Academic Disciplines Research Articles

Modelling Work–Study Conflict Effects on Built Environment Students’ Well-Being, Health, and Academic Performance

Balancing academic responsibilities and work commitments poses significant challenges for students in built environment (BE) programs, often leading to compromised well-being and academic difficulties. This study examines the causal effects of balancing work–study responsibilities on students’ health, well-being, and academic outcomes, addressing critical gaps in the literature. A positivist research approach was employed, with data collected via an online survey of 253 undergraduate BE students from Australian universities. The survey assessed academic and work stressors, health, mental well-being, coping strategies, and academic outcomes. Statistical analyses, including one-sample t-tests, factor analysis, and path analysis, were used to analyse the data. The findings reveal that BE students experience severe stress and moderate levels of anxiety and depression, significantly impacting their academic performance. Common health issues include fatigue and sleep disturbances. Work–study conflict and performance anxiety were identified as the strongest predictors of negative health outcomes, with maladaptive coping strategies amplifying these effects. These results underscore the urgent need for institutional interventions, such as flexible learning options, enhanced mental health services, and industry partnerships to alleviate work–study conflicts. Encouraging adaptive coping mechanisms and providing targeted support can help mitigate adverse effects, promoting improved academic performance and well-being among BE students. These findings can be generalised to students in other academic disciplines and countries, as similar work–study challenges and their associated impacts are observed globally.

Relationship Between Digital Nativity and Internet Addiction Among University Students in Ghana

This research explores the relationship between digital nativity and internet addiction among university students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. The Digital Native Assessment Scale (DNAS) and Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were administered to 411 undergraduate students from various academic disciplines, with 49.15% (n=202) males and 50.85% (n=209) females. College of Arts and Built Environment (21.90%, n=90), College of Engineering (15.33%, n=63), College of Science (14.35%, n=59), College of Humanities and Social Sciences (22.63%, n=93), College of Health Sciences (15.82%, n=65), and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (9.98%, n=41). Results demonstrated moderate to high levels of digital nativity based on their DNAS scores, with significant positive correlations between DNAS and IAT (r = 0.569, p < 0.001). Suggesting that students with higher scores in digital nativity may be at risk of developing addictive internet behaviours. Interestingly, academic level and college affiliation emerged as factors influencing internet addiction, with students at a higher level and those in the College of Science showing intensified vulnerabilities.

Supply-driven academic innovation. Establishing entrepreneurship education as a discipline in Spain (1974–2000s)

ABSTRACT This paper examines the emergence and institutionalization of entrepreneurship education (EE) as an academic discipline in Spain, focusing on the pioneering efforts at IESE Business School between 1974 and the early 2000s. Leveraging the existing conceptual frameworks for the formation of new academic fields, the study explores the interplay of differentiation, resource mobilization, and legitimacy building in EE’s evolution. Unlike demand-driven paradigms observed in early industrialized nations, this research highlights the critical role of supply-side innovation in fostering entrepreneurship education in late-developing economies like Spain. By employing qualitative and historical methods and incorporating a micro-level perspective, the study addresses gaps in understanding how historical context, social networks and organizational dynamics shape the establishment of new academic fields. The findings also contribute to historiography by refining the definition and chronology of the global expansion of EE.

A REVIEW OF THE QUALITIES AND UTILIZATION OF WASTE MATERIALS IN WARM MIX ASPHALT CONCRETE

The amount of unwanted waste produced in recent decades has quickly increased due to rapid population growth, technological advancements, and the widespread use of state-of-the-art products and services in the industry. Different researchers have carried out extensive studies on waste materials. Regretfully, most investigations focus only on the performance of HMA concrete that has been modified using one or two types of waste. Therefore, this study investigates an extensive review of the qualities and utilization of four types of wastes, viz., Coal Bottom Ash (CBA), Waste Cooking Oil (WCO), Waste Engine Oil (WEO), and Rice Husk Ash (RHA), as well as assessing their bibliometric analyses. The wastes that were being investigated showed a notable improvement in Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) concrete. The WMA technology has successfully reduced the environmental issues of high production and compaction temperatures. The previous publications on CBA, WCO, WEO, and RHA identified 3,914 published documents between 2009 and 2023. Only 32 of these documents were published by Scopus. The academic disciplines of engineering, materials science, environmental sciences, and others have contributed 37%, 29%, 19%, and 15%, respectively, to Scopus publication. The United Kingdom made a significant contribution of 50% to Scopus publication compared to other countries. Furthermore, the findings also revealed that 89.4% (29 documents) were technical articles and only 10.6% (3 documents) were review articles. Further review of the rheological and microscopic properties of the four wastes is needed.

