Evaluation of an e-Advising System

Higher education (HE) in Kuwait suffers from high dropout rates, and one of the leading causes of this desertion is a lack of academic advising. Effective academic advising systems must fulfill its user’s needs and provide a positive user experience (UX), which allows users to successfully and effectively fulfill their goals. This study used quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluate an electronic advising system (e-Advisor) used by the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). Survey data from 1,095 PAAET students were analyzed to determine students' perceptions and evaluate their experience using e-Adviser. The findings indicated that students were aware of the features and advantages of e-Advisor. Overall, the participants had a moderately positive impression of e-Advisor’s UX. The system’s attractiveness, efficiency, and perspicuity were rated slightly higher than its dependability, stimulation, and novelty. Moreover, female students’ perceptions of e-Advisors UX were significantly more favorable than their male counterparts.

The role of Applied Higher Education in achieving the SDGs: The Example from the Faculty of Vocational Studies at Universitas Airlangga

Abstractthe whole world has been made aware of the importance of sustaining human life on this earth. The economic improvement felt in the last decade is the result of increasing industrialization around the world. This has a fairly serious impact in terms of natural damage and social life. Fundamental changes are urgently needed to break the chain of socio-environmental damage that threatens the survival of future generations. These fundamental changes can be started from changes in the concept of education. Education is still considered the key to development both in terms of human resources and innovation. Applied education can be a door in the teaching of new abilities and skills based on the SDGs. This study aims to describe the role of applied or vocational education in achieving SGDs. The Faculty of Vocational Studies at Universitas Airlangga can be an example of how applied higher education institutions have the potential to achieve the SDGs goals. Based on the results of our study, it appears that the role of applied educational institutions has the potential to achieve the SDGs targets. The results of this study have a significant impact on future policy directions and institutional development. Keywords: SDGs, higher education institution, sustainable development, thematic analysis.

Strategia didattica per sviluppare la comprensione della lettura negli studenti di Italiano I presso un’università privata di Lima

The purpose of this research study is to design a didactic strategy that develops the reading comprehension of students of Italian I course at a private university in Lima. The study is framed within the interpretative paradigm, with a qualitative approach and within the research type of applied education. The sample consisted on two Italian teachers, the academic coordinator of other languages department and thirty-five Beca 18 students. The students were registered in eight Italian I courses of the 2018-01 semester at this private university. The participants were selected using a non-probabilistic convenient sampling. The research study is based on the different theories, approaches, models and strategies related to the reading comprehension of Italian as a foreign language. The research tools used for the data collection process were participant-observation, depth interview, student survey and an Italian reading comprehension test (CILS). The diagnosis performed in this study is based on current developments on the state of reading comprehension of Italian I course, in order to understand the level of competence achieved by these students and their perceptions of in classroom reading comprehension activities. In addition, this study also observed the teachers’ theoretical and practical knowledges inside the teaching and learning processes. The didactic strategy proposed in this study aims to respond coherently to the problem identified and to provide an understanding of this complex mental process through which the student interprets, assimilates, organizes and values texts in Italian.

Technical and Vocational Education and Technology Transfer: Departments of Electrical Engineering at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, PAAE&T, Kuwait, As A case Study

The role of technology transfer in technical and vocational education is significant since lecturers, trainers, and students can obtain the updated knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are currently being practice by local and international business and industries. Technology transfer can indeed close the gap between what is being learned and practice in technical and vocational institutions and the world of work. However, the success technology transfer in technical and vocational education perspective would depend entirely on the quality of management. It is their responsibility, when signing an agreement with internal or external providers of technology, to include calluses that enable academic staff in related specialty to interact positively and freely with the supplier on technology. In other terms, ensuring no clear or hidden restriction imposed by the supplier of technology to acquire the know-how and know-why that are embedded in the agreement. In this paper, I present some of the empirical results and observations which describe the interactions between the supplier of technology (Electrical Engineering System) and the recipient of the technology (PAAE&T) in the field of technology transfer. In other word, whether the PAAE&T have taken the opportunity, while building its new headquarter, in the transfer of technology from the supplier of electrical engineering system to its academic staff in its various Electrical Engineering Academic Departments at the PAAE&T colleges and institutions. The paper argues that, for effective and efficient transfer of technology, the recipient (PAAE&T) must ensure that the agreement with the supplier of Electrical Engineering System must include calluses that would allow the PAAE&T academic staff in its various Electrical Engineering Academic Departments in its various colleges and institutions to acquire the technology embedded in the agreement. The paper concludes that the transfer of technology and the building of a local scientific and technical infrastructure must be viewed by Kuwaiti decision-makers as a complementary to one another. Thus, reducing, to great extent, the level of dependence on expatriate, particularly in essential sector of the economy.

Using Students’ L1 (Arabic) in English L2 Classrooms in College Classrooms in Kuwait

This study explored the use of students’ L1 (Arabic) in one of Kuwait’s public institutions—namely, the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). The purpose of this study was three-fold: (1) to look at the functions of using L1, (2) to explore any comprehensibility issues and/or academic gains, and (3) to investigate any psychological issues students face when not using L1. The study employed a two-stage data collection phase, where a total of 278 students participated in the closed-ended questionnaire and 6 students participated in the semi-structured interviews. The results showed that students attach several important aspects to the use of L1 in their L2 classrooms. Students expressed that the inclusion of Arabic eases their intake from lectures and allows them to better understand the lectures’ content. However, the findings also indicated that students object to the overreliance on Arabic and instead prefer that teachers strike a balance between L1 and L2 use to maximize their learning.

