Pedagogical Science Practices in Public Higher Education Institutions of Ethiopia: Progress Made but Challenges Remain

The contribution of education to the overall development of a nation becomes evident especially through higher education. This is because higher education is considered a key to delivering the knowledge required for ensuring sustainable development. Studies reveal a strong positive correlation between higher education participation rates and levels of development, as high levels of education are essential for designing and producing new technologies, and enhancing innovative capacities for the development of a society. While the reforms of higher education in high-income countries have received much attention, relatively little is known about the change dynamics in higher education system in developing countries. Therefore, with this research I want to contribute to a better understanding of higher education system in Africa, from the perspective of the type of pedagogy being practiced frequently and its consequences in producing competent graduates for the world of work by taking Ethiopian public higher education system as a case. To this end, data were collected from selected higher education institutions’ officials and instructors using questionnaire and interviews. The collected data were analyzed using mixed method. Findings of the study revealed that despite the offering of on-job pedagogical science trainings in the sample universities, little progress has been made in terms of applying student-centered pedagogy. Most of the instructors in the institutions still predominantly use traditional teaching methods. It is recommended that instructors in higher learning institutions should use critical pedagogy. Keywords: higher education, pedagogical science practice, progressive pedagogy, traditional pedagogy, transformative pedagogy

Sometimes Less, Sometimes More: Trends in Career and Technical Education Participation for Students With Disabilities

We leverage nationally representative data and statewide data from Washington to investigate trends in occupational career and technical education (CTE) participation for students with and without disabilities. Consistent with prior work, we document declines in occupational CTE participation since the early 2000s, but we provide the first evidence that this decline can be explained by movement out of courses that are no longer considered CTE. Under the definitions operating at the time, though, we show that participation by students with disabilities in applied science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medical/health (STEMM) CTE courses has increased over time, both nationally and in Washington. These trends are encouraging given prior evidence linking applied STEMM-CTE participation to better long-term outcomes for students with disabilities.

Socio-Cultural Practices of the Siberian Merchants of the Second Half of the XIX – Early XX Century in the Coverage of Modern Russian Historiography

The study of the socio-cultural activities of entrepreneurs including the history of everyday life as its integral part is one of the important aspects of the study of regional history. The historiography of the history of socio-cultural practices in pre-revolutionary Siberia has not been fully studied yet. The purpose of the article is to identify the patterns of the modern historiographic situation on the basis of understanding the study of the history of socio-cultural practices of business people in pre-revolutionary Siberia. The work used the general methods of scientific knowledge: historicism, logical analysis, deduction and induction, which made it possible to conduct a consistent analysis of the works of researchers, to identify the main characteristics. Modern researchers in their works have raised a number of problems: trends in the development of charity, the scope of investment of donated money, forms of participation in various events, contributions to the development of libraries, museums, schools, orphanages, etc. Historians used quantitative indicators of the participation of entrepreneurs in the social and cultural life of Siberian cities, the motives of the merchants’ charity. The following topics were studied: support for education, participation in the improvement of cities, contribution to the development of culture and museum affairs, financing of expeditions, church and charitable activities, targeted assistance to those in need. In general, and in the conclusions of this article, the expansion of scientific knowledge about the socio-social history of Siberia after the reform period is emphasized, the points of view of historians on the role and place of businessmen in the cultural and social spheres of the life of the region are revealed. Historiographic analysis is relevant from the point of view of modern discussions about the contribution of entrepreneurs to the development of cities, culture, economy, and charity in pre-revolutionary Siberia. The revival of entrepreneurship, modern socio-economic processes encourage specialists to in-depth study of the history of socio-cultural practices of the Siberian merchants.

