scholarly journals Academic Inbreeding at the Canadian Engineering Schools

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Tizhoosh ◽  
Rezwan Hemmesi

Academic inbreeding is a label used when units, departments and universities hire their former students, predominantly their former Ph.D. students, as faculty members, a practice that is generally perceived as detrimental to academic productivity and diversity. In this paper, for the first time, we attempt to verify some of the reported attributes for a small sample of Canadian universities, namely for the largest engineering schools. We examined more than 60 departments and units at 11 universities. We show that academic inbreeding is in fact present at the investigated units with a national average of 23%. Twelve departments exhibited a Z-score of one (inbreeding index larger than 34%, four departments showed a Z-score score of almost 2 and higher (inbreeding index larger than 44%). As well, we demonstrate that the quality of publications, measured by the number citations, appears to be lower for the inbreds. We also introduce a new measure that seems to be more suitable to capture the negative effect of inbreeding on diversity.

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrián Pastor-Barceló ◽  
Vicente Prado-Gascó ◽  
Pilar Bustillo-Casero

Purpose: This research focuses on the construction and validation of a scale designed to assess the quality of the supervised classes: Interaction on Supervised Classes Scale (ISCS).Design/methodology/approach: This is a descriptive correlational study. For the construction of the scale three phases were performed in which different experts assessed the adequacy of the items. Finally, the psychometric properties of the final version were studied in a sample of 314 consumers (69.1% women) aged between 18 and 77 with an average of 39.33 years (SD=12.25).Findings: The scale presents adequate validity and reliability, being a useful tool for measuring the interaction in Supervised Classes.Research limitations/implications: The sampling, non-probabilistic or convenience, have taken the sample of a unique sports facility and the small sample size.Practical implications: The ISCS allows managers to receive better feedback, allowing them to obtain deeper insight into the quality and satisfaction of the service. According to its results, the managers may implement different strategies to improve quality in a key service within sports centers.Originality/value: For the first time the interaction between customers and between customers and employees is evaluated both inside and outside the center, a topic that had not yet been studied in the scientific literature. The scale can be applied to any type of directed activity, and will allow a greater understanding of the quality of service.


2015 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Petek ◽  
E. Topal ◽  
E. Cavusoglu

Abstract. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of age on pecking behaviour and plumage quality of free-range laying hens during first access to range. Six hundred 16-week-old layer pullets obtained from a commercial company were housed in a experimental free-range house. The experimental house consisted of a slat-and-litter floor with range area and was divided into three similar pens. The pullets were randomly assigned to a control and two experimental groups according to age at first access to range area. The birds were allowed into the range area for the first time at 18, 20 and 22 weeks of age in the groups of treatment I, treatment II and control, respectively. Pecking behaviour and plumage quality of the birds were measured for 8-week intervals from 24 to 48 weeks of age. Total feather damage significantly increased with age in all groups (P < 0.040, P < 0.006, P < 0.001). Compared to the control group, birds allowed into the range area earlier had less feather damage. The feather score of the tail body region in all groups was significantly greater (more damage) than in the others (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences for the total pecking behaviour of the birds in the groups at 24, 32, 40 and 48 weeks of age. Incidents of gentle feather pecking in every period were more frequent, while aggressive pecking was less frequent (P < 0.026, P < 0.007, P < 0.001). It can be said that access to range area as early as possible at the beginning of the laying period may be useful to reduce the negative effect of feather pecking in free-range layer chickens.


2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahinda Kommalage ◽  
Naduni Imbulgoda

The curriculum in the University of Ruhuna Medical School is of the traditional type. Most teaching activities are faculty member-led activities. Since student-centered learning processes are considered to improve certain skills and attitudes, we introduced student-led group classes (SGCs) in physiology. Depending on the outcome of the SGCs, we planned to develop it further. We designed this study to compare student perceptions on newly introduced SGCs with traditional tutorials (TTs). Student perceptions were assessed using a mixed qualitative and quantitative method. Students recognized and appreciated some favorable features of the SGC, such as the opportunity for discussion, quality of the knowledge, active participation, improvement of presentation ability, and increased breadth of knowledge. However, the majority of students preferred the TT over the SGC despite the highlighted benefits of the SGC. Students appreciated the focused learning for examinations, written preparation, and more tutor involvement in the TT. Students requested a hybrid of the TT and SGC by incorporating mandatory written answers to the SGC with greater contributions from faculty members. Assessment methods that were not aligned with the SGC and ingrained passive didactic teaching-learning methods by students and faculty members had a negative effect on the implementation of SGCs. Cultural and economical factors also contributed adversely. In the second step of this Plan-Do-Check-Act process, we are planning to introduce new formative assessment to assess higher-order cognitive skills and a compulsory tutor training program. Some favorable components from the TT will be incorporated to the SGC.


