Postgraduate Degree Research Articles

Resisting higher education's (re) production of elitism in an ethos of care-taking

The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) is undergoing a transformation. This is the perspective sold to the staff as jobs are terminated. This time it is not so much a restructure as a complete closure of further education across all campuses in Surrey and Kent. The UCA is 'stepping back' as a Further Education provider, to focus on undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees. In addition, the campus that most serves the local community, in Chatham, Kent, is to be closed and sold, most likely for redevelopment. This essay explores the neoliberal agenda that led to this sad erasure of a prestigious arts community, whose alumni included Zandra Rhodes, Tracey Emin and Billy Childish. It exposes the common-sense discourses employed by the university to compel the staff and student body to consent to the neoliberal methods at play. A mixed media embroidery artwork and poetry have been created for this article, and referenced is a recent exhibition, UCA - Retrospective: Creativity Past, Present & Future. Creative arts practices illustrate this story, as well as many conversations with students and staff. The stories of those living through this experience are woven within the narrative. In the sadness of loss there is also celebration, as our own transformations are made possible: leaving one collective space of creativity enables openings. To stitch and repair the soul of self and others creates understandings and an awareness. In this way freedoms are fostered, and social justice prevails.

Knowledge of stop the bleed techniques- a national survey

ObjectiveThis article presents the dataset titled “Do you know how to Stop The Bleed®? [1]” The dataset contains the survey responses of 200 US persons aged 16 years and above regarding their knowledge of hemorrhage control, based on the American College of Surgeons Stop The Bleed® (STB) course [2].ResultsTwo hundred adults in the United States completed this web-based survey, which consisted of a quiz to assess STB knowledge. Factors that were not statistically correlated to STB knowledge retention included age, sex, race and education level up to college level. On the other hand, resuscitation coursework (p = 0.004) and income (p = 0.049) were important determinants of Stop the Bleed® knowledge. In particular, participants with CPR certification (p = 0.020) and/or a postgraduate degree (p = 0.015) scored higher than their counterparts in this sample cohort.

Reflecting on Experiences of Learning among Adult Learners with Multiple Responsibilities: A Case of Evening Programmes at a University in Tanzania

The focus of this paper is to report the findings of a qualitative study whose purpose was to analyse the experiences of adult learners pursuing evening postgraduate degree programmes at the university level in Tanzania. Using ethnographic research combined with multiple case research design, together with in-depth interviews and documentary review, data were generated from 20 postgraduate students from one school within a university in Tanzania. The resulting qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis. The study found that university adult learners in these evening programmes combined learning with their full-time employment, family, and social responsibilities as well as extra income-generating activities. Inevitably, these multiple responsibilities, as the study established, adversely affected their academic performance and duration for programme completion. In fact, completion on a part-time basis depended on dispositional factors such as individual learner’s efforts and strategies adopted to cope with the situation, with many others either delaying completion or dropping out altogether. This scenario invites rethinking the modus operandi of programmes to facilitate postgraduate students’ completion rates amid widening participation in higher education.

Progress in transforming a health sciences postgraduate cohort in a south african research-intensive institution, 2008–2017

