University Professors Research Articles

Aspects of L1/L2 Interference in Foreign Language classes in Higher Education Institutions in Georgia: A Case Study

This paper presents the findings from a research study conducted at one state university and one private university in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 2022-2023. The research engaged 23 university professors specialising in foreign languages and involved 203 Georgian and international students studying at various programs and language proficiency groups. The study's principal objective was to scrutinise the impact of employing L1 (native language) and L2 (second language) on acquiring a target foreign language.For Georgian students, English functioned as the target foreign language. Conversely, for international students, English served as the medium of instruction for learning Georgian as a foreign language. Beyond investigating the influences of language usage, the study sought to uncover prevalent patterns in using L1/L2 as instructional mediums. The primary objective of this research study is to examine the impact of using L1 (native language) and L2 (second language) on the acquisition of a target foreign language. Specifically, it aims to determine how L1 and L2 influence language learning outcomes and proficiency levels. The research aims to show the effectiveness of employing either L1 or L2 as an instructional medium in language education. Additionally, the study seeks to identify any patterns or variations in the use of L1 and L2 based on different language proficiency groups and language learning contexts.

100th anniversary of the Otolaryngology Chair and and Department of the Stefan Batory University(Part I)

<b>Introduction:</b> After regaining independence, work immediately began to revive the University of Vilnius. Already on 30 December 30, 1918, the Polish Committee in Vilnius announced the establishment of the University of Vilnius, closed by the Russians in 1832, under the name Stefan Batory University. The Chair and Department of Otolaryngology was established on July 31, 1923, when Dr. Jan Szmurło was nominated as a full professor of laryngology and otiatry and was appointed as chief. The beginnings of the activity were very difficult, the Faculty of Medicine, University Chairs and Departments had to be created from scratch.<b>Aim:</b> The aim of the work was to present the establishment and activities of the Chair and Department of Otolaryngology of the Stefan Batory University in Vilnius, which existed from 1923 to 1939.<b>Description:</b> The Vilnius Department was known and appreciated not only in the country, but also abroad. Its most important achievements include: the creation of one of the first Speech and Voice Disorders Department, scientific works in the field of voice and speech disorders and vertigo, which laid the foundations for the creation of separate sciences in Poland – phoniatrics and otoneurology, publishing the only complete textbook on otorhinolaryngology, research works on a global scale over the scleroderma.<b>Conclusions:</b> Despite its short operation (only 16 years), the Vilnius Deparment has made an invaluable contribution to the development of otorhinolaryngology not only in the country, but also in the world.

Analysis of Research Activity Among Ophthalmology Fellows

ABSTRACT Purpose The academic success of ophthalmology fellows may be significantly impacted by their research engagement. Evaluating the research activity of fellows by subspecialty may provide insight into trends useful for prospective applicants. The objective of this study was to assess the research activity of ophthalmology fellows in the year 2023. Methods Ophthalmology fellowship programs were compiled using the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery websites. Program subspecialties were categorized as: Cornea and External Disease [CED]; Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery [CEDRS]; Glaucoma; Medical Retina [MR]; Neuro-Ophthalmology [NO]; Oculoplastics; Pediatric Ophthalmology [PO]; Surgical Retina [SR]; Uveitis; and Other. “Other” consisted of Oncology, Pathology, combined Oncology and Pathology fellowships. We identified current fellows using publicly available online information. Programs and fellows that did not have information available were excluded. Total publications, Hirsch index (h-index), and weighted-relative citation ration (w-RCR) were utilized as measures of research output, while total citations and mean-RCR (m-RCR) served as proxies for research impact. Duration of publishing was calculated using the years of the oldest and most recent publications. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis H tests with an alpha value of .05. Results A total of 373 fellows from 229 programs met our inclusion criteria. More than half of fellows were men (54.4%), and the most common degree type was MD (93.0%). Across all subspecialties, the median h-index was 3.0 (IQR = 4), m-RCR was .9 (IQR = 1.2) and w-RCR was 3.2 (IQR = 9.8). The median number of publications was six (IQR = 10, with 34 citations (IQR = 110) and 4 years of publishing (IQR = 6). We observed significant differences in h-index (p = .038), total publications (p < .001), and w-RCR (p = .028) by subspecialty. Conclusion We observed significant differences in research output, but no differences in research impact by subspecialty. Overall, Uveitis and Oculoplastics fellows had higher research activity, while Medical Retina and Other fellows had the lowest. This data is pertinent to better understand the landscape of ophthalmology fellowship applications.

