Factors and Challenges Influencing the Criminologist Licensure Examination Performance through the Non-passers’ Lens

<p style="text-align: justify;">This study aimed to explore the perceived factors that influenced the success and challenges experienced when taking licensure examination among Bachelor of Science in Criminology graduates of a state university in the Philippines who failed in the Criminologist Licensure Examinations (CLE). Descriptive-correlational research design was utilized to analyze quantitative data, and Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenology was used for the thematic analysis of qualitative data. The quantitative findings revealed that home and family factor has a high influence on the success in CLE, while student factor, school factor, review center factor, and personal factor have average influence. Further, ten clusters of themes emerged as factors that influence the success in CLE. Among them were interest and focus on the program, and availability of qualified and dedicated faculty. Among the themes that emerged as challenges were lack of preparedness for the exam because of one’s work, and personal and social pressures. There is a significant difference on the respondents’ perception towards the factors that influence the success in CLE when they are grouped according to sex. Regarding the challenges associated with preparing for and taking the CLE, a significant difference is only observed when respondents are grouped according to their civil status. Generally, married respondents have higher weighted means than the single ones. This implies that the identified challenges affected married respondents more than the single ones. These results can be used to make policies and initiate programs that would enhance graduates’ success in the exam by providing appropriate interventions and early remediations.</p>

Physiotherapy Education During COVID-19

The Bachelor of Science in physiotherapy is a four-year program that has been offered at The University of Jordan since 1999. Just like all other educational programs across the world, teaching pedagogy in this program underwent a major overhaul due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this chapter, the changes implemented in this program due to the pandemic and a discussion of their different aspects are presented. First, an overview of traditional teaching model and all the changes it underwent during the first year of the pandemic are presented. After that, specific aspects of the changes are addressed in depth and discussed in light of evidence from the literature. These include changes made to clinical and practical education, modifications of assessment methods, and responses and adjustments of students and faculty members. The chapter concludes with recommendations for future implementation of online teaching in physiotherapy education.

Factors Contributing To Absenteeism In Undergraduates Nursing Students.

Absenteeism is an act of being excessively away from educational institute which is a major indiscipline problem among students globally. Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Data was collected by using by self-administered questionnaire from nursing students of 13 nursing colleges offering 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in Punjab province of Pakistan after taking care of all the ethical considerations. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 130 participants from nursing institutes offering 4 year BSN program. Most influential factors for absenteeism identified were ‘not joined nursing studies as per choice’ (mean=3.77), ‘awaking up late for college’ (mean=3.62), ‘impending assignments’ (mean=3.),‘feel bored with certain subjects’ (mean=3.46),‘when teachers teaching skills are not up to mark’ (mean=3.67), ‘Lack of proper guidance in clinical area’ (mean=3.94), ‘shortage of staff in clinical area’ (mean=3.88), ‘Not want to be treated as workforce in clinical area’ (mean=3.82) very exhaustive and rigid or irregular timetable’ (mean=3.81). Nursing student’s absenteeism is interplay of multiple modifiable factors. Hence, necessary steps may be taken to overcome these modifiable factors to improve the quality of nursing education.

Training Needs Assessment for a Bachelor of Science Program in Eye Care at the University of Rwanda

BackgroundThe University of Rwanda, established the Ophthalmology Department in 2004 to train Ophthalmic Clinical Officers (OCO). A proposal was developed towards upgrading the qualification level of the OCOs training at the University of Rwanda.AimThis study aimed to assess the need to upgrade the qualification of ophthalmic clinical officers to improve eye health services in Rwanda.MethodologyA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 87 participants comprised of ophthalmic clinical officers, eye health development stakeholders, and employers in Rwanda selected purposively. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.ResultsThe results showed that 77% of participants in the stakeholders group and 51.4% in the OCOs group were males. About 97% (n= 34) of the OCO responded “Yes” to the questions “Do you think some of the weaknesses related to quality practice are related to the level of training?” and “Does your qualification have any effect to your professional development?” Furthermore, 85% had never been promoted at any employment position, 100 % (n=35) alumni and 84 % (n=22) stakeholders agreed that there is a need for bachelor’s degree program.ConclusionThe need for developing new programs in ophthalmology including a Bachelor of Science degree program for OCOs was evident.Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2021;4(3):357-365

Course Crediting and Academic Evaluation System of The College of Communication and Information Technology

