The Single Most Consequential Thing We Do in Universities

Author(s):  
Grant Campbell

Assessing students (including giving feedback and making decisions based on assessments) is arguably the single most important thing done in universities in terms of tangible impacts on people’s lives, but assessment is hard to do. Academics are seldom trained in assessment, and for many it is the most worrying aspect of the job. The University of Manchester operates a New Academics Programme for its probationary lecturers, running over three years and encompassing research, teaching, and administrative aspects of academic careers, culminating in a reflective portfolio. This case study describes the introduction of an assessment component into this programme, including its motivation, content, implementation, and evolution, and its reception by the new academics. The assessment component of the New Academics Programme is now delivered in two sessions at different times of the year. The first covers the importance of assessment and gives guidance for designing good assessments and giving feedback. The second session goes more deeply into constructive alignment and learning outcomes, leading on to decision making in exam boards, and ending with a focus on cultivating academic judgement.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 191
Author(s):  
Aldi Jakaria ◽  
Ade Andri Hendriadi ◽  
Nina Sulistiyowati

Universitas Singaperbangsa Karawang does not yet have a system and criteria for assessing the performance of non-P3K employees. Currently the staffing office at the University of Singaperbangsa Karawang does not yet have a way to determine how an employee is entitled to a Performance Allowance. Based on these facts, a website-based employee performance allowance information system will be created with a case study of the staff of the singaperbangsa karawang university. The system to be built includes the definition of criteria, data processing to become the best employee recommendation / promotion and determination of Employee Performance Allowances. The methodology used is software engineering and uses the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) method with the waterfall model because it is in accordance with the research that will be carried out with a relatively short stage of system usage. The calculation process is done by using the method of fuzzy multiple attribute decision making with weighted product because this method determines the weight value for each attribute, then proceed with a ranking process that will select the best alternative from a number of alternatives. The system created can provide information about the amount of employee performance benefits and recommendations for promotion for employees. After evaluating the user, this system gets a response that is easy to understand and easy to understand on each menu on the system. Looking at the benefits of this system is useful when it will provide performance allowances to employees and at the time will determine the employees who are reconditioned for promotions. The design of employee recommendation decision support systems using fuzzy multiple attribute decision making is done by completing the weighted product to produce alternatives after verification with the existing data getting 60% accuracy.


2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Sonley ◽  
Denise Turner ◽  
Sue Myer ◽  
Yvonne Cotton

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report the results of a case study evaluating the revision of the assessment methods of an information literacy module. The revised assessment method took the form of a portfolio.Design/methodology/approachDuring 2004, all six credit modules at the University of Teesside had to be reviewed and restructured into ten credit modules. Following Biggs' principles of constructive alignment, the tutors looked at the existing module aims and learning outcomes. A review of the literature and previous experience informed the selection of the new assessment method by portfolio. An evaluation of the assessment method was undertaken after the module had run.FindingsThe paper finds that the assessment method had real strengths especially in terms of validity. It was also economical and efficient. Students knew what they were expected to do and where they needed to put in effort.Research limitations/implicationsThe assessment by a portfolio method has been carried out once with a relatively small cohort of students, so the findings can only be regarded as interim.Practical implicationsThe tutors believe that they have created a very useful module with an aligned assessment method which would be of benefit to a much greater number of studentsOriginality/valueThere is a shortage of publications that report the results of the use of portfolios for the assessment of information literacy.


Data Mining ◽  
2013 ◽  
pp. 550-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaidoun Alzoabi ◽  
Faek Diko ◽  
Saiid Hanna

BI is playing a major role in achieving competitive advantage in almost every sector of the market, and the higher education sector is no exception. Universities, in general, maintain huge databases comprising data of students, human resources, researches, facilities, and others. Data in these databases may contain decisive information for decision making. In this chapter we will describe a data mining approach as one of the business intelligence methodologies for possible use in higher education. The importance of the model arises from the reality that it starts from a system approach to university management, looking at the university as input, processing, output, and feedback, and then applies different business intelligence tools and methods to every part of the system in order to enhance the business decision making process. The chapter also shows an application of the suggested model on a real case study at the Arab International University.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
Diantha D’Costa ◽  
Virginia Bodolica ◽  
Martin Spraggon

Learning outcomes Upon completion of this case study analysis, the course audience is expected to achieve four learning outcomes. In particular, students should be able to conduct a comprehensive organizational diagnosis to uncover the peculiarities of managing a family business; analyze the specific challenges faced by family-owned enterprises in the context of emerging markets; evaluate the succession management practices in family organizations and design a profile of a successful successor; assess the effectiveness of managerial decision-making and provide recommendations for securing the sustainability of a family firm. Case overview/synopsis This case study unveils the tumultuous story of Vishwanath Shetty, an ambitious entrepreneur who transformed his small venture into a profitable family business with operations in Middle East, Asia and Africa. Since the early establishment of Qontrac International in 1989, he relied on the ownership and management participation of several members of his and his wife’s families. Over the years, Vishwanath was successful in pursuing a strategy of continuous growth and geographic diversification by taking advantage of the business opportunities in several regions and opening up branches in Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ghana and India. Yet, almost three decades after its launch, the company was confronted with a number of family, growth and succession management challenges that endangered its survival in the long run. The Shetty family experienced a serious rift due to financial reasons, the performance of the two branches managed by siblings declined, and the old firm structure and management style did not fit well with the newly enlarged and geographically dispersed Qontrac International. To deal with these organizational issues, Vishwanath was faced with an additional dilemma of securing the support of a suitable intra-family candidate who could join the family business and become his successor. By describing the strategic events and family dynamics that shaped the evolution of Qontrac International over time, the case provides an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of managerial decision-making in the context of family firms and provide viable recommendations for ensuring firm survival and longevity. Complexity academic level Upper-level undergraduate audience Graduate audience (in Master of Global Entrepreneurial Management program). Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code Strategy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 175
Author(s):  
Marcial Garbanzo-Salas ◽  
Diana Jimenez-Robles

