Higher Education System Research Articles

Understanding students’ views on feedback to inform the development of technology-supported feedback systems

In an increasingly expanding higher education system, students have routinely said that they don’t get enough access to feedback to support their learning. While this feedback loop is recognised as a critical issue, the growing use of technology as part of teaching and learning could provide some solutions to this problem. The emergence of the field of learning analytics has the potential to provide mechanisms for reducing some of the concerns students have about receiving feedback. However, a greater understanding of how learning analytics can be used to provide meaningful assessment feedback to students is needed. This paper presents the initial findings from a study that investigated students’ preferences for the delivery of assessment feedback to improve their learning. The findings show that there is a diversity of student perspectives on what feedback is most useful for their learning which is influenced by the type of assessment, the discipline in which the assessment takes place, the year level of the student and the ability to compare performance to others. The outcomes of this study provide evidence of what students want when it comes to analytics-based feedback which can be used to inform the development of guidelines for how such feedback can be designed and delivered in higher education.

Women and rural people’s participation in tertiary education through Internet resources in India

India has a large formal higher education system, however the enrolment of women and rural people in universities is not substantial. Women enrolment in tertiary education was reported only 41.5% of the total enrolment in the academic year 2010-2011 and only 7% population in rural areas have a higher education. Many socio-cultural barriers prevent people from accessing higher education in India. The integration of the Internet into the higher education sector has the potential to improve access to tertiary education in India regardless gender and area. Using personal narrative and interview data, this article explores how Internet resources can be used to enhance women and rural people’s participation in tertiary education in India.

REVALUASI AKTIVITAS DI PENDIDIKAN TINGGI SETELAH PANDEMI COVID-19 UNTUK NEGARA BERKEMBANG

The higher education academic system has been affected due to COVID-19 Pandemic. Nowadays, the adjustment in curriculum and research adapt to the pandemic and be used in the future. The research aims to give an evaluation in education and research system in higher education during the pandemic. Moreover, this approach can give the direction for changes and adaptations for this era. The research method uses article reviews in several reputable journal websites, reports, and government regulation continued with comparative analysis. The result is the higher education has affected severely during the pandemic. Tridharma activities need to be evaluated to accommodate the best solving problem for this problem. Almost all Universities in Indonesia has changed their learning system to online and limited research conducted. Furthermore, the biggest challenge lies in internet connection and technology knowledge. In the end, complete evaluation becomes an obligation to fulfil the new learning system before being implemented after the pandemic. Technology investment and quality assurance also need to consider to decide the best learning method for the future.

Innovative Methodologies of Active Learning to Develop the Competencies of the Future of Work

International organizations promoting economic growth and global development are increasingly requesting higher education systems to prepare students with the fundamental attitude and skills to be competitive in the future workplace. After conducting two separate literature reviews on active learning strategies and on the most demanded competencies in the future of work, the paper proposes a comprehensive framework of 31 competencies pivotal for future professionals to thrive in an innovative work landscape. In the effort to nurture these skills, it further explores the contributions of the most popular active learning methodologies and delves into the role of digital technologies in enhancing the learning experience. Significantly, the paper reveals that active learning not only develops technical and methodological competencies but also enriches social, personal, and particularly digital skills, positioning students to effectively navigate and contribute to the digital economy. The emergent pedagogies underscore the importance of fostering lifelong learning, self-agency, and the adept use of diverse tools and resources, essential for the professionals of today and tomorrow.

Beyond the hard and soft skills paradigm: an Australian architecture industry perspective on employability and the university/practice divide

PurposeThis study explores practitioners’ perspectives on the perceived gap between university and practice beyond the hard and soft skill paradigm. Utilising Tomlinson’s graduate capital model of employability (2017), we explored human, social, cultural, and psychological capitals to enrich the understanding of this issue and employability. It provided a new perspective, useful for implementing curriculum renewal.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilised a two-stage mixed methods design. Using Tomlinson’s (2017) Graduate capital model as a framework, the first stage involved distributing an online survey to qualified architects in hiring positions practising in Australia. This served as the foundation for generating qualitative and quantitative data. The second stage involved a two-hour practitioner workshop where the survey results were discussed and expanded upon.FindingsOur results found that the practitioner’s perspective on the perceived skills gap is more complex than the hard/soft skill paradigm commonly discussed. Practitioners expressed a need for students/graduates to possess identity and cultural capital to contextualise industry norms and expectations. This knowledge lets students know where and how hard/soft skills are used. Our results also suggest practitioners are concerned with the prevailing individualistic approach to the higher education system and traditional architectural teaching methods, instead suggesting a more industry-aligned collaborative disposition.Originality/valueBy expanding the employability discourse beyond hard/soft skills, the results of this research provide an opportunity for architectural curriculum renewal in line with industry expectations.

