Ecuadorian University Research Articles

Digital Andragogical Competences of Ecuadorian Higher Education Teachers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

<p style="text-align:justify">The changes brought about in higher education by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic require effective action. Teachers must be trained to work on university platforms. The study allows us to analyse the current educational problems, which are found in many countries, not only in Ecuador. The research aimed to determine the virtual andragogical competencies of Ecuadorian university education during the COVID-19 pandemic. A mixed research approach was used. A quantitative analysis was applied first, followed by a qualitative analysis. The sample selection was participatory and non-probabilistic. The sample consisted of 1003 active higher education teachers in Ecuador. A questionnaire of 106 questions divided into four variables was applied. A multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed. The analyses demonstrated the need to apply four integral competencies. First the teacher must "Know how to be", through continuous ICT training. After the teacher has been trained, he/she must "Know". This process involves mastering educational technology. After updating knowledge, they must "Know how to live together". Develop critical and constructive communication. Then "Know how to do" by applying an effective guiding methodology. Teacher training under the competency-based approach is seen as a viable alternative.</p>

The moderating effect of collective efficacy on the relationship between environmental values and ecological behaviors

Sustainability implies improvements in responsible behaviors such as recycling and energy saving. Yet, ecological behaviors cannot be improved only by attending to personal variables; focus must also be put on the collective variables. The main aim of this research was to analyze how individual variables (environmental values) and collective variables (collective efficacy for ecological behavior) interact to explain recycling (Study 1; 502 students of Spanish universities) and energy-saving behaviors (Study 2; 544 students of Ecuadorian universities). Participants completed an online questionnaire that reflected all the studied variables. Ecological behaviors were collected through frequency scales. The results of the moderated analyses performed with Process for SPSS confirmed the moderating effect of collective efficacy in the relationship that both preservation and appreciation established with recycling and energy-saving behavior alike. This moderating effect was also confirmed in the relationship that utilization developed with recycling, but not with energy saving. Thus, collective efficacy directly influences pro-environmental behavior, but also interacts with the personal values of individuals. Consequently, the results indicate the need to encourage collective efficacy for ecological behaviors of individuals, groups, collectives, and communities.

Virtual or face to face classes: Ecuadorian university students’ perceptions during the pandemic

Due to the pandemic, classes have moved online for 2020-2021, and a return to face-to-face classes in the National University of Education (UNAE) in Ecuador is unknown. Students studying in the undergraduate program to be English language teachers are slowly adapting to this new form of E-learning, and some have found that they prefer online classes, while many are waiting for the day they return to classes. The objective of this study is to look at the pros and cons given by 69 students discussing why taking classes virtually or face to face is a better option for EFL and being an ELT professional in these turbulent times. Some prefer online learning for various reasons such as safety, comfort, economic reasons, and having more time in general. While some find E-learning difficult and want to return to synchronous classes because they feel there is little interaction between classmates and teachers, cannot practice English authentically, cannot get clarification from the teacher, have a hard time concentrating online, and there are constant internet connection issues. In conclusion, this information has great importance for teachers today who are struggling to teach in this new medium and teach to the needs of their students to aid in their planning and will contribute to future teachers who will teach online.

Psychometric Properties and Factor Structure of the Spanish Version of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) in Ecuador.

(1) Background: The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) is the most well-known self-report measure to assess psychological inflexibility, a transdiagnostic pathological process, and targets for interventions. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the Ecuadorian Spanish version of the AAQ-II in a large sample of college students in Ecuador. (2) Methods: A total of 7905 students, 46.26% male and 53.75% female, from 11 Ecuadorian universities were surveyed. The AAQ-II was tested for factorial structure, reliability, and correlations with other health-related measures. (3) Results: The AAQ-II showed an unidimensional factorial structure, accounting for 66.87% to 70% of the total variance and showing a good fit of the data to the model (comparative adjustment index (CFI) = 0.995; goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.992; Standardized Root Mean Squared Residual (SRMR) = 0.037; mean square approximation error (RMSEA) = 0.047, CI90% = 0.038–0.056). Reliability was optimal (Cronbach’s α = 0.919; ω = 0.928), and AAQ-II scores significantly correlated with multiple health indicators. Psychological inflexibility was significantly higher in women than men. (4) Conclusions: The Spanish version of the AAQ-II showed good psychometric properties, which further supports psychological inflexibility, not just as a transdiagnostic process.

