Foreign Lecturers Research Articles

Investigating English Communication Barriers for Foreign Teachers in the English for International Communication Program

The objectives of this research were to examine the barriers and English communication skills in interactions between foreign English teachers and 1st to 3rd-year students majoring in English for International Communication at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Tak. The study involved 45 undergraduate students from this major during the first semester of the academic year 2021. The research instruments used were a questionnaire and an interview form. Quantitative data collected were analyzed for frequency, percentage, mean (????̅), and standard deviation (S.D.) using the SPSS program. The results indicated that the overall level of English communication barriers among 1st to 3rd-year students was high. The primary issues, in descending order, included: lack of confidence in communicating in English with foreign teachers (????̅ = 3.93; S.D. = 0.80). Fear and difficulty in recalling necessary vocabulary when conversing in English with foreign teachers (????̅ = 3.94; S.D. = 0.84 and S.D. = 0.76). Limited opportunities for students to communicate with foreign teachers in English due to large class sizes (????̅ = 4.00). The analysis summarized the current interactions between students and foreign teachers, highlighting that most students have limited opportunities to interact with foreign lecturers. This limitation is exacerbated by the aggressive behavior and insufficient number of foreign teachers at the university, which hinders students' ability to practice English in daily life.

Surviving in a Provisional Workplace: Foreign Lecturers’ Practices in an Asian HEI

Surviving in a Provisional Workplace: Foreign Lecturers’ Practices in an Asian HEI

Visualization or Mathematization? The London School of Economics and “Diagrammatic Economics” in the 1930s

Although the subject of numerous contributions in the history of economics, the use of theoretical diagrams by economists is still quite misunderstood, as this practice is often characterized as a basic form of mathematization, soon replaced by more rigorous techniques of demonstration or exhibition. The present article attempts to challenge this view, focusing on a period of time, the 1930s, during which “diagrammatic economics” and other techniques coexisted, and on a specific community, that of students and young researchers from the London School of Economics with a keen interest in using diagrams as tools for economic reasoning. The cosmopolitan nature of research and education at the LSE, with its insistence on reading a vast amount of literature and attending seminars by a revolving cast of local and foreign lecturers, offered a favorable environment for a form of visual analysis that helped clarify concepts and resolve definitional issues, at a time when interest in various economic traditions had not yet given way to attempts to systematize and unify economic knowledge and its standards of production.

Foreign academic adaptation: Emotional intelligence and resilience perspectives

This research navigates the dynamic terrain of global academia, where an increasing number of scholars seek international opportunities for diverse academic growth. Recognizing a significant gap in the existing literature, this study proposes to delve into the often-overlooked dimension of adaptive performance among foreign academics. Building on the foundation of cross-cultural adaptation theory, the research empirically tests the interplay between emotional intelligence and psychological resilience in shaping the adaptive performance of foreign lecturers. In an effort to ground this exploration, a structured questionnaire was administered to 800 lecturers based in tier 1 cities, including new tier 1 cities, in China. These cities were strategically chosen due to their dense populations and being hubs for a majority of higher educational institutes. The ensuing analysis, conducted through PLS-SEM, yielded compelling evidence affirming the pivotal roles of emotional intelligence and psychological resilience as influential factors in determining adaptive performance. Crucially, the study unraveled the significant mediating role played by psychological resilience in linking emotional intelligence and adaptive performance. These findings not only contribute to the academic discourse but also offer actionable insights for practitioners.

Foreign academic adaptation: Emotional intelligence and resilience perspectives

This research navigates the dynamic terrain of global academia, where an increasing number of scholars seek international opportunities for diverse academic growth. Recognizing a significant gap in the existing literature, this study proposes to delve into the oftenoverlooked dimension of adaptive performance among foreign academics. Building on the foundation of cross-cultural adaptation theory, the research empirically tests the interplay between emotional intelligence and psychological resilience in shaping the adaptive performance of foreign lecturers. In an effort to ground this exploration, a structured questionnaire was administered to 800 lecturers based in tier 1 cities, including new tier 1 cities, in China. These cities were strategically chosen due to their dense populations and being hubs for a majority of higher educational institutes. The ensuing analysis, conducted through PLS-SEM, yielded compelling evidence affirming the pivotal roles of emotional intelligence and psychological resilience as influential factors in determining adaptive performance. Crucially, the study unraveled the significant mediating role played by psychological resilience in linking emotional intelligence and adaptive performance. These findings not only contribute to the academic discourse but also offer actionable insights for practitioners.

