University Administrators Research Articles

Factors that Influence Shared E-Scooter Usage Intentions on University Campus

In response to increasing environmental awareness, universities have introduced shared e-scooters on campuses for staff and students. Despite these efforts, usage remains low, indicating a disparity. This study investigates factors influencing Kasetsart University (Bangkok, Thailand) students' intentions to use shared e-scooters. Using a self-administered Likert-scale survey, data was gathered from 424 qualified respondents. Multiple regression analysis was performed on 424 respondents’ representative of the population. Six factors were identified: social norms, environmental concerns, infrastructure quality, perceived convenience, safety concerns, and cost. Of these, environmental concerns and cost had no significant impact on students' intentions to use shared e-scooters at universities. This study allows stakeholders, including the student council board, e-scooter supplier firms, and university administration, to comprehend the demands of students using the e-scooters and can formulate suitable policies for environmentally friendly on-campus student mobility. Furthermore, those involved can boost e-scooter adoption to financially justify the continued investment by the university. However, it is important to note that this study is constrained by its exclusive focus on student perspectives. To address this limitation and achieve a more comprehensive understanding, future research should consider integrating qualitative methods alongside quantitative approaches, thereby enriching policy and service development for e-scooter adoption. Keyword: intention to use; shared e-scooter; theory of planned behavior

Back to the Future: Placing the Florida Decision in Historical Context

In January 2024, Florida’s Board of Education eliminated the sociology course, ‘Principles of Sociology’ as one of its core requirements for obtaining a general social science education in its college and university system. Florida’s Commissioner of Education, Manny Diaz, led the charge, claiming that sociology has been ‘hijacked by left wing activists’ and is a purveyor of ‘woke ideology’. Some within the profession would agree with Diaz, and certainly, many university administrators would as well. Of course, there are varying representations of sociology, and what Diaz and others are targeting is critical sociology and its commitment to the interrogation of power. However, these political dynamics are not new. The history of critical sociology has reflected a similar pattern that it is being played out currently. The ebbs and flows of critical sociology’s place within the discipline, the state and profession’s suppression of it, its resurgence linked to external social and political forces, and its precarious existence within the university have been true of critical sociology since its origins. This paper offers a historical context for better understanding the current attack on the field of sociology and raises the question, what should critical sociologists do about it?

Research on the Informatization Construction of University Administration in the Era of Internet+

Based on the coming trend of the "Internet+" era, the continuous development of information technology has changed the administrative management mode of colleges and universities to a large extent, and can also promote the overall improvement of the quality of college management. However, from the current development trend, there are still some problems during the construction of administrative management informatization in universities, such as urgent improvement of infrastructure, outdated innovation and development of information technology, inadequate understanding of administrative management informatization, and loopholes in network informatization construction systems, which hinder the pace of informatization construction. The article analyzes these issues and proposes relevant strategies based on them.

Impact of Stress on the Academic Performance of University Students

The study was made to explore the impact of stress on university students’ academic performance. The study was designed as a descriptive quantitative research paradigm. A self-designed Likert scale questionnaire was used for the study. The population of study comprised all university students of district Lahore. 300 students were selected by convenient sampling techniques. Data was analyzed using frequency distribution, t-test, and ANOVA. The findings of the study revealed that the personal-family lives of students were the most influencing factor that caused stress among them, followed by educational, and environmental factors respectively. Gender was found to have an insignificant association with stress. It was recommended that the parents, teachers, and university administrations should remain in good liaison for all-around personality development and to adopt stress observing and coping plans accordingly. Students need to adopt a healthy lifestyle and balance between working and relaxing hours.

Language Choice and attitudes in Public Institutions: The case of the University of Maroua

This study sets out to investigate on language choice and attitudes in public institutions. The study intends to scrutinize the factors that account for the language choice made by some language users at the University of Maroua, i.e., to choose any other languages different from the two official languages. To do this, a random sampling of 250 participants was used. The instrument used is a questionnaire with a purely sociolinguistic undertone. Spolsky’s (2009) Language Management and Fishman’s (1972) Domain Analysis backed up the study as frames. At the end of the analyses, it has been shown that, students, the teaching staff (involving some university Administrators) and the support staff have some positive and negative attitudes following the language choices made in relation with where the communication takes place as well as the language situations such as enabling mutual intelligibility, social inclusion/exclusion, intimacy and showing identity, solidarity and work coordination.

