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The purpose of the study was to examine the views and experiences of university students on academic honesty. To this end, a phenomenological design, as a type of qualitative research, was used. The sample was selected through the method of maximum variation qualitative sampling and included 18 undergraduate students from different faculties at a state university in Ankara. The researchers prepared a semi-structured interview form and conducted interviews with students. Before the data collection process, the approval of the ethics committee was obtained; cognitive interviews were held; and expert opinions were gathered through cognitive interviewing to check the validity and clarity of the interview form. The qualitative data obtained from the interviews were analyzed using descriptive analysis. The findings suggested that most of the students were not adequately and specifically informed about academic honesty and they did not have any specific training on it. However, they knew the general content of academic honesty. The students listed the academic dishonesty behaviors that they mostly observed as cheating, using others’ academic work without citing, resubmitting an academic work/ presentation they did earlier and copying from the Internet sources without citing. Moreover, the main reasons of academic dishonesty were reported as the desire to get higher grades and the inadequacy of the time given for studying for exams and for completing assignments. It was also revealed that the students were generally unresponsive to academic dishonesty behaviors. Lastly, the students indicated their need for more information and training on academic honesty to be provided by the faculty members and administrators.

Many higher education institutions in Turkey are putting noteworthy efforts to improve the quality of the education and the services they provide to students. As part of these efforts, some of the universities are making decisions and changes which affect the whole educational and instructional activities. Since it is an accepted reality that the effectiveness of education is one of the major influences on students’ success at university, faculty members are also expected to do their best to increase the quality of their instruction and courses. Using a course syllabus is regarded as one of these ways. Defined briefly as a contract between instructor and students about a course, course syllabus provides the students with written information with regards to certain components of a course -from its objectives to the resources to be used. A course syllabus, given at the very beginning of a semester, not only serves to communicate necessary information about courses to students but also plays an important role in stimulating their learning. Within this respect, this paper aims to inform readers about course syllabus (its purpose, importance and components) and to serve as a practical guide for preparing an effective course syllabus. The study comprises a review and analysis of the existing literature and the sources provided by the teaching and learning centers of higher education institutions. Additionally, a total of 28 course syllabi from different higher education institutions all around the world were also examined.

Faculty mentoring programs are implemented in higher education institutions to support faculty development. Within this respect, the aim of this study was to explore the views and suggestions of mentors and mentees in relation to the effectiveness of the mentoring program in a large state university in Ankara. The study had a qualitative design and semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect data. The sample included 8 mentors and 9 mentees. The qualitative data obtained through interviews were analyzed using descriptive analysis. The results showed that peer mentoring program contributed to professional development of mentees. The mentors also highlighted the benefits of mentoring program for their career. Both mentors and mentees also provided noteworthy suggestions on how to increase effectiveness of the mentoring program.

The present study aims to analyze the contents of the current research on the theories and approaches affecting student achievement in Turkish context. A total of 69 studies published in well-known Turkish journals in education were reviewed. The results of the study showed that the most frequently studied theories and approaches in Turkey in relation to student achievement/outcome were Multiple Intelligences theory, Technology-based theories and approaches, and Constructivism. The majority of reviewed studies used experimental design and found a significant mean difference in favor of experimental group. At the end of the study, the results were discussed and necessary implications and suggestions were made.