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This document provides abstracts of papers presented at the Society of Dairy Technology 80th Anniversary Conference, covering a range of topics in the dairy industry. One paper examines the impact of process conditions on water evaporation and energy usage in spray drying, while another explores the use of near-infrared spectroscopy to analyze the composition of raw milk. Other papers discuss the development of high-protein soft cheese alternatives, plant-based cheese analogues, and sustainable cleaning strategies in dairy facilities. The document also mentions a project focused on characterizing the milk metabolome and developing biomarkers for milk processability and methane production. Additionally, the document highlights a study that modified sediment quantification tests for dairy powders to improve image analysis capabilities, with promising results. Further research is planned to investigate the effects of robotic agitation and test additional powders. [Extracted from the article]

Over the last decade, British universities have become increasingly reliant on an instrumentalist rhetoric to defend the ongoing relevance of research and teaching in the Humanities. This has resulted in a new chapter in the long-running saga concerning the crisis (purported or real) of Modern Languages alongside the study of literature. The very flexibility condemning traditional Modern Languages curricula to the past nevertheless offers new opportunities for literary study when used for the development of new skills. In this article, I employ my experience of a research-led undergraduate project on the UK stage legacy of Federico García Lorca as a case study to suggest ways in which the study of literature and theatre might be revamped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores Arab university faculty’s views on fully AI-generated assignments and research papers submitted by students, what reasons they give for their stance and how they react in this case. Surveys with a sample of 45 Arab instructors revealed that 98% do not accept AI-generated assignments and research papers from students at all. They gave numerous reasons for their position. If students submit AI-generated assignments or research papers, they would ask them to re-write them. The study recommends raising students’ awareness of university policies regarding AI-generated content and introducing faculty and students to AI plagiarism detection tools. Faculty views and recommendations are reported in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural and applied economists have maintained a public discourse at the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) meetings and subsequently published papers discussing the mission of land‐grant institutions and the role of AAEA members in that mission. With a content analysis of 4001 Invited Papers and Presidential Speeches, we find agricultural and applied economists questioned their profession's purpose and role within the land‐grant system. The reflective questions still apply to land‐grant institutions and the agricultural and applied economics profession. We argue that AAEA members are crucial in addressing the food and agricultural challenges connected to society's deepest needs today and into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All universities mandate research, one of the institution's pillars and core mission. Over the last decades, ASEAN nations have been in a rapid transition to motivate and entice their faculty to increase and improve on research productions toward Indexed journals and proceedings. While papers submitted to proceedings have a lower bar in acceptance, Scopus or ISI-indexed journals are something that these institutions strive for, as they are critical to their accreditation and ranking. Unfortunately, journals have mushroomed overnight, and these seemingly suspicious journals collect monetary benefits like reviewing and publication fees to outright fly-by-night research predatory scammers. This has resulted in potential researchers using these and inadvertently sending them to reputable journals. Due to these unfortunate circumstances, this paper aims to support good paper development and submission and dispel beliefs of easy and potentially frustrating efforts. This paper attempts to provide retrospect and reflections on the "frustrations" of an Editor that papers should avoid in a Scopus Indexed Journal. It attempts to identify researchers' innocent or non-intentional practices by providing a set of dos and don'ts that are personalized based on retrospect and reflections of the paper submitted, rejected, and accepted in this Journal. It attempts to share "overlooked" practices that the researchers can use to ensure their papers stand a higher chance of acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the implementation of scorecards and dashboards in assessing internationalization activities in universities. The methodology of this concept paper is referencing secondary data comprising established academic databases from Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), and Google Scholar, focusing on aspects related to the benefits, monitoring, and effectiveness of scorecards and dashboards in evaluating an internationalization process or activity carried out by a university. The improvement of a university's reputation and ranking should be based on several key factors such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, and international student ratio. These are the same criteria considered by institutions such as Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and Times Higher Education (THE), which rank and rate universities and institutions of higher education around the world. This study found that implementing scorecards and dashboards in evaluating a university to improve its reputation and ranking is indeed effective. This is due to various factors, including the benefits, effectiveness, and accurate measurement offered by the scorecards and dashboards and their widespread use in universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers are considered a nucleus of educational institutes, their dire efforts act as the accelerating engine of the students' minds that nurture their minds with the best, most incumbent, authentic, resilient and creative thoughts, knowledge, reasoning and information that play a back-supporting role to the future emperors of the countries in their professional life. To do such a huge and exhaustive job, teachers often encounter various challenging situations and circumstances in which stress can be placed at the top among all other issues. This delicate issue has been identified as common among Chinese university lecturers and this issue has been influencing their mental states causing a damaging effect on their job performance. To understand this deliberate scenario, this study has reviewed the previous literature to explore the level of stress and psychological well-being and some helping strategies to sustain psychological well-being and stress adaptation as it is a part of every job and propose a conceptual framework. This proposed framework will have many useful settings for the literature scholars and the targeted units which have been illustrated in the concluding remarks section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of Good University Governance (GUG) in higher education institutions has an impact on the performance of the respective institutions. GUG is a system that regulates and controls higher education institutions to create added value, benefiting