Use of innovative methods of teaching the discipline “sports and pedagogical improvement” in the conditions of martial law

The article highlights the issues of the features of using the latest innovative methods in the process of teaching the academic discipline "Sports and Pedagogical Improvement" for the professional training of future coaches in martial law conditions. The main tasks and directions for the use of innovative methods and means for the effective assimilation of material from the discipline "Sports and Pedagogical Improvement" are determined. It has been established that the use of such innovative methods in full makes it possible to maximally improve the teaching of the academic discipline "Sports and Pedagogical Improvement" in martial law conditions. The academic discipline "Sports and Pedagogical Improvement" is one of the components of basic education, it is aimed, first of all, at the formation of professional knowledge and skills of future specialists in the field of physical education, improving the theoretical and practical training of students, providing opportunities for the further development of professional knowledge, self- realization in future professional activities. Based on the analysis of the development of the modern higher education system in Ukraine, it has been proven that the use of innovative methods in the field of physical education in general, and the subject "Sports and Pedagogical Improvement" in particular, requires activation, the search for new ways of improvement, the creation of new innovative technologies directly in the conditions of martial law. One of the ways to solve this problem is the development and implementation of new innovative teaching methods in classes in the discipline "Sports and Pedagogical Improvement", which would direct the future coach towards acquiring the necessary professional knowledge, skills and abilities that meet the requirements of modern life. Today, more than ever, Ukraine needs young qualified specialists in the field of physical education who not only possess modern knowledge, but also know how to apply them in practice. Therefore, the problem of using innovative methods of teaching the discipline "Sports and Pedagogical Improvement" is relevant in the modern conditions of martial law.

Exploring factors influencing the intention to use social media and its actual usage in higher education: a conceptual model of effectiveness, effort, communication, self-awareness, social influence, and facilitating conditions

ABSTRACT This study examines the adoption of social media platforms for educational purposes within Saudi Arabian higher education institutions, utilizing an expanded e-Learning Acceptance Model (e-LAM). It investigates the influence of factors such as effectiveness, effort, communication functionality, self-awareness, social influence, and facilitating conditions on the intention to use social media. Additionally, the study explores how the intention to use social media affects the actual usage of these platforms. The research employs a quantitative methodology, utilizing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the data collected through online surveys. The sample comprises 283 university students from various academic disciplines, ensuring a diverse representation of the student population in Saudi Arabia. The findings reveal that effectiveness, effort, and self-awareness significantly enhance students’ intentions to use social media for educational purposes. Conversely, the study finds that communication functionality, social influence, and facilitating conditions do not significantly impact students’ intentions, while Intention to use social media significantly impacts actual usage. The implications of this study are multifaceted, offering valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and technology developers. For educators, understanding the key factors that drive students’ intentions to use social media for learning can inform the design and implementation of more effective e-learning strategies. Policymakers can leverage these findings to develop supportive frameworks that encourage the integration of social media into educational curricula. Technology developers can also use this knowledge to enhance the functionality of social media platforms, making them more conducive to educational use. This study contributes to the existing literature by applying an expanded e-Learning Acceptance Model (e-LAM) to the context of Saudi Arabian higher education. It provides novel insights into the specific factors that influence students’ intentions and actual usage of social media for educational purposes.