Understanding the roles of video cameras in online English courses: A qualitative inquiry into students and foreign lecturers’ conceptions

Turning video cameras on or off during synchronous online learning has been a topic of attention lately. Whether teachers should urge students to turn on their cameras or let them switch them on or off is a matter of dispute, but it has yet to be decided due to a lack of empirical data. To contribute, this study specifically explored EFL students’ and foreign English lecturers’ perspectives on the benefits of cameras on or off during online English classes based on their recent academic year teaching and learning English online. A qualitative survey with a phenomenological descriptive approach was employed. The thematic analysis results identified students’ and lecturers’ converging perspectives that the camera on improves student learning engagement, student-student and student-teacher relationships, and classroom atmosphere. Yet, they acknowledged that the camera off has equally important benefits, such as maintaining one’s privacy or comfort, reducing learning anxiety, enabling better concentration, and fostering a readiness to speak English. This study further elaborates on the pedagogical implications of the findings for online English learning.

“Turnover intention” among foreign lecturers in one of the universities in Malaysia: An investigation into the leading factors

The current research aims to investigate the internal and external factors influencing faculty turnover intention, with attention to foreign lecturers, among faculty members in one of the universities in Malaysia. The intention of a person to leave their current employment can be referred to as turnover intention. Previous analyses have revealed these ideas to be an employee’s desired strategy for quitting their current job and looking for another one. Job security, supervisor support, remuneration satisfaction, job autonomy, key performance indicators (KPI) achievability, and job satisfaction are the different factors that influence employees’ intentions to leave their jobs. The finding indicates that structural factors including job autonomy, remuneration satisfaction, and KPI achievability contributed to the explanation of turnover intention. These variables play a more significant part in influencing foreign lecturers’ decisions to quit and move to a better job opportunity.

Problems and opportunities related to the professional development of teachers of physical education and sport in the university

Professional development can be achieved independently by reading books, scientific journals and other literature. But professional development with participation in international trainings, courses and seminars, the authors consider as the most valuable. This report reviews the problems and opportunities for professional development of physical education and sports professionals internationally. The aim is to present the opportunities for increasing the qualification of the sports pedagogical and academic staff, through participation in a qualification course with a foreign lecturer. Methods: Theoretical analysis of a course conducted to increase the qualification of the pedagogical staff. Results: The conducted international course was successful for the participating course participants from the Republic of Kazakhstan and for the Bulgarian lecturer. Similarities were found on the methodological side of the sports training of school teams and. Differences related to the management of the organization for participation in the competition process were found. Conclusion: Physical education and sports teachers work in isolation compared to teachers from other faculties. For them, international programs are unavailable or very limited. Legislation and university regulations need to find a way to work together more effectively to support university teachers who train physical education and sport teachers.

On the X Anniversary Latvian Gastroenterology Congress with International Participation

Abstract The X Anniversary Latvian Gastroenterology Congress with International Participation has been held for the first time for a two-day period (3–4 December, 2021). The first day was devoted to international and local satellite symposia, with a total number of ten, which corresponded to the number of Congresses held. The second day of the Congress was devoted to the plenary session. Due to the severe COVID-19 epidemiology situation in Latvia, for the first time in its history since 2003, it was decided to hold the Congress not in person but remotely from the Rīga Stradiņš University Great Hall stage, with live video broadcasting. Despite the fact that the Congress was virtual, the two days attracted a significant number of participants — 753 registered colleagues. The invited guests included foreign lecturers from the United States, Israel, Germany, Croatia, UK, Italy, and other countries and the discussion panel was led by field leaders from around the world. We continued our tradition of preparing published reports of the congress in a special issue of Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B, in collaboration with the Latvian Academy of Sciences.

Teaching English online in higher education: Understanding the social climate of online academic English courses

This study examined the social climate of fully synchronous online English classrooms and its effects on students’ learning outcomes in a mixed-methods design, engaging 196 first-year non-English major students experiencing their first fully synchronous online English classes on Zoom in one academic term (12 weeks), taught by foreign lecturers. The results reveal a very positive learning experience with seven factors contributing to the social climate of the online English classrooms. Gender did not affect students’ perceptions and learning experiences, but English proficiency levels did, with a medium effect size. The social climate was a predictor of online English learning outcomes with a substantial effect size. Individual insights were extracted from the qualitative data. Implications for practice or policy: Online English courses should provide the same learning quality as in a face-to-face environment by enhancing the seven factors constructing a positive online English classroom climate. Educational policymakers should emphasise building positive social climates in online classrooms as it will lead to both better learning outcomes and experiences. Teachers may be encouraged to develop the skills students need to recognise and manage emotions, establish and maintain relationships and achieve positive goals in online English learning.

