Staff In Higher Education Institutions Research Articles

Сhallenges for scientific and pedagogical staff of universities after pandemia 2019

Nowadays situation at the universities in Ukraine and all other countries round the world are faceted with different challenges almost every new quarter of the year. The very vivid example of it was the pandemic period, which determined transforming of forms of education and different approaches to education. Moreover, the Pandemia provoke the huge wave of challenges for scientific and pedagogical staff of universities. A great number of changes took place at the system of educational process organization: pandemic has exacerbated the need for digital, technology-enabled education experiences, new types of online-classes appared and new ways to scale them etc. But after pandemic period and all these transmitions in universities their appared the need for analyses of challenges which we are going to face with, when we come back to ordinary style of teaching? what problems are we going to solve? To answer these questions, we created a Questionnaire for teaching staff and students of different Universities in Ukraine in different regions. We asked them to give their feedbacks, opinions and feelings of the quarantine restrictions of COVID-19, what difficulties they had durining the next few months. The investigation helped to distinguish challenges to scientific and pedagogical staff of higher educational institutions, the nature of which is the peculiarities of the professional activities of teachers and challenges to the scientific and pedagogical staff of higher educational institutions, the nature of which are the features of the educational activities of students.

Ideological discourses in post-Soviet Uzbekistan: internationalization of higher education as a threat

ABSTRACT Ideological discourses of Central Asia have been subject to much research. However, the use and the role of ideological discourses in framing internationalization of education policy has been largely overlooked. While much has been studied on how and why internationalization of higher education (HE) became indispensable part of tertiary sector, the cases where internationalization of HE is confronted by a government ideology agenda has largely remained outside of scholarly attention. This pioneering research offers analysis on ideology-based resistance to internationalization of education in authoritarian regimes. The paper argues that it is the framing of internationalization as a threat to national ideologies and a national model of education that confronts HE internationalization in some authoritarian political orders. The paper uses the case of post-Soviet Uzbekistan that promoted national ideologies as the basis of its education model. To support its argument, the paper analyses the official discourses of former President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan (1991–2016) and the statements of government officials on the country’s national education model. It also analyses the interviews held with staff of HE institutions in Tashkent.

Integration of Digitally-Assisted Assessment in the EFL Classroom

The global landscape of higher education has dramatically changed since 2020 due to the pandemic caused by the spread of COVID-19. The pandemic has forced Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in emergency digitalization at all levels, in teaching and assessment. Through online teaching, the discussions about knowledge protection, cheating, plagiarism resulting from the emergency transition of Distance Learning cannot avoid. It is witnessed the effort taken by the academic and administrative staff of HEIs to timely tackle forcedly changed policies, chanced practices, and the reality in the New Normal. Based on the above-mentioned circumstances; educators from different countries including Kazakhstan, Turkey and Georgia, decided to get united and illustrate through the current study the integration of Digitally Assisted Assessment (DAA) with teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) in these countries. Subsequently, the study has considered the necessity to acquire the opinions from various EFL educators and practitioner teachers locally and globally to develop a qualitative survey seeking responses on the ways how the assessment system has changed in the digital classroom. Also, the type of employed digital tools for successful assessment and how these tools have helped teachers to succeed in digitally assisted assessment. At the same time, the paper aims at identifying the advantages and disadvantages of using DAA in EFL classrooms. Finally based on the survey results will attempt to demonstrate best practices of successful literation of DAA and to provide practical recommendations for future improvement.