The study aimed to develop a Course Crediting and Academic Evaluation System of the College of Communication and Information Technology (CCIT) in President Ramon Magsaysay State University – Iba Campus to offer an online system to ease the procedures of crediting and evaluation of the student academic records. Descriptive research design and descriptive statistics were utilized in this study. The dean, program chairpersons, and students of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering are the respondents of the study. The findings revealed that the respondents evaluated the software quality of the system using the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC): 25010:2011 as excellent. The respondents evaluated as strongly recommended on the degree of recommendation of the acquisition and implementation of the system. The Course Crediting and Academic Evaluation System is recommended to implement to improve the present procedures. Training to the end-users is advised to be conducted to know how to use the system. The maintenance and continuous enhancement of the system to adapt to the changing trends in information technology.

COVID-19 Anxiety and Associated Factors among Finalist Undergraduate Science Teachers

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic inflicted excruciating psychological problems and elevated social concerns globally, including anxiety among university students. This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with COVID-19 anxiety among finalist undergraduate students pursuing a degree in bachelor of science with education. A cross-sectional survey utilised data from 132 undergraduate science teachers at a university of science and technology recruited by census technique. Self-report data were obtained using the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale. Descriptive and logistic regression statistics were used to analyse the data. The prevalence of COVID-19 anxiety was found at 11.36%. Career aspects in pursuing postgraduate studies and a close person with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were independent factors associated with COVID-19 anxiety. Students with an intention to pursue postgraduate studies indicated a higher likelihood of COVID-19 anxiety (AOR=4.8, 95%CI: 1.04-21.69, p < .05). Furthermore, students that had no close person diagnosed with COVID-19 indicated a lower likelihood of COVID-19 anxiety (AOR=0.1, 95%CI: 0.02-- 0.63, p < .05). Higher COVID-19 anxiety was associated with lower future academic aspirations. Hence, knowledge of acquaintance diagnosed with COVID-19 was associated with an increased chance of developing the disease.

Factors influencing Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine students performance in Clinical Officer Council Licensure examination, Kenya

Background: Clinical medicine program has recorded high rates of student’s enrolment to training while their performance in clinical officers’ council (COC) licensure examination remains variable. This study investigated performance of clinical medicine degree student’s in COC examinations by determining student characteristics, institutional and regulatory body factors in relation to performance.Methods: A retrospective study, using mixed method approach to collect data. A sample total of 427 of students was analyzed while cluster and purposive sampling were used for key informants interviewed. Quantitative data was converted from Microsoft excel to statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software version 26 and analysed. Odd ratio was used to measure strength of association between students,institutions and regulatoy body charateristics and performance with p<0.05 being considered significant. Qualitative data was transcribed for content analysis.Results: The results indicated that there was highly significant relationship among the performance of students in government and private institutions respectively (p<0.001) unlike faith-based institutions (p=0.292). Private institutions were 0.158 more likely to perform better than other institutions while government institutions were 5 times more likely to perform better than any other institutions.Conclusions: Age, mode of study and years of experience were found to be significant factors associated with performance while intergrity in marking was an important concern. The recommendations from the study are that training institutions continue upgrading program but factors contributing to low performances should be looked into. There is need to select experienced faculty to teach and set competency based licensure examination after internship.The study has demonstrated that results can be used to predict performance which are reliable for developing recruitment and examination policies.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CHOICES OF CONCENTRATION FIELD AMONG LIBERAL STUDIES STUDENTS IN UKM

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is the first public university in Malaysia which takes up the challenge to offer Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies. This degree is the first personalized curriculum degree which entitles students to choose their own curriculum structure, which is called concentration field in this program. The concentration field is created by students to fulfil their future personal goals and career. This paper will highlight the fields chosen for their concentration and factors contributing to their decision. The study will use self -administered survey to registered Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies students. The data collected will be analyzed descriptively. Findings show that there are 52 combinations of concentrations fields which cross-disciplines of science, technology, humanities, and social science. Three main factors which influence decision in choosing the concentration field are interest, future career, and academic ability. Two lowest factors are parents and peers influence. This study suggests a model of success for Liberal Studies students includes three internal factors i.e., interest, ambition and academic ability, and three external support which are parents, peers and the university. This paper will give insights to other higher education institutions that are interested in offering this future-focused curriculum in line with the aspiration of the Malaysian Education Blueprint. Keywords: Liberal studies; Concentration, Citra UKM; Malaysian Education Blueprint; Future-focused curriculum.