What enables doctoral degree holders to get a job? A journey through doctoral students' satisfaction with educational services

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Cavallone ◽  
Rosalba Manna ◽  
Rocco Palumbo
Keyword(s):  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Doctoral Degree ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Educational Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Results

PurposeDoctoral degrees are generally the highest level of education provided by educational institutions in Western countries. Nevertheless, doctoral degree holders – i.e. Philosophiae Doctors (PhDs) – struggle to find a job that matches their knowledge and expertise. This article investigates the effects that PhDs' satisfaction with different attributes of educational services has on their ability to obtain employment either in academia or outside it.Design/methodology/approachSecondary data were accessed from a nationwide survey performed in Italy between February and July 2014. More than 16,000 people who achieved a doctoral degree between January 2008 and December 2010 were involved in the analysis. The four-years' time-span was justified by the need to avoid potential biases produced by a short time lapse between data collection and the awarding of the respondents' doctoral degree. A logistic regression model was designed to shed light on the relationship between doctoral degree holders' satisfaction and their ability to find employment.FindingsThis study results suggested that the attributes of educational services had varying effects on the doctoral degree holders' ability to obtain work. More specifically, the perceived quality of research and methodological courses delivered by educational institutions and the quality of the technologies and digital resources available at the host university were found to positively affect the ability of doctoral degree holders to get a job in academia. Conversely, the satisfaction with the quality of the teaching activities was positively related to the doctoral degree holders' employability outside academia.Practical implicationsThe quality of educational services provided to students attending a doctoral degree course affects their ability to find work. Enhancing the quality of educational services may reduce the risk of unemployment amongst doctoral degree holders.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, few attempts have been made to investigate the interplay between the quality of educational services and doctoral degree holders' employability.

Developing a taxonomy of citizen science projects in primary school

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 948-967
Author(s):  
Maria Vincenza Ciasullo ◽  
Rosalba Manna ◽  
Rocco Palumbo
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Services Quality ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Educational Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Science Projects ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Educational institutions are facing a growing number of challenges, which impair their ability to provide high quality and effective educational services. The involvement of pupils in co-creating learning experiences is a fundamental ingredient of the recipe for increased educational quality. Inter alia, the implementation of citizen science initiatives at schools allows pupils to be active co-producers of educational services. The purpose of this paper to shed light on the attributes of citizen science projects targeted at pupils (aged between six and ten) attending primary schools, in order to identify their potential implications in terms of educational services’ quality improvement. Design/methodology/approach Secondary data were collected from the Scistarter® web platform. Projects addressed to primary schools and provided with specific classroom materials were taken into consideration (n=65). A qualitative, comparative and bird’s eye analysis was performed: first, looking at the role and the tasks assigned to pupils, the projects were grouped in four categories; second, the potential implications of citizen science on educational services’ quality were investigated. Findings Citizen science at school paves the way for pupils’ empowerment and for their direct involvement in the co-production of educational services. Moreover, it enhances the relationship between teachers and pupils, engaging them in a co-creating partnership intended at addressing real scientific issues at school. However, citizen science is still poorly integrated into conventional educational curricula in primary schools. Practical implications From a management point of view, citizen science is thought to contribute to the improvement of educational services’ quality, stimulating pupils to partner with their peers and with teachers for the purpose of knowledge co-production; in addition, it allows for the enrichment of educational activities in primary schools. From a policy perspective, citizen science at school harmonizes with the democratization of scientific knowledge. Originality/value This is one of the first research papers to demonstrate the potential implications of citizen science on educational services’ quality and effectiveness in primary schools.

Attracting doctoral students: case of Baltic universities

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1017-1041
Author(s):  
Alexander Tarvid
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Doctoral Degree ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Doctoral Level ◽  
Baltic Countries ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Doctoral Programmes

Purpose In the context of falling demand for higher education and, in particular, doctoral studies, it is important to understand how to attract new students. The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of the decision-making process the PhD students of Baltic universities followed when choosing whether to continue their education at doctoral level and in which institution to do it. Design/methodology/approach It uses the data gathered in 2014 from all major Baltic universities providing access to higher education at doctoral level. Findings At macro-level, the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) are rather different in the supply of doctoral programmes and the level and dynamics of the popularity of doctoral-level studies in the population. Besides, strong country-specific effects on the goals students pursued when they enrolled in a doctoral programme and the information about the university or the programme they found useful are observed at micro-level. The main result is related to systematic differences in the perceptions students have about the benefits they will get from a doctoral degree across the current (at doctoral level) and previous (at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels) fields of study, as well as depending on labour-market experience and family and social circle. Practical implications These findings suggest that Baltic higher education institutions should employ different marketing communication strategies when attracting new doctoral students, depending on the field of study and the country they operate in. Originality/value This is the first comprehensive study on the motivation of enrolment at doctoral level in the Baltic countries. It gives the management of Baltic universities a general picture of the motivation to get a PhD degree and factors affecting the choice of university, which can be readily incorporated into universities’ strategy.

