Perspective Of University Students Research Articles

Views on Creativity, Environmental Sustainability and Their Integrated Development

In the modern paradigm of sustainability, the role of creativity is of growing significance. No literature was found to have explored the relationship of creativity and environmental sustainability, in the perspective of university students. It is unsure—how our university students perceive them, especially for students of different backgrounds. This study aims at investigating the views of university students on human creativity (HC) and environmental sustainability (ES), and how these two views might affect their supportiveness and understanding of HC-ES integrated development. Case studies of four university students were conducted. They were carefully chosen in an education university of Hong Kong, a place where east-west culture meets. The Self-determination Theory and the Four-C Creativity Model were adopted to frame this study and to analyze its data. Two rounds of interview were conducted with interview scripts transcribed for content analysis. Results showed that the university students hold quite diverse views on HC, ES and HC-ES relationships. The students with general creativity training and/or authentic experiences in ES/HC were found to adopt a little-C and mini-C creativity conception and a self-determined ES approach, which subsequently bought a greater support to HC-ES integrated development/education. Based on the present findings, creativity training is recommended to environmental or sustainability programme in university education. Adopted the case study method, the present research has finally revealed the complexity of this seemingly simple issue, and paves the way for future creative environmental development and its research studies.

The Effects of Career Barriers and Career Efficacy on Job Seeking Stress: A Comparative Perspective of Nursing and Social Welfare University Students

The Effects of Career Barriers and Career Efficacy on Job Seeking Stress: A Comparative Perspective of Nursing and Social Welfare University Students

How can university sexual health promotion events reach those most at risk? A cross-sectional study.

Two anonymous cross-sectional surveys were used to understand current and ideal sexual health promotion events through the perspectives of student leaders (n=62) and general university students (n=502). Students who had more than one sexual partner in the previous year (the higher-risk group) made up 22.7% of the students sampled. Higher-risk students differed substantially from lower-risk students in terms of preferred event types, incentives and topics to be covered, often prioritising those rarely used in current university sexual health events. While current university sexual health events include some features that align with student priorities, elements beyond sexual health information, such as social activity, alcohol incentives and on-site sexual health testing, can be helpful tools to attract students with higher numbers of sexual partners.

Perceptions of the Effect of Recess on Kindergartners

Time spent in the outdoors has been proven to benefit individuals of all ages mentally and physically. For example, exposure to nature reduces stress levels, induces relaxation, and provides Vitamin D. Prior research has linked free play outdoors to helping elementary children focus better in the classroom, reducing symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, reducing the risk of nearsightedness, and producing happier, healthier children. As result of various legislative acts, school districts have felt more pressure to increase academic performance, oftentimes reducing or eliminating recess. This study extends prior research by focusing on parent, college student, and teacher perspectives on how important play, such as recess, is to them as a parent, student, and/or educator. The findings indicate that all of the focus groups perceive recess to be highly important for the many health, social, and behavioral benefits.Subscribe to TPE

