scholarly journals Quality of Academic Life at the Postgraduate Stage: A Saudi Female Perspective

10.28945/4691 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 127-147
Author(s):  
Amani Khalaf H Alghamdi ◽  
Sue L. T. McGregor
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
National Development ◽  
Knowledge Bases ◽  
Academic Life ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Aspect ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Subjective Data ◽  
Educational Aspect

Aim/Purpose: Vision 2030 (Saudi Arabia’s national development plan) expects women (50% of all university students) to contribute to a viable economy and ambitious nation, meaning data about their quality of academic life (QAL) during their university experience are timely and significant. They are key players in the nation’s future. Background: This inaugural, exploratory study addresses this under-researched topic by exploring the spiritual, cognitive, physical, social, and psychological dimensions of Saudi female graduate students’ QAL. Methodology: Data comprised the lead author’s reflections and reflexion and interviews with 17 Saudi female graduate students conveniently sampled from Imam Abdul Rahman bin Faisal University (IAU) (Eastern Province) in January 2020. A new Academic Quality of Life Schema was especially designed for this study and future research. Contribution: A Middle Eastern country’s perspective is shared about female graduate students’ QAL from a holistic perspective (spiritual, mind, and body) and through the lens of a new QAL Schema (cognitive, social, and psychological). Findings: Spirituality was the highest rated holistic QAL dimension (76.6%) followed with body (67.4%) and mind (intellect) (58.8%). Despite a generally positive QAL evaluation (67.6%), participants (a) lamented their inability to sustain previous levels of religious devotion and practice, (b) reported health issues with deep emotions and surprise, and (c) experienced dissatisfaction with the educational aspect of their QAL. Regarding the QAL Schema, (a) their lack of research savviness hampered their ability to learn and enjoy the graduate experience; (b) psychological anxiety hampered their ability to connect with the Creator and poor time management and heavy academic workload compromised exercise and leisure with all three causing an imbalanced lifestyle; and (c) social peer camaraderie and positive classroom environments were appreciated. Recommendations for Practitioners: Women’s colleges should (a) collect subjective data about female graduate students’ satisfaction with university services, specialization and teaching decisions, and faculty members’ and peer colleagues’ support; (b) provide and promote services related to places and means of recreation, leisure, and alone time; and (c) ensure that guidance and counseling offices develop strategies to reduce stress and anxiety factors hindering QAL. Recommendation for Researchers: Future studies should use larger sample frames and, for comparative purposes, previously validated empirical QAL instruments. Saudi-based QAL studies should include religion. Mixed methods research designs are recommended as is a gendered comparative study for the gender-segregated Saudi higher education context. Impact on Society: Deeper understandings of Saudi female graduate students’ QAL will facilitate (a) tailored institutional and faculty support leading to higher enrolment levels, (b) stronger knowledge bases and more sophisticated research skills for students and (c) improved labor force participation. Future Research: Over 1/3 of participants felt their academic gains were not as strong as anticipated, yet few commented about teaching staff or teaching methods. Future research should expand inquiries into the educational aspect of QAL as well as the underrepresented social aspect of QAL.

scholarly journals Current state of educational services provision to future masters of educational institution management

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (2 (131)) ◽  
pp. 179-187
Author(s):  
Olha Yeromenko
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Educational Services ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Flexible System

