Exchange Program Research Articles

Internet Addiction: Influencing Academic, Non-academic and Psychological Aspects in Offshore Malaysian Medical Students

Excessive internet usage creates abundant problems like dependency and addictive behaviour. Internet addiction (IA) is becoming a universal public health concern. The isolated group of Malaysian students studying in offshore campuses in India is more susceptible to IA due to language, culture, ethnicity, and food habit differences, leading to a lack of communication with native students. The study aims to determine the prevalence of IA and its influence on academic, non-academic, and psychological aspects in Malaysian medical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 170 offshore Malaysian medical students using Young’s Internet Addiction Test (Y-IAT) questionnaire of 20 items. The difference was tested by student’s t-test and the association between IA and other factors by chi-square test with a statistical significance at 5%. The study observed a 46% prevalence of IA in offshore Malaysian medical students. Male students were more prone to IA compared to females. The amount of time spent on entertainment per day was significantly (p = 0.004) associated with IA. The present study revealed that the prevalence of IA was significantly associated with academic performance (χ2 = 33.670, p = 0.001) and psychological disturbances like sleep disturbance due to late-night log-ins (χ2 = 41.013, p = 0.001), felt life would always be joyless (χ2 = 27.272, p = 0.001) and, depressed moody without internet (χ2 = 33.347, p = 0.001). The present study revealed that IA has an adverse impact on students’ academic activities as well as on psychological health. Medical teachers and schools should identify students who are prone to and affected by IA and recommend interventions based on their needs. This study recommends that students utilise their valuable time in offline activities like regular sports, cultural exchange programmes, fun activities, yoga, meditation, and learning new skills and languages. These activities may help students prevent overindulgence with the internet, encourage the overall growth of promising doctors, and build a healthy society.

An Analysis of the Korean Language Curriculum for Beginner-Level Exchange Students

An Analysis of the Korean Language Curriculum for Beginner-Level Exchange Students

Exploring Language Proficiency: Dynamics of Acquiring Arabic Speaking Skills from Stephen Krashen's Perspective At Islamic Universities

Understanding the dynamics of acquiring Arabic speaking skills is crucial in the context of Islamic universities, where language proficiency is integral to academic success and personal development. This study aims to explore the process of acquiring Arabic speaking skills from Stephen Krashen's perspective at two undisclosed Islamic universities in Indonesia. Using a qualitative case study design, the research employs interviews with lecturers and students as the primary data collection technique. The analysis is conducted descriptively, involving stages of data collection, reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that Arabic speaking skills are acquired through two main approaches. Within the classroom, intensive learning is facilitated through a direct method emphasizing language practice, supported by a curriculum focused on daily themes and language reinforcement programs. Outside the classroom, students engage in active communication in Arabic in various environments, such as dormitories, mosques, and cafeterias, while participating in activities that support language acquisition. These factors, combined with student motivation and a conducive learning environment, significantly contribute to the acquisition of Arabic speaking skills. The study concludes that the different learning approaches at the two universities effectively enhance students' Arabic speaking proficiency. Key factors contributing to successful language learning include the presence of Arabic language environments, appropriate curricula, active learning methods, individual motivation, and practical experiences outside the classroom, such as internships or student exchange programs. The research suggests that educators and students should focus on creating immersive language environments and incorporating practical experiences to maximize language acquisition.

AVAILABILITY OF CHINESE LANGUAGE AS AN ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE IN UKRAINE

This article explores the increasing interest among Ukrainian citizens, particularly students, in learning the Chinese language. This trend is influenced by several key factors: China’s significant achievements on the global stage, its open-door policy, the expansion of Confucius Institutes, and the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The article discusses various dimensions of collaboration in higher education, including the development of academic exchange programs and joint educational initiatives aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation.The study highlights the critical importance of establishing favorable conditions for teaching Chinese in Ukrainian universities. It identifies several challenges that educational institutions face, such as a shortage of qualified Chinese language instructors, inadequate teaching resources, and limited opportunities for student engagement with native speakers. Additionally, the article emphasizes the need for improved infrastructure and institutional support to facilitate effective language instruction.The findings suggest that while there is a growing demand for Chinese language education in Ukraine, many higher education institutions currently lack the necessary organizational and economic resources to meet this demand. The article calls for further research to investigate the barriers to implementing Chinese language programs and to explore potential solutions, including increased international collaboration and support from Chinese organizations.

