University Sector Research Articles

The caring university: Making the case for students’ agency and capabilities

While concepts of care and caring have a long history, the terms have become especially prominent in recent times. Care and caring, I argue, have emerged as what philosopher Charles Taylor calls ‘moral sources,’ uber-concepts that allow for moral deliberation, the prioritization of preferences, and our identity formation as persons. Linking the current salience of care to a growing awareness of the dynamics of a crisis- and catastrophe-ridden world, I consider care within the context of university students’ declining mental health. Acknowledging role differentiation within universities and the contributions of Well-being units with specialist knowledge, I contend that frontline tutors without such knowledge have an important role to play in developing alternatives to an increasingly pervasive medicalised conception of care, one that constitutes students as passive patients. Drawing on Martha Nussbaum and Amartya Zen’s capabilities approach to human flourishing, I suggest that there is considerable scope, within the civil society environments of the university sector, for life skills-oriented practices of care that are profoundly agential, and, through this, curative, protective, and liberating. I illustrate the relevance of the theoretical propositions through a case study of a collaborative performance of the ‘Shout at Cancer Choir’ (aka ‘Laryngectomy Choir’) at the University of Lincoln, UK, in 2023. The aim is to show how particular forms of community engagement, within or beyond the formal curriculum, create capabilities-based conditions for students’ flourishing.

Creating an Identity of Impact in a Newly Developing Irish Technological University Sector: A Qualitative Case Study of Impact Influences at the Technological University of the Shannon

Creating an Identity of Impact in a Newly Developing Irish Technological University Sector: A Qualitative Case Study of Impact Influences at the Technological University of the Shannon

Does Transfer Pathway Uptake Help or Hinder Access to STEM Fields in Postsecondary Education? A View From Canada

ABSTRACTConsiderable scholarly attention has been devoted to how gender, race and various other demographic factors shape the odds of majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs. Such work has identified sizable disparities in access to STEM fields across various dimensions. In turn, these empirical findings have informed productive discussions about the social and institutional mechanisms that prevent marginalised groups from entering STEM, along with the potential strategies that could be used at multiple levels (e.g., government and institutional) to address them. Despite the increasing size of this literature, little energy has been devoted to examining the extent to which uptake of transfer pathways is associated with the odds of eventually majoring in a STEM field. Does transfer divert students away from STEM fields? Does it primarily function as an ‘on‐ramp’ for students from other disciplines to enter STEM? We find that students who travel transfer pathways into the university sector are less likely to major in STEM, but those that travel transfer pathways into the community college sector are more likely to major in STEM. We identify some of the mechanisms that could be contributing to these trends and highlight some prospective strategies for addressing the potential structural barriers faced by students wishing to enter STEM.

Rebuilding universities as vehicles for lifelong learning

It is widely acknowledged that adult education and lifelong learning are becoming more important than ever. Several universities in Britain are responding, by placing lifelong learning at the centre of their university strategy for the institution as a whole. But it will take investment to bring about the sort of change required, and to develop the new provision. The university sector in Britain is facing a financial squeeze, with costs rising faster than income. Some universities may therefore think that even the modest investments required are not affordable. It is vital that the government steps in to ensure that these opportunities are not lost. Many of the government’s own priorities will be far more likely to be delivered if we can usher in a new era of adult education and lifelong learning ‐ from overcoming the well-being and mental health crisis, to boosting innovation and productivity, to tackling the climate crisis.

Online teaching and Learning post-Covid: An Analysis of LMS Usage and Student Outcomes Following the Pandemic

In 2020, the global higher education sector plunged into online teaching and learning within a very short timeframe with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Sri Lankan state higher education system was no exception. While the initial readiness of both students and teachers for this switch varied or, in many cases, was low, online instruction was the predominant form of teaching and learning for most of the subsequent two years. The Sri Lankan university sector resumed face-to-face teaching for undergraduates in mid-2022 but aspects of online teaching and learning remain, providing a valuable opportunity to take stock of the experiences gathered during the pandemic. This study aims to use data on undergraduate courses offered both during and after the pandemic period at the Faculty of Business in the University of Moratuwa in order to identify online teaching practices that persisted beyond the COVID-19 period and relate student interactions with these activities with academic outcomes. The dataset spans 473 students in five cohorts across six undergraduate courses and includes Moodle (the LMS used by the university) logs, data on academic outcomes, and features of the online course pages. The student level data for the selected courses are augmented with interviews with the corresponding lecturers to gain further insights into why certain learning activities were considered successful and others not. By doing so, the paper aims to identify effective learning tools and best practices that arose during the unplanned transition to online teaching from both lecturer and student perspectives. The results show that there is a continuity in the tools between the online mode during the pandemic and the post-pandemic return to face-to-face teaching with tools such as quizzes, assignment submissions, and videos/lecture recordings used noticeably more than in the pre-Covid period. The use of interactive tools increase the student engagement with the course Moodle pages, which in turn are positively associated with learning outcomes. The paper thus highlights some positive consequences of the pandemic period on education in terms of enhancing the adoption of digital tools for learning among both staff and students.