Higher Education Management Polity

To find out the main elements of the newly adopted management model and the level of application of indigenous and western models and principles, and also to investigate the generalization of education aspects and values in contexts other than their initial ones, we carried out such a study in three federal universities of the United Arab Emirates. Besides the vital nature of the questions to the United Arab Emirates, these interrogate the most troubling yet classic issues afflicting the Gulf and developing states alike. The outcomes show that hegemonic western approaches to higher education management subverts the unique cultural and religious traditions of the UAE that correlates with the local and national tourism environments. These comparative components were spread and controlled by the international higher education exchange culture that was not mandatory but rather, shared. A global higher education system plays an important role in preserving and spreading a standard culture to all states in the world.   Received: 15 February 2024 / Accepted: 30 April 2024 / Published: 5 May 2024

На пути к успеху: мотивация и ресурсы саморегуляции как предикторы академической успешности студентов

<p>Currently, the higher education system is constantly changing: the education of increasing number of students is becoming associated with the use of distance technologies, which is why it is so important to identify motivational factors that have a potential impact on the academic success of students of different forms of education. The sample of the study consisted of 114 students of different forms of education (74 extramural students with the use of E-Learning and Distance Educational Technologies and 40 full-time students). Two indicators were used to measure academic achievements: the average score for all previous examination sessions and the self-appraisal of learning scale of the questionnaire by T.V. Kornilova et al. The Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) was used to study the motivational-semantic component, the Brief Self-Control Scale and the Style of self-regulation of behavior – SSRB 2020 questionnaire were used to study the motivational-regulatory component. The Explanatory Style of Successes and Failures (ESSF) technique and the General Self-Efficacy Scale by R. Schwarzer and M. Yerusalem, adapted by V.G. Romek, were used to study the cognitive-motivational component, the persistence and perseverance scale (Grit) was used to study the integrative component. The results showed that if strong internal motivation prevails, it sufficiently determines academic success, but if motivation is lacking or is external, other components, namely self-regulation resources and the style of explaining successes and failures in achievement activities, help to increase academic success. At the same time, the influence of the form of education was not revealed.</p>

Higher Education in Northern Cyprus: The Path from Isolation to Oversaturation

Abstract This study explores the problems related to university teaching and academic research within de facto states in the context of their non-recognition via an analysis of the current situation in the higher education sector of Northern Cyprus. It reveals that although Northern Cyprus is a world leader in terms of the number of universities per capita, as well as the proportion of international students and the proportion of higher education students in its population, its higher education system nevertheless faces numerous problems. Among the most serious of these are the inconsistent and often very low quality of Northern Cyprus’s universities, the politicisation of and lack of confidence in the accreditation authorities responsible for the quality and sustainability of the higher education system, and the unregulated activities of “agents” who recruit new students.

Country branding through the internationalization of higher education: the case of Egypt

PurposeDrawing from the literature on internationalization, higher education marketing and place branding, this paper aims to link the internationalization of higher education to country branding. It explores the impact of internationalization within the higher education system on Egypt’s destination brand equity. This investigation offers insights for decision-makers in both the higher education and country branding sectors.Design/methodology/approachThis empirical paper adopts an exploratory approach and serves as an initial step for researchers. It utilizes a quantitative methodology, employing a survey with 366 responses, to examine the effects of internationalization efforts in higher education on country brand equity.FindingsThe results reveal a direct correlation between student engagement and the brand equity of international branch campuses (IBCs), as well as a link between IBCs and Egypt’s brand equity. Notably, the study highlights the mediating role of IBC brand equity in the relationship between student engagement and the overall brand equity of Egypt.Originality/valueThis paper is innovative in its method of assessing the impact of internationalization efforts in higher education, specifically at IBCs in Egypt, on Egypt’s destination brand equity. Additionally, the study identifies student engagement as an antecedent to IBC brand equity.