The Revolution of Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Education and Practice

As a grade 11 student studying in Modern School, Barakhambha Road, New Delhi, I have been fortunate enough to witness the effects of government policies aimed at integrating children from economically weaker sections (EWS) into mainstream education. While the inclusion of EWS children in schools like ours has been a significant stride towards social equity, there are still several challenges to overcome. Our batch (2011) was the first batch where the EWS quota was implemented by the government. All throughout junior school, I kept hearing from my family that it was the noblest idea to integrate children who come from slightly disadvantaged backgrounds into the mainstream, and how it was only through education and equal opportunities that the children of this country would grow to become fine human beings who could lead the world of the future. I was always taught to treat them with kindness and compassion, but also, at the same time, in an effort to be inclusive, was taught to be careful about not hurting them by making them feel different or pointing out the differences between our upbringings. The presence of EWS children in our school is a testament to the success of policies such as the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which mandates private schools to reserve a percentage of their seats for underprivileged children. This initiative has provided EWS children with access to quality education, creating opportunities for their future. However, the social aspect of integration is an area that still requires attention. One of the most glaring challenges is the lack of interaction between children belonging to higher socio-economic strata and those belonging to the EWS. I have myself been a witness to unequal treatment, even though it was largely inadvertent. This is because schools ask children to engage in activities that may not necessarily be within the means of an EWS household. Activities such as domestic field trips and international exchange programmes challenge even affluent households at times. It is not uncommon to see students from different socio-economic backgrounds form separate social circles. This social divide can have a profound impact on the EWS children, making them feel isolated and unwelcome. Such feelings can further affect their academic performance and emotional well-being. As a student, I believe it is crucial to explore ways to foster better relationships between students from diverse backgrounds.

Information Technology Assisting Ideological and Political Education for Exchange Students

In the context of globalization and informatization, how to enhance ideological and political education for exchange students abroad through modern information technology has become a significant issue. This study aims to explore effective informatization methods for the ideological and political education of exchange students. A questionnaire survey found that online learning platforms for ideological and political education are popular among exchange students. Using Chang’an University’s Dublin College exchange students as a case study, an online platform for ideological and political education was designed and tested. The platform provides flexible and convenient learning methods, rich resources, personalized content, and strong interactivity, achieving efficient, extensive, and low-cost ideological and political education. The results show that informatization tools have great potential in ideological and political education for exchange students.

The Impact of Hu’s Music Diplomacy on Mongolia’s Tourism National Branding Program

This study aims to analyze the impact of Hu's music diplomacy on Mongolia's national branding program. The study employs a descriptive qualitative method with secondary data analysis from journal articles, books, relevant reports, and media covering The Hu's activities. The results indicate that The Hu, with their unique approach of combining traditional Mongolian music elements with modern rock, has successfully raised global awareness of Mongolian culture and enhanced the country's positive image. Their international performances received awards, and collaborations with renowned musicians have introduced Mongolian cultural elements to a wider audience, creating curiosity and appreciation for Mongolia's cultural heritage. Strategic recommendations include greater government support, enhanced collaboration with digital platforms, and educational and cultural exchange programs.

Integration of Local Wisdom in the Implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) Policy in The Biology Education Study Programs in Indonesia: Analysis and Evaluation

This study analyzes the implementation of the “Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM)” program in the Biology Education Study Program (BESP) on various campuses in Indonesia with a special focus on the integration of local wisdom. Data was collected from respondents in 44 study programs covering aspects such as campus status, accreditation, course repositioning, implementation of MBKM activities, and suggestions and recommendations for program improvement. The results of the analysis show that the majority of study programs at state campuses (75%) have repositioned the curriculum and implemented various forms of MBKM activities such as student exchanges (70.45%), internships/work practices (68.18%), and teaching assistance. The integration of local wisdom is emerging as an important aspect, with many study programs using local wisdom in academic activities and business product development, such as using traditional medicinal plants for health products. Key suggestions from respondents included the need for standardization of guidelines, financial assistance for students, periodic evaluations, and adjusting the curriculum to the needs of the times. Most study programs have ensured that MBKM activities follow the formulated Program Learning Outcomes (PLO), with 63.64% of study programs stating that they always ensure this suitability. However, there are still challenges in the process of recognizing MBKM activities into courses and integrating these activities into a thesis or final project, with 77.27% of study programs not carrying out this integration. The study concludes that although MBKM has been doing well, there is still room for improvement. There needs to be further efforts in terms of integrating local wisdom, financial support, and strengthening collaboration between educational institutions and local communities. Clear and standardized implementation of guidelines, as well as continuous evaluation, are essential to improve the effectiveness and benefits of the MBKM program.

