Search Results for
"Higher education"

In this study, we examined articles related to academic quality assurance research in the sub-Saharan African (SSA) higher education context to identify internal and external mechanisms put in place to improve the quality of education. To achieve the objective, the study reviewed published studies to bring to light the standard quality benchmark indicators describing how quality assurance has been promoted in SSA starting from 2012 to 2022. Based on this premise, 143 articles were included in the review in accordance with the set criteria for inclusion. The study found that most of the SSA higher educational institutions give extra attention to the building of human resource capacity and neglected other important practices such as internationalization and the “building of industrial collaborations,” though these were major ingredients for promoting quality assurance. It also came to fore that, amidst the efforts to achieve quality standards in teaching and learning, insufficient funding, lack of efficient academic staff, poor implementation of educational policies, and unstructured program for training and re-training of staff were the major hinderances to the promotion of quality assurance in higher institutions in the sub-Saharan African region. Based on the findings, recommendations were made for policy, practice, and future research in higher education delivery in the sub-region. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2023.

The basis of this article is a follow-up study of a cohort of pupils in the third largest city of Sweden, Malmö. The pupils finished fourth grade at compulsory school in 2008. We have data about every individual in the cohort as well as corresponding information about their parents. The information concern educational choices, educational accomplishments, employment relations, incomes from work and different kinds of social benefits and allowances. We got annual data on these variables from 2008 until the last follow-up year 2019 when most of the individuals were 21 years old. Most of them left upper secondary school in 2017 when they were 19 years old. They were therefore in the beginning of their transition 2019, either aiming for education or work. The results show that vocational education generated favourable conditions for work and incomes provided that the diploma goals ware reached. Individuals with foreign background and with unfavourable socioeconomic origins were overrepresented among those that didn’t reach the diploma goals; this was true for students on VET-programmes as well as higher education preparatory programmes. It should also be mentioned that experiences from a national programme in upper secondary school generally improved conditions for establishment. Those that didn’t reach the goals of compulsory school and weren’t eligible for studying at a national programme met the greatest difficulties in finding jobs and decent income levels. © The Author(s) 2023.

education has faced massive changes in recent years and is currently undergoing even more radical developments, especially with the shift towards using digital technologies and tools in the classroom. In addition, the introduction of many new nontraditional strategies for learning has changed the face of education. Within higher education specifically, adult learners have seen a rise in these changes and must adapt to the new strategies at hand. Similarly, adult educators must cope with these new instructional strategies to create optimal learning environments and classrooms that promote success for adult learners. With the need for educators to be aware of these new digital advancements and teaching strategies, it is vital for outcome-based learning to be studied in the context of incorporating educational technologies and new learning techniques. Strategies and Digital Advances for Outcome-Based Adult Learning discusses the latest advancements in adult learning as well as learning assessments to identify adult learner success. It adds to the pertinent research with an update of new information, tools, tips, and techniques for working with the adult learner in the modern educational environment. By highlighting a broad range of topics such as instructional design, experiential learning, formative assessments, competency-based education, and more, this book is ideally designed for teachers, administrators, curriculum developers, instructional designers, academicians, educational professionals, researchers, and upper-level students seeking current research on instructional design and outcome-based learning for adult learners. © 2024 by IGI Global. All rights reserved.

The ongoing struggle to increase literacy within our population is one of the defining goals of education. Educational environments continue to incorporate more and more technology into their cache of necessary tools as the lives of their students depend on these devices at a growing rate. Artificial intelligence (AI) and literacy education are bound to face a convergence that will be a transformative force. AI Approaches to Literacy in higher education delves into the synergies between advanced technology and the cultivation of literacy skills, illuminating innovative methodologies and applications that redefine educational paradigms. This book is a comprehensive analysis of AI's potential to elevate literacy among higher education students. The book strategically integrates research studies, case analyses, and theoretical perspectives to construct a nuanced understanding of AI's role in shaping literacy outcomes. This work uncovers the intricate interplay between technology and academic literacy by utilizing a tapestry of AI-driven tools, strategies, and techniques. Educators, researchers, instructional designers, and higher education professionals will find this book invaluable, as it addresses the nuanced intersection of AI and literacy, and provides insights into the practical implementation of tools while navigating the challenges and future trajectories. This book is particularly tailored for those engaged in literacy instruction, educational technology, curriculum development, and pedagogical innovation. Chapters within traverse various subjects, from AI-based approaches for augmenting reading comprehension skills to natural language processing (NLP) techniques designed to elevate writing proficiency. The book encompasses intelligent tutoring systems fostering critical thinking in literacy, adaptive learning platforms tailoring instruction to individual needs, and AI-supported strategies championing digital literacy in academia. © 2024 by IGI Global. All rights reserved.

