Senior Course Research Articles

Exploring the relationship between social media knowledge platform (SMKP) using smart devices and the impact on students’ academic performances

This research study is an attempt to investigate and recommend the applications and usefulness of social media as a knowledge sharing platform using smart mobile devices and students’ academic performances. Research literature reveals that further examination of this idea is a must as it is increasingly becoming an integral part and a current mandate for digital-era learners. This study is exploratory based on learners’ data which includes students from foundation, junior and senior courses at a university. The objective was to cognize learners’ perceptions on collaborative learning while using applications of social media knowledge platform and smart mobile devices. Structural Model approach is followed to validate the data and undertake the required analysis. The resulting analysis shows that a significantly positive relation exists between the available platforms of knowledge applications using smart devices and its substantial impact on students’ overall performances. In addition, it could be observed that generally students have positive and valuable perception on the use of social media knowledge platform and smart mobile devices in collaborative learning settings. Moreover, such settings encourage students-students’ interactions, studentsteachers’ interactions, and the growing trends of students to online experts’ interactions. Furthermore, it was noticed that these interactions improve students’ engagement with such platforms using smart devices, which consequently has significant positive impact on students’ academic performances. The findings propose the inculcation in students the positive role of the use of social media knowledge platforms using smart devices so to encourage collaborative learning, to enhance active learning, to be more dynamic & engaging, to broaden their domain-knowledge, and to promote academic researchoriented learning, which are all crucial for graduate employability.

The Role of Idioms in Expanding and Enriching the Lexical Resource of the Students of Senior Courses and in Mastering Their Communicative Skills

The Role of Idioms in Expanding and Enriching the Lexical Resource of the Students of Senior Courses and in Mastering Their Communicative Skills

Improving the physical state of cadets of higher education institutions with specific learning conditions during the additional sports classes

The article examines the level and dynamics of indicators of the physical state of cadets who engaged in sambo wrestling during their studies at higher education institutions with specific training conditions. 60 cadets (male) of the National Academy of Internal Affairs, aged 19-22, who were studying in senior courses (III and IV years) took part in the research. The cadets who additionally practiced in the sambo wrestling classes were included in the experimental group (EG, n=25), and their peers who did not attend additional sports classes - in the control group (CG, n=35). The study of the physical state was carried out according to indicators of physical development (height, body weight, vital capacity, hand dynamometry) and functional capabilities of the cadets' body (pulse rate, blood pressure, duration of pulse recovery after standard exercise). Research methods: theoretical analysis and generalization of scientific and methodical literature, pedagogical observation, testing, experiment, methods of mathematical statistics. It has been established that results of EG cadets were significantly better than CG cadets for all studied indicators. At the end of the experiment, the EG cadets had significantly better than those of CG, indicators of body weight - for 2.2 kg, hand dynamometry - for 3.1 kg, pulse rate - for 0.7 bpm, pulse recovery time - for 4,5 s. This testifies to the effectiveness of additional classes in sambo wrestling, not only for the formation of professional skills and abilities in the application of police coercive measures, but also for improving the physical state of future law enforcement officers.

Preface

The 2022 2nd International Conference on Electrical Engineering and Computer Technology (ICEECT2022) was successfully held on September 23-25, 2022 in Suzhou, China (virtual conference). ICEECT2022 promoted the research and developmental activities in relevant fields as well as the scientific information exchange between researchers, engineers, and practitioners working all over the world.In the conference, we were greatly honored to have Prof. Marco C. Campi from University of Brescia, Italy to serve as our Conference General Chairman. The conference consisted of keynote speeches, oral presentations and online Q&A discussion, attracting 150 delegates worldwide. Firstly, the keynote speakers were each allocated 30-45 minutes to address their speeches. Then in the next part, oral presentations, the excellent papers we had selected were presented by their authors one by one.Two distinguished professors were invited to hold keynote speeches during the conference. For a start, Prof. Prof. Wei Fang from Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, China performed a keynote speech on the title: Research on the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Meteorology. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing a more and more essential role in the industrial revolution and we are seeking a lot of evolution in various machine learning methodologies. Forecast of meteorological disasters is an important and challenging worldwide problem, so in this speech he shared his experience and research results in all aspects of the application of meteorology based on artificial intelligence. Moreover, Assoc. Prof. Moh’d A. Radaideh from Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan made a report on The Software Project Management: from the Perspectives of the PMI, IEEE SWEBOK V3.0, and Agile-SCRUM. In this presentation, he elaborated on his own experience of designing, articulating, and delivering a reasonable senior course on the subject of Software Project Management (e.g. SE440 Software Project Management), part of the Undergraduate Software Engineering Program Curriculum at Jordan University of Science and Technology. Their dramatic speeches had triggered heated discussion. And every participant praised this conference for disseminating useful and insightful knowledge.We are glad to share with you that we’ve selected a bunch of high-quality papers from the submissions and compiled them into the proceedings after rigorously reviewing them. These papers feature but are not limited to the following topics: Transmission and Distribution, Electromagnetic Compatibility, Mechatronics, Database Systems, Software Engineering, etc. All the papers have been checked through rigorous review and processes to meet the requirements of publication.We would like to acknowledge all of those who supported ICEECT2022 and made it a great success. Particularly, we would like to thank the Journal of Physics: Conference Series, for the endeavor of all its colleagues in publishing this paper volume. We sincerely hope that ICEECT2022 turned out to be a forum for excellent discussions that enable new ideas to come about, promoting collaborative research.The Committee of ICEECT2022List of Committee member is available in this pdf.

