Economics In Katowice Research Articles

COIL Method in Economic Higher Education: The Stakeholders’ Perspective

COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) is an innovative teaching method that allows students to experience international cooperation and develop intercultural skills using digital technologies. This online teaching method became popular recently based on the experience gained by higher education institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. COIL is an effective and convenient teaching method that provides students with the experience of „internationalisation at home.” The COIL engages students, teachers, and business partners. As those groups have different educational needs and expectations, the question arises as to what extent this teaching method can address those needs. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to identify the main benefits and limitations of the COIL method in economic higher education based on the empirical survey results. The survey was conducted after the successful COIL implementation in 2023/2024 in several courses at the University of Economics in Katowice, Poland. The COIL method was applied in the form of three different models and was organised in cooperation with partners from several European universities. In particular, the COIL method was applied within a course devoted to Digitalisation and Sustainability, aiming at developing projects on business plans for start-ups using innovative technologies to enhance sustainable development. The paper presents the COIL concept, course objectives, and learning outcomes, as well as an assessment of the COIL method from the perspectives of students, teachers, and business experts. The main findings suggest that all students appreciate the advantages of COIL: the possibility to gain international experience, improve communication and intercultural skills, and learn the basics of project management. They also signalled some challenges related to international teamwork. However, teachers, in general, are satisfied with the quality of outcomes of students’ cooperation, although applying the COIL method requires lots of administrative work and developing new skills. Similarly, business partners highly assessed the benefits of the COIL method for students in terms of their future professional careers.

COIL method in economic higher education – the stakeholders’ perspective

COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) is an innovative teaching method that allows students to experience international cooperation and develop intercultural skills using digital technologies. This online teaching method became popular recently based on the experience gained by higher education institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. COIL is an effective and convenient teaching method that provides students with the experience of „internationalisation at home.” The COIL engages students, teachers, and business partners. As those groups have different educational needs and expectations, the question arises as to what extent this teaching method can address those needs. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to identify the main benefits and limitations of the COIL method in economic higher education based on the empirical survey results. The survey was conducted after the successful COIL implementation in 2023/2024 in several courses at the University of Economics in Katowice, Poland. The COIL method was applied in the form of three different models and was organised in cooperation with partners from several European universities. In particular, the COIL method was applied within a course devoted to Digitalisation and Sustainability, aiming at developing projects on business plans for start-ups using innovative technologies to enhance sustainable development. The paper presents the COIL concept, course objectives, and learning outcomes, as well as an assessment of the COIL method from the perspectives of students, teachers, and business experts. The main findings suggest that all students appreciate the advantages of COIL: the possibility to gain international experience, improve communication and intercultural skills, and learn the basics of project management. They also signalled some challenges related to international teamwork. However, teachers, in general, are satisfied with the quality of outcomes of students’ cooperation, although applying the COIL method requires lots of administrative work and developing new skills. Similarly, business partners highly assessed the benefits of the COIL method for students in terms of their future professional careers.

The determinants of ChatGPT usage among accounting students: the role of habit, social influence and facilitating conditions

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine how habit, social influence, and facilitating conditions influence accounting students’ use of ChatGPT. Methodology/approach: The study was conducted among bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and postgraduate students studying accounting-related majors at the University of Economics in Katowice. Ordinal logistic regression was used to analyze 237 responses. Findings: The study confirms that the accounting students use ChatGPT primarily for self-studying and preparing projects and homework, with facilitating conditions, habits, and gender having a statistically significant impact on its use. Maintaining habits positively impacts the use of ChatGPT. The gender comparison indicates that women are less likely to use it than men. Research limitations: The study was conducted only at one economic university in Poland. Originality/value: The results reveal that ChatGPT use is a habit for 5% of accounting students. The results of our study highlight the need to conduct further research in this area, to include ChatGPT in professional activities and teaching to make users aware of the dangers (including ethical ones) associated with the use of artificial intelligence in accounting practice and to familiarize accounting teachers with it to help shape good habits among future accountants.