Relationship Between Mental Health Stigma, Perceived Discrimination, and Social Support: Focusing on Racial Groups and COVID-19

ABSTRACT An investigation was conducted into the relationship between stigma, perceived discrimination, and social support among college students. First, levels of these variables were assessed across different racial groups and compared for differences before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), we examined racial disparities in these variables and identified variations in the levels of self-stigma, public stigma, perceived discrimination, and social support among diverse racial groups. Notably, Asian/Asian American college students reported a higher level of public stigma compared to their African American/Black, White, and Hispanic/Latinx peers. In addition, our findings indicated that college students exhibited a lower level of self-stigma and a higher level of perceived discrimination following the onset of the pandemic. No interaction effect was observed. We also discussed the implications of these findings for college counseling professionals and administrators.

Tobacco-free university campus policies: A systematic review

Objective: This systematic review aims to provide an update of the scientific evidence regarding tobacco-free/smoke-free campus policies (TFC/SFC), using a complex interventions approach. Participants/methods: We searched the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases using a combination of ‘tobacco-free’ or ‘smoke-free’, ‘campus’, ‘university or college’ and ‘policy’ search terms on all indexed articles published up until June 2023. Studies were included if they presented research on pre-/post-implementation of TFC/SFC or policy components. Two coders extracted and synthesized the data and assessed the risk of bias. Results: A total of 113 studies were included, reporting data from 2005 to 2023 across 17 countries. The data was categorized into three of the four phases of the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework, i.e. “feasibility (n=24), “implementation” (n=34), and “evaluation” (n=69). This review finds that a policy draft, communication, enforcement strategies, and cessation services are critical policy components. TCF/SFC are effective for reducing tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, but they also increase vaping. Little research has investigated the effect of TFC/SFC on smokeless tobacco use. Conclusion: This review addresses remaining uncertainties in evidence on the TFC/SFC implementation process. We go on to provide a series of recommendations for university administrators.

Role of leadership styles in connecting quality culture and university performance: a higher education perspective from Saudi Arabia

PurposeThis study examines the influence of quality culture (QC) on university performance (UP) within the higher education (HE) context of Saudi Arabia, exploring the mediating roles of transformational (TFL) and transactional leadership (TNL) styles.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilizes a cross-sectional survey approach, collecting data through online surveys from administrators representing public and private universities in Saudi Arabia. Data analysis is conducted using PLS-SEM.FindingsThe findings indicate that QC exerts a notable direct influence on UP, along with an indirect effect mediated by TFL and TNL. Additionally, the influences of TFL and TNL on UP are statistically significant. However, the effect of TNL on UP and its role as a mediator in the QC-UP relationship demonstrate partial significance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study enriches the theoretical comprehension of quality assurance in HE by incorporating QC as a dynamic capability within Dynamic Capability Theory and TL and TFL as valuable resources within Resource-Based View theory. However, limitations such as a cross-sectional design and reliance on input solely from university administrators must be acknowledged.Practical implicationsThe study offers practical insights for policymakers, administrators, and quality managers, emphasizing the economic benefits of robust QC in universities. It highlights QC's impact on policy, curriculum development, and public trust, advocating tailored strategies to improve efficiency and collaboration, crucial for overcoming bureaucratic barriers, especially in public universities.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in introducing TFL and TNL as mediators between QC and UP within a university setting.

Psychosocial stress and its consequences among modern university students: the megalopolis factor

BACKGROUND: Students, who comprise a significant proportion of society, are a vulnerable group that often experiences high levels of stress, affecting their psychological well-being. At the same time, students’ stress has to be assessed comprehensively, taking into account various factors such as living conditions and academic demands, AIM: To assess the psychosocial stress and psychological well-being of students, taking into account the characteristics of the university and the urban environment, whether it is a megalopolis or a regional center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students from St. Petersburg State University (SPbSU) and Belgorod State University (BSU) using an online survey method with a snowball sampling technology. The survey questionnaire aimed to gather both qualitative and quantitative data on key stressors, indicators of psychosocial maladaptation and mental health issues using the DASS-21 scale. The collected data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics v. 27. RESULTS: Students at SPbSU exhibited more pronounced signs of psychological distress, such as anxiety, stress, depression, loneliness, fatigue, and a need for psychological assistance. They also, reported facing challenges in in their daily lives, including issues with nutrition and transportation. Additionally, they were more likely to use nonproductive coping mechanisms, such as excessive use of social media and engaging in addictive behaviors. On the other hand, the students at BSU demonstrated a closer and more trusting relationship with their parents, as well as and higher level of financial dependence on their families. However, as for main indicators of academic stress, particularly in relation to the use of online technologies during the pandemic, there were no significant differences between the students of both universities. CONCLUSION: The influence of living in a megalopolis is likely to be the primary factor contributing to the observed disparities in psychosocial maladaptation among the surveyed student populations. More attention should be paid to the adaptation of students to life in large cities, with a focus on support from families and university administrations.

