Anjeela D. Jokhan

Early warning system as a predictor for student performance in higher education blended courses

ABSTRACT Early warning systems are being used to assist students in their studies as well as understanding student behaviour and performance better. A home-grown EWS plug-in for Moodle was used to predict the student performance in a first year IT literacy course at University of the South Pacific. The alert tool was designed to capture student logins, completion of online activities and online engagement. Data were captured from Moodle and statistical modelling using the regression model was used to determine any correlation between student’s online behaviour and their performance. Student performance in this higher education course could be predicted based on their average logins per week and the average completion rates of activities. The accuracy of the model was 60.8%. Hence the EWS can be a very useful tool to measure student progression in a course as well as identifying underperforming students early in their course of allowing for early intervention.

Stability analysis in elite sugarcane varieties of Fiji

The present investigation was conducted to identify the stable cultivars across different environmental condition. Seventeen genotypes of which fourteen were in the final stage of multi-location secondary adaptation trials of the plant breeding program and three commercial varieties were evaluated in five different locations. The stability parameters regression coefficients (βi) and mean square deviations (S2di) were estimated for cane yield using the Eberhart & Russells (1966) model. The pooled analysis of variance showed highly significant variances for environments (E), Genotypes (G), and GxE interactions. The results showed that there were highly significant (p <; 0.001) variations among the genotypes, environments and GxE interaction for cane yield. The top four high yielding genotypes were found to be LF82-2122, LF60-3917, LF82-2244 and LF57-5104. The first two genotypes had higher yield and stability statistics. Thus, from the present study it is concluded that for cane yield, the genotypes LF82-2122 and LF60-3917 can be recommended for adoption as the two most superior promising varieties for cultivation on all soil types in Fiji.

In vivo screening of salinity tolerance in Giant Swamp Taro (Cyrtosperma merkusii)

Giant Swamp Taro (Cyrtosperma merkusii) is a staple food crop in the Pacific, especially in the low lying atoll islands such as Tuvalu and Kiribati. This is owing to its ability to survive under poor soil conditions and harsh environments. However, as a result of the effects of climate change such as sea water inundation and intrusion into the fresh ground water lens, this crop is now under threat. To address this issue an adaption approach was taken whereby, Cyrtosperma merkusii was screened in vivo for salt tolerance. The epistemology followed random selection of two cultivars Ikaraoi and Katutu. These two cultivars were subjected to 0% (0 parts per trillion), 0.5% (5 ppt), 1% (10 ppt), 1.5% (15 ppt) and 2% (20 ppt) of salt in Yates’s advance seedling common potting mix. Both cultivars were able to tolerate salinity levels up-to 5ppt which is significantly more than the salt tolerance in glycophytes of 2.83 ppt. This research provides an insight into the variation of salt tolerance that may exist in C.merkusii gene pool, which can be used to adapt to natural disasters and buffer its impacts.

Mapping of organisations involved in energy research activities in the Pacific Island region, their research projects, budgets and research gaps

This study was carried out within the framework of the Pacific Europe Network for Science and Technology (PACE-Net), a project funded by the European Commission (EC). The PACE-Net project seeks to improve regional and bi-regional collaboration and cooperation activities in science and technology (ST OCT—Overseas Countries and Territories). Its global aim is to develop networks between Pacific and European stakeholders from research entities, universities, and industries, and including policymakers, programme managers and civil society, in order to facilitate and establish balanced and multidisciplinary partnerships in priority areas of mutually beneficial research. Energy is the theme this study focuses on. Renewable research will be presented in comparison to other research themes in the Pacific. Furthermore, the renewable energy research institutions in the Pacific, their projects and the total cost of their research are discussed. It is seen that only 4 % of total research in the Pacific is on energy, and most collaboration is national. The percentage of energy research projects is compared to Pacific energy goals, and the funding/research/collaboration gap is discussed. The results are further divided into the categories ACP (Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa and Vanuatu), OCT (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Pitcairn Islands, Wallis and Futuna) and regional organisations (University of the South Pacific, Secretariat of Pacific Community, South Pacific, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme) in the Pacific for specific data.