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Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference Proceedings Volume 2018 Issue 4
- Conference date: 19-20 Mar 2018
- Location: Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC), Doha, Qatar
- Volume number: 2018
- Published: 15 March 2018
63 results
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The debate between freedom speech and government protection
By Sarah AssamiAs a student researching the findings from the QNRF NPRP grant, “Media Use in the Middle East” (NPRP 7-1757-5-261), a seven-nation survey by Northwestern University in Qatar, I am particularly interested in the debate between freedoms of speech and the government's role in protecting society, religion, and minorities. This debate is important not just in the Middle East, but around the world. There is a wide body of literature in Western society regarding this topic. For example, Bollinger (1986) primarily focuses on the difference between extremist speech and hate speech — and the extent to which freedom of speech can affect minority groups. Greenawalt (1989, 119) examines and justifies freedom of speech within the press, as well as within “political and judicial principles.” More recently, Nelson, Clawson, and Oxley (1997) investigate news framing that “defines and constructs a political issue or public controversy.” Yet there is much less literature on this topic outside of the Western world. I am interested in exploring attitudes on this topic from the Middle East specifically because it can help us understand behaviors in certain societies, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and how these behaviors and attitudes influence citizen perception towards the government, their own religion, and minority groups. In my research, I investigate levels of citizen support for freedoms of speech that could be seen as destabilizing or harmful through a comparative look at Qatar and Saudi Arabia. I focus in particular on a set of three questions from the survey, which present several statements and allow the respondents to choose one of two responses: “People should be able to say these things publically” or “Government should be able to prevent people from saying these things.” The three statements are, “Statements that criticize the government's policies,” “Statements that are offensive to your religion or beliefs,” and “Statements that are offensive to minority groups.” Each of these statements probes a different, but important area of freedom of speech. The first concerns the government, specifically whether or not people should be able to comment or criticize the government and how this affects the government. For example, will repeated disapproval with the government pose a threat on its power? Furthermore, how comfortable are people with this type of political criticism and involvement? The second concerns the level of acceptance towards criticism to one's own religious beliefs. These responses could tell us about how open people are towards these types of conversation. The third concerns minority groups and whether people, in general, feel like minority groups should receive some level of protection. The survey does not tell us if the respondents taking the survey identify as part of a minority group, but rather it only gives us the general views on minority groups. This question could also tell us how people perceive minority groups. My preliminary research shows major differences between Qatari citizens and Saudi citizens in terms of their responses to these questions. Overall Saudis showed a 27 percent approval to government criticism, a 23 percent acceptance to criticism towards their own religion, and a 25 percent approval to offend minority groups. On the other hand, Qataris showed a 21 percent approval to government criticism, a 3 percent acceptance to criticism towards their own religion, and a 6 percent approval to criticism towards minority groups. While this initially seems to show that Saudi citizens are more comfortable with vocal criticism than Qatari citizens, I believe there is more to the story. What types of people are more interested in criticism, and what does this context tell us about why they may answer in this way? Most importantly, I have found a significant difference between citizens who identify as culturally conservative and those who identify as culturally progressive. In Saudi culturally conservative citizens were more likely to be open to criticizing the government, where 34 percent agreed, in contrast to culturally progressive citizens, where only 18 percent agreed. Furthermore, culturally conservative citizens were more open to the idea of other people “offending” their own religion, 26 percent agreed, and culturally progressives were not open to the idea, where only nine percent agreed. Lastly, culturally conservatives in Saudi Arabia were with people making public statements offensive to minority groups, where 28 percent agreed, and culturally progressives did not, where only 12 percent agreed. In Qatar, however, the culturally conservatives and culturally progressives’ responses from citizens were opposite to Saudi Arabia. Culturally conservative nationals disagreed with people criticizing the government, only 16 percent agreed, where culturally progressives were more open to the idea, 30 percent agreed. Culturally progressive Qataris were against people making offensive statements to minority groups, only 5 percent agreed, and culturally conservative Qatari were more open to the idea, where 8 percent agreed. After checking other demographics — including education level, age, and gender — I have found that these demographics were not significantly correlated with the results. Rather, the results were based on whether or not respondents, both in Qatar and in Saudi Arabia, identified as culturally conservative or culturally progressive. My next stage of research is focused on looking at the history and culture of the two countries as well as conducting interviews with citizens of both countries to try to understand why we see these survey results. I am in the process of conducting further interviews with Qataris and Saudis, as well as research on the two countries, to understand these trends. My initial research is aims to give us more insight on the different cultural, social and political trends occurring in both in Qatar and in Saudi Arabia. I hope to be able to share my results at the QF ARC 2018. Citations: Bollinger, Lee C. 1986. The Tolerant Society: Freedom of Speech and Extremist Speech. Oxford University Press. Nelson, Thomas E., Clawson, Rosalee A., and Oxley, Zoe M. 1997. “Media Framing of a Civil Liberties Conflict and Its Effect on Tolerance.” American Political Science Review 93(1): 567–583. Greenawalt, Kent. 1989. “Free Speech Justification.” Columbia Law Review 89(1): 130–47.
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Islamic Perspectives on Legal Capacity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities
Authors: Sabah Anbareen Khadri, Khalid Al-Ali and Patricia Cuenca GomezThis paper aims to understand the Islamic perspectives on Legal Capacity governing Healthcare for people with Disabilities. This paper will first focus on Legal capacity in general which derives from the Article 12 of the Convention of the rights of people with disabilities, and will then discuss how this aspect of the CRPD is applied within the context of Sharia'h law in healthcare in Qatar.The recognition of legal capacity allows an Incapacitated individual access to make fundamental decisions, such as where to reside and what kind of medical care to receive. Without legal capacity, a person is relegated to the status of an object rather than an independent human being with thoughts, emotions, and opinions without this (Quinn et al., 2002). This concept of Legal capacity was introduced in the CPRD through the paradigm shift from the Medical Model to the Social/ Human rights model. Before the adoption of the CRPD, the medical model did not permit legal capacity, and as a result, decision-making system followed the substitute decision-making system, carried out through guardianship, conservatorship, and deputyship.The current social/ human rights model in place views disabled people as rights holders and full-fledged members of the society. It places emphasis on the interaction between individuals and social barriers like discrimination, exclusion or prejudice which prevent persons with disabilities from exercising their legal capacity, through empowerment and normality of disability represents a high priority (O’ Mahony 2012). This Human rights model promotes supported decision-making over previously practiced Substituted decision-making, with the intent to remedy unequal treatment of people with disabilities. Islamic countries draw distinction between legal capacity for rights, and legal capacity to act. The Islamic countries use the former as the accepted definition of legal capacity. Legal capacity for rights is interpreted as the fitness of a person to be subject of legal relations, and thus refers to an individual's status within a given legal system. Islamic countries had a reservation to the Article 12, which was in line with their own definition of Legal capacity.Islamic perspectives on legal capacity for people with mental disabilities could be fitting in the medieval context, but cannot necessarily be applied in modern times.Most mental health laws specifically allow for the denial of legal capacity of people with a mental health diagnosis (McSherry & Weller, 2010). This denial of legal capacity on the basis of psycho-social disability is a direct contravention of Article 12(2) of the CRPD.Adopting the substituted decision-making system has anti-therapeutic effects as individuals tend to gradually lose their functional ability to exercise rights and they can hardly recover their decision –making capacities under the guardianship system. In practice – most cases of incapacitation result in plenary guardianship, which eventually means that the person in question will be denied the legal capacity in all areas of life. The Sharia'h compliant Civil Code of Qatar allows people with physical and sensory disabilities the possibility of having a judicial assistant (Article 127).In Qatar, Persons with psycho-social disabilities may be deprived of legal capacity. The culture encourages interdependence, rather than the independence, of individual family members, who internalize a group rather than an individual decision-making process. In 2016, a law on Mental Health was approved. It regulates – for the first time – involuntary hospitalization and forced medical treatment in Qatar.In our view, for Qatar to become fully CRPD compliant, efforts need to be made to extend supported decision-making through the Sharia'h compliant Civil Code (Article 127) to people with intellectual and psycho-social disabilities. ReferencesMcSherry, Bernadette, and Penelope Weller, eds. Rethinking rights-based mental health laws. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2010.O»Mahony, Charles. «Legal capacity and detention: implications of the UN disability convention for the inspection standards of human rights monitoring bodies.» The International Journal of Human Rights 16.6 (2012): 883-901.Quinn, Gerard, et al. «Human rights and disability.» Derechos Humanos y Discapacidad], HR/PUB/02/1, United Nations (2002).
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مدى تأثير الأحاديث الضعيفة والموضوعة على دور المرأة وتمكينها في المجتمع دراسة ميدانية على عينة من طلاب وطالبات جامعات دولة قطر
إنه مما لا شك فيه أن علاقة الرجل بالمرأة تتعرض لمؤثرات عدة: ثقافية، واجتماعية، وسياسية، مما قد يكون له بالغ الأثر على هذه العلاقة بالإيجاب أو السلب. وتعد الأحاديث الضعيفة والموضوعة من الروافد الثقافية التي لها علاقة بطبيعة الاتجاه نحو المرأة في المجتمعات الإسلامية وتمكينها الإيجابي في المجتمع؛ لاحتوائها على مجموعة من المفاهيم والأدبيات التي تؤثر في العقل المسلم، والتي استوطنت فيه قرونًاا لازالت أنفاسها تظهر من هنا وهناك على شكل تيارات فكرية، تنادي باختزال أدوار المرأة المتعددة في المجتمع في دور أوحد -مع أولويته- وهو بيتها؛ لتقر فيه جاهلة لا نصيب لها من علم، ولا حظ لها من ثقافة. وقد تُرَسِّخُ هذه الأحاديث الضعيفة والموضوعة الكثير من السلوكيات والتصرفات تجاه المرأة والحيلولة دون تمكينها الإيجابي في المجتمع، انطلاقًاا من القناعة الفكرية بهذه الأحاديث وجدواها، كما تَكْمُن خطورة مثل تلك الأحاديث عندما يتم تطبيقها بصورة عملية من أفراد المجتمع دون التأكد من صحتها أو ثبوتها، كما أن هذا لا ينفى احتمالية وجود فئةٍ معينةٍ تأخذ من هذه الأحاديث ما يوافق مزاجها الفكري، أو تقاليدها المتبعة، أو أعرافها المستقرة، وتعمل على إلباس هذا الفكر وتلك التقاليد القداسة والشرعية مما قد يؤثر بالسلب على مكانة المرأة وتمكينها في المجتمع المسلم. ومما تهدف إليه الدراسة ١- قياس المدى المعرفي لهذه الأحاديث من حيث تواجدها ومدى صحتها لدى عينة البحث والمصادر التي تنتشر من خلالها. ٢- قياس مدى التَأَثُّر بالأحاديث الضعيفة والموضوعة والتي وجَّهت الأمة قرونًاا طويلنًا في الاتجاه السلبي نحو المرأة وحالت دون تمكينها بشكل إيجابي في المجتمع. ٣- الرغبة في إدماج المرأة في المسار التنموي العام إدماجاً إيجابياً وعادلاً. ٤- السعي في عودة الوعي الفكري الصحيح في هذه القضية لمواجهة مزاعم الانتقاص من مكانة المرأة ودورها المجتمعي في الشريعة الإسلامية. ٥- الإسهام في زيادة الوعي للحيلولة دون وقوع التصدع الأسري نتيجة العمل بهذه الأحاديث والذي يؤثر سلبا على الاستقرار الأسري للمجتمع. ٦- بيان ضعف وزيف بعض المؤثرات الثقافية التي قد تحول دون دمج المرأة في مؤسسات المجتمع وتمكينها من أداء دورها المجتمعي. ٧- تنقية الجانب الثقافي عند طلاب الجامعات يعد دعما للثقافة التي تميز دولة قطر من خلال ترسيخ القيم والمبادئ العربية والإسلامية الصحيحة والتي تضمن السلم والأمن الاجتماعي والاستقرار داخل المجتمع القطري. ٨- تعزيز مكانة الثقافة العربية الإسلامية في نفوس طلاب الجامعات في دولة قطر من خلال تنقية هذه الثقافة مما شابها وكدرها. واستخدم الباحثون المنهج الوصفي التحليلي في إجراء هذا البحث، ويهدف المنهج الوصفي التحليلي إلى رصد الظاهرة موضع البحث بدون أي تدخل من الباحثين، ووصفها وصفاً دقيقاً من حيث جوانب القوة والضعف الموجودة في ظاهرة البحث، ثم تحليل هذه المعلومات من أجل تفسير هذه الظاهرة بصورة علمية. ويتم تنفيذ الدراسة التطبيقية المقصودة عن طريق عينة عشوائية حجمها ٦٠٠ طالب وطالبة بواقع ١٠٠ لكل باحث من الطلاب وعددهم ستة: ثلاث من البنين، وثلاثة من البنات؛ ليقوم الطلاب بعمل الدراسة مع البنين وتقوم الطالبات بعمل الدراسة مع البنات. وهذه العينة تكون ممثلة للشباب في جامعات دولة قطر (جامعة قطر الوطنية - كلية المجتمع - وغيرها من الجامعات في دولة قطر) ويتم تحديد نسب الطلاب والطالبات في كل جامعة بنااً على نسب التمثيل العددي لكل جامعة. وخلص الجانب النظري إلى ١- علاقة الرجل بالمرأة تتأثر بالمتغيرات الثقافية والاجتماعية والسياسية السائدة في المجتمع. ٢- تنوع الأحاديث الموضوعة والضعيفة وكثرتها واتساعها لتشمل الكثير من قضايا المرأة ومكانتها في الأسرة وكيفية التعامل معها في الأحوال المختلفة وهذا أحدث لباًا للحق بالباطل واختلااًا للصواب بالخطأ. ٣- الأحاديث الموضوعة تؤدي إلى إلباس الفكر المنحرف تجاه المرأة ثوب القداسة والشرعية. ٤- السعي في عودة الوعي الفكري الصحيح في هذه القضية من شأنه القضاء على مزاعم انتقاص المرأة لحقوقها ودورها في الدين الإسلامي. ٥- لا يقتصر دور المرأة داخل محيطها الأسري وإنما يتجاوزه إلى رعاية المجتمع كما هي رعاية الأبناء والأسرة تمااًا. ٦- المشاركة الإيجابية للمرأة في المجتمع هو أساس أي تقدم اجتماعي؛ لذا من الضروري تأهيل المرأة وإعادتها لسابق دورها من النشاط والحيوية والتفاني في خدمة مجتمعها. ٧- التنازل عن دور المرأة هو تنازل طوعي عن قدرات نصف المجتمع والتأثير في قدرات النصف الآخر. ٨- التعرف على الواقع الفعلي لدور المرأة هو السبيل الوحيد للعمل على نيل المرأة لحقوقها وتبوؤ مكانتها دون منة من المجتمع. وتوصي الدراسة في جانبها النظري بضرورة إجراء مثل هذه الدراسات لبحث مدى تأثُّر دور المرأة في المجتمع بالمؤثرات الثقافية التي لها دور في التعامل السلبي مع المرأة. وأما الجانب التطبيقي للدراسة فمن المتوقع الانتهاء منه وتحليل نتائجه وسيتم تضمينه في الدراسة قبيل موعد عقد المؤتمر بعون الله
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Digital Skills Implementation in Journalism and Mass Communication Curriculums: A Census of Programs in the Middle East
Authors: Andrew Mills, Amy Kristin Sanders and Shakir HussainAs journalism organizations have made the transition to digital publications, social media platforms and mobile applications, journalists’ technology skills have been put to the test. Many professional organizations have decried the lack of essential digital competencies and the need for training. In 2014, the Poynter Institute released its Core Skills for the Future of Journalism report, detailing 37 key skills or attributes and knowledge areas (Finberg & Klinger, 2014). More recently, the International Center for Journalism's 2017 survey on The State of Technology in Global Newsrooms found “a perilous digital skills gap” in newsrooms worldwide (ICFJ, 2017). Based on a survey of more than 2,700 journalists and newsroom managers in 130 countries across 12 languages, ICFJ concluded that many newsrooms were lacking in 23 core digital skills. These skills include: digital photography, engaging audience on social media, using analytics and web statistics, video production and editing and working with graphics, among others. Not surprisingly, these calls to action from industry leaders have not gone unnoticed in the academy. Education organizations such as the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, the Broadcast Education Association and the Journalism Educators Association have written reports or held workshops addressing the integration of digital skills into the curriculum. However, based on our experience a number of obstacles, including accreditation and lack of faculty expertise, prevent curriculum overhaul, leading these digital skills to be implemented less efficiently and effectively than industry leaders might desire. Our pilot study examines the curricula of undergraduate journalism and mass communication programs in the Middle East to evaluate whether and how they have included digital skills in their programs. To be included in the census, the program must feature English-language instruction of undergraduate students leading to a bachelor's-equivalent degree in the field and be accredited (either at the program-level or institutional-level) by an internationally recognized organization. For each university, the researchers collected university catalogs, program descriptions and course descriptions. These documents were then analyzed to evaluate the inclusion of ICFJ's 23 digital skills into the journalism and mass communication programs. Our research indicates that programs in the region have been slow to incorporate these digital skills into the curricula despite calls from the industry dating back almost a decade. Skills in video production, website design and audio production were more common, while courses emphasizing analytics, podcasting and virtual reality were far less likely to be offered. Relevant Pillar: Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities: Education, Labor & Migration Our pilot study is aimed at improving education here in Qatar by providing a better understanding of how other journalism and mass communication programs are implementing digital skills instruction into their curricula. Our study serves as a strong foundation for future pedagogy research in the realm of journalism and mass communication education around the world. Ideally, this and subsequent research can help universities better equip their journalism and mass communication students with the skills needed to succeed in an ever-changing media industry. References Finberg, Howard I. & Klinger, Lauren. (2014). “Core Skills For the Future of Journalism.” Poynter Institute. Retrieved from http://www.newsu.org/course_files/CoreSkills_FutureofJournalism2014v2.pdf International Center for Journalism. (2017, October 6). “The State of Technology in Newsrooms.” Nature. Retrieved from http://medium.icfj.org/a-study-of-technology-in-newsrooms-cea3252ce5df
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Privacy Concerns in Social Media
More LessI am a current student researching the findings from the QNRF NPRP grant, “Media Use in the Middle East” (NPRP 7-1757-5-261), a seven-nation survey by Northwestern University in Qatar. I am particularly interested in the issue of privacy related to social media use in Qatar. Over the last decade, social media has significantly changed the way people interact with their friends and family members, especially in the sheer number of people that we can interact with, including by sending our messages out to thousands or even millions of people. Although social media, like Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube, now plays a big role in our day-to-day lives, use of these applications could also cause serious privacy concerns. Most of the social media sites have personal information that is required, like your name, birthday, status, email address, and sometimes even your location. These data normally reveal the user's information to all of the people within a particular social media network. Thus, when you use social media, you are basically posting your personal information online, changing the nature of the information from private to semi-public, and it may end up falling into wrong hands. This information can be used by burglars, stalkers, cyberbullies, sexual experimentation and hackers to cause harm to the users and to society as a whole. (O»Keeffe & Pearson 2011). Thus, it is important to further explore the level of privacy concerns regarding social media use in Qatar, as well as steps that users are taking to protect themselves. In particular, my research is informed by a study that provides an integrated framework for cultural values and information technology use in the Middle East, which helps us with “understanding privacy and related issues that arise when personal information is shared or exchanged using information technology” (Norhayati, Jeffrey, Shreya 2003). The study's research can help understand and predict individuals’ culturally linked reactions to various social media sites in diverse cultural contexts. In my research, I am placing Qatar in comparative context with the other countries surveyed, but focusing in-depth on Qatar specifically, both nationals and expatriates. I am interested in Qatar in particular because Qatar is one of the highest countries when it comes to having concerns of privacy in social media. I want to look at both nationals and expats in Qatar because online privacy affects both sets of people, and it is important to understand why expats have even higher concerns than nationals about privacy in social networking. I am interested in exploring two sets of questions. First, I analyze an overall question, which asks respondents to agree or disagree with the following statement, “Concerns about privacy have changed the way I use social media.” Then, I look in depth at specific ways in which people report changing the way they use social media, including adjusting privacy settings, how often do they post, whether they stopped using their real name on social media and whether they connect with fewer people on social media. I am interested both in understanding the levels of privacy concern in Qatar versus the other countries, as well as which specific types of people in Qatar express concerns or choose to modify their behavior, and why they do so. My beginning research shows how residents and nationals of Qatar view privacy concerns on social media compared to the other countries. The seven countries can be ranked from the highest to the least regarding those who have changed the way they use social media because of privacy concerns: UAE (41%), Qatar (33%), KSA (26%), Jordan (24%), Egypt (19%), Tunisia (16%) and Lebanon (14%). As you can see, Qatar has the highest privacy concerns after UAE. Looking specifically at who in Qatar expresses concerns about privacy, I was surprised to find that there isn't a gender difference when it comes to privacy concerns in social media. It is frequently assumed that men have more freedom than women and that men don't have to be concerned about what other people think of them. However, men and women in Qatar were equally likely to express privacy concerns, demonstrating that this is not a gender issue. When comparing age groups, both nationals and expatriates in Qatar express the highest levels of concern in the age group of 25-34 years old (See Fig. 1.) This is a particularly interesting finding, but we need more research to tell the full story. One possible reason for the increase in privacy concerns at this age level might be because of the impact of reputation on opportunities for marriage and employment. A last interesting finding is that Western, Arab, and Asian expatriates in Qatar are more worried about privacy on social media than Qatari nationals are, 36% expats are concerned about privacy while only 21% nationals are worried. Is there something about the expatriate experience here in Qatar that makes expatriates more concerned about their online privacy? Again, we need more research to find out. I am now continuing my research by interviewing Qatari expatriates and nationals, specifically those in the age group of 25 to 34, to discover whether they are concerned about privacy on social media and, if so, why, and what they have done to change their behavior to protect themselves online (and how these behaviors relate to the survey results on this topic). This additional information will connect the dots together and create a complete story of the importance of privacy on social media, and how people in Qatar are handling privacy concerns related to their social media use. References: O»Keeffe, G. S., & Pearson, K. C. (2011). The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families. American Academy of Pediatrics. Norhayati Zakaria, Jeffrey M. Stanton, Shreya T.M. Sarkar-Barney, (2003) «Designing and implementing culturally-sensitive IT applications: The interaction of culture values and privacy issues in the Middle East», Information Technology & People, Vol. 16 Issue: 1, pp.49-75, https://doi.org/10.1108/09593840310463023
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Mobility Competitiveness and Security: Expatriate Perspectives from Qatar
Authors: Michael Christopher Ewers, Bethany Shockley and Yioryos NardisIntroduction: In order to create and sustain a competitive, knowledge-based economy, Qatar must be able to continually attract, retain and integrate expatriate workers. As described in the Qatar National Development Strategy (QNV 2011 p. 105), “for the foreseeable future … Qatar will not have enough citizens to meet the expanding requirements of a rapidly growing, diversifying and technologically advanced economy.” Attracting the right mix of expatriates and retaining the best ones, however, is a major challenge for economy with a highly ambitious post-oil agenda, located in an unstable region, and where over 90% of workers are both foreign and temporary. Yet, little is known as to Qatar's place attractiveness and local security affect the mobility of the country's diverse expatriate population. First, Qatar needs to constantly attract new flows of knowledge and labor needed for economic development and to retain existing pool of skilled foreign workers. This means ensuring that workers view Doha as a comparably more attractive destination than Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Muscat, Riyadh or Singapore. By definition, the expatriate workforce of Qatar is mobile; that is, with the exception of those born in Qatar, each has already migrated at least once. How do expatriates view Qatar in comparison with other centers, and would they move elsewhere for a better offer? Second, Qatar must ensure that the regional instability seen elsewhere does not impact its reputation as a secure and stable oasis in the Middle East. At the same time, most of the middle- and high-income expatriate workers currently employed in Qatar come the Arab world, many of whom are not new arrivals but long-term members of the expatriate community in Qatar. Some come from the region»s most insecure and unstable locations, which may affect their mobility. How do expatriate residents view the security and stability of Qatar, especially in relation to that of their home countries? Data and Methods: Therefore, SESRI conducted a nationally representative of middle- and high-income expatriates (with a basic salary of greater than 4000 QR per month) to examine the mobility of expatriates currently living in Qatar and the conditions under which they may leave the country. This survey included a randomized choice experiment in which respondents were given sets of hypothetical job offers with varying salaries in a number of regional destinations which are often viewed as competitors for Qatar. They were then asked whether they would choose to take the offer in the new location or stay in Qatar. The survey also included questions related to the security and stability of the respondent's home country and his and her ability to return home. Thus project investigate the relative attractiveness of Qatar in relation to other common expatriate destinations in the Gulf and East Asia in conjunction with salary; second, to examine how expatriate residents view the security and stability of Qatar, especially in relation to that of their home countries. In so doing we come better understand how deeply rooted and locally integrated expatriate workers are in Qatar. Accordingly we discuss legislation relevant to expatriate workers in Qatar and its implications for different resident groups. Preliminary Finding: Results indicate that Qatar is rather competitive among similar regional expatriate destinations, and that as long as salaries are competitive the country can retain Westerner and Asian migrants. Arab migrants respond very little to salary increases or decreases. None of the nationality groups seem overly driven by place attractiveness, and most seem to view living in Doha the same as other regional centers. Arabs expatriates in particular are deeply rooted, driven by security and community, but we found that many from this group are unable to return to their home countries. These results are discussed in the context of recent legislative initiatives in Qatar.
