Higher Education Context Research Articles

Role of middle managers in dealing with hierarchy and network logics: exploration in the context of Sino-Foreign Cooperative University.

While organizations tend to introduce network mechanism to activate the potential of members in the hierarchical dominated context, it is not clear how individual members deal with the complexity caused by two logics of hierarchy and network. To address this gap, this study focuses on the role of middle managers in collaborating with others in the multiple-logic complexity. We identify three types of collaboration scenarios, top-down, bottom-up, and horizontal, through 27 semi-structured interviews within a Sino-Foreign Cooperative University from 2021 to 2023. Guided by the grounded theory approach, we conceptualize the composite role of middle managers as the translucent hand of explicit and implicit connections, which help us to interpret middle managers' tangibly and intangibly impact under a hybrid organization context. The empirical results also reveal that the boundary perception of authority and responsibility as an important factor determines middle managers' awareness of power involvement in cooperation. The findings extend the understanding of middle managers in network organizations in the higher education context and provide suggestions for the dynamic role of middle managers and hybrid university management in the information age.

Evaluating generative AI integration in Saudi Arabian education: a mixed-methods study.

Incorporating generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in education has become crucial in contemporary educational environments. This research article thoroughly investigates the ramifications of implementing GAI in the higher education context of Saudi Arabia, employing a blend of quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Survey-based quantitative data reveals a noteworthy correlation between educators' awareness of GAI and the frequency of its application. Notably, around half of the surveyed educators are at stages characterized by understanding and familiarity with GAI integration, indicating a tangible readiness for its adoption. Moreover, the study's quantitative findings underscore the perceived value and ease associated with integrating GAI, thus reinforcing the assumption that educators are motivated and inclined to integrate GAI tools like ChatGPT into their teaching methodologies. In addition to the quantitative analysis, qualitative insights from in-depth interviews with educators unveil a rich tapestry of perspectives. The qualitative data emphasizes GAI's role as a catalyst for collaborative learning, contributing to professional development, and fostering innovative teaching practices.

Academic Entrepreneurship Ecosystems: Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Directions

AbstractResearch on the entrepreneurship ecosystem, based on different data and scales, limits the acceptance of a single definition. This conceptual limitation and the still recent research and higher education institutions have come to be seen as ecosystems associated with entrepreneurship. The aim of this study is to contribute to the field of knowledge, identify current and emerging thematic areas and trends and reveal the scientific roots of research on entrepreneurial ecosystems and their relationship with higher education institutions. A bibliometric analysis was developed to analyse a final sample of 110 articles published between 2011 and 2022. In order to develop the analysis, Bibliometrix R-Tool was used and the metadata of two databases (Web of Science and Scopus) was retrieved and merged. The software creates a reference co-citation’s map, which allowed emphasize the state of the art and indicate three thematic clusters: (i) the importance of the higher education context for the entrepreneurial ecosystem, (ii) the evolution and challenges of entrepreneurship education and (iii) academic entrepreneurship ecosystems. The paper concludes by suggesting future research focused on the importance of building an integrated approach to entrepreneurial ecosystems and higher education institutions on a context regional scale.

Academic managers’ roles and challenges in migrating to interim online teaching: a higher education context

ABSTRACT Despite the important roles that academic managers play and the growing body of literature on online learning, research on the organisational level, such as management, remains underexplored, particularly within the context of interim online teaching. Therefore, our study aimed to fill this gap by examining academic managers’ key roles and the challenges they experienced in migrating to interim online teaching. This case study involved eight academic managers from private and public higher education institutions in the Philippines, who were selected through purposive sampling. Using semi-structured interviews, the findings indicated that their roles and challenges across the six leadership functions intensified and expanded during the transition to interim online teaching. It is further revealed that these challenges and roles were shaped not only by individual and institutional factors, such as university culture and structure, technological resources, and institutional policies, but also by larger contextual factors, such as national policies, economic conditions, and the country's technological readiness. Implications for management development, policy-making, and future research are discussed.