Do higher education institutions contribute to countries’ SDG progress: Evidence from university rankings

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become a universal call to action over the past few years and a basis for assessing the progress of sustainable development of countries and organizations. This paper aims to identify the relationship between the sustainable development activities of universities in different regions of the world, as reflected in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (THE IR), and the progress towards achieving SDGs of the countries in which these universities operate. The research methods were correlation analysis and robust regression tools, and parametric and non-parametric methods of variance analysis. The information base was the results of annual reports based on the THE IR and Sustainable Development Reports for 2017–2021. The results confirm the existence of directly proportional close correlations between the variables, while the regression analysis confirmed that a one-unit increase in the overall THE IR ranking score leads to a corresponding increase in the overall progress of countries in achieving SDGs (on average by 0.2-0.3 units) and SDGs 3, 8, 11, 16 in particular. It was also found that universities play a key role in achieving different SDGs in various regions. In Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and North Africa, universities are critical for SDG 17 achieving. In OECD countries, universities contribute most to SDG 3. Examples of the best practices that can be used as a guide for university administrations that are at the beginning of developing sustainable development policies are also given. Funding Inna Makarenko gratefully acknowledges support from the Jean Monet module project “Transparency. Accountability. Responsibility. Governance. Europe. Trust. Sustainability” financed by the Erasmus+ program (101085395 – TARGETS – ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEI-TCH-RSCH).

A Systematic Review of Coaching Skills Among Administrators in Universities

This systematic review examines the coaching skills of university administrators and their impact on faculty job satisfaction. The primary goal of the study is to identify crucial coaching skills, examine their impact on job satisfaction, and emphasize the most successful practices for improving coaching effectiveness. The main research problem aims to gain a thorough grasp of coaching dynamics in higher education situations. The study utilizes a methodical approach of reviewing existing literature, adhering to the PRISMA principles. It examines a total of 38 papers published between 2004 and 2024. Effective communication is the most researched skill, according to key findings; goal setting, emotional intelligence, feedback mechanisms, and conflict resolution follow accordingly. Theoretical implications are consistent with Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory and Transformational Leadership Theory, which prioritize interpersonal relationships, recognition, responsibility, and feedback as key factors in promoting job satisfaction. The practical implications highlight the worldwide significance of coaching skills and the necessity of ongoing professional development for administrators. The study's significance is centered on providing information that can guide decision-making and actions in institutions around the world, promoting a culture of working together, creativity, and organizational efficiency.

Availability and Utilization of ICT Facilities in Teaching and Learning of Agricultural Sciences at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania

This study examined the availability and utilization of ICT facilities in teaching and learning of agricultural sciences at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). The study adopted a descriptive survey design and the population of the study comprised of 65 instructors from the College of Agriculture (CoA), 4 Heads of Department and the Head of ICT services at the university. A list of instructors with a minimum of ten or more years in teaching from the CoA was used to develop a sampling frame and all research respondents were purposively selected. The interview schedule and questionnaire with a reliability of 0.89 were employed as means of data collection. Quantitative data was analyzed descriptively while qualitative data were analyzed based on themes. The study revealed that most of the ICT facilities were found to be available at the university but they were inadequate to accommodate the number of instructors present at the respective departments. The study further revealed that the extent of utilization was moderate with some of the ICT facilities being over utilized while others were being underutilized. Therefore, it is recommended that the university administration should improve the ICT infrastructure at the departmental level, offer professional development programs that focus on enhancing instructors' technological proficiency and advocate for sufficient resource allocation at both the university and departmental levels to meet the growing demands of instructors and students.

