Higher Education Domain Research Articles

THIRD MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY: VISION, STRUCTURE, EXPERIENCE

The proposed paper is devoted to an examination of the concept of the Third Mission of universities, which is considered to be a pivotal aspect of their social responsibility. The study offers a comprehensive examination of the global experience in the implementation of the Third Mission, encompassing diverse approaches and practices aimed at addressing socially significant issues, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and engaging with local communities and stakeholders. The paper presents an overview of the experience of Kazakhstani universities in the implementation of the Third Mission, demonstrating the adaptation of global practices to local conditions and their contribution to regional development. The paper yielded the following outcomes: substantiation of the practical dimensions of the Third Mission of Universities, which may prove beneficial for furtherresearch and implementation in the domain of higher education; identification of avenues for adapting successful practices by integrating social responsibility into the activities of universities, including the formation of effective partnerships, the promotion of innovation, and interaction with local communities; identification of pivotal points for further enhancement of the concept of social responsibility in the field of higher education.

Design and Validation of a University Education Peer Observation Tool

Objective: The aim of this study was to design and validate a university education PoT instrument. Theoretical Framework: It has become a priority to implement Peer Observation of Teaching (PoT) in the domain of higher education. There are different PoT approaches, a social credentialism model and a feedback-oriented approach. Method: The Higher Education-PoT (HE-PoT) tool was designed ad hoc following observational methodology principles. The original items were drawn from a systematic review of PoT tools by Otero-Saborido et al. (2024). The procedure consisted of two phases: in the first qualitative phase, items from the tool were selected and circulated within a group of experts; in the second quantitative phase, the items were quantified using the Aiken coefficient Results and Discussion: It was initially based on a systematic review of PoT tools and subsequently subjected to 4 rounds of revisions by Physical Education and Sports Science teaching experts. The final tool consisted of a total of 33 descriptive categories divided into 11 items. The validity of all item contents was calculated using Aiken's coefficient (value equal to 0.75 or above, except for 2 items which scored 0.66) and all categories obtained values above 0.75. A total of 25 of the 33 categories presented values over 0.90. Research Implications: Future works should test the tool reliability so that it can be used to improve teaching following collaborative approaches. Originality/Value: Validated PoT tools are generally lacking in university education. The designed tool includes a number of items that contribute to a sustainable observation for teachers.

Research analytics capabilities (RAC) survey: development, validation and revision using the Rasch model

PurposeThe research enterprise within higher education is becoming more competitive as funding agencies require more collaborative research projects, higher-level of accountability and competition for limited resources. As a result, research analytics has emerged as a field, like many other areas within higher education to act as a data-informed unit to better understand how research institutions can effectively grow their research strategy. This is a new and emerging field within higher education.Design/methodology/approachAs businesses and other industries are embracing recent advances in data technologies such as cloud computing and big data analytic tools to inform decision making, research administration in higher education is seeing a potential in incorporating advanced data analytics to improve day-to-day operations and strategic advancement in institutional research. This paper documents the development of a survey measuring research administrators’ perspectives on how higher education and other research institutions perceive the use of data and analytics within the research administration functions. The survey development process started with composing a literature review on recent developments in data analytics within the research administration in the higher education domain, from which major components of data analytics in research administration were conceptualized and identified. This was followed by an item matrix mapping the evidence from literature with corresponding, newly drafted survey items. After revising the initial survey based on suggestions from a panel of subject matter experts to review, a pilot study was conducted using the revised survey instrument and validated by employing the Rasch measurement analysis.FindingsAfter revising the survey based on suggestions from the subject matter experts, a pilot study was conducted using the revised survey instrument. The resultant survey instrument consists of six dimensions and 36 survey items with an establishment of reasonable item fit, item separation and reliability. This survey protocol is useful for higher educational institutions to gauge research administrators’ perceptions of the culture of data analytics use in the workplace. Suggestions for future revisions and potential use of the survey were made.Originality/valueVery limited scholarly work has been published on this topic. The use of data-informed and data-driven approaches with in research strategy within higher education is an emerging field of study and practice.