Racismo y universidades en el Ecuador

El artículo analiza la situación del racismo en las universidades ecuatorianas, desde la revisión de marcos jurídicos, prácticas y procedimientos institucionales referentes al acceso a la educación superior de indígenas y afroecuatorianos, su permanencia, graduación y la incorporación de los saberes y cosmovisiones indígenas y afros. El estudio concluye que pese a los avances en el mejoramiento del sistema de educación superior y la declaración de la necesidad de la interculturalidad en la Constitución y en la Ley Orgánica de Educación Superior, existe el escaso interés de las universidades por procesar las demandas de los dos grupos étnicos, y la interculturalidad no constituye en el enfoque transversal de todo el sistema de educación superior. Asimismo, se demuestra que los indígenas y afroecuatorianos, especialmente las mujeres, continúan excluidos de la educación superior, hecho que empeora la calidad de vida y aumenta las brechas de desigualdad.

Educational Technologies and Their Application to Music Education: An Action-Research Study in an Ecuadorian University

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are tools that are part of the process of teaching and learning music. These didactic/pedagogical resources are widely used by teachers. They strengthen, motivate, and increase the student’s interest in learning. This study is an action-research (AR). It involves 12 teachers and 68 students in the subject of music education in an Ecuadorian university. A Holistic and Technological Model of Music Education (HTMME) was generated. The performance of the plan was evaluated by means of an original questionnaire and qualitative work. The AR procedure involved an analysis of data at the end of each implementation cycle. The appreciation of the new model was very positive. With the methodology implemented, new teaching experiences and relevant learning for students were achieved. Learning music with ICT induces creative-musical processes in students.

Barriers to sexual harassment bystander intervention in Ecuadorian universities

ABSTRACT Previous research, mainly in the United States, has identified several barriers to acting as a bystander in sexual harassment at university campuses. Despite the high frequency of harassment in Latin America, there is a dearth of studies investigating barriers to bystander behaviour in this context. In this pilot study, we report findings exploring harassment and bystander behaviour in university staff and students in Ecuador, a Latin American country characterised by masculine social norms and high levels of gender-based harassment. In an on-line survey, 129 staff and students from universities in different regions of Ecuador answered questions about perceptions of seriousness of harassment, rape myth acceptance, actual incidences of being a perpetrator, victim, or a bystander, and the likelihood and difficulties of bystander action. Women and those who scored higher in rape myth acceptance reported more intervention difficulties. In addition, women and those who had previously perpetrated harassment rated their likelihood of intervening lower. Finally, perceptions of harassment as a serious problem in campuses related to a higher likelihood of intervening as a bystander. We discuss the results in terms of practical applications in devising culturally appropriate bystander intervention workshops.

Interpersonal difficulties in heterosexual relationships and perfectionist automatic thoughts in Ecuadorian university students

The interpersonal difficulties of university students may affect their academic performance. Regarding students who manifest perfectionist automatic thoughts, they tend to show difficulties in heterosexual relationships. This research aimed to examine the relationship and predictive capacity of constructs related to perfectionism on difficulties in relationships with people of the opposite sex. 1298 Ecuadorian university students were recruited. 51.8% of the sample were men (n = 672). The Perfectionism Cognition Inventory and the Cuestionario de Evaluación de Dificultades Interpersonales en la Adolescencia were answered by the participants. Statistically significant differences were found in the different variables of perfectionistic automatic thoughts (i.e., Perfectionist Concerns, Perfectionist Demands, and Perfectionist Efforts) according to high and low levels of difficulties in heterosexual relationships. It was also found that the variable Perfectionist Efforts is a negative and significant predictor of high difficulties in heterosexual relationships. However, the variables Perfectionist Concerns and Perfectionist Demands are a positive and significant predictor of high levels in this type of interpersonal difficulties. All these results confirm that perfectionist automatic thoughts are related and are predictors of difficulties that Ecuadorian university students manifest in their heterosexual relationships.

