Educational Institutions Research Articles

Wonderful and Dangerous Entanglements Between Youth Culture, Contemporary Art and Present Pedagogics

The article aims to describe and discuss how a particular affinity can be identified between contemporary art, trends in children’s and young people’s culture, and present pedagogical approaches found in afterschool clubs, gymnasium and Social Education in a Danish context. Methodologically, inspiration is drawn from self-study research, involving several analytical sessions in which the authors of this article engaged in collaborative analysis of empirical cases chosen from their own practice. The selected cases are discussed through three thematic lenses: creativity, reflection, and time. Theoretically, the article refers to distributed aspects of creativity, the role of craftsmanship, and the apparent acceleration of society. The article concludes that pedagogical methods derived from contemporary art meet young people’s need for participation, inclusion, and influence but also contend with conditions in present society, such as limited time for immersion, a general acceleration of society, academization of our educational institutions, and a general downgrading of manual techniques.

Attendance Marking using Face Detection

The demand for automated attendance management systems has significantly increased in educational institutions and corporate environments where manual methods are prone to inefficiencies and errors. This paper presents a real-time, facial recognition-based attendance system developed using Flask, OpenCV, and machine learning techniques. The system employs OpenCV’s Haar Cascade classifier for face detection and the K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN) algorithm for face recognition. During user registration, the system captures 10 images per individual to ensure robust recognition across various facial expressions. The web interface, built using Flask, facilitates user interaction for managing attendance records stored in CSV format. The system achieves an accuracy of 92% under optimal lighting conditions, though performance decreases to 80% in low-light environments. Recognition is completed in approximately 2 seconds, making the system suitable for real-time applications in classrooms or offices. Despite handling real-time image streaming efficiently, challenges such as reduced accuracy when handling obstructions like masks or glasses remain. Future enhancements will explore the integration of deep learning models, such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), to improve robustness and scalability. This system demonstrates the potential of facial recognition technology for automating attendance tracking, with significant applications in both educational and corporate sectors

Enhancing Urban Mobility with Aerial Ropeway Transit (ART): Future Accessibility Impacts of Multimodal Transit Expansion Scenarios

Aerial ropeway transit (ART) systems are emerging alternatives to augment existing transit systems in congested cities in the Global South, especially in urban areas with limited transit coverage because of road width constraints or topography. Integration of aerial cable car stations to an existing transit network can improve the overall accessibility of various population segments with significant positive benefits in relation to reducing transport-related social exclusion. This study evaluated the impact of introducing ART in the city of Varanasi (India) and assessed the spatial accessibility improvements to critical facility locations such as heritage sites, educational institutions, hospitals, and employment centers. Several multimodal transit expansion scenarios were considered in this study and the potential benefits of each case were quantified using the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method. A multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach was subsequently employed for identifying the optimal locations of ART stops. Microlevel analysis findings suggest that the mean accessibility values could increase up to 10.92% in the first phase of the ART implementation, which could subsequently increase to 24.7% and 49.8% for the subsequent transit expansion scenarios. The study also investigated the Varanasi ART DPR prepared by Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) and showed that a significant increase of 16% in accessibility levels could be achieved if optimal stop locations identified in this study were implemented. The proposed two-step (2SFCA+MCDM) method for identifying the optimal locations of ART stations in a multimodal transit network is expected to be an effective tool for transit system redesign using place-based accessibility measures.

A Review of the Conceptual Structure and Evolution of Digital Leadership Research in Education

With the advent of digital technologies that have rapidly changed the functioning of societies, digital leadership has also become a novel imperative for the effective functioning of organizations. As the backbone of societal development, educational institutions have not been exempt from the influence of these new trends, which has ignited a growing research interest in the digital leadership roles of school administrators. This study aims to map the conceptual and thematic evolution of this research on digital leadership in the education field to offer a better insight into the strategic themes that are sufficiently or insufficiently addressed; that is, to identify aspects that are clearly defined or left shrouded in shadow. This study employed science mapping methodology and used SciMAT software (version 1.1.04) to map the evolution of thematic strands across three periods of the field’s development. The analysis was conducted using metadata obtained from 174 articles that are indexed on WoS and Scopus. The results indicated that with a growing focus on technology or e-leadership, considering the developments in the world of computers and the internet, research into digital leadership has gained momentum in recent years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital leadership is regarded as a broader concept for application in investigating the knowledge, skills, competencies, and perspectives of school leaders to facilitate the healthy integration of digital technologies into education, school administration, and student learning. The field seems to require investigations into the many aspects of digitalization in education to build a more solid and insightful knowledge base to guide the effective practice of digital leadership in schools.