Storying connectivity and value: the south west creative technology network’s cultural ecologies as network visualisations

ABSTRACT This paper explores the productive connectivity developed by university-industry knowledge exchange (KE) programmes for research and development (R&D) and their emergent cultural value. The South West Creative Technology Network (SWCTN) is our case study. We build on Dovey et al.'s. work to visualise the cultural ecology supported and created by cohort-led R&D programmes. Our visualisations, combined with interview data, evidence that new connections create diverse forms of value, including inspiration, mentoring, training, and recruitment opportunities, and cooperation through collaborative working. We supplement social network and visualisation tools with rich qualitative data to explore the “why,” “how” and “to what end” of new connections, contributing to the field of Mixed Methods in Social Network Analysis (MMSNA). This methodology is novel to the field of creative economy research. We argue for new forms of R&D funding for the creative sector to take a cultural ecology approach if we wish to take seriously and invest in the diverse forms of value beyond economic drivers, sometimes described as “intangible,” that play an important role in building regional capacity, innovation and productivity.

How to … do decolonial research.

The imperative for decolonial research in health professions education (HPE) is rooted in a resistance to coloniality, which characterises modern medicine and HPE. Coloniality is a residual effect of colonialism, which upholds White, Western, Eurocentric knowledge systems while simultaneously marginalising diverse epistemologies. We outline the problematic nature of coloniality in HPE typified in unequal research partnerships, skewed student exchanges and poor representation of diverse authors. Decoloniality advocates for the active disruption and dismantling of colonial hierarchies to promote epistemic justice. We suggest a practical framework for applying decolonial principles in research, emphasising awareness (critical consciousness), deliberation (reflexivity) and action (transformative praxis). Practical steps for decolonial practice include interrogating research conceptualisation, sharing power and diversifying research teams, adopting participatory and reciprocal (mutually beneficial) methodologies, (re)centring marginalised voices and amplifying 'Other' knowledges, and disrupting hegemonic dissemination practices. By employing decolonial strategies, researchers can produce equitable, socially accountable and epistemically just scholarship, ultimately enhancing the relevance and impact of HPE research for all people globally.

Living Donor Exchange Program in Kidney Transplantation: An Underexploited Organ Resource.

Living Donor Exchange Program in Kidney Transplantation: An Underexploited Organ Resource.

Strategic approaches: Practical applications of English communication skills in various real-life scenarios

The article presents an in-depth overview of a comprehensive study investigating the practical applications of English communication skills across a wide array of real-life scenarios. This research delves into how individuals employ their English proficiency in various domains such as the workplace, travel, education, social settings, online communication, cultural exchanges, personal development, and job interviews. The study examines a diverse range of situations, including presenting in professional meetings, asking for directions while traveling, participating in classroom discussions, making new friends in social contexts, engaging in online forums, attending language exchange programs, pursuing hobbies that require English, and negotiating job-related matters. Data for the study was meticulously gathered from a broad spectrum of online survey participants, encompassing different demographics to ensure a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted uses of English communication skills in everyday life. The findings of this research underscore the strategic approaches that individuals employ to communicate effectively in English, thereby highlighting the pivotal role of language proficiency in navigating diverse social, professional, and cultural contexts. Moreover, the study sheds light on the nuanced ways in which English is used to facilitate not only basic communication but also to achieve higher-level interactions and goals. It reveals how proficiency in English can significantly enhance one’s ability to integrate into various environments, from academic settings to international travel and professional arenas. The article concludes by emphasizing the pedagogical implications of these findings for language educators and learners. It suggests avenues for further research and advocates for the development of language learning strategies that are finely tuned to meet real-world communication needs. By doing so, it aims to contribute to more effective teaching methodologies that prepare learners to use English confidently and competently in diverse situations.

