College Seniors Research Articles

A Study to assess the knowledge regarding HIV-AIDS among the students studying in the selected senior colleges in Gokhale Education Society, Nashik

Background: AIDS emerged as one of the most important public health issue of the late twentieth and early –first centuries and is now one of the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. In India, 35% of all reported AIDS cases are among the age group of 15-24 years, indicating the vulnerability of the younger population to the epidemic. Many Adolescents around the world are sexually active and many sexual contacts among them are unprotected, they are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV/AIDS. Objectives: 1. To assess the knowledge of the senior college students regarding Meaning of HIV - AIDS, Incidence of HIV-AIDS, Ways of transmission of HIV –AIDS, Common signs of HIV –AIDS and Common investigations to detect HIV-AIDS 2. To assess the knowledge of the senior college students regarding control and preventive measures of HIV – AIDS (at the individual level, family level and community level) 3. To find out the relationship between the knowledge with the selected demographic variables. Material and Method: descriptive survey approach to assess the knowledge regarding HIV-AIDS among the student studied in the selected senior colleges in Gokhale Education Society, Nashik. Data were collected from 100 students, the structured questionnaire is used to collect data on 27th January 2017. Results: In the present study, 93% of the samples had knowledge about meaning of HIV. Near about 50% of the samples had knowledge about way of transmission, common signs and investigation of HIV-AIDS. More than 50%of the samples had knowledge about when the world AIDS day is celebrated. There was positive correlation found between source of information of the samples and average knowledge score of the samples

When Will This End? Exploring the Relationship between Depression Symptoms, Perceptions of the Future Self, and Anticipated Length of the COVID-19 Pandemic in College Seniors

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic changed lives overnight. With the pandemic's abrupt spread, graduating college students encountered widespread setbacks and challenges and were left with considerable uncertainty about how long the pandemic would last. This research explored the relationship between anticipation of the pandemic's length and longitudinal mental health, and the role of perception of the future self (i.e., future self-identification) as a potential protective and promotive factor for mental health during the pandemic. Methods: Graduating college seniors completed a two-part longitudinal study starting as the pandemic initially spread in the United States (March 26—April 10, 2020) and ending over half a year into the pandemic's course (October 20-January 27, 2021). Results: Findings suggested that higher initial symptoms of depression did not predict anticipating a longer pandemic, but anticipating a longer pandemic significantly predicted higher downstream depression symptoms over and above the initial symptoms. Additionally, greater future self-identification did not moderate the relationship between anticipated pandemic length and downstream depression (i.e., it was not a significant protective factor). However, having a positive view of the future self significantly predicted better downstream mental health over and above perceptions of pandemic length and initial depression symptoms. Positivity toward the future self may be an important promotive factor for mental health during the pandemic. Discussion: These results indicate that students who anticipate an extended crisis may need extra support, and perception of the future self as positive may be a valuable psychological resource.

The development and effects of a nursing education program for hyperglycemia patient care using standardized patients for nursing students

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a nursing education program for hyperglycemia patient care using standardized patients.Methods: This study used a nonequivalent control group pre-test and post-test non-synchronized design. A total of 50 senior university nursing students who had completed an adult nursing course participated in this study (experimental group, n=24; control group, n=26). This nursing education program was developed according to the stages of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The collected data were analyzed using <i>χ</i><sup>2</sup>-test, Fisher’s exact test, independent t-test, paired t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA.Results: Significant differences were shown between the experimental and control groups in clinical performance ability (F=277.41, <i>p</i><.001), communication skills (F=47.18, <i>p</i><.001), self-efficacy (F=3.81, <i>p</i>=.031), and learning satisfaction (t=2.25, <i>p</i>=.033). Problem-solving ability was not statistically significant between the groups.Conclusion: The nursing education program for hyperglycemia patient care using standardized patients was effective in improving nursing students’ clinical performance ability, communication skills, and learning satisfaction. Therefore, it is proposed that the education program developed in this study be used as part of an education program to enhance nursing students’ abilities in caring for hyperglycemia patients.