all stakeholders. The objective of this research is to compile a systematic literature review scientifically, starting from data collection, selection, reading, and finally data analysis. This analysis relates to the study of GUG implementation's impact on higher education performance. The research method used in this study is a systematic literature review (SLR) approach on journal papers published from 2019 to 2023. There are three Research Questions (RQs) and three Quality Assessments (QAs) defined in this study. The impact of GUG on the performance of higher education institutions is positive and significant. The findings indicate that studies from 2019 to 2023 on the impact of GUG on performance have predominantly been conducted in public universities, using SEM PLS data analysis methods, with the "transparency" variable being the most frequently used GUG principle. Moreover, the results demonstrate that GUG implementation positively influences the performance of higher education institutions. The managerial implications of this research support Permendikbud No 4 of 2020 regarding the transformation of state universities (PTN) into state universities with legal entity status (PTNBH). Article 2 states that one of the requirements for PTN to become PTNBH is to manage the organization based on GUG principles. Thus, this research provides insights for regulators in measuring the implementation of GUG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is rather easy to identify the leading universities in a country, there are different established methods and indicators of excellence. Generally, it is more challenging to find 'the second best' universities which have the potential to become leaders, 'the firsts'. In Russia, such an attempt has been made. The program of 'Pillar Universities' was realized in 2016–2020, in two stages. This paper analyzes the initial stage of the project and its outcomes. We aim to investigate how the program affected the output of the universities from the bibliometric point of view. The results, obtained by bibliometric methods, are encouraging. There is an increase in publication output above the Russia's average growth. Multidisciplinarity, domestic and international collaboration also increase. Those universities which had no papers in the top journals started publishing their research there. The overall effect of the 'pillar project' is found to be positive. Bibliometrics is widely used for assessing higher education institutions and is free from local peculiarities. This allows using the observations of this study in a broader context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the shifting landscape of higher education in Turkey, highlighting a disconcerting trend of politically motivated appointments, coined as "parasailing." Departing from traditional merit-based norms, this practice of appointing professors without necessary approvals disrupts the academic environment, prompting concerns about the integrity of higher education institutions. The paper introduces the term "parasailing" to elucidate this phenomenon, emphasizing the connection between the appointed professor and their academic destination. In contrast to the widely used term "parachuting," in Turkish academia the proposed terminology offers a better understanding of the appointment process. The subsequent sections provide an overview of the Turkish academic landscape, explore the origin of the term "parachuting," review existing literature, define "parasailing," and connect it to different philosophical thoughts. Overall, this paper contributes to a broader comprehension of the challenges facing Turkish higher education, urging a reconsideration of appointment procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, online assessment has become the dominant mode of examination in higher education institutions. However, there are contradictory findings on how students perceive online assessment and its impact on their academic performance. Thus, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential impact of online assessment on students' academic performance. Design/methodology/approach: This study proposes a research model based on the task–technology fit theory and empirically validates the model using a survey from students in the UK. In addition, the study conducted four experiments based on paper-based and online assessments and analysed the data using paired sample t test and structural equation modelling. Findings: The findings show that the use of online assessment has a positive impact on students' academic performance. Similarly, the results from the experiment also indicate that students perform better using online assessments than paper-based assessments. Practical implications: The findings provide crucial evidence needed to shape policy towards institutionalising online assessment. In addition, the findings provide assurance to students, academics, administrators and policymakers that carefully designed online assessments can improve students' academic performance. Moreover, the study also provides important insights for curriculum redesign towards transitioning to online assessment in higher education institutions. Originality/value: This study advances research by offering a more nuanced understanding of online assessment on students' academic performance since the majority of previous studies have offered contradictory findings. In addition, the study moves beyond existing research by complementing assessment results with the views of students in evaluating the impact of online assessment on their academic performance. Second, the study develops and validates a research model that explains how the fits between technology and assessment tasks influence students' academic performance. Lastly, the study provides evidence to support the wide use of online assessment in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of information and communications technology (ICT) in higher education institutions has increased in the past 20 years. While ICT has brought many benefits to students and faculty, research shows that it also creates barriers and challenges for students with disabilities due to the inaccessibility of digital tools and learning materials. Faculty members play an important role in inclusive higher education. Previous studies have emphasised the need to train faculty about digital accessibility to achieve inclusion in higher education. This systematic literature review aims to study existing work on increasing the faculty members' competence in providing accessible and inclusive digital learning materials and environments to students in higher education. Sixteen peer-reviewed papers were included and analysed. Most trainings included topics on disability and awareness, legislation, and methods of producing accessible digital materials and providing inclusive digital learning environments. While surveys and interviews were mostly used to evaluate training outcomes, there was a lack of objective data and commonly accepted instrument for evaluation. Good practices and further research opportunities are identified. This study has implications for researchers and higher education institutions that are interested in research and practice on increasing general competence in digital accessibility and inclusive education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The call for the intellectualisation of African languages has become a topical agenda towards their use as languages of teaching and learning in institutions of higher learning in Africa. In their enunciation of language policies, South African universities