Continuing to Talanoa: storytelling dialogues for youth engagement in climate action and justice

This article recounts a classroom application of a dialogue, story-telling process used at COPs beginning in 2017. In that year, the Fijian President of the United Nations climate summit, COP23 in Bonn, proposed the entire assembly use his nation’s Talanoa Dialogue process for building ambition for national commitments to the Paris Agreement. When youth, women’s and Indigenous voices were heard in unprecedented ways, many committed to continuing the practice. A florescence of the Asian-Pacific-inspired, conflict-resolution storytelling and dialogue practice ensued, with some continuing for years afterward. This paper recounts eight rounds of varied Talanoa Dialogues employed in higher education contexts. Purposes ranged from internal team-building, to forging community partnerships, to serving as vehicles for youth representation in international contexts like climate COPs. All dialogues nonetheless prioritized listening, recording, and representation through ethnographic, anthropological lenses. These experiences support recommendations to (1) Create chances for youth to listen empathetically to the stories of others in ways attentive to varied national, ethnic and other intersectional (e.g. gendered, class-based) social locations, expanding their awareness and linking their affective and intellectual selves; (2) Make opportunities for youth to voice their own stories and perspectives on climate challenges and work, considering their developmental trajectories in intergenerational contexts, while emphasizing the need to “scale” from individual through global dimensions; (3) Explore the implications of borrowing from exogenous cultural traditions, considering what factors may render this relatively legitimate, as opposed to appropriative. I explore particularities of the cultural origins of Talanoa Dialogues, which mediate hierarchy and egalitarianism, arguing that this function is especially apt for navigating conundrums of youth leadership and so-called “youth-washing.”

STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE AND MOTIVATION AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION

This study delves into the key factors influencing performance effectiveness and motivation among academic staff in higher education. A comprehensive analysis was carried out with a primary focus on the role of effective management strategies including, fostering innovation and creativity, recognizing efforts, awarding impressive titles, ensuring regular salary payments and compensations, providing opportunities for professional development, availing instructional resources, and improving institutional facilities. The research employed a quantitative methodology, with data collected through surveys from a significant number of academic staff members. The findings underline the high relevance of these strategies in enhancing staff performance and motivation. Major insights revealed that a combination of professional recognition, financial incentives, growth opportunities, quality resources, and well-equipped working environments play a crucial role in academic staff's effectiveness. This study's outcomes propose invaluable guidelines for university managers and policymakers, aiming at creating conducive environments that foster academic excellence. The research also advocates for further in-depth studies examining these factors in different higher education contexts to enrich the understanding and implementation of effective motivational strategies.

Cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the online learning climate scale for Chilean university students.

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed university teaching and learning formats, leading to a significant increase in online learning. Consequently, the crisis has facilitated the potential development of this educational modality. However, researchers need adapted and validated instruments to assess the online learning climate in universities. This study aimed to adapt and psychometrically validate the Online Learning Climate Scale (OLCS) for Chilean university students. Quantitative research was conducted with a non-experimental and cross-sectional, design executed in two phases: the first was oriented to the cultural adaptation of the instrument, and the second was focused on analyzing its psychometric properties in a sample of 491 university students. A translated and culturally adapted version was obtained, composed of 15 items distributed in a factorial structure composed of four dimensions that showed excellent adjustment to the data [χ2 (84) = 189.628; p < 0.001; CFI = 0.979; TLI = 0.973; RMSEA = 0.051 (IC90% 0.044-0.059); SRMR = 0.028]; internal consistency was estimated through Cronbach's alpha and ranged between 0.892 and 0.955, and strict invariance between men and women was achieved. The Online Learning Climate Scale (OLCS) is a valid and reliable measure for measuring the online learning climate within the Chilean higher education context so that it can be used both in research and in monitoring management programs in educational environments.

