Infrastructure For Videoconferncing

Introduction. In the modern world, socio-economic and political leadership of a country is based on the generation of new knowledge, its commercialization and use in all areas of human activity, it being an important prerequisite for improving the competitiveness of the state. To achieve this goal, individual elements of the national innovation system including the main components of the innovation infrastructure are being formed in many constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Materials and Methods. The constituent entities of the Russian Federation are the object of the research, the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the main components of the innovative productive and technological infrastructure being the subject of the study. A typology of Russia’s regions in terms of the development of their innovative productive and technological infrastructure was carried out. To calculate the integral index of the level of infrastructure development, linear scaling was applied; the number of different objects of productive and technological infrastructure in each region was used as the input indicator. Results. The types of the regions of Russia have been singled out according to the level of development of the productive and technological infrastructure and their brief description has been given. One and the same type includes territories having a similar structure and level of saturation with objects of productive and technological infrastructure which is manifested indirectly in the main results of the innovation activities of the regions. It has been revealed that more than half of the regions of Russia have a low level of development of the productive and technological infrastructure, a small number of regions are characterized by a high level of infrastructure development, in other constituent entities of the Russian Federation an average level of innovation infrastructure development has been noted. Discussion and Conclusion. The level of the innovative development of the regions of Russia largely depends on the degree of development of the productive and technological infrastructure. Further progress of the productive and technological component of the regional innovation systems is associated with the development of effective marketing mechanisms for the commercialization of innovations, with the improvement of the quality of education and its focus on the issues of innovation. The results of the research can be used by decision makers to substantiate the diversification of regional innovation systems in accordance with the priority directions of the technological development of the country.

The chapter deals with the problem of creating an informational ecosystem of a higher educational institution based on target contours. Under the informational ecosystem, the authors understand a complex social system, which includes informational support for scientific and educational, innovative, organizational, and other processes using such infrastructure components as information and telecommunication systems, software applications, personal computers, mobile devices for students, parents, employees, employers, etc. The implementation of the informational ecosystem creates the necessary conditions for the university to become a competitive scientific and educational organization. It would improve the educational space, modernize educational, scientific innovation processes, enhance the quality of education, and increase the role of the university in the sustainable development of the region and the country. In the course of the study, the authors suggest scientifically grounded recommendations on the University Informational Ecosystem with the following main target contours: the applicant’s contour, the student contour, the teacher’s contour, the contour of the educational process administrator, the contour of the university administrator, and the contour of external partners. The results of the study ensure the effective interaction of all stakeholders of the educational process and the improvement of the quality of education.

Leveraging E-Commerce Opportunities for Developing Countries

This chapter offers an in-depth review of the revolutionary development of cloud computing, from its theoretical underpinnings to its current position as a vital component of modern infrastructure for information technology. The historical trends, significant turning points, and technological advancements in the discipline are reviewed in this chapter. It explores the beginnings of cloud computing, how service models have changed over time, the effects of virtualization, and how new technologies are being incorporated. Readers will gain a profound appreciation for how cloud computing has transformed the operations and innovation of organizations by comprehending the historical background and recent developments.

The article investigated the concept of IT infrastructure of higher educational institution. The article described models of deploying of cloud technologies in IT infrastructure. The hybrid model is most recent for higher educational institution. The unified authentication is an important component of IT infrastructure. The author suggests the public (Google Apps, Office 365) and private (Cloudstack, Eucalyptus, OpenStack) cloud platforms to deploying in IT infrastructure of higher educational institution.The purpose of article is to designing individual components of the IT infrastructure of a higher education institution using cloud technology.Task of the research: to analyze the concept of "IT infrastructure", to determine the characteristics of deployment of the cloud technologies and to offer the some components of the IT infrastructure of universities in the traditional and cloud context aspect.The object of the research is IT infrastructure of higher education.The subject of the research is cloud and traditional services as components of the IT infrastructure of the university.Methods: analysis of literature studying the functioning of the IT infrastructure of the university, modeling and design of IT infrastructure.Results: analyzed the concept of "IT infrastructure", "cloud technology", defined characteristics and models of cloud technology deployment, proposed separate components of the IT infrastructure of higher education institutions in the context of "traditional" and "cloud" aspects.Conclusions. The use of cloud technologies in the design of IT infrastructure of universities is an actual and need of the development. The hybrid model is the most appropriate in the deployment of cloud infrastructure of higher educational institution. It is reasonable to use the public (Google Apps and Microsoft Office 365) and private (Cloudstack, Eucalyptus, OpenStack) cloud platform.

