scholarly journals Academic Standards and Quality Assurance: The Impact of COVID-19 on University Degree Programs

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 10032
Author(s):  
Kelum A. A. Gamage ◽  
R. G. G. Roshan Pradeep ◽  
Vesna Najdanovic-Visak ◽  
Nanda Gunawardhana
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Student Population ◽  
Academic Standards ◽  
Degree Programs ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
New Ways Of Working ◽  
The World ◽  
University Degree ◽  
The Impact

COVID-19, caused by a member of the coronavirus family of viruses, has spread to most countries around the world since it was first recorded in humans in China in late 2019. Closing universities and cancelling all face-to-face activities have become a COVID-19 inevitable reality in many parts of the world. Its impact on university programs, particularly to maintain academic standards and quality assurance procedures, has become significantly more challenging and complex. New ways of working digitally, to minimize disruption to daily operations, have also led to enormous anxiety and uncertainty within the student population, and meeting students’ expectations has also become significantly more difficult. This paper reviews actions taken by universities to safeguard high academic standards and quality assurance procedures during this time and appraise the challenges and impacts on students’ academic performance.

scholarly journals The impact of the universities closure on physical activity and academic performance in physical education in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-27
Author(s):  
Aleksander Yu. Osipov ◽  
Tatyana I. Ratmanskaya ◽  
Elena A. Zemba ◽  
Vladimir Potop ◽  
Mikhail D. Kudryavtsev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
University Students ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Student Population ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Lower Amount ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Impact

Background and Study Aim. Physical activity (PA) is regarded as a critical component of a healthy lifestyle and disease prevention. Different constraints placed upon social interaction and public spaces due to COVID-19 could decrease PA and academic performance in physical education (PE) in student population. The purpose of the research was to assess overall and sport/fitness PA level and academic performance in PE in a sample of university students pre- to post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods. Participants (n=209) – university students (19-20 years old). The overall period of the research is September-December 2020. All participants (male–n=106 and female–n=103) were divided into approximately equal groups: humanities students (male–MG-1, female–FG-1), medicine students (male–MG-2, female–FG-2), technical students (male–MG-3, female–FG-3). The main research tools: modified student self-reported questionnaire (on the base of IPAQ), academic grading (scores for self-completed PE tasks). In surveys, all participants self-rated overall and sport/fitness PA level pre- to post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes. The participants had to complete 32 special PE tasks, during the research period. PE teachers rated participants by a special grading scale. Results. For the male and female students’ groups there were no significant differences of overall PA, sport/fitness PA level and academic performance in PE pre-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes. All participants significantly (p≤0.05) decreased overall PA, sport/fitness PA level and academic performance in PE post-cancellation. There was a significant (p≤0.05) large amount of overall PA level in MG-2 students and sport/fitness PA level in MG-1 students’ post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes. For the male students there were no significant differences of grading in PE pre- to post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes between participants groups. There was a significant (p≤0.05) large amount of overall PA level post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes in FG-2 students. There was a significantly (p≤0.05) lower amount of sport/fitness PA level post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes in FG-3 students. There was a significant drop in mean grading scores in PE post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes in students. FG-2 participants had significantly (p≤0.05) higher grading scores in PE post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes. Conclusions. The universities closure and cancellation of face-to-face PE classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic decreased overall PA, sport/fitness PA level and academic performance in PE in all participants. It is important to note that the proportional decrease in overall PA for the male students was actually large, then decrease in overall PA for the female students was less. The findings highlight the need for active interventions of PA promotion targeted at the student population in the context of self-isolation measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Escape Room Dual Mode Approach to Teach Maths during the COVID-19 Era

Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (20) ◽  
pp. 2602
Author(s):  
Nuria Rosillo ◽  
Nicolas Montes
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Dual Mode ◽  
Maximum Capacity ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The World ◽  
Initial Perception ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic and its social implications generate adverse psychological effects that affect success in education where educational methodologies are not ready to overcome the problem. This article presents the design and evaluation of a gamification activity, the Escape Room, applied to the subjects in Pharmacy and Nursing. The objective of using the Escape Room is to reduce the impact that COVID-19 has on students’ academic performance due to the psychological effects and the change in educational modality with which the vast majority of activities are carried out online. The Escape Room presented in this article is based on the search for a scientist who is fleeing with the COVID-19 vaccine around the world and the students have to find it by passing tests and missions related to mathematics. Due to the COVID measures imposed by the university, where double presentiality was imposed, the proposed Escape Room has the peculiarity of being designed in dual format, that is, allowing students to connect in face-to-face mode, online, or a mixture of both, depending on the maximum capacity of the classroom, the number of positive cases in the group, quarantines, etc. As a result, a great impact is shown on the initial perception of students towards mathematics and a null impact of the COVID-19 effect on the academic performance of students.

scholarly journals Are Double/Multiple Degree Programs Leading to “Discount Degrees”?

2015 ◽  
pp. 5-7
Author(s):  
Jane Knight
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Degree Programs ◽  
The World

The growth in double/multiple degree programs around the world, especially in Europe and Asia, is unprecedented. While the benefits for both students and institutions are many, there is increasing concern about the integrity and legitimacy of those programs which double count credits for two or more qualifications. Challenging questions about the quality assurance, accreditation, recognition an ethics of double/multiple degree programs are posed.

scholarly journals Transition to Online Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact of Changes in Alcohol Consumption and Experiencing Hangovers on Academic Functioning

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (22) ◽  
pp. 5332
Author(s):  
Agnese Merlo ◽  
Pauline A. Hendriksen ◽  
Johan Garssen ◽  
Elisabeth Y. Bijlsma ◽  
Ferdi Engels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Academic Functioning ◽  
Pharmacy Students ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Time Investment ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
The Impact

In the Netherlands, the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on daily life, with two extensive lockdowns enforced to combat the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These measures included the closure of bars and restaurants, and the transition from face-to-face to online education. A survey was conducted among Dutch pharmacy students and PhD-candidates to investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on alcohol consumption, hangovers, and academic functioning. The analysis revealed a significant reduction in both quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 lockdown periods. This was accompanied with a significant reduction in hangover frequency and lower hangover severity during COVID-19 lockdown periods. The distribution of scores on academic performance showed great variability between respondents: while some participants reported impairment, others reported improved performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, or no change. Women reported that significantly more time investment was associated with maintaining these performance levels. Consistent among participants was the notion of reduced interactions with teachers and other students. Participants who reported more hangovers and most severe hangovers before COVID-19 benefited from the lockdown periods in terms of improved academic performance. Positive correlations were found between study grades/output and both the frequency and severity of hangovers experienced before COVID-19, suggesting that heavier drinkers, in particular, improved academic performance during the lockdown periods. In conclusion, COVID-19 lockdowns were associated with a significant reduction in both alcohol consumption and experiencing hangovers, which was, among heavier drinkers particularly, associated with significantly improved academic functioning.

scholarly journals El Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior y su sello de calidad.

2020 ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
María Matarranz
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Bologna Process ◽  
Educational Quality ◽  
European Higher Education Area ◽  
Higher Education Systems ◽  
The World ◽  
European Higher Education ◽  
The Bologna Process ◽  
The Impact

Two decades have passed from the Sorbonne Declaration in 1999 to the present day, a period of time in which we have witnessed the great changes that have occurred in higher education systems in many countries of the world, specifically the countries belonging to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).Four countries started by signing the 1999 Declaration, today there are already forty-eight countries involved in the EHEA.In this article, a tour of the milestones that have been shaping and kneading the EHEA is made, addressing the most relevant issues addressed in the different meetings of the ministers of higher education. Next, we will stop at one of the most relevant indicators of the EHEA: the quality assurance systems that, because of the Bologna Process, have been deployed both at the supranational and national levels. We will make an overview of the implementation of educational quality in the countries. Finally, we will reflect on the impact that the perspective of educational quality has had in the countries of the European Higher Education Area. 