are guided by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)'s Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions (LPFPHEI). The thrust of this paper is to interrogate how the language policy of one university in South Africa enables the intellectualisation of African languages. The study deploys Ruiz's notion of language as a resource to examine the potential embedded within the university's language policy to foster the intellectualisation of Sesotho and Setswana for use as LoTLs in a variety of disciplines. The university is one of the institutions of higher learning with the most recently revised language policy approved in 2022, hence its selection as the case study. The paper concludes that an enabling language policy that speaks to the linguistic realities, coupled with a variety of support structures within the university and also spelling out the implementation plan is what will result in the fruitful re-intellectualisation of African languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have long considered the era of modern education in Nepal as inaugurated by foreign actors in the 1950s. Based on an analysis of two central publications of the relatively overlooked educator and intellectual Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh, this paper aims to shed new light on the educational history of the early twentieth century Himalaya. By employing a lens of global history, the study challenges the narrative of a 'sudden arrival' of modern education in Nepal in 1950s. In doing so, the paper aims to demonstrate the relevance of Singh's thought to the global emergence of modern, progressive, and humanistic forms of education in the early twentieth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to a globalised education context that places increasing pressure on higher education institutions for pedagogical innovation and reform, universities are attempting to carve out more meaningful identities through reimagining campus design. As universities introduce more decentralised spaces, from strictly learning environments to a more collaborative organisation, the boundaries between these and other spaces become more fluid, redefining universities as learning environments. The concept of the Sticky Campus has been gaining currency recently. Emulating trends in 'third places' and popular urban co-working spaces, a Sticky Campus blurs the boundaries between study and living by incorporating areas for relaxation, social interaction, group learning, eating or study. Moreover, Sticky Campuses offer opportunities for shared meaning-making amongst faculty, students and the broader community. This paper introduces the contemporary concept of the Sticky Campus and explores its viability in Japanese institutional settings. Given the Sticky Campus concept has emerged from a predominantly Western lens, this paper provides a commentary on whether the concept is transferable into non-Western cultural settings such as Japan. Such a discussion is crucial for Japanese university transformations in the twenty-first century, as the higher education sector considers its options in transitioning to post-COVID conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of teacher research has been widely discussed by researchers. What has been less discussed is how teachers make sense of classroom research. Given the difficulties of implementing teacher research, it is necessary to understand teachers' conceptions of research and the role that it plays in their work. Whilst there is a burgeoning literature on teachers' experiences of undertaking classroom research in countries such as the US and the UK, there remains a dearth of studies that explore language teachers' conceptions of research in non-western contexts. This study addresses this gap by exploring 10 Chinese English teachers' conceptions of classroom research in an English training centre in Beijing, China. Semi-structured interviews found that the participants were highly motivated to undertake research, conceptualising it as a way to improve their classroom practice and to improve student engagement. The teachers also viewed collaboration as a way to overcome issues of time and a lack of research experience. The study also highlighted a number of impediments to undertaking classroom research in the context of language teaching in China, the most significant of which was restricted access to academic literature. The paper ends by making a number of recommendations that address the impediments highlighted by the teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the research is to shed light on the experiences of a group of nursing students enrolled in a yoga elective course who practiced yoga regularly for 14 weeks, regarding yoga and the phenomenon of doing yoga, with a qualitative approach. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted at a public university in Izmir, Turkey. The study sample consisted of 61 students enrolled in the 1st-year yoga course at the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences. Except for two students, 59 of them participated in the study. Participants attended a face-to-face yoga course once a week for 1.5 h over a 14-week period. Each session comprised 30 min of theoretical instruction and 60 min of practice. In data collection, an interview form containing five questions was used to understand nursing students' experiences and thoughts about practicing yoga. In addition, A4 sized papers in different colors were presented to the participants. The participants were asked to draw and/or cut a shape by choosing the paper in the color that most evokes yoga. Then they were asked to explain why they chose this color and why they drew this shape. Participants were given one hour. After the data were collected, the pictures drawn by the participants and their descriptions of their drawings were transferred to the computer and included in the analysis. Qualitative data were hand-coded by the researchers. Within in-vivo coding, code names were formed from the participants' expressions. The findings analyzed by content analysis were interpreted with the literature under the themes by presenting quotations. Results: It was determined that the participants used nature figures (sun, cloud, tree, sky, flower) (f = 75), people doing yoga (f = 12), and sound, light and other figures (bird sound, wave sound, candle, light bulb, traffic light, heart, eye, left key, peace, swing, India, circle, etc.) (f = 29) in the shapes they drew and cut out on A4 sized papers in different colors to describe their experiences and thoughts about practicing yoga. The participants mostly chose blue-green-yellow colors (n = 41). With qualitative question analysis, a list of codes was created from the answers given by the students to the questions for the phenomenon of "doing yoga" (number of codes = 98). After the analysis of the data, four categories were reached. The category names and frequency numbers explaining the phenomenon of practicing yoga were distributed as "symbol of health and serenity (f = 345)", "the way to place goodness in your heart (f = 110)", "the most effective way to meet the self (f = 93)" and "no guarantee of relaxation (f = 71)", respectively. Conclusions: The results indicate that yoga is perceived by nursing students as a multifaceted practice that evokes a range of emotional and physical responses. Most participants associate yoga with symbols of health, serenity, and self-awareness, often using natural elements and blue-green-yellow the colors to represent these feelings. However, there is also recognition that yoga may not guarantee