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The doctoral journey is a complex endeavour, and like any complex project, deserves to be managed accordingly. Agile Project Management has been used successfully by practitioners in the Software industry for the last two decades and recently is being adopted in other industries, including in Higher Education. Based on the author's personal experience, this autoethnographic paper discusses the situations in which a model based on Agile principles might be applied to doctoral research and thesis write-up and the ways in which it might make the process more predictable and successful. The model developed in this paper can be generalised at least in part to various types of doctoral programmes, where candidates and supervisors can benefit from risk reduction through incremental knowledge creation, continuous learning, and increased visibility into progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 Pandemic has ushered in significant challenges for supporting community and belonging in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). This paper seeks to provide key recommendations to strengthen such activity, through a critical evaluation of a set of innovative community and belonging enhancement projects undertaken in a modern Scottish University. In doing so, the paper adds deeper understanding of how community and belonging are conceptualised and facilitated within HEIs. The evaluation was qualitative in nature and involved interviews with 13 staff members and students who were leading enhancement initiatives in the institution. Through an exploration of what shaped staff and students' understandings and experiences in relation to community and belonging, several important themes emerged that are of value across the sector. These findings include a new framework of 'authentic belonging', the effectiveness of student ownership, and the current context of restricted opportunities for belonging enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times ‘publish or perish’ has become the motto of academia. This paper provide some basic insights into the process of publishing, the view from the perspective of the editor of the journal and gives helpful hints to improve the odds of getting published in the right journal and communicating with the right audience. The need for perseverance is emphasised. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Postgraduate Taught study (PGT) students are often assumed to be confident and independent learners, and many possess a strong sense of professional identity and thus are perceived as not requiring support. This paper aims to address these perceptions. This paper presents a qualitative study of the experiences of PGT students at an Australian university who participated in a Transition In program that has been embedded in the curriculum. The primary aim was to explore the effectiveness of the Transition In program, which is the first step in a program-wide employability curriculum strategy. The findings of this study demonstrated that students' levels of confidence and engagement as well as their connection with their profession increased as a direct result of feeling supported. This paper highlights the importance of, and benefits gained by providing PGT students structured support to enable them to successfully transition into their program of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flipped classroom approaches have increasingly been adopted in the Australian higher education sector. However, current research on this approach is predominantly quantitative and focused on domestic students. Little is known about the flipped classroom learning experiences of undergraduate international students in Australia. This paper sets out to investigate undergraduate international students' challenges in a flipped classroom environment, based on thirty-two semi-structured interviews with undergraduate international students at an Australian university. We identified several challenges, including language issues, barriers to autonomous learning, as well as technical and technological challenges. International students in our study also provide constructive recommendations to improve the design of the flipped classroom. This paper contributes new insights into the nuances of undergraduate international students' challenges in a flipped classroom environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review maps patterns in research on Challenge Based Learning (CBL) in higher education (HE) between 2009 and 2020. How is CBL defined in HE settings? How is CBL in HE grounded scientifically in the research? The results show a shift of CBL from being a concept coined by a multinational technology company targeting learning in schools, to being embraced by HE, first and foremost as a method for transformation of adult learning. A critical scientifically grounded approach towards learning is however absent or marginally present in the papers reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a cognitive load perspective, successful collaborative learning occurs if groups achieve their goals, and if each member processes information in a way that contributes to individual learning. This research looked at group work among postgraduate STEM students in South Korea (N = 55) to see if successful collaborative learning and individual contribution were associated with greater individual course success. Results showed that students who participated in successful group work showed higher levels of germane cognitive load, which contributes to learning, and also earned higher scores on the final research paper for the course. Implications of this study highlight the need for synchronous collaborative writing to be used as a way of sharing ideas and knowledge to produce higher levels of individual understanding and quality writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of artificial intelligence in academia is a hot topic in the education field. ChatGPT is an AI tool that offers a range of benefits, including increased student engagement, collaboration, and accessibility. However, is also raises concerns regarding academic honesty and plagiarism. This paper examines the opportunities and challenges of using ChatGPT in higher education, and discusses the potential risks and rewards of these tools. The paper also considers the difficulties of detecting and preventing academic dishonesty, and suggests