Institutes Of Higher Education Research Articles

Impediments to Greater Diversity in the Cancer Research Workforce: Do Patterns of NCI Funding of Training and Educational Awards to Institutions With Rich Research Resources but Low Student Diversity Indicate Structural Bias?

Purpose: To examine patterns of NCI training and educational awards (T32 & R25) by indicators of research capacity and student diversity. Methods: FY2019 data from the US Department of Education and NIH Exporter were used to examine student diversity and NCI funding by research capacity as defined by Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education. Results: In FY2019, the Carnegie Classification for Doctoral Universities (n = 412) included 131 “R1”_ and 135 “R2”_ research-intensive universities, and 146 other doctoral and professional universities ("DPU"_).At all Carnegie Institutions, >45% students were White. By Carnegie classes, compared to R2 and DPUs, R1s had the lowest proportions of African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and female students, at both college and graduate levels. Proportions of Hispanic undergraduates were similar across Carnegie classes, and generally higher than those for Hispanic graduate students, which were lowest among R1s relative to R2s and DPUs. Asian American and nonresident alien students (undergraduate and graduate) comprised higher proportions of R1 students than those at R2s and DPUs.Schools varied by Minority Serving Institution status. For instance, numbers of Hispanic Serving Institutions were similar for R1s (16), R2s (16), and DPUs (18), but 11 R2s were Predominantly Black Institutions and only one R1 was and no DPUs. In contrast, 71 R1s were Asian American Serving Institutions, far higher than the 16 R2s and 19 DPUs with that status.Of >2,000 “NCI R01 and equivalent awards”_ in FY2019, >90% were awarded to R1s, with <10% at R2s and <1% at DPUs. Patterns by Carnegie class were similar for NCI Fellowship (F), Career Development (K), and Training Program awards (T). Conclusion: Both low student diversity at research resource-rich schools and higher diversity at schools with fewer research awards may contribute to and perpetuate few individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups working in cancer research. To address this long-standing problem requires understanding how many factors and systems interact at multiple levels (e.g., individual, institutional, funding agency) to drive and block access to training and career advancement in cancer research.

Language and Conflict in East Jerusalem: Arab Teachers’ Perspectives on Learning Hebrew

This study examines East Jerusalem teachers’ perceptions of and attitudes toward acquiring and communicating in Hebrew as a second language. The context of the study is a complex education system dominated by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. East Jerusalem’s education system is divided between schools supervised by Israel’s Ministry of Education and those supervised by its Palestinian Authority counterpart. Israel’s Ministry of Education requires that teachers in its East Jerusalem public schools learn basic Hebrew language and communication at an Israeli institute of higher education. This research seeks to examine a sampling of East Jerusalem teachers’ perceptions and attitudes toward acquiring Hebrew as a second language and communicating in it with the majority Jewish society. Study participants, all Arab teachers from East Jerusalem who had studied Hebrew at an Israeli college, were asked about their command and usage of Hebrew in several open-ended questions provided on a structured questionnaire that offered the respondents the ability to elaborate on their thoughts. The responses were subsequently assessed qualitatively. The study found that the participants’ willingness to learn Hebrew for daily communication purposes was motivated primarily by instrumental and pragmatic considerations. According to the findings, the participants’ communication in Hebrew was accompanied by feelings that in the process of acquiring and using the language, they were jeopardizing their sense of Palestinian identity as Palestinian citizens under Israeli rule. These perceptions arose in the context of the precarious status of East Jerusalem. The finding that national identification appears to impede second language acquisition has important implications for national language policy in similar regions.

Factors Affecting High School Students’ Motivation and Career Interest in STEM Fields and Their Modeling

This study aims to investigate the motivation and career interest in STEM fields of high school students enrolled in public schools in the districts of Kayseri in Turkey according to various factors, to ascertain the relationship between the two variables, and to present a model for the relationship between the variables. The causal-comparative research and correlation (relational) research designs, which are among the quantitative research designs, were used in this study, which involved 1,667 students from five high education institutions situated. The research employed the Career Interest Scale in STEM Fields and the Motivation Scale in STEM Fields to gather data. It has been found that students whose favorite and most successful course is about STEM have much higher motivation and career interest in STEM fields than the other pupils. According to the study, students who are considering majoring in one of the university’s STEM fields have much higher motivation and career interest in STEM fields than other students do in general. Additionally, the connection between motivation and career interest in STEM fields was looked at. According to research, students’ motivation in STEM fields accounts for 70% of changes in their career interests in those fields.