Factors affecting social phobia among Chinese college students in the context of COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

Social phobia (SP) refers to excessive anxiety about social interactions. College students, with their exposure to academic, familial, and job-related pressures, are an ideal population for early screening and intervention of social phobia. Additionally, COVID-19 prevention measures including keeping social distance may further impact social phobia. This study aims to investigate the influencing factors of social phobia among Chinese college students and to tentatively explore the impact of COVID-19 prevention measures on social phobia. Respondents were recruited through Chinese Internet social platforms for an online survey. College students' social phobia scores in pre- and early-COVID-19 periods were measured using Peters' short form of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and Social Phobia Scale (SIAS-6/SPS-6). Demographic information, family information, social relations, self-evaluation, and subjective feelings regarding the impact of COVID-19 preventive measures on social phobia were collected. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors. A total of 1859 valid questionnaires were collected, revealing that the social phobia scores increased from 12.3 ± 11.9 to 13.4 ± 11.9 between pre- and early-COVID-19 periods, with an increase of 1.0 ± 6.4 (p < 0.001). Low GPA rank, mobile phone dependence, distant family relationships, indulgent parents, childhood adversity, and childhood bullying were risk factors for social phobia among Chinese college students. Female gender, being a senior university student or postgraduate, satisfaction with physical appearance, self-reported good mental health and high level of interpersonal trust were protective factors for social phobia. Although most respondents believed that COVID-19 prevention measures (e.g., mask wearing and social distancing rules) reduced their social phobia, these measures were not significantly associated with social phobia levels in the multivariable analyses. In conclusion, Chinese college students' social phobia was widely influenced by diverse factors and warrants increased attention, with early intervention aimed at high-risk individuals being crucial for their mental health. Additional research is necessary to understand the impact of COVID-19 preventive measures on social phobia among college students.

Metacognitive Awareness and Self-Regulated Learning toward Students’ Academic Achievement: Prediction study

This study was intended to find the relationship among metacognitive awareness and self-regulated learning as independent variables and students’ achievement/GPA as dependent variable. The study took senior college students as the sample from two private Indonesian universities. Thereupon, this study also was aimed to find whether students’ metacognitive awareness and self-regulated learning could be predictors of students’ achievement/ GPA. The study used Metacognitive Awareness Inventory and questionnaire to get the data of students’ metacognitive awareness and self-regulated learning. The results showed that there were positive correlations between students’ metacognitive awareness and self-regulated learning on academic achievements. The study also revealed that both metacognitive awareness and self-regulated learning could be predictors for academic achievement as many as 24.8%.

Research promotion strategies to enhance research productivity in Tanzanian higher educational institutions

AbstractThere are low levels of research productivity among higher education institutions (HEIs) in Africa, which will likely compromise the continent's development agenda if not addressed. This study intends to develop a research framework to create a strategic roadmap that leverages leadership perspectives to foster a thriving research culture and contribute meaningfully to Tanzania's growth and development. We conducted a qualitative study involving higher education policy makers, senior university officials and academic staff from four sampled universities and two non‐university institutions that regulate Tanzania's higher education sector. The secondary data sources supported us in assessing the current state of research in Tanzanian HEI and the way forward. A thematic analysis revealed seven themes: research governance; capacity development strategy; reinforcement strategy; collaboration, networking and teamwork; establishment of research centres; dissemination strategy; and institutionalisation of research activities that can increase research productivity in the Tanzanian HEI context. This research adds to the literature on HEIs by identifying contextual strategy that can enhance research promotion in Tanzania and guide other African countries. In today's global information economy, research production is critical to the viability of HEIs and national development. This research aims to equip HEI leaders with a customised framework to help them direct their institutions towards research excellence and innovation.Context and implicationsRationale for this studyTanzania recognises the pivotal role of research in achieving socioeconomic objectives. The research productivity of higher education institutions (HEIs) is crucial in addressing local issues and fulfilling national agenda.Why the new findings matterThe findings reveal novel strategies for promoting research and how institutionalising them will enhance research engagement and productivity.ImplicationsThe research framework acts as a strategic guide for HEI policy makers that informs on how to encourage faculty and scholars and generate a better research output. The study shows how HEIs can institutionalise research, making it a part of its culture and mindset. The study has implications for the authorities and government bodies also, as the research productivity has a socio‐economic impact on national development.