Specialist palliative care teams and characteristics related to referral rate: a national cross-sectional survey among hospitals in the Netherlands

Background Specialist palliative care teams (SPCTs) in hospitals improve quality of life and satisfaction with care for patients with advanced disease. However, referrals to SPCTs are often limited. To identify areas for improvement of SPCTs’ service penetration, we explored the characteristics and level of integration of palliative care programmes and SPCTs in Dutch hospitals and we assessed the relation between these characteristics and specialist palliative care referral rates. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of a national cross-sectional survey conducted among hospitals in the Netherlands from March through May 2018. For this survey, a previously developed online questionnaire, containing 6 consensus-based integration indicators, was sent to palliative care programme leaders in all 78 hospitals. For referral rate we calculated the number of annual inpatient referrals to the SPCT as a percentage of the number of total annual hospital admissions. Referral rate was dichotomized into high (≥ third quartile) and low (< third quartile). Characteristics of SPCTs with high and low referral rate were compared using univariate analyses. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results In total, 63 hospitals (81%) participated in the survey, of which 62 had an operational SPCT. The palliative care programmes of these hospitals consisted of inpatient consultation services (94%), interdisciplinary staffing (61%), outpatient clinics (45%), dedicated acute care beds (21%) and community-based palliative care (27%). The median referral rate was 0.56% (IQR 0.23–1.0%), ranging from 0 to 3.7%. Comparing SPCTs with high referral rate (≥1%, n = 17) and low referral rate (< 1%, n = 45) showed significant differences for SPCTs’ years of existence, staffing, their level of education, participation in other departments’ team meetings, provision of education and conducting research. With regard to integration, significant differences were found for the presence of outpatient clinics and timing of referrals. Conclusion In the Netherlands, palliative care programmes and specialist palliative care teams in hospitals vary in their level of integration and development, with more mature teams showing higher referral rates. Appropriate staffing, dedicated outpatient clinics, education and research appear means to improve service penetration and timing of referral for patients with advanced diseases.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION: PARTICIPATION IN A SUBSIDIZED PROGRAM “EXPORT TRADE EXECUTIVE”

The economic conditions nowadays with the increased international competition, open borders, and easier money circulation in the market have created the need for additional production, while unemployment rates have been on the rise making adults required to enrich their knowledge attend training seminars in order to achieve a successful transition from the education stage to the labor market. These new market conditions have led to the promotion of professional development and training of the workforce, which will be achieved through vocational education (Valiente et al., 2020, Saar et al., 2013). At the same time, the need for more opportunities for personal and social development and employment has created lifelong learning in post-secondary education. Subsidized training programs are very often implemented, organized by large organizations, in order to provide additional knowledge to adult workers and the unemployed, regardless of age, level of knowledge, degree, and specialty. This study explores the motivation and the criteria of the participation in one of the Subsidized Unemployed Program with the title “Export Trade Executive”. According to the results of the research, the driving force for the participation of adults in this kind of program is the professional development of the participants, the improvement of their professional skills, the adaptation to the new technological data, but also socialization through the program. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0810/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Sociodemographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics, and Basic Skills of the Nonformal Distance Education Participants Among Adults in the US

Despite increasing demand in distance education, relatively little is known about the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics as well as basic skill levels of adult distance education participants at the national level in the US. This study analyzed the US data from the 2012/2014 and 2017 Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) to identify baseline determinants of nonformal (i.e., not for a formal credential or degree) distance education among adults aged between 25 and 65 years old. Results showed that higher educational attainment, employment, literacy skills, and digital problem-solving skills were positively associated with nonformal distance education participation. As recent distance education is provided predominantly through the internet and digital device, digital skills may be of particular concern. These identified determinants should be reflected in policy interventions to close education gaps. Additionally, the findings of this study are useful for future research that focuses on psychological and behavioral factors.

LONGITUDINAL MULTIPLE RELATIONS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION PARTICIPATION, SCHOOL GRADE, AGE, AND SEX WITH CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS CHANGES IN CHILDREN: A MEDIATOR ROLE OF CHANGES IN BODY COMPOSITION

