This dissertation entitled as “Professional Development and Reflection on Teaching as a Career among University Teachers” is based on three studies. These studies are interlinked with each other in a sense that study I is an exploratory research which uncovers the opinions of university teachers towards their teaching profession and it also identifies the sources of professional development which can be utilized by the university teachers to attain professional excellence in their career. The identification of sources of professional development provided a base for study II which was aimed on development and validation of “Sources of Professional Development Scale (SPDS)” by Akram (2018). Furthermore, the study III validated the scale through qualitative inquiry by carrying out in-depth interviews with experienced teachers to reflect upon their teaching as a career. The study I which was exploratory in nature highlighted the opinions of university teachers towards teaching as a profession. Mixed-method research design was followed in a study and the purposive sample consisted of 202 university teachers with age range from 25-58 years with varying designations. A self-generated questionnaire consisting of 14 open-ended questions was designed to extract information regarding their selection of teaching as a career, sources of professional development in teaching and their satisfaction with teaching as a career was administered to university teachers along with Stage Concern Questionnaire by (George, Hall and Stielgelbauer, 2006) to investigate the concerns of teachers in university setting. The qualitative part of the study was analyzed through deductive content analysis which indicated that it was the passion of 90% of the respondents to be a university teacher. Furthermore, the study indicated that the training followed by workshops and research publications are considered by both male and female university teachers as important parameters for professional excellence. However, females are more inclined to consider teaching as a stereotypical job for women than men. Moreover, this study has identified the financial incentives such as monetary benefits, salary, grant for academic trips and research along with non-financial incentives such as respect of teachers and professional alliance are the important sources of gratification of university teachers. The study highlighted the professional development programs, well-equipped classes, safe and secure environment are the utmost professional needs of the university teachers. Similarly, the study unveiled the co-curricular activities followed by research exposure and paper presentation and publication contributes significantly to the professional development of the teachers. On the contrary, it also highlighted the constraints which hampered the teaching progression such as fewer opportunities to grow, followed by peer pressure, lack of job structure and management issues. The quantitative phase of the study indicated that lecturers are higher in their concern of refocusing due to their professional survival and associate professors were significantly higher in their personal concerns due to changing trends in teaching setup. However, the results indicated that males exhibited more collaboration concerns as compared to female teachers. although, there was no significant differences in terms of gender and designation among university teachers on job satisfaction which indicate interesting finding that male and female university teachers and with varying ranks more or less enjoy same level of job satisfaction. The study II was aimed to construct a “Sources of Professional Development Scale (SPDS)” and had five phases namely: Items generation, content validation through Aiken’s V coefficient, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and convergent validity. Keeping in view the results of study I, previous literature and theoretical frameworks on professional development the initial pool of 127 items were generated which was then deduced to 48 items due to representation of construct under evaluation. Then, opinion of five academicians was taken on the 48 items scale with 1 (not appropriate) – 10 (most appropriate) and ratings were statistically evaluated by