Lebanese Universities Research Articles

Emotional intelligence and organizational commitment: An affective association in the context of Lebanese universities

This paper aims to assess the influence of emotional intelligence on organizational commitment. A quantitative survey was conducted among the academic staff of Lebanese universities to reach this objective. This research paper is an explanatory, descriptive, and confirmatory study. This cross-sectional study is based on a quantitative method to examine the validity of the theory or model. This research favors the deductive approach. This approach enables the deduction of a general conclusion from hypotheses. The structured questionnaire is constructed on the theoretical constructs of the mixed approach of the Goleman model, evaluating the following six components: self-awareness, self-control, internal motivation, empathy, leadership skills, and interpersonal relationship management. Empirical testing incorporates the plurality of causes and effects of interaction in this explanatory, descriptive research. Universities confront a lack of employee commitment. Emotional appreciation drives commitment to the organization. E.I. denotes the aptitude to detect, categorize, and use feelings to smooth rational decisions. The study verified that E.I. components significantly and positively influence organizational commitment, with internal motivation having the highest influence in Lebanese universities. Soft skills are essential abilities. Decision-makers and managers of Lebanese universities, conscious and attentive to the influence of employees' emotions, should integrate emotional intelligence into their managerial practices. To build and maintain organizational commitment, displaying appropriate emotions, interpersonal relationships, and communication are compulsory.

Identification of Factors Influencing Educators Perception of Blended Learning and Triggering Adoption Decisions

This study employs theoretical frameworks from the past to determine the factors that drive instructors to adopt blended learning (BL). Using a quantitative approach, the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was utilized to examine a sample size of 302 instructors from four multi-campus Lebanese universities that offer a business degree. The research findings indicate that ease of use has a positive impact on both attitude and usefulness towards BL. Furthermore, the perceived usefulness of BL positively influences the attitude and intention to use the system. To achieve greater adoption of BL, technical support should be a central component of educators' provision since it has a positive effect on the perceived ease of use. Additionally, subjective norms, such as positive image and usefulness, have a positive influence on educators, as they are influenced by important people in their lives, including their supervisors, as well as by the group's positive image.

Hand hygiene during the spread of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study of awareness and practices among academic institutions in Lebanon.

During the pandemic, the World Health Organization has recommended hand hygiene as one of the effective preventive measures to limit the global spread of COVID-19. However, the awareness gap of hand hygiene protocols could increase the spread of COVID-19 and consequently increase the absenteeism rate among academic institutions. This study aims to assess hand hygiene awareness and practices levels among various university communities in Lebanon. A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2021 and June 2022 among 1,291 participants from academic settings in Lebanese universities. An online survey (score-based questionnaire) of hand hygiene was conducted to evaluate the awareness and practices among university communities (faculty, staff, and students). Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine whether significant differences exist in the levels of awareness with regard to gender, age, provinces, educational level, and university status. Pearson's chi-squared test was applied to assess differences among the sample characteristics and participants' practice of hand hygiene. It was found that most of the participants showed a moderate level of awareness (76.4%) with a mean score of 7.59 out of 12 (SD = 1.68). The Mann-Whitney test indicated that females recorded higher levels of awareness than males with a significant difference of 102, 104: p < 0.05. Another notable variable was the educational level of the participants with university degrees holders recording higher scores of awareness than the ones with high school degrees as per the Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05). Significant differences were also shown in awareness scores among the age groups and the university status (p < 0.05). The Pearson's chi-squared test results showed that females used alcohol-based hand rubs or soap and water more frequently than males (p < 0.05). However, males significantly preferred the frequent use of water alone compared to females (p < 0.05). The study findings highlighted the necessity of awareness campaigns and health educational programs addressing the technical skills of hand hygiene among both genders (especially males) of the academic communities in Lebanon.

