Standards Of Higher Education Research Articles

Free Education vs. Quality Education: A systematic analysis

Overview: The debate between free education and quality education remains a critical issue in the global education landscape. This systematic analysis aimed to dissect the intricate relationship between the provision of free education and the assurance of quality education. While free education is often lauded for its role in increasing accessibility and promoting educational equity, concerns about the potential compromise in quality cannot be overlooked. Body of Knowledge: The study’s analysis drew on a comprehensive review of existing literature, case studies, and empirical data from various countries that have implemented free education policies. Central to this analysis is the understanding that free education, though essential for fostering inclusivity, often faces challenges such as underfunding, overcrowded classrooms, and inadequate infrastructure. These issues can severely impact the quality of education delivered, resulting in poor learning outcomes and diminished educational standards. Methods: The study engaged both the qualitative and quantitative methods and a descriptive research design that sampled 150 respondents; head teachers, teachers and learners from selected secondary schools in Lusaka district, Zambia. Data was obtained from the respondents by means of interviews and questionnaires. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data whereas quantitative data were analyzed by the use of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 26) and Microsoft Excel (version 16). Results: The study’s analysis delves into the economic implications of free education. While it alleviates the financial burden on families, especially in low-income regions, the long-term sustainability of such policies is questioned. The study examined various funding models and the role of government expenditure in maintaining high educational standards without imposing direct costs on students. Recommendation: The study therefore recommended for policymakers to adopt a holistic view, ensuring that the drive towards free education is matched with adequate resources, effective management, and a commitment to continuous improvement in educational standards.

The Role of Salary on Teacher Performance in Secondary School

Objectives: The primary objective of this review paper is to examine the impact of salary on teacher performance in secondary schools. Methodology: The research utilizes an in-depth analysis of existing literature to examine how teacher salaries impact their performance. It examines data from multiple sources to investigate the trends and results related to teacher pay in different educational settings. Results: The results show a clear connection between fair teacher wages and enhanced performance. Educators who are fairly paid are more inspired, content, and dedicated to their duties, leading to superior educational results for students. In contrast, inadequate salaries lead to a significant turnover of teachers, especially in rural and less developed areas, which worsens educational inequalities. Conclusion: The research indicates that teacher salaries play a crucial role in guaranteeing a high standard of education. Proper payment not only boosts the performance of teachers but also helps maintain the stability and efficiency of the education system. Recommendations: It is recommended that educational policymakers prioritize competitive salary structures for teachers to enhance their performance and retention. Additionally, further empirical research should be conducted to explore the nuanced impacts of teacher pay on educational outcomes across different contexts.

Higher education governance in Pakistan: the role and influence of HEC in the post-18th Amendment

In the 18th Amendment in the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan, the role of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan was limited to the quality standards of higher education and federal institutions and research centres only, as explained in Federal Legislative List I and II. Despite this constitutional constraint, the HEC maintains significant power over the universities and higher education, including policy formation, budgetary administration, and governance. The HEC was established as an advisory body under the HEC Ordinance, 2002. However, its powers have since then expanded its role to that of a quasi-governing organisation. The 2011 Supreme Court decision reaffirmed the HEC's authority under the law, emphasising the necessity of maintaining high educational standards and effective control. This article critically explores the degree of HEC's impact after the 18th Amendment, investigating the conflicts between provincial autonomy and federal monitoring and assessing the ramifications of HEC regulation on Pakistan's higher education environment. The study's findings show that despite the passage of the 18th Amendment, higher education is a more centralised subject controlled by Pakistan's federal government. The provinces, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, possess limited autonomy concerning higher education governance and rely on HEC for higher education governance.

