Higher Education Reform Research Articles

Book Review: Mariya P. Ivancheva, The Alternative University: Lessons from Bolivarian Venezuela, Stanford University Press, 2023, 216pp.

Among the pantheon of left-wing Latin American governments that swept the continent in the early 21st century, arguably the most radical, most beguiling, most contradictory, and most tragic, is the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela. Given its unique (though not necessarily ‘special’) place within this political conjuncture, no shortage of ink has been spilled on the deep-seated transformations carried out in the name of the Venezuelan people, as well as the domestic and international conflicts that followed in their wake (see, most recently, Marino 2018; Samet 2019; Cooper 2019; Wilde 2023; Lubbock 2024). Among the many themes examined by scholars, activists and other observers is the role of higher education reform within the Bolivarian Republic, and the ways in which Hugo Chávez Frias, the charismatic leader of the ‘Bolivarian turn’, sought to build a new society by cultivating new knowledge among the people.

Enhancing nurse faculty resilience through self-leadership: guidelines for resource mobilization in dynamic academic environments.

The purpose of the study was to develop guidelines for the facilitation of self-leadership in nurse faculty. Of the 12 guidelines developed, this paper discusses the two related to resilience through self-leadership practices, namely: encouraging reliance on internal sources for self-preservation; and strengthening the positive self-image of nurse faculty through management and peer support. An exploratory, sequential mixed-methods design was used to guide the development of guidelines. Enhancing nurse faculty resilience can be achieved by promoting engagement in self-leadership activities. These activities contribute to faculty members' profound satisfaction, confidence in their knowledge, and overall competence. Resilience is enriched through practicing self-leadership in a supportive work environment and plays a crucial role in adapting to significant changes in the work environment. It has been identified as a key factor that facilitates the ability to persist against struggles and challenges in the workplace. The implementation of higher education reforms in South Africa has brought about increased workload, stress, and uncertainties to an already overwhelmed nurse faculty workforce, consisting of mainly female faculty. It is prudent that a supportive environment that empowers nurse faculty well-being and resilience be facilitated to ensure adaptation to a dynamic and competitive nursing education environment.

The Historical Change, Evolutionary Logic and Dynamic Mechanism of China's Major Enrollment System

The general enrollment system is a hot issue in the field of higher education reform. And the scientific cognition of its historical evolution, internal logic and dynamic mechanism is helpful to promote the reform of China's undergraduate enrollment system. From the perspective of historical institutionalism, the evolution of Chinese enrollment categories can be divided into four major historical stages: historical gestation, preliminary exploration, rapid rise and in-depth development. Tracing the hidden institutional logic behind the policy, it is found that the initial conditions, positive feedback mechanism and mindset make the change of the major enrollment system have a strong path dependence. In terms of dynamic mechanism, politics, economy and society constitute the basic factors of institutional change; learning effect, adaptive expectation and resource optimization orientation constitute the internal driving force of self-strengthening in the system; and the interest game among various action subjects constitutes the direct driving force of institutional change. In the future, the major enrollment system will accelerate the comprehensive reform of higher education through the three aspects of deepening rational practice examination, enhancing cross-cultivation and exploration, and promoting the transformation of human-oriented management, so as to enable the connotative development of higher education.

Research on the Integration of Ideological and Political Education and Mental Health Education in Undergraduate Colleges

In recent years, the integration research of ideological and political education and mental health education in undergraduate colleges has attracted much attention. The integration of the two can not only help to improve students’ ideological and political quality but also effectively promote the overall development of student’s mental health. With the rapid development and change of society, college students are facing increasingly complex psychological pressure and challenges, therefore, ideological and political education and mental health education combined, have become one of the important directions of the current higher education reform. Based on this, based on a comprehensive analysis of the close relationship between ideological and political education and mental health education, the article takes undergraduate colleges as the research object and actively explores the integration path of the two.

Research on the Construction of a Comprehensive Teaching Case Library for Ergonomics under the OBE Concept

In recent years, case-based teaching has become a hot spot in higher education reform, and the construction of case libraries has received increasing attention. The development of teaching case libraries not only promotes changes in talent training models but also enhances teaching effectiveness. Taking the ergonomics course as an example, this paper explores the construction of a comprehensive teaching case library for ergonomics under the outcome-based education concept, providing a reference for future ergonomics teaching case library development.

