University Activities Research Articles

Young Professionals’ Labour Market Integration Issues in Armenia: a Case Study with Special Reference to Alumni of Armenian State Pedagogical University

The article is devoted to the analysis of university and labour market relationship. In addition to economic analysis, studying the involvement process of young people in the labour market is essential to identifying the link between higher education institutions (HEIs) and the labour market in order to assess and implement appropriate policies. This case study was conducted to discover the integration process of the classes of 2014, from three faculties of Armenian State Pedagogical University, in Armenia’s labour market. The research reveals the demand for these professions in the labour market and the pace of finding jobs. The article discusses the factors that hinder or contribute to the process of integration of young specialists in the labour market, as well as, the advantages and disadvantages of HEIs from young professionals’ perspective. Methodological recommendations and guidelines on the organisation of higher education following the labour market requirements are offered in the discussion section. It is significant to develop mechanisms for promoting employers' involvement in management offices and faculties of HEIs, to develop and fix legal norms, to improve the methodological principles and plans regarding the organisation of the practicum practices. It is proposed to expand the functions and role of career centres created in HEIs in order to establish the university's activity by the labour market requirements and to assist graduates in the labour market as well as provide continuous professional development programs and training for the teaching staff.

Steering sustainable development in higher education – Outcomes from Brazil and Finland

Abstract Higher education institutes (HEIs) have made a deep commitment to prioritizing sustainable development (SD). Their task is to support practices that improve conditions in societies with respect to ecological, economic, and social issues, e.g., tackling the wicked problems of the world. In this case study, which took place at Feevale University (Feevale), Brazil, and at Hame University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), Finland, the following topics were studied: (1) whether there are international and national SD steering policies that might be relevant to higher education development in these particular universities; (2) whether this steering has impacted HEI's own SD policy and steering; (3) whether such in-house operations are affecting SD content within curricula; and (4) how a pedagogic approach influences the incidence of SD-oriented content at the bachelor's degree level. The analysis of policy level data was based on international and national policy papers recognized separately in both universities. As an indicator of the university's level of commitment to sustainability activities, we measured the incidence level of UNECE's SD themes in the curriculum. A hermeneutical approach was applied to the analysis to demonstrate possible systemic interactions between (inter)national SD policy and SD education at HEIs. At HAMK, some evidence was found of a national level top-down steering process in the university's SD activities. At Feevale, the enhancing of SD education is more of a bottom-up process. International steering appeared to be weak in both universities. The study uses unique quantitative data to show how the incidence of SD content in the curriculum is related to the pedagogical approach in each university [content (Feevale) vs. competence (HAMK)]. It was concluded that differences in national SD steering policy and pedagogical approach in the HEI led to divergent curricula structures in relation to the volume of the SD education between the two HEIs. Regardless of such a divergence, an appropriate balance between epistemic and ethical SD competences should be guaranteed for all bachelors.

RATING AS ASSESSMENT TOOL OF QUALITY AND COMPETITIVENESS OF UNIVERSITY

The main tasks of the modern university are to increase the quality of educational services and to step up activities in the international educational space. One way related to providing quality education, creating an open information and educational environment through which participants of educational process receive open access to resources from any point and at any convenient time. Openness and publicity activities of the university contributes to its competitiveness, i.e. its rating among higher education institutions, including born healthy competition that fosters competitiveness training specialists. The article analyzes the methodology, relationship and position Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University in the most authoritative international and Ukrainian ratings: Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education, Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, Ukrainian Rating institutions of higher education by Scopus indicators, «Top-200 Ukraine», Consolidated ranking of universities in Ukraine, Transparency rating of universities (CEDOS), «Bibliometric of Ukrainian science». The indexes and tendencies of Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University on the key ratings and their influence on the quality of education are researched. Discovered mutual performance rating among themselves, including ranking on indicators of performance in Scopus on indicators of Openness and Excellence of Webometrics rating and the rating «Bibliometric of Ukrainian science»; Direct effect of Transparent ranking: Top Universities by Google Scholar Citations on the Webometrics rating. The article describes the ways of influencing on the main indicators of the University's activities in order to increase the positions in international and native ratings and, accordingly, the competitiveness of the University in the educational space.

