Vol. 4 No. 12 (2012)

In line with the “National Strategy 2009-2013” launched by the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), this study proposed to investigates the behaviour of university leaders (transformational leadership or transactional leadership behaviour) in enhancing academic performance of Iraqi public universities (including teaching, research, service, and staff satisfaction). A review of the literature suggests that there is positive relationship between leadership behaviour and academic performance in higher education; however, there is a dearth of studies investigating this relationship. The results are expected to show that leadership behaviour has positive relationship on academic performance in Iraqi HEIs.

A new pencil puzzle, Speed++TM, was developed by combining and adapting the ideas of two popular Japanese pencil puzzles i.e. Kakuro and Numberlink. The novel characteristics of Speed++TM and its advantages are then compared to traditionally composed mental arithmetic questions used in practice and competitions by mental arithmetic associations. In particular, the new puzzles have a dynamic structure which in effect tests visual-spatial skills, memory, and concentration. The puzzles also look more appealing and are easy to produce through computer implemented algorithms. We further describe the potential of this puzzle as a more vibrant mental arithmetic challenge for mental arithmeticians and its viability for educational use in schools and brain training programs similar to Prof. Kawashima’s world famous brain training program.

The present study analyses influence of board structure and cash holdings on the value of Australian firms for the period 2004 to 2010. Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) adopted the Principles of Good Corporate Governance Guidelines in 2003 and Australian firms have started adopting these principles starting 2004. Similarly the reporting framework of Australian firms is harmonized with the rest of the world with adoption of Australian International Financial Reporting Standards (AIFRS) starting in 2004. Corporate cash holdings despite their significance have not been considered extensively in prior literature outside the US. Cash holdings may have significant influence on the value of the firm as too much excess cash may lead to misuse of these funds by entrenched managers. Corporate governance has a role to play in maintaining appropriate cash holdings and their use. The present has two objectives: it considers the influence of corporate cash holdings on the value of Australian firms; and it examines the role of board structure on the relationship between cash holdings and value of the firm. The present study considers all non-financial firms that are part of the All Ordinaries Index (AOI). The present study constructs Fama French 25 portfolio and estimate the excess return as the difference between actual return and the average return of the relevant FF portfolio. OLS analyses show that board independence has no significant impact on the value of the firm though cash holdings have significant influence. Analysing using panel data methods however unearth the significant influence of board independence on the value of Australian firms.

The global takaful market is estimated by market analysts to reach a premium of U.S. $ 12.5 billion by 2015. Malaysia is considered the second largest takaful in the world with total asset of US$ 3.2 billion. One of the new innovations of takaful and insurance in Malaysia is Perbadanan Insurance Deposit Malaysia (PIDM) which is also known internationally as the Malaysia Deposit Insurance Corporation (MDIC). The role of MDIC is to provide protection to owners of takaful certificate and to ensure the stability and confidence in the market by protecting policy holder (takaful certificate). Therefore, this study investigates the extent to which MDIC is relevant to takaful operators. Personal interviews are carried out with shariah advisers of takaful operators to deduce the actual practice, the ideal role and to gain access to the field of MDIC and its implications in Malaysia. The findings of this research indicate that MDIC is relevant to takaful operators and part of the regulations that should be supported and encouraged. Furthermore, the study also found that shariah advisers suggest Wakalah bi ajr as an alternative of kafalah-bi al-ajr by shifting the scheme to tabarru‘model. In addition, the study found that the contribution paid should be charged to the participants’ fund; this is because the protection provided by MDIC is for the fund that belongs to the participants and takaful operators deemed to be wakeel (agent) only.

Web 2.0 technologies provide members of the learning community with new and innovative ways to create disseminate and share information both individually and collaboratively. This phenomenon has been termed e-Learning 2.0. However, e-Learning 2.0 is more than the application of these technologies in the learning community; it is a movement that is beginning to transform the nature of learning. In this paper we present and explain four Web 2.0 technologies - blogs, wikis, podcasts, and social networks - and look at how these technologies are currently being used by staff. We consider the use of Web 2.0 technologies by students to find and share information and to form support communities and then we explore a Web 2.0 pedagogical model that would connect students - tomorrow’s professionals - with today’s professionals in order to enhance student education through providing collaborative learning opportunities together with ready access to multiple sources of information and expertise.