Kashmir Journal of Academic Research and Development
The Kashmir Journal of Academic Research and Development is a multidisciplinary platform that publishes original research across a wide range of academic fields. It promotes innovation, critical thinking, and knowledge sharing to support educational and societal progress. The journal welcomes contributions from researchers, scholars, and practitioners worldwide. With a strong commitment to academic integrity, it provides a reliable source of peer-reviewed knowledge for students, educators, and professionals. Its vision is to foster intellectual growth and sustainable development through research and innovation.
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Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Teaching Effectiveness: A Review Study
Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) has become an important construct in teacher education and also in the research study of instructional effectiveness. PCK is an amalgamation of information about the subject matter and pedagogical practices that are created in service of a particular content, to assist teachers in expressing challenging ideas in the ways that facilitate learning among students. This will be a review of empirical evidence conducted in 2000 to 2025 on the relationship between PCK and teaching effectiveness (indicator of teaching effectiveness) in different educational settings. The research is exploring the behavioral pattern of PCK development to the instructional practices, and the influence it has on the success of the student. The results indicate that the greater the position on PCK, the greater effectiveness in teaching, the greater the effectiveness of interacting with the classroom, and the greater the intervention in student achievement. Nevertheless, there are obstacles, such as low teacher preparation along with their PCK assessment. The conclusion of the review is expressed with the implications on teacher training, curriculum construction, and the future research of PCK.
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Problem-Solving Skills Development Through STEM Education: A Systematic Review
Problem solving skills have been cited as one of the core competencies that enable one to succeed in the twenty-first century. Learning systems are becoming more convinced in the use of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education as a strategic way of improving cognitive, analytical and problem-solving skills in learners. This is a systematic review that summarizes empirical and theoretical studies that have been published between 2000 and 2025 to investigate the role of STEM education in developing problem-solving skills at various levels of education. Based on a systematic review approach, the studies were located, filtered, and assessed to investigate instructions, learning outcomes, and situational elements that affect problem-solving development in the context of STEM models. The results show that integrated STEM practices, especially the project-based learning, inquiry-based teaching, and engineering design, have a big impact on the capability of students to recognize the problem, use interdisciplinary skills, and develop solutions to the issues. Nonetheless, the issues of teacher preparedness, curriculum integration, and assessment practices also tend to persist. The review indicates that there is a dilemma of long-term professional development, changes in the curriculum, and effective assessment plans to optimize the benefits of STEM education on problem-solving abilities.
Leadership in the Age of AI: Exploring the Shift from Classical Communication to Algorithm-Driven Dialogue in Corporate Settings
This paper discusses the way artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the aspect of leadership communication that involved human-to-human communication to algorithm-to-algorithm communication within the organizational structures. Classical models assume that there are visible senders, channel stability and direct relational accountability. Modern-day organizations, by contrast, are becoming more dependent on algorithmic management systems, HR analytics, conversational agents, and large language models to compose, sift, customize, and direct internal messages. This study is a synthetic review of empirical literature in the Scopus index published within the past five years as a major (2015–2025). Two steps of selection strategy are the differentiation between studies that inform the conceptual backdrop, and core sample of 12 primary studies that are used as analytic data. The thematic synthesis sees five dynamics, namely AI-augmented leadership communication as an efficiency project; algorithmic gatekeeping that changes whose voices reach leaders; changing judgments of trust and fairness linked to AI-informed decisions; emotional and well-being costs linked to opaque, data-driven oversight; and enabling conditions of a constructive, algorithm-driven conversation. Through these themes, it is evident in the analysis that AI does not merely amplify or remove leadership, but it transforms it in a way of algorithmic stewardship. In the era of AI, leadership requires being transparent, ensuring the human voice channels are protected, and the Word having clear responsibility regarding organizational communication now produced by the system.
Role of Education in Social Mobility among Low-Income Communities in Layyah District, Pakistan
It is generally recognized that education is one of the most important sources of social mobility, and people belonging to the marginalized and low-income groups can better their socioeconomic position and have higher chances of employment and life opportunities. The educational inequality in Pakistan with respect to access and quality has further supported the social inequalities, especially in rural areas like the Layyah district where poverty, lack of education infrastructure and social cultural systems have been the main obstacles to educational attainment. This paper examines how education has contributed to social mobility in low-income populations in the Layyah District, in terms of access to formal education, quality of learning and how the perceived effects of educational attainment on social and economic outcomes. The study reflects both the opportunities and challenges the students and families experience when trying to use education to achieve upward mobility using the mixed-method approach that incorporates household surveys, interviews, and school data analysis. The results suggest that although education plays a key role in social progress hopes, there are structural factors, gender expectations, and economic restrictions to its ability to do so. The policy implications include information that special measures are necessary, more resources are required, and that communities should be involved in maximizing the effect of education on social mobility among the disadvantaged groups.