Internationalization of the Curriculum at Home (IoCaH): Why Academic Disciplines Matter

Internationalization of the Curriculum at Home (IoCaH): Why Academic Disciplines Matter

Метод разработки интеллектуальных тренажёров на основе онтологии предметной области

In academic disciplines, students are required to learn many new concepts, which necessitates extensive training with feedback. An intelligent simulator enables students to practice solving simple problems while receiving explanations for their mistakes, allowing teachers to focus on addressing more complex issues during lessons. This paper presents a method for developing intelligent simulators based on the ontology of the subject domain, implemented as web appli-cations suitable for both classroom and extracurricular use. Representing the problem and the subject area model in RDF format enables logical inference using the Apache Jena Reasoner inference engine. An example is provided of an intelligent simulator designed for learning the order of operations in expressions, supporting the C++, C#, and Python programming languages. The simulator can explain errors, generate explanatory hints, and engage in educational dia-logue through guiding questions. The simulator was tested with undergraduate and graduate students of the Faculty of Electronics and Computer Engineering at Volgograd State Technical University. Most students found the simulator to be more useful than traditional training tests. It can be employed both for independent study and as part of the educa-tional process in classroom settings.

On the all-inclusive society, or how to leave no one behind

This interview article brings together Dan Goodley, Yanki Lee, Jos Boys, and Sarah Glerup in conversation about an overall exploratory question of how we can create an inclusive society for all, taking the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and pledge to Leave No One Behind (LNOB) as point of departure. The panel embodies perspectives from different academic disciplines in disability studies and architectural design, but also knowledge based on lived experience from activist practices. In discussing themes of social inclusion, individualisation, methodology, representation, identity politics, normal space, disruption, and change; the panelists share their reflections on critical concepts such as neoliberal ableism, the super cripple, and equity tourism. Besides contributing with an interdisciplinary scholarly dialogue the article concludes by highlighting key insights from the interview on the relationship of contemporary societal and cultural disability issues in theory and practice.

A Novel Metaheuristic Algorithm Inspired by the Flow of a Stream of Water

Global optimization problems are ubiquitous across academic and scientific disciplines, presenting a persistent challenge to experts in each field. Coupled with it, real-life problems often involve discontinuities, multiple local optima, and indeterminacies, rendering deterministic optimization algorithms insufficient for finding global solutions. Stochastic global optimization algorithms are crucial to tackle and overcome these difficulties. Therefore, this paper proposes a new stochastic global optimization algorithm and compares its performance with other algorithms, such as Cuckoo Search and Differential Evolution, for solving benchmark problems. In turn, performance indexes are used to evaluate the algorithms based on computational effort and the solutions' quality, and the convergence of each algorithm is also compared.

Integrated learning technology as a means of forming the general cultural competence of students

The methodological basis of modern teaching is integration, which makes it possible to show students the «world as a whole», overcoming the differentiation of scientific knowledge by disciplines. The purpose of this article is to define the essence of the concept of a binary lesson, to consider its forms, to define the goals and objectives of binary lessons, to find out the reasons for the need for such lessons, and also what are the features in their preparation, organization and conduct. The authors show the features of the organization, development and preparation of a modern integrated lesson. It is shown that integrated lessons can be conducted at several levels: binary (simultaneous learning), conceptual and informational (coordination of information by teachers of different disciplines and conducting lessons separately) and remote (network). It is emphasized that an integrated lesson is not a simple addition, but an interpenetration of two or more disciplines, with the specifics of the educational material studied on it. Most often, the subject of analysis within the framework of integrated lessons are multidimensional objects, information about the essence of which is contained in various academic disciplines. The teacher needs to be able to find common ground between subjects and carefully select the content of the lesson material. The article also presents practical experience of conducting integrated lessons in Russian literature and music. As a result of the research, certain conclusions were drawn that an integrated lesson in a modern Russian school is a special type of lesson that combines teaching in several disciplines simultaneously while studying a single concept, topic or phenomenon.

Analysis of existing mathematical models for assessing the competencies of higher education students

Objective. The purpose of the work is to determine the features of mathematical models for implementing the competence-based assessment approach. It is necessary to identify which parameters are appropriate to use in the mathematical model, the methodology for their determination, and at what stage the final assessment of competencies is formed. Method. The study is based on the theoretical and information analysis of mathematical models for assessing competencies. Result. The development of a mathematical model for assessing competencies requires taking into account factors, including the labor intensity of the academic discipline, class attendance, participation in Olympiads, conferences, etc. It has been established that competence assessment does not always depend on only one area of knowledge, but is interdisciplinary and includes not only knowledge, abilities and skills, but takes into account the influence of the social, information and intellectual environment. The study showed the prospects of applying the theory of latent variables. Conclusion. The scientific review allows developing a new mathematical model for the competence-based approach to mastering the curriculum. To modernize the competence-based approach, it is necessary to collect information on the extracurricular activities of the student. The result of the competency assessment will be a competency map, formed during the semester or course.

