An experienced academic and researcher, engaging substantially through various educational and research project roles within diverse teams from Australia, the USA, the UK, and Pakistan. Working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education. Invited Speaker & Guest Speaker at various National & International Universities. I published and reviewed articles, book chapters, and blog posts in Language Education, TESOL, Teacher Education, Gender, Motivation, and Challenges in Higher Education. I have been a scientific committee member of different international journals including Springer Nature. I recently completed a professional language teaching program at the American Institute, University of Oregon, USA.
Research in Positive Psychology has indicated a correlation between Psychological Capital (PsyCap... more Research in Positive Psychology has indicated a correlation between Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and Mental health (MH). However, the specific contribution of Perceived Social Support (PSS) in the connection between PsyCap and MH, particularly within higher education, remains uninvestigated. This study investigated how PSS could mediate the effect of PsyCap on students' MH using a cross-sectional research design. The sample encompassed 443 undergraduate graduate students at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China. Results from Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) showed that both PsyCap (β = 0.815, t = 31.074, p < 0.000) and PSS (β = 0.405, t = 28.051, p < 0.000) have a positive impact on students' MH. Additionally, PSS was identified as a significant mediator in relation to students' MH (b = 0.080, t = 2.319, p < 0.020). This study emphasizes the importance of developing these factors in educational and support programs to enhance students' well-being. Moreover, the results offer significant conceptual and practical insights for higher education faculty, psychologists, and curriculum designers.
The study examined the effect of gender and socioeconomic characteristics on the academic perform... more The study examined the effect of gender and socioeconomic characteristics on the academic performance of university students, as measured by their academic scores. The study aimed to i) examine the socioeconomic factors affecting undergraduates, ii) investigate the academic performance of undergraduates, and iii) analyze the comparative impact of socioeconomic factors on the academic scores of undergraduates. Data from 480 students enrolled in the BS program at three selected universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was collected using a questionnaire that investigated the socioeconomic status of their parents. The data analysis indicated that factors such as parental qualifications, parental income, parental work type, and the family’s social position do not influence academic performance based on gender. Regardless of parents’ social class, the quality of learning facilities impacts student’s academic success, indicative of parents’ involvement in the studies. It is suggested to provide scholarships and establish assistance programs aimed at enhancing the academic performance of undergraduates whose parents possess fewer resources due to poor income and job positions.
Psychological flexibility is considered an important factor affecting various individual and rela... more Psychological flexibility is considered an important factor affecting various individual and relational outcomes, however, there are limited cross-culturally validated measures available. The objective of the present study was to translate and to assess the psychometric properties of Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire (Kashdan &amp; Rottenberg, 2010) which is a well-known measure of this construct. The research was carried out in two stages. The first stage comprised of three phases. In the Phase I the scale was translated into Urdu language, while cross language validity and construct language validity was established in Phase II and Phase III respectively. The sample comprised of 300 married women (n = 146) and men (n = 154) with age range 17-65 years (M = 37.60, SD = 9.06). Findings suggested that the measure had good construct validity. In the second stage, convergent validity of the Urdu version was established with the Mindfulness Scale (Neff, 2003). A positive correlation was found between both construct providing an evidence for convergent validity. Overall, Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire-Urdu version appeared to be a valid tool to assess psychological flexibility in married individuals which can be a recommended tool for future studies in Pakistani cultural context to assess psychological flexibility. Keywords: Psychological flexibility, translation, validation, psychometric properties, mindfulness.
This qualitative study investigates teachers' and students’ perceptions regarding barriers an... more This qualitative study investigates teachers' and students’ perceptions regarding barriers and facilitators in developing higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) among undergraduate students before and after undertaking the Functional English (FE) course. For data collection, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were administered in two phases before and at the completion of the FE course. Thematic analysis was carried out using the NVivo version 10. Analysis revealed that teachers and students considered teachers the most influencing factor for fostering HOTS in English classrooms. A teacher can exemplify, provide a classroom environment in terms of opportunities of asking and responding to questions, and attach value to such thinking skills. Students’ previous experience and exposure in enhancing thinking skills were also mentioned as a potential factor for the aforementioned. The present study implies inculcating HOTS in language classrooms for life-long learning.
Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks, Aug 26, 2014
Abstract Teacher Education has been transforming throughout the world to cater to the emerging ne... more Abstract Teacher Education has been transforming throughout the world to cater to the emerging needs of quality education. Significant developments have taken place nationally and internationally in political, economic, and cultural fields, influencing education in general and teacher education in particular. The quality of education depends to a great extent on the quality of teachers. And, the quality of teachers depends on the way they are educated and trained. Pakistan has a vast education sector and a huge teaching force but teacher education in the country has not been keeping pace with modernization and development globally. Teacher education curricula, dissemination, evaluation and implementation revolved around traditional models for decades. However, there has been a growing realization to reform the teacher education system lately. The education policy (2009) of Pakistan indicates such realization on the part of the stakeholders. This chapter reports on an important teacher education reform program, which is based on collaboration between the government of Pakistan and the USAID. The Teacher Education Project (TEP), assisted by USAID, is a reform initiative that aimed at restructuring and modernizing teacher education in Pakistan. This chapter aims to provide insights into the objectives, importance and achievements of the project in terms of shaping the future direction of teacher education in Pakistan. It reports on the substantial structural and policy changes that took place in teacher education under the project. This chapter also highlights the possible challenges in the way of useful implementation and sustainability of this and similar education reform initiatives in Pakistan.
<p>The research was funded and supervised by USAID teacher Education project for Pakistan.&... more <p>The research was funded and supervised by USAID teacher Education project for Pakistan.</p> <p> It was the first time that the Government of Pakistan realized the importance of ICTs and reflected its integration in teacher education programs as policy matter in the National Education Policy 2009.</p> <p>The course “ICTs in Education” was implemented for ADE/B. Ed (E) classes in 2010-11 for the first time. In this situation, it was vital to explore how successfully this course was implemented and ICTs were integrated in the pioneer institutions, so as to have baseline information for further improvement in the implementation process.</p
... DUNPHY, DC 1981, Organisational Change by Choice (McGraw-Hill, Sydney). DUNPHY, D. and STACE,... more ... DUNPHY, DC 1981, Organisational Change by Choice (McGraw-Hill, Sydney). DUNPHY, D. and STACE, D. 1990, Under new management: Australian organisations in transition (McGraw-Hill, Sydney). E m , J. E. 1986, Implementing ...
This qualitative study investigates teachers' and students’ perceptions regarding barriers an... more This qualitative study investigates teachers' and students’ perceptions regarding barriers and facilitators in developing higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) among undergraduate students before and after undertaking the Functional English (FE) course. For data collection, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were administered in two phases before and at the completion of the FE course. Thematic analysis was carried out using the NVivo version 10. Analysis revealed that teachers and students considered teachers the most influencing factor for fostering HOTS in English classrooms. A teacher can exemplify, provide a classroom environment in terms of opportunities of asking and responding to questions, and attach value to such thinking skills. Students’ previous experience and exposure in enhancing thinking skills were also mentioned as a potential factor for the aforementioned. The present study implies inculcating HOTS in language classrooms for life-long learning.
Psychological flexibility is considered an important factor affecting various individual and rela... more Psychological flexibility is considered an important factor affecting various individual and relational outcomes, however, there are limited cross-culturally validated measures available. The objective of the present study was to translate and to assess the psychometric properties of Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire (Kashdan & Rottenberg, 2010) which is a well-known measure of this construct. The research was carried out in two stages. The first stage comprised of three phases. In the Phase I the scale was translated into Urdu language, while cross language validity and construct language validity was established in Phase II and Phase III respectively. The sample comprised of 300 married women (n = 146) and men (n = 154) with age range 17-65 years (M = 37.60, SD = 9.06). Findings suggested that the measure had good construct validity. In the second stage, convergent validity of the Urdu version was established with the Mindfulness Scale (Neff, 2003). A positive correlation wa...
This qualitative study explored the parents’ perceptions and involvement in homework for secondar... more This qualitative study explored the parents’ perceptions and involvement in homework for secondary school students. The study also explored parents’ challenges and suggestions in completing homework as an engaging activity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 parents selected through a purposive sampling technique. Thematic analysis was used to draw themes and sub-themes from qualitative data. The findings revealed that parents of secondary school students believed that homework is an activity that supports the learning process of their children. They considered homework the responsibility of the school and teachers. The challenges were that homework was an overloaded activity that teachers and schools did not support. These findings led to some important implications for the study. It is important to involve parents in devising homework policies and providing training to support their children in homework completion. The study also suggested developing a nation-wide ...
