Educational Administration: Theory and Practice

Breaking Barriers: Scaffolding Tasks Enhance English Speaking Skills in Rural Higher Education

Dr. M.Balaganapathy — 2026-03-06

This study investigates the effectiveness of collaborative scaffolding in enhancing English speaking skills among rural undergraduate learners. Thirty first-year B.Sc. Chemistry students from a Tamil-medium background at Rajah Serfoji Government College, Thanjavur, participated in the study. A baseline test was conducted to assess their existing speaking ability, following which students were divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group engaged in a structured storytelling task using roles such as leader, president, and secretary, supported by sentence starters and lexical templates. The control group received visual prompts and keywords with minimal collaboration. Performance was evaluated based on initiation, development, and extension of speech, using a 30-point rubric. Descriptive statistics revealed that the experimental group achieved a higher mean score (24.6) and median score (25) compared to the control group (mean 17.8; median 18). The findings suggest that collaborative scaffolding fosters fluency, confidence, and learner autonomy, especially in low-resource contexts. The study highlights the value of culturally responsive, task-based speaking activities in promoting inclusive and effective English language learning.c

Social Media's Dominant Role In Ar/Vr-Driven Brand Equity: Empirical Evidence From The Apac Region

Himanshu Pensia — 2026-02-26

Social Media has emerged as the dominant driver of brand equity in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) contexts. This quantitative study investigates Social Media's influence on brand equity within AR/VR environments, examining both direct effects and mediating mechanisms through Customer Experience, Marketing, Purchase Intention, and Customer Satisfaction. Data were collected from 567 valid respondents across the APAC region using structured 5-point Likert-scale. The sample comprised predominantly male respondents (92.4%) aged 20-30 years (73%) from India (94%).

Statistical analysis using ADANCO 2.4.1 variance-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) revealed that Social Media demonstrates the strongest direct effect on brand equity (β=0.2810, t=5.8141, p<0.01) among all five independent variables examined. Furthermore, Social Media operates through four significant mediating pathways: through Customer Experience (β=0.0477), Marketing (β=0.0878), Purchase Intention (β=0.0633), and Customer Satisfaction (β=0.0877). The model achieved R²=0.583, explaining 58.3% of variance in brand equity outcomes.

Key findings indicate that Games (SM3: 0.7239) and Emotions (SM4: 0.7170) emerged as strongest Social Media indicators, while Social Activism (OM4: 0.7464) demonstrated the highest brand equity outcome loading.These results confirm that AR/VR-driven brand equity thrives on interactive, emotional, and gamified social engagement rather than technological sophistication alone. This research provides marketers with empirically validated guidance for leveraging social media integration within AR/VR strategies to maximize brand equity in the APAC region.

Student Leaders’ Role In The Effective Implementation Of Inclusive Education In Ghanaian Senior High Schools

Thomas Jerome Yeboah — 2026-02-12

The emergence of inclusive education has shifted school leadership from a traditional model dominated by principals to a more collaborative approach involving shared leadership among various stakeholders, including often-overlooked student leaders. This study employed a case study design to explore the contributions of student leaders to the effective implementation of inclusive education in a Ghanaian high school. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 18 student leaders and 2 members of the school management. It was thematically analyzed to derive 4 subthemes, namely, Roles and Responsibilities, Relationship and Engagement, Positive Impact and Inclusive Education Recognition, and Challenges. Findings indicate that student leaders play a crucial role in promoting diversity and fostering a culture of respect and acceptance. They collaborate with school authorities to identify challenges, propose solutions, and facilitate the implementation of inclusive policies. By establishing supportive networks, they assist peers with disabilities in navigating academic activities and the physical environment while advocating for their needs within the classroom. The relationships built by student leaders are founded on empathy and trust, which are essential to the well-being of all students. However, student leaders also face challenges that impede their effectiveness in supporting students with disabilities within the Inclusive education framework.

Evolution Of Natural Resources And Local Governance In The Commune Of Droum In Niger

Kanembou Lawandi — 2026-01-29

The combined effects of climate variability and change, as well as human pressure, continue to strongly influence land use changes in Niger. In the commune of Droum, the diachronic analysis of the landscape shows that, like several other regions of Niger, there are significant transformations in the evolution of the natural environment. As part of this study, the exploitation of multi-date satellite imagery made it possible to trace the landscape dynamics in progress between 2005 and 2025.