Design and Implementation of a Sickle Cell Disease Electronic Registry in Resource Limited Setting in Nigeria—A Pilot Study

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive haemoglobin disorder, affecting about 7.74 million individuals worldwide, but it is more prevalent among Africans and Asians. SCD is characterised by many complications, and it is a major health issue in Nigeria, the country with the largest burden of the disease globally. This work aims to present the design and implementation of electronic registries (ER) for SCD in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Methods: Registry design was initiated during a staff exchange programme within the ARISE initiative (EU grant agreement no. 824021). Ethical approval was obtained, and paper records were retrieved and transferred into one adult and one paediatric database, developed with Microsoft Access. Results: Data from 2659 SCD patients were entered in the ERs, including 698 (26.3%) adults and 1961 (73.7%) children. There were 287 (41%) male adults, 404 (58%) female and 7 (1%) patients whose gender was missing. There were 1041 (53.1%) male children, 906 (46.2%) female and 14 (0.7%) whose gender was missing. Information on phenotype was available for 2385 subjects, and most of them (2082, 87.3%) were SS. The most prevalent SCD-related complication was painful events (26.6% in adults and 68.7% in children, considering valid cases). Conclusions: About 60% of SCD patients in the centre were included in the ERs providing useful, hands-on recommendations for future ER design in SCD. These ERs might be an appropriate tool for collecting and analysing SCD patients’ data.

Ethical Issues in Living Donor Kidney Transplantation: An Update from a Psychosocial Perspective.

Living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) currently represents the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage renal failure. LDKT is a serious event with profound psychological, interpersonal, familial, and social implications. Over the last few years, there has been an exponential growth in living donation programs involving genetically and emotionally related donors, as well as people who donate to an unrelated and unknown subject. The implementation of paired exchange programs, Samaritan donation, and preemptive transplantation raise further ethical issues, which are inextricably linked to the unique psychosocial context of both the donor and the recipient. The present narrative review aims to provide an update on the main ethical challenges related to LDKT. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed/Medline. The results of the most relevant studies were narratively synthesized from a psychosocial perspective around the four principles of biomedical ethics: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Finally, we discussed the potential future directions to provide an effective, patient-centered, and ethical psychosocial assessment and follow-up of living donors and recipients that underwent LDKT.

THE Exploring Education Beyond the Classroom: Experiences From the Malaysia-Indonesia Student Exchange

THE Exploring Education Beyond the Classroom: Experiences From the Malaysia-Indonesia Student Exchange

Incorporating equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) into the education and assessment of professionalism for healthcare professionals and trainees: a scoping review

BackgroundCurrent definitions of professionalism for healthcare trainees often lack equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the expectations and assessment of professionalism. While professionalism teaching is incorporated in healthcare training, equity-deserving groups still experience discrimination. This scoping review investigates the literature to understand how EDI and associated domains of cultural humility, and advocacy can be incorporated in healthcare trainees’ education and assessment of professionalism.MethodsThe Arksey and O’Malley framework was applied to this scoping review. MEDLINE, Embase & PsychINFO were searched up to March 2023, with terms surrounding health professionals, professionalism, EDI, cultural humility, and advocacy. Titles and abstracts (n = 3870) and full-texts (n = 140) were independently screened by two reviewers. Articles were included if they focused on EDI, cultural humility, or advocacy among healthcare students/trainees, and had outcomes related to professionalism. Articles lacking discussion of professionalism as an outcome were excluded. Themes were generated by mutual discussion. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cote et al. and Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI) tools.Results48 articles underwent thematic analysis. Studies investigated the disciplines of medicine, nursing, social work, physiotherapy, and dentistry. Most studies were qualitative in methodology (n = 23). Three themes emerged: (1) EDI-related interventions are associated with improved professionalism of healthcare trainees/workers (n = 21). Interventions employed were either an EDI-associated educational course (n = 8) or an exchange program to promote EDI competencies among trainees (n = 13). (2) Trainee definitions and perceptions of professionalism include themes related to EDI and cultural humility (n = 12). (3) Current standards of professionalism are perceived as non-inclusive towards historically-marginalized populations (n = 15). Literature investigating advocacy as it relates to professionalism is limited.ConclusionThis review identified that core EDI principles and its associated domains of cultural humility and advocacy are often viewed as integral to professionalism. These findings create a strong impetus to incorporate EDI principles within professionalism frameworks in healthcare education. Future research should employ standardized tools for professionalism assessment to provide more conclusive evidence. Incorporating patient perspectives of professionalism can inform actionable recommendations for fostering inclusive healthcare environments.