relaxation for everyone, as some students reported difficulties in meditation, physical discomfort, and challenges in focusing. The study highlights the variability in how individuals experience yoga, emphasizing both its positive effects on well-being and the potential challenges in practice. These findings suggest that while yoga is widely valued for its calming and health-promoting benefits, it may not be universally effective in achieving relaxation or mindfulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws on research conducted in four state schools with sixth forms to problematise two flagship 'disadvantage' policy agendas in the English context: the Pupil Premium (focusing on the narrowing of attainment gaps) and widening participation (focusing on fairer university access). While such 'priority' policies necessarily incorporate the promise of change, it argues that multiple forms of incoherence militate against this, including: their relative agenda-setting power in a highly marketised system; the contested, constitutive power of different proxy indicators; competing policy preferences that under-attend to the intersections between educational opportunities and material disadvantage. In contrast, interviews with school staff highlighted the transformative potential of lived experiences of disadvantage and reinforced the importance of adopting a wider lens than that of the school. The paper concludes that the absence of an over-arching theory of change is part of 'the problem' and it suggests where the mapping of one might begin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs') have been challenged by society that their teaching and learning (T&L) strategies fail to focus and dwell on the problems that are experienced by communities. This led universities to experiment with various pedagogical styles to foster and drive their core mission. The lack of realization and use of indigenous knowledge (IK) and pedagogies has also contributed to the negative image of these institutions as they are viewed as being detached from the realities of society and their knowledge systems. It is therefore imperative to introduce a different approach and strategies to advance T&L at these HEIs. This paper examined the role and value of IK in the 21st century and how this knowledge system can be applied and appropriated using its pedagogical stance to foster T&L in higher education institutions of South Africa. A qualitative document analysis was applied to pinpoint the relevance and value of these indigenous pedagogies in HEIs. This methodology also assisted in discovering development trends within the field of IK and T&L in South Africa. The paper revealed that IK is a social capital that needs to be harnessed to foster sustainable teaching and learning at HEIs. This IK should be propagated, developed, and enhanced for universities to achieve positive thruputs. It is concluded that indigenous philosophies, values, pedagogies, and methodologies play a significant role in driving the T&L missions of universities in South Africa. The study contributes to debates on the decolonization of knowledge, knowers and pedagogies in HEIs' thereby advancing scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive methodology for conducting a systematic literature review on student participation in higher education institutions (HEIs), focusing on decision-making, student engagement, and extracurricular activities. Following PRISMA guidelines, the review uses evaluation criteria techniques to ensure the quality and transparency of information critical to the design of the paper. A search strategy utilising key terms across EBSCO and Web of Science databases identified 41 relevant articles. Each article underwent thorough analysis, addressing research inquiries about student participation in educational institutions. The review combines findings from diverse perspectives while highlighting students' importance in decision-making and the relevance of student voices in this process. In addition, it highlights the importance of student engagement and the impact of extracurricular activities on academic success. Through such discussions, the paper emphasises the need for integrated frameworks focused on understanding student participation across higher education institutions, suggesting recommendations for optimising student involvement or participation in decision-making processes, fostering student engagement in teaching and learning, and enhancing participation in extracurricular activities. Overall, the paper highlights the multi-dynamic nature of student participation in the modern structure of higher education institutions and advocates for a holistic approach that empowers and motivates students to participate in all areas of the education system, which will go a long way in shaping their educational experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of Lean practices in higher educational institutes has gained tremendous attention in recent years as the sector strives to improve operational efficiency, enhance student outcomes, and efficiently manage resources. A comprehensive literature review on the application of Lean methodologies in higher educational institutes is presented in this paper. This paper seeks to answer the following research questions: 1) How is Lean methodology adopted by researchers in higher educational institutes? 2) Which Lean tools and methods are most suitable in higher educational institutes? 3) What are the barriers and challenges associated with implementing Lean in higher educational Institutes? 4) What is the future of Lean implementation in higher educational institutes? This literature review comprises a wide range of journal articles published in the last five years, from 2019 to 2023, retrieved from various academic databases, including Emerald Insight, Science Direct, Taylor and Francis, Web of Science, and Wiley Online. PRISMA protocol is used to collect and arrange the journal articles (36% analytical and 64% applied Lean) under several themes: (1) curriculum review and teaching methodology; (2) administration; (3) student satisfaction; (4) lean waste identification and elimination; and (5) barriers and challenges. The paper concludes that the Lean philosophy, which was originally formulated for the manufacturing sector, has been successfully adapted and applied to educational institutes. The application of Lean in higher educational institutes resulted in streamlined processes, waste reduction, and increased staff and student satisfaction levels. However, it also highlights the barriers and challenges such as cultural barriers, resistance to change, lack of knowledge among staff and students, and lack of leadership commitment. Overall, the review paper adds up to the existing body of knowledge by integrating and summarizing the key findings and trends in the application of Lean methodologies in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on how Asante's idea of Afrocentricity could assist in the understanding of the main challenges and opportunities associated with curricula in Africa's post-colonial universities. In terms of methodology, the paper constitutes a conceptual treatise that draws from previous empirical research that focused on Afrocentricity and a plural programme - the extended curriculum programme within a university context where neoliberalism remains dominant. In this regard, the paper combines an extensive review of empirical cases and the authors' experiences of the extended curriculum programmes in diverse South African universities. Literature was reviewed from a wide range of sources that