Exploring the Characteristics of Modern Korean Buddhist Education: Focusing on the Religious Studies Lecture Notes from the Buddhist Central Seminary (Pulgyo Chungang Hangnim, 佛敎中央學林)

This study examines the identity and characteristics of modern Korean Buddhist education through an analysis of the religious studies lecture notes of a student from the Buddhist Central Seminary (Pulgyo Chungang Hangnim, 佛敎中央學林), preserved at Songgwang-sa Temple. Established in 1915 and operating until 1919, the seminary introduced a significant shift from traditional scripture-centered monastic education to a modern academic system. Western and Japanese academic traditions, religious studies, philosophy, and the general educational system influenced its curriculum. The lecture notes provide insight into the adoption of modern academic disciplines within Korean Buddhist education, revealing the influence of Japanese religious studies and Western comparative religion. They also demonstrate the possibility of early introduction of religious studies as an educational field in Korea. The seminary played a dual role as a hub for national education and reflection of the colonial context, embodying the complexities of nationalism and colonial influence during Japanese occupation. This study underscores the need for further scholarly exploration to understand the multifaceted nature of modern Korean Buddhist education and its unique role within the broader historical context of East Asian Buddhist history.

Integration of personal psychedelic experiences into clinical practice: A phenomenological study in mental health professionals

AbstractBackgroundWhile psychedelic substances are extensively studied through the lens of various academic disciplines, their impact on the therapeutic practice of mental health professionals is yet to be explored. This firsthand experience is deemed crucial for effectively assisting patients in the process of integrating a psychedelic experience.AimsThe aim of this study was to explore the psychological and spiritual dimensions of psychedelic integration among mental health professionals, focusing on understanding how transformation and insights influence their clinical work.MethodsUtilizing a phenomenological methodology, interviews with eight mental health professionals with substantial first-person experience with psychedelics were conducted.ResultsOur findings indicate a potential, enduring, positive impact of psychedelic meta-integration on the practice of mental health clinicians. The data analysis yielded a multi-faceted model encompassing key aspects of human life including interpersonal and emotional development, relationship with death and nature, concepts of love, meaning, and spirituality, along with elements pertinent to therapeutic work. This comprehensive model integrates these diverse dimensions, offering a holistic understanding of the impact of psychedelics on both personal and professional realms.ConclusionsThe findings of this study lend support to the notion that health professionals involved in clinical work encompassing psychedelic integration should themselves have undergone induced altered states of consciousness, not only for a better empathetic understanding. This might be also predicated on the intrinsic positive transformative effects on their human capacities and as therapists. This dual benefit underscores the importance of personal experience in the effective facilitation of psychedelic integration in clinical settings.

Training system for military financiers: Development problems

Subject. The article addresses the role of military financiers in the structure of the armed forces. Objectives. The study aims to analyze the need for training of military financiers and determine the composition of academic disciplines in the relevant specialty. Methods. The study rests on the comparative analysis. Results. The paper established that the programs of leading civilian financial and economic universities need to be strengthened with a military component. It is advisable to revive the Yaroslavl Higher Military and Finance School. Conclusions. Military financiers should understand the realities of modern armed hostilities, keep prompt and reliable records. It is necessary to use the scientific potential of leading financial and economic universities for the purposes of the special military operation.

Old Threats, New Name? Generative AI and Visual Journalism

ABSTRACT Generative AI applications have been hailed as “transformative,” “disruptive,” and posing a “threat to human journalists and media professionals.” Much of this discourse reflects longstanding concerns about the impact of technological change on both the production and consumption ends of journalism. Perhaps nowhere is this felt more strongly than in visual journalism, where fears about AI replacing cameras and associated implications are rife. These concerns resemble earlier debates about visual technologies, from the smartphone camera to social media, and intersect with fundamental debates about journalism’s boundaries and norms: what news “is,” how it is produced, and what we expect it to achieve. Amidst this hype and anxiety, we offer an analysis of AI’s risks to visual journalism that contextualises this technology against journalism’s existing tensions. Our study asks: How unique are the threats that generative AI poses to visual news? Specifically, we look across academic disciplines to interrogate three threats that are especially prevalent in the literature. Our conceptual evaluation is benefited empirically by dozens of industry perspectives spanning three continents, and allows us to identify exactly which threats, if any, that generative AI poses to visual journalism are new, and which are extant threats folded into more longstanding discourses.