Blockchain Technology for Higher Education and Recruitment: A Systematic Literature Review

Blockchain is a recent technological innovation that has undergone significant growth with numerous business applications. One of the most promising applications of blockchain technology lies within the domains of higher education and recruitment. Despite its potential, academic literature on these topics remains limited. In this study, the researchers conducted a systematic literature review to unravel blockchain’s potential applications in higher education and recruitment. This paper identifies the current benefits and challenges of blockchain in these fields and delineates key steps in higher education and recruitment processes to determine blockchain practical applications. To analyze the potential benefits and challenges of blockchain for higher education and recruitment, we integrate the resource-based view (RBV) and transaction cost theory (TCT). The RBV is employed to underscore blockchain’s potential as a strategic resource that can provide competitive advantages in higher education, while the TCT is utilized to focus on its efficacy in reducing transaction costs related to recruitment. The study concludes by highlighting directions for future research, emphasizing the imperative for empirical investigations into real-world blockchain applications. It also encourages theoretical advancements to deepen our understanding of the impact of blockchain technology on higher education and recruitment

ChatGPT in higher education - a synthesis of the literature and a future research agenda

AbstractChatGPT has emerged as a significant subject of research and exploration, casting a critical spotlight on teaching and learning practices in the higher education domain. This study examines the most influential articles, leading journals, and productive countries concerning citations and publications related to ChatGPT in higher education, while also shedding light on emerging thematic and geographic clusters within research on ChatGPT’s role and challenges in teaching and learning at higher education institutions. Forty-seven research papers from the Scopus database were shortlisted for bibliometric analysis. The findings indicate that the use of ChatGPT in higher education, particularly issues of academic integrity and research, has been studied extensively by scholars in the United States, who have produced the largest volume of publications, alongside the highest number of citations. This study uncovers four distinct thematic clusters (academic integrity, learning environment, student engagement, and scholarly research) and highlights the predominant areas of focus in research related to ChatGPT in higher education, including student examinations, academic integrity, student learning, and field-specific research, through a country-based bibliographic analysis. Plagiarism is a significant concern in the use of ChatGPT, which may reduce students’ ability to produce imaginative, inventive, and original material. This study offers valuable insights into the current state of ChatGPT in higher education literature, providing essential guidance for scholars, researchers, and policymakers.

Essential Aspects of Gender-inclusive Computer Science Education

Computer science is a higher education domain that still show a significant male dominance. Many research studies have highlighted the importance of diversity and gender balance in computer science related areas such as software engineering and system development. However, there is still a well-identified problem that university programmes and courses on computer science fail to attract the female audience. The objective of this study is to investigate the concept of gender-inclusive computer science (CS) education with the aim of broadening participation in CS courses and programs. This is conducted through a literature study, initially focusing on keywords and research areas, and subsequently searching into existing research. The research question that guided the study was: "What concepts can be found in literature to make computer science education more gender-inclusive?". Data were analysed thematically in a two-step analysis process inspired by the grounded theory methods of Open coding and Axial coding. Findings suggest that there is significant room for learning in this field, particularly from Critical CS education studies. The Open coding analysis showed that the findings can be categorised into eight main themes. In the Axial coding the themes were merged, refined, renamed, and centred around the main axial theme of 'Epistemological pluralism'. Other essential themes that all are related to the axial main theme were: 'Design and creativity', 'Bias awareness and ethics', 'Collaboration and communication', 'Self-regulated learning', 'Real-world applications', and 'Role models and mentorship'. The result of this study is presented through a visual model that illustrates essential aspects of inclusive computer science education. The paper also proposes various directions for future research.

