Postgraduate Level Research Articles

EPAs for clinical surgical teaching skills for undergraduate medical and dental clinical teachers

Objectives: To develop desired EPAs for clinical surgical teaching skills of medical/dental teachers teaching surgery to undergraduates (knowledge, skills and attitude) through expert consensus. Methods: This study was conducted as an online and one-to-one consensus survey, It involved the experts meeting inclusion criteria serving as clinical teachers teaching surgery to undergraduates. They serve in undergraduate and postgraduate institutes across the twin cities. For this study, the modified Delphi technique was conducted in three stages. Firstly, an extensive literature search was made to identify various components to design EPAs. In the second stage, face validation was done by a small sample of clinical teachers who were teaching surgery to undergraduates. Two iterative rounds of modified Delphi formed the third stage of the study. Achieving the consensus was set as the criteria for terminating the rounds at the end of the second round. Results: After a thorough literature search, a questionnaire was made which comprised of 7 EPAs, their subsequent 57competencies, different assessment strategies along with supervision levels. It was evaluated by a group of clinical teachers who teach surgery at the postgraduate and undergraduate levels. They graded each competency on a Likert scale.

Inclusion of Sex as a Biological Variable in Biomedical Sciences at the Undergraduate Level and Beyond.

To improve research on women's health, and to achieve better understanding of the factors controlling disease across diverse populations of humans, it is imperative to study sex differences in physiology and disease. After the introduction of the "SABV policy" at NIH, which requires investigators using animals or humans to consider sex as a biological factor, it became clear that many investigators were unaware of concepts of sexual differentiation or methods that can be used to study sex as a biological variable (SABV). To remedy this situation, efforts have increased to teach concepts and methods of SABV at all educational levels. The UCLA Scientific Center of Research Excellence (SCORE) grant "Sex differences in the metabolic syndrome" promotes education about SABV through three primary mechanisms: (1) through didactic course content for students at the undergraduate level, (2) by providing pilot funding for early career investigators to study the role of sex in metabolism-related areas, and (3) through curation of a video library, which may be useful for investigators performing research at the graduate, postgraduate, and faculty levels.

Sustainability at UAM-Azcapotzalco for academic programs with virtual classroom methodologies

Abstract. The post-pandemic educational processes due to Covid-19 have generated an interest in structuring new learning trends. The Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM) Azcapotzalco identified the use of methodologies with digital tools known as virtual classrooms during the pandemic to continue academic activities. These digital tools are still being used in different academic programs, including undergraduate and postgraduate programs to promote the professionalism of the university community. This paper provides a general breakdown of the virtual classroom format as a methodology in the teaching-learning processes to improve the educational environment at a higher level and ensure educational sustainability through the innovation of new technologies and digital tools that can be applied at a national and international level. The expected results from this methodology are part of an improvement process aimed at generating academic programs in virtual environments to enrich the educational models at higher and postgraduate levels and creating collaborative groups within each teaching department that can be extrapolated to a unit or campus level.Keyword:Sustainable Academic, Educational Methodology, Educational Process, Virtual Classroom.

Unsustainable competitive advantage: a case of Exalta

Learning outcomes The case deals with the issue of gaining a sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) in the solar energy market. After completing the case, the student will be able to– develop and apply conventional models of competitive advantage and core competency;– comprehend each step of the business process from a core competency viewpoint;– consider the value of sustainability solutions from a strategic standpoint; and– offer practical templates for creating and implementing a strategy. Case overview/synopsis This case depicts the challenges faced by Exalta in gaining a SCA because of the imitation of its products by competitors. Exalta, formed in 2008, was among the well-known innovative companies in the solar energy industry in India. In the first 12 years, the company focused primarily on unmet customer demand and developed innovative solar products to address those demands. Overall, over 300 products were launched in the initial years to address the new emerging customer demands. Solar AC, bikes and ventilators were among the popular ones. However, all of its product technology was copied by competitors. In 2021, troubled Exalta was incubated at IIT-Kanpur primarily for a single product, “Magic Inverter,” with substantial funding and IP protection. Despite attempts, Exalta could not capture a recognized market share. In this case, the company’s founder and CEO, Ashutosh Verma, is contemplating two options to gain an SCA: hold the existing and new products or fold the old ones and continue with one or two flagship products, i.e. Magic Inverter and Solar AC. Complexity academic level Graduate, postgraduate level and executive-level courses. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/EEMCS-12-2022-0526/

Current Situation and Development Countermeasures of Postgraduate Art General Education Course

It is very important to offer art general knowledge course at the postgraduate level, which plays an important role in forming sound personality, improving aesthetic ability, and fostering innovative spirit of postgraduate. It is regrettable that there are still many problems in the teaching practice of art general knowledge course, which is pretty much the agenda. By explaining and analyzing the basic features and practice status of the development of art general education, this paper presents relevant reform strategies and suggestions for the problems of art general education at the postgraduate teaching level to optimize the course offered of the arts general knowledge and improve the effectiveness of art general education.