Teaching mode in the PRE-COVID, COVID-19, and POST-COVID periods and students’ learning outcomes on the example of Accounting study program

Main research aim is assessing whether the mode of conducting classes (traditional/distance) affects the differentiation in the obtained subject grades in the period preceding distance teaching (PRE-COVID), during the pandemic (COVID-19), with distance teaching, and after its end (POST-COVID). This study was conducted on the example of the subject "Accounting" taught at the University of Economics in Katowice. The grades of 278 students in the “Accounting” course were analyzed. To verify the hypothesis of this study, indicating the lack of differentiation of students’ grades depending on the mode of study (traditional/distance), it was necessary to assign the obtained grades to three distinguished research subperiods. The significance of variance in the grades of “Accounting” course students in individual sub-periods was calculated based on the one-way ANOVA analysis of variance. The conducted research allowed us to confirm the existence of a relationship between the adopted teaching formula (traditional and distance) and the grades (outcomes) of students. Based on the analyses carried out, it is necessary to reject the initial hypothesis about the lack of dependence between the mode of teaching in the PRE-COVID, COVID-19, and POST-COVID subperiods and the student’s learning outcomes in the introductory subject to accounting. The unique value of this study lies in the analysis of three consecutive comparative periods, in which traditional teaching, e-learning, and return to traditional education took place. This allows to set trends in the observed phenomena and make specific forecasts.

Education for sustainable development in Polish institutions of higher education – present and future

Education for sustainable development is still developing as a broad and comprehensive concept that includes related content on the environment, economy and society. Key issues of sustainable development include, among others, economic issues, production and consumption models, natural resource management, environmental protection, development models, poverty reduction, civic rights, democracy, governance etc. These issues are very diverse and require a holistic approach to teaching. The objective of this article is to diagnose and evaluate the current state of education for sustainable development in Polish higher education institutions, with particular emphasis on the EU in Katowice and to identify the directions of change. This article was written based on the Authors’ many years of scientific and teaching experience. It was also supported by a survey conducted in the year 2020/2021 among the students at the University of Economics in Katowice, which allowed them to identify directions for future educational activities.

How future entrepreneurs and financialists are educated at the University of Economics in Katowice – survey research from the time of the Covid-19 pandemic

How future entrepreneurs and financialists are educated at the University of Economics in Katowice – survey research from the time of the Covid-19 pandemic

Distance Learning Support Measures for Teachers in Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic made higher education institutions switch to distance learning in a very short period of time. The situation was challenging not only for universities themselves but also for the students and teachers. Some universities did not have the means, in terms of infrastructure, for a smooth transition to distance learning. Some teachers were not prepared for the extensive usage of ICT in their work. The pandemic developed dynamically, and it made it extremely difficult for both governments and universities to plan and implement firm solutions on how to conduct the teaching process. The presented paper focuses on the situation of Polish higher education institutions between March 2020 and March 2022. It reviews legal acts and ordinances introduced in the stated period, which focused on the sustainability of the teaching process, countermeasures for the spread of COVID-19 and the implementation of distance learning. The case of the University of Economics in Katowice, Poland, is used to show the correlation between governmental legal acts and those introduced by the university as part of the COVID -19 spread prevention and teaching process support.

Acquiring business knowledge through Business English reading materials: pre-experience students’ perspective

AbstractThe paper investigates how the type of business content found in the reading materials offered by a popular Business English course book as well as the degree of the content’s relevance and usefulness, are perceived by pre-service students learning Business English as part of their university curriculum. Twelve groups of first year undergraduate students at the University of Economics in Katowice, with no prior experience of learning either Business English or the principles of business, were asked to compare pairs of texts related to three business topics: international marketing, management styles, and stock market investment. One of the texts in each pair was selected from the Student Book of the third edition of a widely used Business English course book (upper-intermediate or intermediate level), and the other, on the same topic, extracted from online repositories of business-related articles. The results of the student survey indicate that first year students, while appreciating the course book ‘real-life examples’ of successful companies, express strong preference for the Internet-based texts which provide them with the opportunity to acquire ‘basic knowledge’ related to specific business issues. The findings also appear to confirm the rationale behind integrating the two approaches: LSP (languages for specific purposes) and CBI (content-based instruction) in the tertiary education context, as well as the importance of properly selected professional content in fostering learners’ motivation and engagement.

