University Programs Research Articles

Preface

Peruvian Workshop on Solar Energy 2023 (JOPES 2023) These proceedings contain a selection of papers presented at the Peruvian Workshop on Solar Energy 2023 (Jornadas Peruanas de Energía Solar - JOPES), held for the sixth consecutive year. The motivation for these events dates back to 1981, when Prof. Manfred Horn began exploring the potential of renewable energies, particularly solar energy. He founded the Peruvian Association for Solar Energy and Environment (APES). A significant milestone occurred in 1986 when APES organized the first Peruvian Symposium on Solar Energy (SPES). Since 2003, SPES has been held annually without interruption, rotating among various cities in Peru with active university programs related to renewable energies. As an extension of these efforts, JOPES was established in 2008 to promote both local and international dissemination and exchange of ideas in the field of renewable energy research. We invite renowned keynote speakers, local researchers, and students to present their latest works. During the pandemic years of 2020-2022, the event continued virtually. JOPES 2023 was held in presential mode from July 20th to 22nd at the main auditorium of the Faculty of Sciences of the National University of Engineering (Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, UNI). Keynote speakers from diverse countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, participated. Numerous local researchers also contributed, covering topics such as bioremediation of polluted waters, FMEA risk evaluation in the design of solar cookers, properties of stable faces of SnO2 for improving solar cell production, Peltier cells for evaluating the thermal conductivity of insulating materials, calibration of a built spectrometer, and determination of cloud optical depths during over-irradiance. We would like to express our gratitude to the authorities of UNI for their support in making this event possible, especially the Faculty of Sciences for providing the venue and the Vice-Rectorate of Investigation (VRI) for covering some of the finances. Special thanks also go to the Peruvian Association of Solar Energy and the Environment (APES), the Renewable Energy Center of the National University of Engineering (CER-UNI), and the Peruvian government’s National Council of Science, Technology, and Technological Innovation (CONCYTEC). List of Organizing Committee is available in this Pdf.

Strategies for crowdsourcing hearing health information: a comparative study of educational programs and volunteer-based campaigns on Wikimedia

BackgroundSeveral health institutions developed strategies to improve health content on Wikimedia platforms given their unparalleled reach. The objective of this study was to compare an online volunteer-based Wikimedia outreach campaign with university course Wikipedia assignments (both focused on improving hearing health content in Wikimedia’s public digital knowledge archives), in terms of the reach of the contributions and the extent of the participants’ input. A secondary objective was to examine the feasibility and the implementation of the different strategies.MethodsThe research team partnered for the (1) coordination of improvements in hearing and healthcare content through educational programs using Wikimedia platforms, (2) participation in the global campaign Wiki4WorldHearingDay2023 and (3) evaluation of the proposed strategies. Metrics used in the comparison of the two strategies included the number of articles edited, number of views of the edited articles (as reach) and the extent of edits, captured as the number of words. The feasibility evaluation included assessing recruitment success and the implementation of the proposed plan among faculty, students from various university programs, and volunteers representing different constituencies.ResultsThe effort increased the availability of quality plain language information on hearing conditions and hearing care. Both strategies demonstrated to be feasible by their success in recruiting participants who contributed to the effort and by measurable outputs as edits. The contribution of content to Wikimedia platforms as part of education activities provided a more robust result. Wiki4WorldHearingDay2023 145 participants (78 from educational programs) contributed 167,000 words, 258 + references and 140 images to 322 Wikipedia articles (283 existing and 39 new ones), which were viewed 16.5 million times. Contributions occurred in six languages. Edits in Portuguese, mainly by those involved in educational programs, led the number of articles (226 or 70.2%) that were expanded or created during the 5-month tracking period.ConclusionsThe elements that contributed to the success of the studied strategies include an impact topic, coordination with educational programs, international multidisciplinary collaborations, the dissemination of the initiative in several platforms, connection with a robust local Wikimedia affiliate, and the use of a technical infrastructure that provides metrics and coordination mechanisms.Graphical abstract

Unsettling the Familiar: Experiential Human Rights Learning through Civic Monuments at the University of Winnipeg

Abstract Research shows that experiential learning improves student learning, engagement and retention and yet, despite growth in university undergraduate human rights programmes, relatively little is known about experiential learning in the human rights classroom. This article examines a low-cost and online-adaptable experiential learning assignment focused on civic statues and monuments in Winnipeg, Canada. The assignment and supporting activities, speakers and resources were implemented in thirteen sections (online and in-person) of a prerequisite-free undergraduate human rights course over two academic years. Surveys were circulated to students before and after the assignment examining their perspective on key concepts and their own skill and capacity. As a result of the activity students indicated a heightened understanding of the role of monuments and representation as human rights issues, a broadened interpretation of expertise in relation to monuments, and an increased self-perception of skills and capacity related to monument analysis. This article contributes to the emerging literature on human rights education in higher education and to the need for accessible, scalable, and online-adaptable forms of experiential learning. Human Rights is a growing field at the undergraduate level, and our project can usefully contribute to the literature and practice of human rights pedagogy.