strategies that universities can adopt to ensure ethical and responsible use of these tools. These strategies include developing policies and procedures, providing training and support, and using various methods to detect and prevent cheating. The paper concludes that while the use of AI in higher education presents both opportunities and challenges, universities can effectively address these concerns by taking a proactive and ethical approach to the use of these tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Block mode delivery is widely practised in higher education institutions across the world. It is popular at postgraduate level, such as in business and management fields, but is less common at undergraduate level, especially for studio design teaching. There is a lack of literature on the block mode delivery for studio design teaching. The aim of this paper is to identify the favourable attributes and challenges of the block mode delivery for studio design teaching through the analysis of three undergraduate design studio units at an Australian university as case studies. Students' written feedback of studying these three units were collected and reviewed to evaluate strategies for enhancing student engagement. Challenges of block teaching to students and staff are discussed. The findings suggest that there are various ways to engage with students for active learning in block teaching, which are valuable for curriculum design and continuous improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health professional education (HPE) has been affected significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to a combination of disruption to healthcare systems, changes to workforce needs, the effects on tertiary education provision and a necessity to innovate. While a challenging time, these were also opportunities in disguise. There is evidence that HPE is historically slow to adapt at the best of times; COVID-19 was an unavoidable catalyst for change. As the world tries to adapt to 'COVID-19 normal' life, it is essential that those in HPE consider what a 'COVID-19 normal' response might be. The learnings noted in this paper draw on recent literature and aim to help health professional educators consider what we have learned from our experiences during the height of the pandemic and ways of advancing curricula, teaching and learning. While the learnings are drawn from the health professions, they likely have relevance to professional and higher education more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our ever-changing and complex world, we encounter difficult problems that demand sophisticated solutions. Critical thinking, a vital skill for modern survival, lies at the heart of higher education. It is what we should develop in students, arguably a concept that defines higher education. Critical thinking, however, is subject to wide interpretation and definition. This paper explores how business school academics conceptualise critical thinking in relation to final-year undergraduate students. Thematic analysis identified three core themes that combine to form critical thinking as concepts in the business school context, namely critical thinking as skills (predominantly of argumentation), critical thinking as dispositions (scepticism, open-mindedness and flexibility), and critical thinking as originality (creativity, contribution). Whilst the inclusion of skills and dispositions is confirmatory in line with broader conceptualisations of critical thinking in higher education, originality forms an additional, if contested, nuanced component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature indicates that collaborative activities can support professional learning (PL) for academics teaching in higher education (HE). Nevertheless, limited approaches for collegial PL exist that can be embedded in the day-to-day work of busy academics. This paper reports on an evidence-based approach to practice that was undertaken to develop an authentic, structured, collegial approach to PL for academics. This involved a review and synthesis of relevant literature, which revealed that collegial PL could be supported through self-initiated communities of academics; collaborative, social interaction with peers; safe, non-judgemental, supportive, conversations; critical reflection; sustained inquiry into practice; an exploration of perspectives; and bespoke resources. These findings informed the development of the Collaborative Peer-Observation Learning Circles (CPO/LC). The approach includes a four-stage process and adaptable template resources designed to facilitate academics' collegial PL while also meeting the needs of accreditation requirements in HE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In post-millennial societies, creativity is heralded as crucial to individuals and societies, valuable for the economy, essential for leadership and vital for the future of work. In our unprecedented times, creativity is a necessary attribute that universities are embracing to ensure future-proof and employable graduates. However, there is a scant literature on how creativity is embraced in the assemblage of higher education. To ascertain if a common definition of creativity is used by higher education institutes, we conducted a systematic literature review that initially identified 2990 papers. Findings confirm that a definition of creativity in higher education does not exist nor is there a commonly cited definition, and several domains (e.g. social and cultural) influence the definition of creativity. Although creativity remains elusive, it is necessary for growth, survival and success. The potential dilemma of an agreed and shared definition of creativity applicable to the heterogeneous demands of higher education is presented [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge associated with energy conservation is important but it may appear difficult and monotonous to students due to the presence of jargon and complex scientific concepts. This research created two digital question-and-answer games and compared them with a traditional paper-and-pencil learning method to explore how different learning approaches would affect college students' learning for knowledge of energy conservation. This research conducted a between-subject experiment with random assignment to examine short-term effects of the three different learning methods on motivation, attention, and learning outcomes. The results revealed