Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives
The trend in education is shifting toward a greater concern with learning. In this new model, tea... more The trend in education is shifting toward a greater concern with learning. In this new model, teachers are required to constantly reflect on their pedagogy to sustain student interest and engagement. This reflective inquiry is particularly important when the teacher and students are of different language and culture as in the case of Zayed University, UAE. Such cross-cultural context often complicates the learning environment resulting in confusion, stress, and frustration for faculty and students. It also results in a reduced teaching effectiveness and a need to regularly adapt tried methods of teaching in Western universities with the educational background of students. This process requires deep reflection and cultural adjustment. This study therefore investigated the challenges, critical inquiry, and adjustments of Western faculty in the delivery of an American curriculum taught in English to Emirati female students. The study also sought to derive a theoretical model explaining...
Veiling among women is entrenched in Emirati people’s behavior and collective consciousness as it... more Veiling among women is entrenched in Emirati people’s behavior and collective consciousness as it connects with Islamic religious commandments and local traditions and values. Recently there is a marked relaxation of the strict Islamic veil dress code especially amongst the younger generation of women. This study, therefore, examined the practice of veiling among a sample of 325 young Emirati females. The focus was on whether the recent sweeping socioeconomic changes have altered local veiling practices. Using a questionnaire and drawing on class discussions and on the author’s extensive formal observation of change in young Emirati women’s behavior, appearance and dress, the research particularly examined whether veiling continues to be the norm among young Emiratis and if the veil has retained its original meanings. Results showed that the veil continues to carry a religious significance, but females increasingly value the dress as a means of distinction, whether as a symbol of na...
The importance of addressing psychological issues in athletic injury rehabilitation has been reco... more The importance of addressing psychological issues in athletic injury rehabilitation has been recognized by the medical community. When and how to address psychological ramifications of injury, however, have not been given sufficient attention. VARIOUS FACTORS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ATHLETIC INJURY: models of adjustment to athletic injury, a 10-point assessment inventory, and some techniques employed by sport psychologists to address psychological responses to injury will be discussed. The purpose of this paper is to outline specific guidelines to follow when assessing athletes and counseling them following athletic injuries. By implementing these guidelines, the athletic trainer can: 1)establish trust and rapport, 2) become familiar with the athlete's perception of the injury, and 3) attempt to get the athlete to commit to treatment. CLINICAL ADVANTAGE: Often, athletes are treated for their physical complaints without giving attention to their psychological needs. These techniques ...
The present study aimed at testing an integrative model that comprises cognitive, psychopathologi... more The present study aimed at testing an integrative model that comprises cognitive, psychopathological and psy-chosocial factors that potentially relate to radicalism as an antecedent condition to radical and terrorist behaviors. A sample of 662 Egyptians (54.83% females and 45.17% males) aged 26, 16 years was administered a comprehensive battery of 25 cognitive, psychopathological and psychosocial measures. The data were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling techniques to test the research hypothesis. The results revealed that the cognitive model, psychopathological model and psychosocial model did not fit the data well individually. However, an integrative model that included 22 psychopathological constructs, five cog-nitive constructs, and four psychosocial constructs fit the data very well. Both males and females conceptualized the constructs similarly, and there were no significant latent gender mean differences in any constructs involved in the research model, including radicalism. These findings imply that none of the models can solely explain radicalism, whereas the integrative model can. The findings support the notion that radicalism is a product of, but is not limited to, complicated trajectories of cognitive, psychopathological, and psychosocial factors.
The purpose of this study was to investigate challenges for new Western/Western-educated faculty ... more The purpose of this study was to investigate challenges for new Western/Western-educated faculty and their responses to those challenges as they began teaching at a national women's University located in the Arabian Gulf. Twenty-four new faculty were recruited for the study. Faculty were hired from America, the UK, Canada, and Australia to provide an American-like education to students. 75% percent
Page 1. TRADING CULTURE: HAVE WESTERN-EDUCATED EMIRATI FEMALES GONE WESTERN? Maher Khelifaa, Depa... more Page 1. TRADING CULTURE: HAVE WESTERN-EDUCATED EMIRATI FEMALES GONE WESTERN? Maher Khelifaa, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). ...
The purpose of this study was to investigate challenges for new Western/Western-educated faculty ... more The purpose of this study was to investigate challenges for new Western/Western-educated faculty and their responses to those challenges as they began teaching at a national women's University located in the Arabian Gulf. Twenty-four new faculty were recruited for the study. Faculty were hired from America, the UK, Canada, and Australia to provide an American-like education to students. 75% percent of participants were native English speakers, and 54% had not taught in a foreign university before. Before arriving in the country to begin teaching, the participants were asked to complete a questionnaire measuring their attitudes towards student learning and performance, and their teaching methods. Six to ten weeks after the beginning of their first semester they were asked to participate in focus groups. The focus group questions asked faculty to discuss issues and challenges they were facing and how they were coping. Results of the quantitative data and the focus groups show fac...