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Light Rail Transit and Land Use in Qatar: An Integrated Planning Strategy for the Impelmentation of West Bay Al Sadd Al Wakra Tod'S
More LessThe research study aligns with the social sciences, art and humanities, themes of the main research priority areas of the four ARC'18 pillars (The Context) Recent Transit oriented development in Qatar embodies transportation and land use planning strategies targeting a cardinal improvement based on shifting from a car dependent era-associated with intense traffic congestion and environmental impacts- to public transport dependent era. The correlation between practicality of form, use, and density in transit driven urban development goes far beyond environmental influence; it also acts as a stimulus for livability, cultural stability, mobility, and socioeconomic performance. (The problem) Transit Oriented Developments (TODs) does not automatically generate better livability. The absence of a well-planned mediating element between complexity of transit stations and surrounding developments can result in TOD exclusion and decay. The comprehensive planning of multifaceted relations between built environment, mobility network and social interactions is the key to TODs revitalizing the sources of the city. (The Objective) This research study aims to form alternate integration strategies related to how public transit systems and land use fit into the larger challenge of urban transformation and regeneration, particularly focusing on the TODs of Alwakrah, Alsadd, West bay). Three governance arrangements are distinguished at the station, corridor and neighborhood levels as a catalyst for progressive sustainable urbanism and smart growth around transit stations in Qatar. (The research Design) Subsequent to a comprehensive discussion of existing literature on TODs' spatial urban form towards the improvement of livability by enhancing social interactions and capital, a thorough analysis of Alwakrah, Westbay and Alsadd transit urban zones is performed based data collected from surveys, in-depth interviews of key personal in planning authorities and site analysis documentation. (The findings and contribution to knowledge) The three primary cases are investigated and discussed individually to evaluate possible conceptual integration strategies of TODs in Qatar. The identification of ultimate relations between the morphology of single urban development features into the overall TOD environment, whilst considering social and cultural stability as a doctrine in means to resemble the incremental prototypical model of development strategies and policy making in TOD future vision of Qatar, will contribute to define measuring tools for the contemporary development of transit urban villages, where a sense of heritage, community and livability are enhanced by well-connected physical urban arrangements.
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Towards an integrated urban design: investigation of tod in the cultural core of doha MSHEIREB SOUQ WAQIF NATIONAL MUSEUM
More LessSustainable urban design of cities in the 21st century is challenged by serious problems centered around the over-dependency on the car as a the main transportation system. The car has generated problems of urban inefficiency, contributing to traffic congestion, pollution, fragmentation of urban fabric and other environmental and social challenges. In the context of Doha, Capital City of the State of Qatar, the over-dependency on the car is justified by the lack of alternative modes of transportation that could support the need to connect fragmented urban districts and provide an effective solution to urban sprawl. Therefore, the implementation of an alternative transportation system in Doha, represented by Qatar Rail, is creating potential for a urban development that addresses recent challenges of livability, sustainability and urban growth in cities. Referring to applicable cases in other countries and regions that have successfully implemented alternative transportation systems, the planning of LRT (light rail transit systems) and transit villages (or Transit Oriented Developments, known as TODs) is proving the workable approach of urban revitalization. Thus, the fragmentation of the urban development of Doha must be tackled through this approach. The cultural core of Doha is an attractive site for an integrated urban development that considers urban livability, connectivity and sustainability of the public realm. This research study explores (1) how public transit systems can be utilized as means of urban transformation and regeneration in the cultural core of Doha; (2) the progress and implications of the development of the new transportation system for the planning of Doha's built environment; and (3) the extent to which Transit Oriented Developments (TODs) are strategic for sustainable urbanism and smart growth in Qatar. The aim of the research is (1) to explore and investigate the extent to which the spatial form of the built environment of the cultural core of Doha can be enhanced through TOD; (2) to amplify cultural value, social interactions and/or social capital and, therefore, contributing to creating a more livable environment. Data is obtained through rigorous site analysis of the multiple urban layers of three selected sites within the cultural core of Doha. This approach is directed toward the understanding of the remodeling potential of the cultural center of Doha responding to the introduction of the new rail system. The implementation of a well-structured TOD is expected to foster a cultural revival of the city's cultural core and provide sustainable and livable choices that support sustainable urbanism and focuses on quality of life within cities of today. The research study explores the locations of Qatar Rail metro stations in three vibrant areas of Doha's cultural core. The three areas are (A) Msheireb Downtown Doha, (B) Souq Waqif and (C) the National Museum of Qatar. The exploration includes review of the relevant literature on the urban history of the three selected cases, in addition to a site analysis that considers the location of the metro stations and adjacent districts. The research study concludes by envisioning designed models of TODs, based on resultant planning strategy and development guidelines. The final urban design schemes propose an integrated mix-use development, comprising residential, business, and commercial activities, located within a walking distance from the three transit stations in Doha's cultural core, introducing a new compact and livable community development. Findings are contributing to the application of TODs in Qatar by enhancing the strategic planning of Qatar Rail to effectively incorporate such concept within the planning of the new project. Also, this research study contributes to the provision of an applicable model for the implementation of TODs in Qatar and in the Middle East Region (MENA), addressing the enduring challenges of urbanism and urban planning in the Islamic city.
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Slips of the tongue: Examples from Qatari Dialect
More LessThere are various abstract units of linguistic performance that linguists hypothesized in order to be able to describe the grammars of languages. These are segments, features, morphemes, words or syntactic categories. Yet, actual speech is not only characterized by these grammatical utterances but there are also ungrammatical utterances, incomplete sentences, restarts, stutterings, hesitations and errors (Boomer and Laver 1968). Therefore, human daily speech is far from being perfect; rather it is intermixed with irregularities and errors of various types. On the top of all the idiosyncrasies, utterances are distorted by spontaneous slips of the tongue. According to Fromkin (1973, 1980) and Stemberger (1983) a slip of the tongue occurs when the speaker's actual utterance differs in some way from the intended utterance. It involves unintentional movement, addition, deletion, blending or substitution of material within an utterance and can be phonological, morphological, lexical or syntactic. It is not the product of intentional ungrammaticality, ignorance or language play. In slips, two linguistic elements interact. “Two segments may change place in a sound exchange and two synonymous words may fuse into one in a blend” (Pfau, 2014:1). Over the past century, slips of the tongue have been examined as scientific evidence within the context of two different traditions: psychological and linguistic. The purpose of this study is to explore slips of the tongue. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to collect and analyze the slips of the tongue of some Qataris.
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Capital and Earnings Management in Banks: Evidence from Qatar Bahrain and Jordan
More LessThis paper examines whether institutional characteristics distinguishing Islamic from conventional banks lead to distinctive capital and earnings management behaviour through the use of loan loss provisions. In our sample countries including Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan, the two banking sectors operate under different regulatory frameworks: conventional banks currently apply the ‘incurred’ loan loss model until 2018 whereas Islamic banks mandatorily adopt an ‘expected’ loan loss model under the AAOIFI standards. Our results provide significant evidence of capital and earnings management practices via loan loss provisions in conventional banks. This finding is more prominent for large and loss-generating banks. By contrast, Islamic banks tend not to use loan loss provisions in either capital or earnings management, irrespective of the bank's size, earnings profile or the structure of their loan loss model. This difference may be attributed to the constrained business model of Islamic banking, strict governance and ethical orientation
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Promotion of Assessment activities via The National CME/CPD framework of State of Qatar Health System
More LessBackground: The ultimate goal of CME/CPD program is to ensure healthcare practitioners (HCPs) upgrade and maintain professional competence to improve patient-care. The CPD Framework activities have been organized into three-categories; Category-1 group-learning, Category-2 Self-directed-learning and Category-3 Assessment-activities. All licensed HCPs in Qatar are required to complete 2-year CPD cycle requirements to maintain licensure. Summary of Work: This work provides a review of the CPD framework for HCPs in Qatar that focuses on Category-3 Assessment activities recognized and accredited by QCHP-AD. These include various accredited assessment activities as well as structured feedback programs with the supporting credit system that promotes learning through assessment. Additionally, Category-3 submissions by healthcare practitioners (HCPs) on the ePortfolio were reviewed. Results: The National CME/CPD framework of Qatar provides plenty of opportunities for assessment activities that will support learning. The CME/CPD framework encourages participation of HCPs in assessment activities with double credits. This hybrid CPD accreditation system has made the availability of the assessment activities feasible and achievable to HCPs. Knowledge assessment programs (KAP), simulation and feedback on performance/ teaching are most preferred Category-3 assessment activities attended by HCPs which indicates that the HCPs are engaging in the learning activities that are based on objective and evidence-based with specific feedback. Accredited Simulation and KAP are preferred CPD activities offered by CPD Providers in the State of Qatar. Discussion: QCHP-AD recognizes both assessment and structured feedback activities under Category-3-assessment activities. Recognizing Assessment under CME/CPD framework with double credits has supported HCPs in understanding their professional needs and areas of development; besides, defining short, medium and long-term goals through developmental pathways. It has encouraged HCPs to engage in informed-subsequent-learning that enhances their competencies. During the assessment activity, the participants are able to first identify their success against the learning objectives and secondly an area that needs to be improved or developed. Success and improvement against the learning objective of the task is one of the most effective focus of the feedback in assessment activities. The strategy helps HCPs assess their knowledge, skills and performance in comparison to established evidences. The feedback helps the HCPs to decide on their short-term and long-term plan for their professional development. Assessment activities, CPD reflects adult learning principles of autonomy, self-direction, goal-orientation and practice-based learning. Accredited assessment activities are built on minimum standards and this ensures effectiveness and quality assurance of the CPD activities. Conclusions: assessment CPD activities supports improvement in professional competencies of the HCPs as it helps identify practice gaps that could be addressed with appropriate learning interventions. Including them in CPD framework promotes learning and provides HCPs obtain relevant feedback that encourages learner to improve, collaborate and communicate better. Assessment that encourages learning fosters motivation by emphasizing progress and achievement. Limiting human factor, which is one of the major contributors impacting patient safety could be effectively addressed with standardization, simulation, and training through assessment activities. The communication element embedded within the structure of assessment activities positively impacts the team-work and general attitude of the HCP. Take home message: Including Assessment activities as part of CME/CPD framework is assisting healthcare practitioners to use external measures with feedback to identify where knowledge, competence or performance is up-to-date and areas that require further improvement.
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Quality of reporting intellectual capital: The case of QSE
Authors: Laiali Salman Wadi and Ahmad AliQuality of reporting intellectual capital: The case of QSE QNV2030 has been launched to transform Qatar towards achieving sustainable development. Developing QSE to guide the economic growth is an essential pillar of QNV2030. The subject of this thesis can be classified under accounting for economic growth of QNV2030. Since the diagnostic of the status of reporting intellectual capital is at the crux of sustainable development. The importance of developing strong financial market requires better understanding of financial disclosure inside QSE “national financial reporting system”. Most importantly, new issues and questions are being raised regarding the implications of QSE financial reporting and the role of government in the development and maintenance of the financial reporting base. Identifying “best practices” for the IC reporting is a focal point of strength of QSE. The burgeoning field of intellectual capital is an exciting area for both researchers and practitioners. According to the purpose of this study, IC combines various concepts (i.e. human capital, structural capital, and relational capital). A variety of models have surfaced in an attempt to measure IC and this thesis aims to build unique measurement model based on strengths, weaknesses and operationalization of those models. It is expected that the current study will provide quality indications about the current level of IC disclosure in QSE. This study is based on empirical results of the original data drawn from sample of 43 companies of QSE. The proposed research sample has been designed to cover time series of five years period extend from 2012 to 2016. The paper presents the findings of extensive research that show the type and quality of IC reporting which can help to strengthen the awareness of financial reporting in QSE. It can be concluded that IC reporting in QSE divides into traditional and non-traditional based on the components of IC. Being an emergent financial market, classification of Qatar as one of code law countries, and diffusion of personal sources of funding, are the key limitations of this study.
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The Reality of Strategic Planning for Technological Education in the State of Qatar
More LessThe study aimed to reveal the reality of strategic planning technical (Technological) education and to identify the strategies and practices within the Technical Education (ICT)) established within the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in the State of Qatar, through the answer of the main question: «what is the reality of strategic planning for technical education in the State of Qatar.» the study has been identifythe awareness of ministry officials to the concept of strategic planning and technical importance of education and knowledge of the issues that arise in strategic planning and technical education through Identify its objectives for national development. The study identify the most important opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses in technical education, the most prominent gains and benefits from the strategic planning process and finally have been identified over the departments and schools commitment to strategic planning and mechanisms used in the follow-up and evaluation. To achieve the objectives of the study were used descriptive and analytical approach in the search, using the selected sample of officials from the Ministry of Education and higher education through in-depth interviews and a review of annual reports and strategic plans for the ministry to demonstrate the reality of strategic planning and technical education over the years of 2010-2017.The results of the study that the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar is aware of the concept of strategic planning importance.They apply strategic planning for education in general and include technical education a key objective. There is another objective respect merging information technology in the education process as part of the ministry»s strategic plans. The study also showed that there are great opportunities and strengths for technical education that can be exploited to meet the points of threats and Weaknesses if they are used efficiently and effectively. The study explained the mechanisms in following up and evaluating the strategic plans which developed with local and international partners in cooperation with the ministry. Based on the analysis of the results, the study presented a proposed vision for the strategy of developing technical education. The study concluded with a set of recommendations in order to enhance the effectiveness of strategic planning of technical education, the most important to be include the key concepts such as innovation, creativity, quality, transparency in order to access excellence in technical education, in addition to that there is needs for the environment to create before the implementation of strategic plans to change the culture of the community specially students towards technical education to avoid the occurrence of resistance to change. Also there is need for integration and harmony between the other strategic plans within the ministry,also, the each departments need to know what is required for individuals and other departments. Finally, The importance of integration with strategic plans for technical education and labor market needs in the GCC. The most important feature of this study is that it is one of the first studies in the strategic planning of technical education in the State of Qatar. Keywords: Strategic Planning, Strategic Plan, Technical Education, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Ministry
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Qatar's National CME/CPD System: A tool to ensure Health and Patient safety
Authors: Samar Aboulsoud, Ayesha Hussain and Aisha Nasser Al-KuwariBackground: The national CME/CPD framework provides learning opportunities to HCPs to upgrade their competencies. All licensed HCPs in Qatar are required to complete CPD cycle requirements to maintain their licensure. Quality improvement and safe patient care being main objectives of the CME/CPD program, quality improvement activities are given due consideration in the CME/CPD framework. Summary of Work: This work provides a review of National CME/CPD framework to identify the learning opportunities it provides to HCPs to improve their professional practice. The review results were analyzed how these contribute to quality improvement in patient care programs within the healthcare sector in Qatar. Results: The CME/CPD framework of Qatar provides diverse educational opportunities to HCPs organized under Group-learning, self-directed and assessment activities to improve their professional practice. The CME/CPD framework recognizes the participation of HCPs in quality projects and research relevant to their practice for upto 10 credits per project/activities that can be recorded under self-directed learning. The ePortfolio indicates that the HCPs are actively participating in the quality projects. Discussion: The CPD framework provides plenty of learning opportunities to improve professional competencies that are expected from HCPs and links learning to its impact on healthcare outcomes. Engaging in quality improvement projects supports new ideas, unfamiliar situations, changing roles and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets. The framework not only helps the HCPs to set targets of high priority, practical, achievable and challenging aspects of CPD rather encourages them to recognize and take advantage of the opportunities that arise from their day-to-day work experience and unexpected challenges. The quality projects are reviewed and monitored for the outcomes and remedial actions are intervened wherever necessary, these are considered significant means of enhancing the effectiveness of quality projects. The quality improvement projects helps the HCPs in their research about safety and quality issues which is the foundation for evidence-based processes of, identifying areas for improvement for change, helps reduce risks pertaining to delivery of care. The CPD framework also provides opportunities to HCPs for research work and clinical audits that ensures quality improvement and practice. This is done against their development plans that can be measured in terms of either new or improved competence. Conclusions: The National CME/CPD framework for all HCPs with diverse learning opportunities. CME/CPD framework meets the current challenges of healthcare community like evidence-based learning, research that enhance an understanding and commitment to organizational values. Quality and system improvement are core to patient safety, which improve the skills of the HCPs that form robust primary healthcare teams delivering quality and safe patient-care. The HCPs learn time, process, team and self-management from the QI projects they are engaged in and this impacts the outcomes of patient-care they deliver. It emphasizes on the importance of QI and encourages active participation of HCPs in QI projects/activities. Take home message: Quality improvement tools help HCPs understand the actual trends, patterns of their work and mapping process, monitoring and finding solutions and self-development that will improve the quality of care.
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Emerging factors shaping the identity of local urban districts the case of Doha
By Rana WadiForms, Designs and symbols are components of the built environment that communicate information about the place and its identity to users. Users discern information from their environmental settings, combined with their personal interests and perceptions. The premise of the study states that the identity of traditional architecture undergoes two paradoxical process dynamic transformation and resistance to changes caused by global culture and societal modern needs. The examination of traditional architecture and its aspects (physical and nonphysical) that have already merged into contemporary architecture demonstrates that the traditional aspects contain static and dynamic elements. To test the proposed premise, the study prolonging into human geography using two theories: the identity crisis and innovation diffusion theories. The sections of the paper are structured according to Torsten Hagerstrand's diffusion models which include: mean information field, information flows and interaction matrix, barriers and resistances, innovative waves, and adoption surface. Under these sections, the research study contains: field data of three chosen sites, field survey, drawings, and design principle analysis (proportion in particular). Consequently, various data will be presented such as Qatari's different built environment styles. Results show a summary of the field survey and photo analysis of the dynamic and static architectural elements, where dynamic means energetic, capable of action and/or change, or forceful, while static means stationary or fixed. Findings, and discussion illustrate tables and diagrams, that are anticipated to show that resistance of the local identity and the acceptance of new architectural styles lead to a new semiotic presentation of Doha region. The study ends up with a set of recommendations for the application of static and dynamic transformation of Qatari architecture in order to strengthen the local identity while taking part of the global culture.
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Connecting theory to practise in postgraduate higher education The case study of UCL Qatar work placements
More LessTeaching Fellow for Museums, Heritage and Archaeology University College London (UCL), Qatar Proposal for Poster Display at ARC’18 Title Connecting theory to practise in postgraduate higher education. The case study of UCL Qatar work placements. Introduction One issue of significant importance regarding higher education teaching practises has been to which extent postgraduate education provides with students the opportunity to connect theory to practise on the subjects they are studying. By connecting theory to practise, postgraduate students are given the opportunity to enhance their academic skills and develop critical thinking on how what is being discussed within a lecture room may be applied professionally in the field they are interested in. The benefits and advantages of hands on experience is multidimensional and evident in cases where it is integrated into the process and structure of the educational curriculum. As Te Wiata's (2001) research findings report, the ability of students to demonstrate and integrate skills that relate to their enhancement of knowledge and professional advancement, is highly connected with their development of confidence in applying knowledge into contexts such as the workplace. There are many different ways so as to provide postgraduate students with the opportunity to practically apply the theories they absorb through academic readings and lectures and this is a process that requires careful and well thought planning on behalf of the academic team of each postgraduate course. The specific poster's presentation main goal is to present the findings of successfully connecting theory to practise by UCL Qatar – a university part of Qatar's Education City, specifically accomplished by incorporating work placements as modules for postgraduate students studying cultural heritage during the years 2013-2017. Presentation of Case Study UCL Qatar, a leading centre of excellence for the study of cultural heritage (UCL Qatar, 2017), is one of Qatar Foundation's Education City universities. Since September 2012 when the fist cohort of students arrived in Doha and until October 2017 when this poster display proposal is written, UCL Qatar has offered four masters degrees in Cultural Heritage and Information Studies and more specifically, an MA in Museum and Gallery Practice, an MSc in Conservation Studies, an MA in Archaeology of the Arab and Islamic World and an MA in Library and Information Studies. One of the main concerns of the faculty members at UCL Qatar while structuring these masters courses, was to provide the opportunity to our postgraduate students to apply in practise all academic knowledge they acquire throughout their studies. Furthermore, understanding the need to create links between postgraduate studies and the employment market, we wanted to provide our students the chance to dive into the actual workforce and have the experience of working with professionals directly related with their field of studies. For these purposes, a postgraduate module was structured for each of our masters degrees, the Placement Module, where each student would have to pursue a placement in an established institution or organisation within Qatar or abroad. Practise based research methodology and results The proposed poster presentation, will portray the importance of connecting academic theory and the professional market through a number of very successful work placements undertaken by UCL Qatar postgraduate students. The set of data, belongs to a time period of 4 years (2013-2017) and is a result of qualitative and quantitative feedback received by UCL Qatar's postgraduate students, while assessing and evaluating the experience they had while conducting their work placements. The students note the importance and contribution that these placements had in them better accumulating knowledge, meeting professionals from their respective fields and a number of them eventually receiving employment offers, which is a direct portrayal of a successful effort. More specifically, these placement took place in more than 20 countries around the world, including Qatar, the number of students is close to 200 students and the institutions or organisations they have attended so as to conduct their placements range from local hosts such as a number of museums under Qatar Museums (Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar, Mathaf – Arab Museum of Modern Art, the Firestation) as well as internationally renowned institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) in New York, the British Museum, NASA's materials science lab, Christie's Auction House London, the Library of Yale University, Oxford Archaeology East and many more. Furthermore, this poster presentation aims to portray how the work placements present the opportunity for students to enhance their research skills through mainly two routes. The first relates with connecting the placement with applying field research for their masters dissertations and the second is students participating as interns in research projects conducted by UCL Qatar faculty, with a number of these research projects being funded by the Qatar National Research Fund.
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Knowledge and perceptions about Zika virus in Qatar
BACKGROUND: Zika virus, an emerging serious infectious disease, is a threat to persons living or travelling to regions where it is currently endemic, and to contacts of infected individuals. Qatar, located on the northeastern coast of the Arabian peninsula, harbors the primary vector species, Aedes aegypti for Zika virus. Additionally, Qatar Airways, the national airline has daily flights to and from countries and territories such as Sao Paulo in Brazil, Miami in Florida, and in Argentina where active transmission of Zika virus has been reported and confirmed. This may increase the likelihood of importation of Zika virus cases to the country. Successful disease prevention programs depend upon public awareness of risk factors and disease characteristics. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and perceptions about this new public health threat to persons residing in Qatar. METHODS: We conducted a self-administered survey in English at several international universities in Qatar to assess students, faculty, and staff knowledge and awareness about this disease. An adapted version of the survey (English and Arabic) was also conducted on Qatar based websites to additionally reach the general public. Data was collected from August to September 2016. The survey questionnaire collected data on participant demographic characteristics (gender, age, nationality, marital status, education, role, and institution), general information about Zika virus (source of information, existence of a vaccine to prevent Zika, mode of transmission of Zika, individuals at risk of Zika infection), personal knowledge about Zika and questions related to participants’ travel to endemic countries. Participants’ general knowledge about Zika virus were classified in three categories: i) “poor”, when participants did not know that there is currently no vaccine for Zika virus, and/or that the disease is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, and/or anyone could get Zika virus; ii) “basic”, when participants knew that there is currently no vaccine for Zika virus, that the disease is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, and anyone could get Zika virus; and iii) “broad”, when in addition, participants knew that the disease could be transmitted through sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, and that if pregnant woman has Zika virus, there are risks for her baby/fetus. We conducted logistic regression to assess the association between level of knowledge about Zika (“poor”, “basic”, and “broad”) and participants’ characteristics. Analyses were conducted on SAS software. RESULTS: The median age of the 446 respondants was 25 years, 280 (63%) were females, and 141 (32%) were from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) or other Middle East countries. Based upon their knowledge about availability of a vaccine, role of mosquitoes and other modes of transmission, and disease complications, 66%, 27%, and 7% of respondents were classified as have poor, basic, and broad knowledge about Zika virus, respectively. Forty-five (16%) persons with poor knowledge considered themselves to be well-informed. The proportion of respondents with such an erroneous perception of knowledge was not associated with gender, age, nationality, marital status, or education. However, this erroneous perception was significantly in higher proportion among students, staff, and faculty from the art and design college. Faculty (10%) and staff (9%) were the two groups with the highest proportion of individuals with broad general knowledge about Zika. Internet was the most common source of information (61%) among those who ever heard about Zika virus. Our survey demonstrates that students had the lowest proportion of individuals with basic (22%) and broad (4%) general knowledge about Zika, and about a quarter of them (23%) did not hear about Zika virus before the survey. Among students, staff, and faculty from the international universities, those from the medical college had higher general knowledge about Zika virus (OR (95%CI) = 1.81 (1.03-3.2). p-value = 0.009); while those from the art and design college had the lower general knowledge about the virus (OR (95%CI) = 0.19 (0.06-0.67). p-value = 0.04). In the past year, only 5% of the respondents reported having travelled to at least one of the countries where Zika virus is endemic. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Although few cases have been reported in the region, future cases are possible, since Qatar is a hub with many flights to countries or areas where the disease is widespread. A likely pathway of Zika virus transmission to residents living in Qatar is person-to-person transmission either by sexual contact or by other inadvertent exchange of body fluids. This could be a threat not only to family members but also to health care workers caring for patients returning from a region with a high prevalence of Zika virus who have had or currently are ill with Zika virus. Blood or body fluids from Zika virus-infected patients may harbor the virus for up to 3 weeks and possibly longer. We conducted the study at about the time of the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, a period when there was great international interest about the threat of Zika virus to athletes and to travelers. Despite the widespread global media interest at the time of the survey, the questionnaire revealed that many respondents are unaware of critical information concerning the Zika virus. We conclude that an educational program about Zika virus would be valuable, especially for individuals or family members travelling to afflicted regions. Additionally, health care workers should be vigilant when caring for persons who have recently returned from high risk regions. Our study findings are relevant keeping in mind the 2022 FIFA World Cup during which a substantial number of individuals will visit Qatar from all over the world. Our findings indicate a need for a broader educational and outreach program targeting Qatar's general population and health care workers so that they are more aware about new and re-emerging threats to health.