EXPLORING ENTREPRENEURIAL UNIVERSITIES: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS IN THE BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT FIELDS

The following paper features a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the available literature concerning entrepreneurial universities in the business and management fields. Through scientific databases of Web of Science, 511 papers were ensured and systematically compiled using Bibliometrix-an RStudio package for performance analytics and Science Mapping. It reveals the history of contributing authors, institutions, themes, and geographic focus of articles, published in the field of entrepreneurial universities. The findings show that the topic in question has been gaining more and more attention in recent decades and more publications have been increasingly produced. It revealed renowned writers including Henry Etzkowitz, Loet Leydesdorff, David Audretsch, and distinguished universities including Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Cambridge. Qualitative content analysis identifies several broad research themes, such as university business relations, technology transfer and commercialization, entrepreneurship teaching, and policy. In addition, they emphasize the global significance of entrepreneurial universities based on the contributions of researchers and institutions from around the world. As demonstrated by the United States and Europe being the most productive and relevant regions, it is also imperative that the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa also offer impressive entrepreneurial output contributing to innovation and economic growth in various geographical environments. Consequently, the results of this study hold important implications for policymakers, educators, and practice in the areas of higher education and entrepreneurship. Policy makers can employ them to formulate better policies and frameworks that will be helpful for entrepreneurial universities and the development of innovation regimes. They can utilise the findings to enhance the curriculum and the programs which could foster the entrepreneurial disposition and skills among students. The study findings will be useful to practitioners such as university administrators and leaders from other sectors to understand and address the drivers of entrepreneurship and technology transfer. In sum, this research serves to extend the body of knowledge and guide policy/ practice in the area of entrepreneurial universities.

Modalities of Remote Instruction of French as a Foreign Language among Selected Universities in Western Kenya

This study dealt with modalities of remote instruction of French as a Foreign Language in selected universities in Western Kenya, using the descriptive research designs. The analysis of data involved the descriptive and the thematic approaches. The study involved three universities purposively selected since they are the only ones that offered French as a foreign language in Western Kenya. The collection of data took place through a questionnaire and key informant interviews. Based on the findings, the study concludes that the availability of the teaching and learning equipment for remote teaching of FFL is critically low. Likewise, there was limited educators’ use of the remote teaching approach, which reduced the students’ interactivity and hindered timely feedback. Much as the majority of educators possessed high confidence in the use of technology, their use of technology was low due to limited ability to use technology. The study recommends that the university administration invest in purchasing technological equipment for the universities to realize effective teaching and learning. There is a need to provide workshops for educators to grasp the essence of the use of technology toward effective learning. There is also a need to universities to invest in ICT workshops and courses that can support FFL virtual instruction.

The Influence of Online Learning Components on Academic Motivation in China Vocational Training Programs: The Mediating Role of Student Engagement

The correlation between management leadership and faculty job satisfaction plays a vital role in determining an organization's performance and the well-being of teachers in the ever-changing field of higher education. This study examines the distinct aspects of management leadership, including vision and strategic orientation, decision-making and problem-solving abilities, coaching and development, and ethical leadership, and their influence on faculty job satisfaction in public universities located in Sichuan province, China. The study utilized a quantitative approach to analyze survey data from faculty members in order to investigate the extent of managerial leadership practices and their impact on faculty job satisfaction. The results demonstrated a significant and positive correlation between management leadership practices and faculty members' satisfaction in their jobs. This emphasizes the crucial role of effective leadership in establishing a work environment that is conducive to productivity and contentment. Important aspects of management leadership, such as having a clear vision and strategic direction, transparent decision-making procedures, helpful coaching and development programs, and ethical behavior, are found to impact faculty's impression of job satisfaction significantly. Administrators prioritizing these qualities are more likely to cultivate a favorable organizational culture, increase faculty involvement, and advance overall institutional success. The study's conclusions pertain to strategic interventions and leadership development programs specifically designed to improve management leadership practices. Public university administrators can cultivate a climate that supports faculty well-being, professional development, and academic performance by investing in leadership training, encouraging open communication, and establishing collaborative decision-making methods. This study adds to the current discussion on effective leadership in higher education and provides practical insights for public university administrators aiming to improve leadership practices and increase faculty job satisfaction in Sichuan province and different parts of the world.