Work and Technology: Student and Union Perceptions in Portugal

22 | International Union Rights | 25/3 FOCUS | INDUSTRY 4.0 The debate around work and technology produces mixed feelings for both students and trade unionists, although the former appear more receptive to the opportunities technology opens up When expressed in terms of technology, the question of the ‘future of work’ points to several possibilities, and multiple uncertainties. Based on the Portuguese context, this article highlights the perspectives of university students (who are, after all, the main protagonists of future work) and the perceptions of trade union representatives. A trail-blazing simulation in the academy During the academic year of 2016/2017, the University of Coimbra undertook a simulation of the International Labour Conference (ILC) – the first time in a European university1. The event was inspired by the Future of Work report of the 104th Session of the ILC2. The initiative mobilised 300 undergraduate, master and PhD students in economics, sociology, management, international relations, law, etc. – who, in accordance with the tripartite structure of the ILO, were tasked to act as representatives of governments, employers or workers. One of the debates highlighted by the simulation was the impact of technological changes on work and employment. Some of the topics underpinning this debate were: the role of industries of the future; types of digital work; implications of productive automation for working lives; individualisation processes in the management of working hours and non-working time; technological unemployment; requirements with regard to new skills; tensions between traditional service activities and technological platforms (e.g. taxi drivers vs. Uber). A set of proposals on the future of work emerged from these discussions: ■ Companies and governments should implement a co-financing programme enabling workers to benefit from the necessary training (without redundancies) in the event of changes due to the operationalisation or introduction of new technologies; ■ Government and company policies should maximise investment in research and development to optimise the potential of new technologies as promoters of social welfare and job creation; ■ Enhanced coordination between universities and the needs of the labour market should be established (adjusting teaching practices and programme contents to real needs, reinforcing the technological component of educational institutions or maximising vocational training to provide future workers with more technical skills); ■ Governments should examine and act on gender inequalities created by the incorporation of new technologies into labour markets and channel those technologies to reduce gender pay gaps; ■ Social partners should define limits concerning the type and number of machines that might directly replace jobs; ■ Public investment should be reinforced in the creation of technological incubators of the solidarity economy in universities, communities and social organisations. Trade union representatives’ perceptions One of the aims of a project at the Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra – entitled ‘Rebuilding trade union power in the age of austerity: three sectors under review’ – is to capture the importance attributed to ‘digital trade unionism’ in the metallurgical, transport and telecommunications sectors. This is an especially timely challenge in a trade union movement still very much characterised by ‘old’ practices: predominance of men (both at the top and base of the union hierarchy); low staff turnover; excessive proximity to political parties; qualification deficit of trade union staff; relatively low unionisation rate; timid focus on cyber-activism of social networks, etc. Confronted with the challenge of innovation, trade union representatives in these three sectors expressed a mixture of optimism and pessimism. Between a modest optimism… Some trade union officials recognised the merits of the digital age, in particular the following aspects: ■ The Internet helps organisations communicate quickly and cheaply to a broader audience and to create digital archives of materials developed by workers’ organisations around the world; ■ Unions’ mobilisation efforts have become more visible through the capacity to transmit information in real time, such as denouncing workers’ rights violations, sending out calls for action, or raising awareness of workers’ issues; ■ In the era of Industry 4.0, workers may gain more autonomy and perform more interesting and less arduous jobs; ■ There is a greater flexibility and reconciliation between employment and family life; ■ “A good website solves the issue of membership decline, as well as the format and level of communication” (interview with former trade Work and Technology...

“Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHQOL)-Perspectives of College Students of an Educational University in Bhubaneswar: Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study”

“Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHQOL)-Perspectives of College Students of an Educational University in Bhubaneswar: Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study”

A Study on the Relationships between Time Perspective of College Students and Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy

A Study on the Relationships between Time Perspective of College Students and Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy

Living with a chronic health condition: Students’ health narratives and negotiations of (ill) health at university

Objective:Increasing numbers of young people live with a chronic health condition. Much research to date has explored young people’s self-management of their illness and related symptomatology. Relatively less is known about how young people manage their long-term condition in everyday social contexts. This paper reports on findings from a qualitative study examining the perspectives of university students with a chronic health condition, including how they negotiate their health (and experiences of ill health) while at university.Design:A qualitative interview study was conducted with 16 students with a medically diagnosed chronic health condition.Setting:The study was conducted at a major university in Australia.Methods:Data were collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically and inductively.Results:Findings illustrate how young people sought to position themselves as being ‘healthy’ while simultaneously distancing themselves from labels of ill health and disability. The relative invisibility of their health conditions enabled participants to align with and enact a preferred health identity. Yet, this invisibility presented particular challenges for students when navigating university systems and processes. Indeed, the fluctuating nature of their (ill) health status prompted a felt need continuously to prove their ill health to the university in order to receive academic support. Inevitably, this illness identity was at odds with participants’ own health narratives – triggering additional anxieties and (academic and social) exclusions for these young people.Conclusion:These contradictory (ill) health positions carry a number of implications for how best to support young people living with chronic health conditions while at university.

