in a 1.5-fold rise in PM 2.5 levels by 2050. • Stringent air pollution control measures would cut PM 2.5 levels in half by 2050. • PM 2.5 mortalities would be decreased by 24% in a sustainable development scenario. • Sustainable development policies would further reduce GHG emissions by 53%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to recognize the factor effecting impulse buying behaviour with the mediation effect of payment facility. This study is based on primary data and data collected from Hyderabad Division of Sindh, Pakistan through adopted questionnaire. Number of respondents were 200 females who are engaged in impulse buying in supermarkets such as Baig Mart, Dawood Super Market, Max Bachat Super Market and Grocers. The store atmosphere and promotional activity are mediated by payment facility for impulse buying behaviour and partial mediation effect used. However, promotional activity revealed more important for impulse buying behaviour due to higher beta value than store atmosphere. In the previous research scholars explored the direct impact of promotional activity and store atmosphere. However, this study checked indirect effect in presence of mediator payment facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black carbon (BC) emissions, resulting from the incomplete combustion of carbonaceous fuels, have been extensively linked to adverse impacts on air quality, climate change, and public health. Nevertheless, there is currently a lack of a comprehensive analysis that integrates activity-based BC emissions inventory and scenario analysis at the national/regional, sectoral, and sub-sectoral levels in Pakistan. This study aims to fill this gap by conducting a comprehensive evaluation of Pakistan's BC emissions inventory for 2021 along projecting emissions until 2050 under the reference emission scenario (RES) and the accelerated reduction scenario (ARS) using the GAINS modeling framework to assess the potential impact of mitigation measures. This study takes a unique approach by considering commonly overlooked sources of BC emissions, such as kerosene lighting, brick kilns, diesel generator sets, and natural gas flaring, which are not typically included in conventional analyses. National BC emissions in 2021 were estimated at 181 kt, with residential combustion being the major contributor, accounting for more than half (108 kt) of the total emissions. The transport, industry, waste, agriculture, power plants, and fuel conversion sectors contributed 26.1 kt, 20.1 kt, 10.7 kt, 8.9 kt, 6.0 kt, and 0.9 kt, respectively. We anticipate that the total BC emissions in Pakistan will reach 201 kt under the RES and 41 kt under the ARS scenario by the year 2050. The ARS achieves substantial BC reductions by the adoption of cleaner fuels, improved biomass stoves, end-of-pipe emission control technologies with higher removal efficiencies, and implementing a ban on the open burning of waste and crop residues. This study underscores the considerable potential for reducing BC emissions across various sectors in Pakistan over the next three decades. [Display omitted] • For 2021, Pakistan's BC emissions inventory showed total emissions at 181 kt. • The GAINS model is used to integrate new BC emissions source categories. • Modeling BC emissions mitigation in reference and accelerated reduction scenarios. • Advanced measures may cut three-quarters of BC emissions in the next 30 years. • Clean cooking and advanced measures will cut significant BC emissions in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Damage control surgery (DCS) is an established option for managing severely injured trauma patients. However, its role in the management of similar patients in the developing world is debatable. The purpose of this study is to describe characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing DCS.Methods: All trauma patients requiring laparotomies from 1996 to 2011 at a tertiary care hospital in South Asia were reviewed. DCS was defined in a patient who underwent a truncated laparotomy where the fascia was primarily left open, with the intention of physiological optimization in the Intensive Care Unit, followed by definitive surgery. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent predictors of mortality after adjustment for potential confounders.Results: Of 258 patients, 47 underwent DCS. 40% patients were transferred from other hospitals. The time between injury and operation was 152 minutes (IQR: 90-330). Intra-operative laboratory parameters revealed a median pH of 7.16 (IQR: 7.10-7.27), median temperature of 34.7 (IQR: 34.0-35.4) and median PT of 15.9 (IQR: 12.4-21.2). 55% of the patients survived to discharge from hospital. Of those who died, 86% died before the first take back operation. Packed red blood cell transfusion and vascular injury were independently associated with mortality.Discussion: Damage control surgery is feasible in developing countries, with more than 50% survival reported at one hospital. Future research should focus on critical care management.Conclusion: Damage Control trauma laparotomy is feasible in tertiary care hospitals with multidisciplinary trauma teams in lesser-developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fresh wild leafy vegetables and related soil samples were collected from Lesser Himalayas, Pakistan to evaluate the trace metal levels and related health risk to the consumers. The samples were prepared by acid digestion, followed by quantification of selected trace metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Cd and Pb) on atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Generally, in the vegetables highest concentrations were detected for Fe, followed by Zn, Mn and Pb. Among the vegetables, highest concentrations of Zn, Cu and Cr were found in Solanum nigrum, while Stellaria media showed the elevated levels of Fe and Cd. Nevertheless, maximum concentrations of Mn and Pb were found in Convolvulus arvensis and Amaranthus viridis, respectively. In the case of soil, highest levels were observed for