FUNDAMENTAL PREREQUISITES TO CREATE A PSYCHOLOGICAL PARADIGM SHIFT IN STUDENTS’ DEGREE CHOICE

With globalization the need for experts in various fields were identified. In Sri Lanka students and parents preferred to become engineers, medical doctors, accountants, and lawyers after completion of their studies. However, demand for jobs other than above categories kept increasing and a mismatch between the supply of qualified people in relevant fields as against the demand from industry and government generated. Government universities offered degrees in limited fields and students were compelled to enroll in degrees against their choice. The education system produced more graduates from certain fields that are not in demand from the industry perspective. This situation leads to unemployment and underemployment which is a social problem today. Therefore, a psychological paradigm shift in students’ degree choice is proposed in this paper as a long-term solution to this problem. This study administered a qualitative research approach consisting comprehensive desk research and opinion survey. The results reveals the seriousness of the problems in Sri Lanka, its root causes, potential solutions. The society in large has settled down with certain ideologies about the field of higher education that are not commensurate with the present global trends. This paper discusses about the fundamental prerequisites to create a psychological paradigm shift in students’ degree choice.

Analytical determination of DNA melting characteristic parameters using the optimal degree polynomial regression model

The article describes a new technique for determining two main parameters of DNA melting: the melting temperature Tm and the temperature melting range ΔT, based on the plotting of an approximating polynomial function for the DNA melting curve. An algorithm is proposed for reducing the melting curve to approximation by the fourth degree polynomial function in accordance with the physical aspect of the DNA melting process. The correctness of the optimal degree choice from the condition of minimizing the value of the Akaike’s information criterion corrected has been confirmed. Analytical expressions for calculating the values of Tm and ΔT are given oriented to a polynomial function of the fourth degree. Results comparison of applying the proposed and well-known techniques based on the experimental data is performed. The advantages of the new technique are revealed.

Giving Accounting a Second Chance Factors Influencing Returning Students to Choose Accounting

This study examines why non-accounting graduates return to school to pursue a degree and career in accounting (“converts”). Understanding why converts gave accounting a chance the second time around informs the profession and academia on how to more effectively identify and recruit high-quality students with diverse skills and backgrounds into accounting. We interview 16 converts and survey 100 accounting graduates. We identify the factors influencing converts’ accounting choice and contrast them with those influencing their first-degree choice and with those of traditional accounting graduates. Results show converts first need to “discover” accounting, then pursue it based on practical considerations such as job characteristics and earnings potential rather than passion for the topic, which is more salient for traditional graduates. This study demonstrates that converts are a unique source of talent as they already possess many of the skills highly valued by the accounting profession and which traditional graduates often lack.

Tourism education enrolment among Kenyan public universities: Socioeconomic aspects

The paper innovates on the existing literature and field data by assessing the socio-economic factors influencing the enrolment decisions of students, to tourism programs among 12 selected Kenyan public universities. The study uses a descriptive design. A structured questionnaire and an interview guide were used to gather data from 192 students and 12 departmental heads. The study used a multi-sampling technique; purposive sampling was adopted to select the universities, while simple random sampling was used to determine students pursuing a degree in tourism management. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS. A structural equation model was used for data analysis, following exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factors analysis. The logit regression results reveal the existence of a statistically significant relationship between socioeconomic factors and students’ choice to enroll in tourism programs. The most important reasons influencing the student’s tourism degree choice are tuition fees, employment prospects, and parents/family background. The study recommends that education practitioners, scholars, governments, and private sectors allocate resources and dedicate efforts to improving and tourism awareness among high school students. Future research should investigate the same study variables using longitudinal and in-depth approaches to minimize generalizability concerns related to the study findings.

Gender gap in STEM education and career choices: what matters?

PurposeThe paper innovates on the existing literature by assessing the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) tertiary education enrolment and career choice in a small country setting and by extending on Master and Meltzoff (2016) theoretical framework to provide a holistic explanation of the gender disparity through a mix of personal, environmental and behavioural factors. The study first probes into the existence of potential gender disparity in STEM tertiary enrolment in Mauritius. Second, in contrast with existing studies where selective factors are used to measure the gender gap in STEM education, this paper investigates into a combination of personal, environmental and behavioural factors that may influence participation in STEM education and career.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a survey of 209 undergraduates enroled in the main public university and investigates into the existence of a gender gap in STEM tertiary education enrolment and the reasons behind this disparity. Consistent with the theoretical model, the empirical analysis also investigates into the work environment (which cannot be measured from the survey), via semi-structured interviews of 15 women in STEM professions.FindingsThe logit regression results first reveal the existence of a gender disparity in the choice of STEM-related degrees. The probability of a female student to enrol in a STEM degree is lower than that of a male student, after controlling for all the personal, environmental and behavioural factors. The most important set of reasons influencing the student's STEM degree choice are self-efficacy and the student's academic performance in STEM subjects at secondary school level. The findings also demonstrate that young women are relatively more likely to choose STEM degrees than their male counterparts when they are supported by their family, school and teachers. There is further evidence of lower participation of women in STEM professions as well as significant challenges which women in STEM careers face compared to their male colleagues.Originality/valueThis study adopts a holistic framework to assess the factors that hinder women's participation in STEM tertiary education and career in Mauritius.

