Relevant Skills Research Articles

25 Years of Experience in Household Sample Surveys in the Official Statistics of Ukraine: Main Assets, Problems, Prospects

Since 1998, the state statistics of Ukraine has accumulated a huge experience in organizing and conducting household sample surveys in accordance with international recommendations and standards. Nowadays, the harmonized system of surveys includes the Household Living Conditions Survey, the Labor Force Survey and the Survey of Household Agricultural Activities in rural areas. About 100,000 households are surveyed annually, which represent all private households in various samples of these surveys. A significant number of specialists with the necessary knowledge and skills have been trained in the State Statistics Service of Ukraine (hereinafter - SSSU), territorial bodies of the SSSU.
 The article considers the main characteristics of the SSSU experience in the field of methodology and practice of organizing and conducting the household sample surveys, collecting and processing surveys’ data, statistical indicators estimation. The strengths and weaknesses of the acquired experience, potential directions for improvement of surveys, risks that may affect the quality of their results in the future, plans for the development of the system of sample surveys and the use of new methods of data collecting and processing are discussed.
 It is noted that the acquired experience made it possible to approach in 2021 to the development of the basis for introduction of such actual survey in Ukraine as the EU statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC), to foresee the use of new data collection technologies CAPI, CATI and CAWI without any particular problems.
 At the same time, it is shown that some important methodologies regarding the estimation of indicators based on survey results have not been implemented. It is noted that an urgent problem for the SSSU is the use of "big data" in household surveys, which provides the opportunity of significantly reducing the burden on households during the survey, improving the completeness and timeliness of information about them, reducing costs for survey providing, etc. Such data could provide also estimation of certain important statistical indicators during the war. The risks of an accelerated transition for conducting the state household sample surveys mainly using CATI and CAWI technologies are discussed, related to the possibility of a significant deterioration in the quality of the survey results due to the lack of relevant skills of the SSSU specialists, insufficient level of Internet use by the population, lack of population and household registers with quality data in Ukraine, etc.

The Difficulties of Teaching Traditional Filipino Games Online

This study examines the experience of elementary physical education (PE) teachers who teach traditional Filipino games online. The study, which is anchored on the Giorgi's descriptive phenomenology and the Community of Inquiry theory, examines how teachers conduct online classes, how interpersonal relationships and interactions occur, and how, in the process, student learning happens. The analysis of interview transcripts using Giorgi's phenomenological reduction helped shed light on the experiences of the 30 elementary PE teachers. Specifically, the study found that the trial-and-error method of teaching traditional Filipino games online still exists despite teachers' participation in several training activities. Additionally, teachers face several technological challenges due to the need for more technical support and services, despite several requests that they made to their administrators. Furthermore, the limited social interaction and space in online education, alongside their pedagogical and technical problems, hamper the quality of teaching, resulting in diluted enthusiasm, learning, and appreciation for traditional games among students. Thus, teaching traditional Filipino games online has pedagogical and technological issues that should be addressed. However, PE teachers' determination and initiative ensured that students continue with their online learning despite the various problems faced. PE teachers self-studied, self-financed, and harnessed their networks, especially in learning the foundations of technology for online teaching and resolving technical issues. Therefore, more initiatives to help them acquire up-to-date and relevant knowledge, skills, and tools for teaching skill-based topics are necessary to succeed in online education.

Knowledge and attitude of breast feeding of female students

To assess knowledge and attitude of college girls, Medicine, Phannacy and Arts in Baghdad City towards breast feeding. Across-sectional study with a random sample of 258 female studies during period of 1994-1998 from girls, medical, pharmacy & art college in Baghdad City, using a self-administered questionnaire. The ages of the females ranged from 18 to 32 years. About 13% of them received some health education about breast feeding. One-quarter reported that they leamed about breast feeding at school. About 4% of students learned from their mothers. Less than half the students in the sample (qOVr) larew the meaning of colosfum. Only 22Yo students gave the right answer about the right time for the first feed. Regarding the frequeniy of breast feeding, one third gave the right answer.The study showed considerable deficiency in the knowledge of the college femalg shrdents about breast feeding. Relevant knowledge and skills about breast feeding should be included in the curriculum of college to prepare them successfirl breast feeding.

FEM education in undergraduate studies: Industry‐informed research

AbstractRecent mechanical engineering graduates are expected to utilize Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in structural and machine design activities. However, after decades of implementation in engineering schools, the Finite Element Method (FEM) still challenges instructors and course designers. To align learning outcomes with industrial requirements, this article analyzes the opinions of Mexican industrial and academic experts about four important aspects of FEM education. The results suggest that specialists agree on the importance of including a mixture of theoretical and applied topics in the syllabus but prefer practical skills over fundamental concepts. Besides learning from defeaturing to postprocessing a model, engineering students must know how to plan, verify, and validate their finite element studies. Experts expect early design engineers to be proficient with Computer‐Aided Design (CAD) and have relevant mathematical and programming skills. Instead of using specialized software, students' first exposure to FEM may be based on FEA tools embedded in CAD systems. Also, academic and industrial respondents request the incorporation of modal, thermal and nonlinear analysis procedures in the course timetable. Finally, the statistical analysis shows that the two types of respondents share one common vision about the importance of the aspects under study. The findings from this work are useful for the design of FEM‐related coursework and can be used to guide course instructors about the right balance of theory and practice, overall course contents, and the selection of the software utilized for the practical part of the program.

Język jako narzędzie mediacji poznawczej w zintegrowanym nauczaniu językowo-przedmiotowym

"Cognitive mediation plays a very important role in bilingual teaching: the learner acquires domain knowledge through the medium of a foreign language, which is also the subject of study. Avoiding or at least offsetting domain and language problems is largely due to the teacher, who acts as a mediator between the learners and the learned content. This text addresses the problem of mediation strategies used by the teacher in the CLIL approach. Based on empirical material recorded in French bilingual classrooms, it discusses mediation strategies aimed at enabling learners to understand new concepts and acquire relevant skills, as well as creating optimal conditions for this in the classroom space and interactions within it. The excerpts selected for analysis illustrate how language (native and foreign, i.e. French) is used to implement mediation activities involving referring to students’ previously acquired knowledge and adapting language to the requirements of the communicative situation in the classroom."

Management of Higher Education Institutions as a New Tool for the Development of Higher Education

Higher education is extremely important for the socio-economic development and cultural enrichment of society, providing people with the relevant knowledge and skills to improve their skills and productivity in the context of further global development. Today, the task of effective resource provision and high-quality organization of the student learning process is extremely relevant in the world. The formation of a new mentality of all stakeholders in the educational process in a rapidly changing information environment is of great importance. This task requires constant monitoring and evaluation of the education system based on the collection, processing, and analysis of data necessary to make informed management decisions for the optimal development of higher education. The article aims to highlight the main patterns of management of higher education institutions with a view to their development reflected in the scientific literature, and to clarify certain practical characteristics of this process. In the process of preparing this study, the analytical and bibliographic methods, induction, deduction, and analysis were applied. The synthesis of information was used to study the scientific literature on issues related to the management of HEIs. Meanwhile, systemic-structural, comparative, logical, and linguistic methods, abstraction, and idealization were applied to study and process data. Among other things, the authors of the study conducted an online questionnaire survey to clarify certain aspects of this issue practically. Based on the results of the study, the theoretical aspects of the use of management tools as a tool for the development of HEIs have been studied. Moreover, some practical issues related to the management process in higher education have been characterized.

Nurse views of obstacles encountered by nurses in Saudi Arabia during the provision of psychiatric care

BackgroundNursing staff within the mental health sector are major actors in delivering healthcare. They face considerable obstacles that may hinder the provision of high-quality care to patients with mental health challenges. AimThe current study offers a description of mental health nurses' viewpoints, insights into obstacles encountered during their experiences, and recommendations for enhancing psychiatric inpatient nursing care and achieving progress toward the goals set out by Saudi Vision 2030. MethodsThe study employed a phenomenological qualitative design. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 currently practicing mental health nurses during two focus group sessions. The inductive data produced underwent member and peer checking. Emergent themes and subthemes were extracted. ResultsTwo main themes and related subthemes were identified. The first theme—obstacles faced by mental health nurses—was composed of the following subthemes: policy at institutions; clear job roles; low professional self-confidence and inadequate support; stressed, insecure, and unsafe; and stigmatization. The second theme—recommendations to improve the quality of mental health nursing—was composed of two subthemes: to enhance mental health awareness and improve professional skills and education. ConclusionThe data suggest that maintaining high-quality nursing standards within an inpatient psychiatric facility requires a consistent and accountable organizational structure, which can lead to fostering the development and improvement of relevant nursing skills through continuing education, improved awareness of mental health disorders and care within the community, and initiatives to combat the stigma of mental disorders among patients, families, and communities.

