Institutions Of Higher Learning Research Articles

Preoperative camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy for borderline resectable ESCC: A single-arm, prospective, phase 2 study

We investigated the safety and efficacy of preoperative camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy for treating thoracic borderline resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Br-ESCC) (ChiCTR2200056728). Patients with thoracic Br-ESCC received intravenous camrelizumab plus chemotherapy and underwent esophagectomy. The primary endpoint was the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate. We introduced computed tomography and endoscopic examination into the diagnostic criteria to increase its reproducibility. Additionally, we defined a new resection status, Rbr+/-, for Br-ESCC. Thirty-one patients with Br-ESCC were ultimately enrolled in this study. Overall, 71.0% (22/31) of the patients underwent esophagectomy. R0 resection was achieved in 81.8% of patients (18/22). pCR and major pathological response were observed in 40.9% (9/22) and 63.6% (14/22) of the resected patients, respectively. Eighteen R0 resection patients were redefined according to our Rbr definition; 61.1% (11/18) were classified as Rbr+ resection, and 38.9% (7/18) were classified as Rbr- resection. With a median postoperative follow-up of 17.9months, 4 patients out of 11 who underwent Rbr+ resection experienced local recurrence (2 of whom achieved pCR). However, no patients (0/7) who underwent Rbr- resection experienced local recurrence. Esophagectomy after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy is a promising radical treatment for Br-ESCC. R0 resection was achieved in 81.8% of patients, and a pCR was observed in 40.9% of resected patients. Even after complete excision, Rbr+ resection leads to a higher rate of local recurrence in patients with Br-ESCC. This study was supported by the Key Scientific Research Projects of the Institutions of Higher Learning in Henan Province (no. 21A320032).

Market Linkages and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises: Insights from County Government Support Programs

Small and medium enterprises suffer from inability to grow their markets and growth was curtailed by years of existing in the narrow markets at inception. This study sought to assess how market linkages offered by the county government affect the growth of SMEs in Laikipia East Sub-County, Kenya. This proposed study adopted a descriptive survey design and targeted 1200 registered SMEs in Laikipia East Sub-County who have had contact and engagement with the County Government of Laikipia via the Laikipia County Enterprise Development fund. A sample of 291 SMEs was calculated from which data was collected from the founders using a questionnaire. Data was then analysed using descriptive and regression analysis for quantitative data with the help of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and content analysis for qualitative data. The study found that most of the respondents indicated that they were helped to get new customers to a small extent by the county government. Regression analysis showed that market linkages were statistically significant, F(1,289)=110., p<.001 explaining 77.4% of the variance in SME growth. The study concluded that market linkages offered by the county government also significantly affect the growth of SMEs in Laikipia East Sub-County, Kenya. It was recommended that county governments ought to assist SMEs in marketing their products & services. Training programs in conjunction with institutions of higher learning on marketing and digital marketing strategies can enhance SMEs' capabilities in marketing. The findings of this study have significant implications for the Kenya Micro and Small Enterprises Policy. The significant role of market linkages in SME growth indicates a need for the policy to enhance strategies that facilitate market access.

A Study on Support from a Distant Learning Department at a Hispanic-Serving Institution

Online programs have made a lasting impact on institutions of higher learning for several decades. This ethnographic qualitative study focused on the development and support of a distance learning department at a Hispanic-serving institution. The study aimed to identify unique organizational elements specific to this Hispanic-serving institution. The findings were significant, revealing that the Distance Learning department, operating under an “academic umbrella”, functioned as a comprehensive hub for both faculty and student support, offering a wide range of services including technical and instructional technology support. Furthermore, the study found that the department's placement under the “academic umbrella” not only centralized support but also lightened professors’ coursework loads by assisting students with instructional technology support.

Navigating Cross-Cultural Challenges: A Phenomenological Study on Strategies for International Faculty in Higher Education to Support Local Students

Dealing with local challenges and providing effective support for students as an international faculty member can be both challenging and rewarding. This phenomenological study delved into the intricate dynamics of cross-cultural encounters within higher education settings, focusing on the experiences of international faculty in supporting local students. Using semi-structured focus group meetings, the researchers explored how their lived experiences as full‐time international faculty working in institutions of higher learning in the United States could be applied in providing support for students. This process required intricate navigation to acquire some level of cultural understanding of the local culture and traditions and build relationships with native faculty, staff, and students. The study was based on firsthand experiences of how the authors, international scholars from various parts of the world, navigated through these hurdles to become effective educators. The researchers constructed generalizations, noting that the institutions whose policies include embracing cultural diversity, fostering inclusivity, and providing targeted support are better positioned to enable their international faculty members to address local challenges and empower students to succeed effectively.

