scholarly journals Higher Education Institution–Community Partnerships: Measuring the Performance of Sustainability Science Initiatives

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Plummer ◽  
Samantha Witkowski ◽  
Amanda Smits ◽  
Gillian Dale
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainability Science ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Community Partnerships ◽  
Feedback Mechanism ◽  
Performance Assessments ◽  
Societal Challenges ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
Critical Components ◽  
Fostering Reflection

AbstractThe enterprise of sustainability science extends beyond the academy to address pressing environmental issues through collaboration. It coincides with trends in higher education institutions (HEIs) towards an expanded mission for addressing societal challenges as well as greater accountability. In this paper, we aim to establish an instrument for assessing the performance of sustainability science initiatives in HEIs. The performance of three HEI–community partnerships for sustainability science in Ontario, Canada (the Brock-Lincoln Living Lab, the Excellence in Environmental Stewardship Initiative, and Niagara Adapts) were examined using the HEI–Community Partnership Performance Index (HCPPI). Our preliminary results suggest that the HCPPI is a reliable, valid, and easy-to-administer tool for accurately assessing the performance of HEI–community partnerships for sustainability science. Incorporating systemic performance assessments into HEI–community partnerships promotes accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement. It also serves as a vital feedback mechanism by fostering reflection, adaptation, and learning—critical components to sustainability science.

The Prospects and Risks Connected with Increasing the Level of Self-Organisation in Students

2020 ◽  
pp. 75-81
Author(s):  
Svetlana Alexandrovna Kosareva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Initial Level ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Study Guide ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Self Organisation ◽  
And Control

The paper describes the method for increasing the level of self-organisation in students which has been developed by the author. It also contains the method testing results and presents the prospects and risks teachers could face while applying the method in a higher education institution. The purpose of this study is to find out the prospects and risks of applying the method for increasing the level of self-organisation in students and to determine the ways of reducing the risks. Methodology. The author points out the learning approaches which were the basis of developing the method and describes diagnostic methods for determining students’ self-organisation levels. The work focused on increasing each student’s initial level consists of a theoretical and a practical part and includes project activities on creating a study guide. The results of the study. The method developed proved to be effective. It was established by diagnosing the final level of self-organisation in students in the experimental and control groups. The paper considers the advantages of the method among which there is universal character, flexibility, improvements to teacher’s and students’ professional competence, etc. At the same time it is necessary to be aware of the risks due to the increased amount of teacher’s work and the fact that students’ work within the project tends to be monotonous. In conclusion, the prospects of the method for increasing the level of self-organisation in students are related to its advantages and the final results of the work. The risks of its use can be reduced with the help of the measures proposed in the paper.

Can-Do descriptors – Realigning English Language Curriculum at Higher Education Institution to CEFR

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Erda Wati Bakar
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Language Curriculum ◽  
English Curriculum ◽  
The Common ◽  
The University

The Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) has become the standard used to describe and evaluate students’ command of a second or foreign language. It is an internationally acknowledged standard language proficiency framework which many countries have adopted such as China, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan. Malaysia Ministry of Education is aware and realise the need for the current English language curriculum to be validated as to reach the international standard as prescribed by the CEFR. The implementation of CEFR has begun at primary and secondary level since 2017 and now higher education institutions are urged to align their English Language Curriculum to CEFR as part of preparation in receiving students who have been taught using CEFR-aligned curriculum at schools by year 2022. This critical reflection article elucidates the meticulous processes that we have embarked on in re-aligning our English Language Curriculum to the standard and requirements of CEFR. The paper concludes with a remark that the alignment of the English curriculum at the university needs full support from the management in ensuring that all the stakeholders are fully prepared, informed and familiar with the framework.

THE INFLUENCE OF WORK LIFE BALANCE TOWARDS JOB PERFORMANCE IN PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION (PHEI)

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Noorlaila Hj. Yunus ◽  
Siti Musalmah Ahmad Fuad
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Job Performance ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Private Higher Education ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
The University

Work-Life Balance (WLB) is an important factor that the Human Resource Management of private higher education Institution (PHEI) should concern about in order to gain high Job Performance in theinstitution. If there are WLB practices implemented by the university, the Human Resource Department (HRD) must always get feedback from the employees to continuously improve the WLB policy. This will benefit not just the employees but the most important to the PHEI by having a good productivities and high job performance employees. The result shows that most of the employees in the university have good social support from their colleagues at work place, friends and their families. This support have given them inspiration and motivation in doing their job properly and finally they might achieved high job performance. Eventhough the result were positive about the social support the employees receives, the top management including the HRD need to revise their policy of WLBespecially other factors that can influenced the employees to optimized their efforts in doing their job.

