Journal of Research Administration

S. J Saka; I. I Paiko; C. K. Dauda PDF

Rising concerns about graduate unemployment and the limited entrepreneurial outcomes of university programmes have intensified attention on the performance of University Entrepreneurship Centres (UECs), particularly in developing economies. This study examines the role of industry collaboration in the nexus between managerial skills, networking, and University Entrepreneurship Centre performance in North Central Nigeria. Drawing on the resource-based and entrepreneurial ecosystem perspectives, the study adopted a quantitative research design and utilises data collected from 281 managers, coordinators, and senior administrative staff of UECs across public and private universities. Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM).The results reveal that managerial skills have a positive and significant effect on UEC performance (β = 0.253, p < 0.001), indicating that effective leadership and strategic coordination enhance centre outcomes. Networking also exerts a strong positive influence on performance (β = 0.359, p < 0.001), underscoring the importance of external linkages and stakeholder engagement. In addition, industry collaboration has a significant direct effect on UEC performance (β = 0.190, p < 0.001). More importantly, industry collaboration significantly moderates the interaction between managerial skills and performance (β = 0.259, p < 0.001), as well as between networking and performance (β = 0.134, p = 0.010), suggesting that internal capabilities translate more effectively into performance outcomes when supported by strong industry partnerships. The study concluded that UEC performance is best understood as a function of managerial competence, relational networks, and structured industry engagement. The findings offer practical insights for university administrators and policymakers seeking to strengthen entrepreneurship centres as drivers of innovation and employability in Nigeria.  

Omowumi Adebola Adeniyi-Agbaje; Samuel Oyeyemi Agbeleoba PDF

Nigeria confronts an escalating climate crisis, intensified by its agricultural dependence and vulnerability to extreme weather, necessitating effective implementation of greenhouse gas (GHG) policies like the Climate Change Act 2021 and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) targeting net-zero by 2060. Despite a robust policy framework, persistent communication gaps undermine public awareness, stakeholder engagement, and behavioral change, as technical documents remain inaccessible and top-down approaches prevail. This study integrates Environmental Communication Theory, Framing Theory, Goal Framing Theory, Moral Foundations Theory, and discourse analysis to interrogate these deficiencies. Analysis of policy texts, including NDC 3.0, reveals dominant technical-economic frames that alienate diverse audiences, exacerbated by low media coverage, limited local-language dissemination, and weak synergy between legal mandates and communication strategies. The challenges include inadequate public information, tokenistic participation, and culturally insensitive messaging, particularly in rural energy access contexts. The paper proposes sustainable communication strategies: audience-segmented framing, hybrid digital-traditional media campaigns, community-based participation, multi-stakeholder coalitions, and cultural adaptations leveraging storytelling and religious leaders. This paper advocates a National Climate Change Communication Strategy, capacity building, educational integration, and research on intervention efficacy. By embedding inclusive, participatory communication, Nigeria can mobilize societal support, enhancing policy success and fostering climate resilience. Effective communication is thus positioned as indispensable for translating policy ambition into equitable, low-carbon outcomes.  

Gokul Kailash A, Dr. Banu Chitra M PDF

Introduction: Elevated metro corridors in urban areas improve transportation but create underutilized ground-level spaces known as Metro Viaduct Buffers (MVBs). These neglected areas pose challenges such as heat accumulation, pollution, and poor connectivity. This study investigates how these spaces can be repurposed through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and GIS-based analysis to improve urban resilience and environmental quality. Methods: Chennai, a rapidly urbanizing Indian city, was selected as the study area. GIS tools were used to identify and categorize MVBs based on land surface temperature, pollution levels, land use context, and physical conditions. Data from Land sat imagery, DEMs, and urban planning maps were analyzed using Arc GIS. Each site was assessed to determine the feasibility of applying NBS interventions. Results: Findings show that MVBs are unevenly distributed across Chennai, with elevated environmental stress in high-density commercial and transit zones. Urban heat island (UHI) hotspots and pollution clusters were identified under viaducts, particularly in areas with low vegetation cover. Based on spatial and environmental data, tailored NBS strategies such as urban forests, bio swales, shaded pedestrian corridors, and vertical gardens were proposed for different site types. Discussion: The study presents a scalable GIS-NBS framework for redeveloping MVBs, enhancing microclimate regulation, air quality, and pedestrian accessibility. The framework provides clear design and policy guidelines for urban planners. The pilot case study demonstrates replicability across other Indian cities facing similar challenges. Conclusion: Transforming MVBs using data-driven, nature-integrated strategies offers a path toward inclusive, low-carbon urban development. The proposed approach supports climate resilience, ecological restoration, and improved public space quality in infrastructure-dominated urban contexts.  

Somaya Ismael Youssef Al-Hajjouj, Dhakir Abbas Ali PDF

This study explores the impact of information technology alignment (ITA) on human resource development (HRD) in the Saudi education sector, with a particular focus on the mediating role of employee learning speed (ELS). As Saudi Arabia intensifies its digital transformation efforts in alignment with Vision 2030, higher education institutions are increasingly expected to integrate IT systems strategically to foster employee development and organizational agility. Drawing on a quantitative research design, data were collected from 386 academic and administrative staff members at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University using a structured questionnaire. The constructs were validated using structural equation modeling (SEM), and the model’s reliability and validity were confirmed through measurement model assessments. The findings indicate a significant direct effect of ITA on HRD, highlighting the importance of aligning digital infrastructure with institutional goals. Additionally, ITA demonstrated a strong positive influence on ELS, which in turn significantly mediated the relationship between ITA and HRD. However, ELS alone did not show a significant direct effect on HRD without the support of IT alignment, suggesting that digital integration is a critical enabler of learning agility. These results underscore the strategic importance of digital alignment in shaping effective human resource practices within academic institutions. The study contributes to the understanding of how technology and human capital interact in the context of educational reform and organizational development. It offers practical implications for policymakers and university leaders aiming to enhance staff capabilities through integrated digital strategies and targeted learning interventions.

Saif Abdullah Alhawwashi, Ali Khatibi PDF

This study investigates the relationship between EFQM model implementation and corporate excellence in Saudi small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a specific focus on the moderating role of Vision 2030. Drawing on organizational excellence and quality management perspectives, the study explores how internal excellence enablers and national transformation agendas interact to influence organizational outcomes in a rapidly changing economic environment. Data were collected from Saudi SMEs and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The measurement model was carefully evaluated and refined to ensure acceptable reliability and validity before testing the structural relationships. The results demonstrate that all EFQM enabler dimensions process, people, policy and strategy, and partnerships and resources have significant positive effects on corporate excellence, confirming the effectiveness of the EFQM framework in driving excellence outcomes. The moderation analysis reveals that Vision 2030 does not exert a uniform moderating effect across all EFQM enablers; rather, it significantly strengthens only the relationship between partnerships and resources and corporate excellence. This finding highlights the selective and context-dependent role of national strategic orientation, particularly in enhancing externally oriented organizational capabilities. The structural model exhibits strong explanatory power, indicating that a substantial proportion of variance in corporate excellence is explained by the combined influence of EFQM enablers and Vision 2030 alignment. Overall, the study provides empirical evidence that corporate excellence in Saudi SMEs is primarily driven by robust internal management practices, while Vision 2030 functions as a contextual amplifier for specific excellence dimensions.