The Impact of Digitalisation of Higher Education: The Case of Latvia and Nordic-Baltic Region

Abstract For the next seven years, the digitalisation of higher education is one of the priority tasks of Latvia. An extensive review of information sources was performed, and an online survey with the technical staff of higher education institutions was conducted to evaluate the progress made towards education digitalisation in Latvia and compare these results with the countries of the Nordic-Baltic region. The paper presents the study results and identifies issues hindering the digitalisation progress, e.g., issues with the legislation, basic digital skills, and required competences for academic staff.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TEACHERS’ PSYCHOLOGICAL READINESS FOR INNOVATIVE CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES AND ITS SOCIO PSYCHOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

The article is devoted to the consideration of theoretical aspects of studying the psychological readiness of teachers for innovative activities. Psychological and pedagogical studies devoted to the study of this phenomenon are analyzed. An attempt has been made to identify the structure of the teacher's psychological readiness for innovative activity, which will make it possible to determine and develop psychological and pedagogical technologies for its formation among teachers. The results of scientific research on the topical problem of the development of innovative readiness in the conditions of the socio-psychological climate of teaching staff of higher educational institutions are touched upon. In a situation of high uncertainty in the system of higher professional education, the problem of the psychological readiness of a teacher in the context of optimizing the socio-psychological climate of teaching staff of universities is of particular importance and relevance, since it is the main and necessary factor in the development of the innovative potential of modern educational institutions.

FORMATION OF ECOLOGICAL CULTURE OF FUTURE SPECIALISTS IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION

The article is devoted to the characteristics of the peculiarities of the formation of ecological culture of future professionals in the educational process of higher education. To achieve this goal, general scientific methods were used: analysis, synthesis, comparison, concretization, generalization, and content analysis. The problem of the formation of ecological culture of future specialists as a constructive response of university education to the challenges of the modern era is actualized. Based on the analysis of theoretical works of domestic scientists, the main approaches to defining the concept of “ecological culture” and “formation of ecological culture” are characterized; concluded that there is a lack of interdisciplinary research on the peculiarities of the formation of the environmental culture of future professionals. The need for active formation and intensive development of the ecological culture of future specialists during their studies in higher education institutions is emphasized. The positive practice includes the pervasiveness of the formation of environmental culture both within the compulsory and elective disciplines and extracurricular activities of higher education institutions. Emphasis is placed on the possibilities of elective disciplines for the development and formation of values in the formation of environmental culture in applicants for higher education and research and teaching staff of higher education institutions. The need to introduce the educational component “Human Ecology” in the training of higher education in various fields of knowledge and specialties is substantiated. A list of themes of cross-cutting environmental interdisciplinary projects for applicants of the first (bachelor’s) and second (master’s) levels of higher education has been developed and proposed. The expediency of holding binary lectures for the development of the ecological culture of higher education seekers is substantiated. Possibilities of non-formal education for the development of the ecological culture of future specialists are analyzed.
 Keywords: ecological culture; human ecology; educational process; environmental interdisciplinary project; applicants for higher education; vocational training; binary lecture; culture.

‘We can talk the talk, but we’re not allowed to walk the walk’: the role of equality and diversity staff in higher education institutions in England

This article draws on interviews with 41 equality and diversity staff in higher education institutions in England who were not members of the Race Equality Charter (REC). It uses the concept of Whiteness and White privilege to argue that within the framework of White normative practices, the role of equality and diversity staff are used as a smokescreen to perpetuate a system of White privilege. Higher education institutions who are not members of the REC do not invest in such initiatives to protect their own White interests. Rather, they give the appearance of addressing equalities under the guise of the Equality Act (2010). The article argues that in order for racial inequalities to be addressed, policy making such as the REC must be mandatory. Furthermore, higher education institutions must consider how they empower equality and diversity staff in order that they have the time, resources and commitment from senior managers to instigate real organisational change.

Lean management and sustainable practices in Higher Education Institutions of Brazil and Portugal: A cross country perspective

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the perception of Lean management practices and its influence on sustainability practices in Higher Education Institutions (HEI). The theoretical background was supported by Lean management and sustainable practices in HEI, which were used to design the research model. The research methodology comprises a quantitative research characterized as a survey, whose data collection was carried out through a questionnaire. The study population was the academic staff of HEI in Brazil and Portugal. A valid sample of 966 valid responses was obtained. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and, structural equation modeling. The results allowed the evaluation of a significant and positive relationship between the second-order construct, called HEI Lean practices, and the environmental, economic and social practices. A moderating effect was also found as significant between the relation of Lean and social practices. These findings demonstrated the relevance of aspects such as leadership and systemic vision to support staff activities, continuous improvement and waste elimination as a daily practice, long-term thinking and the focus on the student as building blocks of the HEI success in promoting sustainability practices and thinking.