THE MEDIATING ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL AND SOCIOCULTURAL ADAPTATION AMONG CHINESE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship and mechanisms influencing the positive psychological capital, social support and sociocultural adaptation of Chinese international students pursuing higher education in Malaysian universities. Through quantitative research methods, the mechanisms that facilitate or hinder the successful sociocultural adaptation of Chinese international students to a new sociocultural environment are revealed. Given the increasing popularity of cross-border international student mobility, this study is highly relevant and provides important insights into the potential opportunities and challenges posed by such mobility. The findings suggest a significant positive relationship between psychological resources (positive psychological capital) and sociocultural adaptation among Chinese overseas students. Meanwhile, social support played a partial mediating role, facilitating the transformation of internal strengths (psychological capital) to external outcomes (sociocultural adaptation). The findings of this study have important implications for university assistance programmes that aim to improve the success and well-being of Chinese overseas students by enhancing psychological resources. Furthermore, this investigation contributes fresh insights to the wider discourse on intercultural education, clarifying how psychological elements impact international student adjustment within such contexts. It serves as a foundation for crafting more impactful interventions targeted at mitigating acculturative stress encountered by international students during their overseas academic pursuits.

Дисфункции проектирования молодёжной политики в российских университетах (на примере участников программы «Приоритет 2030»)

The article analyzes the models of youth policy presented in the development programs of universities participating in the Priority 2030 Federal Project. The author considers the University as the most important institution for the socialization of Russian youth, especially in a situation of geopolitical instability. This stage of a young person's life is defined as a time of social experimentation, selfdiscovery, and the acquisition of important personal qualities and values that contribute to the expansion of solidarity in Russian society. In this regard, the systemic youth policy of the university is becoming a key factor in the social integration of the younger generation. Based on the structural analysis of the program texts, the article draws conclusions about the existence of a number of dysfunctional patterns that significantly reduce the effectiveness of university youth policy. The most significant of them are the insufficient level of goal setting, the lack of measurable performance criteria, descriptive nature, weak correlation with national objectives and priorities. The article concludes that it is necessary to change the university's youth policy and adapt it to the peculiarities of the geopolitical situation in which Russia finds itself.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF KAZAKHSTAN FOR THE TRAINING OF TOURIST PERSONNEL

The tourist industry in Kazakhstan demonstrates a high potential for growth, especially in the conditions of the development of domestic tourism and increasing interest in international tourists. High- quality training of tourist personnel is a key factor in the successful development of the industry, and educational programs of universities play an important role in the formation of professionals and work in this sphere. In this article, the specific features of educational programs of Kazakhstan for training tourist personnel, their compliance with market and international standards are considered.

Research on the Integration of Civics and Politics and Practice of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Programs in Colleges and Universities

With the deepening of educational reform in the new era, innovation and entrepreneurship education has gradually become an important means of cultivating high-quality talents in colleges and universities. However, it is difficult for pure technical education to meet the social demand for comprehensive development, and the integration of curriculum ideology and politics and practice into innovation and entrepreneurship education has become a key way to enhance students' professional ethics and social responsibility. This paper discusses the practical strategy of combining innovation and entrepreneurship education with curriculum ideology and politics in colleges and universities, and puts forward four paths of integration and practice in combination with the application in the medical field. These include enhancing teachers' ideological and political literacy and innovation and entrepreneurship education ability, optimizing curriculum design and teaching methods, constructing and optimizing practice platforms, and improving evaluation mechanisms and incentives, etc., aiming to comprehensively cultivate medical students' professional ethics, sense of social responsibility, and innovation and practice ability. The integration of curriculum ideology not only improves students' professional skills, but also shapes their correct values and sense of social responsibility at the ideological level, and delivers comprehensive medical talents that meet the needs of the new era for the society.