Aiken’s V coefficient. As a result, 17 items were removed from the scale on the basis of expert’s opinion and the resultant scale was of 30 items scale. Moreover, the pilot study on 10 university teachers also indicated that the scale is appropriate in assessing the construct. After piloting, the scale was administered on 205 participants and the exploratory factor analysis resulted exclusion of 10 items and generation of two factors namely: professional progression and professional recognition with 11 and 9 items respectively. Afterwards, the data of 224 participants was collected for confirmatory factor analysis of the scale and it resulted in removal of five more items resulting in 15 items scale with professional progression (8 items )and professional recognition (7 items). The overall, reliability of the scale was .84 which is highly acceptable. In the last, the convergent validity of the 15 items scale, SPDS, was assessed with 5 items scale, TAP (Torff, Sessions, & Byrnes, 2005), as both scales were evaluating the same construct. So, the results indicated that the significantly positive correlation of TAP with SPDS scale and its factors as well which means that the scale possesses construct validity. Lastly, the study III used the qualitative inquiry to validate the resultant scale by means of in-depth interviews with professors who reflected on their career and highlighted the sources of their professional development as university teacher. Four professors (2 male & 2 female) were interviewed to explore their teaching experience in universities of Pakistan and the IPA resulted in 15 super-ordinate themes which highlighted different aspects of their life-time teaching. Participants of the study claimed teaching to be profession of prophets, blessing for oneself and others, good way of catharsis as well as accountable profession while talking about their general perception of teaching. They also mentioned good communication skills, love for knowledge sharing, urge for professional knowledge and presence of mentors for being in teaching along with perception that Almighty chose this profession for them and they evolved as teacher over the years. Teachers also showed their concern that teaching is technology driven now which faces dishonesty in terms of time and knowledge and also features egalitarianism with reciprocal role of students. While reflective process, they also highlighted that now students look for short cuts as they focus more on quantity rather quality of knowledge as technology is facilitating and damaging the teaching system at the same time. Teachers also reflected on their professional change as they switched from books to discussion in classes, started factual teaching, became patient, and are open to change. Gaining students attention, motivating them, respect for diversity in classroom, professionalism and humor were key features of successful teaching in present scenario. When asked about sources of professional development in university teaching they pointed out paper publication and presentation, workshops, seminars, trainings, reflection on teaching, higher education and curiosity for knowledge as most prominent ones. According to participants, the major weaknesses of Pakistani teaching system were focus on rote learning, lack of indigenous literature, excessive teaching and non-teaching tasks as well as lack of curiosity in students and teachers. Professors believed that reflection leads teachers to progression, learning from ones mistakes, life-long learning and make them more flexible in ones approach. The participants of the study believed that knowledge sharing, mentorship, personal growth of students, personal and professional growth of faculty was their major contributions. The present work has great theoretical contribution in the Pakistani higher education system as here actual sources and issues of university teaching are targeted and discussed for further progression of educational system. The present dissertation have few limitations as its results can only be applicable on university teaching as well as the scale being generated in the present study is specifically for university teachers. In future, researches can be conducted on college teaching and the results can be merged to talk about overall teaching system in Pakistan at collegiate and university level" xml:lang="en_US
