PhD Level Research Articles

Satisfying the needs for highly qualified engineering staff in a disruptively changing aircraft industry with special care for MRO sector

PurposeThe number of passengers in the aviation sector following COVID-19 has recovered in 2023 and is 5% higher than it was in 2019. The average annual growth of air travel is predicted to be 3.2% between 2019 and 2039. This means the need for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services will also increase. Moreover, the stakeholders require lower costs, higher effectiveness/market share and sustainability. These expectations can be realized only with the identification, development and implementation of new innovations while improving and optimizing the already used processes and procedures. Since only highly qualified graduates can reach these requirements, the need for profession-specific MSc and PhD level engineers has elevated significantly. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the development and implementation of a new MRO higher educational framework program in strong cooperation with enterprises and universities.Design/methodology/approachThe emphasis is placed on the program’s scouting, investigation, development, realization and evaluation by defining key performance indexes and aiming for the optimal solution for all participants.FindingsThe result of this study is the establishment of a new educational framework, the reinvention of the MSc curriculum and the integration of PhD-level researchers in the industry in a way that fulfills the needs and requirements of the MRO sector. In return, it will give various benefits to all parties involved.Originality/valueThe novelty of this work comes from creating a new educational MSc and PhD level framework that can push the MRO industry forward and fill the gap of missing engineers in this field. Plus, the newly developed program is highly flexible and can be used by other players in the economy after making some adaptions and modifications.

FPGA hardware kit for remote training platforms

This paper outlines the development of a Hardware Development Kit (HDK) for a remote training platform on FPGA Devices designed to provide university students pursuing degrees in electronic and informatics engineering (at the bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD levels) with the tools they need to learn and develop systems related to artificial intelligence, digital signal processing, image processing, digital systems, integrated and embedded systems using an FPGA chip. Through the internet or a local network, students can engage with the platform to conduct engineering experiments. The HDK is equipped with a Raspberry Pi, a screen, a camera, and LEDs to facilitate the transfer of experiment results and to aid in assessing the validity of lab experiment execution. The Raspberry Pi plays a crucial role in the HDK, providing control and monitoring, remote access, data processing, user interface, and integration with other possible systems.

A Critical and Research Review of Written Thesis on Autobiography at PhD Level in Pakistani Universities

A Critical and Research Review of Written Thesis on Autobiography at PhD Level in Pakistani Universities

Thinking and doing beyond science and risk communication as mere transmission

I look back on my professional experience as both bench and social scientist, and examine my misunderstandings of science communication as a field, which were fueled by my ideologically-driven stance on the primacy of the bench sciences over all other fields of study. I begin with my work as a molecular biologist, continue with my socialization into the social sciences at the PhD level, and narrate my experiences as a researcher attempting to break down the notion of science and risk communication as mere vessels for sharing scientific information. I do this by discussing my research findings, and then ruminating on their meaning for the fields of science and risk communication. These fields must grow beyond their preoccupation with the centrality of scientific data in communication by 1) recognizing the ideological force exerted by such a stance, and 2) acknowledging the many voices of society that allow communication to be a complicated, and yet fruitful enterprise.

Teaching Eye Tracking: Challenges and Perspectives

Eye tracking studies are more complicated to design, conduct, and to evaluate than traditional studies solely based on performance measures like error rates and response times. This is typically due to the more complex hardware setup, the calibration procedures, and the spatio-temporal nature of the recorded data that must be analyzed, visualized, or statistically evaluated. As a benefit, eye movement data contains patterns of visual attention over space and time that are not observable in standard error rates, completion times, and qualitative feedback. Students in the field of visualization, human-computer interaction, and user experience represent an interest group that would benefit from the application of eye tracking during their studies and in their future careers. Consequently, instructing them how to design, setup, conduct, and evaluate an eye tracking study is of special interest to current researchers involved in teaching. We describe education in eye tracking in five courses with 79 students from bachelor, master, and PhD levels. We outline our concept and discuss the challenges to raise people with no experience in eye tracking to a level of knowledge that allows them to apply this emerging technology to different scenarios including visual stimuli and related research questions. We discuss our teaching strategy in two course setups (summer school and traditional university lecture), the results of the students' eye tracking studies, and which challenges they and the teachers faced during the course.