scholarly journals University graduate satisfaction profile as an education quality criterion

2021 ◽  
Vol 122 ◽  
pp. 04006
Author(s):  
Marina Viktorovna Pereverzeva ◽  
Natalia Ivanovna Anufrieva ◽  
Marina Gennadievna Kruglova ◽  
Stanislav Nikolaevich Mikhaylov ◽  
Yana Mamontova
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Educational Programs ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
University Education ◽  
Education Quality ◽  
Educational Services ◽  
University Graduates ◽  
Study Results

Research background: Despite a fairly long tradition of measuring students’ assessment of the quality of obtained university education, there are still many unresolved issues in this area. The aim of the study: to theoretically substantiate the concept of a profile of graduates’ satisfaction with university educational programs including several parameters. The satisfaction profile serves as a criterion of the quality of education, at the same time reflecting students’ subjective assessment of the learning outcomes received at the university that they correlate with their expectations at the stage of admission. The concept is proposed in association with the monitoring of university graduates’ satisfaction with educational programs developed and tested as part of the research work at the Russian State Social University. Methods: graduate satisfaction is assessed using quantitative (questionnaires, the results of which are processed in SPSS) and qualitative (interviews) research methods. The proposed and tested method for the assessment of university graduates’ satisfaction with educational programs can serve as a basis for the development of university systems for monitoring graduates’ satisfaction with educational programs and education quality management and the satisfaction profile can become a universal criterion of education quality assessment not only in Russian but also in foreign universities. Results and novelty: The novelty and significance of the study results lie in the fact that the rating of educational process factors significant for graduates’ satisfaction provides information that can be used for successfully placing the direction of training in the market of educational services. Moreover, two ratings of the importance of the identified factors are constructed. The first one reflects the respondents’ direct assessment that can be used in advertising and information campaigns in the market of educational services. The second rating shows indirect assessment providing a more adequate image of the real impact of various factors on graduates’ satisfaction with educational programs; the results of this rating can be used in the intra-university quality management.

Inter-professional physician-nurse collaboration in Lebanon

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-45
Author(s):  
Hala Ahmadieh ◽  
Ghali H. Majzoub ◽  
Faraj M. Abou Radi ◽  
Areej H. Abou Baraki
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Postgraduate Education ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Nurses And Physicians

PurposeA physician–nurse relationship is a complex, professional and shared-decision-making process, which is an important predictor of high-quality patient care. The purpose of this paper is to explore the attitude of the physician–nurse relationship in Southern Lebanon hospitals.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive institutional cross-sectional study was conducted among different departments of three hospitals in Southern Lebanon using a validated Jefferson Scale of Attitude.FindingsIn sum, 89 physicians and 245 nurses accepted to participate. The nurses’ mean age was 32 and the physicians’ was 44. The mean score was found to be 46 for all participants, with significantly higher scores noted among nurses compared to physicians (48 vs 43, respectively) and higher scores among females compared to males (48 vs 46, respectively). However, the study scored no significant difference in relation to the degrees attained by nurses and the participants’ years of experience. The majority had agreed that the shortage in the nurses’ staff affects proper patient care delivery. One fourth of the physicians disagreed that nurses should be considered as a collaborator and colleague. Therefore, more work is required to improve this collaboration.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a complex relationship normally displayed by physicians and nurses, which cannot be easily interpreted and analyzed. Physicians and nurses may have given socially desirable responses while filling the questionnaire. Even more, this study was conducted in Hospitals in Southern Lebanon, and it would be nice to extend this study to include further hospitals in other regions in Lebanon as well.Practical implicationsNurses had higher scores toward collaboration, with females scoring higher than males. However, overall scores are considered to be lower compared to other countries. Thus, more efforts should be done on improving this communication among nurses and physicians, through promoting inter-professional undergraduate and postgraduate education training toward more effective communication.Social implicationsQuality of patient care would be improved if more work is done on improving the collaboration between physicians and nurses, and this was shown to be required as per study results.Originality/valueThere is a gap in literature assessing this important topic which is the collaboration and attitude of nurses and physicians toward their relationship in Lebanon. It is extremely important that efforts should be taken in order to determine the type of nurse–physician relationship in every local context as this relationship affects quality of patients’ care.

