Teaching Staff Members Research Articles

Advancing inclusive practices in higher education: possibilities and limitations of a social justice professional development course

ABSTRACT Research on widening the participation of historically underrepresented university students tends to focus on student preparation and the structural adjustments needed to attract and retain them. Few studies have examined how to prepare university staff for the diversity of students that comes with such widening participation programmes. This paper contributes to this gap by discussing the impact that a professional development course on practising inclusion in higher education had on academic and professional staff participants’ understanding of equitable and inclusive practices. Using interview data, we found that participants developed a more nuanced and sensitive practice and greater confidence to act for change as they acquired new skills and knowledge associated with social inclusion practices, reflected on their professional identity changes, and gained critical insights into their roles. These findings support the need for this type of professional development to prepare all higher education staff to genuinely support university students from underrepresented groups. They also highlight the need for these professional development offerings to foster greater reflexivity about taken-for-granted assumptions, a deeper understanding of structural power and inequity in higher education, and higher education staff members’ capacity to enact change within these structures.

Optimization of Lecturer Resource Management at the Faculty of Islamic Studies

This study examines Human Resource Management (HRM) practices within the Faculty of Islamic Studies at two universities: Pancabudi Development University and Dharmawangsa University. The research aims to analyze key HRM aspects, including recruitment, selection, competency enhancement, performance management, coaching, and the development of educational staff and faculty members at these institutions. The study adopts a multi-site approach, encompassing both faculties, and utilizes qualitative research methods, specifically a naturalistic interactive approach that involves organic interactions between researchers and participants. The findings reveal that both universities follow general standards for recruitment and selection, such as assessing prior needs and consulting with WR1, although the selection methods varied between institutions. Performance improvement strategies at both universities include participation in various training activities and seminars. Coaching and development efforts at Pancabudi Development University emphasize on-the-job and in-service training, whereas Dharmawangsa University incorporates third-party providers for training initiatives. Moreover, at Pancabudi Development University, the development of educator professionalism is integrated into the broader campus development strategy, while Dharmawangsa University prioritizes ongoing professional development. In conclusion, although the HRM approaches at both universities differ, they are aligned in their overall objectives to enhance HRM and campus development. These findings suggest that institutions implementing well-planned organizational strategies are likely to achieve superior accreditation outcomes.

Manajemen Kurikulum Merdeka dalam Meningkatkan Mutu Pendidikan di SMP Negeri 2 Ploso Jombang

The curriculum for Merdeka Learning has advanced to the point where it may be classified as under development. Right now, the government is emphasizing how important it is to use it in all educational settings. The Republic of Indonesia's Minister of Education and Culture, Nadiem Makarim, was there, and his presence encouraged the idea for curriculum adjustments, namely the autonomous learning curriculum. According to the curriculum concept known as "merdeka learning," students must be independent. The administration's main goal is to improve education, and several initiatives have been put in place for that purpose.1.) Gain an understanding of the Curriculum Merdeka's management in order to enhance the educational quality at SMP Negeri 2 Ploso. 2.) Understanding the elements that help and hinder the management of the Merdeka curriculum to raise the standard of instruction at SMP Negeri 2 Ploso. This type of research is called field research, which is conducted on-site at the subject, mostly with the aim of gathering data and other information. In the meantime, this research is qualitative in character, that is, it takes the form of a research technique that yields descriptive data. The principal's choice about the curriculum merdeka's implementation was based on the study findings intended to enhance the educational quality at SMP Negeri 2 Ploso in the process of creating the curriculum. Subsequently, the curriculum merdeka manager collaborated with the development and quality assurance teams to establish the school's operational curriculum, which was then submitted to the Ministry of Education and Culture's office (Kemendikbud) as a school implementing the curriculum merdeka. We may therefore conclude that the independence curriculum was prepared based on the principal's choice on its implementation in order to raise the standard of instruction at SMP Negeri 2 Ploso. Analyze the work that instructors and other teaching staff members do during class hours.