Information technology (IT) infrastructure deserves serious attention from both the practitioner and academic communities, especially concerning the factors for IT infrastructure flexibility. The issue of flexibility is viewed as a critical aspect of IT infrastructure, because organizations are faced with an ever-increasing rate of change in their business environments. One effort most business sectors have made to prepare for this change is the trend toward mass customization. Recently, many organizations have embraced mass customization in an attempt to provide unique value to their customers in a cost-efficient manner.The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate a sequential relationship between IT infrastructure flexibility, mass customization, and business performance. The process involves an investigation of the critical factors for IT infrastructure flexibility, along with the firm's mass customization and business performance indicators. The findings of this study provide evidence that integration and modularity of an organization's IT infrastructure facilitate the organization's effort to accommodate mass customization. Additionally, the flexibility of the IT personnel, the human component of IT infrastructure, and mass customization directly affect the organization's business performance.

This study analyzes the effectiveness of public service in the Complete Systematic Land Registration (PTSL) program in Pohuwato Regency. The background highlights the need to evaluate service quality to ensure public satisfaction and smooth program implementation. The study employs a mixed-method approach with an explanatory sequential design, including SERVQUAL questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), and participatory observation. Findings reveal that the service effectiveness of PTSL is fairly good, yet all SERVQUAL dimensions show negative gaps between public expectations and perceptions. The largest gap is found in the tangible dimension (-0.94), while the smallest is in assurance (-0.56). Institutional factors are the most dominant in influencing service effectiveness (β=0.724), followed by human resources (β=0.689), technological infrastructure (β=0.567), and public participation (β=0.445). The main recommendations call for a holistic improvement approach emphasizing institutional strengthening, capacity building for human resources, upgrading physical facilities and technological infrastructure, and increasing public participation, including special programs for vulnerable groups. This study offers practical contributions by presenting a model to enhance public service effectiveness based on community participation and theoretical contributions by enriching the understanding of key factors influencing public service effectiveness in the context of the PTSL program.

BackgroundIt is estimated that about 15% of students have transient hearing loss worldwide sufficient enough to interfere with communication, psychosocial relationship, and learning resulting in poor educational achievement and poverty. However, these conditions are reversible through timely detection and effective interventions. India is home to the largest number of school age children with hearing impairment, and majority of them remain undetected and untreated due to the absence of any dedicated hearing screening program. Therefore, this paper attempts to convince all stakeholders for planning and implementing early detection and intervention program for children with hearing impairment in school settings.MethodsRecent literature estimates that children between the ages 0 and 14 years contribute 25.9% of the total Indian population. As per the global estimates of the prevalence of hearing impairment, India houses the largest number of school age children with hearing impairment. Many of them either remain out of school or perform poorly in school curriculum.ResultsThe children in educational programs are readily and easily available for applying hearing screening procedures to detect hearing impairment and instituting audiological and educational remedial measures. But unfortunately, India has not yet envisaged any dedicated early detection and intervention program for school-going children consequently majority of children with hearing impairment undetected and untreated in the classroom.ConclusionHearing impairment is a serious health concern among school age children which can adversely impact on communication, educational achievement, and vocational options. However, screening approaches for early identification in school age children across the world which are simple, effective, and cost-efficient can be considered for countries like India to reverse the ill effects of hearing impairment.Potential implicationThe paper may heighten the awareness among school personnel, educational administrators, and policymakers to consider planning and implementation of early detection and intervention program for children with hearing impairment in school settings.

Digital transformation in higher education has become a strategic issue that requires institutional readiness to integrate technology into academic management and educational services. This study aims to analyze the level of readiness of higher education institutions, identify the influencing factors, and describe the implementation and challenges of digital transformation in higher education management. The research employs a qualitative approach with a case study strategy, utilizing data collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, which are analyzed using triangulation techniques and thematic coding. The findings indicate that digital transformation readiness is determined by three main dimensions, namely technological infrastructure, human resource competence, and organizational culture, which collectively influence the effectiveness of digital system implementation. In addition, the study reveals that the primary challenges include limited financial resources, low digital literacy, and resistance to change. This research contributes to strengthening a multidimensional perspective on digital transformation and offers practical implications for higher education administrators in designing more adaptive, integrated, and sustainable digitalization strategies.

Guidelines for the effective implementation of quality instructional physical activity programs (IPAPs) are essential to optimize both teaching and learning to meet the needs and interests of students in higher education (SHAPE America, 2022). These programs, also known as basic instruction programs, physical activity, and wellness programs, provide academic courses and resources that educate students on physical activity, sport, and fitness skills and knowledge that facilitates healthy, active lifestyles and fosters personal growth. This manuscript is valuable for faculty and administrators in higher education, introducing important new concepts that have emerged in the last decade for IPAPs in higher education and offering essential aspects to consider when evaluating IPAPs, including standards, values, technology, curriculum, and risk management.

