Academic Context Research Articles

Students’ Self-Confidence in Their English-Speaking Fluency: A Case Study at SMP Islam Terpadu Generasi Muslim Cendikia

This research aims to determine how students' self-confidence is seen from their fluency in speaking English, types of self-confidence in students seen from their self-confidence, and also the strategies used by teachers to increase students' self-confidence at SMP Islam Terpadu Generasi Muslim Cendikia. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method. Data were collected using observation techniques, speaking tests, questionnaires, and interviews. The subjects were 24 female students of class VIII/C at SMP Islam Terpadu Generasi Muslim Cendikia. The observations were indirect observations, where the researcher was not directly involved in the activities. A speaking rubric was used to measure the level of fluency in speaking English, and student self-confidence was determined based on self-confidence indicators during student speaking. For the questionnaire, a Likert scale is used and finally, the researcher conducted interviews were conduct is used with related teachers to determine strategies to increase student self-confidence. Based on the results of the analysis the results of the speaking test and survey questionnaire showed that students who have a high level of confidence also have high scores, and vice versa. There are 5 kinds of self-confidence in students, namely confidence in speaking in formal situations, confidence in speaking in class discussions, confidence in speaking with peers, confidence in speaking in everyday situations, and confidence in speaking in academic contexts, it is also found that there are 8 strategies that teachers can use to increase students' self-confidence.

Exploring Critical Reading Practices Among Malaysian and Vietnamese Engineering Students: Insights and Implications

ABSTRACT In the dynamic academic landscape of the 21st century, the imperative to equip engineering students with robust critical reading skills, in tandem with their technical expertise, has come to the forefront. Recognizing the intrinsic value of critical thinking and reading in cultivating an ethos of lifelong learning among future engineers, this study endeavors to shed light on efficacious methodologies for augmenting critical reading competencies, grounded in the lived experiences of students. Utilizing a phenomenographic methodology, this research aims to explore the mechanisms through which engineering students from Malaysia and Vietnam develop their critical reading skills. The study engaged eight engineering students from both Malaysia and Vietnam, selected based on their demonstrated proficiency in critical reading, as evidenced by scores from a critical reading assessment aligned with the PISA Reading Framework. Through in-depth, phenomenographic semi-structured interviews, the research sought to uncover the strategies and practices these students employ to bolster their critical reading abilities. The findings illuminate a diverse array of approaches to enhancing critical reading skills, including the adoption of specific reading strategies, engagement in extensive and collaborative reading practices, and the maintenance of a positive reading disposition. Notably, the study also identifies that variations in the application and effectiveness of these strategies are influenced by factors such as students’ academic progression, cultural contexts, and educational backgrounds. These insights contribute to a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted nature of critical reading skill development among engineering students, offering valuable perspectives for educators, curriculum designers, and policymakers aiming to foster critical analytical skills in STEM education.

Quandaries of Trying to Do Good-The Adequacy of the WHO FENSA Regulations.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), established in 2016, is designed to enhance transparency, impartiality, and conflict-of-interest safeguards by setting rigorous guidelines for WHO's interactions with private entities, particularly those in high-risk industries such as tobacco, alcohol, and arms. This paper briefly reviews the implementation and impact of FENSA, observing that, despite these safeguards, its application in academic contexts poses specific challenges. Universities, often reliant on diverse funding sources, may find the rules restrictive and misaligned with independent funding needs. The creation of the WHO Foundation in 2020 further complicates this landscape by enabling engagements with previously restricted private sector entities through an "arm's length" model. The authors advocate for a reassessment of FENSA to resolve inconsistencies and support essential academic collaborations, while upholding WHO's commitment to ethical standards.

