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Purpose The aim of this paper is to investigate the role that halal certification organisations (HCOs) play in the UK in assuring quality in halal cosmetics. Design/methodology/approach The study evaluates whether halal certification assures the quality of halal cosmetic products. This research evaluated the quality assurance systems of major UK HCOs, using a hypothetical product as a test vehicle. The investigation considered whether these organisations differ in their definition of “halal” and “halal cosmetics” and also considered how effectively their certification signals quality assurance. Findings The study indicated that there is a failure to adopt holistic halal terminology which implies that within the UK halal cosmetics industry, manufacturers may not be working within agreed standards for halal product integrity. Research limitations/implications This study focussed on UK certification for halal cosmetics by three HCOs and disregarded other forms of halal businesses. The literature review is based solely on literature available in the English language. The study lacks generalisability, as only one hypothetical product was tested; therefore, it was not possible to reach an understanding of all the costs involved in UK HCO certification. Practical implications This study undertook a comprehensive literature review on halal certification to produce a comparison of halal sanctioning laws, certification processes and the level of supply chain verification by UK HCOs. Originality/value This study adds value to the knowledge on UK halal certification.

Higher education is a labor intensive activity and strong organizational performance depends upon employee commitment. This study analyses antecedents and consequences of employee commitment in universities that are involved in transnational higher education, with a focus on identifying differences between the employees at home and foreign branch campuses. The data for the study were obtained using a questionnaire that was completed by both teaching and non-teaching staff at three institutions in the United Kingdom, three institutions in Malaysia, and two institutions in the United Arab Emirates. A conceptual model was proposed and tested using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that employees at international branch campuses are not as motivated and committed to their organizations as their counterparts at home campuses. The findings suggest that institutions need to employ different and customized human resource strategies at home and foreign campuses, specifically with the aim of improving employee commitment and performance at the foreign campuses.

Emerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services. Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation.

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are free global courses, available on the Internet to unlimited numbers of learners. MOOCs have grown in popularity over the past 5 years and have been perceived as either a threat to traditional higher education (HE) or an innovation that augments learning. This research assesses 20 lecturers’ perceptions of whether MOOCs are seen as innovative learning platforms within international branch campuses (IBCs) given that MOOCs offer virtual global education. Rogers’ diffusion of innovation (DoI) theory suggested that successful diffusion originates from developed social systems; hence, the theory is used to explore MOOC adoption within the United Arab Emirates. This study was validated by a focus group of 10 lecturers. Results indicated that MOOCs were viewed as innovative; however, adoption among lecturers is low. This study contributes to research by questioning whether lecturers can address the national needs of technology-driven students within current internationalized HE.