The article raises the topical issue of training competitive professionals capable of working under modern market conditions. The transition to market relations changes the education policy and the system of educational services provision. The professional destiny of a future manager and the success rate of an educational institution depend on the quality of providing educational services to graduate students specialised in educational institution management. The purpose of the article is to analyse the results of a survey of graduate students aimed at determining the status of educational services given within the specialty 073 "Management" (specialization "Educational Institution Management") in various higher education institutions of Ukraine. Monitoring the state of the educational services provided to graduate students majoring in educational institution management has been carried out on the basis of general scientific and empirical cognition methods: comprehensive study of quality training of master-course students, observation, survey in the form of questionnaires, analysis of graduate students’ responses, analogy. The criteria enabling graduate students to assess the quality of educational services provided by higher education institutions have been defined: the fundamental nature of training; level of knowledge and experience of teaching staff; organization of the educational process; culture and communication level of teachers; reaction of teachers and administration of higher education institution to further demands of graduate students, etc. On the basis of the analysis and generalisation of the processed material, the basic demands of master-course students majoring in educational institution management for increase in the level of educational services have been defined: decrease in theorising of educational material; practice orientation; increase in the use of interactive teaching methods by teachers; expansion of the list of optional courses; increase in opportunities for individual counselling at a convenient time; involvement of leading specialists, experts, experienced educational institution managers in teaching; improvement of facilities and resources of an institution; increase in the level of additional educational services provision in higher education institutions. According to the results of the study, it has been concluded that it is necessary to establish a flexible system of training master-course students majoring in educational institution management.

scholarly journals Values Across Countries in a Modern Society – the Example of Polish Schools

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-63
Author(s):  
Eugeniusz Świtała
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
School Performance ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Values Education ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Social Survey

Abstract This paper reports on a fragment of a broader research on values education in Polish and Latvian schools. This paper seeks to evaluate data from the European Social Survey (ESS) and elaborate on the frames of references for identification of the aims for future research. The paper highlights the findings of an action research carried out in two Polish schools. The values of European countries are analysed in the context of educational research in Europe and other regions of the world. The frames of references constructed during the study and data from European Social Survey were the grounds for creating a questionnaire for an action research to find out the tendencies that derive from the experience of students. The survey was preceded by a special training session for the teaching staff about evaluation and its significance for increasing the quality of school performance.

scholarly journals Managing Secondary Education for Functional Leadership, Values Re-Orientation and Sustainable National Development in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 04 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ofeimu, Josiah (Ph.D) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Education ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
Role Model ◽  
National Development ◽  
Test Reliability ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Reliability Method ◽  
Leadership Values ◽  
Functional Leadership

The study examined the management of secondary education for functional leadership, values re-orientation and sustainable national development in Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised 142 principals of public junior and senior secondary schools in Edo Central Senatorial District of Nigeria. The entire population was used. The questionnaire was used for data collection and was validated by experts. The test-re-test reliability method was used and a reliability coefficient of 0.76 was obtained. The mean and percentage were used for data analysis. The study found that corruption, poor funding, get-rich quick syndrome among the youths, cultism, poor management of resources by school administrators, poor quality of teaching staff, low quality leadership by school heads, teachers being poor role model, lack of parental support in the area of students’ discipline and political instability were problems affecting management of the education system. It was recommended that the curriculum of the school should be re-adjusted and premium placed on values and dignity in hard work and that the quality of the teachers and instructors must be enhanced through in-service training.

scholarly journals METHODOLOGICAL WORKSHOP «CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF PUBLICATIONS IN SELECTION OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION»

2021 ◽  
pp. 32-36
Author(s):  
Alexey A. Kolesnikov ◽  
Nadezhda M. Ryabova ◽  
Elena S. Utrobina
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Scientific Publication ◽  
Scientific Field ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Current State ◽  
Research Workshop ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Program Research

The article describes the content of a research workshop “Criteria for assessing the quality of publications in the selection of scientific information”, focused on the teaching staff, graduate students and undergraduates. This workshop was developed during the course and internship program “Research component in adult education”. The purpose of the workshop is to familiarize students with the system of criteria for evaluating a scientific publication to select the most relevant ones in determining the current state of a certain scientific field and compiling a literature review.

scholarly journals ESSENTIAL AND SUBSTANTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONCEPT OF "TOLERANCE" AS A PROFESSIONAL QUALITY OF A TEACHER OF HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

