Research group experiences and intent to complete

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maura Borrego ◽  
David B. Knight ◽  
Nathan Hyungsok Choe
Keyword(s):  
Research Group ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Graduate Training ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Degree Program ◽  
Research Groups ◽  
Control Variables ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Diversity ◽  
Group Experiences

Purpose The purpose of this study is to better understand the nature of graduate training experiences in research groups and to identify factors that may lead to increased student retention and success. Design/methodology/approach Surveys administered at four US universities resulted in quantitative responses from 130 Master’s and 702 doctoral engineering students participating in graduate research groups. Missing data were imputed, and responses were weighted by gender, discipline, degree program and nationality. Exploratory factor analysis identified four factors describing research group experiences. Regression models were built for two outcomes: satisfaction with research group experience and intention to complete degree. Control variables included gender, discipline, degree program, nationality, year in program and institution. Findings Fifty-five per cent of the variance in satisfaction was described by a model including agency, support, international diversity and group climate. Sixty-five per cent of variance in intent to complete was described by a model comprising international diversity, agency and support. Several control variables were significant. Originality/value Agency and support in particular were the most influential predictors of both satisfaction and intention, suggesting that future efforts should emphasize stable funding, clear expectations, access to mentors and agency-building experiences to help students take an active role in their own success.

scholarly journals Learning competencies through engineering research group experiences

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian A. Burt
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Research Group ◽  
Chemical Engineering ◽  
Promising Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Engineering Research ◽  
Group Experiences ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Learning Competencies ◽  
Improve Student Learning

Purpose In some fields, research group experiences gained in laboratories are more influential than the classroom in shaping graduate students’ research abilities, understandings of post-graduate careers and professional identities. However, little is known about what and how students learn from their research group experiences. This paper aims to explore the learning experiences of engineering graduate students in one chemical engineering research group to determine what students learned and to identify the practices and activities that facilitated their learning. Design/methodology/approach Ethnography was used to observe the experiences of one research group in chemical engineering. Fieldwork included 13 months of observations, 31 formal interviews (16 first-round and 15 second-round interviews) and informal interviews. Fieldnotes and transcriptions were analyzed using grounded theory techniques. Findings Research group members developed four dominant competencies: presenting research, receiving and responding to feedback, solving problems and troubleshooting problems. Students’ learning was facilitated by the practices and activities of the research group (e.g. weekly full group and subgroup meetings) and mediated through the interactions of others (i.e. peers, faculty supervisor and lab manager). Originality/value This study adds to the engineering education literature and contributes to the larger discourse on identifying promising practices and activities that improve student learning in graduate education.

Correlation between sustainability education and engineering students’ attitudes towards sustainability

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuok Ho Daniel Tang
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Sustainability Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fundamental Knowledge ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Development Course ◽  
Beliefs And Attitudes ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of a sustainable development course on the beliefs, attitudes and intentions of a cohort of engineering students in a university in Miri, Malaysia, towards sustainability. Design/methodology/approach Questionnaire survey was conducted among the cohort of students encompassing the three facets mentioned. Findings The respondents expressed low to medium agreement towards all the survey items related to beliefs, attitudes and intentions. A sense of moral obligation towards sustainability is linked to higher sustainability awareness, willingness to safeguard sustainability and a sense of responsibility towards sustainable development. The respondents were generally perceived to have fundamental knowledge of sustainable development. Research limitations/implications This study shows that a sustainable development course called Engineering Sustainable Development offered in a university in Miri, produced positive impacts on the beliefs, attitudes and intentions of the engineering students towards sustainable development. Sustainable development courses are generally instrumental to impart the value and practices of sustainability among university students. Originality/value As limited correlational studies on whether sustainable development courses effectively shape the beliefs and attitudes of students have been previously conducted, this study provides insight into the effectiveness of one of such courses and how the course can be further improved to enhance its effectiveness.