that participants who played the digital game equipped with more cartoon-style, animated, and interactive features scored significantly higher than the lower-complexity digital game group as well as the traditional paper-and-pencil group on the learning outcome tests. Moreover, in contrast to many previous studies, use of these digital games was not found to affect learning motivation and attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers issues that continue to shape doctoral education in Australia in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of relevant issue, and to identify opportunities for future research. It describes examples of responses taken at an institutional level, and their implications for the norms and practices associated with postgraduate research, supervision and candidate support. Comments from discussions with a small number of Australian Deans of Graduate Research are used to illustrate the challenges faced, and the responses taken. The article provides a concise outline of the policy and historical context for these responses, and concludes by considering some of the issues that continue to shape doctoral education in Australia today. It highlights the rise of location-independent graduate research and the prospect of generational change in the higher education workforce as significant factors in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as potentially fruitful avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we focus on the experience of faculty learning to do the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Our two studies uncovered similar threshold concepts in SoTL in two contrasting contexts; one study done in the United Kingdom with teaching-focused academics while the other study, done in North America, focussed on educational leaders at a research-intensive university. Both studies revealed similar ontological and epistemological transformations of learning and doing SoTL. Underpinning the results of these studies is the reality that educational leaders are situated within a complex cultural network of personal, professional, and financial tensions. There are two levels of institutional culture: university level and departmental level. But, institutional policies are only useful if also supported locally. This paper is of interest to those developing their expertise in supporting SoTL, as well as faculty on a teaching and scholarship career route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers an insight into the use of poster presentations as a means of helping students prepare and develop their arguments for their final project work to be submitted for assessment. The five students, all from a Masters in Social Work course in Gothenburg, Sweden participated in an international conference in Bratislava, Slovakia. The use of poster presentations, understood in this paper from a constructionist theory of education perspective, also created the opportunities for building student’s self-confidence and helping them develop their own academic voice. Furthermore it is argued that this process helped scaffold their knowledge building before the final submission of their course work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the usage of smartphones in university classrooms across three different countries from the instructor’s perspective. Using a qualitative, cross-cultural approach, we interviewed 30 instructors via semi-structured interviews to understand their viewpoints and experience with student smartphone usage in class. Instructors reported positive benefits that included active learning and the accessibility and sustainability of the smartphone as a learning tool. Participants also highlighted the challenges that include preventing critical thinking and direct instructor issues including distraction, loss of control, and discouragement. Instead of implementing new technology strategies in a top-down manner, organisations should co-create strategies with students and instructors to enhance motivation and focus. With technology being a common cohabitant in the classroom, this paper adds value from the perspective of instructors regarding their struggles, opportunities, and strategies when dealing with smartphones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

\nSummaryVirtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated environment where scenes and objects appear to be real, immersing the user in their surroundings. This systematic review aims to explore the benefits and challenges of VR and AR in higher education and to identify the trends and issues regarding courses and teaching methods in which VR and AR are integrated. 95 articles from the past 7 years were reviewed to gather comprehensive insights. According to findings, VR and AR in higher education have been used most frequently in medical courses, while simulations have been predominantly implemented as teaching strategies in VR and AR. The most common types of research methods have been experimental and survey studies. The findings indicate that, while VR/AR has promising potential in higher education, certain challenges such as understanding how and when virtual and augmented reality can be most effective must be addressed before widespread adoption in higher education.What is already known about this topic Virtual and augmented reality-based learning modes, in terms of motivation and engagement, may attract and motivate learners to learn and boost their confidence.Virtual and augmented realities are not widely used in education due to limitations such as required technologies, cost, etc.Virtual and augmented reality-based learning modes, in terms of motivation and engagement, may attract and motivate learners to learn and boost their confidence.Virtual and augmented realities are not widely used in education due to limitations such as required technologies, cost, etc.What this paper adds Virtual and augmented realities in higher education have been implemented mostly in medical courses. These courses include medicine, biology, surgery, and nursing.In terms of interaction and collaborative learning, the teaching strategies used with virtual and augmented realities do not provide an interactive environment and opportunity for collaborative learning for students, contrary to expectations.Simulations have been used mostly in virtual and augmented reality research in higher education. Simulations are explained as scenario-based learning in some