BackgroundEquity redress in the higher education and health sectors is a global discourse that seeks to address the inequalities caused by past discrimination practices. The apartheid regime in South Africa fragmented both the higher education and the health sectors, creating White and male dominated systems. Consequently, Black Africans and females were under-represented in these sectors. Furthermore, the provision of higher education including medical training was unequal between the different populations. As democracy was established in South Africa in 1994, it is necessary to assess whether transformation in population affinity and sex of postgraduate students in the higher education and health sector has occurred, as these individuals are crucial for providing the future academic workforce and also healthcare to the public.MethodsThe demographic profile of postgraduate students graduating in a health sciences facility in South Africa over the period 2008–2017 was retrospectively assessed. Survival analysis models were used to investigate the time taken to graduate. Log-rank tests were used to compare the completion rates.ResultsMore females (53.3%) than males (41.9%) completed their postgraduate degree over the period 2008–2017 (p˂0.0001). In relation to population affinity, more White students (56.4%) than Black African students (40.8%) completed their degrees overall (p˂0.0001).ConclusionWhile transformation occurred in the sex of graduating students over the ten year period, the same change has not occurred with regards to population affinity. The under-representation of Black African graduates is a major setback for efforts to diversify the South African higher education and health sectors. Transformation of the demographic profile of postgraduate students at South African institutions is vital for developing individuals who will contribute to equitable redress of academic staff in the higher education sector and also of the healthcare workforce. Diversified health personnel including highly skilled clinician scientists will aid in improving the provision of health care to communities particularly the underpriviledged rural areas, and also assist in training the next generation of healthcare staff. The challenges identified in this study may assist other countries where adequate transformation of the education and health sectors has not occurred.

Is a PhD worth more than a Master’s in the UK labour market? The role of specialisation and managerial position

ABSTRACT This paper examines the potential earnings premium associated with a doctoral degree (PhDs, ISCED9) over postgraduate degrees (PGs, or Masters, ISCED7) in the UK. We assess this premium using a decade-worth of UK Labour Force Survey data (2011–2020). To explore the possible endogenous choice of post-graduate tracks, this paper deploys linear regression, (ordinary least squares, OLS), propensity score matching (PSM), and inverse probability weighting (IPWRA) to estimate the pay premium under varying identifying assumptions. The estimates show a positive return in terms of gross hourly pays in all models, along with a relevant role of managerial positions and degree of specialisation in employment position. Therefore, although a PhD is arguably mostly driven by taste for scientific pursuit, a PhD has on average also an economic pay-off. However, much of it depends on one’s capacity to acquire leadership positions – the most relevant factor disentangling those fulfilling or not their potential in terms of wages. We also provide a cost–benefit analysis over a life course showing that such a premium is overall modest, but subject to positive spikes for those in Science & Technology (STEM disciplines), getting managerial positions, and for women. Our findings suggest investigating further those personal and organisational factors that are conducive of unleashing highly educated potential.

Knowledge of and attitude toward attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessed among primary schoolteachers of Makkah City in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Background: One of the most prevalent pediatric medical conditions is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is characterized by symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention. The first people to notice a child’s ADHD symptoms are typically their teachers, who may then offer data that are typically helpful in its diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to assess teachers’ knowledge of ADHD, its causes and etiology, as well as the key demographic factors that influence said knowledge. Method: The study was conducted among schoolteachers of primary schools located in different regions of Makkah City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We used a stratified random sampling technique to collect our sample, with the inclusion criteria being teachers who were working in a primary school and who were directly involved in teaching students. Data analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics software version 21. Results: We received 335 responses to our questionnaire. The age of the participants ranged from 18 to 59 years, with the mean age being 40.2 ± 13.8 years. About 66.9% of teachers were women. Most of the teachers in this sample had a bachelor’s degree (73.4%), and only 21.8% had diplomas. Regarding the years of teaching experience, 34.6% had teaching experience exceeding 20 years, whereas 20.6% had less than five years of teaching experience. Regarding general knowledge of the teachers, (5.4%) of the teachers had a good level of knowledge. Only 63.6% of teachers were aware that ADHD students frequently struggled with task and activity organization, and only 7.5% of teachers had good knowledge of ADHD treatment, compared to 40.9% who had a good awareness of symptoms and diagnosis. Only the teachers’ education level was significantly associated with their knowledge level of ADHD: 25% of teachers with a postgraduate degree had an overall good level of knowledge versus 2.7% of those with a diploma (P = 0.006) Conclusion: The findings of this study lead to the conclusion that elementary school instructors have an inadequate understanding of ADHD. Some teachers misunderstand the signs and general facts associated with ADHD, thereby indicating the need for further training in this area.