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Interpreting mortality trends in the GCC countries: The healthy migrant effect
Authors: Karima Chaabna, Sohaila Cheema and Ravinder MamtaniBackground In the last two decades, unique demographic changes have occurred in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia. In these countries, population growth was primarily boosted by the influx of young migrants. Therefore, immigration in the GCC countries has led to two consequences: a shift in the population age pyramid and a dramatic increase of the proportion of migrants in the GCC population reaching >80% in Qatar and the UAE. This study evaluated whether massive immigration of young and/or healthy people within a short span of time in the GCC countries, was one of the major causes of the generalized decline in age-standardized mortality rates. Methods For the period 1990-2015, publically available population data were retrieved from the World Population Prospect 2015 Revision by United Nations Population Division; and mortality data were retrieved from Global Burden of Disease 2015 study (GBD 2015). Causes of death utilized in our study were all causes and GBD 2015-defined death causes with the codes: A1-A7, B1-B10, and C1-C3. We estimated annual population growth and annual percent change in all-cause age-standardized and age-specific rates. The association between all-cause age-standardized death rates and population sizes for each of the GCC countries was evaluated using simple linear and polynomial regressions. In Qatar, we also assessed the association between all-cause age-specific death rates and age-specific population sizes; and the association between cause-specific age-standardized death rates and population sizes. The associations were tested using the F-test. Bonferroni method was used to correct the association statistical significance threshold at 0.05 to address multiple testing problem. Hence, the significance threshold was at 0.0016. Multiple R-squared statistics were used to assess the goodness-of-fit of the models. We used R-3.3.1 software for our analyses. Results and discussion In the GCC countries, all-cause age-standardized mortality was inversely proportional to national population size (p-values between 0.0001 and 0.0457) during the period 1990-2015. Taking into account Bonferroni correction, the association between all-cause age-standardized mortality and population size was statistically significant for Bahrain (p-value = 0.0001, R2 = 0.99), Qatar (p-value = 0.0004, R2 = 0.97), and Saudi Arabia (p-value = 0.0004, R2 = 0.99). Remarkably, the effect of differences in population age structures observed over time should not affect mortality trends when using age-standardization method. Hence, this association between age-standardized mortality and population size suggests a strong healthy population effect attributed to migrants, which represent a substantial proportion of the GCC countries' population. In Qatar, annual population growth was below 4% until 2000. Thereafter, during the period 2005-2010, population growth increased rapidly reaching a peak at 22.2%. Then, during the period 2010-2015, the population growth decreased reaching 5.3%. Interestingly, the decrease in all-cause age-standardized mortality was the highest during the period 2005-2010. In Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, when the annual population growth was the highest, the highest annual decrease in all-cause age standardized mortality was also observed. In Qatar, all-cause age-specific mortality was inversely proportional to age-specific population size. In the age groups with the largest population size (5-14 and 15-49 age groups), this association was statistically significant (p-values<0.001). Additionally, in all age groups, when the annual population growth was the highest, the highest annual decrease in all-cause age-specific mortality was also observed. This decrease in mortality cannot be accredited only to enhancement in healthcare system since this has been observed at a gradual pace in the country. However, the large increase in population within a short span after 2000 could explain the decline in mortality rates due to a substantial growth in the population (denominator), while number of deaths (numerator) remained minimally affected. Therefore, one of the main drivers of declined mortality appears to be population growth due to immigration of young and/or healthy individuals. Similarly, cause-specific age-standardized mortality was inversely proportional to population size. This association was statistically significant for about 50% of the GBD 2015-defined causes of death such as “cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases” (B4, p-value<0.001, R2 = 0.97) and “HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis” (A1, p-value<0.01, R2 = 0.94). Remarkably, incoming migrants to Qatar have to be negative for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis. Our findings demonstrate a strong healthy migrant effect that influences mortality rates in the population of the GCC countries. The limitation in our analysis was that GBD 2015 and UN data do not provide data by sub-populations (short-term resident versus Qataris and long-term residents). As such, we were not able to compare mortality in the total population with mortality in the subpopulations to further demonstrate our hypothesis of healthy migrant effect. Yet, mortality decrease in the GCC countries' total population (nationals and short-term and long-term residents) should not be considered as a positive indicator for population health status. In order to elucidate changes in mortality trends due to health-based interventions and improvement in the healthcare system, stratification—nationals and long-term residents versus short-term residents should be considered. Conclusion In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that the increase in GCC countries' population over the last two decades have decreased mortality rates. Healthy migrant effect appears to influence these mortality trends. Mortality rates might have varied if the current migration strategy in the GCC countries were different. In general, researchers and policymakers in the GCC countries should be cautious to not exclusively attribute this decrease in mortality rates to the positive effect of health-based interventions or improvement in the healthcare system. Our findings have relevance and significance for developing and monitoring population health programs.
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Media distrust and importance of different media platforms among culturally conservative and progressive Qatari nationals
By Jia NaqviFaculty advisor: Professor Jocelyn Mitchell Media distrust and importance of different media platforms as sources of news and information has decreased among culturally conservative Qatari nationals, while the opposite has been the case for progressive Qatari nationals from 2015 to 2017. This paper will focus on why self-identification as culturally conservative decreased Qatari nationals' trust in media and the importance they give to specific kinds of media as news sources and why the opposite was the case with culturally progressive Qatari nationals. As a student currently researching the findings from the QNRF NPRP grant, “Media Use in the Middle East” (NPRP 7-1757-5-261), I have chosen to focus on this topic because there is a dearth of in-depth analyses of how and why cultural conservatism and progressivism in the Arab world affects trust in mass media and the importance people associate with different media as news sources. Conducting secondary analysis on data from the 2015 and 2017 edition of the Media Use in the Middle East Survey by Northwestern University in Qatar, I will analyze and contextualize the correlation between cultural identity and trust in media and importance of different media platforms, specifically social media and newspapers as news sources. Specifically, I focus on cultural identity as the independent variable, with two other questions serving as the dependent variables. For the independent variable, I use the question, “Compared to most nationals in this country, how would you describe yourself?” The responses range from culturally very conservative to culturally very progressive, creating a self-assessed scale of cultural conservativism or progressivism. My two dependent variables will be how much importance respondents place on social media and newspapers as news and information sources as well as how much trust and confidence they have in mass media. Specifically, I analyze the question, “For news and information, how important is each of the following to you as a source?” Although the responses include the Internet, TV, radio, magazines, books, interpersonal sources such as communication with friends and family, and news applications, I have chosen to include only social media and newspapers because these two categories are clearly defined and provide a good contrast between forms of new and old media. Second, I analyze the question, “In general, how much trust and confidence do you have in the mass media – such as newspapers, TV, and radio – when it comes to reporting the news fully accurately and fairly?” (A great deal of trust, a fair amount of trust, not very much trust, no trust at all, don't know, refused). I have chosen to analyze correlation among the aforementioned variables only among Qatari nationals in order to keep the focus of the research narrow and contextually rich. In my preliminary research, a general trend emerges, whereby the percentage of Qatari progressive nationals who trust mass media to report fully, fairly and accurately and who deem social media and newspapers as important news sources has increased. However, the opposite was the case for conservative Qatari nationals. Crosstabs between cultural identity and the two dependent variables paint a compelling picture (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3). Over the span of two years, from 2015 to 2017, the percentage of culturally progressive Qatari national respondents who identified social media as an important source of news and information increased by nearly 10 percentage points. In 2015, one in ten progressive Qatari nationals said social media was an important source of information. This figure increased to nearly three in ten in 2017. With increasing importance of social media as a source of news and information, Qatari progressives' trust in mass media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly also increased by 11 percentage points over the same time. However, the percentage of Qatari progressive nationals who identified newspapers as an important source of news and information remained the same over the two years. On the other hand, the importance of social media and newspapers as sources of news and information for conservative Qatari national respondents decreased by 12 and 15 percentage points, respectively. Additionally, conservative Qatari national respondents' trust in mass media to report news fully, fairly and accurately decreased by 6 percentage points during the same time. Although these trends are consistent with the findings of a recently conducted Pew Research Center survey about how much trust conservatives and liberals have on news media (Mitchell et al. 2014), the reasons behind why progressives and conservatives in the Arab world could possibly be trusting the mass media more or less deserves further research. According to some existing literature, people tend to avoid sources of news and information that challenge their existing beliefs and values (Friedersdorf 2011). Is there something about the content of social media and newspapers, as well as the media as a whole, that has challenged conservative Qataris' beliefs and values? The story behind these data will become clearer after I complete my next stage of research, which involves interviewing Qatari nationals to provide a more contextual account of the shift in media trust and the association of more or less importance with newspapers and social media as news and information sources. I will also interview political scientists and anthropologists with an interest in the Middle East to get an expert point of view on the possible reasons behind this shift in media trust, and supplement my research with published findings and studies as well.
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The applicability of symbolic annihilation in the Middle East
Authors: Elizabeth Ashley Lance and Christina PaschynAs the field of communication research is further internationalized, communication scholars in non-Western locales have been challenged to apply theories central to our discipline that have grown primarily out of the Western experience. Western cultural tenets of individualism and democracy have been assumed as the norm within many communication theories, and initially, several of these theories were simply accepted and applied “as is” in foreign contexts. Increasingly, however, international scholars and Western scholars working abroad have questioned the presumptions of those theories and how best to apply them in nation-states and regions that don't share the same basic assumptions or a similar cultural context, all to the benefit of more robust theoretical development within the discipline. In this vein, the authors here take a foundational feminist media theory, symbolic annihilation, and apply it to a non-Western nation-state—Qatar. In doing so, we draw much in our approach from Mohanty's seminal “Under Western Eyes” (1984), not only avoiding the homogenization of a non-Western population through a Western lens, but also exploring the relationship between the discursive representation of the Qatari woman (in this case, in the news media), and the material reality, or lived experience, of the Qatari woman. Further, Mohanty's point that feminist scholarship should focus on “the material and ideological specificities” (p. 338) that render women's place in a particular set of power relations, rather than rack up a series of examples that make the ‘universal woman’ powerless, is well taken. Heeding these points, we take a bottom-up approach to our analysis, stressing these material and ideological specificities over sweeping statements and generalizations. Qatar is home to a female citizenry increasingly empowered to pursue higher education, employment outside the home, and wider freedom of movement. That said, many Qatari women face a unique cultural taboo that prevents them from appearing in public visual media, such as television news reports, online videos, or photographs printed in magazines or newspapers. This, we argue, limits Qatari women's equality in local media. However, our analysis carefully considers how this cultural practice must be understood within Qatari women's specific historic and cultural context. In doing so, we present a rich and nuanced analysis of the limitations this cultural practice presents to Qatari women, but also other methods by which Qatari women subvert it. Certainly, the cultural taboo against visual representations of women appearing in the media is contested among Qatari women, and as some have argued, is more rigorously defended by upper-class members of society (see Foley, 2010), though certainly not by all. Sheikha Moza, the former royal first lady of Qatar and still a very prominent figure in public life, as well as her daughters Sheikha Hind and Sheikha Mayassa, also prominent public figures, are depicted widely in the Qatari press. Yet some Qatari women don't mind the taboo at all and maintain that their photographs don't need to be included in the news, that name recognition is sufficient (Paschyn, 2013). Just because a society's cultural values deem it important for women to remain unseen in public life, however, doesn't mean that the state or society doesn't want them to be economically productive members of the workforce. We know in Qatar that the state itself is encouraging women's empowerment, education, and participation in the workforce as a significant piece of its National Vision 2030 (General Secretariat for Development Planning, 2008), including increasing “opportunities and vocational support for Qatari women” (p. 10) and enhancing women's capacities and empowering them “to participate fully in the polical and economic spheres, especially in decision-making roles” (p. 12). The vision also asserts that “women will assume a significant role in all spheres of life, especially through participating in economic and political decision-making” (p. 11). So in that sense, a fundamental assumption of the theory of symbolic annihilation—that women should be seen as productive members of the workforce—has been met in the case of Qatar. As we know, numbers of younger Qatari women in the workforce are increasing, even as the taboo to depict women in media remains. We also know that women are visible in majaalis, and that is an important forum for women's public life. But majaalis are single-gender affairs, so while young women and girls may be able to find role models and examples of older women seeking and enjoying educational and career pursuits, those examples remain invisible to the other, more powerful half of Qatari society—men. Symbolic annihilation theorized the relationship between the discursive representation of women and their material reality as mutually constitutive, but our deeply contextualized analysis reveals a more nuanced reality. Qatari women are, by and large, not represented visually in the local news media, yet they do participate in increasing numbers in the workforce. In this context, however, there is no expectation that Qatari women would be visually represented in the media due to the cultural taboo against it, so their absence is not constitutive of the material reality as it would be in a society that carried an expectation of equal representation of genders in the media. Foley, S. (2010). The Arab Gulf states: Beyond oil and Islam. London: Lynne Renner Publishers. General Secretariat for Development Planning (2008). Qatar national vision 2030. Doha, Qatar: General Secretariat for Development. Mohanty, C (1984). Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses. boundary 2, 12(3), 333-354. Paschyn, C. (2013, December 17). Qatar's invisible women. Chime for Change. Retrieved from http://www.chimeforchange.org/story/qatars-invisible-women/ on February 15, 2016.
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Assessing and Improving Migrant Workers Access to and Utilization of Health Information and Resources
By Susan DunIntroduction The State of Qatar has embarked on an ambitious development plan in the past 20 years, propelling a sparsely populated country with strong Bedouin roots into a cosmopolitan country teeming with cultural activity and economic development. Transforming the nation in such a rapid timeframe required the importation of a sizeable migrant labor workforce to build infrastructure given the nation's small population. Consequently, this labor force, which mainly comes from South Asia and Africa, has been a critical component in the development of Qatar's infrastructure. The pace of change has been dramatic, and a lack of local oversight of the migrant workers' conditions has resulted. Although international human rights organizations have focused on issues of freedom of movement and workplace safety (Amnesty International, 2016, Pattisson, 2013), less attention has been paid to the workers' utilization of basic health resources, including their knowledge or use of preventive health measures. Qatar's labor practices require health services to be available for workers. However, it is unclear whether or if laborers are able to access them. Additionally, the migrant worker population in Qatar likely has low health-literacy levels, which means they may not know about or be able to access needed health resources. Objectives This study aims to understand migrant workers' health beliefs and attitudes including, whether and how they seek medical care when they are ill, by focusing on migrant workers who work for one of the companies in Qatar with whom the researchers are partnering. The study aims to discover whether migrant workers are utilizing the free health care services provided with the Hamad Medical Card or resources provided through their company. Preliminary results, explained below, indicate they are not using health resources as often as they need them, resulting in lower health levels. Based on the results of this formative research, the researchers plan to develop and execute a message campaign designed to increase migrant workers' awareness and utilization of health resources, including what is available to them via insurance plans like the Hamad Medical Card. Methodology Phase 1 Structured Interviews In the first phase, currently ongoing, the researchers are conducting structured in-depth interviews (n = 70). Interviews are necessary because of the likelihood of the low literacy levels in at least some of the workers, which would inhibit success with a written survey. When possible, the research team is conducting the interviews in the workers' native language. The interviews will help ascertain the workers' assessment of a wide variety of health beliefs and practices. The results will also allow the research team to develop a deeper understanding of how workers perceive what health care resources are available to them and how they can utilize those resources. Questions include “Do you have health insurance and if so, are you able to use it?” Additionally, the research team is evaluating workers' media use and literacy levels to determine the best mechanism for distributing a message campaign. This phase should conclude by the end of October. Phase 2 Message Campaign In the second phase, the researchers will analyze interview data to understand the current health practices and beliefs to guide the creation of messages designed to improve the workers' utilization of available heath resources. Preliminary results indicate that the workers do not often use what is available to them because of misconceptions about the available resources and how to access the them. Preliminary results also indicate low literacy levels and a wide variety of languages spoken among the migrant worker population, indicating the need for image-based posters/brochures and videos, where the message is conveyed with minimal talking. Phase 3 Campaign Evaluation In the last phase, the research team will assess the workers exposure to and evaluation of the campaign to determine if they have used the health resources described in the messages. Did they learn about resources? Were they able to access them because of information provided in the messages? The researchers will use this information to finalize the messages to improve their understandability and persuasiveness. Then, the researchers will redistribute the campaign and make the messages available to our partner company to use as new migrant laborers arrive in Qatar. The messaging campaign materials will also be made available to other companies in Qatar at no cost. Relevant Pillar: Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities: Education, Labor and Migration This study is directly relevant to the core pillar Social, Sciences, Arts and Humanities as its focus includes Labor and Migration. It will provide an understanding of whether and how migrant workers utilize health resources. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods will help the researchers] evaluate the migrant workers' current situation and awareness of available heath resources. This study aims to improve health conditions for migrant workers by increasing their awareness level regarding the existing health resources that they can access. This work is supported by a QNRF UREP grant. We are not supplying the grant number here for anonymity reasons. References Amnesty International. “Annual Report Qatar 2015/2016”. Accessed October 2, 2016. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/qatar/report-qatar/ Pattisson, P. (2013, September 25). Revealed: Qatar's World Cup ‘slaves’. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/25/revealed-qatars-world-cup-slaves
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Eportfolio – A convenient portal for participation in Continuing Professional Development activities in the State of Qatar
Authors: Dr. Essam Elsayed Elsayed, Muneera Ali Abdullah and Dr. Samar AboulsoudBackground: Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioner (QCHP) is the sole authority regulating healthcare practitioners’ practice in the state of Qatar. The Accreditation Department (AD), as one of three pillar departments of QCHP, was delegated the responsibility to regulate medical and healthcare-related education (including Continuing Medical Education (CME)/Continuing Professional Development (CPD)) of all healthcare practitioners (HCPs) working in the country. In March 7 2016, QCHP-AD launched Qatar National CME / CPD system and framework. According to The National CME / CPD system, all licensed healthcare practitioners (Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Dentists, Allied Health Professionals and Complementary Medicine Practitioners) working in the state of Qatar were mandated to participate in CPD activities and fulfill CPD credit requirements to be able to renew their license of practice. In parallel, QCHP developed and launched an online portal “E-portfolio” to facilitate engagement of its main stakeholders (healthcare practitioners, CPD providers and QCHP surveyors) with the National system. The E-portfolio serves as a platform for healthcare practitioners to plan for, record and submit to QCHP the CPD activities they completed. E-Portfolio had similar platforms for CPD providers to apply for QCHP accreditation of their organizations &/or the activities they provide and for QCHP surveyors to receive and submit their CPD providers surveyor reports. In addition, E-portfolio serves as a communication tool for upcoming accredited activities as well as standards, policies, procedures and guidelines relevant to target stakeholder. Methodology: A questionnaire was developed by QCHP to examine healthcare practitioners, CPD providers and QCHP surveyors’ experience and satisfaction with QCHP E-portfolio. The survey focused on aspects related to ease of access, user friendliness, QCHP's interaction and user support. The questionnaire was electronically distributed and collected from the target Participants. In addition, E-portfolio usage statistics were collected. This included data for healthcare practitioners’ usage (e.g. number of created accounts, number of completed CPD activities recorded in E-portfolio and % compliance to CPD requirements), CPD providers’ usage (e.g. number of CPD providers’ and CPD activities’ accreditation requests processed) and surveyors’ usage (e.g. number of created accounts and number of CPD providers’ accreditation requests processed). Data were analyzed using statistical analysis software, presented and discussed in this research work. Results: Survey analysis results showed high rates of satisfaction with QCHP's e-portfolio usage expressed by healthcare practitioners, CPD providers and QCHP surveyors. This was further evidenced by positive usage rates from target stakeholders. Discussion: Using online portals, such as QCHP's E-portfolio, is associated with high levels of user satisfaction compared to conventional methods. This is attributed to the ease of access they provide; however, user-friendly designs and high quality customer support are necessary to ensure customer satisfaction and compliance. Reliability and record security might represent challenges to success of online portals experience unless supported by adequate verification, audit and data protection processes. Conclusions: E-portfolio proved to be a convenient portal for Qatar's healthcare practitioners, CPD providers and accreditation surveyors’ participation in the National CME/CPD system.
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Towards National Needs Assessment – Perceived CPD Needs of Qatar Healthcare Practitioners
Authors: Dr. Samar Aboulsoud and Dr. Essam Elsayed ElsayedBackground: Adequate educational planning (including proper needs assessment) is considered an essential prerequisite to assure quality of Continuing Medical Education (CME) / Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities. It is, therefore, one of the core standards of accreditation systems, including Qatar's National accreditation system. In March 7 2016, Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioner – Accreditation Department (QCHP-AD) launched Qatar's National CME / CPD Accreditation system and framework. Since that date, all licensed healthcare practitioners (Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Dentists, Allied Health Professionals and Complementary Medicine Practitioners) working in the state of Qatar are mandated to participate in CPD activities and fulfill CPD credit requirements to be able to renew their license of practice. Fifty percent of such CPD requirements are mandated to be collected from participation in accredited group learning activities. A comprehensive National Needs assessment, therefore, would be of great importance to provide quality CME / CPD to healthcare practitioners in Qatar, improve their competence and performance and achieve Qatar's Health strategy and National Vision 2030. And though a comprehensive National CPD needs assessment is not yet conducted, several efforts towards assessing the CPD needs of different healthcare professions in Qatar were initiated. One of them, targeting dentist and dental allied health practitioners, will be presented in this research work. Methodology: A questionnaire for assessing the perceived CPD needs of dentists and dental allied health professionals was developed and electronically distributed among target healthcare practitioners. The responses were collected, analyzed by statistical package software and presented in this research. Results: The results of distributed questionnaire showed national CPD needs perceived by dental and allied health professionals in terms of common gaps in practice and convenient CPD formats. Discussion: Dental health professionals in Qatar have some common gaps in knowledge, competence and skills that can be addressed to ensure proper professional development and of such healthcare practitioners and hence improve quality of care and patient outcomes. Interprofessional and education can play important role to satisfy the CPD needs of dental health professionals and promote the concepts of team-based education and hence high quality team-based healthcare. Online and blended CPD formats are convenient formats for provision of CPD activities for dental health professionals in Qatar across all categories recognized by Qatar National CPD Framework. The conducted needs assessment shall be fostered by unperceived needs assessment tools to ensure proper identification of the actual CPD needs of Dental health professionals in Qatar. The conducted needs assessment can present a step towards national CPD needs assessment and can be mocked (considering discussed enhancements) to plan for national CPD needs assessment of other healthcare practitioners in the state of Qatar. Conclusions: Qatar's dentists and dental allied health professionals perceive some common gaps in practice that should be considered in planning for CPD activities targeting such professionals. The conducted needs assessment represents a step that should be built-upon to have a national CPD needs assessment for all healthcare professions in the state of Qatar.
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Do Presidents Have Sentiments
More LessAlthough data analysis has been fully incorporated in the literary studies field for over a decade, an in-depth investigation of the textual or verbal production of public administration with equal quantitative rigor has not occurred. This work relies on data analysis tools to explore all the Italian Presidents» New Year speeches from 1949 to 2015. The 67 speeches are analyzed through quantitative methods such as descriptive statistics, natural language processing, sentiment analysis and opinion mining. The aim is to use data science methodologies to enrich and enhance political studies.* Descriptive statistics were used to quantify the way(s) each President speaks to the Nation. Amongst others, it allowed differentiating elocutionary styles: crisper (202 words/speech) or verbose (3,513 words/speech), direct (17 words/sentence) or convoluted (49 words/sentence), slow (95 words/minute) or fast (142 words/minute), as well as variations to means. When applied to the time series, the descriptive analysis shows the mutations of the elocutionary styles over time and the fact that they are not always in line with the zeitgeist.* Natural language processing methods highlighted the frequency and associations of single or groups of words. This was useful to extract the features of the New Year speeches overall but also the main interests of each President (with the oldest President in the history of the Italian Republic being the most worried about the future of the young generation). Quantified examples are given for 7 themes: unemployment, work/job, youth, culture, terrorism, reform, and homeland. Absolute and relative frequencies of these themes were computed and compared to the average frequency of the same themes in the language overall for the same period. Supported by meaningful independence t-tests and confidence intervals, this approach showed the comparative evolution of the recurrence of the 7 topics. But it also showed it can be generalized to any theme.* After having built a “sentiment dictionary”, quantitative sentiment analysis and opinion mining have been applied to quantify the expression of ideas, opinions, and statements as positive or negative based on the wording. Relevant differences between Presidents emerge with, at the 2 extremes, President Pertini (18% positive sentiments against 9% negative) and President Gronchi (27% positive sentiments against 4.5% negative). Also, historical trends become more visible: towards more pessimism in the 1980s followed by a slightly stronger optimism in the 1990s and again more negative sentiments from 2000 onward. Sentiment analysis also made obvious that some Presidents built up their narratives following recurrent “sentiment/opinion patterns”. The most evident case is President Napolitano that alternates good and bad news in such a specific manner that it becomes a pattern signature structuring most of his speeches. In conclusion, this work provides unique insights into the institution's textual production and its variation over time. The novel scientific approach adopted in this quantitative analysis has produced unique insights that add an extra dimension to the field of political studies.
