University Professors Research Articles

Experience of Student Entrepreneurs in the Implementation of Businesses Financed with Non-Reimbursable Funds

Abstract This research aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the entrepreneurial experience of students who have received non-reimbursable funding through a project co-funded by the European Union to set up and develop their businesses, and to identify practical solutions to promote student entrepreneurship. To achieve the research objectives, the authors used qualitative research based on the focus group method and the semidirective in-depth individual interview. The results of the research highlighted the factors that encouraged the entrepreneurial intention of the students participating in the study, the advantages they considered they had by participating in the project, as well as the difficulties they faced in the implementation stage of the business. Concrete solutions for promoting entrepreneurial opportunities for students were identified based on the results obtained. The research provides a better understanding of the pathway experienced by student entrepreneurs in the process of business implementation and is useful for current and potential young entrepreneurs who want to access non-reimbursable funds to start a new business, as well as for university management and professors in charge of entrepreneurial training of students who can use the research results to think of new ways to promote entrepreneurial opportunities among students.

Preferred EFL Teaching Approaches to University Professors: A Case Study of Saudi Tertiary Level

This mixed methods study investigates Saudi university EFL professors’ perspectives on current teaching approaches and potential improvements needed. Surveys of 100 faculty and interviews with 10 department heads reveal a continued reliance on grammar-translation and lecture-based methods, despite broader recognition of communicative techniques as more effective. Systemic constraints like standardized curricula, assessments, textbooks, resources, and policies restrict implementation of innovative practices. Though professors acknowledge challenges with prevailing methods, most believe they sufficiently improve English skills, indicating a disconnect between beliefs and second language acquisition theory. Strong support for training in modern approaches shows openness to change given adequate guidance. Recommendations include reforming teacher preparation, balancing grammar with communicative activities, allowing materials flexibility, and linking evaluations to student progress. Updating systemic constraints and empowering educators are critical to shift entrenched practices towards communication-focused instruction aligned with Saudi reform goals. The study provides insights into translating positive perspectives into transformative policies and teaching practices that enhance university student outcomes.

Perception of musculoskeletal discomfort in university professors in a pandemic context: A cross-sectional pilot study

Background Studies show contradictory results on telework and MSDs, recommending investigating ergonomic factors and considering mental workload and inactivity. Objective To analyze the predictive association of mental workload, postural overload, and physical inactivity on the presence of MSDs in university professors in a pandemic context. Methods A pilot cross-sectional study. An online self-administered questionnaire was used with the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to assess MSDs, the NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) for mental workload, The Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) to quantify ergonomic risks, and a physical activity question. The data obtained were analyzed by descriptive statistics and the association between the independent and dependent variables by Chi-square and logistic regression with an α = 0.05. Results Fifty-one university professors (58.8% female) participated. The frequency of MSDs was 82.3% and was most common in the neck region (62.7%). Significant associations of mental workload, postural overload, and physical inactivity on MSDs were found. Multiple predictive associations were observed between MSDs in the wrists and hands, chair postural overload, and physical inactivity (OR = 11.84 and OR = 15.38, respectively) while considering confounding variables such as gender, age, and BMI. In addition, MSDs in the upper back were observed with chair and mouse-keyboard postural overload (OR = 5.60 and OR = 7.59, respectively). Conclusions Predictive associations exist between mental workload, postural overload, physical inactivity, and MSDs. In the post-COVID era, teleworking has become essential in universities, and it is crucial to plan for it to prevent the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

A tribute to some leading lights of adult education of the 20th and 21st century

This article, written on the basis of personal memories, is about famous adult educators who have recently passed away. They were all university professors, five of them British and one German, who made a significant difference through their scientific work, through their social engagement and work for democracy in Europe and for social change in the world, and by contributing to the learning of their students and the public in general. The aim of this article is to write about them so that we do not forget them. This is particularly important for adult education as a social science discipline. Thus, it is a tribute to those who have passed away. These six scholars are: Lalage Bown, Chris Duke, John Field, Peter Jarvis, Joachim Knoll, and Teddy Thomas. In order to write this written memorial to their work, materials such as these researchers’ own publications, their CVs, and the obituaries written by other colleagues in newspapers and journals (International Journal of Lifelong Education, Education, The Guardian) or online on organizational websites (e.g. DVV, UNESCO and the universities they were active at) were used. The author had the privilege of meeting all of them. The aim of this exercise was therefore first and foremost to show connections and commonalities between them. They have many characteristics in common, but one characteristic in particular is special: a confidence in underprivileged adults’ potential to learn. They also notably advocated and worked for open access policies and measures for adult learning and education.