ПРАКТИКО ЗОРІЄНТОВАНИЙ СЕГМЕНТ ПРОФЕСІЙНОЇ ПІДГОТОВКИ СТУДЕНТІВ У ВИЩІЙ ШКОЛІ

The article deals with the problem of practical training of students of the first (Bachelor's) and the second (Master's) higher education levels and ways to increase the effectiveness of the system of practical training of students in higher education. The results of the empirical study of the student's experience in passing the practice as an integral part of the process of training specialists in higher educational institutions in accordance with the standards of educational activity and higher education. The principles and tasks of the University's educational activities regarding practical training of students, types of practical training of students are considered. The ways of improving the practical training of students of higher educational establishments, the level of mastering practical skills, methods of mastering skills, the method of assessment (self- assessment) of mastering skills, are determined, as well as the criteria of students' practical training, the problems of practical training of students and the factors influencing level of student satisfaction with passing the practice.

Оптимизация стратегии вуза в области реализации новых программ рекрутинга студентов

<p>Данная статья посвящена исследованию эффективности комплекса профориентационных мероприятий нового формата и практики внедрения инновационных подходов в работе с абитуриентами в условиях возрастания конкуренции в сфере высшего образования в России. В числе ключевых мероприятий в комплексе — создание механизмов для развития исследовательской деятельности школьников и формирование системы непрерывного образования «школа — вуз». В статье проанализированы лучшие практики, реализуемые Национально-исследовательским Нижегородским государственным университетом им. Н. И. Лобачевского (ННГУ им. Н. И. Лобачевского) в данной области.</p><p>В качестве эмпирической базы в статье использованы локальные документы ННГУ им. Н. И. Лобачевского, посвященные реализации программы «Университетский кластер образования» и другим профориентационным мероприятиям, реализуемым в ННГУ. Также приводятся результаты социологических исследований, проведенных в университете в период летних приемных кампаний 2011–2016 гг. В целях сбора первичной информации был выбран метод анкетирования, который является достаточно эффективным, наглядным и самым распространенным способом мониторинга потребителей образовательных услуг.</p><p>К определяющим причинам, оказывающим влияние на выбор абитуриентами того или иного вуза для обучения, относятся наличие бюджетных мест на интересующих их направлениях, местонахождение университета, его материально-техническая база, научные успехи и престиж.</p><p>Сформулированы выводы и предложения по оптимизации профориентационной программы университета, реализации новых мероприятий и форматов деятельности по привлечению в университет талантливых абитуриентов. Так, главными направлениями развития здесь становятся расширение и углубление партнерских связей с ведущими школами региона, реализация совместных специальных научно-популярных мероприятий в формате опен-эйров, проведение научно-исследовательских клубов и викторин с участием высокоцитируемых ученых. </p>

System Analysis of Marketing Tools for Commercialization of Intellectual Property Items at a National Research University

Background/Objectives: The objective of the paper is to identify marketing tools that enhance the effectiveness of the commercialization processes, promote the formation of methodological approaches to the construction of the complex of marketing tools for commercialization of intellectual property items. Methods: The retrospective content analysis was selected as the main method of investigation for structuring categorical apparatus of the research, portfolio analysis was applied to identify and evaluate the structure of intellectual property items at the Ogarev Mordovia State University. Application of hierarchical decomposition allowed building a pyramid of the intellectual property commercialization objectives. Using a process approach helped to integrate the marketing tools in the process of intellectual property commercialization and form a complex of marketing support for this process based on the principles of integrity and systematicity. Findings: The study carried out a deep analysis of the theory and practice of intellectual property commercialization at the research universities, identified the main marketing tools that enhance the effectiveness of the commercialization process. This allowed forming methodical grounds of to ensure marketing support in the commercialization of intellectual property items. The structure of intellectual property was evaluated; marketing tools were classified and segmented as exemplified by the Ogarev Mordovia State University, with the aim of prioritizing the commercialization and singling out the possibilities to apply marketing tools. The authors' approach to the formation of a complex of marketing tools for commercialization at the research university has been proposed. Applications: Implementation a marketing complex will provide the market launch of intellectual property items sought after by the consumers, it will enhance the effectiveness of the university's research activities, will integrate the needs of industrial sector and the possibilities of the research sector of the economy, which will ensure the construction of an innovative economy.

