scholarly journals Factors Affecting Staff Demand for an Electronic Course Materials Service

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Upeksha Sajeevani Amarathunga
Keyword(s):  
Online Courses ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Academic Departments ◽  
Percentage Increase ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Reading Materials ◽  
Course Material ◽  
The University

<p>Additional reading materials that are prescribed for undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered by the University of Auckland have a high demand. The Electronic Course Materials (ECM) service of the University of Auckland Library digitizes and provides online access to such materials. The demand for the ECM service varies between different staff members. Thus, this research project aims to investigate the factors affecting the staff demand for the Electronic Course Material (ECM) service provided by the University of Auckland Library. The current research revealed that - percentage increase in usage of the ECM Collection in 2008 was less significant than that in 2007 - there is a correlation between the academic staff awareness and the staff uptake of the ECM service - only 50% of the staff members who were aware of the ECM service used the service to digitize course materials - subject Librarians play an important role in promoting the ECM service in academic departments / units that had a high staff uptake - the Library ECM webpage was less significant in promoting the ECM service - the University of Auckland Library does not have a standard method of promoting the ECM service throughout all the academic departments / units - most preferred method of providing access to course materials was through nDeva, Cecil and WebCT. The ECM service was the third preferred method - there was no relationship between the timeliness of the ECM service, restriction on the types of materials that can be digitized through the ECM service, availability of distant or online courses and the staff uptake of the ECM service Recommendations mentioned in page 61 were made based on these findings.</p>

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Staff Demand for an Electronic Course Materials Service

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Upeksha Sajeevani Amarathunga
Keyword(s):  
Online Courses ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Academic Departments ◽  
Percentage Increase ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Reading Materials ◽  
Course Material ◽  
The University

<p>Additional reading materials that are prescribed for undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered by the University of Auckland have a high demand. The Electronic Course Materials (ECM) service of the University of Auckland Library digitizes and provides online access to such materials. The demand for the ECM service varies between different staff members. Thus, this research project aims to investigate the factors affecting the staff demand for the Electronic Course Material (ECM) service provided by the University of Auckland Library. The current research revealed that - percentage increase in usage of the ECM Collection in 2008 was less significant than that in 2007 - there is a correlation between the academic staff awareness and the staff uptake of the ECM service - only 50% of the staff members who were aware of the ECM service used the service to digitize course materials - subject Librarians play an important role in promoting the ECM service in academic departments / units that had a high staff uptake - the Library ECM webpage was less significant in promoting the ECM service - the University of Auckland Library does not have a standard method of promoting the ECM service throughout all the academic departments / units - most preferred method of providing access to course materials was through nDeva, Cecil and WebCT. The ECM service was the third preferred method - there was no relationship between the timeliness of the ECM service, restriction on the types of materials that can be digitized through the ECM service, availability of distant or online courses and the staff uptake of the ECM service Recommendations mentioned in page 61 were made based on these findings.</p>

International Students’ Satisfaction

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Asare-Nuamah
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Administrative Services ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Descriptive Research ◽  
High Satisfaction ◽  
Reading Materials ◽  
University Services ◽  
The University ◽  
Students Satisfaction

Studies have shown that students’ satisfaction is an important element that should be given much attention by educators in their policymaking. Students’ satisfaction has impact on retention and financial capacity of institutions. With the objective of assessing the factors affecting international students’ satisfaction, a descriptive research was carried out at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University. The sample size comprising 29 international students and structured questionnaire was administered for data collection. The results indicate that students have high satisfaction for library, contact with teachers, class size, course content, reading materials and administrative services of the University. The results also show that there is low satisfaction of students regarding majority of the university services. The study recommends the need for university authorities to pay particular attention to the factors that affect students’ satisfaction and tailor the university services to meet students’ needs and increase their satisfaction.

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.

Scholarly Communication in a Digital Environment: Populating the Institutional Repository of the University of Botswana

Libri ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olugbade Oladokun
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Scholarly Communication ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Academic Excellence ◽  
Institutional Repositories ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
University Of Botswana ◽  
The World ◽  
The University

