Tertiary Qualifications Research Articles

Impact of Sustainable Agricultural Practices on Farm Productivity, Yield, and Climate Resilience Among Smallholder Farmers in Zambia

This study investigated the impact of sustainable agricultural practices on farm productivity, crop yield, and climate resilience among smallholder farmers across Zambia. A mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection methods was used to collect responses from 244 farmers. To ensure a diverse representation across different types of farming and regions, stratified random sampling was used. Key findings reveal that the majority of farmers (75%) adopted conservation agriculture, including practices like minimum soil disturbance, crop rotation, and permanent soil cover, which significantly enhanced soil health, water retention, and resilience to climate variability. A notable 53% of farmers also engaged in soil fertility management practices, such as composting and green manure, further contributing to increased yields and long-term productivity. In terms of farm size, 44% of farmers managed small plots (1-5 hectares), with the majority (51%) practicing mixed farming. This diversification of crops and livestock contributed to increased climate resilience. The study also highlighted the role of education, with 38.5% of respondents holding tertiary qualifications, which enabled the adoption of innovative, climate-smart practices. These findings highlight the importance of sustainable agricultural practices in boosting productivity, enhancing farm resilience, and mitigating climate change effects, particularly for smallholder farmers in Zambia.

“Knowledge was clearly associated with education.” epistemic positioning in the context of informed choice: a scoping review and secondary qualitative analysis

BackgroundBeing able to measure informed choice represents a mechanism for service evaluation to monitor whether informed choice is achieved in practice. Approaches to measuring informed choice to date have been based in the biomedical hegemony. Overlooked is the effect of epistemic positioning, that is, how people are positioned as credible knowers in relation to knowledge tested as being relevant for informed choice.AimsTo identify and describe studies that have measured informed choice in the context of prenatal screening and to describe epistemic positioning of pregnant people in these studies.MethodsOnline databases to identify papers published from 2005 to 2021. The PRISMA-ScR checklist guided data collection, analysis and reporting. Secondary analysis that considered hermeneutics (e.g., knowledge that was tested, study design) and testimony (e.g., population descriptors) developed a priori.FindingsTwenty-nine studies explored the measurement of informed choice. None reported that pregnant people were involved in the design of the study. Two studies reported pregnant people had some involvement in the design of the measurement. Knowledge tested for informed choice included technical aspects of screening, conditions screened and mathematical concepts. Twenty-seven studies attributed informed choice to population descriptors (e.g., race/ethnicity, age, education). Population descriptors were reified as characteristics of epistemic credibility for informed choice obtained. For example, when compared to a high school qualification, a tertiary qualification was a statistically significant characteristic of informed choice. When compared by race, white people were found to be significantly more likely to make an informed choice. Additional demographic descriptors such as age, language spoken, faith and previous pregnancies were used to further explain differences for informed choice obtained. Explanations about underlying assumptions of population descriptors were infrequent.ConclusionUsing population descriptors in the biomedical hegemony as explanatory variables for informed choice can position (groups of) people as more, or less, epistemically credible. Such positioning could perpetuate epistemic injustices in practice leading to inequitable access to healthcare. To better uphold (pregnant) people as credible knowers population descriptors should instead be contextual (and contextualising) variables. For example, as indicators of social privilege. Further, making room for ways of knowing that go beyond the biomedical hegemony requires the development of epistemically just ‘measures’ through intentional, inclusive design.

When resilience isn’t enough: natural disaster as an under-researched barrier

Natural disasters significantly impact the study plans of higher education students. This study explores the impact of catastrophic floods in the Australian city of Townsville in January 2019 on three enabling students enrolled in Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) at CQUniversity Australia (CQU). STEPS is a foundation course aimed at widening participation in line with the Australian government objectives to have more Australians complete a tertiary qualification. Students who successfully complete STEPS can gain direct entry to most higher education undergraduate courses. The aim of the study was to develop an understanding of the impacts of the Townsville floods on each participant along with an evaluation of the support offered by the University during the disaster. While the participants in this study showed extraordinary resilience and capacity for recovery throughout the disaster, all three participants withdrew from the STEPS course. While some educators may believe that students withdraw due to low resilience, this research suggests that resilience theory may not be a good fit in the context of natural disasters. Instead, a theory that considers the student and their community context is needed, such as the ecological theory by Bronfenbrenner (as cited in Paquette & Ryan, 2001). When extraordinary events occur, specific forms of institutional support are needed, such as Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty (WWAPs) and Leave of Absence with an acknowledgment of assessments passed to maintain enrolment. Such measures are likely to increase retention of students in widening participation initiatives.

