scholarly journals Newly graduate engineers’ development of expertise and personal competencies

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Veli-Pekka Pyrhönen ◽  
Sonja Niiranen ◽  
Eila Pajarre
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Foundation ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Generic Competencies ◽  
Graduate Survey ◽  
Engineering Degree ◽  
Attitudinal Factors ◽  
Development Of Expertise ◽  
Personal Competencies

This paper investigates importance and development of expertise and personal competencies of newly graduated engineers according to academic staff members, industrial employers and the graduated engineers themselves. The aim was to discover how graduated engineers perceive the importance of competencies at the time of graduation, and how various competencies have developed during their studies. For such purposes, a national-wide graduate survey was adopted as a basis for research. The results show that engineering degree programmes highlight theoretical foundation rather than generic competencies, whereas industrial employers favor personal competencies and attitudinal factors. Furthermore, according to graduates’ ratings, some competencies have developed more than appears to be necessary at the beginning of their career. These competencies were the most valued in degree programmes. Similarly, some competencies that were least valued in degree programmes were part of the least developed competencies in studies, but also part of the most important competencies for graduates.

scholarly journals The establishment of Irkutsk Fire-Technical School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of USSR: historical-pedagogical retrospective

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Mikhail Aleksandrovich Vasil'ev
Keyword(s):  
Academic Staff ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Technical School ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Formative Stage ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Internal Affairs ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Academic Personnel

The subject of this research is the process of establishment of Irkutsk Fire-Technical School during the 1960’s – 1970’s and its professional-pedagogical transformation in the later period of 1990’s. The article covers in the details the question of historical-pedagogical peculiarities in recruitment of the faculty staff of the school with academic personnel at the initial stage. The author explores the question of professional skills of the temporary and permanent academic staff in realization of training, marching drill and combat activities. In the course of this research the author determines and analyzes the factors that influenced the establishment and development Irkutsk Fire-Technical School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of USSR during the 1960’s – 1970’; as well as peculiarities of pedagogical activity in the formative stage of the educational institution. The article examines the relationship of the cadets and staff members of the school with the service branches. The presented research is relevant for broad audience, since the establishment and development of departmental institution of system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of USSR in the territory of Baikalia during the 1960’s became a milestone event for education system of the entire Siberian Region.

scholarly journals Ethnic minority and majority female academic staff members perspectives on women in stem in Serbia

Sociologija ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-165
Author(s):  
Karolina Lendák-Kabók
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Women In Stem ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
And Mathematics

The paper aims to fill the gap in the scholarly literature regarding the way in which the intersection of ethnicity, gender and scientific fields shapes women?s narratives about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields in a multiethnic environment in Serbia. A qualitative study was conducted, capitalizing on in-depth, semi-structured of twenty semi-structured interviews conducted with university professors from ethnic minority and majority comminties, working in STEM and social sciences and humanities (SSH) field of studies in two state universiteis in Serbia. The findings indicate that ethnic minority female professors from STEM are less open to female students and colleagues in their domains and do not see the need for more women in STEM. This attitude can be traced back to these women having to overcome a ?double jeopardy? and ?symbolic violence? in a very male-dominated field, as they belong to ethnic minority and hat to deal with the lack of or with the denial of recources within institutions. Equal abilities of men and women in STEM was a topic occurring mostly in the narratives of the majority women who mostly adopted a masculine patterns of behavior and tried to become ?one of the boys?. Both minority and majority women agreed that deeply rooted gender stereotypes prevent women from choosing a career in STEM. The research identified the need for more inclusive education programs on all levels and for female role models to steer more women towards STEM.

