PhD Awarded to Researcher Zaina Dhaifallah from Inclusive Development Research Center

Researcher Zaina Abdullatif Mohammed Dhaifallah has been awarded a PhD in International Development and Gender Studies from the Inclusive Development Research Center (IDRC) at Sana’a University. On Monday, January 27, 2025, she successfully defended her dissertation titled ” The Role of the Natural Environment in Economic Empowerment and its Relationship to International Development from a Gender Perspective.”

The examination committee included Prof. Amal Mohammed Ali Al-Mujahid, serving as the external examiner and chair; Prof. Saleh Mohammed Ali Hameed, the primary supervisor and member; and Assoc. Prof. Hamid Ali Mohammed Askandar, the internal examiner and member.

The research focused on investigating the role of the natural environment in economic empowerment and its connection to international development through a gendered lens.

The study’s findings highlighted the statistically significant relationship between the role of the natural environment in economic empowerment and international development from a gender perspective. It also demonstrated a strong correlation between applied sciences and social sciences in their relationship with natural environmental sciences, with a relative weight of 82.2%. This correlation supported the acceptance of the “Yin and Yang” theory, paving the way for understanding the interconnectedness of variables by linking the role of the natural environment to economic empowerment within the context of international development. Furthermore, the alignment of attributes in the experimental sample, such as proposed happiness, economic empowerment, and characteristics of advanced nations, with the control sample’s adherence to the “Yin and Yang” philosophy, reinforced the logical applicability of this philosophy to various themes, particularly the topic of economic empowerment, which was central to the dissertation.

In her dissertation, the researcher emphasized the importance of encouraging society to reflect on the natural environment and its connection to economic empowerment. She suggested learning from the behaviors of insects, animals, plants, and the overall interconnectedness of the universe. Additionally, she highlighted the need to promote interdisciplinary sciences that establish connections across diverse fields, whether within social sciences, applied sciences, or between the two, to enrich both scientific and practical advancements for the benefit and dignity of humanity.

The defense session was attended by a diverse audience, Including academics, researchers, students, and other interested individuals, along with the researcher’s colleagues and family members, who came to celebrate her significant achievement.