scholarly journals Methodological considerations for identifying questionable publishing in a national context: The case of Swedish Higher Education Institutions

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Gustaf Nelhans ◽  
Theo Bodin

The overall scope of this study is an attempt at a methodological framework for matching publication lists at the national level against a combined set of blacklists for questionable publishing. Using the total verified set of publications from Swedish Higher Education Institutions (HEI) as a case, we examined the number, distribution, and proportion of publishing in questionable journals at the national level. Journal publication data was extracted from the national SwePub database and matched against three curated blacklists of questionable publishing. For the period 2012–2017, we identified 1,743 published papers in blacklisted journals, equal to an average of 0.5–0.9% of the total publications from Swedish HEIs. There was high variability between different HEI categories, with more established universities at the lower end of the spectrum, while university colleges and new universities had a much higher proportion (∼2%). There was a general decreasing trend during the study period (ρ = 0.83) for all categories of HEIs. The study presents a methodology to identify questionable publishing in academia that could be applied to other countries with similar infrastructure. Thus, it could serve as a starting point for the development of a general framework for cross-national quantitative estimation of questionable publishing.

Author(s):  
Rachel Brooks ◽  
Jessie Abrahams ◽  
Predrag Lažetić ◽  
Achala Gupta ◽  
Sazana Jayadeva

Abstract Policymakers across Europe have increasingly emphasised the importance of paying close attention to the social dimension of higher education and taking further steps to ensure that the composition of Europe’s universities more adequately reflects the diversity of the wider population. While there have been a number of studies that have explored this through analyses of European- and national-level policy and others that have assessed a range of quantitative indicators related to student diversity, this chapter assumes, in contrast, an interpretivist stance; it is interested in the perspectives of those studying and working ‘on the ground’ within the European Higher Education Area. Specifically, we seek to answer this research question: To what extent do students and staff, across Europe, believe that higher education access and experiences are differentiated by social characteristics (such as class/family background, race/ethnicity/migration background, gender and age)? In doing so, we draw on data from a large European Research Council-funded project, including 54 focus groups with undergraduate students (a total of 295 individuals) and 72 in-depth individual interviews with members of higher education staff (both academic and non-academic). Fieldwork was conducted in three higher education institutions in each of the following countries: Denmark, UK-England, Germany, Ireland, Poland and Spain—nations chosen to provide diversity with respect to welfare regime, relationship to the European Union and mechanisms for funding higher education. We explore commonalities and differences between staff and students and between different countries, before identifying some implications for policymakers keen to promote further social inclusion within Europe’s higher education institutions (HEIs).


Author(s):  
Zlatko Nedelko ◽  
Vojko Potocan ◽  
Nikša Alfirević

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the role of personal values for social responsibility (SR) of higher education. Besides the core mission of higher education to create, transfer and preserve knowledge in society, the idea of SR has gained its importance also in institutions of higher education. SR has many drivers, among which personal values are considered as one of the key building blocks for SR. For enhancing SR, higher education institutions should also develop stronger ties with the community. The chapter provides an insight into discussion about community involvement of higher education, into the role of personal values for shaping SR of higher education institutions and explain how personal values can help to enhance community and social involvement of higher education. Findings may be a starting point for re-thinking and/or establishing strategies for achieving higher level of SR in higher education institutions and enhancing the link with the community.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 529-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pepka Boyadjieva

The starting point of this study is the argument that not only rankings of higher education institutions (HEIs) are inescapable, but so is the constant criticism to which they are subjected. Against this background, the paper discusses how HEIs from Central and Eastern Europe countries (CEECs) are (non)represented in the main global university rankings. The analysis adopts two perspectives: 1) From the point of view of higher education in CEECs – what are the specificity, basic problems and perspectives of higher education in CEECs as seen through the prism of the global ranking systems? 2) From the point of view of the ranking systems – what strengths and weaknesses of the global ranking systems can be identified through the prism of higher education in CEECs? The study shows that most of the HEIs from CEECs remain invisible in the international and European academic world and tries to identify the main reasons for their (non)appearance in global rankings. It is argued that although global rankings are an important instrument for measuring and comparing the achievements of HEIs by certain indicators, they are only one of the mechanisms – and not a perfect one – for assessing the quality of higher education.