When English education isn't what it seems: Outcomes from a pilot study in Japan

Despite the desire of Japanese students to improve their English language skills, a lack of confidence has led to a fear of participating in activities designed to boost that very confidence. What if a program requiring communication in English were advertised as something other than an intercultural exchange program? Could this promotional strategy mitigate the fear of participation? Would it still accomplish the goal of motivating further English education? This paper discusses the results of offering a pilot program, which involved activities with native English speakers and was instead advertised as a non-paid internship focusing on tourism and artificial intelligence. The post-program survey shows that while Japanese students were most attracted to and satisfied with the aspect of working with companies, they found their experience in communicating in English to be the most rewarding and challenging.

Impact of Debt Accumulation and Debt Restructuring on the Pension Space: A Case of Ghana

The Ghanaian economy has experienced persistent accumulation of public debt over the past decades. Debt Servicing over the years usually causes distress to the domestic economy whilst several external interventions seem to be beneficial only for a short while due to controversial fiscal and monetary policy decisions of successive governments. The recent financial sector clean-up followed by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war have exacerbated the country’s debt burden which has culminated in a domestic debt restructuring programme aimed at securing an IMF bailout. Through thematic analysis, this research explored the debates and interviews organised by some selected Ghanaian TV stations with respect to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme; with a research objective that sought to unravel the impact of the DDEP on stakeholders of the pensions space. The denouement of the study established four main themes by which the impacts were observed: namely, economic impact, social impact, psychological or emotional impact and reputational impact. The enormity of the impact presupposes going forward, government must perform an in-depth sensitivity analysis on the pensions space for prudent management of potential victims and repercussions. Additionally, with the exemption of pension fund, same will be negatively affected, how much more the inclusion of pensioners who are a vulnerable section of society, and institutional bondholders with whom pension schemes have invested funds.

Trade dependence and cultural distance: An analysis of economic interactions and humanistic exchanges between China and ASEAN countries

AbstractThis study examines the influence of trade dependence, encompassing both export and import dependence, and economic dependence on cultural distance within the context of China and ASEAN countries from 1995 to 2020. Employing random‐effects models and, we investigate the impact of these dependencies on cultural distance and explore the moderating effects of humanistic exchange. Our findings reveal that trade dependence, export dependence, import dependence, and economic dependence exert negative effects on cultural distance between China and ASEAN countries. These findings are supported by the robustness test. We further analyze the moderating effects of humanistic exchange on the relationship between trade dependence, economic dependence, and cultural distance, confirming significant moderating effects specifically for trade dependence. Additionally, we observe that regional trade agreements and cultural exchange programs have heterogeneous effects on the relationship between trade and economic dependence and cultural distance, particularly among China and ASEAN countries with established agreements and programs.

Influence of Cultural Nuances on Translation Accuracy between English and Chinese

This review aims to identify key cultural factors that affect translation quality and propose strategies to enhance accuracy in cross-cultural translation. A programmatic method is a viable culture competency approach that involves learning by participating, interacting, and immersing in the target culture through intercultural exchange programs or by interacting with native speakers. The analysis begins with data extraction, where valuable information is collected from selected articles on author(s), publication year, research design, methodology, findings, and translation practice implications. the results are synthesized to provide a comprehensive overview of the themes and patterns that emerged from the data, presented in a narrative format. NVivo or similar software will be used to facilitate data analysis, coding, and theme identification. Your conclusion provides a comprehensive overview of the importance of cultural awareness in translation and offers practical solutions for enhancing translation accuracy in cross-cultural contexts.