GRIT, RETENTION AND STUDENT SUCCESS IN A SOUTH AFRICAN DISTANCE EDUCATION INSTITUTION: A POSTGRADUATE TRIAD?

Psychological grit has gained substantial interest among traditional higher education practitioners, with many seeking the link between grit, academic performance and retention. The literature pertaining to distance education cohorts is scant, however, especially within the South African context, which holds unique challenges for accessing and completing a tertiary qualification. This study made use of a non-experimental design and used Grit-S and demographic data combined with records of student performance and progression to ascertain grit’s role in determining retention and degree completion at a mega distance education institution in South Africa. The sample comprised 775 honours students who registered for their qualification for the first time in 2017. Results from the final structural model highlighted the significant influence of perseverance and first-to-second year retention on student success (operationalised at qualification completion). A subsequent binary logistic regression revealed odds ratios of 1.98 (CI: 1.45 – 2.69) and 12.15 (CI: 7.40 - 19.95), respectively. The final model explained 24% of the variance in qualification completion rates, with the biggest contributor being first-to-second year retention (β = .45; p < .01). These results and subsequent implications are discussed.

Assessment of the relationship between regional variability in the level of education and population income: application of multivariate comparative analysis

Motivation: The relationship between the level of education and population income lies at the heart of current scientific and political debates on the social and economic development of countries. The issue is an important one, as the gap between countries in this regard is large and has widened even further amid the current economic crisis that started in 2020 and is a result of, among others, the Covid-19 pandemic.Aim: The present article aimed to undertake a multivariate comparative analysis of population level of education (EL) and income (IL), construct synthetic measures of the phenomena under study, rank and classify the objects/countries studied, and investigate whether significant interdependencies exist between the level of education and income inequality. Additionally, an effort was made to determine the scale of changes and variability in the phenomena explored, both prior (before 2020) to and during the economic crisis (years 2020–2021).Results: The study confirmed the existence of a significant interdependence between populations’ education level (EL) and income level (IL) variability across EU regions. The marginalization of and disparity among several of the EU(27) countries has intensified even further during the current economic crisis. Significant correlations exist between countries with high population incomes and the percentages of individuals holding tertiary education qualifications as well as the adults pursuing further education. Concomitantly, as the percentage of young people not in education or employment falls, countries’ GDP and income levels increase, while income inequality and the risk of poverty decrease. The understanding of the aforementioned interdependencies is vital for the implementation of education policy as one of the biggest levers reducing educational disparities and thus income inequality in the population.

The Language of Police Officers Matters: Factors Hampering Workplace English Writing Capability in the South African Police Services (SAPS)

This article reports on the findings of an exploratory-based study about variables hampering adequate Workplace English writing competency of police officers in the South African Police Services (SAPS). The main assumption in this article is that this poor English writing proficiency that is tailored for the workplace in the as a result of many intertwined and interrelated factors. A quanti-qualitative research approach was adopted. Data was harvested using a questionnaire and in-depth interviews from 203 research participants from various police stations in Gauteng Province of South Africa. Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) was used for analysis of qualitative data. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). The investigation was underpinned by Work Integrated Learning (WIL), Genre and NA (Needs Analysis) theories. The investigation found that there is a deficiency of expertise as far as pedagogy is concerned among police trainers. Furthermore, the study revealed that the absence of tertiary qualifications contributes to the problem. Language teaching in the SAPS training colleges is found not to be given adequate emphasis. Lastly, the over-domination of physical training over academic teaching was also a challenge. This investigation underscores the crucial aspect of reflective research as a source of information.

