scholarly journals Social capital and career advancement of female academic staff in Nigerian universities

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abubakar Idris Hassan ◽  
Mohd Nazri Baharom ◽  
Rozita Abdul Mutalib
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Career Advancement ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Career Planning ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
University Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Higher Institution ◽  
The University

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the social capital factors of career advancement of female academic staff in Nigerian universities. Design/methodology/approach A measurement and structural analysis were conducted for the three independent variables and a dependent variable on 20 public universities. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The dependent variable was female academic staff career advancement and the independent variables were mentoring, networking and government machinery. Using stratified random sampling, 532 academic staff were selected as the study respondents. They represented sampling criteria such as federal and state universities. Findings Structural modeling analysis showed that social capital variables, specifically mentoring, networking and government machinery variables, were significant contributors to the career advancement of the female academic staff in Nigerian universities. Practical implications This study creates an insight into the knowledge of career advancement among female academic staff in public universities. These institutions dominate the university system in Nigeria and serve as the main avenue for university education in the country. At the level of higher institution, HRD is significant, particularly in creating awareness among academic staff about their career planning and aspirations, the role that the perceived environmental factors play in their advancement to higher positions in the university and how they should further utilize those factors. Originality/value The paper examines social capital factors (limited to mentoring, networking and government machinery) that are of concern to managing the career advancement of female academic staff in public universities.

scholarly journals Implications of Academic Staff Participation in Teaching Practice on the Quality of Bachelor of Education Program in Selected Public Universities in Kenya

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Anthony Njoroge Johnson ◽  
Gathara Peter ◽  
Kirimi Francis
Keyword(s):  
Education Program ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Research Question ◽  
University Education ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Bachelor Of Education ◽  
The University

One of the major determinants of quality education in the Bachelor of Education program is the Teaching Practice component. Globally teaching practice is a mandatory undertaking, at both universities and tertiary teacher training colleges. Various universities adopt different modes of teaching practice especially with regards to its supervision. The exercise of teaching practice supervision is often faced by a number of challenges, for example, inadequate staffing which means that teacher trainees may not be adequately supervised. As such, this study aimed at establishing the implications of academic staff participation in teaching practice on the quality of B.Ed program. Hence, this study sought to answer the research question: how does academic staff participation in teaching practice influence the quality of Bachelor of Education program in public universities in Kenya? The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The scope of the study was the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University. The target population of the study comprised 12,342 respondents, where 30 percent of them (433) were sampled. Moi University was used for piloting, after which instruments were modified to ensure highest validity and reliability. The research instruments used in the study comprised questionnaires, interview guide and document analysis schedule. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS. The study findings were presented by the use of frequency tables. The study established that, other than the normal teaching load, academic staff were also tasked with the duty of supervising students while in teaching practice. The study established that on average each lecturer was to supervise at least 20-25 supervision over a two weeks period. In fact, some supervisors devised their own mechanisms of handling a large number of students in teaching practice, for instance, some of them would assemble students in a common hall, mostly away from their stations of practice. Such mechanisms can only be inappropriate as far as quality of assessment is concerned. The challenges surrounding participation of Bachelor of Education academic staff in teaching practice, such as a large number of students, remoteness of some stations as well as inadequate facilitation of academic staff makes it difficult for them to ensure quality experience is gained by students in teaching practice, and as such, this study concludes that teaching practice has not modeled B.Ed. students as expected by CUE. The study recommends Commission for University Education to come up with standard guidelines, which defines the kind of teaching practice Bachelor of Education students should be subjected into, the qualification of academic staff expected to conduct the preparation and assessment as well as the nature of the schools where students can undertake the teaching practice. In so doing, they will compel all the universities offering the degree to ensure quality standards are adhered to at all times. The study further recommends the university management to incorporate the model of mentor supervisors and regulate their recruitment, incentives and reporting in order to reduce the burden of B.Ed Academic Staff participation in teaching practice.

Penglibatan Ahli Akademik Terhadap Pengajaran Hadith di Institusi Pengajian

2018 ◽  
pp. 47-52
Author(s):  
Amran Abdul Halim ◽  
Abdulloh Salaeh
Keyword(s):  
Public Universities ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Islamic Studies ◽  
National University ◽  
Islamic Science ◽  
The University