Constructionism Imagineering Learning Model via Metaverse to Enhance Young Innovators

Constructionism imagineering learning model via metaverse is an instrument for promoting self-learning through hands-on. To create new knowledge for young innovators by combining the concepts of technology and new learning platforms to create new ideas. Designing teaching and learning that can be used to learn in the new normal focuses on continuous learning at any time, anywhere, with the benefits of using technology. The sample group is six experts in designing and developing learning models and learning systems from various institutions in higher education by purposive sampling. The research instruments are as follows. 1) The constructionism imagineering learning model via metaverse to enhance young innovators. 2) The constructionism imagineering learning process via metaverse to enhance young innovators. 3) An assessment form for the constructionism imagineering learning model via metaverse to enhance young innovators. 4) An assessment form for the constructionism imagineering learning process via metaverse to enhance young innovators. Analyse data using mean and standard deviation. The researchers found that the constructionism imagineering learning model via metaverse and the constructionism imagineering learning model via metaverse, which is developed is appropriate to enhance young innovators at the highest level, following the research hypotheses.

ROLE OF COGNITIVE TECHNIQUES IN ENHANCING PERCEPTION AND ASSIMILATION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL BY MEDICAL STUDENTS

Rapid changes in the life of society and an individual person, information exchange between them contribute to the development of cognitive activity, and in practical terms reflect the ability of education seekers to learn. With the cognitive approach, all processes are considered as components of the general information exchange between a person and the environment. In the conditions of an increase in the speed of information growth, it is necessary to create new cognitive learning technologies ways, techniques and methods that will allow education seekers to ensure an effective understanding of the real world, intellectual development and successful adaptation to life in an information-saturated environment.
 The purpose of this study is to reveal the characteristic features of cognitive teaching methods and determine their role in the perception and assimilation of educational material by students of higher medical education. Methods used include analysis, synthesis and systematisation of scientific and methodological work. Students must adequately perceive information presented in written or oral form.
 The cognitive aspect of learning involves the development of cognitive activity through the ability to identify keywords, draw logical conclusions, write notes and abstracts, comment on speeches, ask clarifying questions, participate in discussions, etc. Search skills play an important role in the selection of information in terminological dictionaries, atlases, educational and scientific literature, mass media and social networks. To develop practical skills in higher medical institutions of education, virtual stimulators, models, simulators, dummies and other technical teaching aids are used, which allow to simulate clinical situations, processes and various aspects of the future professional activity of medical students. Cognitive approaches aimed at the formation of clinical thinking in students play an important role in resolving various situational tasks ("Step 1" and "Step 2"). Cognitive techniques in medical education create conditions for students to perceive and assimilate incoming information, stimulate the ability to distinguish specific interdisciplinary connections and develop clinical thinking.
 Cognitive techniques in medical education are critical in creating optimal conditions for students to perceive and assimilate educational material, and in stimulating their ability to identify and establish interdisciplinary connections. By developing the cognitive abilities of students, higher medical education institutions can equip future healthcare professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the demands of an ever-evolving medical landscape.

Raúl Hernández Sánchez

As a young boy growing up in Chihuahua, Mexico, Raúl Hernández Sánchez was a fan of the iconic wrestler El Santo. In dozens of movies, the masked luchador battled multifarious foes, including evil scientists whose secret laboratories were filled with bizarre equipment and fuming beakers. Those scenes captured the boy’s imagination: “I was 8 years old, thinking, ‘I would like to be working there!’ ” he says with a laugh. Fortunately for us, the lab he now leads at Rice University is focused not on world domination but world preservation. “I’m trying to use supramolecular systems to tackle sustainability problems,” Hernández Sánchez says. His molecular assemblies are already showing promise in purifying water and helping generate hydrogen. Hernández Sánchez began studying chemistry at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. But it was a summer internship at the California Institute of Technology, where he worked on a proton-conducting material used

A brief investigation of English language teaching and learning techniques applied to higher education students

Several decades ago, the English language has become a necessity for countries that do not have English as their mother tongue, attracting the attention of the academic, scientific, and economic communities. A great variety of techniques have been implemented in the teaching and learning of this language and have been adopted in most of the institutes of Higher Education in Latin American countries. The present research analyzes the different teaching and learning techniques based on the scientific literature used by English language teachers. The results are based on the academic performance of a group of Higher School Polytechnic of Chimborazo students. It is concluded that the combination of task-based teaching strategies (36.56 % of students acquired skills in English language learning acquisition according to this technique adopted by teachers.) and grammar teaching technique (42 % of teachers use this technique) has a better impact on English language learning.