The Effect of Mobile Instant Messaging versus Face-to-Face Counseling on the Primiparous Mothers’ Breastfeeding Self-efficacy: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoosh Mehrabi ◽  
Shoale Zarei ◽  
Leila Bazrafkan ◽  
Ali Reza Safarpour
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Instant Messaging ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
World Health ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background Increasing breastfeeding rates around the world is one of the most important goals of the World Health Organization. Self-efficacy is a modifying and predictive factor for initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of mobile-based education and regular delivery of designed messages on breastfeeding self-efficacy in primiparous mothers. Methods This study was a double blind pilot randomized controlled trial, in which a hundred and twenty primiparous breastfeeding mothers were randomly allocated into two groups using permuted block randomization. The standard method conseling arm received routine counseling interventions and the intervention arm received a mobile instant messaging program in addition to the usual counseling. The main objective of this study was to compare self-efficacy in face-to-face counseling group and mobile instant messaging group. Self-efficacy levels were compared in the two groups before and after the study procedures. Results In this study, 60 mothers were studied in each group, and then the collected data were analyzed. The mean post-test scores in the intervention group (60.40 ± 4.92) and the control group (50.10 ± 7.60) were compared in the main analysis. The results indicated a statistically significant difference (p <0.001). Given the amount of effect size ( d= 0.99; 95% CI=1.19-2.02 ) it appears that there is a high level correlation between the applied intervention and level of self-efficacy among the study participants, especially those with higher levels of education. Secondary findings of the study involved evaluating the effects of education, occupation, family income, lactation duration and spouse support for breastfeeding self-efficacy. Except for the maternal education level, which had a significant relationship with the level of breastfeeding self-efficacy (p= 0.02), the other factors did not show any correlation with self-efficacy in breastfeeding. Conclusion The pilot study provided valuable information for feasibility assessment of randomized controlled trials in future studies with larger sample sizes and more participant diversity.

scholarly journals Educational Service and Quality Assurance from the Perception of Teachers and Students during COVID-19 in an Accredited and Certified Administration Degree Program

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Jarrin Jaramillo Gladys Fabiola ◽  
Zamora Moreta Marina Genoveva ◽  
Avila Proaño Leonardo Antonino
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Educational Service ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
The Face ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
The Impact

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has evidenced the fragility of the education system at all levels, which is why the call of the United Nations through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Agenda 2030, specifically Goal 4, is especially relevant. Additionally, Pope Francis, at the end of the year 2020, proposes to the world a Global Pact on Education, in view of the increase of the social debt due to the unprecedented affectation of the educational system. This disruption in the lives of all people due to compulsory isolation gave way to a change of era and surprised the face-to-face education supply, which had to adjust to a new way of educating. The capacity for resilience made it possible to evaluate, analyze and visualize transformation processes in education, whether in the management of the educational service and/or in the teaching-learning systems. Therefore, this work aims to identify the perception of teachers and students regarding the educational service and quality assurance in COVID-19 time, of an accredited and certified Administration career, belonging to a prestigious university in Ecuador with Ignatian educational model, during the year 2020.

scholarly journals The Effects of Social Media on Pharmacy Students’ Academic Performances

2021 ◽  
pp. 52-58
Author(s):  
Nehad J. Ahmed ◽  
Abdulrahman S. Alrawili ◽  
Faisal Z. Alkhawaja
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Pharmacy Students ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
The World ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Gathering Data

Background: The use of social media by students helps to have access to basic information as quick as possible but numerous universities and schools around the world restrict the access to social networks within its buildings to help students to concentrate on their studies. Aim: The aim of this article is to assess the impact of social media on academic performance of pharmacy students. Methodology: The present study includes gathering data from students through a survey research design to determine the effect of social media usage on their academic performance. The survey was adapted from a previous study and after that it is converted to online Google Form. Results: Most of the participants in the present study said that their academic achievement is excellent (41.67%) or very good (41.67%). The majority of the students agree that the use of social media is useful in educational institutions, social media can be used to arrange group discussions with the experts and that it can be used to fix an appointment with other subject experts. The majority of the students also agree that they can receive announcements from lecturers and faculty using social media. Conclusion: The majority of the students feel that social media affect their academic performance positively and about half of them feel that social media affect their performance negatively. It is important to increase their awareness about the importance of regulating social media usage.