The Factors Affecting the Demand for Higher Education in Albania – Case Study: An Analysis of the Demand for Second Cycle Master's Studies

Universities in the modern world are expected to seek and cultivate new strategies, to provide the right direction to promote knowledge and social equality. The quality of education is an important factor in attracting and retaining students, as it is a substantial investment made by their parents. Therefore, providing a quality service has become the most important objective for most Higher Education Institutions. The general objective of this paper is to investigate the experiences of students enrolled at university programs in different universities in the country through a questionnaire addressed to third-year Bachelor students, and how this experience will affect their decision-making process to continue or not the second cycle master's studies at these universities. The data from this questionnaire were processed in the R-Studio program. The analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) tools for data analysis and testing of relationships between variables. With these methods, we demonstrate how factors such as: academic experience during the years of study, infrastructure and quality of the institution, and the academic offer for master's studies, influence the decision-making of students about whether to continue or not the studies of the second master's cycle, precisely in the universities where they have completed the first cycle of Bachelor studies.

3R-Based Teaching Module for Biology Education Students: A Research Development

The teaching modules are structured learning packages that encompass lesson unit concepts, designed to align with the semester learning plan (RPS), and aimed at achieving specific competency standards. This study explores the application of a 3R-Based Teaching Module for Biology Education through a validation process. The research follows a Research and Development (RD) methodology, utilizing the ADDIE model, which includes three stages: Analysis, Design, and Development. The study was conducted in the Biology Education programs of Riau Islamic University, Muhammadiyah University, and Lancang Kuning University from July to December 2023. The sample included 15 third-semester students as respondents, along with three experts—specialists in material, learning, and media—selected through purposive sampling techniques. These students had previously completed Environmental Science courses at the three universities. Validation data were collected using questionnaires distributed via Google Forms to both student respondents and expert validators. The validation results revealed high validity scores from media experts (94.44), learning experts (96.59), and material experts (100), with an overall validation score of 96.67. Student readability was also rated highly at 91.16. Based on these results, the 3R-Based Teaching Module was deemed valid and practical for use in biology education programs.

Enhancing Online TESOL Education: Strategies for Effective Pre-Class, In-Class, and Post-Class Learning in the Post-Pandemic Era

In recent years, the rise of online learning has significantly transformed the teaching landscape of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper critically examines how online platforms can enhance the quality of learning in TESOL programs in Chinese universities during and beyond the pandemic. The study focuses on the key phases of online teaching: before class, during class, and after class, exploring the instructional strategies that can maximize student engagement and learning outcomes. It also integrates the latest research in TESOL and digital education to offer insights on how online teaching can be optimized for English language learners. Furthermore, this paper reflects on the author’s own teaching experience in applying these methods. Finally, the paper concludes with practical recommendations for improving the quality of online TESOL education in the post-pandemic era, emphasizing how online teaching bridges educational gaps and provides flexibility for diverse learners. Special attention is also paid to challenges like the digital divide, the role of technology in enhancing pedagogy, and the global implications of TESOL in an increasingly connected world.

Implementasi Metode Analytical Hierarchy Process untuk Keputusan Pemberian Ijin Operasional Sekolah Tingkat SMA/SMK di Kabupaten Sumba Barat

In order for students to actively develop their potential for religious spiritual strength, self-control, personality, intelligence, morality, life sciences, general knowledge, and the skills they need for society based on the law, education is a planned basic effort to create a learning atmosphere and learning process. Invite. Although it can also be autodidactic, education frequently takes place with the assistance of other people as well as biological parents. Preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, and finally college, university, or apprenticeship are the typical phases of education. Another important factor in a region's development is education. Therefore, a decision support system that can make suggestions for choosing state institutions and study programs is required for West Sumba Regency SMA/Vocational Schools. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach is used to weight the value of each criterion, and the Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) method is used to calculate the weighted total or to order the alternatives from best. The weights of each alternative—a state university or study program—along with all of its features are added up to determine recommendations for selecting one. The chosen option will be indicated by a higher value. This system generates a report on the outcomes of management decisions, which includes the management's selections based on all options arranged from greatest to smallest SAW value. MySQL and Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 were used to develop the decision support system suggestions for choosing state colleges and study programs for the database.