Harmonizing Human Capital: Insights from the Malaysian Labor Market

The misalignment between workforce skills and qualifications and the demands of available job opportunities, poses a pervasive concern with far-reaching implications for economic growth and labor market efficiency. This phenomenon extends across geographical boundaries, impacting both developing and developed nations. In this study, we focus on the Malaysian context, where the intersection of labor market dynamics and educational expansion has yielded both positive and concerning outcomes. Despite an expansion in the labor market and education sector in Malaysia, the underemployment rate increased to 37.4% in the fourth quarter of 2022, revealing a noteworthy challenge. This study presents empirical evidence on job matching among Malaysian employees, specifically investigating the likelihood of job mismatch attributed to human capital factors, including working experience and education attainment. The analysis is this study notably emphasizes the pivotal role of working experience and educational attainment in influencing job-matching outcomes. Individuals with a wealth of working experience, quantified in years, exhibit a reduced likelihood of job mismatch, highlighting the significance of accrued expertise in securing suitable employment. Similarly, those holding tertiary education qualifications are found to be better positioned in the job market, further diminishing the risk of job mismatch. In essence, this study serves as a clarion call for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders in the Malaysian labor market to recognize the crucial role of human capital development in addressing the pressing issue of job mismatch. The implications of these findings extend beyond Malaysia, resonating with global efforts to foster labor market efficiency and sustainable economic growth by ensuring a harmonious alignment between workforce capabilities and the demands of the contemporary job landscape.

Audit partners’ gender and time variances of key audit matters

PurposeThis study aims to examine whether audit partners’ gender affects the year-to-year changes (year-to-year additions and drops) of key audit matters (KAMs) identified in the audit report. This study also examines whether female audit partners’ audit experiences, accounting education and narcissism reduce the difference in time variances of KAMs reporting between female and male audit partners. This study defines the year-to-year additions and drops of KAMs as the time variance of KAMs.Design/methodology/approachData of this study includes the audit reports of Australian Securities Exchange 300 companies for the period from 2017 to 2021. This study also applies the theory of female auditors’ preference for anchoring and availability heuristics. This study uses multivariate regression with robust standard errors clustered by the firms. This study also uses several robustness tests.FindingsThe findings suggest that female audit partners disclose fewer time variant KAMs in that they have a lower tendency both to add new KAMs and to drop old KAMs. Further analysis suggests that the differences between female and male audit partners decrease as the female audit partners’ experience increases or if the female audit partner possesses a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Female audit partners’ narcissism also reduces the gender gap in the time variances of KAMs.Practical implicationsThe fact that female audit partners report more stable KAMs implies that there are differences between female and male audit partners in the way audit risk assessments are conducted, audits are planned and professional judgement is applied by female and male audit partners.Social implicationsThe findings imply that female audit partners’ experience, accounting education and narcissistic personality can play a significant role in explaining the differences in audit outcomes produced by male and female audit partners.Originality/valueThis study is novel in showing that female audit partners report more stable and less time-variant KAMs. The findings of this study may inform audit firms and regulators that female audit partners’ experience, tertiary qualifications in accounting and narcissistic personality traits may be effective means of reducing the gender gap in auditing. The findings also imply that auditors’ observable and unobservable personality traits affect audit outcomes.