Foreign Lecturers Management in Higher Education Institutions: International Experiences and Suggestions

By reviewing previous studies on foreign lecturers and foreign lecturers management, this paper aims at exploring experiences in managing foreign lecturers from an international perspective, which can be applied to higher education institutions (HEIs) in Vietnam. These experiences are expected to attract more foreign lecturers and utilize them successfully, which in turn improves the quality of training, scientific research and international integration of HEIs in Vietnam. To accomplish these purposes, this study has used the method of reviewing documents related to foreign lecturers and managing foreign lecturers. The results of this article demonstrate increasingly important roles of foreign lecturers in HEIs, the diverse difficulties they encounter when working there, as well as various factors motivating them to come to these institutions. By summarizing the experiences of managing foreign lecturers in reviewing countries, the article proposes some policy suggestions and solutions for managing foreign lecturers in HEIs in Vietnam.

LANGUAGE BARRIERS IN VISITING LECTURER PROGRAM FOR NON ENGLISH SPEAKING STUDENTS

The increased use of video conference platforms provides opportunities to invite foreign lecturers to give lectures virtually. Despite of beneficial impacts, inviting foreign lecturers might bring challenges to students using English as a foreign language. Therefore, this study was aimed at examining challenges faced by non-English speaking students in attending visiting lecturer classes delivered in English and the potential strategy. The study was an exploratory study conducted in a university in Indonesia. The study involved 118 students from a Study Program taken from two courses. Data were collected through observation and questionnaire. Findings show that language became one of the most challenging barriers in understanding the materials, mostly due to speaking speed of the lecturers and the lack of vocabulary. The lecture summary provided by in-class lecturers could be an alternative to improve learning process. Findings also indicate that the visiting lecturer program could improve students’ language proficiency, especially their vocabulary and listening comprehension. It concludes that visiting lecturer program has a potential to improve students’ language proficiency. However, it is important to provide strategies to help students comprehend the material, such as allocating time for providing a brief summary of the lectures in the student first or second language.

Globalizing higher education through internationalization and multiculturalism: The case of Indonesia

AbstractAs part of the efforts to globalize higher education in Indonesia, internationalization and multiculturalism are two globalization behaviors that have been promoted across higher education institutions. This study investigated both these behaviors through a qualitative case study analysis of four state universities in the country. The authors found that firstly, the autonomy of state higher education institutions played a significant role for the implementation of internationalization programs which is related not only to the flexibility in designing international programs, opening study programs, or recruiting foreign lecturers, but also to the budget amount allocations by the government. Secondly, in developing multiculturalism serious considerations on the cultural stance of the institution and the unique ideology of that institution needs to be undertaken and integrated with the national ideology. Thirdly, the role of the government in making policies and encouraging state higher education institutions to be more autonomous is essential to advance higher education in internationalization and multiculturalism.

Islamic education in Russia: Local experience and the influence of the Middle East

The collapse of the Soviet system in the North Caucasus was accompanied by re-Islamization, which, among other things, was facilitated by growing influence of the religious and governmental actors from the Middle East. The upsurge of Islam manifested the increased demand for religious education. Some Muslims in Russia, mostly middle-age ones, and the elders, stood for restoration of pre-Soviet Islamic traditions. Others, the youth, oriented to the Middle East. In Russia non-secular schools and universities are still poorly regulated by the state, and therefore Islamic educational centers remain in the "grey zone". On the other hand, being excluded from the state-based system of public school and higher education, unregulated Islamic education in the North Caucasus may shape a seething environment for socio-political destabilization. The authors conclude that two dimensions can be distinguished in the context of the problems and challenges of the Islamic education system in Russia. The first, short-term one, is associated with the modernization of the teaching format itself. It implies introduction of general humanitarian subjects and disciplines in educational programs. As for the long-term prospects, in this case it would be possible to refer to the experience of the world's leading religious educational centers. Modern Russian Islamic educational centers may borrow its organizational model and branding strategy without hiring foreign lecturers. Eventually, the system should become a self-reproductive one under which graduates would make up a stratum of teachers, scholars and other professionals including those whose activity is not related to Islam directly.