Towards Integrating Emotional Intelligence in the Interpreter’s Toolkit: Emotions’ Management Training of Translation Graduate Students in KSA

Emotional Intelligence (henceforth, EI) is a critical but often an overlooked component in interpreter training, particularly in the context of Saudi Arabia (KSA) training curricula. This paper examines the integration of EI into the training toolkit for interpreters in KSA, focusing on the recognition and management of emotions. This study, conducted in a Saudi University, investigates the crucial role of EI in interpreter training. A mixed-method approach employing the EQ-i self-assessment, a self-developed questionnaire, and interviews with graduate interpreting students and trainers reveals a gap between the recognition of EI's importance and its actual integration into training programs. While the EQ-i data suggests a baseline level of EI in participants, current programs prioritize language proficiency over EI development. This disconnect necessitates a paradigm shift – a move towards an integrated training model that emphasizes both linguistic skills and crucial interpersonal skills like empathy, cultural competence, and stress management, all key aspects of EI. The study recommends faculty training on EI principles and integration methods, curriculum development with experiential learning activities, and collaboration with EI experts. The paper puts focus on the necessity for interpreter training programs in KSA universities in order to equip future interpreters with the comprehensive skill set to excel in their emotionally complex profession. Further research is necessary to explore culturally appropriate EI assessment tools and the long-term impact of such training on interpreter performance and career development.

A Model for Enhancing Organizational Capacity in State Islamic Higher Education Institution Study Programs to Achieve International Reputation

Capacity building in organizations is an innovative strategy aimed at enhancing efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, and accountability to achieve global recognition. This article investigates organizational capacity building within the Doctoral Study Program in Islamic Education Management at the Postgraduate Program of the State Islamic University of Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, an institution committed to attaining an international reputation. Using a qualitative approach and descriptive analysis, data were gathered through interviews, observation, and documentation. The study reveals that: (1) the development of organizational capacity to achieve international recognition focuses primarily on human resource development and organizational strengthening; (2) visionary leadership is the most crucial factor in reaching international status; and (3) the process of building organizational capacity involves socializing the goals of international recognition, empowering existing resources, managing the transition through the ADKAR Prosci model, and striving to become an internationally recognized Islamic university. These findings suggest that enhancing organizational capacity in an effective, efficient, and sustainable manner can significantly improve the productivity, performance, and accountability of study programs, contributing to their international reputation.

Financing Higher Education in Kenya, 1960-2012

In the last two decades or so Kenya has witnessed increased demand for university education. This has forced education planners to experiment with a number of strategies to admit these increased numbers of qualified students to existing public universities. These strategies have seen remarkable flexibility in public university programs and admission requirements. Some of these strategies include: evening programs, weekend programs, holiday programs, and open and distance learning programs. But one which has raised enough public attention is the variedly labeled parallel, module two or self- sponsored students programs. Although this program has substantially increased access to public university education in Kenya, it has equally been criticized particularly on its ability to deliver quality university education. The argument has been that the programs were primarily tasked with the purpose of raising income and ensuring institutional survival in the prevailing harsh economic conditions. What is however unknown is the extent to which the program has promoted quality training for students and improved skills for public university academic staff. The brief paper seeks to address this gap. The paper is extensive review of secondary data and personal observations. The paper concludes that the introduction of cost sharing and the increasing need for the universities to fundraise to effectively meet the budgetary deficits has negatively affected the quality of public university education in Kenya

Innovate, Educate, Elevate: Empowering Tomorrow's Health Professionals Through a Contemporary Learning Module in Digital Transformation of Health.

This manuscript describes the conception and development of a novel, innovative digital health and informatics learning module designed specifically for entry-to-practice physiotherapy university programs. The design process involved consultation with stakeholders, alignment with contemporary digital health competency guidelines for health professional education, and educational design workshopping with faculty to ensure relevance and success. Key curriculum components include modules on health system transformation, design-thinking approaches, solution refinement and innovation pitching in the context of digital health. The subject intended learning outcomes (SILOs) were focused on digital health transformation, addressing the need for a curriculum on digital health transformation. This tertiary module aims to equip university graduates with essential knowledge and skills to thrive in a digitally enabled healthcare system by offering this framework for future health professional education in the digital age.

The Role of Prior Online Learning Experience in Student Learning under ERT – A Comparative Study

The pandemic provided great research opportunities in learning/teaching. How was students’ learning experience under emergency remote teaching (ERT)? The purposes of this study are to explore students’ learning experience, and to observe any differences under two lenses – internationalization and prior online learning. An online study was conducted in the Management/Business programs of a major Canadian research university and four Russian universities in 2021. A total of 683 students participated in this study, two-thirds of which were Canadian and one-third were Russian. The degree of internationalization (e.g. international students) is higher in Canadian universities, while a higher percentage of Russian students had prior online learning experience before the pandemic in this study. The research findings showed that the degree of internationalization did not play a significant role in the difference of student learning; while the prior learning experience played a crucial role under ERT. Russian students adjusted better to the new learning mode, reported a more positive view of online learning, had a better learning experience and performance, and had a preference to continue with online learning post-pandemic. This research sheds light on students’ preference for online learning that was influenced by prior exposure to online learning.