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 2007
PurposeAlthough the deployment of information and communication technology (ICT) in the construct... more PurposeAlthough the deployment of information and communication technology (ICT) in the construction industry is widespread recent research indicates that the surrounding contextual issues hinder its successful application in many project settings. This paper aims to develop a framework for the analysis of organisational culture in respect of ICT implementation across an organisation in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approachAn re‐analysis of critical success factors (CSF) for ICT integration, identified through data from a Delphi study of industry experts and a questionnaire survey of ICT users, using Martin's three‐perspective framework applying both the functional and non‐functional approaches to cultural analysis was conducted.FindingsThe research revealed the theoretical dimensions and properties of organisational culture that influence CSFs for ICT integration in construction projects teams. This paper concludes by highlighting the influence of the organisati...
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
This systematic review aimed to explore the challenges and strategies for maintaining a work–life... more This systematic review aimed to explore the challenges and strategies for maintaining a work–life balance (WLB) between individual workers and their organizations during COVID-19 in the Pakistani context. Using the inductive approach in thematic synthesis, we analyzed eight qualitative studies on WLB from December 2019–April 2022. The Quality Appraisal process for selecting studies, constant comparison method, and critical discussion was frequently used to enhance the validity and reliability of findings. Eight analytical themes provided insight related to the challenges of maintaining WLB, strategies for facilitating, and recommended strategies for a sustainable workforce. Workload during COVID-19, lack of resources, training in technology, and mental pressure appeared as significant barriers, while family support, counseling provided by the organization, and self-motivation emerged as facilitators for WLB. Further, the findings highlighted the need for organizational interventions, for instance, emergency preparedness and capacity building of employees. Findings provided insight about guidelines for policymakers and government to make informed decisions and policies about maintaining WLB for mental well-being and a sustainable workforce, particularly women. The synthesis implied that investment in the well-being and productivity of employees could contribute to retaining a more resilient and skilled workforce, ensuring women’s workforce sustainability, and enabling lasting recovery from the pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19; mental well-being; organizational strategies; sustainable workforce; work–life balance
Research in Positive Psychology has indicated a correlation between Psychological Capital (PsyCap... more Research in Positive Psychology has indicated a correlation between Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and Mental health (MH). However, the specific contribution of Perceived Social Support (PSS) in the connection between PsyCap and MH, particularly within higher education, remains uninvestigated. This study investigated how PSS could mediate the effect of PsyCap on students' MH using a cross-sectional research design. The sample encompassed 443 undergraduate graduate students at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China. Results from Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) showed that both PsyCap (β = 0.815, t = 31.074, p < 0.000) and PSS (β = 0.405, t = 28.051, p < 0.000) have a positive impact on students' MH. Additionally, PSS was identified as a significant mediator in relation to students' MH (b = 0.080, t = 2.319, p < 0.020). This study emphasizes the importance of developing these factors in educational and support programs to enhance students' well-being. Moreover, the results offer significant conceptual and practical insights for higher education faculty, psychologists, and curriculum designers.
The study examined the effect of gender and socioeconomic characteristics on the academic perform... more The study examined the effect of gender and socioeconomic characteristics on the academic performance of university students, as measured by their academic scores. The study aimed to i) examine the socioeconomic factors affecting undergraduates, ii) investigate the academic performance of undergraduates, and iii) analyze the comparative impact of socioeconomic factors on the academic scores of undergraduates. Data from 480 students enrolled in the BS program at three selected universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was collected using a questionnaire that investigated the socioeconomic status of their parents. The data analysis indicated that factors such as parental qualifications, parental income, parental work type, and the family’s social position do not influence academic performance based on gender. Regardless of parents’ social class, the quality of learning facilities impacts student’s academic success, indicative of parents’ involvement in the studies. It is suggested to provide scholarships and establish assistance programs aimed at enhancing the academic performance of undergraduates whose parents possess fewer resources due to poor income and job positions.
Psychological flexibility is considered an important factor affecting various individual and rela... more Psychological flexibility is considered an important factor affecting various individual and relational outcomes, however, there are limited cross-culturally validated measures available. The objective of the present study was to translate and to assess the psychometric properties of Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire (Kashdan &amp; Rottenberg, 2010) which is a well-known measure of this construct. The research was carried out in two stages. The first stage comprised of three phases. In the Phase I the scale was translated into Urdu language, while cross language validity and construct language validity was established in Phase II and Phase III respectively. The sample comprised of 300 married women (n = 146) and men (n = 154) with age range 17-65 years (M = 37.60, SD = 9.06). Findings suggested that the measure had good construct validity. In the second stage, convergent validity of the Urdu version was established with the Mindfulness Scale (Neff, 2003). A positive correlation was found between both construct providing an evidence for convergent validity. Overall, Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire-Urdu version appeared to be a valid tool to assess psychological flexibility in married individuals which can be a recommended tool for future studies in Pakistani cultural context to assess psychological flexibility. Keywords: Psychological flexibility, translation, validation, psychometric properties, mindfulness.