Customizing the green pyramid rating system for assessing university buildings' sustainability: A stakeholder-involved weighting approach

Universities are large institutions that consume significant amounts of energy and water, produce waste and greenhouse gases, and significantly impact the surrounding environment, making evaluating and improving universities' sustainability crucial. Egypt has its building sustainability rating tool called the Green Pyramid Rating System (GPRS), which is not specifically customized for university buildings. Hence, this study aims to develop a customized weighting system based on the green pyramid rating system to assess the sustainability of university buildings by involving stakeholders. A comprehensive questionnaire was developed and distributed to a targeted sample of experts and university building stakeholders, including architects, engineers, project managers, consultants, contractors, decision-makers, policymakers, operation managers, facility managers, and senior students majoring in architecture, construction, and sustainable engineering. The data collected was analyzed using statistical analysis and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assign weights to each category and criterion. The results highlighted that the respondents prioritize Energy Efficiency (EE) with a weight of 21%, followed by Water Efficiency (WE) at 19%. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and Sustainable Sites (SS) are given equal priority with a weight of 17% each. Materials and Resources (MR) receive a weight of 14%, and Management Protocols (MP) have the lowest weight of 12%. Hence, prioritizing these aspects can significantly enhance university buildings' energy efficiency and overall sustainability.

Incentivising interdisciplinary research collaboration: evidence from Australia

ABSTRACT There is a popular perception that interdisciplinary research collaboration can yield benefits to knowledge production, from improvements to creativity to advances in addressing real-world problems. However, studies into interdisciplinarity frequently point to material obstacles, such as burdensome time and resource requirements, difficulties in publishing, and scarce opportunities for grant funding, which imply that incentives or rewards might be required to motivate academics to collaborate with colleagues across research disciplines. This article reports the results of a survey of academics and interviews with senior university leaders at a large research-intensive university in Australia, which indicate a major difference of opinion on how to incentivise interdisciplinary collaboration. While survey respondents largely emphasised material concerns, university leaders cited cultural change as a preferred strategy. If interdisciplinary research collaboration is desired, this gap between the perceptions of academics, who do the research, and university leaders, who control the resources, will need to be bridged.

The Influence of Religiosity and Self-Efficacy on Students' Anxiety Facing the World of Work

The speedy advancement of science and technology during the age of Society 5.0 has resulted in unease among job seekers, particularly among university seniors who aspire to join the workforce. This study aimed to determine whether religiosity and self-assurance affect students’ apprehension of the professional world. The participants in this investigation were 141 students of the Islamic Aqidah and Philosophy Study Program at Alauddin State Islamic University. The measuring equipment employed in this study were three gauges, the gauge for work-related anxiety, the Abrahamic Religiosity Gauge, and the General Self-Efficacy Gauge. The regression analysis data revealed a significant correlation between religiosity and self-assurance on work-related anxiety, with a coefficient of (r = -0.358 p &lt;0.05). This indicates that the greater the religiosity and self-assurance, the lesser the anxiety experienced by students when facing the professional world, and vice versa. The combined contribution of religiosity and self-assurance to work-related anxiety amounted to 12.8%. The implications of this research may serve as a guide for universities to provide training and seminars to augment self-assurance and prepare students to confront the professional world.&#x0D; Keywords: Anxiety, Religiosity, Self-efficacy, Job seekers

Investigating the use of fillers by kurdish efl university students in relation to speaking fluency

The current study investigates the use of fillers produced by a sample of 80 Kurdish EFL university students (males and females), freshers and seniors, in relation to speaking fluency. The general methodological procedures of discourse analysis (hence, DA) by Potter and Wetherell (1987), Fairclough (1995) and Van Dijk (1997) have been followed to analyze the data extracted from the selected sample (i.e., spoken corpus). For finding the types of fillers, it was helpful to use Rose’s (1998) classification of fillers into unlexicalized fillers (UFs) and lexicalized fillers (LFs). Further, by using a speaking fluency rubric, the statistical correlation between fillers and speaking fluency was measured. The results showed that the lexicalized fillers (LFs) were used by the Kurdish EFL university students three times more than the unlexicalized fillers (UFs). Also, it was found that the most frequently used examples of UFs were Uh and Um, and the highest percentages of LFs were recorded for and, so, yeah and yes. With regard to speaking fluency levels, it was concluded that fillers are considered to be markers of mid or low levels of fluency. In other words, although fillers were also used in higher levels of fluency, however, the higher the level of fluency is, the lesser the use of fillers is.