Family Structure and Female Enrollment into Engineering and Technology Programmes in English Speaking State Universities of Cameroon

This study seeks to find out the influence of family structure composition and gender beliefs on female enrolment in to Engineering and Technology programmes in the English speaking state universities in Cameroon. The methodology used in this study was an explanatory sequential mixed method design where data were collected from 276 students from the two universities and an interview administered to 10 parents whose children are enrolled in any engineering or technology department within the two English speaking state universities in Cameroon. The data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire administered to the students and an interview guide administered to the parents. The data collected were analyzed descriptively and Point Biserial Correlation Analysis was also used to find the relationship between Family Structure Composition and Female Enrolment in Engineering and Technology Programmes. Paired Sample T-Test was also used to find out if gender within the family has an impact on enrolment in engineering and technology programmes and finally a Binary Logit Regression was used to show the impact of family structure on Female Enrolment in Engineering and technology Programmes. Findings from this study indicates that there is a weak relationship between family structure composition and female enrolment in engineering and technology. Indicating that performance in sciences and subsequent enrolment in engineering and technology by female students are supported by other factors other than the family structure. Paired sample T-Test and Binary logit regression analysis indicates a strong family belief system that female children should pursue the art discipline and this beliefs had a significant impact on female enrolment in engineering and technology fields. Parents should be encouraged to devote the same amount of their resources in educating their girl child as they do for the male children. House chaos and other constrains should be adequately managed within the family during school periods and negative family beliefs that have an impact on the schooling of the girl child should be avoided.

Problems of Staff Training to Ensure State Technology Sovereignty

Based on a comparison of the guidelines in the Strategies for Technological Development of the Country from 2016 to 2024, a contradiction has been formed in the basic attitudes towards the personnel training system. The authors aim is to present a sociological analysis of the current situation and the existing opportunities for implementing the task of ensuring the technological sovereignty of the country with qualified personnel. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study is built on an appeal to classical works representing society: as a system of T. Parsons, E. Giddens, self-organizing system of N. Luhmann; works covering the issues of the influence of scientific and technological potential on the level of competitiveness; state programs and regulatory documents, as well as statistical and analytical materials. Results. Generalization of data on training programs in secondary vocational education, as well as implemented federal programs for its support allowed us to conclude that at the moment the situation is characterized by a gradual improvement, but the number of graduates is insufficient for the growing needs of production. The reasons are both poor training in natural cycle disciplines in schools and, accordingly, a shortage of teaching staff to solve this problem, and the consequences of the demographic pit of the 90s, which led to a reduction in potential students. The authors believe that the solution to the problem of providing qualified personnel is not so much in the constant increase in the number of graduates, but in the revision of both their training programs and the technologies of the production itself in order to replace the stages of operations that can be performed by unskilled specialists with technological developments based on artificial intelligence. The implementation of an integrated approach should be ensured by revising the training programs in universities and institutes, as well as attracting talented developers to the problem of improving production.

State University and College (SUC) Program Offering: A Feasibility Study of Bachelor of Science in Public Management

State University and College (SUC) Program Offering: A Feasibility Study of Bachelor of Science in Public Management

Образовательные онлайн-технологии как эффективное средство обучения английской терминологии языка для специальных целей (ЯСЦ) студентов неязыковых специальностей вуза: междисциплинарный подход

The paper describes the research conducted by the team of the English teachers of English for Humanities Dpt. of Southern federal university. The investigation aimed at the study of effectiveness of learning English terminology for special purposes by the non-linguistics university program students with the help of IT-technologies. In the experiment the online course "Legal Communication: Legal Writing and Oral Communication in the Practice of Law", developed by the interdisciplinary team of university teachers of the Faculty of Law and the English teachers of English for Humanities Dpt. on the Moodle LMS. Interdisciplinary approach applied in the course of investigation embraced the main principles of two sciences: methods of teaching foreign languages and terminology study. The results obtained show that both the usage of educational IT-technologies and the educational IT- products increases the students’ motivation for learning the language of their future profession if the content of the educational IT- products is thoroughly developed on the main subjects of theoretical and practical terminology study: the description of the history of formation and development of a language for special purposes, the linguistic and extra-linguistic factors that influenced its development, its vocabulary, style and genres, the techniques of appropriate use of terms in the special context.