Embracing diversity under isolation and cease-fire: a poststructuralist look at administrators’ policy on multilingualism

Although multilingualism in higher education context continues to garner increasing scholarly interest, research remains scarce on school administrators’ policies on multilingualism. To the best of our knowledge, this study constitutes one of the very few attempts to tackle this issue in higher education context and the first of its kind to pursue such endeavour in North Cyprus setting. This study seeks to investigate, through a post-structuralist perspective, the perceptions and policies of multilingualism by the director and assistant directors of an English preparatory school in a North Cyprus university which has flourished as a haven for international education. The study combines a multiplicity of data through semi-structured interviews and informal chats to provide a richer insight into the multifaceted case being investigated. The findings demonstrate that administrators regard multilingualism as a seal of internationalism and educational quality. They remain hesitant and even mostly sceptical, however, about whether translingual practice could offer any meaningful contribution to language learning processes. Although poststructuralist understanding considers truth and identity to be decentred and forever changing, and despite the scope of our study being limited to one particular institution only, our findings promise great potential for inspiring reflection and research in other universities in North Cyprus and elsewhere, which similarly aspire to international competition in higher education.

Political sensitivity and autoethnography: a case on negotiating the personal political front

PurposeThe paper introduces the autoethnography as a healing and everyday resistance strategy for marginalized voices. The focus is to deliver the author’s own reflections on some key moments and experiences to stimulate the discussion on autoethnography as a critical instrument channeling one’s reflexivity in the higher education context.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on a case study of Chinese academic professionals to inspire the discussion on the research and practical values of autoethnography. It also provides conceptual reflections on the political meaning and functions of autoethnography.FindingsThe paper highlights two key aspects of autoethnography in the higher education context. Firstly, it emphasizes the importance of autoethnography in navigating the personal political front. Secondly, it promotes the integration of autoethnography into the ordinary lives of overseas Chinese academic professionals for daily healing and resistance.Originality/valueThe paper explores political sensitivity as an important dimension of workplace ethnography. Recognizing political sensitivity avows autoethnography a political act and a research framework, through which the (auto)ethnographer examines his or her own principles for negotiating justice and interpreting the ownership of personal identity against the influx of politically-charged opinions from the surrounding.

STATION ROTATION MODEL OF BLENDED LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION

The purpose of the article is to empirically test the effectiveness of the model of teaching with rotating stations in a mixed format on the basis of a survey conducted among teachers of higher education institutions in Ukraine. The study uses a mixed-methodology approach to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 65 teachers during the first semester of the 2023-2024 academic year. The main instruments are questionnaires and interviews among teachers who have used the Station Rotation Model. The responses were processed using descriptive statistics and comparative analysis to identify any significant differences in the results. The results emphasise the need for careful selection of a platform for distance learning and the acquisition of skills in creating e-resources. The results of the study provide practical recommendations for the implementation of the model in the Ukrainian higher education context. This is important for Ukrainian higher education institutions looking for optimal methods of blended learning. The findings of the study highlight the positive attitude of teachers to the proposed model, which promotes the individualisation of learning and development of digital competence. However, implementation requires additional time and advanced digital skills of teachers. The average score of the model's effectiveness (approximately 4.046) and the percentage distribution in scores 4 (47.69%) and 5 (30.77%) indicate a high level of acceptance of this approach by modern teachers. The recommendations are based on the individual experience of teachers, indicating the variability in the choice of the optimal means of communication with students. The study contributes to the understanding of the effectiveness of the blended learning model and will help to optimise its wider implementation.

The Making of the Campus Namescape: A Comparison of University Naming Policies in Canada and the United States

The naming of places on university campuses plays an important role in shaping the cultural landscapes and geographies of higher education institutions. In recent years, there have been contentious debates over place renaming at colleges and universities in North America and around the world, which has drawn increasing attention to the politics of toponymic practices in higher education contexts. The decision-making process involved in place naming on a university’s campus is generally informed by the institution’s naming policy and implemented by a university naming committee, yet there is very little scholarship on university naming policy frameworks, procedures, and practices. In this article, we provide a systematic and comparative analysis of university naming policies in Canada and the United States. Drawing on data from more than 2,000 colleges and universities across North America, we assess the level of representation that faculty and students have on university naming committees, institutional commitments to public engagement in the naming process, the value of diversity, and restrictions on corporate naming rights agreements. We conclude that colleges and universities should develop more inclusive and equitable naming policy frameworks to ensure that campus namescapes live up to the ideals of higher education institutions in the twenty-first century.

