Pivoting Engineering Entrepreneurship Education Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s):  
Tate Ning. Cao ◽  
Wayne Chang ◽  
Carlos Bazan ◽  
Kush Bubbar

The spread of COVID-19 has significantly disrupted the educational landscape since March 2020.Instructors at higher education institutions had to quickly transition to an online environment for remote delivery of their academic programs. Even though academic programs are relatively easy to adapt for remote delivery as compared to other industries, educators were still tasked with redesigning their courses to guarantee the quality of education delivered to their students.  This challenge is particularly true with engineering entrepreneurship educators since their course structures heavily focus on developing intangibles such as an entrepreneurial mindset and team collaboration through immersion into hands-on learning experiences. To create this experiential learning environment, engineering entrepreneurship educators have, in general, relied uponface-to-face interactions with students. Little has been published in the existing literature to report the challenges, strategies, and innovations that can help transition effectively and deliver such academic programs remotely. In this paper, the authors from four major Canadian higher education institutions report our experience from ‘trial-byfire’ mode to redesign and deliver various courses for remote learning. This paper is by no means presenting validated “best practices” but aims to trigger discussions surrounding tools available to educators considering such a transition. We hope that this paper will provide insights and strategies for our colleagues to employ in their future course design and delivery. We also hope to invite a conversation to learn more about our colleagues’ experiences and explore opportunities to identify and validate approaches for effectively teaching engineering entrepreneurship in a remote learning environment.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 196-235
Author(s):  
Marie-France Guénette

This article offers theoretical and pragmatic insights into the nature of technical translation course design. In so doing, I first provide a definition of specialized translation based on a survey of the literature in this field, conducted collaboratively with a research assistant. Then, I present a comparative table sourcing how technical translation has been taught, as a university course, across Canadian higher education institutions. Following this, I offer a rationale for student-oriented ways of teaching this course, all the while giving concrete steps to co-explore novel topics with undergraduate and graduate students. Finally, I generate a series of considerations and questions for further inquiry into the instruction of technical translation in Canada and worldwide. Keywords: technical translation, specialized translation, English-French translation, translation pedagogy, course design


2021 ◽  
pp. 30-41
Author(s):  
Darko Pantelic ◽  
Peter Brandstaetter ◽  
Emilia Florin Samuelsson

Society is increasingly becoming multicultural, with more pressure to improve the quality of intercultural interactions. Higher education institutions are experiencing internationalization through increased mobility of students and faculty, which creates the need to manage diversity with the imperative of smoothing communication, reducing stress and making studying and working in a multicultural environment more efficient. Employers also dictate a need to educate culturally competent professionals, who are capable of succeeding in a globalized environment characterized by increased workforce mobility and international assignments. Intercultural competences discourse has a long track with researchers and practitioners, without any agreement on its definition or measurement, but with a clear message that cultural diversity will not result in increased intercultural competences. In this paper, intercultural competences are viewed as a transversal learning outcome, considering the increasing internationalization of higher education institutions. The research is qualitative in nature, based on the analysis of course evaluations and an open-ended survey. This study used a purposeful sample of current and former students who have been exposed to a diverse intercultural environment while studying at an international business school in Sweden. Based on the findings, a course design is suggested where exposure to cultural diversity is guided and facilitated by bringing students to collaborate in an assignment-driven context, with a culturally diverse group composition. Lecture-based components of the course are balanced with the addition of a component of self-reflection assignment, providing both culturally specific and general knowledge, thus contributing to the ability to extrapolate the experience on future intercultural encounters.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
Tilagavati Subramaniam ◽  
Muthu Alagan Thangavelu