EMPLOYEE RETENTION IN A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION: AN ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
B J Erasmus ◽  
A Grobler ◽  
M Van Niekerk
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Employee Turnover ◽  
Intent To Stay ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Highly Qualified ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Organisational Climate ◽  
Talent Retention

Talent retention and employee turnover are major concerns for higher education institutions (HEIs) because they are losing highly qualified staff to the private sector and to other HEIs that are able to offer better rewards and benefits. The turnover of talented staff is therefore a major concern for the institution under investigation. The retention and voluntary turnover decisions among a workforce of 4 651 employees was thus investigated. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted by means of the objective analysis of organisational data in combination with the structured questionnaire (organisational climate survey). Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyse the data across demographic groups, including age, employment category (academic as well as professional and support), etc. The results indicated that the institution’s turnover rate was acceptable (4.34%) and that dysfunctional turnover was marginal because employees with below-standard performance ratings had voluntarily resigned. Positive correlations and significant beta (b) values were reported between Organisational citizenship, Leadership, My manager and Compensation and the employees’ intent to stay in or to leave the organisation. These organisational climate factors were found to explain approximately 30 per cent of the variance in the employees’ intent to stay in or to leave the organisation. The article recommends that a talent retention tool be developed. In addition, it contributes to the literature on retention and turnover of high-performing employees, as it underscores the importance of measuring employee turnover

How (Not) to Lead Academia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Abambres
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Student Assessment ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Academic Leadership ◽  
Academic Department ◽  
Higher Education Institution ◽  
Role Assignment ◽  
Professional Career

This work reports several issues found by the author throughout his professional career, concerning academic leadership. Topics like (i) out-of-field teaching/researching, and (ii) time management in faculty hiring or new role assignment, are addressed. Besides, the author describes which fundamental decisions he´d take if he could manage a higher education institution or academic department. The topics covered are crucial for the success of any higher education institution, such as (a) hiring, (b) social engagement, (c) student assessment, (d) open mindedness, (e) prompt communication, (f) passion in work, and (g) freedom / trust.

Influence of the characteristics of competences on the employability of graduates of Higher Education Institutions

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Cueva Zavala
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Labor Market ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Contemporary World ◽  
Active Population

This research has a singular and notable importance, because if something should concern a Higher Education Institution, it is knowing what is the destiny within society of the human resource trained in its classrooms, that product that the institution delivers to the community who are its graduates and professionals. For the Institutions of Higher Education it is satisfactory on the part of employers, that the training received in the Institution of Higher Education is indicated, that the majority of graduates and professionals are incorporated into the occupational market; that is to say; some exercise their profession and others do it in occupations that do not correspond to their profession, which is justified, being aware that one of the great problems of the contemporary world is undoubtedly the lack of demand for human resources for stable work, which according to Authorized and reliable studies of every 10 people who join the economically active population, only 3 have real possibilities of fully joining the labor market, either in the private or public sector.

Students’ and Applicants’ Social Perceptions of the Risks of Educational Environment at Higher Education Institution

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 56-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Lyalyuk ◽  
O. R. Tuchina
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Institution ◽  
Educational Environment ◽  
Expert Assessment ◽  
Risk Category ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Higher Education Institution ◽  
Investigation Methods

Educational system is the most important social institution, which provides the development of a personality and frames his/her worldview and the conception of subjective well-being. Despite the large number of studies on the issue of psychological and pedagogical security of educational environment, the sphere of higher education still remains underexplored. The available empiric material has not received sufficient methodological justification and conceptualization. This article aims to provide the conceptualization of the risk category as applied to the educational environment of a higher education institution, as well as empiric investigation of the risks within the educational environment as viewed by applicants and students.Materials and methods. 213 applicants and 547 students of the Kuban State Technological University took part in the survey. The following investigation methods were used: expert assessment, interview, questioning, content analysis, analysis of means method, cluster analysis and factor analysis.Investigation results. Comparative examination of the manifestation degree of risks within the educational environment as viewed by applicants and students of higher education institution showed significant differences in the assessment of risk by these groups of respondents. From the point of view of applicants, the main risks are connected with social and psychological aspects of the educational environment of a higher education institution, relations within student groups and interaction with teachers, as well as with the issues related to the educational management and leisure arrangement. As viewed by the students, the risks within the educational environment include external and social and psychological risk factors, motivating risks and risks arising from the learning process organization and management and the related issues. Applicants’ notion of the risks within the educational environment of a higher education institution was mainly influenced by information they received from media and by the opinion of their relatives and age mates.Consideration and conclusions. It was proved that the applicants’ idea of the risks within the educational environment of a higher education institution is determined by the opinion of people they know personally, however it changes during the process of studying in higher education institution and acquiring their own experience of being within the environment. The investigation results allow creating a model of psychological and pedagogical security within the educational environment of a higher education institution. This model makes it possible to forecast main risks of the educational environment, their development, and evolvement and find solution to them. 

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