To verify the multiple relations of physical education participation, school grade, age, and sex with longitudinal cardiorespiratory fitness changes in children and to identify if there is a mediator role of longitudinal body composition changes in these relations. Methodology: This is a longitudinal study, carried out from March to November of 2019, with children from 6 to 12 years old, 150 boys and 80 girls. Children were classified according to a cut point of 70% of participation in physical education classes (>70%= High PE x <70%=Low PE). Outcomes were Body Composition (BC): body mass index, skinfolds, waist to height ratio, and Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Individual delta variation (D%), Cohens D, Bonferroni test, generalized estimative equations (GEE), and structural equations model (SEM) were estimated. Results: The results show a general boy’s and girl’s increasing in BC variables and a decrease in CRF at follow-up which more strength in the Low PE group compared to the High PE group. The SEM model showed that Children in the High PE group have the most decrease in BC variables and it is a role to relations between the High PE group with increasing in CRF. Conclusions: High PE group was associated with a D%CRF increase, it is an indirect association mediated by D% BC reduction. The SEM presents children that reduce BC also increasing CRF and vice-versa. The present study appoints that High PE participation is important to minimize the negative longitudinal effects of fatness on CRF.

RESEARCH ON THE SYSTEMATIZATION OF SPORTS STUDENTS IN SCIENTIFIC EXERCISE TRAINING

ABSTRACT Introduction: It is not unusual that students do not like physical education. It has become a common educational phenomenon in current school physical education. Students have become less participative in physical education, serious and cold, less enjoyable, and stressed. The emergence of this series of changes is not entirely a matter of student attitudes. Objective: Aiming at school students who like sports but do not fall in love with physical education, participation quality continues to decline, students do not exercise themselves, and have no concept of exercise load. This research aims to learn and master the knowledge and skills of physical exercise through a digital fitness teaching system, effectively improve students’ scientific exercise ability, mobilize students’ hobbies to actively participate in physical exercise, improve the unscientific physical exercise habits of students in the past, promote students’ physical and mental health, and lay the foundation for lifelong physical education. Methods: The methods studied in this article mainly include an experimental method, document method, expert interview method, questionnaire survey method, mathematical analysis method and other methods. Results: After two weeks of experimental preparation and ten weeks of teaching experiments to develop students’ physical exercise ability, the students’ aerobic exercise ability has been steadily improved. Through the digital fitness teaching system, students’ interest in participating in physical exercise is strengthened and the cultivation of sports emotions and physical habits, improving the school's physical exercise environment and meeting students’ physical exercise needs. Conclusions: The digital fitness teaching system is in the development and test stage. The first generation of digital fitness bikes has many problems with hardware and software. As an important supplementary form of school physical education under the new situation, this system greatly promotes students’ lifelong physical education and learning scientific physical exercise. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

Does cooperative membership impact the yield and efficiency of smallholder farmers? Evidence from potato farmers in Mongolia

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of agricultural cooperative membership on potato production and technical efficiency.Design/methodology/approachA combination of propensity score matching technique and sample selection stochastic frontier framework that addresses potential selection bias due to observable and unobservable attributes is used to estimate the effect of participation between cooperative members and non-members. Using a stochastic meta-frontier approach, the technical efficiency of farmers was estimated and compared.FindingsThe empirical results show that the effect of participation in agricultural cooperatives is associated with increased yield and technical efficiency. A comparison of group-specific frontiers indicates that cooperative members perform better than non-members. Cooperative membership decisions is significantly associated with household and farm characteristics (e.g. education, participation in off-farm work, total farmland, distance to market and geographic location).Practical implicationsThe findings of this study demonstrate that cooperative organisations can be an important tool to enhance the productivity and efficiency of smallholder farmers. Successful cooperative models together with training programs designed to enlighten farmers on the importance and tangible benefits of collective action should be used to enlarge participation in cooperative organisations. In addition, governments and development agencies should implement targeted investment and capacity building programs related to irrigation management, gender-sensitive awareness and development of the internal institutional mechanisms in cooperatives for the transfer of knowledge and mutual learning so that all members benefit from cooperatives.Originality/valueDespite the pervasive evidence of the impact of cooperatives on productivity and technical efficiency in the Asian region, this study is probably the first attempt in the crop sector in Mongolia. It provides a rigorous empirical analysis of the impact of agricultural cooperative membership on potato production and technical efficiency through a counterfactual design.