Is the HIV epidemic changing views on marriage aspirations? Perspectives of university students in Durban, South Africa

ABSTRACTMarriage rates in South Africa have dropped to approximately 37% in recent years. This is particularly marked in the Black African population compared to other race groups. In tandem, the prevalence of HIV in this country has risen to 12.7%, with the highest prevalence among Black Africans. However, no data associates marriage decline with high HIV prevalence. We bridge this gap in knowledge by investigating young students’ aspirations to marry in the context of high national HIV rates. A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students (n = 384) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, between October and November 2014. Quantitative data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Data was analysed by Likert scale analysis, Chi square test, Fisher’s exact test, multivariate regression modelling and calculation of odds ratios. Majority of respondents (85.8%, n = 331) indicated that they wished to get married but more than half (53%, n = 205, p < 0.001) indicated that the high prevalence of HIV has had a negative impact on their marriage aspirations. Students indicated that considering a partner’s HIV status prior to marriage was important (p < 0.001), marriage did not offer protection from HIV (p < 0.001), and testing for HIV prior to marriage was imperative (p < 0.001). Considering a partner’s HIV status before marriage is important and associated with increased odds (OR = 5.62, 95%CI: 1.57–20.05) of wanting to get married. There was a significant relationship between respondents wanting to get married and the future marriage partner being HIV negative (p = 0.003). Furthermore, the HIV epidemic has decreased the odds of wanting to get married (OR = 0.21; 95%CI: 0.08–0.58). We conclude that while the majority of young students have marriage aspirations, the high prevalence of HIV has resulted in a negative perception of marriage. Although HIV testing prior to marriage is considered important, students recognize that they may not be protected from infection during marriage.

Market-Oriented LSP Training in Higher Education: Towards Higher Communicative Skills

In the 21st century globalization accelerates the need for English communication skills as English is recognized as a lingua franca in the business world. A high priority of university educators involved in LSP (LSP – language for special purposes) training is to equip graduates with communicative LSP skills meeting the standards of huge and increasingly competitive job market. The study addresses the issue on how to close the current gap between prospective employers’ expectations of English communication skills level and the existing LSP level of graduates. The study aims at, first, to reveal the effect of English globalization on employability from the perspective of university students; second, to identify factors leading to reticence in speaking; and third, to provide a solution to the problem of gap between graduates’ oral skills and employers’ expectations. The study uses two questionnaires as an instrument to collect data. The obtained quantitative data is used as an input for qualitative study. The study certifies that undergraduates are fully aware of the utmost importance of English language for employment. Also, the study identifies the main social and psycholinguistic reasons hindering to develop speaking skills in the university settings. Further, the research findings have been used to develop and integrate into university training curricula an intensive 3-module program meeting the real needs of students and business community. The goal of this program is to equip students with excellent English communication skills meeting the rapidly changing job market demands. The findings of the study suggest that LSP training offered at higher school should be improved to meet job market requirements. The study enabled to assess the instruction results and provide a solution to the problem of “competency gap”. It points to where the real work of closing the gap between the need for workforce skilled in English communication and actual graduates’ skill level needs to happen.

Perspectives of University Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at heightened risk of post-secondary educational failure and account for approximately 1% of students in post-secondary education. Findings from an on-line survey of students with ASD attending university in Australian are reported in this study. Respondents indicated high rates of academic and non-academic difficulties but low usage of supports. Ratings for supports were idiosyncratic, and some students indicated discomfort from using supports or disclosing their disability. Those students who delayed their disclosure accessed fewer supports and reported a poorer overall university experience. Recommendations were made including the need for better transition support and alternative strengths based approaches that use more flexible and individualised curriculum designs.

How much is Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Digitized? Insights from Teacher Education

The digital age has changed how we communicate, inform ourselves, and even how we teach and learn. This study systematically analyses and compares the perspectives of university academics (N = 75) and university students (N = 206) from the field of teacher education on digitized teaching and learning. In a between-subjects design, participants of both groups were asked for their perspectives on dealing with digital media (i.e., general assessment of digital media, use of different media types and the role of digital media in university courses). Furthermore, they were asked for their own and their anticipated perspectives of each other, in particular, their assumed advantages of using digital media in university teaching. In sum, the findings indicate that it might be fruitful for university academics and students to exchange their views on the use of digital media for teaching and learning in higher education.

Perceptions, awareness and perceived effects of home culture on intercultural communication: Perspectives of university students in China

The widespread use of English has brought into the dominance of Anglophone cultures in intercultural communication (IC). For this reason, it is important to investigate how English language learners' perceptions and awareness of home culture influence the social practice of intercultural communication. Conceptualizing home culture as a key topic in IC, this study used questionnaires and interviews to investigate Chinese university students' perceptions and awareness of their own culture and the perceived effects of home culture on IC. Anchored in descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis, the findings show that: 1) the majority of students had a rather superficial understanding of their home culture; and 2) most students reported that perceptions and awareness of home culture play critical roles in negotiating with speakers of other backgrounds. This suggests that home culture should be regarded as a resource to challenge the dominance of Anglophone cultures in English language teaching classrooms. It also calls for an integration of home culture and other cultures into the English language curriculum, material development and pedagogical practice.