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INTEGRATED PRACTICES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Purpose: This study aims to develop an integrated framework for Total Quality Management (TQM) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices in higher education, bridging the gap in previous research that treated them separately. Theoretical Framework: The study acknowledges the philosophical foundations and substantial overlap between TQM and CSR. However, it highlights that previous research has not adequately integrated these two practices in the context of higher education. Therefore, the theoretical framework of this research seeks to integrate TQM and CSR within the higher education context. Methodology: Employing a comparative approach, the study reviews the literature and develops a theoretical framework. The proposed integrated TQM-CSR practices are compared with the only one TQM-CSR framework generated by prior study. Findings: The significant TQM-CSR practices that are expected to enhance organizational performance were identified. The proposed mediating variable was selected to be Employees’ Performance emphasizing its importance for overall organizational success. Research Implications: This research provides practical guidance for implementing TQM-CSR practices in higher education institutions and highlights the significance of employees' performance for organizational success. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the existing literature by addressing the ambiguity surrounding the integration of TQM and CSR in higher education. By developing an integrated framework and examining the mediating role of employees' performance, this research adds originality to the discourse on TQM-CSR practices in the higher education domain. The study's findings provide valuable insights for HEIs seeking to enhance their total quality and engagement with stakeholders.

Critical Digital Pedagogy’s Framework: Lecturer’s Voices to Analysis the Incorporation of Discord Tool in Higher Education

Critical pedagogy can be reflected in the situation when the learners become social transformers of their community and world, and when they critically construct knowledge. The prior researchers s only evaluated discrepancies in gender and age. Freire and Brown's framework also verified the feasibility and reliability of implementing CDP. However, general skills and unspecific digital tools drove the reader's bias and ambiguity. Consequently, the purposes of the study aim to connect previous topics in different contexts, addressing the gap and providing a critical analysis. Especially, English lectures in certain skills and specific digital tools would be needed to know critical pedagogy's intentional implementation or unintentional presence in the ELT realm. Three concerns were highlighted to guide the researchers to do the research; the essential aspect of pedagogy that has and has not been involved yet in online learning and the factors of age and gender that might influence the learning. Th researchers s used qualitative method, especially observation and questionnaire instruments to get the data of the incorporation of the Discord tool of critical pedagogy in the higher education domain. The findings reveals that the implementation a critical pedagogy of Discord tool and the discrepancies of age and gender that influence the online meeting.

The Future Orientation of Italian Adolescents in Post-Pandemic Times: Associations with Self-Efficacy and Perceived Academic Achievement

Future orientation refers to an individual’s conscious portrayal of upcoming events, encompassing thoughts, motivations, and emotions. Research on future orientation has primarily focused on adolescents due to their perceived necessity to prepare for adulthood. To investigate the hopes and fears of Italian adolescents in post-pandemic times, as well as age and gender differences and the associations between future orientation, self-efficacy, and perceived academic achievement, a survey was conducted with 388 Italian high school students. The Future Orientation and Life Course Prospective Questionnaires, along with the Problem-Solving Self-Efficacy Scale, were administered. Data analysis involved content analysis of hopes and fears, as well as statistical methods (t-tests, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis) were employed. A greater number of fears than hopes were mentioned. Age differences were marginal. Compared with males, females expressed a greater number of hopes and fears and provided more detailed insights into their fears within the domains of higher education, self, and the general existential category. As expected, positive and modest correlations were observed between future orientation, self-efficacy, and academic achievement. Notably, self-efficacy and work/career future orientation were found to predict academic achievement. The results are discussed in terms of their relevance for school educational programs.

Literary Creation and the Fusion of Critical Thinking: Project-Centered Teaching Strategies in Australian Higher Education at the Beginning of the 21st Century

This paper investigates the intricate relationship between literary creation, critical thinking, and project-centered teaching strategies within the landscape of Australian Higher Education at the onset of the 21st century. The study delves into the integration of literary creation as a catalyst for fostering creativity and critical thinking skills, with a specific focus on project-centered teaching approaches. Utilizing a mixed-methods research design, the study explores the challenges, opportunities, and successful implementations of these strategies across diverse disciplines. The findings shed light on the dynamic interplay between literary creation, critical thinking, and innovative pedagogical methods, providing valuable insights for educators, administrators, and policymakers in the higher education domain.

