Wasim Qazi

Facebook Is a Source of Social Capital Building Among University Students: Evidence From a Developing Country

This study analyzes the influence of Facebook usage on building social capital among university students in Karachi by using a modified framework of technology acceptance model. Important information was gathered utilizing organized questionnaire containing items of Facebook intensity, social self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived playfulness (independent variables), intention to continue use (mediating variables), bridging social capital, and bonding social capital (dependent variables), while the specimen size includes 560 university students. Furthermore, the procedures utilized as a part of the study are reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, partial least square-structural equation modeling to check the impact of these factors on the building of social capital. Findings show that Facebook intensity, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived playfulness, and social self-efficacy have a positive and significant impact on intention to continue use, while intention to continue use has a positive and significant impact on both dependent variables bridging social capital and bonding social capital concluding that social networking sites (Facebook) are helpful in building and maintaining social capital by creating intention to continue using them. This study provides useful insights about the youth experience of using Facebook and sharing information. Also, marketers would get benefit as this study would allow them to adopt effective marketing strategies.

The Effects of Attitudinal, Normative, and Control Beliefs on M-Learning Adoption Among the Students of Higher Education in Pakistan:

This study intends to analyze the influence of behavioral and psychosocial factors of higher education students of Karachi on acceptance of m-learning as a mode of getting education. The Theory of Planned Behavior and Technology Acceptance Model have provided the basic frameworks to formulate the hypotheses for this study. The analyses of the study reveal that attitudinal beliefs and subjective norms have significant and positive impact on m-learning. Additionally, control influences on Perceived Behavioral Control also make significant contributions in the adoption of m-learning methodologies. Collectively, all of these factors converge to form greater intent of the students to assimilate this new learning environment. It was also found that the characteristics and features of the mobile gadgets such as greater familiarity of the students with them, handiness and ease of use, influences them to utilize these devices in completing their academic tasks, hence, influencing their intention toward the adoption of m-learning. Also seamless learning experience, students get through m-learning, reduces their mental resistance toward it and encourages them to adopt it. Information pertaining to the defined criteria was gathered through a specimen of 300 questionnaire responses and was then analyzed using the reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and partial least square-structural equation modeling to assess the influence of these factors on m-learning adoption.

Does expanding higher education reduce income inequality in emerging economy? Evidence from Pakistan

This study investigates the impact of development in the higher education sector, on the Income Inequality in Pakistan, by using the annual time series data from 1973 to 2012. The autoregressive distributed lag bound testing co-integration approach confirms the existence of long-run relationship between higher education and income inequality. Results indicate that higher education has a negative and significant relationship with the income inequality in the long run, while a negative but insignificant effect is found in the short run. Results of cumulative sum (CUSUM) and CUSUM of square test suggest that there is no structural instability in the residuals of equation of income inequality. Results of causality analyses confirm the unidirectional causal relationship between higher education development and income inequality in Pakistan, which runs from the higher education development to the income inequality. The findings of this study suggest that development in the higher education sector would be a significant policy option to control the income inequality and should be considered a means to improve the income distribution in Pakistan.

Assessing E-Learning System in Higher Education Institutes: Evidence from Structural Equation Modelling.

This study aims to examine university students’ acceptance of e-learning systems in Pakistan. A Web-based learning system is a new form of utilizing technological features. Although, developed countries have initiated and established the concept for e-learning, developing countries require empirical support to implement e-learning.,This paper further explains a conceptual model that is based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). Earlier theories such as the theory of reasoned action (TRA), theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and decomposed theory of planned behaviour (DTPB) have been conducted on user behavioural intention (BI). TAM is considered as the most relevant framework in a Web-based context. To analyse the present study’s hypothesized model, structural equation modelling (SEM) has been used to statistically analyse self-reported sample data from 424 university students.,The results revealed that TAM, with the combination of new constructs, explains university students’ acceptance of the e-learning system reasonably well. Additionally, work life quality (WLQ) and facilitating conditions (FC) have a greater influence on the BI and the actual use (AU) of the e-learning system, respectively.,The study has also provided valuable implications for academics and practitioners for ways to enhance the acceptance of the e-learning system in the higher education of Pakistan.

Foreign direct investment and higher education development in Pakistan: evidence from structural break testing

This study investigates the relationship between foreign direct investment and higher education development in Pakistan by using the annual time series data from the period of 1972 to 2013. Results of autoregressive distributed lag-based coefficient model, fully modified ordinary least square method and dynamic ordinary least square method indicate that foreign direct investment has a positive and significant impact on higher education in long run and short run. Results of causality analysis suggest the unidirectional causal relationship of foreign direct investment and higher education development in Pakistan which runs from foreign direct investment to higher education development. It is concluded that foreign direct investment brings advanced technologies, which requires more skilled and managerial labour force. Similarly, the competition in labour market also increases with the entrance of foreign direct investment. Consequently, people go for higher studies to enhance their capabilities and to get the competitive edge in the labour market.

Higher Education Development and Unemployment in Pakistan: Evidence from Structural Break Testing:

This study investigates the relationship between higher education development and unemployment in Pakistan by using the annual time series data from the period of 1973 to 2013. The ARDL bound testing cointegration approach, Johansen and Juselius cointegration approach and Gregory and Hansen structural break cointegration approach confirm the valid long-run relationship between higher education development and unemployment. Results of long-run analysis indicate the negative and significant impact of higher education development on unemployment in Pakistan. Results of variance decomposition method confirm the valid unidirectional causal relationship of higher education development with unemployment in Pakistan. The direction of a causal relationship is run from higher education development to unemployment. Results of rolling window analysis show that the coefficient of higher education development has remained negative for last 15 years since 1999. It is clear from our findings that higher education commission plays an important role in creating the employment opportunities in Pakistan, which also leads to economic growth. It is recommended that policy makers should make policies to strengthen the higher education commission. Policy makers should make policies which are designed for promoting the fixed capital investments and increasing job opportunities.