Thriving or surviving: staff health metrics and lifestyle behaviours within an Irish higher education setting

PurposeDue to the international paucity of empirical evidence, this study aimed to investigate the health metrics and lifestyle behaviours of a staff cohort in a higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 279 (16.4% response rate) HEI staff (academic, management, clerical/support), via a web-based health questionnaire that incorporated validated measures such as the Mental Health Index-5, Energy and Vitality Index, Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (short form) and the AUDIT-C drinking subscale. A cluster analytical procedure was used to examine the presence of distinct clusters of individuals exhibiting either optimal or sub-optimal health behaviours.FindingsA multitude of concerning patterns were identified including poor anthropometric profiles (64.4% of males overweight/obese), excessive occupational sitting time (67.8% of females sitting for = 4 h per day), hazardous drinking among younger staff (38.2% of 18–34 year olds), sub-optimal sleep duration on weeknights (82.2% less than 8 h), less favourable mean psychometric indices than the general Irish population, and insufficient fruit and vegetable intake (62.1% reporting <5 daily servings). Cluster analysis revealed “Healthy lifestyle” individuals exhibited significantly lower BMI values, lower stress levels and reported fewer days absent from work compared to those with a “Sub-optimal lifestyle”.Originality/valueIn contrast to the abundance of research pertaining to student cohorts, the current study is the first to examine the clustering of health-related variables in a cohort of HEI staff in Ireland. Findings will be used to inform policy at the host institution and will be of broader interest to higher education stakeholders elsewhere. Future longitudinal studies are required to monitor the health challenges experienced by this influential, yet under-researched cohort.

Інноваційні підходи до введення дисциплін з охорони здоров’я в систему підготовки майбутніх працівників освіти

This article deeply analyses the innovative approaches to the introduction of health disciplines in the system of training future educators. It focuses on defining integrated indicators and criteria for the formation of various professional competencies of students in the discipline "Fundamentals of Medical Knowledge". The purpose of the article is to determine the theoretical and methodological and practical provisions, innovative approaches to the introduction of disciplines in health care and the basics of medical knowledge in the system of training future staff of higher education institutions. Based on the analysis of literature sources, it was determined that teaching the basics of medical knowledge to students in higher education institutions, allows them to develop knowledge, skills and abilities in health care and first aid in any life situation. Qualitative analysis of empirical data shows that most students of higher education institutions identify problems that are paramount in the information space (socially significant infectious diseases, their detection and elimination and a healthy lifestyle, its characteristics), although the relevant information on some areas of medical knowledge, which are also significant enough for the social environment, was not taught to students. That is why students did not define them as integrative and relevant for their own professional activities. It is interesting, however that, students have a rather superficial understanding of the essence of medical concepts, especially difficult for them is to differentiate the information content of materials, which is manifold and diverse, sometimes unreliable in numerous information sources. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the empirical study of this problem allowed us to build a systematic and phased teaching of the discipline "Fundamentals of Medical Knowledge", to reveal the essence and content of theoretical and practical material during lectures and practical classes with students of pedagogical higher education establishments, taking into account new innovative approaches and modern computer technologies. In our opinion, the basic integrated level of ideas and concepts on the basis of medical knowledge is a mandatory element of the professional competence of the modern educator. At the same time, the teacher must be morally and legally responsible for preserving and improving the lives and health of children during their stay in respective schools and out-of-school educational institutions.

