BSpace
The British University in Dubai (BUiD) Digital Repository
Welcome to BSpace, the online institutional repository of the British University in Dubai. BSpace provides access to the Dissertations, Thesis, Research projects, Faculty publications and archives of BUiD.
Submit your dissertation/thesis by completing the registration using your BUiD email.
Review the submission guidelines before you submit the final version
Communities in BSpace
Select a community to browse its collections.
- This community includes the articles, book chapters, conference and working papers published by BUiD staff members.
- This community includes the Theses and Dissertations submitted by Faculty of Business and Law students
- This community includes the Theses and Dissertations submitted by Faculty of Education students
- This community includes the Theses and Dissertations submitted by Faculty of Engineering and IT students
- The Journal is run by the Faculty of Education, The British University in Dubai (BUiD).
- This community includes the Newsletters published by the BUiD library
- This community includes the BUiD conference papers, newsletters and magazines.
Recent Submissions
Analysis of Photovoltaic Installations Performance and Deployment: Case Dubai Energy Sector
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-07) DHIMISH, AMEER; Professor Edward Ochieng
This thesis investigates the performance and degradation of photovoltaic (PV) systems in Dubai, a region characterized by its unique climatic conditions. With a growing emphasis on sustainable and clean energy, understanding the efficiency and longevity of PV installations in such environments is crucial. This study focuses on analyzing the Performance Ratio (PR) and degradation trends of two prevalent PV technologies: polycrystalline silicon (Poly-Si) and monocrystalline silicon (Mono-Si).
Employing a comprehensive dataset provided by Al-Suwaidi Constructions, the research analyzed PV systems across various strategic locations in Dubai, including Jebel Ali, Al Qusais, Al Barsha, and Al Lisaili. These systems, integrated directly with the grid and varying in capacity from 1.5 MW to 2 MW, were scrutinized over a five-year period (January 2018 to December 2022). The methodology involved a detailed PR analysis using linear regression models to identify long-term trends and annual degradation rates.
Key findings revealed that Poly-Si systems, despite being less efficient initially, exhibited lower annual degradation rates (-0.73% and -0.93%) compared to Mono-Si systems (-1.48% and -1.63%). This suggests a notable advantage in terms of stability and long-term performance for Poly-Si in harsh environments like Dubai. The study also contextualized these findings within the global landscape, comparing the performance of PV systems in various geographical settings.
The research contributes significantly to the field of renewable energy, providing valuable insights for stakeholders in selecting appropriate PV technologies considering environmental conditions and long-term efficiency. It underscores the importance of tailored solutions in the deployment of sustainable energy technologies, particularly in regions facing extreme climatic challenges.
Higher Education Stakeholders’ Perceptions and Applications of Education for Sustainable Development Towards STEM Education in the UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-03) SHAKER, ENAS GHAZY; Professor Sufian Forawi
In recent years, the UAE has emerged as a thriving hub for higher education, attracting global students and academics. Recognizing the importance of sustainability and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in shaping its future, UAE universities actively promote ESD within STEM education. Understanding perceptions and applications of ESD in UAE higher education is crucial in the rapidly evolving 21st-century landscape. Accordingly, this study investigates how UAE higher education stakeholders, including instructors and students, perceive and implement ESD with a focus on STEM education through: (1) Investigating stakeholders' perceptions of ESD in UAE universities' STEM education, (2) Investigating demographic differences in stakeholders' perceptions of ESD in UAE universities' STEM education, (3) Exploring stakeholders' applications of ESD in UAE universities' STEM education, and (4) Explaining the contextual factors influencing stakeholders' engagement in ESD-STEM activities in UAE universities. Various educational theories such as Vygotsky’s social constructivist theory, cognitive constructivist theory, theory of change, transformative learning theory, education for sustainable human development theory, and competency-based education model were considered. The study employed an explanatory sequential mixed method design, including questionnaires for 200 higher education instructors and 501 students, interviews with both instructors and students, and document analysis of nine participating HEIs. The findings indicate that UAE HEI stakeholders possess knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to ESD in STEM education, with perceptions increasing with experience and involvement in STEM subjects. Several applications and initiatives within HEIs were identified to promote ESD in STEM education, along with contextual factors suggested for enhancing engagement and guiding policymakers toward a unified ESD-STEM education policy in UAE HEIs
Key words: Higher Education Stakeholders, STEM education, ESD, Sustainability, Contextual Factors
The Effects of Teacher-Turnover due to Short-term Contracts on Students’ Academic Performance: A Study among Selected Primary Private Schools in the United Arab Emirates
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2023-07) ACHAHBAR, HIND; Dr Solomon Arulraj