2021 ◽  
pp. 5-8
Author(s):  
I. BABENKO ◽  
G. KUZMENKO
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education Reform ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Higher Education Reform ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Research And Teaching ◽  
Professional Quality

The article analyzes the essence of the concept of "tolerance", analyzes tolerance as a professional quality of a teacher of higher education, identifies its structural components. The author is of the opinion that the key constructs of personality tolerance are: tolerance as the opposite of egoism and egocentrism; tolerance as tolerance to others; tolerance as a path to goodness, truth and compassion; tolerance and norm (sense of proportion) as part of traditional culture. Based on the systematization of research on the phenomenon of tolerance in philosophical, psychological and pedagogical aspects, it was found that tolerance is a complex complex phenomenon, which is considered in various aspects and understood as acceptance of another person's personality and personality, ability to understand emotional states, desire for dialogue and cooperation in interaction, rejection of domination and violence. The structure of this psychological construct consists of personal, cognitive, emotional and behavioral components. The specifics of personal, cognitive, emotional and behavioral components of tolerance are analyzed.  The author considers the selected components as normatively necessary for the successful activity of the teacher in the modern conditions of higher education reform. All of them are closely interdependent, each subsequent one is productive only in the presence of the previous one, formed at a sufficient level. We see the prospect of further research in the further comprehensive study of ways to prepare future research and teaching staff to cultivate tolerance.

Self-Compassion and Quality of Life in Adults Who Stutter

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Adults Who Stutter ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.

The Relationship Between Interoception and Metacognition

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Meessen ◽  
Verena Mainz ◽  
Siegfried Gauggel ◽  
Eftychia Volz-Sidiropoulou ◽  
Stefan Sütterlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Metacognitive Awareness ◽  
Interoceptive Awareness ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Heartbeat Perception ◽  
Interoceptive Accuracy ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. Recently, Garfinkel and Critchley (2013) proposed to distinguish between three facets of interoception: interoceptive sensibility, interoceptive accuracy, and interoceptive awareness. This pilot study investigated how these facets interrelate to each other and whether interoceptive awareness is related to the metacognitive awareness of memory performance. A sample of 24 healthy students completed a heartbeat perception task (HPT) and a memory task. Judgments of confidence were requested for each task. Participants filled in questionnaires assessing interoceptive sensibility, depression, anxiety, and socio-demographic characteristics. The three facets of interoception were found to be uncorrelated and interoceptive awareness was not related to metacognitive awareness of memory performance. Whereas memory performance was significantly related to metamemory awareness, interoceptive accuracy (HPT) and interoceptive awareness were not correlated. Results suggest that future research on interoception should assess all facets of interoception in order to capture the multifaceted quality of the construct.

Assessments of User Comments With “Alternative Views” as a Function of Media Trust

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Marlene Kunst
Keyword(s):  
Online Discussions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Argument Quality ◽  
The Public ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
User Comments ◽  
Media Trust ◽  
Heuristic Information Processing

Abstract. Comments sections under news articles have become popular spaces for audience members to oppose the mainstream media’s perspective on political issues by expressing alternative views. This kind of challenge to mainstream discourses is a necessary element of proper deliberation. However, due to heuristic information processing and the public concern about disinformation online, readers of comments sections may be inherently skeptical about user comments that counter the views of mainstream media. Consequently, commenters with alternative views may participate in discussions from a position of disadvantage because their contributions are scrutinized particularly critically. Nevertheless, this effect has hitherto not been empirically established. To address this gap, a multifactorial, between-subjects experimental study ( N = 166) was conducted that investigated how participants assess the credibility and argument quality of media-dissonant user comments relative to media-congruent user comments. The findings revealed that media-dissonant user comments are, indeed, disadvantaged in online discussions, as they are assessed as less credible and more poorly argued than media-congruent user comments. Moreover, the findings showed that the higher the participants’ level of media trust, the worse the assessment of media-dissonant user comments relative to media-congruent user comments. Normative implications and avenues for future research are discussed.

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