Review of learning management systems: history, types, advantages, and challenges

<div align="center"><span>As technological advancements continue in the higher education domain, the systems of higher learning management in universities and institutions have witnessed significant attention from researchers and developers. The technologies of these systems can present extremely useful tools and provide many advantages to enhance learning and increase the students’ performance. However, there are some issues and challenges that face these systems and need to be highlighted. Moreover, there is a need to review the advantages of such systems in order to motivate other countries to adopt, use, and develop the learning systems. Therefore, this paper gives an overview of the learning management systems (LMSs) in universities and institutes. Furthermore, it presents the history of LMSs, usages, systems types, advantages, challenges and issues.</span></div>

ChatGPT in education: A blessing or a curse? A qualitative study exploring early adopters’ utilization and perceptions

To foster the development of pedagogically potent and ethically sound AI-integrated learning landscapes, it is pivotal to critically explore the perceptions and experiences of the users immersed in these contexts. In this study, we perform a thorough qualitative content analysis across four key social media platforms. Our goal is to understand the user experience (UX) and views of early adopters of ChatGPT across different educational sectors. The results of our research show that ChatGPT is most commonly used in the domains of higher education, K-12 education, and practical skills training. In social media dialogues, the topics most frequently associated with ChatGPT are productivity, efficiency, and ethics. Early adopters' attitudes towards ChatGPT are multifaceted. On one hand, some users view it as a transformative tool capable of amplifying student self-efficacy and learning motivation. On the other hand, there is a degree of apprehension among concerned users. They worry about a potential overdependence on the AI system, which they fear might encourage superficial learning habits and erode students’ social and critical thinking skills. This dichotomy of opinions underscores the complexity of Human-AI Interaction in educational contexts. Our investigation adds depth to this ongoing discourse, providing crowd-sourced insights for educators and learners who are considering incorporating ChatGPT or similar generative AI tools into their pedagogical strategies.

Navigating the Storm: Addressing University Student Mental Health Amidst COVID-19 and Beyond

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 had significant worldwide implications, leading to a widespread health catastrophe that affected many continents. In the midst of the ongoing struggle against the viral outbreak, a parallel but equally consequential phenomenon has emerged: a notable decrease in mental well-being, particularly among those enrolled in higher education institutions. This article explores the complex relationship between pre-existing academic demands, changing social dynamics, and personal development obstacles, which are further intensified by the abrupt shift to distant education and social seclusion. The confluence of painful information and an ambiguous outlook heightened sensations of anxiety and sadness. Nevertheless, in the face of these challenges, students showed remarkable resilience by developing creative methods of coping, educational institutions strengthened their mental health resources, and technology emerged as a valuable tool in promoting overall well-being. The current global epidemic serves as a pressing reminder of the need to give precedence to mental health, particularly within the domain of higher education.

Development of European Educational Policy: Legal Foundations

The manuscript is devoted to European educational policy through the prism of legal regulations as their influence is very significant for the development of educational system especially at the tertiary level. 
 The purpose is to study peculiarities of the shaping and development of European educational policies within the realm of higher education, where legal and pedagogical sciences intersect. The tasks are: to find out what place educational sector takes in Europe and why; to reveal the most significant legal documents in the sphere of education and follow the path of development of European policy development in the higher education domain by drawing insights from these documents; to determine the value of legal documents in the sphere of education for the development of European educational policy, based on their essence. 
 The research methods used are analysis and syntheses of European legal documents related to the higher education field aimed at collecting the materials for researching the problem both from a legal and pedagogical position and for drawing the conclusion. 
 The results revealed that the beginning of the European countries’ cooperation in educational sphere (1970s) led to the development of a common educational strategy. Enhanced collaboration in higher education across various tiers evolved significantly following the recognition of the pivotal role played by skilled human resources in driving economic and social progress, a realization that first emerged in 1985. This recognition led to the endorsement of several significant agreements, including the Single European Act in 1987, the Magna Charta Universitatum in 1988, and the Memorandum of Higher Education in the European Community in 1991. The most important EU Treaties concerned the educational sector as well that led to the signing the Bologna Declaration, the establishment of the European Higher Education Area, and the regular meetings of the European Ministers of Education. Education has become the basis for shaping European community and the core for economic stability. 
 The conclusion is that European statesmen consider the educational sector to be the key one because it is the basis of economic, social and human development; the EU Higher Educational Policy has gone from the auxiliary industry in the context of shaping the internal market (1950s) to one of the priority sectors that is developing in response to the demands of society.

