Bystander Apathy –An Enquiry Into The Expression Of Humanity And Empathy In China (2013-2014)

Aim To explore the apparent lack of personal concern for the welfare of others in China? To develop concepts to understand this  social phenomena in natural  settings using ethnographic and participatory research. Research Question How can the knowledge derived from qualitative research be used to improve the welfare of the poor in Shanghai? Ethics The study was carried out within the guidelines of the declaration of Helsinki. The study was characterised by anonymity, beneficence, non maleficence, and the  maintainence of  the dignity of participants Method Collection of data. The principle data source was “observation” spot observation”(Baksh 1990)”, participant observation”(Hammersley and Atkinson 1983)vignettes(Finch 1987, Sani Bin Gabi 1990), oral history(narrative) Conclusion The study was conducted ethically. It was a worthwhile study attempted to deal with current problems. The publication of this paper can be used to stimulate further enquiry into the problem of those in need of social welfare in Shanghai and China, in the hope it will improve services where they are needed. Suggested solutions In a country where intergenerational family ties are so strong and “guanxi” exists it is paradoxical there is  little empathy for others. Confuscian values, changed family beliefs, and education at school and  university may assist in increasing empathy. Learnt conditioning, to ignore or dissociate, from another human being in   need of help, can be slowly overcome by implementing universal and improved changes in societal living conditions. This can be achieved  by improving social welfare programs, spearheaded by a compassionate government. There is a view that it is an egregious and transparent fiction, to promulgate and publically promote, the philosophies and policies of communism, yet allow these curable social ills to remain. ”Rex ipsa Loquiter”. The healthy should help the sick, the rich should help the poor and the employed should help the unemployed, Proportionately, in accordance with what they have they should give. The promotion of a “ forward thinking, humane, listening and open society, rather than a closed, narrow, opaque, inward looking “weltanschaung” would assist societal reform. We “bystanders”, we must all try to imagine we are in the  place  of those in need, and  feel aas they do, in their situation. We must follow the advice of Mencius (372-289BC) and develop and use “empathy” As Mencius  said, ”a  developed  human heart is the basis  of a moral life”

Exploring Higher Education Commissions Quality Assurance Mechanisms for Assuring Quality in Higher Education at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The rapid growth of higher education institutes (HEIs) at public and private sectors has raised a key concern for quality among all stakeholders of higher education both nationally and internationally. To tackle this expansion, the Government of Pakistan established the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in 2002. A national Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) was established in 2005, under the jurisdiction of HEC, for the purpose to specifically look after quality issues in Pakistan. The QAA is actively engaged to assure the quality of education for more than one decade, but there are still issues related to quality in higher education. Therefore, this qualitative study was conducted to explore HEC's guided QA mechanisms for assuring the quality of teaching, learning and research at the graduate level, its effectiveness and influencing factors in the context of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A qualitative multiple case study approach was employed to achieve the aim of this study. The data were collected from two selected universities in the context of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the help of face to face interviews and relevant documents analysis. Through purposive sampling technique, the participants for the study were selected from quality enhancement cell and education department, which included, deputy and assistant director of QEC, Head and focal person of the education department, MPhil and PhD students from the selected universities. Whereas, at HEC, two deputy directors from QAA were also interviewed. The data were analysed using within and cross-case analysis technique with the thematic approach. The study found that various HEC's guided mechanisms are used in the selected public and private-sector University respectively. The purpose of these mechanisms is to assure the quality of teaching, learning and research at the graduate level. Cross-case analysis demonstrated five mechanisms, which were common in both universities. These are: 'establishment of quality enhancement cell' (QEC), 'Self-assessment report' (SAR), 'collection of feedback from stakeholders', 'discouragement of plagiarism in research', 'evaluation of dissertation and publication of paper in PhD'. The findings revealed some of the effectiveness of these mechanisms such as, developing a sense of responsibility and motivation among stakeholders, improving quality of teaching, learning and research by developing quality culture, strengthening the internal quality assurance system, and promoting accountability and acceptance among the stakeholders. Importantly, the study found that the effectiveness and better outcomes of these mechanisms is largely dependent on effective implementation. Moreover, the data also revealed five common factors, which influenced the effective implementation of