This qualitative study investigates teachers' and students’ perceptions regarding barriers an... more This qualitative study investigates teachers' and students’ perceptions regarding barriers and facilitators in developing higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) among undergraduate students before and after undertaking the Functional English (FE) course. For data collection, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were administered in two phases before and at the completion of the FE course. Thematic analysis was carried out using the NVivo version 10. Analysis revealed that teachers and students considered teachers the most influencing factor for fostering HOTS in English classrooms. A teacher can exemplify, provide a classroom environment in terms of opportunities of asking and responding to questions, and attach value to such thinking skills. Students’ previous experience and exposure in enhancing thinking skills were also mentioned as a potential factor for the aforementioned. The present study implies inculcating HOTS in language classrooms for life-long learning.
Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks, Aug 26, 2014
Abstract Teacher Education has been transforming throughout the world to cater to the emerging ne... more Abstract Teacher Education has been transforming throughout the world to cater to the emerging needs of quality education. Significant developments have taken place nationally and internationally in political, economic, and cultural fields, influencing education in general and teacher education in particular. The quality of education depends to a great extent on the quality of teachers. And, the quality of teachers depends on the way they are educated and trained. Pakistan has a vast education sector and a huge teaching force but teacher education in the country has not been keeping pace with modernization and development globally. Teacher education curricula, dissemination, evaluation and implementation revolved around traditional models for decades. However, there has been a growing realization to reform the teacher education system lately. The education policy (2009) of Pakistan indicates such realization on the part of the stakeholders. This chapter reports on an important teacher education reform program, which is based on collaboration between the government of Pakistan and the USAID. The Teacher Education Project (TEP), assisted by USAID, is a reform initiative that aimed at restructuring and modernizing teacher education in Pakistan. This chapter aims to provide insights into the objectives, importance and achievements of the project in terms of shaping the future direction of teacher education in Pakistan. It reports on the substantial structural and policy changes that took place in teacher education under the project. This chapter also highlights the possible challenges in the way of useful implementation and sustainability of this and similar education reform initiatives in Pakistan.
<p>The research was funded and supervised by USAID teacher Education project for Pakistan.&... more <p>The research was funded and supervised by USAID teacher Education project for Pakistan.</p> <p> It was the first time that the Government of Pakistan realized the importance of ICTs and reflected its integration in teacher education programs as policy matter in the National Education Policy 2009.</p> <p>The course “ICTs in Education” was implemented for ADE/B. Ed (E) classes in 2010-11 for the first time. In this situation, it was vital to explore how successfully this course was implemented and ICTs were integrated in the pioneer institutions, so as to have baseline information for further improvement in the implementation process.</p
... DUNPHY, DC 1981, Organisational Change by Choice (McGraw-Hill, Sydney). DUNPHY, D. and STACE,... more ... DUNPHY, DC 1981, Organisational Change by Choice (McGraw-Hill, Sydney). DUNPHY, D. and STACE, D. 1990, Under new management: Australian organisations in transition (McGraw-Hill, Sydney). E m , J. E. 1986, Implementing ...
This qualitative study investigates teachers' and students’ perceptions regarding barriers an... more This qualitative study investigates teachers' and students’ perceptions regarding barriers and facilitators in developing higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) among undergraduate students before and after undertaking the Functional English (FE) course. For data collection, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were administered in two phases before and at the completion of the FE course. Thematic analysis was carried out using the NVivo version 10. Analysis revealed that teachers and students considered teachers the most influencing factor for fostering HOTS in English classrooms. A teacher can exemplify, provide a classroom environment in terms of opportunities of asking and responding to questions, and attach value to such thinking skills. Students’ previous experience and exposure in enhancing thinking skills were also mentioned as a potential factor for the aforementioned. The present study implies inculcating HOTS in language classrooms for life-long learning.
Psychological flexibility is considered an important factor affecting various individual and rela... more Psychological flexibility is considered an important factor affecting various individual and relational outcomes, however, there are limited cross-culturally validated measures available. The objective of the present study was to translate and to assess the psychometric properties of Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire (Kashdan & Rottenberg, 2010) which is a well-known measure of this construct. The research was carried out in two stages. The first stage comprised of three phases. In the Phase I the scale was translated into Urdu language, while cross language validity and construct language validity was established in Phase II and Phase III respectively. The sample comprised of 300 married women (n = 146) and men (n = 154) with age range 17-65 years (M = 37.60, SD = 9.06). Findings suggested that the measure had good construct validity. In the second stage, convergent validity of the Urdu version was established with the Mindfulness Scale (Neff, 2003). A positive correlation wa...