Archaeological research at Kazan University in the context of Western European and North American archaeology

This article summarizes the history of archaeological research at Kazan University, from its establishment in 1804 to the present day. The first important milestone was in the 19th century when amateur collecting of artifacts and coins by the university professors in the early 1800s was replaced by professional archaeology, with the Society of Archaeology, History, and Ethnography founded in 1878 at Kazan University. The society published its own journal to raise awareness and foster curiosity, both locally and internationally, about archaeological discoveries in the Kazan Governorate and the surrounding territories. From the late 19th to the early 20th century, a fruitful cooperation developed between Russian archaeologists and Finnish scholars, which lasted until the 1930s and centered in their mutual interests revolving around the Ananyino culture and the origins of the Finno-Ugric peoples. In the aftermath of World War II, the university archaeological team took part in many projects: exploratory surveys for the construction of the Kuybyshev Hydroelectric Station (late 1940s–early 1950s), excavations of the early Bulgarian burials and proto-Bulgarian sites (1950s–early 1960s), unearthing of the Bilär settlement (late 1960s–1980s), fieldwork at the ancient Hungarian Bolshie Tigany burial and in Kazan (1974–1978). In the 1960s–1980s, foreign collaborations were limited to socialist countries (Bulgaria, Hungary), which kept the focus of their scholarly attention on the eastern regions. However, the intensive contacts with Finnish archaeologists continued. Starting from the 1990s–2000s, the results of archaeological research in Tatarstan finally became accessible to Western European and US scholars, who then relied on them to navigate their studies on the history of Islam and Islamization in Europe, sedentarization of nomads, and medieval trade. Now, the archaeology at Kazan University has advanced to a new stage by covering a much broader geographical scope and incorporating the latest technology into archaeological practices.

Interrelationships of stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, quality of life and suicidality among Chinese residents under Standardized Residency Training: a network analysis

Background Chinese resident physicians confront challenges such as staff shortages and heavy workloads, leading to a heightened prevalence of mental distress. This study aims to investigate the symptom network of stress, burnout, anxiety, depression (SBAD) and adverse personal outcomes in this cohort. Methods From October 2020 to April 2022, 994 physicians were recruited across China through snowball sampling. Stress, burnout, anxiety and depression were assessed using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, a two-item burnout questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively. Data on adverse personal outcomes (low quality of life [QOL] and suicidal ideation) were collected. We constructed and visualized two networks, calculating expected influence (EI) and bridge EI indices to identify central and bridge symptoms. Results In the SBAD network, perceived helplessness was the most central and critical bridge symptom connecting stress and mental distress, with emotional exhaustion identified as the secondary bridge symptom. Perceived helplessness, perceived self-efficacy and emotional exhaustion exhibited the highest negative correlations with QOL. Worthless (PHQ6) and motor (PHQ8) symptoms were strongly correlated with suicidal ideation. The estimated SBAD network showed excellent stability and accuracy. Conclusions Our study emphasizes that perceived helplessness may be a high-priority target for preventing and intervening in mental distress and improving QOL among residents. Burnout transcends workplace problems and is widely connected to depression, anxiety and QOL. Implementing early detection and intervention measures at three levels—the individual physician, health system and professional colleges, and external regulators—is crucial for preventing and alleviating stress and mental distress among residents.

The Concealed Costs of a university professors in Algeria

The Concealed Costs of a university professors in Algeria

The reality and challenges of scientific publishing for university professors in the Sultanate of Oman in light of the analysis of reference activity

The reality and challenges of scientific publishing for university professors in the Sultanate of Oman in light of the analysis of reference activity

A Holistic Framework to Accelerate Implementation of Circular Economy in Mega-Scale Construction Projects

