Higher Education Diploma Research Articles

Плюсы и минусы преемственности советского прошлого в области образовательной подготовки руководящих кадров по физической культуре и спорту

The article examines aspects of the continuity of the Soviet past in the field of retraining and advanced training of management personnel in physical culture and sports, identifying the historical background and features of educational training necessary for management during the existence of the USSR. The circumstances are substantiated in which for modern Russia there is no need for continuity from the Soviet past in the retraining of sports leaders with non-core higher education. In this connection, according to the authors, the criteria for selecting management personnel to work in management positions should be carried out in two versions. In the first, the main selection criterion should be the presence of a diploma indicating receipt of a higher pedagogical physical education education, plus a certificate of advanced training in the “sports management” program. In the second, there must be a higher education diploma in a bachelor’s (master’s) degree in “management”, a focus (profile) in “sports management”, plus a certificate of advanced training in the program “fundamentals of theory, methods of physical culture and sports.” In addition, managers periodically need to improve their qualifications under the educational program “training personnel management.” Teachers of management disciplines should raise the level of professional skills not only through theory, but also through internships in sports organizations, as was the case in the 70s of the last century. This will entail a collaboration between sports and education, will affect the productive development of the competencies of managers in the field of coaching personnel management and, as a result, will prevent the outflow of young specialists from the industry.

Social and Pedagogical Structure of Personality and the Mature Women’s Posture Characteristics.

Topicality. The issue of preserving the mature women health is a global one. Sientific knowledge, represented in a research studies on problems related to health, reflects the understanding of the latter in the plane of the human body spatial organization, taking into account the reality of the new millennium. Scholars note that the highest rate of morbidity amid diseases of the circulatory system, the second place is occupied by diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The reserch purpose is to determine the socio-pedagogical structure of the personality and the most frequent violations of the womens` posture aged 36-40. The following research methods as theoretical analysis, photography and posture analysis, pedagogical and mathematical methods have been used over the study. The research results. The vast majority of women, namely 81.81%, taking part in the ascertainment experiment, have a diploma of higher education, 31.81% of women have officially married, 31.81% are in a civil marriage, 27.29% have divorced, 9.09% have never married. By social status, women were distributed as follows: 27.26% are employees of commercial structures, 22.74% are private entrepreneurs, 27.26% are office workers and 22.74% – housewives. Considering the social status of women with their differentiation by age groups, such following data have been obtained: among women aged 36–37, 20.0% are employees of commercial structures, 20.0% are entrepreneurs, 30.0% – office workers, 30.0% – housewives; among women aged 38–40, 33.33% are employees of commercial structures, 25.0% are entrepreneurs, 25.0% are office workers, 16.67% – housewives. Findings. It was found that among women aged 36-37 years, 23.08% demonstrate a healthy type of posture, 38.46% of women have got a scoliotic posture, and 38.46% – a kyphosis type; among women 38-40 years old, 16.67% have a healthy type of posture, 38.88% – a scoliotic posture, and 44.44% – a kyphosis type of posture.

Examining the Professional Excellence Programme: Inducting University Teachers into the Higher Education System in South Africa

The obligation to increase the standard of instruction and learning falls on academic developers. A crucial part of academic staff development at institutions of higher learning is the induction of academics who are primarily subject matter specialists without the pedagogical abilities to teach effectively in the higher education environment. This qualitative essay investigated how the Professional Excellence Programme (PEP) might be utilised as an induction Short Learning Programme (SLP) for new academics. After finishing the brief SLP, the inductees were given a questionnaire to evaluate the modules (Teaching and Learning, Curriculum Development, and Assessment in Higher Education) and qualitative data was gathered. The study was framed by Wegner’s social learning theory. The research showed that the PEP programme can be an efficient programme to develop academics into university teachers. Since the SLP was accepted by all participants in the study, the study recommended that the Directorate of Teaching and Learning should develop the PEP programme into a credit-bearing postgraduate diploma in higher education at NQF Level 8, which is equivalent to an honours degree. Keywords: Professional excellence, Induction, University teacher, Transformative pedagogy, Academic developer