An investigation of higher education in further education: preparing a new campus for higher education delivery

ABSTRACT One of the hallmarks of an ever-changing educational landscape is that students are paying considerably higher fees to study higher education courses, including those offered by college-based HE providers. As such, the student experience becomes of paramount importance to ensure student needs are met. To this end, this project sought to discover the best practice(s) needed to ensure a newly built campus is prepared to deliver college-based higher education (CBHE). Using a mixed-methods research design, the project investigated the new campus’ potential for further HE growth, particularly given that there is no higher education institute (HEI) presence in the location where the research took place. This research aimed to investigate how specific spaces at a new FE college campus can benefit HE students. By examining the design and utilisation of these spaces, the study seeks to understand their impact on student experience, community building, and the amplification of student voices in the decision-making process. The findings provide insights for policymakers and CBHE providers on creating supportive and inclusive learning environments that cater to the diverse needs of their student populations. The findings revealed that the HE student experience is constantly evolving, and demands for quality learning environments are increasing. In co-collaboration with a sample of existing students, a framework was established that colleges could use to purposefully improve their overall experience of studying higher education within a further education environment. This research is of use to policymakers, CBHE providers and their staff, and all stakeholders with a responsibility in CBHE.

Two Years in the Making: Co-Learning Insights from the CSEAR’s Education Community of Practice

ABSTRACT As the imperative to address unsustainability grows, higher education institutions, individual academics, scholarly networks, and professional bodies are calling for sustainability to be (more prominently) embedded in curricula. Over the past 30 years, a strong body of work has been published related to social and environmental accounting education such as textbooks, academic articles, and teaching cases. Yet, the individual and collective endeavours scholars undertake to develop and embed social and environmental accounting education within their respective institutional contexts often remain invisible. Insights may be gleaned thanks to corridor conversations, informal networks, one-off workshops, or panel discussions. To further strengthen capacity to undertake such education, a community of practice approach might help connecting individuals and sharing experiences. This commentary outlines the aims of the CSEAR Education of Community of Practice, the process of establishing and running this community, and offers preliminary reflections following the first two years of its existence. Finally, we consider the next steps in the development of this initiative as means to enhance collective efforts to mobilize social and environmental accounting education to enable a more sustainable society.

How does gamification affect learning effectiveness? The mediating roles of engagement, satisfaction, and intrinsic motivation

ABSTRACT Academic institutions have implemented methods to enhance student engagement, increase satisfaction levels, and maximize the efficacy of the learning process. Gamification has been increasingly used in education to enhance the efficacy of student learning, in contrast to traditional teaching methods. This study quantitatively examines the impact of gamification on learning efficacy by assessing variables such as engagement, satisfaction, and intrinsic motivation based on data from 255 survey responses by undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Vietnamese institutions. Participants had prior experience with gamified instructional methods. The findings indicate that individuals’ level of enjoyment and challenges impacted the effectiveness of their learning through the mediating processes of engagement, satisfaction, and intrinsic motivation. This study offers valuable insights for educational institutions, schools, teachers, and other scholars examining the impacts of intrinsic motivation, satisfaction, and engagement on learning effectiveness within the educational setting of gamification.

A model for predicting academic performance on standardised tests for lagging regions based on machine learning and Shapley additive explanations

Data are becoming more important in education since they allow for the analysis and prediction of future behaviour to improve academic performance and quality at educational institutions. However, academic performance is affected by regions’ conditions, such as demographic, psychographic, socioeconomic and behavioural variables, especially in lagging regions. This paper presents a methodology based on applying nine classification algorithms and Shapley values to identify the variables that influence the performance of the Colombian standardised test: the Saber 11 exam. This study is innovative because, unlike others, it applies to lagging regions and combines the use of EDM and Shapley values to predict students’ academic performance and analyse the influence of each variable on academic performance. The results show that the algorithms with the best accuracy are Extreme Gradient Boosting Machine, Light Gradient Boosting Machine, and Gradient Boosting Machine. According to the Shapley values, the most influential variables are the socioeconomic level index, gender, region, location of the educational institution, and age. For Colombia, the results showed that male students from urban educational institutions over 18 years have the best academic performance. Moreover, there are differences in educational quality among the lagging regions. Students from Nariño have advantages over ones from other departments. The proposed methodology allows for generating public policies better aligned with the reality of lagging regions and achieving equity in access to education.

