Student voice and quality enhancement in higher education

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 385-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Chiyevo Garwe
Keyword(s):  
Student Voice ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Private Universities ◽  
The Body ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Educational Provision ◽  
Initial Survey ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of the student voice in enhancement of the quality of educational provision in universities. Design/methodology/approach – The study used the longitudinal approach, carried out as two separate surveys covering a period of three years. An initial survey to determine the issues affecting teaching and learning quality in eight public and five private universities was made from June 2011 to May 2012. In 2013, a follow-up survey targeting three state and three private universities was done to check whether the issues of concern raised by students had been addressed. The study used triangulation of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected using observation, document analysis, semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions with students and academic staff. Findings – The findings showed that the major issues affecting quality of teaching and learning were inadequate assignments, absentee lecturers, poorly qualified lecturers, sexual harassment and the lack of public address systems for mass lectures. During the second survey, results showed that all universities had addressed the students’ concerns but new challenges caused by the ever increasing enrolments had emerged. Practical implications – The study pointed to the need to continuously engage the student voice as a way of improving the quality of the teaching and learning environment. Originality/value – The study adds to the body of knowledge on utilising the student voice to improve the quality of educational provision in institutions of higher learning

Impact of board size on the accounting returns and the asset quality of Indian banks

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-313
Author(s):  
Ankur Shukla ◽  
Sivasankaran Narayanasamy ◽  
Ramachandran Krishnakumar
Keyword(s):  
Robust Regression ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
The Body ◽  
Board Size ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Indian Banks ◽  
Asset Quality ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to explore the impact of board size on the accounting returns and asset quality of Indian banks. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses ordinary least squares regression, robust regression and panel data methods for estimation, based on data collected for a sample of 29 Indian banks that are listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and form part of the NSE-500 index over a period of eight financial years 2009-2016. The data pertaining to the board size of the sample banks is collected from the annual reports of banks, whereas the data relating to return on assets (ROA) and ratio of the gross non-performing assets to total assets and control variables (bank age and bank size) is extracted from ACE Equity database. Findings This paper concludes that the size of the governing board has a positive impact on the accounting returns (measured through ROA) of the Indian banks. Further, board size is observed to be insignificant in determining the asset quality of Indian banks. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature and practitioners in a number of ways. First, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on the impact of board size on the accounting returns and asset quality of Indian banks. The findings of the study contribute new theoretical insights to the body of knowledge on the influence of the size of the board, which may be useful for future researchers. Second, banks may enhance their financial performance by taking cognizance of the findings of this study. Finally, equity investors may make use of the findings of this article in deciding on whether to invest in a bank’s stock/lend to the bank based on board size of the bank.

The effects of ownership structure on likelihood of financial distress: an empirical evidence

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahab Udin ◽  
Muhammad Arshad Khan ◽  
Attiya Yasmin Javid
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Ownership Structure ◽  
Financial Distress ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
The Body ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of corporate governance proxies by ownership structure on the likelihood of firms’ financial distress for a sample of 146 Pakistani public-limited companies listed at the Karachi Stock Exchange over the period of 2003-2012. Design/methodology/approach The dynamic generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator and panel logistic regression (PLR) are used to determine the impact of corporate governance on the financial distress. The ownership structure is used as a determinant of corporate governance, while the Altman Z-score is utilized as an indicator of financial distress, as it measures financial distress inversely. The smaller the values of the Z-score, the higher will be the risk of financial distress. Findings The authors find insignificant impact of ownership structure on firms’ likelihood of financial distress based on the dynamic GMM method. However, the PLR results indicate that foreign shareholdings have a significant negative association with firms’ likelihood of financial distress, in the case of Pakistan. An evidence of a negative and insignificant relationship between institutional ownership and financial distress was observed, which indicates the passive role of institutional investors in Pakistan. The results also reveal a positive and significant relationship between insider’s ownership and likelihood of financial distress. This finding is consistent with the entrenchment hypothesis which predicts that insiders are more aligned with their self-interest than outside shareholders’ interest when their shareholding increases in the business. Furthermore, the results also reveal insignificant association between government shareholdings and the probability of financial distress. The reason could be the social welfare objective of the government entities rather than profit maximization. Practical implications The findings of this study provide more insight to corporate managers and investors about the association between the quality of corporate governance and the degree of financial distress, with respect to Pakistani firms. Furthermore, this study contributes to the existing literature by adding new evidence from developing countries like Pakistan which are helpful for regulatory bodies and policymakers in the formulation of long-term corporate governance strategies to manage the financial distress. It is well established that strengthening the quality of corporate governance practices enhances the efficiency of capital markets and reduces the probability of financial distress. Originality/value The study extends the body of existing literature on corporate governance and the likelihood of financial distress with reference to Pakistan. The results suggest that policymakers may pay special attention to the quality of corporate governance, specifically ownership structure, while predicting corporate financial distress.