Use of Design Sprint in PBL Modules– A Longitudinal Case Study Approach

Project Based Learning (PBL) modules have become an inevitable part in SE curriculums. Industry relevance of PBL mechanisms have further strengthened this crucial need. Design Sprint is well known as a PBL approach which enhances transferable skills in students. Design Sprint is also a widely used mechanism in software industry projects. Therefore, Design Sprint could be used to enhance the outcomes of SE undergraduate PBL projects. This study makes use of a longitudinal case study approach to investigate the effectiveness of using Design Sprint approach in a SE undergraduate module which used PBL. The study focusses a group of students (111) and academics (12) in SE degree program in a private higher education institute in Sri Lanka. Qualitative data gathered from the target audience in two distinctive occasions to investigate the effectiveness of Design Sprint in PBL projects. The results showcased that Design Sprint has a positive impact in improving performance criteria such as problem solving, teamwork, analytical skills, communication skills and acquiring new knowledge. The results indicated that majority of the students (more than 80%) had positive opinions about the Design Sprint. The academics further strengthened this finding as they also agree that there was a significant improvement in student performance in PBL projects after introducing Design Sprint mechanism.

Exploring the dilemmas and their influence on teacher identity development during practicum: Implications for initial teacher education

AbstractTeaching practicum carries high significance in the initial teacher education because of its enhanced potential to provide the Student Teachers (STs) with the opportunities to put theories into practice and thus to learn the art of teaching under supervision. As revealed in educational literature, STs face a variety of dilemmas during their teaching practicum that influence their professional identity in either positive or negative ways. However, what dilemmas STs face during their teaching practicum and how those dilemmas influence their professional identity has received little attention from academics so far. This research aimed to address the said gap. Two groups of STs enrolled for Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) in a higher education institute in Pakistan and currently doing their teaching practicum were taken as research participants. Data were generated through focused group discussions. The emerging data were analysed thematically. Results showed that, during their practicum, STs undergo a variety of dilemmas created by the learners’ characteristics, limited interaction with students and reduced support mechanism. Most of the dilemmas emerge mainly because the STs have not been properly prepared considering the dilemmas they face at the classroom level. The emerging dilemmas predominantly and adversely affect the professional identity of the STs making them question their decision of opting for the profession of teaching. The implications of the insights emerging from this research are highlighted for initial teacher education institutes, teacher educators and cooperating schools.

NUDGING FOR IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND MOTIVATION IN HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS

Nudges, attempts to influence behaviour without forbidding any options or significantly changing the economic incentives of any options, have been applied to diverse issues such as sustainable consumption, e-commerce, and workplace goal-setting. Academic applications of nudges have grown, and a burgeoning attention on nudge applications in higher education is developing. In this paper, we describe our unique multidisciplinary approach, involving data analytics, qualitative research methods, and the Theory of Planned Behaviour, to developing nudges for improved academic performance and motivation at a non-residential university with a high proportion of part-time and mature students. Our paper focuses on the design and ongoing progress of nudge development. We end by exploring how our approach can serve as a template for other institutes of higher education wanting to develop and deploy nudges for better student outcomes. KEYWORDS: Theory of Planned Behaviour, Nudge, Retention

Effectiveness of WhatsApp as a Pedagogical Tool in Learning Phrasal Verbs: A Case Study at a Higher Educational Institute in Oman

This study investigates the effectiveness of WhatsApp (WA) in helping students learn phrasal verbs in an English as a Foreign Language context. Using a mixed-method approach, data were collected from 32 Level 4 students of the General Foundation Program at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Ibra, Oman. The students were provided with 15 phrasal verbs to be learnt and used in sentences within five weeks through WA. An achievement test was conducted in the fifth week to measure the learning. In addition, a questionnaire survey and an interview were conducted to investigate students’ perceptions regarding the effectiveness of WA in learning and the challenges they faced during the process. The findings showed students’ positive perception regarding WA’s effectiveness as a learning tool. However, certain challenges such as distraction, poor Internet connection, and poor time management were found to hinder their learning process considerably. Overall, the study highlighted the possibility of successful WA integration in foreign language education with strategies to minimize the challenges and maximize the effectiveness.