The main objective of this work is to detect changes in land use and analyze the issues related to the exploitation of community natural resources in a context of local governance.

The methodology used consisted, on the one hand, of analyzing the bibliographic data, in particular that of the diagnosis carried out by the commune in 2015, which made it possible to highlight the potential in natural resources of the commune as well as the mechanisms of local governance. On the other hand, an approach based on the diachronic analysis of the study of land use from a supervised classification of satellite imagery which led to evaluating the evolution of the landscape of the commune.

The results obtained reveal that land use changes are characterized by increasing anthropogenic pressure, materialized by the extension of rainfed cultivation areas and the degradation of plant resources, in particular the wooded-shrubby steppe. From 2005 to 2025, the area occupied by the wooded-shrubby steppe decreased from 12.90% of the area of the commune to 5.90%. On the other hand, the rainfed crop/fallow mosaic unit marked an extension, increasing from 79.87% of the area of the commune in 2005 to 90.03% in 2025, while other units experienced progress (dense wooded steppe) or relative stability (rocky outcrop). In this context of increasingly widespread degradation of community natural resources, mechanisms in terms of local governance are applied for more sustainable management of these potentialities.

Breaking the Silence and Stigma on Gender & Sexuality - An Analysis of Popular Indian Cinema

Dr. Shilpa J — 2026-03-13

Gender and sexuality are the identity of an individual that establishes their social status. An understanding towards it and embracing the attributes associated with them is crucial. Since ages, gender and sexuality have set qualities, stereotypes and stigmas attached and carved around them. These act as the representations in society. It is also seen that acceptance and discussion beyond the usual norm/ belief is tabooed. Communication on gender and sexuality is very subtle when it is essential to be loud. Indian cinema does play a role in gender and sexual communication. Many a times it is aligning to the established norm while few do make an effort to delicately talk about changing perspectives. Post 2020, there are few popular Indian cinemas, that tried breaking the silence and stigmas by boldly establishing the shifting perceptions on gender and sexuality. They brought in the thought process on the need to alter the societal mindset in evading the stigmas constructed around gender and sexuality. The Qualitative content analysis of three movies post 2020 reveals the initiation of conversations by the movies on the tabooed gender and sexuality. They subtly communicated on the need for coming out of the stereotypes, breaking the silence than suffering and reflected the gradual shift in the social norms.

Educational transformations in the age of artificial intelligence

María José Flores Tena — 2026-03-05

In recent decades, humanity has undergone a radical transformation driven by the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). This phenomenon has generated deep interest in different social, economic and academic sectors due to its ability to modify traditional knowledge structures and processes. In particular, the educational field is at an inflection point, in which AI is no longer a mere technological tool but an agent of change that redefines teaching, learning, and assessment practices (Crompton & Burke, 2023).

Ethnocentrism, Xenophobia, and the Praxis Multiculturalism:Reading Canadian Scenario in the Select Stories of Dionne Brand

Dr. Afsal PC — 2026-02-24

This article examines how ethnocentrism and xenophobia underlie the multicultural mosaic of the Canadian society as revealed in Dionne Brand’s short story collection titled “Sans Souci and Other Stories.” It attempts to establish that colonial enterprises largely holds responsibility for the flawed consciousnesses like ethnocentrism, xenophobia and racism. In line with the arguments made by Ludwig Gumplowic, William Graham Sumner, and Shreya Atrey, the article argues that these consciousnesses stem from “cultural narrowness” created around one’s ethnicity, culture, religion, nationality etc. The article analyses the experiences of the characters who migrated to Canada to prove that the feelings of ethnocentrism, xenophobia and racism are still extant. Brand, known for her incisive critique of colonialism, racism, and cultural dislocation, explores themes of exclusion, prejudice, and systemic marginalization in this collection. By analysing the select stories, this article highlights how xenophobia operates at interpersonal and institutional levels and the ways in which Brand’s characters navigate and resist these oppressive dynamics. This exploration contributes to a broader understanding of how literature reflects and challenges xenophobic ideologies.