Examining the Perceived Self-Control and Self-Management Skills of University Students: A Sectoral and Disciplinary Analysis

Self-control and self-management are critical skills for university students, facilitating academic success by enabling effective time management, focus, and the ability to overcome distractions. Considering the significance of self-control and self-management skills for university students, this quantitative study aimed to assess the perceived levels of self-control and self-management skills among students from two public and one private sector university in Multan, Pakistan. Utilizing a survey design, data were collected from 1,180 university students through a 16-item questionnaire structured into three subscales, namely: self-monitoring, self-evaluating, and self-reinforcing. The reliability of the questionnaire was established using Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient with a value of 0.83. Descriptive statistics (percentages, means, standard deviations) and inferential analyses (independent sample t-tests, ANOVA) were applied to examine overall student perceptions and identify differences based on university sector and academic discipline. The findings of research revealed that students perceived themselves to possess moderate levels of self-control and self-management skills, with significant differences observed between public and private sector students, as well as across academic disciplines. These variations suggest that institutional and disciplinary contexts may influence students’ development of these skills. The study concludes with practical recommendations for educators and students to strengthen self-control and self-management competencies, contributing to improved academic outcomes and personal growth.

Educational Diplomacy of Islamic Republic of Iran as the Soft Power Strategy in the Middle East

Nowadays, many countries are trying to increase their soft power authority using the university communication facilities. Educational exchanges and the creation of university branches in different parts of the world, especially in countries where there are common cultural fields, give these countries the opportunity to interact with elites and students expand their influence. The university sector, as the most important and effective branch in creating the future of a country, will have a great impact on understanding and cultural alignment between nations.In this regard, one of the important regions that have a lot of common cultural identity with the Islamic Republic of Iran is the Middle East region. This article aims to answer the question of how the Islamic Republic of Iran can use its academic capabilities as the educational diplomacy in order to promote its position as soft power in the Middle East. Accordingly, Iran can use the cultural capacities, the Persian language, the common background of civilization and the capability of its higher education, especially in the field of university exchanges to empower its soft power authority in the region.

Resistance and collaboration within the panoptivarsity: differing views of ORCID in Ireland

PurposeORCID is well recognised as a Persistent Identifier (PID) amongst the global academic community. The international literature is generally extremely positive towards this development. A minority of vociferous critics however have continued to dispute its benefits. Particular concerns have been noted around the potential for ORCID to be used as a tool for evaluation and surveillance by University management structures. This research sought to critically evaluate in-depth perceptions of ORCID in the Technological University (TU) sector in Ireland.Design/methodology/approachThis study involved ten semi-structured interviews with academics and five with librarians in the TU sector. Reflexive thematic analysis informed by Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological principles was used to explore transcribed interview data.FindingsThe results demonstrate a clear difference in perceptions concerning ORCID, with library staff being very positive and uncritical, even arguing for mandatory adoption. Although some academics were using ORCID IDs in a performative manner, most were suspicious of, or resigned to their use. Concerns about ORCID ranged across various issues including employer surveillance, a lack of institutional autonomy and its inappropriateness for the sector. It is argued that academics in the TU sector have so far not had an opportunity to fully explore and articulate their vision for the future. In its current form ORCID represents a foreign, imposed and inappropriate tool that may facilitate willing or unwilling inclusion in the inequitable and crude “game” of global university league tables.Originality/valueThe paper offers an in-depth and critical analysis of ORCID adoption in Ireland based on perceptions amongst two stakeholder groups: academics and librarians.