A Preliminary Study Outlining the Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Expatriates in Their International Assignments: Case of UK Expatriates in Chinas Fashion Sector

This research proposal tries to conduct a preliminary study about investigating the factors influencing the effectiveness of UK expatriates in China's fashion sector focusing on individual, social, and organisational factors. This research proposal aims to build up a research project for a PhD level work, and it will act as an research guide and outline. By using this preliminary study, it will provide the later project some academic foundations and evaluates its research potential. It is through this preliminary study that some academic value of the project is presented, which are as follows. To be specific, the later project will addresses a significant gap in the literature by examining the impact of individual factors, such as self-efficacy, prior international experience, and spousal adaptation, on expatriate performance. The later project also explores social-cultural factors, including social networking and cultural differences, as well as organisational factors such as support and training. Key trends in expatriation to China's luxury fashion sector are analyzed, highlighting the growing presence of Western expatriates in key cities like Beijing and Shanghai. The project will employ an interpretivism philosophy and an inductive research approach, utilizing a case study strategy based on UK expatriates working in Burberry's Beijing offices. Data will be collected through online interviews with sample of five expatriates, and thematic analysis is applied to identify key themes and insights. The findings of this project contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics affecting expatriate performance and offer valuable insights for both managers and policymakers. The project suggests that enhancing self-efficacy, providing effective training and support, addressing spousal adaptation issues, and fostering social networking are critical for improving the effectiveness of expatriates in China's luxury fashion sector.

Оценка научной компетентности молодых исследователей по медицинским специальностям: промежуточные результаты

The purpose of research: studying the level of research competencies of applicants for admission to PhD doctoral studies. Research based on a survey among graduates of postgraduate education programs (residency and master's programs) who plan to subsequently enter doctoral studies in medical specialties. The authors studied the influence of various social, gender factors, affiliated medical organization and other factors on the level of research competencies of future doctoral students. Methods. Authors adapted and translated into Russian and Kazakh the questionnaire “Research competence of postgraduate students” from the University of Nebraska, USA. The questionnaire consists of 31 questions divided into three domains - “knowledge”, “skills” and “attitudes”. The questionnaire was developed on the Google Form platform and distributed through the dean's offices and research schools of all medical universities in the Republic of Kazakhstan. To ensure the reliability of the results obtained, multivariate regression analysis was used. Results. A total of 73 young scientists applying for admission to doctoral studies were surveyed. The data obtained demonstrated that the strongest research competencies possessed by respondents include the ability to explain the relevance/importance of their research (x̅=2.93; standard deviation=0.751), formulating the purpose of the study (x̅=2.81; standard deviation=0.793 ). The weakest research competencies include knowledge of applying relevant theories to one's research (x̅=2.37; st. deviation=0.825), identifying research subjects (x̅=2.42; st. deviation=0.780), choosing the right methodology (x̅= 2.42; standard deviation = 0.815). Conclusion. The findings indicate the need for additional training in theoretical knowledge, methodology and data analysis, despite the overall average level of competence of the participants. This can help improve research quality and confidence in research work at PhD level.

The Data Mine model for accessible partnerships in data science

AbstractThe Data Mine at Purdue University is a pioneering experiential learning community for undergraduate and graduate students of any background to learn data science. The first data‐intensive experience embedded in a large learning community, The Data Mine had nearly 1300 students in academic year (AY) 2022–2023 and nearly 1700 students for AY 2023–2024. The Data Mine embodies data‐infused education, research, and collaboration. Students learn Python, R, SQL, and shell‐scripting, while working on weekly projects within a high‐performance computing (HPC) cluster. In the Corporate Partners cohort, students work on teams of 5–15 students, led by a paid student team leader. Each cohort follows an Agile approach, working on data‐intensive projects provided by industry partners and mentored by company employees. Students develop professional and data skills throughout the academic year, from August through April. Many students return in subsequent years to the program, increasing their tenure with a Corporate Partner. Student teams are inherently interdisciplinary; students from 133 different majors are involved in the program, ranging from new incoming students through PhD level students. These interdisciplinary teams of students bring new perspectives to challenging problems in which data science is a key part of the solution. The interdisciplinary teams foster an environment of synthesis with ideas and solutions. Students come together with different life experiences, different levels of technical skill, but also varying ways they navigate paths to solutions because of the variety of majors represented, resulting in a more creative and robust solution than a traditional data science program.This article is categorized under: Applications of Computational Statistics > Education in Computational Statistics

Difficulties in the Selection of Subjects in Islamic Sciences and their Solutions

