Academic Aspirations Research Articles

경계를 건넌 여성들의 고등교육 경험과 ‘대학’의 의미 탐색 - 남북한 고등교육에 참여한 탈북여성의 사례를 중심으로

The purpose of this study is to examine the higher education experiences of North Korean defector women who have crossed both national borders and the boundary between life and death, focusing on their academic journeys in North and South Korea and the significance of their achievements in the South. This research involved a case study of three women who pursued higher education in both countries. For these women, re-entering university in South Korea was not only a proactive choice but also a reaction against their irreversible educational experiences in North Korea. It served as a defensive strategy against the structures of discrimination they encountered in South Korean society and provided a period of deferred assimilation, allowing them to adopt an identity as ‘learners’ in pursuit of their academic aspirations. Although they had successfully escaped the visible oppression of the North Korean regime, they found themselves in a new, invisible but equally powerful structure under the principles of capitalism, where they felt the need to continuously prove and equip themselves. In this context, returning to university was a deliberate choice to integrate into South Korean society, fully aware of and accepting the social emphasis on educational attainment and credentials. Through this process, they sought to secure the qualifications necessary for social acceptance and recognition in their new country.

Exploring the senior high school Indigenous students’ challenges, realizations, and aspirations during the pandemic

ABSTRACT This paper delves into the challenges, realizations, and academic aspirations of 52 Indigenous grades 11 and 12 students from Surigao del Norte Manobos, Agusan del Norte Higaonons, and Agusan del Sur Banwaons in the Philippines during the pandemic. Collected through key informant interviews, the data reveal educational challenges, including difficulty in understanding lessons and lack of family support, leading to Indigenous students’ demotivation to learning. Financial issues exacerbated these challenges. The findings highlight the students’ recognition of education as crucial for breaking the cycle of poverty. Their aspirations include surviving the crisis brought about by the pandemic, preserving cultural heritage, pursuing higher education, and contributing positively to their communities. Recommendations are provided to transform them into policies addressing the academic aspirations of Manobo, Higaonon, and Banwaon students, emphasizing cultural context and unique experiences.

Explaining Temporal Trends in School‐Related Stress: A Decomposition Analysis of Repeated Swedish Survey Data

ABSTRACTConcerns related to school are consistently ranked as among the greatest stressors in the lives of adolescents. Research from varying contexts report rising rates of school‐related stress among students, but we currently lack knowledge on what drives these trends. The aim of this study is to investigate the predictors of temporal trends in school‐related stress in Swedish students between 2003 and 2020. To this end, repeated surveys of 9807 Swedish students aged 16 years are analysed using Blinder‐Oaxaca decomposition techniques. The results show that the rise in school‐related stress was primarily due to growing schoolwork difficulties and social exclusion among students, indicating possibly adverse consequences of a large‐scale educational reform as well as of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In addition, rising academic aspirations contributed to the increase, in line with arguments concerning the increasing weight attached to educational success among adolescents in the ‘schooled society’.

The Impact of Social Support on the College Enrollment Aspirations of Ethnic Minority Vocational Students: A Case Study of a Modern Industrial College in Xinjiang

In recent years, China has been striving to enhance the quality of the population in ethnic minority areas, promote local talent cultivation, and accelerate local economic development by increasing investment in basic education resources and expanding enrollment in higher education. This study conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 ethnic minority students from a modern industrial college in Xinjiang to explore the influence of social support on academic aspirations. Employing qualitative research methods and drawing on the interview outline by Wang (2020), supported by Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior, the study concludes that national policies, schools, teachers, and parents influence the academic aspirations of ethnic minority students. Based on these findings, the study suggests the effective implementation of relevant national policies and calls for schools, teachers, and parents to pay attention to and encourage the academic aspirations of ethnic minority students. This study inspires future scholars to pay more attention to the academic aspirations of ethnic minority students, aiming to provide them with more assistance and improve the overall education level of ethnic minority students.