The Possibility of Including “Inverted” Educational Resources in the Professional Training of Future Teachers of Mathematics and Computer Science

Purpose of research. The purpose of the paper is to describe the possibilities of including tasks for the design, development, use and experimental evaluation of “inverted” educational resources in the professional training of future teachers of mathematics and computer science for the development of their subject-methodical readiness. The formation and development of subject-methodical readiness is the main goal of professional training of future lecturers at a pedagogical university. The process of creating “inverted” educational resources requires from their author quite serious subject and methodological training. Potentially, the inclusion of tasks for the design, development, expertise, practical use and evaluation of “inverted” educational resources in the professional training of future teachers of mathematics and computer science can create conditions conducive to the formation of competencies of future teachers to create a comprehensive educational process in a digital environment. Since, on the one hand, in such didactic means, the educational content should be presented systematized and structured, have logic and hierarchical connections. On the other hand, the problematic issues included in the resources should reflect specific subject educational results in accordance with a given taxonomic model in the curriculum.Materials and methods. Based on the analysis of theoretical and methodological sources, the article substantiates the relevance of the problem of finding new ways and means of implementing additional subject training in mathematics and computer science for both schoolchildren and future teachers in the context of digitalization of education. The analysis of examples of “inverted” educational resources, which are the results of the implementation of project tasks by undergraduate students of the Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University named after V.P. Astafiev, is presented. Through theoretical and methodological substantiation, the main possibilities of including tasks for working with such resources at different stages of professional training of future teachers of mathematics and computer science at a pedagogical university are synthesized.Results. In this study, the problems related to the possibility of including “inverted” educational resources as digital didactic tools in the training programs of future teachers of mathematics and computer science were updated. The authors’ position on the issue of the purpose of such teaching tools in the context of the digitalization of education is presented and substantiated. Examples of the results of the implementation of project tasks by senior students during the 2021-2022 academic year were demonstrated. The key didactic and information technology features, possible tools for creating “inverted” educational resources are given. The definition of the subject-methodical readiness of the future teacher of mathematics and computer science as an essential component of professional readiness is concretized. The possibilities of strengthening subject-methodical training by including tasks for work with “inverted” educational resources are described: analytical – in junior courses when mastering disciplines related to the use of digital technologies in education; project – in the middle courses when mastering methodological disciplines; experimental and expert - in the senior courses when passing industrial (pedagogical) practice and mastering the final disciplines of the professional educational program of higher pedagogical education.Conclusion. On a final note, the results and conclusions obtained in the paper are summarized; the key positions of the authors on the inclusion of “inverted” educational resources in the professional training of future teachers of mathematics and computer science are given. The materials of the article may be of interest to lecturers of pedagogical universities who train future teachers, representatives of schools cooperating with organizations of higher pedagogical education, researchers in the field of digitalization and digital transformation of education.