Effect of the performance of physical and non-physical facilities on higher institutional facilities

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isa Abdullahi ◽  
Wan Zahari Wan Yusoff
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Influencing Factor ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Facility Management ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National University

Purpose The role of institutional facilities is of paramount importance to ensure quality of teaching and learning with respect to achieving quality of education in any given higher educational institutions (HEIs). The purpose of this paper is to determine the performance of physical and non-physical facilities of higher institutional facilities. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected from respondents using a closed-end questionnaire. In total, 1,000 questionnaires were administered to students and 735 were returned and valid for analysis. Partial least squares-structural equation modelling was adopted for analysis. Findings It was found that the exogenous constructs [physical facilities (PPE) and non-physical facilities (PNE)] scored 32.7 per cent (R2 = 0.327) of the variance of the facility’s performance. It was also found that the physical facility is the most significant factor that determines facility performance. Research limitations/implications This paper is limited to investigating the performance of physical and non-physical facilities; it is not in any way a measure for the students’ views about other services offered by the institutions. Future research is needed to use relevant information from HEIs’ facilities for validating factors that determine the facility’s performance. Practical implications Physical facility was identified as the most influencing factor that determines the facility performance based on the information provided by respondents. This research should help the facility management department at HEIs when designing the academic facility management. The study will also serve as a yardstick for the Federal Ministry of Education, the National University Commission in academic facility accreditation. This paper contributes to both the body of knowledge in facility management by considering the performance of facilities at HEIs. Originality/value This paper demonstrates the duality of HEIs’ facilities into physical and non-physical facilities and their distinct contribution to the overall facility’s performance.

How integration of information and communication technologies impact academic achievement? An empirical study on Sindh education foundation

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amjad Ali Rind ◽  
Muhammad Mujtaba Asad ◽  
Shahmeer Ali Marri ◽  
Fahad Sherwani ◽  
Fazal Ur Rehman
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Body ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Science Scores ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of Introduction of Smart Teaching and Learning (INSTAL) project on students' academic achievements in terms of students' science scores. Information and communication technologies (ICT)-based initiative was introduced in Sindh Education Foundation (SEF) schools at District Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. The aim of the study was to identify whether science test scores of students have been improved with the use of INSTAL facility at schools or remained the same at SEF-supported schools.Design/methodology/approachThe quantitative research approach has been used in the current study, and within it a quasi-experimental research design was employed. The descriptive (mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (independent sample t-test and paired sample t-test) were computed to find the pre- and post-difference in science scores of students. Both primary and secondary data were used. The primary data were gathered through questionnaire from 48 science teachers. Whereas, secondary data of 382 students who used ICT-based facility under INSATL project for two academic years were taken from quality assessment test (QAT) scores conducted by third party in SEF-assisted schools in District Khairpur.FindingsThe findings of the study revealed that the students' science scores improved by 10% in one year and 23% in two years with the use of ICT-based facilities under INSTAL project. Also, it can be concluded from the results that ICT has a positive as well as statistically significant impact on students' science learning by using INSTAL facility in schools. Results of the study show that students' level of interest toward learning science has been enhanced by the use of ICT.Practical implicationsAs the world is rapidly moving toward digitalization, the modes of teaching and learning have been changing. ICT plays a very significant role in the betterment of education. ICT helps to achieve socio-economic development of a country. However, Pakistan, being a developing country, has not that much resources, and ICT-based learning is not common in Pakistan. Therefore, it is very important to be aware people about the usage of technology in teaching and learning. The present study is an attempt to create such type of awareness. Moreover, the current study may be the first kind of study in the context of Pakistan which used TPACK as theoretical framework, and this study may contribute to the body of knowledge in the context of ICT.Originality/valueImplementing ICT-based software for teaching and learning in rural context of Pakistan was a challenging task, but it has brought positive results in terms of student's achievement. This may be the first study that has been conducted in the context of adopted schools of SEF.

Student selectivity and higher education institutions credit ratings

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aron Gottesman ◽  
Iuliana Ismailescu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Private Universities ◽  
Public University ◽  
State Funding ◽  
State Appropriations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Credit Quality ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Given

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the relation between the creditworthiness of US institutions of higher education and their student selectivity (i.e. demand and quality). Design/methodology/approach The authors study whether the impact of student selectivity differs across public vs private universities; across the credit quality of the given public university’s state; and across the level of state appropriations for the given public university. Findings The authors find that student quality and demand measures are significantly associated with their corresponding institution’s creditworthiness, especially for private universities. Originality/value For public universities the association is weak and, contrary to the expectations, does not depend on the state credit quality or level of state funding. The findings are robust to the inclusion of control variables.

Research on the impact of academic libraries – areas, methods, indicators

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 583-592
Author(s):  
Ewa Głowacka
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Social Role ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
The Body ◽  
Research Information ◽  
Environmental Aspect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to indicate the place of assessment of the impact of libraries in the overall quality evaluation of these institutions. In the paper, an attempt has been made to separate the concepts of the impact and values of library services and, according to the designated scope, the most important areas of research, methods and indicators for the assessment of the impact of academic libraries were characterized. The focus was on the most important areas, i.e. on the impact of libraries on didactics and academic research, information literacy and on its assessment in the cultural and environmental aspect. Design/methodology/approach A literature-based overview of actual insights on tasks and areas, methods, indicators research on the impact of academic is provided. Findings The author has determined that the analysis of the impact of academic libraries can mainly concern the following areas: information (influence on didactics, research and information competence of users), cultural and environmental. That is why it is worth analyzing the most important methods and indicators of research on the impact of academic libraries in these areas. The best way to research the quality of libraries, and especially to determine its impact on users and the environment, is to use a mixed methodology – a whole set of quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques. Triangulation can involve the use of both qualitative and quantitative data or the use of multiple methods to develop one type of data. Research limitations/implications However, these methods were used to study the impact of academic libraries, whose results do not determine the financial value. Practical implications The paper shows the methods of research on the quality of the functioning of academic libraries with a special emphasis on the study of their impact on users and the social environment. Social implications The paper shows the methodology of determining the social role of academic libraries. Originality/value The paper intends to add to the body of knowledge about the research methodology for the impact of academic libraries.

Reflecting on outcome-based education for human services programs in higher education: a policing degree case study

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-122
Author(s):  
Michael Kennedy ◽  
Philip Birch
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Human Services ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Learning Systems ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Outcome Based Education ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to consider the impact of outcome-based education (OBE) on students studying human services degrees, particularly those in a policing program. This work examines the validity of the notion that OBE is a progressive teaching approach that improves the quality of education and subsequently professional practice. Design/methodology/approach A critical analysis of a systemised outcome-based teaching and learning approach is adopted. Findings OBE has, as an idea, swept across most educational institutions in an apparently revolutionary wave. However, any critical scrutiny of this systemised approach to teaching and learning calls into question whether it is really progressive or empty rhetoric achieving reactionary ends. Any systemised attempt at social change by way of neo-liberal outcomes that are not principle-driven will serve only to reinforce a philosophy of aggressive competition and individualism at the expense of the rule of law and social policy that is situated on a social contract foundation. Practical implications The practical implications of this paper relate to the delivery of higher education teaching, with particular reference to human service degrees such as policing: the use of post-modernist theory to develop contemporary teaching and learning systems has created challenges with regards to scientific knowledge; a principled, deontological teaching and learning system rather than a utilitarian “outcome”-based delivery is proposed; the validity of the notion that outcome-based teaching and learning systems are progressive initiatives that improve the quality of education is questioned; and the impact of OBE for students entering human services professions such as policing has implications for public and community safety. Originality/value This paper considers the efficacy of OBE as a model for higher education teaching, with particular reference to human services degrees such as policing.

scholarly journals Determinants of the quality of academic staff in the process of teaching and learning in private universities in Uganda

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jimmy Alemiga ◽  
Martha Kibukamusoke
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Private Universities ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
National Council ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Quality Of Higher Education ◽  
Standard Education

