scholarly journals Curriculum development and quality work in higher education in Sweden: The external stakeholder perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-45
Author(s):  
Per Fagrell ◽  
Anna Fahlgren ◽  
Svante Gunnarsson
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Curriculum Development ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Quality Work ◽  
External Stakeholder ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
Stakeholder Perspective

This article provides an external stakeholder perspective on the influence of higher education in Sweden, exploring their views on curriculum development and quality work at the programme level. Semi-structured interviews with a selected number of representatives of external stakeholders involved in various educational areas were conducted at seven higher education institutions. The participants argued that changes in their business sectors, and subsequent changes in the knowledge and skills in the labour needed, should encourage higher education institutions to adjust and develop their programmes. They did not anticipate or demand immediate changes in response to their comments, nor did they see themselves as a part of any quality assurance scheme. Uncertainties about the internal decision-making process and organisation in higher education institutions apparently do not facilitate external stakeholders’ understanding of their role in the larger scheme. However, all informants had comments on quality in higher education, perceiving it predominantly as something connected to the world of work. The practical implication of this study is that curriculum development at higher education institutions would benefit from communicating the internal decision-making processes to external stakeholders and agreeing on the expectations with them, in collaboration. 

scholarly journals Challenges in Information and Cybersecurity program offering at Higher Education Institutions

10.29007/nptx ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seapei Nozimbali Mogoane ◽  
Salah Kabanda
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Curriculum Development ◽  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Top Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Postgraduate Level

This study examines the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in addressing cybersecurity challenges, in the wake of a prominent shortage of skills, specifically those related to information and cybersecurity professionals. Using qualitative semi structured interviews, the study sought to identify the factors influencing the offering of an information and cybersecurity curriculum at HEIs. The findings show that internal influencing factors were top management and individual academic’s awareness of information and cybersecurity, internal expertise, offering the program only at postgraduate level, and the workload and bureaucracy associated with having the program. External factors perceived to influence information and cybersecurity curriculum at HEIs include pressure from industry and stakeholders as well as institutional bodies that help shape curriculum development.

scholarly journals Developing an ethical framework for asymptomatic COVID-19 testing programmes in higher education institutions

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Caitriona Cox ◽  
Akbar Ansari ◽  
Meredith McLaughlin ◽  
Jan Van der Scheer ◽  
Kathy Liddell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Ethical Framework ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Testing Programme ◽  
Mandatory Participation ◽  
The University

Background: Mass asymptomatic COVID-19 testing programmes are being introduced in a range of settings, including in higher education institutions (HEIs). We aimed to produce an ethical framework to identify the range of ethical considerations relevant to HEI testing programmes and to support organisational decision-making. Methods: We conducted a mixed-method consultation (survey and semi-structured interviews) with students and staff at a case study university that was running a student testing programme. Survey data were analysed descriptively; data analysis for interviews was based on the Framework method. The findings of the consultation were combined with literature review, legal/ethical analysis and expert views to produce an ethical framework. Results: A total of 239 people took part in the consultation: 213 completed surveys (189 students, 24 staff) and 26 (16 students, 7 staff) participated in interviews. The survey identified clear support (99% of survey respondents) for the testing programme. Around two-thirds (62%) supported non-mandatory participation. Over half (54%) felt that the programme would need to be at least moderately effective to be acceptable. Over three-quarters (76%) felt the university had some responsibility to run a testing programme. Synthesis of consultation findings and further analysis identified nine areas of ethical consideration for HEIs looking to implement mass asymptomatic testing programmes: design and operation; goals; properties of the test; enabling isolation; choices about participation; benefits, harms and opportunity costs; responsibilities between students and institutions; privacy, confidentiality and data-sharing; and communication. The ethical framework includes recommendations in each of these areas, with illustrative examples of how they might be put into practice. Conclusions: By identifying ethical considerations relevant to university student testing programmes using analysis and consultation, the framework we developed has potential to facilitate deliberation about ethical aspects of such programmes, as well as informing decision-making about their introduction, design and delivery.

scholarly journals Teaching innovations in Asian higher education: perspectives of educators

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.M. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
The Other ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Advanced Technologies ◽  
The Many

