Microgel particles are emerging soft and smart materials for multiple applications including their use as adsorbent for environmental applications and as micro-reactor for in-situ fabrication of metal nanoparticles etc. The impregnation of such organic microgel particles with catalytic and optical active inorganic metal nanoparticles results in formation of hybrid materials with exceptional properties. This work encircles the synthesis of microgels with different morphologies, their use as adsorbent for environmental applications and as micro-reactor for stabilization of catalytic active metal nanoparticles. First part of the thesis emphasizes on recent research progress of the synthesis, properties, characterization and applications of microgels and hybrid microgels with different morphologies. Later, synthesis of poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide-acylic acid) [p(NipMa-Aac)], polystyrene poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide-acrylic acid) [PSt-p(NipMa-Aac)] core/shell microgels and silver nanoparticles loaded PSt-p(NipMa-Aac) composite microgels have been described in detail. pH responsive behavior of acrylic acid (Aac) co-monomer functionalized p(NipMa), PSt p(NipMa) and Ag@PSt-p(NipMa-Aac) core/shell hybrid microgels have also been described. Then, characterization of both pure and hybrid microgels using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Uv-vis spectroscopy (Uv-vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been described. Use of p(NipMa-Aac) microgel particles and PSt-p(NipMa-Aac) core/shell microgel particles as adsorbents for removal of various pollutants such as dyes and heavy metal ions from iii aqueous medium have been discussed in detail. At the end of thesis, applications of Ag@PSt p(NipMa-Aac) core/shell composite microgel particles as catalyst for reduction of various nitro aromatic compounds such as 2-nitrophenol (2-Np), 4-nitrophenol (4-Np), 2, 4-dinitrophenol (2, 4-DNp), 4-Nitrotoluene (4-NT) and 4-chloro nitrobenzene (4-CNb) as well as toxic dyes such as Congo red (CR), Rhodamine B (Rh-B), methylene blue (MB) and brilliant blue (Bb) under various reaction conditions to explore the mechanism of catalysis process have been described. Recoverability and reusability of Ag@PSt-p(NipMa-Aac) core/shell composite micro particles catalyst was also investigated.
In the post-industrial revolution world, social change is often studied and understood in the context of change in means of production, mobility, urbanization and change in the constitution of workforce. Role of ethical values is generally confined to personal conduct and manners. Industrial society is supposed to have its own work ethics which may or may not agree with personal ethics and morality. Ethics and morality are generally considered, in the Western thought, as a social construct. Therefore, with the change in means of production or political system, values and morality are also expected to be re-adjusted in order to cope with the changed environment. Sometimes a totally new set of values emerges as a consequence of the change in economic, political, or legal set up. The present research tries to understand the meaning and place of these values in a global socio-cultural framework. Relying essentially on the divine principles of the Qur'ān it makes an effort to understand relevance of these universal and ultimate principles with human conduct and behavior in society. It indicates that essentially it is the core values, principles, or norms which guide human beings in their interpersonal, social, economic and political matters. Islam being a major civilizing force, culture, and the way of life, provides values which guide both in individual and social matters. The values given by the Qur’ān and the Sunnah are not monopoly of the Muslim. These values are universal and are relevant in a technological society.
Literature on educational development suggests that the last decade has witnessed tremendous quantitative expansion in education but the quality of education being offered in developing countries has been a main concern for everyone. One of the reasons could be due to recruitment of untrained teachers, since experienced teachers have started leaving the profession. This has further aggravated the situation. Hence, many developing countries including Pakistan initiated effective teacher education programmes. The Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development has played a critical role by offering a wide range of teacher education programmes. The purpose of these programmes is to develop critical mass for institutional capacity building, required for school improvement. The M.Ed. programmes graduates called Professional Development Teachers (PDTs), work closely with teachers, in general, and inexperienced teachers in particular in their own context. In order to understand the role of PDTs in the professional development of novice teachers, a qualitative study was conducted in AKU-IED's four cooperating schools. A battery of research tools such as interview, observation and document analysis were used to gather the relevant information. The study suggests some important findings related to PDTs' role in the professional development of novice teachers. The PDTs seemed to have an adequate understanding of how to work with novice teachers for their professional development. The novice teachers feel that the PDTs have been great supporters for enhancing their professional learning. However, novice teachers need more professional support in the areas such as pedagogical approaches, classroom management, and material development. PDTs seem to have a major agenda of professional development in both, private and community-based schools; they need to use multiple instructional strategies for the professional development of novice teachers.