DrKakul Agha - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by DrKakul Agha

Research paper thumbnail of Using the “Happiness Window” during Tough Times

Using the “Happiness Window” during Tough Times

Academia Letters, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Strategies of providing feedback on student work: Enhancing Student Experience at Middle East College, Sultanate of Oman

This research was conceded at an institutional level and a six-member team, led by the first auth... more This research was conceded at an institutional level and a six-member team, led by the first author was constituted at Middle East College (MEC)during 2012 and investigates strategies of providing feedback on the academic work of students. The aim of the study was to comprehend the gaps and possible strategies of feed-backing that could be used at MEC for helping in value-addition for enhancing student experience within the learning process. Primary data collection and intense secondary research enabled knowledge expansion on feed-backing. The findings indicated that feed-backing was not focused and did not correspond to international strategies. The conclusions were that a structured and policy driven feed-backing system needs to be practiced at MEC, as the current system of feed-backing doesn’t enable enhanced student experience. Further informative sessions and feedback collection from stakeholders need to be carried out to enhance the process for maximum benefits.

Research paper thumbnail of Using the “Happiness Window” during Tough Times

Academia Letters, 2021

The upsurge of the pandemic during the year 2020 led to escalation in usage of social media and o... more The upsurge of the pandemic during the year 2020 led to escalation in usage of social media and overindulgence in collecting or disseminating COVID19 related information through various sources. Owing to the deluge of information and misinformation, the world population is indicating mixed feelings of anxiety, stress and boredom. For this reason, people have resorted to different activities like following an exercise regime or a systematic daily set of chores that inspire them and help them in setting a new direction in their lives. One of the biggest fears people are experiencing, is either loss of job or reduction in salary. Due to a continued drop in sales and reduced business across continents, organizations are finding it difficult to retain and pay their employees. Leading property developers in UAE have slashed the salaries up to 50 percent in an attempt to fight the pandemic impacts of slowing down of market. Another giant in the property market, decreased salaries from the Chairman till the lower ranks of management, owing to the slump in the market. Several airlines have announced 25 to 50 percent reduction in salaries for most employees. Many employees don't hesitate to put on record that they were at least happy not to be laid off, even though salary reduction was also not desirable. This phenomenon is not restricted to any region or country but seen as a worldwide practice where several firms across the globe have sliced salaries of their employees. Thai Airways, senior executives have voluntarily given up a quarter of their salaries for half the year, due to the impact of lockdown and downsized travel of passengers. International carriers that have induced salary cuts or pay freezes include Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Qantas Airways (Australia), Air New Zealand, Virgin Atlantic, Cebu Air (Philippines) and SAS (Sweden) to name a few. The Indian subcontinent has been substantially impacted by COVID19. The Indian Express informed readers about five major firms, Uber India and South Asia, Ola, Zomato, Swiggy and Cure.fit, who announced 4400 job cuts in a month's time due to reduction in

the organizations and novel methodologies have been devised to replace age-old techniques. All the quadrants are impacted by the external factors like the organizations intent to train and support their employees to adopt and adapt to new requirements including technologies or even reduction or sustenance of their salaries. The organizational support could be high or low, as per the situation, vision, level of impact being a particular sector, survival strategy etc. The other factors are internal. The current time gives each and every human on this planet to unwind, be more self-aware, heal and rejuvenate oneself and rebound to life in fulsome which is an internal pillar. It enables employees to work from home and use this opportunity to revive their thoughts and strengthen their relationships. For most people this may be the the organizations and novel methodologies have been devised to replace age-old techniques.

Research paper thumbnail of Strategies of providing feedback on student work: Enhancing Student Experience at Middle East College, Sultanate of Oman

This research was conceded at an institutional level and a six-member team, led by the first auth... more This research was conceded at an institutional level and a six-member team, led by the first author was constituted at Middle East College (MEC) during 2012 and investigates strategies of providing feedback on the academic work of students. The aim of the study was to comprehend the gaps and possible strategies of feed-backing that could be used at MEC for helping in value-addition for enhancing student experience within the learning process. Primary data collection and intense secondary research enabled knowledge expansion on feed-backing. The findings indicated that feed-backing was not focused and did not correspond to international strategies. The conclusions were that a structured and policy driven feed-backing system needs to be practiced at MEC, as the current system of feed-backing doesn’t enable enhanced student experience. Further informative sessions and feedback collection from stakeholders need to be carried out to enhance the process for maximum benefits.

Research paper thumbnail of The Coping-Up Strategies Used By Staff To Integrate Family And Work Lives: A Case From Middle East College, Oman

Work and life go hand in hand. Work-life balance is a situation of a state of balance or equilibr... more Work and life go hand in hand. Work-life balance is a situation of a state of balance or equilibrium in which the demands of both an individual's job and personal life are equal. Coping up is a technique deployed by people in order to balance their work along with their lives. In this research an evaluation of the coping up strategies has been carried out. The respondents are staff members of Middle East College and through qualitative data; an understanding has been generated on how the former use technology to integrate work and personal life. This study informs the strategies used by staff members to cope up and sustain work-life balance. Based on the data collected conclusions have been drawn on the usage of technology for coping up. Further recommendations have been provided to MEC for helping create an acceptable ‘work-life balance’ environment for the staff members.

Research paper thumbnail of Strategies of providing feedback on student work: Enhancing Student Experience at Middle East College, Sultanate of Oman

This research was conceded at an institutional level and a six-member team, led by the first auth... more This research was conceded at an institutional level and a six-member team, led by the first author was constituted at Middle East College (MEC) during 2012 and investigates strategies of providing feedback on the academic work of students. The aim of the study was to comprehend the gaps and possible strategies of feed-backing that could be used at MEC for helping in value-addition for enhancing student experience within the learning process.

