Bachelor Program Research Articles

A complex methodology for the development of mathematical modeling skills in engineering education

AbstractToday, the role of humans is changing rapidly in both industrial production activities and services. Mediocre, easy-to-learn activities can be performed more efficiently by machines; mediocre knowledge is being devalued while the importance of high-level skills is increasing. As a result, in all sectors of the economy, and especially in engineering, new approaches to expert training are needed; people must learn to hand over certain decision-making roles and to control the processes supported by AI rather than compete with it. STEM education has a responsibility to achieve these goals and must develop appropriate tools for engineering education. This paper presents a complex didactic methodology for competency-based education in engineering bachelor programs. An important element is the mathematical competency map, which shows the importance and place of mathematical and algorithmic (coding) knowledge in engineering topics. Another element is the systematic testing of mathematical knowledge in non-mathematical contexts in engineering courses. We provide an overview of our achievements in applying the developed toolset and improving the efficiency of mathematics teaching in engineering bachelor programs.

Strengthening Generic Skills in Undergraduate Students in Physical Education. Perception of University Professors

Purpose: Demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposal for strengthening generic and specific competencies, which are evaluated in the Saber Pro tests in students of the Bachelor's program in Physical Education at a Colombian university, through the perception of participating teachers. said proposal. Methodology: A qualitative methodology was implemented, with the purpose of trying to understand the reality and behaviors of individuals who belong to a certain social context (Vílchez, 2022), in addition to understanding and identifying various characteristics associated with the qualities and descriptions of a social phenomenon without resorting to the collection of specific numerical data (Morenos, 2021). Results and Conclusions: They indicate the development of innovative teaching strategies in academic spaces in order to strengthen competencies. Likewise, it demonstrates the viability of the proposal in relation to the teaching strategies that make a theoretical and practical approach, since they adjust to the focus and thematic contents of the subjects, therefore, they facilitate the assimilation and appropriation of the knowledge that requires a future graduate, thus concluding the need to incorporate innovative tools that promote the appropriation of knowledge to train better professionals in the area of Physical Education. Implications: This research provides implications for educational and government policy to continue to strengthen standardized testing policies in higher education. Originality/value: This research offers novelty by glimpsing the impact of the formation of the pedagogical model in higher education.

The Influence of the Student Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) on Career Aspirations Moderated by Self-Leadership among Alumni of the Global UGRAD Bachelor's Program

This study aims to investigate the influence of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) on alumni career aspirations and the role of self-leadership as a moderator of career aspirations among Global UGRAD alumni for the academic year 2022-2023. Employing quantitative techniques, including a 4-point Likert scale and explanatory analysis, data were collected from 85 alumni representing 33 countries. The validity test confirms the credibility of all items, while subsequent reliability tests establish their consistency. Results from hypothesis testing indicate that the student exchange program (Global UGRAD) does not significantly influence career aspirations because the P value is 0.153 > 0.05. However, student exchange program (Global UGRAD) has a significant positive influence on self-leadership as the P value is 0.000 < 0.05. Furthermore, self-leadership has a positive and significant influence on career aspirations as the P value is 0.004 < 0.05. Additionally, it was found that self-leadership can moderate the relationship between the student exchange program (Global UGRAD) and career aspirations as the P value is 0.015 < 0.05. These findings highlight the importance of fostering self-leadership skills for enhancing career aspirations among students participating in international exchange programs (Global UGRAD).

LMS Moodle as Seen through the Eyes of Students: Advantages and Disadvantages of Electronic Educational Environment

The Moodle learning management system has been successfully implemented in a variety of training courses for distance or blended learning in the educational system of higher education institutions. The study presents the results devoted to the analysis of the use of the virtual educational environment Moodle in the educational process of Baikal State University. The main purpose of the article is to consider the possibilities of the Moodle learning management system from the point of view of students enrolled in bachelor's and specialist programs in full-time format, followed by the development of recommendations to improve the quality of courses creation. The research methodology is based on the statistical analysis of the data (quantitative and qualitative) obtained as a result of the survey (empirical method). The novelty of the work lies in an attempt to look at the problem from the prospective of the end user and the electronic educational environment user, in this case, the student. Anticipating the start of the development of electronic courses that form general professional competencies at Baikal State University, the relevance of the research is beyond doubt, and its results can be useful to a wide range of e-courses creators. As a part of the survey, students evaluated their computer skills, selected the key functions of LMS Moodle that they needed to study at a university, evaluated the pros and cons of this tool and chose the preferred type of training. Conclusions were drawn about the expediency of introducing a hybrid learning model using LMS Moodle, combining various forms of distance and face-to-face learning.