مولانا سید محمد میاں افسوس ہے ہماری انجمن علم وعمل کی ایک اورشمع روشن بجھ گئی، یعنی مولانا سید محمد میاں نے مختصر علالت کے بعد۷۴برس کی عمر میں۲۲/اکتوبر کوعین مغرب کے وقت ارون ہسپتال میں داعی اجل کو لبیک کہااور راہی ملک بقا ہوگئے۔اناﷲ واناالیہ راجعون۔مولانا گوناگوں علمی وعملی کمالات کے جو ایک شخص میں شاذونادر ہی جمع ہوتے ہیں جامع تھے، ایک طرف وہ بلند پایہ عالم،فقیہ ومحدث تھے دوسری طرف جنگ حریت وآزادی کے نہایت بہادراور بے خوف سپاہی، ایک طرف مورخ ومحقق اورکثیر التصانیف مصنف اوردوسری جانب اعلیٰ دفتری تنظیمی صلاحیتوں کے مالک،ایک طرف عابد شب زندہ دار اوردوسری طرف نہایت متواضع اورخلیق وملنسار،بے لوث وبے غرض،نام ونمود سے دور،شہرت ووجاہت طلبی سے نفور،نرم دم گفتار اورگرم بوقت ِپیکار۔ مرحوم دیوبند کے سادات رضوی سے تعلق رکھتے تھے اس لیے دیوبند میں پیدا ہوئے اوروہیں ازاوّل تاآخر تعلیم حاصل کی۔ فراغت کے بعد بعض مقامات پرمدرس رہے مگر پھر جمعیت علماء سے وابستہ ہوئے تو اسی کے ہوکر رہ گئے۔ وہ مولانا حفظ الرحمن سیوہاریؒ کے دست راست تھے، اس سلسلے میں کئی مرتبہ جیل بھی گئے، باتیں کم کرتے تھے اورکام زیادہ، نہایت سمجھ بوجھ اورہوش وگوش کے انسان تھے اورنہایت چست اور مستعد۔ حقیقت یہ ہے کے دفتری نظم ونسق کا بھرم ان کے دم سے قائم تھا۔اگرچہ ایک عرصہ سے درس وتدریس کاباقاعدہ سلسلہ نہیں رہاتھا لیکن مطالعۂ کتب اور تصنیف وتالیف کاذوق فطری تھا اس بناپر جمعیت علماء کی ہنگامہ خیز اور شبانہ روز مصروفیات کے باوجود وہ پابندی سے اس میں بھی لگے رہے ،چنانچہ اسی زمانہ میں دوکتابیں ’علماء ہند کاشاندار ماضی‘(تین جلدوں میں)اور’ علماء حق‘(۲ جلدوں میں) ان کے قلم سے نکلیں اورشائع ہوتے ہی ارباب علم وذوق کے حلقوں میں مقبول و مشتہر ہوگئیں، مشرق ومغرب میں ان سے استفادہ کیا گیا اور ان دونوں...
The present study is aimed to examine the relation of Holy Qur’ān recitation and psychological wellbeing among the Muslim Youth. People find no time for offering prayers and reciting Holy Qur’ān because they are very busy in their daily routines and if they do so, they do it for short period of time when they are in some trouble. The objectives include firstly the exploration of the relationship of Holy Qur’ān recitation and psychological wellbeing. Second objective of the study is to explore the correlation of the Holy Qur’ān recitation with depression, anxiety and stress among young Muslims. Study sample comprises of 100 young Muslims (43 males and 57 females) falling between 17 and 25 years from Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Instruments used for data collection include psychological wellbeing scale by Kamman and Flett (1983) and DASS (depression anxiety stress scale) by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995) and a demographic sheet. Results of the study showed that significant positive relationship exists between Holy Qur’ān recitation and psychological wellbeing among young Muslims and Holy Qur’ān recitation negatively relates with depression, anxiety and stress. The present study findings support that those young Muslims who had more rate of Holy Qur’ān recitation were psychologically more stable as compared to non-frequent reciters. In the light of findings of current study, it can be declared as a quintessence that Holy Qur’ān Recitation can serve as an influential element in ensuring the positive mental health of youth. Educators and Policy makers can play a crucial role in promotion of Holy Qur’ān familiarity which will make certain the psychological and mental health of youth and of the society at large.
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is an important plant known for antidiabetic steviol glycosides and several other bioactive compounds. Owing to the importance of Stevia plant and demand of natural secondary metabolites, the current research was conducted at Plant Tissue Culture Lab., Departmnet of Plant Breeding and Genetics, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, during the year of 2014-15. The objectives of the study were to optimize/evaluate the effect of sucrose (05, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 g l-1), pH (5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9 and 6.0) and inoculum sizes (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g) on biomass yield and valuable secondary metabolites accumulation in callus, cell and adventitious root