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In chapter 1, this dissertation investigates how promotion policies impact advanced education attainment on employees throughout a career. Using administrative data from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), I leverage a natural experiment where academic credentials were permanently masked from promotion consideration. I show the policy influenced the premium of a graduate degree for career advancement opportunities. I then exploit an event study and difference-in-differences design to find employees are 14 percentage points less likely to complete a master's degree when education credentials are no longer considered for promotion. I also show attendance at for-profit institutions declined substantially after the policy reform. In chapter 2, I examine workplace peer effects on advanced education attainment. Using administrative data from the DoD and conditional exogeneous assignment of employees to workplace, I provide empirical evidence that coworkers’ education investment behavior increases the likelihood of using Employer-Provided Educational Assistance (EPEA) benefits to start and eventually complete a graduate degree. In chapter 3, I analyze trainees' ordinal rank across cognitive and physical ability within an initial job training program. Using administrative data from the DoD and conditional random assignment of trainees to peer groups, I test whether rank effects vary across contemporaneous training and long-term career outcomes. I find cognitive ordinal rank, measured by an individual's score on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), has a meaningful impact on completing initial training into the U.S. Air Force (USAF). I also show physical ordinal rank, measured by an individual's initial fitness score, also affects initial job training performance. Both sets of ranking effects impact follow-on disciplinary outcomes and vary by gender.

The United States Air Force (USAF) implemented an Advanced Academic Degree (AAD) masking policy for officer promotion boards at the end of 2014. This policy prevented promotion boards from viewing degree information in Officer Selection Records (OSRs) as part of an initiative to focus board members on assessing job performance. This research analyzed how this policy affected promotion outcomes for different subgroups of officers. Using data for active duty USAF officers from 2007 to 2019, we leveraged descriptive techniques and linear probability models to determine how promotion rates changed over time for officers meeting O-4 and O-5 promotion boards while in-the-zone for promotion. We determined that the promotion premium of an AAD reduced about 50 percent across O-4 and O-5 promotion boards. Additionally, we found that non-AAD holding rated officers became significantly more likely to promote to O-4 following policy implementation, relative to their counterparts in support career fields. These findings suggest that the AAD masking policy potentially affected the type and quality of officers promoted by the USAF after 2014. Outstanding Thesis Captain, United States Air Force Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