The Role and the Importance of Social Capital in the Green Transition of an Industrialized Region during Crisis Economy

Purpose: The objective of the presented study is to diagnose the readiness of Polish society for a economic transition. Design/Methodology/Approach: The primary research methods applied in this article are analyzing domestic and foreign subject literature, strategic documents, and available statistical data. In order to better illustrate the issue of the social capital significance for the transition, a survey was used among the inhabitants of the Silesian Province. The survey was conducted as part of the statutory research of the Department of Social and Economic Policy at the University of Economics in Katowice at the turn of 2019/2020. Using the questionnaire survey method, the study was carried out by a specialized research unit of the University of Economics in Katowice: Research and Development Centre. It was conducted based on a sample of 300 inhabitants of the province. Findings: The survey performed among the inhabitants of the Silesian Province allowed for assessing the current level of environmental awareness. Analyzing the research results, it can be concluded that nature, as an essential value, exists in the minds of the inhabitants of the Silesian Province. Nonetheless, this awareness is not necessarily related to the readiness to act for the benefit of nature protection. The indicated state of affairs is a vital challenge in terms of environmental education of the province's inhabitants under study, especially in the implementation of the Regional Just Transition Plan for the Silesian Province 2030. Practical Implications: The results of research and analyses presented in the article may be helpful in the context of the implementation of green transition programs in Poland, especially the Regional Just Transition Plan for the Silesian Province 2030. Originality/Value: So far, the issues discussed in this study (especially about the Silesian Province) have not been the subject of broader interest in the economic literature. The research results shown in the text have not been previously published.

Perception of Social Responsibility Strategy in Higher Education: Empirical Study in Poland

Today, the role of universities in the education of future managers who promote the principles of social responsibility (SR) and CSR in business practice is pivotal. Properly educated management staff of organizations can disseminate knowledge on this subject and apply its principles in practice. The research scope of the paper is to identify the knowledge and perception of the University Social Responsibility Declaration (Polish national programme in this field, hereinafter called USRD) among the students of the University of Economics in Katowice. The research assumes that most of the students do not have any knowledge about such programs as the USRD, and that despite this, they see the need for implementation of the specific principles of the USRD into university’s activities. Significance of specific principles is associated with students’ sociodemographic and psychographic characteristics. The strongest relation between the perception of the importance of the objectives of USRD and students’ characteristics is observed in the declared extent to which respondents implement the principles of social responsibility in their everyday life, as well as in their age and year of study. The more the students use those principles, the higher they personally rate specific principles of the USRD.

Challenges in Reporting the COVID-19 Spread and its Presentation to the Society

research-article Open AccessChallenges in Reporting the COVID-19 Spread and its Presentation to the Society Authors: Jakub Kubiczek Department of Economic and Financial Analysis, University of Economics in Katowice, ul. 1 Maja 50, 40-287 Katowice, Poland Department of Economic and Financial Analysis, University of Economics in Katowice, ul. 1 Maja 50, 40-287 Katowice, PolandSearch about this author , BartŁomiej Hadasik Department of Business Informatics, University of Economics in Katowice, ul. 1 Maja 50, 40-287 Katowice, Poland Department of Business Informatics, University of Economics in Katowice, ul. 1 Maja 50, 40-287 Katowice, PolandSearch about this author Authors Info & Claims Journal of Data and Information QualityVolume 13Issue 4December 2021 Article No.: 19pp 1–7https://doi.org/10.1145/3470851Published:12 August 2021Publication History 11citation794DownloadsMetricsTotal Citations11Total Downloads794Last 12 Months371Last 6 weeks94 Get Citation AlertsNew Citation Alert added!This alert has been successfully added and will be sent to:You will be notified whenever a record that you have chosen has been cited.To manage your alert preferences, click on the button below.Manage my AlertsNew Citation Alert!Please log in to your account Save to BinderSave to BinderCreate a New BinderNameCancelCreateExport CitationPublisher SiteView all FormatsPDF

Variability of Body Build and Physiological Spinal Curvatures of Young People in an Accelerated Longitudinal Study.

The human body is characterized by the variability of the characteristics of body build, which is expressed in the instability of spinal curvatures, which change during ontogeny. This phenomenon leads to a phylogenetic evolution of the human body build and posture. The aim of the study was to assess the dynamics of the variability of traits and indices of body build and posture and their mutual relations. It was assumed that over the 10-year observation period, a significant variability and relationships will be observed between the characteristics of body build and posture in young adults. Between 2006 and 2016, 2154 women and men aged 19.6 ± 0.8 were examined (first-year students at the University of Economics in Katowice, Poland). Measurements of basic anthropometric measurements and angular values of lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis were performed. The collected data were analysed statistically, and the intergroup and intragroup differences were evaluated (ANOVA with repeated measures). The dynamics of variability (by building time series) and absolute and single-base increments were determined. The body build of young men and women in the period of ontogenetic stabilization in the study group has changed statistically significantly over the decade. A prediction of the increases in body weight and hip circumference was recorded over a period of 10 years, especially in men. The characteristics of body posture have also undergone a significant progressive change. In women, thoracic kyphosis increased by 96.15%, whereas in men, lumbar lordosis decreased by 52.65%. Significant sexual differentiation was shown for such characteristics as body height, waist circumference and the angle of lumbar lordosis. The relationships between the characteristics of body build and posture were verified. There was a moderate relationship between the hip circumference and lumbar lordosis in women and a weak relationship between body height and the angle of thoracic kyphosis in men.