The Influence of Technology Readiness on Actual Use of Electronic Evaluation Forms among Internship Examiners in Higher Learning Institutions

The Influence of Technology Readiness on Actual Use of Electronic Evaluation Forms among Internship Examiners in Higher Learning Institutions

Public Conceptions of Climate Change Impact as a Human Health Risk. A Case Study in Cameroon

This research looks at the public’s perception of climate change’s impact as a human health risk in Cameroon. With the use of an extensive survey, the research investigates Cameroonian demographic data, levels of education, and views about the perception of climate change as a human health risk. The descriptive data reveal that master’s students are significantly represented among the participants, and men predominate. According to the findings, most students are aware of climate change and its serious future effects, which include rising poverty, disease outbreaks, and extreme temperatures. According to the study’s findings, tackling the complex issues raised by climate change requires an entire population that is both engaged and aware. Institutions of higher learning are essential to this effort since they emphasize how curriculum should incorporate climate education in order to empower many more generations to come. In order to improve public awareness and encourage significant steps toward sustainability as well as health protection in the context of climate change, the research emphasizes cooperation between legislators, learners, and the general public. These parties may build a society that is both ecologically conscientious and even more adaptable by cooperating. People can make decisions that help lessen the consequences of climate change by increasing their knowledge and consciousness. By adopting a comprehensive strategy, we can guarantee an environmentally friendly future for future generations in addition to the present one.

Unpacking Challenges within South African Institutions of Higher Learning in Addressing Student Grievances: A Literature Review

The persistent episodes of violence have been a thorn in the flesh of many South African institutions of higher learning. This predicament has tarnished the reputation of these institutions and compromised the overall quality of education provided. Employing a qualitative narrative literature review as the methodology and the theory of anomie, this paper examines and delineates the challenges confronted by higher learning institutions in addressing student grievances. The findings reveal many factors motivating student grievances and subsequent campus protests. These factors encompass administrative and managerial deficiencies in handling student grievances, inadequacies in managing student financial challenges, distorted perceptions among students regarding their rights and responsibilities, and substandard student accommodation and learning facilities. The discourse presented herein aspires to influence a transformation in the operational frameworks of higher learning institutions. The researchers envisage that their insights will diminish instances of violence and catalyse policy shifts to mitigate student exclusion.

When The Experts Write: A Readability Analysis Of Public Universities’ Websites In Ghana

Websites of institutions of higher learning provide valuable resources to students, professors, parents, and the general public. Since the websites have a wide range of audience, with different educational backgrounds, the contents on the websites must be readable in order to make them useful to the general public. This paper evaluated the readability of the websites of seven public universities. Convenience sampling was employed to select 30 articles from each website (n =210), and Flesch reading ease and grade level were employed to compute readability scores. The results revealed that contents on all the seven websites were very difficult to read, requiring 14 years of education to be able to comprehend, on the average. Only two of the websites (those of the University of Development Studies, Tamale, and University of Education, Winneba) differed statistically in their readability. It was recommended that webmasters re-evaluate the contents on their websites to make them more readable.

Examining Service Quality in Ghanaian Higher Education: A Comparative Analysis of Private and Public Universities

Little is known about how students perceive the quality of service provided by Ghanaian tertiary institutions and how this perception influences their enrolment choices. Using the Higher Education Quality (HiEdQUAL) model for service quality measurement, this study examined service quality across five key dimensions; teaching and course content, administrative services, academic facilities, campus infrastructure, and support services in Ghanaian private and public universities. A structured questionnaire based on HiEdQUAL model consisting of 27 items with five dimensions, measured on a five-point Likert-Scale was used to gather data. Out of the initial 2,266 sampled respondents surveyed from private and public universities, a total of 1,758 correctly completed questionnaires were returned. This gave a high response rate of 76.43%. The paired t-test results that examined the equality of means between students’ perceptions of service quality at private and public universities across five dimensions, helped to determine the presence of statistically significant differences in some areas. The results suggested that public universities may be making better use of their resources or benefitting from their large numbers of enrollment and state financial support. Given that the quality of service provided by both private and public universities in Ghana falls short of students’ expectations, the paper provides administrators with practical insights to improve service quality in Ghanaian universities and suggests the need for continuous quality improvement in institutions of higher learning in Ghana. Keywords: HiEdQUAL, Service Quality, Higher Education, Public Universities, Private Universities.

