Private Universities Research Articles

Unleashing the potential of social media celebrities to promote food waste reduction in educational institutions: developing an extended model based on the value-belief-norm theory

PurposeThis study aims to provide insights into the drivers of student engagement in food waste reduction strategies in educational institutions. The proposed research model integrates social media celebrities' attractiveness, expertise and trustworthiness with the value belief norm (VBN) theory to explore their influence on students' behaviour towards food waste reduction.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from 417 students enrolled in public and private universities in the Riyadh and Macca regions of Saudi Arabia to evaluate the proposed model. The partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyse the responses.FindingsThe results showed that VBN theory's components, such as values (biospheric, altruistic and egoistic), beliefs (new ecological paradigm, awareness of consequences and aspirations of responsibility) and norms significantly and positively influence food waste reduction behavioural intentions. It was also discovered from the results that social media celebrities' attractiveness, expertise and trustworthiness influence food waste reduction behavioural intentions.Originality/valueThis study contributes significantly to the literature by identifying factors influencing student engagement in food waste reduction strategies in educational institutions where limited research exists. It fills this research gap by developing a novel theoretical framework integrating social media celebrities' attributes with the VBN theory to explain these factors.

Outnumbered and outranked: a macrostructural snapshot of gendered inequalities in higher academia in Jordan

Purpose This article aims to illuminate the gendered organisational structure of higher education in Jordan by collecting and analysing a national-level snapshot of the current distribution of women and men in leadership positions and academic ranks across Jordanian universities to pinpoint inequalities in specific levels and fields. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in gendered organisational theory, this study presents a snapshot of the gender composition of 10 public and 14 private universities in Jordan. The snapshot, collected in September 2022 from these universities’ websites, examines counts of male and female administrative leaders as well as academic staff across all ranks for all faculties in both STEM and liberal arts fields. Findings The distribution of women and men in leadership positions in universities across Jordan is highly unequal, with men outnumbering women in the uppermost positions by nearly 10:1. This gap decreases as the rank of positions decreases, indicative of a highly gendered organisational structure, with only three to four fields approaching gender parity. Research limitations/implications This paper offers a comprehensive and detailed quantitative foundation for researchers to investigate the underlying social, cultural, legal, political and economic factors perpetuating gender inequality in academia in Jordan and in comparative studies. Practical implications This study is relevant for targeting policies for advancing sustainable development goals, specifically 5.5, which aim at women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making. Originality/value This study provides the most detailed and extensive macro-level analysis of the gender composition of universities in Jordan.

Early Field Experiences of PTEs in ELT Programme of a State University in Türkiye

Teaching programs in Türkiye consist of a 4-year process. Internship practice takes place in the last year of this process, each in two separate terms. Prospective teachers observe, evaluate, prepare course content, and teach under the guidance of in-service English teachers in public schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education and with the support of supervisors at the faculties and complete their internship. However, the timing of the process is thought to be too late, which is carried out during the 4-year education period and where prospective teachers will be actively involved in schools/real teaching environments and gain experience. "Early Field Experience", which is also found in the world literature and has exemplary applications, has been implemented in some private universities in Türkiye today but has not yet found its place in state universities. This current research studies the subject of “Early field experience”. The present study focussed on the effects of "Early Field Experience" practice in a state university in Türkiye. The study analyses the reflections of Early Field Experience (EFE) on prospective teachers' anxiety and makes the voices of prospective teachers heard. In this convergent mixed method study, STAS (Student Teacher Anxiety Scale - Hart, 1987) was used as a quantitative data collection tool, and a semi-structured interview form consisting of open-ended questions was employed for the qualitative part. In the study, prospective teachers of English had an EFE implementation process covering 10 weeks of observation and internship. The results of the quantitative data showed that there was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores for the level of anxiety of PTEs (t=4.16; p< .05) in favour of the post-test. Findings of interviews revealed that the prospective teachers' concerns were in the areas of teaching, students’ background, classroom management, readiness to teach, and burnout before the EFE; and after the EFE, they experienced improvements in classroom management, appropriate language use, readiness to teach, experience and teaching content.

