This study aimed to explore indicators of subjective well-being among first-year university students attending a South African university (N = 11; female = 6, black = 6, age range = 19 to 22). ...Participants shared their experiences of university life by participating in group sessions using the Mmogo method
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and semi-structured interviews. Following thematic analysis, findings showed subjective well-being in the student population to be indicated by: (i) emotional well-being states of positive and negative affect and satisfaction with life and the university; (ii) psychological well-being of meaning and purpose in their studies, mastery, personal growth, self-acceptance, and independence; (iii) social well-being qualities of opportunities for social engagement, positive relations with others, and inclusivity through exposure to diversity, acceptance of others, and a sense of belonging; (iv) spiritual indicators, especially opportunities to engage in spiritual practices; and (v) physical well-being, indicated by sleeping patterns, dietary habits, and physical activity. Factors influencing students' experience of well-being included structural resources provided by the university, information and communication, motivation to graduate, choice of academic course, lecturers and facilitators, and uncertainties. Student's self-perceptions of well-being are important for improving their quality of life of attending university.
The brand personality in the higher education institution (HEI) is a way that it has tocommunicate with society (DA ROCHA e ALPERSTEDT, 2006) , it is a subject ofdiscussion in marketing ( SUNG e KIM ..., 2010). By admitting the need for the HEIs to workefficiently its marketing management (KOTLER e FOX 1996; TORRES, 2004; HARMON eWEBTSTER, 2007; BRAVIN e IKEDA, 2010; HAMMOND; BRAVIN e IKEDA, 2010;ZEBAL e GOODWIN, 2012) and especiallyits communication with society, this paper aimsto study: how the students perceive the brand personality in a HEI located in the hinterland ofSanta Catarina state. To achieve this, we performed two qualitative approaches focus grouptype with 43 undergraduate students of pedagogy, languages, mathematics and historyundergraduate courses. By means of bibliographic researches for similar studies, we observedthe existence of 144 attributes which may represent a brand personality. The results revealedthat exist 52 more attributes that can be a human characteristic applicable in to a particularbrand (personality), specifically for the higher education institution. The adopting brandpersonality by an higher education institution is part of a recent perspective that seeks tobetter identify it in to the market.
It’s been observed, both in the international and in national fields, a significant increase in educational responsibilities of educational institutions related to sustainability. Thus, there have ...been new pedagogical proposals that contribute to the formation of oriented professionals for that matter, instigating debate and providing consistent information about the social and environmental problems. Higher Education Institutions have the duty to train professionals conscious, competent and committed to the company. This work aims to study the Methodist Sustainable Program, created by the Methodist University of São Paulo, whose general objective is to implement sustainability in their academic and administrative sectors, and its relationship with stakeholders, so that sustainability is an attitude cross and perennial in their actions and in citizenship education it offers. Thus, the aim of this work is to analyze the sustainability practices developed under the Programme Sustainable Methodist. This study is a qualitative research methodology and case study. Data analysis was developed using in-depth interviews based on semi-structured with the teachers of the institution, document analysis and content analysis. Through the case study in this paper, it was possible to understand that the Methodist University of São Paulo has been concerned with issues of sustainability over the last fourteen years, and that this concern was accentuated in 2008 through reflections made about the new educational setting and the changes that occurred in society at different levels: regional, national and international, which caused a shockwave of an institution that, in addition to the ongoing search for life skills and institutional mission, wants to be relevant in the surroundings where it operates.