All mega-level inventions are the result of research, and in the contemporary developed world, the research process continues in every field. In those countries by the start of school, the finding of the field of interest of the child is carried and he is put on the path of his interest. Due to this, he gets his education happily according to his aptitude and becomes expert of his field.
 In opposite to this, in our societies, students have to face different types of difficulties in the field of education. Fortunately, if anyone reaches a university-level education then the biggest difficulty he has to face in the BS, MS and even PhD level education is the selection of the topic for himself. Students face huge difficulties in the selection of their theses topic and seems very anxious in that situation. In the contemporary era, students have deficient in study. In our country there are few high quality libraries. If few libraries of high standard are present then there are few studying people at there. The high-standard libraries of the well repudiated universities of our country have a lesser number of students for studying purposes. The situation of the students of the Islamic department is alarming because most of the students in Islamic studies are not know the different fields of Islamic studies. Islamic studies have different fields which have been discussed in this article. If students become familiar with these fields and improve themselves then their difficulties will be overcome. This article will be helpful in this regard.

Meta-Analysis of Appreciative Inquiry into Timely Completion of Research Work at PhD Level

Completing research work at the PhD level is a significant milestone in academic and professional growth, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and societal development. This Appreciative Inquiry systematically examined the factors that influenced delays in research work at the PhD level in higher education institutions. Ten research articles published between 2020 and 2023 were analyzed to synthesize the findings. The study identified key factors that contributed to delays, including inadequate research guidance experiences, challenges in postgraduate research supervision, and barriers at the institutional level. Additionally, the impact of research topic selection and distance learning on research progress was explored. The analysis highlighted the significance of effective research guidance, supportive supervision practices, and adequate resources in minimizing delays. Furthermore, implications for institutional policies and recommendations for fostering a conducive research environment were discussed. Overall, this Appreciative Inquiry offered valuable insights for policymakers, educational institutions, and researchers to address delays in research work at the PhD level. Our findings suggested the need to foster a conducive research environment, provide adequate resources, and promote effective communication between students and supervisors. By implementing evidence-based interventions, we could enhance the research experiences of doctoral candidates, promote timely completion of research work, and advance the quality of research in higher education.

Academic Writing Needs of International Psychology PhDs in a South African University

"The paper examines the academic writing experience amongst international psychology PhD students at a South African public university. The paper also discusses the challenges of academic writing and the support structures of academic writing. Sixteen (16) international students studying at PhD level in psychology were selected by purposive sampling from a public South African university in KwaZulu-Natal. Drawing from generated by iproposalss, findings suggest that participants experienced academic writing challenges in drafting PhD proposal, supervisor’s feedback and plagiarism. Academic writing challenges were aggravated for international PhD students from non-native English-speaking countries. Findings also suggest that university support structures such as academic writing retreats improved the academic writing of participants and exposed them to the rigors of academic writing. Keywords: academic writings, PhD doctoral program, analytical, research, and communication skills"

Does Education Help Local Economies Reach Economic Potential? Evidence from South Africa

It is widely understood in development circles that poverty alleviation is elusive unless local economies operate productively with limited resources and existing technology. With a high rate of poverty on the back of weak output growth at municipality level in South Africa since 1994, this background makes it necessary to establish factors that could increase the pace of economic development and help local economies produce at full capacity. Using a stochastic frontier analysis of South Africa’s 234 municipalities observed between 1995 and 2018, this paper finds postgraduate education (Masters and Doctorates) relevant in explaining the ability of these local economies to reach their full potential and the effect increases with the size of the manufacturing sector, life expectancy and trade. The stock of high school, diplomas, bachelors, and honours does not significantly contribute towards productive efficiency of these 234 municipalities reinforcing concerns of a possible structural mismatch between lower-level qualifications and the labour market demands. Consequently, moving these municipalities closer to their full potential may be achievable through ensuring that the undergraduate cohorts reach Masters, and PhD level complemented by a manufacturing-oriented structural change. Keywords: education, technical inefficiency, structural transformation, stochastic frontier model, local municipalities, South Africa

CHALLENGES TO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Abstract The University of South Florida has more than 50,000 students. The School of Aging Studies first offered an MA in Gerontology in 1967. We currently offer many undergraduate General Education courses, two undergraduate majors, online graduate certificate and master’s programs, and a PhD in Aging Studies. Accountability and addressing university metrics and priorities have become an increasing requirement at USF and elsewhere. We have had great success in our General Education courses, consistently reaching over 5,000 students per year and producing high Student Credit Hour (SCH) numbers, an important metric. Recently, our programs experienced challenges with increased class sizes resulting from higher demand for our general education courses. In several cases, the number of course sections offered and the number of seats in each had doubled. Meeting these demands placed a strain on faculty, instructors, and graduate student assistants. We also face challenges as our university funding formula increasingly focuses on undergraduate major enrollment, and therefore we are focusing on innovative methods to recruit more students at the undergraduate, master’s, and PhD level. In this presentation, we will describe some of the strategies that have maximized our successes, and efforts to address challenges in sustaining larger numbers of degree seeking students in our programs. We will include data on SCH, grant funding, publications, citations, and program graduates per year which help us monitor our successes and areas needing improvement.