Level of Stress and its Causes in Indian Engineering Colleges and in Different Professional Colleges Belonging to One of the Universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Compared to Control

BACKGROUND&#x0D; Stress in life can deteriorate the physical and mental health of a person. Stress is higher among medical college students. The present study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence and causes of stress in different professions, in different countries, and different sexes to compare with the control and suggest possible solutions for the same in the future.&#x0D; METHODS&#x0D; A cross-sectional study was undertaken among different professional college students (PCS) (Medical, Engineering, Dental, Pharmacy, and Nursing) at a randomly selected King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia with control from the same university. A similar study was conducted at one rural engineering college and one urban engineering college in India. The level of stress was assessed using the perceived stress scale (1983). Data was collected, tabulated, and analyzed using Excel and SPSS software. Complete data was available from 426 PCS at KFU, including 120 students from rural engineering colleges in India and 31 students from urban engineering colleges in India. A total of 60 controls were taken from non-professional colleges in SA.&#x0D; RESULTS&#x0D; The overall prevalence of stress was high in all PCS, and it varied from 65.33% to 87.10% in different PCS. The causes of stress were a vast and difficult syllabus, pattern of exams, lack of counselling and guidance, fewer co-curricular activities, etc. Stress in nonprofessional control was 30.00%.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS&#x0D; The incidence of stress is more in different professional college students irrespective of colleges, countries and sex compared to control. The causes of stress among all these students are similar. So the planning and managements for professional colleges must take it seriously. These issues can be solved by providing more teaching and learning facilities, creating a relaxing atmosphere within the college, changing the patterns of examinations, regular counselling, inclusion of recreations like cultural activities, educational tours, music, sports, etc. along with the curriculum. All these things might create more and more healthy and educated professionals to serve our society.

FBI and Asian political organizations in the ending of 1960s – beginning of the 1970s (using the example of Asian-American Political Alliance)

The article examines the FBI's way of working with radical and civil opposition among Asian political organizations in the context of the Vietnam War and the political situation in general during the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s. Using the Bureau's archives of the Asian-American Political Alliance, work's methods of the intelligence agency related to non-radical and obeying the law groups are made. The main threat that such groups considered was the influence of communists' parties and the Black Panther Party, which was far more radical and against them. As a result, the FBI applied anti-constitutional methods of actions. The non-uniformity of the COINTELPRO program, within which the FBI investigations took place, is traced by the conducted research. At this period, most of the Asian political organizations were non-violent and legal in nature. Also, many delegates were professors in universities and its students. Hence, the Bureau acted carefully while working with that kind of organizations because they didn't want to get in an «awkward position». Based on made analyses, the conclusion can be made that the FBI's activity in relation to Asian political organizations was considerably different from their methods for other political organizations of the same kind in a considerable period of history.

How to Sell a Poison: The Rise, Fall, and Toxic Return of DDT

How to Sell a Poison: The Rise, Fall, and Toxic Return of DDT

How to Sell a Poison: The Rise, Fall, and Toxic Return of DDT

How to Sell a Poison: The Rise, Fall, and Toxic Return of DDT

Request Strategies in Saudi ESL Learners’ Email Communication: A Pragmatic Analysis

Growing research on intercultural communication has highlighted the importance of both linguistic and pragmatic competence among learners of English as a second language (ESL). Emails serve as a preferred means of communication between university students and professors. This study investigates Saudi ESL learners’ pragmatic competence in creating email requests to their professors, addressing questions about greetings, directness, request strategies, and information sequencing. The goal is to show the need for explicit pragmatics instruction. The naturalistic data comprised 50 emails written by Arabic-speaking ESL graduate students in academic contexts, covering requests regarding deadline extensions, retaking exams, lecture absences for various reasons, and letters of recommendation. The analysis was guided by the Cross-Cultural Speech Act Realization Project (CCSARP) (Blum-Kulka et al., 1989). The findings suggested that explicit pedagogical guidance in speech act performance could benefit non-native English speakers. This study contributes to the growing body of research on institutional email practices, politeness conventions, and interlanguage pragmatics.

