Higher Education Reform Research Articles

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.

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.

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.

Reflection on the Path of Action and Knowledge in Contemporary Higher Education Reform

“Life is education, society is school” is the fundamental proposition of Xingzhi education. Experimental teaching, situational teaching, job acquisition, and tourism cognition are the implementation paths of Xingzhi education. These educational paths of “Knowing by doing” are not only effective ways of cognition, but also popular among young students. Faced with the reality that young people nowadays do not love reading but are willing to participate in social practice, China’s education reform should start by strengthening practical teaching, allowing students to acquire knowledge as much as possible through practical activities, rather than through reading [1]. This is not only an empirical tale of educational reform in developed countries in Europe and America, but also a beautiful tale of the westward trend during China’s modernization period in the 1930s.

From a Word to a World: An Innovative Teaching at a Higher Educational Institution in China

China’s higher educational reform created innovative ways to cultivate talents urgently needed for social development during the late 1970s. This paper investigates an enlightening teaching reform of English major on the basis of Tianshui Normal College in Gansu Province. The historical course has three typical examples: enthusiastically fostering talents, seeking more profound cultural exchanges, and moving educational reform forward. Professor Hu Dingyi, as a leading implementer, explored and created a good learning atmosphere for collegiate students beyond the classroom teaching and achieved remarkable results. His innovative thoughts are of great value to promote classroom teaching for students’ gaining the most precious noble ideal, ethnic culture and more subject expertise.

The Functional Positioning and Development of Educational Technology Centers in Local Universities

With the rapid development and widespread application of information technology, educational informatization has become an important direction for higher education reform. In this context, as the core force in promoting the development of educational informatization, the functional positioning and development strategy of local university educational technology centers are particularly crucial. This article aims to explore the functional positioning and development direction of local university educational technology centers from a new perspective, in order to contribute wisdom and strength to promoting the process of educational informatization and improving the quality of university teaching.

Study on the Effectiveness of English Teaching in Universities Based on 5G Mobile Internet

Higher education is becoming increasingly competitive and all educational institutions are concentrating on improving quality and changing traditional higher education teaching methods. New-type classroom instruction has embraced a unique advancement opportunity with the arrival of the fifth generation (5G) era. It is critical to develop a teaching assistance system that makes use of high-speed network methodology and new-type display methodology. For the innovation and reform of higher education, this article combines soft computing techniques, artificial intelligence (AI), and 5G networks. This paper outlines the exact processes and measures for incorporating “5G” technology into higher education. Finally, conduct a comparative experiment to see how good the system is at learning AI knowledge when compared to standard learning methods. The outcomes of the experiments are examined to show that employing this approach to gain AI knowledge is successful and improves students' enthusiasm in learning as well as their hands-on abilities.

Continuation of the reform and opening-up policy in China in the 21st century in the focus of transformation of the mechanism of household budgetary decisions

Subject. The article considers features of the second stage (since 2000) of the reform and opening-up policy implementation in China, specifically, household income, expenditure, and investment decisions. Objectives. The focus is on the analysis of problems relevant to Chinese households, like population aging, rapid pace of digital transformation of the economy, and on the assessment of the impact of China's foreign policy on living standards. Methods. The study draws on methods of statistical analysis. Results. The study shows that measures aimed at changing the way households are registered in urban and rural areas, the higher education reform, large-scale marketization of medical care, commercialization of housing construction, and China's accession to the World Trade Organization have provided Chinese households not only with unprecedented dividends, but also with potential risks and opportunities. The key risk is the accelerated aging of the population, which requires households to spend additional money on elderly relatives. Conclusions. To maximize the impact of the reform and opening-up policies, it is important to focus both on minimizing the risks caused by population ageing and on the prospects for digital transformation, which significantly affect household budget decisions. Based on foreign experience and considering the national conditions, it is necessary to develop a system for improving digital literacy for the entire population.

Learning how to develop a research question throughout the PhD process: training challenges, objectives, and scaffolds drawn from doctoral programs for students and their supervisors

AbstractWith the higher education reform putting forward the professionalization of doctoral students, doctoral education has been strongly focused on generic transferable skills to ensure employability. However, doctoral training should not forget core skills of research and especially the ability to formulate research questions, which are the key to original research and difficult to develop at the same time. Learning how to develop a research question is traditionally seen as a one-to-one learning process and an informal daily transmission between a novice and a senior researcher. The objective of this paper is to offer a framework to design doctoral programs aimed at supporting the process of development of research questions for doctoral candidates guided by their supervisors. We base our proposal on two doctoral training programs designed with a pedagogical strategy based on dialogs with peers, whether they be students, supervisors, or trainers from a diversity of scientific backgrounds. The resulting framework combines three learning challenges faced by doctoral students and their supervisors when developing their research question, as well as training objectives corresponding to what they should learn and that are illustrated by the scaffolds we have used in our training programs. Finally, we discuss the conditions and originality of our pedagogical strategy based on the acquisition of argumentation skills, taking both the subjective dimensions of PhD work and the added value of interactions with a diversity and heterogeneity of peers into account.

Research on Optimization of High School Mathematics Teaching Strategies from the Perspective of Core Literacy Cultivation

Currently, cultivating students’ core subject literacy has become an important direction of high school education reform and the main teaching goal of various subjects in high school. As a subject of the college entrance examination and a highly practical high school subject, high school mathematics teachers should also keep up with the advancement to optimize classroom teaching activities, adjust teaching strategies, and cultivate students to form good core mathematical literacy. This article will explore the importance of high school mathematics teaching from the perspective of core literacy, and propose optimization teaching strategies, in order to provide corresponding references for high school mathematics teaching reformation.