Circular economy continues to gain momentum in the field of construction. Notwithstanding the rapid attention this concept is gathering within the construction industry, a clear framework to facilitate its implementation in Saudi Arabia has yet to be developed. This paper aims to tackle this knowledge gap by proposing a framework for CE implementation in construction mega-projects. This study builds upon past research by the authors, where 12 key CE enablers for the construction of mega-projects were identified. Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) has been brought into the current research to collect and analyse the relevant data, including further validation of the enablers conducted with two university professors and six participants actively involved in three mega-projects. Following this, 17 professionals (stakeholders) drawn from separate case studies were selected to examine the contextual relationships between the identified enablers. In a third and last stage, the framework underwent additional validation by three professionals and three academics to ensure its consistency and adaptability for the Saudi Arabian construction industry. The results obtained showed that all CE enablers clustered into four categories: dependent, driving, linkage, and autonomous, whereas the ISM analysis demonstrated that CE in construction mega-projects fits a five-level framework, starting with the establishment of law and legislation. The integrated framework not only fills the identified knowledge gaps but also serves as a tool for the strategic implementation of CE in Saudi Arabia’s mega-projects.

Gaia-Pachamama: an educational theater performance to foster environmental consciousness

This case study details the development, production, and performance of the theatrical play ‘Gaia-Pachamama: An Environmentalist Parable’, created during the first semester of 2022 as part of an integrated undergraduate and graduate course. The play was presented in the context of an outreach project, engaging professors and students of various ages throughout the creative process, from script conception to performance. It addressed issues related to environmental preservation, reverence for Amerindian culture, the indiscriminate use of pesticides, food consumption and human’s greed. By combining historical aspects, scientific knowledge, indigenous wisdom, and artistic expression, the play aimed to raise awareness and promote reflection on environmental issues. We demonstrated that university professors, researchers, technicians, and students in biological sciences possess creative and communication skills that can be developed in a 45-h course. The play was implemented as an active teaching-learning methodology, on which students became protagonists of their pedagogical process, with professors acting as mentors and facilitators. This method encouraged future teachers of basic education to develop activities integrating art, science, history, culture, body, and emotions. Our approach aligns with the concept of pleasure activism which advocates using joy and creativity as tools for social change.

Native-speakerism and trans-speakerism in ELT: Interpretations, manifestations, and ramifications

Native-speakerism and trans-speakerism in ELT: Interpretations, manifestations, and ramifications

Business Plan for the Creation of an Eco-Recreational Park in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico

Objective: Propose a business plan for the creation of an eco-recreational park in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, specifically located in Cerro del Lobo for the recovery of the forest, containing the deforestation process, as well as the creation of an ecological park. That provides education and awareness of ecological environmental values to the residents and visitors of the region. Theoretical Framework: As a theoretical reference from the literature, various models and methodologies for the creation of a business plan were consulted, as well as the opinion of experts, including that of a university professor specialized in the subject of business plans. Likewise, primary and secondary sources were consulted to analyze the general characteristics of the region and serve as a guide for the development of the proposed plan. Method: The study adopted for this research is a combination of methodologies proposed for the creation of a business plan and includes the complete process of a general structure, concisely writing each of its parts and proposing instruments that would be useful in the execution of the plan. As well as the different procedures for implementation, the data was collected through documentary research and in-depth interviews with experts in the field. Results and Discussion: The correct implementation of the proposed business plan based on the physical and biological characteristics of Cerro de Lobo and the species that inhabit it, such as its flora and fauna. They allowed the construction of an eco-recreational park that promotes an ecological culture and raises awareness among the inhabitants of the municipality of Pachuca and surrounding places about environmental and ecological values; In addition to this, the recovery of the forest is sought, investing in a reforestation process, which is why the park is currently operating. With this project, benefits are achieved for citizens and the environment. Research Implications: The findings of this research have significant implications for both the government in power, the residents of the area, as well as visitors to the park. It is important to adopt flexible implementation strategies and take advantage of advanced technologies inherent to improve processes and facilitate decision making by adapting to changing weather conditions and dynamic market conditions. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by offering new insights into the proposal and implementation of a business plan for the creation of eco-tourism parks, through the tuning of methodologies. The practical implications derived from this study serve as a valuable resource for government institutions seeking to increase operational efficiency and strategic effectiveness in an increasingly complex panorama that cannot leave aside the care of the environment and the search for benefits for citizens.