Editorial

This editorial celebrates the Journal of Applied Arts &amp; Health’s (JAAH) fifteenth anniversary, reflecting on its evolution and impact at the intersection of art, health and well-being. It reflects on the previous JAAH Special Issue (14:3) paying homage to Emeritus University Professor Shaun McNiff, a trailblazer in the field, whose fifty-plus-year career is highlighted. The journal’s role in promoting understanding of art’s diverse benefits, particularly in healthcare, is emphasized. Amid global challenges, the editorial acknowledges the world’s ongoing shifts and challenges to health and well-being, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruptions, geopolitical tensions and climate change concerns. It recognizes the role of JAAH in fostering exploration, understanding and advocacy in applied arts and health, while calling for continued innovation and inquiry in the next fifteen years. The editorial introduces the current journal issue’s content, which covers a range of research projects, an interview and reviews.

Virtues and vocation: An historical perspective on scientific integrity in the twenty-first century

According to the Dutch chemist Gerrit Jan Mulder (1802–1880), the principal aim of university education was character building and moral edification. Professional training was of secondary importance. Mulder’s ideas about the vocation and moral mission of the university professor can serve as a historical counterpart to later Weberian, Mertonian, and contemporary ideas on the ethos of science. I argue that a revaluation of the moral precepts that Mulder saw as defining the life of an academic is helpful in dealing with the problems of late modern science, such as the replication crisis and research misconduct. Addressing such problems must start in the university classrooms. To empower students to internalize the principles of responsible conduct of research, we need an updated version of Mulder’s idea of the university professor as a moral agent.

Instructors' perspectives on teaching music online after the COVID-19 lockdown: A qualitative analysis in Indonesia

The current study analyzes the practices and strategies used by university instructors in Indonesia to deliver online music classes after the COVID-19 lockdown. Using a qualitative method based on semi-structured interviews, perspectives from music professors were gathered to explore various aspects, including the support provided by universities, teaching practices adopted by instructors, students’ reactions, limitations, and advantages of online music learning. The data were analyzed with an inductive method based on grounded theory. Participants highlighted several strategies utilized during online learning, such as (a) the use of video recordings to focus on specific aspects of music performance; (b) the implementation of project-based assessments to address various learning outcomes in different classes; and (c) the development of teamwork for sharing the best teaching practices. Teachers reported being more responsive to the students, placing a greater emphasis on self-reflection and becoming more effective educators. While recognizing several limitations associated with online music learning, the participants believe that this will be the teaching approach of the future, attributing it to improvements in students' independence and self-assessment skills, teachers' self-reflexivity, and enhanced flexibility in scheduling. Implications for institutions and university professors regarding the development of policies and curricula for online music education are also discussed.

Influence of Psychological Capital on Job Fulfillment: An Examination Within the Academic Institutions of Odisha

Examining ways to enhance job satisfaction among employees is a priority for business leaders aiming to bolster their companies' competitive edge. This research delves into how Psychological Capital influences the job satisfaction of faculty members in selected private professional colleges in ODISHA. Historically, psychology has been linked with mental illness, but recent studies have refuted this association. Employees with a positive psychological mindset can contribute significantly to a company's advancement. The core components of employee Psychological Capital include hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism. This study investigates the correlation between Psychological Capital and job satisfaction among faculty members, along with its effects. A sample of 136 respondents was surveyed, and data analysis employed Pearson correlation and multiple regression techniques. The findings reveal a meaningful connection between Psychological Capital and job satisfaction. Moreover, the study highlights that while not all components exert equal influence, self-efficacy and hope notably contribute positively to job satisfaction.Keywords: Psychological Capital, Job Satisfaction, Pearson correlation, multiple regression.