Background: Private Universities (PUs) have existed in Uganda since the 1990s during the time when higher education was privatised due to the high demand for higher education. However, this undermined the quality of higher education in many ways because issues like enrolling students who do not qualify to join universities and recruiting academic staff that do not qualify among others hinder the quality of the teaching and learning in these PUs. The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), an institute established under Act of Parliament No. 15 of 2011 to implement the University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act of Parliament 2001, is the regulator body of higher education in Uganda. The mandate of the NCHE includes among others: to regulate, to accredit and to ensure that higher education institutions effectively deliver quality, relevant and standard education to the society. This is through the drafting of the quality assurance framework composed of two core components: the regulatory component at the NCHE level and the institutional component at each individual university level.Aim: The general objective of the study was to investigate determinants of the quality of the academic staff specifically focusing on the academic staff recruitment, development, promotion and dismissal.Setting: The study used the total quality management theory to explain the quality of teaching and learning processes in PUs in Uganda.Methods: The study adopted descriptive and case study designs where data was collected through interviews and observation methods.Results: The study found that PUs have the academic recruitment, promotion, dismissal and development policies that govern their management.Conclusion: Although the policies exist, their enforcement, monitoring and evaluation are weak thus affecting the quality and output of education.

Article Review: The Impact of Fun and Enjoyment on Adult Learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Laily Yahya
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learners ◽  
Adult Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Educational Programme ◽  
Continuous Quality ◽  
Teachers Beliefs ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Affective Experiences ◽  
The Impact

The article review of ‘The Impact of Fun and Enjoyment on Adult Learning’ (Lucardie, 2014) opens doors to the kaleidoscope of fun and enjoyment amongst adult learners. The essence of this review is an informative snapshot on the critical issues of how fun and joy have impacted adult learning through a qualitative research drawing upon traditions of phenomenology. It aims to explore the affective experiences of fun and enjoyment. This article review attempts to highlight an insightful assessment of the ideas and the arguments that are being discussed by the author. The different interpretation of this concept draws out contrasting elements between learners and teachers’ beliefs. A twist to this review is a reflective stance procured to address central issues emerging in the article related to the Malaysian context. It is through the lens of the reader, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI):4R is proposed. This refers to the process of continuously improving the quality of teaching and learning of an educational programme. This review concludes with the framing of CQI:4R to illustrate reflect, revisit, realign and reconstruct processes that could possibly navigate the architectural landscape of the Malaysian Teacher Education.

Experience in the use of double broncholytic therapy in occupational practice

2019 ◽  
pp. 303-307
Author(s):  
Elena A. Beigel ◽  
Natalya G. Kuptsova ◽  
Elena V. Katamanova ◽  
Oksana V. Ushakova ◽  
Oleg L. Lakhman
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
The Body ◽  
Step Test ◽  
Aluminum Production ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Body Plethysmography ◽  
Occupational Copd ◽  
The Impact

Introduction. Occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading nosological forms of occupational respiratory disease. Numerous studies have shown high effectiveness of the combination of indacaterol/glycopyrronium (Ultibro®breezhaler®) on the impact on clinical and functional indicators in the treatment of COPD in General practice.The aim of the investigation the case of occupational COPD with the analysis of the dynamics of functional indicators, tolerance to physical load and evaluation of the quality of life of workers engaged in aluminum production by using combination of indacaterol/glycopyrronium.Materials and methods. The random sampling method included 20 men, workers of aluminum production, with the established diagnosis of professional COPD at the age of 40 to 60 years. The survey was conducted (Borg scale, medical Research Council scale (mMRC) and COPD Assessment Test (CAT). Functional methods of studies were conducted: spirometry, body plethysmography, electrocardiography (ECG) and the six-minute stepper test (6-MST).Results. Against the background of 8 weeks of therapy, the volume of forced exhalation for 1 minute (FEV1) increased by 14.7% and amounted to 67.90% of the due values, the forced vital capacity of the lungs (FVC) increased by 11.3% and amounted to 76.95% of the due. According to the body plethysmography (BPG) is set to decrease in residual lung volume on average by 13.4% and static hyperinflation, confirmed by the decrease in functional residual volume (FRV) of 18.8%. During the study period increased physical activity of patients. The average difference between the distance traveled in the six-minute step test before and after treatment was 58.8 m. The analysis of personal data showed that the quality of life of patients improved, the total score in the questionnaire CAT at the beginning of the study was 16.9 points, and after 8 weeks decreased by 63% and amounted to 10.7 points.Conclusions: The Results indicate a positive effect of combination therapy with indacaterol/glycopyrronium on the course and progression of occupational COPD.

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