Stigma associated with mental illness: perspectives of university students in Qatar.

BackgroundStigma in relation to mental illness is one of the main factors inhibiting people from seeking help. Studies have been undertaken looking into the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs (KAB) about mental illness among residents in Qatar; however, none have looked specifically at students in higher education. The aim of this study was to understand the KAB toward mental illness among students at a Qatari university and determine if there are any differences based on gender, nationality, and college type.MethodsA convenience sample of students from all genders, colleges, and nationalities was approached to participate in a survey that consisted of four sections: demographic, beliefs, attitudes, and help-seeking and treatment preferences associated with mental illness. Chi-square testing was performed to test for differences in the distribution of proportions of our primary outcomes (students’ beliefs, attitudes, and help-seeking and treatment preferences).ResultsA total of 282 students completed the survey. The majority of the participating students were females (59.3%), non-Qataris (64.3%), and enrolled in science-based colleges (62.7%). Beliefs reflecting poor mental health literacy, such as “medications to treat mental illness can cause addiction”, “mental illness is not like any other illness”, or that “mental illness is a punishment from God”, were reported by a majority of students (84.4%, 56.7%, and 50.2%, respectively). Stigmatizing attitudes that were endorsed by a majority of students included believing that people with mental illness cannot have regular jobs (60.2%), that people with mental illness are dangerous (65.7%), and that they would not marry someone with a mental illness (88.9%). Additionally, 33.6% of students indicated they would be ashamed to mention if someone in their family or they themself, had a mental illness. A vast majority of students (86.3%) indicated to prefer family and friend’s support as treatment options. Significant differences in KAB about mental illness between genders, colleges, and college type were found only for a few items.ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that a high percentage of students reported KAB about mental illness, that are considered stigmatizing. Students’ KAB about mental illness was consistent with that reported by the general population in Qatar. Nevertheless, the sample was small and as such, larger studies from a randomly selected population are needed to confirm these findings.

Perspectives of College Students on HPV and Its Causation to Cancer: Are They Misinformed?

This study endeavors to look at the overall level of understanding of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) among college-age students and whether or not they can deduct what types of cancer are directly correlated with the infection. The research will present the disparity in knowledge among the surveyed college students and how the majority of this age group knows very little about HPV’s carcinogenic effects and how it could affect them later in life.

Extending the Reach: The Influence of Social Media and Culture on Substance Use among African and African American Male College Students

The aim of this study was to explore the influence of social media and cultural identity on substance use from the perspective of African and African American college students in the United States. Focus groups (N = 29) were held that were comprised of African and African American male college students from a large Midwestern university. Each focus group was audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using the elements from the PEN-3 model. Themes emerged from each sub-component, including perceptions of drug use, social media, and culture; enablers, such as social media and musicians/artists; and nurturers, such as family and peers. The African culture is a protective factor against the influence of social media on substance use for African students compared to African American culture. Future strategies are needed to address substance use among young adults that incorporate cultural differences.

Career Awareness and Time Perspective of University Students

Career Awareness and Time Perspective of University Students

中学・高校における学校行事体験の発達的意義:大学生の回顧的意味づけに着目して

中学・高校における学校行事体験の発達的意義:大学生の回顧的意味づけに着目して

Influenza vaccination challenges in an at-risk student population: considerations for health services.

The American College Health Association's, National College Health Assessment (ACHA's NCHA) estimates 46.1% of college students reported being vaccinated in the last year. 1) To understand the college student's knowledge, attitude, and beliefs in regards to influenza vaccination; 2) To establish recommendations in a population where high risk transmission does not consistently translate into high vaccination rates. Utilizing the health belief model (HBM), a cross-sectional study of college student perspectives of influenza vaccination was conducted. Student beliefs regarding vaccination-associated illness and the importance of vaccination did influence vaccination behavior. However, student perceptions of being at risk for the flu and the lack of barriers to vaccination were not found to be significant indicators of vaccination behavior. For this particular population, vaccination promotion efforts may be most effectively targeted in the sophomore and junior years. Findings of this study inform efforts among University Health Services regarding seasonal flu prevention and vaccination on the college campus.