The evaluation of university efficiency in Europe began timidly when the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) was created. However, this issue is currently becoming increasingly important in ...Southern European countries, where the limitation of public funding following the economic crisis in 2008 has put greater pressure on their public universities to achieve excellence and improve competitiveness. In this context, the goals of this paper are: first, to measure the relative technical (in)efficiency of Spanish public Higher Education Institutions in the period 2002–03 to 2012–13, comparing the situation before and during the last economic crisis; and, second, to analyze the determinants of university (in)efficiency and, especially, the direct impact of the crisis. After applying the two-stage double bootstrap DEA methodology, the results show that Spanish public universities have become more efficient during the crisis than before it. In fact, the regression analysis confirms that the “crisis” variable has had a statistically significant positive impact on university efficiency. We also find that age has favorably influenced how these institutions utilize their resources to produce teaching and research outputs, but technical specialization has had a negative effect. Moreover, the regional location of public universities has been also a crucial determinant of their efficiency level. Our findings are therefore relevant for political and academic decision-makers in order to know if public universities have been adequately managed in the crisis period and to identify factors that could improve their efficiency, and hence to help them to enhance their international competitiveness in the future.
•There was considerable inefficiency in Spanish public HEIs between the 2002–03 and 2012-13 academic years.•In spite of budgetary restrictions following the 2008 economic crisis, Spanish public HEIs generated higher efficiency levels during this stage of uncertainty than before it.•The efficiency of Spanish public HEIs depends on their age, specialization and regional location.•The recent crisis influenced positively and significantly university efficiency, leading to a more rational management of the production processes of Spanish public HEIs.
Although placing students in the appropriate proficiency levels of post-secondary English programs is crucial for optimal learning, the evaluation of placement tests (PTs) in terms of establishing ...their reliability and validity is relatively under-researched. This study assesses the validity, reliability, and effectiveness of an in-house online PT. The content validity was established through the internal and external moderation of the question papers and answer keys while criterion-related concurrent validity was established via IELTS benchmarking. New Student Survey was used to investigate the face validity. The internal consistency and reliability of the reading test items were measured using Cronbach’s alpha while descriptive statistics were calculated for the listening test. Paired sample t-test (dependent t-test) was used to assess the inter-rater reliability of the speaking and writing tests which were double-marked. The data analysis revealed that the PT was effective in placing students at different levels of the foundation program (FP) and the statistical analyses conducted to test the reliability and validity showed positive results for most of the test versions. The study offers useful insights to test developers and policymakers regarding the authentication of in-house tests and the creation of guidelines for PT design and evaluation.
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are complex systems that face a high probability of failure, which require careful development by university management. This study aims at exploring the ...application of ERP implementation life cycle processes in the context of the higher education sector (HEIs). The study employed a multiple case study approach and semi-structured interviews with a number of information system managers, and other professional services managers across three HEIs from Jordan. Results indicate that ERP implementation life cycle consists of three phases and eight stages. Updating six stages identified in previous research, this study suggests two additional major stages, namely “testing” and “go live.” The proposed model in this study can be used by senior management, technical, and academics as clear guidelines while adopting and implementing ERP in the HEIs. Little is known of the application of ERP implementation life cycle processes in the context of HEIs. The study makes a unique contribution in two facets: first, its application to the HEIs with its specific features in comparison to business sector; and second, the study suggests two additional major stages to the traditional phases model for ERP.
As an instant messaging application accessed through smartphones, WhatsApp is currently used by millions of people across the world to share information in various formats such as audio, photos, ...videos and text. The higher education is one of the sectors where the hype of WhatsApp has been acknowledged and consequently, students and lecturers continue to embrace this technology. Using the decomposed theory of planned behaviour model, the study investigated the use of WhatsApp technology by information and communication technology students and land management students at Mzuzu University in Malawi. In order to collect both, qualitative and quantitative data, researchers used a questionnaire with predominantly closed ended questions and semi structured interviews. Findings showed that 51 (92.7%) students own smartphones and the majority use WhatsApp to accomplish various academic activities including sharing academic information, communicating with fellow students and lecturers, and conducting collaborative learning activities. According to the study, the benefits associated with WhatsApp use by students included instant sharing of information, academic collaboration, and ability to learn beyond classroom hours. Challenges include costs of ICT gadgets, frequent electricity outages and unreliable Internet connection from mobile network service providers. The study recommends that Mzuzu University should improve Internet bandwidths and install more Wi-Fi access points across the campus. The study recommends further that mobile network service providers in Malawi should offer special or competitive smartphones prices to students in addition to improving their network signal.
