scholarly journals A Critical Inquiry into Orientation for Expatriate Faculty in the GCC

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 47-58
Author(s):  
David Knott
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
English Language ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Orientation Programs ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Use Of Time ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
New Students ◽  
Increasing Demand

With increased internationalization of higher education, many institutions have adopted English as a medium of instruction (EMI). This generates an increasing demand for English language professionals, many of whom are expatriates, potentially creating cultural issues for students, institutions, and teachers. As with most new teachers, orientation programs are organized to assist in their adaptation to their new position, a more complicated undertaking due to the international nature herein. This study takes a critical view of one such program at a higher education institution (HEI) in the Middle East’s Gulf States, also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), investigated through a series of semi-structured interviews with the newly-hired teachers. Several key themes emerged, engendering heightened stress amongst the teachers: official communication, settling in, permanent accommodation, use of time during orientation, and starting classes with new students. In line with other research and the literature, recommendations for orientation programs are made to address the issues arising in this study.

Can-Do descriptors – Realigning English Language Curriculum at Higher Education Institution to CEFR

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Erda Wati Bakar
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Language Curriculum ◽  
English Curriculum ◽  
The Common ◽  
The University

The Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) has become the standard used to describe and evaluate students’ command of a second or foreign language. It is an internationally acknowledged standard language proficiency framework which many countries have adopted such as China, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan. Malaysia Ministry of Education is aware and realise the need for the current English language curriculum to be validated as to reach the international standard as prescribed by the CEFR. The implementation of CEFR has begun at primary and secondary level since 2017 and now higher education institutions are urged to align their English Language Curriculum to CEFR as part of preparation in receiving students who have been taught using CEFR-aligned curriculum at schools by year 2022. This critical reflection article elucidates the meticulous processes that we have embarked on in re-aligning our English Language Curriculum to the standard and requirements of CEFR. The paper concludes with a remark that the alignment of the English curriculum at the university needs full support from the management in ensuring that all the stakeholders are fully prepared, informed and familiar with the framework.

Postgraduate Internationalisation in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (07) ◽  
pp. 1791-1805
Author(s):  
Concepta McManus ◽  
Abilio Afonso Baeta Neves ◽  
Cyntia Oliveira ◽  
Henrique De Oliveira Castro
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Strategic Planning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Funding Agency ◽  
Active Engagement ◽  
Current State ◽  
Funding Agencies ◽  
Almost All

Understanding the current state of the Internationalisation of postgraduate courses in Brazil was essential to serve as a basis for constructing effective policies in funding agencies. It also helps to understand the capacity of the higher education institution to carry out more effective strategic planning and internationalisation plans. This study looks at replies to a Brazilian national funding agency (CAPES) questionnaire on Internationalisation within Higher Education Institutes in Brazil, based on the postgraduate experience. Results showed that Internationalisation is based on mobility with little comprehensive thinking on its role towards academic achievement within the Postgraduate Programs realities, beyond the mobile individual.  English language skills need to be improved. While most institutions have offices that treat this theme, they lack an active engagement with the postgraduate programs and strategic planning, seen as vital for almost all institutions.  Resources are necessary to build infrastructure and capacitate lecturers and staff to this end.

Facebook as Complementary Teaching Material: Reconceptualizing the Context Boundaries of Formal and Informal Learning in EFL Higher Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
pp. 23-35
Author(s):  
Iman Abbas
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
English Language ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Survey Analysis ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Formal Curriculum ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Skills Learning

This article is a case study that aims to understand and explore a teacher's perspective about integrating Facebook as an informal social platform into the EFL classroom in a higher education context in Oman. The study further aims to identify the attitudes and perspectives of a group of students belonging to the same context. Research data came from semi-structured interviews with a teacher participant and a survey questionnaire with student participants. The study provides a set of findings based on interview data analysis and questionnaire survey analysis. The study's findings revealed the teacher and students' positive attitudes and perspectives towards the role of Facebook in boosting pedagogical practices and increasing English language skills learning. This study contributes to knowledge by providing insights on the integration of Facebook as an informal platform into the formal curriculum-based learning in TESOL. The insights and findings are of value to the teachers and instructors in EFL higher education contexts. Pedagogical implications for ESL (English as a second language) and EFL (English as a foreign language) and researchers are offered in the light of these results.

scholarly journals Challenges and Strategies of University Students in English-medium Instruction (EMI) Classes: A case study

2021 ◽  
pp. 9-25
Author(s):  
Kamran Akhtar Siddiqui ◽  
Hassan Syed ◽  
Zafarullah Sahito
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
English Language ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
National Language ◽  
School Level ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
English Medium Instruction ◽  
Continuous Use

English language has grown to be a lingua franca of the present day world. Therefore, even non- English European and Asian countries have adopted English as a medium of instruction. English has continuously been the medium of instruction in the higher education of Pakistan in spite of having a great linguistic diversity and national language Urdu as the medium of instruction at school level. This study aims to explore the perceptions of undergraduates about EMI, challenges they face in EMI classrooms and solutions they suggest for mitigation of their issues. The qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews reveals that students perceive EMI to be beneficial for higher education, employment and progressive thought. However, they face challenges related to teachers’ English proficiency, code-switching, vocabulary and receptive as well as productive skills. They suggest that English-proficient instructors, continuous use of English, language support from university can help them overcome these challenges effectively.

scholarly journals Black and Ethnic Minority Academics’ Perspectives on Intercultural Interaction in UK Universities: Beyond Racialization

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Christian Atabong Nchindia
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Cultural Representation ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Intercultural Awareness ◽  
Intercultural Interaction ◽  
High Level ◽  
British Culture

