scholarly journals A community of practice for graduate students in health sciences

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liquaa Wazni ◽  
Wendy Gifford ◽  
Christina Cantin ◽  
Barbara Davies
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
International Students ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Group Structure ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Virtual Platform

PurposeThe aim of this study was to describe the experiences of graduate students who participated in the community of practice (CoP) and identify areas for improvement to support academic success.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 19 graduate students engaged in a CoP to facilitate social interactions, knowledge sharing and learning within a culture of scholarship. A descriptive qualitative research study was conducted using semistructured interviews with eight participants who had attended the CoP meeting.FindingsAll participants were from the School of Nursing and perceived the CoP to be beneficial, particularly international students who had challenges in adapting to new academic and social environments. Areas for improvement include creating a group structure that enhances belonging and learning.Originality/valueThis is the first CoP that was implemented at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the authors’ university. It has been the authors’ experience that a CoP can benefit graduate students through networking, knowledge sharing, social support and learning. The finding of this research will be used to inform a new CoP to address the needs of graduate students. The authors will be adapting the CoP to the current context that includes a virtual platform during the COVID-19 pandemic and will include content specific for international students.

Testing the relationships of motivation, time management and career aspirations on graduate students’ academic success

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ademola Amida ◽  
Sameera Algarni ◽  
Robert Stupnisky
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Career Aspirations ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Career Aspiration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Success

PurposeThis study explored graduate students' academic success by testing a hypothesized model based on the self-determination theory (SDT), which posits that motivation, time management and career aspiration predicts perceived success.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative methodology was employed to garner data from a population of 324 graduate students, and then analyzed using structural equation modeling in R.FindingsIntrinsic motivation was the strongest motivation type that predicted graduate students' perceived success. Time management was another important predictor of perceived success, while career aspiration did not impact students' perception of success. Doctoral students showed significantly higher relatedness when compared to master degree students. In addition, male students showed significantly higher career aspirations than females, while female students showed significantly higher time management than their male counterparts. The results of this study support the SDT as a framework to understand graduate students' academic success.Originality/valueImplementing the research findings may increase graduate students' academic success. This study suggests direct ways of increasing graduate students' achievement through intrinsic motivation, time management and autonomy, as well as reducing amotivation (lack of motivation) to indirectly enhance academic success.

Unpacking the monolith

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 661-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Miner
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
International Students ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
Graduate Level ◽  
Citizenship Status ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa

Purpose The term STEM often remains an undifferentiated category, especially at the graduate level. Conceptualizing STEM as a monolithic category, rather than as a combination of distinct fields, prevents researchers from understanding and documenting the full range of persistent inequality within scientific disciplines at the graduate level and throughout the lifespan. The purpose of this paper is to address two oversights prior to degree completion within the context of the USA by asking two specific questions: To what extent is gender associated with choice of discipline within STEM graduate education? In the USA, do gender differences in STEM fields depend on citizenship status? Design/methodology/approach Using data from the 2015 International STEM Graduate Student in the US Survey, this study employs multinomial logistic regression analyses and presents predicted probabilities to assess differences of enrollment in STEM fields by gender and citizenship status. Findings Results show that domestic women were less likely to enroll in computer sciences and engineering when compared to domestic men. However, in contrast to domestic students, there were no gender differences among international students’ enrollment in engineering. Research limitations/implications This paper shows the importance and complexity of how gender intersects with citizenship status in enrollment patterns in STEM graduate fields. The survey included the top 10 universities in the USA based on the total enrollment of international students, and it is unclear if there exists differences in these selected students and schools when compared to students at colleges and universities that enroll less international graduate students. Originality/value The author makes the case to disaggregate STEM to better assess how specific fields can be modified to attract graduate students worldwide. This paper accentuates the significance of gender and citizenship status for understanding differences in choice of discipline among graduate students in STEM.

scholarly journals Knowledge sharing by entrepreneurs in a virtual community of practice (VCoP)

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Hafeez ◽  
Fathalla M. Alghatas ◽  
Pantea Foroudi ◽  
Bang Nguyen ◽  
Suraksha Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Online Discourse ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Message Length ◽  
Virtual Community Of Practice ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Start Up

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how entrepreneurs engage in a virtual community of practice (VCoP) to share knowledge. Intensity of engagement is taken as a proxy to measure the strength of knowledge sharing.Design/methodology/approachThe archival data spanning over a three-year period from “Start-up-Nation©” (a VCoP purposefully setup for entrepreneurs) are used for analysis. A set of indices are introduced to measure participants’ intensity of engagement in terms of message length, message frequency and reciprocity in the knowledge sharing process. Content analysis is employed to test a sample of “highly engaged”, “moderately engaged”, “low engaged” and “not engaged” discussion topics as part of the online discourse.FindingsThe authors find that entrepreneurs normally use short (fewer than 100 words) or medium (fewer than 250 words) message size to contribute to the discussions. In addition, the authors find that senior members and discussion moderators play important roles in igniting the “reciprocity” behaviour in stimulating the interest of the community with the topic discussion. The authors also find that highly engaged topics usually lead to further discussion threads.Originality/valueThis is the first study of its kind to explore how entrepreneurs engage in a VCoP to share their knowledge and experiences. The set of measurement indices tested here provide a tool for the owner, designer and moderator of the VCoP to measure the utility of their website in terms of its members’ participation. In addition, the set of textual and subjective interventions identified here enables the moderator (administrator) of a VCoP to design effective interventions to facilitate online discourse and augments the knowledge sharing process amongst its community members.