Narrowing the Knowledge Gap When Teaching the Theory of Acoustics for Higher Education

In many academic institutions across UK it is currently popular to offer the higher education degrees to the people who are working in industry. The students are able to develop the industry skills in their job whilst studying for a university degree. For people working in audio industry or in building acoustics, it is highly beneficial to their day-to-day jobs that they will become educated on the theory of acoustics. When teaching at the graduate apprenticeship scheme, or the higher education diploma in acoustics, it is always important to study what is the background of the individual students. If the group of students has mixed educational/ experience backgrounds, the strategy of teaching the theory of acoustics has to be re-developed by the tutor to ensure the maximum involvement of the students as a group, as well as to include the purpose-built individual exercises for the students who need an additional support. The examples of the strategy evolvement would be demonstrated. It is important that the tutors either know engineering subjects or are adaptive to learn quickly to be able to accommodate the needs of the industry and the desire of the students to study.

Employability versus Passion for Basic Sciences: Career Paths of Biology Graduates After Getting Higher Education Diploma

Manufacturing high-profit goods in the information and technology age requires solid foundations in basic sciences. However, despite their interests and high success, basic sciences often fail to attract university candidates due to the perceived job insecurity after graduation. To challenge this notion, the current study aimed to examine biology graduates’ profiles and career life. As a survey study, an online questionnaire was administered to 56 graduates of the biological sciences department. The findings showed that almost all graduates chose biology due to their interest in the first place. The majority thought that their undergraduate education prepared them effectively for their future career, and they acquired 21st-century skills adequately, except for entrepreneurship skills. They found a job related to their major in one to two years. They were primarily employed in universities and got academic positions. They were satisfied with their jobs. The study concluded that higher education attains its aim to match passionate people in line with their interests; however, it still needs to update curricula considering current knowledge, skills, and competencies. The implications may encourage university candidates to follow their passion in pursuing a career in basic sciences, particularly in Biology.

The effect of writing a bachelor thesis on attitudes towards nursing research and development: A cross-sectional comparative study between students and professionals

BackgroundResearch is essential to practice nursing and must be duly enhanced during university training. Therefore, writing a bachelor thesis may help to develop research skills and thus transfer this skill set to practical application. Objectives1) To ascertain whether writing a bachelor thesis has a bearing on attitudes towards nursing research and development; 2) to establish a comparison between groups (students and nurses), and 3) to analyse other factors (work experience, advanced training, research experience) that may influence the relationship between nurses and nursing research and development. DesignA cross-sectional comparative study. Setting and participantsThe participants totalled 204: 38 nursing students and 166 nurses. MethodsData were gathered using the instrument Nurses' Attitudes towards Research and Development within Nursing devised by Björkström and Hamrin (2001) version II validated in Spanish. This instrument consists of 33 statements grouped into 7 factors, whose responses offer 5 alternatives on a Likert scale. ResultsMost participants were female (86.3 %), with a mean age of 36 (SD = 11.65). The participants who have written a bachelor thesis obtained a higher score (Mdn = 4.14; range = 2.06) than those who have not (Mdn = 3.98; range = 2.13), with a significant difference (U = 3959.5; p = 0.012) and a moderate effect size (Hedges's g = 0.40). The students are those who obtained the highest scores. Amongst the nurses, educational training is the element that is most positively correlated with attitudes towards nursing research and development (r = 0.340). ConclusionThe results suggest that writing a bachelor thesis engenders greater interest and a favourable attitude towards nursing research and development and displays that the most interested group is the students, followed by nurses holding a degree in nursing, and lastly those with a Diploma of Higher Education in nursing. Nurses' educational training is the most influential aspect, standing above researcher or professional experience.