Reproduction of higher education personnel: motives for entry and retention measures

Introduction. The trends in the reproduction of intellectual resources have a significant development potential worldwide towards the realisation of a proper strategy for increasing the countries’ competitiveness. The stimulating programmes for the development of national universities set a due benchmark for the elaboration and testing of new ways to attract young people to the scientific and educational environment, as well as the formation of professional commitment. The accumulated practice of implementing federal programmes to support science and education raises a question of the outcome and efficiency of measures funded by the state. The aim of the study is to identify the dominant motives of the teaching staff belonging to the “young personnel” category for long-term work in the profession and at the university, as a consequence of the managerial measures applied by the administration. Materials and methods. To diagnose the priorities in the structure of young people’s motives to work in the system of higher education, the data obtained from a survey of young university specialists were used. The survey involved 140 people with different lengths of work experience in higher education. To assess the effectiveness of managerial practices aimed at retaining young specialists, a semi-structured interview with managers who realise the tasks of searching for, attracting, and retaining young people at universities was held. A total of 25 professionals took part in the interviewing: heads of departments, deans and vice-rectors of three Siberian universities. The methods of statistical data processing and assessment of the experts’ opinions coherence (Kendall’s coefficient of concordance) were applied. Results. The dominant motivations for young people to stay in higher education are: the system’s resource and readiness to support initiatives of young teachers–researchers (3.9 p.); regular self-education and professional growth (3.9), lucrative compensation (3.6), and the opportunity to work in priority branches of science (3.4). The higher school associates the transformation of all basic activity processes with staff rejuvenation: change in the format of communicating with stakeholders; intensification of work performance methods, as well as strengthening of intellectual, emotional, and professional resilience of work teams. The output and impact of the measures to stimulate due professional commitment were assessed. A major instrument contributing to high efficiency is represented by communication support measures based on regular feedback and included in individual adaptation and professional development programmes. Conclusion. The management system has to solve the staff rejuvenation problem at two levels: operational and strategic. It is necessary today to seek due options for the implementation of policy decisions and target indicators, and simultaneously to lay the foundations for involving specialists in the future scientific and educational environment. The application of different meaningful content actions in solving a particular task entails the manager’s professional deformation and blurring of the rules of interaction with the subject of labour.

Marriage and Motherhood: Insights on a Crucial Life Course Process from the Perspective of Female Arab-Palestinian Undergraduate Students

Despite changes in women's status in recent decades in Arab-Palestinian society in Israel, marriage and motherhood still play a central role. Moreover, although the increase in the integration rates of young Arab-Palestinian women into the higher education system, as girls belonging to a minority group with traditional structures, they are expected to prioritize family and community expectations over personal aspirations. This study focuses on art projects of female Arab-Palestinian college students in Israel, which serve as a prism for detecting cultural perceptions of pathways to entering adulthood among this population today.These topics are central themes in the projects in question. Working on these projects forced the students to profoundly contemplate their life stage - being engaged or newly married and young mothers. The aim of the study was to decode the artworks in order to explore the students’ feelings and thoughts on a topic rarely considered through the eyes of the young women themselves. The study provides a nuanced examination of the social processes that young educated Arab-Palestinian women experience in the current family structure. By analysing the projects using visual tools from semiotics and art history, along with verbal texts provided by the students, we assert that these projects serve as a crucial avenue for students’ self-expression regarding topics seldom addressed. Even though the projects cannot be understood as critical of traditional gender expectations, we did find some interesting voices of unease regarding them. The move from their parents' home to their new one is widely described as difficult, where sadness and concern about the future are highly noticeable. In addition to accepting the stages of marriage and motherhood with joy and excitement, they also express fear and hesitation. This tension between fulfilling their expected roles and being unsure and hesitant about them exists in the projects. We claim that even if implicit and careful, these signs are important to recognize. However, it seems that higher education has failed to significantly undermine patriarchal and gender expectations.

ПРОФЕСІЙНА ПІДГОТОВКА ВЧИТЕЛЯ ПОЧАТКОВИХ КЛАСІВ ДО ВИХОВНОЇ РОБОТИ В НОВІЙ УКРАЇНСЬКІЙ ШКОЛИ

The article based on a holistic analysis of the theory and practice of professional education, describes the theoretical and methodological principles of training perspective primary school teachers to manage and implement educational work with primary school pupils in the New Ukrainian School. It has been established that in the context of the modernisation of the system of higher pedagogical education in Ukraine, there are significant shifts in the directions, content, and essence of primary school teacher training. The author proves that in the process of studying professional disciplines by future primary school teachers in a higher pedagogical education institution, there is an effective formation and development of their educational competence (professional thinking, emotional intelligence, creative potential, assimilation of educational values and value orientations, experience of social adaptation and socialisation of a growing personality to the challenges and threats of modern Ukrainian society). The elements of such competence are as follows: the knowledge, skills, and practical abilities, experience in designing effective areas of childhood education, communication skills, and abilities to implement, analyse and predict the effectiveness of pedagogical interaction of all participants in the educational process in primary school based on child-centredness, cooperation, co-creation, formed autonomy and responsibility by developing pedagogical thinking, creative activity, and independent improvement of the level of organisation of the educational process in primary school. The article defines and describes the current leading principles of organising and conducting professional training of perspective primary school teachers in the implementation of the strategy of creating an educational process in primary school. There has been highlighted and defined the essence of the basic requirements concerning the content of professional training of perspective primary school teachers for the organisation of educational work in the New Ukrainian School.