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS IN THE SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Modern integration processes, which are actively developing around the world, are reflected in the development of individual national economies as a whole and their individual industries. The field of higher education is no exception. Internationalization of higher education is one of the main directions of the new concept of higher education reform in Ukraine. The aim of the article is to study international cooperation in the framework of international projects and the formation of a system of international cooperation in higher education institutions on the example of the State University of Infrastructure and Technologies. System of international cooperation in State University of Infrastructure and Technologies is formed on the basis of the designated strategic priorities, directions of realization and results. The implementation of the formed system will give the State University of Infrastructure and Technologies the opportunity to participate in international projects in an equal and full manner, increase the number of foreign students, invite foreign lecturers to become a fully recognized university in the world, which provides high quality education. The proposed system of international cooperation can also be applied to other higher education institutions, taking into account their specifics.

5-й МІЖНАРОДНИЙ СИМПОЗІУМ «SMART LION». ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ В МЕДИЦИНІ ТА ГЛОБАЛЬНЕ ЗДОРОВ’Я, 7-9 ЖОВТНЯ 2021 РОКУ

For the fifth year in a row, the international symposium SMART LION (Science Medicine Arts Research Translational Lviv International Opportunity Network) is taking place in Lviv, which has become a good tradition in scientific and practical communication. This year, the symposium is focused on the “Medical Imagining and Global Health”. The scientific event was held in Lviv on October 7–9, 2021. The format was mixed. The event was held with the support of Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Medical Commission of the Shevchenko Scientific Society, Lviv City Council and Lviv Convention Bureau. The symposium was focused on providing a unique opportunity for young and experienced scientists and doctors working on the development of innovative technologies in medicine, to further cooperate in the field of science and integrate their knowledge and achievements into world science. The interesting and eventful agenda included over 20 lectures and poster presentations delivered by national and foreign lecturers, as well as a master class on “How to use the online Open Journal System to publish scientific articles in medical journals”. To focus the attention of young scientists, students and interns on topical issues of medicine, well-known scientists from different countries of Europe and America are annually invited to attend the symposium as speakers. During the two days of the conference, Ukrainian and foreign leading experts in the field of medicine – Leo Wolansky (USA), Sandor Szabo (USA), Vassyl Lonchyna (USA), Klaus Holzmann (Austria), Siegfried Knasmüller (Austria), Armen Gasparyan (Great Britain), Ivan Wolansky (USA), Yuriy Ivaniv (Ukraine), Nelya Oryshchyn (Ukraine), Andriy Netliukh (Ukraine), Yuriy Mylyan (Ukraine), Oksana Zayachkivska (Ukraine), Roman Plyatsko (Ukraine), Khrystyna Lishchuk-Yakymovych (Ukraine), Olena Zimba (Ukraine) – shared their experience and the latest achievements in the field of medicine. After a two-year break due to a COVID-19 pandemic, joint live discussions between young scientists – students, interns, post-graduate students – with leading scientists during poster presentations and panel discussions held at the symposium helped them rethink the need for systemic changes in medical education and the implementation of modern diagnostic methods utilizing real-time visualization with elements of artificial intelligence into curriculums. In conclusion, Oksana Zayachkivska (Professor, Chair of the Department of Normal Physiology, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University; Editor-in-Chief of the “Proceeding of the Shevchenko Scientific Society. Medical Sciences”) and Vassyl Lonchyna (Professor, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Ukrainian Catholic University) summed up the symposium and expressed hope to meet again at SMART LION 2022.

Theoretical and Methodological Principles of Distance Learning in the Context of Musicological Activities

