Music in Secondary Education: Predictors of Music Subject Choices and Associations with Academic Achievement

This paper investigates the relationship between music qualification choice and academic performance in secondary education in England at Key Stage 4 (KS4; usually at age 15 and 16). We analysed data from 2257 pupils at 18 educational settings in a city in the southeast of England. Two regression analyses with clustered errors modelled KS4 music qualification choice and GCSE academic achievement in English, Mathematics, and other English Baccalaureate subjects, while controlling for a range of demographic, academic, and socio-economic variables. Choice of music as a subject at KS4 was positively associated with the total volume of KS4 qualifications entered for examination and was also predicted by coming from an affluent neighbourhood. Furthermore, this choice of music at KS4 was associated with greater academic performance on English Baccalaureate subjects above and beyond other significant predictors (gender, language, prior academic achievement, total volume of KS4 qualifications, and neighbourhood socio-economic status; local Cohen’s f-squared = .09). These results point to a small but significant additive effect of studying music at KS4 in relation to performance on core GCSE subjects. We also found that schools with KS4 music qualification choice greater than the national average were higher in overall academic attainment, in the proportion of pupils attending extra-curricular instrumental lessons, and in our composite measure of school’s engagement with a local music education hub. The results are interpreted in light of sociological theories of education in an attempt to better understand the underlying systemic factors affecting youth music engagement.

Current Situation of International Education for International Students in China

Over the past decades, China has become the education hub for many international students due to its internalization policies, education standards, economic advantage and the technological advancement. However, due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic which also affected the educational sector, the closure of boarder necessitated the transition from in-person teaching to virtual teaching for international students unable to come to China due to restrictions. This paper focuses first on the concept of internationalization, internationalization mechanism of China and the management model of international students and second on the current situation of international students within and without China. The source of the data for this study consists of previous literature and survey data collected using an online questionnaire. The findings of this study reveal that international students experienced minor difficulties in transitioning and adapting to online classes, although the level of satisfaction of the students is low. Based on the findings of the study it can be concluded that the Chinese internationalization agenda and corporations can be further enhanced by establishing online programs for international students, which will require rigorous adjustment of the curriculum to accommodate more people around the globe among other considerations.

Embracing Internationalization in Gearing Malaysian Higher Education Towards Global Education

Embracing internationalization is the reality in Malaysian tertiary education in this century. Various endeavors and research collaborations have been and are still carried out to achieve the government’s vision to position Malaysia as a tertiary education hub in the region. Using phenomenological approach, this study attempts to highlight challenges and strategies towards achieving internationalization of Malaysian higher education. Twelve lecturers from public and private universities were purposively sampled to discuss issues on internationalization of Malaysian tertiary education. Focus Group Discussions using semi structured interview protocol were undertaken. Data analysis and interpretation were carried out through thematic development. The findings revealed all participants are aware of the pedagogical approaches to be in practice to embrace the dynamics of global cultures convening in Malaysian lecture rooms. They highlighted the advantages of having international students from academic and social perspectives. Also included are ways how local students benefit with the presence of international students. These benefits emerged as participants discussed the consequences of Malaysian campus bereft of international students. In-class challenges and strategies to overcome them were deliberated. The findings also informed lecturers, administrators, and policy makers of relevant aspects to consider when dealing with international students at the tertiary level in Malaysia. Keywords: global education, internationalization, international students, tertiary education, phenomenology

Aesthetic expressions as data in researching the lived-world of children with advanced cancer

Background: Understanding the true world of children needs a special method. Using aesthetic expressions through artworks with reflections assists nurse researchers in exploring children’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviors in relation to their health and well-being. Objective: This article focuses on the use of aesthetic expressions as innovative data sources in a study of the lived worlds of children experiencing advanced cancer. Method: The use of aesthetic expressions in Gadamerian hermeneutic phenomenology and aesthetics, by means of van Manen’s approach using draw and write, is examined as a suitable approach in a study of the lived worlds of children experiencing advanced cancer. Results: The aesthetic expressions through the Draw-and-Write method of data generation were well-suited to a hermeneutic phenomenological study involving the group of Filipino children living with advanced cancer. The children drew images and figures of themselves, their families, classmates, friends, and teachers in several places and events during the series of two days. The drawings showed their facial expressions, home, parents, hospital stay, school activities, extracurricular activities, and other daily activities. Conclusion: Aesthetic expression linked to art and connected to human experience drew the participants into different realms and expanded their perceptual capacities so that the fullness of the meaning of the experience was appreciated. The understanding of the experience through aesthetic expression provided sensitivity to and awareness of the variation of experience among children with advanced cancer. It is hoped that this paper can contribute to an understanding of aesthetic expressions as pathways to understanding and support health professionals as they embark on their goal of creating or restoring a comfortable relationship with children. Funding: This study obtained a research scholarship grant from Thailand Education Hub for ASEAN Countries (TEH-AC).

SWOT Analysis of the Universiti Sains Malaysia Medical Educationists’ Preparations to Make a Regional Medical Education Hub: A Qualitative Study

The aim of this study was to analyse the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that describe the current circumstances of medical educationists in the School of Medical Sciences in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), particularly towards preparing themselves for becoming a regional hub in medical education. A total of 21 documents, including nine strategic management records, three department meeting documents and nine researchers’ observation journals were engaged in this study. The gained data were clustered by themes for each of the four categories which were strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats regarding medical educationists in the USM. High motivation and interest of the lecturers, interest in writing, presence of medical background, experienced in clinicals, experienced in management, presence of good health status, presence of postgraduate medical education and the presence of international students were designated as strengths of medical educationists. Presence of personal challenges, a majority of young lecturers and a majority with no PhD were stated as weaknesses of medical educationists. Positive support from family, strong support from the top administration to the medical education department, positive attention to individual instructors, two instructors having a PhD, supportive cadre, positive international perception to the department of medical education and large opportunities for research and school-provided grants were indicated as opportunities for medical educationists. Financial issues and facilities were expressed as threats to medical educationists. Consistent with the positive mode to move forward, there is a good chance for the USM medical faculty to become a medical education hub.