Association of parent-child discrepancies in educational aspirations with physical fitness, quality of life and school adaptation among adolescents: a multiple mediation model

BackgroundThe global public health issue of diminishing physical fitness among adolescents has gained increasing attention. The impact of parents’ negative emotions or pressure regarding adolescents’ educational aspirations may have a passive impact on the quality of life and adaptation of adolescents in and out of school, and ultimately harm their physical health. This study aims to explore whether parent-child discrepancies in educational aspirations influence physical fitness in adolescents through school adaptation and quality of life.MethodsParticipants consisted of 9,768 students, males 4,753(48.7%), females 5,015(51.3%), aged 11–19 years, males 14.3 ± 1.92, females 14.4 ± 1.93. The educational aspirations were gauged using a six-point scale for expectation scores. Physical fitness assessments were based on criteria from the National Student Physical Fitness and Health Survey. School adaptation was evaluated using the School Social Behaviors Scale-2. Quality of life for adolescents was measured using Chinese version of the Quality of Life Scale for Children and Adolescents. To analyze the multiple mediating effects, structural equation models were used, and 95% confidence intervals were determined through bootstrap methods.ResultsThe results illustrated that school adaptation and quality of life played a significant mediating role in the effect of parent-child discrepancies in educational aspirations and physical fitness. There were three intermediary paths were confirmed: (1) discrepancies in educational aspirations → school adaptation → physical fitness (β=-0.088 SE = 0.021; p<0.01; 95% CI: -0.135, -0.05); (2) discrepancies in educational aspirations → quality of life → physical fitness (β=-0.025; SE = 0.011; p = 0.010; 95% CI: -0.050, -0.006); (3) discrepancies in educational aspirations → school adaptation→ quality of life → physical fitness (β=-0.032; SE = 0.014; p = 0.011; 95% CI: -0.061, -0.007).ConclusionThis study suggests that parents should reduce negative emotions and pressure regarding adolescents’ academic aspirations may help their children get better physical fitness.

How does participating scientific research projects affect postgraduates’ academic aspiration and interest? Grounding theory research based on six universities in H province

Participation in scientific research projects is the main way of postgraduate training, and academic aspiration and interest is an important variable affecting the quality of postgraduate training. So, how does participating in scientific research projects affect the academic aspiration and interest of master students? By interviewing 28 master students from 6 universities in H Province and using the grounded theory research method, a path model of the impact of participating in scientific research projects on the academic aspiration and interest of master students is formed: taking personal characteristics as the initial condition, important others such as tutors and research group examples and scientific research environment as the support category, and the change of graduate students' psychological state as the intermediary, Graduate students will take active or passive action strategies in scientific research activities, which will enhance or reduce their academic aspiration and interest. The change of academic aspiration and interest will react on their psychological state, forming a virtuous circle or bad circle. The model has important enlightening significance for graduate education and management.

THE INFLUENCE OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND READINESS FOR CHANGE ON LANGUAGE EDUCATORS’ WORKPLACE COMMITMENT IN MALAYSIAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY NETWORK (MTUN)

Higher learning institutions aim to ensure continuity and feasibility in the academic sphere for the benefit of academic leaders, language educators, and students. Local governments and international organisations recognise higher learning institutions as contributors to achieving long-term academic aspirations through competent top management and realistic alternatives to current concerns and difficulties. The Malaysian government's educational aspirations require top management to prioritise language educators' potential and improve the language learning environment. Academic leaders are accountable for providing the best academic culture, structure, and environment for language educators, influencing other academic professionals, and aiding the Ministry of Education in raising the standard of language education in Malaysia to a world-class system. The study focuses on determining the level of workplace commitment among Malaysian Technical Universities (MTUN) language educators if their leaders adopt a transformational leadership style. Transformational leaders inspire language educators to prioritise the institution's goals and have a significant impact on their workplace commitment. The study also examines the influence of readiness for change on the relationship between MTUN academic leaders' transformational leadership and MTUN language educators' workplace commitment. The findings from these studies demonstrate that readiness for change mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and language educators' workplace commitment.

Reconceptualizing the Possible: “Warming Up” the Aspirations of Community College Students

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the structure and outcomes of a unique summer bridge program, Exploring Transfer (ET). Community college students who participate in ET spend six weeks living on the campus of a liberal arts college and enroll in two rigorous courses, similar to those offered during the academic year. To assess the impact of this program, the author conducted six focus group discussions with ET graduates. Data from those discussions indicate that taking part in intensive residential immersion programs may have a more profound effect on participants than is often recognized in research that focuses on academic achievement. For FGD participants, the intensity of the ET experience impelled a process of identity reconstruction that led them to expand their views of what they were capable of accomplishing. This article explores the specific features of ET that served to “warm up” students’ academic aspirations and professional goals.