Public Perception of Corruption and Its Influence on Civic Trust among Youth
Corruption is also one of the most widespread impediments to institutional legitimacy and democratic development in most societies. The perception of corruption among young people who form a significant percentage of the civic population has a major influence on the perception on the attitude toward the public institutions, political participation and future civic trust. The research questions to be addressed in this study include how youths perceive corruption, how life experiences affect their perceptions, and how the perceptions eventually impact on their level of trust in political, educational and administrative institutions. Available studies indicate that the young generation is very susceptible to indicators of institutional injustice and more inclined than the elders to withdraw themselves in civic affairs where they perceive that corruption is endemic or incurable (Mishler and Rose, 2001). Based on the theoretical approaches of both political psychology and the social capital theory, this paper summarizes the multifactorial relationship between perceived corruption, trust development, and civic withdrawal. The report shows that there is an urgent need to establish transparent governance, youth-led accountability institutions, and inclusive civic education to restore institutional legitimacy
Pakistan–China Strategic Partnership and Its Impact on Regional Stability
The Pakistan-China strategic partnership has transformed to become one of the most sustainable and high-dimensional bilateral relations in the modern international politics. This joint venture is based on mutual security issues, economic interconnectedness and overlapping geopolitical interests and is therefore a decisive factor in the stabilization of the region in South Asia, Central Asia and the Indo-Pacific. The cooperation is in the areas of defense cooperation, counterterrorism, nuclear and technological assistance, and macroeconomic integration most vividly seen in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). As the supporters take the partnership as a stabilizing factor with the effect of encouraging economic development and equalizing the power disparity of the regions, the opponents claim that it has exacerbated strategic competition, especially with India, and has brought about the issue of debt sustainability, regional security predicaments and militarization of the Indian Ocean. The paper examines historical, strategic, and modern aspects of the relationship between Pakistan and China, evaluating how they could affect the peace and conflict in the region as well as the multipolar order in Asia. The discussion indicates that the alloy is a stabilizing and destabilizing element, and it can lead to the development of regional connectivity and cooperation, but it can also cause the intensification of the existing geopolitical frictions.
The Art of Storytelling in the Digital Era: Leveraging Narrative Strategies for Effective Employee Engagement in AI-Powered Workplaces
This paper discusses the role of storytelling in AI-powered workplaces as a strategic, ethical, and contentious practice through the view that the mediated or generated AI narratives are not neutral engines of engagement but rather organize organizational reality, voice distribution, and create trust. The study draws in the results of the literature concerning corporate storytelling, digital internal communication, AI-mediated communication, and trust in AI to establish a critical narrative framework using a secondary qualitative design. The synthesis reveals that the richness of the narrative communication and self-coherent stores in values may make the identification and engagement more profound, whereas digital platforms and AI technologies can broaden the reach, regularity, and responsiveness. Nonetheless, it also demonstrates that, in the case of automated storytelling, templated or over-orchestrated storytelling, through chatbots, recommender systems, and generative AI, engagement becomes performative, not relational. Messages inspired by AI have a tendency of standardizing their tone, concentrating the control of the narrative, in addition to softening the distinction between human and synthetic voice, especially in highly emotive “we care” and culture communications. Further empirical research on the use of AI as an author, conversational agents suggests that authenticity and trust are easily lost when automation is on route or perceived. Governance efforts are still made with a focus on efficiency and transparency as well as clarity of roles with little attention to narrative form, authorship, plurality, and consistency with lived experience. The article suggests that AI-driven storytelling is to be considered as the piece of discourse with ethical and political implications, posing the question of whose stories are promoted, how inclusion and opposition are defined, and whether machine narratives support or destabilize the current power structures. It ends by giving practice-based suggestions to organization, system designers, and regulators to bring AI-enhanced storytelling and real, one-on-one employee interaction together.
Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity Challenges in Pakistan’s Higher Education Institutions
The pace of digital transformation in higher education around the world has been accelerating as a result of the technology enabling online learning, administrative automation, data analytics and academic collaboration. In Pakistan there is an emerging trend in universities of using digital system of better educational delivery and research capacity and institutional management. However this transformation involves new vulnerabilities for institutions in the form of evolving cybersecurity risks to the privacy of information, availability of services and integrity of academics. This research is carried out to determine the situation concerning digital transformation and associated cybersecurity issues within HEIs of Pakistan. Using a combination of the two methods (n = 420 surveys, n = 20 expert interviews), the study shows a high and high rate of adoption of digital platforms coupled with a pervasive cybersecurity concern, such as phishing attacks, ransomware, insecure networks and lack of security policies. Findings point to interactions between gaps within technical capacity, governance structures and awareness indicating a need for complete cybersecurity structures, training, policy reform and investment in safe infrastructure to sustain digital transformation.
