Journal Articles
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://192.168.8.146:4000/handle/123456789/9
Browse
109 results
Search Results
Item Co- creating human- centred climate solutionsthrough challenge- based learning: Insightsfrom Kenya–UK learning and design lab(British Educational Research Association., 2025) Mwangi, Renson Muchiri.; Muthuri, Judy N.; Kutuk,Gulsah.; Muriithi,Betsy.; Kamere, Grace.; Faßbender, Karina.Abstract The global climate crisis calls for innovative educational approaches that empower individuals to critically engage with its complexities and inequalities. Climate change education (CCE) is a key strategy to foster the knowledge, agency, and action needed for such engagement, particularly within higher education. Yet, traditional content- driven approaches often fail to address the dynamic and context-specific nature of climate change impacts. This article explores the potential of human- centered challenge-based learning (HCCBL) to promote equitable and inclusive CCE through transdisciplinary co- creation and Global North–South dialogue. We draw on findings from the UK- Kenya University Partnerships: Learning and Design Lab, a British Council project that involved undergraduate and postgraduate students from universities in Kenya and England in the United Kingdom. Sixty (60) university students collaborated in intercultural teams across three labs to co-create solutions for real-world climate resilience challenges identified by three (3) industry partners in Kenya. The findings highlight HCCBL's value in bridging theoretical knowledge and real-world application as well as enhancing students' problem-solving and intercultural competencies. However, challenges such as cultural dynamics, time constraints, and asymmetric travel opportunities underscore the need for adaptive and equitable facilitation. This study positions HCCBL as a transformative pedagogy in CCE that supports co- creation, knowledge exchange, and sustainability leadership among university students in high-vulnerability contexts. It also discusses implications for educators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders who are committed to inclusive, justice-oriented climate action through educationItem Capital adequacy, risk absorption, and operational efficiency of Islamic in sub-Saharan Africa(University of Turin, 2026) Njogo, Michael Njoroge.; Korir, Fiona Jepkosgei.; Dallu,Abdallah Mambo.Abstract This study examines how capital adequacy shapes the operational efficiency of Islamic banks in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with particular emphasis on its role as an internal risk-absorption mechanism rather than a purely prudential stability buffer. Despite its central role in Islamic banking regulation, the efficiency implications of capital adequacy, particularly in developing and institutionally constrained Islamic finance markets, remain largely unexplored. Based on a balanced panel of fully-fledged Islamic banks in SSA from2010to 2024, the paper employs a two-step empirical approach. Bias-corrected operational efficiency scores are estimated in the first stage using the Simar–Wilson two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) framework. In the second stage, we explore the non-linear effects of capital adequacy on efficiency using panel regression techniques, controlling for bank-specific and institutional factors. To address endogeneity, persistence, and reverse causality, a dynamic panel model is estimated using System GMM as a robustness check. The findings indicate non-linear relationship between capital adequacy and operational efficiency. Moderate capital buffers are associated with improved efficiency through higher loss absorption capacity and stabilisation of operating costs, while excessive capitalisation is accompanied by scale inefficiencies and less effective intermediation. These results indicate that Islamic banking exhibits an efficiency trade-off in capital adequacy, as prudential strength beyond an optimal level may limit productivity in resource allocation. The study makes an important contribution to Islamic banking literature by reframing capital adequacy as a channel of structural efficiency and by providing rare dynamic evidence from SSA. This raises policy implications and suggests the need for commensurate capital calibration that balances prudential resilience against operational efficiency for emerging Sharīʿah-compliant banking systems.Item Scale efficiency and technical efficiency in Islamic banks: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa(SSBFNET, 2026) Njogo, Michael Njoroge.; Korir, Fiona Jepkosgei.; Dallu,Abdallah Mambo.Abstract This study investigates whether inefficiencies in Islamic banking in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are primarily driven by managerial limitations or by suboptimal scale of operations. While existing studies largely report aggregate efficiency scores, limited attention has been given to decomposing efficiency into its underlying components in emerging Islamic banking systems, particularly within the SSA context. The study employs a balanced panel of 35 fully fledged Islamic banks operating in SSA over the period 2010–2024. Operational efficiency is estimated using a bias-corrected Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model under an input-oriented Variable Returns to Scale (VRS) framework. To enhance statistical reliability, the Simar–Wilson bootstrap procedure with 2,000 replications is applied. Efficiency scores are decomposed into pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency to distinguish between managerial inefficiencies and structural scale constraints. The results indicate that overall efficiency levels remain low, with inefficiencies largely driven by scale factors rather than managerial performance. A significant proportion of banks operate under increasing returns to scale, suggesting suboptimal size linked to structural constraints such as limited market depth, fragmented regulatory environments, and underdeveloped financial infrastructure. Although pure technical efficiency shows moderate improvement over time, managerial gains are insufficient to offset these systemic limitations. The findings highlight the need for regulatory harmonization, market integration, and strategic expansion or consolidation to enable Islamic banks to achieve optimal scale and improve operational efficiency in SSA. This study provides one of the first comprehensive efficiency decomposition analyses of Islamic banks in SSA using bias-corrected DEA, offering new insights into the relative importance of structural versus managerial sources of inefficiency in emerging financial systems.Item Catch-up or divergence? Operational efficiency convergence dynamics of Islamic banks in SSA(SSBFNET, 2026) Njogo, Michael Njoroge.; Korir, Fiona Jepkosgei.; Dallu,Abdallah Mambo.Abstract This study examines whether Islamic banks in SSA exhibit convergence in operational efficiency or whether performance disparities persist over time. Specifically, it evaluates whether less efficient banks catch up with more efficient peers within the region’s emerging Islamic banking sector. The study adopts a two-stage empirical framework using panel data from 35 Islamic banks across SSA over the period 2010–2024. In the first stage, operational efficiency scores are estimated using a bias-corrected Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model following the Simar and Wilson two-stage approach. An input-oriented specification under Variable Returns to Scale (VRS) is employed to reflect cost minimization behaviour and heterogeneity in bank size. Bias correction is implemented using a bootstrap procedure to obtain consistent efficiency estimates. In the second stage, convergence dynamics are analysed using sigma (σ) and beta (β) convergence models, alongside conditional convergence regressions incorporating bank size, age, and market concentration. The results reveal significant β-convergence, with the baseline model yielding a coefficient of −0.267 (p < 0.01), while the conditional model confirms robust convergence (β = −0.2836, p < 0.01), indicating that banks with lower initial efficiency improve at a faster rate than more efficient institutions, consistent with catch-up dynamics. However, σ-convergence results show that efficiency dispersion declined between 2010 and 2019 but increased after 2020, indicating that convergence was time-varying rather than uniform. This suggests that while convergence forces exist, structural differences and external shocks continue to sustain efficiency gaps across banks. The findings highlight the need for stronger regulatory harmonization, improved financial infrastructure, and targeted capacity-building initiatives to accelerate efficiency convergence across Islamic banks in SSA.Item Dynamics of technology transfer for innovation processes in a constrained resource settings :(Scientific & Academic Publishing Co., 2018) Kiarie, Peter; Mwangi, Henry; Rong, ChunmingAbstract Technology transfer, defined as the movement of scientific inventions from an enterprise to the market place, is often a difficult and frustrating process. Stakeholders in this area of study are usually at different levels of understanding due to many factors involved and speak different languages. There are number of problems associated with technology transfer processes in constrained resource settings such as lack of researchers in specific domains, motivation, bureaucratic climate, inability to make effective public investments, funding and inappropriate infrastructure, culture among many others. This research explores the above problems and others discussed by varies researchers in technology transfer and particularly those in Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework using Data analytics and System Dynamics modeling approaches. Data analytics will facilitate in developing a more promising and data rich System Dynamics model. The study will shed light on technical and social factors that lead to formulation of policies which enable accelerated technology transfers in constrained resource settings.Item Supporting e-learning in computer-poor environments by combining oer, cloud services and mobile learning(ICCE2014, 2014) Mwendia, Simon Nyaga; Hoppe, H. UlrichAbstract Research supervision is an important type of support for advanced students when engaged in study projects or in writing their final theses. One of the most common complaints from research students is erratic or infrequent contact with supervisors, who might be too busy with other responsibilities or are not present frequently enough . High proliferation of mobile phones(i.e. 'mobile-rich') but no computer prevalence (i.e. 