Education for sustainable development in Spanish higher education: an assessment of sustainability competencies in engineering and education degrees

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fermín Sánchez-Carracedo ◽  
Daniel Romero-Portillo ◽  
Bàrbara Sureda Carbonell ◽  
Francisco Manuel Moreno-Pino
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
First Year ◽  
Education Students ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Spanish Higher Education ◽  
Percentage Measure ◽  
University Degree

Purpose This paper aims to present a methodology for analysing the extent to which students of a university degree perceive that they have received a good education for sustainable development (ESD). The methodology enables us to quantify this perception, which, in turn, allows us to determine: to what extent the objectives related to ESD are achieved in the degree, and to compare the learning in ESD perceived by students of different degrees. The methodology is applied to nine engineering degrees and nine education degrees in the Spanish university system. Design/methodology/approach ESD is analysed from the students’ learning perception. This perception is measured by comparing the responses of first- and fourth-year students to a questionnaire about their sustainability competencies. Two indicators have been designed to analyse the results. The first indicator, learning increase, measures the declared learning difference between fourth- and first-year students. The second indicator, learning percentage, measure the amount of learning as reported by fourth-year students compared to how much they could have learned. Findings The results show that the average learning percentage perceived by students is higher in engineering degrees (33%) than in education degrees (27%), despite the fact that the average learning increase declared by students at the end of their studies in both areas of knowledge is similar (66%). Engineering students report having achieved higher learning than education students in all sustainability competencies, with the exception of ethics. Originality/value This paper analyses ESD from the student’s perspective. Furthermore, to the knowledge of the authors, this is the first study that compares the perception of ESD between engineering and education students. This comparison allows us to determine the different approaches that university Professors take to ESD according to the discipline they teach.

Determining the factors affecting the technical efficiency scores of public hospitals using different regression methods

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bayram Şahin ◽  
Gülnur İlgün ◽  
Seda Sönmez
Keyword(s):  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Control Variables ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Provincial Level ◽  
Regression Methods ◽  
Input And Output ◽  
Dea Method

PurposeThis study aims to identify the efficiency scores of hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health in Turkey between the years of 2010–2015 at provincial level and to reveal the factors that affect the efficiency scores.Design/methodology/approachThe two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) method was used to achieve the study purpose. In the first stage, DEA method based on input-oriented Charnes–Cooper–Rhodes (CCR) model was performed to calculate the efficiency scores of public hospitals at the provincial level between 2010 and 2015, and in the second stage, Tobit regression and linear regression analyses were used to identify whether the efficiency scores of provinces are affected by the input, output and control variables.FindingsUpon the analysis, the average efficiency scores of 81 provinces by years were found to vary between 0.79 and 0.89. According to both regression analyses, all of the input and output variables were found to have significant effects on the efficiency scores of provinces while only the population of province among the control variables was identified as the factor with an effect on the efficiency scores of provinces (p < 0.05).Practical implicationsThe results of this study are thought to guide health policymakers and managers in terms of both determining efficient and inefficient hospitals at the provincial level and revealing which variables should be taken into account in order to increase efficiency.Originality/valueThe study differs from previous studies on the efficiency of hospitals. First, although previous studies were generally descriptive studies to determine the efficiency level of hospitals, this study is an analytical study that tries also to show the factors affecting the efficiency of hospitals. In addition, while examining the effect of input and output variables on efficiency scores, control variables were also included in the study.

Reading routines: strategies of recall in graduate education

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Alan Fine ◽  
Hannah Wohl ◽  
Simone Ispa-Landa
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Graduate Program ◽  
Graduate Training ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Doctoral Program ◽  
Note Taking ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social

Purpose This study aims to explore how graduate students in the social sciences develop reading and note-taking routines. Design/methodology/approach Using a professional socialization framework drawing on grounded theory, this study draws on a snowball sample of 36 graduate students in the social sciences at US universities. Qualitative interviews were conducted to learn about graduate students’ reading and note-taking techniques. Findings This study uncovered how doctoral students experienced the shift from undergraduate to graduate training. Graduate school requires students to adopt new modes of reading and note-taking. However, students lacked explicit mentorship in these skills. Once they realized that the goal was to enter an academic conversation to produce knowledge, they developed new reading and note-taking routines by soliciting and implementing suggestions from advanced doctoral students and faculty mentors. Research limitations/implications The specific requirements of the individual graduate program shape students’ goals for reading and note-taking. Further examination of the relationship between graduate students’ reading and note-taking and institutional requirements is warranted with a larger sample of universities, including non-American institutions. Practical implications Graduate students benefit from explicit mentoring in reading and note-taking skills from doctoral faculty and advanced graduate students. Originality/value This study uncovers the perspectives of graduate students in the social sciences as they transition from undergraduate coursework in a doctoral program of study. This empirical, interview-based research highlights the centrality of reading and note-taking in doctoral studies.