Competencia investigadora en educación secundaria postobligatoria (bachillerato)

Research competence is a crucial cross-cutting skill in the baccalaureate stage (post-compulsory secondary education), which is specifically developed and assessed in subjects such as “Research Project,” taught in Catalonia and other Spanish autonomous communities. The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of both baccalaureate students and teaching staff regarding the development of cross-cutting and specific research competencies through Research Project. To achieve this a research approach was carried out, which included the application of an ad-hoc questionnaire and in-depth interviews. The research sample comprised 1496 baccalaureate students from Catalonia and 15 teaching staff members who were tutors for Research Project. Among the most relevant findings, the alignment in the perception of both groups stands out. Both students and teachers primarily identify the development of competencies related to information search, critical thinking, and self-learning. However, students show a greater disagreement regarding the development of skills such as creativity, leadership, and decision-making. These results suggest that Research Project represents a valuable opportunity to foster the development of research competence. However, it is emphasized the importance of promoting this competence in a cross-cutting manner, both in the work carried out in the various curricular areas of baccalaureate and in prior education throughout secondary education.

EFFECTIVENESS OF ADVISORY SYSTEM AS PERCEIVED BY THE STUDENTS OF PJTSAU

With the rise of flexible curriculum models across many Higher Educational Institutions and an expanding array of courses and programs available, it’s crucial to ensure that students leverage the wealth of information to make well-informed decisions about their academic trajectory. This can be achieved through a robust student advisory system. At our institution, we prioritize individual student support through a unique advisory approach involving all teaching staff members. Advisors play a pivotal role in students’ academic journeys by offering mentorship, expert guidance, and access to resources that foster learning and development. The paper focusses on the development of a standardised index for measuring the effectiveness of student advisory system. Employing an ex-post facto research design, a sample of 120 students across three agricultural colleges under PJTSAU. Results revealed that the majority of students, 47.5 per cent perceived the effectiveness of the advisory system to be at a moderate level, followed by high (27.5%) and low (25.0%). Keywords:leverage, advisor, mentorship, effectiveness, curriculum

Problems in communication between teachers

This article is devoted to analysing problems in communication between teachers and how to deal with them. I will examine various aspects of this issue, from the need for more clarity in transmitting information to difficulties building trust and cooperation between teaching staff members. Lack of clarity in communication can lead to misunderstandings and frustration among teachers. Unclear instructions or messages affect the quality of teamwork and the effectiveness of educational activities. I will also look at the causes of ambiguity in the transmission of information. Another important aspect of teacher teamwork is trust and cooperation. Building trust and collaboration includes promoting open communication, common goals, and sharing knowledge and ideas. Competition between teachers or lack of confidence can be serious obstacles. In addition, I will look at strategies that can help teachers communicate more effectively and resolve conflicts, which contributes to building a positive school atmosphere and increasing the effectiveness of educational work.

The Involvement, Engagement and Satisfaction of Higher Education Students: A Literature Review

Students in Higher Education (HE), like academics and support staff members are critical roles players. This study provides insights into how students experience involvement, engagement, and satisfaction in Higher Education institutions. This study is qualitative in nature and the authors examined extant and relevant literature in analyzing, defining, explaining, and understanding the phenomenon of student’s involvement, engagement, and satisfaction in Higher Education. The exploration was guided by two critical literary review questions posed, namely: “What are the educational experiences of students in the Higher Educational institutions?” and “How does involvement and engagement of Higher Education students influence their satisfaction?” The databases of the Educational Resources Information Centre, Google Scholar, Springer and Research Gate were used to search for literature online. Search keywords included the following: (a) Educational experience of students from involvement to engagement and (b) student satisfaction. Selections were made on the basis of the abstracts of the different documents found. Based on the discussions, it was found out that students’ experiences are grounded in the environment where teaching and learning take place. Effective teaching methodologies support students to become good learners when the necessary environment is created for students to learn. The literature recommended that to attain the educational goals of higher educational institutions, higher educational managers could identify and improve areas of educational environment that affect students’ satisfaction levels.