Профессиональное саморазвитие будущих учителей технологии как актуальная проблема в процессе их подготовки

The problem of professional self-development of future domestic science teachers in the process of their training is relevant due to the fact that modern educational institutions need teachers who are able to quickly adapt to sweeping changes and are able to develop independently in the professional field. University training of future domestic science teachers is one of the stages of their professional self-development. The objective of the study is to determine to what extent university training of future domestic science teachers is important for their professional self-development. The objective is achieved through the analysis of regulatory documents, the analysis of scientific research and the results of student questionnaires. The presence or absence of aspects affecting the professional self-development of future domestic science teachers were determined while conducting the analysis of the federal regulatory documents that govern the training process of future domestic science teachers at the university. The analysis was carried out in accordance with the Federal State Educational Standard of Higher Education and the “Teacher” Professional Standard. The Federal State Educational Standard for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees includes a directive to develop a competence closely related to the professional development of future domestic science teachers – Universal Competence-6 (UC-6). The analysis of the professional standard of a teacher allows us to distinguish two fundamental roles teachers perform at work. These roles indicate those actions, skills and knowledge that are collectively associated with the professional self-development of teachers. The empirical research was carried out on a sample of students (N = 52, aged 18 to 30 years, women = 60%), majoring in pedagogy (44.03.01 Pedagogical Education with the major in “Domestic Science”) at Saratov State University (the city of Saratov). A questionnaire (prepared by N. V. Sayapin) was used to determine to what extent professional self-development is significant. The posi tive dynamics of the parameters of time spent on professional self-development for senior courses has been revealed. There is a consensus among respondents that professional self-development is an integral component of professional growth and part of competitiveness in the profession. The presented empirical materials can be used in creating pedagogical conditions for the implementation of effective training aimed at professional self-development of students.

COMPUTER MODELING AS A METHOD AND MEANS OF IMPROVING CONSTRUCTION MACHINES

The task of improving the educational process, improving the quality of education in the field of engineering and the effective use of technical methods and tools in the design and modernization of construction equipment using computer software is the most pressing modern task.
 The emphasis in education, which is transferred to the independent work of the student without changing the approaches and methods of teaching disciplines, and even more so specialized subjects, has a negative impact on the quality of the future specialist. Especially in such a difficult time, when you have to completely switch to distance learning, it is extremely necessary to change the approach to learning, especially in senior courses.
 The creation of complex complexes and machines is accompanied by a significant number of intermediate tasks. The use of the whole complex of construction equipment is mainly used in various technological operations and with the use of various replaceable work equipment.
 Modern pace of road construction dictates high requirements for modern technology, one of the important parameters of which is the utilization rate of the machine over time. When performing technological operations, the load from the ground is transmitted through the main working body to all elements of the suspension mechanism of the working equipment.
 The use of software allows you to preview any activity during the simulation allows you to check for security, reduce costs, and sometimes find new ways to implement, without conducting expensive tests. To do this, it is necessary to pre-model the node, unit, module, which will interact in a complex system.
 The use of modeling will assess the appearance of the finished product and its structural elements. At the moment, the development of objects of any kind cannot but be accompanied by the creation of a 3D model. This process will allow you to analyze the accuracy of all components that will interact when installed on a designed or existing machine.

Evaluation and optimization of acoustics of a multipurpose room to improve speech intelligibility

The work presented in this paper was conducted as part of a student project in a senior course on Noise Control at Tennessee Tech. The project involved improving the acoustics of the multipurpose room in the university student center. There were repeated concerns regarding the poor acoustics conditions related with speech and intelligibility caused by excessive reverberations in the room. In order to solve this issue, an examination of the complete sound field in the room including reverberation time have been investigated with the aim of proposing solutions to improve the acoustics for future use. The evaluation of the room was done with both software simulation and experimental data obtained from on-site visit measurements. A comparison between the simulated and experimental data is presented and served as the basics for the analytical solutions necessary for acoustic optimization. Furthermore, renderings of possible mounting locations of acoustic panels with their specification have been provided based on the commercially available panels and cost consideration.

Case Study of Multi-Course Project-Based Learning and Online Assessment in Electrical Engineering Courses during COVID-19 Pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an urgent need to move to online teaching and develop innovative teaching techniques to ensure that student learning outcomes (SOs) were fulfilled. This paper tries to answer the important question of whether an established teaching strategy through a multi-course project-based learning (MPL) approach, along with online assessment techniques, helps in the effective achievement of SOs in a senior-level electrical engineering (EE) course. The authors have developed a course project for attaining the objectives of a senior and a capstone course, where students are registered at the same time. In addition, the course conducts assessments online. The paper reports the effect of the two approaches on the attainment of the SOs of the two courses, along with testing the programming and problem-solving abilities of the students. It is known that the MPL approach enhances the critical thinking capacity of students, which is also a major outcome of Sustainable Development Education (ESD). It was ensured that the project that was used to test the fulfillment of a series of SOs were concentrated on soft engineering and project management skills. The difficulty of adopting the MPL method for the senior-level courses is in the scheduling of the course materials to help the student advance to the final project while also aligning the project towards fulfilling the learning outcomes of the individual course. The study also provides the students with feedback on online assessment techniques incorporated within the MPL. Besides this, the effect of the innovative teaching approaches was compared with the same senior course taught using conventional methods in an earlier semester. Based on the feedback from teachers and students from a previously conducted case study, it was concluded that the MPL approach had supported the student learning. The results of the statistical analysis (Chi-square, two-tailed T statistics and hypothesis testing using a z-test) show that an MPL approach and online assessment improved the attainment of the SOs despite the constraints posed by the pandemic.