Teacher-turnover has been a major factor affecting the scale of education that has been offered to students in recent years. These factors have transcended from affecting the academic performance of students to having more radical effect on the overall education system in the country and beyond. The major aim of this study was to analyse the effects of high teacher-turnover rates on the academic performance of children in private schools in the UAE. This was achieved by analysing to what extent the turnover of teachers affects students' academic performance, and by carrying out research of what the perspectives of teachers and school leaders are on the turnover of teachers and their performance and on students' academic achieve ments. Studies have identified staffing flexibility, reduction of the excelsside cost of enhancing motivational factors and promoting existing teachers, and the ease of dismissal are reasons behind the use of short-term contracted teachers. Despite the efforts of the UAE government to address the increase of teacher-turnover in the region, their policy on employing expatriate teachers on short-term contracts has been central in increasing the teachers-turnover rate in the country. On research methodology, this study utilised a mixed-research approach that integrates both qualitative and quantitative methods in collecting and analysing data. On the one hand, the qualitative approach utilised both primary and secondary sources of data. The Primary sources of data employed the use of a close-ended questionnaire that contained different questions. The study utilised a total of 300 respondents who were able to take part in the action. The quantitative method of data collection, on the other hand, did a correlational analysis of the problem at hand through a detailed interview of parents, teachers and principals who were interviewed using the qualitative research methods. The methodology further a pragmatic research approach that minimised inherent weaknesses of using each research approach by itself. Based on the findings, it was evident that the majority of respondents argue that the lack of adequate government involvement in the welfare of teachers, and the lack of adequate teachers’ unions are to blame for the increased teachers-turnover in the country. This study’s implications are tailored towards informing the government, policymakers, heads of institutions and academicians to work on modalities to improve the level of education in the region. The limitations of this study include the limited number of respondents and the limited literature review on the subject in addition to the issues surrounding cultural bias when it comes to the problem at hand. For posterity, the UAE government and relevant Ministries need to ensure that teachers’ welfare is met and adequate capacity building needs to be enhanced for teachers. Finally, there is a need for unionism, whereby teachers need to incorporate themselves into unions for their own welfare.
Barriers of Additive Manufacturing Adoption in United Arab Emirates Automotive Supply Chain
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2023-11) ALI, ASMA ALI ABDULLA; Dr Sa'Ed Salheih
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the leading countries, in the Middle East, for Additive Manufacturing (AM). The UAE government is strongly focusing on fostering innovation within the automotive supply chain of the country. AM offers a tremendous opportunity by improving adaptability and efficiency of the supply chain such as reducing lead times, decreasing the dependence on foreign suppliers, and promoting sustainability in manufacturing processes. The study used a mixed method approach to determine the interrelationship between the barriers and to prioritize them with respect to one another. 11 critical barriers were identified through comprehensive literature review analysis and were modeled using ISM-MICMAC and ANP analysis with opinions gathered from industry experts. The study represents that Lack of standardization, skilled labor shortage, and limited availability of raw materials are the important barriers in the AM adoption. The ISM analysis represented the qualitative classification of barriers levels depending on their influence and interdependence, whereas the ANP analysis provided a quantitative validation for the findings. The results of this study are beneficial in providing insights of AM adoption and the unique obstacles encountered in the UAE automotive supply chain. It also assists the decision makers and automotive industry professionals to strategically implement additive manufacturing initiatives to overcome these barriers.
Examining the Factors Influencing Autonomous Vehicle Use and its Impact on Environmental Sustainability in UAE using a Hybrid SEM-ANN Approach
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2024-05) AL MANSOORI, SAEED HUSSAIN ALI; Dr Mostafa Al-Emran,
Over the past few years, the evolution of transportation towards autonomous vehicles has attracted substantial interest, signifying a transformative shift in the realm of mobility. Nevertheless, AVs adoption is a complex process, influenced by cutting-edge technological advancements, societal acceptance, regulatory frameworks, and potential environmental impacts, all of which are critical in shaping their integration into modern transportation systems. To address the gap in the existing research of this domain, a comprehensive systematic review was conducted, focusing on AVs adoption through the lens of various information system (IS) models and theoretical frameworks. The systematic review analysed empirical studies published in the timeframe from January 2013 to January 2023, focusing on AVs adoption. Out of 3,532 articles, 71 were shortlisted for in-depth analysis according to specific inclusion criteria. In addition, this study constructs a novel theoretical model based on the integration of the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the Behavioural Reasoning Theory (BRT), and the updated IS success model variables to investigate the factors influencing AVs adoption and its impact on environmental sustainability. Subsequently, the proposed model was validated using data obtained from an online survey involving 495 individuals in the UAE, who either own or have had experience using AVs. The proposed model underwent empirical validation by applying a hybrid Structural Equation Modelling-Artificial Neural Network (SEM-ANN). The results of hypothesis testing provided strong support for the majority of the hypotheses derived from the proposed model (i.e., out of 12 hypotheses, 9 were supported).