2019 ◽  
pp. 30-35
Author(s):  
Evelyn Sosa-Larrainzar ◽  
Emma Biviano-Pérez ◽  
Avelina García-Sánchez ◽  
María de Lourdes Avelino-Tepanecatl

Interesting is the participation of education in the Social and Solidarity Economy (ESyS), fundamentally of the higher level, as a key piece of action with society. Mexico has a little more than 5,334 university schools, 6 states concentrate 42.8% of HEIs, Puebla is located as the third entity with the largest number of universities with just over 480 university campuses, after Mexico City and the Mexico state. The objective of this research work is to analyze that Higher Education Institutions (IES) of the public or private sphere, in Mexico, contemplate in their academic offer Study Programs (PE) to the ESyS, which emerges at local, regional, national level and global as the Third Sector, considering the cooperatives, whose presence in Mexico was in the year of 1873, when the first production cooperative emerged. The research is documentary theorist. Results: in Mexico, .14% of studies in ESyS or some variant are offered: four undergraduate degrees, one in open and distance mode; in postgraduates: three Masters and an Inter-institutional Doctorate (in which two HEIs participate). Therefore, the academic offer in Mexican territory in ESyS does not get 1%, insufficient to support cooperatives, some with state and national recognition. The proposal is that this type of educational offer be carried out in each federal entity of Mexico, to reinforce cooperatives, organizations with contributions in the economy of this country from the educational field.


Author(s):  
Olena Orzhel

The purpose of article is to justify the rationale for applying the term «Bologna acquis» to nominate the corps of documents generated in the course of Bologna process that resulted in the formation of European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and community of higher education stakeholders who share and operate by Bologna values, principles, norms and guidelines. The author compares «Bologna acquis» with acquis communautaire, Council of Europe acquis, Schengen acquis, proves that all four have a lot of in common and draws a conclusion that the use of term «Bologna acquis» is acceptable and reasonable. The article demonstrates that Bologna acquis - similar to acquis communautaire and Council of Europe acquis - is divided into two large types: those that have a binding character and those of a non-binding nature. Nevertheless, non-binding Bologna acquis cannot be ignored by the community to whom it is addressed and is to be considered in the course of reforms and modernization of national systems of higher education and higher education institutions as its constituents. Comparison of Bologna acquis with acquis communautaire, Council of Europe acquis, Schengen acquis is the novelty of the article, as well as delineation of similar features between the four above mentioned acquis. The author mentions that the purpose of all four (among other things) is the formation of a community that voluntarily participates in the generation of acquis and agrees to live by its rules and norms. One of conclusions has practical significance: while formation of EHEA and its community simultaneously takes place at the supranational, national and institutional levels, the speed of integration of each separate higher education institution may differ; accordingly different scenarios could emerge: a certain higher education institution may integrate with EHEA faster than the national system of higher education in general, and vice versa: while the national systems of higher education has advanced in integration with EHEA, some higher education institutions will be lagging behind reforms at the national level.


2010 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Dąbrowski ◽  
Joanna Radiuk-Strzeżek

Physical Recreation of Students of Selected Warsaw Non-Public Higher Education Institutions - Preferences and MotivationsThe creation of conditions within the teaching and educational system of higher education institutions that shape up rational, pro-health free-time behaviours is one of the key goals of the studies discussed in this paper. The starting point for every planned educational process is to investigate the present state of affairs, i.e. to perform a diagnosis. This paper presents the diagnosis results which indicate, based on the empirical research findings, the forms of leisure activities most often pursued and the motivations behind them. The method we used in our research was a diagnosis survey which covered 1,119 students.The dominant leisure-time activities preferred by the students we surveyed were watching TV and meeting friends. The third most popular student leisure activity was in the case of men spending time in front of a computer and in the case of the women walking. Nearly half of the female students and a little more than half of the male students practise their recreational activities outside the official school physical education classes. The men practise a little more often than the women. Football, cycling and swimming are the most popular sports among the men. The women prefer bicycle riding, gymnastic exercises, aerobics and volleyball. Both the male and female students gave as their first two most important motives for recreational physical activities their health and fitness aspects. The third motive varies, depending on sex. The female students appreciate rest and relaxation which they achieve through recreational physical activities. The men highlight the value of being in touch with nature. Although the students from the surveyed group say they do not engage in physical activity in their free time in any planned way, nearly 50% of them do so on a regular basis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 825-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yehuda Baruch ◽  
A. Uday Bhaskar ◽  
Bijaya Mishra