L'augment demogràfic i de demanda de proteïna animal al món xoca amb una crisi climàtica provocada per la contaminació de l'activitat humana. Els sistemes de producció alimentària actuals, especialment els de ramaderia intensiva, generen una part important d'aquesta contaminació, i per tant cal trobar alternatives alimentàries per afrontar el futur d'una forma més sostenible. L'objectiu d'aquesta revisió bibiliogràfica és crear una visió global sobre com l'hàbit del consum humà d'insectes (entomofagia), que ja es practica de manera tradicional en alguns països, podria contribuir a millorar la producció de proteïna d'alt valor biològic de forma mes ecològica i sostenible. L'estudi ha estat dut a terme analitzant articles publicats en revistes científiques o institucions oficials relacionades amb l'alimentació, i s'ha centrat específicament en tres àmbits: aspectes mediambientals, valor nutricional dels insectes, i relació d'entomofagia i malnutrició al món. Els resultats obtinguts han mostrat avantatges mediambientals de la cria d'insectes respecte altres espècies de bestiar tradicional com les aus, els porcs o la ramaderia bovina. Així mateix, s'ha observat una composició nutricional dels insectes que els converteixen en un producte interessant per al consum humà, amb una contingut elevat de proteïna d'alta qualitat, lípids insaturats i fibra. Aquestes característiques junt amb la seva fàcil criança i índex de reproducció, les converteixen en un producte interessant també per ajudar a combatre problemes de malnutrició o convertir-se en un nou mitjà de subsistència per alguna famílies. Tot i així, es requereix mes investigació sobre varis temes relacionats amb l'entomofàgia, com els seus aspectes limitants, les característiques de diverses espècies i les millors condicions per la seva criança. The demographic increase and high demand of animal protein confronts with a climatic crisis caused by human activity contamination. The current alimentary production systems, specially those of intensive stockbreeding, generate an important part of this contamination. Therefor, it is needed to find alimentary alternatives to face the future with a more sustainable form. The objective of this bibliographic research is to create a global view about how the human habit of eating edible insects (entomophagy), which is traditionally practised in some countries, could contribute to improve the production of high value protein in a more ecologic and sustainable form. The research has been realized analysing papers published in scientific journals or official institutions related with diet, and has focused specifically on three aspects: environmental impact, insect's nutritional values and relationship between entomophagy and malnutrition. The results obtained have shown environmental advantages of insect raising in front of other traditional livestock species like poultry, pork or beef. Moreover, their nutritional composition turns insects into an interesting product for human consumption, with a high content of protein, lipids and fibre. These features, together with the easiness of their raising and their high index of reproduction, also make insects a good product to fight malnutrition issues or to become a new way of subsistence for families. Nevertheless, more research is needed about various aspects of entomophagy, like his limitations, features of each species and the best conditions for their raising. El aumento demográfico y de demanda de proteína animal en el mundo choca con una crisis climática provocada por la contaminación de la actividad humana. Los sistemas de producción alimentaria actuales, especialmente los de ganadería intensiva, generan una parte importante de esta contaminación, y por tanto hay que encontrar alternativas alimenticias para afrontar el futuro de una forma más sostenible. El objetivo de esta revisión bibiliogràfica es crear una visión global sobre cómo el hábito del consumo humano de insectos (entomofagia), que ya se practica de manera tradicional en algunos países, podría contribuir a mejorar la producción de proteína de alto valor biológico de forma más ecológica y sostenible. El estudio ha sido llevado a cabo analizando artículos publicados en revistas científicas o instituciones oficiales relacionadas con la alimentación, y se ha centrado específicamente en tres ámbitos: aspectos medioambientales, valor nutricional de los insectos, y relación de entomofagia y malnutrición en el mundo . Los resultados obtenidos han mostrado ventajas medioambientales de la cría de insectos respecto otras especies de ganado tradicional como las aves, los cerdos o la ganadería bovina. Asimismo, se ha observado una composición nutricional de los insectos que los convierten en un producto interesante para el consumo humano, con una elevado contenido de proteína de alta calidad, lípidos insaturados y fibra. Estas características junto con su fácil crianza e índice de reproducción, las convierten en un producto interesante también para ayudar a combatir problemas de malnutrición o convertirse en un nuevo medio de subsistencia por alguna familias. Sin embargo, se requiere más investigación sobre varios temas relacionados con la entomofagia, como sus aspectos limitantes, las características de diversas especies y las mejores condiciones para su crianza.

This paper aims to highlight the deficiencies in digital literacy education within official master´s programs for Spanish as a foreign language (SFL) teachers in Spain. A thorough literature review has been carried out that supports the theoretical framework in which this mixed research is based. Its low presence in the syllabi highlights the need to strengthen and expand digital literacy in professional development courses for SFL teachers and to reduce the curriculum content gap that separates it from linguistic literacy. Digital competence deserves a deeper treatment and a more visible position in the study plans. Con el presente trabajo se pretende poner de manifiesto las carencias en formación digital que poseen los másteres de profesorado de lenguas extranjeras, más concretamente de la enseñanza de español como lengua extranjera. Se ha llevado a cabo una revisión bibliográfica que cimente el marco teórico en el que se asienta esta investigación de carácter mixto. Su escasa presencia pone de manifiesto la necesidad de reforzar y ampliar la alfabetización digital en la formación de profesorado y reducir la fractura desigualitaria que la separa del aprendizaje lingüístico. Merece por derecho un tratamiento más profundo y una posición más visible en los planes de estudio. This paper aims to highlight the deficiencies in digital literacy education within official master´s programs for Spanish as a foreign language (SFL) teachers in Spain. A thorough literature review has been carried out that supports the theoretical framework in which this mixed research is based. Its low presence in the syllabi highlights the need to strengthen and expand digital literacy in professional development courses for SFL teachers and to reduce the curriculum content gap that separates it from linguistic literacy. Digital competence deserves a deeper treatment and a more visible position in the study plans. Este artigo tem como objetivo destacar as deficiências no treinamento digital que os professores de mestrado de línguas estrangeiras têm, mais especificamente no ensino de espanhol como língua estrangeira. Foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica que sustenta o referencial teórico no qual esta pesquisa mista se baseia. Sua baixa presença destaca a necessidade de fortalecer e expandir a alfabetização digital na formação de professores e reduzir a diferença de desigualdade que a separa da aprendizagem de línguas. Merece, por direito, um tratamento mais profundo e uma posição mais visível nos planos de estudo.