Geographic mobility of college students and the gender gap in academic aspirations

We study the decision to pursue an advanced degree from an internationally renowned academic institution, which greatly facilitates access to top jobs. Relying on unique data on applications to a highly selective program that provides graduate fellowships to Spanish students, we show that women in non-STEM fields apply to the fellowships at lower rates than males with the same GPA and in the same field of study. On the contrary, our estimates imply that females in STEM apply at equal, or higher, rates than comparable males in the same fields. We also find that female students are relatively less interested in doctoral programs and less willing to study abroad than males. To shed light on the mechanisms, we surveyed college students about their post-graduation plans. The lower geographic mobility of female students (in non-STEM fields) appears linked to females’ lower earnings expectations and a gender-asymmetric detrimental effect of involvement in romantic relationships.

The Influence of Supervisor-Postgraduate Relationship on Master's Students' Research Learning Engagement-The Mediating Effect of Academic Aspiration.

Research learning engagement is the basic element of master's students' innovation output, and the supervisor is the first responsible body for master's students' cultivation. Exploring the influence of the supervisor-postgraduate relationship on master's students' research learning engagement, with a focus on the mediating role of academic aspiration, is of great significance for the improvement of master's students' cultivation quality. We surveyed 569 master's students at a university in Wuhan, China, using 3 measurement tools: the Supervisor-Postgraduate Relationship Scale, the Research Learning Engagement Scale, and the Academic Aspirations Scale. The results showed that: (1) The supervisor-postgraduate relationship positively and significantly predicted master's students' research learning engagement, and academic aspiration played a fully mediating role in the process. (2) There were differences in the effects of the three dimensions of the supervisor-postgraduate relationship on master's students' research learning engagement, with research collaboration having the greatest total effect on the impact of master's students' research learning engagement. This study emphasizes the importance of the supervisor-postgraduate relationship and academic aspirations and provides some implications for improving the research learning engagement of master's students.

Team Climate and Academic Aspiration of Chinese PhD students: The Mediating Roles of Research Engagement and Academic Adaptability

This study aims to examine the mediating roles of research engagement (RE) and academic adaptability (AD) on the relationship between team climate (TC) and academic aspiration (AS). Few studies are found in this field. A questionnaire research was conducted in Z university, a double first-class university with a complete range of doctoral disciplines in China. 419 valid online questionnaires were obtained, with an effective rate of 94.2%. ANOVA, a T-test and a chain mediation effect test were used to analyze data. The results show that the AS of the doctoral students in Z University is at middle level, and there is a significant difference in grades and major; TC positively predicts AS; RE and AD have a complete mediating effect on the positive impact of TC on AS, but have no chain mediating effect on the relationship between TC and AS. Suggestions are provided for improving doctoral students' AS and promoting their academic employment.

Admission Fortune Using Machine Learning &amp; Designing an Interactive Chatbot for Educational Assistance

Abstract: The proposed system is a Student Admission Rank-Based College Selection Prediction platform that aims to assist students in making well-informed decisions about their college applications. It is a predictive model that uses machine learning algorithms to estimate the likelihood of a student's admission to different colleges based on their academic performance and the admission criteria of those colleges. The proposed system is expected to empower students by providing them with valuable insights into their chances of admission to different colleges. Students can use this information to strategize their college applications and increase their likelihood of acceptance to colleges that align with their academic aspirations and preferences.

Factors Affecting Uzbek Students’ Prewriting Investment at a South Korean University

This ethnographic multiple-case study, grounded in the theory of investment, examines the prewriting practices of three Uzbekistani male undergraduates in an English essay writing class at a South Korean University. It aims to identify the symbolic resources they perceive as attainable through investment and to elucidate the factors shaping this investment. Utilizing a qualitative approach, which is appropriate for capturing the nuanced experiences and perceptions of individual learners, data were collected through interviews, classroom observations, and an analysis of teaching documents. This study finds that these students primarily seek three symbolic resources: language skills, educational access, and social networks. Their pursuit of these resources is significantly influenced by their academic aspirations for graduate school and the pattern of prewriting discussions in the classroom. Individual perceptions and priorities uniquely shape the impact of these factors on each student’s investment. The findings suggest that educators, by understanding the diverse perceptions of symbolic resources within limited instructional time, can tailor pedagogical strategies to effectively address students’ needs and foster a more engaging learning environment.

Rural Edurevamp

In today's digital age, access to quality education remains a pressing issue, especially for students in rural areas who face numerous challengesin pursuing their academic aspirations. This paper endeavors to address this educational divide by developing a comprehensive application “Rural EduRevamp” tailored to the unique needs of rural students. The core objectiveis to provide these students with essential study materials, a learning environment and a platform for participating in assessments. This multifaceted application is designed to level the educational playing field, ensuring that rural students have accessto the same resources and opportunities as their urbancounterparts. By granting students access to study materials through a user-friendly interface, we aim tobreak down geographical barriers and enhance the learning experience. Furthermore, the application incorporates a virtual assistant to maintain a supportive and engaging learning environment. This real-time oversight in the form of a virtual assistant helps students stay on track and receive the aid they need to excel in their studies. Additionally, the application facilitates assessments, enabling students to demonstrate their knowledge and progress, therebyfostering a culture of continuous learning andimprovement. In summary, this application for rural education seeks to empower students by providing them with study materials and assessment tools, all aimed at improving educational outcomes and offering a path to a brighter future. This paper represents a significant step towards achieving equityin education.