AbstractThis paper examines the numerous benefits of digital scholarly communication made visible through institutional repositories (IRs) that have become trendy in institutions of higher learning in developed countries of the world. In line with its vision to be a leading centre of academic excellence in Africa and the world, the University of Botswana (UB) established its own IR known as the UB Research, Innovation and Scholarship Archive (UBRISA). This paper discusses the challenges of profiling digital scholarly communication on UBRISA, a technology brimming with potential but which UB staff has largely ignored. The consequences of this neglect are seen in the paltry submissions to it during its four years of existence. The paper explains the implementation policy, and the involvement and functions of a tripartite team that drives UBRISA. The paper notes that the problem of tardiness experienced in populating the digital repositories of other institutions is also deeply rooted in UB. It shares some failed efforts made to populate UBRISA through the instrument of the performance management system – an annual contract which the academic staff members sign at the beginning of the year. The paper then analyses the efforts of the Scholarly Communication in Africa Programme (SCAP) that worked with UB in training its staff regarding the operation of the IR, and also established a workflow process for vetting, describing and uploading content to the IR so that UB scholarship could become more visible to the world. Some recommendations are also offered.

scholarly journals University of Wollongong in Dubai: creating a private university in the public interest

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Whelan ◽  
Daniel Kratochvil
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Private University ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Complex Organization ◽  
The University

TitleUniversity of Wollongong in Dubai: creating a private university in the public interest.Subject areaHigher education leadership and planning.Study level/applicabilityPostgraduate/higher education.Case overviewProfessor Rob Whelan was appointed President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) from the University of Wollongong in Australia (UOW). Professor Whelan brought to the job in Dubai the perspective that public‐good benefits flow from a comprehensive institution engaged with the larger community and these are led by academic staff members who produce research that serves the national interest. To apply this model to UOWD meant a thorough analysis of the organization in terms of both its culture and its broader environment. This case explores the various processes through which a new leader takes stock of an existing institution, identifies the potential for development in a particular direction, draws upon a range of stakeholders to refine the vision and develop it into a strategic plan, gains support for the plan, and then implements change through close collaboration with the institution's constituents.Expected learning outcomesThis case can be used to explore a number of issues in leadership and management including: identifying the various internal and external stakeholders in a complex organization; analysing strategies for mobilization for change, including the assessment of inclusive versus exclusive approaches; reviewing the opportunity costs of change; and assessing types of leadership.Supplementary materialsTeaching notes.

scholarly journals Accounting for the faculty differentials in the production of PhD graduates in a South African university

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Tanga ◽  
F. Megbowon ◽  
V. Nkonki ◽  
T. Rulashe
Keyword(s):  
Academic Staff ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Junior Staff ◽  
Positive Discrimination ◽  
Important Means ◽  
The Government ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Recruitment And Selection ◽  
The University

The ability of an institution to graduate students, also known as the throughput rate, is one of the most important means of an institution receiving a grant/ subsidy from the government. This article sought to interrogate the differentials in throughput rates of PhD graduates per faculty in a selected institution over a period of five years. Framed within the interpretive paradigm, a qualitative approach and a case study design were adopted. A non-probability purposive sample of 30 participants was selected the academic staff within the six faculties that make up the university under investigation. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and document analysis. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically and using the constant comparison technique. The major findings pointed to differentials in PhD production across faculties as emanating from variations in supervision approaches as reflected in the recruitment and selection of candidates, students’ composition, allocation of supervision load, preparation and orientation of candidates, mentoring of both students and junior staff members, as well as monitoring and evaluation of students’ progress. The findings also revealed challenges like lack of financial support for students, poor structural set-up of some faculties as well as “positive” discrimination in some faculties. These factors constrained the throughput rates in different faculties differently, resulting to a difference in PhD graduate production. It is concluded that there are some quality concerns resulting from the poor processes and procedures as well as the number of graduates from some staff members. It is recommended that the university harmonise its diverse PhD processes and procedures, and enlarge some faculties by creating distinct departments to provide requisite support and interventions to narrow the differentials and improve quality.

scholarly journals Factors of Job Stress among university teachers in Pakistan A conceptual review

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anwar Khan ◽  
Rosman Bin Md Yusoffa ◽  
Kamran Azam
Keyword(s):  
Job Stress ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Organizational Environments ◽  
Working Performance ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
The University ◽  
Conducive Environment

University teaching is universally known for its stressful nature. The university teachers are exposed to various stressors at work as a result of which their working performance is affected. The current study has conceptually reviewed the different factors of Job Stress among university teachers in Pakistan by using non-systematic narrative review technique. Following review of existing literature, the findings of current study revealed nine potential factors as determinants of Job Stress among university teachers in Pakistan. These factors were related to both intra and extra organizational environments of universities in Pakistan. This study concludes that university teaching is a stressful profession in Pakistan. The problem of Job Stress should be managed both at individual and institutional levels. Individually the academic staff members should get awareness about causes and consequences of Job Stress. At institutional level the management of universities should provide Stress free conducive environment, so that university teachers could be saved from the devastating effects of Job Stress. 