Risky sexual behaviors and associated factors among adult patients on antiretroviral treatment at Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Worldwide, it is estimated that 38 million people are HIV-positive and that over 36 million people have died from the virus. In South Africa, the prevalence of HIV was reported to be 20.6% with Limpopo Province having 17% HIV. Given the high rate of new HIV infection in Limpopo, there is therefore a need to assess factors promoting risky sexual behavior among people living with HIV in order to help design and develop behavioral interventions aimed at reducing risky behaviors among people living with HIV. This was a quantitative cross-sectional prospective study, conducted in Mankweng Hospital. The study consisted of 116 participants of which 40 were males and 76 were females aged 18 years and above. The participants were selected using purposive sampling. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27. A comparison of proportions was performed using Chi-Square. The association between risky sexual practice and sociodemographic factors was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. The proportion of risky sexual practices in the total population was 48.3%. Participants who were married, those aged 35-44, and those with tertiary qualifications were more likely to engage in risky sexual practices. Multivariate logistic regression showed widowed participants were less likely to practice risky sexual practices. The present study reported a high prevalence of risky sexual practices of 48.3%. Risky sexual behavior was determined by age, marital status, and level of education. The proportion of married participants was higher in risky sexual behavior. Based on the findings of the present study, it is recommended that targeted interventions and educational programs should be implemented to reduce risky sexual behavior among married individuals, individuals aged 35-44, and individuals with tertiary qualifications.

Coping and adapting to drought in semi-arid Karoo rangelands: Key lessons from livestock farmers

Drought is a frequent occurrence in the arid and semi-arid Karoo rangelands of South Africa. Rangeland productivity is expected to decline with drought thereby reducing livestock productivity and consequently livelihoods of the farmers. This study aimed to document the effects of drought on livestock farming in the Karoo region of South Africa and the strategies used by farmers to reduce the risks of drought. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a random sample of 35 livestock farmers. The data was analysed using SPSS. Most farmers in the Karoo region had over 20 years farming experience and 60% of them have tertiary qualification. Profit loss and losses of animals were major impacts of drought in the two biomes. Results showed that coping and adaptation strategies adopted by farmers in the two biomes were largely similar. These included destocking before the drought to reduce grazing pressure, income diversification during the drought and evaluation of the rangeland after the drought to determine the number of animals they can keep and when to graze a specific area. These findings provide a framework for decision makers to promote self-reliance so that drought adaptation among livestock farmers is more effective.

Molecular detection and association of HIV and HSV-2 IgM co-infection among asymptomatic pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

HSV-2 is a common human pathogen that can cause primary and recurrent infection of the mucous membrane. Genital infection with HSV-2 facilitates the acquisition of HIV, both mutually reinforcing infection. Infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 is a significant public health problem being the leading cause of genital ulcerative disease. This study aimed at Molecular investigation and association of HIV and HSV-2 IgM co-infection among asymptomatic pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the antenatal unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), River State. A total of 168 consenting pregnant women were selected. The study involved collecting socio-demographic data and laboratory determination of HSV-2 immunoglobulin M (IgM) and HIV seroprevalence using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DIAPRO Diagnostic Bioprobes, Milan, Italy) and ALERE determine/STAT PAK respectively. Data analysis was done using graph pad statistical package. Chi square analysis was used to determine the correlation of the infection with socio-demographic factors. The seroprevalence for HSV-2 IgM was 29.8% (50/168) of the respondents while there was no co-infection between IgM and HIV. All HIV respondents were married. Majority are trader having tertiary educational qualification and are in a monogamous relationship. With regard to IgM seropositivity age, marital status, religion and gestation period were significantly associated with IgM while educational level, occupation, type of family and parity were not significantly associated with HSV-2 IgM. There is a significant correlation between HIV seropositivity with parity and history of sexually transmitted disease while there is no significant difference between HIV prevalence with age, marital status education level occupation type of family, religion history of abortion and the prevalence of HSV-2 was high among women of childbearing age in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Effort should be made to increase the awareness of HSV-2 and HIV infection among the childbearing populace and serological testing of pregnant women should be included as a routine test.