FORECASTING THE SUCCESS OF EDUCATION SEEKERS FROM A SEPARATE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE PRELIMINARY MASTERY OF SUBJECT COMPETENCIES

The paper examines the main concepts related to the quality of education in general and the assimilation of educational material by higher education seekers. The task of predicting a seeker's grade in any discipline is formulated with data on his assimilation of program learning outcomes that also correspond to this discipline. The available specialized information system of own development is described which applies a number of methods (multivariate linear regression, artificial neural networks, k-nearest neighbors) and determines which method will be the most effective for the analysis of specific data. It is noted that during the further improvement of the quality system of knowledge assessment, it is important to determine at what level the student of education possesses the acquired competences, i.e. to calculate the success of seekers in terms of general and professional competences and program learning outcomes, determined by the standards of higher education and educational programs developed on their basis. The developed algorithm for calculating the success rate of higher education applicants in terms of program learning outcomes is presented; according to this algorithm, data were prepared on the acquisition of software creation competencies by 78 seekers of the first level of higher education of the educational and professional program Intelligent Decision Support Systems specialty 124, Systems analysis, of the DSEA. To solve the problem of forecasting by the method of artificial neural networks, the programming and data analysis language R is proposed. A script for finding the optimal neural network architecture is created. It was found that the best result (correlation is 0.9599, average absolute reduced error is 0.1132, percentage of correctly predicted points on the Ukrainian scale is 79.2) provides a perceptron with two hidden layers and five neurons in each one. This network was applied to predict the success of the new academic group: correlation is 0.923, the average absolute reduced error is 0.0654, the percentage of correctly predicted points on the Ukrainian scale is 82.4. The obtained results can be used to assess the quality of the structural and logical scheme of the EPP and in the work of the department during the analysis of seekers' success, etc.

Penerapan Total Quality Management Pada Dunia Pendidikan Dalam Meningkatkan Kinerja Tenaga Kependidikan

This research aims to analyze the application of Total Quality Management (TQM) in improving the performance of education staff. In an era of globalization that demands improving the quality of education, TQM is considered a strategic approach that is able to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of education personnel. The research method used is a case study with a qualitative approach. Data collection was carried out through direct observation, in-depth interviews with school principals, teachers and administrative staff, as well as analysis of documents related to the implementation of TQM in selected vocational schools. The research results show that the implementation of TQM contributes significantly to improving the performance of education personnel in several main aspects: first, through strengthening a quality culture that emphasizes the importance of student satisfaction and achieving high education standards; second, continuous work process improvement through the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle; and third, increasing job satisfaction and professionalism of educational staff through continuous training and career development programs. In addition, key factors that support the successful implementation of TQM in the educational environment include strong commitment from school management, active involvement of all stakeholders, and effective and transparent communication. This research also identifies challenges in implementing TQM, such as resistance to change and limited resources, but emphasizes that the long-term benefits of implementing TQM are much greater. The conclusion of this research is that TQM is an effective and efficient strategy in improving the performance of educational staff in vocational schools, and therefore, can be adopted more widely by other educational institutions. Successful implementation of TQM will have a positive impact on the overall quality of education, so that it can produce graduates who are competent and ready to compete in the world of work.

Prospects for the Formation of Russian-Centric Model of Higher Education

Russian higher education, experiencing the influence of both objective processes (transition to the information society and knowledge economy, globalization, internationalization, increasing environmental ventures, changes in the geopolitical situation) and internal transformations (change of political guidelines, exit from the Bologna system, return to value-based educational paradigm) is being modified again today. The article is devoted to the study of the prospects for the formation of a new Russian-centric model as the basis for transforming Russia into a new global educational center based on an effective balance of traditional and innovative educational technologies, repositioning Russia in the global context, including in the educational sphere, the development of new formats of international cooperation in the field of education with the predominance of Russian educational practices. The paper presents the results of a study of current scientific and expert discourse on the state of Russian higher education, identifying the drivers of the formation of a Russian-centric educational model. The article summarizes the nature and types of educational technologies used in modern domestic higher education, assesses the quality of teaching in modern Russian universities, as well as the need for foreign citizens to obtain higher education in the Russian Federation based on pilot surveys of Russian and foreign students conducted by the author. Conclusions are drawn about the positive prospects for creating a Russian-centric model based on the high standards of Russian higher education, the fundamental traditions of teaching in Russian higher education, taking into account the introduction of the latest educational innovations, as well as the high demand from foreign students and applicants for obtaining Russian universities’ diplomas.