The perspectives of university students on gender roles&lt;p&gt;Üniversite öğrencilerinin toplumsal cinsiyet rollerine ilişkin bakış açıları

Objective: This study was performed as a descriptive study in order to determine the perspectives of university students on gender roles.Method: The population of the study was composed of the students who currently study in the department of Emergency and Disaster at the School of Health in Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University. The study was performed with a total of 224 students present at the school on the date when the study was carried out and agreed to participate in the study. The study was conducted between 27 March-28 May 2014.A survey form prepared in accordance with the literature and Gender Roles Attitude Scale (GRAS) were utilized in the study so as to gather the data. The data were evaluated by means of descriptive statistics, t-test, Mann-Whitney U and variance (one-way ANOVA) test.Findings: Among the students who participated in the study, 49.6% of them were male whereas 50.4% were female. In the study, the average of the total scores on the GRAS of the female students was 155,17±16,47 while that of the male students was 129,56±20,52. In regard to the analysis of the sub-dimensions of the GRAS by gender, it was determined that the female students hold more “egalitarian attitudes” on gender roles than the male students do. With respect to the effect of socio-demographic characteristics of the students on their attitudes towards gender roles, it was found out that there was no difference among the students in terms of age, grades, the high school that the students graduated from, place of residence, the presence or absence of working parents, economical levels, number of sisters/brothers, educational status of the parents. However, in regard to the type of family, it was found that the students with an elementary family hold more egalitarian attitudes.Result: The study concluded that the perspectives of the female students and those of the male students are different from each other. These results have revealed that the universities with the objective to raise intellectual individuals should enable their students to gain awareness on gender roles as well as acquire the fundamental vocational information. ÖzetAmaç: Bu çalışma üniversite öğrencilerinin toplumsal cinsiyet rollerine ilişkin bakış açılarını belirlemek amacıyla tanımlayıcı olarak yapılmıştır. Yöntem: Araştırmanın evrenini Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Sağlık Yüksekokulu Acil Yardım ve Afet Yönetimi Bölümüne devam eden öğrenciler oluşturmuştur. Araştırmanın yapıldığı tarihte okulda bulunan ve araştırmaya katılmayı kabul eden 224 öğrenci çalışma kapsamına alınmıştır. Araştırmanın uygulaması 27 Mart-27 Mayıs 2014 tarihleri arasında yapılmıştır. Çalışmada, veri toplamak amacıyla literatür doğrultusunda hazırlanan anket formu ve Toplumsal Cinsiyet Rolleri Tutum Ölçeği (TCRTÖ) kullanılmıştır. Verilerin değerlendirilmesinde tanımlayıcı istatistikler, t-testi, mann-whitney U ve varyans (one-way anova) testleri kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan öğrencilerin %49.6’sı erkek, %50.4’ü kız öğrencilerden oluşmaktadır. Araştırmada öğrencilerin TCRTÖ toplam puan ortalamasının kızlarda 155,17±16,47, erkeklerde 129,56±20,52 olduğu belirlenmiştir. Cinsiyete göre TCRTÖ alt boyutları incelendiğinde; kız öğrencilerin erkek öğrencilerden daha fazla, toplumsal cinsiyet rollerine ilişkin ‘eşitlikçi tutuma sahip’ olduğu saptanmıştır. Araştırmada öğrencilerin sosyo-demografik özelliklerinin, toplumsal cinsiyet rollerine ilişkin tutumları üzerindeki etkisine bakıldığında ise, yaş grupları, sınıflar arası, bitirilen lise, yaşadıkları yer, anne babanın çalışma durumu, ekonomik düzeyleri, kardeş sayıları, anne babanın eğitim durumu açısından aralarında fark olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Ancak aile tipi açısından çekirdek aileden gelen öğrencilerin daha eşitlikçi bir yaklaşım sergiledikleri saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Araştırmada kız ve erkek öğrencilerin toplumsal cinsiyet rollerine ilişkin görüşleri arasında fark olduğu saptanmıştır. Bu sonuçlar aydın bireyler yetiştirmeyi hedefleyen üniversitelerde öğrencilere temel mesleki bilginin yanı sıra toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği konusunda duyarlılık kazandırılması gereğini göstermektedir.