The impact of comprehensive licensure review on nursing students’ clinical competence, self-efficacy, and work readiness

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of comprehensive licensure reviews and adaptive quizzing assignments on nursing students' clinical competence, self-efficacy, and work readiness—an under-researched topic. Additionally, it seeks to explore the mediating effect of self-efficacy in the relationship between students’ clinical competence and work readiness. A quasi-experimental (pre- and post-test), single-group design was employed. The study was conducted in a public university in Saudi Arabia and included a total of 293 senior nursing students in their last year of the bachelor program. An intervention was developed based on the blueprints of the Saudi Nursing Licensing Exam and NCLEX-RN and consisted of a weekly 3-h synchronous comprehensive licensure review bundled with 23 adaptive quizzing assignments over 15 weeks. Data were collected prior to and after the intervention using three scales: clinical competence, self-efficacy, and work readiness. The mean scores of clinical competence, self-efficacy, and two subscales of work readiness (work competence and social intelligence) increased significantly post-intervention.Self-efficacy (β = 0.353, p < 0.001) and clinical competence (β = 0.251, p < 0.001) influenced work readiness (F [5, 226] = 21.03, p < 0.001) and accounted for 31.8% of the explained variability in work readiness. In the mediation analysis, clinical competence had a significant and indirect effect on work readiness through self-efficacy (B = 0.464, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.250 to 0.699). The proportion of mediation indicated that 37.2% of the total effect of clinical competence on work readiness was due to the indirect effect of self-efficacy. Comprehensive licensure review and adaptive quizzing assignments improve students’ perceptions of clinical competence and self-efficacy. Such interventions could ease the transition of senior nursing students to clinical practice.

Training of future physical education teachers to physical culture and health activities in the secondary school

The article examines the actual problems of training of future physical education teacher for physical culture and health activities in a secondary school. The process of preparing students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports for the organization of a physical culture and health environment at school has been revealed. The components of physical culture and health activities and the level of training of students for this type of activity are established. It has been proven that the issues of physical culture and health activities in Ukrainian schools are quite relevant for improving physical fitness, harmonious development and recovery of students. The purpose of the work is to establish the level of readiness of future physical education teacher for physical culture and health activities in a secondary school. The research methodology was to reveal the current state of solving the problem of training future physical education teachers for physical culture and health activities in a secondary school using analytical investigation methods and problem-based research methods. The following scientific methods were used in the study: analysis of literary sources, pedagogical observation, conversation, questionnaires, expert assessment and self-assessment of the level of knowledge, skills and abilities in physical culture and health activities, methods of mathematical statistics. The research was carried out at Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University in 2021–2023, in which students of the third and fourth years (84 persons) of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports took part, who are studying under the educational and professional bachelor's program in the field of knowledge 01 Education/Pedagogy, specialty 014, Secondary education in subject specialty 014.11 Secondary education (Physical culture). The scientific novelty consists in the disclosure of the dynamics of the formation of physical culture and health readiness of students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports for professional activities at school. Third-year students have a low level of readiness for physical education and health activities at school (61.1–65.1 points). The students of the fourth course showed good grades (73.2–76.9 points) in all components of readiness for physical culture and health activities. Conclusions. The preparation of future physical education teacher for physical culture and health activities at school can be presented as a system of organizational, psychological and pedagogical measures of a higher education institution aimed at acquiring knowledge, abilities and skills in health preservation and experience of implementing various forms of physical culture.