Managing statistical misinformation in marketing: A study on consumers’ attitudes and capabilities

This paper discusses various types of misleading statistical information in marketing promotion and explains why it is harmful for customers. The paper also studies the customers’ attitudes to such misinformation and capabilities of managing it. A survey was used to collect data from 210 respondents’ attitudes to analyzing data when purchasing products and 2) studied whether these respondents could properly evaluate such information found in promotional messages. The respondents were students in a university and they were supposed to have sufficient mathematical and logical capabilities of managing statisical information. Respondents showed positive attitudes to data investigation involved in the purchase decision although they lacked the relevant knowledge to process the misleading statisical information. In general, they might not make correct decisions in various deceptive situations. Relevant product information is usually necessary for customers when they have to consider and buy important products. Statistical information can support objective decision making but the misleading one is harmful for customers. More statistical knowledge and other relevant skills are required to enhance the ability of processing misleading information in marketing promotion. The paper suggests a number ways to acquire such knowledge and skills.

Development and Evaluation of a Workplace Bullying Cognitive Rehearsal-Based Nursing Simulation Education Program: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Bullying makes learning difficult for nursing students, and using real-life scenarios during training can improve the understanding of workplace bullying. Thus, to mitigate bullying experienced by nurses, this study developed and evaluated a cognitive rehearsal education program that constituted training nursing students through role-play simulations. A mixed-method research design was used to evaluate 39 nursing students from two universities. A quasi-experimental research design was applied to assess symptoms, knowledge, and perceptions of bullying, and a focus group interview was conducted with six participants. Quantitative analyses revealed that the program improved participants' knowledge and perceptions but not their symptoms. The focus group interview revealed that the program improved participants' coping skills and desire for education. This program could be effective in raising awareness of workplace bullying and increasing relevant coping skills. It can be further developed as part of an overall strategy to manage workplace bullying and its consequences in hospital settings.

Indonesian Seafarers’ Intercultural Communication Challenges With Multinational Crews

The current study investigated the intercultural communication challenges among Indonesian seafarers with foreign crews at international shipping companies. Data collection was conducted through a mixed-questionnaire method, with each questionnaire consisting of 10 items distributed in Google Forms to 171 respondents. The findings revealed that the language barrier was a significant issue among Indonesian seafarers to communicate and socialize with onboard multinational crews, which was mainly overcome through body language. Indonesian seafarers’ acceptance of onboard diversity rendered them to be more sociable, which was identified as a positive attitude. However, it cannot be denied that the fact of low communicative competence has impacted social life interactions and work for some seafarers. Resultantly, pertinent Indonesian maritime education and training institutions should adequately prepare seafarers and cadets with relevant work skills and English linguistic competence. This research aims to shed new light on the development of maritime and seafarers’ research.

SOCIOEMOTIONAL SKILLS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS IN THE EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT

The socioemotional educational approach not only focuses on understanding and managing emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, but also on building healthy and effective relationships. It also goes beyond the development of specific socioemotional skills, such as self-confidence, resilience, empathy, and coping with difficult situations, and encompasses other relevant skills. Rather than describing the socioemotional educational approach in a restrictive manner, it is important to have a broad and comprehensive view that includes a wide range of skills and important aspects for emotional and social development. The aim of this study was to discuss the importance of socioemotional skills in the educational context, exploring how they can be developed and examining how the inclusion of these skills can contribute to a more balanced and healthy learning environment. The research method used in this study was based on books, scientific articles from scientific databases such as Medline, Lilacs and SciELO, and internet articles, therefore this is bibliographical research. After reading, analyzing, comparing, and synthesizing the content of scientific articles from different authors regarding the subject at hand, it was found that socioemotional skills are effective in enhancing the teaching and learning process.

Research-based approaches to the development and assessment of the creative abilities of future international specialists by means of teaching a foreign language