The implementation of Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM/Emancipated Learning) with a form of learning activity that is more involved in community life and a hybrid learning model is very likely to influence student learning outcomes. This study explores the impact of implementing the MBKM program, which emphasizes a learning approach integrated with community life and adopts a hybrid learning model. The objectives of this study are to analyze the determinants of students’ learning outcomes in the context of MBKM through hybrid learning and assess factors that affect student learning outcomes in the same learning model. The methodology used was a quantitative survey design. These research steps involved questionnaires that had been proven valid and reliable for data collection. The collected data was then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with path analysis techniques to understand the relationship between the variables studied. The results reveal that 1) The learning model has a significant influence on student learning outcomes; 2) Learning motivation has a significant effect on learning outcomes; 3) MBKM structure contributes significantly to learning outcomes; 4) The learning model has a significant effect on learning motivation, and 5) MBKM structure affects student learning motivation significantly. This research provides important insights into the effectiveness of emancipated learning (MBKM) and hybrid learning in higher education in Indonesia. © 2024 Sciedu Press. All rights reserved.

This study assesses the effectiveness of merging project-based learning (PjBL) with STEAM education in metal welding curricula for 64 vocational students at Universitas Negeri Padang over 11 sessions. A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-tests compared the performance of a PjBL-STEAM experimental group to a traditionally taught control group. The PjBL-STEAM approach significantly outperformed traditional methods, evidenced by higher mean N-gain scores in cognitive (0.763), affective (0.772), and psychomotor (0.759) domains, indicating its high effectiveness. Consequently, it is deduced that educational projects that amalgamate the STEAM approach yield more profound advancements in student academic outcomes than those conducted through conventional means. The procedural intricacies of the PjBL-STEAM syntax are meticulously elucidated, serving as a vital resource for educators and students alike in implementing this methodology within lecture settings and equipping students with pertinent competencies for the 21st-century workforce in the welding sector. © 2024 Bulkia Rahim et al; published by UIKTEN.

Within the framework of the cultural sociological approach, the article studies the cultural narratives that justify the educational choice of students studying in higher education programs in Russian singleindustry towns, as well as the institutional conditions that lead to these choices. The research was carried out in a qualitative strategy based on the results of 70 semistructured biographical and expert interviews with students and representatives of universities and enterprises of singleindustry towns in the Sverdlovsk region. The field materials were interpreted using grounded theory and discourse analysis procedures. The study allowed to identify eight key narratives, namely: the narrative of danger avoidance the narrative of being trapped and liberated; the narrative of destiny and duty to the city and industry; the narrative of free time; the narrative of irreversible randomness; the narrative of continuing the family legacy; the narrative of pride in engineering; and the narrative of reliability and care. The author describes the practices of interaction between universities and enterprises that determine the educational choice and include basic departments, organization of student internships, joint career guidance activities for schoolchildren, and special scholarships with the obligation to work them out afterwards. © 2024 Russian Public Opinion Research Center, VCIOM. All rights reserved.