Investment policy and development of higher education in Russia (1960s-1970s)

The historical aspect of the relationship between investment policy and policy in the field of higher education is considered. The main "problem areas" in the development of higher education of the described period are described. Attention is drawn to the negative consequences of using the so-called residual principle in relation to the formation of culture. The attempts of the country's leadership to overcome the investment crisis and replenish the budget, based on scientific and technological progress and the training of highly qualified personnel, are considered. The educational breakthrough of the late 1950s is shown, which was supposed to ensure the country's entry into the scientific and technological revolution. Emphasized: the inertia and inflexibility of the system of investment in scientific and technological revolution did not give the expected effect. Many specialists, including young specialists, turned out to be in little demand against the backdrop of a shortage of blue-collar jobs. Therefore, the growth in the number of people with a diploma of higher education in 1960-1970. led to the "devaluation" of diplomas, in the first place - engineering.

Evaluation of the NANDA International, Inc. diagnostic classification in Spain: Development and validation of the EVALUAN-I tool.

To develop and validate a tool to evaluate the NANDA International, Inc. diagnostic classification. The tool, EVALUAN-I, was validated in a non-probabilistic sample (N = 460) on Spanish Registered Nurses (September-December 2019) in two phases. First, design and construct the instrument in three steps: (1) literature review to define the construct focusing on the orientation toward nursing concepts and theoretical foundations, the level of scientific evidence, the structural configuration, the applicability, the nurses' clinical reasoning skills, and the attitudes toward nursing diagnosis, (2) substantiation of the questionnaire items and design according to the criteria for a diagnostic classification, (3) expert test to establish the face validity and content validity. The second phase revolved around (4) conducting a pilot test and measuring the temporal stability (test-retest) and Cohen's kappa coefficient; assessing psychometric properties by measuring (5) reliability (internal consistency using Cronbach alpha and interfactor correlation) and (6) construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis). The manuscript follows the STROBE checklist. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee with registration number 2019-190-1. EVALUAN-I displayed moderate test-retest stability, adequate construct validity, and excellent reliability. The confirmatory factor analysis provided evidence about the configuration of EVALUAN-I in relation to nine analytical dimensions: clinical competence, nurses' reasoning skills, attitudes towards nursing diagnosis, discipline's central concepts, classification's contents, physiopathological attributes, level of scientific evidence, diagnostic precision, and conceptual correspondence between terminologies. EVALUAN-I is a valid and reliable instrument, which can be used to improve the epistemological, normative, and intuitive configuration of NANDA International, Inc. in a structured, systematic manner. Comprehensive evaluation of NANDA International, Inc. in different clinical settings around the world using a validated instrument, like EVALUAN-I, would allow strengths and weaknesses to be identified and contribute to the classification's development and practical application.

Investigatation of YouTube as an online platform used during remote learning forced by COVID-19

The main aim of this study was to investigate online platforms, specifically YouTube, suitable for remote learning, forced by covid-19 from traditional face-to-face to online learning. To achieve the study's objectives, which are to investigate the effectiveness of remote learning, general students’ feelings have about online education, lecturer's efficiency in using online tools to teach, and student's ability to adapt to online learning, the study employed a qualitative method where three videos with content relevant for a post-graduate diploma in higher education were made and uploaded to YouTube to investigate the efficiency of the online tool. Advantages of YouTube as an educational platform were discussed, which include flexibility and cost, among others. The challenges related to internet connections; resources, used to conduct YouTube lessons, were discussed. Recommendations to address some of these challenges using YouTube as an educational platform were explored. These recommendations include, amongst others, workshops and seminars should be held by administrators to teach lecturers and teachers how to use technology in their classes, universities need to adopt this new learning system as a part of the curriculum because to save time, money.