Research shows attending classes in person leads to greater academic success

There has long been a belief in academia that attending classes in person leads to greater academic success than nonattendance and/or reliance on recorded lectures. Researchers at the University of Bath set out to test this notion and identify other factors that influence student performance at the postgraduate level, such as whether a student has some type of disability.

The Perspective of the General Population in Saudi Arabia towards Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Orders: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In the event of cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure used to maintain the heart and lungs functional simultaneously. The do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order prohibits CPR and is therefore legally required. Despite this, a DNR remains a delicate and contentious issue that places physicians in morally ambiguous situations. This study aimed to assess Saudi citizens' understanding of DNR orders, prior exposure to them, and preferences for DNR conversations. This was an online cross-sectional study that was conducted between January and April 2023 and aimed to assess the knowledge regarding DNR orders among Saudi populations. This study adapted a previously developed questionnaire tool by Al Ahmadi et al., which examined the knowledge and attitude toward do-not-resuscitate among patients and their relatives visiting outpatient clinics. Binary logistic regression analysis was the mean knowledge score for the study participants. A total of 920 participants were involved in this study. Almost half of the study participants (49.6%) reported that they had heard of DNR before. The most commonly reported source of their information on DNR was healthcare providers (58.2%). The mean knowledge score of the study participants was 1.9 (1.3) out of 6, which is equal to 31.7% of the total maximum score. This demonstrates the weak level of knowledge about DNR among the general public. Females, divorced, and those who had a post-graduate level of education were more likely to be knowledgeable of DNR compared to others (p < 0.05). Around one-quarter of the study participants showed agreement with DNR. More than half of them (59.5%) believe that physicians should be involved in DNR decision making. Saudi Arabia's general community has limited knowledge of DNR. It is recommended that healthcare professionals increase patients' and caregivers' understanding of this concept. This will improve the planning and the provision of end-of-life care.

Are foundation doctors equipped with the skills necessary for the assessment and referral of the patient presenting with a suspected facial skin malignancy?

The incidence of Skin Cancer (SC) has increased in recent years with it being the most common cancer within the UK. The management of SC requires a multi-disciplinary approach involving dermatologists and surgical specialities. The current study aimed to assess the confidence of current foundation trainees (FT) in the assessment of facial skin cancers and referral for surgical management and reconstruction. An online survey was distributed via social media and completed by 142 FT across 13 deaneries. Two higher training respondents were excluded. 50% of trainees had only examined one or two SC patients and 25% had no experience in SC assessment. Most FTs were not confident in performing a full skin examination (90%), formulating differential diagnoses for a pigmented facial lesion (45%), or investigating a facial SC (87%). Facial defects requiring reconstruction (87%) were more likely to be referred to PS. Foundation trainees were not confident in performing full skin examinations nor formulating diagnoses for pigmented lesions. This is concerning given that the majority of FT will enter general practise and therefore exposure to SC will be common. This may in turn place greater burden on secondary care services such as dermatology and allied surgical specialities resulting in a greater caseload on an already stretched service. The integration of the British Association of Dermatology undergraduate syllabus into the medical school curriculum will improve confidence in the detection and management of SC at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The EU’s 2020 summit on the COVID recovery fund: leading the divided house to a consensus