Local Grammar Approach to Investigating Advanced Chinese EFL Learners’ Development of Communicative Competence in Academic Writing: The Case of ‘Exemplification’

Abstract This study belongs to a larger project which aims to systematically explore advanced Chinese EFL learners’ developmental pattern of communicative competence in academic context, with the current investigation zooming in on their performance of exemplification in academic writing. It draws on insights from local grammar research, as local grammars have been shown to be able to reliably quantify the lexicogrammatical realisations of a given communicative or discourse act. Using L1 Chinese English-major students’ MA and PhD degree dissertations as the data, the investigation shows that, although their overall use of exemplification remained steady from MA to PhD levels of study, there are significant differences with regard to their preference of exemplifying strategies as well as their lexicogrammatical choices they used to realise exemplification. The study not only has implications for academic writing research, assessment and pedagogy, but also offers a useful methodological approach to longitudinal investigation into EFL learners’ development of communicative competence in academic context.

Application of ChatGPT in information literacy instructional design

Recent developments in ChatGPT have initiated a prompt response in the academic libraries’ community. This includes discussions on possible applications of AI text generators (Fernandez, 2023) and the implications of ChatGPT for academic libraries (Cox and Tzoc, 2023). In various segments of library services, ranging from reference services, cataloguing and metadata creation to content creation, ChatGPT can be used for natural language processing activities.In this paper, our aim is to investigate a specific application of ChatGPT in relation to Open Educational Resources (OER): instructional design for information literacy courses in academic libraries. The starting point for our research is using openly-licensed informational resources, i.e. ‘content infrastructure’ as facilitators in creating educational resources. It is widely recognised that large language models (LLMs), which use deep learning techniques to generate text based on prompts, greatly contribute to the speed of creating informational resources which comprise the content infrastructure (Wiley, 2023). However, ensuring the quality of the generated output and the requirement for review and improvements is an issue.Our analysis of the model will be conducted in three stages: 1. developing a strategy for producing information literacy syllabus using ChatGPT; 2. training the model according to predefined standards; 3. conducting the review process. In the first stage, the following guidelines will be applied: assign the model the role of a subject-matter expert (SME); provide context; instruct the model to use specific standards, i.e. “Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education” (ALA/ACRL, 2000) and direct the model to use a specific output format. The second stage, or model training, will consist of a series of structured prompts, including feedback and reflection prompts. In the third stage, two external reviewers will be included in the process, with the following profiles: 1. an academic library information literacy programme coordinator; 2. English language specialist (assistant professor, PhD level). The purpose of the review is twofold: to check for pedagogical accuracy and psychometric validity, as well as usability in the actual academic environment.The results will provide some insight into the benefits of strategic and well-planned use of ChatGPT technology in creating content, while also considering responsible and ethical use of the new technology in the academic library sector.

Student experiences of the ‘closed-door’ PhD and doctorate level viva voce: a systematic review of the literature

The closed-door PhD and doctoral viva voce - the approach adopted in the United Kingdom - is esteemed by some as being a valuable academic tradition. However, an increasing body of literature and research has raised concerns about the quality, transparency, reliability and validity of this viva format. This systematic literature review aims to explore the closed-door viva from the candidate perspective. Eight studies, encompassing 267 participants, were included. Themes which emerged from a narrative synthesis of the data were: emotional response; psychological impact; power; examiner conduct (i.e. questioning techniques and interpersonal style); fairness; and practical and procedural issues. A great deal of variation was found across all accounts. Whilst some were indicative of positive and constructive viva experiences, there were also concerning reports of candidate distress as a result of examiner conduct, behaviour and use of positional power. Implicit and explicit reference was made to the lack of fairness. Given that concerns regarding the closed-door viva are now well-established, results are discussed with reference to recommendations for change; ultimately, to ensure best practice in PhD and doctoral assessment in the UK as well as to offer academic providers in other countries valuable insights into this form of viva.