This study is to identify the involvement of academicians on the teaching of the hadith. The contribution of the academicians to the teaching of the hadith is also very much needed so that Muslims can acknowledge al-Sunnah closely. The academicians were selected from Academic of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya Islamic Studies Academy, the National University of Malaysia, the Islamic Science University of Malaysia and the International Islamic University which they are all from various fields of Islamic Studies. The methodology used in this study is a questionnaire which is group sampling. The researcher distributes the questionnaire to the academic staff at the university involved. Based on this descriptive analysis of the questionnaire, it can be concluded that academic practitioners either in the field of hadith or other fields are involved and contribute to the teaching of hadith such as in public universities and other institutions. This shows that most academicians have good knowledge related to the field of hadith. Therefore, they are among the most suitable as references to the community in solving Sunnah and bidaah issues, especially the academicians who are experts in the field of hadith. Abstrak Kajian ini adalah untuk mengenalpasti penglibatan ahli akademik terhadap pengajaran hadith. Sumbangan ahli akademik terhadap pengajaran hadith juga amat diperlukan agar umat Islam dapat mengenali al-Sunnahsecara  lebih  dekat.  Ahli-ahli  akademik  yang  dipilih  adalah  dari  Akademi  Pengajian  Islam  Universiti Malaya,   Universiti   Kebangsaan   Malaysia,   Universiti   Sains   Islam   Malaysia   dan   Universiti   Islam Antarabangsa  yang  mana  kesemuanya  dalam  pelbagai  bidang  Pengajian  Islam.  Kaedah yang  digunakan dalam kajian ini adalah soal selidik iaitu persampelan berkelompok. Penyelidikmengedarkan borang soal selidik tersebut kepada ahli akademik di universiti tersebut. Berdasarkan, analisis deskriptif soal selidik ini, dapat dirumuskan bahawa ahli akademik sama ada dalam bidang hadith atau lain-lain bidang adalah terlibat dan turut memberi sumbangan dalam pengajaran hadith seperti di universiti-universiti awam dan lain-lain institusi  pengajian.  Ini  menunjukkan  bahawa  kebanyakan  ahli  akademik  mempunyai  pengetahuan  yang baik  berkaitan  dengan  bidang  hadith.  Oleh  itu,  mereka  adalah  antara  golongan  sangat  sesuai  dijadikan sebagai rujukan masyarakat dalam menyelesaikan permasalahan Sunnah dan bidaah, terutama sekali ahli akademik yang pakar dalam bidang hadith.

Does university attendance impact students' political tolerance and open-mindedness: the atypical case of Israel?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zehorit Dadon-Golan ◽  
Adrian Ziderman ◽  
Iris BenDavid-Hadar
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Political Attitudes ◽  
University Education ◽  
Lecture Hall ◽  
Political Tolerance ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Programs ◽  
University Experience ◽  
The University

PurposeA major justification for the state subsidy of university education at public institutions (and, in some countries, of private universities too) is the economic and social benefits accruing to society as whole from a significantly university-educated workforce and citizenship. Based upon a broad range of research findings, a particular societal benefit emanating from higher education relates to good citizenship: that it leads to more open mindedness and tolerant political attitudes. We examined these issues using a representative sample of students from Israeli universities to clarify the extent to which these outcomes would be paralleled in the Israeli setting, where the university experience differs markedly from that found typically in the West.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a comparison of political tolerance levels between first- and final-year students enrolled in regular undergraduate study programs (of four days a week or more). However since a change in tolerance is likely to be contingent also on the amount of time that the student spends on campus during the study year, we introduce, as a control group, students enrolled in compressed study programs (of three days a week or less) and compare changes in their tolerance levels with tolerance changes of students enrolled in regular programs. Research questionnaires were distributed to undergraduate students at three universities from the three major districts in Israel–north, south and center. The achieved sample size was 329 students.FindingsUsing Difference-in-Differences techniques, we looked for any changes in students' general political tolerance, over the course of their studies. Surprisingly, we found no such effect on political tolerance attitudes. Israeli students are older and often married and though nominally full-time students, they often hold down a full-time job. Thus they come and go to attend lectures but do not otherwise spend much time on campus. Given the somewhat perfunctory nature of the university experience for most Israeli students, it does not to lead to more open-minded and tolerant political attitudes.Practical implicationsSome broader, practical applications of the research, beyond the Israeli case, are presented, particularly related to distance learning and to the impact of COVID-19. Attention is given to more recent “Cancel culture” developments on university campuses.Originality/valueThe results have wider implications, to other university setting in other countries. Changes in political attitudes may occur in university settings where campus life is well developed, with opportunities for student interaction, formally in extra-curricular events or through social mixing outside the lecture hall. Where the university experience is more minimally confined to attendance at lectures these desirable outcomes may not be forth coming. These findings are relevant to other university frameworks where campus attendance is marginal, such as in open university education and, even more explicitly, in purely internet-based higher education study.