Resilience, art activities, and income of artists in a low-to-middle-income country during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study examined the experienced impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the resilience, art activities, and income among performance and visual artists in a low- to middle-income country, including the relationship between resilience and art activities. Practicing artists in South Africa with a tertiary qualification in visual or performance art were recruited through social media platforms. Amid the pandemic, 109 participants completed a questionnaire that incorporated the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, income variables before and during the pandemic, 26 art activity items that captured the experienced impact of the pandemic on their commitment, productivity, social connection and engagement, financial implications, and changes in their art activities. The results revealed that the resilience of participants decreased significantly during the pandemic (t-test = 7.631; p < 0.001), whereas no relationship was found between resilience preceding the pandemic and changes in art activities. Higher resilience scores during the pandemic were associated with being more productive (β = 0.244, t = 2.56, p = 0.012), stimulated in commitment (β = 0.263, t = 2.796, p = 0.006), and less inhibited (β = −0.552 – −0.541, t = −6.749 − −6.594, p < 0.001) in art activities. The income of participants decreased significantly during the pandemic (Fisher’s exact test = 98.193; p < 0.001), causing apprehension in art activities, especially for those who were less resilient (β = −0.306, t = −3.314, p < 0.001), and the situation was compounded by being self-employed (p = 0.003). Despite decreased resilience and loss of financial income during the pandemic, participating artists in South Africa explored new ways of doing their art, were stimulated in their commitment, and sought social connections in their art activities.

More Than Just Counselling: Australian Counsellor Job Advertisement Trends

Research on counsellors in Australia has tended towards workforce surveys that profile association members, and thus, tend to reflect the interests and priorities of counsellors and the counselling profession. However, little is known about what the employment context offers and expects of counsellor positions. This exploratory point-in-time study undertook a content analysis of counsellor job advertisements and categorised the findings into three main areas: conditions, description of the role, and selection criteria. The findings suggest that for counselling roles, employers are less concerned about whether applicants have had specialised counselling training, but that they have tertiary qualifications in cognate disciplines and can undertake a wider range of tasks in addition to providing counselling. Several role requirements specified by employers are not mentioned in contemporary Australian counselling training standards, though most are mentioned in the profession’s scope of practice documents. This research provides counselling educators, counselling students, and counsellor jobseekers data on possible trends of contemporary employment patterns appearing in advertised counsellor positions.

Profiling the Australasian paramedicine tertiary academic sector and workforce: A cross-sectional study

Introduction In 1994, the first Australasian paramedicine tertiary program commenced as an off-campus offering not required as an entry-to-practice qualification A quarter of a century later, university programs have proliferated with tertiary qualifications becoming mandatory to acquire Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency registration. Despite this progression, concerns have been voiced regarding student enrolment volume and sustainability of the paramedicine academic workforce. To date, a census of the sector and the workforce has not been conducted, limiting capacity for data-informed strategic planning. The aim of this study was to profile the Australasian paramedicine tertiary sector and describe the academic workforce working in it. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2022 using an online survey designed specifically for this research. The participants were discipline leaders from 19 universities or polytechnics offering entry-to-practice courses in Australia and New Zealand. Participants were asked to provide data on their course structure, organisational position, student enrolment loads and academic and non-academic staffing profiles. Simple descriptive statistics were generated to describe these data. Results Of the 19 eligible programs, 18 participated (response rate 90%). All but one course was at the undergraduate level; of the undergraduate courses, all but one were 3 years in duration. The academic workforce comprised 161 full-time or fractional and 727 casual paramedicine academics. Of the full-time academics, 131/161 were registered, with 45% of those holding ‘non-practicing’ status. Twenty-nine paramedicine academics (18%) had PhDs. There was 1 Professor and 10 Associate Professors, whilst 65% overall were Lecturers or Associate Lecturers. Conclusion This analysis represents the first description of the Australasian paramedicine tertiary sector. It reveals a diverse sector with large student enrolments and diverse course structures. The seniority of the academic workforce is skewed substantially towards lower academic levels; this shortfall in senior academics creates risk for the sector and may be symptomatic of a workforce sustainability issue.

281-OR: Neonatal Outcomes in Early and Incident Gestational Diabetes Mellitus—Are They Normalized with Treatment from 24–28 Weeks’ Gestation?