Leveraging technology to simplify administrative tasks

“Hello, I’m a university professor. My job is to answer email and complete mandatory online training courses,” said a post on X from Fernanda Ferreira, a professor of psycholinguistics at the University of California–Davis earlier this year.

Leveraging technology to simplify administrative tasks

“Hello, I’m a university professor. My job is to answer email and complete mandatory online training courses,” said a post on X from Fernanda Ferreira, a professor of psycholinguistics at the University of California–Davis earlier this year.

Facilitators and barriers of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis use among four key populations in Iran

BackgroundPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) significantly reduces HIV transmission, but it is not commonly prescribed in Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to PrEP use among four key populations (KPs) in Iran.MethodsWe conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), and sexual partners of people living with HIV (PLHIV) to obtain deep insights into the participants’ experiences, beliefs, and viewpoints. We included HIV experts, including staff from the HIV control department, healthcare providers with HIV experience, health policymakers, infectious disease specialists, and university professors. We performed a content analysis to identify facilitators and barriers to PrEP implementation among KPs.ResultsWe interviewed seven FSW, seven MSM, four PWID, four sexual partners of PLHIV, and 18 HIV experts. The facilitator’s theme emerged in four main categories, including eight different factors: 1) Individual and interpersonal factors (motivations, fear of testing positive for HIV, and safety nets and financial support), 2) Age and sex differences, 3) Organizational factors (appropriate PrEP distribution, information sharing, and receipt of high-quality services, 4) Efficacy of PrEP. The barrier’s theme emerged in three main categories, including four factors: 1) Individual factors (insufficient knowledge and awareness, and fragile trust), 2) Cultural barriers, and 3) Organizational factors (inadequate infrastructure and organizational barriers).ConclusionsWe identified key facilitators and barriers to successful PrEP implementation among KPs in Iran. By addressing these barriers, Iran has an opportunity to include PrEP programs in its HIV prevention efforts for KPs.

Evaluation of physical-spatial characteristics affecting the quality of apartment housing

Housing quality is one of the most important domains of quality of life. One of the most important qualitative aspects of housing is paying attention to the residents’ satisfaction with their place of residence. The purpose of the upcoming research is to know the physical-spatial characteristics that affect the quality of apartment housing. The research method is combined and based on two quantitative and qualitative approaches. In this way, in the first part and the qualitative approach of the research, the text content analysis method was used. In this section, with the help of the content analysis method, the most important sources of the first category related to the quality of apartment housing are reviewed and the physical-spatial characteristics affecting the quality of the housing are identified. In the second stage of the research, with the help of a quantitative approach, the evaluation of people’s characteristics has been done with the help of TOPSIS method. The statistical population university professors related to housing was used to evaluate the physical-spatial characteristics. The findings of the research show that the characteristics related to housing quality are not only physical.

A tale of two cultures: How L. Luca Cavalli-Sforza bridged the gap between science and the humanities

This article retraces the career of geneticist L. Luca Cavalli-Sforza, from his days as a student researcher to his tenure as a Stanford University professor, and beyond. We show how Cavalli-Sforza’s untiring curiosity, enthusiasm, and global knowledge led him to make incisive contributions to topics as diverse as bacterial genetics and human evolution, both biological and cultural. In an academic world where hyperspecialization is the norm, Cavalli-Sforza stood out as a scientist unafraid to promulgate and apply multidisciplinary approaches to complex issues of human origins and culture.

The Innovative Nature of Law. Problem Statement

The central issue of the paper is the innovative potential of law. Much attention is given to the emergence of law, its relationship with religion, and other social regulators. The emphasis is on the fact that law (not law) has a divine origin. This is how its nature was understood in the ancient world. It is shown how there gradually appeared awareness of law as a means of constructing the desired social reality. This paradigm is associated with the university medieval legal science, which saw law as a model of a rationally organized society. University professors taught students not «practical» law, but methods of working with it, so that law could be perceived as a model for building rationally based social practices, a just society based on law. Attention is drawn to the fact that it is the Romano-German (continental) legal system that more than others emphasizes the innovative nature of law and the desire to use it as effectively as possible. The necessity of changing concepts is indicated: «law regulates» — «law creates». This is the purpose of innovative jurisprudence, which creates legal mechanisms for development in the broadest sense of the word. It is proved that the leaders in the legal field will be those educational and scientific centers that will create a «legal environment for promising social practices and new markets» in order to ensure the technological superiority of Russia.