FACTORS AFFECTING COLLEGE DEGREE PREFERENCES OF SHS STEM STUDENTS OF THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY OF WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

The enforcement of the Senior High School (SHS) in the Philippines has caused fear among college programs of higher education institutions such as Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) that they might have a low turnout of enrollees. This research sought to identify factors impacting the college degree choice of Grade 12 STEM students of WMSU concerning the number of enrollees to its college degree programs. Results served as inputs on what measures can be taken by programs with a low number of enrollees. The study employed a descriptive-quantitative research design. Data were collected using a validated survey questionnaire on 160 students. The results revealed that interest factors were considered very influential among the five leading factors. Opportunity and personality factors have influenced students' college degree preference. In contrast, family factors somehow influenced them, while Peer factors have less influence on determining their college degree. The study further revealed that programs that integrate actual work experiences, have abundant career opportunities, and individual personality ideal to their chosen career significantly impacts students, thereby boosting their interest in pursuing that program. Students are also aware that family support is one crucial factor that affects their decision. However, no significant difference in the influence of family, interest, opportunity, and peer factors among graduating SHS STEM students, except for personality factors. Thus, a comprehensive information dissemination campaign regarding the program – its value, influence, and even employability, must be done by the college units is recommended.

DETERMINANTS OF AGRICULTURE AS A DEGREE CHOICE AMONG THE YOUTH IN BUKIDNON, PHILIPPINES

The research was conducted to analyze the determinants of agriculture as a degree choice among senior high school students in Bukidnon, Philippines. Specifically, this aimed to describe the personal and non-personal factors of the senior high school students examine the guiding principles of the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) curriculum in preparing students in choosing agriculture as a degree and analyze the determinants of choosing agriculture as a degree. Data were gathered through guided interview personally administered to 383 Grade 12 senior high school students in DepEd, District of Bukidnon. Focus group discussion and key informant interview were used. Descriptive statistical, Chi square and logit regression analysis were used to analyzethe determinants of agriculture as a career choice.Findings shows that the respondents are young, mostly female, and have experiences in farming, do not own a piece of land used in agriculture, willing to engage in agriculture but are not willing to enroll in an agriculture degree. Therefore, respondents who will pursue agriculture as a degreeare males and have land used for agriculture, farming experience, and a brother who is working in agriculture-related field. They are individuals who decide on their own degree, influenced by their mothers occupation and their family in decision-making. All the guidelines used by Maredia (2007) are complied by the college in the continuous development of the BS Agriculture degree program. Only the Innovativeness principle does not exist in the college. It does not yet offer distance and open access education but a six-month distance learning program for agriculture professionals may be offered. In order to attract the interest of the youth in agriculture degree, interventions must such as scholarship grants, linkages with private and other industries for on the job trainings and employment, loan system for entrepreneurial purposes of graduates.

Assisting Secondary Ed Seniors in Choosing a Higher Education Academic Major

Data show an increase in time taken by secondary education seniors in fully transitioning into higher education by declaring a major. Many of those who do make an early decision in choosing an academic major end up making numerous changes in degree choice, costing extra time, money and effort in attaining an undergraduate degree. In this project, researchers proposed an informational intervention by administering a strength, preference and interest career rating scale to interested participants from a secondary education setting. The results of augmenting the knowledge base of the participants showed a significant increase in confidence with choosing an academic major, post intervention. A higher effect manifested in Southwest Louisiana, though there was significant effect also in the Northeast region of the state. Researchers suggested federally subsidized programs such as TRIO may be instrumental in the difference of effect size in NELA and SWLA.

Female autonomy and fertility pattern among women working in formal sector in Kathmandu valley

Background: Fertility rate is declining more among women with higher education around the world. This may be due to number of years spent for achieving higher degree, choice of work and age at marriage. With growing autonomy of urban women and late age at marriage increases high risk pregnancy and declines number of children leading to decrease in young population. So, this study was done to explore the fertility pattern and associated factors among working women at formal sectors. Methods: An observational study was done among women working at formal sectors within Kath­mandu valley. A respondent driven sampling was used to achieve total 101 sample size. The study period was October and November 2019. Results: Median age of the participants was 40 and median age at marriage was 26.62 years. The association between level of education and age at marriage was statistically significant. The median age of pregnancy of the participants were 27 years and 58.4% of women had only one live child. Average number of desired children was 1.69 whereas actual number of children was 1.32. The gap between desired and number of children is statistically significant. Only 35.6% reported to have used some form of contraceptive devices as the measure of family planning. Conclusions: Fertility behavior of working women is not completely influenced by their working status except for higher age at marriage, pregnancy and desired number of children which in long term may affect in the growth of country.