scholarly journals The Challenge of Research Supervision: The Experience of Lecturers in Various Academic Disciplines

Author(s):  
Angela Siobhan Wright

Research supervision is the highest level of teaching for academics. Yet, in many cases, academics are allocated supervision without any formal training.  For many supervisors, their supervision approach will be a mirror of what they have experienced themselves at post-graduate levels. Many supervisors consider that this form of teaching is stressful and onerous due to the responsibility placed on it by the Higher Education Institution and the student ultimately.  What can be done to support supervisors in their supervisory journey? There is a void in the academic literature on research supervision with scant aids available to the supervisor (Cullen, 2009). Brew and Boud (1995) outline the importance of instructor knowledge; however, supervisors only gain extensive supervisory experience over the years. The aim of this study is to better understand the supervisory process. Data was gathered from 12 lecturers engaged in supervision across various disciplines. Findings indicate that supervisors need to adopt and continually change to differing circumstances and different student personalities while supervising. It is essential that formal supervisory training be provided for all supervisors. The findings from this evaluation are novel and will be beneficial to research supervisors across various disciplines. Keywords: Research Supervision, Multi-Disciplinary, Reflection.

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 203
Author(s):  
Marinalva Lopes Ribeiro ◽  
Jefferson da Silva Moreira

Alinhados ao movimento de profissionalização da docência, apresentamos, neste texto, resultados de uma pesquisa-ação colaborativa, de abordagem qualitativa, realizada numa instituição de Educação Superior pública do interior do Estado da Bahia, cujo objetivo foi conhecer as representações de professores-pesquisadores sobre a profissão docente. Considerados produtores de conhecimento sobre as suas próprias práticas educativas, os docentes têm se implicado nesse processo formativo, de forma espontânea. Os dados tomados como corpus de análise foram coletados em reuniões de formação, que acontecem quinzenalmente, no próprio locus de trabalho dos professores. Contribuições de Tardif (2009), Soares e Cunha (2010), Carbonneau (2006), Bourdoncle (2006), D’Ávila e Soneville (2008) e Rios (2009) deram a principal sustentação teórica para a interpretação dos dados produzidos. Para análise desse material, aproximamo-nos da técnica de análise de conteúdo de Bardin (2006). A análise dos dados produzidos no primeiro ano desta pesquisa indicam que os professores exercem a profissão intuitivamente, sem o domínio dos conhecimentos didáticos e pedagógicos. Assim, a profissão docente, no ensino superior, vai sendo construída mediante a socialização profissional e a troca de experiência com os pares. Os resultados sinalizam fragilidades na profissionalidade docente dos colaboradores da pesquisa, aspectos que podem estar atrelados a não existência de uma política de formação e desenvolvimento profissional para os docentes da Educação Superior.Todavia, com a participação nesta pesquisa-ação colaborativa, os professores têm tido oportunidade de refletir sobre suas práticas, teorizar sobre elas e experimentar inová-las, o que nos anima a continuar avançando nesse processo de desenvolvimento profissional.Palavras-chave: Profissão Docente. Pesquisa-ação colaborativa. Profissionalidade.ABSTRACTAligned to the teaching professionalization movement, we present in this text, results of a collaborative action research, with a qualitative approach, performed at a public higher education institution in the state of Bahia, Brazil. It aims to a better understandingonthe professors-researchers’ representations about the teaching career. Regarded as producers of knowledge about their own educational practices, professors have been involved spontaneously in this formative process. Data taken for the analysis set was collected in training meetings, which take place at every two weeks, at the professors’ own working locus. Contributions from Tardif; Soares and Cunha; Carbonneau; Bourdoncle; D'Avila and Soneville; Rivers and Enguita, gave the main theoretical framework for the interpretation of the data produced. For the analysis, we approached Bardin’s (1977) content analysis technique. Analyzing the data produced in the first year of this research, we came up with the conclusion that the professor sactintuitively, having no domain of didactics or pedagogy. Thereby, the teaching profession for higher education is being built by professional socialization and exchange of experience among pairs. The results indicate some weakness in the teaching profession, aspects that may be linked to a lack of training policies, and professional development for these professors. However, with the participation in this collaborative action research, professors have had the opportunity to reflect on their own practice, to theorize about it, and to experience innovatingthem. This encourages us to continue moving forward in this process of professional development.Keywords: Teaching Profession. Action research collaborative.Professionalism.RESUMENAlineados con el movimiento de profesionalización docente, presentamos, en este texto, resultados de una investigación - acción colaborativa, de enfoque cualitativo, realizado en una institución de Educación Superior pública en el Estado de Bahía, que tiene como objetivo conocer las representaciones de profesores investigadores sobre la profesión docente. Considerados productores de conocimiento sobre sus propias prácticas educativas, los profesores tienen implicado en este proceso formativo, de forma espontánea. Los datos tomados para análisis se recogieron en reuniones de formación, que tienen lugar a cada quince dias, en el próprio locus de trabajo de los maestros. Contribuciones de  Tardif ( 2009 ), Soares y Cunha ( 2010 ), Carbonneau ( 2006 ), Bourdoncle ( 2006 ), D'Ávila y Soneville ( 2008 ) y Ríos ( 2009 ) dieron el principal soporte teórico para la interpretación de los datos producidos. Para el análisis de este material, nos acercamos a la técnica de análisis de contenido de Bardin (2006). El análisis de los datos producidos en el primer año de esta investigación indican que los maestros ejercen la profesión de manera intuitiva, sin el dominio de los conocimientos didácticos y pedagogicos. Así, la profesión docente, en la enseñanza superior, está siendo construida por la socialización profesional y el cambio de experiencias con sus compañeros. Los resultados indican fragilidad en la profesionalidad docente de colaboradores de la investigación, aspectos que pueden estar vinculados a falta de una política de formación y desarrollo profesional para los profesores de la Enseñanza Superior.Todavía, con la participación en esta investigación - acción colaborativa, los maestros han tido la oportunidad de reflexionar sobre sus prácticas, teorizar a respecto de ellas y experimentar hacer innovaciones, lo que nos anima a seguir avanzando en este proceso de desarrollo profesional.Palabras clave: Profesión Docente. Investigación-acción colaborativa. Profesionalidad.