Fostering Critical Digital Literacy Through Podcasting, Collaborative Work, and Oral Interaction

Introduction: Mastering a second or foreign language, especially oral communication, is complex and challenging, influenced by external pressures as seen in Colombia's education and language policy reforms, which compel teachers and institutions to address how to develop language skills with students. Objective: This study aimed to explore how collaborative podcast development, as a critical digital literacy practice, can enhance 11th graders' oral and critical interaction in English. Methodology: Conducted in a public school, the research employs a qualitative approach within a case study methodology. Although quantitative techniques like checklists and questionnaires were used for data collection, the study maintains a qualitative design. Through semi-structured interviews with a subgroup of five students, participants reflect on their experiences of collaborative learning and interaction in English while constructing a podcast. Data was analyzed using a triangulation method. Findings: Thematic analysis revealed that collaborative podcast development promoted English oral interaction among participants, fostering collaboration, exchange of thoughts and feelings, and increased language confidence. Discussion and Conclusions: The study advocates for a reexamination of digital practices in the classroom to promote English oral interaction from a critical perspective. It recommends collaborative podcast development as a digital practice to enhance oral interaction, empowering students to use English in social and academic contexts.

Teaching grammar to elementary level Saudi EFL learnersTeaching Grammar to Elementary Level Saudi EFL Learners: Blending Theory and Practice

Grammar as a system of language has been a central component of most EFL teaching programmes. Modern day approaches to teaching grammar are premised on its potential in developing the discourse competence of the students in social, academic and professional contexts. The present study was designed to involve a theoretical review of the teaching of grammar in EFL contexts as well as an observation of a real-time classroom teaching to see how theoretical underpinnings were realized in actual practice. The observer’s report and the teacher’s post lesson reflections revealed that a contextualized focus on form, meaning, and use was crucial in helping students to comprehend the target grammar for its meaning making potential. The findings are expected to be useful to EFL practitioners as well as researchers interested in exploring further areas of grammar instruction from a practical perspective.

Predicting technostress: The Big Five model of personality and subjective well-being.

The main goal of the current study is to broaden the knowledge on the association between personality, subjective well-being (SWB) and technostress in an academic context. This research specifically examines the prevalence of technostress in a European university sample. It also explores the relationship between technostress and its dimensions with the Big Five model of personality and with SWB and its affective and cognitive components. Finally, the combined predictive validity of the Big Five and SWB on technostress is tested. The sample was composed of 346 undergraduate students. Correlational and multiple regression analyses were carried out. Results show that fatigue and anxiety are the most frequently experienced dimensions of technostress. Emotional stability, openness to experience, and SWB are negatively and significantly correlated to technostress. Multiple regression analyses show that the Big Five factors and SWB account for technostress variance, the main predictor being the affective component of SWB. These results contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of technostress and suggest that personality traits and SWB are important factors in its prediction. The theoretical and practical implications will be discussed.

Bernhard Blechmann’s Body: The “Jewish Race” in Nineteenth-Century Physical Anthropology in Transnational Perspective

AbstractThe dissertation “Ein Beitrag zur Anthropologie der Juden” (A Contribution to the Anthropology of the Jews) by Berhard Blechmann was the first major study in physical anthropology that focused on the examination of Jews. It has been hitherto discussed as an early example of the othering of Jews in German nineteenth-century anthropology. Based on close reading and by exploring the circumstances of its writing, this essay reclassifies the dissertation in several ways. It emerges that the work belongs in the Russian (Baltic) academic and political context, and that Blechmann was Jewish. With this new perspective, the article discusses Blechmann’s conception of what constitutes a scientific approach to anthropology and to Jews as a racial group. Moreover, it sheds light on the transnational space in which the dissertation was created and enquires into Blechmann’s self-conception as a Jew.

A bluffer’s guide to academic literacies: can we communicate a complex set of ideas in simpler terms?