research, and students were expected to complete some tasks based on the scenario.Virtual and augmented realities in higher education have been implemented mostly in medical courses. These courses include medicine, biology, surgery, and nursing.In terms of interaction and collaborative learning, the teaching strategies used with virtual and augmented realities do not provide an interactive environment and opportunity for collaborative learning for students, contrary to expectations.Simulations have been used mostly in virtual and augmented reality research in higher education. Simulations are explained as scenario-based learning in some research, and students were expected to complete some tasks based on the scenario.Implications for practice and/or policy It is crucial to identify how and when learning with virtual and augmented realities is effective.Virtual and augmented realities in higher education have both advantages and disadvantages in the context of technology-enhanced learning, and its use is up to the learning designers.It is crucial to identify how and when learning with virtual and augmented realities is effective.Virtual and augmented realities in higher education have both advantages and disadvantages in the context of technology-enhanced learning, and its use is up to the learning designers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the redesign of an MSc module to enhance students’ engagement and learning through embedding social media technologies into the academic curriculum as a learning and assessment strategy, and in a complementary manner that facilitated and enhanced the achievement of the module’s learning outcomes. This paper describes the process and some of the components of the module redesign. Although the eventual redesign allowed for incorporation of social media both as a learning strategy and for assessment purposes, this paper is focused on use/application of social media in academic curriculum as a learning strategy. Grounding the new module in constructivist pedagogy, and an enquiry-based action learning model, the redesign leveraged the use of social media to expand the interrelational dimensions of students’ learning. This increased the students’ engagement and the depth and breadth of their learning, while enhancing their appreciation for e-professionalism and personal learning networks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In order for feedback to effectively facilitate learning and development, it needs to feed-forward from one assignment to the next. Yet, it is not always clear how to determine if feedback is actually feeding forward. This paper, therefore, presents a translation device, using Legitimation Code Theory, and specifically, semantic gravity, to help tutors better understand whether, and to what extent, their feedback is feeding forward. The aim is to help tutors better develop their feedback-giving literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on responses of 645 students (N = 6540) on 4 University of London (UoL) distance learning courses to a variety of course components. Published research on best practice in student learning stresses the value of active learning and of student collaboration. By contrast, our respondents report that they regard more active individual learning components such as reflection and self-assessment exercises as less helpful than course content such as readings, and they rate peer engagement much less highly than individual learning. We discuss why these learning behaviours and preferences seem to be at odds with accepted best practice, and explore possible implications for design and operation of online learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to understanding the role of task conflicts in team-based online learning. The X-Culture network has created an online learning community that involves students all over the world. Correlation and regression analysis revealed that a higher diversity of teams by nationality positively affected team performance. The indirect effect of team diversity on team performance mediated by task conflicts accounted for 59.6% of the total effect. Moderate task conflicts improved team performance. However, instructors and coaches have to prepare students at the early stage of their project cooperation to distinguish between task conflicts and relationship conflicts influenced by motivation, free riding, and online communication habits of team members living in different time zones. Suggestions for preparing students to manage conflicts in online international team projects are presented. These suggestions are relevant for innovative learning projects in higher education involving students from many countries to knowledge co-creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feedback is powerful for learning in education, and the workplace. Work-integrated learning bridges these two settings, but how prepared students are to use feedback strategies as they enter the workplace remains unknown. This paper documents an exploratory, mixed-methods, study involving final-year occupational therapy students. The students were undertaking work-integrated learning to develop project management skills. The specific research questions addressed were; how feedback literate are final-year students; and, can feedback literacy (FL) education improve FL in preparation for the workplace? Likert scales, open response questions, and assessment rubrics were utilised. Opportunities for FL education were provided. Statistically significant differences between pre- and post-test survey responses were evident. Four qualitative themes were identified; enacting feedback, choice of feedback, emotional impact of feedback and value of the outsider perspective. Some students demonstrated sophisticated feedback capabilities. Others engaged tokenistically with feedback. Tentative support for the effectiveness of one FL intervention was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes four principles for managers and higher education educators who are designing units and programmes so as to be dual mode ready. 