A reappraisal of global university rankings’ influence in Canada: a senior university leaders’ perspective

ABSTRACT This article contributes to the debate on university organisational actorhood by surveying the drivers of university strategic behaviour and choice. Utilising organisational literature and interviews with senior leaders from three Canadian research-intensive universities, the article elucidates the dynamics underlying universities’ behaviours associated with global university rankings. Contrary to previous studies, the analysis suggests that global rankings exert more influence on Canadian universities than it is commonly assumed. Findings show that (1) global rankings are integral to the case universities’ strategic positioning, legitimacy managing, and revenue-generating efforts in an era where government funding has become a source of constant concern; (2) global rankings are perceived more important than Maclean’s – Canada’s national university ranking – for institutional priorities and promotional strategies; and (3) specialised personnel and units have been created by universities to optimise data flows and improve their ranking positions. The article additionally examines contemporary issues on the academic landscape that create the conditions for institutionalising global rankings, a course of action commonly perceived as irreconcilable with the egalitarian ethos and flatter hierarchical structure of Canada’s postsecondary education. The article offers a new perspective on the determinants of strategic behaviour and organisational change in higher education and outlines directions for future research.

O.3.1-8 The western research hub for physical activity and health: answering the World Health Organization’s call to implement the global action plan on physical activity

Abstract Purpose Physical activity provides a multitude of health benefits yet only half of Canadians meet national physical activity guidelines for health. In response to the global epidemic of physical inactivity, the World Health Organization (WHO) created the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA) to help countries prioritize decreasing physical inactivity. In 2021, we formed the Western Research Hub for Physical Activity and Health (The Hub) to respond to this call to action from the WHO. Our purpose is to advocate for and implement meaningful, sustainable and culturally relevant physical activity opportunities within our community and beyond. Our team is comprised of 30 junior and senior university scholars and a Community Advisory Council of local organization representatives and patient partners who inform and co-design our work. Project description Through ongoing discussions with our members, we learned that while the GAPPA provides a clear roadmap, funding for such implementation projects is scarce and researchers, community organizations, and policymakers feel they do not have the necessary expertise to undertake implementation or scale-up projects. To address these gaps, we created The Hub’s Implementation Support Service. This service provides those working on GAPPA-related projects with support from our team in the form of: implementation resources (frameworks and toolkits); advice from implementation scientists; regular meetings to troubleshoot implementation barriers; networking support to connect with relevant partners; and financial support (seed grants worth $5000 CAD). Funding applications are reviewed and selected by a committee of researchers, community organizations, and patient partners. The Implementation Support Service will undergo a process and impact evaluation by understanding perceptions of those delivering and receiving the implementation service, as well as determining the short- and long-term effects of the implementation projects we support. Conclusions The Western Research Hub for Physical Activity and Health is the first and only collective of its kind aimed directly at addressing and implementing the WHO’s GAPPA framework by providing a centralized access point for implementation seed grants and services. By providing resources and facilitating access to physical activity, our Hub can support more individuals staying active for more of their lives, with implications for population-level health.

Digital inclusion: Lived experiences of students with visual impairment accessibility to web-based information in higher education institutions of Ethiopia