Associações entre as características sociodemográficas e de saúde dos trabalhadores do Ministério da Saúde e COVID-19

Abstract The present study aimed to describe sociodemographic and health characteristics of Ministry of Health workers and possible associations with work affected by COVID-19. This was an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study, conducted between July and October 2021. This study counted on the participation of 821 workers (67.6% women and 32.4% men), 53.3% of white race/color, 66.7% with a postgraduate degree, 38.7% with an income of 5 to 10 minimum wages. In addition, 65.4% reported having some form of disease, 69.2% had health insurance, 64.5% consumed alcohol, 6.1% were smokers, 67.4% practiced physical activity, and 53.8% and 52.2%, respectively, considered their physical and mental health to be good. For 81.8%, work was affected by the pandemic. Factors associated with work affected by the pandemic, after controlling for confounding variables, were level of education and mental health. According to 55%, the emotional aspects represent the variable that most affected their work. The results pointed out characteristics of Ministry of Health workers that can contribute to the planning of health protection and promotion actions. Investment in future studies is warranted, especially as regards the issue of health workers that are not directly in the “frontline” of COVID-19 but who are essential for crisis management during a pandemic.

Can work integrated learning deliver employability? International post‐graduate accounting students

AbstractInternational students studying a Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA), or equivalent postgraduate degree in accounting, in Australia were designed to fill the skills shortage gap for accountants, but employability rates appear low at 25% compared to 75% for domestic graduates. University work integrated learning (WIL) programs have been implemented to provide opportunities to increase employability, yet participation rates for international students appear low. This study uses an exploratory, qualitative approach, with semi‐structured interviews of industry and students, to explore the participation rates, experiences and expectations of stakeholders in relation to WIL. Implications of the findings for stakeholders include preparation programs and simulated WIL opportunities.

Investigating research students’ perceptions about statistics and its impact on their choice of research approach

In the information society, there is a vast amount of data that needs to be analyzed quantitatively. The ability to perform quantitative analysis based on statistical thinking and data mining, is becoming extremely important. It is important that research students develop positive attitude towards both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. But many research students try to avoid applying quantitative methods in their research and prefer to rely on qualitative research approach due to lack of interest and confidence in statistical skills. This research aims to explore if research students’ choice of research approach is affected by their attitude towards Statistics. 81 research students from three different universities participated in a survey in which there was one open ended question. Quantitative data from the survey was analyzed by using cluster analysis and independent sample t-test was applied to examine differences in the attitudes of masters and doctoral research students. Other data analysis methods, such as cross-tabular analysis, chi-square and ANOVA tests were also applied. Responses to open ended question were analyzed qualitatively by detecting the themes, such as, focus on technique, data or meaning.This study found that students pursuing postgraduate degrees in social science streams are not very keen on using a quantitative research approach. Masters students’ attitudes towards statistics are different than the doctoral students. Findings of our research indicate that the majority of students who think that statistics is only about numeric methods, prefer to go away from it and choose a qualitative approach. Based on the findings, recommendations for changes in curriculum are presented.

CEO education and corporate social performance: moderation effects of CEO characteristics and firm's governance quality

PurposeThe authors examine if CEO education level and quality impacts firm's corporate social performance (CSP). Additionally, the authors investigate whether other CEO characteristics such as age, busyness, compensation and firm's governance quality moderate the relationship between CEO education and CSP.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use panel regression framework amid set of controls for their analysis. The authors additionally use two-stage least squares regression (2SLS) for robustness tests.FindingsThe authors show that CEOs with a post-graduate business degree (PGBUS) impact firm's CSP positively, whereas other educational degree directly do not influence CSP. However, CEO's age, busyness, compensation and firm's governance quality are found negatively moderating such relationship. The results survive set of robustness tests, and results are consistent the roles of upper echelons in Indian firms' strategic behaviors.Originality/valueThe results seek for an integration of more ethics and social responsibility discussions in the different education levels including undergraduate degree in India to help engender a stronger sense of moral consciousness toward firms' stakeholders as the Indian economy continues to develop.