Perceptions of Educators on Simultaneous Implementation of Education 5.0 and Modularisation in Higher Education Sector

The government of Zimbabwe initiated a radical higher education reform programme in 2019, culminating in the simultaneous implementation of Education 5.0 and modularization. This mixed methods study employed concurrent triangulation research design to examine the compatibility of these reforms at Chinhoyi University of Technology by surveying 32 educators from various schools. The majority of educators believed that modularization enabled students to focus on one module at a time, master the content, and utilize limited resources more effectively. Modularization also afforded educators more time for research and non-teaching activities, flexibility in teaching methods, and enhanced student-educator interaction. However, educators disagreed that modularization aligned with Education 5.0, citing concerns that it placed students in a continuous examination mode and failed to facilitate connections between module content to address societal challenges. The study concludes by recommending the realignment of teaching and learning timetables to facilitate content connections, free time for educators, and student participation in innovation and industrialization activities, thereby optimizing the simultaneous implementation of Education 5.0 and modularization.

Research on Innovation in College English Teaching Based on Ideological and Political Education Integration

With the acceleration of globalization and the deepening of higher education reforms in China, the importance of college English teaching has become increasingly prominent. However, traditional English teaching models often neglect the significance of ideological and political education. To address this issue, the concept of ideological and political education (known as "curriculum ideology and politics") has gradually been integrated into college English teaching, aiming to enhance students' overall competence through the organic combination of course content and ideological elements. This study analyzes the current status of curriculum ideology and politics in college English teaching, explores its feasibility and necessity, and reveals issues such as the theoretical and practical contradictions and insufficient teaching resources present in current teaching practices. Based on these challenges, this paper proposes innovative strategies for integrating ideological and political elements into English teaching, including the integration of ideological elements and the innovation of teaching methods, with the aim of providing theoretical support and practical guidance for the reform and development of college English teaching.

Multidimensional Perspectives on the Teaching and Practice of Typography Design

With the continuous deepening of teaching reforms in higher education, it is imperative to reform the teaching of art and design courses. Research has found that the current teaching of typography design in art and design courses has rigid teaching methods, students' operational abilities are relatively singular, and the teaching content is predominantly "Westernized," leading to poor student adaptability. This paper, from a multidimensional perspective, guides typography design course teaching and practice with the "Three E's" (Effect, Efficiency and Efficacy). It positions the teaching content of typography design as multidimensional and emotional, employing multidimensional and emotional design thinking to strengthen the visual information of Chinese culture and tap into students' creative potential, aiming to enhance their innovation and creativity abilities.

Construction of Biological Experiment Curriculum System in the Context of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education

Innovation and entrepreneurship education is an important direction for the current reform of higher education and should be included in the professional talent training plan and the construction of the biological experiment curriculum system. Specific measures include in-depth excavation of the connotation of biological experiment teaching courses from the perspective of talent training, building an innovation and entrepreneurship biological experiment curriculum system guided by the needs of social development, establishing a comprehensive and diversified platform for practice and innovation, and constructing a teaching team that integrates innovation and entrepreneurship education and professional education.

Exploring the Reform of University Education and the Cultivation of Innovative Talents

The field of higher education has undergone tremendous changes in the past few decades, and the traditional model of knowledge transfer is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of modern society for human resources. Students need more opportunities to develop innovation, practical problem solving and teamwork skills. Higher education is no longer just about transferring knowledge, but also about cultivating students comprehensive literacy so that they can stand out in a complex and changing environment. The purpose of this paper is to discuss in depth the strategies for cultivating innovative talents in the reform of college education, with special attention to the measures for building classroom teaching methods, practical teaching system and extracurricular academic and scientific competition mechanism. These strategies are not only the key to responding to the needs of today s society, but also an effective way to improve the quality of higher education. Through in-depth analyses and research, this study aims to provide useful thinking and guidance for educational reform in higher education.