Fe, followed by Mn, Zn, Pb, Cr and Cu. Translocation of trace metals from soil to the vegetables exhibited highest values for Cd, followed by Zn. Multivariate principal component analysis showed significant anthropogenic contributions of the Pb, Cr, Zn, Cd and Fe in the vegetables. Health risk assessment was evaluated in terms of health risk index, target hazard quotient and hazard index which showed that the intake of some trace metals through vegetables was higher than the recommended values, consequently consumption of the vegetables may be associated with non-carcinogenic health risks. Nonetheless, elevated levels of Cr and Pb were also found to be associated with lifetime carcinogenic risk to the consumers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The mobile telecommunication sector in developing countries has attracted significant attention and investments in recent years. Two primary reasons, however, necessitate the adoption of new methods to manage mobile diffusion in these countries. First, the economic and social impacts involved are more pronounced there. Second, low institutional capacity limits efficient regulation and strategy development. Therefore, the consequence is a widening of the intra-country digital divide in countries like Pakistan. This paper embraces both an estimation component and a policy scenario component. We call attention to the importance of estimating the number of unique mobile subscribers to gauge the intensity of the digital divide within a country. We also demonstrate how the system dynamics approach offers advantages over purely statistical estimation models in that it enables dynamic exploratory policy assessments by the telecommunication companies and relevant government agencies. Further a system dynamics model can be embedded within an interface which allows easier model use by those not familiar with the methodology or the software employed. This allows dissemination of an effective policymaking aid despite low institutional capacity. Employing the system dynamics methodology, we estimate the rate of diffusion, identify its major determinants and the true market size in the case of Pakistan. This research can be useful for policymaking and business strategy development in, but not limited to, the mobile telecommunication sector in developing countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Current study aims to indentify the underlying belief dimensions that influence consumer attitudes toward social media advertising in a collectivistic cultural context of South Asia. It also examines the influence of consumers' favorable attitudes toward social media advertising on their ad clicking and online buying behaviors. To meet the objectives of the current study data was collected from randomly chosen university students (n=210) using survey at Islamabad capital city of Pakistan. Results reveal four factors of consumer beliefs about social media advertising. However, only two dimensions i.e. information and economy are statistically significant predictors of consumer attitudes toward social media advertising in Pakistan. Furthermore, results reveal that favorable attitudes toward social media advertising significantly influence consumers' ad clicking behavior, which in turn positively affects their online buying behavior. Findings of the current study are useful for the multinational companies which intend to advertise their products and services through social media channels (e.g. through FaceBook, LinkedIn etc.) in South Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has been designed to obtain the statistical value of life and health in Pakistan by examining the compensating wage differentials among the blue collar workers of the manufacturing sector in Lahore. So far, no estimates based on compensated wage models or contingent valuation method are available for the country. Our results are based on the one-to-one interviews of 680 workers. We have estimated at the VSL and the VSI based on actual and perceived measures. The study estimates the Value of Statistical Life (VSL) to be between $ 122,047 (10.4 million PKR) and $435,294 (37 million PKR) per statistical life. Moreover, the Value of Statistical Injury (VSI) is within a range of $417 (35,445 PKR) and $1654 (140,590) per statistical injury. These values are low as compared to the values of developed countries; however, our results are akin to the results of many studies conducted in several developing countries including India, South Korea, and Mexico. The variations in the results are due to the use of different risk measures, that is, actual and professed or perceived risk measures in alternative regression equations. The recession models are fully robust and do not suffer from any major econometric problem. The results of the study will facilitate different public and private sector agencies for a better approximation of the benefits of pollution reduction and other safety measures such as traffic safety and medical intercessions. It may also encourage further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphology, leaf anatomical features and pollen grain characteristics of the genus Hieracium (Asteraceae: Lactuceae) have been investigated and illustrated for the first time in Pakistan. Hieracium L. and Pilosella Hill, are recognized as separate genera. All Hieracium species are perennial rhizomatous herbs. In this study five species, i.e. Hieracium bichlorophyllum, H. diaphanoides, H. umbellatum, H. virosum, and H. vulgatum are described for Pakistan. The stem surface is glabrous in H. diaphanoides and H. umbellatum, while sparse echinulate and stellate hairs are also present in H. umbellatum. Hieracium bichlorophyllum has scabrous hairs, while stellate hairs are present in H. vulgatum. Basal leaves are sessile in all species but subsessile in H. vulgatum. Leaves are bifacial and stomata cells are staurocytic and amphianisocytic. The pollen type of the investigated species is trizonocolporate and tetrazonocolporate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]