Connecting with family, friends and others

This article casts light on informal caregiving, an essential aspect of the international postgraduate researcher (PGR) experience, but which is often invisible in literature and discourses on international education. Drawing from qualitative semi-structured interviews with international PGRs in a British university, it highlights their dual role as care recipients and lesser known caregivers across transnational and local spaces. It gives insights into the forms and dynamics of care that they give to and receive from family, friends and others, uncovering the emotional and affective aspects of undertaking a postgraduate research degree overseas which impact on their mental wellbeing. The findings have implications for the improvement of university support for international PGRs which has relevance for the wider international student community.

Strengthening leadership practices through utilization of employee-directed performance appraisal in higher education

ABSTRACT As a leader and manager in higher education, an important aspect of my role is to lead a team of six nursing academics who plan, prepare, and deliver an online postgraduate degree at a regional Australian university. The academic team are a remote team, residing in geographically dispersed locations of Australia, many who are early career educators in higher education. To inform my practice as a leader and manager of this unique team, and specifically with the aim of increasing understanding performance management (PA) and performance appraisal (PA), a critical analysis of the current literature was undertaken. This critical analysis transpired after being intrigued by the paper titled ‘Performance evaluation will not die, but it should’ by Murphy (2020). After an analysis of the current literature and PA practices implemented in a university setting, findings suggest that not all performance evaluation should die.

MUT TALKS: ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECT FOR MUSIC THERAPISTS

Nonconformity is a pathway to explore new possibilities. This premise can elucidate the genesis of the inaugural entrepreneurship event for music therapists, termed as MUTtalks, which transpired at the SALA ARAPILES theater in Madrid on June 30, 2023. This event constituted a novel deviation in the curriculum of the Music Therapy Master's program at UNIR, for which, as the coordinator, I am committed to fostering innovative education and perpetually refining the learning experience. A signifi- cant portion of my management focus revolves around ascertaining the applicability of ideas and theories shared within the program to students' professional trajectories. In essence, I place value on the conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy.This translation is indispen- sable for realizing the fundamental objective of a postgraduate degree. The amalgamation of these forces must harmonize to yield fruitfulness.

Development of Nursing Research in Saudi Arabia: Implications for Policies and Practice.

Background: Nursing research in Saudi Arabia can be evaluated based on productivity as well as the quality of publications. The scope of scientific inquiry in nursing research expands to include clinical, health system, and outcome-based research, education, and administration. Aim: The purpose of this article is to track the development of nursing research in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Design: Systematic review. Methods: This study used keywords, databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PubMed to search for published articles on nursing in Saudi Arabia. The search resulted in the identification of 681 publications, from which 360 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Results: The highest percentage of studies (56.7% of articles) focused on nursing clinical practice, and 76.0% of the studies were conducted in a hospital setting, followed by an educational setting. Most of the studies were quantitative and non-funded. More than 50.0% of the studies were first authored by Saudi scholars. Conclusions: This study concluded that nursing research in Saudi Arabia is still in its infancy, with notable improvements in the last 5 years. This correlated with an increasing number of nurses holding postgraduate degrees. With the Saudi government's strong support, the number of scientific research papers published on Saudi nursing has steadily increased over the last year.