How despotic leadership jeopardizes employees' performance: the roles of quality of work life and work withdrawal

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shazia Nauman ◽  
Connice Zheng ◽  
Ameer A. Basit
Keyword(s):  
Job Performance ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Harmful Effects ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis study contributes to the leadership literature by examining how and when despotic leadership jeopardizes employees' performance. Specifically, we examine whether employees' job performance could be harmed by despotic supervision through employees' work withdrawal behaviour. Moreover, we investigate whether the quality of work-life (QWL) helps in toning down the harmful effects of despotic supervision on work withdrawal.Design/methodology/approachWe used a multi-wave research design with data collected from 195 employees and their supervisors working in Pakistan's manufacturing sector. At time 1, we measured the independent variable (i.e. despotic leadership) and moderator (QWL), whereas, at time-2, the mediator (work withdrawal) was tapped by the same respondent with a time interval of three weeks between them. At time 3, the outcome (supervisor-rated job performance) was assessed directly by the supervisors.FindingsThe results support the mediating effect between despotic leadership and employees' performance through an enhanced level of work withdrawal behaviour. The effect of despotic leadership on job performance via work withdrawal behaviour was found to be weaker among employees with a higher level of QWL.Practical implicationsFor individuals, QWL serves as an enhancement of personal resources to deal with despotic leaders at the workplace; for organizations, our study results alert managers and leaders at the workplace to address employees' need for QWL as this positive resource may discourage work withdrawal behaviour and stimulate employees to perform well in their jobs despite facing despotic supervision.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the leadership literature by introducing work withdrawal as an underlying mechanism to explain the despotic leadership – job performance relationship. Further, we examined how the harmful effects of despotic leadership can be toned down through the moderating variable of QWL thus having practical implications for both employers and employees.

Leadership competencies of first-level military leaders

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 953-970
Author(s):  
Artur Meerits ◽  
Kurmet Kivipõld
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leadership Competencies ◽  
Change Leadership ◽  
Military Leaders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership Behaviour ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Task Change

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine the quality of the leadership competencies of first-level military leaders according to three behavioural dimensions: task, change and relational competencies.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted in the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) among first-level commanders (N = 89), whose leadership competencies were assessed by their subordinates (N = 1,655). The Leader Reward and Punishment Questionnaire was used to assess task competencies, the Transformational Leadership Behaviour Inventory was used to assess change competencies and the Extended Authentic Leadership Measure was used to assess relational competencies. Cluster analyses were conducted to identify the level of leadership competencies in the sample and to determine the commanders' leadership profile.FindingsThe study reveals that in terms of leadership competencies, only two competencies from task, two from change and none from the relational dimension are sufficient. In addition, the results highlight that the relational competencies of leadership are connected to each other, while task and change leadership competencies are not.Practical implicationsThe study results make it possible to work out the main principles for a leadership development programme for first-level commanders. In addition, the developed methodology makes it possible to assess the leadership competencies of individual commanders using the three-dimensional framework.Originality/valueThis paper demonstrates how quality of the leadership competencies and profiles of first-level EDF commanders are determined within three behavioural dimensions: task, change and relational competencies.

Contribution of prejudiced clustering education system in developing horizontal and vertical mismatch in job market: quality of employees in banking sector

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gazi Mahabubul Alam ◽  
Samsilah Roslan
Keyword(s):  
Education System ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Business Management ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Personal Communication ◽  
Reciprocal Relationship ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Job Market ◽  
Content Type

PurposeEducation system supplies the required manpower in order to ensure the national prosperity. A salient link between education and business sector is a prerequisite to cater economically productive manpower. Economic and social development supplements each other that can only be ensured via a functional education system. A dysfunction education system created by a biased clustering policy develops a greater horizontal and vertical mismatch with the job market in many developing nations. This mismatch dents the quality of business management that halts the national prosperity. Therefore, the role of education has become questionable. This research aims to bridge between education and business sectors.Design/methodology/approachGiven the differentiated nature of research questions, multiple techniques are used to collect the data. However, this research bears the norms of qualitative method. Both secondary and primary data are used. While, secondary data are collected by the banks, Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS) and by the University Grants Commission (UGC), primary data are collected through interviews. Document review and data collected through personal communication with members of staff of sampled banks and institutes of HE also supplements. Data were collected from six commercial banks and from the Central Bank.FindingsFindings suggest that clustering system favours science graduates by depriving business counterpart, which creates an atmosphere of educational disparity. This disparity affects the symbiotic and reciprocal relationship that exists amongst different provisions (i.e. secondaryand tertiary) of education. Favoured clustering system further contributes for a larger “horizontal educational mismatch” with job market. Therefore, science graduates occupy the places in the banks where business graduates should ideally be employed. Being a dysfunction system, education fails to support substantially for social and economic developments.Originality/valueA few studies are conducted in the area of HE in Bangladesh but none covers the issue of impact of clustering system of education in secondary provision on HE and job market. Graduates' performance in carrying out the jobs is seen as the most important element for the business management. This study has suggested a unique way forward which would be able to reduce the mismatch between education system and job market, enabling a substantial business management process. Considering this, the paper is first on its kind.