Implementation of Information and Communication Technologies in the Process of Future Psychologists' Training in Consideration of Their Learning Motivation

This article covers the topicality of the implementation of information and communication technologies in the process of future psychologists' professional training. We have studied students’ attitude toward the implementation of educational new forms and established the type of students' learning motivation. The results of the empirical research have indicated that students consider it appropriate to implement online forms of learning in the educational process. We have found out that part-time students receiving the second education are more focused on mastering professional knowledge and skills, and there are students who are focused only on obtaining the higher education diploma among full-time students. We have identified five groups of obstacles that arise during the implementation of online learning forms in the educational process of students-psychologists and three groups of development resources that are necessary for the effective implementation of the educational process in the online format. Thus, we see the prospects for further research in the study of the level of digital competence development among the University teachers of psychological courses in higher education and their attitude toward the implementation of information and communication technologies in the educational process of future psychologists.

Using Moodle in an Information Educational Environment of HEIs under Distance Learning

The article dwells upon the problem of distance learning using the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS). Importantly, the article analyzes the use of LMS or virtual learning environments (VLE) at universities, designed to store learning materials, conduct automatic testing of students’ knowledge, support remote communication, generate information on progress and reports on working with distance learning courses. The most well-known paid systems (according to Google Trends service) include Blackboard Learning System, Edmodo, Glow, Ning, SharePoint LMS. At the same time, the most popular free LMS is Moodle, as evidenced by both the results of Google Trends statistics and the data obtained from the ListEdTech resource. The article determines the features of using this system in the professional training of pedagogy students. It describes the challenges (problems) faced by students when taking distance learning courses, the time frame of students’ work on this learning platform and students’ assessment of the quality of distance learning courses developed in the Moodle system. It shows that the use of this system saves time spent on training, freeing it up for personal life, self-education, hobbies and entertainment. Students with higher academic performance spend more time working in the Moodle system. Indeed, they intend to acquire knowledge, obtain a diploma of higher education and further pursue their professional careers. More than half of the respondents rate distance learning courses positively. In their opinion, such courses are creative, valuable, exciting, effective, clear, innovative, meeting expectations, unconventional, innovative, easy to learn and enjoyable.

Celebrating Women in Paleobotany: A Tribute to Edith L. Taylor—Introduction and Dedication

Celebrating Women in Paleobotany: A Tribute to Edith L. Taylor—Introduction and Dedication

Employment and careers of graduates in Кyrgyzstan

This article reflects the results of an online survey on the problems of employment of graduates with higher education. According to our observations, graduates with higher education will not be able to fi nd a job after receiving a degree. In this regard, there was a need to identify the causes of unemployment among graduates of higher educational institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic. The research covered the issues of the quality of education received, employment of graduates, career success and graduates’ work places. According to the results of the study, after receiving a diploma of higher education, graduates of budgetary education found jobs more quickly than contract graduates. However, the graduates did not find a job in their training field. One fourth of them work in the service sector, as salespersons, cooks, waiters, couriers, etc. Because of the pandemic, even those working in the service sector became temporarily unemployed. The majority of the respondents have noted that it is very difficult to find a job in their training field, it will take time. A graduate is frequently on hold, waiting until an employee is fired, retires, or has a leave without pay. Thus, after getting a higher education in Kyrgyzstan, it is very difficult to find a job, the competition is high and the wages in state institutions are minimal, it is not sufficient even to make a living. The main problem of employment is the length of employment or work experience of graduates, but, unfortunately, everyone knows that yesterday's graduate has neither length of employment nor work experience. Many employers are interested in employees with work experience. The shortage of personnel is created artificially.

Decolonising the postgraduate diploma in higher education curriculum at one university of technology in South Africa

The aim of this theoretical article is to explain efforts at decolonising the Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education (PGDHE) curriculum at a university of technology (UoT) in South Africa. The main source of information was collected through relevant secondary data. The cost of continuing with Western knowledge organisation in the PGDHE programme destroys and undervalues African intellectualism, culture and literature, while imposing colonial language through prescribed texts. We argue that a clear understanding of decolonisation of the curriculum is necessary, to avoid the risk of implementing changes that will result in superficial alterations, rather than an inclusive curriculum that accentuates African intellectualism. The article recommends that a discourse around decolonisation should be sustained at all levels of the institution in re-thinking and re-evaluating the modules offered in the PGDHE programme to ensure they become more inclusive.

