Search

Nurse educators play a critical role in preparing the next generation of nurses to provide high-quality patient care. The ongoing preparation of knowledge and skills for nurse educators is crucial for maintaining the quality of nursing education, particularly during the unexpected challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a workshop series on five concurrent teaching methods for nurse educators in Vietnam. A mixed-methods study was conducted. An online workshop series was conducted for 25 nurse educator representatives from five nursing schools across Vietnam. The workshop program covered of five teaching methods, including (i) teaching from face-to-face class to e-learning, (ii) team-based learning (TBL), (iii) case-based teaching (CBT), (iv) debriefing techniques used in simulation training, and (v) developing peer program to assist students’ learning. Pre- and post–surveys were used to test knowledge of teaching methods, followed by semi-structured individual interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and comparison statistics, while qualitative data underwent content analysis. Results showed a significant improvement in participants’ overall knowledge following the workshops, with the mean total score of correct answers increasing from 12.48 (SD = 2.77) in the pre-test to 16.8 (SD = 3.81) in the post-test. Substantial gains were observed in three specific areas: the classic progress of activities in team-based learning, Kolb’s experiential learning cycle in simulation debriefing techniques, and the core value of the peer mentoring model had significantly improved. Most nurse educators expressed satisfaction with the training workshops, with the “debriefing technique” being the most interesting topic. Two major themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: fostering interest in updated teaching methods and motivating the change. This study suggests that replicating the workshop series on teaching methods would be a beneficial in facilitating ongoing improvements in teaching practice in Vietnam’s nursing education system.

AbstractThis study investigates the impact of innovation dimensions on the export activities of Vietnamese manufacturing and processing enterprises, considering the moderating role of environmental uncertainty. By applying the Probit Effect Random Regulatory Model (RE Probit) and xtTobit, the study utilizes three different sources of secondary data in the period 2016–2019: the General Statistics Office (GSO)’s annual enterprise census, the Survey on the use of technology in the production of manufacturing and processing companies by GSO, and the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to determine the correlation between the research variables. The research findings demonstrate that innovation positively affects both the propensity and intensity of exports. Specifically, when compared to non-innovative firms, those that prioritize innovation observe a notable 12.4% increase in export propensity and a 1.4% enhancement in export intensity. Moreover, the study highlights the moderating role of environmental uncertainty, encompassing challenges related to basic infrastructure, transport infrastructure, communication infrastructure, and institutional environment, in mitigating the impact of innovation on export outcomes. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of how process and product innovation affect export propensity and intensity while considering the complexities introduced by environmental uncertainty. Consequently, the study offers several implications that can aid policymakers in enhancing export performance, particularly in dynamic and changing environments.

Students’ learning experiences are considered useful indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching in tertiary education. With limited theory-driven research, this study aimed to examine whether the educational environment is able to mediate the relationship between student workload and generic skills. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1347 nursing students in ten nursing schools across Vietnam from November 2021 to January 2022. The results showed that the total score of the students’ workload and the generic skills were 3.25 ± 0.59 and 3.84 ± 0.56 (possible score: 1-5), respectively. Students were at an “agree” level with statements like “the sheer volume of work to be got through in this course means you can’t comprehend it” and “as results of doing this course, I feel more confident about tackling unfamiliar problem”. Most nursing students rated the educational environment at levels of “more positive educational environment” (N=1018, 75.58%), with a total score of 120.75 ± 20.78 (possible score: 0-200). The educational environment was identified as a mediator in the relationships between the workload and the generic skills. The direct effect on workload was -0.00035 which was not significant (p=0.987) with the generic skills. The indirect effect of workload that passes through the educational environment was -0.07 and is also statistically significant, at p= 0.002. As such, the study suggests that, to enhance students’ generic skills, it is necessary to instruct students in efficient learning strategies to help them manage their academic workload, particularly during unexpected situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, despite the occurrence of a high level of student workload, nursing schools could focus on efficient tactics and interventions to improve the educational environment, which subsequently helps to improve students’ outcomes.