How do Educational Staff and Students in a Medical School Perceive Social Accountability? A Multi-Perspective Qualitative Interview Study

Background: The majority of medical education is currently biomedical, while the concept of social accountability is not always systematically integrated. Education on social accountability equips students with the knowledge and skills to be socially accountable health professionals. However, the existing definitions of social accountability are not consistently applied, and the perspectives of important stakeholders are lacking. This study explores the perceptions of medical students and educational staff members on the construct of social accountability. Methods: This study uses an exploratory qualitative design in which online semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 educational staff members and 16 students at a medical school in the Netherlands. Participants were recruited using purposeful sampling and snowballing techniques. The interviews were qualitatively analyzed according to the grounded theory approach. Results and Conclusion: Amongst the participants, there was unfamiliarity with the term, social accountability. Participants mentioned the impact on society, institutional responsibility, and context-dependency as all features of social accountability. In line with previous studies, participants identified community-based learning and working, patient-centeredness, and diversity as sub-aspects of social accountability. Further aspects identified by the participants are sustainability, moral issues, and interprofessional collaboration. This study provided more insight into the construct of social accountability from the perspectives educational staff and students at a medical school.

Estimation of IT-project efforts for information system creation in the conditions of re-use of its functions

The object of this study is the process of estimation and control of an IT project. During the study, the problem of increasing the accuracy of estimating the efforts of an IT project to build an information system (IS) was solved. Research in this area is aimed at simplifying the original assessment methods or at applying elements of artificial intelligence to these methods. The task of the impact of the features of IS development methodology on effort assessment remains unexplored. During the study, the method of functional point analysis was modified. The proposed modification makes it possible to increase the accuracy of estimating efforts to build an IS under the conditions of re-using its individual functions. These conditions allow the construction of new system functions by reusing a previously developed function of the same system. The developed method was tested during the evaluation of efforts of an IT project to form the functional task "Forming and executing an individual plan for a research and teaching staff member of the department." The option of re-using one of the functions of a task during the construction of two other functions of the same task is considered. For this option, the estimate was 72 function points (the estimate using the standard method was 144 function points). The use of the results allows us to increase the accuracy in assessing the efforts of IT projects to construct IS under the conditions of applying the methodology of reuse of previously developed system elements. This, in turn, makes it possible to improve the accuracy of estimating time costs, personnel requirements, and financial costs for the implementation of IT projects for constructing IS. The results obtained are used to solve the task of estimating efforts during the planning of IT projects for developing information systems and their software

Competitive Organizational Culture and its Relationship with the Knowledge Technology in the Jordanian Private Universities in the Jordanian North District from the Point of View of the Teaching Staff Members

This study aimed to know level of the competitive organizational culture and its relationship with knowledge technology in the Jordanian private universities in the Jordanian North District from the point of view of the teaching staff members. To achieve objective of the study, the descriptive, survey analytical method was used, and the questionnaire as the study’s instrument, distributed to a sample of (180) teaching staff members in the Jordanian private universities in the North District (Jerash University, Jadara University, Irbid Ahliyah University & Ajloon Natinal University). Results showed that level of competitive organizational culture in the private Jordanian Universities in the North District from the point of view of the teaching staff members was medium, also results showed that degree of using knowledge technology in the Jordanian Private Universities in the North District from the point of view of teaching staff members also came at medium level, and the presence of positive correlation with statistical significance between level of the competitive organizational culture and degree of using knowledge technology in Jordanian Private Universities in the North District from the point of view of the teaching staff members. In light of the study results, the study recommended a number of recommendations, the most prominent: conducting similar study investigating competitive organizational culture and its relationship with quality of the work environment.