Psychometric Properties of the Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire for Ecuadorian University Students (EVS-EUE).

University students are considered a key population in promoting and establishing healthy lifestyles that will ensure a full life for the next generations. The purpose of this study was to do a cultural and linguistic adaptation of the healthy lifestyle questionnaire for Ecuadorian university students (EVS-EUE). Two thousand, one hundred and eight (2108) students from 17 to 19 years old (27%), 20 to 24 years old (57%), and over 24 years old (16%) participated (M = 21.81 years; SD = 3.04). A confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency analysis, and concurrent validity were conducted. The results of the EVS-EUE Questionnaire presented adequate values (χ2/d.f = 9.02, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.96, Incremental Fit Index (IFI) = 0.96, McDonald Fit Index (MFI) = 0.91, Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (AGFI) = 0.94, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.06, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) = 0.03). The internal consistency showed values above 0.70, and analyzed its concurrent validity, reaching adequate values. This study has provided a valid and reliable questionnaire to evaluate healthy lifestyles in the Ecuadorian population.

Importance of university communication in times of pandemic

COVID-19 is a concern for everyone, and specifically for Universities, students, teachers and authorities, responsible for public policies. Physical distancing became an element when deciding where and how to study, which reduces the possibility of educating oneself in environments with other people who may be infected. In this context, this research analyzes how the pandemic affected and continues to affect Ecuadorian universities, and its influence on all university actors. The crisis has put processes to the test. Communication is an example of this process that faces an unprecedented situation. In this sense, it is intended to reflect on how the pandemic affected and conditioned the practice of university communication, internal and external communication. Finally, emphasis is placed on the importance of managing the relationships of trust between teachers and students in the current health emergency scenario.

Adaptación y medición del índice de convergencia en los medios de comunicación universitarios

La convergencia es un proceso que ha sumido a los medios de comunicación en una constante de cambios, lo que también involucra a los actores universitarios. En este sentido, la presente investigación se plantea como objetivos adaptar el índice de medición de la convergencia considerando las particularidades del contexto de los medios de comunicación universitarios -MCU- ecuatorianos, así como analizar el avance de cada una de sus dimensiones a partir de la implementación de esta herramienta. Los resultados obtenidos, mediante las técnicas del cuestionario y el análisis documental, dan cuenta que los MCU han profundizado más en el desarrollo de la polivalencia periodística, mientras que la participación de las audiencias, en general, todavía sigue siendo un desafío que requiere innovación y un mayor acercamiento con sus públicos. Sin embargo, se advierte que algunas cuestiones relacionadas con el tamaño, la consolidación y la integración de los grupos mediáticos con los procesos formativos, complejizan la puesta en marcha de los ámbitos de la convergencia periodística en estos espacios que conjugan lo comunicacional con lo educativo.

VARIABLES SOCIODEMOGRÁFICAS QUE INCIDEN EN LAS COMPETENCIAS DIGITALES DEL PROFESORADO UNIVERSITARIO

La educación en los últimos años ha experimentado cambios sustanciales en lo académico, administrativo y organizacional, debido a la irrupción de las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicaciones (TIC). Esta situación ha provocado pasar de una sociedad de la información a una sociedad del conocimiento, la cual exige algunas competencias claves para un mejor desempeño profesional. En este sentido, el objetivo de este trabajo es determinar si existe relación entre las variables edad, género y área del conocimiento de los profesores universitarios de Ecuador y sus competencias digitales. La metodología utilizada fue cuantitativa, con un diseño no experimental transversal, y su alcance de tipo descriptivo e inferencial. Se trabajó con una muestra de 657 docentes, a quienes se les aplicó un instrumento de 50 ítems, para identificar las cinco dimensiones abordadas de la competencia digital. Entre los resultados obtenidos, están las diferencias significativas encontradas entre algunas competencias digitales, en relación con la edad y área de conocimiento del profesorado. Como conclusión, se manifiesta la necesidad de desarrollar estrategias para implementar programas de formación orientados al desarrollo de las competencias digitales del profesorado, considerando las diferencias individuales y necesidades de capacitación, con la finalidad de evitar la infrautilización de los recursos tecnológicos.