Принципы локальной технологии обучения будущих следователей на материале о скулшутинге как юридико-психологическом феномене

The initial provisions of the local learning technology used during the seminar, which acts as a fragment of the implementation of the academic discipline "Legal Psychology" in the educational organization of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, are substantiated. The subject of the study focuses on the principles of technology, considered in the context of expanding and systematizing knowledge about the psychological characteristics of a violent criminal who committed an armed attack on an educational organization (schoolshooter). The work was carried out based on a systematic approach, the thesis of personality activity, the postulate of the unity of consciousness and activity, as well as methods of scientific research, data processing and interpretation. Seventy–four cadets studying in the specialty 40.05.01 Legal support of national security (specialization - Criminal Law) participated in the pilot study. The following principles of local learning technology are highlighted: variability as a variety of ways and outcomes of interaction in the educational space of a training session, conceptualization as a search and cognitive way of forming concepts, interdisciplinarity as a condition for clarifying the consistency of legal and psychological knowledge, integrity as ensuring the integrativity of sectoral psychological information, as well as the applied nature of learning outcomes demanded by future investigators in professional activities. The accompanying analysis of the phenomenon of schoolshooting makes a valuable contribution to the formation of students' ideas about the subject area of legal psychology. The novelty of the results obtained is due to the complex informative content, procedural and instrumental innovation and the possibility of reproducing local learning technology in the educational process. It is advisable to further test, extract additional evidence of the effectiveness of the author's development and confirm its methodological consistency.

Are We Global Yet? Progress on Expanding the Agricultural Communications Academic Discipline Internationally

Are We Global Yet? Progress on Expanding the Agricultural Communications Academic Discipline Internationally

The relationship between environmental perception and organizational adaptation strategy at the single discipline level: The case of higher music education

This paper presents the relationship between organizational adaptation strategy and environmental perception for a single academic discipline: music. Music units were found to exhibit a trend toward the adoption of greater levels of organizational change as environmental perception increased, supporting the importance of environmental sensing capabilities in academe. Adaptations additionally clustered around organizational expansion as environmental perception increased providing important implications for music and other areas of higher education experiencing a rapidly evolving industrial environment. The case of higher music education illustrates challenges involved in measuring organizational change and offers a contribution to theoretical constructs in the evaluation of externally driven institutional change.

Pharmaceutical Humanities and Narrative Pharmacy: An Emerging New Concept in Pharmacy.

The complexity of our life experiences and the rapid progress in science and technology clearly necessitate reflections from the humanities. The ever-growing intersection between science and society fosters the emergence of novel interdisciplinary fields of research. During the past decade, Medical Humanities arose to meet the need to unravel hidden information beyond technology-driven and fact-based medicine. In the present paper, we put forward the hypothesis that there is a similar requirement to develop Pharmaceutical Humanities as an academic discipline within pharmacy and pharmaceutical biology. Based on Thomas Kuhn's epistemological theory on the structure of scientific revolutions, one may argue that a paradigm change for Pharmaceutical Humanities might open new levels of insight. Many complex diseases (e.g., cancer, neurological diseases, and mental disorders) remain uncurable for many patients by current pharmacotherapies, and the old beaten paths in our therapeutic thinking may at least partly have to be left behind. By taking examples from Pharmaceutical Biology, we attempt to illustrate that the transdisciplinary dialogue with the humanities is fertile ground not only for enlarging our understanding of disease-related conditions but also for exploring new ways of combatting diseases. In this context, we discuss aspects related to traditional herbal medicine, fair access and benefit sharing of indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants, post-traumatic stress syndrome, the opioid crisis, stress myocardiopathy (broken heart syndrome), and global environmental pollution with microplastics. We also explore possibilities for a narrative turn in pharmacy. The urgent need for inter- and transdisciplinary solutions to pressing health-related problems in our society may create a scholarly atmosphere for the establishment of Pharmaceutical Humanities as a fruitful terrain to respond to the current demands of both science and society.