"It's the history, stupid!" A plea for a historicisation of structures in the German university and science sector (and for conclusions to be drawn)

"It's the history, stupid!" A plea for a historicisation of structures in the German university and science sector (and for conclusions to be drawn)

Quadruple Helix Approach to Boost Fashion Industry Innovation

Currently, the fashion industry continues to grow and increase, but there is a problem gap in the form of declining demand for orders and stagnant fashion products, which has an impact on 3,000 textile factory workers in Sukoharjo Regency who have been laid off. The problem gap needs to be resolved through the collaborative roles of the sectors in the quadruple helix consisting of the fashion industry, universities, government, and civil society. Therefore, the research question is how does the fashion industry build innovation through the support of sectors in the quadruple helix? The purpose of this study is to identify the role of the quadruple helix in encouraging the fashion industry to create innovations that have an impact on employment. The research method used was a qualitative study with the informants being the Industry Office as the government sector, two fashion MSMEs as industry sector representatives, one university in Indonesia as the university sector, and a sample from civil society. The results of this research indicate that the industry sector is the primary driver of innovation, universities provide foundational knowledge for other sectors, and the government plays a role in maintaining the smooth operation of the fashion industry through policies. Additionally, civil society is responsible for evaluating the work of industry, universities, and government policies. This research contributes to the body of knowledge on the quadruple helix innovation theory.

TAKING IT TO THE STREET: A CONCEPTUAL MODEL PROMOTING THE ESSENTIALITY OF TRUST IN COMMUNITY-FOCUSED QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Introduction/Frame: Trust is foundational to qualitative research and program evaluation to ensure that data collection, data analysis, and actionable recommendations improve programs and produce effective outcomes. Concomitantly, building trust between the university and community sectors offers a rich opportunity to join efforts to address public health issues including substance use, homelessness, criminal justice involvement, and mental illness. Research suggests cross-sector collaboration among human services organizations produces effective outcomes when stakeholders are engaged, trust one another, and have shared goals. Developing qualitative program evaluation partnerships between university researchers and human service organizations offers a valuable application of cross-sector collaboration, including the transferability of qualitative research and program evaluation findings. Objective: This conceptual paper aims to highlight the essentiality of trust, summarize the facilitators and barriers of collaboration, and share a case example of a partnership. Additionally, it offers implications for researchers and community partners while outlining the benefits of university/community collaboration. Finally, we will offer a conceptual model of the iterative relationship between trustworthiness, trust, and impact in our evaluation approach. Theoretical Framework: Our approach to community-focused qualitative program evaluation is anchored in an action research paradigm, a use evaluation approach, coupled with trust as the key factor in developing and maintaining effective evaluative relationships. The Impact of Trust: Three areas in which trust is most beneficial to qualitative program evaluation are relationships, data collection, and transferability of results. Conceptual Model: Our model is grounded in three seminal works focusing on trust in business-business relationships, organizational trustworthiness as a mediator to both cognitive and affective trust, and relationship stability in inter-organizational reliance. Final Considerations: We found that using this model allowed quicker research-to-practice implementation of evaluation recommendations, solidified community/university collaborative relationships, and facilitated strategies to address workforce shortages in community human services agencies.

The Impact of Strategic Intelligence on Marketing Agility: A Field Study in Private Universities in the Capital Municipality of Sana'a

This study aimed to determine the levels of marketing agility and strategic intelligence, as well as the impact of strategic intelligence on marketing agility in private universities in the Capital Municipality of Sana'a. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach and used a questionnaire as a tool for data collection from private universities that have been established for more than 15 years and have more than 20 educational programs. One hundred and thirty-seven questionnaires were distributed to university rectors, vice rectors, general secretaries, deans of colleges, marketing managers, heads of academic departments, registrars, and student affairs. A total of 118 valid questionnaires were collected for analysis. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data. The study found that the level of strategic intelligence practice in private universities was high, with the future vision dimension being the most practiced, while motivation was the least practiced. The level of marketing agility application was also high, with implementation agility being the most applied dimension, while participation agility was the least applied. The results also showed a significant statistical impact of strategic intelligence on marketing agility. The motivation and partnership dimensions of strategic intelligence had the greatest impact on marketing agility, while systematic thinking had the least impact. The study recommends increasing focus and attention on the motivation and partnership dimensions, as they have the greatest impact on marketing agility and increase the achievement of marketing agility in the face of increasing competition in the private university sector in Yemen.