Author(s):  
Lesia STOLIARCHUK ◽  

Introduction. Professional training in the field of law is a key area of higher education since the effective functioning of all spheres of public life depends on the development of legal education in the context of forming a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Canada is known for leading higher education institutions offering instructional programs in law that ensure the consistently high quality of legal training. The purpose of the article is to outline the varie- ty of instructional programs and to analyze the peculiarities of the content component in the profes- sional training of bachelors in law at the universi- ties of Canada. The methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis and synthesis of materials and develop- ments of domestic and foreign scientists, docu- ments, instructional programs and curricula of cer- tain disciplines; induction, deduction and generali- zation to identify the features of instructional pro- grams in law at Canadian universities; systemati- zation and classification in order to draw conclu- sions on the content component of the professional training of future legal specialists in Canada. Results. On the basis of the conducted research it can be concluded that the content component of the professional training of bachelors in law en- compasses the acquisition of general professional and special legal knowledge and practical skills to be acquired by undergraduates on successful com- pletion of instructional programs of training bache- lors in law, thus, providing them with personal and professional competencies and readiness for practi- cal activity according to the chosen specialty. The scientific originality of the results obtained is determined by the fact that for the first time the content peculiarities of the professional training of bachelors in the field of law at the universities of Canada have been identified, including variabilityand flexibility of instructional programs, focus on experiential learning, autonomy of universities in drafting instructional programs and curricula, di- versification and interdisciplinary nature of in- structional programmes, result-oriented training. Conclusion. The results of the study can be used to introduce Canadian experience in the uni- versity education of Ukraine, namely, in the process of professional training of bachelors in specialty 081 “Law”.


2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 1861-1879
Author(s):  
Muhammad Imran Malik ◽  
Hassan Mehmood ◽  
Waheed Ali Umrani

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors affecting quality of work life (QWL) of teachers working in Higher Education Institutions. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study was conducted by sampling 347 teaching faculty members through questionnaires. Findings Fair communication plays the strongest role and social networks have the weakest role in shaping the QWL in higher educational institutions (HEIs) of Pakistan. The relationship of social networks and QWL negates the Hofstede’s view of Pakistan society to a great extent. Research limitations/implications A cross-sectional data set is used for tapping a small sample size. The direct effects of four factors were considered for examination. The examination of indirect effects for the factors having weak effects is recommended. Practical implications Decision makers having intentions to improve QWL in HEIs must adopt procedural justice and effective communication channels; they should have high respect for employees and should help them to develop networks within the HEIs. Social implications Inter-relationships at workplace are hampering due to weak social networks. Originality/value The study is an important landmark in highlighting the factors that must be available for higher QWL of faculty members of public sector HEIs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 463-478
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Crais ◽  
Melody Harrison Savage

Purpose The shortage of doctor of philosophy (PhD)–level applicants to fill academic and research positions in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) programs calls for a detailed examination of current CSD PhD educational practices and the generation of creative solutions. The intended purposes of the article are to encourage CSD faculty to examine their own PhD program practices and consider the perspectives of recent CSD PhD graduates in determining the need for possible modifications. Method The article describes the results of a survey of 240 CSD PhD graduates and their perceptions of the challenges and facilitators to completing a PhD degree; the quality of their preparation in research, teaching, and job readiness; and ways to improve PhD education. Results Two primary themes emerged from the data highlighting the need for “matchmaking.” The first time point of needed matchmaking is prior to entry among students, mentors, and expectations as well as between aspects of the program that can lead to students' success and graduation. The second important matchmaking need is between the actual PhD preparation and the realities of the graduates' career expectations, and those placed on graduates by their employers. Conclusions Within both themes, graduate's perspectives and suggestions to help guide future doctoral preparation are highlighted. The graduates' recommendations could be used by CSD PhD program faculty to enhance the quality of their program and the likelihood of student success and completion. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.11991480


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1089-1097
Author(s):  
Nguyen Quynh Hoa ◽  
◽  
Phung Chu Hoang ◽  

