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The momentum has been building toward the realisation of the United Nations Development Programme's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this regard, technological upgrading through the adoption of innovative technologies, as in big data analytics (BDA), can be seen as a key enabler of helping to address societal challenges. While there is some evidence for realising value created from BDA adoption, organisational issues associated with societal challenges, specifically those targeting the SDGs, are yet to be appreciated. This study utilises a technology–organisation–environment framework to examine the role of top management support in facilitating value creation from BDA adoption for the realisation SDGs. Based on a survey of 320 UK managers, this study found that the technological driver of BDA coupled with top management support, can significantly help in the adoption process. Therefore, crafting the value needed for effectively supporting the realisation of these goals.

Information and communications technology (ICT) is widely utilized in the accounting profession and has transformed the accounting functions in business and the role of accountants. Acknowledging the significance of ICT skills in accounting education, many employers and professional associations are calling for integration of accounting curricula with ICT. Therefore, it is vital for potential accounting professionals to be equipped with the most current ICT skills pursued by employers. This study searches the current job market to capture a snapshot of the most in demand graduate skills, in particular, ICT skills. Furthermore, it also lists a number of software systems for accountancy solutions and their supplier firms. Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) - NPRP grant # [7-1534- 5-231].

The aim of this study is to stimulate and support women to engage in action-oriented entrepreneurial activities such as practical training, international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and shared learning to foster entrepreneurship. To achieve the aim, this study proposes a structured program of training and mentoring that will combine multiple-methods and ICT tools to facilitate the process of joint-innovation and start-up between international female entrepreneurs. To do so, it recommends the following stages: engaging with stakeholders and developing contextual awareness; developing an entrepreneurship training framework; training and capacity building of female entrepreneurs; adapting, implementing and pilot-testing a co-innovation platform; and facilitation of international collaboration, venture capital and start-ups.

It is widely acknowledged that traditional teaching methods such as lectures, textbooks and case study techniques on their own are not adequate to improving the most in-demand employability skills for graduates. The aim of this article is to explore the potential impact that novel learning and teaching methods can have on improving the employability skills of Management Information System (MIS) graduates. To do so, the article reports the results of an experiment that was conducted with MIS students at the Faculty of Business and Economics in Qatar University, that combined lectures, case study-based workshops, flipped classrooms, presentations, problem-based learning and collaborative learning. The findings of this experiment suggest that known methods of classroom-based learning and teaching used for MIS graduates are failing to develop important graduate skills such as, critical thinking, time management and how to conduct research when faced with challenging problems.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to help in providing a better understanding of the application of blockchain technology in the context of the banking and finance sectors. The aim is to outline blockchain's benefits, opportunities, costs, risks as well as challenges of the technology in the context of banking and finance services.Design/methodology/approachCareful examination of the extant literature, including utilising relevant academic-based research databases has been carried out. It covered reviewing various research contributions published in peer-reviewed journals, academic reports, as well as technical reports to help in identifying related benefits, opportunities, costs and risks.FindingsThe findings reveal that there are limited contributions in utilising blockchain in the banking and finance sectors when compared with other sectors. As such, the study highlighted the relevant perspective of benefits, opportunities, costs and risks within such sectors.Practical implicationsThis study helps in offering a focal point to banking and financial sector managers and decision-makers for realising the value and offerings of blockchain technology as well as associated strategies and programmes.Originality/valueThis study highlights the need for a holistic understanding of the various aspects of cost, benefits, risk and opportunities to create blockchain applications that work for banking and finance sectors

It is widely acknowledged that traditional teaching methods such as lectures, textbooks and case study techniques on their own are not adequate to improving the most in-demand employability skills for graduates. The aim of this article is to explore the potential impact that novel learning and teaching methods can have on improving the employability skills of Management Information System (MIS) graduates. To do so, the article reports the results of an experiment that was conducted with MIS students at the Faculty of Business and Economics in Qatar University, that combined lectures, case study-based workshops, flipped classrooms, presentations, problem-based learning and collaborative learning. The findings of this experiment suggest that known methods of classroom-based learning and teaching used for MIS graduates are failing to develop important graduate skills such as, critical thinking, time management and how to conduct research when faced with challenging problems.

While many universities have implemented various initiatives and teaching and learning methods to embed the most in-demand skills into their degree programmes, there is little evidence in the literature of students’ opinions and awareness of these skills. The purpose of this article is to assess, through an empirical study, students’ perceptions of the skills commonly identified in the literature as important for the field of accounting and finance. A total of 462 surveys were collected and analysed using the SAS statistical analysis tool. According to the findings, the most important graduate skills are communication skills, followed by analytical skills and self-management. The findings also reveal that the language of instruction is statistically significant for a few graduate skills, including interpersonal, planning and organization, communication, self-management and analytical skills. Age is statistically significant for critical thinking skills and gender is statistically significant for leadership, technological and communication skills.

While higher education institutes attempt to adapt their curricula to cope with national employability strategies, there remain some significant variations between what employers want and the attributes possessed by new graduates. Using a systematic review of literature and focused scanning of the job market, the authors aimed to contribute to the debate by mapping and contrasting the rankings of graduate attributes among academic and practitioner communities. The study focuses on 2 sectors from the United Kingdom. - 2018, - 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This publication was made possible by NPRP grant number 7-1534-5-231 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The findings achieved herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. Scopus

Higher education institutes are facing increasing pressure to ensure that graduates are equipped with the right set of attributes that will make them desirable to potential employers. To deal with this pressure, universities have for some time been embedding employability attributes into their curriculum through classroom-based teaching and external programs. Yet, little research exists into examining academics' perception of graduate attributes and the potential challenges they face in delivering these attributes. The authors examine graduate attributes that are perceived as most important by academics. The findings suggest that communication, teamwork, problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, time management, and research skills were all seen as important for the employability. This publication was made possible by NPRP grant # [7-1534-5-231] from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The findings achieved herein are solely the responsibility of the author[s]. Scopus

Continued professional development (CPD) has been at the centre of capacity building in most successful organisations in western countries over the past few decades. Specialised professions in fields such as Accounting, Finance and ICT, to name but a few, are continuously evolving, which is necessitating certain standards to be followed through registration and certification by a designated authority (e.g. ACCA). Whilst most developed countries such as the UK and the US have well established frameworks for CPD for these professions, several developing nations, including Qatar (the chosen context for this article) are only just beginning to adopt these frameworks into their local contexts. However, the unique socio-cultural settings in such countries require these frameworks to be appropriately modified before they are adopted within the respective national context. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of CPD in Qatar through comparing the UK as a benchmark and drawing corresponding and contrasting observations to formulate a roadmap towards developing a high level framework.