Study of Chinese Students’ Application to UK Universities in Uncertain Times

A large number of Chinese applicants use education agents to apply for overseas programmes. This research investigates agents’ practices with in-service Chinese applicants to UK universities in the context of information asymmetry. COVID-19 pandemic has generated severe challenges for the international higher education sector and on Chinese applicants’ plans to study overseas.This study reports on the findings from in-depth interviews with 16 Chinese agent consultants undertaken in nine cities across China in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic (May 2020). The findings indicate that education agents attempt to mitigate the information asymmetry and emotionally reassure applicants through a four-step information management process. Our contribution generates a new understanding of the role that education agents play in international students’ applications and mobility, voices that are often ignored but essential for international students’ decision-making processes and existing university recruitment services.

Between College and That First Job: Designing and Evaluating Policies for Hiring Diversity

Despite widespread caste disparities, compensatory hiring policies remain absent from the Indian private sector. This paper employs novel administrative data on the job search from an elite college and evaluates policies to promote hiring diversity. Application reading, written aptitude tests, large group debates, and job choices do not explain caste disparities. Disparities arise primarily between the final round, comprising non-technical personal interviews, and job offers; the emergence closely parallels caste revelation. For promoting diversity, hiring subsidies — similar in spirit to the government-proposed Diversity Index — are twice as cost-effective as improving pre-college achievement. Conversely, quotas mirror a hiring tax and reduce university recruitment by 7%.

Can the concept of “lean management” be applied to academic recruitment? – a quasi-theoretical discourse

Purpose This paper seeks to emphasise the need to re-evaluate university teacher recruitment processes. The implementation of lean processes helps to improve organisational practices; in the case of university recruitment, however, organisational processes have remained unchanged for decades. Although there is a traditional justification for having academic recruitment as a rigorous and complex process (as a practiced method by which to identify the most suitable applicants), the increase of competition across the sector, and the internet revolution, has rendered these older methods partially ineffective. The author argues that recruitment systems and practices need reviewing to overhaul inefficacious elements. Design/methodology/approach This is a quasi-literature discourse combined with the author’s experience in human resources management teaching and recruitment expertise at the Higher Education level. Findings Lean approach if successfully introduced to academic recruitment might reduce the effect of discouraged job seekers paradox and workload on human resources (HR) officers. Research limitations/implications The volume of studies reviewed is limited, and therefore, more empirical findings are required in the area of lean recruitment. Practical implications HR departments of universities might consider practices that will improve the recruitment process and promote labour force participation. Originality/value According to the author’s knowledge, lean concept has been applied to HR (recruitment) for the first time in this study.

Chinese Students’ Experiences Transitioning from an Intensive English Program to a U.S. University

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of former intensive English program (IEP) Chinese students by concurrently examining national origin, language problems, forms of capital, culture shock, and institutional programming using qualitative case study methods. The findings give us insights into the students’ sociocultural and academic transitions, which have implications for intensive English program and university recruitment, admissions, instruction, student support, and programming.

Zawieszenie rekrutacji w szkolnictwie wyższym

The aim of the study is to compare the admissibility of suspending (and in fact — annulling, abandoning) already announced and commenced recruitment in higher education, as recently approved in the case law of administrative courts, with the requirements of the constitutional principle of protecting trust in the state and law and the second degree principles derived from it, as well as to demonstrate the effects on the legal position of the individual of the consolidation of such a position and its dissemination in university recruitment resolutions in connection with new statutory regulations in the area of law on higher education and science. The study makes use of the scientific literature on constitutional and administrative law, the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Tribunal and administrative courts, and, auxiliary, other sources.

Chinese students’ decisions to undertake postgraduate study overseas

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to surface themes which may influence Chinese students’ decision making in relation to postgraduate study in international universities.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilises a semi-structured qualitative interview methodology (n=15).FindingsThe main findings are discussed according to the following themes: financial and time costs; employment prospects; postgraduate education as a cultural adventure; linguistics; visa issues; admissions; climate; influence of referents; and academic image and reputation.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample size is small, yet affords greater depth of data and discussion.Practical implicationsThe research offers practitioners in universities who are managing postgraduate recruitment of Chinese students, some greater understanding of the reasons behind prospective Chinese postgraduate students’ choice; from which they can evaluate the effectiveness of their institutions’ recruitment strategies.Originality/valueExtant research has tended to report reasons why Chinese students study overseas, whereas this study offers deeper insight and exploration of the reasoning of Chinese international students in the postgraduate context. The research is of value given the importance of postgraduate Chinese students to international university recruitment.

Human amnion cells for the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a protocol for a phase I dose escalation study

IntroductionBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), an important sequela of preterm birth, is associated with long-term abnormalities of lung function and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Inflammation, inhibition of secondary septation and vascular maldevelopment play key roles in the pathogenesis of BPD. Human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs), stem-like cells, derived from placental tissues are able to modulate the inflammatory milieu and, in preclinical studies of BPD-like injury, restore lung architecture and function. Allogeneic hAECs may present a new preventative and reparative therapy for BPD.Methods and analysisIn this two centre, phase I cell dose escalation study we will evaluate the safety of intravenous hAEC infusions in preterm infants at high risk of severe BPD. Twenty-four infants born at less than 29 weeks’ gestation will each receive intravenous hAECs beginning day 14 of life. We will escalate the dose of cells contained in a single intravenous hAEC infusion in increments from 2 million cells/kg to 10 million cells/kg. Further dose escalation will be achieved with repeat infusions given at 5 day intervals to a maximum total dose of 30 million cells/kg (three infusions). Safety is the primary outcome. Infants will be followed-up until 2 years corrected age. Additional outcome measures include a description of infants’ cytokine profile following hAEC infusion, respiratory outcomes including BPD and pulmonary hypertension and other neonatal morbidities including neurodevelopmental assessment at 2 years.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved on the June12th, 2018 by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Monash Health and Monash University. Recruitment commenced in August 2018 and is expected to take 18 months. Accordingly, follow-up will be completed mid-2022. The findings of this study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journals and at conferences.Protocol version5, 21 May 2018.Trial registration numberACTRN12618000920291; Pre-results.

Paradigm Shift Toward Student Engagement in Technology Mediated Courses

University recruitment websites continue to show students happily using technology in the higher education environment. Exactly how technology is used in the teaching and learning process continues to challenge and frustrate university instructors and students. A frequent depiction of college classrooms consists of an instructor lecturing from the front of the classroom and reprimanding students for talking to each other. In this paradigm, the professor is the “sage on the stage” and is the single transmitter of knowledge. Is this teaching and learning approach the most effective way to educate students? With recent discoveries about how students learn most optimally, and how technology can augment the process, a paradigm shift is required towards appropriate and intentional implementation of technology tools for engaging students to use higher-order thinking skills. This chapter explores the use and application of free digital tools that both improve and in turn enhance the learning process.

Welcome to the Neoliberal University

As university administrators increasingly promote policies supportive of neoliberalism, an implicit shift in educational mission is insinuating its way into academic life. In this parody of a university recruitment letter, I hope to bring the subtext of that shift into comic and tragic relief.