Adoption of web-based assessment in higher learning institutions (HLIs)

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-122
Author(s):  
Abbi Godfrey Nangawe
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Student Assessment ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Sustained Use ◽  
Assessment Of Student Learning ◽  
Learning Institutions

Purpose – The increasing availability of the internet has facilitated the development of web-based tools for the assessment of students’ learning in higher learning institutions (HLIs). However, research reveals that the use of such tools is largely dependent on the attitudes of academic and non-academic staff. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate those attitudes from the standpoint of Eric Rogers’ (1983, 2003) theory of diffusion of innovation. Design/methodology/approach – This is study of the attitudes of higher education staff members towards web-based student assessment, using Eric Rogers’ theory of diffusion of innovation as a lens. Findings – Promisingly, the survey of staff members in (HLIs) in Tanzania, a developing country, indicates moderately favourable attitudes towards adoption, diffusion and sustained use of web-based assessment of student learning. Originality/value – This is a unique look at HLIs in Tanzania and how staff attitudes are leaning in favour of embracing online assessment technology.

scholarly journals An Empirical Assessment of the Implications of the Merger at Walter Sisulu University, South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
W. W. Manona
Keyword(s):  
Staff Development ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Comprehensive Universities ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Act 101 ◽  
Historically Disadvantaged ◽  
Quantitative Descriptive

This study investigated the implications of merger on the morale of staff at Walter Sisulu University (WSU), which is a new comprehensive university established in terms of the HigherEducation Act (101 of 1997), as amended. This study is undertaken because from the literature survey, scholars have not interrogated the implications of merger on the morale of those affected in those established comprehensive universities post amalgamation. This study employed a quantitative descriptive research approach, using statistical procedures. The target population was ninety academic and ninety non-academic staff members from the three sites of Walter Sisulu University, namely East London, Ibika and Umtata. Participants were purposefully selected from the four campuses. Questionnaires were administered to ninety academics and ninety non-academic staff personnel. The study established that indeed the merger had negative implications on WSU employees, even though these implications varied from category to category. The merger of historically disadvantaged two technikons and a university within the rural South African setting presents a complex historical heritage.The three institutions that merged to form WSU are not only historically disadvantaged, but also have vast distances among them. While the amalgamation of the three historically disadvantaged institutions remains a noble initiative, on the other hand, it has brought about inequalities, such as disproportionate salaries among employees of the three campuses, poor work performance, which can only be attributed to lack of motivation and reluctance amongst the staff members to accept new conditions of service under WSU. A substantial number of those employees, some of whom were employed before the amalgamation, terminated their service long before the merger even took place. Conclusions could be drawn that the merger brought about many challenges on WSU employees, namely staff development, human resource and management issues, job security and work environment. The study advances suggestions and recommendations to alleviate the situation.

Barriers and motivators towards a national final year assessment in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland for veterinary undergraduates

2018 ◽  
Vol 183 (15) ◽  
pp. 472-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fay Pooley ◽  
Wendela Wapenaar
Keyword(s):  
Academic Staff ◽  
National Assessment ◽  
Republic Of Ireland ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
Veterinary Surgeon ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Barriers And Motivators ◽  
Practical Feasibility

In the final year of the course schools assess students to ensure a minimum level of knowledge and skills is achieved before graduation as a veterinary surgeon. Across the universities, different styles and combinations of assessments are used. A national assessment could provide a solution to maintain quality and potential employability of veterinary surgeons. The aim of this study was to identify barriers and motivators of veterinary educators from all veterinary schools in the UK and the Republic of Ireland towards a national assessment. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 academic staff members. Mixed opinions were expressed and many barriers as well as motivators were voiced. Four main themes were: harmonisation and benchmarking, confidence in quality, practical feasibility and stakeholder perspectives. The study identified a positive attitude towards a national assessment, particularly around improved quality and standards. However, the practical feasibility was perceived as a significant barrier for implementation. Before making changes to current assessments it is important to further research the barriers identified to confirm representativeness and to acquire evidence to accept or refute the perceived limitations.