I have often felt sceptical about the idea of academic literacies (AL), which presents a highly influential account of ‘how students learn to write at university’ (Lea and Street, 1998). AL theory has had a significant impact on the field, but some things about it bother me. Key ideas are frequently expressed in very abstract terms (it is hard to justify this comment in an academic context, but bear with me). Research has recognised difficulties in outlining AL’s core principles to students (Lea, 2016, p.91), and ‘the exact nature of the relationship between [its component] approaches’ (Hilsdon, Malone and Syska, 2019). It can be hard to convert the lofty AL aims of emancipation or transformation into practice. As theories go, it clearly thinks of itself as on ‘the right side of history’, and perhaps it is. However, having recently spent time wrangling with AL literature, I have developed more of a (grudging) respect for its insights and possible uses in practice. Drawing on theoretical writing and case studies of AL in use, this session aimed to identify the AL insights which are most relevant for the day-to-day practice of Learning Developers and present them in more concrete terms. In doing so, I hope to make this theory ‘meaningful, relevant and accessible to all’ (for Hockings’ definition of ‘inclusive’, see Hockings, 2010, p.1). After brief comments on its context and aims, I presented a short series of my ‘translations’ from AL into everyday English for use in everyday Learning Development practice.

Co-Creation through scholarship. The Queen Mary Academy learner interns' programme

Since 2021, the Queen Mary Academy (QMA) at Queen Mary University of London has been running its Learner Interns Programme (LIP). The aim of the LIP is to support educators to undertake student-voice scholarship projects in collaboration with our diverse learner population by annually hiring interns to work on projects. In 2023-24, over 140 applications were received. The poster will discuss how learning and development, for both staff and students, occurs via instigation of such research projects, valuing learner expertise and agency. Student engagement is an element of the Queen Mary Academic Careers Framework which supports academic career paths, and engagement with the LIP has the potential for educators to develop evidence for this. Examples showed how educators deepen their approach to reflection and identified opportunities to leverage research avenues with students as active partners, contributing to their scholarly profiles. As a complimentary point, examples of how interns develop critical thinking and communication skills within academic contexts were shared, covering how interns’ exposure to research helps prepare them for professional roles. The origin and evolution of the LIP was outlined, alongside approaches to intern recruitment, onboarding, co-responsibility training, and community building, that subsequently provide opportunities for the professional development of support colleagues who are involved. Delegates took away ideas around valuing students as partners within structured internships, with direct quotes from educators and support colleagues describing the impact this initiative has had on their professional development. This approach was displayed as an effective example of educational learning development, underpinned by student involvement, for which others may wish to copy its approach or explore potential future collaborations with Queen Mary.

Information literate students are more engaged and successful: role of information literacy in higher education

PurposeThis research examined the effect of information literacy (IL) on academic engagement (AE), cognitive engagement (CE) and academic performance among business students in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data from business students, recruited through a proportionate stratified convenient sampling technique, of the top 13 business institutions in Pakistan. The questionnaire was personally administered by visiting each institution with permission for data collection. A total of 554 responses were received and analyzed using the partial least squire-structural equation modeling approach.FindingsThe results exhibited that these business students perceived themselves as information literate. Furthermore, IL of business students appeared to predict positively their AE, CE and academic performance.Research limitations/implicationsThese results provided empirical and pragmatic insights for business educators, business librarians and accreditation bodies about IL effectiveness in academia. These findings may also inform policy and practice for IL instruction programs being carried out in business-related educational institutions not only in Pakistan but also in other countries of South Asia as they share similar characteristics.Originality/valueThis research would be a great contribution to the existing literature on IL, especially in the academic context as the interrelationship between IL, AE, CE and academic performance has not been investigated so far.

The influence of new media literacy to develop critical thinking in high school students / La influencia de la alfabetización en nuevos medios para desarrollar el pensamiento crítico en los estudiantes de secundaria

Critical thinking (CT) is considered one of the most important soft skills for student training and development, especially in an academic context in which students are immersed in a process of technologizing their teaching-learning process, are exposed to a large amount of information and are also great users of social media. The main objective of this study is to rigorously assess how new media literacy (NML) can influence the ability and willingness of students to think critically, and how CT and NML influence students’ perceptions of performance. Contrary to what is found in most of the literature, NML appears as a relevant antecedent to develop students’ skills and dispositions to think critically. These findings raise the need to deepen the study of the relationship between NML and CT.