Construction and Application of a Prediction Model for Students’ Satisfaction in Chinese-Foreign Cooperatively-Run Educational Programmes Based on Machine Learning

The increasing popularity of educational programs by Chinese and foreign partners in China's universities presents challenges in administration due to differences in organization, social expectations, and academic requirements. This study presents a prediction model using Machine Learning techniques to assess student satisfaction levels. The Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) framework, enabled by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), was used to collect data from 1,237 students. The approach was compared to other ML models like Random Forest, Linear Regression, Naïve Bayes, and Support Vector Machine and trained and validated using 5-fold cross-validation. The PCA+GBM model scored most effectively of significant metrics, with 93% accuracy, 92% precision, 91% recall, and 91.5% F1-score. Policymakers and educational administrators can use the outcomes as an incentive to enhance the strategy and standard of Higher Education (HE) that are run in collaboration between China and foreign countries.

The role of cultural and creative competencies in shaping success of art ukrainian students

The article considers the issues of the competency-based approach in higher education and the role of cultural and creative competencies in the modern educational discourse. The aim of the article is to define the peculiarities of forming cultural and creative competencies of students in artistic specialties in higher education institutions of Ukraine, as well as to elucidate the influence of these competencies on the competitiveness and professional career advancement of specialists in both domestic and global labor markets. The research methodology includes a combination of systemic-differentiated, comparative, synergistic, cultural, axiological, structural-functional, and empirical methods, which are employed to clarify the peculiarities of forming cultural and creative competencies during students’ professional training in artistic specialties. The article demonstrates the peculiarities of forming cultural and creative competencies in the Standards of Higher Education and educational-professional programs, examines role of the educational environment in forming creative competencies and its peculiarities as an educational-creative environment using the example of training students in artistic specialties at Kharkiv State Academy of Culture. Promising directions for improving creativity development in educational-creative environments of educational institutions are identified, which enhance the competitiveness of professionals in artistic specialties and contribute to the resolution of crisis phenomena in society.

Social moderation and calibration versus codification: a way forward for academic standards in higher education?

ABSTRACT A key responsibility of higher education providers is the accurate certification of the knowledge and skills attained by their students. However, despite an intense focus on developing relevant quality assurance regulations, academic standards in higher education have remained resistant to explication and consistent application. In this paper, we initially deconstruct and evaluate academic standards and dominant practitioner perspectives on their nature and use, including techno-rational, sociocultural and sociomaterial approaches. The limited prior research on the effectiveness of calibration and social moderation processes is reviewed, highlighting the significant challenges in sharing tacitly held understandings of assessment criteria (attributes of quality) and standards (levels of achievement). Further complications are considered that arise from the varying expertise and power relationships of assessors and the complexities inherent in the development and use of codified artefacts for capturing and sharing standards. We opine that because of the difficulties in clearly representing and agreeing standards, it is unsurprising that there is little evidence of marking consistency to be found in the literature even in contexts where carefully crafted artefacts, such as rubrics, are in use. We conclude that effectiveness would be enhanced through sharing understandings more widely and refocusing the use of assessment codifications towards how they may catalyse effective social moderation and calibration dialogues. Dialogues that foreground individuals’ positions of consensus and dissensus at significant points of interpretation in the assessment process are identified within the paper.

The Use of Simulation in Nursing Education Programs: A Cross-Sectional Interuniversity Study

Background. Simulation-based education has been incorporated into nursing curricula as an educational strategy. However, its implementation has not yet been standardized in different regions. Purpose. The aim of this study is to describe simulation-based education in the nursing curricula in Catalonia and Andorra. Methods. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 in which 16 universities participated. Results. The median dedication to clinical simulation in the nursing studies was 287.5 hours, with variations between universities (ranging from 24 to 516 hours). The dedication for the low-medium fidelity simulation was 89.4 hours (SD ± 58.3) and 26 hours (SD ± 17) for the high-fidelity simulation. All the universities had qualified teaching staff and facilities. Conclusions. There is variability in the implementation and use of simulation-based education among universities. However, there is consensus on its usefulness in nursing curricula. To integrate simulation training into the nursing curriculum, it is necessary to establish convergent simulation standards in higher education.