Underpinned by frameworks of intercultural interaction, representation and discourse analysis, this research aimed to explore ambiguities and examine salient factors in intercultural interaction in UK universities, from the perspectives of four BAME lecturers and a lecturer from mainstream British culture. Informed by interpretive qualitative methodology and convenient sampling, data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews and the Nvivo software was used for analysis. Findings revealed that the experiences of academics in intercultural interaction with students were homogeneous across the board irrespective of their racial backgrounds. Despite a high level of intercultural awareness, some students and academics were unable to deconstruct stereotypes in cultural representation. It seems that universities do little to help academics and students develop and sustain intercultural awareness. There is hardly any systemic, structural, and coordinated approach in addressing cultural issues that may emerge in the classroom, as academics are left to figure it out by themselves. Some implications for policy in the higher education contexts were identified and recommendations made.

scholarly journals Education and innovation: impacts during a global pandemic in a higher education institution

2021 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 01053
Author(s):  
Ana Vale ◽  
Nazaré Coimbra ◽  
Alcina Martins ◽  
José Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Higher Education Institution ◽  
Educational Challenge ◽  
Short Period

Research background: At the beginning of the year 2020, there was a shift in strategies and instruments in a short period of time, to respond to a situation of impossibility of face-to-face teaching. Thus, it is essential to reflect on an educational challenge, whose impacts continue on a global scale. Purpose of the article: The present article aims to analyse how the pandemic situation has been influencing education and learning in Higher Education. Methods: Having as context a higher education institution located in the municipality of Porto, a case study was developed that analysed teaching and learning methodologies applied throughout the 2019/20 academic year. For this research, a qualitative methodology was used, with semi-structured interviews with five teachers and opinion essays from nine students, with fourteen participants. The analysis was carried out using the Nvivo software, triangulating the perceptions of the two groups of interviewees. Findings & Value added: The results allow us to conclude that the participants are aware that collaborative work and the use of appropriate technological resources were essential to ensure teaching and distance learning, including the evaluation process, despite mandatory confinement. Globally, the perceptions of the emergence of a new educational paradigm are confirmed, based on the massive use of technological resources, which propelled the innovation of the teaching and learning process. Nevertheless, both groups recognize that distance learning impoverishes the fundamental interpersonal dynamics in Higher Education.

scholarly journals Effective methods of teaching listening to the students of higher education

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (5/S) ◽  
pp. 458-463
Author(s):  
Shakhzoda Fayzullayeva
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Real Life ◽  
International Communication ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Increasing Demand

In response to the increasing demand of learners for English as a language of international communication, issues related to the teaching of foreign language in higher education are being discussed. Effective forms and methods of teaching English-language auditing to students in higher education are being considered. The nature and role of the auditing process is noted. Audio texts that reflect real-life situations are described. Series selected and analyzed. The problems and difficulties encountered by students in learning to audit. Measures are recommended for the correct organization of the audition process in the classroom, the most effective approaches to developing the student’s confidence in listening to audio texts and the ability to understand foreign language speech.

scholarly journals CONCEPTS OF CREATIVE LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN LEADERS IN 21ST CENTURY

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude-Hélène Mayer ◽  
Rudolf M. Oosthuizen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Women Leaders ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Creative Leadership ◽  
And Gender

This article presents the subjective perspectives of women leaders working in higher education institutions in the 21st century in South Africa. It focuses in particular on creativity as demonstrated by women leaders working in culturally and gender diverse post-apartheid settings. The aim is to contribute to the discourse on the creativity of women leaders from diverse cultural backgrounds within South Africa higher education institutions by examining how women leaders experience creativity and what creativity means to them from a qualitative perspective. The study reported on assessed the experiences of creativity of 23 women leaders and their views on creativity and creative leadership by means of a research paradigm based on Wilhelm Dilthey’s modern hermeneutics. It used qualitative research methods, such as semi-structured interviews, as well as observations within one selected higher education institution. Data was analysed by means of content analysis. Quality research criteria and ethical considerations were upheld. The findings highlight the creative skills and attitudes of women leaders underlying successful leadership and the types of creative leadership applied. They suggest that women leaders’ creativity manifests in facilitating creativity in higher education institutions by fostering the creativity of others rather than directing their own creative vision through or integrating it in the work of employees.

scholarly journals Challenges Experienced by Students Studying through Open and Distance Learning at a Higher Education Institution in Namibia: Implications for Strategic Planning

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amalia Iilonga ◽  
Amalia Iilonga ◽  
Daniel Opotamutale Ashipala ◽  
Nestor Tomas
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Higher Education Institution ◽  
Satellite Campus ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological

Online learning remains one of the most powerful enablers and accelerators for realising higher education studies by enhancing teaching by means of innovative technologies and pedagogies. However, the success rate of students studying through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) remains very low. Therefore, institutions of higher learning in Namibia should continuously establish and assess the challenges affecting the students who opt to study via distance mode to devise strategies required to address such challenges. The objective of this study was to understand the challenges experienced by students studying through ODL at Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Namibia and establish the challenges they face. A qualitative, phenomenological, explorative, descriptive and contextual research strategy was employed in this study to explore and describe challenges experienced by students’ studying through ODL at HEI’ satellite campus in Namibia. A purposive sampling was utilised in the selection of participants. Data were collected from participants using semi-structured interviews with nine participants. Three themes were identified, namely, the reasons why students chose to study through ODL programme, challenges experienced by students studying through ODL and mechanisms for improvement. The findings of this study call for well-articulated plans and actions to address the challenges faced by students studying in the distance e-learning mode. The study recommended that both Lecturers and ODL programme Administrators should undergo refresher training on distance education annually to ensure that they are aware and can address the challenges faced by their students.

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