Mitigating Challenges in the Administration of Private Higher Educational Institutions in Malaysia

Education plays a crucial role in creating individuals who contribute positively to the development of a country. The private education sector in Malaysia, has proven to be a major source of revenue for the Malaysian government, and it is the government’s aspiration to capture a large percentage of the higher education global market. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the challenges faced by academic leaders in managing private universities in Malaysia and to provide feasible recommendations to overcome them. The findings are expected to provide valuable information to the management of Malaysian private universities, policymakers, and regulatory agencies. The information gathered could provide enlightenment regarding the difficulties faced in order to design and implement further policies to elevate their operational method and ensure long-term survival. Valuable recommendations have been provided to ensure the institutions remain profitable and sustainable as the development of Malaysia’s social and economic sector is dependent on its education sector.

Assessment of Mental Health Status and Its Association With Willingness to Take Vaccine Against COVID-19 Among the Students of Public and Private Universities in Bangladesh.

Assessment of Mental Health Status and Its Association With Willingness to Take Vaccine Against COVID-19 Among the Students of Public and Private Universities in Bangladesh.

Describing values in tension and neoliberalism at a mission-driven, private university: a qualitative case study of faculty service workload

ABSTRACT Faculty workload tension exists between espoused service and social justice-oriented university missions and neoliberal academic values of scholarship. The tension has significant consequences for attracting, advancing, and retaining faculty from minoritized racial, ethnic, and gender groups. A case study qualitative approach was conducted to investigate perspectives on the valuing of faculty service at a private university with a clearly articulated service and social justice-oriented mission. Interviews were conducted first with department chairs (n = 26). Themes from these interviews were then shared with faculty (n = 153) and leadership (i.e. deans and provosts) via a web-based survey for comments on refining themes. Final analysis yielded a meta-theme (Values in tension), four themes (The paradox of faculty service, we are stretched thin, workload nimbleness and confusion, and inequity in burden and advancement) with diverging perspectives based on race and gender of participants. Implications are drawn for university leadership and culture related to faculty workload and advancement.

The Private School Network: Recruiting Visits to Private High Schools by Public and Private Universities

The Private School Network: Recruiting Visits to Private High Schools by Public and Private Universities

Analyzing the influence of university support and entrepreneurial culture on solar entrepreneurial intentions among Indian students

The involvement of students in entrepreneurial activities related to solar energy has the potential to have a major impact on expanding energy access. Nevertheless, there is an absence of research on the dynamics and knowledge of solar entrepreneurship, specifically from an Indian perspective. The main aim of this study is to highlight the significance of solar energy entrepreneurship and its capacity to motivate and encourage university students towards entrepreneurship, thereby fostering sustainable development. The study intends to analyze several individual-level characteristics that influence university learners' intentions to engage in solar entrepreneurship. The goal of this study is to shed light on how students' career choices in the field of solar entrepreneurship are influenced by their personal passion, self-efficacy, personality traits, and social norms. A stratified random selection technique was employed to gather a representative sample of 279 university students who are currently enrolled in both public and private universities situated in the northwest region of India. The study employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine the relationship between individual-level factors and entrepreneurial attitude. The analysis indicated that all individual-level factors, except entrepreneurial passion, were significant predictors of entrepreneurial attitude. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated a positive association between student entrepreneurial attitudes and solar entrepreneurial intentions. The research also examines the managerial implications, limitations, and future scope of the research.