THE ROLE OF ACCREDITATION IN ENSURING THE QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN UKRAINE

The article examines the problems and prospects of the accreditation system as a tool for ensuring the quality of higher education in Ukraine. The state and peculiarities of integration of the Ukrainian accreditation system into the European context are investigated. The purpose of this study is to analyse the accreditation system of higher education in Ukraine and to study its impact on ensuring the quality of education in accordance with European standards. The emphasis is placed on analysing the theoretical and practical aspects of accreditation in Ukraine, identifying problems and opportunities for further improvement. The study uses general scientific methods. The method of documentary analysis was also used. The article examines topical issues related to the accreditation system of higher education in Ukraine, in particular the factors that affect its effectiveness and compliance with European standards. The analysis of the state of integration of the Ukrainian accreditation system into the European dimension has revealed key challenges and prospects. The theoretical aspect of the study highlights the conceptual foundations of accreditation, its goals, and impact on the quality of education. The practical analysis revealed problems such as the lack of a unified assessment methodology and insufficient coordination between accreditation bodies. The results of the study can serve as a basis for developing specific strategies and recommendations to improve the effectiveness of accreditation and maintain higher quality standards in Ukrainian higher education. The article emphasises that accreditation is an important tool for monitoring and ensuring the quality of higher education in Ukraine. It serves not only as a mechanism for determining the compliance of higher education institutions with the established standards but also guarantees a high standard of education and compliance with academic standards. Recommendations for improving the quality of higher education in Ukraine are proposed, taking into account the European experience in the field of accreditation. The study emphasises the importance of affinity with European models and the need for active cooperation to ensure a high standard of quality of higher education in Ukraine.

Competency-Based Model of Human Resource Development in Higher Education

This research aims to find the model that best suits the development of Human Resources (HR) in higher education based on the competencies determined by the Indonesian National Work Competency Standards (SKKN). Until now, HR competency standards in higher education have not been standardized, making it difficult to prepare HR development models. Meanwhile, various HR development models are being implemented by the industrial sector. Meanwhile, human resource development in higher education still focuses only on lecturers. There are educational staff (tendik) who are human resources that also need to be developed. The research was conducted using qualitative methods through literature reviews and interviews with HR experts in organizations, companies and the academic world. The results were analyzed using SWOT (Swot Analysis) and decided by experts in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The results of this research found important variables that were mapped to the tree structure, namely root variables, stem variables, and fruit/leaf variables

Pembelajaran Biologi Berbasis Praktikum dan Kemampuan Berpikir Kritis Siswa : Sebuah Kajian Korelasi

Education is very important for the development of a country. Countries with high educational standards are considered developed. Skills in critical analysis are vital to advancing the nation and oneself in the 21st century and also to provide experience as an important asset to compete in the future. The aim of this research is to determine the relationship between learning using practical methods and its impact on students' critical analysis skills. In this research, a descriptive analysis method was used to describe the problem of a correlation study in practicum-based learning with students' critical analysis skills. The data collection technique used was the literature study method. The literature taken is based on previous research related to the topic. Research shows that practicum-based learning is considered useful in honing critical analysis skills, stimulating initiative, learning motivation, and establishing collaboration. The results obtained are that practicum-based learning is able to improve students' critical analysis skills by increasing student activity during practicum learning. These active students encourage students to do their practicum well and can get answers to unsolved problems.