Correspondence of soft skills of bachelors of physical culture and sports with the specialization "Physical culture and sports rehabilitation" to the needs of the labor market

The article analyzes educational programs for training bachelors of physical culture and sports with the specialization "Physical culture and sports rehabilitation" and established which soft skills are formed in the process of professional training of specialists. Based on the analysis of the results of the employers' survey, the most popular soft skills on the labor market are: artistry, creativity; information literacy; media literacy; digital literacy; communicativeness; self-development; critical thinking; leadership; cooperation, teamwork; emotional intelligence; flexibility, adaptability; productivity (time management); proactivity. At the same time, it was found that a number of soft skills, which are in demand on the labor market, are absent in bachelor's educational programs in the specialty 017 "Physical culture and sport" with the specialization "Physical culture and sports rehabilitation". Recommendations are offered to institutions of higher education regarding the adaptation of educational programs in accordance with the needs of the labor market, in particular, to provide for the formation of such soft skills as critical thinking, artistry, creativity, cooperation, teamwork, emotional intelligence, productivity (time management) and initiativeness. The formation of soft skills in demand in the labor market among graduates of higher education institutions will contribute to the expansion of their employment opportunities in the national labor market.

Academic citizenship and a world in crisis

In this paper I consider how the university might contribute to a regenerated commons. I discuss the problems of global citizenship as a heuristic, putting in its place, Appiah’s notion of cosmopolitanism to describe the Global Humanities bachelor program at my own higher education institution—Roskilde University in Denmark. I then consider the academic citizen as one participating in a space of dialogue and exchange where differences are recognized and the world is read through the lens of pluralism rather than over-confident and singular commitments to social justice, human rights or some idealized commons that threatens yet another dominant/dominating worldview. I end the paper with a reflection on the theme of hopelessness—viewing universities as central to creating academic citizens geared to the logic of deficit-thinking, endless development and abstract progress. Rather than trying to overcome hopelessness, we might be better advised to embrace it as one aspect of a broad and inclusive humanistic imagination; one where there are many knowledges but where most will not be encountered, and where there are no simple solutions

Pedagogical strategies to enhance learning and awareness of acoustics within our engineering school community

Acoustics is taught at the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS, Montreal, Canada) in a single advanced specialization course during the final year of the mechanical engineering bachelor's program. This course aims to equip students with the skills needed to measure and reduce noise based on the theoretical foundations of industrial acoustics and associated experimental techniques. The fact that the science of acoustics is not well-known among engineering students, coupled with the optional nature of this course, results in an average enrollment of only about thirty students each year (across two distinct sessions), a number further reduced since 2020 due to the unfortunate impact of the pandemic. Paradoxically, Quebec lacks engineers trained in this discipline and often recruits them from abroad. This presentation will aim to showcase various strategies and pedagogical tools that have been used and experimented with in recent years (e.g., flipped classroom, in-class experiments, cellphone measurements, community service-oriented semester projects). The goal is to ensure the quality and enjoyment of student learning and to contribute to raising awareness about acoustics and noise-related issues within the ÉTS community.

The Addition of Adaboost to The Use of The C4.5 Algorithm to Improve The Accuracy of Classification of Study Interests

Specialization is one of the important things in focusing the student's field of study. At one university that has a faculty of computer science, there is an Informatics Engineering undergraduate study program which is divided into two specializations, namely intelligent systems and software engineering design. At one university that has a faculty of computer science, there is a bachelor's program in Informatics Engineering which is divided into two specializations, namely intelligent systems and software engineering design. students find it difficult to choose one of the specializations in the informatics engineering study program. To overcome these problems, the authors provide solutions in the form of ideas that can recommend students in determining specialization. In this problem, the algorithm that will be used is the C4.5 algorithm based on forward selection plus adaboost. The results of the specialization classification use the selected attributes and iterate over the cross-validation so as to produce the right accuracy. Testing the C4.5 algorithm produces an accuracy of 93.89% and the C4.5 algorithm based on forward selection produces an accuracy of 94.44% while using the C4.5 algorithm based on forward selection with the addition of adaboost produces an accuracy of 94.63%. Based on these tests, it proves that there is an increase in accuracy by adding selection and adaboost features to the C4.5 algorithm.