This study sought to explore the web-based information accessibility experiences of students with visual impairment (SVIs) enrolled in two senior universities in Ethiopia. To achieve this, the study used a descriptive phenomenological design. A total of 11 undergraduate fourth-year SVIs, 5 from Haramaya University and 6 from Addis Ababa University, were purposively chosen for the study. Using semi-structured interviews and Colaizzi’s method of data analysis, four overarching themes were generated inductively: web capability experience, social connection, venue of academic achievement, and disabling web environment. Accordingly, the study came with variations in the capability to access web-based information among SVIs observed due to differences in foreknowledge on basic computers and exposure to web interfaces. Routine use of social media, technical, and material support, and follow-up improves the SVIs’ website browsing ability, resulting in a sense of academic agency, social competence, and persistent ingenuity to academic success. However, complex web designs, incompatible assistive technologies (ATs), inaccessible document formats, poor infrastructure, and undifferentiated information flux on the website create a disabling web environment for SVIs, promoting inequality in web-based information access and hence academic achievement. Thus, findings from this inquiry necessitate universities to work to make web designs accessible and compatible with ATs, provide technical and material support to SVIs based on the severity of their impairment, improve infrastructure, and encourage them to regularly practice website use for academic purposes.

#FeesMustFall# movement in the post-apartheid era: legitimacy battle for leaders

PurposeUnderpinned by institutional legitimacy, this study explores how South African public university senior managers struggled to maintain legitimacy during an unplanned radical change process.Design/methodology/approachGioia's grounded theory analysis approach is employed to analyse interviews with 37 senior managers of public-funded universities in South Africa.FindingsThis study's findings show that a change without proper planning severely damages institutions in all aspects of leadership's normative, empirical, moral and pragmatic legitimacy.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the literature on legitimacy by illustrating the importance of institutional legitimacy during unplanned social change and the factors that negate legitimacy.Originality/valueThough other legitimacy models have been well developed, they do not apply to such unplanned social change in organisations. This study shows a different angle of the legitimacy crisis under unplanned social change conditions.

Management of covert brain infarction survey: A call to care for and trial this neglected population.

Covert brain infarction (CBI) is highly prevalent and linked with stroke risk factors, increased mortality, and morbidity. Evidence to guide management is sparse. We sought to gain information on current practice and attitudes toward CBI and to compare differences in management according to CBI phenotype. We conducted a web-based, structured, international survey from November 2021 to February 2022 among neurologists and neuroradiologists. The survey captured respondents' baseline characteristics, general approach toward CBI and included two case scenarios designed to evaluate management decisions taken upon incidental detection of an embolic-phenotype and a small-vessel-disease phenotype. Of 627 respondents (38% vascular neurologists, 24% general neurologists, and 26% neuroradiologists), 362 (58%) had a partial, and 305 (49%) a complete response. Most respondents were university hospital senior faculty members experienced in stroke, mostly from Europe and Asia. Only 66 (18%) of respondents had established institutional written protocols to manage CBI. The majority indicated that they were uncertain regarding useful investigations and further management of CBI patients (median 67 on a slider 0-100, 95% CI 35-81). Almost all respondents (97%) indicated that they would assess vascular risk factors. Although most would investigate and treat similarly to ischemic stroke for both phenotypes, including initiating antithrombotic treatment, there was considerable diagnostic and therapeutic heterogeneity. Less than half of respondents (42%) would assess cognitive function or depression. There is a high degree of uncertainty and heterogeneity regarding management of two common types of CBI, even among experienced stroke physicians. Respondents were more proactive regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic management than the minimum recommended by current expert opinions. More data are required to guide management of CBI; meantime, more consistent approaches to identification and consistent application of current knowledge, that also consider cognition and mood, would be promising first steps to improve consistency of care.

Exploring the Relationship Between Faculty Mentor Engagement and African American STEM Persistence

This quantitative study explores factors associated with the persistence rates of African American students aspiring to major in STEM subjects and who ultimately complete undergraduate STEM degrees. The primary data source for this study is the Cooperative Institutional Research Program’s 2009 The Freshman Survey (TFS) and the 2013 College Senior Survey (CSS). The sample included 379 African American students who indicated on TFS that they intended to declare STEM as their major. The findings reveal that African American undergraduates are significantly more likely to persist in STEM majors with increased levels of faculty mentor engagement. The findings demonstrate the need for institutions to implement curricula that encourage meaningful faculty engagement to contribute to the creation of more inclusive academic environments for African American students in STEM.