Making the glass ceiling visible: vertical segregation in Mongolian public universities

ABSTRACT This study examined vertical segregation in Mongolian public universities, making the formation of the glass ceiling visible. Due to its socialist foundation, the Mongolian university sector has long been masculinized, wherein the two systems of socialism and democracy exist simultaneously, and this coexistence is clumsy rather than harmonious. Hence, there are two isolated paths towards investigating gender and leadership practices in this sector: political appointments of senior leadership positions from the government and the collegial type of elections in middle management. This study has focused on the more democratic practices of elections in middle management. The main goal of this study was to define what factors the voters/academics consider when they evaluate the candidates competing for leadership positions in Mongolian public universities. A total of 312 academics from Mongolian public universities participated in the survey. The results indicated that academic leadership positions were seen as more of an academic duty rather than a leadership responsibility. Interestingly, males and politically affiliated academics tended to strengthen the masculinized culture, perpetuating the practice of the Boys’ Club in academia.

Readability and Higher Education Access: Exploring Community College Admissions Information on Websites

ABSTRACT Although United States community college enrollment rose in Fall 2023, the community college sector as a whole has contracted by 37% since 2010, representing over 2.6 million students. As a result, community college practitioners, specifically, those working in admissions and enrollment management should ensure that admissions instructions are simple enough so that students can read and comprehend how to apply for admission to community college. However, research at the four-year institutional level has found that admission information for prospective students is complex, often written above the 14th-grade English reading comprehension level. Here, this study gathered admissions application instructions from 949 community colleges in the United States to evaluate the grade-level readability of these instructions. The results suggest that the average readability level of community college admission information is near the 14th-grade level, with negligible differences between institutional sectors. Implications for practice and community college student access are addressed.

Do Transfers into the Community College Sector Graduate at the Same Rate? Evidence from Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT The overwhelming majority of studies on transfer students have compared the outcomes of vertical transfer students (college-to-university) relative to “native” counterparts, referring to those that directly enter universities from high school and remain within them throughout the course of their studies. In turn, scholars have devoted only minimal attention to the outcomes of students that travel variable pathways into the community college sector (e.g. university to college). Through this study we attempt to correct such imbalance in the existing literature, leveraging various administrative files in Statistics Canada’s Education and Labour Market Linkage Platform (ELMLP) to analyze the pathway-based disparities in graduation rates among those students traveling various routes into the Ontario community college sector. Our logistic regression models reveal that students who transfer into the community college graduate at a rate that is 22 to 27% points lower than direct entries, and that these differences persist even after we control for student traits (e.g. age, sex), field of study, parental income, and familial characteristics (e.g. size, structure). Based on the observed findings, we theorize plausible mechanisms that could be suppressing the success of transfers into the community college sector and identify a series of potential strategies to ameliorate this situation.

Psychometric Properties of Scales Assessing Psychosocial Determinants of Staff Compliance with Surgical Site Infection Prevention: The WACH-Study.

Psychosocial determinants influence healthcare workers' compliance with surgical site infection (SSI) preventive interventions. In order to design needs-based interventions promoting compliance, such determinants must first be assessed using valid and reliable questionnaire scales. To compare professional groups without bias, the scales must also be measurement-equivalent. We examine the validity/reliability and measurement equivalence of four scales using data from physicians and nurses from outside the university sector. Additionally, we explore associations with self-reported SSI preventive compliance. N = 90 physicians and N = 193 nurses (response rate: 31.5%) from nine general/visceral or orthopedic/trauma surgery departments in six non-university hospitals in Germany participated. A written questionnaire was used to assess the compliance with SSI preventive interventions and the determinants of compliance based on the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior-Model. Psychometric testing involved single- and multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses, and explorative analyses used t-tests and multiple linear regression. The scales assessing individual determinants of compliance (capability, motivation, and planning) were found to be reliable (each Cronbach's α ≥ 0.85) and valid (each Root-Mean-Square-Error of Approximation ≤ 0.065, each Comparative-Fit-Index = 0.95) and revealed measurement equivalence for physicians and nurses. The scale assessing external determinants (opportunity) did not demonstrate validity, reliability, or measurement equivalence. Group differences were found neither in compliance (p = 0.627) nor determinants (p = 0.192; p = 0.866; p = 0.964). Capability (β = 0.301) and planning (β = 0.201) showed associations with compliance for nurses only. The scales assessing motivation, capability, and planning regarding SSI preventive compliance provided reliable and valid scores for physicians and nurses in surgery. Measurement equivalence allows group comparisons of scale means to be interpreted without bias.

