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Item The role of principals to promote technology integration in pedagogical practices at primary level(UMT, Lahore, 2009) Lubna Bashir MalikUsing technology is a buzz word of the 21st century all over the world. In Pakistan, this trend has emerged in renowned private school systems. This study is conducted in the private school systems, selected from Lahore, Pakistan. The study mainly examines principals’ understanding of technology integration, the role of the principals to promote pedagogical practices as a result of technology integration and the strategies adopted by the principals to develop such culture. Mixed methods approach was used and the data was collected from the principals and teachers through surveys and interviews. Classroom observations were conducted to gauge teachers’ understanding for technology integration. Students work on computers helped to assess the level of students’ understanding. Principals role was broadly considered in three categories; role model, instructional leader and visionary. School principals were in the influential role and have a strong impact in the use of technology. However, they did not have concrete concept of how technology integration can enhance teaching and learning. They were more inclined towards managerial tasks which altogether prevented them to act as an effective instructional leader. They were unable to reflect the technology leadership as a role model. As their concept for technology integration was not fully developed so they could not sense the relationship between pedagogy and technology. The principals had the vision of technology but how to promote pedagogy with the effective use of technology was missing. They rather viewed computers only as technology so much focus was given to learn computers. The students with maximum understanding of technology were engaged with technology. This approach trickled down in most teachers. They lacked in creating meaningful learning environment for the students. The vision of a principal for technology integration should develop a culture where technology assists pedagogical practices in terms of meaningful learning and developing 21st century skills. The study signifies the importance of the principals’ role in the relation of pedagogical use of technology. Principals with clear understanding of technology integration and shared vision which includes an effective development plan were successful in the initiative. They role modeled and facilitated teachers to promote technology integration in pedagogical practices through displaying relevant examples. They provided professional development opportunities to strengthen the initiative; consequently, students getting benefits in their learning.Item English pronunciation problems as perceived by punjabi speaking students(UMT, Lahore, 2009) Memuna NaseerEducation is a process of enlightenment and empowerment by which the individuals are able to secure a better quality of life. Today, education is global and a multipurpose social service, which reward human creativity, commitment and freedom. Currently there is a language competition among the learners of our society that includes English as one of the major languages. It is set to trigger their passion towards learning English language. Since our future belongs to tliese young learners, therefore it becomes necessary to assist them in learning English language. Being a member of this family of learners, I find it obligatory to look for the difficulties that the learners may face in achieving the command over English language pronunciation. The puipose of my thesis was to examine the possible reasons behind not achieving the desired level of English pronunciation by those who belong to Punjabi speaking families, and to eradicate the pronunciation eiTors by providing different solutions to their problems. For this quantitative research, I used Survey Method and let the students who had Punjabi speaking kaekgrtsuncl fill a qiieslicji-inaire. Xlie questionnaire was consisted of ten Ux^otheses, gum of wlilclt are afi fbllaw. Punjabi background effects English pronunciation. Punjabi speaking students often pronounce English words incorreGtly. Mass Media can he of vita! impoi-tance In Improving English pronunciation. Pronunciation lends accuracy to the message convoyed. This survey provided me several findings; it drew out that certain social factors infuence the language itself. Being Punjabi speaking is iiot a fault, but the thing that is of more importance is the ability to recognize, remember and produce sounds of a language. Lack of vocabulary is also a problem that is debatable. The limited range of vocabulary does not allow them to develop their ideas and present these ideas confidently. Keeping in mind the problems found, I suggested a few solutions. One should motivate oneself that they can learn quickly and affectively. They should decide on some goals. They should be sure to practice and practice without fear. Also, they should make it enjoyable. English is considered to be the modem lingua franca, a language which most of the countries share in order to communicate. Therefore, the knowledge of English is necessary to keep with tlie latest development and a sound knowledge of English opens up prospects of progi'ess at national and international levels.Item Mental lexicon(UMT, Lahore, 2009) Aniqa RiazItem Determination of medical education environment in punjab private and public medical colleges affiliated with university of health sciences, lahore(UMT, Lahore, 2009) Dr. JUNAID SARFRAZ KHANThe main purpose of this study was to identify differences, if any, in the Medical Education Climate between the Private ai^ Public Medical Colleges in the Province of Punjab affiliated with the University of Health Sciences, Lahore and to gather recommendations from students on measures that need to be taken to improve the environment. This Mixed Quantitative and Qualitative Prospective Study was conducted in 2008. The population of the study consisted of 1612 MBBS Final Year Medical Students of both Private and Public Medical Colleges. Stratified Random Sampling was done to ensure representation of both Sectors. Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) was used to assimilate Quantitative Data and a Questionnaire consisting of 10 items was used to accumulate Qualitative Data, t-test and chi-square Tests were used to analyze Quantitative Data. Common themes were identified in the Qualitative Data. All the SIX Research Hypotheses were rejected and Null Hypotheses were upheld Analysis of Qualitative Data indicated a number of Examination, Curriculum, Teaching Methodology, Teacher and Peer related Stressors without discrimination in students of both Private and Public Sectors. Solutions by students focused on improving co-ordination between Institutions and University of Health Sciences as well as developing and delivering Clinically-Centered, Community-Oriented and Problem-Based Education through development of appropriate Teaching Methodologies. It is therefore concluded that even though there is no difference in the Medical Education Climate between the Private and Public Medical Education Sectors, the Environment is less than Ideal. However, this can be improved through shifting the onus of Education from Teacher-Centered Didactic Approach to a more Student-Centered Self-Learning Strategy. In this paradigm shift the UHS, Lahore needs to play a pivotal role in order to effectively train the Trainers and standardize this change throughout Punjab.Item Dynamics of quality in higher education(UMT, Lahore, 2009) SeemaRahimBetter ranking as a measure of marketability is the prime need of private universities of Pakistan, in order to survive against the well-established public universities. The exponential expansion of higher education does not mean that all higher education institutions will sustain. The sustainability requires continuous improvement in services. Quality Assurance is a system to deal with issues related to development and improvement in higher education. Both, quality assurance and ranking of universities are emerging phenomena in Pakistan after the establishment of Higher Education Commission (HEC). Private universities are in initial stage of responding to these calls. They are taking retrospective measures for quality assurance, unmindful of the basic ingredient of quality, i.e. customer satisfaction. The concept of customer satisfaction cannot be separated from the quality of service of higher education, because private universities operate as business entities and compete for profit. The retention of loyal customers is crucial for independent revenue generation and sustenance of these higher education institutions. The issue of consumer satisfaction is not only a concern of the multiple stakeholders but also a prime concern of HEC. The HEC must ensure that the drive to earn profits does not lead to compromise on the quality of service; and private universities do prosper in business by maintaining quality in teaching and learning? Research was carried out in seven private universities of Pakistan to determine the relationship between the perceptions of customers on service quality of higher education, i.e. students and faculty as means of satisfaction and its impact upon the word of mouth for the respective university. It seeks the answers of following research questions: 1) Whether the universities have been able to transform their consumers into loyal and engaged customers? 2) What is the role of university's perceived value in procuring student satisfaction and loyalty? 3) What are the gaps between theory and practice of QA in iv private universities of Pakistan? 4) How successful the HEC measures have been to implement QA programs in private universities of Pakistan? The research used mixed method approach for data collection and its analyses. This exploratory study focused on understanding the needs of all stakeholders to generate a customer satisfaction model for private universities of Pakistan Descriptive and interpretive analyses of qualitative data were used for this purpose. The study not only generated a model, it has tested the model through advanced inferential statistics to prove its efficacy over a larger population of students in private universities of Pakistan. The multivariate effects of satisfaction across universities were measured through MANOVA. Discriminant analysis has been the most critical tool used for distinguishing satisfaction along six service quality indicators (teaching, management, leadership, campus life, academic services and infrastructure) across seven universities; it has predicted the strength of word of mouth and intentions to stay in the university as well. Structure Equation Models procured for student satisfaction were able to distinguish strategic paths adopted by universities in their pursuit of service quality and student satisfaction. The findings indicate that that people and processes (teacher and teaching) are more important than infrastructure and other tangible facilities; the students' choice of institution rests upon academic and social environment rather than infrastructure or other reputational measures. The projected rankings of the universities do not correspond with subjective satisfaction of their customers. The discussion concludes that perceived educational outcomes implied most significant influence over customer satisfaction (both students and teachers), and prospective reputation of the university. Leadership strategies are critically evaluated by all customers related to planning of these outcomes. Both value for money and fitness for purpose are vital for the service higher education, but qualitative difference will be created by transformational model. The private universities of Pakistan have yet to achieve the transformational status of quality. Therefore, private universities will have to adopt prospective measures of quality assurance; more than teaching, they will have to focus upon learning of students. Unless they align their efforts to achieve transformational quality in their total environment, their sustainability will remain in danger. Unable to retain faculty and attract quality students, the private universities may keep losing their customers, which is undesirable and unhealthy for the business as well as society