DEVELOPING A COMPETITIVE REWARD SYSTEM TO ATTRACT QUALIFIED TEACHERS

The quality of education plays an important role in determining educational outcomes, as competent and dedicated educators are able to provide effective teaching, motivate students, and help them reach their full potential. However, in many countries, including Indonesia, there are still challenges in attracting and retaining quality educators. Therefore, it is important for educational institutions to formulate a reward system that is not only financially competitive, but also includes non-financial aspects that can improve the satisfaction and motivation of educators. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach. Data collection was conducted through a literature review, focusing on relevant written sources such as books, journal articles, research reports, theses, and dissertations. Data analysis was conducted using triangulation to compare and confirm information from various sources, providing a more comprehensive and reliable understanding of the topic being studied. The results show that the development of a competitive reward system is critical to attracting quality educators, who are key to improving the quality of educational education. Education institutions can create an atmosphere that supports the improvement of teaching quality and education as a whole by implementing a balanced reward system and considering feedback from educators.

Relationship between stressors with emotional exhaustion and coping strategies: The mediating role of academic stress symptoms in Peruvian adolescents

The research was conducted with the aim of evaluating the direct and indirect effects of academic stress symptoms related to academic stressors, emotional exhaustion, and coping strategies in an academic context. The study had a cross-sectional predictive design, composed of 387 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years (M = 15.6, SD = 1.53, 56.8 % female) from different educational institutions in Lima, Peru. The results showed significant effects with a direct trend for each of the variables. In addition, academic stress symptoms had a stronger indirect effect on the relationship of academic stressors with emotional exhaustion (β = 0.392, p < .001), in contrast to the effect of academic stressors with coping strategies (β = 0.083, p < .05). It was also found by multigroup analysis that the proposed model was invariant as a function of sex. Therefore, it is concluded that adolescents who are exposed to greater academic stressors will perceive greater symptoms of academic stress, which in turn intensifies the occurrence of emotional exhaustion and the coping strategies. These results were equivalent in both men and women.

Historical insights at scale: A corpus-wide machine learning analysis of early modern astronomic tables.

Understanding the evolution and dissemination of human knowledge over time faces challenges due to the abundance of historical materials and limited specialist resources. However, the digitization of historical archives presents an opportunity for AI-supported analysis. This study advances historical analysis by using an atomization-recomposition method that relies on unsupervised machine learning and explainable AI techniques. Focusing on the "Sacrobosco Collection," consisting of 359 early modern printed editions of astronomy textbooks from European universities (1472-1650), totaling 76,000 pages, our analysis uncovers temporal and geographic patterns in knowledge transformation. We highlight the relevant role of astronomy textbooks in shaping a unified mathematical culture, driven by competition among educational institutions and market dynamics. This approach deepens our understanding by grounding insights in historical context, integrating with traditional methodologies. Case studies illustrate how communities embraced scientific advancements, reshaping astronomic and geographical views and exploring scientific roots amidst a changing world.

Neuroanatomy teaching in the flipped classroom: Attitudes and effect on medical students' performance.

Neuroanatomy is essential to clinical neurosciences and is one of the most difficult components of the anatomy curriculum. Flipped classrooms are one of the pedagogical approaches that have been found to enhance students' abilities and encourage in-depth learning. The current study aims to assess the attitudes and effects of flipped classrooms on neuroanatomy teaching among medical students compared to traditional classrooms. A quasi-experimental study was carried out during the period January through June 2023. The effectiveness of teaching neuroanatomy in flipped classrooms versus traditional classrooms was assessed using formative assessment and a pre-designed structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of four sections assessing different domains on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The total sample reached 214 students. Most students' attitude statements covering skills, knowledge and learning process, and length of time were significantly in favor of flipped teaching at the expense of traditional teaching. Then mean examination grades were significantly higher for pre-test flipped and post-test flipped in comparison to pre-test and post-test traditional examination. Although the flipped classroom is an effective method of learning neuroanatomy as compared to traditional classes, it faces some challenges in its implementation. Such challenges need awareness and solutions from educational institutions.