scholarly journals ДЕЯКІ АСПЕКТИ ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ ІНФОРМАЦІЙНО-КОМУНІКАЦІЙНИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ У ПІДГОТОВЦІ МАЙБУТНІХ ЕКОНОМІСТІВ

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Ruslan V. Mann
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Educational Programs ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Educational Services ◽  
Higher Educational Institutions ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Communication Competencies ◽  
Higher Educational ◽  
Academic Year

The article is devoted to the analysis of the peculiarities of forming the competences of future economists in the process of obtaining educational services in higher educational institutions. The views of domestic and foreign scholars on the essential characteristics of the «competence», which are necessary for the qualitative fulfillment of official duties by future economists, are presented. The requirements of the labor market for future specialists in economics and accounting are analyzed, in particular, regarding to the effective possession of information and communication competencies. The results of the admission campaign of 2017-2018 academic year in the specialties 076 «Entrepreneurship, trade and stock-taking», 051 «Economics» and 071 «Accounting and taxation» of the bachelor and master's levels are demonstrated. The content of educational programs for preparing the economic direction specialists, competitive in the labor market, is considered. The ways of improving the quality of educational services for the preparation of future economists in order to ensure the possibility of their further employment in the specialty are proposed.

scholarly journals SWOT-Analysis of the System of Training of Future Managers (Managers in the Education System)

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (6 (344)) ◽  
pp. 119-133
Author(s):  
Marianna Shvardak ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Education System ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Educational Programs ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Educational Services ◽  
State University ◽  
Effective Management

It was found that systematic monitoring of the quality of education is necessary for effective management, informed decision-making, comparison and adequate assessment of the state of professional training. This task is successfully implemented through SWOT-analysis, which identifies strengths and weaknesses, potential opportunities and potential threats, establishing relationships between them, which can be further used to form quality management strategies for the training of future heads of educational institutions. A SWOT-analysis of the system of training future leaders (managers in the education system) was conducted and a matrix was developed on the example of Mukachevo State University. This made it possible to systematize information about internal and external factors that affect the quality of the educational process. Its results allowed to determine the competitive advantages of professional training, to form strategic priorities (ways) and to get a clear algorithm of further actions. In particular: periodically review educational programs, permanently monitor the market of educational services and resources of Mukachevo State University, systematically take measures to ensure the quality of educational services under the master's educational program «Educational Pedagogical Sciences: Management of Educational Institutions». At the same time, the analysis of the research results showed that the management of the quality of training of the future head of an educational institution depends on setting standards, updating educational programs, highly qualified staff, quality organization of the educational process and effective management.

scholarly journals COVID pandemic and virtual classes: a study of students from Punjab

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ishu Chadda ◽  
Hardeep Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Health Economy ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sudden Transition ◽  
Virtual Mode

PurposeThe current corona virus pandemic had a major impact upon the health, economy and education worldwide. In India, the government as a part of the nationwide lockdown closed all educational institutions, as a consequence of which, the teaching-learning, examination and placement scenario of students were affected. UNESCO estimated that about 32 crore students have been affected in India. The adoption of an online e-learning approach tried to minimize the academic loss and stress on students. However, the online teaching transition moved on an untested and unprecedented scale in a very short span of period. The present study analyses the perception and level of acceptance of transition from offline to online learning amongst the students of higher education in Punjab.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis was carried out by surveying 200 students of higher education from Punjab belonging to different regions. An appropriate pre-tested questionnaire was framed on Google Forms. A five-point Likert scale was employed to determine the perception of students regarding quality of audio and video lectures, instructor's content, preparation, interactiveness, discussion regarding doubts and assessing likes and dislikes of students. The data were coded-decoded in SPSS by using descriptive statistics and factor analysis.FindingsThe study revealed the level of acceptance of online study among the students of higher education in Punjab. It is found that both online and offline modes of learning process have their own pros and cons. The sudden transition from regular mode to virtual mode was not an easy task for students either. The study revealed that both online and offline study modes have been accepted by students depending upon the availability of IT infrastructure as almost half of the respondents perceived online mode and the other half offline.Originality/valuePunjab is a recognized state of northern India. In Punjab, the quality of higher education is good and students' satisfaction is always the priority of the educational institutions. At the time of the pandemic, this sudden transition from regular to virtual mode impacted education with students coming from diverse backgrounds like urban areas, rural areas, remote areas, rural-urban areas etc. So, in the light of this sudden transition, it is important to study the viewpoint of the students of Punjab. So, the present study was conducted to understand the perception of the students toward online learning during this ongoing pandemic. For this purpose, the study employed factor analysis. Application of factor analysis in this area is unique.

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