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Holistic Framework for StudentAthletes' Education
More LessHolistic Framework for Student-Athletes' Education Case Study: Aspire Academy Khaled A. Hussein, PhD Aspire Academy, Qatar Jassim Al Jaber, MSc Aspire Academy, Qatar Sonia Masip, MSc Aspire Academy, Qatar Abstract Many academic institutions are concerned with the academic performance of their registered students or prospective joiners. Accordingly, organizations like SAT and ACT define college readiness standards and identify key skills required to continue postsecondary education (ACT,2004). For example, ACT frequently publishes cut-scores and benchmarks for grades 8-12 students, which define the minimum requirements for college readiness. Such efforts and standardization gained national recognition and consideration by policy makers, universities around the world, education reformers and other education stakeholders. In its Research Report Series, ACT summarized the findings of the last 50 years research on education and workplace readiness into four domains of education and career readiness. These four domains are: Core academic skills, Cross-cutting capabilities, Behavioral skills, and Education and career navigation skills (ACT, 2015). In this context, K-12 schools started focusing on quality education and national or international recognition or accreditation of their systems in order to guarantee meeting the required learning standards for their graduates, and accordingly develop better learning outcomes. It is important for SAs to get ready for future education and career development because they usually continue their education to the next level or switch to professional athletics. So, in this research, an integrated and holistic picture of education readiness is studied. This picture crystalizes the required knowledge and skills for Student-Athletes (SAs) to continue their future studies and career development. These knowledge and skills are derived based on the ACT framework (Mattern et al, 2014) for education and career readiness. Although there are many models and frameworks for education readiness and success such as Campbell's (1990) eight-factor model and Oswald et al (2004) twelve-factor model of academic performance, ACT's framework makes high sense for studying education and career success for SAs because of its expansion of readiness to include readiness to proceed to the next level education and readiness to enter into the workforce. In this research, a holistic framework is developed based on the findings from the readiness framework defined by ACT. It includes a group of constructs that ensure readiness for further education or career development. These constructs are classified into two groups: the first for education readiness and the second for career readiness with a focus on sports-related career paths. Both groups are developed in order to satisfy the SAs' learning needs, develop their cognitive abilities, respond to their learning styles, develop a responsive educational system that fits their blended learning modalities, enhance their characters, foster the required cross-cutting capabilities and behavioral skills, assess their performance through a successful and meaningful evaluation system, and align the taught standards with recognized national and international curriculum. Objectives: To determine the core academic skills required for SAs.To determine the cross-cutting capabilities for SAs.To determine the behavioral skills that are required for SAs.To determine the education and career navigation skills required for SAs. About the case study institution Aspire Academy is located in Doha, Qatar. Since established in 2004, Aspire Academy»s main objective is to strengthen the “sporting while educating” culture in Qatar, as well as internationally, as exemplified in their «Aspire Football Dreams» project. Aspire Academy provides education to student-athletes (SAs) who combine education and sport in their daily timetable. Aspire Academy offers education for grade 7 to grade 12 SAs who are nominated based on their talent and sporting skills. SAs attend the academy between 6 am to 7 pm every weekday for academic and sports education. Some SAs attend grades 7 to 9 in the academy then move to some sports clubs around Europe to train the whole year as professional athletes, which makes it more challenging to facilitate learning for them. The total number of currently enrolled full-time student-athletes is 289. A total of 49 athletes have joined European sports clubs including Real Madrid, Cultural and Villa-Real in Spain, and Eupen in Belgium. The number of Olympic sports that Aspire Academy provides, in a developmental support to Qatar sports federations, is eight including Football, Fencing, Golf, Athletics, Shooting, Swimming, Tennis and Squash. SAs face the challenge of not being fully engaged in their learning due to time limitations and effort expectancy. Oblinger and Oblinger (2006) point to a different kind of student: A non-traditional student who simultaneously works and studies. This kind of student is increasingly part of Aspire's educational landscape.
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Muslim refugees at crossroads: Adopting Islamic cognitive behaviour therapy
More LessDue to current devastating and destruction in some Muslim dominated countries in the middle-East and North Africa, millions of refugees have been crossing the southern pole towards the north particularly to Western-European countries. This forced migration has resulted to a possible difficult trend in the realm of therapist/client relationship where asides language and communication challenges, Muslim refugees and therapists may be experiencing some cross-cultural issues which may lead to difficulties helping the former with their serious anxiety, mood and existential-related problems. This paper introduces the Islamic Cognitive Behaviour therapy (I-CBT), and its applications in treating depression and trauma-related problems. It further widens the framework of multiculturalism in psychotherapy through reflecting the core cognitive and existential structures from the Islamic faith related to belief, motivation and existential meaning. Moreover, the paper also discussed the varying challenges faced by Muslims within the Islamaphobia environment and how the Islamic tradition addresses them, including issues of acculturation and means of attaining positive adaptation and adjustment. Issues related to possible future research interests were also discussed
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The Meaning of Tolerance in Qatar
More LessWith the rise of the Islamic State in the Middle East and right-wing populism in the West, the meaning and value of tolerance have become a focal point for academics, politicians, and pundits. Tolerance spans both social and political realms, covering treatment of different groups, such as women and minorities (identity-based tolerance), as well as treatment of different viewpoints (ideological tolerance). Voices from across the Western political spectrum criticize limitations on self-expression and movement for minority groups in the Middle East. As well, many suggest that low tolerance for sociopolitical differences is one of the key contributing factors to the failures of the Arab Spring. Yet one of the most oft-cited verses in the Quran is about toleration: “We have made you nations and tribes that you may know one another.” (49:13) The vast majority of tolerance research in political science takes place in the context of the US and other Western democracies (Marquart-Pyatt and Paxton 2007). This research defines tolerance as the willingness to grant rights characteristic of Western-style liberal democracies—such as freedoms of speech and association—to disliked groups. As a result, far less is known about tolerance in the context of autocracies and hybrid regimes, even though political theorists have shown that tolerance has evolved historically across sociopolitical contexts, albeit in differing forms (Murphy 1997). Outside of secular Western democratic conditions, what does tolerance mean and what does it require? Why tolerate—what are the benefits? What motivates tolerance? What does tolerance imply in terms of behavior? And what insights can academic work in the Middle East, and in Qatar specifically, provide to the world about how best to promote tolerance? To answer these questions, this paper analyzes data from an original, nationally-representative survey of 1000 Qatari citizens, conducted in March–April 2017. First, this analysis probes the behaviors associated with tolerance through a question bank of ten possible actions, which range from avoidance of and politeness toward those who are different to allowing them to speak on television, teach one's children, and occupy positions of power in society. These questions allow the investigation both to move beyond the “rights”-dominant view peculiar to tolerance in the West, and to test hypotheses from political theory (Forst 2013) about minimal (such as “mere” non-interference) and maximal variations on tolerance (such as respect and recognition). The latter are increasingly seen by theorists as better suited to the needs of today's more multicultural societies. Second, this study also uses a framing experiment to test the robustness of tolerance, drawing on the “slippage” hypothesis, which emphasizes the possible gap between abstract commitments to civil liberties and applications to concrete cases (Prothro and Grigg 1960). Half of the respondents begin with a question that asks them to identify groups they would not like to have as neighbors. Then, the tolerance question bank is presented, prefaced by asking respondents to focus on the concrete least-favored group(s) (thus meeting the “objection” criterion). To ascertain commitments to tolerance in the abstract, the other half receives the tolerance question bank first, so that respondents are not primed to think specifically about their least-favored groups. By combining the bank of questions on tolerant behaviors with a framing experiment, this research builds knowledge of the concept and robustness of tolerance in Qatar, and offers important lessons for state-led social engineering efforts to increase tolerance in non-Western contexts. Funding Acknowledgments: Qatar National Research Fund, National Priorities Research Program (NPRP), 8-389-5-051. Northwestern University in Qatar, Internal Research Grant, 172-7100013-10031823-17-1411. References: Marquart-Pyatt, Sandra, and Pamela Paxton. 2007a. “In Principle and in Practice: Learning Political Tolerance in Eastern and Western Europe.” Political Behavior 29(1): 89–113. Murphy, Andrew R. 1997. “Tolerance, Toleration, and the Liberal Tradition.” Polity: 593–623. Forst, Rainer. 2013. Toleration in Conflict: Past and Present. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Prothro, James W., and Charles M. Grigg. 1960. “Fundamental Principles of Democracy: Bases of Agreement and Disagreement.” Journal of Politics 22:276–94.
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Kap Survey on the Use Knowledge and Attitude of Parents Towards Car Seat Safety in Doha Qatar
Introduction: Motor vehicle crashes have been identified as one of the leading causes of death, injury and disability among young children, less than 5 years, in Qatar. Child passenger restraint systems [CRS] are one of the most effective means to reduce these in child passengers. Previous studies on the effectiveness of a child restraint have shown that if child occupants are properly restrained, the fatality risk is reduced by 28% and serious injury by 82% (1). The objective of this survey is to examine knowledge, attitudes and usage of CRS in a sample of parents with young children in Doha, Qatar. It was conducted as part of a larger ‘Young Kids in Safe Seats (Y-KISS)’ grant [NPRP 7-1681-3-429] funded by the Qatar Foundation designed to measure current CRS knowledge, attitudes and practices and test two potential interventions to improve their use in Qatar. It has been predicted that by the year 2020, RTIs will be the third major cause of disability and hence is an alarming public health problem currently prevailing (2). Methods: A custom designed survey, containing 25 questions that tested CRS knowledge, attitudes and practice of participants, was applied by trained health communicators in 3 Well Baby Clinics of the Primary Health Care Corporation [PHCC]. All participants at least had one child between the ages of 0-5.The survey was conducted in self-administered electronic tabs and was made available in four languages as per the convenience of the participant. Results: The survey collected information from 602 parents, of children under 5 years consulting at well-baby clinics, on: method of child transport, use of CRS, knowledge of CRS, and demographic characteristics. The sample size included 30% Qatari population and 70% expatriates. Almost 50% parents who participated had a Bachelor's degree. The results showed that only 43% used a CRS for their children and only 53% had a car seat.. The most common reasons for not using a safety seat included children crying when in CRS (56%) and a preference to hold the child (18.1%).Only 23% parents had correct knowledge of the appropriate age and weight limits of transitioning car seats as the child grows. Only 38% were aware of the benefits of using a car seat. Moreover, nearly all [94%] reported never witnessing enforcement of child passenger laws prohibiting children from riding in the front, concomitantly only 9% stated that a law requiring CRS use would make them use one for their children Conclusion: Less than half of young children, in this study population, were benefitting from safety provided by CRS. There is a need to develop awareness programs that educate caregivers on the benefits and proper use of CRS. Other priority areas for intervention include the consistent enforcement of laws banning children in the front seat and extending current passenger restraint laws to include all vehicle passengers. References: 1. Keay L, Brown J, Hunter K, Ivers R. Adopting child restraint laws to address child passenger injuries: Experience from high income countries and new initiatives in low and middle income countries. Injury. 2015;46(6):933–4. 2. Bener A, Hussain SJ, Ghaffar A, Abou-Taleb H, El-Sayed HF. Trends in childhood trauma mortality in the fast economically developing State of Qatar. World J Pediatr WJP. 2011 Feb;7(1):41–4.
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Quality of Kindergartens in Qatar A Comparison of Stakeholder Views and Observed Classroom Quality Ratings
By Aysha AswatMuch importance is given to Early Childhood Education in Qatar. Primarily because of the countries implementation of its education reform and also because of the significant research findings that ‘high quality early learning’ is critical for young children's learning outcomes. However, quality is a term which has no concise definition and different values have been attributed in conceptualising and assessing quality depending on who is defining it. Consequently, recent developments in the Early Years have also highlighted the importance of listening to children's voices. However, only few studies have taken into consideration children's perspectives of what quality means to them.The aims of this study were therefore to identify different stakeholders (policymakers, parents, teachers and children) views of quality in Kindergartens in Qatar. Classroom observations using the ECERS-3 quality rating tool were also undertaken by the researcher to compare observed quality rating scores to stakeholder views. Additionally, the researcher also compared the ECERS-3 classroom quality rating scores from this current study to previous studies undertaken in Qatar and the Middle East.The results from this study contribute to research findings that quality is a relative concept and is defined according to individual values, beliefs and experiences. In this study, policymakers were identified as having a ‘top-down’ perspective of defining, assessing and monitoring quality as well as having higher expectations of perceived quality than what is evident in the kindergarten classrooms. Parents valued some of the same quality characteristics as teachers, however, they also overestimated quality. Children's ‘bottom-up’ perspectives highlighted that they are able to confidently provide feedback on dimensions of quality and give a real insight into their own viewpoints of dimensions of quality. Finally, this study has identified aspects of ‘good’ quality in the Qatar kindergartens. However, observed classroom quality ratings have also identified areas of quality that need improvements.
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To What Extent Does the Development of the GCC Countries’ Sovereign Wealth Funds Provide an Evolving Instrument in their Security and Foreign Policy
More LessThis research seeks to explore how the vast GCC sovereign wealth funds (SWF) can provide a vehicle for the development of the foreign security policy of these countries using constructivist paradigm. Although mostly small in sizes except for Saudi Arabia, the GCC countries with their extensive energy wealth are gradually becoming major players on the world stage. This was especially highlighted during the 2007-08 international financial crisis when GCC countries were visited by Western politicians requesting their assistance in bailing out failing financial institutions especially American banks. Gulf Cooperation Council sovereign wealth funds took the initiatives to invest in these failing Western financial institutions without much guarantee about returns on their investments which can be interpreted in different ways. Firstly, it could be interpreted as an effort to support the United States for example for its security guarantee or secondly as a means for these countries to gain influence (Behrendt, 2008). The increasing level of GCC sovereign wealth funds constituting at least 40% of global SWF and their reach in investments globally signal increased geopolitical meaning. However, the fund managers and the countries they originate have indicated that their investments are business transactions intended for purposes such as future generation and pension funds. Bahgat (2011) however indicates that GCC's SWF could have some foreign and security policy undertone. Over the years GCC countries have developed their security and foreign policies based on ‘bandwagoning’ realist paradigm in which the United States or the United Kingdom serve as proxy protector from challenges within and without. With some of the highest spending on their military and the changes in the political dynamics with globalisation and their own development, GCC countries while maintaining their ‘bandwagoning’ policies, have been emboldened by their wealth and military capability in term of military hardware. Ehteshami and Hinnebusch (2013) in seeking to clarify the GCC foreign and security policies in this new era indicates that it is complex realism because it provides a means for the countries of the GCC to continue to seek the protection of their Western allies, especially the United States and the United Kingdom while also flexing their own muscle. It is for this reason that Young (2015:15) asserts that the current foreign policy direction of the GCC is punctuated by the ‘balancing of realist concerns for state power and survival with domestic environments accommodating diverse constituents and structural considerations of the international systems’. Young (2013) also indicates that the GCC has change direction in its foreign and security policies to become interventionist. Intervention in Bahrain during the Arab Spring of 2011 as well as recent intervention in Yemen shows the changes that have come to mark the GCC. The deduction from the above discourse on GCC's foreign and security policy is that it has always been assessed using positivist approaches which fail to reconcile agency and structure issues in the foreign and security policy making. The use of constructivist methods in this work from the point of view of sovereign wealth funds provides means of exploring various themes both from agency and structure. In other words, how does the institutions and the policy makers affect GCC foreign and security policy making? Key Words: Development, GCC, SWF, Security, Foreign Policy.
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Qatar before the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Background: The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the CRPD) is the first human rights treaty of the 21st century and the first binding instrument specifically focused on protecting persons with disabilities within the framework of the UN's universal system of human rights. The CRPD came into force on May 3, 2008, and as of December 3, 2016 it has been ratified by 168 states. The CRPD developed the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Article 34) to monitor compliance with the Convention by States Parties. The main role of the Committee is to review the reports (both the initial and the periodic reports) submitted by States Parties pursuant to Article 35 of the CRPD. In accordance with the CRPD Article 35, States Parties are required to submit to the Committee “a comprehensive report on measures taken to give effect to its obligations [under the CRPD] … and on the progress made in that regard” within two years after the entry into force of the present Convention for the State Party concerned, and subsequently they must submit periodic reports every four years “and further whenever the Committee so requests.” Qatar ratified the UNCRPD in May 2008 and is obliged as a signatory nation to implement a number of social and legal measures to become fully compliant. Aim: The aim of this paper is to identify Qatar»s degree of compliance with the CRPD as per the last available CRPD reports. Subsequently, we list recommended actions toward Qatar's compliance with the Convention. Findings and recommendations: On June 19, 2012 Qatar submitted its report to the Committee on its compliance with the Convention. Following review of the Qatar report, the committee made six concluding observations. The six observations made by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on Qatar's compliance with the Convention: The legislation revolves around a medical (treatment) model of disability, in contrast to the convention's call for a social model and the human rights approach. It is necessary to safeguard non-discrimination, adopting the inclusive social model. Accommodation and accessibility are not in line with the Convention. There is an absence of specific legal and policy frameworks to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others, and reasonable accommodation is not sufficiently guaranteed. Lack of consultation and participation of persons with disabilities in the drafting of regulatory policies that affect them. Lack of systematic information. There is no independent internal mechanism to coordinate policy on the rights of persons with disabilities and monitor the implementation of the Convention. The Committee's six concluding observations on the rights of persons with disabilities indicate that Qatar, similar to many other countries, has a long way to go before reaching compliance with the convention. As a first step towards compliance with the Convention, Qatar action regarding the six issues highlighted here is key, and can be as follows: Adopt a social model whereby the state moves beyond the assistance-based approach to the development of actual individual rights enforceable in a court of law, considers disability rights as validity standards, and regards the field of conflict of rights as other rights or fundamental legal interests. Prevent discrimination by adopting an inclusive social model, as well as via adapting both the situation strategy (equality focused on the situation) and the identity strategy (acknowledging the rights of specific persons or groups). Provide accessibility through universal design and reasonable accommodation. Consult and include persons with disabilities in the drafting of regulatory policies that affect them. Collect systematic (research and statistical) data on persons with disability for use in the development and implementation of policies. Put in place an independent internal mechanism to coordinate policy on the rights of persons with disabilities and monitor the implementation of the Convention. Acknowledgement: This presentation was made possible by the support of the NPRP grant 7 - 380 - 5 - 051 from the Qatar National Research Fund. The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.
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Trends and Patterns of WorkRelated Road Traffic Injuries involving Heavy Vehicles in Qatar
Introduction Qatar is a rapidly developing high-income country in the Middle East. It has very diverse expatriate worker population that is increasing as the road infrastructure and FIFA World Cup projects ramp up for 2022. As a result, Heavy Vehicles (HVs) are a very common sight in Qatar. However, the effect of the increased volume of HVs, on road safety and work-related road traffic injuries (WRTIs) in Qatar has not been reported previously. This study aims to analyze the work related injuries caused by heavy vehicles and is one of the first few studies in this area. It was conducted as part of a larger ‘A Unified Registry for Workplace Injury Prevention in Qatar’ grant [NPRP 7-1120-3-288] funded by the Qatar Foundation and designed to initiate and implement a targeted unified workplace injury registry to inform policies and programs to reduce the health burden, in terms of deaths and disabilities, and the healthcare costs from WRI's in Qatar Methods A free text search using heavy vehicle terms like ‘crane’, ‘truck’, ‘bulldozer’ etc. was carried out on data from the Trauma Registry. All patients, treated for WRTI at Hamad Trauma Center (HTC) from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2016 were included. The data was analyzed according to road user type and other epidemiologic characteristics. The data did not include bus-related injuries. Results Forty percent (40%) of all WRTIs in Qatar were due to heavy vehicles. 57% of the injured were from the transportation industry. Approximately 20% of the injured were pedestrians. 83.8% of the victims were truck drivers and only 8% of them were restrained. The driver victims were involved in head-on collisions (32%) and fixed object crashes (22%). It was also found that pedestrians and falling object victims had more severe injuries compared to others. Conclusions HV-WRTIs are underappreciated as a major cause of severe WRTI and mortality in Qatar. Occupational safety programs should focus on decreasing operating hours by HV drivers & increasing restraint use, pedestrian worksite environmental modifications & HV maintenance and repair standards. The limited available evidence necessitates more focused data capture and analysis in future.
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Selfreported contributory factors for workrelated injuries in Qatar: Findings from the WURQ inpatient survey
Introduction Work related injuries (WRIs) are a leading cause of trauma admission in Qatar and their epidemiologic trends and high-risk populations have been reported previously. This study aims to explore the work circumstances and environments leading to severe WRIs, to inform the creation of targeted interventions to improve worker safety in Qatar. It was conducted as part of a larger ‘A Unified Registry for Workplace Injury Prevention in Qatar’ grant [NPRP 7-1120-3-288] funded by the Qatar Foundation and designed to initiate and implement a targeted unified workplace injury registry to inform policies and programs to reduce the health burden, in terms of deaths and disabilities, and the healthcare costs from WRI's in Qatar Methods Patients with WRIs who were admitted to the Hamad Trauma Center for at least 24 hours were interviewed by trained interviewers using a standard questionnaire. Interview responses were encoded and audio recorded. A proportionate sampling method was implemented based on the leading mechanisms of injuries, from previous reports on WRIs in Qatar. Results Fifty (50) patients were consented and interviewed. 58% (29) of them had some kind of safety training and 82% (41) were aware about the risks at work. Seventy eight percent (39) had taken one form of safety precaution: 58% wore a safety helmet, 62% had foot protection, 54% had a high visibility jacket/vest on and 50% used antistatic gloves. Approximately 50% of the patients had one form of health insurance. Almost everyone was given proper treatment on the site prior to being transported to the nearest treatment facility. Self-reported contributory factors, for WRI, included: ‘inadequate training for a new task’, ‘sub-optimal working environment’ and ‘psychological factors’.‘‘ Almost all classified their injuries as ‘accidental’ or unexpected. Conclusion In this study population, WRIs are still thought of as ‘accidental’ by the workers themselves. Areas for improvement include: 1.) safety training and awareness 2.) consistent use and availability of personal protective equipment 3.) health insurance and 4.) training for new tasks. Further studies on knowledge and attitudes of workers towards safety are needed to better inform occupational injury prevention programs in Qatar.
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The Epidemiology of Workrelated Road Traffic Injuries in Qatar: road user characteristics inform injury prevention programs
Introduction Injuries are the leading cause of death in Qatar, primarily those that occur at work or on the road. However, there is a paucity of data on work-related road traffic injuries [WRTIs] in Qatar. This study will describe the epidemiology of WRTIs in Qatar and make recommendations for targeted prevention programs. It was conducted as part of a larger ‘A Unified Registry for Workplace Injury Prevention in Qatar’ grant [NPRP 7-1120-3-288] funded by the Qatar Foundation and designed to initiate and implement a targeted unified workplace injury registry to inform policies and programs to reduce the health burden, in terms of deaths and disabilities, and the healthcare costs from WRI's in QatarMaterials and MethodsData, on patients with WRTIs treated at the Hamad Trauma Center [HTC] Trauma Registry from January 2015 to September 2016 was collected and analyzed according to road user type and characteristics.ResultsThere were 260 WRTIs admitted during the study period, 25.5% of all work-related injuries. The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.4 %. Motor vehicle crashes [MVCs] comprised 74% of WRTIs: 51% involved heavy vehicles [trucks or buses], 40 % were unrestrained drivers, 15% were rollovers and 10% were against fixed objects. Twenty-one percent of victims were pedestrians, 81.8% from left-hand driving countries. There were no significant differences for age, mean ISS, ICU & hospital LOS but the mortality rate for pedestrians was twice that for MVC victims [10.9% vs. 4.2%, p< 0.05].ConclusionOne-fourth of all work-related injuries in Qatar are WRTIs. Occupational safety programs should focus on increasing restraint use by drivers of heavy vehicles, driver education to prevent rollovers and pedestrian education for workers from left-hand driving countries. The significantly higher mortality rate for pedestrians merits more focused analysis in the future.
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Investigation the Relationship between Entrepreneurship Income Inequalities
More LessThis paper aims to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurship and income inequalities across some countries which have large variances in total early-stage entrepreneurial activity. The study uses strongly balanced data from 2004-2013, covering 19 countries, composing 179 observations. The study uses OLS regression, Simultaneous equation model (SEM) and Zellner»s seemingly unrelated regression (SUR). The results find that there is a strong positive direction between TEA and Gini coefficient. And Gini coefficient is an explanatory variable for change in TEA. Controversy, TEA is not explanatory the change of Gini coefficient. The results find that the coefficient of these model is 32, 65 and 80 respectively. In other words, according to SEM and SUR model, as long as Gini coefficient increases by 0.1, TEA increases by 6.5 and 8 unit respectively.
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Blending Project Centric Approach with Gamification to Increase the Students’ Involvement in Applied Courses
By Adnan AbidThere exist many different ways of teaching applied courses in undergraduate level program. Project centric teaching methodology involves teaching a course to the students by implementing the theoretical concepts in a project. This very idea of project centric approach seems very interesting and promising. However, our more than ten years of teaching experience reveals that most of the students tend to complete their projects towards the end of the semester. Generally, the students are registered in four to six courses in a semester in a regular undergraduate semester. Therefore, they tend to work on projects of all these courses simultaneously, but unfortunately at the end of the semester. This general trend of students invites us to customize and enrich the project centric approach in such a way that should attract students to work on the project regularly throughout the semester. To this end, we have proposed a customized version of project centric teaching while blending it with gamification concepts. The initial results of our study reveal positive changes in the response of the students.