The exploration of academic staff’s perceptions of the concept of curriculum decolonization in the selected Eastern Cape TVET college

This study aimed to explore the perceptions of academic staff on the concept of curriculum decolonization in a selected technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college in Eastern Cape Province. South Africa has been confronted with calls for curriculum decolonization and at some point, students all over the country decided to embark on a nationwide protest asking for the decolonization of the curriculum in the institutions of higher learning between 2015 and 2016 through the #feesmustfall movement. The study focused on one Eastern Cape TVET college as an institution of higher learning as a case study. A qualitative approach was adopted, and an interpretive paradigm was employed. There are about eight TVET colleges in Eastern Cape Province offering different courses. The researcher purposively selected two lecturers from each of the five campuses, one assistant director academic and one deputy principal academic to get to a sample size of 12. Critical theory guided this investigation. Data was analysed thematically. The study revealed that some academics do not know what decolonization all is about. There is no formal involvement of lecturers, when it comes to the process of curriculum decolonization at the said TVET college, however, there are engagements on general perspectives about transformation in TVET college sector. The study recommends that TVET colleges should develop a policy on curriculum decolonization. TVET colleges should form a committee that will look at matters of curriculum transformation, which should be inclusive of lecturers, students, managers, and relevant external expects of curriculum transformation.

Digital Accessibility Education in Context: Expert Perspectives on Building Capacity in Academia and the Workplace

The social model of disability, accessibility legislation, and the digital transformation spurred by COVID-19 expose a lack of accessibility capacity in the workforce, indicating persistent gaps in academic and professional education. We adopt a socio-cultural lens to examine how the context of education and training influences teaching and learning in university and workplace sectors, and how expert educators manage and negotiate these contextual factors to build accessibility capacity. This article reports qualitative research with 55 experienced educators using an expert panel method and focus groups. Analysis highlights the important disconnects and contextual challenges that educators must navigate and negotiate to affect and embed cultural change. We find that faculty and workplace cultures frequently perpetuate precarity in accessibility education, individualising the responsibility to ‘heroes’ or ‘champions’, while disciplinary and role-based silos limit the scope for raising awareness and developing widescale competency. Conversely, centres of excellence and communities of practise can cultivate and sustain links between education and research, engage expert users, and promote interdisciplinary and cross-role learning environments, where accessibility is increasingly recognised as a shared endeavour. We conclude that greater collaboration between academia and industry can enhance pedagogical understanding, to transform accessibility educational practices and build and sustain capacity for the future.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS' ATTITUDE TOWARD RESEARCH IN PUBLIC SECTOR COLLEGES OF LAHORE

The students' attitudes are more significant in the modern world than their experiences and academic preparation. A positive attitude toward research is the key to success and progress in knowledge-based societies. The study aimed to investigate undergraduate students' attitudes towards research in public sector colleges of Lahore. The population of this study comprised of B.Ed. (Hons.) students. The sample was selected over convenient sampling technique of 180 students from five public sector colleges in Lahore. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire developed by Papanastasiou was used for data collection. The data was analyzed through statistical package for social sciences-20 using descriptive and inferential statistics. A T-test was used to find differences based on gender. The results offered significant information for reaching the conclusion and making suitable decisions about research issues under study. It was revealed that most students had a positive attitude towards research. Moreover, there was a significant difference between the attitudes of males and females toward research, with more positive attitudes by male students.

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ ATTRIBUTIONS FOR SUCCESS AND FAILURE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

The current study was designed to explore attributions made by students while reflecting on their success and failure in learning English as a second language (ESL). The study also focused on looking at different attributional patterns demonstrated by male and female students. The target population of the study consisted of all students enrolled in 12th grade at public sector colleges of Lahore district. The study included 2152 students (1076 male & 1076 female) studying at intermediate level of public sector colleges. Data were collected by using ASQ & AFQ. Results of t-test also highlighted the differences amid male and female students' attributions regarding success and failure. Based on the findings, college administration, and teachers can gain the valuable insights into the factors that impact students' learning experiences and identify areas for improvement in acquisition of a second language. Moreover, they can play an indispensable role in modifying the students’ attributions by using the appropriate measures such as providing constructive feedback on students’ work so they can develop a realization regarding relationship between actions and outcomes, and controllability over events.