Learning by Doing on Computational Fluid Dynamics

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Parra-Santos ◽  
José M. Molina Jordá ◽  
Gabriel Luna-Sandoval ◽  
Mariano Cacho-Perez ◽  
J. Rubén Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Learning By Doing ◽  
Critical Thought ◽  
Multimedia Material ◽  
Technical Report ◽  
Scale Down ◽  
The University

This work involves the methodology used in the University of Valladolid for Mechanical Engineering students to learn Computational Fluid Dynamics playing an active role. Students pretend to be engineers in a consulting or design office carrying out a fluid mechanics scale down projects. Later they act as reviewers evaluating a project from a colleague. There is a deeper understanding of the topic when they need to discuss the strategies to accomplish the project, to write a technical report and finally to justify the evaluation of other works. Furthermore, they develop their critical thought, writing skills and synthesis capacity. Multimedia material from other institutions that review the concepts learned in the course can be a suitable way to improve the understanding of concepts.

Providing high-quality fundamental care for patients with acute abdominal pain

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Feo ◽  
Frank Donnelly ◽  
Åsa Muntlin Athlin ◽  
Eva Jangland
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Acute Abdominal Pain ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Caring Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Group Experiences ◽  
Patient Relationships

Purpose Globally, acute abdominal pain (AAP) is one of the most common reasons for emergency admissions, yet little is known about how this patient group experiences the delivery of fundamental care across the acute care delivery chain. The purpose of this paper is to describe how patients with AAP experienced fundamental care across their acute care presentation, and to explicate the health professional behaviours, reported by patients, that contributed to their positive experiences. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative descriptive study, using repeated reflective interviews, was analysed thematically (n=10 patients). Findings Two themes were identified: developing genuine, caring relationships with health professionals and being informed about one’s care. Patients reported that health professionals established genuine professional–patient relationships despite the busy care environment but perceived this environment as impeding information-provision. Patients were typically accepting of a lack of information, whereas poor professional–patient relationships were seen as inexcusable. Practical implications To provide positive fundamental care experiences for patients with AAP, health professionals should establish caring relationships with patients, such as by using humour, being attentive, and acknowledging patients’ physical pain and emotional distress; and should inform patients about their care, including allowing patients to ask questions and taking time to answer those questions. Originality/value This is the first Australian study to explore the experiences of patients with AAP across the acute care delivery chain, using a novel method of repeated interviews, and to demonstrate how fundamental care can be delivered, in clinical practice, to ensure positive patient experiences.

scholarly journals Evalueringskriteria by die reuse van ‘n organisasie in die ingenieursberoep

1989 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. F. Oosthuizen ◽  
L. P. Vermeulen
Keyword(s):  
Research Group ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Engineering Profession ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Specific Organisation

Evaluation criteria for selecting an organisation in the engineering profession. This study deals with identifying the evaluation criteria according to which people in the engineering profession choose the organisation where they will work. The research group consisted of 211 final-year engineering students, and 256 engineers employed by a specific organisation. A significant difference (p

scholarly journals Project-based STEM-courses for engineering students

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-68
Author(s):  
Galyna Vasylivna Lutsenko ◽  
◽  
Oksana Mykolaivna Podolian ◽  
Lyudmyla Mikhailivna Ozhyndovych ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Students ◽  
Optimal Strategies ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Project Work ◽  
Approaches To Teaching ◽  
Stem Disciplines ◽  
National University ◽  
The Impact

One of the world-recognized practices of modern higher education is the application of problem-based and project-based approaches to teaching STEM-disciplines. In case of integration of problem-based and project-based learning, the educational process is organized around the problem to be solved by students and stimulates them to find optimal strategies for solving, and project activities are chosen as a way of organizing work. The article describes the ongoing experience of implementation of project-based STEM-courses "Hydro- and Gas Dynamics" and "Applied Mechanics and Fundamentals of Design", which is part of training of engineering students of 151 Automation and Computer-integrated technologies speciality at the Bohdan Khmelnytskyy National University of Cherkasy during 2017-2019 academic years. The impact of problem-based and project-based approaches to teaching STEM-disciplines on the formation of professional and general competencies of future engineers had been analyzed. The dynamics of changes of personal and interpersonal skills of junior students during the teamwork on mono- and multidisciplinary projects had been studied. The case study method was chosen as the general research method, which corresponds to the number of research participants and the active role of researchers in the educational process. The results of surveys developed using the 5-point Likert scale, demonstrates that students mostly positively evaluate the projects and teamwork. The possibility of self-grouping, which made possible to form teams based on common interests and promote freer and more natural communication within the team, was the important factor of positive perception of project work. The disadvantages of the implemented approaches include the difficulties that manifested itself at the stage of students' planning of the project process. One of the reasons for this is the lack of previous experience in the realization of students' team projects. The introduction of multidisciplinary projects made it possible to optimize the workload of students working simultaneously on a project in two disciplines and increase the motivation to study the disciplines of the STEM cycle.