Purposes: This paper presents a conceptual framework for teaching sustainable development courses in an online learning environment in institutions of higher education.  Sustainability development courses are becoming essential in higher education institutions mainly to educate the younger generations who will be part of the community to make it happen. Higher education institutions are experiencing dramatic shift to cater a young generation of prospective students, to integrate technical innovations in teaching practices and to concentrate on increasing concerns about global sustainability issues. There has been little research to promote an innovative learning in the teaching of sustainable development. The goal of this paper was to create a framework for teaching sustainable development in a virtual learning environment (blended learning) due to the lack of a conceptual framework that could direct this implementation. Findings: Hence, the blended learning method is eco-friendly, whereby protects global environmental resources. For hands-on experiences, students will develop projects to make their campus and community more sustainable. In the process, students learn how to analyse sustainability and able to apply online learning knowledge into practice. Implication: The conceptual framework proposed will support all educators in higher education institutions engaged in the promotion of quality online education in this pandemic circumstance to develop an effective online practise that are aligned with the corresponding learning needs, skills and facilities.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-12
Author(s):  
Kamarudin Hussin

The advancement of technology in higher education is always perceived as a valuable innovation that create better impact to the society. The advent of the Internet for instance, has magnificently created important features in learning environment globally. Higher education community optimizes the Internet as an essential resource, communication platforms and dynamic tools in their core teaching-learning, research, consultation activities, entertainment and many others. Moreover, innovations such as mobile technology has successfully broadened access to the Internet and related online services and facilities. Higher education institutions as the hub for technology development and innovation have invested in virtual learning environment to support current needs of global population. Related to this fact, e- learning modules and contents are offered across universities, and interested learners in public communities are benefited by this opportunity. Educators and experts in higher education institutions are delivering their knowledge, discoveries and expertise via e-learning platforms and other supported technology. Equally important, e-learning has successfully expanded opportunities for lifelong and flexible learning, and offered a solution for practical issues and increasing student numbers. As a matter of fact, e-learning has been proposed as a promising way out for many complex issues such asfunding constraints, increasing demand and access to higher education while improving quality and high impact educational provisions in many countries. While addressing these issues, higher education administrators, educators, researchers and policy makers have developed responses in various frameworks. Initiatives such as Competency-Based Online Programs, development of open source materials, flipped classroom and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have contributed towards reducing cost of higher education as well as increasing access to higher education. MOOCs technology has proven its capability to reach massive audienceof about 30,000 students at a time. Across the globe, MOOCs offer free access to online course lectures, self- paced lessons, readings, problem sets, blogs, discussion boards, peer assessment and even online discussion group platforms for global students (Leon and Price, 2016). In 2017, MOOCs offered more than 9,400 courses with more than 500 MOOC based credentials according to data gathered by Class Central. Excitingly, MOOC platforms have recorded more than 81 million learners to date (Class Central, 2017).  


2015 ◽  
pp. 1467-1495
Author(s):  
Amy Eguchi

Using educational robotics as a learning tool fosters gifted and talented students' learning, helping to instill the qualities necessary for them to be successful 21st century citizens and innovators who can profoundly affect the future US economy. Educational robotics provides a stimulating hands-on learning environment in which students constantly encounter problems that trigger inquiries, inspiring them to develop new solutions, test them out using the physical robots, and reiterate the process until they successfully solve the problems. Although educational robotics is considered “the most perfect instructional approach currently available” (Gura, 2013, para. 2), just bringing the tool into a classroom does not necessarily create the learning transformation that we wish to witness. The chapter presents the theories behind ideal Robotics in Education (RiE) approaches, introducing tips to ensure effective student learning and to maximize the potential of able students to display giftedness.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1429-1450
Author(s):  
Gisele Mazon ◽  
João Marcelo Pereira Ribeiro ◽  
Carlos Rogerio Montenegro de Lima ◽  
Brenda Caroline Geraldo Castro ◽  
José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the sustainability approach within higher education institutions. Universities, as institutions of knowledge, play an important and strategic role in maximizing social and economic benefits in a hands-on way. However, some studies on sustainable development and HEIs reveal a distancing between students and the application of sustainable initiatives in universities. This fact differs from the premises of the Talloires Declaration, which points to students as a community and as global leaders and ambassadors for sustainability. Design/methodology/approach This paper mapped the approaches, present in the literature, used to develop sustainable campuses and in particular the apparent dichotomy between the changes indicated as top-down or bottom-up in HEIs. To that end, scientific articles focused on sustainable actions in HEIs were analyzed to identify implementation approaches for sustainable development and student involvement in the process. Findings Results have shown that sustainability promotion models in universities generally occur in a top-down manner, where students are receptors and not sources of development for sustainable policies in universities. Thus, the authors highlight the importance of students becoming central players in sustainable initiatives. Originality/value The article becomes original when it identifies the dichotomy between top-down and bottom-up approaches. It does so through multidimensional scaling and exploratory factorial analysis in scientific articles on the topic Sustainability Funding in Higher Education. These findings show that, unlike what is discussed in the literature, sustainability promotion in universities generally occurs in a top-down manner, where students are receptors and not active agents in promoting sustainability. In response to this, the authors discussed the importance of the bottom-up approach, where they are key players.