Research methodology The writing of this case study was triggered by the numerous media reports in 2020 that talked about the EU nations losing its solidarity. EU being a very appropriate example of economic, monetary and customs union while teaching theories of economic integration and international relations, the post-pandemic approach of EU leadership to rebuild the crisis-ridden member nations seemed an excellent material for developing a teaching case study. The case study was written based on secondary data and published information available. Enough desk research was undertaken to build the characterisation of the protagonists and due diligence done to chronologically report all facts of the case as the story developed. It was decided to build the epilogue into the case study so that the case analysis had enough depth. Case overview/synopsis The case is set in 2020 when the global economy was reeling under the massive impact of a lockdown and the aftermath. The case study examines the model of economic union in international business and the various challenges that governance of an association of nations such as the 27 member EU can throw up. It examines the conflict of interest that can arise among member nations during critical circumstances such as the pandemic and its massive tolls. EU had established itself as a critical international trade player and had already proven their might as a united entity to the world trade partners, given the fact that they were not only a customs union but also a monetary union. In this scenario when the pandemic threw them into the whirlwind of lockdown-induced crisis, the united front of the mighty EU all but crumbled. As the worst-hit economies of Italy and Spain struggled to pull themselves back to normalcy, EU experienced one of its worst solidarity crises. EU’s president Angela Merkel and ally French President Emmanuel Macron with support from the EU Council’s President Charles Michel stepped forward to resurrect the badly hit economies. They viewed this as the best opportunity to bring about a united front by coming together at Brussels for a summit when lockdown eased up in July 2020. It was to be a show of unity to jointly bail out the severely affected member nations by grants rather than loans. The summit, however, snowballed into bitter arguments and open bickering between the wealthy and not-so-wealthy members, and they could not agree upon the issue of debt vs aid. The fact that the EU was an agglomeration of 27 nations, which were far from homogenous in socioeconomic status, not to speak of divided political ideologies, only added dimensions to the dispute. Negotiations repeatedly hit roadblocks. Can the EU leaders lead their bitterly divided house to a consensus? Complexity academic level The case is suitable for graduate and post-graduate levels. Management courses where international business studies, international trade blocs and global leadership are part of curriculum can use the case to teach concepts of “Regional economic integration”, “Economic and Political union” and theories of “International relations” and “Negotiation”. It can also be ideally used in an executive management programme on “Global Leadership” to highlight the complexities of “governance of international associations” and “consensus building amidst diversity”.

Translating green to “green”: VAHDAM India’s marketing channelisation

Complexity academic level The case is meant for teaching business management students at the Postgraduate and Executive levels. It can be incorporated in the marketing management, entrepreneurship and international business course curriculum. Synopsis Since its inception in 2015, VAHDAM India had carved a niche for itself in the Global Tea Industry in a span of just seven years. The 29-year-old Founder-CEO, Bala Sarda was the first to create India’s largest born-global direct-to-consumer (D2C) premium wellness brand by bridging the gap between demand and supply of the country’s finest teas and superfoods globally. The venture also became a poster child for sustainability by strengthening its green credentials over the course of time.Having attained profitability in FY21, VAHDAM now aims to become a ₹500 Cr. brand by FY24. To push the goal across the line, channelisation of marketing will take centre stage. The case highlights the management’s dilemma of using green marketing as the pivot for increasing its market share in the emerging economies and boosting revenue. The underscored opportunities and challenges have to be addressed so as to formulate a green marketing mix suitable for the emerging market scenario. Learning objectives Participants will develop an understanding about the evolving consumption landscape inclining towards eco-friendly wellness products and the relationship between green marketing mix, brand equity and its channelisation towards revenue generation. They will also get an overview of marketing challenges faced by a premium D2C wellness brand while entering an emerging market. The readers shall be able to analyse and suggest ideas for the formulation of an effective green marketing mix to meet the consumer expectations and achieve desired brand positioning. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 8: Marketing

Spiritual Wellbeing of International Students: A New Zealand Case Study

Wellbeing of international students is an extensively explored topic in international education discourses. A plethora of research has been devoted to general wellbeing of international students. Nevertheless, little is known about international students’ spiritual wellbeing which can be pivotal to their adaptation to the new environment. In the context of New Zealand higher education, utilizing an intrinsic single case study design, this study examined spiritual wellbeing experienced by Indian international students. Phenomenographic interviews were conducted with 13 Indian students who were studying management courses at postgraduate level in an institute of technology in a North Island city of New Zealand. Data analysis generated three dimensions (spiritual cognition, spiritual practice, spiritual efficacy) of spiritual wellbeing which were influenced by four strategies of adaptation (connection, isolation, accommodation, integration). This study provided new insights into the experiences of international students which may influence international education in the long run.

Comparison of the Effect of Teaching Methods of Flipped Class and TBL in Enhancing Psychological Empowerment.