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a career-orientation and employability-focused model in the Indian context in order to understand: factors influencing employability of graduates factors influencing expected salary gain. Design/methodology/approach The researchers adopted a quantitative method using a two-wave survey with a sample of MBA graduates from two prominent business schools in India. The total sample size for Wave I was 250, while for Wave II it was 161. The model was tested via hierarchical regression with MBA contribution as a moderator. Findings Results indicate the relevance of protean career orientation (PCO) to reaching career outcomes such as employability, with MBA contribution as a moderator. Practical implications The study provides a new perspective that would enhance graduates’ employability. This makes it relevant for both individuals and higher education institutions as it will help both individuals and higher education institutions to attain competitiveness at the national level. Originality/value The career theory was extended to the diverse socio-cultural and economic context of India, representing the BRICS economy.


Author(s):  
Ana-Maria Bercu ◽  
Elena Cigu ◽  
Stefan Andrei Nestian

This chapter is focused on the case study of Romania enhancing innovation in higher education institutions being structured theoretically and empirically. First, at the theoretical level, we intend to highlight the role and importance of innovations for higher education, taking into account literature. Second, we intend to explore the current state of innovativeness in higher education in Romania, taking into account the strategy and legal framework developed at a national level based on international guidelines. The main finding is the interactive effect of innovation will determine a positive evolution of Romanian higher education.


2022 ◽  
pp. 238-259
Author(s):  
Maruša Hauptman Komotar

This chapter addresses the internationalization process from the standpoint of international accreditations. More precisely, it explores whether in Slovenia their implementation is affected primarily by globalization or regionalization of (quality assurance in) higher education. Initially, it discusses globalization and regionalization from the standpoint of internationalization and Europeanization of higher education. Then, it overviews the main international (professional) accreditors, which are relevant for Slovenian higher education (institutions). In the continuation, it outlines the internationalization of Slovenian quality assurance system at the national level, whilst afterwards, it concentrates in more detail on the analysis of institutional (internationalization) strategies and official websites of Slovenian higher education institutions with respect to international accreditations. In conclusion, it highlights that having more international accreditations does not necessarily mean more internationalization of (Slovenian) higher education.


Author(s):  
Mats Alvesson

A critical reader might well ask at this point: What is the real problem? Why is this author so worried about what most people may see as positive things in life: increased consumption, more education, promises about a working life with stronger ingredients of milk and honey? The sceptical reader may want to challenge this text and pose the following critical questions: . Why not just accept what people want? Isn’t it natural that people want more—and more? Of course, people are looking for more things and want to increase their consumption. And if they want to pay the earth for things with certain brand names, maybe they will be more satisfied with that? . So what if there is a lot of higher education, even if all the graduates do not get jobs? It’s good to keep people occupied and out of the way in a cheap and agreeable manner. And don’t the students always learn something in all these courses? They don’t perhaps become smarter, but education is better than unemployment. . Why not permit new and finer titles and labels? Why not make elites and others happy through using knowledge vocabulary to describe society, economy, and the population? And if all these university colleges, polytechnics, and other higher education institutions want to call themselves universities, why not be generous? The division between universities and university colleges only favours those snobs who work or study at the former places. And the liberal awarding of titles like ‘marketing director’ and ‘professor’ might give the people concerned a nice title on their business cards and make them happier, perhaps more motivated, and make their spouses proud. . Who cares about ‘real’ equality of opportunity for women and minorities if there are fine equal opportunity policies and programmes? If we have a sufficient number of women who are promoted to fill their quotas on the board and in higher education, we will have sufficient equality to comply with the statistics, and then everyone can be happy.


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