„Wie ist das denn in deinem Heimatland?“ Kommunikative Muster invektiver Kulturvergleiche im Orientierungskurs

The German Orientation Course is considered as one of the most important measures of integration policy in Germany. It is a mandatory German language and cultural course dedicated to refugees and immigrants. It aims to provide knowledge about the German political system and certain ‘cultural’ German values. This article examines the Orientation Course as an intercultural encounter, as a place which is institutionally and politically framed and also as a hierarchically didactic arena where cultural mediation takes place. It illustrates also how invective communication happens through the establishment of certain communicative patterns which can degrade or disparage social groups. Based on participatory observation in the Orientation Course using the Genre Analysis, this article argues in which ways these communicative patterns can affect the social order and unite or shape groups.

The Role of Social Adjustment in a Collegiate Behavioral Activation Program

The transition to college is associated with significant changes in social support networks and concomitant increases in depressive symptoms. First-year students who are more socially engaged within their new academic settings may experience greater overall wellbeing. Behavioral activation (BA) is an evidence-based intervention which promotes individuals’ engagement with valued activities and has been examined as a possible primary prevention for depressive symptoms among first-year students. Yet, the important role of social adjustment, and its impact on students’ activity level, has not yet been considered. The current study is a secondary data analysis of research evaluating a BA-based intervention embedded into a first-year orientation course. The aim of the project was to evaluate the efficacy of BA on improving social adjustment and the effect of social adjustment on subsequent depressive symptoms. A diverse sample of college students ( n = 71) attending a state university in the mid-Atlantic region reported on their levels of depression, behavioral activation, and social adjustment. Students then received either BA or standard programming. Results suggest that improved engagement in valued activities at mid-intervention was associated with increases in students’ perceptions of their own social adjustment. This, in turn, predicted steeper decreases in rates of depressive symptoms post-intervention. Findings also indicate that greater social adjustment improved the efficacy of a BA-based intervention in reducing depressive symptoms, but had no impact on depressive symptoms for students receiving the standard orientation programming.

“This course is like a compass to us” – a qualitative study on newly settled migrants’ perceptions of civic and health orientation in Sweden

Background Migrants face structural, socio-political barriers in their resettlement processes that negatively affect their health. Migration also adversely impacts resources such as social capital and health literacy that are of importance for health and integration into society. Hence, there is a need for health promotion in the early post-migration phase. In Sweden, newly settled refugee migrants who have received a residence permit are offered an Introduction programme including a civic orientation course. The program is intended to facilitate access to the labour market and promote integration. The aim of the study was to explore participants’ perceptions and experiences of a civic orientation course with added health communication. Methods We performed six focus group discussions: two in Arabic, two in Farsi and two in Somali. The discussions were facilitated by native speaking moderators. Participants were 32 men and women recruited from civic orientation classes in the county of Stockholm. We used an interview guide with semi-structured questions. The data were analysed using a method for content analysis for focus group discussions. Results Three main categories were identified: (1) ‘The course gives valuable information but needs adjustments’, which includes that the civic and health orientation is needed earlier, during the asylum phase, and that planning and course content need adjustments. (2) ‘The health communication inspired participants to focus on their health’, which includes that the health communication was useful and inspired uptake of healthier habits. (3) ‘Participation in the course promoted independence and self-confidence’, which includes that the course gave insights into society and values in Sweden, and promoted independence and new social contacts. Conclusion This study adds knowledge about the users’ perspectives on the potential of civic orientation to promote the health and integration of newly settled migrants, describing ways in which civic orientation with added health communication promoted health and empowerment. However, the content and delivery of the course need adjustment to better fit the migrants’ life situations and varying pre-existing knowledge.

SKILL ACQUISITION AS TOOL FOR SOLVING YOUTH RESTIVENESS AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA: THE ROLE OF NYSC

As of late, the scourge of abducting, cybercrime, terrorism, armed robbery, prostitution, brain drain among others has established an oddity among young people. For this, federal government have acquainted several scheme to assist in checking joblessness among youths. In March 2012, the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) initiative introduced Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship (SAED) Programs into the NYSC orientation course content. The objectives of the scheme incorporate sensitization and mobilization of young graduates for skill acquisition, assistance of preparing and tutoring in business enterprise development. This study look at the usefulness of the NYSC-SAED program in reducing youth restiveness and unemployment among young graduates in Nigeria. 60 Corp members currently serving were interviewed using key informant interview and Focus Group Discussions. Significant theoretical and empirical literature were reviewed. This research was supported on Strain Theory. The study population comprises of 60 Corp members selected arbitrarily from Anambra State. The information gathered were analysed using simple percentages and descriptive statistics. Greater part of the respondents recognized that the NYSC-SAED program has made them to become independent after the service year since they set up their independent company with the little training they got. The study therefore recommend that efforts ought to be geared towards leasing with financial institutions and protection offices to help in giving funds and protection which will help in living condition and improve their businesses. Likewise, SAED handouts ought to be made accessible to all Corp members at the camp at no expense to guarantee full participation by every one of them in the training. Keywords: Skill Acquisition, Training, Unemployment, NYSC-SAED, Mobilization, Entrepreneurship Mentoring.

