Research-intensive University Research Articles

Facilitating Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge Building, Research Competence, and Digital Literacy: Student-Led Wikipedia Group Project in an Undergraduate Class of Public Administration in Hong Kong

This article provides a detailed description and reflection on a student-led Wikipedia group project conducted in a large undergraduate class on public administration in Hong Kong. It was offered to senior undergraduate students in a research-intensive university. The project is framed within four key educational principles, namely knowledge exchange, knowledge building, research competence, and digital literacy. These principles are weaved together into an integrated learning sequence that includes essential assignment items and supporting tasks and activities. The sequence serves as a systematic and rigorous scaffolding for students. This article aims to contribute to the scholarship of political science education in three ways. First, this article outlines the sequential steps and approaches, as well as the attitudes and norms involved in integrating Wikipedia into political science classrooms. It also highlights the practical considerations and pedagogical justifications underlying the project. Moreover, this article primarily focuses on the classroom-level perspective, examining the actions of teachers and the dynamic responses of students. Lastly, this article proposes a series of key recommendations for political science educators worldwide. These recommendations aim to provide abundant learning opportunities and create a conducive learning environment when utilising Wikipedia as both a pedagogical tool and a classroom resource.

Development of research-intensive universities in Tanzania

Development of research-intensive universities in Tanzania

Labelling in the academy: identity renegotiation among postgraduate teaching assistants

In recent years, higher education has encountered a steep rise in the employment of postgraduate teaching assistants. While this has provided professional development opportunities to doctoral candidates, conflict around the perception of these early career colleagues has emerged. Notably, the role of the postgraduate teaching assistant is characterised by flexibility, by its existing between structures and recognised roles. This betweenness can be problematic, leading to regular identity renegotiation to gain a sense of stability. Employed at a research-intensive Russell Group university, the author of this autoethnographic article examines self-reported reflective journals to ascertain the adjustments encountered throughout their practice. The author considers a postgraduate teaching assistant as blended professional, based on their experience with merging cultures and identities while situated on the periphery. The discussion reveals how postgraduate teaching assistants are influenced and supported by their academic and social environments, determining who and how they are in relation to others. The author also considers encounters that have helped to develop their third space activity, closing with a reflection on renegotiation pointing to the ways postgraduate teaching assistants can be anchored in the institutional structure.

Explaining learning achievement in student experience of blended learning

Drawing on theories of student approaches to learning and sociomaterial perspectives on learning, we investigated how a combination of sociocognitive and sociomaterial variables explain variation in 365 students’ learning achievement in a first year human biology blended learning course in an Australian research intensive university. We used a close-ended questionnaire to measure students’ approaches to learning through inquiry, approaches to using online learning technologies, and their use of on-campus physical learning spaces. We obtained use of online learning tools in terms of frequency and duration through analytics provided by a proprietary learning management system. Students’ learning achievement was evaluated using six assessment tasks in the course. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between approaches, use of online learning tools, use of oncampus physical learning spaces, and achievement. Based on the correlation results, we regressed learning achievement on approaches, use of online learning tools and physical learning spaces. The results showed that by introducing sociomaterial variables into the regression model, a significant proportion of learning achievement was explained over and above the explanations offered by sociocognitive factors alone, highlighting the important role of both sociocognitive and sociomaterial factors in blended learning.

Policy variation in the external evaluation of research for tenure at U.S. universities

Abstract There is a robust literature documenting differences in peer review processes for scholarly outlets. Knowledge of this variability has provoked thoughtful debate about the best approach for promoting rigor and innovation in scientific research (e.g. single-blind vs. double-blind review, or more recently, double-blind vs. open review). We aim to expand this conversation to external peer review processes specified in rank and tenure guidelines. We qualitatively analyze a corpus of publicly available rank and tenure procedures at research-intensive universities in the United States. Results indicate significant variation in (1) the required minimum and maximum number of external reviews, (2) the candidate’s role in the reviewer selection process, (3) the level of ensured anonymity for reviewers, and (4) attention to potential conflict of interest scenarios. We argue that many of the debates about best practices in research evaluation for journals and funding agencies are also relevant for rank and tenure procedures. Moreover, rank and tenure policies may be subject to unique tensions, such as cases where external reviews are formally cast as disinterested assessments by referees but informally understood as letters of recommendation by sponsors. We discuss the relevance of our findings for existing work on the perceived clarity of evaluation criteria—especially how guideline ambiguity can be linked to inequality and how labor issues can conflict with idealized assessment principles.

