Time In Higher Education Research Articles

From Formation to Evaluation: Optimising groupwork in STEM Degree Apprenticeships

Engineering degree apprenticeships provide three to six years of job opportunities and training that lead to university qualifications up to and equivalent of a postgraduate degree. Within an apprentice’s time in higher education (HE), many are required to complete groupwork projects which bring several benefits and some challenges. This paper explores the effects and limitations of group work in the context of degree apprenticeships whilst discussing a plethora of group selection and assessment method solutions. This includes student self-selection methods in comparison to teacher-selected and randomisation for group selection; a suitable method of selection should be unbiased and optimise advantages of collaborative working. Through understanding the most effective form of assessment for apprentices, an academic policy can be adapted and influenced – acknowledging the learning differences between undergraduate students and degree apprentices. As part of this work, a comprehensive literature review was carried and a survey was conducted and completed by the Bsc Digital and Technology Solutions students, BEng Applied Professional Engineering Programme students among others at the University of Warwick. The results of the survey provided quantitative and qualitative data surrounding group work. Furthermore, the paper suggests appropriate solutions to group work issues surrounding the effectiveness of group work for degree apprentices, optimal group selection-methods, group performance, ensuring equal contributions and assessment and grading methods. The paper addresses some of the problems encountered by apprentices during their studies such as the free-rider problem and unequal division of work - providing solutions towards minimising such problems, including the integration of web-based tools such as MS Planner.

Unravelling Time in Higher Education: Exploring the Mediating Role of Psychological Capital in Burnout and Academic Engagement

Unravelling Time in Higher Education: Exploring the Mediating Role of Psychological Capital in Burnout and Academic Engagement

Storying student belonging in UK higher education

ABSTRACT This paper explores how storying can be used to uncover experiences of student belonging throughout their time in Higher Education. It adopts a framing of belonging that is fluid and which recognises shifting notions of belonging over time. A focus on storying is particularly useful for understanding belonging as it enables university staff to listen carefully and with empathy to what matters to students, what shapes their experiences, and how to communicate these in a way which invites positive action. Through storying with undergraduate student articulations gathered through a survey, interviews and focus groups at a university in the UK, the paper identifies the multifaceted and connected spaces of belonging, temporalities and relationships that come to affect student belonging. Ultimately the paper argues for the collective responsibility of staff and students to create a space of belonging for all, rather than the prevalent discourse which often puts the onus on an individual to “fit in”.

Mattering vs belonging and the impact of academic advisors: online professional part-time students – a case study

Belonging is not a new concept, it has been around for some time in Higher Education. The “What works? Student retention and success” report concluded that “belonging is critical to student retention and success” (Thomas, 2012). However, this can be difficult to achieve for some students such as those who study online. The research around a sense of belonging amongst online students is limited (Peacock et al., 2020), who have limited time and opportunities to participate in activities used to promote belonging at universities. With an increase in online and blended courses within higher education (Dunford and Miller, 2018), mattering maybe a more important factor for such students.
 Mattering as defined by Dixon and Tucker (2008), is an individual’s perception that they are important and are valued in their interpersonal relationships (2008). Academic advisors have a key role in mattering, by building individual relations with students they can have a positive impact on feelings of mattering. McIntosh et al. (2020 [online]) found that students who feel supported by their academic advisors go on to have successful tutoring relationships.
 In a case study conducted within a Higher Education institute that provides fully online courses for part-time professional students, the author examined feelings of mattering and belonging amongst level 5 and 6 undergraduate students. The case study found that the individual mattering relationships were more important than belonging to students who participated in the study. Students valued members of staff who went “above and beyond” and showed care and mattering. Academic Advisors were key members of staff for these mattering relationships.
 If students feel that they matter, this may well lead to an increased feeling of belonging and this is something that should be explored further.