scholarly journals Higher Education in the First Year of COVID-19: Thoughts and Perspectives for the Future

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 285
Author(s):  
Stefano Cesco ◽  
Vincenzo Zara ◽  
Alberto F. De Toni ◽  
Paolo Lugli ◽  
Giovanni Betta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
World Health ◽  
Pedagogical Issues ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The World ◽  
Learning Software ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

In the last year a new virus (SARS‑CoV‑2) and the disease caused by it (COVID-19) has quickly spread around the world, leading the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency and, then, a global pandemic status. The strategies adopted by many countries to reduce the impact of the pandemic were mainly based on social distancing rules and on stay-at-home measures or lockdowns. These strategies had severe disruptive consequences on many sectors, including all levels of education. While the “traditional” (face-to-face) Higher Education (HE) system was unprepared for the lockdown (e.g., no plans for a massive shift to online teaching were available/ready), it reacted in an extremely quick and effective way, replacing face-to-face teaching with online teaching. While COVID-19 has been extremely challenging for education, the experience has undoubtedly provided positive inputs for the digitalization of the HE system. The question is however, if whether after the COVID-19 emergency everything will go back to the previous situation or instead if the pandemic has irreversibly changed HE. While we are still in the middle of the crisis, it is in our view beneficial to start to reflect on the challenges and open issues that emerged during this period and the lessons learned for the “new normal” (as it is often referred to). In this conceptual paper we seek to start this discussion by focusing on the following relevant aspects that should be considered to succeed in the digital transformation: broadband network infrastructure and hardware devices; e-learning software; organization of teaching activities; pedagogical issues; diversity and inclusivity; and a number of other issues. We conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic will irreversibly change HE and probably for the better.

scholarly journals The Persistence of Anxiety Experienced by New Generation in Online Learning

10.28945/4040 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The World ◽  
Course Experience ◽  
New Generation ◽  
The Impact

Aim/Purpose: To investigate anxiety in online courses and its relationship with overall online courses satisfaction as it may vary with online courses experience. Background: Delivering online courses in higher education institutions continue to increase. Anxieties seem to be persistent. Although there are many technology and internet related anxieties studies, online courses anxieties are relatively scarce. The cause for this anxiety has not been resolved or addressed sufficiently. This study takes part in this quest. Methodology: A fully online course with not face to face interaction was used for the study. A survey methodology approach was used for the anxiety scale measurements. Over 1400 students participated in the survey. Contribution: Students taking online courses continue to be challenged with anxieties. Their experiences (number of courses taken) with online courses may influence their anxieties and satisfaction levels, but that has not been studies. We contribute to this body of literature. Findings: One third of students reported to continue to experience anxiety while taking their online courses. The effect of their anxieties on their satisfaction does not seem to be influenced by their online course experience. Recommendations for Practitioners: Focus on the various elements that may influence anxieties and satisfaction of students while taking courses. For IT designers, interface and point of interactions may be the aspect to pay attention to, while professors would need to consider course pedagogy and its interaction within the IT learning environment. Recommendation for Researchers: Anxiety in online learning should take front stage as it represents an underlying stream of influence on all research in the field. Further study of the effect of online course experience on satisfaction and anxiety is necessary. Impact on Society: Anxiety in learning has many detrimental effects that last a student’s career and personality over their entire life. The impact of reducing anxieties while online learning is significant and tangible especially that online learning is at its initial stages of an exponential growth and will change the world sooner than later. Future Research: Pedagogy for efficient and effective online courses to reduce anxieties and in-crease satisfaction.

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