Human Resource Practice and Job Satisfaction in Private College of Kathmandu

Human resource practice includes conducting job analyses, planning personnel needs, recruiting the right people for the right job at the right time, performance appraisal, orienting and training, rewarding, new job opportunities, motivate them. This study is related to the impact of HR practices on employee job satisfaction. In private colleges of Kathmandu, employees are not satisfied with their jobs even in the presence of HR practices. For this study convenience, sampling technique is used and the limitations of our study are the private colleges in Kathmandu. A questionnaire has been used to collect primary data based on structured questions. The study's hypothesis was tested through correlation and regression analysis to inspect employee satisfaction. Findings investigate a significant relationship between HR Practice and job satisfaction. Moreover, salary, reward and recognition, career advancement, promotion, new job opportunities, participation in decision-making and working environment positively affect job satisfaction. Results show that HR practices (recruitment and selection, salary, training and development, new job opportunities, rewards, recognition, and motivation) have more significant effects on employees’ job satisfaction in comparison to the Working Environment. The empirical findings concluded that best HR Practices have a significant and positive effect on employee job satisfaction. Therefore, it is clear that employers should understand and implement the HR Practices correctly to take good work from their employees. Further research may be done to achieve a high level of job satisfaction.

The determinants of recommendation intention and student satisfaction in private higher institutions: Empirical evidence from Kazakhstan

ABSTRACT Student satisfaction and loyalty are crucial metrics for assessing the quality of education in universities. Despite their importance, these aspects have received limited attention within the private higher education sector in Kazakhstan. Our study addresses this gap by applying customer satisfaction models to identify the critical factors influencing student satisfaction at a leading Kazakhstani private university. We developed a comprehensive research framework that includes the university's institutional capabilities, the social environment, and students’ perceptions of the university's ethos. A survey conducted with 129 undergraduate students revealed that institutional capabilities and students’ perceptions of the university's ethos play a pivotal role in fostering satisfaction, which, in turn, enhances their likelihood to recommend the institution. Our research offers valuable insights and a strategic framework for private universities in Kazakhstan to improve their educational services, thereby increasing student satisfaction, loyalty, and ensuring the institution's long-term success.

English teachers’ views of EFL education in private educational institutions in Tunisia: A qualitative investigation

This research study focuses on the status of English language education in private educational institutions in Tunisia, an area that has received limited attention. Qualitative investigation, utilizing one-to-one interviews with English language teachers in private schools and universities, was conducted to understand the conditions of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) in the private sector. Interviews were conducted online and transcribed for analysis. Findings indicate that the quality of English language teaching in private institutions surpasses that of state schools, with students benefiting from early exposure and ample practice opportunities. Teachers in private institutions have access to better resources due to stable financial situations, but they tend to be less experienced compared to their counterparts in public schools. Despite the study's limited scope, it provides valuable insights into Tunisian English teachers’ perceptions of working conditions and highlights their need for professional development and improvements in TEFL. The instrument used in the study has been validated and could serve as a basis for future research. This research, part of a larger PhD dissertation, contributes to understanding the differences between state and private language education and has pedagogical relevance for EFL education in similar contexts.

Similar or different? An analysis of the organisational values expressed by public and private Turkish universities

Similar or different? An analysis of the organisational values expressed by public and private Turkish universities

The Influence of It Governance and It Capability on The Performance of Private Higher Education Institutions: The Mediation Role of Performance Management Systems

This study examines the effect of information technology (IT) governance and IT capability on the organizational performance of private Higher Education Institutions (HEI) with a performance management system as a mediating variable. This quantitative study uses primary data from questionnaires distributed to respondents online. Respondents in this study were 270 management and IT management of private universities on the island of Sumatra. This study used a sample of 90 private HEIs. Furthermore, the data was processed using Partial Least Square (PLS) technique. The results are that the performance management system partially mediates IT governance with organizational performance, while IT capability mediates fully with organizational performance. IT capabilities can encourage organizational performance through a good performance management system. Theoretically, it contributes to implementing technological resources mobilized in the performance management system to improve college performance. College management should consider developing technology and performance measurement systems to achieve sustainable competitive advantage.