Understanding college success through the lens of first-generation students in China: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

BackgroundFirst-generation college students face unique challenges in navigating the higher education system, and understanding their perceptions of college success is crucial for providing appropriate support. ObjectiveThis qualitative study aimed to explore the perceptions of 15 first-generation college students regarding college success and to identify the factors they consider important for achieving success in college. MethodSemi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants, and the data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. ResultsThis study explores the varied perceptions of success among first-generation college students (FGCS) through five themes: Academic Achievement, Personal Development, Personal Well-being, Personal Fulfillment, and Career Success. ConclusionThis study provides valuable insights into the perceptions of first-generation college students regarding college success. The identified themes shed light on the multifaceted nature of success in higher education. These findings have implications for supporting first-generation college students and developing targeted interventions to enhance their overall success and well-being.

Repositioning the value of sociology for students studying sport in post-92 higher education institutions

The position of sociology within the UK post-92 higher education curriculum is increasingly under threat as neoliberal ideology continues to shape universities to be based on market principles. Here, the discipline is often thought to lack clear ‘practical’ outcomes which meet the demands of the job market and these challenges are particularly prominent within the capitalist nature of sport-based degrees. Using data generated from focus groups and interviews, this paper explores sport students' experiences of studying the sociology of sport within a UK post-92 higher education institution. The findings illustrate wide ranging benefits the students perceived to gain from studying the sub-discipline. From these empirical insights, we put forward the argument that the sociology of sport has potential to offer significant value to students on sport-based degrees which meet the demands of the current higher education system, as well as broader values beyond restrictive neo-liberal thinking.

Exploring the multidimensional impact of ICT on academic achievement and mental health: Evidence from a large‐scale survey of higher vocational students in China

AbstractBackgroundHigher vocational education is an essential part of the higher education system that complements conventional education. In the context of information and communication technology (ICT) development and academic competition, more and more literature has proved the importance of ICT use in educational development (academic achievement and mental health) and the relationship between information literacy and the educational development of higher vocational students.ObjectivesBased on one of the most extensive surveys of higher vocational students, the study combined the Opportunity‐Propensity (O‐P) framework and ecological model to explore the direct effects of different types of ICT use on educational development and the indirect effects from psychological and social factors.MethodsThe data involved 28,956 students from seven higher vocational colleges. The class fixed effect and causal mediation analysis models verified the results.Results and ConclusionThe results found differential effects of different types of ICT use on academic achievement and mental health. Information literacy ability can improve the academic achievement of higher vocational students, but at the cost of mental health. ICT use not only directly impacts the academic achievement and mental health, but also has an indirect impact through psychological factors represented by self‐efficacy and technostress and social factors represented by social support.ImplicationsThis study promotes integrating and expanding the O‐P framework and ecological model, enriching the relevant research in ICT use and educational development. Meanwhile, it also provides practical suggestions for realizing rational interventions in ICT use and improving the educational development level of higher vocational students.

The significance of elective courses in teaching foreign languages

The educational system of our country is developing year by year. On the basis of these developments, we can point to the presidential decrees and the newly adopted law on education [1]. Introduction of digital technologies and modern teaching methods to higher education processes in the "Concept of the development of the higher education system of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030" approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PF-5847 of October 8, 2019, young people wide involvement in scientific activities, combating corruption, increasing the share of students studying in engineering and technical education, introducing the credit-module system, increasing the share of practical training in specialized subjects aimed at increasing practical skills in curricula specific tasks for improvement are defined [2]. On the basis of the tasks specified in these decrees, the credit-module system of teaching in higher education institutions of our country was gradually introduced. Certainly, since this is a new system, a deep study of the new features of the system is required. In our research, we arc working on the formation of the educational trajectory of students, and in this article, we want to describe the elective courses in the curriculum.