A streamlined survey instrument to moderate university students' grades for group projects

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to generate a streamlined, transparent and effective instrument to fairly measure the contribution made by each student to a group project within a higher education context. The primary aim is to moderate the grades of underperforming students at the end of the project. There is a secondary benefit in alerting underperforming students to raise their contribution mid-task or face a potentially reduced grade at the final stage.Design/methodology/approachThe development of this multi-dimensional instrument is guided by findings from previous research. The quest is to minimise the instructor's administrative work load in applying a moderation-only instrument that is open-source and available at no cost. Based on the literature, the survey instrument seeks to apply a peer-based, equitable and transparent evaluation of each member's contribution to a group task. The survey is applied at mid-task and again at end-task in order to afford underperformers the opportunity to address contribution deficits during the final phase of the project.FindingsThe instrument, called TANDEM©, offers a transparent, streamlined, equitable, confidential and practical measure of each student's contribution to a graded group task. Students whose end-task contribution falls below the group average rating receive a proportional reduction in their personal grade. Additionally, the end-task moderation instrument captures a single-item holistic measure of relative contribution that may, in the future, serve as a surrogate for the multi-dimensional measures currently in place.Research limitations/implicationsTANDEM© was developed with group sizes of four or five members in mind. There is no evidence to support its application to three-person groups. Moreover, the application was applied only amongst under-graduate students. It is yet to be applied across post-graduate groups and within online learning environments. Future research into diverse cultural settings would serve to advance understanding of how moderation is perceived across borders.Practical implicationsSeveral existing group grade moderation methods propose complex algorithms that are “black box” solutions from a student's perspective. In establishing a fair, streamlined, confidential and transparent process for peer-rated moderation, TANDEM© deploys a concise instrument with a relatively small administrative load. TANDEM © may be applied to all groups or can selectively be applied to groups that report moderate, strong or extreme levels of conflict.Social implicationsStudents will appreciate the opportunity to rate peer contributions to group projects. This will dissipate the negative social sentiment that may arise when fellow students benefit from the work of others. Those students seeking conflict resolution within the group will value the transparent and equitable moderation of grades as well as the positive social implications that follow.Originality/valueThis research forms part of an ongoing quest to present a moderation instrument that fairly identifies student contribution to a group project. Whilst the solution proposed is one of many existing alternatives, its focus is on a practical moderation-only instrument that can immediately be applied to a course or major. The benefits lie in the ease of application and minimal administrative workload. This constitutes an original contribution to the individual (course or major) coordinator who seeks to apply a moderation-only instrument without having to commit to an extensive, broad-based group optimisation programme.

Validation of the sport education scale for higher education students in the Indonesian version

Background Problems: At the higher education level, there is no valid and reliable perception instrument about Sport Education. Research Objectives: This study aims to adapt the Sport Education Scale and provide validity and reliability evidence for used in the Indonesian context of higher education. Methods: The research method used survey. A convenient sample of 156 students who had been taught Sport Education participated in this study, who completed the Sport Education Scale. The research instrument used the Sport Education Scale. Data analysis techniques used confirmation factor analysis. Findings and Results: The results of this study confirmed that the Indonesian version of the Sport Education Scale for Higher Education can be used to assess the features of Sport Education in the context of Higher Education. The research in this study refers to it as the “Indonesian version of the Higher Education Sport Education Scale”. Conclusion: The Indonesian version of the Higher Education-Sports Education Scale implemented through the Sports Education curriculum is able to make a positive contribution to the development of Higher Education curriculum in Indonesia, especially those that adopt the Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka approach. In line with these findings, future research should focus on further investigation related to the application of the Sports Education Scale at educational levels other than Higher Education in Indonesia. In addition, recommendations for future research may include the development of sports teaching methods that focus on educational values and an increased understanding of the benefits of Sports Education in the context of Higher Education. This helps improve the quality of the Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka curriculum in Indonesia.