scholarly journals Examining the Links Leading to Behavioral Support for Change: An Expectancy Theory Perspective

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-08
Author(s):  
Farhan Mehboob ◽  
Noraini Othman
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Behavioral Support ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Implementing Change ◽  
The University ◽  
University Officials

Purpose of the study: An individual’s support for change is a critical factor in successfully and effectively implementing change. Therefore, identifying possible antecedents and mechanisms leading to one’s behavioral support for change is necessary. The study aims to unpack this avenue of research empirically by examining the role of both person and context as factors in promoting behavioral support for change. Methodology: Data was collected from 292 academic staff members of six public sector universities in Pakistan via cross-sectional means. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect responses from the desired sample. SPSS 25 and AMOS were used to analyze the data for its relevance to the objectives of the study.  Main Findings: Results revealed a positive impact of change-efficacy on academic staff members’ behavioral support for change. Moreover, change-valence provides an effective intervening mechanism to translate the effect of change-efficacy on both dimensions of behavioral support for change, that is, compliance and championing behavior. Research limitations/implications: The study contributes to the existing literature on organizational change, particularly in the university setting, by examining and empirically validating the factors of both person and context as significant predictors of behavioral support for change among academic staff. However, more research is needed in other organizational and work contexts to further apply the study’s implications within these diverse contexts. Novelty/Originality of this study: The study offers useful insights for senior university officials intending to build support for change by enhancing academic staff levels of efficacy and positive expectations regarding such change and enables them to successfully execute the change-related tasks into viable actions.

scholarly journals Faculty development needs assessment for online teaching

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 5063
Author(s):  
Ayman Z. Elsamanoudy ◽  
Rasha Abou-Kamer ◽  
Fatma M. Ghoneim ◽  
Sherif El-Saadany ◽  
Mona A. Soliman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Faculty Development ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Software Tools ◽  
Response Scale ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Almost All

Background: Academic staff members, who are responsible for teaching and training, should be aware of the principle of online course design, development, and implementation. The aim of this study is to evaluate instructors’ skills and needs for conducting distance learning healthcare courses, including the level of assistance they need to implement and use online and software tools in online courses.Methods: The current study applied online faculty survey used by the Center for Teaching Excellence, University of South Carolina to assess the faculty’s instructional technology needs for training and support. The survey asked faculty staff about a broad number of classroom and online technologies, with a helpful response scale that reveals not only what the faculty is already using, but also what the instructors want to use and what they need help with.Results: The results of this study revealed a significant need of faculty staff members for the training and development of their skills in almost all tools used for conducting online courses. The female responder was higher than males. Regarding the use of software, although the majority of participating staff members in this study use almost all software tools required for conducting online healthcare courses, they expressed a need for help in developing new ideas to use the software effectively.Conclusions: From this study, it could be concluded that it is essential to organize comprehensive faculty development training courses for staff members to help them in conducting their online courses or converting their face-to-face courses to blended courses effectively.

scholarly journals Academic Staff Perception of the Extent of Politicizing Administration of Universities: Implications for National Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Aniefiok Oswald Edet ◽  
Michael Ekpenyong Asuquo ◽  
James Ekpenyong Okon
Keyword(s):  
Due Process ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
National Development ◽  
Cross River ◽  
Cross River State ◽  
Staff Perception ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The University

The aim of this study was to examine academic staff perception of the extent of politicizing administration of universities: Implications for National Development. The study adopted survey research design. The study was guided by two research questions and two research hypotheses. The population of the study was made up of all academic staff in the University of Calabar and Cross River University of Technology, all in Cross River State, Nigeria. Out of the sample size of 430 academic staff used for the study, 250 were males while 180 were females. The instrument for data collection was entitled: “Academic Staff Perception of the Extent of Politicizing Administration of Universities Questionnaire (ASPEPAUQ).” Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for the research questions. While independent t-test was used to test the two hypotheses formulated for the study. From the result of the study, academic staff members were positive in their perception of the extent of politicizing administration of universities. Male and female academic staff did not differ significantly in their rating of the extent of politicizing administration of universities. It was also found that provision of adequate funds, provision of adequate facilities, proper management of available resources, discouragement of ethnicity and improvement in staff physical/social environment were rated as the vital roles of universities administrators in the administration of universities for national development. It was concluded that due process in practice should be maintained and improved upon by the respective universities administrators to ensure equity and for national development to abound.

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