Big Five Personality Factors and Their Relationship to the Performance of Quality Work among Faculty Teaching Staff Members

Big Five Personality Factors and Their Relationship to the Performance of Quality Work among Faculty Teaching Staff Members

From Overwhelm to Success: Empowering Educational Personnel with Microlearning and Self-Paced Training to Maximize Performance and Avoid Burnout

This study investigates how self-paced training and microlearning can empower teachers, improve their output, and keep them from burning out. The heavy workloads and high levels of stress that teachers and administrators, commonly experience can negatively impact their general well-being and capacity to perform their professions efficiently. This study explores the possibility of self-paced training and microlearning as tools to empower educational personnel to solve these issues. The distribution of brief, bite-sized learning modules that concentrate on particular subjects or abilities is referred to as microlearning. Due to the modules' quick completion times and ease of access, educators can accommodate learning into their already hectic schedules. Self-paced training gives people the freedom to learn at their own pace and customizes and adapts their learning process. Through the use of self-paced training and microlearning, educational staff members can acquire critical knowledge and skills in a convenient and customized way. Furthermore, by enabling educators to prioritize their professional growth and manage their workload, these training methods can assist in avoiding burnout in the classroom. The study will also investigate the possible obstacles and difficulties that educators may encounter while introducing microlearning and self-paced training. To sum up, self-paced training and microlearning have the power to completely change how educators acquire knowledge and grow as professionals. Teachers can enhance their performance, knowledge, and skills by implementing these tactics, which will help students and the educational system as a whole.

A survey of the most prevalent sustainability initiatives at universities

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify the most prevalent initiatives undertaken by leading universities in sustainability and offer a roadmap for other institutions seeking to undertake similar actions and contribute to more effective implementation of sustainability practices. Design/methodology/approach By using a quantitative assessment approach, the study sheds light on successful initiatives implemented by universities worldwide, spanning six categories: transportation, waste management, curriculum, food and dining, water and energy. Each category is clearly related to one or more of the 17 sustainable development goals. A cluster analysis was also applied to identify regional trends in preferred initiatives. Findings The study underlines the importance of integrating sustainability principles into the curricula of higher education institutions (HEIs) as well as educating staff members on energy and water management. The most common and impactful initiatives in the studied six categories have been identified. Many of the initiatives mentioned in the study do not just result in reducing ecological footprint but also provide economic savings as well. Differences among regions and countries were observed in the implementation of initiatives. Cultural and habitual factors should not be disregarded during the selection process of initiatives. Originality/value The findings of this study may help universities to take their first steps toward implementing initiatives that can effectively promote sustainable development. Results will aid other HEIs in planning for next steps while outlining the more common initiatives.

The impact of sustainable internal branding on teaching staff’s commitment: application on private higher education institutions

ABSTRACT This study aims to extend the boundary of knowledge about internal branding, which touches on two disciplines: marketing and human resources management in an attempt to understand the constructs of internal branding and their impact on the commitment of service providers (higher education teaching staff members) so that they support the brand promise of the university and maintain a competitive edge for private universities in Egypt that function in a very competitive market. Data were collected from 402 members of teaching staff to test the proposed model and hypotheses using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results prove the fitness of the suggested model and that the constructs of internal branding (supervisory support, effective internal communication, clear vision and values) do have a significant impact on teaching staff commitment except for the construct of directed training programs (DTP), contrary to previous literature which might be because teaching staff commitment may require variables other than training programs which in turn rings a bell for private universities’ management to partially reconsider the budgets directed to training for teaching staff or it could be due to cultural differences as previous literature was mostly conducted in different cultures, thus a value addition of this study.

Knowledge, perception, and practices of teaching and nonteaching staff members regarding tobacco use surveillance before and after implementing the Tobacco-Free School Program: A serial cross-sectional study