This qualitative study explored the parents’ perceptions and involvement in homework for secondar... more This qualitative study explored the parents’ perceptions and involvement in homework for secondary school students. The study also explored parents’ challenges and suggestions in completing homework as an engaging activity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 parents selected through a purposive sampling technique. Thematic analysis was used to draw themes and sub-themes from qualitative data. The findings revealed that parents of secondary school students believed that homework is an activity that supports the learning process of their children. They considered homework the responsibility of the school and teachers. The challenges were that homework was an overloaded activity that teachers and schools did not support. These findings led to some important implications for the study. It is important to involve parents in devising homework policies and providing training to support their children in homework completion. The study also suggested developing a nation-wide ...
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 2007
PurposeAlthough the deployment of information and communication technology (ICT) in the construct... more PurposeAlthough the deployment of information and communication technology (ICT) in the construction industry is widespread recent research indicates that the surrounding contextual issues hinder its successful application in many project settings. This paper aims to develop a framework for the analysis of organisational culture in respect of ICT implementation across an organisation in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approachAn re‐analysis of critical success factors (CSF) for ICT integration, identified through data from a Delphi study of industry experts and a questionnaire survey of ICT users, using Martin's three‐perspective framework applying both the functional and non‐functional approaches to cultural analysis was conducted.FindingsThe research revealed the theoretical dimensions and properties of organisational culture that influence CSFs for ICT integration in construction projects teams. This paper concludes by highlighting the influence of the organisati...
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
This systematic review aimed to explore the challenges and strategies for maintaining a work–life... more This systematic review aimed to explore the challenges and strategies for maintaining a work–life balance (WLB) between individual workers and their organizations during COVID-19 in the Pakistani context. Using the inductive approach in thematic synthesis, we analyzed eight qualitative studies on WLB from December 2019–April 2022. The Quality Appraisal process for selecting studies, constant comparison method, and critical discussion was frequently used to enhance the validity and reliability of findings. Eight analytical themes provided insight related to the challenges of maintaining WLB, strategies for facilitating, and recommended strategies for a sustainable workforce. Workload during COVID-19, lack of resources, training in technology, and mental pressure appeared as significant barriers, while family support, counseling provided by the organization, and self-motivation emerged as facilitators for WLB. Further, the findings highlighted the need for organizational interventions, for instance, emergency preparedness and capacity building of employees. Findings provided insight about guidelines for policymakers and government to make informed decisions and policies about maintaining WLB for mental well-being and a sustainable workforce, particularly women. The synthesis implied that investment in the well-being and productivity of employees could contribute to retaining a more resilient and skilled workforce, ensuring women’s workforce sustainability, and enabling lasting recovery from the pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19; mental well-being; organizational strategies; sustainable workforce; work–life balance
Working women face a number of psychological and social problems. Factors causing these problems ... more Working women face a number of psychological and social problems. Factors causing these problems include social resistance in and outside home and psychological tension and burn out as a result of the demands of their dual role as mothers and housekeepers on the one hand and as working professionals on the other. The current study aimed at exploring the perceptions of female university academics who were also mothers of young children. Data were collected in the form of semi-structured interviews with 10 respondents exploring their social and psychological problems. Initial findings reveal that respondents faced a number of problems of social and psychological nature that could be attributed to their dual role as mothers of young children and as working women/academics. Social disapproval, resistance in an outside home, access to the workplace and the demanding nature of the workplace seems to have been significant factors affecting the psychological and mental wellbeing of the working women. Psychologically respondents seemed to feel guilty for being available to their young children and husbands at the time of their need. Some of the respondents expressed the desire to have more time for their families (children and husbands) or to switch over as full time mothers/house wives. There was however variation in such aspirations and some of the respondents wanted to carry on with their jobs as this brought them more economic independence and psychological fulfillment. Others felt the complete restriction to home would be a negation of their individuality and identity as independent beings. Better workplace facilities and perks was identified as factors that could enhance women academics’ satisfaction with professional life and hence their performance.
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Papers by Dr Shawana Fazal
Keywords: COVID-19; mental well-being; organizational strategies; sustainable workforce; work–life balance
Keywords: COVID-19; mental well-being; organizational strategies; sustainable workforce; work–life balance