GOING FOR ADVANCED DEGREES? A STUDY AMONG THE CURRENTLY ENROLLED INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA USING A SEQUENTIAL APPROACH

Malaysia has positioned itself to be a regional higher education hub and targeted to increase its number of international students to 250,000 by 2025, from 81,424 students in 2013. In the face of COVID-19, Malaysia is expected to experience stiff competitions with other countries in attracting international students. In essence, apart from attracting new students to come and study, pursuing the currently enrolled international students to stay on for advanced degrees is equally crucial to achieving the objective of the internationalisation agenda. Many studies have been done on factors affecting the decision of international students in choosing a host country. However, the retention and its sequential nature have been largely ignored. This paper aims to examine the probability of retention using a sequential approach. The descriptive statistics analysis found that Malaysia could expect that around 42% of its currently enrolled international students will remain in Malaysia. Results of the estimated sequential logit model reveal that university services are the significant factor that influences the probability of retention, whereas the education cost is found to be insignificant. Thus, consumption motives dominate the investment motives in terms of the probability of retention. Based on the findings, various policy implications are suggested to improve the retention rate of international students in Malaysia.

Automated Rescuing Boat Tracking System Using Raspberry Pi

During floods, safety boats will be dispatched to help flood victims. The location tracking system is important to ensure the safety of the victim. Therefore, this project is conducted to track live locations and monitor flood survivors wirelessly. In tracking the victim’s location, a small and compact computer, called a Raspberry Piis installed on the boat and the recorded data has been uploaded online. This will help firefighters to monitor the location of the boat easily and help the victims navigate the boat to a safe place. A safety camera is installed to help firefighters monitor the situation as well. For system validation, various tests are conducted on-road, swimming pool and Panchor river in Muar, Johor, Malaysia. Hence, the performance on road is accurate. In fact, the recorded speed reading is similar to the speed measured by Google Maps. At the Pagoh Higher Education Hub (HPTP), Johor, Malaysia swimming pool, it is observed that, the faster the boat speed, the shorter the time required to complete a 50 meters trip. Finally, the river testing has shown that the boat speed increases when the boat moves in the same direction as the water current and slows down if the boat and river currents move in opposite directions.

Corporate Governance Models for Higher Educational Institutions: An Analysis

Since 2000, public and private higher education institutions systems in Malaysia are promoted to meet the nation’s needs. Consequently, restructuring the public university system took place in 2005 through the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010). Under the new structure, the system differentiates between the types of universities in Malaysia, including research, comprehensive, specialised, and technical universities. The new structure offers a strong answer to students’ diverse complexity of skills and attention and permits the best use of faculty with different skills subject to specific objectives. The higher education system in Malaysia responds to globalisation, marketing, and the information economy similar to other developing countries. This impact of the new initiative can be seen from the increment of the enrolment, combination of universities, better process in administration, the growth of private colleges and universities has been supported and all aspects of academic programmes that have been widened to cater the demands from the markets. Currently, in Malaysia, there are 20 public universities, 51 private universities and 10 foreign university branch campuses; 37 private university colleges and 338 private colleges. This growth and changes have made Malaysia into an education hub, especially in South East Asia. One of the issues concerned is the governance structure and framework applicable to these higher educational institutions. This paper deliberates on the theories and models of corporate governance and examines the governance structures and framework suitable and applicable to higher educational institutions. The research methodologies adopted by this paper are doctrinal and document analysis.

Trends and strategies towards internationalisation of higher education in India

PurposeThis study aims to explore what are the past trends in internationalisation of higher education (IoHE) in the country and how India's higher education (HE) internationalisation strategies are aligned to make India a regional education hub and a storehouse of global talent pool.Design/methodology/approachThis paper relies heavily on secondary sources of information. Document analysis and policy reviews to analyse the internationalisation strategies as well as quantitative data analysis to map the trends have been used.FindingsAt present, internationalisation in India is lopsided and may become a drain on Indian economy if not balanced soon. India is now focussing to correct its adverse inbound–outbound international student (IS) mobility in order to become attractive for international HE community; India aims to strategically “prepare to host,” which is subject to institutional abilities to implement new schemes and programmes. International credibility of Indian HE rests largely on quality augmentation.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based purely on secondary sources. It would be interesting to augment further with primary-level interactions with both policymakers and practitioners.Practical implicationsIt is a mix of academic and non-academic factors leading to improved quality of teaching, learning and competency-building in the higher education institutions (HEIs) rather than financial doles and incentives that should draw international academics to India in order to make the global traffic two way and financially viable for the country. IoHE to become viable and financially sustainable requires more comprehensive institutional efforts and mechanisms to bring in fee-paying ISs, research grants and multinational industry endowments.Social implicationsWith more fee-paying outbound students and more non-fee-paying or highly subsidised inbound student growth, the situation is already critical in terms of financial implications. This can have long-term implications of societal divide arising out of “global academic impoverishment” of majority Indian students unless state-supported assistance to ensure equitable access to international opportunities is provided to the needy students in the country.Originality/valueThis article is an analytical update on India's HE internationalisation and can be a valuable resource for policymakers, analysts as well as researchers.