School of Nursing Climate Commitment: Nursing Faculty Bring Climate to the Classroom

In 2021, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) added “the impact of climate change on environmental and population health” into The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education. Presently, little guidance exists for nursing faculty new to climate education. The year prior, the Nurses Climate Challenge (NCC)—a campaign to educate 50,000 health professionals about health impacts of climate change—launched the School of Nursing Commitment through a series of focus groups and collaborative content development. With an aim of increasing access to knowledge and tools to support education about the health impacts of climate change, the NCC Commitment partners with nursing schools and provides a community of practice. Partner schools use NCC resources in courses and report the number of students educated. Within three years, 61 nursing schools in 30 states joined the Commitment. Participants included academic health centers, research institutions, multi-state schools, and small private colleges, and programs ranged from AD to PhD. Faculty (1) integrated resources into didactic and clinical settings, such as population or organ-system content, leadership, and policy; and (2) used resources to support assignments. In four years, faculty reported educating over 37,700 students, using NCC resources in 439 educational sessions. The Commitment may be valuable for faculty fulfilling AACN Essentials by bringing climate change to the classroom, community, and bedside. Furthermore, the Commitment may be a replicable model for health professional education and inspiring action on climate change.

Academic program enhancement supporting the success of undergraduate nursing students and graduates

Nursing program administrators, faculty, academic success coaches, and remediation specialists have implemented many interventions in support of baccalaureate nursing students' retention and graduates' NCLEX-RN® first-time pass rates. A private university's undergraduate nursing program's team incorporated additional evidence-based interventions aimed improving students' achievement of benchmarks following a 3-year decline in NCLEX-RN pass rates. Interventions expanded the prelicensure academic program's activities using a continuous quality improvement approach. A simulation center was constructed and a director was hired. A consultant also facilitated faculty engagement in curricular revisions. A new position, coordinator tutor/remediation specialist, was filled and the academic success coach launched interventions that complemented an initial and subsequent strategies for success initiative. New interventions were trialed and evaluated and became integral to students' and graduates' success. The academic success coach's commitment to students' achievements promoted their engagement in interventions. Pass rates increased and were sustained. Examples of interventions, supported by evidence, are presented in tables for review. A logic model depicts components of the program plan and its interventions as augmented by prospective strategies and remediation interventions. Continuous quality improvement processes will continue. Students and graduates have commented positively on the benefits of the assorted, success-promoting interventions.

First-Year Students’ Challenges and Coping Strategies in Public and Private Universities in Osun State, Nigeria

The current study examined the challenges faced by first-year students in public and private universities in Osun State. It also examined the coping strategies of first-year students in public and private universities in the state. It further determined if any differences exist in challenges between public and private university students in the study area; it also determined differences in coping strategies between public and private university students in Osun State. These were to provide information on first-year students’ challenges and strategies for overcoming them. The research design for the study was descriptive survey research design. The study population entailed all first-year students in the public university of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, and a private university, Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were employed to select 200 respondents from the public university and 150 respondents from the private university among first-year students. A self-developed questionnaire titled First-Year Student Challenges and Coping Strategies Questionnaire (FYSCCSQ), which was comprised of four sections, was used to obtain data from the sample. The instrument was validated using face and content validity, and an Alpha Coefficient reliability of .85 was obtained. Data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, simple percentages, and inferential statistics such as independent t-tests. The results showed no significant differences in challenges between public and private first-year students with (t = .51) and no significant differences in coping strategies between public and private first-year students with (t = .268). The study concluded that first-year students in public and private universities encountered myriads of challenges (Academic, Social, Cultural, and economic), with academic challenges being the prevalent challenge, followed by social, cultural, and minor economic challenges in both public and private universities.

Unethical Behaviour and Corporate Performance in University System: A study of Nigerian Private Universities

The study investigated whether there exists a relationship between unethical behaviour and corporate performance in the university system, and hence determined the impact of unethical behavior on corporate performance in the Nigerian university system with private universities as reference. A survey design was employed with a questionnaire instrument administered to 250 university staff drawn from four private universities in South-west, Nigeria, using a combination of purposive and random sampling techniques. The response data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential analysis.  The descriptive analysis showed that unethical behaviour exists in Nigerian private universities. A multivariate Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) was used for the inferential analysis and to specify the relationships among the construct variables in the study. The bootstrapping technique of the PLS-SEM was used to estimate the parameters in the model, with the aid of the Smart-3 software. The result of the factor loadings, reliability test, convergent and discriminant validity revealed that the construct variables are fit for the PLS-SEM. The path analysis revealed that financial malpractices are a major unethical behavior affecting corporate performance adversely. Furthermore, unethical behaviours from university staff and university administration have significant negative influence on corporate performance. The study concludes that unethical behaviour is a key driver of poor corporate performance in the Nigerian university system. Therefore, it is recommended that policy makers in the university should adopt a holistic approach to ethical management that is oriented toward zero tolerance for unethical behavior in the university system 