SPECIAL FEATURE: KNOW YOUR COLLEAGUES—ROBERT DAMELIO AND CARL BINDER

SPECIAL FEATURE: KNOW YOUR COLLEAGUES—ROBERT DAMELIO AND CARL BINDER

Reflection-in-action: the use of student audio recordings

ABSTRACT Robust student learning can occur during unexpected and ambiguous moments. The purpose of this study is to explore student experiences using audio recordings to facilitate the reflection-in-action (RIA) approach and evaluate the impact on student learning. The reflective practitioner paradigm and the intuitive synthesis model are used as theoretical frameworks. A mixed methods research design is implemented over a semester with sixteen undergraduate students enrolled in a senior capstone internship course. A case example is presented to demonstrate the entire reflective process by applying an initial student audio recording to each step of the originally designed classroom discussion protocol. The reflection-in-action strategy is a conduit to the intuitive synthesis process and the use of student audio recordings is an effective method to capture raw in-the-moment experiences. Study participants responded by being acutely aware of in-action moments, understanding more deeply tacit frameworks that influence practice responses, and using the intuitive process to shape future practice behavior. Students benefit by experiencing and navigating unpredictable practice environments by embracing both the rational and intuitive process. Educators and clinical supervisors can foster intrigue and expand learning by advancing beyond a traditional retrospective and rational reflective process.

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ РАСПРОСТРАНЕННОСТИ ТАБАКОКУРЕНИЯ СРЕДИ КУРСАНТОВ АКАДЕМИИ МВД В 2011 И 2022 ГОДАХ

The article presents the results of a study of the prevalence of tobacco smoking and the degree of tobacco dependence among cadets of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The purpose of the study is to examine the prevalence of tobacco smoking, assess and compare the level of tobacco dependence among cadets of the investigative-expert and criminal-executive faculties of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2011 and 2022. To achieve the goal, we carried out an anonymous survey of cadets of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a comparative analysis of the presence and structure of tobacco dependence among cadets of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of 2011 and 2022. As a result of the research we established a significant decrease in the prevalence of tobacco smoking among cadets of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2022 compared to 2011, identified a steady trend towards a decrease in the number of smokers and the degree of dependence on tobacco among students at senior courses in 2022 which indicates the effectiveness of measures to prevent tobacco smoking and promote a healthy lifestyle taken within the walls of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

FEATURES AND STRUCTURE OF DIFFERENT COURSES STUDENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN THE INTERNET USAGE IN THE CONDITIONS OF QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS

The purpose of the study is to determine the level and structure of the student youth’s involvement in the virtual space of the Internet depending on the year of study of the applicants within the period of distance learning in quarantine restrictionsMaterials and methods. The method of special sociological research, the medical-statistical and the method of comparative analysis have been used in the study. The basic method which lies in the study is the method of anonymous survey of full time students using the original questionnaire, formed in the service of Google-form.Results. Among the surveyed students, only about 10% spend up to 3 hours per day using the Internet during distance learning), the undergraduate students of junior and senior courses spend from 4 to 6 hour (that makes up a little less than half, 47.3 and 42.7%, respectively). We must admit that a significant proportion of undergraduate and graduate students (41.3 and 49.3%) spend more than 7 hours a day on the Internet during distance learning. Only 20% of master degree students spend 7 hours or more online every day. The structure of the amount of time spent on the Internet is identical among all study groups of students. Thus, the majority of respondents point out that the main type of activities performed online during distance learning is either studying or work (335 respondents, 64.1% of respondents) and the quantity is growing depending on the course of study.Conclusions. The level of involvement in the Internet network during distance learning varies depending on the course of study of the surveyed students; it is lower among undergraduate students. The structure of the amount of time spent on the Internet for respondents of all courses is identical. The majority of respondents single out work and studying as the main activities performed online.