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the teaching innovations that have been implemented in higher education institutions in Asia and the perspectives of educators on them. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 educators who were affiliated with 23 higher education institutions in ten Asian countries/regions. The interviews covered information about the teaching innovations of the participants’ institutions, the characteristics of the innovative practices and the participants’ views on them. The relationships between the characteristics of institutions and their teaching innovations were also examined. Findings The results showed that the teaching innovations included two main categories, namely, those which involved the use of advanced technologies and those which did not. The innovations that involved the use of advanced technologies were mainly from larger institutions, while the other category was mainly from smaller ones and had been practised for less than 1.5 years. Differences were also identified between the two categories in terms of the aims and importance of innovations, innovative features, the evaluation of innovations and improvements needed for them. Originality/value The results highlighted that technology is only one of the many aspects of teaching innovations, which is different from the view prevailing in the literature. They also suggested that differences in the scale of institutions (in terms of number of students) possibly influences the kind of teaching innovations adopted.

scholarly journals Questioning Facilities Management in Higher Education in Egyptian Context for Better Decision-Making Process of Funding Allocation

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Mona Mohamed Abd Elghany ◽  
Reem Aly Elharakany
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Strategic Relationships

The quality of education is influenced by the managerialization of the universities, which refers to the introduction of substantial changes in the decision-making processes of the academic institutions, and the application of renewed information systems along with new managerial methodologies to restructure the organisational strategic relationships with stakeholders. This paper proposes a questionnaire to assess the importance of facilities in universities according to their financial budget consumed value. Semi Structured Interviews were conducted with the heads of logistic and financial departments in Egyptian universities, twenty public universities and twenty-three private universities, in order to identify criteria for the most significant university's facilities and appealing infrastructure that contributes to the quality of education.

scholarly journals The Effect of Perceived Factors of Decision Support Systems on Actual Usage: Behavioral Intention of Using Decision Support Systems as a Mediating Variable: “An Empirical Study of Jordanian Higher Education Institutions”

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
Bilal Mohammed Salem Al-Momani
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Decision Support Systems ◽  
Behavioral Intention ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Quality Of Information

Decision support systems (DSS) are interactive computer-based systems that provide information, modeling, and manipulation of data. DSS are clearly knowledge-based information systems to capture, Processing and analysis of information affecting or aims to influence the decision making process, performed by people in scope professional job appointed by a user. Hence, this study describes briefly the key concepts of decision support systems such as perceived factors with a focus on quality  of information systems and quality of information variables, behavioral intention of using DSS, and actual DSS use by adopting and extending the technology acceptance model (TAM) of Davis (1989); and Davis, Bagozzi and Warshaw (1989).There are two main goals, which stimulate the study. The first goal is to combine Perceived DSS factors and behavioral intention to use DSS from both the social perspective and a technology perspective with regard to actual DSS usage, and an experimental test of relations provide strategic locations to organizations and providing indicators that should help them manage their DSS effectiveness. Managers face the dilemma in choosing and focusing on most important factors which contributing to the positive behavioral intention of use DSS by the decision makers, which, in turn, could contribute positively in the actual DSS usage by them and other users to effectively solve organizational problems. Hence, this study presents a model which should provide the useful tool for top management in the higher education institutions- in particular-to understand the factors that determine using behaviors for designing proactive interventions and to motivate the acceptance of TAM in order to use the DSS in a way that contributes to the higher education decision-making plan and IT policy.To accomplish or attain the above mentioned objectives, the researcher developed a research instrument (questionnaire) and distributed it amongst the higher education institutions in Jordan to collect data in order to empirically study hypothesis testing (related to the objectives of study). 341 questionnaires were returned from the study respondents. Data were analyzed by utilizing both SPSS (conducted descriptive analysis) and AMOS (conducting structural equation modelling).Findings of the study indicate that some hypotheses were supported while the others were not. Contributions of the study were presented. In addition, the researcher presented some recommendations. Finally, this study has identified opportunities for further study which has progressed greatly advanced understanding constantly of DSS usage, that can help formulate powerful strategies Involving differentiation between DSS perceived factors.

scholarly journals How Higher Education Institutions Are Driving to Digital Transformation: A Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 636
Author(s):  
Andreia Filipa Teixeira ◽  
Maria José Angélico Gonçalves ◽  
Maria de Lourdes Machado Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Business World ◽  
Digital Development