Impact of English language as a human capital in the higher education institutions’ development strategy

Entirely evident, the English language is dominating the academic world, and higher education institutions’ development apparently depends on this skill. As Rhekhalilit and Lerdpaisalwong (2019) point out, “In the era of globalization, English has played a significant role as a global language in different communicative aspects, especially in international academic exchange among scientists, scholars, and researchers” (p. 336). The study aims to highlight the importance of English foreign language (EFL) and its role in the professional and academic development of university lecturers and the development of higher education institutions (HEI) in non-English speaking countries. The study used the qualitative method, and the data were extracted through semi-structured interviews, the data of which are presented in a way of descriptive analysis by writing the opinions of the interviewees in the form of quotes. The findings show that the academic staff strongly supports the role that the English language has in meeting these standards, which directly affects their professional development and the institution’s development they represent. In addition, the study tends to raise the motivation in improving the level of the English language among academic staff, since it concludes this ability is also considered to be a human capital in institutions of higher education. The relevance of EFL knowledge by academic staff in HEI is related closely to the institutional development goals.

ФОРМУВАННЯ СИСТЕМИ УПРАВЛІННЯ КАР’ЄРОЮ ПРАЦІВНИКІВ У ЗАКЛАДАХ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ

The problems of career management in higher education institutions are topical and require the study of the nature of the career, the types of career, its factors and the basic principles of the system of career management in higher education institutions. Personnel career management in higher education is one of the most complex human resources technologies. The purpose of the study is to determine the theoretical and methodological foundations of the formation of a personnel career management system in higher education institutions. The article explains the concept of "career" and defines the author's interpretation of it, according to which it is advisable to consider the career of personnel as a step-by-step progression of employees in the hierarchy, what happens according to the growth of their practical experience and professional, business and personal qualities. It is through this approach that it is possible to reveal the meaning of the career as an object of management in higher education. Given the existence of a number of career types, the article systematizes approaches to classification features and career types. Factors influencing the career development of the employees of educational institutions are also analyzed and a systematic approach to their classification is determined. Thus, these factors are proposed to be divided into external and internal factors. The article focuses on the issues of the formation of a career management system for the employees in higher education institutions. In particular, a scientific and methodological approach to personnel career management was proposed, providing for the definition of the system of career management of personnel in higher education institutions as a set of planning, organization, evaluation, monitoring and motivation of the employee’s career development. The prospect of further scientific research in this direction lies in the development of an effective mechanism for managing the career of staff in higher education institutions.

ДОРОЖНЯ КАРТА ІМПЛЕМЕНТАЦІЇ ДУАЛЬНОЇ ФОРМИ НАВЧАННЯ У ЗАКЛАДАХ ВИЩОЇ ОСВІТИ

Dual education have been given high priority on the agenda of the Ministry of Science and Education of Ukraine officials, the scientific community, rectors and other top managers of higher education institutions. It has always been observed as a tool to improve students' acquisition of professional competencies, which they need in the future both in our country and abroad. At the same time, it turned out that beyond discussions and loud declarations of "commitment" the practical matters have not been materialized. The isolated cases which had place were more likely irrefutably confirmed this conclusion than refuted it. In view of the above statement, authors set themselves the goal of developing a road map – step-by-step recommendations for the implementation of the relevant process. On the way to it, it was found that it is characterized by the formation of relations between all stakeholders – individuals and legal entities that depend on the functioning of educational institutions or are able in one way or another to influence their academic activities. The development of these relations, and further their diversification and filling with new content, which reflects the current events in the economy and forecasts of its prospects, occurs, as it turned out, in three-dimensional space. The first is the institutional dimension. The second is the organizational and legal dimension, and the third is the economic one. The options of strategies that face the key participants depending on their place in the professional life cycle are outlined. Particular attention is paid to the problems facing the executive staff of higher education institutions (including professors, administration, departments of academic activities support), and employers. It is natural that they expect state support for their constructive initiatives and plans for their implementation. Its mission is to find and identify the proper means of motivation at the legislative level. The authors also paid attention to the regional chambers of commerce and industry, which represent the interests of local business clusters and thus interested in the implementation of dual education.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES OF DESIGNING ELECTRONIC EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR OPEN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE PROGRAM OF ADVANCED TEACHING STAFF TRAINING

The article regards introducing digital competence training for teaching staff in higher education institutions (HEIs) within its own in-service training program. It is assumed that the issues of design and development of electronic educational resources (EER), with using modern information and communication technologies (ICT) are relevant in the context of digitalizing education activities, intensification of the use of blended and distance learning technologies under quarantine. The article considers the main approaches to determining the content of digital competence of the staff; e-learning; the main types of EER, which form an open educational environment in HEI. ICT tools and methods for building a model of designing, creating, and using EER are defined.