Exploration of Curriculum Ideology and Politics on the Construction of Bilingual Course --Principles of Statistics

In the era of globalization and informatization, bilingual education has gradually become an important part of higher education. As a basic and highly applied course, the construction of bilingual teaching in Principles of Statistics not only helps to improve students professional quality, but also cultivates students international vision and cross-cultural communication ability, which has become a new trend of higher education reform with the deep integration of ideological and political courses. From the perspective of Curriculum Ideology and Politics , This article will explore the path of bilingual curriculum construction in statistics principles, aiming to achieve the organic unity of professional knowledge imparting and value guidance, and cultivate high-quality talents with comprehensive development.

Achieving Access and Equity in Education: An Analysis of Higher Education Reforms in Pakistan

Achieving Access and Equity in Education: An Analysis of Higher Education Reforms in Pakistan

THE HISTORY OF THE FORMATION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM IN MODERN RUSSIA UNTIL 2016

This article is devoted to the analysis of the key stages of the development of higher education in Russia after the collapse of the USSR. The paper examines the factors that influenced the transformation of the system, from political and economic changes to social and cultural influences. The author examines the main reforms of higher education carried out in the 90s and in the 2000s, with an emphasis on their impact on the structure, content and financing of educational programs. The article analyzes the changes in the role of the state and the private sector in education, as well as the impact of globalization and international standards. Special attention is paid to the processes that have influenced the availability of higher education, the quality of training of specialists and their demand in the labor market. The article highlights the main problems faced by the higher education system in Russia during this period and analyzes the prospects for its further development.

Research on the Path and Mechanism of Enhancing Student Subjectivity in the Process of University Textbook Selection: A Case Study of S College

This paper discusses how to promote students' subjectivity in the process of selecting teaching materials in colleges and universities and constructs an effective teaching material selection mechanism. By analyzing the actual situation of S College, this paper reveals the marginalization of students in the decision-making of textbook selection and probes into the significance of enhancing students' subjectivity from both theoretical and practical dimensions. A number of strategies are put forward, including establishing a textbook selection committee, developing an online textbook evaluation system, encouraging individualized textbook selection, and implementing a textbook recycling strategy in order to build an open, active, and student-centered textbook selection mechanism. These strategies not only help to improve teaching quality and students' learning experience but also promote students' all-round development. The purpose of this study is to provide a reference for the reform of higher education and promote the promotion of students' subjectivity and the continuous improvement of education quality.

A spirit of service in liberal arts education: the legacy from China’s former Christian universities and the influence of contrasting social contexts

AbstractLiberal arts education in Chinese higher education can be traced back to the liberal arts tradition that existed in China’s former Christian universities prior to the 1950s. The mission and goal of liberal arts education in Chinese contexts focuses on cultivating whole persons to serve their societies. Using data from documents and interviews, the study examines the liberal arts tradition for developing whole persons with a spirit of service in China’s former Christian universities. It also explores to what extent the legacy has been carried on to the development of liberal arts education in contemporary universities in Chinese societies (Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan). The study provides insight into how some elements of whole person development from faith-based education could contribute to today’s higher education reform in terms of the goals of global citizen cultivation.

Evaluating Policy Efficacy in Higher Education: A Synthetic Control Analysis of Ecuador’s Higher Education Law on Research Productivity

Background: This paper investigates the impact of Ecuador’s Ley Orgánica de Educación Superior (LOES), enacted in 2010, which mandated comprehensive reforms in higher education. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether the implementation of the LOES has led to a significant increase in academic publications in Ecuador, thereby contributing to sustainable educational practices and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, sustainability refers to the ongoing capacity of higher education institutions to generate research that contributes to the long-term development of knowledge, aligns with global sustainability goals, and ensures educational practices that are responsive to societal needs. Methods: Using a synthetic control method, this study evaluates the impact of the LOES on the number of academic publications recorded in Scopus. A synthetic control consisting of data from countries with similar educational and economic profiles serves as a counterfactual to Ecuador’s situation. Results: Before the LOES, the average annual number of publications was stable at 253.4 per year. Post-2010, this number surged, reaching an average of 3645.84 publications per year, representing a 358.41% increase. By 2023, the actual number of publications in Ecuador rose to approximately 6584, significantly surpassing the synthetic control estimate of 1431 publications. Conclusions: The findings confirm that the LOES has been effective in increasing research output and advancing educational sustainability in Ecuador. This analysis not only contributes to the literature on the impact of educational policies but also demonstrates the utility of synthetic control methods in assessing policy effectiveness, underscoring the potential of targeted interventions to promote academic excellence and sustainability in education.