Prevalence and correlates of classical eating disorders during COVID-19 lockdown among Lebanese universities students

Prevalence and correlates of classical eating disorders during COVID-19 lockdown among Lebanese universities students

Needed MIS Competencies to the Job Market: Students’ Perspective

The purpose of this paper is to investigate and identify the sets of competencies that are commensurate with employability requirements. The study follows a quantitative, deductive, and positivist approach. A sample of 62 Lebanese students majoring in management information technology and management information systems (MIT/MIS) was selected conveniently based on the participants' willingness to participate. Students belonged to three Lebanese universities. The research capitalizes on a survey questionnaire divided into three sections. The first section includes knowledge questions, the second section constitutes five parts that address different sets of competencies, and the third section constitutes demographics. Questions and statements followed different styles. Collected data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS version 26.0 package. Data analysis used descriptive, factor, and linear regression analyses. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were very favorable. Results identified seven factors, each factor constituting 3 to 10 elements. These were condensed using a variable transformation technique and obtained weighted sums modeled using regression analysis. As a result, a competency model was assessed based on the students' current competencies against the necessary employability competencies. The research outcomes serve as a boost to the MIT/MIS competencies theoretical foundations in the context of Lebanon. Moreover, results, though not generalized, serve as an eye-opener for future research. Several recommendations posit the implications to policymakers in higher education and employers in the ICT sectors and other technology-based companies.

Mapping crisis intervention course into social work academic curricula in Lebanon

Social work is strongly presented to support and decrease the suffering of people living in a crisis. The call to intervene professionally in such cases is highly demanded by government institutions, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and United Nations agencies, the main umbrella that enfolded practitioner social workers in Lebanon. Although Lebanon has experienced successive crises for more than forty years, there is no national strategy for social work or for intervention during crises that must be developed by the Ministry of Social Affairs in collaboration with relevant institutions such as academia. However, considering that the Lebanese universities that graduate social workers are the most important source for developing that strategy based on evidence-based research, unfortunately, they did not do any action. The purpose of this article is to describe how these universities are preparing students and developing their capacities to deal with the crisis consequences. The focus of this article is the presence of the Crisis Intervention (CI) course in the curricula of universities. Data were collected from all Lebanese universities’ websites and catalogs with undergraduate-level social work majors (N = 6). The data were issued from reviewing the curricula of the six universities that covered the N = 290 course. Data shows that the CI course does not enclose three out of six published curricula as well and results indicate a modest appearance of the crisis and its relevant courses. Accordingly, at the end of the research, a syllabus of the crisis intervention course is proposed and will be shared with the six Lebanese concerned Universities.

Evaluation of awareness and performance towards COVID-related disinfectant use among the university communities in Lebanon.

The fast spread of COVID-19 reinforced the daily use of disinfectants around the world. However, the awareness gap of disinfectant use could lead to health risks during the prevention of the pandemic. This study aims to assess the level of awareness and performance towards COVID-related disinfectant use among various university communities (student, staff, and faculty) in Lebanon. A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2021 and June 2022 among 925 participants (males and females aged between 18 and 64 years old) from academic settings in Lebanese universities using convenience sampling. An online validated survey (score-based questionnaire) of personal disinfectants' utilization was conducted to evaluate the awareness and performance levels using SPSS (version 21). Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to check significant differences in awareness and performance levels among gender, age, provinces, educational level, university status, and field of study. Friedman test was used to test for significant differences in performance level questions pre-and post-COVID-19. The Spearman correlation test was used to determine the correlation between the awareness and performance of the respondents regarding the use of disinfectants. It was found that the majority of the respondents showed a weak level of awareness (70.8%) while their performance (61.9%) was moderate. Spearman's correlation analysis concluded a weak correlation between the awareness and performance levels (p < 0.01). The Mann-Whitney test indicated that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in awareness and performance levels between males and females. Another notable variable was the educational level of the respondents (p < 0.05) with postgraduate degrees holders recording higher mean scores of awareness than the ones with undergraduate and high school degrees as per Kruskal-Wallis test. Significant differences were shown in awareness scores among the age groups and in performance scores among the field of study (p < 0.05). The study findings highlighted the necessity of awareness campaigns and training programs addressing the technical handling of disinfectants among the communities in Lebanon. Lebanese governmental authorities (Ministry of Public Health,MoPH, and Ministry of Education and Higher Education, MEHE), and the healthcare professionals and public health researchers in Lebanon may utilize this new evidence to initiate public health interventions as a part of the United Nations (UN) sustainability goal of wellbeing (Sustainable Development Goal 3, SDG 3).

The Effect of Financial Literacy on Financial Behavior and its Impact on Financial Decisions – The Case of Lebanese University Students

Financial literacy is the comprehension of finance and attitudes toward financial opportunity and financial behavior. Financial acquaintance is crucial for making responsible financial decisions. In this challenging financial environment, we are living in, young people, particularly university students, must make challenging financial decisions that will impact their financial behavior. This study aims to examine the relationship between financial behavior and financial decision-making among Lebanese university students. The study is significant because it raises serious questions regarding the long-term effects of financial literacy on financial behavior and its impact on financial decision-making. The study adopted a quantitative methodology to accomplish its key goals. Students from various Lebanese universities were given a questionnaire. Using a convenience sampling method, a sample of five hundred ninety-eight participants was obtained. SPSS was used to analyze the data, namely Pearson correlation and regression analyses. The study's conclusions demonstrated the beneficial influence of financial literacy on financial behavior. Additionally, they demonstrated the beneficial effects of financial conduct on the financial judgments of university students in Lebanon. Thus, it is strongly advised that college students become financially literate so they may make wise financial decisions. Moreover, for Lebanon to be among the top countries with the highest financial literacy the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education should include within the curriculum of the intermediate and secondary classes some financial educational programs, workshops, and seminars. This will let students have exposure to basic financial knowledge and learn its significance and need in their financial decision-making.

The impact of grade inflation on teachers’ evaluation: A quantitative study conducted in the context of five Lebanese universities

Asking students to evaluate teaching faculty by every ending semester in modern education is an established trend. In the higher education circles, it is validated based on a large body of research showing a relationship between these evaluations and students’ achievement. The arising problem is whether this relation is positively associated or not, and the presence of a growing debate pertaining to the many factors influencing this correlation. Most of the cited research shows a link between the attitude of students and their achievement. This research studies the effect of students’ grade point average (GPA), together with the type of university as public or private, and students’ major, on their attitude towards faculty teaching evaluations. The results of the multiple regression show a strong relationship between GPA and students’ attitude towards faculty evaluations, suggesting an ethical duality affecting grade inflation.

La formation en traduction juridique au Liban: une étude de terrain

Legal Translation Training in Lebanon: A Field Study&#x0D; This article presents the results of an empirical study focused on three major axes. The study was conducted in Lebanon on three main actors in the field of legal translation: translators, commissioners, and translation schools. It aims at highlighting the actual role that universities play in training competent legal translators capable of satisfying market needs in the field of legal translation. For this purpose, the study draws links between translators’ attitudes towards legal translation, commissioners’ attitudes towards the legal translation services available on the market, and the university training that translators receive in this field. The concurrent embedded strategy of mixed method research designs was adopted, whereby the primary quantitative method guides the study, and the qualitative method provides a supporting role. In effect, the first two axes of the study seek to collect quantitative data by way of two surveys. The first survey is addressed to translators holding a master’s degree in translation at the least, while the second survey targets the main commissioners of legal translation projects in Lebanon. As for the third axis, it seeks to collect qualitative data through interviews carried out with the heads of department of translation at the Lebanese universities which have been selected, based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, to take part in the study. The data collected from the first two axes of the study is analyzed in order to bring forward numerical and statistical results, while the analysis of the data collected from the third axis of the study highlights the areas of convergence as well as divergence between the different translation schools in Lebanon. The study shows a shortage of specialized legal translators of proven competence as compared to a high demand for legal translation in Lebanon. Legal translation commissioners, for their part, are reluctant to resort to translators and have no trust in their competence. In effect, the study underlines several weaknesses that translators in Lebanon suffer from when asked to translate legal texts, of which the ability to understand legal texts and reformulate them in the target language, the ability to compare different legal systems and the concepts relating to these systems, the understanding and use of specialized legal language, documentary research, and access to reliable legal resources. These results are due, at least in part, to the conditions of the training provided by universities in the field of legal translation. In fact, the results of the study underline an almost total lack of specialized training programs in legal translation as well as in all other fields of translation. Moreover, legal translation courses are overloaded, and the development of thematic, technological, and strategic competences, as well as research skills and competence in specialized legal language, is weak. Nevertheless, the study draws a positive correlation between translation schools investing in legal translator training and interest of both students and translation professionals in this field of translation. In light of the results of this empirical study, the gaps to be bridged in the existing translation programs are pinpointed in order for these programs to better respond to market needs. A partial solution to the underlined problem undoubtedly lies in establishing a targeted training program in legal translation, which combines translation, law, and linguistics and aims to train highly specialized legal translators.&#x0D; legal translator; competence; specialized translation; translator training

