Determining the True Beneficiaries of University Research Output: Fostering Viability and Sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises | Chapter 1 | Current Aspects in Business, Economics and Finance Vol. 1

This study aimed to identify the actual recipients of research output. The fact that research studies had been done but the alleged beneficiaries had not received feedback served as the impetus for this investigation. 80 professors from the Faculty of Commerce at one public institution in Zimbabwe participated in the study using a case survey methodology. Questionnaires that were semi-structured were used to elicit responses from academic scholars. Quantitative data was analysed using frequencies, percentages, cross tabulations, and Pearson chi-square tests. On qualitative data, thematic analysis was carried out. The findings show that just 36.92% of respondents had done research on small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), while the remaining 63.08% had done other, unrelated research. 41.67 percent of the respondents (36.22%) who have conducted SMEs studies had not given their conclusions to the target audience. The results show that some university academics do not appear to prioritise disseminating research output for useful applications. The failure of academics to disseminate their findings exposed basic problems. According to the report, authorities should encourage the dissemination of research output by offering incentives and support mechanisms and should remind researchers of the need of conveying their discoveries for practical application. The study found a void in the literature about who benefits when research studies on SMEs are conducted but the findings are not shared with them, and it set out to fill that gap.

Author(s) Details:

Gwendoline V. Nani,
Graduate School of Business, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/CABEF-V1/article/view/7296

Impact of National Horticulture Mission on Socio-Economic Status of Beneficiaries in Davanagere District of Karnataka | Book Publisher International

 The research study, titled 'effect of National Horticulture Mission on socio-economic condition of beneficiaries in Davanagere district of Karnataka,' was carried out in all six blocks of Karnataka's Davanagere district, namely Channagiri, Honnali, Harihar, Jagalur, Harapanahalli, and Davanagere. In each taluk, four villages with the highest number of NHM beneficiaries were chosen for the study. Six beneficiaries were chosen at random from each of the 24 villages, based on the criteria that the farmers who were beneficiaries under the NHM programme from 2008-09 to 2013-14 met. As a result, the study's overall sample size was 144 people. The information was gathered from the respondents in the sample using a pre-tested interview schedule. Statistical tests such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and chi-square were used to analyse the data. The study used an ex-post facto research design. According to the findings, NHM beneficiaries' social standing improved by 197.73 percent between before and after participating in the programme. When comparing before and after participation in the NHM programme, value addition in education increased by 178.12 percent, followed by investment in social functions (68.19 percent), annual income (30.53 percent), investment in savings (21.80 percent), employment generation (20.79 percent), and investment in assets (which increased by 6.82 percent). The entire mean value before the NHM programme was found to be 1241.80, compared to 2194.16 following participation in the NHM programme, suggesting a 76.69 percent increase in mean value, demonstrating a favourable impact of the NHM programme. Annual income, social standing, employment generation, value addition in education, and investment in social functions were all determined to be highly significant at the 1% level of significance in the statistical analysis of data. Investment in savings, on the other hand, was shown to be significant at a 5% level, while investment in assets was determined to be non-significant. At 1%, the overall dimensions of standard of life were determined to be significantly significant. The majority of the beneficiaries considered high horticulture crop production costs (95.83 percent, Rank I) to be the most significant constraint, followed by poor personnel follow-up (90.97 percent, Rank II), less subsidy (86.80 percent, Rank III), low horticulture crop productivity (86.11 percent, Rank IV), high post-harvest and handling losses (76.39 percent, Rank V), fewer trainings (47.92 percent, Rank VI), and (4.86 percent , Rank X). Beneficiaries' suggestions for effective implementation of the NHM programme include increasing subsidies (77.78 percent, Rank I), followed by proper follow-up of activities (29.16 percent, Rank II), increasing training programmes (16.67 percent, Rank III), providing more technical information under the NHM programme (08.34 percent, Rank IV), and the need for integrated farming system approaches under the NHM programme (06.25 percent , Rank V).

Author(s) Details

J. Raghuraja
ICAR-Taralabalu Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Davanagere, Karnataka, India.

View Book:- https://stm.bookpi.org/INHMSESBDDK/article/view/5953

The Effect of Microfinance on Human Capital Development in Ghana: A Cross-sectional Study of Sinapi Aba Trust Microfinance Beneficiaries in Ashanti Region | Chapter 7 | Selected Topics in Humanities and Social Sciences Vol. 3

 In order to eliminate poverty in Ghana, this chapter provides empirical evidence on how microfinance services help to the development of human capital. Microfinance organisations provide services that help beneficiaries increase their incomes and consumption levels while also reducing income inequality. Microfinance institutions provide chances for investment in the development of human and social capital assets through their services. In 2012, data was collected from 361 Sinapi Aba Trust (SAT) microfinance recipients using a cross-sectional strategy that included both quantitative and qualitative instruments. Microfinance programmes enabled clients to increase their human capital assets, according to the findings. It was also revealed that, in addition to loan disbursement, SAT contained education programmes that helped beneficiaries improve their outlook. It was acknowledged that SAT services provided training for creating awareness and sensitization through seminars to enlighten beneficiaries about current concerns that were development oriented for beneficiaries and their families. The research Others suggested that the government, sponsors, and management of microfinance institutions work together to mobilise resources for beneficiaries' human capital development.

