Student Satisfaction Approach for Enhancing University Competitiveness

Universities contribute to the creation of a knowledgeable and skilled national workforce. The world over, universities are hailed as one of the old forms of organizations that have been instrumental in contributing to the development of many nations by producing skilled and intellectual human resources needed to produce goods and services. For this role fulfillment, the universities must ensure student satisfaction as students are the core of the very existence of universities and most important stakeholders in the higher education scenario. Moreover, student satisfaction is likely to enhance not only the better teaching-learning process, knowledge transfer, but also the competitiveness of the universities. This is all the more relevant and probably the best way to adopt for the university to play their role effectively and also is competitive in emerging economies. Hence, adopting a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional research methodology, this study aims to deliberate on how student satisfaction is the right approach and can drive university competitiveness.

Competitive Advantage and Student Recruitment at a Namibian University

Business competitive advantage theories when applied to student recruitment processes can assist universities in their goal for global competitiveness. Thus, the benefits of applying marketing theories and concepts which have been effective in the business world are gradually being recognised by researchers in the field of higher education marketing. The competitiveness of the university can be defined by how the cost leadership strategy, differentiated strategy, and student recruitment strategy are integrated. Consequently, this study aimed at examining relationships between cost leadership, differentiated strategies, and student recruitment processes at a Namibian university. This triangulated study applied a sample of 141 (135 students, 6 staff). The study established that the university is below average in terms of providing students with affordable tuition fees. The university has a good reputation of providing quality education to students, a good programmatic diversity, and provides (at above average) excellent teaching, research, and services.

Nurturing Curiosity Learning Through STEM in Physical Education in Zimbabwe

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) develop deep mathematical and scientific underpinnings students need in the 21st-century workforce. The future of many countries lies in lifetime engagement with STEM education. STEM is an expressive curriculum pertinent to learners and develops reasoning, investigative, and creative skills. Modern lives that affect the economy are transformed through innovations. Economic ambitions can be driven through supporting technological creativity solutions for economic competitiveness. Children see STEM as a tool that helps them understand their world and critically think about intentionally incorporating different subjects across existing curriculum. This paper looks at the possibility of nurturing curiosity in physical education through STEM in Zimbabwe. The paper uses library methodology approach. The article proposes appropriate instruction for underprepared workforce through workshops and staff development. Proficiency thinking, problem-solving, and engineering skills exposure are also advocated for.

The Promotion of Self-Regulated Learning Through Peer Feedback in Initial Teacher Education

This study explores how peer-feedback promotes self-regulated learning (SRL) processes in initial teacher education. Self-regulation capacity is analyzed through Pintrich's MSLQ questionnaire. A total of 50 students have participated in this experience during the year 2015-2016. Tasks that enhanced self-regulation and learning to learn competence were developed in this course. In order to analyze the effect of these tasks on SRL, pre- and post-tests were administered to the experimental (n=50) and a control group (n=45). The results revealed an improvement in self-regulation capacity, especially in those items relative to help seeking, task value and self-efficacy.

Multidimensional Faculty Professional Development in Teaching and Learning

Higher educational institutions exert great effort to improve educational quality and effectiveness to cope with digital challenges in education. The impact of COVID-19 on education highlighted the importance of the achievement of sustainability in higher education. To overcome many of these challenges, faculty members need sustained professional development infrastructure embracing individual and institutional dimensions for enhancing educational qualifications. In this study, a quantitative method was employed to explore goals, individual needs, and institutional expectations of faculty in an international university in a developing country. The obtained survey data were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics (i.e., Kendall's coefficient of concordance, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Mann–Whitney U test). The findings demonstrate that the preferred goals of the faculty are found as developing skills in disciplinary knowledge, teaching and learning, and research. To achieve these goals, they favor certain capacity building activities and support services. Findings reflect the faculty's positive attitude towards multidimensional development, thus opening up to the global knowledge-based community. This study contributes to the existing literature as a pilot study to identify that faculty professional development needs are in line with student academic support.

Capacity-Building for Sustainability

An American K-12 cooperative educational services provider (“The Agency”) has an issue: partner school districts are saving money by building internal capacity for professional development, rather than fully utilizing expertise from the Agency. The aim of this evidence-based case study is to inform the Agency on capacity-building for innovation. The researchers performed three separate rapid evidence assessments, followed by a standard systematic review process to synthesize findings across 31 studies. Key findings identified from the research include (1) organizational capacity and program evaluation lead to organizational sustainability, (2) agency leadership should guide strategic organizational change in order to establish a shared vision for evaluation and feedback, and (3) organizations benefit from practicing continuous and ongoing learning through feedback loops. The findings of this study may be generalizable to other similar educational service providers or non-profits looking to strengthen organizational capacity and partnerships.

Online English Reading Instruction in the ESL Classroom Based on Constructivism

With the development of Internet technology, teachers are constantly seeking innovative methods to match the potential of enhanced technology. Although many studies have been conducted before on this subject, they are not enough in this field. The purpose of this article is to explore innovative designs to change traditional modes of teaching and examine the impact of online English instruction of reading, based on constructivism. The research study was carried out at the Number 9 middle school of Bengbu, an underdeveloped area of China. In the study, online methods were compared with traditional textbook literature methods to improve the reading proficiency of students. A questionnaire survey was designed specifically for this study and it was administered to the students at the end of a semester, and the data was analyzed. The outcome of this study indicated that students considered online method as effective and that they gained more knowledge. This method helped them in improving their reading skills, aroused student interest and motivation, and exam performance of the students has been improved significantly, and thus, it created a positive learning situation.

Professional Skill Enrichment in Higher Education Institutions

The present study concentrates on assessing the ongoing method of capacity building of teachers in higher education institutions of India. It has been conceptualized with the objective of making a comprehensive study of the prevailing techniques of capacity building and skill enrichment for the teachers in higher education institutions of the country; determining the adequacy and effectiveness of these techniques in capacity building and enhancing the skill and competency of the human resources; and finally, suggesting ways of making the techniques more objective and purposeful besides what other measures can be implemented for improving the present system. The study reveals that there is a need for making an assessment of specific teachers' needs while designing subject specific training programmes that should be offered using modular approach and by incorporating latest developments in the concerned disciplines. Capacity building programmes must include IT-based competency enhancement modules offered through massive open online courses (MOOCs) and specialized certification courses.

The Impact of Language Use and Academic Integration for International Students

This article investigates the prevalence of online activity and preferred language use in these tasks. A survey was administered to students enrolled at three institutions to determine the frequency of their engagement in different online tasks in addition to the language(s) that they used. This work uses Transformative Learning Theory as a lens to examine how these students use language to navigate their transition into their new roles as college students and members of new communities. Several differences were noted among the study sites, reflecting the culture of the region and the varied student populations. The authors suggest minor revisions of the measure and continued investigation with additional international study sites to broaden data and allow for specific, culturally-based suggestions for improved student support. Increases in both international student enrollment and technology use require exploration of how these students use the Internet. This work is unique addressing the need to balance student emotional support needs and their need for language acquisition.

Retention of Online Learners

The most important word for contemporary global higher education institutions is retention. Although online education enrollment in these institutions has increased by approximately 40 percent in recent years, the dropout rates for online students is approximately 20-30 percent more than for face-to-face classes. Institutions have tried to address this issue, but the dropout rate continues to be a serious concern. The authors of this manuscript propose that the addition of online services for online students as a possible solution.