Author(s):  
Aigerim Utegenovna Baishymyrova

Information and communication resources are widely used in the pedagogically organized cognitive process in different academic disciplines. This article analyzes how information and communication resources can be integrated and effectively used in the educational process in the training of future translators under the conditions of distance education in a higher education institution of Kazakhstan. The use of modern information and communication resources increases the efficiency of training future translators. To this effect, the article considered the Moodle Database, which allows students to independently determine the goal and set learning objectives, design the necessary tasks, share their practices with colleagues in real-time, discuss and supplement them in a team, and even evaluate the quality of work performed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-154
Author(s):  
Aziman Abdullah ◽  
Asar A.K

Research supervision is one of the important aspect in academic quality assurance and the sustainbility of the science itself. However, there is lack of attention based on research literature and evidence of good practice on research supervision from the context of academic integrity in higher education. This study aims to develop a data-driven decision making strategy in supervisor selection for post-graduate program based using research projects data. Apart of that, the researchers reviewed the indicator of academic integrity in research supervisory from program standards in masters and doctoral degree by Malaysia Qualification Agency (MQA), international recommendation by UNESCO and Islamic principles according to the roles of the supervisor, administrator and student in the context of research supervisory. This study adopted data analytics and visualization technique using cloud-based collaborative platform as a research method for data acqusition, processing and analyzing the data. The researchers acquired the research projects profile data registered in the institutional database in Universiti Malaysia Pahang from Department of Research and Innovation as a case study. We categorized and mapped the research profile according to Malaysian Research and Development Classification System (MRDCS) code. The combined data was been analyzed and visualized to specific online dashboard to indicate the research experience in fraction of years as a metric. The researchers evaluate the characteristics of the dashboard based on the academic integrity indicators from MQA, UNESCO and Islamic principles as our measures. The result shows that there is a potential usefulness of the proposed strategy in assuring academic integrity for supervisor selection in post-graduate programmes. This novel approach has a potential impact on academic integrity in higher education which can be adopted at larger scale by higher education institution in Malaysia.