International students’ academic satisfaction and turnover intentions

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neena Gopalan ◽  
Nicholas J. Beutell ◽  
Wendy Middlemiss
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
International Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Turnover Intentions ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Academic Satisfaction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa

Purpose This study aims to investigate international students’ cultural adjustment, academic satisfaction and turnover intentions using ecological systems perspective and explores factors that affect academic success and turnover by exploring three stages: arrival, adjustment and adaptation. Design/methodology/approach The sample consists of 208 international students enrolled at a mid-Western university in the USA. Confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling and mediational analyses were used to test hypotheses. Findings Findings indicate that self-efficacy, as a pre-sojourn characteristic, affects adjustment variables inclusive of cultural adjustment, affecting academic satisfaction and turnover intentions. Adjustment variables (coping, cultural adjustment and organizational support) mediated relationships between self-efficacy and turnover intentions. Research limitations/implications The proposed model moves the research forward by examining an ecological systems framework describing how individual, social, academic, cultural and institutional factors function in supporting international students’ transitions. Results may be generalizable to other large US universities with varying dynamics and resources available (or not) for international students. Originality/value Given the challenges international students face in the USA in adapting to both new culture and academic setting, it is imperative to identify what elements of their transition and academic environment predict academic success. This is one of the first studies testing the propositions derived from Schartner and Young’s (2016) model.

Internet use by international graduate students in the USA seeking health information

2014 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
JungWon Yoon ◽  
Soojung Kim
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Graduate ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Health Information Sources

Purpose – Considering that the internet is a useful source for health information, especially by foreign-born students, this exploratory study aimed to investigate international graduate students' internet use in the context of seeking health information. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 54 Korean graduate students in the USA using a survey questionnaire. Quantitative analysis using SPSS was conducted to describe Korean graduate students' internet use for seeking health information and to identify factors that possibly influence their health-information seeking activities. Findings – The survey participants preferred Korean resources because of language problems and the internet was the primary source. They reported difficulties in identifying appropriate health information sources and understanding medical information. They often sought online health information to solve their or their family's current health problems and consequently, personal relevance was regarded as an important evaluation criterion, as was accuracy. Research limitations/implications – By looking at an understudied user group, this study leads to a better understanding of the patterns of internet use for seeking health information among a specific ethnic group. The findings of this study demonstrate the needs of health education materials and guidelines that introduce credible health information sources and medical information for Korean graduate students and their families. Originality/value – Despite the increasing number of international students in the USA, there is a lack of research on the health information-seeking behavior of international students. The findings of this study will help health education specialists and health information professionals provide international students with necessary health information.

The Australian doctorate curriculum: responding to the needs of Asian candidates

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarojni Choy ◽  
Minglin Li ◽  
Parlo Singh
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
International Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Developmental Experiences ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
Research Curriculum ◽  
Current Curriculum ◽  
Australian Universities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a case for appraisal of the current curriculum provisions for international students. In this paper, the authors summarise the key challenges of Asian international research graduate students pursuing doctorate studies in Australian universities to become researchers for the global communities. The intention is to advocate further research on current higher degree research curriculum with a view to enriching the developmental experiences of international research graduate students in preparation for global practice. Design/methodology/approach – This is an analytical paper that adopts a conceptual and rhetorical approach. Findings – The authors review a growing body of research on higher degree research studies and establish a need for appraisal of current curriculum provisions. Originality/value – This is the first paper to concentrate on an emerging need to appraise current higher degree research curriculum provisions to enhance the development international research graduate students for global practices.

scholarly journals First Term Support for International Graduate Students Attending Small Colleges and Universities

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 527-538
Author(s):  
Mary Jo Shane ◽  
Loredana Carson ◽  
Diana Gloria Macri
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
International Students ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Private University ◽  
The United States ◽  
Small Colleges ◽  
International Graduate Students ◽  
Political Climate ◽  
International Graduate

The recruitment and retention of international students in academic institutions in the United States has become more complicated and more competitive than ever before given the current political climate and governmental policies. This article discusses some of the specific challenges international students face and what a small- to medium-sized private university has put in place to attract these students and to better prepare them for graduate level management courses starting their first term. This example introduces an 11-week foundations course along with additional resources designed to provide knowledge, instruction, and practice in skills and behaviors crucial for academic success within the United States.