Saudi EFL Students’ Attitudes Toward the Target Culture and Its Relationship with Their Linguistic Backgrounds

Culture and language have long been focal points of investigation, and both have been intensively discussed in the academic literature, but little attention has been paid to the influence of EFL students’ linguistic backgrounds on their attitudes toward the target culture, especially in the Saudi context. This mixed-method study aimed to explore the impact of learners’ linguistic backgrounds (mainly their language academic achievement levels and contexts of language learning) on their attitudes toward the target culture. The data was collected using an online questionnaire. A total of 84 students from the Faculty of Language and Translation at King Khaled University participated in this study. A Pearson correlation coefficient test and thematic analysis were used to interpret the data. The results showed a significant relationship between the participants’ linguistic backgrounds and their attitudes. The results also indicated that the participants had an overall positive attitude toward the integration of the target culture into language learning. In light of the findings, EFL students’ linguistic background should be taken into consideration before embedding the target culture into language learning.

Impact Evaluation Adoption Towards Coastal Communities with Ongoing East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) in Terengganu

Objective: This article focuses on ongoing ECRL development challenges in Terengganu, Malaysia, by adapting the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG) impact evaluation framework, which can serve as a tool for policy intervention in reducing inequality and promoting partnership. Theoretical Framework: The role of the state theory, as applied to explain the initiative launched through state coordination, requires a multistakeholder approach or structuration process in order to assess the impact on the beneficiary's sustainability. Method: The methodology adopted for this research has included in-depth interviews, observations, and site-visit approaches with local people and authoritative informants, and is heavily supported by desk research. Results and Discussion: The result shows that local coastal communities of several towns in Setiu, Terengganu, are positively accepting of this ECRL development. Nevertheless, collaboration and further information are also needed to make themselves compatible with socioeconomic changes. Research Implications: The critical APPGM-SDG mechanism, based on its success story in terms prior impact evaluation, should be embraced in assessing ongoing ECRL and its development through government-to-government partnerships. Originality/Value: This study led to the three imperatives recommendations on the academic context of the development corpus, advocacy, and policy moral deliverables.

Coping Self-Efficacy and Stress Mindset as Predictors of Student Success Outcomes

University students experience stress from academic demands. Stress is in fact expected in academic settings and important for achieving goals. How students experience the inevitable stress in the academic context, and whether stress is a support or hindrance for them, is related to their beliefs about stress. This study examined two types of beliefs regarding academic stress: (a) perceptions of being capable of coping with academic stress and demands, named coping self-efficacy, and (b) general beliefs regarding stress itself, named stress mindset, and the impact of those two stress beliefs on two types of outcomes related to student success: academic performance (GPA) and student experiences (mental health, perceived motivation challenges). Findings indicate coping self-efficacy positively predicts higher mental health and lower motivation challenges; neither stress mindset nor coping self-efficacy predicted GPA. Coping self-efficacy in the university context, which denotes feeling capable of managing stress and academic demands, emerged as a useful predictor of student success outcomes. As eliminating stress altogether is not practical or possible, this research focuses on beliefs about stress as important for student success.

Relationship between stressors with emotional exhaustion and coping strategies: The mediating role of academic stress symptoms in Peruvian adolescents

The research was conducted with the aim of evaluating the direct and indirect effects of academic stress symptoms related to academic stressors, emotional exhaustion, and coping strategies in an academic context. The study had a cross-sectional predictive design, composed of 387 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years (M = 15.6, SD = 1.53, 56.8 % female) from different educational institutions in Lima, Peru. The results showed significant effects with a direct trend for each of the variables. In addition, academic stress symptoms had a stronger indirect effect on the relationship of academic stressors with emotional exhaustion (β = 0.392, p < .001), in contrast to the effect of academic stressors with coping strategies (β = 0.083, p < .05). It was also found by multigroup analysis that the proposed model was invariant as a function of sex. Therefore, it is concluded that adolescents who are exposed to greater academic stressors will perceive greater symptoms of academic stress, which in turn intensifies the occurrence of emotional exhaustion and the coping strategies. These results were equivalent in both men and women.