The Reform of Curricula in the Spanish University System: How Well Matched Are New Bachelor’s Degrees to Jobs

This study looks at how well bachelor’s degree holders in Spain match into jobs five years after graduation. Based on workers’ self-assessment, education–job mismatch is defined as the discrepancy between the formal qualifications that individuals earned at Spanish universities and those that are required by jobs. By estimating a multinomial logit model, this research identifies fields of study that are associated with increased likelihood of a particular educational mismatch status. Results indicate that university graduates from highly specialized bachelor’s degree programs are more likely to work in a graduate job that is related to their field of education. In particular, graduates with degrees that entail specific human capital, such as health sciences degrees and hard science and engineering degrees, are more likely to be well-matched in their current jobs. In contrast, the results show a higher likelihood of over-qualification (recent graduates who are in non-graduate jobs) for social and legal sciences degrees and arts and humanities degrees. Gender appears to play no role in the matching process; however, the subject-specific knowledge that graduates have gained from their time in higher education is important. As a novelty, this study also identifies, for a sub-sample of workers, the process through which a good match is achieved—that is, how individuals self-select to accept jobs in which they can achieve a good match. The regression results are based on micro data from a nationally representative random sample of the first cohort of undergraduates after the Bologna curriculum reform.

Depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms and coping strategies in the context of the sudden course modality shift in the Spring 2020 semester.

The COVID-19 pandemic created a host of difficulties for college students. There is research noting the unique vulnerability of this population's DASS symptoms and further connections of coping strategies. The current study aims to provide a snapshot of this unique time in higher education by examining the relationship between perceived difficulty, retrospectively, in the Spring 2020 semester and DASS symptoms in the Fall 2020 semester, and moderators of coping strategies in a sample of USA university students (n = 248; Mage = 21.08, SD = 4.63; 79.3% = Female). The results yielded a clear predictor relationship between perceived difficulty and symptoms of DASS. However, only problem-solving coping strategy proved a significant moderator for stress; surprisingly, problem-solving coping appeared to exacerbate the relationship. Implications for clinicians and higher education are discussed.

SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT AND HIGHER EDUCATION: NORTH EAST INDIAN TRIBAL STUDENTS IN NON-NATIVE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

This paper attempts to elucidate various social adjustment problems faced by tribal students while migrating to cities away from their native state for the first time for higher education. Through this study, the researchers envisage comprehending the social adjustment problems of tribal students while being confronted by the changes due to a non-native urban environment. The adjustment problems range from adapting to non-native culture to acquiring workable knowledge in the vernacular. Indeed, it is time-consuming and can be strenuous for many. Here, an attempt is made to assess the social integration problems among tribal educational migrants qualitatively. The researchers have adopted a case study approach in this social investigation. Tribal students enrolled in Pondicherry University from states other than Puducherry were chosen for this study. Twelve cases were selected through purposive sampling. Data collection involved in-depth interviews based on an expressly designed interview guide. Thematic analysis of the transcripts yielded a catalogue of highlighted themes that helped arrive at a few conclusions. The researchers made recommendations based on the knowledge generated and recognized the scope for further investigation.

LGBTQ college students’ lived experiences and perceptions of support on a conservative campus

LGBTQ college students have historically experienced hostile campus climates during their time in higher education. While there has been advancement in LGBTQ inclusion, many universities and colleges still do not provide adequate support and services for LGBTQ students. This paper used the results from 14 qualitative interviews that explored the lived experiences of LGBTQ college students’ experiences of campus support and resources at a public university. Despite the presence of a student organization and the university’s commitment to inclusion, I found students wanted more LGBTQ representation and community; experienced homophobia, transphobia, and discrimination; and had mixed feelings about the Safe Zone program. Based on these findings, the paper concludes with proposals for increasing LGBTQ representation, facilitating campus education, and creating inclusive policies.

Do the political attitudes of students change during their time in higher education?

Experience of higher education (HE) has come to characterise many contemporary political divisions, including those related to Brexit, Trump and coronavirus policy. However, the academic literature is unclear whether HE plays a causal role in changing peoples’ political attitudes or is simply a proxy. Furthermore, in many contexts, there is limited descriptive evidence on whether students’ political attitudes change during HE. This paper focuses on the UK, using data from the British Election Study, to make a twofold contribution. Firstly, the paper introduces recent political science theorising on the nature of contemporary political divisions, which has remained largely outside the HE literature to date. This theorising is illustrated through a cross-sectional analysis, comparing the political attitudes of those with and without experience of HE, showing that the former tend to be more left-leaning and less ethnocentric. Secondly, a longitudinal analysis is performed to assess how students’ political attitudes change during their time in HE. While in HE, students tend to make small movements to the left and become less ethnocentric, representing approximately 20–33% of the overall division between those with and without experience of HE. These findings are interpreted through a critical realist lens—they evidence that HE could have a causal role to play in creating contemporary political divisions. However, to establish whether HE does play a causal role, further intensive research is needed to explore how particular aspects of HE might bring about these changes and how this varies for different students in different contexts.