The present study aimed at testing an integrative model that comprises cognitive, psychopathologi... more The present study aimed at testing an integrative model that comprises cognitive, psychopathological and psy-chosocial factors that potentially relate to radicalism as an antecedent condition to radical and terrorist behaviors. A sample of 662 Egyptians (54.83% females and 45.17% males) aged 26, 16 years was administered a comprehensive battery of 25 cognitive, psychopathological and psychosocial measures. The data were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling techniques to test the research hypothesis. The results revealed that the cognitive model, psychopathological model and psychosocial model did not fit the data well individually. However, an integrative model that included 22 psychopathological constructs, five cog-nitive constructs, and four psychosocial constructs fit the data very well. Both males and females conceptualized the constructs similarly, and there were no significant latent gender mean differences in any constructs involved in the research model, including radicalism. These findings imply that none of the models can solely explain radicalism, whereas the integrative model can. The findings support the notion that radicalism is a product of, but is not limited to, complicated trajectories of cognitive, psychopathological, and psychosocial factors.
Page 1. TRADING CULTURE: HAVE WESTERN-EDUCATED EMIRATI FEMALES GONE WESTERN? Maher Khelifaa, Depa... more Page 1. TRADING CULTURE: HAVE WESTERN-EDUCATED EMIRATI FEMALES GONE WESTERN? Maher Khelifaa, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). ...
The purpose of the study was to explore the factors mediating college students " radicalization. ... more The purpose of the study was to explore the factors mediating college students " radicalization. A sample of 1,116 students was drawn from four different Jordanian universities. The construct validity of the scale was estimated by calculating the correlation between the radicalization items and the negative emotion items. A positive significant relationship was found (0.12, α = 0.000), a sign of validity of the scale. The scale reliability was also strong and was estimated at 0.90 using Cronbach Alpha. Factor analysis produced five factors explaining 45% of the total variance of radicalization. The first factor labeled " political radicalization " explained 18.5% of the variance, the second factor " religious radicalization " explained 12.7%, the third factor " violent radicalization " explained 6.4% of the variance, the fourth " group radicalization " accounted for 4%, and the fifth factor " social radicalization " only accounted for 3% of the total variance. Significant differences in student radicalization were found according to the geographical region of the university (North, Center and South), F = 14, α = 0.000. However, no significant differences were found in radicalization as it relates to gender, and type of college (i.e., Humanities vs. Pure Sciences).
Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives
The trend in education is shifting toward a greater concern with learning. In this new model, tea... more The trend in education is shifting toward a greater concern with learning. In this new model, teachers are required to constantly reflect on their pedagogy to sustain student interest and engagement. This reflective inquiry is particularly important when the teacher and students are of different language and culture as in the case of Zayed University, UAE. Such cross-cultural context often complicates the learning environment resulting in confusion, stress, and frustration for faculty and students. It also results in a reduced teaching effectiveness and a need to regularly adapt tried methods of teaching in Western universities with the educational background of students. This process requires deep reflection and cultural adjustment. This study therefore investigated the challenges, critical inquiry, and adjustments of Western faculty in the delivery of an American curriculum taught in English to Emirati female students. The study also sought to derive a theoretical model explaining...
Veiling among women is entrenched in Emirati people’s behavior and collective consciousness as it... more Veiling among women is entrenched in Emirati people’s behavior and collective consciousness as it connects with Islamic religious commandments and local traditions and values. Recently there is a marked relaxation of the strict Islamic veil dress code especially amongst the younger generation of women. This study, therefore, examined the practice of veiling among a sample of 325 young Emirati females. The focus was on whether the recent sweeping socioeconomic changes have altered local veiling practices. Using a questionnaire and drawing on class discussions and on the author’s extensive formal observation of change in young Emirati women’s behavior, appearance and dress, the research particularly examined whether veiling continues to be the norm among young Emiratis and if the veil has retained its original meanings. Results showed that the veil continues to carry a religious significance, but females increasingly value the dress as a means of distinction, whether as a symbol of na...
The importance of addressing psychological issues in athletic injury rehabilitation has been reco... more The importance of addressing psychological issues in athletic injury rehabilitation has been recognized by the medical community. When and how to address psychological ramifications of injury, however, have not been given sufficient attention. VARIOUS FACTORS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ATHLETIC INJURY: models of adjustment to athletic injury, a 10-point assessment inventory, and some techniques employed by sport psychologists to address psychological responses to injury will be discussed. The purpose of this paper is to outline specific guidelines to follow when assessing athletes and counseling them following athletic injuries. By implementing these guidelines, the athletic trainer can: 1)establish trust and rapport, 2) become familiar with the athlete's perception of the injury, and 3) attempt to get the athlete to commit to treatment. CLINICAL ADVANTAGE: Often, athletes are treated for their physical complaints without giving attention to their psychological needs. These techniques ...