Design and implementation of a project management training program to develop workforce ready skills and career readiness in STEM PhD students and postdoctoral trainees

A growing number of STEM doctorates pursue careers across the broader biomedical workforce, including industry, policy, and healthcare. Graduate and postdoctoral trainees need training to develop professional skills that prepare them for diverse workforce options. Through engagement with faculty and trainees, we determined that formal management skills are underdeveloped in trainees, particularly around managing projects in a way that is translatable to broader industries. At Georgetown University Medical Center, we adapted Kern's six-steps of curriculum design to develop the Academy for Transferable Management Skills (ATMS) program to help graduate and postdoctoral trainees develop linear experience in utilizing project management tools in their academic research contexts. ATMS includes a self-paced online CANVAS course with learning objectives and content modules that map to the project management cycle from initiation to closure, developed in consultation with PhD-level industry experts. From 2021–2024, 25 trainees have completed the ATMS program, including the capstone project and posttest evaluation. Trainees also complete brief quizzes after each module as a formative assessment of learning. The pre-test evaluation (n = 92) revealed a baseline of project management “pain points” regularly encountered by trainees (risk management, project charters, work breakdown structures, and managing project scope). Posttest data (n = 25) reveal a significant increase (p &amp;lt; 0.0001) in project management self-efficacy measures across the aforementioned pain point scales. Notably, 100% of trainees indicated that they may/would refer the program to colleagues. ATMS offers trainees the flexibility to pick frameworks that apply to their projects with trainees planning to use project schedules (84%), Work Break Down Structures (80%), lessons learned reports (68%), and communication plans (68%) in their work. This integrated experiential learning approach equips trainees to develop and execute their projects according to industry-informed project management principles, which allows them to perform their current research more efficiently and to utilize project management frameworks in a way that is directly transferable to broad careers.

Towards Responsible Use: Student Perspectives on ChatGPT in Higher Education

The advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, presents a dichotomy of opportunities and challenges within the educational sector. These tools offer the promise of personalized learning support, accessible at any time, thereby enhancing educational engagement and resource availability. However, they also introduce significant concerns, notably the risk of plagiarism, complicating their integration into academic settings. Despite the widespread adoption of ChatGPT by students, there remains a gap in understanding their experiences with these tools and the need for frameworks to guide responsible use. To address this knowledge gap, this study investigates the utilisation of ChatGPT for academic tasks and students' perceptions of its benefits and drawbacks in a university context. The findings reveal that half of the students used ChatGPT either regularly or occasionally for academic tasks. However, only slightly more than one-third of the participants expressed confidence in maintaining the authenticity and originality of their outputs when using ChatGPT. In terms of utility, respondents' perceptions varied, with 25.0% considering it moderately useful, 39.3% very useful, and 10.7% extremely useful for their assignments. Notably, 42.8% observed a significant enhancement in the quality of their work with ChatGPT, compared to assignments completed independently. Despite these advantages, 71.4% of students encountered errors or inaccuracies in ChatGPT's outputs, underscoring the tool's limitations. A significant majority (89.7%) advocate for the establishment of specific guidelines or training to foster effective and responsible usage of ChatGPT in academic contexts. The Chi-square test indicated a significant difference in ChatGPT usage between White and BAME students (p=0.031). These findings underscore the broad utilisation of ChatGPT in student learning and general satisfaction with its application. Nonetheless, students acknowledge the tool's potential for errors and inaccuracies. In light of these challenges, there is a pronounced demand for clear guidelines and proper training to navigate the responsible use of ChatGPT in educational settings. This study illuminates the imperative for educators and institutions to develop strategies that not only leverage the benefits of generative AI tools but also mitigate their risks and promote meaningful learning outcomes.

