Ethnocentrism and University Students in Ethiopia (1995–2018)

Since 1995 and until it apparently eased with the coming of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, ethnicity has become the dogmatic principle of the country for its social and political policies. Consequently, it has permeated through university campuses and affected relationships among students belonging to different ethnic groups. This study makes a micro-sociological ethnographic description and analysis of different “sites” of student interactions in curricular activities such as in classroom learning, extracurricular activities such as sporting, and service deliveries such as common residential compounds and dining halls at Addis Ababa University’s Main Campus.

Promoting Continuous Professional Development of English Teachers Through Action Research

The current study adopts a mixed-method research design to foster English Language instructors’ attitude toward professional development, self-efficacy beliefs, and reflective thinking. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory constituted the base and the professional development program was designed accordingly. The participants of the study were nine English Language instructors working at three different universities. Throughout the 16-week program, it was aimed to equip the participants with action research skills to conduct their own study in their own context according to their needs and/or interests. All the participants completed the Plan, Act, Observe, and Reflect stages of the Action Research Cycle.

Educating Gifted Children in Turkey: A Retrospective Analysis and the Current State

The purpose of this study was to examine the education of gifted children in Turkey during 1923–2020 from an historical perspective and to evaluate the current practices in gifted education. Drawing from the literature review, we first report on the policies and the legal and corporate advancements implemented in the field of gifted education since the Declaration of the Republic. Subsequently, current practices in Turkey, including Science and Arts Centres, high schools for gifted students, and resource rooms, are evaluated. The results of a review of the relevant literature are discussed in the light of the current situation. In conclusion, it is understood that coherent and consistent policies in the field of gifted education have been developed more strongly in Turkey during the last 30 years, corporate advancements have also increased during this period, and scientific studies have gained an upward enhancement during the last 20 years. Despite all these advancements, it is concluded that current practices have still various deficiencies and should continue to be developed.

A Discourse Analysis of Accounting Syllabuses to Assess the Extent of Curriculum Change: The Case of Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education

This study was undertaken to assess the extent of changes brought by the Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education (LGCSE). The LGCSE replaced the British General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCE O level). The new system was hailed as modern and progressive, recognizing wider ability performance. The study employed a comparative research methodology within qualitative research paradigm, comparing two Accounting syllabuses from GCE O level and LGCSE. Document and discourse analysis was used to obtain data. The study found that despite the educational rhetoric accompanying the introduction of the LGCSE, the syllabuses did not reflect any substantial changes or shifts.

The Benefits of Involving Undergraduate University Students in Creative Practice-led Research Projects

This paper examines the involvement of sixteen undergraduate students across four disciplines in a practice-led research project to create the “Once Upon a Time in Palestine” XR documentary by exploring how they performed when given complex challenges, to create this novel and complex practice-led research project. The students were trained and mentored but also were trusted to work under minimal supervision. This created a high level of engagement with the expectation of high-quality output and presented the students with opportunities not afforded to them within the rigid structure of their academic programs. This paper examines the engagement of the students, and their willingness to learn new technologies and apply this learning to produce high quality output under tight deadlines with minimal supervision and the value of interdisciplinary collaboration across multiple fields of study. The paper concludes that while there was a steep learning curve, the students were able to achieve high-level engagement and produce professional results within the specified deadlines, using the latest technological advances in the field, while learning new skills outside their academic program and also enhancing the outcome of the successful project.

A Bias for Science: Institutions, Pedagogy, and the Reality of Student Choice Across Subjects in China's NCEE Reforms

This paper examines the issue of student choice across subject streams in recent government reforms to China’s National College Entrance Exam (NCEE). Utilizing data from a case study of an urban high school in Beijing, it argues that student choice of subjects across previous streams of science or fine arts runs counter to existing institutional structures at the secondary and higher education level, consideration of pedagogical techniques that differ by streams, and a “bias” for science grounded in sociohistorical concerns of national development.

Concurrency of Learning: Strategies and Challenges of Promoting Coherence in the Core in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)

This study explored the empirical evidence with regards to concurrency of learning among the Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) and Extended Essay (EE), which are the core components in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). This mixed method research used a concurrency of learning questionnaire developed by the researchers as well as a focus group interview to explore and explain how concurrency of learning is promoted in the core. The research findings provide readers with insights on the strategies, good practices, challenges as well as suggestions provided by the school practitioners while achieving coherence in the core.

How Immigrant Parents and Local Parents Were Involved in Children's Education in Macau

The objective of this case study is to analyze how two groups of parents, a group who have newly arrived in Macau from Mainland China and the other who have resided in Macau for more than three decades, interact with the class teachers at the levels of “two-way communication,” “supervision of children at home,” and “participating in decision making” in a secondary school. The findings will redound to the benefits of school leaders, teachers, and indirectly the parents in a sense that looking closely at the ethnic and cultural differences between parents can promote effective cooperation between parents and teachers.

Instructional Leadership and Role of Module Leaders

Leadership plays an important role in an educational establishment as they help to manage the day-to-day activities. Instructional leadership has always played a distinct role in higher education as the role of instructional leadership was always to influence on effective teaching and learning processes. The purpose of this research is intended to identify the role of instructional leadership, including the relationship between instructional leadership and the role of module leaders in higher education using their own institution as a case study. The author conducted a small scall semistructured interview where two programme leaders were selected from the School of Business and Health and Social Care and were approached directly by sending formal email and also over the phone and asked if they were willing to participate. Research findings suggest that instructional leadership enables the programme/module leaders to establish a shared belief around the learning and can improve the learner’s achievement.