Teaching Family? Care/Work Policy in Selected Family Courses in Canada’s Research-Intensive Universities

To what degree is explicit care/work policy taught in family courses in Canada’s leading research-intensive universities? We analyze family courses in sociology departments and in political studies and women’s/gender studies programs in Canada’s 15 R1 universities to make a contribution to the scholarship of teaching and learning. This national scan marks a methodological innovation from curriculum studies that generally adopt a single-program or single-site focus. From a Canadian universe of 74 family courses, we identify 15 whose formal course calendar description explicitly addresses care/work family policy (measures to reconcile caring for young children with employment, through early learning and childcare, parental leaves, and child benefits). Sociology predominates among courses where family policy is taught, yet care/work policy content is not common. Given growing concerns about the care crisis and the care deficit in Canada, the low profile of care/work family policy content in family courses is significant. This study sheds light on the value of national postsecondary education curricular reviews and suggests that family curriculum renewal is warranted.

Pursuing Success in a Hybrid PhD Nursing Program.

Little is known about hybrid PhD nursing students' experiences. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyze the experiences of PhD nursing students in a hybrid program using a convergent mixed methods design. Recent nursing PhD alumni (n = 18), and current PhD students (n = 4) were recruited at a research-intensive university in the southwestern United States. Four metainferences were identified: (1) the facilitator of faculty as both advisors and mentors; (2) the facilitator of peers as support, motivation, and a source of advice that preceded advisors; (3) the barrier of receiving conflicting feedback from advisory and dissertation committees; and (4) the barrier of not understanding the PhD student process. Peer support is fundamental for hybrid PhD nursing student success; conflicting feedback and not understanding the process are significant barriers. Strategies are recommended to mitigate barriers to facilitate hybrid PhD nursing students' success. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(5):328-331.].

College student perceptions of pharmacist-provided hormonal contraception

BackgroundNorth Carolina immunizing pharmacists are authorized to provide oral and transdermal hormonal contraception to eligible patients. In March 2022, implementation of this enhanced patient care service began statewide, after approval of standing orders and published training from the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists. Two pharmacy locations on a college campus began offering pharmacist-provided hormonal contraception shortly after approval. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the willingness of students to seek pharmacist-provided hormonal contraception and the willingness of students to pay for this service. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on the campus of a public, research-intensive university. To be included, individuals must have been 18 years of age or older, an enrolled student, and used prescribed hormonal oral contraception within the last year. Individuals who declined consent or surveys that were not at least 90% complete were excluded. The survey was administered via Qualtrics and distributed via e-mail and printed flyers with a QR code. The survey opened February 10, 2023, and closed April 24, 2023. ResultsIn total, 170 survey responses were analyzed. Almost three-fourths of participants (72.9%) were not aware that pharmacists could provide hormonal contraception in North Carolina. All participants identified at least one benefit to pharmacist-provided contraception, with the most common responses being “I believe it would save time” (85.3%) and “appointment not needed” (89.4%). Almost two-thirds of participants (65.3%) identified at least one barrier that would prevent them from seeking pharmacist-provided contraception. The most common barrier identified was privacy at the pharmacy (20.0%). Most participants (81.8%) reported that they are willing to pay for this service, with the majority willing to pay up to $29. ConclusionStudents on this campus seem to have a receptive attitude toward pharmacist-provided hormonal contraception and are willing to pay for a consultation.

Bridging Educational Grant in Nursing (BEGIN) students’ intentions for retention in long-term, home and community care: A survey protocol

IntroductionRetention of nurses in long-term care (LTC) and home and community care (HCC) settings is a growing concern. Previous evidence underscores factors which contribute to nurses’ intentions for retention in...

