Composite Geoelectrical Investigation to Delineate Groundwater Feasibility in Hard Rock area of Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.

In hard rock terrains, groundwater movement, migration, and storage occur through subsurface fractures. To assess the fractures and associated water, we carried integrated geophysical investigation with Wenner, (GRP), Schlumberger, and Pole-Dipole array in Indian State. The resistivity survey carried out using a CRM-500 resistivity meter. The analyzed results are also re-verified with the help of IPI2WIN software. Initially, lateral and surface variations of resistivity were plotted by using Wenner and Gradient Resistivity profiling array. Then the low resistivity points were investigated with Schlumberger and Pole-Dipole array. In interpretation, low resistive zones identified correspond to the possible fractured zones. The results allowed mapping of the weathering zone at depth 12 to 15 m, and deep fracture lies below depth 55.0 m depth. The present study validates that the integrated Geophysical survey is a powerful exploration technique to scrutinize and identify water-bearing fractures in the hard rock area.

ISO 14000 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT IN BUSINESS

Today, environmental pollution is a global problem. Industrialization, rapid urbanization, technological advances, economic developments and increasing world population have brought environmental pollution with them. Environmental pollution has reached a level that threatens human health and safety. Environmental management systems are useful and important in many ways such as reducing the negative effects of businesses on the environment, creating a safe working environment, preventing pollution, reducing costs, reducing risks, improving environmental performance, and improving corporate image. The aim of this study is to emphasize the importance of ISO 14000 environmental management system standards for sustainable development and environment in business. In this direction, the study explains sustainable development, sustainable environment, the characteristics, importance, development, stages, standards and benefits of the ISO 14000 environmental management system for businesses.

Managing Uncertainties in Design Alternatives of EOL Products with Fractional Disassembly Yields

This paper proposes a model of an advanced remanufacturing to order and disassembly to order (ARTODTO) system which evaluates various design alternatives of products to satisfy the demands of retrieved products, components and materials by disassembling these products at the end of their lives. The quality, quantity and variety of end-of-life (EOL) products are uncertain which lead to fractional disassembly yields. Goal programming is used to determine the quantities of EOL products to be acquired in order to meet all the demands of retrieved products, components and materials. A case-example of EOL dryers is presented to demonstrate the steps and implementation of the proposed model.

Students’ Perception of General Education Courses at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Botswana

To adequately prepare graduates for the ever-changing and complex work environment, students should be equipped with technical and professional skills. This can be achieved by a curriculum that incorporates General Education Courses (GEC) that teach diverse essential skills that every graduate must possess e.g. academic and professional competencies, ethics, global learning, and active citizenship. Such courses help will produce a well-rounded learning experience and well-versed graduate. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted with undergraduate engineering and industrial design students at the University of Botswana. The study assessed the students’ current perceptions of the GEC. The results show that the skills outlined in the Learning and Teaching Policy of the University of Botswana are poorly attained. Furthermore, the skills outlined in the policy are not aligned with the skills that will be needed by graduates in the 4th Industrial Revolution. The GEC curriculum at the University of Botswana needs to be reviewed.

Redesigning Online Computer Science for Student-Centered Problem-Based Learning

After launching an online Computer Science post-baccalaureate degree program, this study was undertaken to inform the redesign of an introductory Computer Science course using a student-centered, problem-based learning approach. The research team proposed a weekly/unit learning trajectory as they were engaged in student-centered, problem-based learning. Over a timeframe of three university terms, the research team used a design-based, iterative examination to refine the implementation of various instructional actions in the learning trajectory. Multiple small groups of students discussed their learning experiences each term, providing directions for improvements. The analysis directed successive iterations, refining the content, problem solving, and collaborations in the class. This research method assured authentic student voice in an iterative redesign of the course.

An Integrated Academic Accreditation Program (IAAP)

In this paper, an integrated academic accreditation program (named IAAP) is developed. The main focus of this study was engineering education, and a case study of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at Taiz University (TU), Yemen was considered. The IAAP is developed by integrating two academic accreditation programs, the national program (Council of Accreditation and Quality Assurance: CAQA) and the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). A clause-by-clause comparison of the criteria of the two programs (CAQA and ABET) was applied to construct the IAAP. The developed program is applicable to any other engineering faculty in Yemen. An investigation of the capability of implementing the IAAP was conducted. The investigation process involved the six academic departments of the faculty under study. A weighing and scoring scheme was obtained for each element of the IAAP using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP).

Conceptual Design Model of Instructional Interfaces

The study investigates the usability of the proposed model for instructional design on Courseware for Inclusive Education System (C4IES). The usability evaluation on courseware is an important constructivist instructional strategy for inclusive educational systems. The study used the comparative analysis technique to evaluate the usability level of proposed model of C4IES. Then, a field study with observation and survey approach were carried out on randomly selected students among distance learning institutes, whereby a group of students was exposed to non-interactive learning aids, whereas the other group was aided with C4IES prototype. The model has been reviewed by seven experts and validated by 202 respondents from approved distance learning through prototyping. On top of that, the findings of user experience indicated that the C4IES is able to fulfil the instructional interface needs for the non-impaired, low-visual, and hearing-challenged learners in terms of motivation in the use of courseware next time. All these findings demonstrate that the proposed model of C4IES is useful for information accessibility and contributes to the designing of instructional design.

A Measurement Model of University Staff Perception Towards Sustainable Leadership Practices in the Universities of the Central Region of Uganda

The purpose of this paper is intertwined in two phases. First, it is to examine the four subdimensions of sustainable leadership practices and its meaningful use as professed by staff in six Ugandan universities of the central region. Secondly, it concentrated on testing the appropriateness of the measurement in terms of reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. The method used to arrive at the needed data was quantitative approach. It was deployed to secure data from a randomly chosen sample of volunteers from the six university studies both public and private. Data was collected through the use of a 25-itemized questionnaire to determine the perception of staff towards sustainable leadership practices. The study investigation tool was directly circulated by the researcher himself and researcher assistants to a randomly chosen sample of volunteers from the six universities involved in the study. The study findings showed that there are four subconstructs of sustainable leadership practiced in Ugandan universities: staff capacity building, diversity leadership, strategic distribution, and conservation. However, due to low values in one of the subdimension AVEs, the model was re-examined, and hence, conservation was removed to meet the requirement of divergent construct validity. The study established that staff perceived sustainable leadership practices to be of great value towards their performance in an era of university change. The study findings are of great importance in education. Secondly, it exposes university leadership and staff to the new management styles that are needed to achieve university mission and improvement of quality practices, and this can be attained through training, development, and attraction staff's efforts towards university effective performance. Lastly, the researcher recommends the study as a source of information and knowledge to future research in the same area.