REMEMBER: 30 YEARS SINCE CONSTANTIN ARSENI PASSED AWAY - THE FONDATOR OF ROMANIAN NEUROSURGERY

Introduction The authors will present one of the great personalities of Romanian neurosurgery, Dr Constantin Arseni, who created it in Bucharest, creating the largest university centre of neurosurgery in Europe at that time. Material After the tragic loss of his mentor Prof. Dr Dumitru Bagdasar in 1946, Dr Constantin Arseni, took over the management of the neurosurgery service at the Central Hospital for Mental, Nervous and Endocrinologic Diseases, the only department of this kind in this country; He was able to have the first Clinic of Neurosurgery from Romania. For his merits, Dr Constantin Arseni, became an Associate Professor in 1952 and University Professor in 1963. His neurosurgical activity was complex, but mainly focused on tumoral pathology, cerebral and spinal, and also on spinal degenerative disease. Under Professor C. Arseni, the Neurosurgical Clinic of Bucharest is transformed in 1975 into the “Prof. Dr D. Bagdasar” Clinical Hospital of Neurosurgery, the largest hospital of Neurosurgery in the Europe, with 550 beds and, subsequently, 650 beds. Also, he developed the departments of neurosurgery in each of the biggest university centres in the country; while being the first President of the Romanian Society of Neurosurgery. Scientific Activity Scientific activity of Prof. Dr Constantin Arseni includes the numerous publications (54 treaties and monographies), together with all his collaborators, encompassing all domains of neurosurgery: Tumoral, Neuropathological, Vascular, Paediatric, Spinal Degenerative Pathology, Central Nervous System Malformations, History, etc. with high international visibility. An editorial board under C. Arseni published, with the substantial contribution of the Bucharest Medical Publishing House of the Clinic, the “Treatise of Neurology” in 8 volumes (1979-1981). Conclusions Professor Constantin Arseni was a dedicated surgeon, he practiced his job asking from those around him as much as he offered - the maximum. He was a schoolmaster and a teacher in the true sense of word. Professor Constantin Arseni, Member of the Romanian Academy, was an exemplary professional, a model of conduct, which will forever remain in our memory, of the neurosurgeons, and of the Romanian neurosurgery, leaving behind a legacy hard to match for those who followed him.

Leveraging the corporate university model to develop and deliver customized course content

Purpose These experiences can provide two significant findings for researchers and other organizations seeking to develop similar training programs. Design/methodology/approach This paper documents how a financial institution developed a customized bank accounting course for its employees through the well-researched and frequently used “Corporate University Model.” It did so through leveraging the educational expertise of a local university professor, and the subject matter expertise of bank managers. The organization followed up on this success by developing a customized risk management course. As before, the bank utilized the Corporate University Model. However, the content was more specialized than that of the previous course since it related to the unique operations of the organization. Therefore, the bank found it necessary to make some adjustments to its development and delivery approach. Findings First, even though corporate universities are often depicted as complex separate entities within companies, the Corporate University Model can be successfully utilized to develop and deliver individual courses that are managed by individual departments. Second, the bank’s risk management course demonstrated how a professional instructor could be used in conjunction with a company’s subject matter experts to effectively deliver course content. This approach is very effective with course content that is unique to the organization’s specific operations. Research limitations/implications While literature indicates that corporate universities often involve the creation of a separate entity, which can be difficult to configure due to their complexity (Lui Abel and Li, 2012), the leveraging of the CU model to construct and deliver single courses has not been explored. Additionally, the existing models do not discuss how roles outlined in the CU model (Patrucco et al., 2017) may change due to content complexity. From a limitation standpoint, it would be helpful to apply this approach to additional courses and organizations. Additionally, data could be collected to evaluate course effectiveness by learning goal. Practical implications This case study shows that the CU model has value for individual courses that continue to reside and be managed in the departments that developed them. Additionally, it shows that even though a professional instructor may not have all requisite knowledge in more specific knowledge domains, this can be solved by involving SMEs in content delivery. This still allows the benefit of a professional instructor who is skilled in course delivery and development. Originality/value These findings provide insights that have not been described in other papers that detail the application of the Corporate University Model. This helps to expand the manner in which companies can attain its benefits.