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The effectiveness of family literacy programs in Qatari preschool settings
Authors: Fathi Ihmeideh, Maryam Al-Falasi and Fatima Al-MaadadiThere is an increased recognition that family literacy programs can play a fundamental role in enhancing young children's literacy learning. Research in early literacy development stresses the importance of a partnership between home and school in promoting literacy skills among children (Nutbrown, Hannon, & Morgan, 2005). The concept of family literacy was used to refer to the interrelated literacy practices used by parents and/or family members and children in homes (Hannon, 2000; Teale, 1986). Although family literacy programs are a relatively new phenomenon within the educational context in Qatar, the effectiveness of these programs and the attitudes of those who are involved in these programs remain unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the effectiveness of family literacy programs on children's literacy development implemented in Qatari preschool settings. It also explored the main areas of family literacy programs. Moreover, it examined the attitudes of teachers and parents towards their involvement in literacy learning after the implementation of the family literacy programs. A multi-method approach was utilized, including questionnaires, interviews, and observations. To achieve the objectives of the study, family literacy programs were established in Qatari preschool settings where teachers and parents worked together to facilitate preschoolers’ emergent literacy learning and development. The effectiveness of family literacy programs were assessed based on ORIM framework (Hannon, 1998), which conceptualizes families as supporting their children's literacy learning through providing “opportunities” for learning, showing “recognition” of children's activities, “interaction” with children in terms of literacy activities and providing a “model” of a literacy user. Results indicated that family literacy programs implemented in Qatari preschool settings supported children's literacy learning. Furthermore, the results revealed that both kindergarten teachers and parents of preschoolers expressed positive attitudes towards their involvement in the family literacy programs. In addition, it has been found that literacy practices advocated by ORIM framework were ranged from high to moderate, with “recognition of children's activities” receiving the highest rate, followed by providing “opportunities” for learning. Finally, the study revealed that parents addressed all four strands of literacy with “books” and “oral language” receiving the highest rate. The study suggested developing strategies and policies regarding family literacy programs within Qatari kindergarten and primary schools. The study also identified practices needed for parents to promote children's literacy learning and development. Future directions for research and practical implications are also discussed. Key References: Buhs, E., Welch, G., Burt, J., & Knoche, L. 2011. Family engagement in literacy activities: revised factor structure for The Familia – an instrument examining family support for early literacy development. Early Child Development and Care, 181(7), 989-1006. Hannon, P. 1995. Literacy home and school: research and practice in teaching literacy with parents. London: Falmer Press. Nutbrown, C., Hannon, P., & Morgan, A. 2005. Early literacy work with families: Policy, practice and research. London: SAGE. Pomerantz, E., Moorman, E., & Litwack, S. 2007. The how, whom, and why of parents’ involvement in children's academic lives: More is not always better. Review of Educational Research, 77, 373–410. Teale, W. 1986. Home background and young children's literacy development. In W. Teale and E. Sulzby. Emergent literacy: Writing and reading. Norwood, NJ: Ablex. ** This paper was made possible by NPRP grant # (NPRP 8-921-5-122) from the Qatar national research fund (a member of Qatar foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.
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The lived experiences of smokers with lung cancer in Qatar
Authors: Sakina Badiallah Abulqassemi and Dr. Jessie JohnsonPurpose/Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate experiences and perceptions of lung cancer patients who have a smoking habit and to provide health care professionals with more insights into the complexities of these people's motivations, rationalities, guilt, self-blame, and stigma in Qatar. Methodology: Descriptive phenomenology was used to explore the lived experiences of smoker with lung cancer. An in-depth unstructured conversational style interview was used as a method for data collection. The study was conducted in the inpatient, outpatient, and day care units at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR). Purposive sampling was used to recruit five lung cancer patients who smoke. Colaizzi's (1978) method was used to analyze data. Findings: Participants described five related themes: (a) smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer, (b) acute self-awareness of smoking as an addiction (c) self-blame related to lung cancer diagnosis, (d) smoking cessation clinics are not useful, and (e) nurses and physicians are not supportive during treatment. Participants did not believe that there was a connection between personal smoking behaviors and developing lung cancer. They believed some patients are diagnosed with lung cancer without a smoking history and other environmental agents or lifestyle factors can cause lung cancer. Participants claimed smoking is an addiction, and they smoked to relieve their stress and anxiety. The majority of participants in this study experienced feelings of self-blame for being engaged in smoking behavior that increased their risk of lung cancer. Participants said the smoking cessation clinic was not useful because the physician did not listen to their experiences and instead would gave them nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) tablets and discharged them from the clinic without proper consultation. Participants believed that physicians should counsel their patients about smoking cessation. Also, they suggested counselling, educational materials, and peer support groups would be more helpful resources than pharmacology therapy in quitting smoking. Conclusion: The current study describes the lived experiences of smokers with lung cancer in Qatar. The findings of this study would be helpful for nurses and physicians to know why patients continue to smoke after their lung cancer diagnosis. It is important to understand the lived experiences of smokers with lung cancer in order to help them to quit smoking. Health care professionals working within the smoking cessation clinic would likely be more effective if they understand the lived experiences of lung cancer patients who continue to smoke. Understanding the lived experiences of lung cancer patients with smoking habit also increases their physical and psychological wellbeing and provides them with the opportunity to know their cancer therapies and to cooperate with their treatments. These findings are important for nursing because nurses are expected to provide an integrated approach to care for their patients. It is important for nurses to ensure smokers with lung cancer do not experience additional burdens from their perceptions that could have a negative impact on their quality of life. Nurses should also avoid criticizing smokers with lung cancer and supporting them to quit smoking. Key Word: Lived experiences, perceptions, lung cancer, lung sarcoma, cigarette smoking, and smoker
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من الهوية السردية إلى الهوية البصرية تحولات ساق البامبو من السرد الروائي إلى الدراما التلفزيونية
More Less-أهمية البحث: تكمن أهمية هذا البحث في اشتغاله على أحدث المباحث العلمية الجديدة في العلوم الإنسانية، وهي الدراسات البينية، والتي تعد من بين أهم تحديات المعرفية للعلوم الإنسانية، وهذا لجمعها لعلوم ومناهج متعددة التخصصات، وهذا ما يدعو الباحث لمقاربة هذه المناطق العلمية التي تحتاج إلى الكثير من الصبر العلمي، والبحث المعرفي، للوصول إلى نقاط التقاطع المنهجي، وللدفع بهذا التوجه الذي أصبحت العلوم الإنسانية توليه أهمية، وكذا تماشياً مع رؤية الجامعة والمؤسسات الأكاديمية والتعليمية والبحثية في الدولة(ومنها مؤسسة قطر) بتطوير الدراسات البينية والتي تجمع بين مواضيع متداخلة التخصص، جاء هذا البحث ليجمع بين الجانب الأدبي والجانب الفني، مبرزاً الاختلافات الحاصلة عند تحويل الرواية السردية المطبوعة إلى مسلسل تلفزيوني مصور على الشاشة. ويتجلى هذا من خلال مقاربتنا السيميائية البصرية لرواية ساق البامبو للكاتب الكويتي سعود السنعوسي، لما تبرزه من أهمية تخييلية وسينمائية. 2-أهداف البحث: مقاربة النصوص السردية المحولة إلى مسلسلات وأفلامالكشف عن التحولات والتغيرات للأجناس الفنية بالانتقال من جنس أدبي إلى جنس فني آخر. (من الرواية إلى المسلسل / من الرواية إلى السينما)تحليل المنظورات المختلفة للنصوص السردية والبصرية وكيفية انتقالها من السرد إلى (المسلسل) بالحذف والإضافة.أوجه التشابه والاختلاف في مكونات السرد المسلسلي (زمان، مكان، شخصية).تتبع الاختلاف الحاصل بين لغة الرواية ولغة المسلسل، مبرزين أهمية الحوار في كليهما. 3-إشكالية البحث: كيفية التحولات البنيوية والسيميائية من السرد الروائي، إلى الدراما التلفزيونية، وأثرها في تشكيل هوية الشخصيات في النص؟ 4-منهج البحث: سنتبع في هذا البحث المنهج السيميائي الذي فيه العديد من الاتجاهات منها السيميائية السردية التي تعيننا على تحليل النص السردي(الرواية)، والسيميائية البصرية التي تساعد على فهم التقاطعات مع النص البصري (المسلسل). 5-المصادر والمراجع: -المصادر: وهي رواية ساق البامبو للروائي الكويتي سعود السنعوسي (الحاصلة على جائزة البوكر العربي 2013) والمسلسل المقتبس من هذه الرواية بنفس العنوان. -المراجع: وهي المراجع المتخصص في السيميائيات، وكذلك المراجع المتخصص في صناعة السينمائية، والدراما التلفيزيونية، من بينها: السينمائية، وزارة الثقافة، المؤسسة العامة للسينما، ٢٠٠٨.فونتاني جاك، سيمياء المرئي، ترجمة: علي أسعد، سورية، دار الحوار، الطبعة الأولى، ٢٠٠٣.حمداوي جميل، الاتجاهات السيميوطيقية: التيارات والمدارس السيميوطيقية في الثقافة الغربية، الطبعة الأولى، ٢٠١٥. دانسايجر كين، تقنيات مونتاج السينما والفيديو: التاريخ والنظرية والممارسة، ترجمة: أحمد يوسف، القاهرة، المركز القومي للترجمة، الطبعة الأولى، ٢٠١١.أومون جاك، الصورة، ترجمة: ريتا الخوري، بيروت، الطبعة الأولى، ٢٠١٣.بارط رولان، درس السيمولوجيا، ترجمة: بنعبد العالي، الدار البيضاء، دار توبقال، الطبعة الثالثة، ١٩٩٣.مبارك حنون، دروس في السيميائيات، الدار البيضاء، دار توبقال، الطبعة الأولى، ١٩٨٧.توسان برنار، ما هي السيميولوجيا، ترجمة: محمد نظيف، المغرب، أفريقيا الشرق، الطبعة الثانية، ٢٠٠٠.لوتمان يوري، مدخل إلى سيميائية الفيلم: قضايا علم الجمال السينمائي، ترجمة: نبيل الدبس، دمشق مطبعة عكرمة، الطبعة الأولى، ١٩٨٩. 10. بنكراد سعيد، السيميائيات: مفاهيمها وتطبيقاتها، الرباط، منشورات الزمن، ٢٠٠٣. 11. إيكو أمبرتو، سيميائيات الأنساق البصرية، ترجمة: محمد العماري ومحمد أودادا، سورية، دار الحوار، الطبعة الأولى، ٢٠٠٨. الباحث الرئيس: د.عبد الحق بلعابد الدكتور عبد الحق بلعابد، أستاذ مشارك بقسم اللغة العربية، كلية الآداب والعلوم، جامعة قطر، باحث وأكاديمي جزائري، متحصل على دكتوراه في قضايا الأدب ومناهج الدراسات النقدية والمقارنة، جامعة الجزائر. متحصل على ليسانس في الدراسات الإدارية والقانونية. ودبلوم الكفاءة المهنية للمحاماة من جامعة الجزائر. أستاذ نظرية الأدب والأدب المقارن المشارك بقسم اللغة العربية وآدابها، كلية الآداب والعلوم، جامعة قطر حاليا. وأستاذ نظرية الأدب والأدب المقارن المشارك بقسم اللغة العربية وآدابها، كلية الآداب، جامعة الملك سعود (سابقا). وأستاذ الأدب المقارن بقسم اللغة العربية وآدابها جامعة الجزائر (سابقا). مدير تحرير مجلة الآداب، كلية الآداب، جامعة الملك سعود. عضو الهيئة العلمية لمعامل التأثير للمجلات العلمية العربية المحكمة، اتحاد الجامعات العربية. عضو اللجنة المشرفة لوحدة أبحاث الشعريات، بقسم اللغة العربية وآدابها، كلية الآداب، جامعة الملك سعود. عضو مؤسس لوحدة أبحاث السرديات، بقسم اللغة العربية وآدابها، كلية الآداب، جامعة الملك سعود. لمشرف المؤسس لوحدة اللسانيات وتحليل الخطاب، بقسم اللغة العربية وآدابها، كلية الآداب، جامعة الملك سعود. عضو الهيئة الاستشارية للمحور الإنساني العالمي للدراسات وأبحاث الطفولة، الأردن. عضو الهيئة الاستشارية لصالون عبد الناصر هلال الثقافين بالقاهرة. مدير الدراسات العليا والبحث العلمي بقسم اللغة العربية بجامعة الجزائر(سابقا). نائب مدير مخبر الترجمة والمصطلح بجامعة الجزائر سابقا. نائب رئيس شعبة الأدب المغاربي المعاصر للدراسات العليا بجامعة الجزائر سابقا. عضو فرقة بحث الأدب المغاربي فرنسا-المغارب بليون فرنسا، عضو في المنضمة الدولية للمترجمين واللغويين العرب WATA. عضو مؤسس لجمعية المصطلحيين اللسانيين العرب، بجامعة مؤتة، الأردن. عضو مؤسس للجمعية الدولية لتعليميين والمترجمين، بالمعهد العالي للغات، بجامعة حلب، سوريا. مشارك في عدة مؤتمرات وندوات علمية عالمية متخصصة. ينشر في العديد من الدوريات والمجلات المحكمة والمتخصصة. صدر له كتاب بعنوان عتبات (ج.جيرار جينيت من النص إلى المناص) 2008. كتاب عنفوان الكتابة ترجمان القراءة (العتبات في المنجز الروائي العربي) 2013. كتاب فتوحات روائية، 2014. وكتب جماعية كثيرة من أهمها: فلسفة السرد 2014، الشكل والمعنى في الخطاب السردي 2013، آفاق الشعرية تحولات النظرية والإجراء 2016، دراسات في الشعر السعودي 2016. له العديد من الأبحاث المحكمة في مجلات عربية وأجنبية. عناوين التواصل: قسم اللغة العربية، كلية الآداب والعلوم، جامعة قطر - الجوال: 0097450765464 - البريد الالكتروني: [email protected] الباحث المساعد: الأستاذة ميس منذر ربيع: - تخرجت من قسم الإعلام في جامعة قطر عام ٢٠١٥. - التحقت ببرنامج الدراسات العليا في قسم اللغة العربية لإنجاز رسالة ماجستير في الدراسات البينية – - حصلت على المركز الثاني في مهرجان أجيال السينمائي عن فئة أفلام صنع في قطر. - أخرجت العديد من الأفلام الوثائقية، وأخرها كان عن اللاجئين السورين في تركيا. - عملت في صناعة الأفلام لفترة ثم انتقلت للعمل في مجال الأبحاث العلمية في جامعة قطر. التواصل: الجوال: ٣٣٣٦٣٧٩٢ البريد: [email protected]
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Fostering independent learning amongst English for Academic Purposes students through exploration of digital tools
By Simon HeslupThis poster presentation describes an ongoing research project investigating the use of digital tools by university students in Qatar. The study also explores the effectiveness of having students inform each other of the usefulness of self-selected digital tools for English language learning. Rationale Mitra and colleagues (Dolan et al., 2013; Mitra, Leat, Dolan, & Crawley, 2010) suggest that self-organized groups of learners sharing a common technological tool (traditionally a computer) offers a self-empowered and socially supported avenue of effective learning outside the classroom. Interest in digital tools facilitating self-directed learning has only increased with the development of the power and complexity of the World Wide Web (Blake, 2013; Saxena, 2013). Important reported benefits include greater learner motivation (Saxena, 2013) and the development of learning communities outside the traditional educational setting (Lord & Lomicka, 2011). For language learners, the Web 2.0 has often been used to provide added opportunities to practice or use language outside of the classroom (Blake, 2013; Borau, Ullrich, Feng, & Shen, 2009). Examples include the numerous grammar explanations and exercises, and the use of microblogs for language learning (Antenos-Conforti, 2009; Castrillo De Larreta-Azelain, 2013; Lord & Lomicka, 2011; Wang & Vásquez, 2012). Digital English language product revenues in the Middle East will exceed $215 million by 2018 (Global Educational Supplies and Solutions, 2014). However, little is known about how language learners in the region exploit these resources for self-directed independent language learning, and what resources they find helpful. An initial database search identified only one study addressing this issue. In this study, an online survey at Qatar University identified 18 educational uses to which students put their smartphones, including: accessing the university's online learning management system, discussing classes with classmates, and practicing online quizzes (Fayed, Yacoub, & Hussein, 2013). In addition to exploring the ways in which students use digital tools and the perceived effectiveness of these tools for English language learning, our study investigated the efficacy of having students, rather than instructors, find, vet, and recommend digital tools for classmates. If successful, such an approach could alleviate English instructor concerns about being able to judge the appropriateness of digital tools for their students’ unique linguistic needs, learning preferences, and cultural sensitivities. This research is expected to contribute to the development of best practices in education in culturally diverse learning environments such as the transnational university campuses in Qatar. Research Questions and Objectives The research questions guiding this study are: What are the online practices of tertiary education students in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program in the Qatar? How are EAP students’ independent learning practices influenced by participating in a course that requires them to use digital tools to develop their English skills? The objectives of this research are: 1. to establish baseline attitudes and behaviours regarding digital tool use for language learning amongst English Language Learners (ELLs) in an EAP program in Qatar 2. to examine the effectiveness of the pedagogical approach of requiring participants to seek out, trial, and report to peers on their use of digital tools for language learning. This will be done by testing for a significant: i. within group effect ii. between group effect (treatment versus control groups) 3. to identify more details regarding participants’ motivations, experiences, and views related to digital tool use for language learning, along with their insights regarding the pedagogical approach used in the treatment. 4. to disseminate findings, methodology and recommendations to other institutions in Qatar, the Middle East, and abroad. Methodology This study employed a quasi-experimental, mixed methods approach, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The use of a control group and multiple measurement instances allowed testing for significant effects of the pedagogical treatment between groups (treatment versus control differences) and across time (pre- versus post-treatment results versus one-semester post-treatment). Students in the treatment group, as part of their coursework, were asked to set an individual language goal for the upcoming two weeks. Based on this goal, they were required to seek out and trial a digital tool. At the end of each two-week period, each student posted a report on their experiences with the tool to the course's online discussion page. Reports focused on the benefits and limitations of their selected tool and how it contributed to their goal. Students also read and replied to each other's posts. These two-week cycles were completed 5 times. Students in the control group completed their course, in the same EAP program as the treatment students, without the independent digital tool use component described above. At the beginning of the semester, the end of the semester, and the end of the following semester, students in the treatment and control groups completed quantitative questionnaires intended to assess various aspects of their attitudes and experience with using digital tools for language learning purposes. The questionnaires provided direction for focus group interviews conducted with treatment group students at the end of the semester, and one semester post-treatment. The focus group interviews provided more depth and clarity about students’ experiences and perspectives regarding digital tool use for language learning, and about the utility of having students find and share their experiences with digital tools. Results The preliminary results and analysis described in this poster presentation includes a comparison of the quantitative data of control and treatment groups at pre- and post-treatment. Qualitative data of the first focused group interviews is also presented. Conclusion While 96.7% of Qatar's population are internet users (Central Intelligence Agency, 2016.), little is known regarding its use as an educational tool. A better understanding of how language learners in this context use digital tools, and how digital tools could appropriately be used to improve language skills, would be of great importance to students and educators in the region. References Antenos-Conforti, E. (2009). Microblogging on Twitter: social networking in intermediate Italian classes. In L. Lomicka & G. Lord (Eds.). The next generation: Social networking and online collaboration in foreign language learning, Calico Monograph Series, No. 9. (pp. 59–90). San Marcos, TX: CALICO Publications. Blake, R. J. (2013). Brave new digital classroom: Technology and foreign language learning. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press. Borau, K., Ullrich, C., Feng, J., & Shen, R. (2009). Microblogging for language learning: Using twitter to train communicative and cultural competence. In M. Spaniol, Q. Li, Klamma, R., & Lau, R. W. H. (Eds.), Advances in web based learning–ICWL 2009 (pp. 78-87). Berlin, Germany: Springer. Castrillo De Larreta-Azelain, M. D. (2013). Learners’ attitude toward collaborative writing in e-language learning classes: A twitter project for German as a foreign language. Revista Española De Lingüística Aplicada, 26, 127-138. Central Intelligence Agency. (2016). The world factbook: Middle East: Qatar. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/qa.html Dolan, P., Leat, D., Mazzoli Smith, L., Mitra, S., Todd, L., & Wall, K. (2013). Self-organised learning environments (SOLEs) in an English school: An example of transformative pedagogy? Online Education Research Journal, 3(11). Retrieved from http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/15077/1/SOLEs_-_Transformative_Pedagogy.pdf Fayed, I., Yacoub, A., & Hussein, A. (2013). Exploring the impact of using tablet devices in enhancing students listening and speaking skills in tertiary education. QScience Proceedings: Vol. 2013, 12th World Conference on Mobile and Contextual Learning (mLearn 2013). Retrieved from http://www.qscience.com/doi/pdf/10.5339/qproc.2013.mlearn.1 Global Educational Supplies and Solutions. (2014, December). Digital language learning market to double in the Middle East by 2018. Retrieved from http://www.gessdubai.com/news-center/press-releases/digital-language-learning-market-double-middle-east-2018 Lord, G., & Lomicka, L. (2011). Calling on educators: Paving the way for the future of technology and CALL. In N. Arnold & L. Ducate (Eds.), Present and future promises of CALL: From theory and research to new directions in language teaching (2nd ed., pp. 441-469). San Marcos, TX: The Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium. Mitra, S., Leat, D., Dolan, P., & Crawley, E. (2010). The self organised learning environment (SOLE) school support pack. ALT Open Access Repository. Retrieved from http://repository.alt.ac.uk/2208/1/SOLE_School_Support_Pack_-_final-1.pdf Saxena, S. (2013, June). How technology supports self-directed learning. Ed Tech Review. Retrieved from http://edtechreview.in/news/824-how-technology-supports-self-directed-learning Wang, S., & Vásquez, C. (2012). Web 2.0 and second language learning: What does the research tell us? Calico Journal, 29(3), 412-430.
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Creating a FineGrained Digital Census Using Facebook Advertising Audiences: The Case of Doha
Authors: Yelena Mejova, Matheus Araújo, Ingmar Weber and Michael J Marie AupetitAccurate and up-to-date census data is vital for informed policy decisions ranging from healthcare to infrastructure planning. However, collecting such data takes considerable effort and cost, with, for example, United States performing its census every 10 years. Though different approaches exist, see e.g. https://unstats.un.org/UNSD/demographic/sources/census/alternativeCensusDesigns.htm, they all have their shortcomings. Recent developments in digitization and increased popularity of social media present new sources of information for compiling demographic information of large populations. Such a “digital census” may be compiled within hours or minutes by collecting user information from major websites and it would be dynamic over time. Further, such data may provide statistics on populations which prefer to stay hidden from governmental questionnaires, or are simply too recent to register in the official reports.In our current research we use the Facebook Advertising audience estimates for collecting demographic data within geographic regions. In particular, before ordering an advertising campaign, the potential advertiser is free to query Facebook about the potential reach, or estimated audience, of a particular selection of location, gender, age, language, interests, and a variety of other attributes. For example, an advertiser or a researcher could ask how many Bangladeshi expat Facebook users live in Qatar, and as of October 2017, Facebook estimated this number to be at 260,000, which is reasonably close to the recent estimate of 280,000 in 2016 (http://priyadsouza.com/population-of-qatar-by-nationality-in-2017/). As such reach estimates do not divulge information on any particular user, this information provides an aggregate view of the particular population – precisely the information necessary for a demographic study.As a case study, we explore the neighborhoods of Doha, with each 1km radius (minimum possible location area allowable by Facebook). A visualization of this data is available online at http://fb-doha.qcri.org/. We designed a visual analytic interface to enable exploration of these data. Demographic slices of the data are presented in tree maps (Fig. 1, left) colored based on audience coverage of the respective slices. A set of colored discs shows density of audience matching with specific geographic areas (Fig. 1, right). The user can select a particular demographic (such as male gender or graduate education), automatically updating all other demographic segments and geographic density to correspond with the current selection.For example, one may be interested in finding families with women who use iOS, finding that most are concentrated in West Bay, the Pearl, and south Doha (see Fig. 1). Alternatively, one may be interested in the young males using Android, which can be found at the bottom left of the map, around the Industrial Area of the city (see Fig. 2). The selection tool itself provides a view of the demographic slice, as all demographic selectors adjust with each selection of one. For instance, if we select “Westerner” (and nothing else), the Gender selector adjusts to show a rather even proportion of 12.5K Female to 15.9K Male, vast majority being 25 years and older, and more than half using iOS (15.9K) compared to Android (12.5K). Now, select “Nepali” instead, and the demographics in the selectors change strikingly, and is now dominated by younger males using Android phones. To save a particular “view” of the data, a custom URL is available in the browser's address bar, as well as an export of the statistics in an Excel file.Fig. 1. Visualization of Facebook Advertising audience estimates, where women using iOS are selected, with the most populated regions colored in dark purple on the map.Fig. 2. Visualization wherein males of age 18-24 who use Android cellphones are selected, with most populated areas highlighting the south-west of the map.Although Facebook as a data source suffers from potential biases in sampling and a “black box” nature wherein we as users are not shown the inner workings of the data processing pipeline, the fact that the data captures the work force at the Industrial Area, for instance, provides some validation for the coverage of the data. Furthermore, Facebook claims to have 2,800,000 monthly active users in Qatar, which is even slightly more than the country's population (as of October, 2017), which may be due to bots or fake accounts.Our focus is to develop methodology for the collection, and above all validation, of social media data in the aims of providing reliable, dynamic, and cheap source of demographic knowledge. This knowledge then can be used for informing policy decisions and distribution of resources and better targeting of campaigns.