A study of postgraduate students’ research training environment and innovation capabilities: The mediating role of academic interest and aspiration

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of academic interest and academic aspirations in shaping postgraduate students’ innovation abilities. A sample of 847 postgraduate students from the regions of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai was utilised. Structural equation model, employing partial least squares, a second-generation statistical software package, was employed for data analysis. The study reveals three key findings. First of all, it affirms a significant and positive correlation between the research training environment and the innovation abilities of postgraduate students. Secondly, it identifies academic interests and aspirations as crucial mediators within the intricate network of relationships connecting the research training environment and research innovation capabilities among postgraduate students in China. Moreover, academic interest and academic aspirations sequentially mediate this process, shedding light on the nuanced dynamics involved. Using these insights, higher education administrators can improve postgraduate student development and research training procedures.

Refugee Children’s Career Aspirations at a Hospitality Center in Greece

A child-centered approach to education paves the way to discover a child’s personal dreams, aspirations, experiences, abilities, and interests. In child-centered educational contexts, students are encouraged to express and discover themselves. This is particularly relevant for refugee children who have suffered trauma, change, and repeated schooling interruptions that may negatively affect the future-oriented thinking that forms their career ambitions. The purpose of this study is to identify the aspirations of refugee children through a small-scale study conducted at a Refugee Hospitality Centre in the outskirts of Athens, Greece. Twenty-one (N) refugee teenagers were interviewed and participated upon their parents and teachers’ consent, through a semi-structured interview about their career preferences as well as their academic aspirations and intentions, as well as their chosen destination countries. The motives behind their choices were discussed and differentiations with gender, country of origin, and school attendance were examined. Finally, suggestions are made to support refugee students to explore possibilities about their career orientations and values in order to be included effectively within society and fulfill their aspirations.

The Effect of Supportive Mentoring Style on Innovative Behavior of Master’s Degree Students: Evidence from China

The rapid growth of postgraduate education in China necessitates the imperative to augment the innovative behaviors of postgraduates. The purpose of this study was to explore whether a supportive mentoring style affects the innovative behavior of master’s degree students and the potential role that academic aspiration may play in the relationship between the two. A time-lag questionnaire was given to 911 master’s degree students in central China for Study 1. The results revealed that a supportive mentoring style positively predicted innovative behavior. Furthermore, the connection between a supportive mentoring style and innovative behaviors was mediated by academic aspirations. Study 2 matched five pairs of students with mentors to administer the survey using semi-structured interviews. The results confirmed the mechanisms through which supportive mentoring styles impact innovative behavior and provided more evidence for them. This study examines the development path of master’s degree students’ innovative behavior, reveals how internal (academic aspiration) and external (mentoring) factors impact such behavior, and offers insights into graduate students’ educational practices.

CONFRONTING PAKISTAN'S OVERPOPULATION ISSUE FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS

CONFRONTING PAKISTAN'S OVERPOPULATION ISSUE FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS

Academic Aspirations or Societal Realities: Motivation for Continuing Pursuing Higher Education among Chinese Undergraduates

Academic Aspirations or Societal Realities: Motivation for Continuing Pursuing Higher Education among Chinese Undergraduates

Drivers and trajectories of multinational migrations of West African international students

AbstractThis article focuses on international students from West Africa and their migration trajectories. Based on in‐depth interviews, we investigate the migration drivers and students' motivations to become international students. Building on the analytical framework of multinational stepwise migration, we also explore their aspirations, obstacles and coping strategies at different stages of their migratory paths. This study maintains that this form of international mobility is not solely driven by academic aspirations. We find that international student migration is an increasingly important part of larger mobility projects for West African students. The paper also relates to facilitators of migration, constrained opportunities in the home countries and restrictive mobility regimes that, in conjunction, have impacted the stepwise migration toward the Global North. To fulfil their broader mobility projects, African students often have to engage in complex stepwise migrations and face various struggles and drawbacks. This study has demonstrated that African students from middle‐class backgrounds are not exempt from these struggles.