'computer-poor') in African countries calls for using mobile technologies to address this challenge. However, limitations of mobile devices (such as usage cost, memory capacity and small screen) are some of the barriers for mobile learning adoption. In this paper, we combine mobile learning with OER and Cloud Computing Services to enhance supervisors’ availability to their research students, who are in 'mobile-rich' but 'computer-poor ' learning settings typical for African universities.Item Environmental risk factors influencing bicycle theft:(PubMed Central, 2016) Mburu, Lucy W.; Helbich, MarcoAbstract Urban authorities are continuously drawing up policies to promote cycling among commuters. However, these initiatives are counterproductive for the targeted objectives because they increase opportunities for bicycle theft. This paper explores Inner London as a case study to address place-specific risk factors for bicycle theft at the street-segment level while controlling for seasonal variation. The presence of certain public amenities (e.g., bicycle stands, railway stations, pawnshops) was evaluated against locations of bicycle theft between 2013 and 2016 and risk effects were estimated using negative binomial regression models. Results showed that a greater level of risk stemmed from land-use facilities than from area-based socioeconomic status. The presence of facilities such as train stations, vacant houses, pawnbrokers and payday lenders increased bicycle theft, but no evidence was found that linked police stations with crime levels. The findings have significant implications for urban crime prevention with respect to non-residential land use.Item Contextual factors and public value of e-government services in kenya(Global Scientific Journals, 2017) Kamau, Gabriel; Wausi, Agnes; Njihia, JamesAbstract E-government research has been skewed towards technological deterministic perspective mainly centering on technological issues. This provides no explicit guidance to the design and practice of e-government programs that result to increased uptake of e-government services. Theoretical discourse reveals undisputed consensus among e-government researchers that e-government uptake may be influenced by others contextual factors such as administrative and political consequences and should not be overlooked as they are valued. This study filled this gap by conducting an empirical investigated of the influence of contextual factors: ICT infrastructure, human capital and governance and the public value of e-government services. The study employed a mixed method exploratory, descriptive cross-sectional approach to realize the research objectives. Structural Equation Modeling was used to conduct statistical analysis of data collected. The study findings demonstrated that ICT infrastructure insignificantly contributed to public value of e-government services. However, the study revealed significantly contribution of human capital as well as governance to public value of e-government services.Item Modeling spatial interactions between areas to assess the burglary risk(MDPI, 2016) Mburu, Lucy W.; Bakillah, MohamedAbstract It is generally acknowledged that the urban environment presents different types of risk factors, but how the structural effects of areas influence the risk levels in neighboring areas has been less widely investigated. This research assesses the local effects of burglary contributory factors on burglary over small areas in a large metropolitan region. A comparative framework is developed for analyzing the effects of geographic dependence on burglary rates, and for assessing how such dependence conditions the community context and the urban land use. A local indicators spatial autocorrelation analysis assesses burglaries over five years (2011–2015) to identify risk clusters. Thereafter, effects of different variables (e.g., unemployment, building density) on burglary frequency are estimated in a series of regression models while controlling for changes in the risk levels of nearby surrounding areas. Results uncover strong evidence that the configuration of the surroundings influences risk. After controlling for area-based interaction, patterns are identified that contrast with the previous literature, such as lower burglary frequency in areas with higher tenancy in social housing units. Together the findings demonstrate that the spatial arrangement of areas is as crucial as contextual crime factors, particularly when assessing the risk for small areas.Item Directing attention through gaze hints improves task solving in human-humanoid interaction(pubMed, 2018) Mwangi, Eunice; Barakova, Emilia I; Díaz-Boladeras, Marta; Català Mallofré, Andreu; Rauterberg, MatthiasAbstract In this paper, we report an experimental study designed to examine how participants perceive and interpret social hints from gaze exhibited by either a robot or a human tutor when carrying out a matching task. The underlying notion is that knowing where an agent is looking at provides cues that can direct attention to an object of interest during the activity. In this regard, we asked human participants to play a card matching game in the presence of either a human or a robotic tutor under two conditions. In one case, the tutor gave hints to help the participant find the matching cards by gazing toward the correct match, in the other case, the tutor only looked at the participants and did not give them any help. The performance was measured based on the time and the number of tries taken to complete the game. Results show that gaze hints (helping tutor) made the matching task significantly easier (fewer tries) with the robot tutor. Furthermore, we found out that the robots' gaze hints were recognized significantly more often than the human tutor gaze hints, and consequently, the participants performed significantly better with the robot tutor. The reported study provides new findings towards the use of non-verbal gaze hints in human-robot interaction, and lays out new design implications, especially for robot-based educative interventions.