Employability of Computing Students in the Age of Disruption: A Graduate Tracer Study

This descriptive study traced the employability of graduates in the course program of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Information and Technology, and Bachelor of Science in Game Development from a Philippine Private Higher Education Institution in this age of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the study assesses the relevance of the imparted competencies and skills in the respondents’ jobs. Appropriate protocols were observed during data collection. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to identify and reach graduates from 2016 to 2020. Hence, results show that most of the respondents were male, single, and residents of the National Capital Region, Philippines. In addition, the respondents were able to secure employment from local and international competitive companies within less than three months after their graduation. Thus, the acquired competencies and skills are very relevant to their job. On the one hand, the findings of this study can be used as a basis for the institution and other HEIs to innovate the educational programs, practices, and services relevant to computing courses following guidelines and standards set by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education.

Reflections and perspectives on accessing informal finance and social capital

Learning outcomes After completion of the case study, students will be able to identify and discuss ways in which informal financing of the kind discussed in the case study can provide new or different opportunities for access to alternative financing schemes; assess the role of“social capital” in micro and small business development and to understand and apply the role of social capital for female entrepreneurs in the Global South; critically analyse and reflect on the new role of digital technologies in challenging traditional patriarchal social norms and exclusion and ultimately be able to evaluate the role of digital technologies in terms of its practical implications for female entrepreneurs; and understand the role played by socio-cultural and historical contexts in female-owned/managed businesses within informal sectors of the economy. Furthermore, the students should be able to discuss how these contexts provide opportunities or challenges for actionable/robust/relevant business plans for female entrepreneurs. Case overview/synopsis This case study aims to create a platform for classroom conversations around: context of entrepreneurship in informal economies, challenges of accessing finance, women entrepreneurship, opportunities of digital entrepreneurship and resource acquisition and social capital. Overall, this case study intends to inspire and cultivate additional voices to advance authentic understanding of informal business practices in the financial sector that go beyond traditional formal western settings. This case study is based on a true story relating to the “sou-sou” financing system – an informal financing scheme – originating from West Africa which has been transported to other parts of the world including Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and other parts of Africa. The characters involve Maria, the main protagonist; Eunice, from LAC; and Fidelia from West Africa. With first-hand information from Eunice and Fidelia, Maria learnt about the ideological principles and the offerings of flexibility, trust, mutual benefits and kinship of the sou-sou system and was inspired to integrate digital technologies as a sustainable game changer for accessing microfinance. This case study draws on the contextual understanding of the economy in the Global South as well as the gender-based aspects of entrepreneurship as key aspects of women entrepreneurship and digital entrepreneurship. The sou-sou system is presented as a practical solution to the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the Global South to access finances, and the integration of digital technologies is considered instrumental not only in reinforcing the traditional system but also in transforming the entrepreneurial prospects for these women. Complexity academic level This teaching activity is aimed at postgraduate students in Master of Management and Master of Business Administration programmes. It can also be used for short executive courses, specialised PhD seminars and advanced bachelor programmes. This case study could be taught in the field of entrepreneurship in areas related to technology, gender, women entrepreneurship and financing in the context of the Global South. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

The becoming of online students’ learning landscapes: The art of balancing studies, work, and private life

How do online students manage to balance studies, jobs, and private life – and yet succeed with their studies? Online studies typically attract students in jobs who seek to formalize their competence. Based on qualitative research design, this article sheds light on the academic learning of online students who attend a full-time program. Our focus narrows down to the inaugural class of online students enrolled in a Business and Administration bachelor's program. Specifically, our inquiry delves into the dynamic relationship between the academic progression of these students and their spatial and temporal activities. The article suggests that understanding this polycontextuality by using the metaphor of learning landscapes can help practitioners and students reflect on what influences their academic learning, which can help online students develop self-management skills. Self-management skills are essential in online education, and to help students develop such skills, educators must be aware of the individual learning landscapes of online students when designing online courses. In addition, our findings provide knowledge on how to on-board students in perennial online educational courses.

