scholarly journals Role of Student Ratings of Lecturers in Enhancing teaching at Higher Education Institutions: A case study of the Durban University of Technology

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 268-281
Author(s):  
N. Dorasamy

Evaluation of the quality of programmes by students is considered an important assessment instrument in determining programme effectiveness within higher education institutions. Student ratings of lecturers are only a partial assessment of programmes, since other evaluations beyond students’ perceptions are also considered important within higher education institutions. Student ratings are not only important in determining how students perceive their programmes within a highly competitive higher education landscape in South Africa, but also highlight the strengths and weaknesses of programmes which can be used as an impetus for programme enhancement, especially in view of the increasing number of students entering higher education, while government spending is steadily diminishing. The purpose of this study is to assess student ratings of teaching competencies that can be used for programme evaluation. A quantitative approach was used to analyse the various elements within specific domains in the lecturer evaluation instrument used by the Faculty of Management Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). The data reported are suggestive of the usefulness of identifying student ratings of important teaching competencies, which is considered as important in a growing student centred orientation within higher education institutions. The article offers constructive analysis of student ratings of various teaching competencies across departments in the faculty, while highlighting strategies to ensure enhanced validity of student ratings. Student ratings of lecturers provide valuable information for faculty to use in programme assessment and consequent programme enhancement. Further, student ratings of lecturers encourages a student’s voice through confidential participation, thereby ensuring that the student experience is fore grounded at the learning and teaching interface.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Taylor ◽  
Paula Gleeson ◽  
Tania Teague ◽  
Michelle DiGiacomo

The role of unpaid and informal care is a crucial part of the health and social care system in Australia and internationally. As carers in Australia have received statutory recognition, concerted efforts to foster engagement in carer participation in work and education has followed. However, little is known about the strategies and policies that higher education institutions have implemented to support the inclusion of carers. This study has three components: first, it employs a review of evidence for interventions to support to support carers; second, it reviews existing higher education institutions’ policies to gauge the extent of inclusive support made available to student carers, and; third it conducts interviews with staff from five higher education institutions with concerted carer policies in Australia were held to discuss their institutions’ policies, and experiences as practitioners of carer inclusion and support. Results indicate difficulty in identifying carers to offer support services, the relatively recent measures taken to accommodate carers in higher education, extending similar measures which are in place for students with a disability, and difficulties accommodating flexibility in rigid institutional settings. A synthesis of these findings were used to produce a framework of strategies, policies and procedures of inclusion to support carers in higher education.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7683
Author(s):  
Amila Omazic ◽  
Bernd Markus Zunk

Public sector organizations, primarily higher education institutions (HEIs), are facing greater levels of responsibility since adopting and committing to the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development (SD) and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). HEIs are expected to provide guidance for various stakeholders on this matter, but also to implement this agenda and the SDGs in their institutions. Although the role of these organizations has been recognized, the fields and issues that HEIs should address on their path towards sustainability and SD are still unclear. To provide further clarity, a semi-systematic literature review on sustainability and SD in HEIs was conducted to identify both the key concepts and main research themes that represent sustainability and SD in HEIs and to identify research gaps. This review increases our knowledge of this topic and enhances our understanding of sustainability and SD in the context of HEIs.


Author(s):  
Roxana Stefanescu ◽  
◽  
Mariana Iatagan ◽  
Cristian Uta

The management of teaching is connected and could be increased by using a wide range of different methods especially when we refer to Online and Blended learning. In the first part, the paper is aiming at reviewing the literature regarding the concepts and benefits of Online and Blended learning. Based on this considerations, 8 partner universities from 8 countries jointly developed the Project “Modern competences of academic teachers – the key to modern Higher Education Institutions (HEI)” – Acronym MOCAT. The paper underlines the goals and achievements of the MOCAT project that proposes a conceptual process to increase the management performance in teaching. The paper shows in an organized manner the main deficiencies that are altering the teaching competencies of academic teachers and in connection with this, the project offers solutions to improve the methodological competency of the teachers regarding the development and use of modern approaches. The outcomes of the project consist in the development and implementation of a Multicultural Model of an Academic Teacher Competencies and in 10 online courses that represent modern training materials in the field of teaching methodology. In the end are exposed the way the results of the project can be evaluated in time as well as the anticipated effects of the project implementation.


Author(s):  
Eric Archer ◽  
Yuqian Zhang

“We are on the precipice of an epoch,” in which 21st century organizations are facing a complex, competitive landscape driven largely by globalization and the technological revolution (Hitt, 1998, p. 218). As such, Bikson, Treverton, Moini and Lindstrom (2003) have urged universities to develop a global leadership curriculum, based on their prediction of a future shortage of global leaders in all sectors. This essay examines the critical role of global and culturally responsive leadership for graduates of higher education institutions.


Author(s):  
Jamil Salmi

In the past decade, however, accountability has become a major concern in most parts of the world. Governments, parliaments, and society at large are increasingly asking universities to justify the use of public resources and account more thoroughly for their teaching and research results. The universal push for increased accountability has made the role of university leaders much more demanding. The successful evolution of higher education institutions will hinge on finding an appropriate balance between credible accountability practices and favorable autonomy conditions.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document