2020 ◽  
pp. 75-81
Author(s):  
Svetlana Alexandrovna Kosareva ◽  

The paper describes the method for increasing the level of self-organisation in students which has been developed by the author. It also contains the method testing results and presents the prospects and risks teachers could face while applying the method in a higher education institution. The purpose of this study is to find out the prospects and risks of applying the method for increasing the level of self-organisation in students and to determine the ways of reducing the risks. Methodology. The author points out the learning approaches which were the basis of developing the method and describes diagnostic methods for determining students’ self-organisation levels. The work focused on increasing each student’s initial level consists of a theoretical and a practical part and includes project activities on creating a study guide. The results of the study. The method developed proved to be effective. It was established by diagnosing the final level of self-organisation in students in the experimental and control groups. The paper considers the advantages of the method among which there is universal character, flexibility, improvements to teacher’s and students’ professional competence, etc. At the same time it is necessary to be aware of the risks due to the increased amount of teacher’s work and the fact that students’ work within the project tends to be monotonous. In conclusion, the prospects of the method for increasing the level of self-organisation in students are related to its advantages and the final results of the work. The risks of its use can be reduced with the help of the measures proposed in the paper.


Author(s):  
Erda Wati Bakar

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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Noorlaila Hj. Yunus ◽  
Siti Musalmah Ahmad Fuad

Work-Life Balance (WLB) is an important factor that the Human Resource Management of private higher education Institution (PHEI) should concern about in order to gain high Job Performance in theinstitution. If there are WLB practices implemented by the university, the Human Resource Department (HRD) must always get feedback from the employees to continuously improve the WLB policy. This will benefit not just the employees but the most important to the PHEI by having a good productivities and high job performance employees. The result shows that most of the employees in the university have good social support from their colleagues at work place, friends and their families. This support have given them inspiration and motivation in doing their job properly and finally they might achieved high job performance. Eventhough the result were positive about the social support the employees receives, the top management including the HRD need to revise their policy of WLBespecially other factors that can influenced the employees to optimized their efforts in doing their job.


Author(s):  
B J Erasmus ◽  
A Grobler ◽  
M Van Niekerk

Talent retention and employee turnover are major concerns for higher education institutions (HEIs) because they are losing highly qualified staff to the private sector and to other HEIs that are able to offer better rewards and benefits. The turnover of talented staff is therefore a major concern for the institution under investigation. The retention and voluntary turnover decisions among a workforce of 4 651 employees was thus investigated. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted by means of the objective analysis of organisational data in combination with the structured questionnaire (organisational climate survey). Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyse the data across demographic groups, including age, employment category (academic as well as professional and support), etc. The results indicated that the institution’s turnover rate was acceptable (4.34%) and that dysfunctional turnover was marginal because employees with below-standard performance ratings had voluntarily resigned. Positive correlations and significant beta (b) values were reported between Organisational citizenship, Leadership, My manager and Compensation and the employees’ intent to stay in or to leave the organisation. These organisational climate factors were found to explain approximately 30 per cent of the variance in the employees’ intent to stay in or to leave the organisation. The article recommends that a talent retention tool be developed. In addition, it contributes to the literature on retention and turnover of high-performing employees, as it underscores the importance of measuring employee turnover


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Abambres

This work reports several issues found by the author throughout his professional career, concerning academic leadership. Topics like (i) out-of-field teaching/researching, and (ii) time management in faculty hiring or new role assignment, are addressed. Besides, the author describes which fundamental decisions he´d take if he could manage a higher education institution or academic department. The topics covered are crucial for the success of any higher education institution, such as (a) hiring, (b) social engagement, (c) student assessment, (d) open mindedness, (e) prompt communication, (f) passion in work, and (g) freedom / trust.


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