Polish students’ knowledge of dietary supplements

BackgroundThe increasing intake of dietary supplements (DS) can be observed worldwide. These preparations are classified as a special category of foods and are subject to food law, not pharmaceutical regulations. As a result, the requirements for DS are much less restrictive than for medications.MethodologyThis research was conducted in a group of young Polish students of pharmacy at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice (SUM) and of finance and accounting at the University of Economics in Katowice (UE). The survey contained questions concerning DS, such as difference to drugs, scope of use, and safety.ResultsThe respondents answered questions about taking DS and the effects of their use. DS were used either currently or in the past by about 70% of the respondents, while about 30% of the surveyed population declared that they did not use these preparations. Women and UE students predominated among those not taking DS.ConclusionMulti-component products taken for a period of less than 3 months to supplement a deficit for a given component were used the most often. One product was taken at a time. The respondents read product information and followed the recommended doses. Over 50% of the studied population was aware of the negative effects of DS. Adverse symptoms of DS use were observed by 5% of the respondents.

University museums of the Silesian Voivodeship (Republic of Poland)

The article considers the scientific basis for the study of the activities of university museums by Polish scientists. The main support for Polish university museums is said to be provided by the Association of University Museums (AUM). The author analyzes its research and popularization activities. The main purpose of the work is to study the history of the formation and development of six university museums of the Silesian Voivodeship in the Republic of Poland: “Museum of Geology of Deposits named after Czeslaw Poborsky at the Faculty of Mining and Geology of the Silesian University of Technology”, “Museum of the Faculty of Geosciences of the University of Silesia”, “Museum of Silesian Organs”, “Center for History and Traditions of the University of Economics in Katowice”, “Museum of Technology of the Silesian University of Technology” and the “Museum of Medicine and Pharmacy in Sosnowiec”. The author also examines their collections and exhibitions. Theoretical research in the field of studying university museums is considered in detail. For the analysis, scientific articles, books, brochures, mass media materials and information on museum websites are used in order to provide a complete picture of the historical and current state of university museums in the region. In the process of writing the article, the author contacted several guardians and university museum staff to clarify the dates and information provided in various sources. The work partially uses their responses received by e-mail, with the indication of information about the source.

Personal branding in an elevator: Developing job search pitch skills in tertiary level Business English pedagogy

Abstract This contribution reports on the use of genre-based instruction in developing students’ job search pitch skills in a Business English course taught at the tertiary level. The job search pitch (also referred to as personal branding pitch) is viewed as a subgenre of an elevator pitch; it is regarded as an essential communication tool to be mastered and used by students in future job search situations. Drawing on the available literature as well as the author’s own research and experience, the report demonstrates how the generic structure and rhetorical devices contributing to the realisation of the communicative function of job search pitch are incorporated in the job search module of an undergraduate Business English course taught at the University of Economics in Katowice. It also provides a brief account of students’ reflections and observations related to the usefulness of job search pitch skills and the challenges involved in their development.

The Significance of Motivations and Selected Effects of Student Employment in the Course of Studies: A Case of an Economics Study Program in Poland

<p style="text-align:justify">The article addresses the problem of gainful employment undertaken during full-time studies. It analyzes the importance of students’ motivations to work and the selected effects of combining studies and work. It refers to areas that have not yet been investigated by other researchers. The data used in the article come from the survey conducted by the author at the Faculty of Economics, at the University of Economics in Katowice through 2014-2017. The study revealed a strong relationship between the motivations to start work during studies and the following factors: the alignment of a chosen job to the field of study, the opportunity to develop new skills and competencies valued on the labor market, the willingness to continue working for the same employer after graduation, and an employer’s intention to employ a student after graduation. Another connection was identified between the character of the work performed by students and their readiness to change if given another opportunity. The relationship, albeit relatively weak, was also confirmed between the character of the work performed and difficulties experienced by students with combining work with studies and the ability to maintain a balance between time assigned to studying, work and leisure.</p>