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Building a Rich Lexical Resource for Standard Arabic
Authors: Wajdi Zaghouani, Sawsan Sawsan Alqahtani and Mona DiabLanguage ambiguity is an inherent characteristic of natural languages. It refers to the phenomenon where an instance can be interpreted in multiple ways. Ambiguity is at the core of the problems faced by natural language processing applications (Obeid et al. 2013). Although humans have the ability to resolve such ambiguity based on their prior knowledge and context, there are instances (sentences, words,... etc) that require multiple readings to resolve it within a context (Hawwari et al. 2013; Diab et al. 2008). The problem of natural language ambiguity is further exacerbated by conventional orthographic decisions where not all phonemes are explicitly represented (Maamouri et al. 2010; Maamouri et al. 2012). Arabic standard orthography is one of these languages that is underspecified for some of the characters such as short vowels, gemination, glottal stops, etc which are collectively represented as diacritics (Zaghouani et al. 2012; Zaghouani et al. 2016). Most typical text in Arabic is rendered undiacritized, i.e. missing explicit short vowels and other diacritics, thereby compounding the natural linguistic ambiguity of the language. Fully orthographically specified Modern standard Arabic (MSA) consists of letters (consonants and long vowels) and diacritic marks. Diacritic marks involve short vowels (u i a), gemination marks, nunation, and the absence of vowels. These diacritics are helpful in denoting the pronunciations and meanings of such underspecified words (Jeblee et al. 2014). A resource that lists words in their typical underspecified form and their corresponding possible meanings would be quite useful for multiple purposes such as building NLP tools, psycho-linguistic and socio-linguistic studies, as well as pedagogical applications. In this abstract, we present a monolingual lexical resource for MSA, which provides for each undiactrized word: various possible diacritic alternatives, part of speech information (POS), and frequency of usage information, in addition to usage examples. It is a large-scale automatically acquired inventory of words from multiple genres. The main objective of this inventory is to explicitly mark undiacritized forms of Arabic words when they are ambiguous. We use the morphological analyzer and disambiguator, MADAMIRA, to generate the desired features: POS, diacritic alternatives, and lemmas. Our lexical resource represents different aspects of ambiguity at the word level: POS (syntactic level) and diacritic alternatives (lexical level). At the syntactic level, ambiguity indicates that the undiacritized word can be given multiple possible POS tags. If there is only one possible POS tag for the undiacritized word, then the word is syntactically unambiguous. For lexical ambiguity, an undiacritized word may have multiple readings due to multiple possible diacritizations or the same diacritized form would have multiple meanings (similar to the bank «financial institution» /bank «river bank», in English). We account for all three ambiguity cases in our presented resource. The absence of diacritics adds an additional layer of ambiguity in MSA. Diacritics help specify the exact meanings or even reduce the number of possible senses for a given undiacritized word. Although this sounds appealing and has proven beneficial in some tasks, full diacritization might also have performance degradation in some natural language processing applications and human reading speed. We observed three types of ambiguity caused by diacritics: ambiguity within POS tags, ambiguity for the same grapheme without considering POS tags, and ambiguity that is related to case and mood information. The former type concerns structural and grammatical level of ambiguity whereas the first two types are lexical which is our focus in this paper. It has been claimed that frequency may play a significant role in disambiguation where words that frequently occur tend to be less ambiguous and that such frequency varies depending on the genre. The presented lexical resource provides three types of frequencies: undiacritized words, diacritized words, diacritized words within a particular POS in addition to fine-grained frequencies for each genre so that researchers would be able to pick certain genres suitable for their studies. This lexical resource shows gaps in the frequency distributions among the alternative choices for each undiacritized word which may lead to having multiple choices for the same undiacritized word that have equal or close frequency approximation.The main objective of this lexical resource is to help lexical-decision making based on explicitly marking within-POS ambiguity which means having multiple diacritic alternatives for the same undiacritized words within a particular POS. It also provides lexical information that is automatically generated including diacritic alternatives, POS, word length, frequencies (within and across varying corpora of different domains and genres) in addition to explicitly marking undiacritized words that have multiple possible POS, as well as it provides usage examples. This resource will be used for readability experiments where we evaluate the impact of ambiguity and level of diacritization in human readings. ReferencesDiab Mona, Aous Mansouri, Martha Palmer, Olga Babko-Malaya,Wajdi Zaghouani, Ann Bies, Mohammed Maamouri. A Pilot Arabic Propbank; LREC 2008, Marrakech, Morocco, May 28-30, 2008.Hawwari, A.; Zaghouani, W.; O»Gorman, T.; Badran, A.; Diab, M., «Building a Lexical Semantic Resource for Arabic Morphological Patterns,» Communications, Signal Processing, and their Applications (ICCSPA), 2013, vol., no., pp.1,6, 12-14 Feb. 2013. Jeblee Serena; Houda Bouamor; Wajdi Zaghouani; Kemal Oflazer. CMUQ@QALB-2014: An SMT-based System for Automatic Arabic Error Correction. In Proceedings of the EMNLP 2014 Workshop on Arabic Natural Language Processing (ANLP), Doha, Qatar, October 2014.Maamouri Mohamed, Ann Bies, Seth Kulick, Wajdi Zaghouani, Dave Graff and Mike Ciul. 2010. From Speech to Trees: Applying Treebank Annotation to Arabic Broadcast News. In Proceedings of LREC 2010, Valetta, Malta, May 17-23, 2010.Maamouri Mohammed, Wajdi Zaghouani, Violetta Cavalli-Sforza, Dave Graff and Mike Ciul. 2012. Developing ARET: An NLP-based Educational Tool Set for Arabic Reading Enhancement. In Proceedings of The 7th Workshop on Innovative Use of NLP for Building Educational Applications, NAACL-HLT 2012, Montreal, Canada.Obeid Ossama, Wajdi Zaghouani, Behrang Mohit, Nizar Habash, Kemal Oflazer and Nadi Tomeh. A Web-based Annotation Framework For Large- Scale Text Correction. In Proceedings of IJCNLP’2013, Nagoya, Japan.Zaghouani Wajdi, Nizar Habash, Ossama Obeid, Behrang Mohit, Houda Bouamor, Kemal Oflazer. 2016. Building an Arabic machine translation post-edited corpus: Guidelines and annotation. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC»2016).Zaghouani Wajdi, Abdelati Hawwari and Mona Diab. 2012. A Pilot PropBank Annotation for Quranic Arabic. In Proceedings of the first workshop on Computational Linguistics for Literature, NAACL-HLT 2012, Montreal, Canada.
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The Transformation of the Moroccan Landscape in the Early Islamic Period
An archaeological survey was conducted in October 2017 on the Atlantic Coast of Northern Morocco, between the cities of Tangier and Asilah. The scope of the project, a cooperation between the Moroccan Institut National pour les Sciences de l'Archeologie et du Patrimoine (INSAP) and UCL-Qatar is to trace the modifications to the cultural and economic landscape of the Tingitan peninsula before and after the arrival of the Arabs in the region. The survey concentrated on two areas of this region, the first near the mouth of the Tahaddart river, fifteen kilometers north of Asilah, and the second a dozen kilometers inland, in the vicinity of Ain Daliya, south of Tangier. The Tahaddart river today may have filled a large lagoon. This flat area today can be entirely flooded during particularly rainy winters. Salt pans and cultivated fields characterize this landscape. In the Roman period, salt was used to cure fish and extract a liquid called garum, much appreciated in Rome and its provinces. Garum production sites in this region are known from previous archaeological work. Two major sites are also known in this area: Tingis, ancient Tangier, and the Augustan colony of Iulia Constantia Zilil, near the village of Dchar Jdid. A large number of pre-Roman and Roman sites were also discovered in the course of previous archaeological work, but unfortunately a systematic study of these remains has not been conducted yet, while archaeological remains dated to the Islamic periods were often ignored altogether. The present contribution, based on the results of the survey, the analysis of satellite imagery, and the study of previous publications, intends to offer a new perspective on the long history of human occupation in Northern Morocco, taking into consideration every archaeological presence found, from Prehistory to Late Islamic, although paying special attention to the transition from Late Roman to early Islamic periods. Survey data confirms that human occupation both on the coast and inland was consistent from at least the fifth century BCE to the Late Roman period. An Early Islamic presence is being recognized at several sites, some of which also showing Late Roman occupation, an indication of a certain continuity of use of some areas. The Early Islamic occupation may not be easily recognized due to the lack of ceramic sequences found in stratigraphic contexts, and future project seasons will try to fill this gap in our knowledge. Sites dated to the XI-XII century onward are more easily recognizable. Ceramics dated to these periods were found both in villages still occupied today and in isolated areas, pointing to a diffused occupation of several hilltop sites. A correlation was also found between marabouts and isolated cemeteries and the presence of abandoned settlements in their vicinity, a correlation that must be confirmed by future research. Future project seasons will include more surveys and small excavations or soundings in sites where the surface pottery sequences promise to reveal the presence of stratigraphic contexts that can help us fixing a chronology for both pottery and settlement types in the region.
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How Qatar English Teachers Think about Professional Development
Recognizing the importance of English Language education for the national development of Qatar, this study addresses the critical need to understand the learning processes of English language teachers and how they make sense out of professional development (PD) opportunities. The study is premised on the argument that to improve effectiveness of educational reforms, to understand how PD influences classroom teaching and in the end student learning, the experiences of teachers as the central actors in this chain of events need first to be documented. Only through a fuller grasp of how teachers experience PD and how they connect it to their teaching will the goals of systemic educational improvement be realized. The study contributes, therefore, to understanding the role that PD opportunities play in creating a learning environment for students and helping a nation achieve its educational goals. Background Applying phenomenongraphic research methods (Marton, 1983, 1986) developed in two previous national studies in Chile and Turkey, the study funded by the Qatar National Research Fund (NPRP 7-1330-2-483) investigated the connections that occur in the thinking of teachers as they ‘travel’ from PD opportunities to classroom teaching (cf., Freeman, 2016). The study's logic model challenges a linear, transmission model of teacher learning (cf., Desimone, 2009), which would posit that the best way to evaluate PD opportunities is to measure congruence between a PD provider's learning objectives, what teachers report they learned, and observed evidence of teachers' implementing the objectives. Instead, the study's logic model assumes the importance of a larger question, which is the impact at a systemic-level of PD. The starting point for understanding the impact of PD at a systemic-level should be teachers' evolving perceptions of the nature of the opportunities provided, what they learned, and how they use that learning as part of their teaching. Method Specifically the study investigated what professional development opportunities were publicly available, how teachers participated in these opportunities, and how they reported using what they learned. In the first stage, data gathered from professional development providers in Qatar was used to create an inventory of 150 events offered during the three-year period from 2012 to 2015. The inventory provided insight into the Qatar PD system as seen from the providers' perspective. The second stage investigated teachers' perspectives on the Qatar PD system during the same period as the provider inventory and its influence on the teachers' thinking. Teachers' perceptions were gathered through an electronic survey sent to all government school English language teachers, with a 72% response rate (n = 676). The survey asked closed-ended questions about respondent demographics, whether the respondent had participated in any PD during the 2012-2015 period, and if so, how many events. For each event a respondent indicated, they were asked to describe the event, tell what they learned, and how they used what they learned. The responses to these open-ended questions were analyzed using grounded coding schemes developed for each question. This paper focuses on what can be understood using this survey data about how teachers made meaning from their PD opportunities. Subsequent to the survey, a sub-sample of 54 survey respondents completed five days of teaching logs describing what they taught each day and what they saw as connections to the professional development they described in the survey. Lastly, 10 teachers were observed in their classrooms to examine relations with the survey and teaching log data. Findings The inventory provided significant insights into the system for providing PD in the country, and the possibly implicit messages created when different types of providers routinely offer different types of PD. For example categorization of offerings by the education ministry suggest that it prioritizes PD related to general policies and regulation whereas extra-governmental providers offered more sessions directly targeting English language teaching and learning. From the providers' perspective, the system also seems to emphasize teaching methodologies, with approximately half of the 150 events offered pertaining to ELT skills, general teaching methodologies, and/or teaching literacy. Findings from the survey indicate the salience of PD in the professional lives of Qatar English teachers. In the survey, 89% of teachers reported participating in professional development during the three-year period, providing perceptions about 2038 total PD events. Of those who participated, 97% reported that they were able to use what they learned in their teaching. This finding runs counter to conventional narratives in policy and research that portray teachers as being resistant to PD or only attending because they have to. It also raises the question of how teachers understand usefulness and application. The open-ended questions that asked teachers to describe an event, tell what they learned from it, and how they used that understanding in their teaching, were analyzed using measures of both frequency and likelihood of co-occurrence. These findings suggest the existence across both teachers and events of salient topics (e.g., curriculum standards), which may function as a type of “coin of the realm,” in other words, topics the teachers felt they needed to recognize. A picture also emerges of a PD system that prompts Qatari English teachers to think about their general role as teachers separately from their role as language teachers. With regard to the latter role, teachers reported focusing on the particulars of teaching more than on how that teaching impacts students and their learning. The study breaks new ground in understanding professional development from the perspectives of policy and practice. Rather than ‘learning and then applying’ PD content as conventional models of professional development suggest, the study documents how teachers take up what they find meaningful in PD events and transform that uptake into knowledge and practices that they see as viable in their teaching contexts. References Desimone, L. (2009). Improving impact studies of teachers» professional development: Toward better conceptualizations and measures. Educational Researcher, 38 (3), 181-199. Freeman, D. (2016). Educating second language teachers. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Marton, F. (1983). Beyond individual differences. Educational Psychology, 3(3–4), 289–303. Marton, F. (1986). Phenomenography—a research approach to investigating different understandings of reality. Journal of Thought, 28–49.
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Social Media Usage and Women's Empowerment in Qatar: Evidence from a National Representative Survey
More LessIntroduction Social media usage has grown in importance over the past decade, particularly in Middle East. During this period, it has come to be recognized as more than a tool for social connections between individuals, with research demonstrating how it can empowering people socially, politically and economically[1]. Past research has demonstrated the impact of social media in areas as diverse as such as healthcare provision, political participation, and marketing[2]. However, how and to what extent social media usage contributes to women's empowerment in the Arab region has not been thoroughly examined. Academic and non-academic studies alike have focused heavily on a few well-known cases of social media activism and woman's rights, such as, women driving in Saudi Arabia[3] or the Arab Spring in Egypt[4]. These studies raise a number of relevant questions. Is social media potent in the population more broadly, or is it just a tool for activists and polemics? If it does empower women, does it do so by shaping deeply rooted attitudes and norms or does it mere reflect the value of the general population? How can we understand the role of traditional education in shaping attitudes and values in light of the large volumes of readily available information provided by social media? The current paper examines social media usage in Qatar and its influences on attitudes toward women's empowerment and considers the complex role of education. We use a national representative survey data from a 2017 survey of Qatari nationals to test our expectations. In the last twenty years, Qatar has experienced a significant shift in economic development, and education accessibility. The State of Qatar has widely sought to include women in public life, particularly in the process of decision-making. Yet, the debate about the role of social media in increasing women's awareness of their equal rights in holding positions of power and contributing to their political and economic empowerment is not widely discussed in Qatar. Thus, Qatar is a case where researchers might expect to find changing attitudes in spite of the absence of major social media feminist activists. The paper also explores a number of trends emerging in the analysis of social media usage, across demographic groups such as age, gender, marital status and socio-economic differences including education levels and household income. Methodology A questionnaire was initially designed in English and then translated into Arabic by the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) to collect all necessary information related to the study. In this survey, the target population included people who are 18 years or older and live in residential housing units in Qatar during the survey reference period (May 6th-27th, 2017). It includes groups of Qataris and expatriates, though the analysis in this paper focuses on Qataris. It is important to note that while preparing the sample for the survey, the Qatari population sub-group was over sampled in order to ensure that Qataris were well represented in the survey. The survey was administered in CAPI (computer assisted data collection) method for face to face interviews. The interviews were conducted at the home of the respondent. In terms of data analysis, all individual interviews were merged and saved in a single BLAISE data file. This dataset was then cleaned, coded and saved in STATA formats for analysis. Analysis of the data included order logistical regression with appropriate calculation of interactive effects and predicted probabilities for interpretation. Findings and Implications Data from the 2017 survey are newly available and thus the findings discussed here are preliminary. We find that social media usage in the examined population is related to increased support for woman in community leadership among Qatari females but not males. This finding is robust to a number of statistical controls, including for the respondent's level of education. In fact, a respondent's level of formal education has much less predictive power than social media usage among female Qataris. Furthermore, we find that social media usage is only weakly related to political variables, such as interest in politics. This suggests that social media may be working to empower women first through changing gender attitudes and only secondly through engagement with the political sphere. These findings are relevant to both academics who are seeking to understand the mechanisms through which social media may empower women and policymakers in Qatar who are concerned with advancing their welfare. It shows that woman can use social media to find their voice and engage with the public sphere, even where political activism has not been common. [1] Dubai School of Government, “Arab Social Media Report, Vol 1, No. 3, November 2011. [2] TNS, “Arab Social Media Report”, First Report 2015. [3] Begum, Rothna, “The Brave Female Activists Who Fought to Lift Saudi Arabia's Driving Ban”, News Deeply, September 29th, 2017. [4] Tufekci, Zeynep and Wilson, Christopher, “Social Media and the Decision to Participate in Political Protest: Observations From Tahrir Square”, Journal of Communication, 62 (2012) 363–37.
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Bullying among high school students and their relationship with diligence at school Field study on a sample of secondary school students in Algeria
By Laid FekihThe present research aims to estimate and compare the prevalence of bullying among high school students, and their relationship with diligence at school. To achieve the purpose of this research was chosen intended sample selected from high school containing 900 students in Tlemcen –Algeria-, including 406 boys and 496 girls aged between 15 and 17 years old, were sampled on the random basis. Data collection tools were an (School Health Promotion: School efficiency and Bullying). The results indicated that the prevalence of bullying inside schools within the limits of 10% and 16%. The boy's students in high schools are more violent than girls. The forms of bullying widespread among students are psychological forms as name-calling, humiliation or offensive teasing and being ignored or excluded from a circle of friends. In addition, bullying is related negatively to diligent at school (r = − 0.43, p < 0.001). Students who were bullied become less efficient, they get low marks, have difficulties in concentration and attention, do not participate in school activities, and absent from school. Based on the findings, the study will proposed some recommendation and preventive measures to mitigate the impact of bullying among high school students the importance of a program based on education to develop diligent at school and the wellbeing of students.
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Interdisciplinarity Multidisciplinarity in the Field of Islamicjerusalem Studies
More LessIslamicjerusalem Studies is a field of study that uses interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches. Not only history but also archaeology, architecture, geography, politics and Islamic Studies are embedded within this field. The framework thus established includes “theoretical and conceptual, empirical and cultural approaches”, leading to “more constructive dialogue between scholars in several disciplines”. This has been reflected in the various interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary studies which have been conducted and published in this field. An example where the disciplines of architecture, archaeology and history were applied in a historical study is Haitham al-Ratrout»s monograph of the architectural development of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the early Islamic Period. This monograph explores historical and archaeological evidence, architectural characteristics and proportional relationships and deals with the topic from three different perspectives: theoretical and exegetical, practical and analytical. It is in itself innovative, shedding new light on this complex topic and laying down the foundation for further research, which advanced to further discoveries regarding the ancient places of worship, and the establishment of similarities in their architectural form and plans. Another example where the application of an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach can enrich and offer a different perspective is Maher Abu-Munshar's Islamic Jerusalem and its Christians: A History of Tolerance and Tensions. Here the application of methodologies developed in Islamic Studies leads to a better understanding of how Muslims dealt with non-Muslims in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. This topic had often been studied but without taking into account the theological dimension. Once one adds this dimension and engages with the Quranic, hadith and juridical sources one can understand the ways in which Muslims dealt with the People of the Book in general and in the specific case of Jerusalem. This study will present this relatively new field of study and the latest research on this filed, showing how interdisciplinarity can have a substantial impact on the way we understand history, geography, archaeology, architecture amongst other disciplines. This paper focuses on the case of Islamicjerusalem where much misconceptions, misreading and contradictions have emerged out of either ignorance or part of a political and religious agenda. Therefore three pioneering studies from different disciplines (architecture, history and geography) will be presented to show how studies within this field are enriched through the use of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary studies.
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Health information and monitoring among Qatari adolescents 2017: An overview
Authors: Klaus Schoenbach, Salma Mawfek Khaled, Ellen Ann Wartella and Marium SaeedI. The first comprehensive and large-scale investigation of Qatari teenagers' health-information and health-monitoring behavior is the basis of our paper. It presents an overview of the results. A survey of more than 1,100 Qataris, 13 to 20 years old, conducted in spring 2017, addressed which the health issues are they are most concerned about, how often they use various types of health-monitoring tools and communication platforms to seek health information, how satisfied they are with what they get through these platforms and tools, how much they trust health information channels, and whether they have ever attempted to change their behavior due to health information or digital health tools. Qatari adolescents face severe health problems. Qatar has the highest rate of overweight boys and young men under 20 years old (34 percent) in the Middle East and in North Africa (Ng et al., 2014). In 2014, according to Qatar's Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), 37 percent of Qatar's population aged 15 and above said that they smoke tobacco (Doha News, September 2014). And in his study of undergraduate students, Abdel-Khalek (2013) posits that mental health problems are also comparatively frequent in Qatar. Of course, Qatar has taken steps to address these health issues through a variety of national initiatives–from campaigns for a healthier diet to health apps. But do these measures in Qatar actually serve their purpose? II. So far, little evidence exists about health-information behavior in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) and, more specifically, in the Gulf, among adolescents: • Arnott-Smith and Keselman (2015) found that GCC residents of all ages “first seek information from conversations with physicians and hospital personnel, followed by family, friends, and knowledgeable elders and religious leaders in the community” (p. 174). • Similarly, 93 percent of respondents in Saudi Arabia first expected health information from their physicians (Al Ghamdi & Almohedib, 2011). • Also, interviews with Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) educators revealed that “the most common information sources about cancer in Qatar originate in advice from friends and family in addition to the patient's physician” (Arnott-Smith & Keselman, 2015, p. 173). These results could be explained through the Arab world's more relationship-based culture, instead of a rule-based one (Hooker, 2012). This means that social behavior is more strongly determined by one's family, peers and superiors. And in his classic work in 1984, Hofstede found a value system for the Arab world that is characterized, among other features, by masculinity and “power distance,” i.e., more hierarchical relationships. These cultural characteristics should indeed make personal health communication more successful. Also, a person's power and charisma could count more than their professional expertise. But interestingly, at least in Qatar, this plausible pattern is not as clear-cut as it looked for Qataris' information behavior specifically about cancer. Because for health information in general, a representative sample of Qataris in 2016 named Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) as the most frequently used health information source, followed by family, friends, and then the internet (especially among younger Qataris). Northwestern University's surveys “Media use in the Middle East” (2013, 2015) show that in 2015, almost half (45 percent) of Qatari internet users aged 18 to 24 years looked up health information (in the widest sense of the term) at least once a day–a sharp rise from 24 percent of that same group in 2013. In 2015, almost half (48 percent) of the same age cohort reported that their “most important source for health information” was websites; 31 percent named face-to-face personal communication, and only six percent mentioned television. Social media followed with five percent. III. The results of our large-scale study in 2017 show that young people in Qatar rely heavily on interpersonal sources of health information, including their parents, siblings, friends, and medical providers. Nevertheless, the vast majority of teens also turn to the internet for health information. Only television can compete, to some extent, with online sources. Finally, health campaigns in Qatar do not reach the younger Qatari demographic as often as one would hope. Many Qatari teens, however, have also turned to digital devices–apps and games–beyond online health information. Health trackers have not gained traction among teens. The internet most often serves as a tool for additional information about symptoms, treatments and medication. But it is also a pathway for accessing information that could have a negative impact on health. This is why our study underscores the importance of ensuring that accurate, appropriate, and easily accessible health information is available to teens online. But Qatari teens' naivety when it comes to posting about personal health problems is alarming as well–reasons for making sure teens have strong digital health literacy: They need the judgment and skills to know how to assess and deal with the abundance of information they come across online. References Abdel-Khalek, A. M. (2013). The relationships between subjective well-being, health, and religiosity among young adults from Qatar. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 16, 306-318. Al Ghamdi, K. M. & Almohedib, A. M. (2011). Internet use by dermatology outpatients to search for health information. International Journal of Dermatology, 50,292-299. Arnott Smith, A., & Keselman, A. (2015). Meeting health information needs outside of healthcare: Opportunities and challenges. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Hofstede, G. (1984). Culture»s consequences: International differences in work-related values (2nd ed.). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. Hooker, J. N. (2012). Cultural differences in business communication. In C. B. Paulston, S. F. Kiesling & E. S. Rangel (Eds.), Handbook of intercultural discourse and communication (pp. 389–407). Maladen, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. Ng, M. et al. (2014). Global regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980-2013: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Lancet, 384, 766-781. Northwestern University in Qatar (2013). Media use in the Middle East 2013.Doha, Qatar: Northwestern University in Qatar. Northwestern University in Qatar (2015). Media use in the Middle East 2015.Doha, Qatar: Northwestern University in Qatar.