Diplomatic And Consular Services In Transition: A Comparative Analysis Of Kosovo And Albania In The Context Of European Integration

Ile Masalkovski — 2026-02-10

This paper examines the transformation of diplomatic and consular services in Kosovo and Albania through a comparative lens, situating the analysis within the broader context of European integration. As two Western Balkan states at different stages of their European Union accession paths, Kosovo and Albania face shared structural challenges while pursuing reforms aligned with EU standards in diplomacy and consular administration. The study aims to assess how legal frameworks, institutional arrangements, and administrative practices governing diplomatic and consular services have evolved in response to European integration requirements. Methodologically, the paper adopts a qualitative comparative approach, combining normative legal analysis with an examination of policy documents, international conventions, and institutional practices in both countries. The analysis highlights areas of convergence, particularly in the harmonization of diplomatic functions, consular protection of citizens abroad, and adherence to international diplomatic law, as well as persistent divergences related to administrative capacity, digitalization, and external recognition constraints. The findings suggest that European integration has served as a significant driver of reform, promoting professionalization and standardization of diplomatic and consular services, while also exposing structural limitations that continue to affect their effectiveness. The paper concludes that deeper institutional consolidation and targeted capacity-building measures are essential for strengthening diplomatic and consular services and enhancing their role in supporting European integration objectives.

Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Employing Artificial Intelligence for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sanaa Qais Shawahna — 2026-03-18

The study examined the attitudes of teachers in Arab schools in the Triangle region of Palestine toward the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for improving reading comprehension skills among students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It also investigated whether these attitudes varied according to gender, years of teaching experience, and academic qualification. A descriptive survey design was employed, and data were collected using a questionnaire developed based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The instrument consisted of 37 items distributed across four dimensions: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, behavioral intention, and perceived barriers.The study population included Arabic language and special education teachers working in Arab schools during the 2025/2026 academic year, with a total of 203 teachers participating in the study. The findings indicated that teachers demonstrated high and positive attitudes across all dimensions and at the overall level toward the integration of AI technologies in enhancing reading comprehension skills among students with ASD. These results reflect a positive professional awareness and a strong readiness to adopt AI-supported instructional practices.The results further revealed that there were no statistically significant differences in teachers’ attitudes attributable to gender or academic qualification, while statistically significant differences were found according to years of teaching experience, in favor of more experienced teachers.The study concluded that teachers recognize the educational potential of artificial intelligence in supporting reading comprehension through individualized learning and immediate feedback, despite the presence of challenges related to digital infrastructure, technical support, and specialized professional training. Accordingly, the study recommends enhancing professional development programs for teachers in AI-supported Arabic language instruction and improving digital infrastructure in Arab schools to strengthen inclusive educational practices and better address the needs of students with autism spectrum disorder.

Development and Application of the Electronic Nearby Odour Sensing Element (e-NOSE)

Dr. Dipankar Sarkar — 2026-01-21

Introduction: The Electronic Nearby Odour Sensing Element (e-NOSE) is an advanced technology designed to detect, identify, and classify odors through a sensor array and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven algorithms. This study presents the development and evaluation of the e-NOSE as a humane alternative to traditional methods, such as sniffer dogs, for detecting hazardous substances like drugs and explosives, while also exploring its applications in food quality control and environmental monitoring.

Methodology: The methodology involved the use of a sensor array, specifically designed to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by various substances. The data collected from the sensors was processed using machine learning algorithms, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), to identify and classify odors. The e-NOSE system was tested on drug samples (marijuana and methamphetamine), food samples (freshness and spoilage detection), and environmental pollutants (VOCs).

Results: The results demonstrated that the e-NOSE system successfully identified odors with high accuracy, achieving a sensitivity rate of over 95% in drug detection and distinguishing between fresh and spoiled food samples. The system’s ability to detect and classify odors in real-time makes it a promising alternative to sniffer dogs in hazardous detection tasks, offering benefits in terms of animal welfare, continuous operation, and objective analysis.

Discussion: In the discussion, the e-NOSE’s performance was compared to traditional detection methods, highlighting its advantages in speed, accuracy, and safety. Although the system showed occasional inconsistencies in complex odor mixtures, it outperformed conventional methods in several aspects. The use of AI algorithms was key to improving the system’s classification accuracy, although challenges related to sensor calibration and VOC interference remain.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the e-NOSE is a promising technology with the potential to revolutionize industries such as security, food safety, and environmental monitoring. Future advancements in sensor materials, data analysis techniques, and system miniaturization will enhance the system's capabilities, making it an indispensable tool for odor detection in various fields. The ongoing development of e-NOSE technology offers a more humane, efficient, and reliable approach to hazardous substance detection, with broader applications in society and industry.