University Students' Behaviour towards Entrepreneurial Intention in Ecuador: Testing for the Influence of Gender.

While the current global context of successive economic and health crises are punishing the economies of different countries in the world, it is particularly relevant to explore the business intentions of young university students, as potential entrepreneurs of opportunity. This matter is of the utmost importance, as it helps to facilitate the implementation of measures that can ensure the future recovery of the economy and the creation of new businesses. The objective of this paper is to study the institutional and psychological antecedents of entrepreneurial intention and the role of gender. The theory of planned behaviour is applied to assess how personal attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control can affect students′ intention of becoming an entrepreneur. In addition, organizational support and institutional barriers are tested as potentially significant antecedents of entrepreneurial intention, along with the influence of gender. The research carried out was based on survey responses from a sample of 740 students of economics, communications, and education at an Ecuadorian university. The research propositions were tested using a partial least squares approach. Results indicate that behaviour towards entrepreneurship does not change in relation to gender. In addition, personal attitudes and perceived behavioural control regarding entrepreneurship are positively related to students′ entrepreneurial intention. Organizational support is also found to be important for generating entrepreneurial intention. The paper adds to the current knowledge base on entrepreneurial intention by analysing the individual and joint influence of the principal elements of the theory of planned behaviour, as well as organizational support and institutional barriers on entrepreneurial intentions. Moreover, the research provides a useful perspective on the antecedents of entrepreneurial intention in an unexplored context such as Ecuador, by responding to the call focusing on entrepreneurial intention in different regions, cultures, and contexts.

INVESTIGATIVE COMPETENCES IN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Investigative competencies are necessary to carry out an optimal and efficient research process. Descriptive research is presented whose general objective is to design a proposal of investigative competencies in the areas of the study plan of the medical career. The specific objectives are: to characterize the teachers and students of the medical career, identify the research activities in progress, describe the scientific and technical competences for the performance of the research and design a proposal of investigative competences in the three areas of the plan of study of the medical career of an Ecuadorian university.

Systemic Model of Implementation of the Blended Learning Modality in the Social Sciences and Education Careers at the Ecuadorian University

Systemic model of implementation of the blended learning modality in the Social Sciences andEducation careers of the Ecuadorian university, which is argued and constructed from the epistemic referencesof the systemic approach, has the purpose of revealing and socializing the systemic dynamics of the process ofimplementation of the blended learning modality in the Ecuadorian university and its formative logic, conditionedby the essential relationships that occur between the subsystems that comprise it. The methodology used for theconstruction of the model is based on the systemic method and for the analysis of feasibility on the criterion ofusers, who contribute evaluative criteria with scores between good and excellent, which allows to sustain that theproposed model presents a suitable argumentation, a correct structuring, internal logic of cardinal importance thatsatisfies the demands of its implementation in the management of the process of professional formation in thesemipresential modality, guaranteed by an integral fashion of 4 equivalent to good and an integral average of 4.46 equivalent to very good, with a tendency to excellence

Sustainable Development in the Economic, Environmental, and Social Fields of Ecuadorian Universities

This article considers universities as an important element to increase productivity and competitiveness, where sustainable development (SD) is a cornerstone aspect for their development because it promotes effective communication mechanisms. The aim of this research is to evaluate the management of category A and B universities in Ecuador, through the contents of their accountability reports. The method to be used is bibliographic, exploratory, analytical, and experimental, considering the indicators of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The results show a lack of commitment from the analyzed higher education institutions when preparing accountability reports in terms of sustainability criteria. Additionally, the category in which each university is placed does not guarantee effective disclosure of information to the point that some category B universities have a higher percentage of revealed data than their A category peers. Similarly, the results also suggest proposing plans of action for policymakers to create standards for socially responsible annual reports to respond to the “triple bottom line” criteria approach, as well as establishing guidelines for the correct dissemination and disclosure of information. The originality of this work lies in analyzing the social responsibility practices in Ecuadorian universities by applying GRI indicators.