Comprehensive Management For The Process of Access, Retention, Graduation, and Employability in Higher Education

employability, based on the potential of career guidance, as a contribution to the sustainable reduction of student drop-out.   Theoretical Framework: The Higher Education system of access, retention, graduation, and employability has been described fragmentarily through Pedagogical Sciences. This paper systematizes contributions on vocational training processes and career guidance in the stages of human development.   Method: The theoretical approach carried out is based on the application of the systemic-structural-functional scientific method. From this perspective, the logic or succession of procedures for constructing knowledge in a coherent and rigorous manner is expressed from the General Systems Theory.   Results and Discussion: The achieved theoretical results on the approach performed have been the essential support for the elaboration of regulations; in the projection on the integrated admissions process to the former students’ condition; as well as in the academic monitoring of each student. This constitutes evidence of its applicability in practice.   Research Implications: Practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing Higher Education institutions with ideas for integrating universities with preceding educations and the production and services sector.   Originality/Value: The novelty of this paper lies in the idea of a macro process that systematizes career guidance as a source of professional motivation in the different stages of personality development.

Constructing A Model of the Impact of Human Capital and Social Capital on the Employment Quality of Chinese University Graduates: Based on the Mediating Role of Career Development

Introduction: This article is based on the theories of human capital, social capital, social interaction, and collaborative governance. From the dual perspectives of human capital and social capital, combined with the mediating role of career development, it studies the factors that affect the quality of employment for university students and constructs a conceptual model to determine the mediating role of career development between human capital, social capital, and the quality of employment for university graduates. Through a large amount of literature and previous research theories, suitable employment quality indicators, human capital indicators, social capital indicators, and career development indicators were selected. This article reveals the influencing factors of improving the employment quality of university graduates, providing ideas for improving the employment quality of university graduates and promoting the improvement of the higher education system and the stable development of the social economy.   Objective: It introduces a novel perspective on career development and explores the mediating role of career development in the impact of human capital and social capital on the employment quality of university graduates. This not only provides more objective and scientific guidance for university graduates' job values, self-awareness, and planning but also helps them better develop and cultivate their own human capital and social capital capability providing effective practical guidance. At the same time, it can provide objective analytical data for the reform of major settings in university education, the establishment of career courses, and the fair and reasonable formulation of employment policies, providing a new research perspective for studying the quality of employment of university graduates.   Theoretical Framework: In the developmental stage, at least four economists have made outstanding contributions: Theodore W. Schultz and Gary Becker, Jacob Mincer and Edward Denison, respectively from different angles in different fields for the formation of the basic framework of the foundation, the modern sense of human capital theory was born, not only laid the theoretical foundation for the western education economics but also opened up a new field of western economics research.   Method: The research of domestic and foreign scholars on the career development of university students is similar. Due to the differences in the focus, attention topics, and research methods, the dimensions of career development of university students are also defined differently.   Results and Discussion: The theories of human capital and social capital have received attention and recognition from scholars as the basis for studying the quality of employment for university graduates. The impact of human capital and social capital on the quality of employment for university graduates is also significant. However, in existing research, there are not many studies that focus on the quality of employment for university graduates from the perspectives of schools and social governance, based on social interaction theory and collaborative governance theory. Specifically, there is a lack of systematic theoretical support and empirical exploration in exploring the impact of major differences and career development on the quality of employment for university graduates, and overall, it is still in the exploratory stage.   Research Implications: The research results indicate that there is a significant correlation between career development, human capital, social capital, and the quality of employment for university graduates   Originality/Value: This model is not yet tested in Chinese contexts.

Personal Development of Doctoral Students

Personal development refers to the process of increasing one’s self-awareness, associated increases of self-esteem, increasing skills, and fulfilling one’s aspirations. The current paper reflects on these elements within the doctoral journey, for PhD students within the UK Higher Education system. The paper makes particular reference to frameworks to encourage and capture personal development needs and supervision or coaching styles that may be used to encourage a continual reflection of personal development throughout the doctorate.

Applying a democratic evidence-based decision-making model: a case illustration of policy development at an Arab University

ABSTRACT This case study explores the potential for democratic governance in state-regulated Arab higher education systems focusing on institutional committee members’ adoption of deliberative, empowered and participatory evidence-based decision-making practices while engaged in university policy development. Amidst a landscape characterised by the forces of globalisation and internationalisation, coupled with an intensifying focus on quality assurance and accreditation that increasingly shape governance structures, this research examines decision-making at the practical micro-level within an Arab State institution. This university, mirroring others in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, functions within a largely centralised political system where government bodies exert substantial influence. By presenting an illustrative case of grassroots democratic evidence-based decision-making during committee members’ formulation of a new institution-wide policy, this study aims to partially bridge the conceptual and applied research void. It delves into the opportunities and challenges of practicing shared, evidence-based decision-making in multiplex universities operating within characteristically state-regulated, management-centric political contexts.