In recent years, the rapid development of technological innovation has transformed the business world. Digital transformation improves the economic positioning of companies, contributing to society and the environment, but beyond technological evolution, it also brings social and cultural changes. With the new trends, companies saw the need to train people with digital skills and higher education institutions (HEIs) were forced to change their teaching methods to keep up with the new demands of the labour market. In this context, it is intended to identify the influence that HEIs play in the digital development of regions, in this case, the influence of Public Polytechnic Institutes of Porto in the development of the Metropolitan Area of Porto. The methodology adopted to answer the objectives of this study and research questions formulated, was an exploratory study, using semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The results obtained allowed us to verify the positive influence of HEIs in the digital development of the Metropolitan Area of Porto. As well as identify the motivations that lead companies to participate in digital transformation initiatives, identify the skills needed to meet the demands of the labour market and identify the efforts made by HEIs to keep up with the digital evolution of society.

scholarly journals Lehet másként? Együttműködés?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krisztina Zimányi
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Curriculum Development ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Modern Times ◽  
The Past ◽  
Education Material ◽  
Educational Methodology

Notes remain to be playing a significant role in the curricula of higher education institutions, however, the amount of online materials has increased over the past years, primarily thanks to the project EFOP 3.4.3. The advantages of these developments’ direction can be easily recognised as they correspond to the expectations of the students and of modern times. However, following the traditions of preparing notes, each institution currently develops their own education material and curriculum, at most only sharing their experiences in educational methodology at conferences and workshops. Nevertheless, the question arises as to why higher education institutions do not cooperate to develop their curricula together, or why they do not adopt each other’s already existing curricula. The question may also be important because the development of online curricula presents considerably higher costs than developing and preparing “written” notes. A multitude of other questions concerning this issue arises, detailed further by the lecture: - Can the custom of only accepting the institutions’ own lecturers’ materials be broken? - Can cooperation in curriculum development be achieved? If yes, what is required for it? - How can a structure be devised for curricula used by multiple institutions that allows for maximum flexibility and modularisation for application? (‘Bunch of grapes’) - Is it true that if applying the same curriculum, there would be no difference between the courses offered by different higher education institutions? In my lecture I provide a possible answer to each of these questions.

scholarly journals The Integration of Experiential Learning in Higher Education Institutions—An Assessment of the Romanian Universities

2020 ◽  
pp. 283-297
Author(s):  
Mihaela V. Cărăuşan
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Educational Strategies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Market Requirements ◽  
Policy Statements ◽  
Research Questions

Abstract This paper presents how Romanian educational strategies are aligned with the policy statements of international organisations for future generations. The research hypothesis is that Romanian higher education institutions (HEI) are not ready to fulfil the needs of future generations. The paper reviews the educational competences of fourteen faculties of public administration and management from nine universities (state and private). The analysis is based on Kolb’s experiential learning cycle elements, and we identified whether educational competences referred directly to them or not. Our findings concentrate on the lack of recognition of experiential learning methods and the gap between the labour market requirements and the educational competences acquired in Romanian HEI. The methodology used to respond to the research questions mixes qualitative (strategies and literature review, structured interviews) and quantitative approaches (assessment of the curricula and information presented in the admission process by Faculties of Public Administration and Management).

scholarly journals A internacionalização das instituições de ensino superior sob a luz da teoria de Uppsala: estudo de casos em escolas de negócios

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. e18153
Author(s):  
Patricia Mara Simões Andrade ◽  
Marcello Romani-Dias ◽  
Caio Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Internationalization Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Uppsala Model ◽  
Classic Approach ◽  
Initial Categorization ◽  
Current Reality

Objective: Propose an unprecedented initial categorization structure on the internationalization process of Brazilian HEIs, according to the Uppsala model Methodology: With the qualitative method, semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives of the HEIs, reviewing and articulating the literature with content analysis on all data obtained.Originality: The study links a classic approach to internationalization with the current reality of higher education institutions. Thus, it is expected that there will be a new conception on how HEIs can optimize their strategies for international insertion.Main results: The internationalization of HEI can be analyzed by three main categorized elements, they are: i) the drivers; ii) enablers and, iii) obstacles to the internationalization of HEIs, each with their own specific characteristics. Theoretical Contributions: The research presents a conceptual categorization for the essential factors of the internationalization of HEI's, this articulation allows advancing in the literature on internationalization and also on the management models of higher education institutions.

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