Marketability Study of Mathematical Sciences Students in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Higher Education Institute (HEI) has a vital role in developing human capital of a country. Measuring the quality of teaching and learning system in HEI and also industry’s satisfaction level is important to ensure the marketability of HEI graduates. This study examined Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Mathematical Sciences students’ marketability by determining industry’s satisfaction level on students’ skills and abilities during industrial training and identifies factors that affect students’ marketability. There were 22 student attributes that were categorized into four factors. Mean scores and Relative Importance Analysis determined the satisfaction and importance level of each attribute studied respectively. Besides, Penalty-Reward Contrast Analysis (PRCA) showed that affective factor was categorized as a basic factor where its existence did not increase but its absence decreased the industry’s satisfaction level. For Importance Performance Analysis (IPA), cognitive, affective, and cognitive & psychomotor factors were observed in the first quadrant which had high importance level but low performance level. Lastly, all four factors were found in the loyal customer zone and at an excellent level through Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) analysis. In conclusion, UKM Mathematical Sciences students have high marketability in general, but preservation and improvement should be implemented on important attributes to enhance their marketability.

Role of Servant Leadership via Emotional Intelligence, Grit, and Compassion on Job Performance

Servant Leadership has emerged as a prominent leadership style that has been investigated and implemented in diverse settings. This study focuses on examining the role of servant leadership within the higher education institute of Quetta, Baluchistan. The purpose of this research is to assess the impact of servant leadership on job performance while considering the mediating role of grit, compassion, and emotional intelligence. The study employs a non-probability convenience sampling technique to gather data from 250 pairs of followers and leaders within the higher education institute. A survey was administered to collect the necessary data, which were subsequently analyzed using SPSS v26 and SMART PLS 4. The findings of the study reveal significant relationships and shed light on the mediating effects of three key constructs: grit, compassion, and emotional intelligence. The results indicate that servant leadership significantly influences job performance within the higher education context. Additionally, the study highlights the partially mediating role of grit, compassion, and emotional intelligence in the relationship between servant leadership and job performance. This research contributes to the understanding of leadership dynamics within the specific context of higher education in Quetta, Baluchistan. By emphasizing the importance of servant leadership in promoting job performance and identifying the underlying mechanisms through which servant leadership influences performance, this study offers valuable insights. The findings underscore the significance of fostering servant leadership qualities and cultivating grit, compassion, and emotional intelligence to enhance performance outcomes in educational institutions.

Professionally-oriented Discourse in Foreign Language Teaching in HEIs

Objective: The peculiarities of professionally oriented discourse in teaching a foreign language in High Education Institutions are a key factor in improving knowledge of the subject matter and developing students' professional competencies. In modern realities, the use of lexical and semantic groups and professional terminology is becoming increasingly important to improve mastery of the educational material and the possibility of implementing the acquired skills in practical activities. The research aims to conduct an analytical study of the theoretical and methodological foundations of professionally oriented discourse and the peculiarities of its use in teaching a foreign language in High Education Institutions. Such a policy can improve the peculiarities of teaching professionally-oriented discourse, which is an important segment in learning a foreign language. Moreover, it can also improve approaches to organizing the learning process.Methods: Using scientific research methods, the article presents logically consistent material on the development and feasibility of implementing High Education Institutions policy with an increased focus on mastering professional-oriented discourse as a condition for further employment of students and improvement of their professional competencies.Results: Attention is paid to the theoretical provisions of professionally oriented discourse and its quality of development in modern realities. The results of the study can be useful in formulating policies for organizing the educational process and ensuring the improvement of the quality of education in modern globalization processes. The article investigates the peculiarities of the educational process and typifies the key elements of professionally oriented discourse, taking into account the development of modern information technologies.Conclusions: Recommendations for the formation of the most relevant skills for students in mastering professionally oriented discourse in learning a foreign language are given.

Developing a needs-based plagiarism management in second-language writing in a higher education institute: practice-oriented research

Developing a needs-based plagiarism management in second-language writing in a higher education institute: practice-oriented research

University professor in a situation of total uncertainty

The article is devoted to the understanding of transformation of the profession and mission of a university professor in a rapidly changing world. The crisis of the theory of human capital, the return on investment in higher education is increasingly challenged, which leads to the transformation of the university. The career trajectory of a professor has been formed for decades, requires large intellectual, social and labor investments, while the institute of higher education is in a state of constant reform. The university as an institution comes into conflict with the world of uncertainty. Instability runs counter to a long-term commitment to an academic career. The educational process is conservative in nature and is associated with the development of a complex socio-cultural environment. This requires the stability of institutions, and the context is exactly the opposite. Uncertainty is generated by a huge range of forms of agency, among which proprietary agents, such as artificial intelligence, will compete with the professor in the labor market. The article raises questions about the discrepancy between the university and the market of professions, the university and the competencies of graduates, the impact of entrepreneurship and digitalization on the profession, the refraction of the conflict between investment logic and the logic of culture in academic communities. Comparative analysis of statistical data and the situation in advanced countries and Russia shows that this process is universal. Consideration of the professor as a profession determines the possible ways of managing and leveling uncertainty. Liquid modernity makes the profession of a university professor out of proportion to the situation, at most, or radically transforms it, at least in professional, social, and ethical changes.