Today, it is felt as necessary to promote the psychological empowerment of individuals, especially at the postgraduate level using an appropriate educational approach. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of flipped class (FC) and team-based learning (TBL) in enhancing psychological empowerment. This semi-experimental study (pretest-posttest model) was conducted on postgraduate students in the Faculty of Medicine. Ninety students were included in the study using census method. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, forty students were divided into two groups of 20 in a non-random way according to their gender and educational level. The workshop teacher randomly selected one of the groups as a TBL and the other as an FC. A two-day workshop was held for each group (12 hours of training in total). The educational method was TBL in one group and FC in another. Spritzer's Psychological Empowerment questionnaire was used for data collection in pre- and post-test (one month apart). This questionnaire includes 12 questions (based on a five-point Likert scale) to assess the 4 aspects of job meaningfulness, feeling to be qualified, feeling to be effective, and feeling to have the freedom of choice. The minimum and maximum scores are 12 and 60, respectively. The experts of the field have confirmed its reliability. Its Cronbach-Alpha values were reported in previous studies at 0.86 and 0.89, respectively. Data were analyzed using statistical tests in SPSS16 and Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney non-parametric tests. The Mann-Whitney U-test indicated no significant difference between the total mean of the two groups (FC: 35.20±1.73, TBL: 34.30±1.26) in the pre-test (P=0.157). However, there was a significant difference between the psychological empowerment scores of the two groups in the post-test (P<0.001). The Wilcoxon test showed a significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores for each group (P<0.05) and the psychological empowerment scores increased in the post-test for the two groups. However, the mean of post-test score in the TBL group (M: 42.55±1.82, P<0.001) was higher than the FC group (M: 38.45±2.64, P>0.001). Due to the influence of the TBL technique on psychological empowerment at the postgraduate level, it seems that TBL is more useful and practical for enhancing psychological empowerment.

Designing and Implementing a Professional Programme for ICLHE Teachers: Beyond Linguistic and Communicative Competence

English Medium Instruction (EMI) is being fostered by universities across the world to promote their internationalization with an increasing number of courses taught through English both at graduate and postgraduate level. This requires university lecturers to be offered opportunities for professional development. It is the aim of this paper to present an extended training programme -CLIC@unizar (Content and Language Integrated Competences at the Universidad de Zaragoza)- developed at our institution which seeks to foster not only the communicative skills but also the pedagogical skills of those lecturers teaching through the medium of English or who are planning to do so. The training itinerary is grounded on previous research on EMI professional development programmes, English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP), and methodological principles promoting the students’ active role and their development of communication and digital competences. The use of digital tools and technologies which promote online collaboration, especially HyperDocs and Google Apps for Education (mostly Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Forms), has been integrated in the itinerary following the SAMR Model (Puentedura, 2013). The use of these digital tools has allowed us to include multimodal ways to provide participants with input, make them interact with the material, with us and among themselves, and produce output as demonstrations of their learning. It is essential to make ICLHE (Integrating Content and Language in Higher Education) teachers aware of their need to adapt their methodology or adopt new ones to be effective in their teaching in an L2.

Personality Development – A missing outcome competency that future Doctors will need

Personality Development – A missing outcome competency that future Doctors will need

Challenges and Opportunities to the Profession of Social Work in Pakistan: A Review

Social work education at the postgraduate level is faced with various academic and non-academic issues. Despite the compatibility of these methods with our culture, the paucity of local research and knowledge related to our community which are necessary for the uplift of the profession is impacting its progress. So far, Pakistan has no national and provincial council of social workers that could link them with the international social workers’ Federation whereby it could build their professional competence and capacity. This gap between theory and practice can be filled by developing a link between the two domains. Lack of public awareness regarding the field and the deteriorating role of inadequately trained field supervisors working for different organizations are other contributing factors. The study suggests that professional social workers should be inducted into all the social welfare organizations so that the new undergraduate students could be interested in taking admissions in BS social work degree.

Factors on The Choice and Selection of Postgraduate Programs at The Islamic University College, Perlis

There is a higher tendency among students who have completed their bachelor's or master's degree to pursue their studies at a higher academic postgraduate level. Certainly, there is an amplitude of factors driving students to choose specific postgraduate programs offered by a certain institution. Postgraduate programs available at the Islamic University College, Perlis (KUIPs) have been offered by KUIPs since February Semester 2021/2022 session and have been overwhelmingly well received by both local and international students. This Study was performed to address the three main objectives, namely 1) Identify the factors that influence/drive students to choose postgraduate programs at KUIPs; 2) Explore how students manage/balance their time between work, study, and personal life; and 3) Study the parties involved in the decision-making process of students to choose suitable postgraduate programs at KUIPs. This Study applied a survey methodological approach with a total of 17 respondents participating. From Objective-1, the results of the study found that the factors for students to choose KUIPs were the availability of scholarships, good program management process, closed vicinity, and suitability of teaching experts in the relevant fields of study offered. The 2nd Objective showed students dividing their time effectively and preparing a study time schedule. Lastly, Objective-3 produced two themes, KUIPs staff itself and oneself coupled with family influences. The results and outcomes of this Study are useful guidelines for relevant stakeholders in enticing higher student enrolment in taking up postgraduate programs in their institutions.