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) is an instructional method that integrates the requirements of the employment sector into curriculum design, blending academic and practical training. The key drivers of this type of learning management are lecturers and employers. This study aims to compare expectations in WIL, classified by occupation and work experience. Data were collected from two groups of stakeholders, including lecturers from six higher education institutes using WIL learning management, and supervisors responsible for overseeing learners during their practical training period in the hospitality and tourism field. Fieldwork was conducted with employers in managerial positions at nine hotels in Thailand, using cluster random sampling to obtain the 19 participants. The research instrument was an assessment form evaluating the performance expected of learners upon graduation. The statistics used to analyze the data included mean (x̅), standard deviation (SD), and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings indicate that lecturers and employers have the highest expectations for WIL learning in the hospitality and tourism field (x̅ = 4.63, SD = 0.27), with different occupations and experiences having similar expectations for WIL learning. These results offer new insights into identifying stakeholder groups as informants for data collection and need analysis in designing or improving curricula. Additionally, the findings can guide curriculum developers in selecting main stakeholders for data collection and need analysis used in curriculum design. © 2024 Silpakorn University. All rights reserved.

Purpose: The aim of this study was the development and validation (D&V) of an assessment tool to measure administrators' attitudes towards the ‘Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Program (AEDP)’ in higher education institutions (HEIs). Design/methodology/approach: A rigorous empirical method was followed encompassing four D&V phases: literature review, theoretical or face validation, validation with possible respondents or semantic validation and statistical validation. A pilot study was conducted among 150 randomly selected administrators from 50 different HEIs in India. The collected data were analyzed for statistical validation using exploratory factor analysis followed by confirmatory factor analysis. Findings: The final version of the 21-item three-dimensional scale was found effective having significant degrees of reliability and validity. Exploratory factor analysis endorsed the factor extractions and data adequacy. The average variance extracted (AVE) for the three constructs (0.59, 0.70 and 0.66, respectively) were higher than the threshold value of 0.5, authorizing the convergent validity. The Cronbach alpha values (0.79, 0.81 and 0.77) were higher than the threshold value of 0.70, endorsing factors as reliable. Confirmatory factor analysis ascertained the multi-dimensionality of the scale and model fit having passable convergent validity. Discriminant validity (DV) was determined using the Fornell-Larcker criterion. Research limitations/implications: The newly developed “Administrators’ Attitude towards AEDP Scale” will serve as a valid psychometric tool for future research accosting AEDP implementation. It could be administered as an electronic tool as well, subject to potential adjustments reducing the identified ceiling effects and floor effects. Originality/value: The scale is a unique addition to the allied literature based on an original empirical survey finding conducted in India. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Purpose: In today’s highly competitive global business environment, there is a growing demand for professionals who possess well-developed soft skills. Such abilities include flexibility, effective communication and other skills. Soft skills are personal attributes and qualities that are more closely related to the emotional side of human beings. Individuals must cultivate and hone soft skills during their undergraduate studies. These skills, also known as interpersonal or non-technical skills, are essential to complement hard skills and pave the way for a thriving career trajectory. Soft skills are developed over the course of one’s career and are indispensable in establishing a strong, professional presence in the corporate or academic realm. The field of engineering is no exception in this regard, and the business approach during the engineering course is of significant relevance. By acquiring soft skills, engineering graduates will become competitive and adaptable professionals capable of handling the current and future challenges of the job market. The purpose of this study is to investigate the soft skills that students perceive as being better developed during their business classrooms in the engineering course and identify areas for improvement in the business education process. Design/methodology/approach: The research method consisted in four different phases from variables identification to statistical analyses. Then, as part of this approach a structured questionnaire was administered at the end of the engineering course, where students rated their perception of the degree of development of each of the soft skills covered in the course on a scale of zero to ten. The collected data were analysed using multivariate analysis techniques, including factorial analysis. Findings: The results of the study demonstrate that the set of skills acquired by individuals in business classrooms pursuing a degree in industrial engineering is in high demand by potential employers. Such skills are deemed essential for the successful operation of businesses in modern-day industries. The findings of this research validate the significant role that industrial engineering students play in fulfilling the requirements of the job market and pave the way to meaningful insights on how to approach this topic during the business education process in engineering courses. Practical implications: The findings bring about significant insights for national educational councils and ministries, universities and educational stakeholders in the process of updating, rethinking and implementing new curricula criteria in higher education, particularly in the Latin American context. Originality/value: This paper enriches the literature by assessing the development of soft skills of engineering students in the Latin American context. The research reinforces the importance of developing soft skills aligned with those required for the context of current and future labour markets. © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited.