scholarly journals Developing students’ energy literacy in higher education

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 456-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debby R E Cotton ◽  
Wendy Miller ◽  
Jennie Winter ◽  
Ian Bailey ◽  
Stephen Sterling
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Instrumental Case Study ◽  
Energy Literacy ◽  
Case Study Site ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate students’ energy literacy at a UK university, and recommends ways in which it can be enhanced using a behaviour change model. Developing students’ energy literacy is a key part of the “greening” agenda, yet little is known about how students develop their ideas about energy use and energy saving at a university. Design/methodology/approach – The research utilised a mixed-methods approach including an online survey (with 1,136 responses) and focus groups. Findings – The research identified strengths and weaknesses in students’ energy literacy, and noted the relative influence of formal and informal curricula. The potential for aligning these curricula is highlighted through the 4Es model of enable, engage, exemplify and encourage. Research limitations/implications – The research involved a single instrumental case-study site. The wider applicability of the findings should therefore be tested further in other institutions. Practical implications – The research suggests ways in which universities might better support their students in making more sustainable energy-related behaviour choices, and it indicates the importance of knowledge as well as attitudes. Social implications – The research may have implications for the energy-saving behaviours of individuals in the wider society. Originality/value – Attempts to reduce energy use in higher education are widely seen in campus operations. This research provides an indication of the potential for enhancing energy-saving through different forms of curricula.

Communicating science in higher education and research institutions

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-205
Author(s):  
Thorsten Schwetje ◽  
Christiane Hauser ◽  
Stefan Böschen ◽  
Annette Leßmöllmann
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Research Institutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Internal Stakeholders ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Executive Boards ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe paper reports on a research project exploring the change in the organizational context of communicators and communication units in higher education and research institutions (HERIs), the importance of informal processes within their daily work and the great diversity of expectations communicators have to tackle.Design/methodology/approachBased on a literature review, a mixed-methods study combining expert interviews with 54 German HERI heads of communication units, an online-survey and a document analysis of organizational characteristics was conducted. Findings were validated in four focus groups.FindingsThe study illuminates the impact of organizational and operational structures of HERIs on communicators and their boundary spanning activities. Due to varying expectations of stakeholders, communicators constantly have to switch roles. Members of HERIs' executive boards affect status and working conditions for communicators in the organization.Research limitations/implicationsInterviews with other HERI actors, especially members of the executive board, are proposed to get more thorough insights into the organizational context of HERIs and the mutual expectations of different internal stakeholders.Practical implicationsInsights from the project may help HERI actors to reflect their organizational context and to identify potentially contentious structures or processes.Originality/valueCommunicating science sometimes clashes with complex organizational and operational structures. Despite the “organizational turn” in HERI research, there is a lack of data on the relation between communicators, their communication units and the larger organizational context. The exploratory study addresses this gap.

scholarly journals Could refurbishment of “traditional” buildings reduce carbon emissions?

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Atkins ◽  
Rohinton Emmanuel
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Post Occupancy Evaluation ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Very High

Purpose – Evaluate the post occupancy performance of a typical “traditional” building using multiple post occupancy evaluation (PoE) protocols against design intents to learn lessons about their suitability in meeting UK's climate change reduction targets. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – PoE studies of a single case study, Norton Park, using three PoE methodologies. Gaps and overlaps between the PoE protocols are assessed and their role in improving energy and carbon emission performance of traditional buildings is explored. Findings – Refurbishment of the type undertaken in this case study could halve the energy use in traditional buildings with comparable savings in CO2 emission. Research limitations/implications – Traditional buildings could positively contribute to achieving climate change reduction targets; regular feedback loops improve performance over time. Practical implications – Quantification of the likely national benefit of focusing retrofit actions on traditional buildings is explored. Originality/value – The research study demonstrates that very high levels of energy saving can be achieved when traditional buildings are refurbished. In addition on-going monitoring and PoE studies highlight opportunities to optimise the performance of traditional buildings.

A local case study of the crime decline

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-114
Author(s):  
Garner Clancey
Keyword(s):  
Crime Prevention ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Community Safety ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Crime Decline ◽  
Local Case ◽  
Case Study Site ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the local dimensions of the “crime decline”. Design/methodology/approach – Two focus groups and 15 semi-structured interviews with local practitioners. Findings – Some offences have fallen significantly in the case study site in the last ten to 12 years. Local practitioners tended to explain these declines with reference to local services and programmes. These declines have potentially contributed to the reduction in crime prevention infrastructure and there is concern that funding will be reduced as crime falls. Research limitations/implications – The findings have been generated from a single case study site. While aspects of the findings resonate beyond the case study area, there are some characteristics of the site that limit the application of the findings to other areas. Practical implications – The findings from this research have few practical implications. The research sought to understand dimensions of local crime and the impact on local activities. Social implications – This research provides some insights into crime trends and local responses to crime. The findings will be of interest to crime prevention and community safety practitioners and policy makers. Originality/value – There has been little analysis of the impact of the “crime decline” on local communities and community safety infrastructure. Therefore this paper is original and adds to the growing knowledge of the “crime decline”.

The challenge of work based learning: a role for academic mentors?

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Stephens ◽  
Oran Doherty ◽  
Billy Bennett ◽  
Michael Margey
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Higher Education Institution ◽  
Undergraduate Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Knowledge ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the key challenge(s) experienced by employers, employees and academics during work based learning (WBL) programmes at undergraduate level. The idea of academic mentors is proposed as an aid to addressing the challenges common to WBL programmes. Design/methodology/approach – The case study presented in this paper involves a large multinational organisation and a higher education institution, both of which are based in Ireland. Interviews were used to explore the outcome(s) of a WBL programme. Findings – The challenges associated with WBL place demands on the design of curriculum, pedagogy and accreditation. The use of academic mentors can help translate academic knowledge into workplace practice; and address challenges which are common in WBL programmes. Practical implications – The understanding of best practice in the design of WBL programmes is enriched. A role for academics as mentors is identified and the implications explored. Originality/value – The success of WBL can be linked to the relationships that form between employers, employees and academics. There is evidence that the academic is central to the development of these relationships.

Online sustainability reporting at universities: the case of Hong Kong

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 887-901
Author(s):  
Yi An ◽  
Howard Davey ◽  
Harun Harun ◽  
Zebin Jin ◽  
Xin Qiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
University Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the current state of online sustainability reporting in the Hong Kong higher education sector from a variety of perspectives. Design/methodology/approach The multiple case study was the research method for this research. Content analysis of the university website, as well as interview with university management, personnel in the sustainability office, academics and students, were adopted for data collection. An assessment framework for sustainability reporting was developed as an instrument for content analysis, based on G4 guidelines and prior literature. Findings The authors observe that most Hong Kong public universities have a specific webpage for sustainability reporting on the website, which consists of an amount of sustainability-related information in terms of general aspects, specific aspects and stakeholder participation. Moreover, they notice that Hong Kong public universities attach importance to sustainability and its reporting, and they would like to communicate their sustainability activities to various stakeholders and the community where they operate. Practical implications This paper indicates some practical implications for academics, university management, policymakers and sustainability education amongst universities in Hong Kong and beyond. Social implications This paper argues that universities, as a central place to foster talents and future leaders, should operate in a sustainable manner at the first place and then report their sustainability-related activities taking full advantage of the current information and communication technologies, so as to discharge accountability to various stakeholders and meet the expectations of the community where they operate. Originality/value This paper uses a multiple case study approach to explore the status of online sustainability reporting at Hong Kong universities, which contributes to limited research in the area, particularly for online sustainability reporting in the higher education institutions, and makes some contributions to the extant literature.