A Way to Prevent Illegal Interferences in the Hiring Process for Lecturers in Afghan Universities: Applying the Computer-Based Examination Method

Aim: Illegal interferences in the recruitment process not only devastate the process but it also results to recruit incapable persons for organization. The aim of this research study is to highlight illegal interferences in the process for hiring lecturers in Afghan universities and to find a way for its prevention.
 Methods: A quantitative and descriptive research was adopted in this study. The data was gathered from public and private sectors in high education institutions, and from official ministries’ web-sites. Moreover, the literature portion of this research was completed in the library, using data and information from reliable sources such as books, journal articles, reports from valuable international and national institutions, and online dictionaries. The information about corruption, and about the roots of corruption was collected in the field through a comprehensive questionnaire of fourteen multiple choice questions and one short answer question.
 Results: The main findings show the high level of illegal interferences in the process for hiring lecturers in Afghan universities. Bribery, favoritism, political, and ethnic-linguistic, and religious-ideological interferences are the main types of illegal interferences in the process.
 Conclusion: The study concludes that the current manual-paper-based examination method is prone for such illegal interferences.
 Recommendation: The study recommend the Afghanistan Ministry of Higher Education to centralize the lecturers’ recruitment process and apply the computer-based examination as a way to prevent such illegal interferences.

Oral Submucosal Fibrosis: A Potentially Malignant Condition to be Considered

Sukeshini Lote1, Kunal Kotkar2, Maheshwari Nikam2, Yash Dhadiwal2, Sandesh Zade2 and Virashri Patil2 Author informationArticle notesCopyright and License information 1Datta Meghe College of Pharmacy, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), Sawangi (Meghe) Wardha, Maharashtra, INDIA 2Department of Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance, R C Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Shirpur, Dhule, Maharashtra,

THYROID HORMONE LEVELS AND ITS RELATION TO OUTCOMES IN ICU PATIENTS

Background: Free thyroid hormone levels were analyzed in critically ill patients, admitted to the ICU who were more than 18 years of age without any underlying thyroid illness. APACHE 2, FT3, FT4, and TSH levels were analyzed and compared using ROC curves. Aim of the study: To assess whether free thyroid hormone levels were better predictors of outcomes compared to existing tools. Study design: This is a prospective observational study undertaken in the Department of General medicine at Sri Ramachandra institute of higher education and research, Chennai, Tamilnadu has done between 2019 to 2021 with the approval from the ethics committee. A total of 70 critically ill patients were admitted to the ICU, who were more than 18 years of age without any underlying thyroidal illness. Patients with known thyroid disease, pregnancy, and drugs causing alteration of thyroid hormone levels were excluded from the study. Blood samples were collected immediately after admission and APACHE 2 scores were calculated within 24 hours of admission. Parameters were analyzed using various statistical methods. Results: A total of 70 patients were included in the study, of which 63 were survivors and 7 patients expired. Most of the study population were males (45) and the mean age of the survivors 49.71 ± 10.72 was and for nonsurvivors was 54.29 ± 15.07. Using the Pearson correlation in APACHE 2 and FT3, APACHE 2 and FT4 showed a statistically signicant correlation in survivors (P 0.02; P 0.05), while in non-survivors only APACHE 2 and FT3 showed a signicant correlation ( P 0.008). Using ROC curves, APACHE 2 alone showed signicant predictive validity in predicting mortality in critically ill patients in our study ( AUC 0.985; P <0.001). Conclusion: In our study combined APACHE 2 and FT3 showed a signicant correlation in both survivors and non-survivors as well. APACHE 2 has better predictive value compared to other parameters and FT3 alone did not have predictive validity. So large sample is required to test the value of free thyroid hormones in predicting outcomes in critically ill patients.

Rail News From 1912

News from the archives The issue suggests a small collection of news from the Zheleznodorozhnoe delo [Rail Business] journal, that had reproduced them from other media of that period. The diversity of topics proves the existence of different issues that were relevant in 1912: adoption of round trips – similar to modern reduced fares for purchase of two way ticket, discussion of timeliness of emergence of rail bus in the Far East, accession of future Moscow Institute of Railway Engineers (now – Russian University of Transport) to the status of the institute of higher education. Style, lexis, punctuation are kept maximally authentic.