The state of psychological and immunological indicators in graduate students of a medical university

Training future doctors for professional practice usually entails building awareness and embracing the significant responsibility inherent in the field. This, in turn, leads to significant psycho-emotional stress by the time of graduation from academic institution. With the aim of identifying the correlation between homeostatic system indicators, a comparative analysis was conducted to characterize the immunological and psychological parameters of final-year medical university students, contingent upon their respective training programs. The study involved sixth-year students of the Therapeutic and Preventive Faculty [TPF] (29 individuals) and the Military Training Center [MTC] (34 individuals) of Rostov State Medical University, a Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education. The exclusion criteria for all participants included the presence of chronic diseases and any infectious process of any origin within three months prior to the study. The groups were similar in terms of age (23.8±1.82 and 23.9±2.2 years, respectively), gender (all male), and corresponded to health group I. Psychological evaluation was conducted employing the Spielberger–Hanin Scale to gauge levels of personal and situational anxiety. The assessment of immunological status was carried out at the Scientific Research Institute of Clinical Immunology using standard methodological approaches. Registration cards for immunopathology analysis were used to characterize health status over the year. Analysis of the obtained data from psychological questionnaires revealed that students of the Therapeutic and Preventive Faculty, compared to their counterparts from the Military Training Center, demonstrated a higher degree of situational and, particularly, personal anxiety. Differences in the immune response system between the compared groups were identified with regards to indicators that characterize both adaptive and innate immunity. These differences were expressed in a more significant number of circulating regulatory T lymphocytes, a less pronounced lytic potential of effector cells, a greater number of TLR9+ monocytes with a decrease in the proportion of cells of the monocyte series carrying HLA-DR in medical students compared to their counterparts studying in the medical service officers’ program. Thus, the period of psychological preparation in a medical university for the commencement of professional activity varies based on the characteristics of the educational process and proves to be more effective for sixth-year students of MTC. Students from the TPF exhibit more pronounced psycho-emotional stress compared to their counterparts in military medical training, leading to evident signs of immune system dysregulation. It is imperative to develop strategies for timely detection of changes in both psychological and immunological adaptive capacities.

Using ChatGPT in planning English language classes

The digital transformation is a global trend in modernizing educational systems. Implementing digital technologies in Russian educational institutions has been legally established and has become an everyday practice for teachers and students. The transition to new forms of learning, including interaction with artificial intelligence (AI) in combination with other technological solutions, contributes to solving applied problems, such as optimizing teacher’s working time. This article explores the possibilities of using AI (in particular, ChatGPT) as a tool for English lesson planning and instructional design.The article provides an overview of the capabilities, basic principles of interaction, and prospects for using ChatGPT in the educational process. The main part of the article consists of examples of ChatGPT responses to requests from a user — an English language teacher. As a result of interaction with ChatGPT, we were able to create a lesson plan as well as exercises for the development of lexical skills, for monitoring text understanding, for developing speaking skills and listening skills. The article demonstrates that the use of ChatGPT in English language lesson planning opens new perspectives for effective individualized learning and expands the possibilities for creating attractive and relevant educational content to meet diverse needs of students.

Attitude of Students in Rural Secondary Schools Towards Sex Education in District Shimla of Himachal Pradesh based on Gender

This research seeks to examine the perspectives of high school students in the countryside of Shimla. Stratified random sampling method was employed to select a cohort of one hundred students from two rural educational institutions in the Shimla District: Government Senior Secondary School, Shoghi and Government Senior Secondary School Ghanahatti. Dr. Usha Mishra’s standardized scale for assessing attitudes towards sex education was utilized for data collection. The t-test has applied to evaluate the significance of the differences among the various groups. The results indicated no notable difference in the attitudes of male and female pupils attending a rural secondary school in the Shimla District. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 11, Issue-4: 115-118.

