Understanding How International Students from the Caribbean Arrive at the Decision to Remain within the United States Post-Graduation and the Connection to Brain Drain

Using a phenomenological research design and a sample of six international students, who remained within the United States post-completion of their highest earned degree, the authors examined the underlying considerations participants made during their decision-making process. The interview questions posed to participants included the following: (i) what experiences have led you to remain within the United States after your highest level of education, (ii) tell me about the process you undertook towards arriving at that decision, and (iii) tell me about people at your institution who were instrumental in helping you make that decision. The results revealed that all six participants relied on the following considerations: economical, political, and social, which contributed to their decision. For all the participants, lack of job opportunities and receiving low salaries or wages back home played a key role in their decision to remain within the United States.

Kesabaran dalam Regulasi Emosi pada Santri di SMA Al Muqoddasah

This study aims to empirically determine the emotional regulation of students at Al Muqoddasah High School, which focuses on the aspects of emotional regulation, factors that influence emotional regulation, and the patience of students. This research is a qualitative research with a study focused on emotion regulation and uses a phenomenological research design, and uses a Gross’s theory of emotion regulation as a reference in the analysis. The subjects of this study were one male student and one female student. The data collection technique is done by interview and documentation methods. Meanwhile, data analysis was performed using data reduction techniques, data presentation, verification, and conclusion drawing. The results of this study are the differences in aspects and emotional regulation factors possessed by the two students, as well as patience in dealing with existing problems. This study provides an overview of aspects of emotion regulation that affect the way students regulate their emotions; factors that affect emotion regulation such as the relationship between parents and children, gender, and interpersonal relationships; and patience of students as a form of regulation of positive emotions of students in dealing with the problems they have The conclusion of this study is that both students have aspects of emotional regulation and factors that influence emotional regulation, although both of these indicators are not owned by both of them as a whole, and the patience possessed by both students is not completely perfect.

The Main Problem Areas of International University Students: A Qualitative Analysis on Azerbaijan Students

The international student mobility, aiming to create and sustain international integration has been an essential part of the education market in the 21st century. However, while such international student exchange programs contribute to the students and the cities hosting them, they bring along some problems. The aim of this study is to identify the main problem areas that international university students are likely to encounter. By applying the qualitative research method, the phenomenological research design was used in the study since it aims to reveal the problems of students based on their individual experiences. In-depth interviews were conducted with the Azerbaijani students studying at Akdeniz University selected as the research sample, which were then descriptively analyzed. The main problems were identified as “economic problems, inability to understand the local language, problems with accommodation, feeling cheated and intimidated, being inexperienced, lack of knowledge about the formal procedures, cultural diversity, lack of support, and exclusion”. The problems regarding finance and accommodation emerged as the most frequently mentioned problems. The main strategies to overcome these problems are also discussed.

Experiences of Students with Visual Impairments at an Open Distance and e-Learning University in South Africa: Counselling Perspective

The purpose of the qualitative study on which this article is based was to explore the experiences of students with visual impairments registered at an Open Distance and e-Learning University in South Africa, through a phenomenological research design. Literature was reviewed on student support in distance education and concepts from the critical disability theory, biopsychosocial model of disability, connectivism and affect theories formed the conceptual framework for the study. Telephonic semi-structured interviews were used as a technique to collect data from seven participants. Data were transcribed and then coded employing ATLAS.ti. The emerged themes centred on students’ counselling experiences, the synergy between the departments, and accessibility of services. It was also determined that students lose academic time due to the lack of resources and study materials in alternative and accessible formats. While policies and implementation plans were claimed to be in place, they do not address the reality on the ground due to a lack of coordination of disability issues, and late referral of students to counselling services. The study recommends the prioritisation of disability issues, and it needs to be incorporated in the wider university’s strategic plan to accelerate its implementation. This will translate to (i) training ICT staff on various computer software programs needed to support students with visual impairments, (ii) developing alternative formative and summative assessments, (iii) developing a graduateness and job readiness intervention programme to empower the students financially and add value to the university’s employment equity agenda, and lastly (iv) putting the disability unit at the centre of all disability matters for coordinating purposes.

The place of African belief and germ theory on the causes of human diseases

This study looks into the African belief about the mystical causes of diseases and the tenets of Western germ theory. Despite widespread Western medical practices, African people still strongly believe in the mystical causes of diseases. This reveals that as far as the African traditional belief is concerned, Western germ theory cannot satisfy the African belief in the causes of diseases. This is as a result of some of the diseases defying Western healing. The study adopts a qualitative phenomenological research design and descriptive method for data analysis. Personal interview forms a primary source of data collection while the secondary source includes library resources. The study observes that some mystical agents in African cosmology, such as witches and sorcerers, ogbanje, and breaking of taboos are responsible for untimely deaths, infliction of diseases to humankind and other related ailments which are believed to be traditional in nature.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The study recommends that hospitals and healthcare centres, within and outside Africa, should take into consideration the mystical agents as well as the pathogenic agents for good and efficient healing.