Blockchain and Higher Education Diplomas.

Due to added mobility and the increase in international students worldwide, as well as the current problem regarding the counterfeiting of diplomas and the selling of fraudulent certificates, we propose a technological solution. Namely, to ally blockchain technology to higher education certificates and diplomas, to make the process of checking for academic qualifications more facilitated and transparent. Employers of graduates, as well as higher education institutions which evaluate course applicants, would benefit. Perhaps equally as important, students applying for international degree programs would have their lives simplified. There is an increased pressure to ensure the legitimacy and authenticity of certifications and diplomas—and preferably without the current “hassle” of getting diplomas recognized by official entities. New technological advances, with the development of blockchain and smart contracts, with their characteristics of immutability, decentralization, security, traceability, and consensus, may be considered an excellent match to implement a robust and reliable anti-fraud solution to issue digital diplomas. Radical innovations, such as linking blockchain and higher education diplomas, involve significant change and novelty. Linking blockchain and higher education diplomas could potentially positively impact and benefit millions of people worldwide, especially the younger generations. This study involved a literature review and the searching of the Scopus database (refereed publications) for the following concepts: blockchain and diploma. Existing literature is recent, with most articles (25) published between 2019 and 2020, with 4 in 2018 and only 1 in 2017. This was aligned with our expectations since the development of blockchain utilization outside financial and crypto-assets industries is recent, and it is known as “Blockchain 3.0”. We can additionally affirm that the topic is attracting attention and efforts from researchers worldwide and that some higher education institutions have already implemented ad hoc solutions. As it is, the sector lacks a unified response to the problem of automatic and reliable higher education diploma certification.

The student time-budget and their adaptation to educational activities

The article examines the general picture of the use of their time fund by university students, its structuring, as well as the dynamics of time indicators related to the main spheres of students' daily activities in 2002–20. Particular attention is paid to educational activities as status-forming for full-time students. A survey of university students in Moscow, Omsk and Pskov was conducted in March 2019 – January 2020 by the sector for studying the daily activities and time budget of the ISRAS within the framework of the monitoring complex research "Daily activities of the urban population: time budget, values, social adaptation." The real behaviorur of students was analyzed in combination with the analysis of motivation to obtain higher education, adaptive opportunities for participation in educational activities and the success of professional socialization of students. It was revealed that the dominant motive for obtaining higher education - “the need to have a higher education diploma in order to get a good job” - not only retained (over the period 2002–20) its dominance and a significant “gap” from the significance of other motives, but its importance even rose. In general, the configuration of educational motivation has not changed much. Changes in resource time possibilities least of all affected the segment of daily activities related to the total work load (study time, paid work, unpaid work). The study time of students decreased more significantly for women (much less for men). The amount of time spent on physical recovery of students has decreased, but the space for studying in their free time has significantly expanded. It is shown that the types of students' value orientation in relation to educational activities have a connection with the volume, structure of educational time and other indicators. Indicators of adaptive capabilities of students for the implementation of educational activities are associated with the degree of preparedness of students to study at the university. It was revealed that the time spent on all educational activities and its structure in 2019–20 differs by the worst characteristics both in comparison with 1920 and in comparison, with other periods (the period of 1920–2020 was considered in dynamics).

The effectiveness of flipped learning strategy in the development of scientific research skills in procedural research course among higher education diploma students

There have been efforts to investigate the effectiveness of the flipped learning strategy in the development of scientific research skills (SRS) in the procedural research course among higher education diploma students. However, studies examining the effectiveness of the flipped learning strategy in the development of SRS are, thus far, rare. This study adopted a quasi-experimental design, with two types of teaching methods. One research group was assigned to the flipped learning teaching method (n = 30) and the other to the conventional teaching method (n = 30). A multiple-choice SRS test was developed and used. The results showed that the flipped learning teaching method was more effective than the conventional teaching method, in gauging students’ SRS.