What denotes progression in laboratory learning? Analysing a pharmaceutical bachelor programme

Background: This article explores learning progression within laboratory education. It aims to delineate the characteristics of learning progression across cognitive, social, and affective learning domains and on a structural programme level. Methods: The study employs a longitudinal approach involving interviews conducted over one academic year to assess progression. It also analyses programme and course descriptions for the third year in the pharmaceutical bachelor’s programme. The empirical material underwent further analysis, focusing on perceptions of learning and utilising the Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome (SOLO) taxonomy. Results: The study shows that both instructors and students perceive learning progression as evolving from structured coursework to more autonomous thesis projects. The synthesis of the analysis indicates that intended learning outcomes represent a progression in five distinct clusters of learning outcomes. The study thereby contributes to understanding the connection between course activities, the intention of a bachelor’s project, and learning progression and prompts questions on how to design for progression in higher education. Conclusion: This study presents empirically derived learning outcomes that demonstrate the progression of laboratory-based learning outcomes, highlighting independence as a crucial element.

Quality of life and quality of education among physiotherapy students in Europe.

The study of physiotherapy is challenging and can affect the students' well-being and quality of life. The aim of this study was to describe and compare factors that could affect well-being among students across Europe. In this descriptive cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire survey, students of bachelor's physiotherapy programs from 23 European faculties, from 8 countries, were interviewed on mental health and stress burden, sleep quality, dietary habits, and physical activity. Although 75% of students rated their quality of life positively and 47% were satisfied with their mental health, 65% showed higher levels of stress and 51% described impaired sleep quality. The minimum physical activity of 150 min weekly was described by 79% of students, within which 67% engaged in strengthening twice a week. Students with a higher stress load/worse psychological health also showed worse sleep quality and lower amount of physical activity, women were significantly worse off. In terms of physical activity and sleep quality, students from Finland and Kosovo achieved the best results, while students from Italy, Greece, and Portugal achieved the worst. Students from Italy indicated the greatest dissatisfaction with the organisation of the study system and communication with teachers, while in Kosovo students rated the communication and study organisation the highest. All students had a problem with adhering to nutritional habits. Students from Italy and Spain, with the lowest body mass indexes and weight averages, were closest to the nutrition recommendations. We demonstrated that physiotherapy students are burdened with stress, suffer from sleep disorders, and do not follow the recommendations regarding nutrition nor physical activity. There are significant differences between universities and countries in some aspects.

Lived experiences of study programme leadership in Norwegian higher education

This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of study programme leadership in development processes in higher education (HE). Study programme leaders are considered crucial in enhancing high-quality study programmes. Using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach, we analysed data from 18 interviews representing study programme leaders from six distinct health profession bachelor programmes at two Norwegian multi-campus institutions. Our findings paint a metaphorical picture of study programme leadership, likening it to leading as in alternating currents where signals flow and change direction. These leaders adeptly navigate an ever-evolving educational landscape filled with horizontal and vertical signals, tensions, and expectations. However, some express a lack of motivation and preparation to enter this field of tension. Our analysis identifies three aspects of study programme leadership: transforming, bridging, and balancing. Through their leadership, study programme leaders serve as vital antennas in development processes, capturing signals, coordinating activities, and fostering connections. Furthermore, they are a pivotal nexus through their transformative and bridging efforts. Balancing various leadership approaches enables them to navigate the changing currents. This study's implications are relevant to the HE field, offering valuable insights into study programme leadership. By emphasising the pivotal role of study programme leaders, it contributes to advancing HE development processes, underscoring the need for heightened awareness and further development of these leadership roles.

An investigation of novel features for predicting student happiness in hybrid learning platforms – An exploration using experiments on trace data

The current study investigated the novel factors influencing informatics students' happiness and satisfaction using statistical and machine learning algorithms. A statistical t–test proved that the students in the younger age group (<=20) who were enrolled in bachelor's programs (B.Sc.) were more confident than those in the older age group (>=21) who had enrolled in master's programs (M.Sc.) that hybrid learning was a secure mode of education during the pandemic (p < 0.05). The happiness of students has had a significant influence on the challenges and prospects for online education that involve safety (p < 0.05). It was determined that factors such as time and cost utilization with management, university initiatives and assistance, and challenging group tasks substantially affected student satisfaction (p < 0.05). The paper's findings recommended some vital issues such as Internet disconnection during the lesson, Less support during technical glitches or errors, Less competitive environment, Possibility of cheating in exams due to lack of surveillance, Less focused and interactive during hybrid learning, important assistance and support, and safety modes for higher educational institutions during a pandemic. Using a maximum accuracy of 88%, Random Forest (RF) outperformed Logistic Regression (LR), Xtream Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and other classifiers to predict student happiness based on hybrid learning features. The RF algorithm's superior performance was validated and confirmed by all performance metrics, such as F1-score, precision, recall, and specificity.