included Afrocentricity and curriculum transformation through plurality at individual and institutional pedagogic levels. The paper explores the complex nature of pedagogic transformation mainly due to the persistence of Western ideals under a resurgent neoliberal philosophy that shapes practices in contemporary university spaces. The paper thus highlights how Afrocentricity transcends simplistic notions of intellectual discussions as it highlights serious and practical realities that shape the identities, ideals, aspirations, and values of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In the process, ways in which pedagogic educational aspirations of the students could be redefined through an Afrocentric approach together with constraints are discussed. The individualist-oriented complications posed by neoliberal ideals that tend to contradict and, in some instances, hinder the Afrocentric core principle of inclusivity have left African universities at a crossroads with little to show in terms of progress in the transformation agenda. The paper concludes that Afrocentricity and its basis in cultural reconfiguration aims to ensure that people recognise their agency and affirm their identity and ability to draw from their existing agency to holistically transform the various aspects of their lives by overcoming the socio-economic and intellectual constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to contribute to the discussion of wellbeing within the university education system by outlining the key issues and benefits and recognising future research on digital well-being for students. The JISC Digital wellbeing paper highlights the many positive and negative impacts associated with digital wellbeing. This paper explores how some of these features have been considered within institutions within the UK and Vietnam and highlights the emerging research in one Vietnamese institution in relation to student wellbeing, where digital wellbeing was identified as a key concern. Design/methodology/approach: This is a technical review article which summarises key guidance for organisational digital wellbeing and then reflects on the application in the UK (a developed economy) and in Vietnam (one of the fastest growing economies). This is the first time a review has been conducted from the perspective of different countries. There are two aspects to digital wellbeing, individual and the social or organisational perspectives. Findings: The JISC Digital wellbeing paper highlights the many positive and negative impacts associated with digital wellbeing. This paper explores how some of these features have been considered within institutions within the UK and Vietnam and highlights the emerging research in one Vietnamese institution in relation to student wellbeing, where digital wellbeing was identified as a key concern. The context of digital wellbeing within higher education is then discussed drawing similarities between the UK and Vietnamese student experiences whilst acknowledging the limitations of current research within the field. Originality/value: Many institutions have seen a rise in the number of wellbeing challenges, and there are few examples of specific initiatives aimed at addressing digital wellbeing challenges for their stakeholders. Existing research on students' wellbeing is predominately focused on undergraduate students and does not differentiate between undergraduate and postgraduate students, nor between masters, doctoral and professional level students and does not explore the impact of digital wellbeing discretely; this is an area which would benefit from future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We sought to understand the relative impact of fielding mode on response rate among public health alumni. Methods: As part of the 2021 Career Trends Survey of alumni from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, we designed a fielding mode experiment to ascertain whether a paper survey, a postcard with a custom survey link ("postcard push-to-web"), a mobile telephone call or text (mobile), or an email invitation would garner the highest response rates. Invitations were randomly assigned from available contact information. Results: Of 8531 alumni invited, 1671 alumni (19.6%) completed the survey. Among the initial fielding modes, the paper survey had the highest response rate (28%), followed by mobile (19%), email (10%), and postcard push-to-web (10%). More robust recent engagement with alumni relations, paper survey invitation or mode switch, and recent graduation were all significantly associated with a higher likelihood of response. Conclusions: Paper and mobile invitations had the highest response rates to our survey among public health alumni. Findings from this fielding mode experiment are relevant to schools and programs of public health seeking to capture similar information among their alumni, especially given current trends in investment in the public health workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragmented reading is convenient for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) students to obtain massive information at any time, but it does harm to students' ability to concentrate attention and deep thinking. On the basis of collecting and sorting out literature, this paper applied questionnaire survey to investigate the fragmented reading of life science students in Zhengzhou Normal University. The purpose of this study was to understand the fragmented reading habits of respondent students, and to summarize the characteristics of fragmented reading content, purpose, time and frequency. This paper analyzed the positive and negative effects of fragmented reading from three aspects: reading purpose dimension, content selection dimension and attention processing dimension. Finally, suggestions and countermeasures for HEIs students to make better use of fragmented reading were put forward from the aspects of individuals, Library and HEIs. The results showed that students can strengthen self-management and discipline to develop good reading habits and lifestyles. HEIs should set up public accounts and reading corners to recommend good books, and library can carry out reading lectures and other related activities to guide students to plan their time reasonably and make full use of fragmented reading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to provide information that can benefit Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), which operate in a highly competitive environment. Understanding students' perspectives regarding quality in higher education and areas of dissatisfaction can redirect an HEI's strategy to address these concerns. The present study seeks to clarify how students define quality. A business student survey was conducted to understand students' expectations, satisfaction, and dissatisfaction with their current educational environment. The analysis systematically explores students' dissatisfaction by categorizing qualitative data using a modified version of the seven dimensions of service quality introduced by Evans and Lindsay.The level of detail provided in this report will assist in developing effective processes to improve student satisfaction at the university. The results conclude that improvements in completeness of the educational experience, both classroom and administrative services along with improvements in accessibility and convenience for academics and services will have the most impact on student satisfaction. Completeness addresses the quality of learning materials and services and accessibility and convenience address the ease of access to