Introduction. Updated requirements for specialists in foreign relations in line with currently changing practice of foreign relations call for developing in undergraduates such professionally relevant creative skills as finding creative solutions to professional challenges and introducing innovative approaches in the conservative paradigm. Conventional approaches prevalent in teaching a foreign language cannot reveal the full potential of fostering creative skills in future professionals in foreign relations, thus calling for developing and substantiating new effective tools of comprehensive development of creativity through teaching a foreign language in undergraduates majoring in foreign relations. Materials and Methods. The study was conducted at MGIMO University, in 2017-2021. The total number of participants was 151 undergraduates, School of International Business and Business Administration, and International Institute of Energy Policy and Diplomacy, with 74 participants in the educational experiment. The analysis was based on the data obtained through administration of the psychometric instruments the Rokeach Value Survey, the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, and additional instruments designed on the basis of relevant projective techniques. Results. The analysis of data obtained for the experimental and control groups shows more noticeable changes in the parameters under study in the experimental group. For high developmental level of creativity, 22.16% increased to 51.88% in the experimental group, compared to increase from 13.3% to 14.2% in the control group. For basic developmental level, 36.2% reduced to 15.14% in the experimental group, compared to decrease from 44.78% to 40.8% in the control group (tEXP=6; p<0,05). The findings from the psychometric measurements are consistent with the findings from the projective techniques, where improvement in performance correlates positively with higher scores for the relevant parameters. The analysis additionally looked into the changes in the profile of scores and in separate scores in the experimental group. Discussion and Conclusion. The findings of the study support the expected increase in the parameters under study in the experimental group, and substantiate effectiveness of the set of instruments designed to develop and measure professionally relevant creative skills through teaching a foreign language in undergraduates majoring in foreign relations. The approaches verified in the study were used to develop the authors’ foreign-language course, which offers practical application of the instruments described here. Further research should explore the correlation of higher creativity scores with higher academic performance as well as the quality of knowledge

Atypical Face Process in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Relevant Interventions

The current study overviewed previous research on abnormalities in face processing in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and concluded implications on development of relevant social skill interventions. Overall, autistic individuals exhibited deviated neural activity patterns during face processing across different ages, suggesting that atypical development of neural structures might be accountable for deficits in social functioning. Similarly, familial studies found no significant variations in neural activity patterns for high-risk family members, providing insufficient evidence for the inheritance of autism. Although neural activity indices might not be effective as biomarkers for early life diagnosis, researchers could use these indicators to predict the extent of social impairment for patients in later life stages. Social functioning programs based on facial processing schemes had a significant training effect on young patients, but further testing trials are required to estimate their impact on patients social behaviors in real life. This review can provide some guidance for the design of intervention programs at schools for children with ASD.

Project-based learning goes wrong: the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of managing first-year and fourth-year engineering projects

Project-based learning (PBL) has many advantages for both students and instructors. The students are afforded the opportunity to work on self-driven, meaningful projects that model engineering problems they may see in their future careers. For the instructor, PBL emphasizes problem-solving strategies, requires students to learn relevant technical skills through self-study, underscores the importance of team work, and encourages student buy-in. However, PBL techniques present their own sorts of difficulties, especially when applied in large courses of 50 + students. For example, an instructor must strike a balance between fostering creativity and enthusiasm, while also keeping students on task and focused on the purpose of the project. Managing many small groups or a few large groups can be logistically challenging due to the sheer number of unique projects and students involved. This presentation will focus on two engineering courses, first-year introduction to engineering and fourth-year vibrations, in which project-based learning was employed with partial success. In these courses, there were logistic complications, issues with team dynamics, and problems with final presentations that can hopefully serve as good lessons (or warnings) for others interested in developing project-based courses.

Meetings and Congresses

Meetings and Congresses

Developing a virtual laboratory module for forensic science degree programmes

Laboratory work is essential in forensic science degree courses. They provide students with an opportunity to put theory into practice, as well as develop relevant professional laboratory skills through a case-based learning framework. Traditional laboratory instruction involves the use of a written laboratory script or manual that details the laboratory procedures and techniques for an experiment. Occasionally, instructors may provide a brief in-person demonstration of a critical aspect of the experimental procedure during the session. Since the coronavirus pandemic, the use of virtual laboratory (vLab) resources, such as video demonstrations, in teaching science practical skills has increased. These resources may be used alone or in combination with in-person laboratory sessions in a flipped learning model. Previous research has shown that vLab resources could enhance students’ knowledge, confidence, and experience inside the laboratory. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and attitudes of forensic science students toward the use of a vLab module. Three videos were created in which procedures for carrying out presumptive tests, screening exhibits, and recording examinations were demonstrated. Seven undergraduate students enrolled at different stages of a forensic science degree programme were introduced to the vLab module and interviewed using a semi-structured interview approach. Through a thematic synthesis of the interview transcripts, we found that the implementation of an inclusive vLab module could enhance students’ knowledge, confidence, and independence in carrying out forensic science laboratory procedures.