scholarly journals Beyond survey measures: exploring international male graduate students’ sense of belonging in electrical engineering

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Lising Antonio ◽  
Chanwoong Baek
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Research University ◽  
Academic Motivation ◽  
Electrical Engineering ◽  
International Graduate Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Graduate

Purpose Although a student’s sense of belonging is a key factor of persistence in higher education, research on international students’ belonging tends to rely on domain-agnostic survey measures and promote interpretations that focus mainly on social integration and adjustment. This paper aims to examine how male international graduate students in engineering understand and describe their sense of belonging and how they perceive its development at their institution. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted in-depth interviews with 12 male electrical engineering doctoral students at a selective research university in the USA. This interpretive approach allowed students to articulate their subjective understanding of belonging within a specific disciplinary context. Findings Contrary to the broad notion that the social domain is the primary locus of students’ sense of belonging, participants emphasized the academic domain when referring to their struggles with, and attempts to develop, a sense of belonging. Results suggest that the meritocratic culture of engineering education may influence students to prioritize the academic domain when conceptualizing and developing their belonging. Moreover, the strong academic motivation endemic to international students pursuing graduate education at a top American research university intensified this mechanism. Originality/value This study argues that universities seeking to enhance international graduate students’ sense of belonging can be more intentional in providing opportunities for students to establish positive academic identities. Furthermore, addressing students’ non-academic identity and marginalization as relevant and essential topics in engineering will expand their understanding of what means to belong.

A comparative study of knowledge sharing pattern among the undergraduate and postgraduate students of private universities in Bangladesh

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 653-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sabbir Rahman ◽  
Abdul Highe Khan ◽  
Md. Mahabub Alam ◽  
Norizah Mustamil ◽  
Chin Wei Chong
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Private Universities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Socioeconomic Environment ◽  
To Come ◽  
Sharing Patterns ◽  
Behavioural Aspects

Purpose – The aim of this inquiry is to uncover the pattern of knowledge-sharing behaviour among the undergraduate and postgraduate students of private universities in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach – This inquiry studied the knowledge-sharing pattern of undergraduate and graduate students by utilising a questionnaire-based open-ended survey from several private universities in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Apart from the descriptive statistics, the research used t-test to further explain the data. Findings – This research focussed on seven areas of knowledge-sharing pattern. The data collected from 350 respondents from different private universities suggest that there are significant differences in the knowledge-sharing pattern between undergraduate and graduate students. Overall, this research documents that the postgraduate students have shown higher perceived attitudes towards knowledge sharing, compared to undergraduate students. Research limitations/implications – This research applied a descriptive study to understand knowledge-sharing patterns among undergraduate and postgraduate students, rather than a correlational study to ascertain the relationship among variables. Practical implications – This research has contributed to the knowledge-sharing research in several aspects. In fact, this study extended the research findings of Wei et al. (2012) by examining the patterns of knowledge sharing in a different socioeconomic environment. Although this research investigated the practice of knowledge sharing of undergraduate and postgraduate students by adapting the instrument of Wei et al. (2012), one of the significant contributions of this research is to explore the behavioural aspects of knowledge-sharing pattern among undergraduate and postgraduate students from different private universities in Bangladesh. By interpreting the knowledge-sharing pattern of undergraduate and postgraduate students of private universities, this inquiry will assist the government’s policymakers, management of individual universities and academicians to come up with novel methods of instruction and to transform the knowledge-driven higher learning establishment. Originality/value – The majority of studies on knowledge sharing have been conducted in an organisational context. This inquiry is one of few investigations to compare the knowledge-sharing patterns among undergraduate and postgraduate students in Bangladesh.

scholarly journals Effect of a community of practice on knowledge sharing across boundaries: the mediating role of learning goals

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Makoto Matsuo ◽  
Motohiro Aihara
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Learning Goals ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role

Purpose A community of practice (CoP) is believed to be a driver for knowledge creation but it can hinder knowledge sharing across boundaries. Drawing on social cognitive theory, this study aims to investigate how a CoP within a single unit promotes knowledge sharing with other units by examining the mediating effect of the members’ learning goals (LG). Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modeling was conducted using a two-wave survey data on nurses from eight Japanese hospitals (n = 263). Findings The results indicated that LG fully and positively mediated the effect of a CoP on the knowledge-sharing intention of one unit toward other units and that LG fully and negatively mediated the effect of a CoP on knowledge withholding (KW) from other units. Practical implications Knowledge managers need to note that intellectual benefits from experienced CoP can play a key role in reducing the perceived risks associated with members’ knowledge sharing and in creating effective knowledge sharing with other units. Originality/value The main contribution is to identify the process by which CoP promotes knowledge sharing and prevents KW across boundaries mediated through LG. This study is the first to quantitatively show how LG cross inter-professional barriers caused by CoPs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document