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND INSTRUCTORS’ PERFORMANCE IN LEBANESE PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

The conducted research aims to measure and explain the influence of emotional intelligence on their job performance within the education sector in Lebanon specifically in Lebanese universities. To reach this objective, the model of Golemanwas chosen to answer the research question.This model is based on emotional and social skills grouped into five dimensionsinclude self-awareness, self-motivation, empathy, social skills, and self-regulation. EI is the ability to understand and reason with emotions, perceive and express emotions, and integrate emotions to facilitate thinking and regulating emotions in oneself and others.&#x0D; The quantitative approach allows testing hypotheses on representative samples. A quantitative method was chosen because it is a question of measuring the level of emotional intelligence of academic staff of Lebanese universities on the one hand, and, on the other hand, evaluating their job performance and the influence of emotional intelligence on job performance. The analysis of primary data and results obtained from the questionnaire are analyzed using the SPSS V25. However, the thematic analysis of the theory was done using NVIVO 12.The results mainly showed two positive correlations between EI dimensions and achievement and job performance.Emotionally intelligent teachers create effective learning environments. They can motivate their students by understanding their behavioral and psychological well-being.&#x0D;

Challenges in Teaching Literature in EMI to EFL Speaking Students at University Level: Instructors' Perception

The study's objective was to explore the achieved challenges in the applied pedagogy practices of the English literature majors that are delivered in the English Medium of Instruction (EMI) in the context of the English foreign language (EFL) students at various Lebanese Universities. Understanding the challenges instructors are experiencing through the implementation of the English literature course work is the central focus of the study. The study aimed to highlight the practiced delivery of the academic literature course framework in the EMI and the setbacks this was having on the university instructors attempting to successfully achieve the specified disciplinary objectives within the designated time frame and in students acquiring the course content in its entirety as is experienced when applied in the English language. The study highlights students' language proficiency needed to achieve the internationalized course contents objectives. Supplementary findings from the study's questionnaire reveal that university admission can not assume students have the required skills needed to study the academic literature course work upon registration. The data further suggests that students need to have an A-level proficiency in the English language academic to ensure the taught literature course content is received in its totality, par with other internationalized literature programs. Moreover, the study encourages the need to explore current global universities in non-Anglo countries to examine how they may have successfully reformed their major literature courses delivered in EMI to EFL students.

Contraception knowledge and practices among students in Lebanese universities.

This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of contraception users among Lebanese youth, and the extent of knowledge and perception on birth control; and to raise awareness and sensitise young adults to sexual health, which remains taboo in Lebanon. The 30-item questionnaire was broadcasted to students in private and public universities in Lebanon, through social media and it collected information on contraception use and student knowledge. Over 30% of responders were medical students, and 41% have ever used contraceptives (mostly women); among which, 52.1% for contraception versus 47.9% for medical reasons. According to responders, the pill ranked high in terms of effectiveness (72.4% of responders perceive the pill as effective), followed by the male condom (69.1%) and the hormonal intrauterine device (29.6%). Some would not use contraception in the future, for religious reasons (30.8%) or for fear of complications (46.2%); indeed, around a third of contraceptive users (all female) have experienced adverse effects. Finally, students expressed concern about long-term complications of contraceptive use (pulmonary embolism/phlebitis, breast/endometrial/ovarian cancer, stroke, depression and myocardial infarction). Though less frequent than in the Western world, contraception use in Lebanon is non-negligible and gaps in university students' knowledge on contraception were identified; which should prompt sexual education and family planning initiatives in Lebanon.