Pedagogical support of future teacher for academic mobility at the university

Professional training of future teachers in the twenty-first century is impossible without taking into account its global context. For professional success in a rapidly changing world, new personality traits are required: mobility, flexibility, adaptability, tolerance. In this regard, the internationalization of pedagogical education and the teaching profession is becoming a global trend today.The purpose of this article is to analyze the current situation of academic mobility in the Republic of Kazakhstan, identify barriers that hinder the development of academic mobility of students, experimentally test the effectiveness of the orientation course on academic mobility for students. In order to provide pedagogical support and develop motivation for academic mobility of students at the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, we have developed and implemented an orientation course for 2nd year undergraduate students «Student Mobility: Opportunities and Prospects» in the first semester of 2020, which prepared and acquainted future teachers with the possibilities of international academic mobility programs and the features of credit technology of education. According to the results of the introductory course of the second year bachelor’s degree, changes were noted in the motivational component of readiness for academic mobility of students in the experimental group. In conclusion, we noted that to provide pedagogical support of future teacher for academic mobility at the university , it is necessary to use various kinds of programmes in the educational process in order to increase readiness of students for academic mobility. It is also necessary to carry out systematic pedagogical support of students for academic mobility, to involve tutors, advisers, teachers, coordinators of the international department to eliminate linguistic, organizational, informational, resource, normative, meaningful barriers to academic mobility of future teachers.

Preparing lifelong learners for delivering pharmaceutical care in an ever-changing world: a study of pharmacy students

Background Continuing professional development (CPD) continues to gain acceptance as a model for health care professionals to engage in lifelong learning (LLL). Many pharmacy schools have not adopted yet specific programs targeting the development of LLL skills, though LLL is widely accepted as an essential competence. This paper examines the effectiveness and utility of a longitudinal CPD training program. Methods A CPD simulation course was introduced to a cohort of fifth year students in Northern Cyprus in the 2018–2019 academic year. The program was delivered as an interactive orientation course in one semester; meanwhile, in the second semester, the students applied the CPD cycle and completed their portfolios during their final experiential practice. A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate the outcomes of the intervention using students’ preparedness for lifelong learning (SPLLL) self-administered questionnaire delivered pre-post program, focus group sessions for students to reflect on the course experience, and instructors’ evaluations of portfolios. Results Following the implementation of the course, students’ assessment scores were significantly higher overall and for all scale domains, including “knowledge, skills, attitude and practice”, compared to the baseline assessment. Additionally, compared to fifth year students who responded to the second SPLLL questionnaire, the intervention group students’ assessment was significantly higher in knowledge, skills, and practice. The qualitative analysis reported high student satisfaction and achievement of the course objectives. Nineteen of the students scored high on their portfolios. Conclusion The CPD simulation course provided students with opportunities to practice and develop self-assessment and self-management skills that are all desirable for lifelong learning and prepared them for CPD.

Preparing Lifelong Learners for Delivering Pharmaceutical Care in an Ever-Changing World: A Study of Pharmacy Students

Background Continuing professional development (CPD) continues to gain acceptance as a model for health care professionals to engage in lifelong learning (LLL). Many pharmacy schools have not adopted yet specific programs targeting the development of LLL skills , though LLL is widely accepted as an essential competence. This paper examines the effectiveness and utility of a longitudinal CPD training program. Methods A CPD simulation course was introduced to a cohort of fifth year students in Northern Cyprus in the 2018-2019 academic year. The program was delivered as an interactive orientation course in one semester; meanwhile, in the second semester, the students applied the CPD cycle and completed their portfolios during their final experiential practice. A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate the outcomes of the intervention using students’ preparedness for lifelong learning (SPLLL) self-administered questionnaire delivered pre-post program, focus group sessions for students to reflect on the course experience, and instructors’ evaluations of portfolios. Results Following the implementation of the course, students’ assessment scores were significantly higher overall and for all scale domains, including “knowledge, skills, attitude and practice”, compared to the baseline assessment. Additionally, compared to fifth year students who responded to the second SPLLL questionnaire, the intervention group students’ assessment was significantly higher in knowledge, skills, and practice. The qualitative analysis reported high student satisfaction and achievement of the course objectives. Nineteen of the students scored high on their portfolios. Conclusion The CPD simulation course provided students with opportunities to practice and develop self-assessment and self-management skills that are all desirable for lifelong learning and prepared them for CPD.

Time Perspective and Grade Expectations as Predictors of Student Achievement and Retention in the First Year of Community College

The authors examined three motivational factors (first-year grade expectations, present-focused time perspective, and future-focused time perspective) as predictors of achievement and retention outcomes for students ( N = 844) in their first semester at a predominately Hispanic-serving community college, accounting for student background characteristics. In this correlation research study, instructors administered surveys to students in a required first-year orientation course. Survey data was then merged with institutional data. The results of the multiple regression analysis suggested that first-year grade expectations, present-focused time perspective, age, ethnicity, first-generation status, and academically underprepared status were statistically significant predictors of first-semester GPA and explained 9.0% of the variation, whereas future-focused time perspective, sex, and economically disadvantaged status were not. First-year grade expectations and economically disadvantaged status significantly predicted second-semester retention; the other study predictors did not. This study expands research on malleable motivational factors educators could target to support students in their first year of community college.