We describe a set of guidelines for design and evaluation of projects, developed for professional master's degrees, based on the experience of the case of the Federal University of Maranhão program, the first of its kind in the Brazilian Amazon region. Starting from the specifications of the CAPES area document for Communication and Information and the concepts of Design Science, the work also reflects the ten years of experience of LABCOM - Media Convergence Laboratory in the area of applied research, with an interdisciplinary approach and creation of software solutions to support the work of researchers. We describe a set of guidelines for design and evaluation of projects, developed for professional master's degrees, based on the experience of the case of the Federal University of Maranhão program, the first of its kind in the Brazilian Amazon region. Starting from the specifications of the CAPES area document for Communication and Information and the concepts of Design Science, the work also reflects the ten years of experience of LABCOM - Media Convergence Laboratory in the area of applied research, with an interdisciplinary approach and creation of software solutions to support the work of researchers. &nbsp

This article is sanctified to the questions of implementation of scientific research within the framework of institution of higher learning. Experience of implementation of scientific research forces of teachers, city councils, докторантов and students opens up. Drawn conclusion that in the process of educating in institution of higher learning maybe and it is necessary to expose the scientific capabilities of students. Also to this article experience of realization of sociological research of sense of justice and legal culture of young people is driven.

This paper aims to present some challenges arising from the construction and consolidation of professional masters in the area of Teaching in Brazil. There is also a false perception on the part of the institutions that the professional master's degree can discredit them and that only the academic programs give prestige and promote the qualification of the university, which is a misunderstanding. To the detriment of this mistaken perception, documents such as the Capes Education Area Programs, which are organized in different proposals, constitute specific lines of research and prioritize the production of educational knowledge. Through qualitative research of an exploratory nature, we conclude that the diversity in the identity of professional masters is not only determined by its thematic area, but, fundamentally, by the great challenge of rigorously integrating research in its development process and to achieve the applicability of the results for transformation of the studied reality. From the above, we consider that historical-dialectical materialism can contribute to the epistemological understanding in the investigations of practices in educational spaces, since its ontological, axiological and gnosiological dimensions integrate a philosophy of transformation, which aims, through historical analysis and dialectic of reality, to achieve syntheses that take up, in another dimension, the initial knowledge, and aim, in the last resort, at social and collective transformation. Este artículo tiene como objetivo exponer algunos desafíos derivados de la construcción y consolidación de los másters profesionales en el área de Enseñanza en Brasil. Hay, por parte de las instituciones, una falsa percepción de que la maestría profesional puede desabonarlas y que sólo los programas académicos dan prestigio y promueven la calificación de la universidad, lo que representa un equívoco. En detrimento de esta equivocada percepción, se trae documentos como los Programas del Área de Educación de la Capes que están organizados en diferentes propuestas, constituyendo líneas de investigación específicas y dando prioridad a la producción de conocimiento educativo. Por medio de una investigación cualitativa de carácter exploratorio, se llega a la conclusión de que la diversidad en la identidad de los másters profesionales no está determinada por su área temática, sino, fundamentalmente, por el gran desafío de integración con rigor a la investigación en su proceso de desarrollo y lograr la aplicabilidad de los resultados para la transformación de la realidad estudiada. A partir de lo expuesto, consideramos que el materialismo histórico-dialéctico puede contribuir al entendimiento epistemológico en las investigaciones sobre prácticas en espacios educativos, pues sus dimensiones ontológicas, axiológicas y gnosiológicas integran una filosofía de la transformación, la cual pretende, por medio del análisis histórico y dialéctica de la realidad, alcanzar síntesis que retomen, en otra dimensión, el conocimiento inicial, y visan, en última instancia, a la transformación social y colectiva. Este artigo tem como objetivo expor alguns desafios decorrentes da construção e consolidação dos mestrados profissionais na área de Ensino no Brasil. Existe ainda, por parte das instituições, uma falsa percepção de que o mestrado profissional pode desaboná-las e que apenas os programas acadêmicos dão prestígio e promovem a qualificação da universidade, o que representa um equívoco. Em detrimento desta equivocada percepção, traz-se documentos como os Programas da Área de Educação da Capes que estão organizados em diferentes propostas, constituindo linhas de pesquisa específicas e dando prioridade a produção de conhecimento educacional. Por meio de pesquisa qualitativa de caráter exploratório, chega-se a conclusão de que a diversidade na identidade dos mestrados profissionais não está apenas determinada pela sua área temática, mas, fundamentalmente, pelo grande desafio de integração com rigor a pesquisa no seu processo de desenvolvimento e conseguir a aplicabilidade dos resultados para transformação da realidade estudada. A partir do exposto, consideramos que o materialismo histórico-dialético pode contribuir para o entendimento epistemológico nas investigações sobre práticas em espaços educativos, pois suas dimensões ontológicas, axiológicas e gnosiológicas integram uma filosofia da transformação, a qual visa, por meio da análise histórica e dialética da realidade, alcançar sínteses que retomem, em outra dimensão, a conhecimento inicial, e visam, em última estância, à transformação social e coletiva.