How Successful is Field Training Program offered by the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, PAAE&T, Kuwait, in Reducing Dependence on Expatriates?

Technical and vocational education would significantly serve the need of developing countries in terms of lower the rate of poverty, reducing the number of people/youth unemployment, ensuring a stable economy, reducing rate of crimes, higher earning, and increasing self-development. It is also essential for the gulf states such as: Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, where the lack of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous manpower is notable in essential sectors of their economy (e.g., electricity and water, health care, oil sector, infrastructure). Technical and vocational education is a dual type of educational system that would facilitate the transmission of students into work place. It is considered as a ‘golden” opportunity particularly for youth to be easily employed by industries and business. The success of technical and vocational education would depend, to great extent, on the efficiency of apprenticeship where students spend certain time at industrial premises to gain the required skills. It allows students to experience the real work environment and to interact with machine, devices, and tools applied in industrial production site. This paper examines how successful is the field training program offered by the selected colleges and institutions at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, PAAE&T, in providing local industries with indigenous skilled and semi-skilled qualified manpower. The research is based on extensive field work that encompasses a review of the related literature, interviews with sample of heads of supervisors/heads of departments at the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Electricity and Water, and the oil sector in order to assess the quality of field training program. Finally, the research will argue that unless the management of technical and vocational colleges and institutions recognize and appreciate the value of enhancing the quality of field training program with local industries, its contribution in tackling the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous in essential sectors on the economy will be below the government expectations, thus continuing relaying on expatriates for years ahead.

Editorial

This is the first issue of the Journal Teaching Engineering (JTE). The journal is published by the University of Porto and is dedicated to publishing novel, cutting-edge reports of broad interest to higher education, especially related to engineering. The journal provides a forum for scientists and engineers, physicists, and chemists to rapidly communicate on the most important topics in the field of teaching and education. Its comprehensive scope includes all articles related to the following topics: What is the nature of engineering thinking and knowledge; how people develop knowledge and competencies; institutional practices; engineering interdisciplinary and applied education; how society, in general, contributes to science and technology processes and products, and development and use of assessment methods, instruments, and metrics.

The Degree of Graduates Suitability of the Faculty and Institutes of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training for the Requirements of Labor Market in Kuwait from Employers Perspectives

The current study aimed at determining the suitability level for the faculties and institutes graduates of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training and the requirements of the labor market in the State of Kuwait from the employers’ perspective in the public and private sectors. The study sample consisted of (2018) employers. A questionnaire was used after verifying its validity and stability. It was applied to an exploratory sample from the study population which are not included in the basic study sample. The results of the study showed that the suitability level of graduates of the Faculties and Institutes of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training and the requirements of the labor market in the country Kuwait was moderate. The findings also revealed that there are statistically significant differences between the arithmetic means of the suitability level for graduates of faculty and institutes of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training in favour of female employers, and differences were found according to the employer’s graduation organization in favour of the Authority’s graduates. Besides, the differences were found in both work sector in favor of the public work sector.

Why Are Arabic Adult Learners in Kuwait Afraid of Making Mistakes in Their English Classroom?

The English language is a second language in Kuwait, and English has been added to the school curriculum with the aim that when students graduate, they will be bilingual in Arabic and English. However, although Arabic adult learners graduate to be fluent in their first language, they struggle in English. This paradox led us to consider specific factors that may inhibit Arabic adult learners from becoming proficient in English when they graduate from high school. One such factor is an unwillingness to speak English in the classroom. The focus of this study, therefore, is to investigate fear of making mistakes as one of factors underlying this unwillingness. Since the study was created during the pandemic, classes in Kuwait, at the time, were taught online only. A questionnaire was given to 210 female Arabic native speakers taking the English foundation course at the College of Basic Education at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training. The questionnaire focused on factors that might induce a fear of making mistakes when speaking English in the classroom. The results of the study indicated that the most significant factor in this regard was students’ previous experience with English teachers who ridiculed them when they made mistakes in their classes. The findings suggest that when teachers do not take the appropriate approach to motivate students when they make mistakes, this can negatively affect the student’s language learning process.

Moving Toward A Digital Competency-based Approach in Applied Education: Developing a System Supported by Blockchain to Enhance Competency-Based Credentials

A competency-based approach to education (CBE) has emerged in recent years, fostering curriculum by tracking and indicting students' acquired skills and competencies. Since applied education is moving away from a theoretical approach to its application, employers are eager to be empowered with graduates' full e-profiles, which demonstrate candidates' competency-based strengths and weaknesses. This study considered a new digital system for competency-based learning, enhanced by Blockchain and badge technologies, to improve and indicate practical classes' quality in applied programs. Our core objectives were to promote the digitalization of competency-based education and students' e-portfolios as a proposed system in applied education. We also assessed its implementation, beginning with a learning gap analysis and moving on to discuss the digital CBE to support employers' ability to validate graduates' competency-based credentials acquired through their signature learning experience. We found that the digitalization of skills and competency-based credentials should be enhanced to foster knowing-by-doing and practical capabilities, which should be incorporated in applied education to achieve optimum CBE results and support recruitment and professional development processes. Further research and study are recommended to develop and unify standards adopted by the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), that are recognized by the industries.