Master’s Degree Students Training in Higher Education Management in Ukraine

The article deals with the issue of improving higher education management, which is one of the priorities at the stage of Ukraine’s integration to the European Union. The state of Master’s degree students training in higher education management is determined based on the analysis of national legislation, higher education standards in particular, and appropriative Master’s degree programmes. Based on the educational policies of Ukraine, the approaches to providing such training are comprehensively characterized. It has been identified that in Ukraine, the training in higher education management is carried out within two specialties: “011 Educational and Pedagogical Sciences”, “073 Management”, where study programmes in management prevail quantitatively. Based on enrolment data, it has been determined that pedagogical education programmes are in high demand among applicants. The content, purpose, learning outcomes, educational components of the study programmes, the fulfilment of licensed scope of student number for such Master’s degree programmes and their graduates employment is revealed. For the first time, the common features of the goal of the study programmes in higher education management are summarized in the frame of the two specialties specified above: the training of highly qualified specialists with a high level of management and communication competence as well as capacity to solve problems in the education management sphere. The partial implementation of the principles laid down as the basis of the legislation on higher education quality assurance through the accreditation of study programmes and the strengthening trust in higher education in Ukraine has been revealed. The distribution of higher education entrants between the specialities is determined based on a comparative analysis of the data. The issues concerning the feasibility of higher education managers training in frame of the specialty “281 Public Administration and Management” is considered. It is found out that the most programmes are aimed at the institutional level management. It is proposed that providing higher education managers training at the national and regional levels can be achieved by the implementation of the interdisciplinary study programmes.

Features of the North Ossetian Primary School in the Context of Reforming the Soviet Education System in the 1950s and Early 60s

The article examines in detail the peculiarities of the North Ossetian primary school in the context of the reform of the Soviet education system in the 1950s and early 60s. The reform of education in the USSR in the late 1950s was aimed at optimizing the learning process and strengthening the link between education and practical activities. The study is devoted to analyzing the peculiarities of this reform; the main attention is also paid to the changes in the language policy in the schools of North Ossetia. The relevance of the topic is determined by the need to understand the historical context of modern educational policy and to preserve the cultural heritage of a multinational state. The scientific novelty lies in the comprehensive approach to the analysis of legal and educational initiatives of that period. The methodological basis of the study was the historical analysis of normative-legal acts, as well as retrospective and problem-chronological methods of scientific research. The results show that the introduction of compulsory study of native and Russian languages, as well as changes in the structure of foreign language study, were aimed at reducing the burden on students and creating conditions for the all-round development of the individual. The study emphasizes the importance of the balance between national identity and educational standards. It reveals that the main achievement of the reform was to reduce the teaching load on students by optimizing the language programme, which in turn allowed students to focus on learning their native and Russian languages, while ensuring the preservation and development of national identity. This decision was an obvious compromise between the need to maintain high educational standards and the ethno-linguistic specificity of the republic.

Ethical Standards in Higher Education

A study was conducted regarding ways in which higher education institutions can improve ethics. Theoretical frameworks used included: Virtue ethics, deontological and environmental ethics theories. The total sampled written texts were 94. Non-probability sampling was used. The type that was used was online convenience sampling through web scraping. Philosophical assumption that guided this study was interpretivism and the approach was Qualitative. Case study was used as a design and content analysis as a method of data analysis. Some of the findings of the study included but were not limited to the following: Higher education's ethical and professional standards are critical for retaining the trust of students, staff, and the larger society. Institutions that prioritise ethics and standards will be better positioned to carry out their goal and positively impact society. The study recommended the following to Higher education stakeholders: Create faculty-led ethics committees to evaluate and advise on ethical issues such as teaching, research, and academic freedom. Make certain that these committees are composed of a diverse spectrum of faculty members with ethics expertise; Create explicit rules and protocols for using AI, machine learning, and big data ethically in academic research and administrative processes. Address the issues of discrimination, privacy, and accountability in AI applications; and Involve alumni in ethics programs and projects to encourage them to support and contribute to ethical education and research. Create opportunities for alumni to advise students on how to develop ethical professions

INNOVATION WORK BEHAVIOR: NEW MODEL TO SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION

This study aims to explore Innovative Work Behavior (IWB) within the educational context, focusing on the contributions of individuals and organizations to the innovation processes within educational institutions. In the face of the complex dynamics heightened by the challenges of the pandemic, the role of innovation has become increasingly crucial to ensure the quality of learning and the achievement of high educational standards. Educators, as primary subjects in this context, are expected to cultivate creative thinking abilities, explore emerging technologies, and advocate for innovative ideas to drive positive change in the education sector. The recent model proposed by Demircioglu et al underscores the critical role of network behavior in shaping IWB, emphasizing the significance of an innovative climate and knowledge sharing as key factors stimulating IWB. The research methodology involves a comprehensive and integrative literature review, providing an in-depth analysis of relevant literature. The study concludes by highlighting the necessity of collaboration among governments, school administrators, educators, educational staff, and the community to create an innovative and responsive educational environment.