Slavery's absence from histories of moral and political philosophy

AbstractAt a time when many institutions of higher learning are reflecting on their past complicity with chattel slavery, either in terms of the sources of their funding or their use of slave labor, philosophy as an academic discipline has been largely silent about its own complicity. Questions surrounding the legitimacy and practice of slavery were a regular part of moral philosophy courses at universities from the sixteenth century until its abolition. However, the discussions of slavery found in the dominant textbooks tended to be deeply conservative judged even by the standards of those times. This partly explains why after emancipation the many moral questions posed by slavery are barely mentioned in survey histories of ethics or of political philosophy today: this is a context in which academic philosophy does not show itself to its best advantage. The present article explores what academic philosophers need to do to redress the discipline's past failures, including its virtual silence about slavery since the Civil War. Given today's political environment, academic philosophers need to reflect on how the discipline in its institutional form functions within a system governed by the legacy of slavery and its aftermath.

Assessing institutional image's influence on student satisfaction and loyalty in Singapore's higher education: A study on higher learning institution students

This research project expands on previous studies to analyze the institutional image from the perspective of higher education students in Singapore. The work builds on extensive prior research and examines the impact of the recent pandemic and lockdowns in Asia, which have increased Singapore's popularity as a study destination for Asian students, particularly from China. Known as the Garden City and one of Asia's wealthiest cities, Singapore has grown significantly due to foreign direct investment and its strategic location near Malaysia and Indonesia. This study aims to identify institutional and city image dimensions in higher education, focusing on three of Singapore's six publicly funded universities. The critical factors examined include Institutional Image, Economic Image, Social Image, Environmental Image, Perceived Educational Quality, and Satisfaction and Loyalty. These factors are crucial for Singapore's goal to become an innovation and talent powerhouse by 2030, aligning with national scientific and technological advancement plans. The research also explores how Singapore competes with traditional study destinations like the USA, Britain, and Australia.

Status of One Health Implementation in Botswana

Abstract One Health (OH) is a collaborative, multisector and transdisciplinary approach to mitigate various issues related to the health of animals, plants, humans and ecosystems and their interactions for optimal health. In Botswana, the main goal of OH is to achieve resilient health outcomes that recognize the interrelationships between peoples, animals, plants and their shared environment. We conducted a desktop study, followed by key informants’ interviews (KII) and focus group discussions (FGD) in Botswana to define the current OH state of affairs as well as to identify education, training, research and policy gaps that need filling to facilitate effective implementation of OH in the country. The study results revealed that the country does not have an institutionalized nor legislated OH platform but rather intersectoral and multisectoral structures coordinated by the line ministries to address OH-related issues on an ad-hoc basis. Furthermore, it was found that institutions of higher learning in the country do not have deliberate OH programmes to spur traction of OH approaches but rather snippets of OH content infused in certain taught programmes. It is recommended from this study that there is an urgent need to adopt and adapt OH approaches in the country and institutionalize OH platforms for operational purposes through enaction and promulgation of relevant statutory instruments in the affected sectors of the economy, like health, education, environment and research. Information © The Authors 2024

Perceptions on Influence of Membership in Young Farmers Clubs on Career Interest and Participation in Agricultural Activities Among Secondary School Students in Nakuru North Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya

Young Farmers’ Club (YFC) activities globally have played a vital role in the mastery and attainment of knowledge in agriculture subject since it is best learned by use of practical activities. Increased youth participation in agricultural production is necessary and vital in facilitating food and nutritional security. In Kenya, Young Farmers Club of Kenya (YFCK) was established to help boys and girls to develop ideas for better farming, provide social and recreational activities, help give the necessary dignity to agriculture as an occupation and develop good and competent agricultural leadership. The objectives of YFCK included promoting interest in farming, sound training in advanced methods of crop and animal husbandly, leadership skills, self-reliance, self-confidence and responsibility. The purpose of this study was to determine the perception on influence of membership in young farmers clubs on career interest and participation in agricultural activities among day secondary schools students in Nakuru North sub-county. A descriptive survey design was adopted with a target population of 2,660 agriculture students and 32 agriculture teachers. Proportionate random sampling was used to select a sample of 120 respondents from the 19 day public schools. Data was collected from the sampled heads of agriculture subject using a questionnaire. Content validity of the instrument was ascertained by two panels of experts from Department of Agricultural Education and Extension and the supervisors. Reliability of the instruments was ensured through a pilot-test using 40 agriculture students and four agriculture teachers from Nakuru East Sub-county. The reliability of the instrument was tested using Cronbach Alpha coefficient. A reliability coefficient was 0.76 and 0.73 for YFCK members and Agriculture teachers respectively, at a significance level of α= 0.05. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive with the aid of SPSS 20.0 for Windows. Data was analysed using various tables and graphs. The researcher recommends that Agriculture teachers in collaboration with school administration should enhance YFCK activities. This is for proper and effective practical activities in teaching of Agriculture subject according to the syllabus. The findings of the study will be of importance to secondary school teachers, students and other scholars of higher institutions of learning by emphasizing in formation of young farmers clubs in day secondary schools in Nakuru North Sub- County, Nakuru County Kenya.

Becoming both: “students” and “experts” of race in Australian higher education contexts

PurposeThis paper aims to highlight how Black African academics who live and work under coloniality are systematically seen as “out of place” and how this positioning compounds their experiences of interpersonal and systemic marginalisation within predominantly white universities.Design/methodology/approachThis is a conceptual paper that theorises the experiences of two Black African academics in Australian higher education. It takes a form of autoethnography, to demonstrate the intersectional barriers and setbacks within white academia that interact with gender, class and migranthood, potentially undermining their academic progression and/or professional well-being.FindingsBlack African academics in white-majority workplaces repeatedly report experiences of microaggressions, hyper-surveillance and epistemic Othering. This is characterised by research alienation, funding gaps and being passed over for promotion leading to feelings of exclusion and fractured belonging within academia.Originality/valueThe paper argues that while the Coloniality of Power within institutions of higher learning continues to racialise Black African academics as Other, the Coloniality of Knowledge marginalises their intellectual, theoretical and experiential perspectives and contributions. The power of Coloniality and white supremacy are implicated in the epistemic impositions, erasures and negations of the ontological legitimacy and contributions of Black academics in higher education institutions.

An Integrated Framework of Online Learning Effectiveness in Institutions of Higher Learning

<p><p style="text-align:justify">In the early stages of adopting online learning, both learners and teachers displayed resistance, but the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a widespread shift to digital learning. To facilitate this transition, there is a growing focus on highlighting the effectiveness of online learning, which directly impacts learning outcomes. This study investigates online learning effectiveness through an integrated framework that considers online assessment practices and online course design as independent variables, with online learning support as a moderating variable. Understanding the effectiveness of online learning is crucial as hybrid learning becomes the "new norm" in education, combining online and offline methods for teaching the digital generation. Using a quantitative research design involving 232 students at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, the study found that online assessment practices and course design significantly influence students perceived learning outcomes in an online learning environment. Additionally, online learning support positively moderates this relationship. These findings offer a comprehensive perspective on how online assessment practices, course design, and support systems contribute to the quality of higher education in Malaysia amidst evolving educational practices.</p></p>

Effects of Drug Abuse on the Academic Performance of Students of Selected Tertiary Institutions in Lagos, Nigeria

Drug abuse has become an international phenomenon, a torn in the flesh of nations across the globe. It has been identified as one of the precarious vices; an impediment to the academic excellence of students of tertiary institutions; and a threat to the future of the Nigerian nation. The task of the paper was to interrogate the effects of drug abuse on the academic performance of students of selected tertiary institutions in Lagos, Nigeria. A quantitative method of data collection was employed to get the task of the paper done. The work adopted social learning theory as its theoretical framework. The study found peer group pressure, experimental curiosity, remedy for low self-esteem, poor parenting and influence of role models among others as root causes of drug abuse among students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The finding revealed that the rise of drug abuse among the students of higher institutions of learning in Nigeria is at an alarming rate; by implication, absenteeism from school activities, loss of memory, lack of seriousness in academic work, declining grades, increased potential for dropping out of school and suspension from school to mention a few are attributed to drug abuse. The study concluded by recommending a peer education intervention strategy, enactment of laws to discourage drug abuse, inclusion of mandatory drug education in all educational programs, constant monitoring of students by parents, and setting up of guidance and counselling offices across the campuses. Constant awareness programmes about the effects of drug abuse on academic achievement are also appropriate.