Social Media as a Tool for Collaborative Learning among Higher Education Students
Social media has been an integral element in higher education as a digital learning tool, transforming the way that students work, communicate and knowledge is shared. This study discusses about the role of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube and Google Classroom in collaboration of learning between the university students. Using the mixed method approach data was gathered from a total of 200 undergraduate students from questionnaires and semi-structured interview. Findings predict that the social media aids in group interaction, accessibility to academic resources, peer support, and student engagement. However, there are some challenges like distraction, lack of information, and lack of participation, etc. The research concludes that social media is a powerful tool used in enhancing the collaborative learning when used strategically and responsibly.
Influence of Artificial Intelligence on Workforce Skills, Employment Patterns, and Future Jobs
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is dramatically transforming labour markets, skill requirements and labour market structures around the world. This research explores how AI affects workforce skills, changes the nature of the job, and the future of employment as well. Using mixed methodology of a quantitative survey (N=400) and qualitative interviews (n=20), the study finds that AI increases demand for higher-order cognitive, digital and interpersonal skills, but decreases the demand for routine tasks. Employment patterns change as low skills jobs are replaced and high technology, AI-complementary jobs are created. Effective reskilling and policy changes are essential to the equitable workforce transformation. The results give some ideas on how educators, employers and policy makers can prepare for an AI-fuelled workforce.
Role of Educational Social Media Platforms in Enhancing Student Learning among University Students
The fast emergence of social media is not only changing the social life but also the education process in higher education. This paper discusses the importance of educational social media sites to improve learning among the university students in terms of engagement, collaboration, resources accessibility, motivation, and digital literacy. Based on the recent literature and an empirical, mixed-method research among undergraduate students, the paper examines the role of platforms like discussion forums, educational groups in mainstream social media (e.g. Facebook groups, WhatsApp, Telegram), and specialized educational networks (e.g. Edmodo, Piazza, Slack, and LinkedIn Learning communities) in cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning outcomes. The quantitative data indicate statistically significant positive changes in perceived engagement and collaborative skills in frequent users, whereas the qualitative feedback indicates the benefits (peer support, quick feedback) and issues (distraction, misinformation, privacy concerns). The paper ends by providing empirical suggestions to teachers and institutions to incorporate the affordances of social media in pedagogy without negatively affecting academic integrity and student welfare.
Impact of Digital Transformation on Service Quality in Pakistan’s Healthcare Sector
The healthcare sector is facing various challenges working in Pakistan i.e. lack of accessibility, resources and inconsistency in service quality. For the last couple of years, digital transformation has significantly contributed to the improvement of healthcare delivery and patients outcomes. This research aims to investigate the impact of digital revolution on quality of service in healthcare sector of Pakistan with a focus on study of the integration of technological options such as electronic health record (EHR), telemedicine, mobile health applications and hospital information systems etc. Through literary research and empirical research conducted within healthcare institutions, this paper presents an evidence to what extent the digital tools are helping with efficiency, accuracy and satisfaction as well as general quality of service. The results show that digital transformation brings about remarkable changes in strengthening healthcare services, however, there are challenges involved in infrastructure, training and digital literacy. This study provide some indicator to the policy makers and healthcare administrators to optimize use of digital strategies for more effective and patient centred healthcare system in Pakistan.
Comparison of Traditional Teaching vs. Technology-Integrated Teaching Methods
This study involves the comparison of the traditional teaching methods and the teaching methods which integrate technology to investigate the impact of using traditional teaching methods and teaching methods with technology on student engagement and learning and classroom interaction in the context of higher education environment. Traditional teaching emphasizes on instructor-centric teaching, textbooks and limited interaction facilities whereas in contrast, in technology-integrated teaching, the focus is given to multimedia, learning management systems (LMS), digital simulations, interactive contents, etc. The research has a mixed method approach as it involves survey, observing in the classroom and academic record of performances. Findings show that although traditional teaching still works for basic concepts and structured learning, technology integrated teaching brings about improvements in levels of motivation, participation and conceptual understanding considerably. The conclusion of the study presents that the combination of both models in a blend model is the best which will give better educational results.