these learning materials and services. This paper expands upon the definition of quality in higher education, focusing on student dissatisfaction. The classification of student feedback provides a unique perspective. The limitations of the study include the response rate, area of study, geographic area, and learning modality. Tests of validity were not applied to the seven dimensions of service quality due to the exploratory nature of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the application of data mining based on a correlation-rule algorithm in business English performance in colleges and universities. The extracted correlation degree rules are screened by adopting three indexes of support degree confidence degree and lifting degree to measure the correlativity. Experimental validation is carried out on different sets of data sets, and the experimental results show the effectiveness of the Lift-Apriori-DP algorithm. Based on the improved Lift-Apriori-DP algorithm, it is applied to the analysis of students' performance. Taking the chapter test scores of students in business English courses in colleges and universities as an example, the student's achievements are extracted and analyzed, and the final appropriate parameter values are selected according to the evaluation of the extraction results under different privacy pre-estimation. The experimental results verify the effectiveness of the Lift-Apriori-DP algorithm in the analysis of student grades and evaluate the accuracy of the algorithm application. The results of this paper show that data mining based on the correlation degree rule algorithm has a wide range of applications in business English grades in colleges and universities, which can provide useful references for teaching and at the same time protect students' private information from being leaked. In addition, this paper also explores the evaluation class method of the mining results under different privacy pre-estimation, which provides a useful reference for the application of privacy-protecting relevance degree rule mining type algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Internationalization has been a paramount objective for higher education institutions (HEIs) for decades. However, the landscape of education underwent significant transformation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to altered contexts, challenges and opportunities for HEI internationalization. This paper aims to critically evaluate the dimensions of internationalization strategies in HEIs and the opportunities within each dimension. Adopting a reflexive approach, the study focused on non-Western HEIs, recognizing the diverse approaches to internationalization within higher education contexts. Design/methodology/approach: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, this paper covered 74 articles published in Web of Science database from January 2019 to December 2023. Findings: The study organized dimensions related to internationalization strategies in non-Western HEIs, offering a comprehensive framework comprising six dimensions: students, programs, faculty, research, international ventures and other sources; and nine internationalization facilitators: international partnerships, funding, government education, international policies, technology, internationalization culture, diversity and inclusion, staff competence and attitude, student/faculty engagement, intercultural experience and satisfaction, English as a medium of instruction (EMI), and knowledge transfer mechanisms. Furthermore, the study delineated strategies within each dimension and highlighted prevalent performance indicators utilized by HEIs. Originality/value: The study's primary contribution is a conceptual framework designed to assist HEI directors and academics. This framework delves into dimensions, strategies and indicators of internationalization particularly relevant in the post-pandemic era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, neoliberal ideology has increasingly shaped the systems of science and higher education in many countries worldwide and is often the cause of professional alienation of academics (e.g., Gachago et al., 2023). Deriving from Seeman's theory (1959; 1976) according to which social conditions create one or more dimensions of alienation and related behaviours, this paper examines whether and in what ways academics in Croatia may be alienated from their profession. Therefore, group interviews were conducted in five focus groups with a total of twenty-one academics (employers at 5 scientific/higher education institutions that participated in this research). Participants in the study have various associate, scientific, teaching, and scientific-teaching titles in the social, humanistic, and interdisciplinary fields of science. Research findings indicate the presence of different dimensions of professional alienation of Croatian academics (powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, and selfestrangement) but it also provides insights into the positive aspects of working in the field of science and higher education. Participants often emphasized the link between the features of academic capitalism and dimensions of professional alienation of academics in the field of social sciences and humanities. The possible long-term consequences of these trends are discussed herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a perspective on delivery of 'Pride in Place' based on a multidisciplinary researcher/policy/practitioner forum discussion. Injecting dynamism and breaking the cycle of spatial inequality are core aims of the Levelling Up White Paper. A mission is 'to restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in those places where they have been lost'. But how will this be delivered and measured? Much more policy thinking is needed to connect the mechanisms identified as drivers — the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) spending, local leadership and civic institutions — into a joined-up strategy. This paper focuses on issues that need to be addressed: what we mean by pride in place, how to engage with felt experience, how to build pride in place at local and regional level, and what role, if any, universities might play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This autoethnographic (AE) paper draws directly from a national collaborative project called the New Academics Transitioning into Higher Education Project (NATHEP), which is funded by the University Capacity Development Grant (UCDG). We adopted evocative and narrative AE methodology to confront, interrogate, and uncover our own biases, assumptions, and preconceptions of induction before NATHEP, how it is now, and how it should be understood and conducted after being part of the NATHEP project. Our AE showcases our critical and reflective thoughts on the learning acquired throughout the journey, consciously and intentionally asking ourselves whether the NATHEP journey was worth it and how it benefitted the induction programme we conceptualised and implemented. Through a combined autoethnography study design and technique, we were able to gather qualitative data from the two of us and present it as written reflective narratives. Together, we developed an openended questionnaire in which we asked questions that sought to elicit our experiences throughout the journey as a way of reflecting on the overall learning acquired by being part of the NATHEP project. Our responses and narratives are reflectively and thematically analysed to make sense of how we interpret our eventful NATHEP journey thus far. We conclude and submit