Journal of Social and Organizational Matters

Teacher Education Programs and Professional Competency Development: Implications for Effective Classroom Practice

Sadia Saleem, Iqra Zia, S. Fatima Rizwan — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The teacher education programs are important in determining professional competencies that are needed to practice effectively in the classroom in the modern educational contexts. With the current upheaval in the education systems across the world, following technological changes, services of professionally competent teachers, globalization, and competency-based education systems, the need to have professionally competent teachers has been heightened. This research article focuses on the correlation between teacher education programs and teacher professional competency development, including pedagogical knowledge, subject mastery, classroom management, assessment literacy, digital competence, inclusive practices, and reflective teaching. The research design it assumes is a mixed-method research which includes surveys, structured interviews, observation in classrooms, and a review of documents among the selected teacher training institutions and practicing teachers. Quantitative data were evaluated with the help of descriptive statistics and correlation analysis, and qualitative data were evaluated with the help of the thematic analysis. The results show that there is a positive correlation between the quality of teacher preparation programs and classroom performance of teachers which is significant. The programs with a high focus on practicum experiences, structured mentorship, reflective teaching, collaborative learning, and competency-based assessment showed greater results in the development of professional competencies. Nevertheless, the integration of technology, training of inclusive education, and the correspondence of theoretical courses and classroom realities were found to be deficient. The research findings conclude that teacher education needs to be changed to the models of content transmission to competency-based, practice-based models based on school contexts. It has policy suggestions of reinforcing school-university associations, incorporating online learning, increasing inclusive education courses, improving mentoring platforms, and setting competence-based examination criteria. The results have significant implications on policy makers, curriculum developers, teacher educators and accreditation institutions that want to improve classroom performance by introducing thorough teacher preparation reforms.

Digital Learning Initiatives by Punjab Education Foundation; Online Lesson Planning and Teachers Performance in Rural Areas of Punjab

Tahira Farooq, Misbah Malik — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of the study was to determine the usefulness of Online Lesson Planning (OLP) in the schools with the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) assistance. Online Lesson Planning is an online program that is meant to assist teachers in structuring and organizing their lessons in a systematic manner. The study population was a group of all teachers in PEF programs, including all partner schools. Of the 180 teachers, stratified sampling method was used to select them in order to represent them appropriately. The research instrument was a self-developed and validated questionnaire that was used to collect data among teachers. Pilot testing- This was done to ensure that the instrument was clear and effective. A panel of experts established the validity of the instrument and the reliability was evaluated by the use of Cronbach alpha reliability index, which had a value of 0.843 which implied that the instrument had acceptable internal consistency. The SPSS was used to analyze the data. The inferential statistical methods such as the Independent Sample t-test and One-Way ANOVA were used to compare the differences in the responses given by the teachers. The study results showed that Online Lesson Planning assists the teachers plan the lessons better, enhances the instruction process, and contributes to the improved classroom management. The findings also did not have significant difference in the perceptions that teachers had in gender and qualification. Based on the findings of the research it is suggested to conduct ongoing teacher education and make sure that digital materials are offered to improve the successful adoption of Online Lesson Planning in PEF schools.

Woman’s Empowerment Through Digital Leadership: Exploring How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Powered Tools Can Improve Managerial Decision-Making in Public Sectors of Pakistan

Hiba Syed, Ayaz Ul Haq, Aurangzeb Zulfiqar Khan — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies is transforming leadership practices and organizational decision-making processes. In this context, digital leadership has emerged as a critical capability that enables organizations to effectively integrate advanced technologies while promoting inclusive leadership environments. This study examines the role of digital leadership and artificial intelligence adoption in enhancing women’s empowerment and managerial decision-making in organizational contexts in Pakistan. A mixed-method research design was employed, combining quantitative survey data with qualitative insights to provide a comprehensive understanding of the research problem. Primary data were collected from 273 women professionals through a structured questionnaire using purposive sampling. The proposed research model was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that digital leadership significantly influences women’s empowerment, artificial intelligence adoption, and managerial decision-making. Furthermore, both women’s empowerment and AI adoption positively affect managerial decision-making, while AI adoption mediates the relationship between digital leadership and decision-making effectiveness. The findings highlight the importance of developing digital leadership capabilities and promoting access to AI technologies to empower women leaders and improve organizational decision-making processes. The study contributes to literature on digital leadership, technology adoption, and gender empowerment while offering practical insights for organizations seeking to promote inclusive and technology-driven leadership environments.

AI-Driven Purchase Intention in Pakistan’s E-Commerce: The Roles of Personalization, Anthropomorphism, Usefulness, Transparency, Trust, and AI Anxiety

Muhammad Basit Ali, Syeda Fatima Sunela — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Artificial intelligence is getting involved more and more with e-commerce, changing the way customers search for products, receive recommendations, interact with digital platforms, and make purchasing calls. Although the adoption of AI-enabled tools like focused recommendations, chatbots, automated facilitation, and transparent digital communication has been growing rapidly, there is a lack of understanding about consumer purchase intention in AI-mediated shopping conditions, especially in emerging markets such as Pakistan. The current study investigates how sales intention is influenced in the context of Pakistan’s e-commerce sector by perceived personalization, perceived anthropomorphism, perceived usefulness, and perceived transparency. It also explores the mediating influence of trust and the moderating role of AI anxiety in these relationships. The study depends on the S-O-R framework and follows a quantitative research design with a deductive approach and positivist philosophy. The data for the AI-enabled e-commerce element in Pakistan is then gathered from customers with experience of online buying. Using SmartPLS 4, the proposed model is tested with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), The findings also demonstrate how perceived personalization, perceived technology usage and humanization have a strong positive impact on consumers' purchase intention; however, it has no significant effect from anthropomorphism Found results further state that trust significantly mediates between perceived personalization and consumer purchase intention whilst failing to do so between perceived transparency and purchase intentions. In addition, AI anxiety significantly weakens the positive effect of proposed personalization and perceived usefulness on purchase intention and has no moderating effect between perceived anthropomorphism and perception of transparency. In an emerging-market context, this study adds to the literature by introducing an integrated AI-commerce framework that discusses consumer purchase intention using cognitive as well as psychological routes. For e-commerce companies, it provides actionable steps to design the kind of AI that consumers will find not only useful and personalized, but also transparent, trustworthy, and psychologically acceptable. So, in summary, the study finds that AI adds value to digital commerce not because it is sophisticated but rather because it is relevant and reliable, and consumer-centric.