Innovative use of technologies to enhance knowledge management

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 503-514
Author(s):  
Everlyn M'mbone Anduvare ◽  
Marlene Holmner
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Distributed Learning ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Staff Members

PurposeThe study aims to identify and recommend to the Marist International University College (MIUC) technologies that enhance knowledge management, with a particular focus on collaborative and distributed learning.Design/methodology/approachNine senior full-time academic staff members were purposively selected for the study. The study employed a qualitative research design that involved the use of Google forms to conduct an online survey to collect data from the target population, and it achieved a 100% response rate. Using content analysis, data were analysed, interpreted and presented in a mini-dissertation.FindingsThis research paper presents the findings relating to the innovative use of technologies to enhance collaborative and distributive learning. The findings confirm the existence of informal knowledge management practices at the MIUC and recommend technologies established through a review of the literature to expedite these practices.Practical implicationsThe proposed technologies are thought to be useful in enhancing collaborative and distributed learning in academic institutions as technologies act as enablers in knowledge management within academia.Originality/valueAs technologies continue to emerge, there is a chance for universities to hit a stalemate in terms of identifying appropriate technologies to enable knowledge management. This paper contributes by identifying not only KM practices at the university under study but also specific multimedia, social media, media sharing and brainstorming technologies from the literature that would be ideal in enhancing collaborative and distributed learning.

scholarly journals The systems psychodynamic experiences of first-year master’s students in industrial and organisational psychology

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frans Cilliers ◽  
Nisha Harry
Keyword(s):  
Basic Assumption ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Academic Work ◽  
First Year ◽  
Master's Students ◽  
Student Groups ◽  
Academic Tasks ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Value Add

Orientation: The researchers described the experiences of first-year master’s students in industrial and organisational psychology in terms of their anxiety and basic assumption behaviour. Apart from their academic tasks, they seem to be unconsciously involved in many relationship and relatedness matters.Research purpose: The purpose of this research was to describe the systems psychodynamic experiences of first-year master’s students in Industrial and Organisational Psychology.Motivation for the study: Academic staff members tend to forget their own experiences as master’s students, lose touch with their students’ experiences, lose empathy and treat student groups in mechanistic ways. Although the students’ conscious tasks and roles are relatively clear, very little is known about their unconscious experiences.Research design, approach and method: The researchers used qualitative research involving a case study. They collected the data and conducted their analyses by administering a Listening Post (LP) and discourse analysis. Two themes emerged, from which the researchers formulated their working and research hypotheses.Main findings: The themes related to anxiety and basic assumption behaviour. The research hypothesis referred to students’ introjections of emotional incompetence. This resulted in exhaustion.Practical/managerial implications: More focused attention to the students’ emotional experiences, by themselves and by academic staff members, could conserve students’ energy for their academic work and relationships.Contribution/value-add: Being master’s students consumes emotional energy that jeopardises students’ academic work and forming relationships. Being aware of these and managing them could help students to achieve better academically.

The Manica Charcoal Stove Project

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 2-15
Author(s):  
Chris Bradnum
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Industrial Design ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Developing Communities ◽  
Community Projects ◽  
The University ◽  
The Town

A study was conducted by staff and students from the Department of Industrial Design in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) at the University of Johannesburg on alternative charcoal stove design under the title Manica Charcoal Stove Project for developing communities. The project was started in support of the principle designs developed for the Maputo Ceramic Charcoal Stove, now known as the Poupa Carvão (POCA) charcoal stove, developed by Crispin Pemberton-Piggott of the Program for Biomass Energy Conservation (ProBEC) which is supported by GIZ. A research group consisting of two academic staff members and four 3rd year Industrial Design students visited the town of Manica in Mozambique in 2008 to complete user field testing and use these results to inform alternative charcoal stove designs. The project falls under the broad area of design for social development and expands on aspects of community centred design developed within the Department of Industrial Design at the University of Johannesburg. This paper briefly describes the research method and the design process used to develop the stove concepts. It discusses aspects related to the design of new charcoal burning stoves and touches on the manufacturing systems available for stove production in the region. It evaluates the principles of user centred design in developing community projects and gives direction to further studies of this kind.

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