that this paper has implications for academic development practice and academic developers who aspire to be reflective practitioners, constantly reflecting on their practices to dismantle and disrupt cultural tendencies in their quest to transform their context of work and induction practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although learning analytics (LA) often processes massive data, not all courses in higher education institutions are on a large scale, such as courses for employed adult learners (EALs) or master's students. This places LA in a new situation with small datasets. This paper explores the contemporary situation of how LA has been used for small datasets, whereby we examine how the observed LA provisions can be validated in practice, which opens up possible LA solutions for small datasets and takes a further step from previous studies to enhance this topic. By examining the field of LA, a systematic literature review on state-of-the-art LA and small datasets was conducted. Thirty relevant articles were selected for the final review. The results of the review were validated through a small-scale course for EALs at a Swedish university. The findings revealed that the methods of multiple analytical perspectives and data sources with the support of contexts and learning theories are useful for strengthening the reliability of results from small datasets. More empirical evidence is required to validate possible LA methods for small datasets. The LA cycle should be closed to be able to further assess the goodness of the models generated from small datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the efforts to establish Western-style astronomical observatories in India made by colleges and universities over the last century prior to Indian independence in 1947. The focus is therefore on the nineteenth-century emergence of the Presidency College Observatory in Calcutta, St. Xavier's College Observatory in Calcutta, Takhtasinghji Observatory in Poona, and Langat Singh College Observatory in Muzaffarpur. Three of these observatories were established either to aid educated Indians in gaining a realistic knowledge of Western astronomy, or so that India itself could contribute to that body of research knowledge. The fourth observatory, at the Presidency College in Calcutta, was a local government initiative founded primarily to provide a local time service and meteorological data. Unlike the observatories discussed in the first paper in this series, none of the observatories reviewed in this paper was set up primarily to further Britain's colonial ambitions. All were local Indian initiatives, but the critical involvement of Western astronomers or academics at three of the four observatories reveals that a colonial link was still there, albeit as an underlying element. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, policymakers and academics have shown interest in understanding how universities could drive regional innovation. Universities are not solely focusing on research and education as their primary missions but are also asked to participate in the development of their regions. This has compelled universities to forge what is called a third mission, encompassing all social and economic activities of universities. Several attempts have been made to evaluate this concept, aiming to highlight the evolving role of universities and their relevance to policy and society. In this vein, this paper showcases existing attempts that aim to measure the impact of the third mission in European universities. This study consists of a systematic literature review studying journal articles published between 2001 and 2021. The purpose of this paper is to enumerate the existing measurements of the third mission and identify the different tensions related to it. This study shows that the literature encompasses three approaches for assessing the third mission. First, some studies incorporated the third mission into the overall evaluation of university performance. Second, other investigations aimed to capture this concept as a whole. Finally, several studies evaluated individual dimensions of the third mission independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internationally, the emphasis on school reforms is increasing, and school leaders play a key role in realising reform initiatives for school development and change. Often, the formation of partnerships between researchers and practitioners for school improvement is promoted to facilitate professional development and enhance student learning. However, limited attention has been directed towards the underlying ideas, values and beliefs in government-initiated strategies for partnership in the policy context of educational reform. This paper examines how partnerships between schools and higher education institutions are conceptualised and legitimised in Norwegian reform policy documents. We analyse three government white papers, each coupled with an executive partnership strategy document. The analysis applies a discourse analytical approach to policy as text and transmission. Our findings show a shift in the official national discourse on partnerships in education, underscoring new tensions regarding the power to define focus areas in the local reform work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Universities Initiative (EUI) was established in 2017. Its aim is to strengthen strategic partnerships between higher education institutions across the EU by building networks of universities. At the end of 2023, there were already 50 European University Alliances gathering 430 higher education (HE) institutions. In each of these Alliances, academic libraries are members, too. These libraries are already involved in intra-alliance projects, and these alliances will probably happen more often due to the EU's project-driven approach. This practice paper is, to the authors' knowledge, the first attempt to describe another challenge that European academic libraries currently face i.e., project management practice. The alliance partner universities operate under distinct national laws and institutional practices, making it challenging to easily align them for effective cross-university collaborations. Familiarity with the theoretical principles of EU project management and project management methodology greatly facilitates the preparation of the proposal and the work of the project. It also allows more effective management of the project as a whole or its individual parts. This paper maps the challenges that work in international projects brings and provides suggestions on how EUI libraries can utilize project management techniques, while also aiming at showing the paths to facilitate cooperation. Drawing from an analysis of the literature on project management that might apply in library-led projects to strengthen communities of purpose, the paper is based on the example of the work experience on the project TRAIN4EU, that was co-led by the academic librarians from the University of Warsaw Library, Poland, and run by 4EU + universities. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations based on TRAIN4EU practices, lessons learned, as well as pitfalls to avoid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article features an interview with Xiaohuan Sun, the first author of a paper on the antagonistic roles of tau and MAP6 in regulating neuronal development. The study explores how these proteins interact with microtubules in neurons, affecting growth and shape. By reducing tau and MAP6 levels in rodent neurons, the researchers observed changes in growth, migration, and branching, highlighting the importance of balancing these proteins for healthy neuron function. The findings provide insights into neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: Through addressing female academics in four public universities in Egypt, the author of this paper aims to answer the question: How do female academics cope with the career shock resulting from the spread of COVID-19? Design/methodology/approach: The author used a qualitative research method through semi-structured interviews with 32 female academics from four public universities selected from among 26 public institutions of higher education in Egypt. Thematic analysis was subsequently used to determine the main ideas in the transcripts. Findings: The findings assert that the following three strategies: heroism, cronyism and temporalism are used by female academics in the Egyptian context to cope with the career shocks they feel during the time of COVID-19. The findings assert that female academics try to reassert their professionalism in their academic duties and familial obligations even after the spread of COVID-19. Moreover, they tend to use forms of cronyism behaviour to alleviate the effect of the career shock, mostly via hypocritical phrases. Furthermore, the thought that COVID-19 is a temporary stage helps female academics to actively accept their challenging new work conditions. Originality/value: This paper contributes by filling a gap in human resources management and higher education in which empirical studies on the career shock of female academics have been limited so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postsecondary institutions such as public and private universities have a key role to play in the development of sustainable smart cities. This paper discusses aspects of this role in terms of historical contributions, examples of contributions from the standpoint of two universities, and potential future contributions. The treatment of these aspects from a system-oriented perspective is also addressed. Researchers working on leading edge technologies have resources that enable them to introduce disruptive solutions that enhance the well-being of society. On the other hand, it is clear that different university realities demand unique actions depending on whether they reside in developing or developed countries, although common social problems have also been identified. Overall, there is an opportunity for universities to test new ideas and implement them in communities, especially where they reside. We discuss the role of universities in a broad sense, where contributions are briefly described and acknowledged. The focus is on applications for sustainability and social good that have been or could be developed in universities as new research opportunities to improve the quality of life of the general population. We also argue that it is essential to consider university contributions to the creation of smart cities in the context of a system-oriented perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of college mental health is changing dramatically, and we are approaching a necessary paradigm shift in how "mental health" is defined and addressed. This paper will outline two primary forces impacting how we think about mental health and how a systems change perspective might help us understand what comes next. We will conclude with opportunities to integrate ways of thinking about mental health into the broader well-being and systems change work that higher education institutions have embarked on in recent years. The conclusion will include an overview of a project at the authors' home institution that is aligned with this worldview and holds the promise of a healthier, more sustainable path forward in college mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Considering the critical role of higher education institutions in the advancement of the 2030 Agenda, this paper aims to analyse the incorporation of the gender perspective (Sustainable Development Goal 5) in the University Cooperation for International Development. Design/methodology/approach: Following a qualitative methodological strategy, this paper identifies the potentialities and challenges of this perspective from the point of view of the technical staff of the cooperation units of seven Spanish universities. Findings: Results show a strong intention to incorporate gender principles, in accordance with the SDGs framework. However, the findings also point to certain divergences in the forms of understanding and implementing gender equality in practice. Finally, this paper uncovers a variety of strategies to navigate the resistances, still existing in the university community. Originality/value: Spain is orienting the legal framework of its cooperation and international relations towards the ambitious horizon of a feminist foreign policy. Universities are key actors in international development cooperation and the implementation of the SDGs. This is an issue that has received little research attention, particularly from a gender perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper intends to explore entrepreneurship intention among the youth by examining their personality traits. The respondents of this study were accounting students in their final year from seven public universities across Malaysia. A validated questionnaire was employed and distributed to representatives of each university, obtaining a total of 756 responses. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and utilized partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the hypotheses. The results revealed that personality traits influence entrepreneurship intention of accounting students' and conscientiousness being the most significant trait with a coefficient of 0.612. This paper suggests that personality traits namely conscientiousness, extraversion, openness to experience and agreeableness can boost entrepreneurship attitude, thus it should be optimized systematically into the education context to shape young personalities that are inclined towards entrepreneurship. Essentially, Ministry of Higher Institution, universities, colleges, and schools are advised to shape entrepreneurial personalities through the education curriculum and frequent practical sessions with inspiring entrepreneurs in the industry. Further, integrating the elements of personality traits into entrepreneurship education can serve as a guide for financial management of a business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of strategic planning's role in enhancing higher education institutions' sense of strategic direction and outlining measurable goals. The study particularly reflects the practical experience of setting up a strategic plan within a community college at a Saudi Arabian university, providing academic insight into implementing that plan. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the University's strategic plan implementation required conducting six unstructured interviews and examining a University document. A university can develop a programmatic framework within which to define new directions and programmes and evaluate its own capabilities against those of competing universities. A strategic planning framework can help universities and their colleges identify and follow a five-stage practical planning process. The authors emphasise the importance of actively involving stakeholders in decision-making while developing a strategic plan. This study may serve as a catalyst for further research on strategic planning at other universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]