Active learning assignment: Legos and coins to explain glucose metabolism

This article describes an assignment used in an undergraduate Advanced Exercise Physiology course for seniors. Students' backgrounds in chemistry varied from adequate to almost nonexistent. This presented several challenges for teaching and students' understanding of aerobic oxidation of a glucose molecule. This article presents an assignment for an active-learning team-based approach in the classroom and the adapted version for virtual learning. Students in active, team-based learning were asked to create a short video of glucose oxidation using Lego bricks, coins, or other toys to represent the glucose molecule, the by-products, and the enzymes involved in each pathway. During virtual learning, the assignment was modified to create a video independently in both synchronous and asynchronous course sections. Based on students' responses to an instructor-developed survey on their perceptions of the assignment, 71% reported that the assignment was helpful to understand glucose metabolism.

FORMING OF SKILLS OF SAFE PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY OF FUTURE SPECIALISTS IN THE TOURISM SECTOR

The article analyzes the research of domestic and foreign scientists on the training of highly qualified specialists in the field of tourism. It is proved that the modern development of tourism directly depends on ensuring the safety of tourists and workers in the tourism industry, the level of protection of their lives, health and property. Examples of teaching the discipline "Safety and Security of Tourism" show the process of developing skills of safe professional activities of future professionals in the field of tourism, the ability to properly assess harmful and dangerous factors and take appropriate measures to prevent hazards or reduce their impact on tourists and tourism industry.
 The discipline "Safety and Security of Tourism" is aimed at acquiring knowledge and skills of security in the field of tourism for the successful implementation of professional activities in enterprises and institutions of the tourism industry, in public organizations of tourism, to open and run their own business in recreation and tourism.
 The purpose of the discipline is to form students' abilities necessary to create and maintain healthy and safe living and working conditions for tourists and workers in the tourism industry, skills to protect against the negative factors of emergencies during tourist trips, the ability to act confidently in various unusual situations.
 To solve the set tasks, the discipline "Safety and Security of Tourism" considers various topics on security in the field of tourism, namely, the theoretical foundations of security, legislation, risk factors, safety of tourists in emergencies, occupational safety at tourism enterprises, sanitary and epidemiological safety, insurance and control over the observance of safety rules, safety of tourists on transport, in various types of tourism, in particular, extreme tourism, rules of conduct in foreign travel and survival of tourists in extreme conditions, accidents and diseases, fire safety in the tourism industry.
 For high-quality mastering of the discipline the author of the article has developed methodical recommendations for 12 practical classes on the course "Safety and Security of Tourism", the quality of which allows future professionals to gain not only knowledge necessary for mastering disciplines in senior courses, but also to develop skills for safe professional activity in tourism, hotel and restaurant business.

PECULIARITIES OF INDEPENDENT WORK IN THE STUDY OF "CLINICAL PRACTICE" DISCIPLINE BY MEDICAL STUDENTS OF COURSE V AT OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY DEPARTMENT NAMED AFTER I.D.LANOVYY

The article highlights the features of independent work in the study of "Clinical Practice" by 5th-year medical students at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The article shows that well-organized independent work creates favorable conditions for the development of cognitive abilities of students and intensification of their work in obstetrics and gynecology. Practical self-training of medical students is a mandatory component of the educational and professional program to obtain a qualification level and aims to acquire their professional skills and abilities.
 Independent work is one of the most important components of the educational process, which involves the integration of different types of individual and collective learning activities, which is carried out both in classroom, extracurricular activities, without the participation of the teacher and under his direct supervision. Introduction of independent educational and cognitive activities and innovative approaches to its organization in the educational process is a qualitative step of the entire system of higher education because this process contributes to the advancement of students from education and the acquisition of knowledge to the skills and abilities of self-education. Clinical practice in obstetrics and gynecology is a process of consolidating theoretical knowledge, practical skills and abilities acquired in the process of student learning. The discipline includes practical classes and independent work of the student. Clinical practice occupies an important place in the training of physicians and the opportunity to consolidate their knowledge, skills and abilities and expand professional competence. The knowledge that students receive during clinical practice will allow them to conduct optimal treatment, to detect early clinical signs of the disease. Prospective physicians in senior courses study clinical disciplines to obtain high qualifications. Clinical practice for students is an important element of the process of training a highly qualified doctor and improves the effectiveness of training. An important role in the system of preparing students for acquisition practical professional skills and abilities of a doctor are assigned to clinical practice, which provides a combination of theoretical and practical components of training and is aimed at forming the ability of future doctors to practice medicine. Consolidate and deepen the ability to rational choice of therapy taking into account the mechanism of action, diagnosis, etiology, pathogenesis of the disease. Clinical practice includes practical classes and independent work of students.
 The normative discipline "Clinical Practice" is aimed at the development, first of all, of the professional competencies of the future doctor, is professionally oriented in the field of health care, which in turn contributes to the effective preparation of students. The discipline "Clinical Practice", which is mastered by 5th year medical students is formed as a set of closely related content modules, which are logical complete parts of theoretical and practical educational material corresponding to a particular object.