Outreach initiatives operated by universities for increasing interest in science and technology

ABSTRACTSince the 1990s, the low number of students choosing to study science and technology in higher education has been on the societal agenda and many initiatives have been launched to promote awareness regarding career options. The initiatives particularly focus on increasing enrolment in the engineering programmes. This article describes and compares eight European initiatives that have been established and operated by universities (and in some cases through collaboration with other actors in society). Each initiative is summarised in a short essay that discusses motivation, organisation, pedagogical approach, and activities. The initiatives are characterised by comparing the driving forces behind their creation, how the initiative activities relate to the activities at the university, size based on the number of participants and cost per participant and pedagogical framework. There seem to be two main tracks for building outreach activities, one where outreach activities are based on the university's normal activities, and one where outreach activities are designed specifically for the visiting students.

Students Exploration on Campus Legibility

University Campuses are significant functional areas of cities. Successfully designed campuses help to balance university's academic, research and service missions with its educational services and raise learning performances. Campuses’ high level of design and planning service has close relation with its legibility. Kevin Lynch, one of the leading theorists who had research on place legibility used cognitive mapping as a tool and defined five fundamental elements, have great influence on place legibility. In this study, Black Sea Technical University is selected as the research area and its legibility level has determined. Aim of this study is to define the legibility level of the campus by students perceptions. In this context, Lynch's five fundamental legibility elements directed students to generate cognitive maps of the campus, and each student's perception level on campus area is determined. Respondent group include students from Architecture, and Urban and Regional Planning departments have contributed this study. End product is the analysis of the cognitive maps, produced by each student, based on legibility elements. The result of the analysis legibility map of the campus has created, and the legibility level of the campus area is determined. Following, the results are classified as the areas with high, medium and low cognition. Finally, possibility of raising university's educational and research activities through design are discussed.

Assessing Different Perceptions towards the Importance of a Work-life Balance: A Comparable Study between Thai and International Programme Students

Abstract This paper has the objectives of evaluating the different perceptions of Chulalongkorn students who are registered within Thai and International Curriculum towards the understanding and awareness of the concept of Well-being with a key focus on the importance of a Work Life Balance (WLB). Sixty five questionnaires were distributed among students who undertook courses offering aspects of WLB as part of the Introduction of Recreation for Thai curriculum and Effective Career Management for International Curriculum during second semester 2013. Data analysis was processed by statistical programming software and accordingly categorized into groups of data by thematic analysis. The findings revealed that two groups of students had a high awareness of WLB importance and stated that this concept is essential to ensure an optimal and valued life as well as the development of knowledge and skills from the educational system. However, both of them stated the problem of limited WLB in practice due to an overload of university's assignments and projects but they have acknowledged a desire to adopt the WLB concept through recreational activities outside of and after their studies. Furthermore, students who has undertaken Thai curriculum perceived that most of the university's facilities and activities offered definitive aspects of a WLB more than other groups held the general perception that the university should improve those ones. The paper delivers an in-depth Discussion ending with a conclusion encompassing all aspects noted and then looks further to the importance and future implications of this research which presents the extra-curricula activities that university should conduct to improve students’ quality of life and WLB.

It's A-bout Time: Detailed Patterns of Physical Activity in Obese Adolescents Participating in a Lifestyle Intervention.

The detailed patterns of physical activity and sedentary behaviors of overweight and obese adolescents are unknown, but may be important for health outcomes and targeted intervention design. Participants completed Curtin University's Activity, Food and Attitudes Program (CAFAP), an 8-week intervention with 12 months of maintenance intervention. Physical activity and sedentary time were assessed at 6 time periods with accelerometers and were analyzed by 1) time and type of day, 2) intensity bout patterns using exposure variation analysis, and 3) individual case analysis. Participants (n = 56) spent a lower percentage of time at baseline in light activity during school days compared with weekend days (24.4% vs 29.0%, P = .004). The majority of time was in long uninterrupted sedentary bouts of greater than 30 minutes (26.7% of total time, 36.8% of sedentary time at baseline). Moderate activity was accumulated in short bouts of less than 5 minutes (3.1% of total time, 76.0% moderate time). Changes varied by individuals. Exposure variation analysis revealed specific changes in activity patterns in overweight and obese adolescents who participated in a lifestyle intervention. A better understanding of these patterns can help to design interventions that meaningfully affect specific behaviors, with unique health consequences.