Assessment on the Integration of Internet Technology in Teaching and Learning English in Higher Learning Institutions: An Experience from Morogoro Universities

Assessment on the Integration of Internet Technology in Teaching and Learning English in Higher Learning Institutions: An Experience from Morogoro Universities

Research On Cultivating the Employment Concept of College Students with The Great Spirit of Building the Party - Based on A Data-Driven Approach

One of the most essential ways to see the worth of college students is via employment, which is also the main focus of student development programs for the Spirit of Building the Party. Some real-world issues with the conventional approach to college career counselling stem from the disconnection between students' education and the real world. For example, there is often a misalignment between students' social needs and their comprehensive skill sets and between students' job-seeking needs and their actual employment situations. There has to be extensive research into how to better assist college graduates in finding work that suits their skills and experience so that society can fulfil the practical demands of its growth in this area for the Spirit of Building the Party. Problems in the workplace have garnered a lot of attention because they threaten society's steady progress and the quality of life for its citizens. The nation now needs to tackle the issue of challenging employment for the Spirit of Building the Party. Institutions of higher learning have responded to societal and economic demands by emphasizing the development of students' social abilities and increasing their access to the job market. To provide a solid groundwork for creating employment assistance programs, this research suggests an analytical strategy for college students' jobs based on a data-driven approach for the Spirit of Building the Party. The proposed model is used to plan the supply and structure of skills from a talent supply standpoint. In contrast, the regression model forecasts university students' employment requirements for the Spirit of Building the Party. The data mining technique used in this work combines enhanced fuzzy hierarchical clustering and feature extraction based on semantic similarity correlation. The testing findings showed that the method performed better in categorizing data and could easily handle and analyze big-text datasets

Can you spot the bot? Identifying AI-generated writing in college essays

The release of ChatGPT in 2022 has generated extensive speculation about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) will impact the capacity of institutions for higher learning to achieve their central missions of promoting learning and certifying knowledge. Our main questions were whether people could identify AI-generated text and whether factors such as expertise or confidence would predict this ability. The present research provides empirical data to inform these speculations through an assessment given to a convenience sample of 140 college instructors and 145 college students (Study 1) as well as to ChatGPT itself (Study 2). The assessment was administered in an online survey and included an AI Identification Test which presented pairs of essays: In each case, one was written by a college student during an in-class exam and the other was generated by ChatGPT. Analyses with binomial tests and linear modeling suggested that the AI Identification Test was challenging: On average, instructors were able to guess which one was written by ChatGPT only 70% of the time (compared to 60% for students and 63% for ChatGPT). Neither experience with ChatGPT nor content expertise improved performance. Even people who were confident in their abilities struggled with the test. ChatGPT responses reflected much more confidence than human participants despite performing just as poorly. ChatGPT responses on an AI Attitude Assessment measure were similar to those reported by instructors and students except that ChatGPT rated several AI uses more favorably and indicated substantially more optimism about the positive educational benefits of AI. The findings highlight challenges for scholars and practitioners to consider as they navigate the integration of AI in education.

Pro-Environmental Behaviors in Higher Education: A Contextualized Planned Behavior Perspective

Background:: Institutions of higher learning are critical avenues for addressing issues pertaining to climate stability and environmental sustainability. College students, as future leaders, can play a crucial role in solving the planet’s most pressing problems if they have the right information and a behavioral orientation that promotes positive environmental outcomes Objectives:: The current study evaluates pro-environmental behaviors potentially moderated by knowledge, attitudes, motivations, and contextual factors for college students. It also evaluates what categories of environmentally friendly behaviors students elect to engage in. Methods:: Quantitative data were collected using an online questionnaire survey. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Results:: Findings show a weaker influence by most stand-alone factors but a stronger cumulative effect when all the variables are considered together. Data also indicates student’s inclinations to certain environment-friendly behaviors more than others. Conclusion:: Study findings could be used to change university sustainability policies and curricula to enhance environmental consciousness and inspire participation in green initiatives among students. The study contributes to existing literature on sustainability in higher education institutions in the United States.