Immersive Photography: a practice-led methodological approach to landscape photography research

In recent years, there has been a notable shift in the design field towards practice-led research, driven by the recognition of design practitioners as valuable contributors to knowledge production. However, the lack of well-defined methodologies for conducting practice-led research in academia has posed challenges to its progress and widespread adoption. This article aims to address this gap by providing examples of effective methodologies in practice-led research. The article emphasises the importance of robust frameworks that foster a symbiotic relationship between design practice and research, integrating theoretical inquiry and hands-on experimentation. It presents an innovative approach developed by the author during their PhD, which contributes to the ongoing discourses on practice-led research in design. The proposed methodology consists of four stages: the landscape, data gathering, reflection, and feedback. By engaging in iterative cycles of design exploration, critique, and reflection, the researcher gains a holistic understanding of design processes and their outcomes. This approach facilitates an in-depth exploration of the complex interplay between design concepts, materials, and the surrounding landscape. Ultimately, this article contributes to the discourse on practice-led research in the design field by introducing a methodology that embraces the practical, creative, and theoretical aspects of design inquiry. It responds to the increasing demand for examples of effective methodologies and provides a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners engaged in practice-led research at the PhD level. 
 

How University Students Evaluate the Role of Social Media in Political Polarization: Perspectives of a Sample of Turkish Undergraduate and Graduate Students

This study aimed to find out if there is a relationship between social media and political polarization in Türkiye from the perspective of Turkish students. To reach this aim, the needed data were collected through qualitative and quantitative approaches. A total of 303 valid questionnaires were analyzed. The sample consisted of university Turkish students across undergraduate, masters, and PhD levels in Türkiye aged between 18 and 50+. As well, an online focus group discussion with six Turkish students from different universities and education levels was conducted to gain a more in-depth understanding of the study’s problem. The results of the study showed that the perspectives of the Turkish students were that social media had a weak-to-moderate effect on political polarization in Türkiye. Furthermore, the results indicated that the studied sample of the Turkish students does not rely on social media platforms to obtain political news, and most of them do not follow political leaders on social media. Moreover, communication platforms did not encourage many Turkish students to express themselves, which is an indication that social media algorithms have contributed to a medium degree in creating filter bubbles through the content they suggest to users. Results have also shown that Turkish students are afraid that their posts and comments are being censored.

S2-3 Physical literacy in Portugal: assessment and intervention developments

Abstract Purpose Physical literacy (PL) is being recognized as a key concept to set the foundation for health enhancing physically active lifestyles for all. Portugal is one of the European countries where PL is gaining momentum. This communication aims to present the Portuguese initiatives on PL assessment and intervention developments. Methods In a first phase the Portuguese representatives on the EUROPLIT group identified diverse national sources of knowledge on PL research, practice and policy and produced a review. After a four-step data analysis conducted by two researchers on the reviews of 25 European countries, a quantitative survey integrating items that reflected the emerging themes from the overall content analysis was completed. The data related to the state of PL in Portugal is presented. Results Portuguese PL research and pedagogical initiatives have been developed since 2016. FMH-ULisboa research group is leading the study and dissemination of PL through the development of PhD projects, the participation in European projects and the implementation of international scientific events. Regarding research efforts, it is highlighted the relevant advances on the study of PL assessment provided by the creation and validation of the Portuguese Physical Literacy Assessment instrument. Other Higher Education Institutions are also starting to create quality research on PL development. Intervention studies are missing, two recent innovative intervention projects were identified regarding PL development through blue spaces, and the effect of active breaks on PL and body composition. PL has recently been adopted in political documents and implemented in undergraduate, master, PhD level and Continuous Professional Development initiatives. Conclusions The journey of implementing PL is beginning in Portugal. Conceptual, review studies and original research on PL assessment have been developed. Intervention studies are needed. Collaborative partnerships across education, sport and health sectors may be key to move PL forward.

FRANCES HESSELBEIN—UNCOMMON LEADER—UNCOMMON LEADERSHIP

AbstractThe author, a retired U.S. Army General, describes his long friendship and collaboration with Frances Hesselbein. The friendship and collaboration also extended to the author’s wife, Joyce, including one of the latter’s volunteer organizations, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Foundation. The author addresses Frances’s work and leadership in the greater context of leadership studies, He notes that “every so often, you can be blessed and privileged to get a PhD level education on leadership by witnessing the personal, first hand example of a great leader. This was the leadership class Frances Hesselbein conducted every time the opportunity presented itself to be in her presence.” In further amplifying these leadership lessons, he writes: “When being in the presence of a great leader, all you must do is observe, watch how they operate, what they do in signaling the importance of the action and how they value and utilize all the people in the organization.”