Relationships between Pedagogical Practices and Affective States for Effective Teaching during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from University Professors

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze how pedagogical practices and affective states during emergency remote teaching influence professors’ perspectives on their capabilities and the professor-student relationship. Method: We used a nonexperimental quantitative design, collecting data through an online survey during the first year of the pandemic. Participants were recruited using a non-probability sampling method. A total of 636 university professors from Chilean universities participated. We performed descriptive and correlation analyses between variables. Also, to gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing perceptions of the professors’ competence and the professor–student relationship, we conducted linear regression models. Results: A higher perception of pedagogical competence was related to male professors reporting a high evaluation of teaching quality and a high diversification of assessment strategies. A better professor–student relationship was related to female professors reporting a high level of tutoring activities and activities in which students work collaboratively. Additionally, unpleasant affective states were experienced at a higher rate by younger and female professors. Conclusions: Variables that make up the perception of professor competence and the professor–student relationship were identified, relating to gender and pedagogical practices, such as diversification of assessment strategies, tutoring, and collaborative activities. Implications: The results can guide future institutional actions to improve conditions and establish guidelines for quality virtual education in the post-pandemic scenario.

The Open-mindedness for University Professors

The Open-mindedness for University Professors

The influence of professional mission on the professional quality of college teachers: The intermediary role of job burnout and the regulating role of social support

Purpose: This study seeks to explore the influence of a professional mission on university teachers specifically examining the mediating role of job burnout and the moderating impact of social support.&#x0D; Design/Methodology/Approach: Data from university teachers were collected for this study using a questionnaire survey method and the results were carefully analysed using the relevant statistical techniques.&#x0D; Findings: The study finds a positive relationship between a strong professional mission and high professional quality in university teachers. Job burnout and social support serve as intermediaries and regulators. Increased burnout weakens the mission's influence while reduced burnout correlates with enhanced professional quality. A strong social network enhances a professional mission's beneficial effects. &#x0D; Conclusion: This study explores the relationship between a professional mission and university professors highlighting the mediating effects of social support and job burnout. The findings offer valuable insights for improving educational quality and supporting teachers' personal growth. This research significantly contributes to understanding key factors in the career development of college teachers, providing enlightening perspectives for educators and policymakers.&#x0D; Limitations/Significance: This study ignores personal variables in favour of examining only the effects of professional missions on university teachers' professional development. Observations and interviews are two unique methodologies that are necessary for a thorough understanding relying solely on surveys may introduce subjectivity.&#x0D; Practical Significance: Findings guide institutions and policymakers to boost education quality by supporting teachers' professional development through training and social support and addressing burnout.&#x0D; Contributions to the Literature: The study fills gaps by confirming the beneficial influence of professional missions on the careers of teachers and guiding the improvement of education.

Revisiting “What is Strategy?” and Why it Matters

PurposeThere are few concepts in the modern business lexicon where people feel as strongly confident in their understanding of its meaning – while there is simultaneously such profound disagreement in how people actually define the term – than the concept of “strategy.” After decades of research and publications trying to correct this situation, the problem remains. It is difficult to advance the field, teach the field, or even effectively put it into practice if you cannot define what “it” is in a clear, concise, and meaningful way. This paper offers updated definitions of key strategic management concepts.Design/methodology/approachA large academic and practitioner literature review was added to the author’s personal experience as a Fortune 500 chief strategy officer and university professor to identify five separate concepts at the heart of current colloquial uses of the term “strategy.” These concepts were then clarified and defined with implications summarized.FindingsThe generic term “strategy” is frequently used in place of multiple other very distinct concepts. This problem of concept ambiguity can be greatly reduced by understanding and emphasizing the definitions and usage of five other, already existing, business terms – “Strategic Management,” “Strategic Planning Process,” “Strategic Plan,” “Realized Strategy,” and “Business Model.”Originality/valueThis paper identifies the negative effects of the misuse of the term strategy and offers clear, concise remedies. Resolving the definition problems is a necessary precursor to the advancement, education, and practice of the field.