Abstract Aims and Objectives: The present study assessed the knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors related to tobacco use surveillance among both teaching and nonteaching staff members before and after implementing the “Tobacco Free School” intervention. This initiative targeted establishing tobacco-free environments, specifically in Marathi medium-high schools within the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Pune District, Maharashtra, India. Materials and Methods: Data for the serial cross-sectional study were gathered using a validated questionnaire administered to teaching and nonteaching staff members at these schools at baseline and follow-up. The intervention was conducted in three schools between June 2019 and September 2020. The number and percentage for each question concerning knowledge, perception, and practice were calculated with a confidence interval of 95% and a P value of <0.05 considered significant. The McNemar test was employed to assess whether there was a significant difference between pre- and post-study results. Results and Discussion: Ninety percent of teachers demonstrated awareness of the law. Familiarity with two specific sections of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003: Sections 4 and 6 showed a 39% difference in knowledge acquired between pre- and post-study results. Staff members were better aware of the tobacco vendors setting up shop outside the educational institution post-survey (P = 0.03). Conclusion: Staff members learned about tobacco products’ content, ill effects, and better-perceived tobacco control. Based on the respondent’s reply (61%) on the presence of tobacco vendors within 100 yards, the offending vendor’s picture was uploaded on the “Tobacco Monitor App” so that prompt action could be initiated by the State Tobacco Control Cell.

THE HUMAN VARIABLES WITHIN BUDGETARY CONTROL AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AT HEIS

Budgets and budgetary controls are important components of management control intended to encourage resource utilization efficiency in support of the achievement of company strategic goals. Budget control aims to observe transparency and legality at all stages of the budget process to ensure responsible and effective performance by the state of its functions and tasks regarding the formation and spending of budget funds. This study evaluates how employee budget involvement and performance relate in a Ghanaian public university, specifically the University of Education. The University of Education was chosen as the study location to determine the relationship between budget participation and employee performance in Ghana's public universities. Because the government owns 100% of Ghana's public universities and because these institutions are subject to government oversight, the researchers believe that using a single case study is suitable. Throughout the investigation, a multi-analysis and participative strategy was used. Employee performance is evaluated for the research based on how well they contribute to the organization's achievement of the budget objective. The study's particular focus is on the behavioral aspects of budgeting procedures and the effect of budget participation on employees' effectiveness in meeting defined budgetary objectives. The researcher chose 110 respondents who are University of Education staff members using basic random sample and convenience sampling procedures. It is clear from our study that employee participation in the budgeting process is the cornerstone of achieving budget goals because it will enable employees to have a clear understanding of what the budget is meant for, have a voice by ensuring that resources are distributed fairly among departments and faculties of the university. From this, it is obvious that we accept our null hypothesis, according to which budget participation increases employees' performance and their view of the fairness of resource distribution and budget goal clarity. Future studies might also encompass the perspectives of key management figures such as Registrars, Directors of Finance, Vice Chancellors, and other essential officers who play significant roles in the budgeting process of these public universities.

Understanding the Dynamics: The Organization's Commitments and Quality of Work Life in the Higher Education Context

The current study objective is to investigate the factors that affect work-life quality and the connection between it and organizational commitment among South Indian academic professionals. Explanatory and quantitative methods were both used in the inquiry. Data from 177 samples selected by a Stratified random sampling technique were gathered using a standardized seven-point for the study. Links between consistent latent and manifest variables are found using confirmatory factor analysis. As per the Structural Equation Model results, a significant and positive correlation exists between academic staff members' organizational commitment, work-life balance, performance, and pay. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the organizational commitment of higher education staff members and their degree of worklife happiness are significantly and favorably correlated. The institutions must raise job engagement among academic staff members and enhance service quality to enable more balanced work-life measures.

РОЗВИТОК КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТІ З ВЕБ-ДИЗАЙНУ ПЕДАГОГІЧНИХ ПРАЦІВНИКІВ ЗАКЛАДІВ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ (ПРОФЕСІЙНО-ТЕХНІЧНОЇ) ОСВІТИ