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Utilizing Digital Literacy in the Arts & Humanities Classroom
By Sam MeekingsMy paper will outline my current project of integrating social media applications into writing and literature courses. It will pay particular attention to how these act as gateways and models to ESL students in Qatar as well as those from non-traditional learning backgrounds. Today classrooms across the globe are filled with students who are wedded to their Smartphones. Instead of banning them, this presentation will discuss how they can be used as an integral part of classes focused on student-led research and writing. Apps like Instagram, Twitter and Youtube link together diverse groups of global communities, and therefore suggest a common language for communication. My paper will examine how these popular social media apps can be used in classroom projects to develop student understanding of narrative, structure, form, voice, authorial intention, and audience reaction. It will focus on utilizing the pre-existing skills and knowledge of a generation of students who are ‘digital natives’ through the tools familiar to them, in order to reconceptualise the process and reception of writing Traditionally, form shapes the way that writing is both transmitted and received: a sonnet or haiku will dictate the structure and composition or a poem, while the physical manifestation of a book signals to the reader the structural limits of the story. The presentation will explore how Twitter voice and style, Instagram narratives and Youtube storytelling each present a model as distinct and formally challenging as a sonnet or novel. Jacques Jouet has suggested, in reference to the Oulipian process of writing through constraints, that “the constraint is the problem; the text the solution” (2001, p.4). The presentation will explore how both practitioners and instructors might respond to the new constraints of online environments to find new ‘solutions’, paying particular attention to how my recent work with the Higher Education Academy in the UK has influenced my practice and research here. In addition, it will suggest ways in which social media apps in the classroom present a range of possibilities for learning about (and indeed experimenting with) character, voice, structure, tone and world-building. As well as speaking to experiences in my own courses in literature and creative writing, I will discuss the ways in which such lessons and activities can be considered in the broader context of undergraduate engagement in the arts and humanities. I will share exercises and examples from my classroom in my presentation, and discuss the cross-curriculum potential for using a number of mobile tools. The presentation will consider a range of possibilities for utilising digital spaces for both discussion, analysis and creation within a classroom format. It will also suggest ways of using the technical, formal, or cross-platform innovations of online applications to extend the lessons beyond the classroom. Consideration will also be given to the problems inherent in using social media platforms for storytelling, and some of the common issues faced by ESL students when using such technology in the undergraduate classroom. In particular, it will address how the creation of digital products, for instance, present a range of issues for instructors in terms of rubrics and assessment, and also relies on instructors being proficient with the latest digital platforms and having the technological skills to both implement and examine the resulting work. I will end by discussing the cross-curriculum potential for such initiatives.
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Assessing the contribution of principal instructional leadership and collective teacher efficacy to teacher commitment in Oman
More LessThe past decade has witnessed dramatic change in the direction of education in the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). During this period, national leaders in this region accepted that the long-term economic growth of their societies required diversification beyond oil and movement towards the development of knowledge-based economies This recognition resulted in renewed investment in education in concert with the adoption of reforms that have sought to reshape the aims, structure, and content of their education systems One consequence of these policy-driven reforms undertaken by the GCC States has been an unprecedented focus on the ‘leadership’ role of school administrators This trend has been notable, for example, in Oman where educational reforms have resulted in new expectations for school principals Whereas Omani school principals previously functioned primarily as ‘administrators’, recent reforms have recast them as ‘leaders of learning and change’ This reorientation from ‘administration’ towards ‘leadership’ is reflected in the redefinition of the principal»s role the content of training programs and on-the-job practices. Scholars in Oman have sought to document and analyze the nature and effects of this redefinition of the principalship in studies of instructional leadership, transformational leadership, servant leadership, and distributed leadership The study reported in this article focused on the ‘instructional leadership’ of primary school principals in Oman. The article was published in the Teaching and Teacher Education Journal (IF, 2.1). The study results showed that: Relationship of principal leadership and teacher commitment partially mediated by teacher efficacy. Strongest effects of principal instructional leadership through collective teacher efficacy. Confirmed importance of principal instructional leadership in Oman during era of education reform.
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Students' understanding of chemistry concepts in a premedical foundation year POGIL – oriented chemistry course
Authors: Sheila S Qureshi and Venkat R VisnumolakalaThe study concerns foundation year students' understanding of chemistry concepts in a Qatari POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) context. The ongoing study involved the use of a pre-test and delayed post-test design involving two - tier chemistry diagnostic tests (Acids-bases chemistry achievement, chemical and covalent bonding tests) to ascertain the extent to which students' understanding of chemistry concepts changed when using an active learning pedagogy like POGIL (Moog et al., 2009). Two-tier multiple choice tests have been developed and used by several science education researchers for the purpose of identifying students' alternative conceptions (Treagust, 1988). These two-tier diagnostic tests are considered easy to administer. The first tier of the each item consists of a content question with two or four choices. The second tier of each item contains a set of four possible reasons for the chosen answer in the first part. Students' selection of response-reason combination is analysed to explore their alternative conceptions. The theoretical framework for the research study was based on social constructivism (Vygotsky, 1978) and the learning cycle approach (Farrell, Moog, & Spencer, 1999). The quantitative research design consisted of quasi-experimental – one group – pre and post-test design with no comparison group (Creswell, 2005). Results of t-test analyses indicated that each students' understanding in the post test improved statistically significantly over their individual scores. The effect sizes ranging from 0.44 to 1.75 indicate positive impacts of POGIL on students' understanding of chemistry concepts. Findings from this study support the view in the literature (Brown, 2010; Brown, Pond, & Creekmore, 2011) that student-centred pedagogical practices like POGIL help students to understand chemical concepts more effectively as self-learning groups from carefully structured learning materials. Table 1: Comparing students' (n = 8) conceptual understanding of chemical bonding (Paired samples t-test): Test Pre Test Post Test Mean Difference t df Sig. (2-tailed) Effect Size (Cohen»s d) Mean Std. Dev. Mean Std. Dev. Covalent Bonding 5.13 1.43 7.38 1.06 2.25 4.03 7 .005 1.75 Chemical Bonding 1.38 1.06 3.25 1.04 1.88 3.23 7 .014 1.23 p < 0.01 Table 2: Comparing Acids-Bases Chemistry Achievement Test - ABCAT scores (n = 8) Section Pre Test Post Test Mean Difference t df Sig. (2-tailed) Effect Size (Cohen»s d) Mean Std. Dev. Mean Std. Dev. Section A 6.63 1.51 7.25 1.28 0.63 0.89 14 .386 0.44 Section B 4.50 1.31 5.88 0.99 1.38 2.37 14 0.03 1.18 p < 0.05 References Brown, S. D. (2010). A process-oriented guided inquiry approach to teaching medicinal chemistry. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 74(7), 121. Brown, S. D., Pond, B. B., & Creekmore, K. A. (2011). A case-based toxicology elective course to enhance student learning in pharmacotherapy. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 75(6), 1-118. Creswell, J. W. (2005). Educational research. planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Farrell, J. J., Moog, R. S., & Spencer, J. N. (1999). A guided-inquiry general chemistry course. Journal of Chemical Education, 76(4), 570. doi: 10.1021/ed076p570 Moog, R. S., Creegan, J. F., Hanson, M. D., Spencer, N. J., Straumanis, A., & Bunce, M. D. (2009). POGIL: Process-oriented guided-inquiry learning. In N. Pienta, M. M. Cooper & T. J. Greenbowe (Eds.), Chemists» Guide To Effective Teaching (Vol. 2, pp. 90-101). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Treagust, D. F. (1988). Development and use of diagnostic tests to evaluate students' misconceptions in science. International Journal of Science Education, 10(2), 159-169. doi: 10.1080/0950069880100204 Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
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Exploring the Challenges of WorkFamily balance among Qatari Families: Experiences and Implications
Authors: Azza Abdelmoneium, Abdullah Badahdah and Anis BrikIntroduction In many Arab countries, including Qatar, the family is an important institution and the corner stone of society. The family is particularly important for all individuals including working parents who find challenges in balancing between their work and the family. Work-family balance is an issue, which remains a central for all employed parents and employers alike. With the global economic downturn, work-family balance continues to be of great importance to societies because in more countries women's' labor force participation has increased. It is a key challenge to sustain a balance between the family and the work and to retain time to properly care for the young, old and vulnerable members of the family groups (O'Brien 2012). The potential effects of work-family balance on families and on working parents in particular may be numerous. Previous research has found that parents with more work-family conflict felt less competent in their role as parents. Therefore, those parents with high work-family conflict may suffer from a reduction in parental, marital, and life satisfaction related to their inability to carry out the nurturing role associated with being a “good” parent (Erdwin et al 2001). However, none of this research is conducted in Qatar and only few studies has been in the Arab region on the issue of work –family balance. This research gap is problematic since reports suggest that employed parents, single parents, widows, divorcees, single women face challenges in balancing between their work and their families (Greenhaus et al 2003). Thus, how can we meet the needs of working employees between their work and their families? Purpose: This study addresses this aforementioned gap in social scientific inquiry by investigating the experiences of Qatari families working and having families. More specifically, we focus on exploring how working parents balance between work and family and the challenges they face. As such, this research focuses on the lived experiences of the working parents and the consequences for working parents to have a satisfactory balance between work and family and the conflict that arises, coping strategies and resources available for working parents. This study will add to the literature on work and family balance by providing knowledge about the unique cultural context of working and performing tasks within the family in Qatar. This study will address this research gap by investigating the experiences of Qatari working parents working and taking care of their family members whether children, old people, parents etc. More specifically, the research will focus on the stresses, burden and coping of work and family care. Theoretical framework and Method There are two clusters of approaches in the literature which examined work-family balance. One cluster focused on how family demands affect work and much of the writing in the management literature followed this approach. The other cluster examines the different ways work impact the family. They belief that the structure, stresses, and demands of work can make it more difficult for individuals to fulfill their family responsibility as well as experiencing job stress at home. Some refer this to as the spill over approach. The most popular view of relationship between work and family was put forth by Spillover theory (Walia 2012). Several researchers suggested that workers carry the emotions, attitudes, skills and behaviors that they establish at work into their family life (Belsky et al., 1985; Kelly and Voydanoff,1985) and vice-versa (Belsky et al.,1985; Crouter, 1984). In addition, Greenhaus and Beutell (1985) gave a model of the sources of work family conflict. They suggested three major sources of work family conflict (a) time based conflict (b) strain based conflict and (c) behavior based conflict. The model proposed that any role characteristic that affects person's time involvement, strain or behavior within a role, can produce conflict between that role and another role. According to the model, work domain pressures include the number of hours worked, inflexibility of the work schedule, role conflict, role ambiguity, expectations for secretiveness and objectivity and family domain pressures include the number of children, spouse employment, family conflict, low spouse support and expectations for warmth and openness (Greenhaus et al 2003). Because this study aimed to explore the challenges and experiences of working parents in balancing between work and family, this research employed a qualitative and quantitiative research design in order to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon under study; it relied mainly on participants' views of the situation being studied and draws attention to its complexity (Creswell, 2003). In this paper, we will present the qualitative data. Aligned with qualitative research, this study therefore used an inductive approach to generating knowledge by beginning with interviews and moving towards identifying patterns based on the experiences of participants (Rudestam & Newton, 2001). Utilizing qualitative, semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions based on the methodological approach of transcendental phenomenology can assist in gaining a better understanding of the themes that arise in peoples' descriptions of work family and balance, the stressors, benefits, and coping strategies and resources for this sample of working parents. Findings: In total, we interviewed 20 Qatari (10 males and 10 females) aging in range from 30-60 years. The findings reported in this presentation/poster focus on the different stressors and challenges of working and taking care of family members. Among them are conflict in balancing between work and family life, long working hours, stressful duties, parental responsibilities, vacations, family obligations, child caring, commitment to work, gender equality, maternity and paternity leaves, coping strategies and resources available. We will discuss the implications from these findings and recommendations for policy changes.
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The Application of Qualitative Research Methods within a Qatari Context: Lessons Learned
More LessDr Waleed Serhan and Dr Katarzyna Wodniak Through this paper, we aim to present the practicalities of using qualitative research methods within a Qatari context. While we are not suggesting that we have formulated a regionally-specific research methodology, what we will present can assist current and future researchers in avoiding some of the practical shortcomings or inconsistencies of applying Western-based research methods within an Arab regional context. These practical recommendations have emerged during the first year of the research project “National Museums and the Public Imagination: A Longitudinal Study of the National Museum of Qatar”. This research project is led by Dr Karen Exell and is funded by the Qatar National Research Fund from 2016-2019. In its first year, it involved nine academics and eight research assistants. The project aims to examine the perceptions and attitudes of Qatari nationals and expatriates towards the new National Museum of Qatar, as well as what they imagine the museum will be in terms of content to be included or excluded. The study is divided into three stages including a pre-opening stage of the museum, immediate post-opening, and a longitudinal study one year from the opening. In the first year, or the pre-opening stage, the project's research team conducted 75 semi-structured in-depth interviews and four focus groups. The interviews included 44 Qatari nationals and 31 Expatriates. The focus groups included two Qatari groups and two expatriate groups. Conducting research on this scale allowed us to gain some practical insights on what may be considered best practice in the ethnically diverse context of Qatar, and possibly the wider region. It was not only the research respondents that were diverse, but also the researchers and research assistants themselves. The latter included Qataris, Arabs (non-Qatari), South Asians, North Americans, and Europeans. Through this non-intentional composition of the research team, we were able to recognize differences and similarities in responses depending on the combination of researchers-respondents. Moreover, we become aware of certain research questions that just do not work or more accurately work better in a Qatari or Arab context, and we have adapted our interview guide for the second year of research. This would have not been possible without initial “testing” in the field. Here again, we identified practical techniques to overcome barriers or respondent-aversion to certain research questions without having to reconsider the research approach in the midst of the research process. Finally, know-how was gained in terms of managing and analysing data originating from a diverse set of respondents as well as researchers. This know-how related specifically to the area of data triangulation. While this paper will only examine qualitative methods, the research project also included a quantitative dimension consisting in a telephone survey with 1500 Qatari and Expatriate respondents. Thereby, data emerging from different methods, diverse respondents, and diverse researchers was triangulated. Within the diverse and multi-layered Qatari context, this presented an additional challenge that the research team had to approach innovatively.
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دور الإعلام القطري في تشكيل اتجاهات المواطنين نحو جهود الحكومة في مواجهة أثار الحصار
More Lessالمقدمة: إذا كان التعريف الكلاسيكي للازمة أنها عبارة عن خلل يؤثر تأثيرا ماديا على النظام كله كما أنه يهدد الافتراضات الرئيسية التي يقوم عليها هذا النظام ، فان هذا الوصف ينطبق إلى حد كبير على الأزمة الخليجية التي حدثت في الخامس من يونيو 2017 بقطع كل من المملكة العربية السعودية والبحرين والإمارات ومعهم مصر للعلاقات الدبلوماسية مع دولة قطر ، وإغلاق كافة المنافذ البرية والبحرية والجوية ، أجبرت تلك الإجراءات المعلنة فجأة مواطني قطر على الخروج من الدول الخليجية الثلاث في غضون 14 يوما، ومنعت أي من مواطن قطري من الدخول في أزمة تهدد ليس فقط استقرار منطقة الخليج بل المنطقة العربية والشرق الأوسط بوجه عام ،و شتتت تلك القرارات شمل مئات الأسر، وانتهكت حق التنقل، والتعليم، والعمل، وحرية الرأي، والصحة ، والإقامة والتملك، إضافة إلى الحرمان من ممارسة الشعائر الدينية، والتحريض على العنف والكراهية. وقد شكلت تلك الأزمة صدمة للمواطن الخليجي بوجه عام والقطري بوجه خاص باعتباره المتضرر الأكبر من تلك القرارات ، ولذا حاولت الحكومة القطرية الاستجابة السريعة من خلال اتخاذ تدابير إجرائية لإجهاض الآثار المحتملة لتلك الازمة غير المسبوقة في العلاقات الخليجية البينية او على الأقل التقليل منها في عدة مسارات منها المسار السياسي والدبلوماسي ، والاجتماعي والاقتصادي والديني. ونظرا لان المسارات الاجتماعية والاقتصادية هي الأقرب لحياة المواطن ، فقد حاولت الحكومة توفير السلع والخدمات بأسعار مناسبة ، وفتح قنوات استيراد مع دول جديدة ، واستحداث خطوط ملاحية تعوض إغلاق الحدود البحرية مع دول الخليج و إغلاق المنفذ البري الوحيد للدولة مع السعودية ، كما حاولت تشجيع المنتج الوطني وتوفير بدائل للسلع التي كان يتم استيرادها من دول الخليج او عبر موانئ تلك الدول ، كما شكلت الحكومة لجنة لحصر التعويضات للأفراد المتضررين من الحصار على المستوى التجاري للقطريين الذين يمتلكون عقارات او شركات او مصالح تجارية مع دول الخليج بعد منع تلك الدول دخول القطريين الى أراضيها ، كما قامت نفس اللجنة بحصر المتضررين في المجال التعليمي والصحي والديني وغيرها من المجالات ، ورغم الجهود التي بذلتها الحكومة القطرية في محاولة احتواء اثار الأزمة ، ورغم الدعم الإعلامي إلا ان الثابت ان هناك اثأرا سلبية لتلك الأزمة ظهرت أثارها على المواطن بشكل او بأخر على المستوى الاقتصادي سواء في عدم توافر بعض السلع او زيادة أسعارها والتراجع الحاد للبورصة وانخفاض التصنيف الائتماني لقطر من جانب المؤسسات الدولية ، وعلى المستوى التعليمي حاولت الحكومة استيعاب جميع القادمين من دول الخليج في المدارس والجامعات القطرية غير انها اصطدمت برفض تلك الدول منح إفادات للطلاب القطريين او عرقلة مناقشتهم لرسائل الماجستير والدكتوراه سواء بشكل مباشر او غير مباشر. مشكلة الدراسة: تعرض المواطن القطري منذ الخامس من يونيو إلى أزمة حقيقية لها الكثير من الأبعاد النفسية والاجتماعية والاقتصادية على حياته اليومية ما بين رسائل إعلامية قطرية تؤكد عدم جدوى الحصار وقدرة الحكومة على استيعابه بل وتحويله لفرصة اقتصادية والتأكيد على أن الاقتصاد القطري بعد الحصار أفضل مما قبله من جانب ، وبين ما يلمسه المواطن في تعاملاته اليومية وما يمس حياته الشخصية من جانب أخر خاصة مع موقف حكومي نابع من رفض مطالب تمس سيادته الوطنية. وإذا كانت الحكومة القطرية قد تعاملت بسرعة مع الآثار المباشرة للازمة بتوفير بعض السلع والخدمات- ولو بأسعار مرتفعة –واستيعاب القادمين من دول الخليج في التعليم والعمل ، إلا أن هناك اثأرا غير مباشرة تحتاج إلى مدى زمني أطول في التعامل معها مثل تعويض المتضررين عن فقد أملاكهم او شركاتهم في ضوء احتياج ذلك لتقاضي دولي خاضع لكل الاحتمالات مع حملات إعلامية وحملات علاقات عامة تساهم في تأجيج الأزمة حسب مصالح كل طرف من جانب ومع تصريحات أمريكية وأوربية متضاربة للموقف من تلك الأزمة. وإذا كانت الآثار والتعويضات المادية والاقتصادية يمكن حساب عوائدها وخسائرها إلا أن فقدان صلة الرحم والتفريق بين الأسر والحرمان من الحج او العمرة الآمنة تعد بلا شك اثأرا نفسية يستحيل قياس أثرها خاصة وأنها طالت العديد من الأسر القطرية المرتبطة بصلات وأواصر نسب مع دول الخليج الثلاث. ولذا تتحدد مشكلة الدراسة في تحديد طبيعة اتجاهات المواطنين القطريين نحو جهود الحكومة في التغلب على اثأر الحصار في ضوء تناقض المشهد الإعلامي من جانب مع ما يعيشه المواطن في حياته اليومية من جانب أخر. وتأتي أهمية الدراسة في أنها تمثل أول رصد علمي مقنن لتقييم جهود الحكومة في التعامل مع أثار الأزمة سواء على المستوى الاقتصادي والاجتماعي حيث سيتم قياس طبيعة ومدى سلامة وصحة وملائمة وكفاية وكفاءة تلك الإجراءات مع إمكانية وجود رؤى أو مقترحات جديدة تعزز من تلك الإجراءات خاصة مع حالة التوحد الوجداني التي خلقتها الأزمة بوقوف المواطن خلف قيادته وحكومته ، وبالتالي توفر الدراسة فرصة ملائمة لمشاركة والتعبير عن وجهة النظر الشعبية في تلك الأزمة. منهجية الدراسة: تجمع الدراسة بين الأسلوب الكمي والكيفي حيث ستعتمد الدراسة على المنهج المسحي لعينة طبقية عشوائية من الذكور والإناث القطريين من سن 18 سنة فأعلى حجمها 400 مفردة في البلديات السبع لدولة قطر وسيتم توزيعا بأسلوب متناسب حسب أعداد السكان في تلك البلديات ، كما سيتم توزيعهم عبر المستويات التعليمية والوظيفية المختلفة ، وسيتم الاعتماد على استمارة استبيان مقننة سيتم جمع بياناتها بالمقابلة الشخصية وسيتم استخدام مقياسي ليكرت والتمييز الدلالي في قياس الاتجاهات ،وسيتم التعاون مع معهد البحوث الاقتصادية والاجتماعية المسحية بجامعة قطرSocial and Economic Survey Research Institute في تصميم وتحكيم استمارة الاستبيان ، كذلك سيقوم الباحث بإجراء 8 مجموعات نقاشية مركزة مع كل من الذكور والإناث من الشباب والكبار في بلديتي الدوحة والريان والوكرة والشمال بهدف تفسير النتائج التي سيتم التوصل اليها في نتائج المسح الكمي حيث سيتم تسجيل المناقشات وتفريغها لكتابة التقرير النهائي للدراسة وذلك بالاعتماد على تصميم دليل للنقاش يتضمن الابعاد المختلفة للدراسة. ومن المتوقع أن تساهم نتائج تلك الدراسة في توفير دليل علمي لرصد اتجاه المواطن القطري نحو جهود الحكومة بما يمكن ان يساهم في تعديل او تغيير او تعزيز تلك الجهود ، كما يسمح بالاستفادة من مرئيات المواطن القطري لاحتواء اثار الأزمة والتغلب عليها.
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Migration Policies in Qatar: Did it work Enough to Attract the HighlySkilled Migrants
More LessThe increase in Qatar's population, over the last decades, has not been caused primarily by a natural growth of indigenous population, but by the influx of migrant workers (MW). During past last four decades, Qatar population multiplied 15 times from 111,000 to 1,624,761 in July 2011 (Permanent Population Committee, 2011). The total number of MW in Qatar increased during the period 2004-2014 from 400,000 to 1,400,000, with annual growth rate of 14.7 percentage, 70 percentage are semi/unskilled workers in the private sector (4th Qatar Human Development Report, 2015: 48). Overtime, the MW has become one of the most dynamic economic factors in Qatar. More recently, the employment of large numbers of MW has been a structural imperative in Qatar, as the oil and gas-related projects, construction development, Education City, specific projects as the Pearl, Lusial, Qatar Rail, and Qatar 2022 depends on the importation of foreign technologies and require knowledge and skills. Such uncontrolled growth resulted in population imbalances in terms of nationality for the sake of non-Qataris and gender for the sake of male population imbalances, as well as labor market segmentation, mainly government/public and private, and skilled and un-semi-skilled market, where the former is dominated by the Qataris while the latter is dominated by the MS. Over the last two decades, Qatar has revised its policies related to migration in order to monitor and supervise the influx of MW. In turn, this led to the establishment of some local institutions, membership of some international institutions, and issuing some rules and regulations that conform to international standards. This paper discuss those policies, with special focus on sponsorship system, kafala, and to what extent it supported Qatar»s need of Highly-Skilled Migrants (HSM) in driving its economy.
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هل نجحت المرأة القطرية في ريادة الأعمال؟
More Lessتمكنت دولة قطر من تحقيق مكاسب هائلة من خلال تطوير قطاع الموارد الهيدركربونية واستثمار عوائده في بناء البنية التحتية الاجتماعية للدولة. وتفاديا لتقلبات أسعار النفط والغاز وعدم استدامتهما كموارد طبيعية، وسعيا لتأمين الأمن والاستقرار الاقتصادي والاجتماعي للجيل القادم حسب رؤية قطر الوطنية 2030، فقد توجهت قطر مؤخرا نحو تنويع اقتصادها في المجالات التي تمتلك فيها قدرات كامنة ومواطن قوة. وقد تمكنت قطر خلال العقود الثلاث الأخيرة الماضية من تحقيق إنجازات متلاحقة في مجالات التنمية الاقتصادية والسياسية والاجتماعية، كان للمرأة القطرية دور هام فيها وذلك بفضل الدعم الحكومي لها والذي أنعكس جلياً في ارتفاع مستوى تحصيلها التعليمي ومشاركتها في الاقتصاد الوطني وسوق العمل وريادة الأعمال. وفي سبيل ذلك، قامت الحكومة القطرية باتخاذ عددا من الاصلاحات السياسية والتعليمية والاجتماعية وعددا من التدابير اللازمة لسد فجوات النوع الاجتماعي وبما يُمكن المرأة القطرية من أداء دورها المأمول في التنمية بكل مجالاتها، كما قامت بدعم المرأة تشريعيا وهيكليا من خلال سن العديد من التشريعات والسياسات المُشجعة لها على ممارسة وريادة الأعمال بل والمشاركة في سلسلة أوسع من الأنشطة الاقتصادية من خلال انشاء عددا من الأجهزة التشغيلية وتحديدا بنك قطر للتنمية وشركاؤه وتقديم الكثير من الأطر والمبادرات لتمكينهن اقتصاديا. تبحث هذه الدراسة الوصفية في دور المرأة القطرية ومساهمتها في التنوع الاقتصادي لقطر، حيث يتم أولا تقديم عرض مختصر لتطور الاقتصاد القطري والتوجه المؤخر نحو التنوع الاقتصادي، ثم يتم مناقشة تطور التحصيل التعليمي المتميز للمرأة القطرية ومشاركتها في سوق العمل، كما سيتم تحليل خوض المرأة القطرية لريادة الأعمال بما في ذلك التطرق للدعم الحكومي لها من خلال الاجهزة التشغيلية التي تم انشاؤها وأخيرا أهم التحديات المؤسسية والتنظيمية التي تواجهها المرأة القطرية في ريادة الأعمال. وقد خلصت الورقة الى أهمية الدور الذي لعبه التحصيل العلمي للمرأة القطرية في ريادة الأعمال رغم بعض الصعوبات والتحديات- كالتمويل- التي تواجهها سواء في بداية انطلاق أعمالهن أو تلك الضامنة لاستمرارها لاحقا. ورغم الدعم السياسي والحكومي الُمقدم للمرأة القطرية وبالذات التأهيلي والتدريبي واللوجستي، فما زال هناك حاجة الى بذل المزيد من الجهود وتطوير بعض اللوائح والأنظمة التي من شأنها تفعيل مشاركة المرأة القطرية في التنوع الاقتصادي، حيث اظهرت الدراسة الحالية أنه لا بد من تطوير المزيد من الأطر والأدوات والتسهيلات الخاصة بالمرأة القطرية لدعم ريادتها للاعمال علاوة على ضرورة توفير المعلومات الاقتصادية والتنظيمية والتشريعية بشكل عام وتلك المتعلقة بالسوق المحلي وفرص ريادة الأعمال الجديدة ومنافذ التوزيع والتسويق بحيث يُمكن لهن اتخاذ القرارات الواعية المبنية على الاحتياجات الفعلية للسوق مما يمكنهن لاحقا من حُسن ادارة أعمالهن واستمراريتها وتطويرها. وتخلص الدراسة الى انه كلما هدفت الأطر والخدمات الداعمة لتنيمة وتطويرة الأعمال المرأة بشكل خاص، كلما كانت هذه الخدمات أكثر فعالية في زيادة فرص حصولهن على مساندة أكبر لبدء واستمرارية وتنمية أعمالهم.