'Dual mode' design and delivery enables students to equitably complete their studies fully online, while also offering on-campus experiences where possible. The four principles are: (1) All learning outcomes can be met irrespective of participation mode; (2) Teaching-learning activities are equitable across participation modes; (3) All students have equivalent opportunity to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes; and (4) 'Online ready' design. Being dual mode ready will likely remain important as on-campus delivery may not be possible for all students. Further, universities may need to pivot rapidly to fully online delivery for a range of reasons, including pandemic-related circumstances. The four principles provide guidance on how best to ensure equity and fairness for students and teachers in a dual mode context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating theory-into-practice is an important skill for professionals to master during their university education; however, students and educators find learning and teaching about theory-into-practice challenging. To address these difficulties 'Transition Workshops' were implemented within a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. A mixed methods evaluation was conducted using pre- and post-workshop surveys and focus groups. Qualitative findings, the focus of this paper, were that team teaching helped educators feel more confident in teaching theory-into-practice as it was more enlivening than solo teaching, it provided opportunity for professional development, it enabled better understanding of the whole curriculum, and it modelled a consolidated professional identity. Team teaching assisted students by providing them with multiple role-models. This study highlighted that some of the challenge in supporting students to learn how to integrate theory-into-practice may be addressed using team teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cinemeducation has been used for diverse teaching objectives in medical education. To our knowledge, there are no published accounts of using cinemeducation in combination with simulation. We designed a pedagogical activity combining cinemeducation and simulation in a programme to teach patient safety. This paper aims to describe the design and implementation of the activity, analyse its feasibility, and assess students' opinions of its usefulness. A total of 70 second-year Spanish medical students participated; 31 (44.3%) completed a survey assessing the activity. Most expressed total or partial agreement with statements indicating activity was useful. The combined activity facilitates the reflective process by applying the emic/etic perspective. While simulations and cinemeducation share experiential learning techniques, adding cinemeducation helps overcome some of simulation's limitations in reproducing complex professional scenarios. This combined approach is feasible and well accepted. Combining these two approaches promises to be useful in other disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of postgraduate research education and training in the higher education sector, drafting might be understood as ‘not quite the final product’ produced by the student who is ‘not yet the final product’ of the university. In this paper, I turn this assumption ‘off centre’ to argue instead that writing and subjectivity are mutually constitutive. The execution of competent writing is, I will suggest, the effect of the repeated performance of a particular academic subjectivity, instantiated in text, over time. The interconnected concepts of the social subject and the relational subject are central to the work of this paper and I draw on Judith Butler’s work on peformativity to rethink the relationship between writing and academic subjectivity. Butler’s subject is an unstable subject rather than a fixed identity category, formed in and through discourse and language. Extrapolating from her work to the context of higher education research writing pedagogy, my task in this paper is to exemplify some of what I will call the intersecting vectors; i.e., the limitations, exclusions, foreclosures and improvisations that work together in complex often unpredictable ways in the production of what and who is recognisable as an intelligible text and a competent research writer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a call to action to engage readers in cultivating reflective practice. The demands of a rapidly changing global society, the influences on emerging learning and teaching landscapes, and the ubiquity of information in twenty-first century society are catalysts for this focus on reflection. The author conducted a literature review, integrated with personal experience, resulting in a proposed PARA model (pausing, attending, revising, adopting, adapting) as an extension to existing reflective practice models. In the context of this paper, reflective practice is addressed in terms of professional development within higher education (HE) and the personal experience of its transformational potential. This model offers an opportunity for educators to take time to experience reflection beginning with a pause. Although not an instant solution, this act of pausing can kick-start and cultivate reflective practice for novices or lapsed practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative case study examined a group of undergraduate students' motivations towards extracurricular research in a Hong Kong university. Drawing upon data from semi-structured interviews, this study analysed the students' motivation change from the cognitive, social, and affective perspective. The findings revealed that the students were externally and internally motivated to join informal research activities and that their motivation change was intertwined with their cognitive learning, social interactions, and emotional experiences in the research process. The paper concluded with practical implications on supporting and sustaining undergraduates' motivations in extracurricular research activities to benefit their academic studies and future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore the potential role of Master's of Education dissertation/thesis work in developing twenty-first century skills. A total of 600 education professionals studying Master's of Education programmes in five countries – Poland, Portugal, England, Latvia, and Romania – were surveyed. The findings have revealed that participants recognise the usefulness of twenty-first century skills for their (future) professional practice, and perceive dissertation/thesis work as a valuable foundation for developing these skills. This study offers practical implications for designers of Master's of Education programmes and contributes to our understanding that this assignment is not only a formal