Компетенция построения социального пространства отношений дошкольников в системе обеспечения качества профессиональной подготовки будущих педагогов в вузе

The study aims to determine the content and structure of the competence of constructing a social space of preschoolers’ relationships and, based on this, to identify the features of its formation in the quality assurance system of professional training for future educators in higher education institutions. The article analyzes the problem of the quality of professional training for future educators of preschool educational organizations. The scientific novelty of the study lies in describing and characterizing the competence of constructing a social space of preschoolers’ relationships of future educators, determining its structure and content, identifying the components of the competence, and presenting the features of its formation in the educational process of the university, taking into account the requirements of state educational standards. The formation of this competence is carried out through innovative forms, means, methods, and technologies. As a result of the study, it was found that the competence of constructing a social space of preschoolers’ relationships includes professional and personal qualities of future educators that determine their readiness for future professional activities. The structure of the said readiness is comprised of motivational, cognitive, active, and communicative components. The content of these components is substantiated. Features of competence formation in the quality assurance system of professional training for future educators in higher education institutions have been identified.

Exploring the Motivation of National Common Language Learning among Ethnic Minority College Students in Inner Mongolia

As the importance of the national lingua franca in social communication is increasingly highlighted, this study aims to explore the learning motivation of minority university students in Inner Mongolia regarding the national lingua franca, with the purpose of understanding and analyzing the factors that contribute to students’ learning motivation in a specific linguistic environment. This paper selects minority students in Inner Mongolia universities as the research subjects and collects data through questionnaire surveys and interviews. Combining quantitative and qualitative analysis methods, it reveals the multidimensional differences in learning motivation in terms of gender, grade, and major background. Empirical research results indicate that students’ learning motivation is jointly influenced by social environment, cultural identity, and career planning. Positive factors provide motivation for learning engagement, while negative factors hinder the improvement of learning outcomes to a certain extent. The conclusions of this study have certain practical value in providing targeted language teaching strategies for higher education institutions and also play a positive role in promoting language integration and cultural exchange among minority university students.

Exploring the mediating role of psychological distress in the relationship between psychosocial workload and work-family conflict

In the modern workplace, the imbalance between work and family roles often leads to work-family conflict, negatively impacting employees' well-being. This study examines the mediating role of psychological distress in the relationship between psychosocial workload and work-family conflict among teaching professionals in private higher education institutions in India. The Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) model was used to assess psychosocial workload and its impact on psychological distress and work-family conflict. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, gathering data from 391 respondents across 35 multidisciplinary deemed universities. The data was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results indicate a significant positive relationship between psychosocial workload and work-family conflict, with psychological distress acting as a mediator. A high psychosocial workload was found to increase psychological distress, which, in turn, intensified work-family conflict. These findings highlight the importance of interventions such as flexible work arrangements, workload management, and supportive organizational cultures to mitigate these stressors. The study contributes to the fields of organizational psychology and employee well-being, offering practical insights for university administrators to promote work-life balance and reduce psychological distress.

An empirical study on the effectiveness of collaborative school implementation in central China: a value-added approach

ABSTRACT School effectiveness refers to an educational institution’s ability to achieve its predetermined goals, especially regarding student learning outcomes, development, and well-being. Although forming and strengthening partnerships between schools is commonly used to improve school effectiveness, empirical evidence on the connection between school collaboration and school effectiveness remains insufficient. This study investigates the relationship between school collaboration and effectiveness by employing a hierarchical linear model based on a value-added analysis of student scores in selected schools in a central Chinese city. We found that some student- and school-level variables significantly influenced students’ achievement. After controlling for both student and school demographic variables, the study results indicated that collaborative schools exhibited greater school effectiveness than non-collaborative schools, and the effectiveness continued improving as collaborative schools continued to grow. In general, it is viable to employ the value-added approach to assess the impact of school collaboration within the Chinese education system.

College Student Self-Care: The Missing Ingredient for Success?

College students are experiencing the highest rate of mental health challenges ever in history. This brief report on self-care consisted of nine participants, who were currently attending a public university. Three focus groups were held. Three themes emerged from the data: a.) defining and practicing self-care b.) self-care education and c.) self-care during the COVID pandemic. Since these students never received any formalized education about self-care and because of the college counseling center’ s inability to serve a growing number of students with mental health challenges, the researcher recommends that education institutions devote more time to educating students about self-care.