2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHERI GEDDES ◽  
TODD STEEN

ABSTRACT Evidence suggests that financial decisions have a substantial impact on human flourishing. This paper examines the arguments for higher-education institutions to take a role in the provision of financial education for their students, families and alumni, who often incur substantial debt and make other sacrifices to obtain a postsecondary education. It also analyzes the current state of financial education at 322 higher-education institutions. While many postsecondary institutions have embraced some aspects of financial education, other higher-education institutions appear reluctant to infuse this multidisciplinary topic into their academic programs. Colleges and universities should consider developing robust programs that boost financial literacy and improve lifelong economic well-being.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (Number 1) ◽  
pp. 183-218
Author(s):  
Rasheed Mohammad Nassr ◽  
Alia Ahmed Aldossary ◽  
Haidawati Mohamad Nasir

Purpose – This study explored students’ perspective of using emotion-aware Vertual Learning Environment (VLE) in Malaysia’s higher education institutions. The purpose is to investigate the relationships among dimensions of Technology Readiness Index (TRI), attitude, intention to use VLE, and lecturer interaction. The outcomes concerned the emotions involved in the educational process of Malaysia’s higher education institutions. Methodology – Quantitative data were collected via an online survey from 260 students. An empirical analysis was then conducted using structural equation modelling (Smart PLS) in two phases: (1) examining the direct effect of students’ attitude on VLE adoption intention and (2) examining the indirect effect of constructs using lecturer interaction as a mediator. Findings – The findings revealed a significant mediating role of lecturer interaction on the relationship between attitude and intention to use VLE across the student cohort. Inhibitors, such as insecurity and discomfort, were less significant in affecting students’ attitude towards emotion-aware VLE. The results indicate that students are motivated to use VLE when lecturers understand their emotions and react accordingly. Significance – This is one of the studies pertaining to emotions in VLE and lecturer interaction in higher education institutions. The results facilitate an understanding of the pedagogical role of lecturer interaction as a practical learning motivation. It is of particular interest to curriculum and e-learning stakeholders looking to improve students’ interactions with the VLE systems. Apart from extending the current literature, this study has significant practical implications for education management in higher learning institutions. Keywords: Emotion-Aware VLE, Technology Readiness Index (TRI), Attitude, Intention to Use, Lecturer Interaction, online learning, Smart PLS, Higher Education.


2021 ◽  
Vol VI (I) ◽  
pp. 12-25
Author(s):  
Aneela Syed ◽  
Muhammad Danish ◽  
Nagina Gul

This study aims to explore the attitude of faculty members in the universities towards knowledge sharing (KS). The study also analyzed the impact of the organizational learning environment (OLE) on the knowledge-sharing attitude among the university is teaching staff. An empirical model is developed while an integrated theory of Planned Behavior (PB) to conceptualize the Knowledge Sharing Behavior among the employees of Higher Education Institutions (HEI). Moreover, the study recognizes the levels of Knowledge Sharing between the staff members within the organization. Out of 407 respondents, 300 responses were collected through self-administer a survey. The results provide empirical evidence that OLE and Intention to Sharing knowledge (ISK) are significantly related among academic Staff at HEI. The results of the study may help the institution level of intention in sharing knowledge and attitude toward perceived behavior subjective norms to retain core employees within the organization.


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