Restar importancia a la ética en la Formación del Contador Público: Una mala decisión en las universidades ecuatorianas

La ética constituye un elemento esencial en el ser humano en cualquier ámbito que este desenvuelva, ya sea a nivel personal o profesional, a nivel individual o colectivo. La ética centra su atención en la comprensión y aplicación racional de principios y valores que guían la actuación responsable del ser humano. Mantener una conducta ética genera excelencia y credibilidad en el profesional, por lo que el presente trabajo intenta hacer un análisis crítico de algunas contradicciones y responsabilidades sociales que deben ser asumidas por todos los actores sociales. El papel de las universidades en la formación de nuevos profesionales juega un papel trascendental. Este artículo centró su atención en la malla curricular ofertada por las universidades ecuatorianas para la formación del Contador Público. La ética en este campo al igual que en todas las actividades del quehacer humano se convierte en el pilar fundamental y base para un desarrollo basado en la confianza. Este estudio concentró el análisis en 15 universidades que pertenecientes a la RUEE y cuenta con un código de ética institucional, pero tan solo 6 de ellas incluyen en su malla curricular la ética como parte de la malla curricular en la formación de los nuevos contadores. La ética no debe ser considerada tan solo como un indicador, sino que debe procurar excelencia y credibilidad en el profesional, pues su misión será velar por los intereses colectivos.

El uso de blogs como herramienta para evaluar el rendimiento estudiantil en la educación superior

El presente trabajo tiene como finalidad identificar los alcances del uso del blog para evaluar continuamente el aprendizaje de estudiantes universitarios. La utilización de blogs dentro del área de educación ha permitido interactuar con uno o más autores. La facilidad para ingresar contenido multimedia o información del tema en cuestión ha llamado la atención de más usuarios para incorporar comentarios a este tipo de sitios webs. Su fácil manejo para interactuar ha conferido más valor a este tipo de herramienta virtual en la comunidad europea donde existen estudios sobre los métodos de evaluación continua de los estudiantes. El interés de este estudio pretende resaltar el uso del blog no sólo para interactuar sino también para evaluar a los estudiantes universitarios ecuatorianos y construir aprendizaje a partir de estas evaluaciones.

La investigación científica en la educación superior ecuatoriana.

La investigación científica constituye uno de los pilares fundamentales de las actividades universitarias. La generación de nuevos conocimientos mediante la investigación y la innovación conforman la infraestructura productiva social y científico tecnológico de las Instituciones de Educación Superior. Cuantificar la presencia e impacto de la producción científica representa un criterio de medida para elevar la calidad de las universidades. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo realizar un estudio sobre el comportamiento de la investigación científica en la educación superior. Se hace un análisis estadístico del comportamiento de indicadores sociométricos de universidades ecuatorianas.

Preliminaries for the master's Program in Business Administration and Management, by the Metropolitan University, Machala campus

The impact and speed with which technological changes occur in a globalized world, make the environment that surrounds companies increasingly complex and competitive, implying great challenges to stay in the market through the efficient and effective achievement of its operation; This reality prevailing at present, makes it necessary for organizations to use different forms of administration and direction to those that were traditionally being used, and in turn, determine new trends of professionals that are inserted in all the activities of the production and generation of goods and services, which requires specialization. All this led to the Ecuadorian university, must adapt immediately to changes in endogenous and exogenous factors responding dynamically and vertiginously to a permanent update of managers and teachers from the development of high quality professional training processes in the investigative and linkage dimension; in correspondence with the growing demands of social demand and development of the country. In response to the need for the relevance of higher education, which seeks congruence between university careers, the masters offered and the needs posed by the local productive sector, the metropolitan university, made a diagnosis in order to determine the potential demand of applicants for an academic program of Master in Business Administration and Management, which justified the need and importance of the program that was proposed to develop the Metropolitan University of Ecuador, Machala.