Novice Translators’ Troubles and the Need for Innovative Translation Curricula: Lebanese Context.

This paper provides an overview of the curricula in translation programs at the undergraduate level in Lebanon and the need to update these curricula in alignment with the continuously evolving market. Globalization is very common in both the translation market and the educational sector, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has imposed the need to update these curricula and investigate to which extent the courses offered in some Lebanese universities equip students with what is needed in the changing translation ecosystem, taking into account the new competence-based training trends in the translation market. Surveys and interviews were conducted with students, teachers, and owners of translation companies to shed light on the obstacles novice translators face when they first embark on their professional journey. What does the market expect from novice translators? What is missing in translation curricula? And to what extent does this curriculum answer the needs of the translation changing market? It is found that there is a need for some Lebanese universities to reconsider their curricula, mainly focusing on technology and aligning curriculum content with market needs

FACTORS INFLUENCING STUDENT’S INTENTION TO USE E-LEARNING SERVICES: AN APPLIED STUDY ON LEBANESE PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

The study’s purpose is to investigate the impact of selected factors (Computer self-efficacy (CSE), subjective norms (SN), perceived enjoyment (PE), perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), attitude) on university students’ intention to use e-learning. The objective of this paper is to advance a conceptual framework to better understand the factors that could affect the intention of students to use e-learning in Lebanese universities. The collection of the data was from 444 private universities students in Lebanon. The SEM analysis had been used to assess the influence of these components to intend e-learning system. All proposed relationships are accepted in the framework expected the relationships between Computer self-efficacy (CSE) and subjective norms (SN) on perceived usefulness are rejected. In addition, relationships between subjective norms and perceived enjoyment on perceived ease of use (PEOU) are rejected. Finally, results are discussed then conclusions and future research are presented.

Assessment of the nutritional value of vending machine products and associated purchasing behavior in Lebanese universities

PurposeThe aim is to evaluate the nutritive value of vended machine items at university campuses in Lebanon and to explore the factors associated with the use of vending machines among students.Design/methodology/approachCampuses (n = 32) were screened for the presence of vending machines, and items sold in those machines (n = 21) were observed and assessed for their nutritive value. Also, a convenient sample of 603 students completed a web-based questionnaire investigating the association between the use of vending machines with the eating habits and body composition. Independent t-tests or chi-square, in addition to non-parametric test (Mann–Whitney) were conducted. Significance level of 0.05 was used.FindingsVending machine snacks sold in 20 out of 21 universities were high in sugar (32.1 g/100 g), fat (29 g/100 g) and saturated fat (10.5 g/100 g), while for beverages, 20% of the universities had them high in sugar (9.5 g/100 ml), fat (2.9 g/100 g) and saturated fat (1.7 g/100 g). The use of vending machines around campus was associated with significantly higher weekly consumption of crisps, savory snacks and milk. The majority of the participants were vending machine users (77.1%). Vending machine users had a higher weekly consumption of crisps and savory snacks (3.6 ± 4.3 vs 2.3 ± 3.3; p = 0.008) and a higher weekly consumption of milk (4.0 ± 4.2 vs 3.0 ± 3.6; p = 0.036).Originality/valueNo study has determined the nutritive value of vending machines in universities in Lebanon, nor investigated the associated factors with their use.

The Making of a 21st Century English Language Teacher during the Pandemic

English language has become a cosmopolitan language. It is the lingua franca of the 21st century. This fact has turned learning the language to a must since it is the international language of communication. As teachers of English for more than 20 years, we have come to realize that to be successful in class, we need to learn and use English as a tool that helps us access information from other cultures and be able to transfer this knowledge and skill to our learners. We also need to provide our learners with enough exposure to English as used in context. However, this is not enough to turn our learners into 21st century citizens of the world. We need to help them become critical thinkers. This has become even harder with the move to online learning due to COVID 19 pandemic. This paper aims at exploring the perceptions of English language instructors in four local Lebanese universities regarding 21st-century critical thinking skills and the instructors' abilities to promote such skills in their classes. Twenty-seven teachers filled a questionnaire, and five participants were interviewed. Descriptive data were analyzed. The data revealed the perceptions and practices of these instructors. The study concludes with recommendations.