A study on China's education level and average age of first marriage

China's fertility problem has attracted more and more attention, especially in the education level and the age of first marriage. Census data show that China's fertility rate from 2000 to 2020 tends to gradually decline, the age of first marriage is gradually postponed under the condition of different levels of education, and the childbearing age is also constantly postponed, in the short 20 years of a sharp decline in fertility, China's fertility policy has also been adjusted. However, at present, the change of the birth policy has only brought a very short-term effect, and the decline in the fertility rate is only a fact that cannot be changed by adjusting the birth policy. Therefore, based on the data of the fifth, sixth and seventh census data, this paper analyzes the change trend of average age of first marriage, the trend of education level and age of first marriage, the change trend of national average childbearing age and the average childbearing age of various regions in China. The study found that the average age of first marriage of the population in China continues to be postponed, the average age of first marriage in urban areas is higher than that in towns and villages, overall, the average age of first marriage of women in 2020 will reach 28.14 years old, and the average age of first marriage of men will reach 29.3 years; by 2020, with the improvement of education level, the age of first marriage of the population with postgraduate degrees will reach 44% at the age of 30 and later; The national average childbearing age increased from 25.91 years in 1990 to 28.91 years in 2022. In the seventh population census, the average childbearing age of each region was higher than that in Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong, Guangdong and Shaanxi, among which the average childbearing age in Beijing reached 31.51 years, Shanghai was 30.08 years, Shandong was 29.76 years, Guangdong was 29.38 years old, and Shaanxi was 29.53 years.

Knowledge and Attitudes of Parents Regarding Neonatal Jaundice in Bisha City, Saudi Arabia.

Background Neonatal jaundice (NNJ) is one of the most common neonatal illnesses around the world. It continues to be a leading cause of avoidable brain damage, physical and mental impairment, and death in neonates. Neonatal morbidity due to NNJ has a significant impact and cost on families and healthcare resources. The majority of instances are addressed without intervention, but others require assessment and assistance in the form of follow-up or treatment. Inadequate family awareness and understanding of this frequent newborn condition can contribute to delays and difficulties. Aim This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudesof parents regarding NNJ in Bisha City, Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study involving 242 participants was carried out. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. The knowledge score differences between groups were analyzed using a Wilcoxon rank sum test and the Kruskal-Wallis rank test. Results In this study of 242 participants from Bisha, we found that the majority were female (155, 64.0%), employed (129, 53.3%), and held a postgraduate degree (150, 62.0%). Regarding knowledge of NNJ, 109 (45.0%) have correctly defined it as yellow pigmentation in the sclera and 64 (26.4%) as yellow pigmentation of the skin. Of most participants, 132 (54.5%) recognized that NNJ could cause complications, but 53 (40.2%) of these were unaware of what these complications might be. Notably, only 89 (36.8%) of respondents believed they had sufficient knowledge about NNJ. The median knowledge score was 3.0 (IQR, 1.0-4.0), and higher scores were significantly associated with being female and reporting sufficient knowledge about the disease. Strategies suggested for improving awareness included campaigns (98, 40.5%) and social networking programs (81, 33.5%). The data suggest a need for enhanced public education regarding NNJ. Conclusion The study highlights the need for increased awareness and education among parents in Bisha,SaudiArabia, about NNJ. The findings suggest that campaigns and social networking programs could effectively educate people about the condition. Additionally, the study provides insights into the factors associated withhigher knowledge scores, such as gender and having a child with NNJ. The results of this study may help healthcare professionals develop effective educational programs and interventions to improve parents' knowledge and attitudes toward NNJ.

Part-time master’s students’ attitudes towards study and work

ABSTRACT An increasing number of part-time adult learners have enrolled in master’s programmes globally for career advancement and personal growth. The educational and working backgrounds of these part-time master’s students are diverse. Their motivations for pursuing master’s degrees and continued learning are also varied. We explored part-time master’s students’ attitudes towards study and work through a qualitative research design based on semi-structured interviews with 35 students in Hong Kong from various disciplines. We applied content analysis and qualitative comparative analysis and found that the attitudes of these students towards their study primarily depend on their levels of certainty concerning the master’s degree and their careers and whether they have broad or narrow approaches to career development. We identify various attitudes towards study and work among the master’s students: certificate seekers; career designers; early birds; and deferred dreamcatchers. The findings suggest a better understanding of recent changes in values regarding postgraduate degrees and work is required. We also provide implications for how universities can support part-time students’ learning at the master’s level.