The minority within the minority: The survival strategies of Gypsy and Traveller students in Higher Education

In recent years, there has been an increased focus on the barriers faced by Gypsies and Travellers in accessing Higher Education (e.g. Clark, 2004; Mulcahy, Baars, Bowen-Viner and Menzies, 2017; Darcy and Galloway, 2018). This follows decades of research on the attitudes, barriers and experiences of pupils in compulsory education (e.g., Bhopal, 2004; Levinson, 2007, 2014; Hamilton, 2016). However, there is still a lack of research exploring the trajectories of students within Higher Education. Clearly, the barriers that inhibit students’ success at primary and secondary school go some way in explaining the underrepresentation in Higher Education but there is still a lack of understanding of how these students experience Higher Education and the survival strategies they use to strive in such an environment. In an attempt to address this knowledge gap, this research draws attention to the stories of students who have succeeded in such educational environment. Using in-depth interviews, we attempted to explore how Gypsy and Traveler students have sustained positive participation during their time in Higher Education and identify the factors that contributed to their success. The results show that students often experienced discrimination and othering in Higher Education Institutions that often resulted in a sense of displacement as students learned to navigate through not only the institutions but their own identities. Playing white, finding a sense of purpose and focus on their studies were the main surviving strategies identified within the individuals studied.

Digital demand and digital deficit: conceptualising digital literacy and gauging proficiency among higher education students

ABSTRACT For higher education students, developing digital literacy enhances their value to future employers and appeal in the graduate labour market. The purpose of this study was two-fold. First, to provide a tridimensional (technical, cognitive and etiquette) conceptual framework and definition of digital literacy. Second, to investigate students’ (N = 324) perceptions of their digital literacy proficiency through an online survey. Multiple linear regression revealed mixed results for different aspects of digital literacy. Students reported the lowest proficiency in using digital information, specifically in terms of evaluation and determining bias and quality of information. The highest levels of proficiency were for social literacy skills, such as communicating appropriately online. There were minor differences between genders, while work experience and length of time in higher education had positive impact. Findings highlight the need for increased focus on digital literacy adaptability and industry-relevant experience within curriculum.

MARIJA GIMBUTAS (GIMBUTIENĖ): THE BALTIC GODDESS

Marija Gimbutas (Gimbutienė) is a renowned archaeologist who specialised in European prehistory. This paper explores her life and work, including her personal biography, showing how her upbringing in Lithuania shaped her academic interests and orientations. This paper also reviews her professional achievements and contributions via the lenses of seven aspects of her academic life, namely her time in higher education, her work on Lithuanian folklore and symbolism, her explorations of Old Europe during the Neolithic, her Kurgan Hypothesis and engagement with Baltic studies, her excavations in southeast Europe, her work on the Goddess, and her symbolism work. It also examines academic and popular reactions to her writing and her influence on scholars and public discourse. Keywords: Gimbutas, Neolithic, history of archaeology, Goddess, figurines.

Navigating Shomoyscapes: Time and faculty life in the urban Global South

We aim to decenter the Global North knowledge production about time in higher education (HE) by introducing and applying a culturally sustaining concept of shomoyscapes. While the Bengali word “shomoy” literally means “time,” it goes beyond “clock time” and also refers to memories, present moments, feelings, a particular duration, and/or signifier for a temporal engagement. A shomoyscape entails a complex temporal landscape of different temporal categories, constraints, agencies, and to various degrees, embodies hybrid times (i.e., modern time coexisting with non-linear local/traditional time). Drawing on interviews and participant observations with 22 faculty in Dhaka, Bangladesh, we demonstrate the efficacy of shomoyscapes by illuminating how faculty experience, contest, and manipulate their time(s) amid rapid socio-economic transformations of Dhaka, an urban, Global South mega city. We show how shomoyscapes manifest as faculty experience temporal constraints, such as (a) traffic, (b) party-based university politics, and (c) caring for others. We suggest that Bangladeshi faculty experience and navigate shomoyscapes that are constituted by both larger temporal constraints (spatial, structural, or relational) and their temporal agency in response to these same constraints. Using a temporal lens, we contribute to a more in depth understanding of the experiences of faculty working and living in an urban, Global South context, highlighting how life “outside the academy” spills over into working “inside the academy,” rather than vice versa. We argue that shomoyscapes offer a useful temporal heuristic to help contextualize human/social relations in different arenas of social life that would otherwise remain invisible.