Quality outcomes from vocational education and training (VET) are fundamental to ensuring a skilled workforce and supporting a productive economy. The quality of vocational training from the demand’s perspective is defined as meeting the customer specification, needs or requirements. Using the method of Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Multiple Regression Analysis to get the analytical results of 275 respondents as graduates of University of Transport and Communication, University of Transport Technology (the two universities training on transportation in the North of Vietnam), the results show that factors are measured by the observed variables in the study that ensure reliability and relevance. The descriptive statistics result of vocational training quality is 3.28, while all independent variables are at average level (between 3.1 to 3.48) with the highest value related to the quality of the teacher and the lowest are facilities and training programs and management capacity of university. However, the regression results show that the qualification of the teacher, material facilities and training program, management capacity and job opportunities at the training school do not affect the quality of the training while “Learners-NH” have a great positive effect and the labor market information has a negative effect on the training quality of the school significantly. Base on those data, some policy recommendations have been given out in order to improve the training quality of transport technology universities in the north of Vietnam in particular and the vocational training quality of Vietnam in general.


2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-44
Author(s):  
Seun-Young Park ◽  
Sung Whan Park

GIS Business ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 85-98
Author(s):  
Idoko Peter

This research the impact of competitive quasi market on service delivery in Benue State University, Makurdi Nigeria. Both primary and secondary source of data and information were used for the study and questionnaire was used to extract information from the purposively selected respondents. The population for this study is one hundred and seventy three (173) administrative staff of Benue State University selected at random. The statistical tools employed was the classical ordinary least square (OLS) and the probability value of the estimates was used to tests hypotheses of the study. The result of the study indicates that a positive relationship exist between Competitive quasi marketing in Benue State University, Makurdi Nigeria (CQM) and Transparency in the service delivery (TRSP) and the relationship is statistically significant (p<0.05). Competitive quasi marketing (CQM) has a negative effect on Observe Competence in Benue State University, Makurdi Nigeria (OBCP) and the relationship is not statistically significant (p>0.05). Competitive quasi marketing (CQM) has a positive effect on Innovation in Benue State University, Makurdi Nigeria (INVO) and the relationship is statistically significant (p<0.05) and in line with a priori expectation. This means that a unit increases in Competitive quasi marketing (CQM) will result to a corresponding increase in innovation in Benue State University, Makurdi Nigeria (INVO) by a margin of 22.5%. It was concluded that government monopoly in the provision of certain types of services has greatly affected the quality of service experience in the institution. It was recommended among others that the stakeholders in the market has to be transparent so that the system will be productive to serve the society effectively


Author(s):  
N. N. Loy ◽  
S. N. Gulina

The effect of presowing seed treatment on various concentrations of dicarboxylic (organic) acids on the sowing characteristics of spring barley has been studied. Seeds were treated with organic acids obtained by exposing cuttings to the radiation with a dose of 100 kGy and consequent hydrolysis, in concentrations: 1•10-7 %; 1•10-9; 1•10-11; 1•10-13 and 1•10-15 % on a laboratory rotary machine RVO-64 for one day before laying for germination. Distilled water was used for the control case. The rate of application of the working solution calculated as 10 liters / ton of seeds. Seeds were germinated in filter paper rolls in accordance with GOST 12038-84 requirements. The temperature was maintained at +24 ° C in the thermostat where the glasses with rolls were placed. For determination of germinative power and laboratory germination the sprouted seeds were evaluated after three and seven days, respectively. In laboratory experiments it was established that the treatment of barley seeds of varieties Zazersky 85, Nur and Vladimir with organic acids (OK) in different concentrations had both a stimulating and a negative effect. On the Zazersky 85 variety, in variants with acid concentrations of 1•10-9 and 1•10-11, an increase in germination energy (EP) by 2-4% and a significant decrease (by 3-4%) of laboratory germination (LV) of barley seeds were noted. On the Nur variety, the increase in EP was observed at 4% (concentration 1•10-11), LV and seed growth force (CPC) by 2-7% at a concentration of 1•10-7 and in the dose range 1•10-11 - 1•10-14 compared to the control values. On the grade of Vladimir, an increase in EP, LV, and CPC was found to increase by 1-6% at concentrations OK 1•10-7 and 1•10-13. It was shown that the treatment of seeds with acids led to an increase in the length of the germ in all studied varieties (by 3-9%) and dry biomass of 7-day-old seedlings - by 3-6%. Consequently, the treatment of seeds with a mixture of dicarboxylic acids has a stimulating effect on the sowing quality of spring barley.


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