In Italy, motor and sports sciences have been in the academy since 2000 following the reform of the higher institutes of physical education, ISEF. Subsequently, with the implementation of the Bologna process in 2011, the first three-year degree courses and the first professors divided into motor sciences and sports sciences were born. After almost twenty years of development they are within the academy like other scientific knowledge. The study focuses on the numerical consistency of degree courses and professors and the evolutionary trends between them to observe the variations. To aim the correlations between the different categories of variables: three-year and master’s degree courses, professors and professors of physical education and sports sciences. The method is the archive search of official data in the ministerial database and the statistical analysis of them. The results show a significant correlation between the variables examined in relation to time, demonstration of a progressive development; moreover the correlations between all the examined variables are significant, further demonstration of a gradual development. It would be further useful to know the trends in the number of students and the trends of the degree courses and professors to check if there are significant correlations between them also for these trends.

Resumen Este trabajo ofrece un abordaje de las diversas opiniones de un grupo de especialistas respecto a la educación superior, con el fin de resaltar los aspectos de importancia que debe considerar la Maestría en Educación con énfasis en Docencia Universitaria de la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica en el año 2016, como parte de su fortalecimiento y estrategias de mejora en la formación docente, en el marco de las tendencias educativas de internacionalización, movilidad, acreditación, gestión académica y liderazgo compartido. Se parte de un acercamiento a la realidad costarricense en relación con la oferta académica de las maestrías en docencia universitaria, con el propósito de ofrecer una propuesta que responda a las necesidades educativas para la formación en el área de educación superior. Esta es una revisión bibliográfica cuyas fuentes tienen menos de diez años desde su fecha de publicación y son referentes importantes de las tendencias educativas que guían esta producción académica. Además, como parte de la contextualización, se consideran los programas de maestría en docencia universitaria que ofrecen las universidades en Costa Rica. Producto del análisis de estos aportes se concluye la pertinencia de los programas de docencia en educación superior, particularmente el de la Universidad Nacional, así como la necesidad de fortalecer su divulgación mediante procesos integrales que atiendan los criterios de calidad para programas de posgrado mencionados anteriormente. Abstract This project addresses the publications of a group of renowned authors in order to highlight important aspects to be considered by the Education Master’s Program in Higher Education and Teaching of the National University of Costa Rica as part of its improvement strategies in teacher education, taking into account the most recent tendencies related to internationalization, mobility, accreditation, academic management and shared leadership in higher education. The paper aims to portray a proposal that fulfills the needs of the Costa Rican master’s programs in higher education and teaching by approaching this country’s reality in terms of what the programs offer. It is a bibliographic research paper, which sources have been published for no longer than 10 years and are truly groundbreaking in regard to the graduate program trends that guide this production. Moreover, as part of the contextualization needed, all master’s degrees in higher education and teaching offered in the country are taken into consideration. As a result of this research, it can be concluded that these programs are pertinent, especially the one offered by the National University of Costa Rica, and it is evident that disseminating the program’s highlights and achievements through processes that respond to quality criteria for graduate programs truly needs to be encouraged. Resumo Este artigo apresenta uma abordagem das diferentes opiniões de um grupo de especialistas sobre o ensino superior, a fim de destacar os aspectos importantes a considerar no Mestrado em Educação com ênfase em docência, do ensino superior da Universidade Nacional da Costa Rica, no ano de 2016. Estes aspectos fazem parte das estratégias e fortalecimento em aperfeiçoar a formação de professores, como parte das tendências educacionais de internacionalização, mobilidade, acreditação, gestão académica e liderança compartilhada. Como tema inicial, se faz uma aproximação à realidade da Costa Rica em relação às ofertas acadêmicas de graus de mestrado em docência do ensino superior, com o objetivo de oferecer uma proposta que atenda às necessidades educacionais de formação na área do ensino superior. Parte desta é uma revisão de literatura, cujas fontes são menores a dez anos, a partir da data de sua publicação, e são referências importantes de tendências educacionais que orientam essa produção acadêmica. Além disso, como parte da contextualização, são considerados os programas de mestrado em docência do ensino superior oferecidos por universidades na Costa Rica. Como resultado das análises destas contribuições, a conclusão demostra a relevância dos programas de docência do ensino superior, particularmente os oferecidos pela Universidade Nacional, bem como a necessidade de reforçar a sua divulgação através de processos integrados que atendem aos critérios de qualidade para os programas de pós-graduação acima mencionados.