Comparative Factors Influencing Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition amongst Students in Rural Universities of Sub-Sahara Africa’s Developing Nations

The current wave of technological development globally necessitates certain entrepreneurial abilities for most professionals to succeed in the job market. This paper explores the factors influencing entrepreneurial skills acquisition amongst rural university students in Nigeria and South Africa. The strategic goal of setting up rural universities is to enhance the human capital of the host communities. As a result, an attempt is made to pinpoint challenges that stand in the way of achieving this objective. Data was gathered using a quantitative research methodology. A self-designed questionnaire was used to obtain primary data from 1088 randomly selected third-year students. The study’s outcome indicates that the acquisition of entrepreneurial competencies amongst undergraduates in the two higher education institutions was impacted by a number of similar factors, such as the university support system, campus entrepreneurial network, family background, availability of mentors, and entrepreneurship education curriculum. The study focuses on the necessity for universities to address skill shortages among undergraduates. Thus, the results could serve as a guide for policymakers on how to motivate rural university students to obtain globally relevant skills.

The Influence of Director Expertise and Executive Expertise on Firm Performance (An Empirical Study of the Two-tier Board System in Indonesia)

This research aimed to assess the influence of the expertise of boards of directors and executives on manufacturing companies' performances in Indonesia. The independent variable set was Director and Executive Expertise measured by the proportion of board members who have academic degrees (graduate and postgraduate) and professional certifications in business and finance, while the dependent variable was Firm Performance measured by Return on Assets, Return on Equity, and Tobin's Q. The objects of research were manufacturing companies in Indonesia, whose data were obtained from the website of the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2014-2018. Separate regression analysis of data was performed for each group of board members. Return on Assets, Return on Equity, and Tobin's Q functioned for measuring Firm Performance. The study found that academic degrees and professional certifications in business or finance held by directors and executives did not affect Firm Performance across all proxies because, among others, most companies in Indonesia were family-owned, where educational background and certification were not the main factors for the companies' financial performances. As the implications, companies can consider Director Expertise as a necessary thing for improving their performances. Members of boards who have more relevant expertise, experiences, knowledge, and skills can develop decision-making and drive more strategy in making more decisions to solve problems and improve their firms' performances.

Ethical aspects in oncology.

Decisions related to the treatment of oncological diseases bring various ethical dilemmas to healthcare providers caring for cancer patients. Along with the development of medicine and new therapeutic methods, there are also increased demands on the appropriate selection of eligible patients for allocation to a particular treatment method, which causes a number of ethical connotations. The paper deals with ethical issues in the course of oncology treatment, with theoretical bases for ethical decision-making and with ethical aspects of communication with patients suffering from oncological diseases. The paper also contains results of studies that dealt with methods of ethical reasoning of health professionals in relation with the Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) decision in oncology, and with understanding of the concept of ethical competence of health professionals in order to make, or be involved in, DNR decisions, and how relevant skills can be developed. Among others, the results of the studies pointed out that in order to make ethically based DNR decisions in oncology, physicians and nurses need to improve their knowledge of ethical theories.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies of the Library Information Science School’s Graduates on Digital Scholarship in South Africa

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has presented a paradigm shift in a paradigm in the field of Library and Information Science (LIS). The profession necessitates digital scholarship knowledge, skills, and competencies. Academic and special research council libraries have introduced numerous functions and activities related to digital scholarship, to accommodate the demands of the 4IR. Thus, librarians who practice in these types of libraries and others are called on to revisit their related knowledge, skills and competencies. Most librarians who have been trained by LIS schools received their qualifications before the advent of the digital scholarship activities which now form part of their profession. This has created some uncertainty as far as digital scholarship job requirements are concerned. This paper forms part of a doctoral study that aimed to explore the education and training of South Africa’s LIS professionals in digital scholarship, specifically those now serving in academic and special research council libraries. The study adopted an interpretive paradigm using a qualitative approach. A multiple case study design was used, employing semi-structured interviews as data-collection tool to interview ten digital scholarship librarians and their directors from six libraries in South Africa. The researcher sought to determine to what extent digital knowledge, skills and competences, and digital scholarship units and activities were part of their job requirements. The study concluded that LIS digital scholarship librarians should acquire digital scholarship knowledge, skills and competencies through formal education, training courses, workshops and on-the-job training. LIS schools should develop short learning courses to assist librarians in gaining the relevant knowledge, skills and competencies, while parent organizations should establish the relevant infrastructure and provide funding for training.