A Co-creation Centre for University–Industry Collaboration – A Framework for Concept Development

Abstract It is argued in general that future success in effective innovation creation is built on the ability to connect and manage talent, partnerships and related practical innovation processes. This makes it challenging for a university to develop an ecosystem of knowledge creation. The full benefit from a university can only be obtained if the university and society are organically linked together. The needs of society have to be at the centre of a university's activities, and flexible adjustment to changing needs is necessary but often lacking. Campus management has a major role in the facilitation of multidisciplinary interaction between students, scientists, entrepreneurs and other industry partners that inspire each other with different perspectives on the same subject. One significant tool to support open innovation with diverse stakeholders is to provide supportive spaces with relevant services. This paper aims to identify the requirements of a Co-creation Centre as a concept serving the third role of auniversity. The literature review was conducted and, based on the result, this paper proposes a conceptual framework for capturing the key requirements for developing a multiuser Co-creation Centre. The framework consists ofthe requirements on the demand and supply sides of campus management. The main findings in this paper are that different modes of knowledge conversion have different capabilities tosupport knowledge co-creation requirements. Knowledge co-creation process requirements in the multiuser Co-creation Centre for university–industry collaboration are best supported by originating “Ba”, which means the place where individuals share feelings, emotions, experiences, and mental models and the place where the knowledge-creation process begins. The results contribute to the concept development in campus management and provide a starting point for evaluating the success of multidisciplinary and multi-actor innovation environments.

Electronic Service Quality in Higher Education: Evidence from Albania

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the electronic service quality (e-SQ) offered by a higher education institution in Albania. Many universities are implementing web-based solutions to facilitate the delivery of their services, previously offered by appointed staff and physical facilities. These electronic services aim to increase the effectiveness of university's activities as well as to increase the convenience and the quality that both students and faculty receive. This study employs a modified E-S-Qual scale to measure the perceived service quality offered by a public university in Albania. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to confirm the proposed factor structure, while ANOVA served to measure the differences in e-SQ perceptions between students and faculty. The data analysis reveals interesting findings about the e-SQ offered by the university, as well as highlights the differences in perceptions between students and faculty. The study also affirms the E-S-Qual scale as a suitable instrument for measuring the e-SQ in higher education institutions. The results of the study are helpful for university management as they provide an overview of actual conditions of the quality the university offers and serve as a benchmark for further improvements. A limitation of this paper is that it focuses in measuring the e-SQ in a single setting. Nevertheless, this does not compromise the generalizability of the results and encourages the replication of this kind of study with further research.

How effective was Curtin University's Activity, Food and Attitudes Program at changing behaviours in overweight and obese adolescents?

How effective was Curtin University's Activity, Food and Attitudes Program at changing behaviours in overweight and obese adolescents?

The impact of Curtin University's activity, food and attitudes program on physical activity, sedentary time and fruit, vegetable and junk food consumption among overweight and obese adolescents: a waitlist controlled trial.

BackgroundTo determine the effects of participation in Curtin University's Activity, Food and Attitudes Program (CAFAP), a community-based, family-centered behavioural intervention, on the physical activity, sedentary time, and healthy eating behaviours of overweight and obese adolescents.MethodsIn this waitlist controlled clinical trial in Western Australia, adolescents (n = 69, 71% female, mean age 14.1 (SD 1.6) years) and parents completed an 8-week intervention followed by 12 months of telephone and text message support. Assessments were completed at baseline, before beginning the intervention, immediately following the intervention, and at 3-, 6-, and 12- months follow-up. The primary outcomes were physical activity and sedentary time assessed by accelerometers and servings of fruit, vegetables and junk food assessed by 3-day food records.ResultsDuring the intensive 8-week intervention sedentary time decreased by −5.1 min/day/month (95% CI: −11.0, 0.8) which was significantly greater than the rate of change during the waitlist period (p = .014). Moderate physical activity increased by 1.8 min/day/month (95% CI: −0.04, 3.6) during the intervention period, which was significantly greater than the rate of change during the waitlist period (p = .041). Fruit consumption increased during the intervention period (monthly incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.3, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.56) and junk food consumption decreased (monthly IRR 0.8, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.94) and these changes were different to those seen during the waitlist period (p = .004 and p = .020 respectively).ConclusionsParticipating in CAFAP appeared to have a positive influence on the physical activity, sedentary and healthy eating behaviours of overweight and obese adolescents and many of these changes were maintained for one year following the intensive intervention.Trial RegistrationAustralia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12611001187932

Who Owns a Dissertation, and Why Does It Matter?

Who Owns a Dissertation, and Why Does It Matter?