Author (s) Details

Ernestina Fredua Antoh
Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), PMB UPO Kumasi, Ghana.

John Victor Mensah
Institute for Development Studies Development (IDS), University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana.

Sampson Enyin Edusah
Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), PMB UPO Kumasi, Ghana.

View Book :- https://stm.bookpi.org/STHSS-V3/article/view/2297

A Cross-Sectional Investigation on Deformity-Related Stress in Patient’s with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) after Brace Weaning | Chapter 4 | Highlights on Medicine and Medical Research Vol. 10

 Numerous research have looked into the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of scoliosis patients. Patients with spinal abnormalities appear to struggle with their perceptions of health, self- and body image, and involvement in physical activities. Previous research has found that teenagers with scoliosis experience "very little stress" as a result of their deformity. The BSSQ-Deformity was used in this study to scientifically objectify the outcome of patients following brace treatment in terms of quality of life.

Materials and Methods: From February to December 2013, all 42 female patients returning to the first author's office for a follow-up x-ray after brace weaning were requested to complete the BSSQ-Deformity. The patients' average age was 15.8 years old, and the average treatment time was 35.8 months. The average age of the patient at the commencement of treatment was 12.8 years. In addition to the BSSQ, we examined the treatment outcomes of this group of patients in terms of Cobb angle (maximum angle in combined curvatures) and angle of trunk rotation (ATR) for the thoracic and lumbar regions.

The average BSSQ score was 22/24, with five patients receiving a score below 20/24. At the commencement of treatment, the average Cobb angle was 29.2° (range 15–69°), and after weaning, it was 25.8°. Over the course of brace treatment, none of the patients progressed more than 5 degrees, whereas 14 patients (33 percent) improved more than 5 degrees.

Patients with teenage idiopathic scoliosis appear to be able to manage their deformity quite well. A BSSQ score of 22/24 suggests that the patient's quality of life was unaffected by the discontinuation of brace treatment.

Conclusions: When using modern asymmetric bracing guidelines, scoliosis-related stress is not always an issue for patients with mild angles of curvature after brace weaning. When contemporary asymmetric bracing standards are used, the Cobb angle and trunk deformities can be improved. Because AIS has such a minor influence on patients' ability to participate in physical activities and their overall quality of life, there is no general indication for surgery to treat this illness. Patient satisfaction following therapy appears to be higher in this group than in the pilot study.

Author(s) Details

Hans-Rudolf Weiss
Schroth Best Practice Academy, Neu-Bamberg, Germany.

Sarah Seibel
Schroth Best Practice Academy, Neu-Bamberg, Germany.

Alexander Kleban
Lomonosov Moscow State University. Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Moscow, Russia.

View Book :- https://stm.bookpi.org/HMMR-V10/article/view/1115

Critical Study on Poverty Alleviation Programmes in Ondo and Osun States of Nigeria: New Skills and Knowledge Acquired as a Result of Participation | Chapter 4 | Perspectives of Arts and Social Studies Vol. 4

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of new skills and knowledge acquired by the beneficiaries as a result of their participation in the poverty alleviation programmes of the National Fadama Development Project III and the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) Programmes. This study adopted a descriptive research design. A total of 150 beneficiaries comprising 70 FADAMA III and 80 JDPC beneficiaries selected purposively from Ondo and Osun were picked for the study. A self-designed questionnaire was used for data collection. This was “Questionnaire for the beneficiaries of Fadama III and JDPC programmes (QBFJ)”. The QBFJ was designed to gather information on the skills and knowledge acquired by the beneficiaries. Data were analyzed using percentage and chi-square statistics. The study indicated that seven new skills were acquired by the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries also acquired knowledge on ten different types of management programmes. The result further revealed that skills acquired by the beneficiaries of poverty alleviation programmes were significantly influenced by their gender (x2 = 39.93, p <0.05), Bees keeping was the major skill acquired with 60% of the beneficiaries while 66.7% acquired knowledge on tree crops management. Conclusion: This study has established that good implementation of poverty alleviation programmes will improve the standard of living of the beneficiaries. Poverty incidence can thus become reduced with increased investment in people, improving their quality and enhancing their employment prospects. It is recommended that priorities for reform should include emphasizing investment in basic education, working to improve social equity in educational provision and encouraging vocational education and training.

Author(s) Details

Dr. E. O. Akinyemi 
Department of Arts Education, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.

View Book: - http://bp.bookpi.org/index.php/bpi/catalog/book/165