Perceptions/opinions about the formation of the bachelor program in exercise and sports science by students aimed at the new professional profile of the basic kinesiologist

PurposeIn Italy, the training of sports workers was carried out through national sports federations (NSF), sports promotion bodies (SPB) and associated disciplines (AD) since there were no laws regarding specific professional figures on a par with other labor sectors. New and recent legislation stipulates that specific training is the responsibility of universities, with the 3-year bachelor's degree program in Exercise and Sports Science (L22) for the cultural and scientific profiling of the new professional figure of the basic kinesiologist. The study measures the perceptions and opinions that students have with respect to the training in their studies and also analyze any gaps in terms of knowledge and skills to be applied in the professional field.MethodsA questionnaire was administered to 30 students consisting of 15 questions divided into three sections: Sect. 1 of sample identification, Sect. 2 assessing perceptions on knowledge acquired, and Sect. 3 assessing perceptions on skills learned. A chi-square (χ2) analysis was performed to check for significant differences.ResultsThe results showed a difference of opinion. Although 84.2% of the sample thought highly of the training offered, discordant data emerged on the knowledge and skills taught within the courses of study. Although this high percentage is convinced and entrusts their training to the university pathway, it is found that 19% have qualifications issued by NSF, 4.8% by other and 1.6% by SPB. In addition there is significance P = .001 demonstrating liking with respect to the training received.ConclusionThe basic kinesiologist is a key figure within sports organizations, and university training is also considered positive by those trained by NSF, SPB, and AD.

The predictive validity of cognitive ability and personality tests toward police on-the-job training

This study investigates the predictive validity of psychometric tests included in the Norwegian Police University College selection process for 106 accepted trainees. Predictor variables were from the Scales (lst, verbal admin, lt-no) cognitive ability tests and the Shapes (basic) personality test, distributed by the contractor Aon Assessment Norway AS (formerly cut-e). The criterion variable was from the on-the-job training phase of the police bachelor program, in which instructors rated trainees’ work behaviors two years after initial selection. The results revealed a lack of predictive validity, as witnessed in both correlational analysis and a regression approach controlling for police academy performance. Contrary to expectations, cognitive ability test scores negatively predicted trainee work behaviors in the regression model. These results are compared with those of other relevant studies and are evaluated in light of this study's main strengths and weaknesses. The results of this study deserve an exploratory interpretation, given the limited sample size and a lack of hitherto peer-reviewed psychometric documentation for the tests. This study substantiates the need for further research with respect to the use of psychometric tests in law enforcement selection, particularly contractor-distributed tests, which are rarely studied.

Stakeholders’ Perceptions on EFL Teacher Professionalism: A Phenomenological Study at a Bachelor Programme in Nepal

Teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) in the twenty-first century has witnessed several changes, which have sparked tremendous changes in the teachers’ standpoints and the conceptualizations of professionalism. In this context, this study explored the stakeholders’ perceptions of EFL teacher professionalism. For this, the phenomenological research design was adopted. The study site was a Bachelor's Programme on a community campus in Nepal. The informants comprised the real stakeholders of the programme that comprised three EFL teachers, nine students, two administrators, and one member of the campus management committee. To collect the informants’ lived experiences, the researcher used an unstructured interview in a naturalistic setting. The results revealed that EFL teachers’ professionalism can be measured by their roles and skills; teacher-student relationships; and teachers as administrators and change agents. This implies that EFL teachers, like the teachers of other subjects, should be loyal, committed, accountable, and responsible as the success or failure of the autonomous programmes mainly depends on the teachers.