Professional community and student engagement in higher education: rethinking the contributions of professional staff

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaw Owusu-Agyeman ◽  
Enna Moroeroe
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Professional Community ◽  
Professional Staff ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Culture ◽  
The University

PurposeScholarly studies on student engagement are mostly focused on the perceptions of students and academic staff of higher education institutions (HEIs) with a few studies concentrating on the perspectives of professional staff. To address this knowledge gap, this paper aims to examine how professional staff who are members of a professional community perceive their contributions to enhancing student engagement in a university.Design/methodology/approachData for the current study were gathered using semi-structured face-to-face interviews among 41 professional staff who were purposively sampled from a public university in South Africa. The data gathered were analysed using thematic analysis that involved a process of identifying, analysing, organising, describing and reporting the themes that emerged from the data set.FindingsAn analysis of the narrative data revealed that when professional staff provide students with prompt feedback, support the development of their social and cultural capital and provide professional services in the area of teaching and learning, they foster student engagement in the university. However, the results showed that poor communication flow and delays in addressing students’ concerns could lead to student disengagement. The study further argues that through continuous interaction and shared norms and values among members of a professional community, a service culture can be developed to address possible professional knowledge and skills gaps that constrain quality service delivery.Originality/valueThe current paper contributes to the scholarly discourse on student engagement and professional community by showing that a service culture of engagement is developed among professional staff when they share ideas, collaborate and build competencies to enhance student engagement. Furthermore, the collaboration between professional staff and academics is important to addressing the academic issues that confront students in the university.

The question of university graduates' employability: are the students aware of the employers' preferences

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pambas Tandika ◽  
Laurent Gabriel Ndijuye
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
University Education ◽  
University Graduates ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adequate Knowledge ◽  
The World ◽  
The University

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to university students' awareness of the employers preferred competencies and the educational level capable of readying them satisfactory for the demands of the world of work.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative approach exploratory research design, data were gathered in an informal and unstructured manner, researchers identified undergraduate students' awareness of employers' preferred competencies of the graduates.FindingsUndergraduate students overestimated academic credentials while ignoring soft skills as employers' preferences. Nevertheless, they were worried about their capability to compete adequately when seeking employment despite identifying university level of education as the most appropriate for developing and enhancing their employability.Research limitations/implicationsThe study involved mostly second-year students from one college of the seven colleges constituting the University of Dodoma.Practical implicationsThere is a need for university education to integrate and emphasize the non-cognitive skills for adequately and holistically preparing future employees with adequate knowledge and skills to thrive in the world of work demands.Social implicationsThere likelihood that a lack of confidence would impact their participation in academia and work/job. Hence, lower down their productivity and inadequately contribute to social and national economic growth.Originality/valueThe value of these findings is that they identify, inform and can be used to enhance university education programming for improved graduate's employability.

Women in the workforce

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosanne L. Hartman ◽  
Emily G. Barber
Keyword(s):  
Work Engagement ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Career Advancement ◽  
Career Planning ◽  
Career Aspirations ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Women In The Workplace ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Coaching Training

Purpose While women perform as well as their male counterparts at work, women are drastically underrepresented in the onboarding process to senior leadership. The link between occupational self-efficacy and the role it may play in how men and women make decisions about work has not been done. The purpose of this study is to examine potential differences of occupational self-efficacy, career aspirations and work engagement between women and men. Design/methodology/approach Online surveys were created and sent out as emails and on social network sites including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Findings Findings indicate that occupational self-efficacy has positive effect on career aspirations of women in the workplace. Further, there was no statistically significant difference between occupational self-efficacy and work engagement between men and women. However, men were found to have statistically significantly higher career aspirations than women do. Research limitations/implications While men and women do not differ in occupational self-efficacy or work engagement, men do have higher career aspirations than women do. Although women may believe they can accomplish challenging tasks in the workplace, it does not mean this belief is acted upon. Practical implications The study highlights the importance of occupational self-efficacy and its relation to career aspirations. Individuals who are high in occupational self-efficacy may set their own path in advancing within their career. However, individuals who are low or moderate in occupational self-efficacy may require further encouragement and development using additional resources as a catalyst for advancement guidance. While no differences were found between men and women in occupational self-efficacy, human resource practitioners should develop those individuals who are low or moderate in occupational self-efficacy with coaching, training and/or mentoring to build leadership capacity, increase self-efficacy and career-planning acumen. Social implications Men and women behave differently when seeking career advancement and in their career aspirations. For men, advancement is linked to performance whereas women use a multi-pronged approach focusing on preparing for career success and building role competency. Differences in strategy for advancement mean men will actively engage in behaviors to advance even when they do not have the knowledge or experience to perform in the new role. Conversely, women seek to feel competent in a work role prior to seeking it out. Finding ways to mentor women toward higher self-efficacy for their next career advancement will benefit organizations overall. Originality/value Research examining the role of occupational self-efficacy and its relation to career aspirations does not exist in comparing men and women.