Introduction. The article explores the conflict-related nature of educational activity. Analysis of modern scientific literature in Russia has revealed the fragmented nature of the study of this ...issue and the lack of a methodological foundation for the development of effective and practical conflict management strategies and programmes for regulating the impact on conflict situations in the educational process. The purpose of the article is to develop a theoretical and methodological tool for conflict diagnosis of modern higher education institutions and a model for monitoring conflict factors in modern institutions of higher learning. Materials and Methods. The methodological basis of the study are fundamental principles of the current theory of organisational conflicts, the development of procedures and technologies for their resolution in the educational process, including management decisions making. The proposed model for monitoring educational activities was tested at St. Petersburg State University using quantitative and qualitative methods of research. Results. It is substantiated that conflicts arising during the implementation of educational activities can lead to serious negative consequences, the removal of which requires considerable resources and time. The main characteristics and classification of various types of conflicts in the implementation of educational activities are singled out, the conflict determinants of the educational process as well as the relationships between students and teachers are investigated. In the empirical part of the work, basic principles and methods for organising conflictological monitoring of educational activity and requirements for its instruments are proposed. The use of monitoring allows to obtain valid results of a real picture of conflicts as an essential component of the effective work of the university. Discussion and Сonclusions. A list of indicators has been determined, which makes it possible to assess the factors of conflict in the educational process. The authors make a conclusion about the need for conflict monitoring as an integral part of the management of the educational process, aimed at obtaining timely, relevant and objective information about conflict and conflict in higher education institutions and improving the quality of management. The results of the study will contribute to the development of specific solutions for the development of the education system as a tool for the formation of solidarity and socio-political stability values of modern Russian society.
The culture of the higher education institution should influence the planning and positioning of that institution. However, differences in subcultures between main campuses and their satellite ...campuses should also be considered. The identified differences underline how radical these strategic positing differences might be on campus communities. Qualitative interviews with students from and trends that emerged from enrolment and completion statistics from the relevant institutional research office provided the data. Differences in the subcultures indicated a potentially dramatic influence in the strategic planning and positioning of the institution among the influence of internationalization, globalization, commodification and massification. Higher education leaders are encouraged to practice knowledge-based planning and positioning, by considering the difference in subcultures in order to capitalize on the strength of their diversity. The ability to value diverse perspectives allows the flourishing of separate and unique subcultures, while contributing to the achievement of a larger purpose.
Clinical Training is intended to prepare nursing students for future nursing practice in both private and public facilities. As do many nursing training institutions globally, this Higher Education ...Institution (HEI) uses the two-week block system as a teaching system. However, despite the two-week block system, it would appear that, due to the increased number of nursing students, the aligning of practical exposure with theoretical instruction is becoming difficult in balancing theory and practice for both student and academics. Such alignment requires institutions of higher learning to establish which teaching systems are likely to promote the correlation between theory and practice. The experiences of students may be used to identify positive learning environment for students. This study aimed to explore and understand the personal experiences of student nurses studying at Higher Education Institution HEI in Namibia in relation to the use of the two-week block system. The objectives of the study included exploring and describing the experiences of student nurses regarding the two-week block system at the HEI with a view to ascertaining the negative impact, if any, of such a teaching system on their studies. A study employed a qualitative approach which comprised an explorative and descriptive research design, using purposive sampling. The research population in the study consisted of first to fourth year, undergraduate nursing students who were studying at a satellite campus of a HEI in Namibia. The requisite data was collected from four focus group discussions which were each conducted with six to seven participants. The transcribed interviews and narratives from the research notes were then organised into main themes and sub-themes. Three main themes and nine sub-themes were identified. The findings of the study indicated that two-week block system was associated with challenges as was evidenced by the following themes that had emerged from the study, namely, different experiences of the two-week block system, various effects of the two-week block system and recommendations to School of Nursing (SoN).The study recommended that the HEI extend the two-week block system to a one-month block system in order to give the students sufficient time in which to put the theory they have learnt into practice.
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