Sex modulates approach systems and impulsivity in substance dependence

This paper has the objectives of evaluating the different perceptions of Chulalongkorn students who are registered within Thai and International Curriculum towards the understanding and awareness of the concept of Well-being with a key focus on the importance of a Work Life Balance (WLB). Sixty five questionnaires were distributed among students who undertook courses offering aspects of WLB as part of the Introduction of Recreation for Thai curriculum and Effective Career Management for International Curriculum during second semester 2013. Data analysis was processed by statistical programming software and accordingly categorized into groups of data by thematic analysis. The findings revealed that two groups of students had a high awareness of WLB importance and stated that this concept is essential to ensure an optimal and valued life as well as the development of knowledge and skills from the educational system. However, both of them stated the problem of limited WLB in practice due to an overload of university's assignments and projects but they have acknowledged a desire to adopt the WLB concept through recreational activities outside of and after their studies. Furthermore, students who has undertaken Thai curriculum perceived that most of the university's facilities and activities offered definitive aspects of a WLB more than other groups held the general perception that the university should improve those ones. The paper delivers an in-depth Discussion ending with a conclusion encompassing all aspects noted and then looks further to the importance and future implications of this research which presents the extra-curricula activities that university should conduct to improve students’ quality of life and WLB.

Rationale, design and methods for a staggered-entry, waitlist controlled clinical trial of the impact of a community-based, family-centred, multidisciplinary program focussed on activity, food and attitude habits (Curtin University’s Activity, Food and Attitudes Program—CAFAP) among overweight adolescents

BackgroundCurrent estimates place just under one quarter of adolescents in Australia as overweight or obese. Adolescence has been identified as a critical period for the development of obesity, yet despite this recognition, there is limited systematic research into or evaluation of interventions for overweight adolescents. Reviews have concluded that there is a substantive evidence gap for effective intervention, but physical activity, lifestyle change and family involvement have been identified as promising foci for treatment.MethodsThis paper reports on the development of a staggered-entry, waitlist controlled clinical trial to assess the impact of a multidisciplinary intervention aiming to change the poor health trajectory of overweight adolescents and help them avoid morbid obesity in adulthood—Curtin University’s Activity, Food and Attitudes Program (CAFAP). 96 adolescents, aged 11–16 years, and parents, will attend twice weekly during an 8 week intensive multidisciplinary program with maintenance follow-up focussed on improving activity, food and attitude habits. Follow-up assessments will be conducted immediately after completing the intensive program, and at 3, 6 and 12 months post intensive program. Main outcomes will be objectively-measured physical activity, sedentary behaviour and activity behaviours; food intake (measured by 3 day diary) and food behaviours; body composition, fitness and physical function; mental and social well-being (quality of life, mood and attitudes), and family functioning.DiscussionThis trial will provide important information to understand whether a community based multidisciplinary intervention can have short and medium term effects on activity and food habits, attitudes, and physical and mental health status of overweight adolescents.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12611001187932.

About the Authors

About the Authors

Open to change: knowledge transfer policy reception in a new university in Scotland

In the past 10 years, higher education (HE) systems in many parts of the world have experienced the emergence and development of policies for knowledge transfer (KT). These policies have established KT as the ‘third stream’ of the university's activities after teaching and research and reflect attempts to make universities more responsive to the needs of the new knowledge economy (KE). These developments may be seen as a global policy trend towards extracting a greater contribution from universities to the economy and society as a whole. At the same time, contextual factors that reflect local histories and meanings have an impact on how such policy is taken up. This article examines the reception of KT policy discourse in a new university in Scotland in order to illustrate the power of discursive shifts to effect the re-definition of the university in an environment with strong civic traditions, and where there is considerable synergy between policy directions and institutional management aims.

Assessing carbon dioxide emissions from energy use at a university

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the carbon dioxide emissions associated with electric, HVAC, and hot water use from a US university.Design/methodology/approach – First, the total on‐campus electrical, natural gas and oil consumption for an entire year was assessed. For each category of energy use, the carbon associated with consumption of a single unit was calculated. Using this, the total carbon dioxide emissions for the entire university were estimated.Findings – It was found that the university's activities resulted in approximately 4 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per student per year. In total, the university emitted nearly 38,000 tons of carbon dioxide during the 2007 fiscal year. In addition, it was found that emissions from on‐campus steam production, which account for roughly 57 per cent of total CO2 emissions, would be improved with the addition of two proposed cogeneration facilities.Originality/value – The originality and value of this paper is attributed to: the recent inte...