Decision-making drivers for pandemic response for Institutions of Higher Education.

The purpose of this research is to identify how decision-makers within anchor institutions, using the context of higher education, determine the course of action in response to an improbable disaster event, such as the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A survey was conducted among higher education decision-makers during spring 2020 at the moment they were adapting to COVID-19. The survey aimed to identify policies and planning measures that may help Institutions of Higher Education learn from this experience to maintain continuity of operations should similar or unanticipated events occur in the future. With this knowledge, both assets and detriments contributing to community vulnerability can be better balanced to inform decision-making. The outcomes of the analysis and shared reflections inform the development of future policy and strengthen existing processes for preparedness and mitigation planning for unexpected events.

Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Information System Governance in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) Approach

This research aims to investigate the factors that influence the effectiveness of Information Systems (IS) Governance in Higher Education Institutions (IPT) using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach. The background of this research reflects the importance of IS in supporting operations, management and decision making in a higher education environment that is increasingly complex and dependent on technology.The PLS-SEM method analyzes the relationship between key variables that influence the effectiveness of IS governance at IPT. It is a powerful multivariate statistical approach that allows factor analysis and regression in a single framework, allowing researchers to holistically understand how factors relate to each other. The results of this research will likely provide valuable insight for decision-makers at IPT in improving IS management and utilization. Practical implications include the development of more effective policies, better management strategies, and improved IS infrastructure. In addition, this research is also expected to provide an essential contribution to academic literature in understanding the factors that influence the effectiveness of IS governance in the higher education context. By better understanding the factors that influence the effectiveness of IS governance, IPT can increase its competitiveness, improve the quality of educational services, and support the achievement of its strategic goals. This research is expected to significantly contribute to understanding how IS governance can be implemented and managed more effectively in higher education environments through the PLS-SEM approach.

Mimicry-Memorization Method: Elevating Arabic Speaking Skills with Visual Media

This research aims to explore the effectiveness of implementing the Mim-Mem (Mimicry-Memorization) Method with the support of visual media in enhancing Arabic speaking proficiency in a school environment. The Mim-Mem Method combines mimicry for better understanding and memorization for vocabulary reinforcement, while visual media is utilized as a clear representation of the learning material. The research methodology employed is classroom action research with students from grade XI A at SMP IT Sahabat Alam Pelabuhan Ratu Sukabumi as the subjects. Data were collected through observations, tests, and field notes over two research cycles. The results were analyzed to measure the improvement in students' speaking abilities. The research findings demonstrate a significant enhancement in students' speaking skills after applying the Mim-Mem Method with visual media. The average scores increased from 64 in the pre-test to 81 in the post-test, indicating the effectiveness of this method as a learning approach. The discussion involves in-depth analysis regarding the positive impact of the Mim-Mem Method with visual media on Arabic speaking skills among students. The novelty of this research lies in the innovative combination of methods with a visual approach, providing an effective solution to learning challenges. In conclusion, the implementation of the Mim-Mem Method with visual media makes a positive contribution to improving Arabic speaking skills among students at SMP IT Sahabat Alam Pelabuhan Ratu Sukabumi. Recommendations for future research could focus on further developing this method, including variations in teaching approaches and more specific adjustments to students' characteristics. Additionally, further studies could explore the effectiveness of this method in higher education contexts or different educational environments.

EMBEDDING WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING AT UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE-LEVEL CURRICULUM TO ENHANCE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AMONG STUDENTS