Lessons From Organic Chemistry: The Case for Considering Both High Standards and Equity in Assessment.

In this commentary, the authors explore the tension of balancing high performance standards in medical education with the acceptability of those standards to stakeholders (e.g., learners and patients). The authors then offer a lens through which this tension might be considered and ways forward that focus on both patient outcomes and learner needs.In examining this phenomenon, the authors argue that high performance standards are often necessary. Societal accountability is key to medical education, with the public demanding that training programs prepare physicians to provide high-quality care. Medical schools and residency programs, therefore, require rigorous standards to ensure graduates are ready to care for patients. At the same time, learners' experience is important to consider. Making sure that performance standards are acceptable to stakeholders supports the validity of assessment decisions.Equity should also be central to program evaluation and validity arguments when considering performance standards. Currently, learners across the continuum are variably prepared for the next phase in training and often face inequities in resource availability to meet high passing standards, which may lead to learner attrition. Many students who face these inequities come from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds and are essential to ensuring a diverse medical workforce to meet the needs of patients and society. When these students struggle, it contributes to the leaky pipeline of more socioeconomically and racially diverse applicants.The authors posit that 4 key factors can balance the tension between high performance standards and stakeholder acceptability: standards that are acceptable and defensible, progression that is time variable, requisite support structures that are uniquely tailored for each learner, and assessment systems that are equitably designed.

The use of psychological and psychiatric methods in determining valeological competence formation in non-medical students of Ukraine

Background. Valeological competence is the ability to lead a healthy lifestyle. Teaching the basics of a healthy lifestyle in higher education institutions of Ukraine is regulated by higher education standards. Valeological competence is formed in non-medical students during the teaching of valeological disciplines. At the Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy (Kharkiv) such a valeological discipline is "Health Pedagogy", at the National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute" (Kharkiv) and at the National University of Civil Defense of Ukraine (Kharkiv) – "Fundamentals of Medical Knowledge and Health-Saving". Confidential questionnaires are used to assess the success of the formation of the motivational-value and personal components of valeological competence, the list of questions of which allows studying the behavior patterns of non-medical students. Aim. To establish the conformity of the questions of the questionnaires, which are used to study the formation of the motivational-value and personal components of the valeological competence in non-medical students, to the existing psychological and psychiatric methods. Materials and Methods. The bibliosemantic method and the system analysis method were used in the study. Results. Correspondence was established between the questions used to assess the success of the formation of the motivational, value and personal components of valeological competence, with the questions of such psychological and psychiatric methods questionnaires by Rogers K. and Diamond R. (social-psychological adaptation), Boyko V.V. (level of emotional burnout), Burtyanskyi D.L. and Krystal V.V. (levels of socio-pedagogical and sexual-behavioral adaptation of a married couple or sexual partners), Navran L. (satisfaction with married life or life with a sexual partner) and the CAGE-AID screening test for alcohol and/or drug addiction. Conclusions. The questions of the questionnaires used for assess the success of the formation of the motivational-value and personal components of valeological competence in non-medical students, correspond to existing psychological and psychiatric methods, the modification of which to the needs of assessing the formation of the components of valeological competence requires further research. Keywords: qualitative factor-criterion model, health-saving, valeological education.

Quality Standards for Criminal Justice Education: The Long and Winding Road

Higher education in criminology and criminal justice has evolved over the last 100 years in fits and starts. The road was long, and it took many turns, reflecting not only the need for training and professionalism among criminal justice practitioners, but for the development of a new academic field of study at colleges and universities. This article traces the history of the quest for academic standards in higher education, specifically the role of ACJS in this endeavor. Both authors have contributed to ACJS’s efforts over the years and were involved in the two most recent iterations of ACJS Academic Program Review: Certification and Program Endorsement. We chronicle the rise and fall of certification and the recent effort to create an endorsement program that seeks to balance the need for quality control while providing the desired flexibility for individual programs.