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Unskilled Labour Migrants in Qatar: Issues and Policy Developments
More LessMuch of the literature on migrants in the GCC has focusses primarily on the treatment of construction labourers who have relocated from mostly South Asia. Fottrell (2015). Okaz News (2017). Their plight has been published in many newspapers and journals and countries within the GCC have made some headway into introducing legislation to address the protection of migrant workers to bring about policy change. BBC News (2016), BBC News (2017), Piper (2014), Martin and Malit (2017), The Guardian (2017), Mohammad and Sidaway (2016). Surprisingly, stemming from the present Gulf crisis, there have been accusations by the blockading countries of abuses to migrant labour in Qatar. This applied, non-experimental and quasi-evaluative research uses both primary and secondary sources to conduct an investigation to obtain information about the issues of migrant labour in Qatar and the extent to which their problems have been addressed in terms of legislation. Wickramasekara (2015), Wickramasekara and Baruah (2017), Kamrava (2015), Ulrichsen (2009). The purpose of this work is to establish an evidence base regarding the issues of migrant workers and what positive actions have been undertaken to address the issues surrounding migrant management. It also aims to report on the effectiveness of the legislation and suggest possible amendment.
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موقع التعليم العالي في المشاريع التنموية بالوطن العربي الخصوصيات والأدوار الإستعجالية رؤى نظرية
More Lessتستهدف الورقة استكشاف فرص الاستفادة من التطورات الدولية المعاصرة في تحديث رسالة التعليم الجامعي وتوسيع آفاقه لتطال جوانب التنمية البشرية والمادية بمجتمعاتنا العربية ، ولتصبح أكثر فعالية في التنمية المجتمعية ، بالشكل الذي يجعل منها الآلية الأفضل للحراك الاجتماعي والإصلاح الاقتصادي والتنموي والمدني في المجتمع. انطلاقا من كونها مصدر القوة المجتمع، ومركز الإشعاع الثقافي والعلمي والحضاري، تجسد رسالتها غايات الأوطان ومتطلبات تنميتها والدفع بها للانخراط في مجتمعات المعرفة المعاصرة والمستقبلية ، و تمدها بالطاقات البشرية المؤهلة لتدوير عجلة التنمية التي ترسم مشاريعها رؤى مستقبلية طموحة في كثير من البلدان العربية خليجيا ومغاربيا ، وتعيقها حاجات الواقع العربي الهش في الأمن والاقتصاد والاجتماع والتربية والثقافة..... ومن منظور عربي تبرز مسئولية جامعاتنا في الاستجابة لأعباء وتحديات تأهيل الأفراد والأوطان للقرن 21 وتفعيل المشاريع والأهداف التنموية التي تستهدف اللحاق بالعصر وأدواته المادية والمعرفية استعداد لمستقبل ستزداد صور الهيمنة الغربية فيه شراسة ، ويزداد التنافس بين المجتمعات ضراوة على الأسواق والمعرفة والأمن وغيرها....، بما يعينه ذلك من تحديث للقيم والرؤى وبما يفرضه من متطلبات للتوفيق بين اعتبارات التنمية المحلية ، وتكلفة الانفتاح علي قيم العولمة والتكنولوجيا والمعلوماتية... والتعايش معهما والاستفادة من فرصها ، فضلا عن متطلبات التعامل مع تحديات التنمية والانبعاث الحضاري في أبعادهما الشاملة.... وعلي المستوي الدولي حيث تزداد الدوائر والمسؤوليات تداخلاً وتعقيداً. في ظل تنامي مشكلة التنافس والهيمنة المعرفية والتكنولوجية ومتطلبات الانخراط في مجتمعات السلم وثقافة الحوار وقبول الآخر والتعايش مع متطلبات البعد عن مسببات التطرف ودوافع الإرهاب دينيا وثقافيا واقتصاديا... ، وما يفرضه من تبعات ومسؤوليات علي الجامعات العربية في الرسالة والمنهج والممارسات ، ليس فقط بسبب ضرورات تأهيل الأفراد لأدوارهم المجتمعية والامتداد بها في البعد الدولي الإنساني ، كضامن لتمكين الفرد العربي من مكانة مقبولة دوليا ، ولدفع عجلة التنمية والخروج من دوائر التبعية الاقتصادية والثقافية ، بل يتعلق الأمر بدور ومسئولية الجامعة في إنتاج المعرفة وإعادة تدويرها واستغلال التقدم التكنولوجي لخدمة المجتمع العربي ومشاريعه التنموية ،والمساهمة بايجابية في صياغة استراتيجيات محلية للتعامل مع شبكة التفاعلات الإقليمية والدولية بشكل يزيد فرص وعوائد الموارد البشرية المحلية تكوينا وتأهيلا وتمدنا.
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تطبيق ذكي للغة العربية لتعلم حروف الجر القبلية والبعدية
Authors: Hany Abdel Ghlel Fazza and Sherif Shaaban Elsharkawyالمقدمة:تعد التطبيقات الذكية في تعليم اللغات الحية لغة العصر الحالى حيث تنتشر الأجهزة اللوحية بين المتعلمين و يتم دمجها في التعلم والتعليم بما توفره من استراتيجيات حديثة في اكتساب اللغات، ومع سهولة الوصول للإنترنت بشكل أكثر من الماضي أصبح الانغماس اللغوي (Linguistic immersion) يتطور من معناه الاجتماعي إلى معناه التقني بسبب هذه الوفرة الكبيرة من التطبيقات الذكية لتعلم اللغات، وتعددت المسميات لهذه الثورة الذكية في تعلم اللغات في الأدبيات التربوية الحديثة تحت مسميات عدة مثل: التطبيقات اللوحية Mobile Applications التي تستخدم التعليم النقّال (Mobile Learning) في صفوف اللغات الأجنبية واللغات الثانية، كذلك يسمى التعلم المتنقل، والتعلم المتحرك، والتعلم الجوّال، والتعلم بالموبايل، والتعلم عن طريق الأجهزة الجوالة المتحركة٬ بشكل عام يقصد بالتعليم النقال ذلك النوع من التعليم الذي يتم من خلال الهواتف المحمولة، وما توفره من سيل الخدمات التفاعلية مثل: خدمات الوسائط المتعددة وخدمات الشبكة الدولية وغيرها. لذا أطلقت جامعة جورجتاون في قطر مبادرات ومشروعات بناء وتصميم تطبيقات ذكية لتعلم اللغة العربية مواكبة لاستراتيجيات التعلم الحديثة في مجال اكتساب اللغات؛ لبناء بيئة تعليمية تفاعلية تعتمد على الهواتف الذكية والأجهزة اللوحية خاصة في تعليم اللغة العربية كلغة أجنبية أو ثانية ، ومن مشروعات جامعة جورجتاون تطبيق تعلم اللهجة القطرية Qatari Phrasebook App الذي حقق نجاحا باهرا بمجرد صدوره ، ويعد نقلة نوعية للمتعلمين في تعزيز مهاراتهم في اللغة العربية باللهجة القطرية حيث يعتمد استخدام الأدوات التكنولوجية الحديثة الممتعة والتفاعلية لتطوير مهارات التحدث باللهجة القطرية في أي مكان وزمان، ويعد كذلك أداة تعليمية متعددة الجوانب حيث يُساعد التطبيق الطلاب والمعلّمين علي تقديم محتوى شائق تفاعلي ينمي الثقافة المجتمعية المحلية القطرية، ثم كانت المبادرة الثانية للجامعة ببناء تطبيق ذكي للغة العربية لتعلم حروف الجر القبلية والبعدية.الهدف:إن هذا العرض يهدف إلى مشاركة تجربة قسم اللغة العربية في كلية الشؤون الدولية جورجتاون قطر بتصميم وإعداد تطبيق ذكي يستهدف إدخال التقنيات الحديثة في مجال تعليم العربية عبر استخدام التعليم النقّال وبالأخص التطبيقات الذكية للأجهزة المحمولة واستكشاف فاعلية هذه التقنيات داخل الصف وخارجه. وسوف يوفر هذا التطبيق الذكي إلى جانب الانغماس اللغوي التقني تدريب متعلمي العربية على تراكيب حرف الجر وما يصاحبها من سوابق ولواحق، والفئة المستهدفة لاستخدام هذا التطبيق هما متعلمي العربية لغير الناطقين بها ومتعلمي التراث Heritage Learners. ونقصد بمتعلمي التراث هؤلاء الطلاب العرب الذين يمتلكون عامية عربية ويعيشون في بلاد عربية ولكن دراستهم في مدارس دولية جعلت الإنجليزية لغتهم العلمية وتضاءل استخدامهم للفصحى وانحصرت العربية الفصيحة في قدرات متفاوتة لمهارتي الاستماع والقراءة مع نقص شديد في مهارتي الكتابة والتحدث بالفصحى.تصميم التطبيق: ينقسم التطبيق إلى قسمين: القسم الأول هو تقديم ١٧٠٠ تركيب لغوي مقسمة على حروف الجر الشائعة. وهذه التراكيب قد استخلصت من المعاجم المتخصصة بالمتصاحبات collocations والمتلازمات اللغوية بالإضافة إلى قوائم المفردات الشائعة مثل: Çمعجم الحافظ للمتصاحبات العربية و معجم المفردات الشائعة في العربيةÈ. كل تركيب لغوي مشكل ومترجم للإنجليزية ومصحوب بتسجيل صوتي آلي. القسم الثاني لتدريب المعلمين والطلاب وقياس تحصيلهم حيث يتكون هذا القسم من ٣٤٠٠ جملة مأخوذة من لغة الإعلام الجارية ومن الذخائر اللغوية Corpora المتوفرة على شبكة المعلومات(الانترنت) كأمثلة حية وواقعية استخدامات حروف الجر في اللغة المعاصرة.كذلك يتيح التطبيق اللوحي للمتعلم العديد من المواصفات والملامح التقنية التي يتفاعل معها المتعلم الذي أضحت التقنية اللوحية جزءا من حياته اليومية. فيتمكن المتعلم من اختبار تقدمه اللغوي عن طريق خاصية اختيار عشر جمل عشوائية آليا في صورة أسئلة موضوعية Çاختيار من متعددÈ مع الإجابة في وقت محدد سلفا. وقد بنيت هذه التدريبات على قوائم المفردات الشائعة المستخلصة من الذخيرة اللغوية الموضوعة من قبل جامعة برجهام يونج (BYU) بالولايات المتحدة. نتائج المشروع:يتوافر التطبيق على منصتي أندرويد و iOS مجانا.سهولة استخدام التطبيق على الهواتف الذكية والأجهزة اللوحية.إرسال نتائج التدريبات، الاختبارات فوريا إلى المعلّم، المدرّب عن طريق البريد الإلكتروني أو مشاركة النتائج عبر شبكات التواصل الاجتماعي.حفظ التراكيب اللغوية في قائمة المفضلات.تشكيل كل جمل الأمثلة اللغوية.إمكانية البحث عن التركيب اللغوي باللغة العربية أو ما يقابلها.سهولة تصفّح قوائم تراكيب حروف الجر.وجود بطاقات عرض تفاعلية (Flash Cards) لكل تركيب مع إمكانية التبديل بين العربية والإنجليزية.كلمات مفتاحية: التطبيقات اللوحية/ التعليم النقال/ حروف الجر القبلية والبعدية/ الذخيرة اللغوية/ متعلمو التراث
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Social Economic and Cultural Rights and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities from the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD Perspective The Qatar Case Study
More LessMaría del Carmen Barranco Avilés, Human Rights Institute “Bartolomé de las Casas”, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Khalid Al Ali¶ Patricia Cuenca Gómez§ Rafael de Asís Roig§ Pablo Rodríguez del Pozo* § Instituto de Derechos Humanos Bartolomé de las Casas, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid ¶ Qatar University * Division of Medical Ethics, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar This publication was made possible by the NPRP award NPRP-7-380-5-051 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of The Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. ABSTRACT The Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is a new paradigm for international law, grounded on the consideration of disability as a human rights issue and on the social model of disability. This new paradigm provides a modification of the kind of public policies used to tackle to disability issues. The CRPD also remarks the indivisibility and interdependence of human rights, putting at stake the long-standing distinction between civil and political rights (traditionally understood as negative rights) on the one hand, and economic, social, and cultural rights (traditionally understood as negative rights on the other. Starting of these general ideas on the CRPD, this paper examines what impact the Convention will have on the Qatar's legislative framework regarding some economic, social, and cultural rights: right to health, right to education, right to employment, and right to an adequate standard of living and social protection. Its intends to analyze how these domains need to be re-evaluated in light of the CRPD: where recent improvements in the rights of persons with disabilities in Qatar can enable compliance and where the greater challenges lie. In the health domain, the positive dimension of the right to health of persons with disabilities does not seem to be a problem in Qatar, the concern (which becomes clear in the case of compulsory admission) is to take into consideration the will of persons with disabilities. In relation to this question, the idea of the indivisibility and interdependence of the rights becomes clear. The main shortcoming in the implementation of the provisions of the CRPD (Article 12) on the right to health in Qatar is the lack of development of the right to equal recognition before the law, thereby securing equal guarantees for consent to health care, not just simply access to health services, for persons with disabilities. Regarding the right to education, Qatar is facing a paradigm shift from a model based on special schools, towards a more inclusive model. However, children with disabilities can still stay outside of the educational system and special education still seems to be the chosen way for persons with intellectual disabilities. A more effective model shift based on inclusive education is needed; to achieve this goal, Qatar already has professionals trained in the more recent advances in educational psychology, such as universal design for learning. It is also important to clarify the educational curriculum from the point of view of diversity, ensuring continuity for persons coming from a special system and providing persons with disabilities tools for vocational training, to achieve the highest levels of education if it is their choice. Qatar's legislation on the right to work of persons with disabilities is anchored in the medical model; for example, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs may stop paying the relevant pension if they reject rehabilitation. Qatari law also lacks measures aimed at adapting the workplace to persons who might need particular modifications. The regulation of disability from the specialty perspective is a technical problem, because the applicable legal requirements concerning persons with special needs remain isolated from general regulation. As a result, the system in place regarding access to work also seems not to support the inclusion of persons with disabilities, which is a main goal of the Convention. Any measure to be implemented in favor of persons with disabilities pursuant to labor rules must be tied to general labor law provisions. Qatar seems to have a good level of social protection for persons with disabilities. Nevertheless, from a legal perspective it remains unclear who are considered persons with disabilities in order to qualify for social protection. In addition, most of the services are designed from the specialty perspective. Accordingly, the field of social protection illustrates some of the general shortcomings of this approach, for instance: absence of the social model, the lack of a unified concept of a person with disabilities, absence of participation of persons with disabilities in the design of public policies on disability, or the absence of persons with disabilities in the design of his or her own life plan. According to this analysis, the paper concludes that the main challenges faced by Qatar regarding the implementation of the CRPD in these domains – as in other domains - are related to the adoption of the traditional treatment of disability based on the medical model of disability, the point of view of assistencialism, and the strategy of specialized solutions. Moreover, the shortcomings also have to do with requirements that are far beyond considering these rights specifically as social rights. Although we usually hear the claim that social rights depend upon the economy, Qatar's situation shows how even under good economic conditions these rights can still be ineffective. Usually civil and political rights are deemed to be negative rights, provided with judicial guarantees, whereas economic, social, and cultural rights are considered rights to obtain benefits, the scope of which must be debated and negotiated in the political arena and not within the legal domain. Insofar as they are rights to obtain certain benefits, social rights are expensive, so their effectiveness is subject to the existence of resources. Therefore an argument in favor of differentiating both categories of rights can be made, departing from the analysis of the situation faced by Qatar regarding the implementation of the CRPD. Indeed, persons with disabilities in Qatar face several barriers in order to enforce their social rights. This is due to the prevalence of a legal capacity regime where persons with disabilities are not granted the right to equal recognition before the law and where accessibility is not guaranteed. The long-standing distinction between categories of rights that has placed such rights in different pieces of legislation within the universal protection system does not account for the new scenario where the principle of indivisibility and interdependence has come into play.
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Population Growth and Housing Affordability in Doha Metropolitan: Challenges and Opportunities
More LessUrban issues are increasingly considered on national policy programs. Cities are major contributors to national economies and play a key role as nodes in the global market. As with any urban area with an emerging history, the city of Doha has emerged as a commercial hub around a port, which has guided the emergence of housing agglomerations. Several types of houses were developed over the various stages of Doha's urbanization period since the 1950s. Doha metropolitan has evolved rapidly in the twentieth century due to the investment of oil and gas revenues which has resulted in massive inflows of migrants. During the last few decades, the phenomenal impact of the multicultural population on the housing market has suggested unique lifestyle-oriented preferences. The city has evolved rapidly in the twentieth century due to the investment of oil and gas revenues, which has resulted in massive population growth. Housing supply and demand have been challenged to satisfy the diverse market needs. Since the 1990s, the phenomenal impact of the increased population growth rates of the massive migrant flows on the housing market has instigated the need for a demand-driven supply of housing. In parallel, the socio-cultural diversities of the multi-cultural population require certain housing typologies to meet this diverse need. The rapid increase in land prices has led to the increase of residential rents and hindered the establishment of more affordable housing. Accordingly, housing affordability became one of the most important topics that presents an important topic both in the present and for the future. Tracing population growth rates in Doha reflects the rapid increase in certain periods of their massive inflows. During the period between 1990 and 1995, Doha has witnessed a considerable increase in population growth rates. This is followed by a steady increase until 2005 where another rapid increase has taken place. This was a result of Doha's participation in mega-sporting events, which has led to an increase in housing demand to accommodate the increasing population. In this paper, two methodological approaches to study housing dynamics and characteristics are used: an analysis of population trends and a survey of housing preferences. Statistical analysis of population trends provides a quantitative overview on the dynamics of the housing supply and demand. The survey of housing preferences is known to be related to cultural factors on how nationals and migrants are residing in the city, including their demography and lifestyle. It provides an overview of the current lifestyle clusters of current population. The paper aims to explore affordable housing opportunities with respect to supply and demand trends and the surveyed lifestyles in order to meet the diverse demographics of Doha's population. Conclusions are drawn to establish future guidelines and recommendations for housing growth and neighborhood planning in view of population demographics, governmental visions, and urban realities.
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High Skilled Professionals in the GCC: Migration policies and Government outlook
More LessThe long-term national visions of the GCC states are unanimous in their ambition: economic development of their countries and transformation into knowledge-based economies. In order for these states to achieve this objective, it is critical that they continue to attract high-skilled professionals with the required expertise and know-how. This paper attempts to provide substantive research into both current government policies and their future-planning as to how high-skilled migrants will continue to aid the development of GCC countries. The aim of this paper is to understand the dynamics that come into play when hiring and recruiting high-skilled migrants for employment in the GCC states. It will analyze GCC government approaches through various policies, in areas such as Immigration and Labor, which have been adopted to address the requirements of these migrants. The paper will then highlight a trend in the demand for the various high-skilled professionals that has emerged in the GCC owing to the changing economic dynamics of the countries involved. It will evaluate how this approach towards highly skilled professionals sits alongside nationalization plans that could be said to be diametrically opposite in ambition, in an attempt to determine the future trajectory of GCC countries in their approach towards high-skilled professionals.
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Use of Slack in the Undergraduate Classroom as a Means of Fostering Student/Faculty Engagement
Authors: Shakir Hussain, Andrew Mills and Amy Kristin SandersMany instructors bemoan the lack of meaningful undergraduate student interaction during office hours (Rees, 2014), but little research has been done to determine the best means of fostering faculty/student interaction outside the classroom. Much of the pedagogical research has been dedicated to the promotion of mobile learning devices, including smartphones and tablets, for teaching and learning in the classroom environment (GIkas & Grant, 2013). However, far less scholarship has examined the potential to use apps and other mobile technologies to increase faculty/student interaction outside the formal learning spaces. As a part of a Digital Learning Fellowship grant funded by Northwestern University's Provost, we developed two blended-learning undergraduate-level courses in ethics and leadership for media students. The goal of these courses was to combine face-to-face instruction with asynchronous instruction while students were not in Qatar. To assist with this, we proposed the use of several educational technologies, including communication app Slack. Literature suggests successful use of Slack by instructors in other fields, including medicine (Perkel, 2016) and other graduate-level settings. Although Slack operates similarly to WhatsApp, it is more widely used in professional settings – including the very media organizations where many of our undergraduate students will go to work in a professional capacity. Prior to offering these blended-learning courses in Summer 2018, we undertook a pilot study of the use of Slack in a traditional undergraduate classroom setting. The goal of the pilot study was to understand student preferences for engagement with faculty and to evaluate the effectiveness of Slack a means of fostering communication between faculty and students. We hypothesized that our students, who are digital natives, would have a preference for the use of chat apps as a means of engaging with faculty. In part, our hypothesis was informed by survey data that shows 94% of those aged 18-24 in Qatar use WhatsApp to communicate directly with individuals or groups, which is in line with regional norms. In addition, we knew that informal WhatsApp groups had been created in previous sections of courses we had taught at Northwestern University in Qatar. Because of students' heavy reliance on mobile technologies and the ability of this technology to provide more timely responses than traditional office hours, we expected heavy use by the students. At the beginning of the fall semester, two courses of students (a large-enrollment, required course for first-year students and a small-enrollment elective course open to all students) were surveyed to evaluate their preferences for engagement with faculty as well as use of chat apps as part of their daily lives. Early in the semester, the students were introduced to Slack via an in-class instructional session, where they set up their accounts on the mobile phones and laptops. Students were encouraged to use Slack to get answers to quick questions from their peers and instructors. Multiple channels (such as deadlines, announcements, etc) were created to assist with categorizing the conversations. Data was collected and analyzed to evaluate undergraduate students' use of Slack for engagement with faculty in both courses. Our presentation at the Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference presents an overview of our experiences piloting the use of Slack as tool for undergraduate student engagement with faculty outside the classroom. Additionally, it is informed by a survey of undergraduate students to assess their perceptions of engagement with faculty, with a specific focus on use of technology. Although we expected undergraduate students would use Slack heavily, their usage habits suggest the application is not as effective as other research has shown it to be at the graduate level (Talbot, 2015). Given their limited experience in a university setting, student may be more reluctant to use, and rely on, Slack as a crowd-sourcing tool to address the questions and queries. In addition, some students expressed a distinct preference for Slack's direct-messaging capabilities over the group forum, suggesting they may lack the confidence of graduate students in expressing their ideas and uncertainties. Relevant Pillar: Social Sciences, Arts & Humanities: Education, Labor & Migration Our pilot study is aimed at improving education here in Qatar by providing a better understanding of how students from a variety of secondary school backgrounds aim to engage with faculty members outside the formal classroom setting. Our study uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to address our research question and serves as a strong foundation for future pedagogy research in the realm of undergraduate education in Qatar. Ideally, this and subsequent research can help university professors better engage with their students, increasing student learning and encouraging discussion and dialogue beyond class hours. References Dennis, E. E., Martin, J. D., & Wood, R. (2017). Media use in the Middle East, 2017: A seven-nation survey. Northwestern University in Qatar. Retrieved from www.mideastmedia.org/survey/2017. Gikas, J., & Grant, M. M. (2013). Mobile computing devices in higher education: Student perspectives on learning with cellphones, smartphones & social media. The Internet and Higher Education, 19, 18-26. Perkel, Jeffrey M. (2016). “How Scientists Use Slack: Eight Ways Labs Benefit from the Popular Workplace Messaging Tool.” Nature. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/news/how-scientists-use-slack-1.21228 Rees, J. (2014). “Office Hours Are Obsolete.” Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from https://chroniclevitae.com/news/534-office-hours-are-obsolete Talbot, B. (2015). “Slack: Solution to Persistent Issues in Online Teaching?”. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@Bud_T/slack-solution-to-persistent-issues-in-online-teaching-492b60d6ff0e
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