Exploring the Path of Ideological and Political Construction in College English Curriculum under the Background of Artificial Intelligence

With the continuous deepening of higher education reform, building a curriculum ideological and political teaching system and improving students’ comprehensive literacy have gradually become a key task for current leaders and teachers. Meanwhile, with the continuous development of the social economy, artificial intelligence technology is constantly upgrading, bringing new opportunities and ideas for the development and innovation of various industries. Therefore, college English teachers can rely on artificial intelligence technology to construct an ideological and political teaching model for English courses. This can integrate teaching resources, innovate teaching models, teach students basic English knowledge and reading and writing skills, cultivate moral literacy, cultural confidence, and political consciousness, and promote comprehensive development. This article explores the ideological and political construction of English courses for college students, which plays an important role in improving the ideological and political system of courses and cultivating students’ English literacy. Firstly, this article provides a literature review on artificial intelligence and English course ideological and political education, followed by a conceptual explanation of artificial intelligence and course ideological and political education. Then, the basic principles and educational value of English course ideological and political construction are proposed and finally, specific construction paths are proposed based on artificial intelligence.

Новые песни о старом. К вопросу о первых итогах реализации пилотного проекта, направленного на преобразование системы высшего образования

Purpose. To analyze in a discussion form the results of the first year of implementation of the pilot project of reforming the structure of Russian higher education. Methodology: in the process of writing the following methods were used: analysis, synthesis, system approach, formal-legal. Conclusions. Weighty conclusions on the results of functioning of the experimental model of higher education can be made only after the first graduation, including on the basis of employers› assessment of the quality of graduates› training and the results of their professional activity. It is impossible to involve all higher education institutions of the country in the next reorganization of higher education on the basis of a speculative model that has not been experimentally tested at the practical level and in full. The system of domestic higher education is already significantly disorganized by the previous permanent reorganizations, the chaos with educational standards. Scientific and practical relevance. The conducted study allows us to draw attention to the problem of Russian higher education reform and the search for a truly sovereign, nationally-oriented education system model.

Incorporating core concepts into an undergraduate neuroscience program in a resource-restricted environment

Recently, community-derived core concepts for neuroscience higher education were developed and published. These core concepts can serve as a valuable resource to ensure that a neuroscience-based educational program is not only concept-focused but also addresses the call for reform of higher education, as noted in the vision and change report. The number of undergraduate neuroscience programs is expanding throughout the nation, but unfortunately, the existing blueprints to design and launch such programs do not incorporate these core concepts. Furthermore, unpacking these core concepts in a resource-limited setting is logistically challenging. We reflected on the coverage of these core concepts within our existing neuroscience minor at a medium-sized, primarily residential, high undergraduate, public 4-year institution. In addition to assessing the number of community-derived core concepts addressed in our courses, our reflection discusses strategies for addressing challenges associated with (1) a departmental home for the program, (2) a meaningful student experience with limited resources, and (3) growing and developing the program into a minor, or from a minor into a major. These strategies may provide a roadmap for other institutions to launch or grow their own neuroscience program.

Research on Teaching Reform of Construction Equipment Engineering Course Based on Ideological and Political Theories Teaching in All Course

Ideological and Political Theories Teaching in All Course means integrating ideological and political education elements into the teaching process to ensure that the transmission of knowledge is consistent with the guidance of values. With the deepening of higher education reform in China, Ideological and Political Theories Teaching in All Course has become a key way to improve the quality of education in higher education institutions. Under the current educational background, integrating the thought of Ideological and Political Theories Teaching in All Course into the course of construction equipment engineering can not only enhance students professional skills and knowledge, but also help them establish correct values, ethics and social responsibility. This paper aims at how to implement the strategy of Ideological and Political Theories Teaching in All Course efficiently in the course of construction equipment engineering, hoping to provide useful suggestions and references for the educational reform in this field.