scholarly journals EFFECTIVENESS OF FEEDING DRY BREWERS GRAINS TO REPAIR HEIFERS OF THE JERSEY BREED

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
A. A. Veres ◽  
M. M. Kryvyi ◽  
V. P. Slavov ◽  
Yu. P. Polupan ◽  
V. G. Кеbkо ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Group ◽  
Total Protein ◽  
High Protein ◽  
Economic Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Joint Stock Company ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
Research Groups ◽  
Chest Girth

Introduction. An important reserve for increasing the profitability and competitiveness of livestock production would be solving the problem of feed protein deficiency in animal feeding. Significant contribution to the solution of this problem can be made by using high-protein waste of oil extraction (meal, cake), alcohol (bard), brewing (brewers grains) industries for feeding purposes. Since the liquid brewers grains is poorly preserved and easily spoiled, especially during the summer, and its transportation over long distances requires large costs, in this regard, there is a current problem of drying the liquid brewers grains and its usage as a high-protein fodder for feeding animals in dry form as part of animal mixed fodder. The purpose of our research is to study the effectiveness of feeding dry brewers grains to repair heifers of the Jersey breed. Research materials and methods. Research on the feeding dry brewers grains effectiveness was carried out on repair heifers of the Jersey breed at the age from 2 to 12 months on the basis of the farm SE “Dan-milk” in Cherniakhiv district of Zhytomyr region. Dry brewers grains produced by private joint-stock company (PJSC) “Obolon” were used for the research. Research result. The content of crude protein in 1 kg of dry brewers grains, which was used in scientific and economic research, was 24.46%, or 244.6 g per 1 kg of dry brewers grains. In order to study the effectiveness of feeding dry brewers grains, three groups of repair heifers of the Jersey breed were formed for the research, 8 heads each, according to the following scheme: one control group of repair heifers, and the other two were research groups. According to the research scheme, the control group of repair heifers received a standard grain mixture without dry brewers grains. The difference in the feeding of repair heifers of research groups consisted in different levels of feeding dry brewers grains, which was included in the grain mix of the II research group in the amount of 15%, and the III research group - in the amount of 20%. As a result of the research, there was an increase in the average daily gains of the II research group heifers, which ration included 15% of dry brewers grains in the mixture composition: for the period from 2 until 6 months – up to 0.811 kg against 0.786 kg, for a period from 6 until 12 months – up to 0.671 kg against 0.657 kg, for a period from 2 until 12 months – up to 0.727 kg against 0.709 kg in the control group. At the age from 9 and 12 months of cultivation of repair heifers of the II research group, which grain mixture included 15% of dry brewers grains, there was a tendency of the main body measurements increase: height at the withers, chest girth and oblique torso length, compared with the repair heifers of the control group. In heifers of the III research group, which ration included 20% of dry brewers grains of the grain mixture, the main body measurements were lower than in heifers of the control and II research groups. While studding main hematological indicators of the repair heifers of the control and research groups at the age of 6 and 12 months of cultivation, it was found that the inclusion of 15% of dry brewers grains in the grain mixture of the ration of the repair heifers of the II research group improved their passage of biosynthetic processes and the use of nitrogen, which indicates a tendency to increase in their blood total protein content compared to the control group primarily due to globulins, which indicates an improvement of immune-protective properties in the heifers of this group. The increase in the content of total protein and globulins against the control group in the heifers of the III research group, grain mixture for which included 20% of dry brewers grains, was manifested to a lesser degree. Summary. The inclusion of dry brewers grains in the grain mixture of the rations of repair heifers of the Jersey breed of the II research group in the amount of 15% of the total weight of the grain mixture, provided an increase in their average daily gains compared to the repair heifers of the control group and amounted to for the period from 2 until 6 months – 3.2%, for the period from 6 until 12 months – 2.1%, for the period from 2 until 12 months –2.6% with a tendency to increase the main measurements at the age of 9 months: height at the withers up to 104.0 cm against 103.5 cm, chest girth – 142.8 cm against 141.4 cm, oblique torso length – 131.8 cm against 131.4 cm in the control group.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document