Public Trust – A Bank’s Non-financial Capital

Objective: The article is devoted to an important determinant of a bank’s success, which is public trust and the bank’s ethics in relation to employees and external stakeholders, especially customers. The aim of the article is to analyse the concept of the institution of public trust – with particular emphasis on business ethics and critical verification of the legitimacy of assigning this feature to banks – in the context of a diagnosis of the level of trust towards banks and the reasons for customer attachment in the banking sector. Research Design and Methods: A review of the subject-literature and various reports is conducted in order to identify the dimensions of public trust as a factor which determines a bank’s activity. In order to examine opinions about the ethical behaviour of banks operating in Poland, the authors conducted a survey among students of the University of Economics in Katowice in May 2020. The survey was addressed to full- -time and part-time masters degree students from all faculties. Findings: The most important conclusion from the study is that the factors which have an impact on a bank’s ethical behaviour are diverse. The most important among them are connected with the new role of banks in the economy and legal regulations affecting their behaviour. Factors that foster unethical behaviour were also identified, with the pressure to create a sales plan playing the most prominent role. Implications/Recommendations: Customer trust in conventional and remote forms of contact with banks has not been addressed, although it certainly has an impact on trust in banks and on the durability of the customers’ relationships with banks. This opens up the possibility for broader research in the future. Contribution: The article gives a specific perspective on the issue of trust in banks. It looks at the issue from a perspective of students, who are generally seen as economically aware and who have a high level of knowledge about the behaviour of banks.

WSPÓŁODPOWIEDZIALNOŚĆ ZA EFEKTY KSZTAŁCENIA JAKO WYZNACZNIK POSTĘPU AUTONOMIZACJI STUDENTÓW W NAUCZANIU JĘZYKA SPECJALISTYCZNEGO

Building learner autonomy requires effective communication and cooperation between teachers and students with regard to teaching/learning goals and methods. In addition, critical reflection on the progress being made is needed. This paper aims to represent the voices on one side of this dialogue, by investigating the perceptions that Business English students at the University of Economics in Katowice have of the roles which ESP teachers should take. This study into learner autonomy sees the co-responsibility of learners for the outcomes of the teaching/learning process as a significant determinant of the development of autonomy. Besides providing an interesting insight into the needs and expectations of Business English students, the results may contribute to the discussion on the benefits of and problems related to the development of autonomy among young adults in tertiary education.

Stosowanie mediów cyfrowych w edukacji wyższej – konfrontacja opinii nauczycieli akademickich i studentów

Recommendations made by policy makers, increasing competitive pressure and growing popularity of digital media among participants of teaching processes contribute to their increasingly extensive use at Polish universities. The fact that the teaching processes has entered the new, digital dimension reveals the need for information concerning the relevance of use of electronic media, especially from the perspective of achieving learning outcomes. Given the above, the purpose of this paper is to present results of research on opinions of both students and academics on the need and significanceof the application of digital media in the learning processes.For the purposes of the article, a quantitative research was conducted among 86 students and 66 teachers from University of Economics in Katowice. The data was collected in April 2015 using an online surveying technique and analyzed using statistical description.In the light of our results, the application of electronic media seems to not only be imposed by macro- and micro-environmental conditions, but also to be expected by the main participants of educational processes taking place at university level. The results show that both groups of respondents consider the use of digital media at least as advisable for the achievement of learning outcomes (71.8% of responses covered labels: advisable, recommended or required). However, the level of necessity is slightly higher when digital tools are used by students (80.7%) than by teachers (70.3%). In general, multimedia presentations have been identifiedas the most required form of digital media application in teaching at the university.

Misja, wizja i cele uniwersytetu ekonomicznego

Teza. Trudności w określeniu całościowej misji uniwersytetu, powodują konieczność systematyzacji trzeciej misji uniwersytetu.
 Omówione koncepcje. Analizie zostały poddane misje uniwersytetów ekonomicznych w Polsce: Szkoła Główna Handlowa, Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Poznaniu, Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wrocławiu, Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach, Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Krakowie.
 Wyniki i wnioski. Uczelnie w sposób klarowny określają misję związaną z badaniami i kształceniem oraz profilem swojej jednostki. Odpowiedzią na zmieniające się warunki zewnętrze i oczekiwania interesariuszy są zawarte w trzeciej misji, która nie została w pełni uchwycona.
 Oryginalność/wartość poznawcza podejścia. W Polsce tematyka trzeciej misji uniwersytetu nie jest w pełni wyeksplorowana, analiza misji uniwersytetów ekonomicznych stanowi oryginalną próbę zbadania tego problemu w środowisku akademickim.