Aim: To compare neonatal outcomes between women with early GDM (eGDM: diagnosed<20 weeks’ gestation), incident GDM (iGDM: diagnosed ≥ 24 weeks’ gestation) and normoglycemia Methods: Pregnant women with GDM risk factors were enrolled <20 weeks’ gestation into an eGDM treatment trial across 17 sites in Australia, India, Europe. Women undertook a 2-h 75g oral glucose tolerance test on entry & at 24-28 weeks’ gestation. GDM was defined by WHO 2013 criteria. Logistic regression compared outcomes between women with eGDM, iGDM and normoglycemia adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), site, smoking status, parity and tertiary qualifications. Women randomized to receive eGDM treatment were excluded from this analysis. Results: Baseline characteristics differed by age, BMI, parity and glycemia across the 3211 women (Table 1). Similar proportions of eGDM and iGDM women received pharmacotherapy. eGDM group gestational weight gain was lower; eGDM and iGDM neonatal outcomes were similar; neonatal intensive care unit admission and respiratory distress were higher in offspring of eGDM than normoglycemic women. Conclusions: Adverse neonatal outcomes are increased in pregnancies complicated by eGDM with delayed treatment. Disclosure D.Simmons: Consultant; Sanofi, Speaker's Bureau; Abbott Diabetes. M.Mclean: None. A.Sweeting: None. V.Mohan: None. J.Harreiter: None. Tobogm core investigator group: n/a. J.Immanuel: None. N.Cheung: None. W.Hague: None. H.Teede: None. C.J.Nolan: None. H.E.Backman: None. E.Hibbert: None. M.J.Peek: None. Funding National Health and Medical Research Council (1104231, 2009326); Region Örebro Research Committee (OLL-970566, OLL-942177); Medical Scientific Fund of the Mayor of Vienna (15205); South Western Sydney Local Health District Academic Unit (2016); Western Sydney University Ainsworth Trust (2019)

Do immigrants benefit from selection? Migrant educational selectivity and its association with social networks, skills and health

Recent scholarship suggests that immigrant selectivity – the degree to which immigrants differ from non-migrants in their sending countries – can help us understand their labour market outcomes in the receiving country. The selectivity hypothesis rests on three assumptions: first, that immigrants differ from non-migrants in their observed characteristics, such as education; second, that there is an association between such observed selection and (usually) unobserved characteristics, and third that this association drives positive relationships between observed selection and immigrant outcomes. While there is some evidence for a relationship between the degree of immigrants' selectivity and their children's outcomes, a comprehensive assessment of these assumptions for immigrants' own labour market outcomes remains lacking. We use high-quality, nationally representative data for the UK, with large numbers of immigrants from a wide range of different origins and with a rich set of measures of networks, traits and characteristics, as well as economic outcomes, not typically found in surveys of immigrants. This enables us to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the selectivity hypothesis and its assumptions. We find that immigrants to the UK are on average positively selected on educational attainment. However, counter to theoretical assumptions, educational selection has little association with labour market outcomes: it is not or negatively associated with employment; and it is only associated with pay for those with tertiary qualifications and with occupational position for women. We show that the general lack of economic benefits from selection is consistent with an absence of association between educational selectivity and (typically unobserved) mechanisms assumed to link selection and labour market outcomes: social networks, cognitive and non-cognitive skills, and mental and physical health. We contextualise our findings with heterogeneity analysis by migration regime, sending country characteristics, level of absolute education and location of credential.

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS), a national survey of the prevalence of child maltreatment and its correlates: methodology.

To describe the aims, design, methodology, and respondent sample representativeness of the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS). Cross-sectional, retrospective survey; computer-assisted mobile telephone interviewing using random digit dialling (computer-generated), Australia, 9 April - 11 October 2021. People aged 16 years or more. The target sample size was 8500 respondents: 3500 people aged 16-24 years and 1000 respondents each from five further age groups (25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65 years or more). Primary outcomes: Emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exposure to domestic violence during childhood, assessed with the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-R2 Adapted Version (Australian Child Maltreatment Study). selected mental disorder diagnoses (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, MINI), selected physical health conditions, health risk behaviours, health service use. The demographic characteristics of the ACMS sample were similar to those of the Australian population in 2016 with respect to gender, Indigenous status, region and remoteness category of residence, and marital status, but larger proportions of participants were born in Australia, lived in areas of higher socio-economic status, had tertiary qualifications, and had income greater than $1250 per week. Population weights were derived to adjust for these differences. Associations between the number of calls required to recruit participants and maltreatment rates and health outcomes were not statistically significant. The ACMS provides the first reliable estimates of the prevalence of each type of child maltreatment in Australia. These estimates, and those of associated mental health and health risk behaviours reported in this supplement can inform policy and practice initiatives for reducing the prevalence of child maltreatment and its consequences. Our benchmark study also provides baseline data for repeated waves of the ACMS that will assess the effectiveness of these initiatives.