Student's experiences with online teaching following COVID-19 lockdown: A mixed methods explorative study.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic lead to a sudden shift to online teaching and restricted campus access.AimTo assess how university students experienced the sudden shift to online teaching after closure of campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Material and methodsStudents in Public Health Nutrition answered questionnaires two and 12 weeks (N = 79: response rate 20.3% and 26.6%, respectively) after the lockdown in Norway on 12 March 2020 and participated in digital focus group interviews in May 2020 (mixed methods study).Findings and discussionTwo weeks into the lockdown, 75% of students reported that their life had become more difficult and 50% felt that learning outcomes would be harder to achieve due to the sudden shift to online education. Twelve weeks into the lockdown, the corresponding numbers were 57% and 71%, respectively. The most pressing concerns among students were a lack of social interaction, housing situations that were unfit for home office purposes, including insufficient data bandwidth, and an overall sense of reduced motivation and effort. The students collaborated well in digital groups but wanted smaller groups with students they knew rather than being randomly assigned to groups. Most students agreed that pre-recorded and streamed lectures, frequent virtual meetings and student response systems could improve learning outcomes in future digital courses. The preference for written home exams over online versions of previous on-campus exams was likely influenced by student’s familiarity with the former. The dropout rate remained unchanged compared to previous years.ConclusionThe sudden shift to digital teaching was challenging for students, but it appears that they adapted quickly to the new situation. Although the concerns described by students in this study may only be representative for the period right after campus lockdown, the study provide the student perspective on a unique period of time in higher education.

Technology Integration in Higher Education During COVID-19: An Assessment of Online Teaching Competencies Through Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Model.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly shifted education from traditional to an online version, which was an emergent state for teachers and students. The substantive situation thus raises the importance of technology integration in education, and teachers are required to update their competencies, respectively. In this regard, the study assessed online teaching competencies of faculty members following, technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) model. Closed-ended surveys were employed for quantitative analysis of randomly selected 256 faculty members from public universities in Karachi, Pakistan. Results indicated that teachers possessed adequate levels of knowledge across all the domains of TPACK. The highest competency was obtained by content knowledge (CK), while technological knowledge (TK) was reported at the lowest level. Furthermore, a significant difference was noted in terms of gender and teaching experience. Correspondingly, the study proposes that the TPACK model should be employed in the professional development programs to develop teachers’ TPACK for integrating information communication and technology in the pedagogical practices. The findings of the study present a constructive overview of teachers’ digital competencies and technology use in teaching and learning in the time of the COVID-19 and also play a significant role in the integration of technology in the post-pandemic time in higher education. The study also suggests relevant educational authorities and policymakers for assessing and enhancing the technological competencies of teachers for quality online education.

Following rhythms and changing pace–Students’ strategies in relation to time in higher education

ABSTRACT Studies of time and higher education emphasize how macro-level changes influence everyday university practices and how time is experienced and perceived in various ways. This paper adds to these studies by looking at time as infrastructure. We explore how students relate to time and unpack the challenges caused by the temporal structure of higher education. The analysis presents material from ethnographic fieldwork carried out with students following three Bachelor’s programmes. Treating time as infrastructure directs attention to the ways in which temporal structures serve to both enable and constrain practices. We found that the students related to several temporal horizons and that these required different paces, so that the horizons sometimes clashed. However, students also adopted strategies disrupting the pace and direction of the scheduled time, using cracks and openings in the temporal infrastructure to create time for immersion and reflection.