Passport and biological age of students of the Faculty of Biology and Natural Sciences: a comparative analysis

The article discusses the problem of behavior and improving the health of students. According to the results of many studies, in recent years there has been a tendency among students to reduce their level of health and physical activity. There are many methods for assessing health, such as the method of determining biological age.
 The aim of the study is to compare student passports and their biological age. The study was conducted on the basis of the Faculty of Biology and Natural Sciences of DSPU. Ivan Franko, which was attended by 43 students of I-IV courses. The following research methods were used to determine the biological age: testing; questionnaires, observations; methods of generalization, synthesis and analysis. It was found that in comparison with senior courses, students of I-II courses have a biological age higher than the passport. As a result of obtaining information that in the vast majority of respondents who ignored a healthy lifestyle and low low level of physical activity, the actual biological age exceeded the value of the required biological age, they were characterized by accelerated aging and poor health.
 Analysis of the results of the study showed that most students I-IV showed poor static coordination, decreased attention and reaction speed, as well as reduced respiratory arrest during exhalation. Based on the results of the study, a manual was developed for students with recommendations for reducing biological age.

SOME ISSUES RELATED TO THE TEACHING OF LITERARY TEXTS IN ENGLISH LESSONS

The article examines the issues of teaching the language of specialties to Azerbaijani students studying English for professional purposes in the senior courses of language faculties through texts, their types, teaching texts, as well as literary texts.It is concluded that teaching through literary texts provides a basis for students to master critical thinking, the ability to use language creatively, and verbal and non-verbal norms of behavior in the socio-cultural space in which they live.

Utilization of Philippine Aptitude Classification Test (PACT) Result in Career Awareness Program

This study determined the alignment of students’ Senior High School track and course preference in college with their aptitude and probable performance in educational programs. It is descriptive in nature. The respondents were the Junior High School students who took the Philippine Aptitude Classification Test (PACT) of School Year 2014–2015 and were enrolled Grade 12 at the Senior High School of Holy Name University for School Year 2017–2018. Frequency counting of the aptitude, probable performance in different educational programs, preferred school track and career choice were made. Results revealed that majority of the respondents were enrolled in the STEM track. More than half of the respondents got low aptitudes that fit to only one to three educational programs based on the nine (9) clusters of educational programs identified in the PACT and a significant number of respondents did not fit to any educational programs. Many of the college courses chosen by the respondents while they were still in Grade 9 are under services, engineering and manufacturing, and health and welfare clusters. More so, college course preferred by the respondents in STEM track are related to health and welfare followed by engineering and manufacturing cluster while those in ABM and HUMMS track preferred Social Science, Business and Law cluster. Career choices made by the respondents are not aligned with their aptitude which could be a source of future job-skills mismatch or misfit graduates. Career guidance is seen as an imperative for a successful future career choice and career awareness program is viewed as a possible intervention as early as Grade 7 to Grade 10.

Attitude towards Vaccination among Health Science Students before the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Health science students are tomorrow’s health professionals, the duties of whom could include vaccination. This work examines the general attitude towards vaccination in students attending the Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Chiropody at a university in Madrid, Spain, using the ‘Attitudes and Behaviour With Regard To Vaccination Among Health Science Students Questionnaire’. The results were subjected to multivariate analysis to identify the influence of sex, the degree being pursued, and ‘course year’. The number of students vaccinated against influenza in the campaign preceding the present study was also recorded, as were the factors that influenced decision-making in this regard. A total of 934 students completed the questionnaire. Their beliefs regarding vaccination were positive (mean score 3.23 points out of 4), as was their behaviour (3.35/4). Their general attitude (all variables taken together) was therefore also good (3.27/4). Only 26.8% of the students had been vaccinated against influenza. Beliefs scores among the students of nursing in their more senior course years were significantly better than those recorded for all other groups. These students also showed the best general attitude towards vaccination and formed the largest group vaccinated against influenza. The results obtained are encouraging since nursing students are the most likely of future healthcare professionals to be involved in vaccination programmes.