The Strategic Role of Social Networks in Academic Leadership Development

University leaders navigate a complex and dynamic environment, balancing the diverse expectations of students, faculty, policy makers, and governmental bodies. Proficiency in these roles requires deep academic understanding, contextual knowledge, and effective management and leadership skills. This study explored how faculty members serving as department chairs developed their leadership capacity when entering the role. The investigation utilized social network theory and a leadership development model to examine department chairs’ experiences at a Canadian research-intensive university. It employed a qualitative research approach combining constructivist philosophy, case study design, and inductive research techniques. Drawing on the key themes of role entry, role understanding, and skill development, the study found that social networks played a central role in the participants’ leadership development. Post-secondary institutions may consider supporting leadership networks and providing equitable access to learning opportunities to increase academic leadership capacity.

"Teaching capital"- a sociological analysis of medical educator portfolios for promotion.

Medical educator portfolios (MEP) are increasingly recognized as a tool for developing and documenting teaching performance in Health Professions Education. However, there is a need to better understand the complex interplay between institutional guidelines and how teachers decode those guidelines and assign value to teaching merits. To gain a deeper understanding of this dynamic, this study employed a sociological analysis to understand how medical educators aspiring to professorships use MEPs to display their teaching merits and how cultural capital is reflected in these artefacts. We collected 36 medical educator portfolios for promotion from a large research-intensive university and conducted a deductive content analysis using institutional guidelines that distinguished between mandatory (accounting for the total body of teaching conducted) and optional content (arguing for pedagogical choices and evidencing the quality, respectively). Our analysis showed that the portfolios primarily included quantifiable data about teaching activities, e.g., numbers of students, topics and classes taught. Notably, they often lacked evidence of quality and scholarship of teaching. Looking at these findings through a Bourdieusian lens revealed that teachers in this social field exchange objectified evidence of hours spent on teaching into teaching capital recognized by their institution. Our findings highlight how institutional guidelines for MEPs construct a pedagogical battlefield, where educators try to decode and exchange the "right" and recognized teaching capital. This indicates that MEPs reflect the norms and practices of the academic field more than individual teaching quality.

Academics’ expertise development in teacher tasks: a multiple case study

ABSTRACT To support academics in their professional development as university teachers throughout their careers, a more comprehensive understanding is needed of their expertise development. In this study we therefore explored the order in which academics develop their expertise in various teacher tasks and the interrelatedness between their expertise development in these tasks. We conducted a multiple case study of 18 academics at a Dutch research-intensive university. We found a general pattern for academics’ expertise development in five teacher tasks over time, connectedness as well as distinctness of these tasks, and mutually beneficial relationships between expertise development in all tasks. These findings confirm the need for more holistic academic development, which combines attention for connections between teacher tasks with attention for specific teacher tasks.

Assessing Quality Variations in Early Career Researchers’ Data Management Plans

This paper aims to better understand early career researchers’ (ECRs’) research data management (RDM) competencies by assessing the contents and quality of data management plans (DMPs) developed during a multi-stakeholder RDM course. We also aim to identify differences between DMPs in relation to several background variables (e.g., discipline, course track). The Basics of Research Data Management (BRDM) course has been held in two multi-faculty, research-intensive universities in Finland since 2020. In this study, 223 ECRs’ DMPs created in the BRDM of 2020 - 2022 were assessed, using the recommendations and criteria of the Finnish DMP Evaluation Guide + General Finnish DMP Guidance (FDEG). The median quality of DMPs appeared to be satisfactory. The differences in rating according to FDEG’s three-point performance criteria were statistically insignificant between DMPs developed in separate years, course tracks or disciplines. However, using content analysis, differences were found between disciplines or course tracks regarding DMP’s key characteristics such as sharing, storing, and preserving data. DMPs that contained a data table (DtDMPs) also differed highly significantly from prose DMPs. DtDMPs better acknowledged the data handling needs of different data types and improved the overall quality of a DMP. The results illustrated that the ECRs had learned the basic RDM competencies and grasped their significance to the integrity, reliability, and reusability of data. However, more focused, further training to reach the advanced competency is needed, especially in areas of handling and sharing personal data, legal issues, long-term preserving, and funders’ data policies. Equally important to the cultural change when RDM is an organic part of the research practices is to merge research support services, processes, and infrastructure into the research projects’ processes. Additionally, incentives are needed for sharing and reusing data.