Significance Performance Analysis On The Quality Of University Administrative Services

Significance Performance Analysis On The Quality Of University Administrative Services

The Impact of Managerial Leadership on Faculty Job Satisfaction in Chinese Public Universities

The correlation between management leadership and faculty job satisfaction plays a vital role in determining an organization's performance and the well-being of teachers in the ever-changing field of higher education. This study examines the distinct aspects of management leadership, including vision and strategic orientation, decision-making and problem-solving abilities, coaching and development, and ethical leadership, and their influence on faculty job satisfaction in public universities located in Sichuan province, China. The study utilized a quantitative approach to analyze survey data from faculty members in order to investigate the extent of managerial leadership practices and their impact on faculty job satisfaction. The results demonstrated a significant and positive correlation between management leadership practices and faculty members' satisfaction in their jobs. This emphasizes the crucial role of effective leadership in establishing a work environment that is conducive to productivity and contentment. Important aspects of management leadership, such as having a clear vision and strategic direction, transparent decision-making procedures, helpful coaching and development programs, and ethical behavior, are found to impact faculty's impression of job satisfaction significantly. Administrators prioritizing these qualities are more likely to cultivate a favorable organizational culture, increase faculty involvement, and advance overall institutional success. The study's conclusions pertain to strategic interventions and leadership development programs specifically designed to improve management leadership practices. Public university administrators can cultivate a climate that supports faculty well-being, professional development, and academic performance by investing in leadership training, encouraging open communication, and establishing collaborative decision-making methods. This study adds to the current discussion on effective leadership in higher education and provides practical insights for public university administrators aiming to improve leadership practices and increase faculty job satisfaction in Sichuan province and different parts of the world.

Features of building communication with international students using modern online media

This article explores the influence of online media on the process of adaptation of foreign students in educational institutions. The study was carried out in relation to the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and some other universities of the Russian Federation that actively use international educational and academic exchange. The authors analyze the main barriers students face when transitioning to a new learning environment, such as cultural, linguistic and academic differences. The authors of the article discuss the role of online media in overcoming these barriers, emphasizing their importance in the process of exchanging information, developing communication skills in a foreign language, and creating trusting relationships. The contribution of online media to the integration of different cultures and traditions is considered, which contributes to the formation of cultural understanding, tolerance and respect for the diversity of worldviews in the educational environment. An analysis is made of how students use online resources to obtain additional information, develop relevant skills and deepen their knowledge, as well as an analysis of existing research on the topic of adaptation of foreign students and the role of online media in education. In addition, the article covers the following subtopics. Features of collecting data on the experience of foreign students and their use of online media. Conducting interviews with foreign students, teachers, and university administrations to obtain high-quality information about adaptation problems and the role of perception of Internet resources and their impact on the adaptation process. The novelty of this study lies in the following characteristics of the work performed. Focuses were made on a specific university or region. The specifics of different groups of students were taken into account. The analysis was carried out taking into account how online media is used by students from different countries, with different language levels, different specialties, etc. The influence of specific types of online media was studied: for example, social networks, educational platforms, chatbots, specialized applications for international students. The analysis of the influence of online media was explicit on various aspects of adaptation through such sections as academic performance, psychological well-being, social integration, cultural adaptation and others. The project ends with a presentation of recommendations developed by the authors of the article on the use of online media to increase the effectiveness of adaptation of foreign students in other countries or universities around the world.

The Need to Practice What We Teach: Revisiting the Sticky Floor Effect in Five Southern U.S. States’ Public Universities

Administrative appointments throughout higher education are sought after, highly coveted positions that exhibit power and authority for many as they become leaders. Historically, males have held a majority of these positions. Johnson, Long, and Faught (2014) found “a clear discrepancy exists” (p. 29). This study revisits the research of Johnson, Long, and Faught in examining the gender composition of public university administrators, following the chain of command from the colleges of business upwards, in five southern U.S. states. As in the original research, this study investigates the presence and prevalence of the sticky floor effect and the perceived fair employment practices of universities in applying diversity concepts within their institutions 11 years after the initial study.

Understanding the salary gap between academic faculty and top administrators: a New Public Management perspective

ABSTRACT Do university administrators receive significantly higher remuneration than faculty members? Can the adoption of New Public Management (NPM) principles in higher education governance contribute to a more equitable allocation of resources? This study aims to address these questions by examining a sample of Russian public universities from 2018–2021. The analysis focuses on the salary gap between university administrators, specifically rectors and vice-rectors, and faculty members. The study explores both institutional and leader-related factors that contribute to this salary gap. While NPM proposes the implementation of incentive contracts and control mechanisms to enhance organisational performance, the findings indicate that the salary gap is more pronounced in research-oriented universities. These results suggest that top-level managers are rewarded for the exceptional performance of faculty members, which contributes to an increasing income disparity that may adversely affect perceptions of fairness within higher education organisations.