A Study on the Perception of the Grade 12 Students of Saint Mary's University Senior High School on Experiencing Communication Barriers During Distance Education

A Study on the Perception of the Grade 12 Students of Saint Mary's University Senior High School on Experiencing Communication Barriers During Distance Education

Factors Affecting Motivation in Learning Classical Dance: An Empirical Study

This article aims to determine the most optimal pedagogical techniques and methods for influencing students to develop motivation in teaching classical dance. The article reveals the essence of the concept of motivation and examines the factors that affect the reduction of motivation during classical dance lessons. In the empirical part of the study, the author analyzes the self-determined level of motivation of students of Kyiv State Ballet College. The authors of this article used the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2 (BREQ-2) adapted to the issue under the study, the technique for determining the level of learning motivation in students developed by Ginzburg, and the technique for diagnosing learning motives developed by Badmaeva. The study shows that the level of motivation is growing among senior college students due to the improvement of their formed competencies and an increase in responsibility for learning outcomes. It was also studied that the self-motivation to dance was stronger than demotivation among the respondents. In the final part of the study, the authors of this article suggest various approaches and techniques to increase the motivation of students, activate their creative potential, and thereby enhance the effectiveness of the educational process. The study also highlights psychological and pedagogical conditions for increasing the motivation level to succeed in teaching classical dance.

Promotion of research culture among radiographers in one UK NHS trust through journal club activities – An autoethnographic study

IntroductionThe poor research culture within the radiography profession can be addressed through initiatives such journal club activities. The role of a research radiographer is best suited to drive achievement of journal club outcomes for research culture improvement; however, the cultural environment of healthcare providers presents challenges. This is an autoethnographic account of a research radiographer in promoting research culture among diagnostic radiographers in a single UK NHS trust through journal club activities. MethodsThe study adopts an analytical autoethnography methodology to critically analyse reflective accounts of the research radiographer's experiences and the interplay with the cultural environment in which the experiences occurred. The reflective accounts are supported by locally collected data during a 10-month period of the journal club and published literature. ResultsThe establishment of the journal club received encouraging support from the senior management, university academics, library services and radiography professionals. There are initial signs of research culture improvement among participants of the journal club as observed through engagement in research related activities. However, cultural challenges including lack of time to explore gaps in research evidence, and prioritisation of clinical duties over research related activities, may have affected the achievement of expected outcomes of the club. ConclusionThe research radiographer is well placed to encourage research culture within the clinical imaging department through targeted initiatives such as journal clubs. The long-term contributions of such initiative to departmental efficiency and quality service delivery should encourage optimum support to actualize expected outcomes. Implications for practiceEncouragement of journal clubs as a means of improving research culture within clinical radiography teams, driven by research radiographers. Encouragement of management support for the achievement of set outcomes of journal clubs.

Wellness tourism in an active life system and promotion of social cohesion: the case of senior university(s)

Recognition of the potential of wellness and quality of life for tourism was manifested by deepening knowledge of this market in the face of the cultural and tourist dynamics developed, but also through the creation of new tourism products specific to this sector and an active lifestyle system. Senior universities, for example, have been playing an increasingly important role in this dynamic of well-being and active life. It has not only promoted activities aimed at the cultural and tourist practice of an active life of well-being but also contributed to the social cohesion of the territory. In this study, carried out geographically in the Centre of Portugal, the aim is to present a case study related to the practice of well-being and active life through the senior university in its relationship with tourism education and the enhancement of the cultural experience. The main objectives of this study are, therefore, the approach to wellness tourism in an active life system and the promotion of social cohesion and by verifying the importance of guaranteeing a healthy life in tourist places that lead people to experience aspects of a healthy lifestyle committed to growing cultural and tourist knowledge. To achieve both objectives, a quantitative analysis was carried out, and from the preliminary results, it is identified that senior universities should, therefore, be understood as social intervention devices. Innovative didactic approaches to teaching end up accompanying the availability of information that facilitates access to knowledge, not least because the new reality contributed by the aging of the population, associated with the process of globalization and the economic and social situation, poses new challenges to the present-day education of well-being, being and quality of life. The conclusions point to favoring the quality of life and social inclusion of those who actively participate in the activities provided by the senior university(s), as active life strategies linked to cultural, wellness, and tourism quality of life, reinforcing the role of social cohesion in the territory in which it operates.