‘You certainly don’t get promoted for just teaching’: experiences of education-focused academics in research-intensive universities

ABSTRACT Changes in drivers of academic roles within higher education institutions globally have resulted in increased proportions of academics in education focused (EF) posts. International and UK research suggests that EF academics can experience dissatisfaction with career progression and the perceived value of their work, including those in research-intensive universities. Previous UK research was conducted prior to the introduction of the TEF which has altered the landscape. Therefore, it was timely to examine the current experience of EF academics in research-intensive universities through a theoretical lens to understand barriers and facilitators to career progression. This interview-based study used two theoretical frameworks, Feldman and Ng’s Framework for Career Mobility, Embeddedness, and Success and Kanter’s theory of Power within organisations to explore the experiences of 43 EF academics across 12 research-intensive UK universities. Four contract types were identified, some of which allowed promotion. Three broad themes were derived from the data, including (1) Lack of agreement on the definition of education-focused academic roles, (2) Level of value and appreciation of educational expertise and the impact on education-focused academics, (3) Career development opportunities for education-focused academics. Recommendations to further enhance the experience and career progression for EF academics in research-intensive universities further include; ensuring transparency in recruitment into EF posts as to whether career development is possible within that post, the need to continue the sector-wide discussion on the definition of EF roles that recognises the complexity and diversity of activity and continued work to value and recognise appropriately educational expertise.

147 Creating a state-wide university network for translational science training

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: We have evaluated the primary factors behind successful expansion of the predoctoral TL1 training grant at OHSU to all research-intensive universities in the state, evaluating the precepts that were key to integration. We also evaluate inclusion of social and behavioral sciences in clinical and translational science training, METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: OHSU contains three professional schools (medicine, nursing, and dentistry) as well as graduate studies in science. There are also three research-intensive universities in Oregon: Portland State University (PSU); Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis; and the University of Oregon (UO). We report evaluation of our 7-year experience with a predoctoral TL1 program and the precepts behind successful implementation of statewide outreach. We have tracked applicants from each university and program, trainee feedback, and success of the applicants as measured by persistence in research, inclusion of translational methods, additional training acquired, and subsequent research funding. We also evaluate participation by behavioral and social scientists. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The predoctoral TL1 has included 40 scholars over 7 years, with 65% PhD graduate students and 35% MD students who pursue an additional research degree (PhD, MCR). Of PhD graduate students, the distribution is similar among universities: OHSU 31%, PSU 19%, OSU 27%, UO 23%. 38% of all graduate student trainees are in behavioral or social science. Key precepts behind success include: concentration on specific graduate programs at each university; implementing a common curriculum based on the MCR curriculum; interinstitutional mentor teams; leadership team that spans universities; required core TL1 activities; and a competitive application process with an interinstitutional review committee. Applicants are required to identify how translational science education enhances their research career. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Creating a statewide resource for TL1 translational science training has increased opportunities to expand translational research throughout Oregon through providing new opportunities to enhance excellence through disseminating resources and training across the universities.

L2 writing teachers’ feedback practices for doctoral publishing: a teacher feedback literacy perspective

While feedback literate teachers play critical roles in enhancing feedback efficacy and students’ learning, there is a paucity of studies on writing teacher feedback literacy. To address this issue, this study draws from the notion of teacher feedback literacy to explore two second language (L2) writing teachers’ feedback practices in the context of L2 writing for doctoral publishing at a Chinese research-intensive university. The analysis of the interviews, classroom observations and such textual data as the participants’ profile sheets and course materials informs the development of a contextualised, two-dimension framework of teacher feedback literacy, encompassing feedback design and process management. The first dimension features an integrated, purposeful and enabling design of feedback practices that aligns with the design of curriculum and teaching, and addresses specific pedagogical goals and practical constraints arising from the teaching context. The second dimension involves meticulous management of feedback process to ensure effective feedback enactment in teaching, contributing to developing student feedback literacy. This dimension underscores students’ skills development, as well as internal and external feedback interactions characterised by varying patterns of student feedback engagement. The paper concludes with implications for L2 writing feedback research and practices.