Discussion to the special issue: Supporting the transition of a diversity of students: Developing the “whole student” during and beyond their time at higher education.

Apart from the current Covid19 context, the higher education sectors across the world have been faced with major challenges over the last few decades (Auerbach et al., 2018; Haggis, 2004), including increased numbers and diversity. Considering the many challenges in higher education, especially the rise of students’ mental health issues, I am strongly convinced that education sectors, but in particular the higher education sector, have a societal responsibility to not just focus on students as learners of knowledge and/or professional skills, but to support them in being developed as “whole students”. All these challenges also raise a need for research into the broader context to identify how we can better support the diverse student population as they transition into higher education, but also how to prepare them for a positive experience during and beyond their time in higher education. Overall, it can be said that the contributions to this special issue beneficially addressed some of the main foci to widening the perspectives on diversity related to the transition into higher education. The contribution came from different European countries, including Belgium, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom. De Clercq et al. (in this special issue) indicated that environmental characteristics, such as distinctiveness of countries, is often overlooked in research. In this discussion article, therefore, some particular references will also be made to a specific country, New Zealand. This may be of interest and relevant for the particular questions raised in this special issue as focusing on student diversity in educational contexts has been considered important for some time in this country. Aoteraroa New Zealand is a country in the South Pacific colonised by Europeans in the 19th century. In the second part of the 20th century, the focus across the New Zealand education sectors, including higher education, started to develop beyond just a European perspective, and started to focus more on recognition of student diversity. Initially, the main focus was on the indigenous population, the Māori people. In the last few decades of the 20th century, the focus was extended to the Pacific Island people, many of whom migrated to New Zealand from a wide range of different islands in the South Pacific. In the 21st century, the focus on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) groups was further extended, and over the last decade also because of the increase of refugees from the Middle East and Asia. Providing some insights from the other end of the world, in quite a different and de-colonised ex-European nation may help European (and other) countries to reflect on their own approaches.

An effective blended online teaching and learning strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic

The shift to distance teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a real challenge for both instructors and students. To face these difficulties in teaching undergraduate Chemistry courses at the University of Santo Tomas, a blended learning strategy in the context of teaching and learning of Physical Chemistry 1 and Analytical Chemistry for Chemical Engineering students were employed. Here, we present an online strategy that facilitated the transition from traditional face-to-face learning to full online instruction. This is a five-component blended learning strategy referred to as Discover, Learn, Practice, Collaborate and Assess (DLPCA). In DLPCA, the asynchronous part of the teaching was achieved through broadcast of pre-recorded lecture videos on YouTube to allow students to study and progress with learning at their own pace. The synchronous part of the teaching was conducted using video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom or Google Meet. The DLPCA strategy was presented and discussed to the students prior to its implementation. The analysis of the teaching and learning experience based on three indicators (i) student’s learning experience, (ii) student’s academic performance and (iii) instructor observations showed that DLPCA had a positive impact on students and instructors. The identified challenges were stability of internet connection and instructor’s familiarity with readily available internet-based teaching tools, such as video conferencing software. Instructors must also find means to improve their interaction with students and maintain student interest and engagement during online classes. The survey also indicated that most of the students are satisfied with the DLCPA strategy. Hence, this strategy is considered a manageable and effective alternative that can be adapted to full online instruction to other undergraduate Chemistry lecture courses. Overall, the findings and insights in this study will add valuable resources for further hybrid instruction in the post-COVID-19 time in higher education.

Higher education: issues, challenges and suggestions

This paper introduces the notion of holistic education into the context of higher education eco-systems. The study intends to conceptualize the theme and list out issues and challenges present education system faces with intent to connect with a wider set of teaching and learning paradigms to upgrade the capabilities of higher education eco-systems. Study recommends the need of combining experiential based learning (EBL). The study also recommends the changes needed to be adopted at this time in higher education viz.

Higher education: issues, challenges and suggestions

This paper introduces the notion of holistic education into the context of higher education eco-systems. The study intends to conceptualize the theme and list out issues and challenges present education system faces with intent to connect with a wider set of teaching and learning paradigms to upgrade the capabilities of higher education eco-systems. Study recommends the need of combining experiential based learning (EBL). The study also recommends the changes needed to be adopted at this time in higher education viz.