Scientific excellency model in Iran’s higher education case study: Guilan university of medical sciences

foresight ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-436
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hoseini Moghadam ◽  
Abtin Heidarzadeh ◽  
Hassan Bashiri ◽  
Hossein Khoshrang ◽  
Ideh Dadgaran
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Action Learning ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Experiences ◽  
The University

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to answer the question of how scientific excellency can be achieved. The origin of scientific excellency in Iran, national and international experiences concerning the subject has been investigated to review the literature. The authors also designed a process and then a model to test the course. Guilan University of Medical Sciences was selected as a case study for the research. Design/methodology/approach The approach used in this paper is from Future Studies, with emphasis on the “Participatory Learning and Action” method. It means that different stakeholders, including the strategic council members, managers, faculty members, students, alumni and non-academic staff, have been involved in different parts of the process. Findings After semantic analysis of scientific excellency in the theoretical field; the examination of national and international experiences in universities; the analysis of higher-level documents of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education as well as strategic documents of the university; the determination of the strengths and weaknesses of the Guilan University of Medical Sciences in online survey; the completion of the scientific excellency canvas in the expert panel and finally obtaining other stakeholders, a conceptual model was designed for achieving scientific excellency. Practical implications The study of the actions, policies and trends of pioneering universities indicates that it is important to consider issues such as the internationalization of education and research and the modification of university structures. To achieve a superior national and international status, the university must specifically enhance a range of different aspects, from intangible aspects, such as motivation of employees to tangible aspects, such as human resources, structure and facilities. Originality/value Scientific excellency is going to be one of main streams between universities to attract top students and researchers from all over the world. There has been little academic attempt on scientific excellency. In this research, first the authors examined the concept of scientific excellency, criteria and measurement in higher education, then based on that case study and participatory action learning method, a conceptual framework to achieve scientific excellency in Iran’s higher education system was proposed.

Towards energy transition at the Faculty of Education of Bilbao (UPV/EHU): diagnosing community and building

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1277-1296
Author(s):  
Unai Ortega Lasuen ◽  
Maria Arritokieta Ortuzar Iragorri ◽  
Jose Ramon Diez
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Energy Literacy ◽  
Faculty Of Education ◽  
Current Energy

Purpose This paper aims to present the results of a study aimed at performing a first diagnosis of energy literacy and energy use in a Faculty of Education, by means of identifying energy consumption patterns, as well as energy literacy and commitments regarding energy transition. This diagnosis is the basis for establishing the foundations of a path toward energy transition in the faculty and further designing energy saving and education strategies. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative and qualitative data were collected in a mixed-method approach. A survey was arranged to assess the attitudes, habits and knowledge regarding the current energy system within the community of the Faculty (407 responses). Comparisons among the main collectives that make up the community were performed, i.e. students, teaching and research staff and management and services staff. In parallel, the general electric consumption of the faculty was monitored. The results of these diagnostics were presented at several forums and workshops on energy transition held in the faculty where personal commitments in favor of energy transition were gathered and further categorized (105 initiatives). Findings Positive attitudes toward energy saving were observed, reflecting in different generic habits. Additionally, some belief or hope for a technological solution for current and future energy problems was detected, as well as a lower level of implication or commitment when specifying personal attitudes. Similarly, widespread ignorance of the current energy context was revealed, regarding both the energy system and household energy consumption. Concerning the undertaking of personal commitments, low impact energy saving habits prevailed, and knowledge was not identified as being a necessary element of energy saving education in attitudes and habits. Practical implications This research provides relevant information for the design of educational interventions to promote energy literacy in higher education institutions. Originality/value The survey provides valuable insights regarding future educators’ and their current teachers’ energy literacy in a challenging energy context. The lack of general knowledge about the energy context in the community, together with the limited impact of the commitments gathered among students, stresses the need for integration of basic energy contents, both within education degrees and the management strategy of the faculty.

scholarly journals Balancing preservation and energy efficiency in building stocks

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 356-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Eriksson ◽  
Vlatko Milić ◽  
Tor Brostrom
Keyword(s):  
Energy Saving ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Step Method ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Historic Building ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Definition Of