A between-subject design to evaluate students' employability in the Lebanese labor market

PurposeThis study aims to examine the effect of experience abroad, academic success and university reputation on students' employability in the Lebanese labor market.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a between-subject design to identify whether academic success, university reputation and experience abroad have an impact on how potential recruiters (i.e. employers) are perceiving student employability. The study uses 16 fictitious applications of business graduates, which differed in grade-point average, university reputation and experience abroad, rated by 784 Lebanese professionals.FindingsThe results suggest that high-performing students with experience abroad and high-performing students from a reputable university are perceived to be more employable. For low-performing students, having completed an experience abroad results in a lower reward in terms of employability.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study offers an analysis of students' employability through employers' lens; it offers insights for students on how to be perceived as more employable in a context where competition among future workers is fierce.Practical implicationsThe results of this research provide a roadmap for graduates for enhancing their employability in Lebanese markets and offer actionable insights to employers.Originality/valueThe most original contribution of this study is the analysis of university reputation impact on the likelihood of receiving positive feedback during the evaluation process. The impact of two Lebanese universities, one ranked in the QS ranking and one not, was investigated.

E-learning in the Lebanese Higher Education Institutions: An Assessment of Factors Leading to Students’ Satisfaction

The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Lebanon have been heavily impacted since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The majority of the institutions had to react to the sudden decision to go online. In fact, they had to develop unplanned E-learning programs to assure the academic year’s survival. In Lebanon, the Ministry of Education &amp; Higher Education (MEHE) has ordered all educational institutions, public and private, to stop physical learning and start implementing E-learning through various online platforms. Because of Lebanon’s unprepared infrastructure, students in universities struggled to continue their studies and to keep pace with others who have better situations. The purpose of this study is to assess the factors that may impact the success of E-learning in Lebanese universities and that affect students’ satisfaction in adapting to this unplanned phase. The study is quantitative, explorative, descriptive and causal. A questionnaire was designed to collect primary data from 380 university students belonging to ten universities. Data analysis was carried out using the SPSS version 25 software. Several statistical techniques were performed including descriptive statistics and carrying out relational analysis via Factor Analysis (FA) and linear regression. Five constructs were defined namely, (1) Infrastructure, (2) Computer Skills, (3) E-Learning Content &amp; Autonomy, (4) Support from others, and (5) Satisfaction. Results show that students’ satisfaction is strongly influenced by the other four internal (2) and external (2) factors. Findings will support a set of recommendation directed to decision makers in HEI and the MEHE officials.

Level of Physical Activity at Lebanese Universities’ Students of Both Genders: A Comparative Study

Background: Examining students’ levels of physical activity is important because these students will be the future leaders of their communities. Objectives: The aim of this study was to generate primary information and describe the lifestyle behavior patterns considering physical activity prevalence among gender-related Lebanese college students. Methods: The study involved 600 students (346 Men, 254 Women with mean age 23.5 ± 3.96). The participants’ levels of physical activity was examined by utilizing the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The over-all level of physical activity including the four-lifestyle fields: work, transportation, home and gardening, and leisure-time, was presented as metabolic equivalent-min per week (MET-min/week). Results: Findings indicated 22% of students with high physical activity level, 61% and 17 % with moderate and low levels respectively. Based on activity Intensity, 47% (n= 282) of students were engaged in vigorous activity, while 45.2% (n= 271) were engaged in moderate activity, and 68.3% (n=410) were engaged in walking activities. Average time spent sitting for the whole sample was 6.23 daily hours. The level of weekly total physical activity expressed in metabolic equivalent represented 2970.5 MET/min/week in males and 2719.5 MET/min/week in females. Conclusion: In general, Lebanese universities students were equally active, with trivial supremacy for males. Lebanese university students met the (WHO) recommendations for physical activity (&gt;150 min/week of moderate activity or &gt; 75 min/week of vigorous activity or an equivalent combination of both activities). Physical Activity must be developed by the provision of physical activity classes in the university curriculum and extracurricular activities.