Assessment of Compliance with Healthy Lifestyle Standards by the Instructional Staff of Higher Educational Institutions

Aim: To assess the quality of compliance with the standards of a healthy lifestyle by instructors of higher educational institutions with specific learning environment and their attitude to exercise. Materials and Methods: To achieve the aim of the research, we conducted a survey of instructors (n=126) of different age groups according to the questionnaire developed by the authors. The questionnaire is designed to investigate the current state of physical training with instructional staff; to clarify the issues of instructors’ healthy lifestyle; to study ways to improve their physical fitness. Results: It was found that only 10.3% of instructors regularly exercise in the morning; 85.7% get to the place of service by public transport or by car and only 14.3% go on foot. On weekends, 41.3% of instructors prefer passive types of motor activity and recreation; more than 50% smoke, in addition, 30.9% smoke one pack or more a day. On top of that, 46.8% of instructors do not engage in physical training at all; 50.9% of instructors answered that they attend training sessions in order to prepare for the test. Conclusions: It was found that the majority of instructors (67.1%) rarely or almost never follow the standards of a healthy lifestyle. Insufficient efficiency of the current system of physical training of instructional staff was identified and the reasons for insufficient level of physical fitness, health of instructors and systematic absence from physical training sessions were revealed.

ACADEMIC AUTONOMY: RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Dynamic changes in socio-political life, European integrative aspirations of Ukraine and the development of a democratic society determined a number of reform changes in the system of national higher education, which affected the spread of academic freedoms and the universities institutional autonomy. The article points out the role of university autonomy and its measuring; the content of academic autonomy is revealed; it is the focused on one of its components – the rating assessment of research and teaching staff professional activities. The aim of the article is to determine the role of academic autonomy as a necessary condition for the evaluation of scientific and pedagogical activities of university teachers and justify the importance of such self-esteem in the system of internal quality assurance of higher education. The article points out the connection between the rating assessment of scientific and pedagogical staff of the university with its mission, vision and development strategy. It is noted that the rating of the university teachers’ professional activities is a multilevel, integrated and complex process, which aims to study the level of quality assurance in higher education at the university and develop and justify management decisions to improve it. Based on the comparison of normative documents and open sources on the Internet of Ukrainian universities from different Ukraine regions and universities included in the QS World University Rankings 2022, it was carried out the analysis of the rating assessment the professional activity of research and teaching staff of higher education institutions. The analysis of self-assessment methods made it possible to identify both common criteria and approaches, аnd certain specifics in the rating policy of higher education institutions, which indicates the institutional autonomy of Ukrainian universities. Generalization the rating assessment practice of research and teaching staff in higher education institutions of Ukraine provides a key to understanding the existing problems and unused reserves in the internal system and the process of ensuring the quality of higher education. Further study the practice of teaching staff professional activities' rating assessment in higher education institutions and taking into account the experience will help to optimize the internal providing system of higher education quality.

ORGANIZATION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM ACTIVITIES IN UKRAINE UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE MARTIAL LAW: LEGAL ASPECT

This article is devoted to the establishment of the chronology of legal decision-making by state authorities regarding the organization of higher education system activities and ensuring the protection of the educational process participants. The article also identifies challenges and threats to the activity of higher education institutions in modern conditions. It was established that the main challenge for the system of higher education was the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, as a result of which there was a threat to the life and health of higher education institutions participants, limited access to education, destroyed educational infrastructure, loss of a significant share of potential entrants and students of higher education, as well as the part of scientific and pedagogical workers and scientists due to the departure of Ukrainian citizens abroad. Another challenge for the higher education system is reorientation in the training of qualified personnel due to changes in the needs of the war and post-war times for the restoration and development of the national economy and social life. The challenges provoked the emergence of threats to the development of higher education in the future. In particular, as a result of the departure of Ukrainian citizens abroad, significant losses are felt in the staff of higher education institutions and their contingent, and this also leads to a decrease in the potential for the formation of state orders in the coming years. In addition, as a result of the work curtailment of some Ukrainian manufacturing enterprises and scientific organizations and institutions, the base for conducting educational and pre-diploma practice for those seeking higher education is narrowing.