Purpose Energy use in buildings needs to be reduced to meet political goals; however, reducing energy use can conflict with heritage preservation objectives. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a method that combines quantitative and qualitative analyses of the potential of energy savings in an historic building stock. Specifically, this study examines how requirements of historic building preservation affect the energy saving potential on a building stock level. Design/methodology/approach Using the World Heritage Town of Visby, Sweden as a case study, this paper illustrates a step-by-step method as a basis for implementing energy savings techniques in an historic building stock. The method contains the following steps: categorisation of a building stock, definition of restriction levels for energy renovation scenarios and life cycle costs optimisation of energy measures in archetype buildings representing the building stock. Finally, this study analyses how different energy renovation strategies will impact heritage values and energy saving potentials for different categories of buildings. Findings The outcome of the study is twofold: first, the method has been tested and proven useful and second, the results from the application of the method have been used to formulate differentiated energy renovation strategies for the case study. Originality/value The study shows that it is possible to integrate techno-economic analysis with assessment of heritage values in a given building stock in order to facilitate a strategic discussion balancing policies and targets for energy savings with policies for the preservation of heritage values. The findings will contribute to sounder policy development and planning for historic building stocks.

A decade of study on employer feedback on the quality of university graduates

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahsood Shah ◽  
Leonid Grebennikov ◽  
Chenicheri Sid Nair
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
University Graduates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Internationalisation Of Higher Education ◽  
Education Delivery ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline four separate studies undertaken in two Australian universities between 2003 and 2012 on employer feedback on the quality of university graduates. Higher education has expanded significantly in the past decade. The expansion has been in student enrolments with a focus on increasing the participation of disadvantaged students; the emergence of new kinds of providers other than universities; new modes of education delivery; and the internationalisation of higher education. The diversity of higher education institutions and quality issues require the assessment of graduate quality based on feedback from employers. The lack of such assessment on graduate quality based on employer voice risks the production of graduates with focus on success (quantity) rather than excellence (quality). It also disconnects the engagement between higher education institutions and employers to assess trends and changes in various industries and professions that require employer input in course development and renewal to meet the changing needs of the industries. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative method using online survey to gather feedback from employers of university graduates was used. The survey tool has been previously used in other studies. Findings – A decade of study using quantitative and qualitative methods with different employers in two different geographic locations clearly shows that employer views on the quality of university graduates in a range of capabilities have remained consistent. The study also outlines the challenges in gathering feedback from employers and how data are used in curriculum reviews and enhancements. Research limitations/implications – The study has a number of limitations, including gathering up-to-date employer data, and engagement of employers in the survey. Practical implications – Practical implications could include the use of survey data in new course developments, review of courses and further enhancement to ensure course relevance. Originality/value – This is the first longitudinal study undertaken using the same survey instrument in two universities. The study engaged 485 employers.

Identifying and prioritizing barriers to digital transformation in higher education: a case study in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bayu Rima Aditya ◽  
Ridi Ferdiana ◽  
Sri Suning Kusumawardani
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Technical Issue ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Different Levels

Purpose This study aims to test a theoretical framework to identify and prioritize barriers in the implementation of digital transformation in higher education. Design/methodology/approach The framework was tested using the context of a particular nation: Indonesia. First, a survey questionnaire was conducted to identify the key barriers. Second, the contextual relationship between the key barriers was determined based on an expert’s input to find the importance level of barriers and the degree of difficulty to fix the barriers. Finally, a barrier priority matrix was developed to prioritize the barriers. Findings This study identified the key barriers in the implementation of digital transformation in higher education in Indonesia including eight contextual issues, one technical issue and two cultural issues with different levels of importance and difficulty. Based on the matrix constructed, this study also presented a list of the top 11 priorities of barriers. Research limitations/implications The results were based on a particular region context. Practical implications This study lays the foundation for the theoretical framework that is practically useful to perform the identification and prioritization of barriers. Besides, the result discussed in this study gives some direction for policymakers in designing sensible strategies to overcome the barriers. Originality/value The main contribution of this study is an empirical study that systematically identifies and prioritizes barriers to digital transformation in higher education.

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