A cross-cultural study on the career counseling service ecosystem: implications for higher education marketing

ABSTRACT A career counseling service (CCS) provides an important measure of student satisfaction and contributes to the shaping of a higher education marketing strategy. However, the body of knowledge in the higher education domain is scant on how a CCS is created and delivered to suit the needs of students and the wider society. This study uses an explorative multiple-case study of the CCS across three different cultural contexts: UK, Italy, and China. The study adopted a service ecosystem perspective, building on contingency theory (i)to analyze the CCS as a tri-level scheme – that is to say, at the micro, meso, and macro levels – and identify the themes and underlying constructs in the co-creation of the CCS at each level and (ii)to highlight the disparities in CCSs across different cultural contexts. Six dominant themes in CCSs emerged – namely, quality assurance, a student-centered approach, mental health, industry collaboration, promotion of service, and digital platforms. The findings revealed that the role of the CCS is transitioning from a mere job placement service to a strategic and administrative function, which interacts with and influences various actors in the higher education ecosystem. Across the different cultural contexts, disparities in the identified themes were ascertained and explained.

Blending “hard” and “soft” TQM for academic excellence: the University of Siena experience in the field of Life Sciences

PurposeFocusing on the adoption of Total Quality Management (TQM) principles in universities, this research paper explores how the “soft” dimensions of TQM trigger its “hard” dimensions considering them at the individual (micro-) and the university (meso-), and eventually at cluster (system-), levels.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a qualitative approach, this study presents an in-depth, longitudinal case study of University of Siena, one of the oldest Italian universities, that has been at the core of the research-based cluster on vaccines, today converged in the Tuscan Life Science Cluster. In particular, data were collected between 2018 and February 2022 and consists of archival data (press articles, websites, books), nine interviews to key informants, multiyear experience of the Life Sciences sector by two of the authors and other material put at disposal by university offices, and emails. Data analysis relied on a timeline, a coding procedure that considered three levels of analysis (individual, organization and cluster). Finally, the authors looked at the “how” and “why” the emerged themes have contributed to academic excellence.FindingsThis paper unveils how “soft” and “hard” sides of TQM are blended across multiple levels for reaching academic excellence. The grounded model emerged enlightens the importance of an individual “soft” dimension, academic passion (composed by its three subdimensions of individual research, teaching and entrepreneurial passion) and also sheds light on the organizational “soft” and “hard” sides that the university has been able to design for encouraging research, teaching and third mission quality. Academic excellence has been possible thanks to the capitalization of the individual and organizational “soft” sides into real outcomes as represented by the organizational and individual “hard” sides.Practical implicationsThe paper suggests the importance of TQM principles applied at universities' level, providing an in-depth description of “soft” and “hard” sides dimensions of TQM and their impact on all the three pillars of academic excellence. The study findings suggest implications for managers and professionals in the higher education domain as well as for policymakers emphasizing the importance of supporting the individual and organizational soft sides of TQM. The authors provide practical implications recommending universities to consider not only the organizational dimensions but also individual ones when pursuing higher education excellence. In particular, individual passion plays a crucial role and universities need to identify ways of nurturing it. The authors also recommend policymakers to think about new ways to sustain universities as crucial actors in boosting a cluster development, as well as to consider higher education institutions, especially in more rural areas, as a privileged player not only capable of nurturing academic excellence but also able of creating an internationally renowned cluster.Originality/valueTQM principles have been intensively analysed from an industrial perspective focusing on manufacturing and services, while this paper focuses on TQM in universities, presenting a grounded model that blends the individual and organizational “soft” and “hard” sides.