Implementation of micro-credentials in higher education: A systematic literature review

Micro-credential (MC) is an innovative and disruptive technology-based learning model. In higher education (HE), MCs are typically certified in the form of a digital badge (DB) issued to learners upon completion of a credential. The introduction of MCs and DBs has the potential to revolutionise the way in which HE institutions deliver degrees, and how students learn and achieve their tertiary qualifications. To explore this innovative learning, this study investigates the potentials and challenges of implementing MCs in HE. Through a systematic literature review of 56 peer-reviewed articles on MCs and related DBs in HE published between 2015 and 2021, we find that research on MCs in HE is gaining attention. While different aspects of MCs in HE have been studied using various research methodologies and theoretical lenses, further research is needed to capture the influence of technology and to understand different stakeholder perspectives. This study contributes to the growing literature on MCs in HE by synthesising the relevant knowledge areas into key themes and developing a conceptual framework for implementing MCs in HE. This study also identifies critical research gaps to advance the literature on MC implementation in HE.

Economic Analysis of Locally Produced Aquaculture Feeds with Complements of Plant-based Ingredients in Kainji Lake Basin, Nigeria

Optimization through cost minimization is a key strategy aquaculture feed producers adopt to ensure a continuous supply of fish in the global market. In light of this consideration, the study analyzed the economics of locally produced aquaculture feeds by complementing fishmeal with plant-based sources of ingredients. Specifically, the study estimated the cost and returns, socio-economic determinants of net income, and challenges of local feed production. Using a survey design, a case study approach was used to collect data from 36 aquaculture feed producers/millers. The data were presented using descriptive statistics, budgetary techniques, and two-stage least squares regression analysis. Key findings established that the majority (78.12%) of aquaculture local feed producers were men, and 43.75% had tertiary educational qualifications with a good number of years of experience. The profitability indicators show that aquaculture local feed production is profitable with 3.24% net returns on investment. The result further indicates that the incorporation of plantbased sources of ingredients reduced the utilization of Fishmeal (Clupeids) by 50%. Also, the regression analysis shows that the years of experience and initial capital investment were statistically significant (p < 0.05) determinants of net income while the major challenges in aquaculture local feed production were lack of perfect substitute for Fishmeal ( =2.94), government regulations on the harvest of Clupeids used for Fishmeal ( =2.91), poor access to capital ( =2.88) and high cost of machine spare parts ( =2.88). Based on the findings, it is recommended that fish nutritionists should intensify research on the production of fish feeds with a sole plant source of ingredients.

Community of Practice: A narrativized Account of a Full-time Multicultural Worker

Working in an international context requires both resilience and flexibility. Every multicultural worker may face distinctive linguistic and cultural challenges but also have precious learning opportunities. This study was motivated by a desire to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of international employees through the voice of a worker currently engaged in transcultural communication. The research participant is a non-native speaker of English but is highly proficient. The participant obtains high-level tertiary qualifications and has worked professionally in her home country. Sarah is Vietnamese and has been working in Australia for years as a research fellow at a university. Data was collected through an elicited narrative, prompted by open-ended questions, and done in written form. The story was coded for transcultural communication topics, and then selected passages were chosen to showcase intriguing ideas. Findings indicated that one could achieve transcultural success in a multicultural working context by conquering transcultural challenges with huge support from his/her Community of Practice (CoP). It is also suggested that workplace CoPs play an important role in proceeding transcultural communication through social interaction between employees in a global organization, which results in transcultural successes.