Implementation strategies for continuing teacher education: regional models

The article reviews strategies of Continuing Teacher Education (CTE) based on the comparative typological study of regional models in relation to the succession of teachers’ professional development. Six Russian universities were sampled for this study: Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushinsky, Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University, Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University, Tomsk State Pedagogical University, Shukshin Altai State University for Humanities and Pedagogy. Comparative analysis of best practices in the regions was based on the following criteria: mission, strategic goals/objectives of a university; pre-professional teacher education; non-university level higher education; higher education; postgraduate level. Taking into consideration typologies covered by the scientific discourse, the authors classify existing strategies of continuing teacher education as follows: traditional (conventional) strategies (fundamental nature of education, integration, humanization and axiologization of education, professional and personal development strategies for teachers) including certain updates of traditional strategies (collaboration/cooperation/partnership strategies) and innovation strategies (digitalization (digital transformation), foresight strategies). These types of strategies were profiled as follows: traditional strategies of continuing teacher education involve a step-by-step approach at predetermined intervals for each level of the education system; these are predictable and long-term; goal setting is aimed at effective performance; innovation strategies of continuing teacher education feature educational ecosystems that are versatile, collaborative, purposeful, advance-focused, predictability, and continuous support of professional and personal self-determination and self-development

Predictors of help-seeking behaviour in UK university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Studying at university and obtaining a degree is not only an appealing prospect, but now considered a necessity in the current economic climate in the UK. Concurrent financial, social, and academic challenges can converge and present a threat to student wellbeing. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges whilst adding novel stressors to the Higher Education context. Despite a growing prevalence of poor psychological outcomes in students, not all students reach out for help. Understanding factors that predict actual help-seeking behaviour during a period of intense upheaval could provide insight into which groups would benefit from additional attention and resource. The aim of this study was to explore predictors of help-seeking behaviour in a large sample of UK university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1261 participants completed a 40-item bespoke health-related questionnaire whilst under social restrictions. Hierarchical binary logistic regression revealed that students who had sought help for an emotional difficulty were more likely to be female and studying at a postgraduate level. Participants seeking help were also more likely to have recently changed accommodation, reported higher stress levels and higher Fear of COVID-19 scores. These results contribute towards the understanding of help-seeking behaviours during times of unprecedented stress and social isolation. Institutions could consider these findings should further outbreaks of COVID-19 occur, or in the eventuality of another pandemic. Outreach work may be beneficial for those most susceptible to social isolation should infection control measures be reintroduced in the future.

Global Overview on Current Paediatric Dentistry Teaching: A Survey of National Member Societies of the IAPD.

There is limited published information on the teaching and recognition of paediatric dentistry (PD) worldwide. To investigate the status of current teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate training in PD and identify differences by country-level economic development. Representatives from 80 national member societies of the IAPD were invited to complete a questionnaire on undergraduate and postgraduate PD curricula, types of postgraduate education offered and recognition of the specialty. Country economic development level was classified according to World Bank criteria. Chi-square test and Spearman correlation coefficient were used for data analysis (α=0.005) RESULTS: Response rate was 63%. Teaching of PD at the undergraduate level was present in all countries, but PD specialization, Masters, and PhD coursework was offered in 75%, 64%, and 53% of surveyed countries, respectively. Postgraduate specialization courses were offered in a significantly larger proportion of high-income countries than in upper-middle or lower-middle income countries (p<0.01). In 20% of participating countries, PD was not an officially recognized specialty with no difference in recognition of the specialty by country's economic development level (p=0.62). PD is taught at the undergraduate level universally but at the postgraduate level there are significantly fewer available courses especially in lower-income countries.

Significance of Translation Studies in Language Education: A Perspective of Post-Graduate Level Students

This paper explores the perceptions and practices of postgraduate-level students about translation in language education. More specifically, it aims to examine the significance of translation studies in language pedagogy. Thus, the prime concern of this study is to see how translation is connected through language and culture to establish the relationship among and between teachers, students, curriculum and methodology. Data for the study were collected from primary sources. In doing so, the narrative inquiry method was employed in which five postgraduate-level students having translation as a specialization were purposively selected for the interview. The finding reveals that translation has an undeniable contribution to promoting language, culture and literature in our academia. The study concludes that translation assists students to theorize complex theories, approaches, and philosophies to gain in-depth knowledge and skills in relation to language pedagogy.