To explore factors influencing the implementation of patient navigator programs within a hospital for seniors with complex care needs. A qualitative descriptive design using in-depth interviews was conducted. Participant interviews were conducted in Toronto, Ontario between September 2020 and February 2021. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Thirty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 participants from a large urban hospital (n = 21) and community healthcare organizations (n = 17), including organizational leaders, and acute care and rehabilitation providers. Follow-up interviews occurred with 16 participants (7 from the community and nine from the hospital). This study identified five key factors influencing organizational readiness for successful implementation of a patient navigator program for seniors with complex conditions, which included: (a) vision from senior leadership, (b) technological infrastructure, (c) existing hospital-community partnerships, (d) well-established process for referrals, and (e) staff capacity. The overarching theme of communication was also identified. The findings of this study provide a better understanding of hospital and community professionals' needs and challenges when implementing patient navigator programs for seniors with complex care conditions. There are a number of factors that influence an organization's readiness for program uptake and delivery, with the need for clear communication being paramount. Further research to test the effects of readiness on successful implementation outcomes is warranted.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the findings from research that explored the influence of contextual factors on the adoption and development of Electronic Theses and Dissertation (ETD) programmes in the Arab Gulf States. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives of five groups of stakeholders with an interest in the implementation of ETD programmes. The groups were postgraduate students, academic staff, library managers, system administrators, and postgraduate officers from five Gulf States universities. In addition, an online survey was conducted with 309 participants in order to test and explore, in a larger sample, the issues identified in the interviews. Findings – Research participants identified three levels of factors; contextual, institutional, and personal. In addition, they highlighted that contextual factors have an influence on institutional factors. These contextual factors include misunderstanding of plagiarism, strong economy, recencey of research programmes, and younger societies. For example, due to the recencey of postgraduate programmes in the Arab Gulf States, some of the theses and dissertations are low in quality and quantity. The Arab Gulf States have strong economies and this helped to provide the necessary technological infrastructure needed for adopting ETD programmes. Since the Gulf societies are quite young they are more likely to adopt new technologies. In addition, people at these states appear to have a weak understanding of plagiarism issues and thus they have more concerns about these issues. Originality/value – This paper provides insights about the factors influencing the adoption and development of ETD programmes in the Arab Gulf States.

The article presents a comprehensive technical and economic analysis of the construction of the stationary offshore jack-up rig No. 50 for drilling 16 production wells in the oil and gas fields of the Absheronneft Oil and Gas Production Department. Taking into account the complex geological and technological conditions of the oil and gas fields on the Caspian shelf of Azerbaijan, the issues of compliance of the construction process of the stationary offshore jack-up rig with modern engineering requirements, calculation of structural elements and design of the necessary technological infrastructure for drilling production wells were examined in detail. Within the framework of the study, the main structural parameters of the stationary offshore jack-up rig-the jack-up mechanism, the load-bearing capacity of the working platform, the anchor system and the wellhead placement scheme-were analyzed. Also, the materials, welding technologies, penetration testing methods and measures for compliance with international offshore standards applied at various stages of the construction of the stationary offshore jack-up rig No. 50 were considered. The article also extensively discusses the issues of adapting the rig to the hydrological characteristics of the Caspian Sea-water depth, wave height, and wind impact. The concluding part of the article substantiates the technical problems encountered during the construction of a stationary offshore jack-up rig, their solutions, as well as optimal technological decisions ensuring the implementation of the drilling program for 16 wells of strategic importance. Keywords: stationary offshore self-propelled jackup rig, "Absheronneft" Oil and Gas Company, production well, offshore drilling, Caspian shelf, oil and gas production, construction project, technological infrastructure.

Afghanistan faces an acute shortage of trained healthcare providers. To build capacity of nurses and midwives, in 2014 a private hospital in Afghanistan initiated an eLearning programme to enhance their knowledge and skills. The study was conducted to identify facilitating and hindering factors for the successful implementation of eLearning. Data collection took place between June and September 2016, when seven Maternal and Child Health (MNCH) related eLearning sessions were conducted. The participants were nurses and midwives working in MNCH wards at the research sites in Bamyan, Faizabad and Kandahar, along with the programme planners and facilitators. Data was collected through pre/post and delayed post-tests, observations and questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and documents analysis. The results highlight four major factors as important for the successful implementation of eLearning, namely: curriculum, context, technology and individual. The needs assessment ensured relevance of the sessions to the needs of the participants. However, pedagogy was lecture-based with limited focus on skills development. Poor connectivity and language of instruction posed challenges. eLearning has shown the potential for developing knowledge and skills of nurses and midwives. Clear communication between teams involved in planning and implementation of the programme, technology infrastructure, design of online pedagogy and facilitator readiness are critical for the success of eLearning in low and middle income countries. Keywords: Health care providers/system, eLearning Programme, Nurses, Midwives, Maternal and child careHow to cite this article:Naseem, A., Ali, K.Q., Juma, A., Sajwani, A., Khan, B.A., Sayani, A. & Abidi, S.S.R. 2020. Factors enabling and hindering an eLearning programme for nurses and midwives in Afghanistan. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the South. 4(2): 80-99. https://doi.org/10.36615/sotls.v4i2.106.This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

12 - Enterprise-wide risk management