Rita Colwell: Use your voice to bring about positive change.

Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, senior advisor and chairman emeritus at Canon US Life Sciences, Inc., founder and chairman of CosmosID, Inc., and president of the Rosalind Franklin Society. She has authored or co-authored 20 books and more than 800 scientific publications, and throughout her career has focused on improving health outcomes across the world and highlighting the impacts of infectious diseases in drinking/bathing water. We recently spoke to Rita about her career and her thoughts about the future for women in science.

Analysis of Factors Affecting Students’ Business Writing Skills

Writing skill is one of the four cornerstone skills in the process of learning and using English. The purpose of the study was to investigate the major cause of students’ business writing difficulties and to find out best solution to enhance their business writing skills. This research has utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate the challenges that undergraduate students at Nazareth Art and Science College. Two hundred Nazareth Art and Science College students participated in this survey. Primary data was gathered by survey questionnaires administered to a random sample of 200 students and classroom observation. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the survey data. The findings of this study reveal that various hurdles were encountered by the students in their business writing. Challenges such as limited vocabulary, lack of grammar knowledge, lack of practice and traditional teaching method all contribute to the difficulties of students’ business writing. Classroom observation data also reveals that students have trouble with vocabulary, grammar, and practice and teaching method. It is suggested that the current study's scope be broadened to include students from a variety of universities in order to get to the heart of the difficulties associated with business writing. It is anticipated that the current research would persuade university professors to give business writing the same level of consideration as other pedagogical focuses.

The role of social networks in communication in the scientific research community

Social networks have grown rapidly in recent years, enabling the application of social web technologies to the scientific process and creating platforms that enhance communication between researchers. The aim of this research is to go one step further and investigate whether the use of more general social networks, such as Twitter or Facebook, is also becoming more widespread for scientific research, thus contributing to the visibility of scientists and their collaborative networks. Social media analysis is carried out using the Brandwatch platform to assess the use of generalist social networks in research and compared with the use of scientific social networks through an online survey of university professors. The resulting conclusions show that scientific mentions in networks are rare and that, despite the importance of researchers having a profile in a social network, which allows them to give greater visibility to their results and receive feedback from their colleagues, many of them are still unaware of its usefulness.

International Scientific Conference Kitabistics - Research Methodology and Publication of Sources (Kitabistika - tyrimų elektrologija ir šaltinių publikavimas / Kitab Studies - Research Methodology and Source Publication) and the Exhibition The Way of Teachers: Research on the Culture of Lithuanian Nations as a Result of Cooperation between Kitabistic Schools of the Universities of Vilnius and Toruń (5- 6/10/2023, Vilnius University)

On October 5–6, 2023, an international scientific conference Kitabistyka – metodologia badań i publikacja źródeł (Kitabistika – tyrimų metodologija ir šaltinių publikavimas / Kitab Studies – Research Methodology and Source Publication was held at the Faculty of Philology of Vilnius University. The conference was dedicated to the 55th anniversary of the publication of the work of Vilnius University professor A. Antonovich (1910–1980), devoted to Belarusian texts written in Arabic letters, as well as the 85th anniversary of Vilnius University professor Valery Chekmonas (1937–2004). The two-day conference was attended by 37 scientists from Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, Ukraine, Turkey and other countries. Plenary sessions and section work were thematically related to the research of Vilnius University professors. The speakers focused on the cultural heritage of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the field of history, culture, language of the Tatars, Old Believers, as well as sociolinguistic Balto-Slavic studies, ethnolinguistics, and language contacts. The conference was preceded by a long history of cooperation between scientific centers of Lithuania and Poland. The exhibition dedicated to the two Professors in the Scientific Library of Vilnius University was presented.