From pandemic crisis to recovery and resilience: lessons from COVID-19 at a large urban research university

ABSTRACT The abrupt onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced a dramatic shift in higher education. Over time, the prolonged and cyclical nature of public-health restrictions conditioned students, faculty, and staff to adopt a crisis mindset as their baseline. Moving from crisis to recovery therefore posed unique obstacles at both individual (e.g. anxiety, exhaustion, and post-traumatic stress) and organizational levels (e.g. transition logistics, labor market changes, and student preparation). Using case study methodology, this paper describes an effort to directly address the evolution from pandemic crisis to recovery and future resilience at large, urban, research-intensive university spanning three campuses. Consultation meetings in the form of individual interviews and focus groups with 301 academic leaders, staff leaders, and student leaders across the institution raised critical insights into the process of adapting to change in an institution of higher learning. The analysis of discoveries and resulting actions clustered into four themes: fatigue, loss, and pride in the aftermath of crisis; moving forward (including recognizing efforts and challenges to integration); innovation out of adversity caused by COVID-19; and future-proofing by seizing opportunities for creating resilience. Despite the chaos that crises may introduce, this case study illustrates how they carry unique opportunities for growth. As the future will continue to present all manner of challenges, the willingness and ability to adapt will define future outcomes for higher education.

Diamond is a scientist’s best friend

The field of applied linguistics is increasingly adopting open science practices. As open access publication gains traction, ethical issues emerge that need to be addressed by the field. This viewpoint paper addresses the concern that open science is not equally open for everyone. This paper describes how open access publication is increasingly being commercialized and explains how open access publication coincides with systemic inequality. We offer the following viewpoints for the field to consider: We are morally obligated to make our research output accessible. Hybrid, Gold, and Green open access publishing lead to systemic inequality in open access publishing, benefiting commercial publishers and those working in research-intensive universities and rich countries. Diamond open access publication removes the systemic inequalities; hence, Diamond open access should be prioritized over Hybrid, Gold, and Green open access publication models. We should move away from publish-and-read agreements and Green open access publishing, because they prevent system change. Through our choices in our work as researchers, editors, reviewers, authors and teachers, we can contribute to the transition towards truly equitable open access publishing practices. Senior researchers are in the position and have the moral obligation to be drivers of these changes.

A caring approach to the first-year university student experience

This paper presents a case study of a revised approach towards orientation and welcome for commencing students at a research-intensive university in Australia. First-year students, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, face a range of challenges during their transition to university. This paper describes how we have translated research into practice by taking an evidence-based approach, designed in collaboration with students, and informed by three key aspects in student experience literature: engaging students, building an inclusive community, and fostering a sense of belonging. The approach is informed by key principles of care ethics theory, highlighting the importance of care as a concept in the design of first-year experience initiatives. The case study includes quantitative and qualitative data from admission and attendance rates and a student survey (n=1052). Student survey data is analysed through a reflexive thematic analysis approach using both inductive and deductive coding. The findings and discussion outline the key success outcomes of the approach both in relation to engagement, community, and sense of belonging and how these contribute towards supporting first-year student transition. Areas for future research are suggested.

A temporal-agential lens on the reintegration experiences of Chinese early career STEM returnees

ABSTRACT Recently, there has been a massive trend of Chinese international PhD graduates returning to China’s research-intensive universities that are undergoing systemic reforms and aspire to flourish in the global higher education field. Taking into account this changing academic environment and field-specific mobility patterns, the study examines the case of 14 early career science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) returnees employed in one of such institutions. Informed by a temporal perspective on agency, we present their academic reintegration experiences negotiated on national/local and institutional levels and unfolding in multiple realms of their post-return lives. Findings derive three prominent themes concerning their encounter with Chinese work culture encompassing entrenched and emerging features, embeddedness into local academic communities of exchange, and navigation of transformative possibilities within the institutional framework of career excellence. Importantly, the study underscores that structures internal to the university can profoundly shape the way returnees leverage their cosmopolitan assets and the direction they take in envisioning their transnationally viable career paths.