Exploring Experiences of Accounting Student Teachers with Digitally Mediated Learning: A Phenomenological Perspective

Conducted against the backdrop of forced online learning imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this study sought to explore the learning experiences of accounting student teachers with digitally mediated learning. Anchored in phenomenological research design, focus group interviews were used to generate qualitative data from purposefully selected accounting student teachers while member checking was used for validation. Content analysis of data revealed sufficient concurrence in the phenomenological voices of students that they experienced anxiety, stress, isolation, demotivation and lack of contact with their classmates. In mitigation of these experiences, the study recommends that lecturers need to develop learning material with which students can interact meaningfully, and create and maintain a live, interactive virtual learning environment in which student learning is monitored and evaluated continuously. The students appreciated the flexibility of digitally mediated learning and its provision for real opportunities for learning beyond the physical learning environment. The study found that digitally mediated learning creates a platform for a creative, innovative and non-contact learning environment in the new educational dispensation of the COVID-19 pandemic era. It therefore calls for a radical paradigm shift in the pedagogical assumptions and practices of lecturers towards a student-centred virtual learning environment which thrives on digital technology.

Widowhood and associated risks in under-resourced communities: A Social Work Perspective

The perpetual growth in the population of widows globally signals the need for systematic research and interrogation of the phenomenon of widowhood. Under-resourced communities have been side-lined from imperative investigations and systematic documentation to inform practice. This article discusses the risks associated with widowhood in under-resourced communities of Binga District in Zimbabwe. Following a qualitative research approach and a phenomenological research design, purposive sampling was employed to engage ten widows in one-on-one in-depth interviews. Data were analysed thematically and backed up by existing literature to provide thick descriptions. The findings of the study indicated that widows were exposed to an arsenal of health, psychological, social and economic risks. Many of the risks associated with widowhood are exacerbated by lack of supportive environments and provision of conducive environment to trigger proper adaptation mechanism especially among the young widows in under-resourced communities. The conclusions reached were that widowhood risk factors continue to increase among widows in under-resourced communities impacting negatively on optimal living and adaptation with the widows’ circumstances.

Leading Intergenerational Learning in Organizations: An Example from Turkey

Within the fact that there are members of different generations in organizations nowadays, intergenerational learning in organizations has become more and more important. Some managers are observed to confuse about how to lead intergenerational learning environments in their organizations which makes important to conduct a research on this problem. Thus, this study was conducted and it aimed to understand the intergenerational learning process and how to lead it in a production facility in Turkey. The study group includes 61 people who are employees, team leaders, department directors, field directors and instructors. The study was carried out in the phenomenological research design. The data were gathered through interviews and analysed with content analysis. The results brought out six main themes, which are which are creating zone, acting according to generational differences, increasing motivation, supporting personal development, recording and managing “know-how”, and creating intergenerational respect and understanding.

Use of Short Stories in Language Learning

This study is an attempt to explore understanding of English teachers on the use of traditional short stories in language learning and find out the impacts of extensive reading of culturally embedded short stories in consolidating students' language learning. Phenomenological research design was adopted to carry out this study in which 8 English teachers represented 4 from public and 4 from institutional secondary schools were selected from Kirtipur Muncipality of Kathmandu district through purposive non-random sampling procedure. In-depth-interview and classroom observation were used as tools to collect data to address the objectives of this study. The findings of this study show that the language functions and vocabulary could be improved through short stories; language skills could be cultivated with the help of reading short stories; their higher order thinking skills are developed reading short stories; and they get entertainment, motivation and refreshment.

Peran Kepala Sekolah Sebagai Supervisor Kinerja Guru Bimbingan dan Konseling

This study aims to determine the description of the role of the principal as a supervisor in improving the performance of Guidance and Counseling Teachers at SMA Negeri 10 Banjarmasin City. The approach in this study uses a qualitative approach with a phenomenological research design. The method used in this study in collecting data is to use interview and documentation techniques, which will then be analyzed and seen for the validity of the data using data triangulation techniques. The results obtained based on data collected through interviews and documentation found that the Principal of SMA Negeri 10 Banjarmasin has carried out his roles and functions as well as duties and responsibilities as school supervisors by carrying out planned and scheduled supervision of guidance and counseling teachers in improving their performance. In addition, based on the data collected through interviews and documentation, it is known that the supervision technique used by the Principal of SMA Negeri 10 Banjarmasin is an individual technique using 3 supervision activities, namely, class visits, class observations and individual interviews.