Relevance: in modern conditions, teachers are actively involved in the creation of electronic textbooks, interactive notebooks, various forms and test tasks, etc. All this means developing and designing objects of the Internet information environment from the standpoint of user-friendliness and meeting the user's aesthetic needs. The web design competence development of teaching staff at vocational education institutions is an urgent need in the context of digitalisation of education. Aim: defining the structure of competence in web design for teaching staff of vocational education institutions and substantiating the methodology for its development. Methods: analysis and synthesis – to determine the development state of the problem under study and the list of competence in web design of teaching staff; generalization – to formulate conclusions and recommendations for the web design competence development of teaching staff at vocational education institutions; diagnostic (testing, conversation) – to find out the level of competence in web design of teaching staff. Results: it was found that more than 17% of teachers design and create websites and web pages that combine text with sounds, pictures, graphics and video; 5-7% use various graphic editors and image processing services; about 80 % of respondents carry out independent design development of electronic publications (a product containing information in electronic form); less than 6 % of respondents indicated that there is a unified approach to the design of educational materials on hard copy and for posting on the Internet. The structure of competence in web design for teaching staff of vocational education institutions consists of technical skills (basics of composition, typography, colour science, graphic design, design software, user interface (UI), user experience (UX), responsive design) and soft skills (project management, time management, copywriting, web design awareness, creative thinking, critical thinking, attention to detail, communication, self-reflection). To assess this competence, four levels (initial, low, medium, high) have been developed, taking into account the indicators of motivational, cognitive, activity and reflective criteria. Taking into account the specifics of the teaching staff activities at vocational education institutions, a methodology for their design education has been developed, which is aimed at developing competence in web design and includes seven stages. Conclusions: Teaching staff of vocational education institutions are involved in the development of e-learning content, but have a low level of competence in web design. The web design competence of a teaching staff member of a vocational education institution is a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes to web design technologies to create educational content for performing tasks, solving problems, communicating, managing information, working together in the information and educational environment of a vocational education institution, doing it effectively, appropriately, safely, critically, creatively, independently and ethically. At the same time, the teacher does not have to be a web designer, he/she uses the tools and ready-made algorithms of the services he/she works with, the basis of his/her training in this field is graphic design, typography, copywriting, etc. for the effective presentation of electronic content.

Transformational Educational Leadership Effect On Staff Members Engagement: The Mediating Impact Of Intrinsic Motivation

Staff member’s engagement has been at the core of consideration for top management and scholars who stated that staff member’s engagement can be a key driver of an organization's business success. Many scholars have found in recent researches that a transformational educational leadership approach has a beneficial connection with staff member’s engagement. Therefore, this research oriented to investigate the connection of transformational educational leadership on staff members engagement through the mediating role of figurehead intrinsic enthusiasm. Researchers examine the information from a sample of 338 elevated education staff members working in the elevated educational institutes in Ethiopia by means of structural equation modeling (SEM) and confirmatory factor investigation (CFA) to examine the framed hypothesis. Afterward, the bootstrapping investigation was employed to verify the mediation examine in present research. The investigation manifested that transformational educational leadership approach had considered proficient impact on staff member’s engagement for the mediating role of intrinsic enthusiasm. The impact of transformational educational leadership on staff member’s engagement was found to be totally mediated by figurehead intrinsic enthusiasm. Hypothetically, present experiential investigation contributed to the novel knowledge on the exclusive mediating impacts of figurehead intrinsic motivation on the connections among transformational educational leadership and staff member’s engagement in the Ethiopia. Practically, present research has administrative connotation in the field of governmental administration, leadership and HRM.

Ikimokyklinio ugdymo pedagogų požiūris į įtrauktį ir įtraukųjį ugdymą

The research focuses on the attitudes of kindergarten teaching staff (teachers and pedagogical assistants) towards inclusion, their views on the problems they encounter in the education of children with special educational needs and their views on the importance of the measures introduced in the education of these children. Two questionnaires were used for data collection. Attitudes through a questionnaire by the researcher Marian Mahat (MATPIES) were measured. The second questionnaire of own construction consisted of six questions, two of which focused on the problems encountered by educators in the education of children with special educational needs and their views on the importance of the measures introduced for these children. The questionnaire was completed by 284 kindergarten teaching staff members. The correlation between the degree of problems reported by teaching staff in the education of children with special needs and the attitudes of teaching staff towards inclusion was not confirmed. The correlation between the assessment of the need for measures for successful inclusive education and the attitudes of teaching staff towards inclusion was not statistically significant.