Research paper thumbnail of Using the “Happiness Window” during Tough Times

Using the “Happiness Window” during Tough Times

Academia Letters, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Strategies of providing feedback on student work: Enhancing Student Experience at Middle East College, Sultanate of Oman

This research was conceded at an institutional level and a six-member team, led by the first auth... more This research was conceded at an institutional level and a six-member team, led by the first author was constituted at Middle East College (MEC)during 2012 and investigates strategies of providing feedback on the academic work of students. The aim of the study was to comprehend the gaps and possible strategies of feed-backing that could be used at MEC for helping in value-addition for enhancing student experience within the learning process. Primary data collection and intense secondary research enabled knowledge expansion on feed-backing. The findings indicated that feed-backing was not focused and did not correspond to international strategies. The conclusions were that a structured and policy driven feed-backing system needs to be practiced at MEC, as the current system of feed-backing doesn’t enable enhanced student experience. Further informative sessions and feedback collection from stakeholders need to be carried out to enhance the process for maximum benefits.

Research paper thumbnail of Using the “Happiness Window” during Tough Times

Academia Letters, 2021

The upsurge of the pandemic during the year 2020 led to escalation in usage of social media and o... more The upsurge of the pandemic during the year 2020 led to escalation in usage of social media and overindulgence in collecting or disseminating COVID19 related information through various sources. Owing to the deluge of information and misinformation, the world population is indicating mixed feelings of anxiety, stress and boredom. For this reason, people have resorted to different activities like following an exercise regime or a systematic daily set of chores that inspire them and help them in setting a new direction in their lives. One of the biggest fears people are experiencing, is either loss of job or reduction in salary. Due to a continued drop in sales and reduced business across continents, organizations are finding it difficult to retain and pay their employees. Leading property developers in UAE have slashed the salaries up to 50 percent in an attempt to fight the pandemic impacts of slowing down of market. Another giant in the property market, decreased salaries from the Chairman till the lower ranks of management, owing to the slump in the market. Several airlines have announced 25 to 50 percent reduction in salaries for most employees. Many employees don't hesitate to put on record that they were at least happy not to be laid off, even though salary reduction was also not desirable. This phenomenon is not restricted to any region or country but seen as a worldwide practice where several firms across the globe have sliced salaries of their employees. Thai Airways, senior executives have voluntarily given up a quarter of their salaries for half the year, due to the impact of lockdown and downsized travel of passengers. International carriers that have induced salary cuts or pay freezes include Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Qantas Airways (Australia), Air New Zealand, Virgin Atlantic, Cebu Air (Philippines) and SAS (Sweden) to name a few. The Indian subcontinent has been substantially impacted by COVID19. The Indian Express informed readers about five major firms, Uber India and South Asia, Ola, Zomato, Swiggy and Cure.fit, who announced 4400 job cuts in a month's time due to reduction in

the organizations and novel methodologies have been devised to replace age-old techniques. All the quadrants are impacted by the external factors like the organizations intent to train and support their employees to adopt and adapt to new requirements including technologies or even reduction or sustenance of their salaries. The organizational support could be high or low, as per the situation, vision, level of impact being a particular sector, survival strategy etc. The other factors are internal. The current time gives each and every human on this planet to unwind, be more self-aware, heal and rejuvenate oneself and rebound to life in fulsome which is an internal pillar. It enables employees to work from home and use this opportunity to revive their thoughts and strengthen their relationships. For most people this may be the the organizations and novel methodologies have been devised to replace age-old techniques.

Research paper thumbnail of Strategies of providing feedback on student work: Enhancing Student Experience at Middle East College, Sultanate of Oman

This research was conceded at an institutional level and a six-member team, led by the first auth... more This research was conceded at an institutional level and a six-member team, led by the first author was constituted at Middle East College (MEC) during 2012 and investigates strategies of providing feedback on the academic work of students. The aim of the study was to comprehend the gaps and possible strategies of feed-backing that could be used at MEC for helping in value-addition for enhancing student experience within the learning process. Primary data collection and intense secondary research enabled knowledge expansion on feed-backing. The findings indicated that feed-backing was not focused and did not correspond to international strategies. The conclusions were that a structured and policy driven feed-backing system needs to be practiced at MEC, as the current system of feed-backing doesn’t enable enhanced student experience. Further informative sessions and feedback collection from stakeholders need to be carried out to enhance the process for maximum benefits.

Research paper thumbnail of The Coping-Up Strategies Used By Staff To Integrate Family And Work Lives: A Case From Middle East College, Oman

Work and life go hand in hand. Work-life balance is a situation of a state of balance or equilibr... more Work and life go hand in hand. Work-life balance is a situation of a state of balance or equilibrium in which the demands of both an individual's job and personal life are equal. Coping up is a technique deployed by people in order to balance their work along with their lives. In this research an evaluation of the coping up strategies has been carried out. The respondents are staff members of Middle East College and through qualitative data; an understanding has been generated on how the former use technology to integrate work and personal life. This study informs the strategies used by staff members to cope up and sustain work-life balance. Based on the data collected conclusions have been drawn on the usage of technology for coping up. Further recommendations have been provided to MEC for helping create an acceptable ‘work-life balance’ environment for the staff members.

Research paper thumbnail of Strategies of providing feedback on student work: Enhancing Student Experience at Middle East College, Sultanate of Oman

This research was conceded at an institutional level and a six-member team, led by the first auth... more This research was conceded at an institutional level and a six-member team, led by the first author was constituted at Middle East College (MEC) during 2012 and investigates strategies of providing feedback on the academic work of students. The aim of the study was to comprehend the gaps and possible strategies of feed-backing that could be used at MEC for helping in value-addition for enhancing student experience within the learning process.