Human-AI Collaboration: A Student-Centered Perspective of Generative AI Use in Higher Education

The increasing adoption of generative AI (Gen AI) has made it even more important to investigate how education and learning is transformed. The paper investigates the evolving relationship between humans and AI in performing learning and knowledge-intensive tasks. Based on mixed data collected from business school students, the article explores the evolving relationships between human and AI in knowledge collaboration. The article sets out to address how Gen AI usage affects students’ behavior, their academic work and their attitudes towards AI. It investigates how students use Gen AI in an academic context to support students’ work processes. Our analysis draws on collaborative learning theories and revisits the automation-augmentation paradox in the context of management education. The aim is to address the following research questions: How does collaboration with AI affect student academic work? And how do students in higher education use Gen AI for academic work? We present insights into students’ perception of benefits and drawbacks of using Gen AI, their attitude towards Gen AI, knowledge tasks in which they collaborate or delegate to Gen AI and we discuss the potential risks associated with the use of Gen AI. Students are collaborating with AI using ChatGPT for expanding knowledge on academic themes, summarizing concepts, theories, and generating ideas for research topics and methods. Time saving, enhanced productivity and user-friendliness of the tool were identified as the main benefits associated with Gen AI, whereas the risk of plagiarism, its inaccuracy in responses and the need for prior knowledge were identified as the main drawbacks. While our findings underscore the potential of Gen AI to significantly enhance student learning experiences, they also underscore the importance of exercising caution and awareness of associated risks to automate learning. This study seeks to enrich our comprehension of AI's transformative role in higher education, with a specific focus on the student-centered perspective.

Academic Opportunities of Gamification at University

Gamification is a powerful tool of modern education, but its successful implementation requires careful planning that takes into account the academic context and the individual needs of students. The authors tested a new narrative model of gamification, which integrated game elements and storylines to create a more interactive and motivating learning environment. The model involved stories and scenarios that linked various tasks and activities to immerse students in professionally relevant situations. The model was based on gamification principles, game mechanics, interactive tasks, social interaction, and adaptive feedback. The narrative contextualized learning, thus enhancing students’ engagement, motivation, and professional identity. The experiment (September-December 2023) gamified a course of Professional Ethics and involved first-year students of Clinical Psychology (n = 31), Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University. The narrative model of gamification fostered a more positive attitude towards the future profession, increased students’ engagement, and enhanced their interest in the academic process. Storylines, roles, personages, problematic situations, and unpredictability ensured students’ deep immersion in professional situations and contributed to the development of important ethical and professional qualities. Gamification has a great potential for improving the quality of higher education, making the learning routine more exciting and effective.

The influence of kindness on academics' identity, well-being and stress.

The well-being of people working and studying in higher education, including students, staff, and faculty, is a topic of increasing concern. The lack of well-being may be attributed to the current academic context, which does not consistently provide cues that affirm social inclusion to all members of the academic population. This study examines the role of kindness (defined as actions that affirm dignity and social inclusion) in promoting identification with community and well-being in higher education utilizing a cross-sectional study of 182 diverse members of higher education. To assess the extent that kindness relates to the acquisition of institutional identity, well-being, and stress, we developed and validated two novel psychometric rating scales for kindness: Kindness Received (α = 0.927, ώ = .921) and Kindness Given (α = .859, ώ = .860). Initial analysis showed that receiving kindness was significantly associated with increased well-being, reduced stress, and improved institutional identity. Giving kindness was significantly associated with decreased stress reduction and decreased institutional identity. Results from structural equation modeling shows that institutional identity mediates the relationship between receiving kindness and well-being. Qualitative analysis of micronarratives regarding kindness showed that feeling safe and being acknowledged are the most commonly described experiences of kindness, both acts that affirm dignity. The findings from this study suggests that kindness contributes towards improving diverse people's well-being and increased identification with institutions of higher education. Measurement of kindness provides methods for assessing institutional changes that foster greater positivity and inclusion in higher education settings.