An online program developed at the University of Costa Rica provides the professionals working in meteorology a new way to pursue graduate level degrees. The focus of this graduate program is Operational Meteorology and the students need to complete the research and development process of an operational product to graduate. The products created during the program are a solution to operational institutions in need of innovation and can later be incorporated into institutional activities including advisories, warnings and emergency management. A case study included here shows an example of the need that led to the product, the methodologies used for the development and the final operational product created.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussain Mohammed Alenaizi

This paper explores the experiences of participatory PhD research with six disabled people in Kuwait. The contributors participated in my PhD project (which was conducted with the University of Manchester) as co-researchers. The paper attempts to answer the following questions: What are the co-researchers' motivations behind participating in this research? Do the co-researchers believe that they will benefit from this process and if so, how? What are our (i.e. the researcher and the co-researchers) experiences of the process of participatory research? The findings highlight the process of participatory research with the co-researchers and highlight the issues of power relations, skills development and reciprocity, decision-making processes and sharing experiences, and the possibility of this research opening the door for further research and attitudinal change.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-292
Author(s):  
Kate Rowlands ◽  
Christopher Rees ◽  
Hana Alsultan ◽  
Daniel Diaz ◽  
Francisca Alvarez Figueroa ◽  
...  

The presentation of posters at scientific conferences to visually represent research projects is a widespread international practice. The main purpose of this paper is to offer reflections relating to posters as visual representations of research studies conducted by PhD candidates. As the basis for our reflections, we consider the main purposes and intended learning outcomes linked to posters and reflect on some of the design and assessment issues associated with the multi-faceted purposes of posters in contexts such as postgraduate research conferences. Notably, the paper includes a set of illustrative vignettes written by a group of PhD students from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Manchester who were required to design and exhibit posters at an annually held postgraduate research conference. This reflexive dialogue raises a series of issues for consideration by those who are actively involved with the design, presentation, observation and assessment of posters produced by PhD candidates.


Author(s):  
Derya Deliktaş ◽  
◽  
Büşra Günhan ◽  

This study proposes a hybrid approach for the selection of students employed part-time at the various departments of a university. There are both qualitative and quantitative criteria for the selection of students. Thus, to handle the subjective assessment in the decision-making process, this study considers developing DEMATEL-modified ANP and MULTIMOORA. An empirical case study applied at Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department in Turkey is exhibited to test the effectiveness of the proposed decision-making method, which provides a fair selection considering three main and seven sub-criteria. These criteria are determined in accordance with the previous experience of the commission members and the principles which are listed in the Administration Guideline of the university. One among five candidates is selected by a novel hybrid approach. The obtained results and all scenarios in sensitivity analysis based on the changing of the decision makers’ weights and the changing of the dimension weights indicate that the S3 student remains the most preferred alternative, and the S4 student mostly is the most suitable alternative, respectively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Thiroshnee Naidoo ◽  
Charlene Lew

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes are as follows: understanding of the principles of choice overload and the impact of consumer choice overload on company sustainability and growth prospects; understanding of how several heuristics inform consumer decision-making; applying nudge theory to interpret and clarify the impact and consequences of nudges on consumer decision-making; and considering the challenge of a newly appointed CEO to influence consumer choice. Case overview/synopsis The case study and teaching note offers insights into the use of behavioural economics principles in consumer choice. The case study methodology was used to design, analyse and interpret the real-life application of behavioural economics in the retail sector. The case demonstrates how choice overload, dual process theory, decision heuristics and nudge theory play a role in consumer decision-making. The case offers insights into the application of behavioural economics to support the sustainability of a company in an emerging market context. Managers can use the findings to consider how to use behavioural economics principles to drive consumer choice. The application of behavioural economics to an industry facing challenges of sustainability offers new insights into how to design spaces and cues for consumer choice. Complexity academic level The case study is suitable for course in business administration, specifically at postgraduate level. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 8: Marketing


Author(s):  
Zaidoun Alzoabi ◽  
Faek Diko ◽  
Saiid Hanna

BI is playing a major role in achieving competitive advantage in almost every sector of the market, and the higher education sector is no exception. Universities, in general, maintain huge databases comprising data of students, human resources, researches, facilities, and others. Data in these databases may contain decisive information for decision making. In this chapter we will describe a data mining approach as one of the business intelligence methodologies for possible use in higher education. The importance of the model arises from the reality that it starts from a system approach to university management, looking at the university as input, processing, output, and feedback, and then applies different business intelligence tools and methods to every part of the system in order to enhance the business decision making process. The chapter also shows an application of the suggested model on a real case study at the Arab International University.


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