requirement for obtaining a degree, but that it also serves as a pathway towards deepening students' professional learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identity lies at the heart of doctoral study – a mysterious learning process which culminates in Ph.D. students’ metamorphosis into doctors. This paper explores the identity-related experiences of six international Ph.D. students enrolled at an Australian university by examining how different individuals, events and interactions contributed to (or disrupted) their sense of themselves as researchers and scholars. Analysis of the participants’ learning narratives revealed significant disparities in the agency they exercised and the opportunities and support they received, ultimately suggesting that those individuals endowed with the most cultural capital experienced the most favourable identity trajectories. Accordingly, the paper argues that greater efforts are needed to support non-traditional doctoral candidates in their journey to become confident scholars and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Teaching enterprise modelling is a complex task, as it requires both teaching modelling syntax as well as how to select and extract information from several sources, such as IT systems, employees, and existing documents. To aid teaching enterprise modelling Apprenticeship Simulation (AS) may be used. AS is a form of case-based learning where the students examine a case by following a virtual expert who gives them information sources with which they should work. A case as presented to the students can be quite complex, consisting of numerous types of diverse sources, including recorded interviews and links to real-world dynamic sources such as web pages. In this paper, we present a set of principles for the design of AS case presentations. The principles are based on our experiences in applying AS in four courses in the area of enterprise modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maturity models have been introduced over the last five decades as guides and references for information system (IS) management in organizations from different sectors. In the education sector, maturity models have also been used to evaluate higher education institutions (HEIs) across several dimensions, such as information and communication technology (ICT), management, process management, course curricula, course/HEI accreditation, e-/m-learning, online courses and pedagogical strategies. In fact, HEIs are faced with enormous complexity due to the specificity and quantity of their processes. Based on the guidelines concerning a methodology for a systematic literature review, the maturity models of different subareas of education are identified and categorized in this paper. For each maturity model associated with HEIs' ISs, the appropriate methodology for development and validation is identified, as well as the scope, stages and their dimensional characteristics. This study highlights the need to develop an IS maturity model that supports HEIs in their core business activities and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using active learning methodologies with large classes in higher education is a complex task. Lecturers often lack the tools they need to guide their students, while also taking into consideration their individual needs. This study proposes an expandable strategy for introducing active learning following a metacognitive approach involving problem-based learning and anonymous peer assessment. The approach was implemented over two sessions as part of a 16-week business management class taken by 223 students. The results reveal that students were able to develop both their management and critical thinking skills at the same time. The main contributions of this paper are: 1) a metacognitive approach, where students discovered their own knowledge gaps and developed their critical thinking skills, and 2) an active learning approach suitable for large classes, where students received teacher guidance and individualised feedback from their peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a research project conducted with international doctoral students documenting student and faculty members' experiences in a writing workshop. The purpose of this study was to understand the complexities associated with international students' academic writing competencies and develop a supportive culture as they pursue their education in the US. Participation in the writing workshop aided students in progressing through the four stages of Burch's learning model. The findings suggest that, intensive writing experiences improve writing abilities, perceptions of writing, and knowledge of when to pursue writing assistance. In addition, the workshop supported the researchers in gaining insight into their international students' experiences leading towards improved pedagogy for this student population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper regards the mechanical curriculum teaching as a design problem and uses environment-based design (EBD) method to solve it. First, environment components and their relations of the mechanical curriculum are found out by recursive object model (ROM). Then, conflicts in the teaching process are identified by analysing the above relations. Finally, solutions for solving these conflicts are generated. The proposed method is applied to mechanical manufacturing technology foundation (MMTF) curriculum with 217 students in grade 2016 in China. The solutions used in MMTF include decreasing the mental stress of students, developing more experimental projects, applying real cases and projects, adopting variety of assessments and so on. Compared with the performance of students in grade 2015, the average attendance rate and final scores are both increased, and three of the four achievement values of graduation attributes are risen. The practical example illustrates the EBD method is effective in improving curriculum teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on students as podcast providers rather than receivers and answers the question, ‘Are learner-generated podcasts a useful approach to assessment?’ Through the use of a single institution case study, this paper presents an evaluation of 53 (taught) postgraduate business students’ reflective learning assignments in which they chose to reflect upon their experience of podcasting. The evaluation of these reflective assignments focussed on five key themes that emerged; prior attitudes about the use of podcasting, benefits of podcasting, transferable skills, pedagogy and future use of podcasts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In formal learning settings, there will always be instances of resistance to learning from students, resulting in either open conflict or withdrawal and consequent disillusionment on the part of both students and teachers. This paper presents a set of principles and associated practices for responding to disengagement from learning in constructive ways. This framework, motivational interviewing, is borrowed from health care but has been adapted for use in higher education. The model focuses on building confidence and independence and fostering engagement, thus enabling students to take responsibility for their learning. The model is student-centred and collaborative and thus fosters constructive relationships between student and teacher. This paper presents the theoretical underpinnings of the model and the ways in which it can be used in teacher–student interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to diagnose the effectiveness of creativity-related curricula is a crucial concern in the pursuit of educational excellence. This paper introduces an importance-performance analysis (IPA)-embedded model for curriculum evaluation, using the example of an IT project implementation course to assess the creativity performance deduced from student learning outcomes. The results would serve as a basis for curriculum improvements. The evaluation model consists of such steps as determining the target curriculum, establishing indicators for the assessment of competence, developing an IPA questionnaire, conducting an IPA and improving feedback-based curriculum. The research methods adopted in this paper include literature review, expert advice and survey research. To verify the particular evaluation model, data was collected from project review conferences held by a Taiwan-based polytechnic institute. This paper demonstrates the merits of introducing a model that efficiently solves the vagueness problem when it comes to curriculum benefits and consequently improves the project implementation courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, it is argued that some doctoral candidates with successful professional careers prior to enrolling in the PhD may face particular challenges with learning to be a researcher. The paper draws on data from a modest study involving interviews with supervisors who had worked with such doctoral candidates. The research aims to identify, from the supervisor’s perspective, any particular learning challenges that such candidates might face. The analysis identifies three specific issues of concern to the supervisors: candidates who commence candidature already ‘knowing the answer’; candidates who want to answer the question from personal experience rather than the analysis of their data; and candidates who lose interest when confronted by the need to address traditional protocols and approaches to research. Based on the findings links are made to particular Threshold Concepts and conceptions of research which supervisors might be helpful to consider when working with such candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Institutional internationalisation is regarded as an important aspect in today’s higher education development. This paper first argues that the development of intercultural competence should be considered as an important students’ outcome of institutional internationalisation. It is believed that English teaching and related activities are easily accessible resources which can be fully utilised to promote students’ intercultural competence at universities, and based on this, the author proposes a working model of intercultural competence that consists of three dimensions, i.e. knowledge, action and reflection. To practice this working model, a four-module pattern of co-curricular activity-based intercultural competence training programme is introduced. In addition, some further principles (organisation, participation and evaluation) rising from the author’s empirical practice are discussed. This programme could be, to a large extent, applicable to many higher educational institutions in the global arena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning from experience is integral to professional development, with the processes by which it is expected and enabled, varying depending on context and discipline. There is general consensus that it does not just happen. Rather learning from experience is a deliberate act. In higher education, much attention is given to reflective practice and the use of reflective models designed for individuals to use. However, even with a high level of commitment, an individual’s review of their own practice is likely to be limited because it is a sole endeavour with inevitably constrained perspective. This paper features an alternative, innovative approach identified aspoetic transcription with a twistwhich situates reflective practice in a group context. As such, it enables learning for the individual and for the group members. The paper offers an example drawn from work with a group of early career academics which illustrates both the approach and the potential ofpoetic transcription with a twistto facilitate development with and beyond the immediate participants in the learning experience. It presentspoetic transcription with a twistto the community of academic developers for consideration in their own practice, understanding that the nature and purpose of the role is complex and contested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the design, delivery, and evaluation of a mentoring programme which aimed to promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills in Chinese university students. Several new elements in this mentoring programme distinguish it from many previous such programmes within the context of higher education. These new elements include anchoring on a course which allowed junior year students to mentor senior year students, an equal emphasis on learning by both mentors and mentees, and the specific objectives promoting transferrable generic skills rather than discipline-specific knowledge. Evidence from quantitative and qualitative data analyses suggests that a mentoring programme of this kind can be implemented successfully with Chinese learners, provided that it is well