THE TYPES AND FUNCTIONS OF SWITCHING AND MIXING CODES IN ENGLISH STUDENTS’ ONLINE DISCUSSIONS

This study aims to discover the switching and mixing code types and their functions that are dominantly used in student online discussions. This research was designed in descriptive-qualitative method by using video recordings and interviews from Pragmatics class of postgraduate degree students as the data sources. The obtained data were then analyzed using Miles and Huberman model of analysis by involving data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The results showed that students frequently switched and mixed codes during the discussions. In this case, ode mixing was dominantly occurred compared to code switching. There were 78 occurrences of code changes in total, with the proportions of 44 mixings and 34 switchings. Dealing with the types, insertion code mixing was found to be the mostly used in the discussions whereas intersentenential switching becomes the least. The phenomena of code switching and mixing in the classroom discussions has various functions, i.e.: for communication strategy, for delivering the meaning, for making clarification of the information, for defining specific terms, and for increasing understanding. This study also reflects the students' positive attitudes toward using switching and mixing codes in classroom discussion activities. It is recommended for further research to ensure the appropriate strategies for the teachers in switching and mixing codes for both offline and online classes.

Joint music sessions, parents, and their lesbian and gay young adult children: Effectiveness on the ‘coming out’ process, relationships, and wellbeing

‘Coming out’ can be a psychologically challenging event and parental acceptance is often a prime concern. This article reports a study on the impact of music sessions delivered online and jointly for dyads of parents and their young adult children with lesbian and gay sexual identities in improving parental acceptance of sexual orientation, parent adult relationships, and wellbeing, compared to a waitlist control group. The music sessions were effective (Hedges’ g= −0.91 to 0.67; p < 0.05) and participants with higher formal education (postgraduate or professional degree), and whose intervention compliance was higher (>50% music sessions attended and homework sessions completed), were reported higher post-test scores on perceived parental support on sexual orientation, positive dimensions of parent adult relationships (warmth or affection, thoughtfulness, doing favors, and support of decisions made), and wellbeing, and lower post-test scores on negative dimensions of parent adult relationships (anger/hostility, insensitivity, demanding favors, and doubts on decisions made). Actor-partner interdependence models suggested that post-test outcome scores of parents and young adults were mutually interdependent and associated. With adequate emphasis on program compliance and some refinements for participant dyads with less formal education, music sessions enhance relationality and can be an effective family-based intervention for persons with diverse sexual identities.

Job satisfaction and perception of workloads among dietitians and nutritionists registered in South Africa

Background: Personal perspective concerning work demands directly impacts quality health care and patient satisfaction. Little is known about job satisfaction amongst dietitians and nutritionist, while workload has not previously been studied in this population. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed using an online questionnaire. Data were collected on sociodemography. Job satisfaction was measured with Spector’s Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) (including an added subscore for resource availability) and workload with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). Results: Respondents (n = 238) had a median age of 32.0 years (IQR: 27−39 years); 92.4% were female; 95.7% were dietitians, 2.4% were nutritionists and 18.9% had a postgraduate degree. Respondents had practised the profession for a median of 8 years (IQR 3−15 years), and 225 were in dietetic and nutrition-related jobs. Median scores indicated that they were slightly satisfied with their jobs (n = 224) and experienced slightly high workload (n = 224). Most respondents were moderately satisfied with the nature of their work and found it rewarding. The median scores for salaries, promotion opportunities, work environment and availability of resources were low. Total JSS was higher in older and more experienced dietitians and nutritionists than in younger ones (p < 0.05). Those employed in the government sector (n = 100) experienced higher physical demands and levels of frustration, and had lower JJS than those employed elsewhere (n = 124), particularly regarding promotion opportunities and resources availability. Conclusion: Despite being generally positive towards practising their profession, South African dietitians and nutritionists, particularly in the public health sector, experienced only slight job satisfaction, related to salary and promotion issues and lack of resources, and were slightly overworked. Understanding the factors that shape perceptions of work within nutrition and dietetics may assist managers in recruiting and retaining a highly skilled workforce, particularly in developing countries with overburdened healthcare systems.