Особливості реалізації управління продажем освітніх програм закладами вищої освіти

The purpose of the article is to reflect the features of the implementation of sales management of educational programs by higher education institutions (HEIs) of Ukraine. It is noted that Ukrainian HEIs in their activities have faced a number of challenges and are forced to act as business structures in the market of educational services, selling educational programs (EPs). It is shown that an educational program is the result and product of joint innovation-investment management activities of the administrative-managerial staff and the scientific-pedagogical staff of HEIs, all interested persons (stakeholders), and the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (NAQA). The article reflects and classifies factors on the basis of the influence of the external environment on the sales management of educational programs. The external ones include those that HEIs cannot influence, but only take them into account and transform activities with a focus upon them. The internal factors are the result of the functioning of the management system of higher education institutions. It was determined that the sales management of educational programs of HEIs is the management of ensuring the implementation of tactical marketing tasks, and the initial element is the sales funnel, which was projected. The stages of work with potential consumers of EPs were formed. The sales conversion for EP «Marketing» of bachelor’s level in the local market is calculated. It is proved that sales conversion illustrates the process of conveying value to the consumer, working with objections, motivating its implementation, the work of both sales managers and marketers. It is determined that the sales management of educational programs of HEIs requires the implementation of intra-university policy, a list of tasks that need to be implemented within its terms has been formed. Methodological approaches to forecasting and planning the sale of educational programs are reflected. It is proposed that HEIs use the conception of marketing 3.0 in sales management of educational programs and apply integrated marketing communications.

CONCEPTUAL PRINCIPLES OF FORMATION OF LEADERSHIP COMPETENCE OF FUTURE TEACHERS OF HIGHER EDUCATION: SITUATIVE THEORY "PATH-GOAL"

The article analyzes the specifics of the content of training of future teachers in higher education in the context of mastering the situative theory of "path-goals" Mitchell and House during the study of the discipline "Leadership and guidance". The essence of the theory in the context of educational management, which is to assume that research and teaching staff of higher education institutions are satisfied and productive when there is a strong link between their efforts and performance, as well as between performance and reward. It was found that there is a direct relationship between the level of leadership effectiveness of top management of higher education and the level of motivational strength of expectations that have research and teaching staff.

The view of scientific and pedagogical workers on the peculiarities of the formation of health-preserving competence in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic among bachelors of humanities and pedagogical faculties

The view of scientific and pedagogical workers on the peculiarities of the formation of health-preserving competence among bachelors of humanities and pedagogical faculties in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The relevance of the research topic is due to the fact that the last few years of education, and in the humanities and pedagogy in particular, due to the need to implement this process remotely and in mixed form due to the global pandemic associated with COVID-19. This causes certain objective difficulties (high-quality Internet connection for the implementation of distance learning; operational interaction of all participants in the educational process on the platforms Moodle, E-Learn, etc.) and ambiguous attitude to the quality of competencies formed by students and researchers. pedagogical staff of higher education institutions. Purpose: to determine the current state of the formed health-preserving competence with the use of pedagogical technologies in bachelors of humanities and pedagogy in the pandemic COVID-19 (according to a survey of research and teaching staff of the Free Economic Zone of Ukraine). The results of the survey show that only about 30% of the surveyed participants are completely satisfied with the level of physical health and physical fitness of future bachelors; about 50% of respondents consider it effective to conduct on-line classes and consultations for students in order to form a health- preserving competence with the use of pedagogical technologies; no more than 30% of teachers are completely satisfied with the level of health-preserving competence, taking into account the peculiarities of their future professional activity in future bachelors of humanities and pedagogy.