МОТИВАЦІЯ МАЙБУТНІХ УЧИТЕЛІВ ГЕОГРАФІЇ ДО НАВЧАЛЬНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ

The article presents a research of motives for choosing a profession and motives for educational activities of future teachers of geography. An anonymous survey was conducted among second- and fourth-year students majoring in Secondary Education (Geography) to determine the motives for choosing a profession. Summary data indicate, that the choice of profession of students was influenced by social motives, which are based on the importance of the graduate to get a higher education and preferably at the expense of the state. Fourth-year students have a positive inner motive, which is based on the fact that they like the profession and they made the right choice. In the structure of motives of the educational activities of second-year students prevail external factors, which are determined by the desire to receive positive grades for exams and as a result have a diploma of higher education. Fourth- year students note the importance of obtaining in-depth professional knowledge and the opportunity to become a highly qualified specialist, characterized by intrinsic motivation to study. Increasing students' motivation for learning activities is possible with taking into account the following factors: introduction of innovative teaching methods in the educational process of training future teachers of geography, which stimulate students' cognitive activity and ensure the application of theoretical knowledge in specific practical situations; ensuring the right to academic mobility by involving students in research, international internships, etc.; formation of interest in future professional activity through the use of various forms of education; activation of independent work of students during the implementation of research tasks that are closely related to future professional activities; conducting a systematic survey among students on the quality of education, taking into account student suggestions for improving the educational process; involvement of students in scientific circles, preparation of publications for participation in domestic and foreign conferences; conducting regular meetings with teachers-practitioners, teachers-innovators to increase the status of the chosen profession and understanding its tasks; conducting psychological trainings on the ability to restore their psycho-emotional state, control emotions, be tolerant, prevent conflict situations.

Some experiences of non-EU international students following an access to Higher Education Diploma course in a general further education college in the North of England

ABSTRACT This study provides a basis for deepening understandings of approaches which offer effective and enhanced learning experiences for predominantly East Asian international students following provision alongside local students in UK general further education colleges. A mixed methods approach employed a largely quantitative questionnaire to access the views of 25 international students, 22 of whom were Chinese nationals, and to identify four participants (two Chinese, one Japanese and one Maldivian) for subsequent semi-structured interviews. This fieldwork was supported by the collection of college achievement data for the international students and for the local students who had studied directly alongside them. The outcomes indicate that the international students achieved at least as well as the local students in relation to academic outcomes, and that they valued teachers who allowed their cultural experiences to directly contribute to classroom learning. The study also highlights the importance of inter-cultural activities. More prosaically, the outcomes also suggest that important concerns for these international students were that they should receive clarity in answers to their questions as part of the processes of learning, as well as the resolution of ostensibly more peripheral issues such as the quality and type of food available in the college catering outlets.

Academics’ Experiences of a Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education (PGDHE) Programme: A Case of One University in South Africa.

The Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education is widely accepted as a standard qualification that inducts and orients academics for their roles as university teachers. It equips academics with pedagogical knowledge and competencies thereby helping them to cope with the learning needs of academically under-prepared and diverse group of students. Research, conducted in South Africa and elsewhere, has shown that in order to be effective facilitators of learning, academics need to have a good blend of the knowledge of their disciplines as well as the knowledge of teaching and learning. This study sought to examine the experiences of a group of academics of studying the PGDHE. The sample for the study comprised 15 academics purposively selected from the 20 academics who had recently qualified with the PGDHE programme from one university in South Africa. The research used a qualitative methodology to collect information from the participants through an unstructured questionnaire. The major finding was that the PGDHE empowered academics significantly in their roles as university teachers and participants felt the programme should be made a pre-requisite for one’s appointment as a university teacher.