The present study aimed at testing an integrative model that comprises cognitive, psychopathologi... more The present study aimed at testing an integrative model that comprises cognitive, psychopathological and psy-chosocial factors that potentially relate to radicalism as an antecedent condition to radical and terrorist behaviors. A sample of 662 Egyptians (54.83% females and 45.17% males) aged 26, 16 years was administered a comprehensive battery of 25 cognitive, psychopathological and psychosocial measures. The data were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling techniques to test the research hypothesis. The results revealed that the cognitive model, psychopathological model and psychosocial model did not fit the data well individually. However, an integrative model that included 22 psychopathological constructs, five cog-nitive constructs, and four psychosocial constructs fit the data very well. Both males and females conceptualized the constructs similarly, and there were no significant latent gender mean differences in any constructs involved in the research model, including radicalism. These findings imply that none of the models can solely explain radicalism, whereas the integrative model can. The findings support the notion that radicalism is a product of, but is not limited to, complicated trajectories of cognitive, psychopathological, and psychosocial factors.
The purpose of this study was to investigate challenges for new Western/Western-educated faculty ... more The purpose of this study was to investigate challenges for new Western/Western-educated faculty and their responses to those challenges as they began teaching at a national women's University located in the Arabian Gulf. Twenty-four new faculty were recruited for the study. Faculty were hired from America, the UK, Canada, and Australia to provide an American-like education to students. 75% percent
Page 1. TRADING CULTURE: HAVE WESTERN-EDUCATED EMIRATI FEMALES GONE WESTERN? Maher Khelifaa, Depa... more Page 1. TRADING CULTURE: HAVE WESTERN-EDUCATED EMIRATI FEMALES GONE WESTERN? Maher Khelifaa, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). ...
The purpose of this study was to investigate challenges for new Western/Western-educated faculty ... more The purpose of this study was to investigate challenges for new Western/Western-educated faculty and their responses to those challenges as they began teaching at a national women's University located in the Arabian Gulf. Twenty-four new faculty were recruited for the study. Faculty were hired from America, the UK, Canada, and Australia to provide an American-like education to students. 75% percent of participants were native English speakers, and 54% had not taught in a foreign university before. Before arriving in the country to begin teaching, the participants were asked to complete a questionnaire measuring their attitudes towards student learning and performance, and their teaching methods. Six to ten weeks after the beginning of their first semester they were asked to participate in focus groups. The focus group questions asked faculty to discuss issues and challenges they were facing and how they were coping. Results of the quantitative data and the focus groups show fac...
The present study aimed at testing an integrative model that comprises cognitive, psychopathologi... more The present study aimed at testing an integrative model that comprises cognitive, psychopathological and psy-chosocial factors that potentially relate to radicalism as an antecedent condition to radical and terrorist behaviors. A sample of 662 Egyptians (54.83% females and 45.17% males) aged 26, 16 years was administered a comprehensive battery of 25 cognitive, psychopathological and psychosocial measures. The data were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling techniques to test the research hypothesis. The results revealed that the cognitive model, psychopathological model and psychosocial model did not fit the data well individually. However, an integrative model that included 22 psychopathological constructs, five cog-nitive constructs, and four psychosocial constructs fit the data very well. Both males and females conceptualized the constructs similarly, and there were no significant latent gender mean differences in any constructs involved in the research model, including radicalism. These findings imply that none of the models can solely explain radicalism, whereas the integrative model can. The findings support the notion that radicalism is a product of, but is not limited to, complicated trajectories of cognitive, psychopathological, and psychosocial factors.
Page 1. TRADING CULTURE: HAVE WESTERN-EDUCATED EMIRATI FEMALES GONE WESTERN? Maher Khelifaa, Depa... more Page 1. TRADING CULTURE: HAVE WESTERN-EDUCATED EMIRATI FEMALES GONE WESTERN? Maher Khelifaa, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). ...
The purpose of the study was to explore the factors mediating college students " radicalization. ... more The purpose of the study was to explore the factors mediating college students " radicalization. A sample of 1,116 students was drawn from four different Jordanian universities. The construct validity of the scale was estimated by calculating the correlation between the radicalization items and the negative emotion items. A positive significant relationship was found (0.12, α = 0.000), a sign of validity of the scale. The scale reliability was also strong and was estimated at 0.90 using Cronbach Alpha. Factor analysis produced five factors explaining 45% of the total variance of radicalization. The first factor labeled " political radicalization " explained 18.5% of the variance, the second factor " religious radicalization " explained 12.7%, the third factor " violent radicalization " explained 6.4% of the variance, the fourth " group radicalization " accounted for 4%, and the fifth factor " social radicalization " only accounted for 3% of the total variance. Significant differences in student radicalization were found according to the geographical region of the university (North, Center and South), F = 14, α = 0.000. However, no significant differences were found in radicalization as it relates to gender, and type of college (i.e., Humanities vs. Pure Sciences).
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