A new validated model of leadership development in higher education; empirical assessment using universal attributes of spiritual intelligence

PurposeHigher education institutions aim for the holistic development of students to cope with the changing global context. The present study aims to devise a model of leadership development among higher education students by validating the model conceptually and testing it empirically. Attributes of Spiritual Intelligence (SI) are empirically evaluated for leadership development post its conceptual validation.Design/methodology/approachThis article examined current theoretical frameworks and gaps in the literature. A total of 810 students were approached from Indian Higher education institutions for study. Data has been examined using the exploratory and then confirmatory factor analysis techniques to check the validity and reliability of the measuring instrument.FindingsThe empirical findings confirm that the eight new spiritual intelligence attributes defined and validated through this study can have a significant impact on the leadership development of higher education students.Practical implicationsEducational researchers have often found the construct of spiritual intelligence challenging to comprehend and implement in higher education institutions. The present study findings can be of great value to higher education institutions that will recognize the importance of spiritual values in holistic development including leadership development.Originality/valueThis paper initiates and validate a universal set of attributes of spiritual intelligence in the higher education domain that can be useful for leadership development. The uniqueness of this paper lies in the fact that the eight new attributes of SI defined are easy to comprehend and practical to use in daily academic life, and can be used by HEIs students irrespective of their spiritual beliefs. A validated model at one university could be replicated at other universities in India and around the world, not only for students but also for educators and administrators as well.

Pedagogical partnership in higher education institutions: expediency and capabilities

Pedagogical partnership in higher education institutions: expediency and capabilities

The Role of Interactive and Immersive Technologies in Higher Education: A Survey

Abstract : The developments in the Engineering domain have risen at an unprecedented rate in the past three decades. New technologies emerge every year and find their use case in multiple industries, also impacting the higher education as a whole. The present ecosystem demands industry-ready graduates from higher education institutes. To meet this, inculcation of newly developed technologies in the engineering education domain is a must. The retention span of Millennials in the traditional classroom settings has lowered down, posing the biggest challenge in student learning outcome at the higher education level. To solve this problem, interactive and immersive technologies has played a significant role through the use of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Gamification in a modern classroom setting. These technologies are capable of being used online as well as offline, and promise to deliver an enhanced user experience. The use of such tools also improves the student engagement by virtue of interactive content during the classroom session. This results in improved student learning and motivation in various domains of higher education. This paper focuses on the engineering education domain and discusses the role of these technologies in improving student understanding of intricate concepts of various engineering disciplines. A study of research papers presenting different digital learning platforms developed using these technologies from 2017 to 2021 was done, and it was concluded that the trends and technologies discussed in this paper have been tested and proven to be beneficial in engineering education. Further, developing a low-cost learning system using immersive and interactive technologies, and upgrading the present classroom set-up and skill set of instructors to make them significantly capable of utilizing the benefits offered by these technologies is yet to be achieved. Keywords : Higher Education, Education Technology, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Immersive Technology, Interactive Teaching- Learning, Game-Based Learning, Online Teaching- Learning

An exploration of the key determinants for the application of AI-enabled higher education based on a hybrid Soft-computing technique and a DEMATEL approach

The application of AI in higher education has greatly increased globally in the dynamic digital age. The adoption of developmentally appropriate practices using AI-enabled techniques for facilitating the performance of teaching and learning in the higher education domain is thus a necessary task, especially in the COVID 19 pandemic era. The development and implementation of such techniques involve many factors and are related to the classical multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) issue; however, these factors surrounding supervisors will confuse them and may result in misjudgment. To clarify the relevant issues and illustrate the cause-and-effect relationships among factors, a hybrid soft-computing technique (i.e., the fuzzy rough set theory (FRST) with ant colony optimization (ACO)) and a DEMATEL approach was proposed in this study, which can help decision makers capture the best model necessary for achieving aspiration-level in a higher education management strategy. In the results submitted, the improvement priority for dimensions is based on the measurement of the influences, running in order of tutors for learners (A), skills and competences (B), interaction data to support learning (C), and universal access to global classrooms (D), and which can serve as a reference for the plan of AI-enabled teaching/learning for higher education.