The Interplay Between Financial Decision-Making and HRM Practices in Improving Organizational Performance: Evidence from Pakistan
The relationship between financial decision and human resource management (HRM) practices is one of the most decisive factors of an organizational success, especially in third world countries like Pakistan. The financial choices affect the allocation of resources, the investment of funds on the employees, and the cost effectiveness, whereas the HRM practices will decide the motivation, expertise and dedication of the staff. This paper looks into the effectiveness of financial decision-making on HRM practices and in effect, organizational performance in the Pakistani service industry. The mixed-method research design that incorporates quantitative surveys of 220 HR and finance practitioners working in banking, telecommunication, educational and healthcare industries with qualitative interviews among 15 top-level executives results in the study finding that a solid financial management practice promotes HRM outcomes, including employee retention, productivity, and satisfaction, to a large extent. The findings prove that the higher the rate of employee productivity and the profit margin achieved by the firms that combine the financial planning and HRM strategy is 20-percent higher and 15-percent better than that of the firms that work separately. These results help to explain how the strategy of HRM is structurally connected to the financial strategy in encouraging sustainable organizational development. The research paper concludes that the integrated decision makes organizations more competitive and stable in the service industry in Pakistan. Nevertheless, the aforementioned authors concur that MNCs' competitive behavior is significantly influenced by the political and cultural contexts of the countries in which they operate and conduct their business.<|human|>However, the authors mentioned above agree that the political and cultural environment of the countries where MNCs operate and do business has a significant impact on their competitive behavior.
From Classrooms to Politics: Teachers’ Perceptions of Political Activities in Peshawar Schools
Politics have devastated the educational institutions, teacher and students’ performances became zero, respect for teacher got finished and even teachers themselves became enemies of one another and pull one another legs for personal benefits. The school is not more an educational body but it is like a parliament. The overall purpose of the proposed study was to analyze the perception of teachers on the politics in the educational institutes of district Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The objectives of the proposed study were to explore the political activities and their impacts on teachers, students, and overall body of educational institutions. The target population was teachers both male and female, from the public and private Secondary Schools of District Peshawar. A sample of 200 teachers was selected conveniently from district Peshawar. Questionnaires containing 20 items were prepared and data was collected, tabulated, analyzed and interpreted. It has been concluded that majority of the teachers are involved in politics in educational institutions which have affected the performances of the teacher, students and overall performance of educational body badly. It is recommended that teachers may be recruited only on the criteria of merit so that we may have politics free environment in our educational institutes.
Students’ Perception of Online Learning in Pakistani Colleges
Online education has become an essential method of education in the world, which the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated to an impressive rate. Online learning platforms in colleges rapidly gained acceptance in Pakistan though the experience of students is varied because of socio-economic, technological, and pedagogical problems. The paper will analyze the attitude of college learners towards online education in terms of accessibility, effectiveness, engagement, and satisfaction. Data were gathered through a qualitative design by gathering 300 students (including 25 interviews) in public and privatized colleges in Punjab and Sindh. Results show that although online learning is perceived to be both flexible and convenient by the students, they face major challenges such as poor internet connectivity, technical challenges, lack of increased interaction with faculty as well as lack of motivation. The research presents the need to enhance digital infrastructure, train students and faculty, and create interactive and student-centered online curricula as elements in increasing the efficiency of online learning in Pakistan.
Effect of Classroom Environment on Learning Motivation of College Students
The school environment plays a very critical role in defining motivation, interest, and academic success of students. In this paper, the relationship between learning motivation among college students and classroom environment will be discussed. Data on 250 students were gathered using questionnaires and interviews. The findings indicated that physical organization of the classroom, relationships between teacher and students, relationships between peers and between students and teachers as well as the instructional strategies are the factors which have great influence on learning motivation. The intrinsic and extrinsic motivation among the students would be more through the participation, positive and inclusive classroom environment leading to better performance and satisfaction. The schools should thus emphasize on the positive classroom environments to ensure the academic performance and good health of the students.
Challenges Faced by Female Students in Higher Education Institutions of Pakistan
This paper examines the challenges facing the female students in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Pakistan. Even with the great levels of increase in female enrollment, there are still gender disparities and socio-cultural restrictions in academic participation, mobility, and leadership opportunities. A mixed-method study was used to sample 300 female students of both public and private universities. The results indicate that the girl/woman students experience numerous interdepending problems such as gender discrimination, social constraints, safety issues, financial constraints, and institutional support. Such problems are complicated by cultural norms and patriarchal attitudes. The research concludes that women should be empowered through the establishment of inclusive, safe, and supportive educational environment to enable them to have equitable partners in the higher education establishment.