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is a prominent, flourishing, educational phenomenon which has brought about numerous positive changes in the field of higher education globally. The corporate sector and the governments in the world are seeking ‘work-ready’ graduates. WIL as an umbrella term includes a variety of strategies and approaches that incorporate theory with practice of work within a purposefully designed curriculum. WIL makes meaningful, relevant connections to work throughout the curriculum in higher educational contexts which is intricately interwoven with employability skills and enhances these skill sets. Some of the pedagogical approaches adopted in WIL are Practice-based learning, Professional practices, Problem-based-learning, Experiential learning, Workplace learning, and Practice-based education. A study adopting an exploratory mixed-method was conducted in Middle East College, Oman including in-depth survey and interviews with faculty members, graduates, alumnus and students at undergraduate level to determine the efficacy of the contents of the curriculum enhancing Employability Skills of the students. Findings indicate that the curriculum enriched with WIL develops (a) General employability skills and respective requirements of a workplace, (b) Effective communication with colleagues across diverse roles, (c) Attitudes toward working effectively and competently, (d) Enhance academic knowledge and develop transferable skills, (e) Develop an understanding of ethical practices, (f) Build a professional identity and (g) Increase digital literacy skills. Students’ WIL experiences were taken into account in designing and implementing curricula related to WIL which are in line with enhancement of employability among students. The results of this research are valuable for practitioners in higher level educational contexts to integrate WIL and employability skills to contribute to global enhancement of these two flourishing phenomena.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN TEACHING ACADEMIC WRITING: THE EXPERIENCE OF A FACULTY READING GROUP

Professional development in academic writing in English can be challenging for university instructors in non-English speaking countries. These challenges may be caused by a lack of experts in the field to conduct professional development, budgeting issues, access to training, and motivating and meeting the needs of faculty who may already be overburdened by high teaching loads. In this article, the authors describe conducting a year-long reading group focused on professional development in the teaching of academic writing. The goal of the group was to advance participants’ understanding of how to teach academic writing. To achieve the goal, the group was designed to increase awareness of writing pedagogy theories, construct a clearer understanding of the concept of academic writing, and critically examine current practices in teaching academic writing within the context of higher education in Russia. The authors describe the design, facilitation, and outcomes of the group. They also consider the benefits and limitations of engaging in this form of professional development. Finally, they offer implications for continuous professional development for university language instructors in a collaborative environment.

Curriculum Analytics of Course Choices:

In a higher education context, students are expected to take charge of their learning by deciding “what” to learn and “how” to learn. While the learning analytics (LA) community has seen increasing research on the “how” to learn part (i.e., researching methods for supporting students in their learning journey), the “what” to learn part is still underinvestigated. We present a case study of curriculum analytics and its application to a dataset of 243 students of the bachelor’s program in the broad discipline of health sciences to explore the effects of course choices on students’ academic performance. Using curriculum metrics such as grading stringency, course temporal position, and duration, we investigated how course choices differed between high- and low-performing students using both temporal and sequential analysis methods. We found that high-performing students were likely to pick an elective course of low difficulty. It appeared that these students were more strategic in terms of their course choices than their low-performing peers. Generally, low-performing students seemed to have made suboptimal choices when selecting elective courses; e.g., when they picked an elective course of high difficulty, they were less likely to pick a following course of low difficulty. The findings of this study have design implications for researchers, program directors, and coordinators, because they can use the results to (i) update the course sequencing, (ii) guide students about course choices based on their current GPA (such as through course recommendation dashboards), (iii) identify bottleneck courses, and (iv) assist higher education institutions in planning a more balanced course roadmap to help students manage their workload effectively.

Understanding the impact of biased student evaluations: an intersectional analysis of academics’ experiences in the UK higher education context

ABSTRACT This paper aims to offer an understanding of how (intersectional) bias in student evaluations of teaching affects academics’ mental health and career progression. Despite the widespread acceptance of student evaluations, an emerging stream of research has begun to highlight the biases and prejudices that underpin much of data collection when it comes to student evaluation surveys both in terms of who completes the evaluation and also in terms of who is being evaluated. While most studies provide analyses of students’ comments and illustrate the abuse that is directed at (marginalised) academics, very little research has focused on the impact of this process on academics. This study offers an overview of academics’ experiences with student evaluations by drawing on an intersectional analysis of 17 interviews with academics employed in UK Business Schools. The findings illustrate the detrimental impact of student evaluations on academics’ mental health and career progression. This study also shows how institutional pressures to keep students happy impact academics’ wellbeing and teaching approaches.