Policy makers ,especially in countries that lags in broadband Internet penetration, are in search for policies to increase the broadband penetration and reduce the digital divide. While there may exist various reasons responsible for the low broadband penetration, little empirical has been done so far to test these possible reasons. In OECD countries, there exists significant variations in the rate of broadband Internet speeds and broadband Internet penetration. While broadband penetration in OECD countries continue to grow, the rate of broadband penetration itself is particularly important for various countries. A general debate over this issue continues and various arguments being discussed against the status of broadband Internet adoption, how critical is the intervention to increase broadband adoption, and the effectiveness of these interventions. In order to become competitive and increase economic growth, a critical barrier for a nation is to develop Internet infrastructure especially broadband. In search of a significant case that could be used to assess the possible factors that contributes to broadband Internet adoption at national level, we find OECD countries important due their comparative advanced levels of broadband Internet deployment and wide variations in the levels of broadband penetration. The purpose of this dissertation is to identify and examine various factors and their significance in broadband uptake in OECD countries, and discuss the role of broadband Internet in the national competitiveness and economic growth. The dissertation also assesses the effectiveness of governmental interventions, on both supply and demand sides, to increase broadband uptake and come up with some recommendations for government role in the process of broadband uptake. This dissertation uses quantitative method approach and applies two research models to assess the significance of various broadband-related environmental factors and governmental interventions. viii A modified Porter’s Diamond model and a conceptual model, based on King et al., (1994) work, were constructed and used. The diamond model used correlation analysis and trend analysis. The conceptual model used panel and OLS regression analysis. Both models assessed significance of various factors, divided into groups, for the broadband adoption at the national level. A critical analysis of previous studies is provided to extend the scope of the role of government in broadband adoption and impact of various factors responsible for broadband adoption at national level. The quantitative analysis of this dissertation provides evidence that various factors affect the availability of broadband Internet. These factors also include governmental intervention factors from both supply and demand side. The analysis of both model also affirms the criticality of household computer penetration, number of Internet users and non-users, firms’ e-commerce turnover, and number of people having tertiary education, electronic government services, and local loop unbundling (LLU) policies in promoting broadband adoption at national level.
Artikel ini membahas tentang sistem pendidikan Islam terpadu yang merupakan suatu sistem pendidikan yang memadukan antara sistem pendidikan pesantren yang berorientasi pada pembinaan imtak, dengan sistem pendidikan sekolah umum yang berorientasi pada pembinaan iptek dan keterampilan fungsional yang berorientasi pada siap pakai untuk kerja dan berwira usaha. Lahirnya Sistem Pendidikan Islam Terpadu dilatarbelakangi oleh: (1) Adanya dikotomi antara ilmu umum dengan ilmu agama yang berimplikasi pada pesatnya kemajuan di bidang pengetahuan dan teknologi sementara pengetahuan agama diabaikan, atau sebaliknya pengetahuan keagamaan maju tetapi wawasan ilmu dan teknologi yang dimiliki anak didik rendah. (2) Adanya dikotomi jalur pendidikan sekolah dan luar sekolah yang berimplikasi tidak sinerginya antara kegiatan belajar, beribadah dan berkarya dengan keterampilan fungsional.
IDENTIFICATION AND PRIORITIZATION OF COMPETENCIES POSSESSED BY FRUIT GARDEN OWNERS IN DISTRICT FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN Muhammad Saleem University of Agriculture Faisalabad february 2010 Major supervisor Dr. Tanvir Ali The purpose of this study was to identify and prioritize the competencies possessed by fruit garden owners in district Faisalabad, Pakistan. The target population consisted of all the (1993) Fruit Growing farmers of district Faisalabad. A stratified random sample of three hundred and seventeen fruit growing farmers was selected. The data were collected through personal interviews on a research instrument having five sections. A five point response likert scale was used to assess the levels of competencies possessed by fruit growers. The finding indicated that awareness regarding the sources of information of the respondents perceive that they possess various categories from very high ( =3.43) level regarding frequency of availability and high ( =3.57) level of correctness regarding university of Agriculture Faisalabad as a source of information but this source was available only to 4.4 percent of the respondents. The field Assistant were available to 87.00 percent of the respondents with low availability level ( =2.58) and low ( =2.13) level of correctness of information. While telephone had low ( = 1.37) level of availability and very low ( = 0.94) level of correctness was used by the respondents as a source of information.. Majority of the respondent (97.00) percent reported the major problem of proper training regarding fruit growing practices were not available to them with medium ( = 2.40) level of severity. The findings of the study indicated that fruit growers had possessed from low level to an average level of competence in most of the competencies, whereas all of the competencies were perceived as highly important for fruit production, protection and marketing. Themango growers had low ( = 2.7, 2.48, 2.5 and 2.13) level of knowledge, skill, attitude and adoption concerning mango growing practices, citrus growers had ( = 2.7, 2.49, 2.52 and 2.2) level, guava growers had low ( =2.72, 2.46, 2.59 and 2.15) level and date growers had low to medium ( = 2.78, 2.46, 2.63 and 2.24) level of knowledge, skill, attitude and adoption concerning fruit growing practices such as preparation of field, system layout for transplanting of nursery plants in the field up to harvesting and marketing of fruits. The fruit growers had low to medium level of knowledge, skill, attitude and adoption regarding fruit growing practices which indicate a need to train farmers regarding these practices. A greater (29.97, 26.49 and 17.35 percent) of the respondents reported that months of January, February and September are the appropriate time and majority (50.78 and37.22 percent) of the respondents reported that one week to two week time duration for the conduction of training courses and majority (54.89) percent) of the respondents reported that University of Agriculture Faisalabad is the ideal place for the training of fruit growers in the identified technical competencies. The Chi- square values for association between age groups, education level, tenancy status, size of land holding and knowledge level, skill, attitude, adoption level was highly significant which showed highly significant positive relationship between the age group, education level, tenancy status, size of land holding of respondents and knowledge, skill, attitude and adoption level of recommended practices concerning mango citrus, guava and date production, protection and marketing.