Home > Study on the Attitude of University Teachers and Students Towards Global Issues Pertaining to Human Rights - Exploring Global Perspective Through Local Disposition
Study on the Attitude of University Teachers and Students Towards Global Issues Pertaining to Human Rights - Exploring Global Perspective Through Local Disposition
The study aims at exploring the notion of human rights through investigating the attitude of university teachers and students (prospective teachers) towards global issues pertaining to human rights in Pakistan. The overall strategy for the current study is based on survey research design. From a methodological standpoint, mixed method paradigm (survey method and case-study) is used to gain quantitative and qualitative responses. Through stratified random sampling, total sample n=600, i.e., 520 students (prospective teachers), currently pursuing degree in education (B.Ed/M.Ed), and 80 teachers, currently teaching prospective teachers at public or private university were selected from 12 universities and four affiliated colleges of Sindh, Pakistan. For qualitative data, n=20 respondents were selected through purposive sampling. The quantitative data was collected using Human Rights Attitude Scale (HRAS), adapted from Attitudes toward Human Rights Inventory, ATHRI (Narvaez, Thoma & Getz, 2006) and Human Rights Questionnaire (Veizades et al., 1995). The adapted scale was validated through content validity, while Cronbach’s Alpha was statistically applied to check internal consistency (calculated as .90). For qualitative data, in-depth knowledge was inquired through focused group interviews. For ethical considerations, institutions and participants were informed about the research study through explanatory letter and informed consent was signed voluntarily. Overall, 96 hypotheses were tested using statistical tests (t-test and chi-square), while qualitative data was analyzed using themes. The study yields that there is a significant difference in the attitude of university students and teachers towards global issues pertaining to human rights (computed value of t= 6.22). There is a significant difference in the attitude of university students and teachers towards social security (t= 6.02) and civilian constraints (t= 4.92), while there is no significant difference towards personal liberties (t= 1.09). Significant differences are drawn among teachers on the basis of travelling, social/political affiliation, human rights training and experience, while significant differences are drawn among students on the basis of working status, location, schooling and last qualification. For item-by-item analysis, sixty hypotheses were tested out of which, forty hypotheses were rejected. From qualitative data, it was derived that students and teachers face multiple issues pertaining to human rights, which result in scarcity of expressing ideas in solving global issues pertaining to human rights. The respondents are not satisfied with the current state of human rights in Pakistan. Respondents emphasized on the role of teacher, education and higher education institution as a concrete ladder to foster positive changes in society. All the respondents highlighted the importance of incorporating global dimension in teacher education (TE) curriculum, but at the same time identified the missing gaps. Based on the results, suggestions and recommendations are submitted as supplements at the end
Pashto is the national language of Afghanistan and is one of the major languages spoken in KPK, Pakistan. According to a research, it has about seven thousand years old history. The speakers of this language are called Pathan or Afghans. They are, as a nation, Muslims. Its literature contains a vast part of Islamic Studies. The Oldest book on the Biography of the Holy Prophet in Pashto is considered to be “Qalbu Siyyr”. This article presents a research view of this book.
Membrane is a thin, delicate, flat sheet which acts as a barrier for selective transport of species under the impact of some driving force. Membrane technology has gained important place in industrial and medicinal field because of its easy utility, efficient performance and low cast. Hemodialysis is an extensively used medical therapy for renal failure and dialysis membranes are essential components of a hemodialysis. The essential properties of a dialysis membrane are high mass transfer of toxic solutes (urea and uric acid) to reduce the dialysis time, maximum protein rejection ability and moderate water flux. Protein adsorption or deposition on the surface or in its pores results in reduction in flux, change of selectivity of the membrane and the low toxin elimination. Polymeric membrane fabricated from cellulose, regenerated cellulose and synthetic polymers are well known for dialysis. Asymmetric Cellulose Acetate (CA) membranes were prepared through phase inversion method and they were modified by blending various organic and inorganic additives. The effects of these additives on membrane’s morphology were investigated using Atomic Force Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy and Contact Angle. Fabricated membrane’s performance was studied in terms of pure water flux, porosity, water uptake, BSA rejection and urea clearance tests. Biocompatibility and blood mimic tests were conducted to find the interaction of synthesized membrane towards cell culture and blood comparable fluids. In first part, CA was blended with poly-ethylene glycol (PEG). The membranes were modified by blending CA/PEG casting solution with glycol. The modified membrane showed good selectivity for urea but was not suitable for dialysis operation. Hence, the composition was reformed using Hydroxyapatite particles (inorganic additive).The results showed enhanced BSA rejection and urea clearance but the obtained percentages were low to be utilized in dialysis. The biocompatibility outcomes of CA/PEG/HA membrane make it appropriate for other biomedical applications. ix In the second part, CA was blended with organic additives including sericine, Poly vinylpyrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene imine (PEI) to improve BSA rejection and Urea clearance of polymeric membrane. These membranes possess moderate pure water flux and hydrophilicity. Performance evaluation investigations confirmed that all these membranes had good pure water flux and BSA rejection above 90%.Membranes fabricated using blend of CA and PEI have highest urea clearance of 67.2%. So, this membrane was selected for further adjustment. During the last part, effect of solvent on CA/PEI dialysis membrane was investigated. Various solvents including acetic acid, formic acid, N, N-Dimethylacetamide (DMAC) and 1-Methyl-2-pyrolidone (NMP) were tested. The performance efficiency of synthesized membranes verified to, when CA was blended with formic acid (F.A) have desired dialysis characteristics. It possesses moderate hydrophilicity, desired pure water flux value, optimum water uptake, above 98% BSA rejection and urea clearance percentage of 69%. The biocompatibility tests were conducted for CA/PEI/FA membrane using MTT (3-(4,5dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide )assay. It was found that the materials selected for this membrane fabrication were most suitable for dialysis application. Highest cell viability and cellular attachment found in biocompatibility analysis was higher in comparison with commercial dialysis tubing and non-treated control standard. CA/PEI/F.A membrane was further inspected via blood mimic solution to find the performance of membrane commensurate with blood type feed. The up short of the present work is that CA/PEI/F.A membrane is the best possible solution for dialysis. Providing new insight in the dialysis domain; this membrane is not only cost effective but also has high BSA rejection and Urea clearance. Accordingly, biocompatibility and blood mimic results prove it to be the finest device/implant for hemodialyser unit.