cultures. Preliminary experiments were also carried out to optimize the effect of various monochromatic spectral lights (white, blue, green, yellow and red) on callus culture growth and secondary metabolites production. To check the effect of sucrose, media pH and inoculum sizes on cultures productivity, research work was conducted in Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Each culture was planned for a period of 30 days and 3 days intervals were kept to develop growth curves. The control light (16/8 hr) resulted in the maximum callogenic response (92.73%) along with the accumulation of maximum biomass (5.78 g l-1) during prolong log phase at 18th day of culture. Blue light was found the most effective for the production of total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) along with total antioxidant capicity (TAC) (102.32 μg/g-DW) (22.07 μg/g-DW) and (11.63 μg/g DW), respectively. On the other hand, reducing power assay (RPA; 0.71 Fe (II) g -1 DW) and DPPH-radical scavenging activity (DRSA; 80%) were considerably enhanced as a result of green and red lights, respectively. Sucrose concentrations also affected the biomass accumulation, growth kinetics and secondary metabolites production. The lag phase of 9 days was followed by log phase till 27th day of culture was recorded in callus cultures on 05, 10, 15 and 20 g l-1 sucrose. The rest of the cultures did not show a lag phase. All cultures, except a few displayed nonviability after 27 days of inoculation. The cultures initiated in media having 20, 25 and 30 g l-1 sucrose were found in stationary phase after 27 days of log phase. Similarly, cell cultures grown on 05-30 g l-1 sucrose concentrations displayed relatively shorter lag phase of 3 days as compared to 12 days lag phase in cultures with 35-50 g l-1 sucrose concentrations. The Lag phase in each cell culture was preceded by log phase till 18th day. Most cultures showed a stationery phases with or without decline phases. However, growth curve of adventitious root cultures was characterized with direct log phase till 18th day. The lag phase of 15 days was observed in cultures developed in media having 5 and 10 g l-1 sucrose, followed by very short log phase. The fresh and dry biomass of callus, cell suspension and adventitious root cultures was significantly affected by sucrose concentrations. The highest fresh and dry biomass (142.38 g l-1and 11.71 g l-1) in callus culture was with 40 g l-1 and 50 g l-1 sucrose, respectively. However, the maximum total phenolics content (TPC; 124.20 mg/g-DW), total flavonoids content (TFC; 49.36 mg/g-DW), rebaudioside contents (6.56 mg/g-DW) and antioxidant activity (92.82 %) in callus cultures was observed at sucrose concentration of 30 g l-1. By contrast, the highest stevioside (42.34 mg/g-DW) and rebaudioside (22.67 mg/g-DW) contents were recorded in callus culture grown at 15 and 20 g l-1 sucrose, respectively. In cell suspension culture, media having 20 g l-1 sucrose resulted in the maximum fresh (97.71 g l-1) and dry (8.57 g l-1) but the highest TPC (139.20 mg/g-DW) and TFC (41.46 mg/g-DW) was at 40 g l-1 sucrose. The highest antioxidant activity (83.87%) was observed at 30 g l-1 sucrose. While the stevioside content (40.32 mg/g-DW) was the maximum on media supplemented with 10 g l-1 sucrose, the highest rebaudioside (27.64 mg/g-DW) and dulcoside (6.43 mg/g-DW) contents were observed with 20 g l-1 sucrose. In case of adventitious root culture, the maximum fresh (175.43 g l-1) and dry (11.14 g l-1) biomass was accumulated in cultures having 50 g l-1 sucrose but the highest TPC (155.00 mg/g-DW) and TFC (94.78 mg/g-DW) were recorded with 30 g l-1 sucrose. While the highest antioxidant activity (94.43 %) was recorded in culture, established in media augmented with 20 g l-1 sucrose. The stevioside (73.97 mg/g-DW) and rebaudioside (24.57 mg/g-DW) content were the highest in media containing 10 g l-1 sucrose. By contrast, the dulcoside content (12.24 mg/g-DW) was the maximum at 40 g l-1 sucrose. It is suggested that sucrose concentration modulates biomass and metabolites of interest in callus, cell suspension and adventitious root cultures of Stevia rebaudiana. The media pH significantly influenced fresh and dry biomass of callus, cell suspension and adventitious