This paper examines the labor-market returns to a new form of postsecondary vocational education, vocational master's degrees. We use individual fixed effects models on the matched sample of students and non-students from Finland to capture any time-invariant differences across individuals. Attendance in vocational master's programs leads to higher earnings of eight percent five years after entry even if selection on unobservables is twice as strong as selection on observables. Earnings gains are similar by gender and age, but they are marginally higher for health than for business or technology and trades. nonPeerReviewed

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate career intentions of international master's students in hospitality and tourism management (HTM) in the United States. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 19 participants at two different U.S. institutions. Interview questions were designed to better understand students' career intentions upon graduation and the determinants behind the plans. Results indicated that student's career intention should include measures of career decision self-efficacy, academic and career outcome expectations, and career exploration intentions. Unique personal background (e.g., gender and marital status, length of time in the U.S.), industrial working experience (e.g., internships), and multiple external factors (e.g., school counselors, the booming tourism industry in developing countries) increase the diversity of career intentions of the target population.

La investigación tuvo como objetivo describir el estado del arte de la investigación cualitativa de los trabajos de grado de maestría elaborados en la Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador, Instituto Pedagógico “Luis Beltrán Prieto Figueroa” (UPEL-IPB). Se fundamentó en una investigación documental de tipo descriptivo, siendo las unidades de análisis 26 trabajos de grado. Se utilizó como técnica el análisis cuantitativo de contenido a partir de las categorías fundamentales que caracterizan a los diseños cualitativos de investigación. La información fue procesada mediante el uso de estadística descriptiva representada por distribuciones de frecuencia. Los resultados obtenidos develaron que la investigación cualitativa desarrollada en los trabajos de maestría de la UPEL - IPB es cuasi inductiva, la cual comprende la realidad desde un contexto específico de tiempo y experiencia. En relación con la construcción del discurso, se escribe en tercera persona, impersonal mostrando el mito que esta escritura es garantía de la objetividad del investigador. La información obtenida hizo posible generar criterios que permiten orientar el diseño, elaboración y evaluación de estudios cualitativos en función de elevar la calidad de la producción investigativa en los diferentes subprogramas de maestría en la UPEL-IPB. La investigación se inscribe en la Línea de Investigación “Red de Investigación Cualitativa en Educación” del Núcleo de Investigación NIDIT de la UPEL-IPB. The research goal was to describe the qualitative research art state of the master’s degree works at the UPEL-IPB. It was based on a descriptive-like documental research, in which 26 works were the analysis units. The quantitative content analysis, based on the fundamental categories that characterized the research qualitative designs. The information was processed by means of the descriptive statics represented by frequency distributions. The results which were obtained revealed that the qualitative research carried out in the master’s degree works, at the UPEL-IPB are quasi inductive, which comprehends reality from specific and experience time context. In relation to the speech construction, it is written in third impersonal person, showing the myth that this style of writing gives guarantee of the researcher’s objectivity. The obtained information made the criteria generation possible, which allow directing the design, elaboration, and evaluation of qualitative studies aiming at increasing the researching production quality into the different mastering sub-programs at the UPEL-IPB. The research is attached to the investigation time “Red de Investigación Cualitativa en Educación” from the Núcleo de Investigación, Docencia, Innovación y Tecnología at the UPEL-IPB.