Rawy A. Thabet - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Rawy A. Thabet

Intelligent Natural Language Processing: Trends and Applications, 2017

This study investigates the frequency of hedged propositions in academic writing, which are produ... more This study investigates the frequency of hedged propositions in academic writing, which are produced by both native (NSs) and non-native speakers (NNSs). To this end, two corpora, which represent native and non-native writings respectively, are compiled and investigated using contrastive interlanguage analysis (CIA). This computer-aided investigation, which involves comparing quantitative and qualitative data, is adopted to identify what the most frequent hedging markers, used by native and non-native writers, are, and whether there is any significant difference between the frequencies of these markers in both writings. This research is an attempt to fill a gap in literature, as there is a paucity of studies written on corpus analysis in the Middle East. The findings suggest that non-native speakers underuse hedges and the quality of these hedges is usually not so high as those of the native speakers.

Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, 2020

This study investigates the academic staff’s perception of blended learning adoption in higher ed... more This study investigates the academic staff’s perception of blended learning adoption in higher education (tertiary level) as well as the barriers to this adoption. To this end, 6 academic staff, joining the faculty of education, in one of the research-based universities in the UAE, completed a self-administered survey. A mixed methods approach was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. The results suggest that the academic staff are fully aware of the importance of integrating blended learning. They are also ready to adopt any innovation that would help students advance in their study provided that the adoption and provision of these technologies are accompanied by professional training. The results also show that the only barrier that inhibits the adoption of technology is the lack of a clear policy on this integration and also the lack of blended learning-enabling software. This research paves the way for more research on the integration of blended learning at the tertiary level. It also raises some recommendation to the management of the university, where the study was conducted, to adopt more advanced features of Blackboard such as Blackboard collaborate.

This paper intends to measure the impact of a training programme on parents/caregivers of childre... more This paper intends to measure the impact of a training programme on parents/caregivers of children with disabilities. This training programme was designed by academics at the British University in Dubai with support from the Al Jalila Foundation (AJF), a charitable organization located in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This research measures how this programme helps those parents and caregivers to cope with the challenging behaviours of their children with different types of disabilities, with a particular focus on people from Ras Al-Khaimah, an emirate of the seven emirates that form the UAE. Mixed methods were used to measure such impact. To this end, 31 parents/caregivers were interviewed and completed pre and post questionnaires. The results suggest that this programme had a positive impact on the quality of life of the participants. The findings also show that there is a pressing need and increasing demand for more training programmes to support parents/caregivers of children with disabilities to better cope with the challenging behaviours. A set of recommendations for further practice is offered to support decision makers in the area of empowerment of people with disabilities and their families/caregivers in the region.

Quality in Higher Education, 2021

ABSTRACT Research output is seen as an indicator of quality. Emerging higher education hubs, such... more ABSTRACT Research output is seen as an indicator of quality. Emerging higher education hubs, such as the United Arab Emirates, are heavily focused on developing research activity within the constraints of a developing research culture. This paper employs a case study model of a research-intensive university in Dubai to highlight key challenges and obstacles to doctoral student research publication; and develop an understanding of the value of the academic doctorate. The authors conducted surveys, interviews and observation to provide an evidence-based analysis. This paper adds to literature regarding research output of doctoral students and the practical challenges they are facing. The paper outlines key areas for development and possible institutional response.

International Journal of Educational Management, 2018

PurposeInternational branch campuses (IBCs) are complex entities and while much has been written ... more PurposeInternational branch campuses (IBCs) are complex entities and while much has been written about their expansion and development, the literature is largely from an external perspective. There have been few longitudinal studies examining the development of an IBC over time. The purpose of this paper is to review the development of one IBC over an eight-year time period, to identify the key learning points for institutional managers of other IBCs or for institutions intending to establish an IBC.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is a culmination of research, conducted during the eight years when the lead author worked at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC). The author was involved in practical management aspects as well as the research and analysis of IBC development. This paper represents a form of ethnographic research where the author conducted interviews, meetings and discussion groups, observed institutional policies, strategies and operations in action ...

Journal of Education and Learning, 2016

Al Jalila Foundation (AJF) is a philanthropic organization based in Dubai. The organization spons... more Al Jalila Foundation (AJF) is a philanthropic organization based in Dubai. The organization sponsored a training programme in 2013 to support parents of children with various disabilities to cope with the behavioural and emotional challenges that are related to the child's disability. The course lasts for 6 weeks and is delivered across the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This paper aims to measure the impact of one of the parental behaviour support programmes on the attitudes and responsiveness of participants to the needs of their children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A mixed method approach was chosen to determine this impact. Participants were interviewed on an interval basis and also requested to complete pre-, mid-and post-course course questionnaires. The script of the group interview was analyzed and the main themes mentioned by parents were examined for consistency in the light of the findings extracted from the questionnaires. When comparing the findings of both the interview and questionnaire, it was found that the programme had a great impact on participants and this impact was clearly noticed in the positive change of the parents' attitude towards their children. Participants' recommendations, collected from their returned questionnaires and from the sponsor's evaluation, show that there is a desperate need for more parental support programmes. The paper ends with recommendations for future practice.