structured. Our experience sheds new light on how this type of programme can be designed and implemented non-traditionally in higher education and will have a broader appeal to educators in higher education teaching learners with passive learning styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the use of BlikBook, a course engagement platform for tutors and students that facilitates academic engagement in higher education. Based on a case study where BlikBook was essential to the design and delivery of a large undergraduate module, the paper discusses how the platform opens new avenues for student feedback, and encourages more independence in peer-led student groups. The paper makes several important contributions to knowledge and practice. Firstly, it outlines the process of introducing new software within a university context, and identifies potential pitfalls. Secondly, it offers an assessment of BlikBook that was previously untried in the case study organisation. Thirdly, previous studies have focused primarily on students' perceptions of online platforms, rather than on the differences in experiences between students and tutors, whereas the present study explores both aspects. Findings suggest that incorporating BlikBook in teaching could improve student engagement. Abbreviation: (HE) - Higher Education [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2000, I have been working towards a professional doctorate at Middlesex University, and I am also working to introduce a work-based doctorate at Coventry University. This paper looks at the issues of supervision and assessment for work-based doctorates, which, I believe, are key to the design of such a programme and affect both the output and outcome of a candidate's work. The paper is based on a review of literature and discussions with academics from a number of universities. It appears that work-based doctorates, and I include here professional doctorates and Doctor of Business Administration, are subject to the same supervision and assessment processes as a Ph.D. My contention, therefore, is that if supervision and assessment of a work-based doctorate mirrors what happens on a Ph.D., then candidates will produce work that is indistinguishable from a Ph.D., in which case why have a different doctoral award? As such this paper represents work in progress towards my doctorate, where I am a candidate, and the introduction of a work-based doctorate at Coventry, where I am the curriculum designer. It therefore is designed to raise points of concern rather than supply answers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the publication of a recent report, commissioned by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and conducted by Staff and Educational Developers Association, this short paper considers the HEA UK Professional Standards Framework in the UK Higher Education Sector, in the context of recent and continuing debates about how best to support faculty professional development in teaching (and supporting learning). The need for a framework is briefly articulated, followed by a description of its main elements and a summary of recent evidence on its impact. A discussion of issues and (international) debates about the role of formal qualifications in delivering the kind of faculty development envisaged in the framework and aligned programmes is then presented. The paper concludes with some suggestions for research that arise from this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of a research ethics committee (REC) is necessary in Philippine higher education institutions (HEI), but at present not all HEIs have an accredited REC. While past studies focused on how RECs are perceived by its different stakeholders, these perceptions have not been explored in the context of educational institutions without an accredited REC. The case study method was utilised in which the schools without accredited RECs served as the case in question. Using focus group discussions, the perceptions on ethical clearances, on RECs, and the absence of RECs were asked among faculty (n = 46) from 10 HEIs. The findings show that ethics approval is generally considered important. However, other perceptions about RECs exist that may have implications for institutionalising RECs. Recommendations centre on advocating ethics policies as part of the research infrastructure of an HEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we explore the impact of a series of workshops on higher education teachers’ understanding and awareness of a dialogic teaching approach to support critical thinking development in an online environment. Critical thinking is a key aim of higher education learning and a dialogic teaching approach can optimise opportunities for students to engage in debate and articulate their thinking. A study carried out using a qualitative approach with data collected from a total of nine teachers across three focus groups at the end of the workshop programme revealed that teachers had developed a greater awareness of the value of dialogic teaching principles. However, due to the rapid move to remote online teaching, teachers’ conceptualisations of dialogue and thus their dialogic stance was limited. We conclude with a number of recommendations for developing teachers’ dialogic stance and implementation of dialogic teaching principles in both face-to-face and online environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus pandemic activated an emergency shift to remote supervision which is now shaping longer term changes to our supervision practice. Through a narrative lens on experience, this paper shares the perspectives of two doctoral supervisors who have different relationships with remote supervision. Our means towards similar ends present interesting contrasts in practice and attitudes to online learning. Our experiences during this transition have been different, which may resonate with challenges facing other supervisors across the Higher Education sector. The informal 'corridor conversations' with our doctoral students are seemingly a thing of the past, so we explore the strategies we have put in place, or, re-evaluate the online opportunities which were already in place, that now form a critical lifeline to build and maintain those relationships. Through our stories, it is hoped useful lessons may be learned, with the aim of improving the supervisory experience for doctoral students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]