Introduction

JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENT & MANAGEMENT STUDIES (JCD&MS)

Volume 6 · ISSN 2052-6797

General theme ‘Education’.

Diverse approaches have been taken to education in the articles published in Volume 6 of the JCD&MS. Focus has shifted towards the exploration of issues affecting contemporary development at national and international levels in more breadth than has previously been the case. Despite the diversity of topics explored and approaches taken, all of the contributions in this volume are linked to educational issues impacting upon social wellbeing, whether focused upon the provision of background knowledge deemed essential for understanding the complexities of current international conflicts or dealing with recent approaches to software security.

In ‘Education and Life: failings in the education system,’ Edmund Wright takes the view that subject competency and skills associated with traditional education are insufficient for meeting the educational needs of modern society. Although classical competencies in English, Mathematics, Sciences and Languages should still be encouraged, the importance of emotional and cognitive development and the acquisition of life-long skills in comforting people and putting them at ease or getting one’s ideas across to others may be even more essential.

In the article on transnational higher education provision (TNE), Nazim Uddin and Nick Papé make the case that the UK is well positioned to become more involved in transnational higher education by virtue of its educational pre-eminence and global reputation. They argue that substantial opportunities exist to develop TNE institutions in the UK that are capable of benefitting a wide range of potential students. On the basis of research undertaken, recommendations are made about the features one should expect to see in optimal transnational HE institutions.

Priyangani Ariyawansha’s article on privately-owned HE institutions in developing countries focuses upon prospects for enhancing student opportunities in Sri Lanka. Research collected indicates that Sri Lanka’s public Universities are not able to meet the entry demands for all of its highly qualified prospective applicants, and, as a result, the lack of university graduates has exerted a negative impact upon the Sri Lankan economy. She argues that private HE providers in Sri Lanka can address this shortcoming, providing quality requirements are met. In her view, private HE Institutions have a positive part to play in improving prospects for HE education in developing countries.

Nick Papé’s article explores the use of psychodynamic and sociocultural theories to investigate what facilitates learning in psychodynamic psychotherapeutic courses. His investigations indicate that the psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy contains no intrinsic theory of learning and teaching. In his view, psychotherapy should not be isolated from education. Adopting a twin lensed approach that combines therapeutic and educational processes should empower teachers, researchers and students.

Arif Ahmed Sunny’s article on entrepreneurship and innovation explores the reasons prompting high failure rates of small enterprises in the UK. The issue is regarded as particularly significant, given the importance of entrepreneurial endeavours and small business development to the UK’s future economic growth and development. Key factors prompting failure are identified, and, on the basis of research findings, a model framework is developed to facilitate learning and improve prospects for success in small entrepreneurial ventures.

Isabel Morrell and Nick Papé have chosen to explore issues relating to the current crises affecting the Syrian population. Their research findings have been organised into three separate articles: one of which appears in this volume; the other two articles will be published in Volume 7, Issues 1 and 2 of the JCD&MS, respectively. In this volume, the authors explore the legacy of colonialism with a view to assessing its impact upon the development of a national Syrian identity. Research findings indicate that colonisers are responsible to some degree for the identity crisis that has developed in that country.

Mahin Talukder’s article on software security seeks to acquaint readers with recent technological approaches aimed at preventing intrusions into software programmes and systems. Focus is placed upon exploring current approaches to code obfuscation, including programme slicing, that increase the code complexities, thereby reducing prospects for hostile intrusions into software systems. In his view, an approach that combines programme slicing with code obfuscation would improve prospects for software security in commercial ventures.

Arif A Sunny’s second contribution to this volume investigates the impact of emotional intelligence upon negotiation and mediation in the workplace. Major patterns of conflict and the emotional triggers likely to impede successful negotiations are identified. On the basis of research findings, recommendations are made for maximising the use of emotional intelligence in the negotiation process.

Mohammad M. Hasan seeks to inform readers about Murabaha Financing in Islamic Banking: in particular, approaches advocated by the Islami Bank of Bangledesh Ltd. Financing arrangements undertaken through Murabaha are compared with those practiced by traditional Western banking establishments, and distinctions are clearly rendered.

These brief descriptions of the articles have been provided to encourage readers to reflect upon the diverse topics covered and different approaches adopted that fit comfortably within the broad perspective of education as a basis of academic research, in spite of topic differences. It is hoped that positive impressions will encourage others to contribute to JCD&MS, whether submissions are in the form of an article, expressing a point of view, reviewing published work or offering a response to one of the articles put forward in this volume. A number of contribution modes are available and production information is set out in the Guidelines for Journal Contributors that appears at the end of this volume.

On behalf of the editorial team,

Dr Tommie Anderson-Jaquest, PhD, FHEA, FISM
Principal Editor, JCD&MS
Volume 6, Autumn 2018