An Exploring Rewards Systems and Turnover Intention among Malaysian Private University Academics: The Role of Continuance Commitment as a Mediator

This research employed an empirical approach in overviewing the relationship between five independent variables namely, remuneration, work-life balance, supervisor support, and employee recognition and the intention of turnover by means of employees' continuance commitment. The study comprises a total of 331 academics from the four private universities that were selected. This study utilized a structured survey to collect data, drawing on publicly available literature to inform the survey's design. Building upon a comprehensive review of existing literature, the survey instrument was tailored to address the specific research objectives of this study, incorporating modifications as deemed necessary. The analysis presented in this chapter offers a detailed examination of both the measurement and structural models employed in the study. The measurement model rigorously assessed the reliability and validity of the measurement instruments, ensuring that indicators met established criteria for accuracy and precision. Subsequent Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analyses revealed that neither direct nor mediated paths achieved statistical significance, indicating a lack of empirical support for the hypothesized relationships among the variables under investigation. This comprehensive evaluation provides valuable insights into the methodological rigor of the study and highlights avenues for future research exploration.

Nursing Faculty’s Perceived Value of Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®)/ Certified Nurse Educator Novice (CNE®n) Credentialing

Aim This study sought to measure nursing faculty’s perceptions regarding the value of obtaining the CNE®/ CNE®n specialty certification. There is limited research surrounding efforts to improve perceived extrinsic and intrinsic values of certification and even less documentation on identifying a link between student learning outcomes and instruction by CNE®/CNE®n faculty.Methods Participants were recruited from a private college located in X, where only 16% of the 58 full and part- time academic nurse educators possess the Certified Nurse Educator® (CNE®)/Certified Nurse Educator® Novice (CNE®n) specialty certification. An online PVCT-12 survey was conducted pre- and post-CNE preparatory course to investigate changes in extrinsic and intrinsic perceived values of obtaining certification. Participants were also surveyed post-prep course to determine intent and timeframe for testing.Results: The study increased the number of full and part time academic nurse faculty with the CNE®/ CNE®n certification from 16% to 24%. There was also an increase in the perceived value of the certification, more notably in the extrinsic value category.Conclusion: Understanding these perceptions and motivators for certification can guide institutions in supporting faculty to increase their credentialed nurse educators. This study should be repeated with a larger population of nursing faculty across multiple academic institutions to produce more generalizable results. Future research should focus on identifying a link between improved student learning outcomes and instruction by CNE®/CNE®n faculty to further increase the extrinsic value of certification.

The Role of Organizational Support in Enhancing Lecturer Performance: The Role of Commitment as a Mediator and Lecturer Certification as a Moderator

This study aims to examine the influence of organizational support on the performance of lecturers, mediated by commitment, and moderated by lecturer certification. The research was conducted in the undergraduate program in the field of economics at private universities in Riau Province. The research method used was a survey with a questionnaire as the data collection instrument. The population and sample of the study consisted of 269 respondents. Data analysis was conducted using SEM-PLS. The results of the study indicate that organizational support has a significant effect on commitment. Organizational support also has a significant effect on performance, which is mediated by commitment. Furthermore, organizational support affects performance, which is mediated by commitment and moderated by lecturer certification. The implications of this research highlight the importance of private universities in Riau Province considering these factors in the management and development of human resources, especially lecturers, to improve the quality of education. This study provides theoretical and practical contributions to understanding the factors that influence lecturer commitment and performance.