Abstract. The analysis of the specifics of the transition to distance learning, including online classes, at the Faculty of Music of the Kharkiv State Academy of Culture has been carried out. The main strengths and weaknesses of this mode of study, in particular, the features of conducting individual, small­group, and current online classes, have been demonstrated; some means of implementing the experience of this mode of conducting classes acquired over the past two years by the academic staff of the Faculty, have been outlined. The need to search for and to introduce into pedagogical practice new forms of educational and research work with students and graduate students under the quarantine caused by the COVID­19 pandemic has been noted. A number of creative achievements of students and lecturers of the Faculty of Music of KhSAC over the past two academic years, which became possible not only due to, but also in spite of all the difficulties associated with the reorientation of the Faculty to distance learning, have been presented.
 The purpose of the paper is to analyze the current tasks facing the creative faculty, which is the Faculty of Music of KhSAC, related to the rapid transition to a distance learning system, and to identify the main directions for their solution.
 The methodology. The study of this issue has led to the use of comparative­analytical and experimental­and­practical approaches.
 The topicality is about understanding the strengths and weaknesses of introducing distance learning at the creative faculty and finding the best options for its application.
 Conclusions. Analysis of practical creative and pedagogical activities of lecturers and students of the Faculty of Music of KhSAC under the distance learning allowed us to assert that this process has a number of positive and negative features.
 The positive lies in more free planning by students and post­graduate students of the preparation time and attending classes, in gaining experience in conducting a dialogue not only verbally, but also in writing, in the ability to more closely join modern forms of acquiring knowledge, in particular online, in a more literate and multi­layered mastery of both the student and the teaching staff of the possibilities of the Internet, in a creative approach to the forms of presentation by lecturers and the assimilation of theoretical and practical material by students. The positive is the possibility of organizing numerous scientific online conferences, distance festivals and competitions, and so on. At the same time, in conducting individual, small­group, and current practical classes, very significant difficulties arise that make it impossible to acquire the entire spectrum of skills and abilities that musicians­performers and conductors should possess by students of creative educational programs. So, after the consequences of COVID­19, distance learning, including the ability to communicate online, should be harmoniously and rationally applied to provide the best possible combination with traditional modes of education that have been developed over decades.
 Prospects for further research consists in the theoretical and practical development of the best achievements of domestic and foreign lecturers working remotely in the arts, in particular in the music, education sector, in the accumulation of theoretical knowledge while experimenting in conducting individual, small­group, and collective online classes in all areas of musical performance, musical­scientific, and musical­pedagogical activity, and in the scientific and methodological comprehension of this process.

The Role of International Cooperation in the Process of Reforming the Higher Education System of Ukraine

The main purpose of this research work is to substantiate the need for international cooperation of Ukrainian higher education institutions as an important factor in reforming and modernizing the national education system, its successful integration into the global educational space and increasing competitiveness in the market of educational services. The basic method in the study is system approach. Methods of scientific abstraction, analysis and synthesis are used to form a theoretical synthesis and conclusions, graphic-analytical method is used for a clear illustration of the economic phenomena and processes under study. Internationalization of higher education is one of the main directions of the new conception of higher education reform in Ukraine. New demands and needs in the market of educational services, growing competition between higher education institutions, implementation of innovations in the educational process require changes in approaches to reform in the field of higher education in order to improve quality. International cooperation in the State University of Infrastructure and Technologies is considered as a process of formation and development of equal and mutually beneficial partnerships between educational institutions of different countries. International cooperation will give the State University of Infrastructure and Technologies the opportunity to participate in international projects in an equal and full manner, increase the number of foreign students, invite foreign lecturers to become a fully recognized university in the world, which provides high quality education.

Teaching listening comprehension through online academic lectures

Academic mobility is becoming increasingly popular for students and provides great opportunities to communicate with other people, get useful knowledge and experience and practice using a foreign language. Education abroad includes listening to lectures as one of the most common way of presenting information. Thus, students need preparation to understand foreign lecturers and be successful in their studies. Having studied 30 online lectures from diverse MOOCs, the authors identified that their structure is similar to traditional lectures. Consequently, the research was done with the use of academic lectures from the MOOC «Thermodynamics» to teach the experimental group of students from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. For conducting the research the authors used a pedagogical experiment and descriptive statistical methods to analyse data received (T-statistics, chi-square and Fisher’s test). As a result, students from the experimental group showed better findings of listening comprehension skills with the average score of 65,5% compared to 44,4% of the control group. Moreover, the experimental group showed improvement in listening comprehension skills from the average score of 43% at the initial stage to 65,5% at the end of the experiment proving the effectiveness of learning activities the authors designed and used.

THE POLITICS OF SOCIALIST EDUCATION IN GHANA: THE KWAME NKRUMAH IDEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, 1961–6

ABSTRACTThis article reconstructs the trajectory of the Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute (KNII) to shed light on the politics of socialist education in 1960s Ghana. On the basis of archival evidence, it explores the changing role of the institute in the making of Nkrumahism as public discourse and documents the evolving relationship between the universalism of Marxism-Leninism and the quest for more local political iconographies centred on Nkrumah's life and work. Secondly, the article analyses the individual motivations and experiences of a sample of foreign lecturers. The article suggests that ideological institutes offer insights into the processes by which official ideologies were created and disseminated, a foil through which to interrogate the usages and appropriation of social sciences education, and a window onto the multiple ways in which local and foreign agents negotiated their identities and political participation in African socialist experiments.