Institutional repository: access and use by academic staff at Egerton University, Kenya

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 276-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicitas Ciabere Ratanya
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Institutional Repository ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Expected Benefits ◽  
The University ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the access and use of the institutional repository (IR) among academic staff at Egerton University. Design/methodology/approach The paper provides a description of the building and development of the IR at the Egerton university and describes expected benefits of the repository to the University and relevant stakeholders. A survey was conducted among 84 academic staff with an aim of examining their levels of awareness on the existence of the IR at the Egerton University and assess their access and use. Through a structured questionnaire both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Findings The study revealed that majority of the academic staff at the Egerton University are still not aware of the existence of the IR. Staff also faced challenges in accessing and using the content available. The paper provided suggestions on how best to enhance the access and utilization of the IRs among the academic staff. Practical implications From a practical point of view, the paper provides implications on the access and use of IRs by the academic staff. The paper points out some challenges faced by this group of users which other academic institutions may try to solve in their respective contexts. Originality/value Findings and discussions provided in the paper will pave way to solving the challenges faced in access and use of IR by the academic staff at the Egerton University.

E-commerce trading activity and the SME sector: an FSB perspective

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 866-888 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pickernell ◽  
Paul Jones ◽  
Gary Packham ◽  
Brychan Thomas ◽  
Gareth White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
High Knowledge ◽  
Ict Development ◽  
The University ◽  
Trading Behaviour

Purpose – This study aims to examine e-commerce within UK small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). More specifically, it seeks to explore associations between e-commerce and internal and external antecedents including trading behaviour, owner/manager characteristics, innovation, public sector involvement, business advice and finance sources. Design/methodology/approach – An 8,500+ sample derived from the 2008 UK Federation of Small Businesses survey was utilised. An OLS regression equation was generated where the percentage of sales made using e-commerce constituted the dependent variable. Independent variables were constructed for several sets of factors including innovation, business advice and sources of finance, as well as a range of owner and SME typology variables. Findings – The results suggest that e-commerce is more strongly apparent in SMEs started from scratch and where they were involved in basic or high knowledge services or the tourist trade. SMEs undertaking e-commerce were also associated with innovation in the form of copyright, as well as public procurement with local authorities and the university sector. Specific business advice in the form of capacity, family and suppliers was also associated with e-commerce trading. Research limitations/implications – These results have implications for SMEs and public sector stakeholders. SMEs must recognise the importance of several potential antecedents such as intellectual property rights, specific business advice and finance to encourage e-commerce. Moreover, it was apparent that certain SME characteristics, namely locality and trading behaviour, were associated with effective e-commerce. Originality/value – This study will be of value to academia, SMEs and key public sector stakeholders in the formulation of policy for ICT development.

Marketing education at the University of Melbourne

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-106
Author(s):  
Robert B. Ellis ◽  
David S. Waller
Keyword(s):  
Academic Staff ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Administrative Positions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Marketing Education ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Areas Of Interest ◽  
The University

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the early days of marketing education by observing the first “Marketing” subject in Australia, which was taught at the University of Melbourne, and comparing elements of the early subject to the introductory Marketing subject of today. Design/methodology/approach The information used for this study was obtained from material in the University of Melbourne Archives, including calendar entries, subject descriptions, and university announcements, as well as from interviews and correspondence with various people including those in academic and administrative positions, and former students. Findings The origins of university-level marketing education in Australia can be seen to have been shaped by several influences, including: the external environment of the country at that time; the areas of interest of academic staff; the availability of teaching material – textbooks, academic articles, appropriate case studies, academic research papers, etc.; the academic staff and teaching materials from the USA; and the extent to which the supporting technology of marketing had changed. Practical implications By observing the development in marketing education over the years, from its beginnings in Australia at the University of Melbourne, this paper shows changes in the content which assists in the understanding of what has led to how marketing is taught in Australasian universities and colleges today. Originality/value Marketing education research usually focusses on what is happening at the moment, so the value of this study is that it is one of the few that looks at marketing education from a historical perspective.

Performance management practices, employee attitudes and managed performance

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 507-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Kagaari ◽  
John C. Munene ◽  
Joseph Mpeera Ntayi
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Employee Attitudes ◽  
University Education ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish the relationship between performance management practices, employee attitudes and managed performance.Design/methodology/approachUsing a disproportionate stratified purposive approach, a sample of 900 employees was drawn from four public universities in Uganda.FindingsThe paper reveals that performance management practices and employee attitudes are crucial for achievement of managed performance in public universities.Research limitations/implicationsThis was a cross‐sectional study that inherently has common method biases. Such biases could be minimised with replication of the study using a longitudinal study approach that would also unearth all salient issues that could have remained untouched.Practical implicationsThe paper emphasises the need for public universities to institutionalise result‐oriented relationships and adapt in the external hyper changing environment.Originality/valueThe paper calls for a new approach to managing employees in public universities with increasing demand for university education and stakeholder interests in delivery of cost‐effective quality services.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document