root cultures. The biomass accumulation revealed a short lag phase of 3 days in callus cultures on media pH 4.0, 5.9 and 6.0; and cell suspension culture on pH 5.6 and 5.7; while the adventitious roots culture expressed a lag phase of 3 days on media pH 5.5-6.0. The log phase was followed by decline phases in callus and cell suspension cultures. However, root growth was not restricted in cultures having pH 5.2 and 5.4 even after 27 days of the culture. pH 5.6 was optimized for the maximum fresh (130.57 g l-1) and dry biomass (12.10 g l-1) of callus cultures. However, the highest TPC (43.38 mg/g-DW), TFC (37.55 mg/g-DW) and antioxidant activities (87.68 %) in callus cultures were recorded on media pH 5.6. Media pH 5.6 was also found optimum for the maximum stevioside (62.20 mg/g-DW) and rebaudioside (22.79 mg/g-DW), while 5.1 for dulcoside (5.92 mg/g-DW) production in callus cultures. Similarly, the maximum fresh and dry biomass (85.81 g l-1; 8.84 g l-1) of cell suspensions were observed on media pH 5.6 and 5.5, respectively. The highest TPC (72.13 mg/g-DW), TFC (57.32 mg/g-DW), DRSA (93.99%), rebaudioside (7.01 mg/g-DW) and dulcoside (4.72 mg/g-DW) contents were observed in cell suspension cultures established in media having pH 5.8. However, stevioside contents were induced to their maximal level (41.47 mg/g-DW) at pH level 5.2 in cell culture. In contrast, the highest fresh (112.86 g l-1) and dry (8.29 g l-1) biomass were accumulated in adventitious root culture on media pH 6.0. The maximum TPC (70.06 mg/g-DW), TFC (50.19 mg/g-DW), DRSA (92.67 %) and dulcoside contents (2.57 mg/g-DW) in adventitious root cultures were recorded on media pH 5.8. However, the highest stevioside (79.48 mg/g-DW) and rebaudioside (13.10 mg/g-DW) contents in adventitious root cultures were accumulated at 5.1 media pH. Various inoculum sizes also had significant influence on growth kinetics, biomass and secondary metabolites production in callus, cell suspension and adventitious root cultures. Relatively short lag phase of 3 days in callus cultures, while elongated lag phases from day 3rd to 12th day of the cultures developed from inoculum sizes (0.5-2.0g) was recorded. However, adventitious root cultures did not display lag phases. An increase in biomass with elongated log phases from day 3rd to 27th day of the culture was observed in callus cultures. Among all inoculum sizes, 2.0 g started sudden increased in biomass accumulation up to 15 days and increments in growth was further continued till 27th day of culture. Log phase was followed by sudden decline phase without having any stationery phase in all cultures. Similarly, the highest fresh and dry biomass (112.29 g l-1; 7.71 g l-1) in callus cultures was observed at 2.0 g inoculum. However, cultures developed from smaller inoculum (0.5 g) resulted the maximum TPC (28.54 mg/g-DW), TFC (24.78 mg/g-DW), DRSA (77.57 %), stevioside (43.89 mg/g-DW) and rebaudioside (36.54 mg/g-DW) contents in callus cultures, while the highest dulcoside contents (2.57 mg/g-DW) were observed at 1.0 g inoculum. On the other hand, Cell suspension also accumulated the maximum fresh (102.71 g l-1) and dry biomass (5.38 g l-1) at 1.5 g inoculum. Moreover, the highest TPC (45.36 mg/g-DW), TFC (36.50 mg/g-DW), stevioside (59.89 mg/g-DW), rebaudioside (24.41 mg/g-DW) and dulcoside (1.85 mg/g-DW) contents were found in cell cultures established from 0.5 g inoculum. However, the maximum DRSA (78.30%) was found in cell cultures having initial inoculum size 2.0 g. Similarly, adventitious root cultures accumulated the maximum fresh biomass (106.86 g l-1), dry biomass (5.05 g l-1) and dulcoside contents (0.71 mg/g-DW) at 1.5 g inoculum. Inoculum size 2.0 g was optimized for the maximum TPC (41.46 mg/g-DW), TFC (33.44 mg/g-DW) and DRSA (98.82 %). However, stevioside (64.75 mg/g-DW) and rebaudioside (29.67 mg/g-DW) contents were significantly increased to their maximal level using initial inoculum size (1.0 g). Herein, we concluded that the utilization of various colored spectral lights, concentrations, pH levels and inoculum sizes are promising strategies for enhanced biomass yield and secondary metabolites production in callus, cell suspension and adventitious root cultures of Stevia rebaudiana." xml:lang="en_US