TOJQIH - Volume 2 - Issue 3 - July 2015
A COMPREHENSIVE QA FRAMEWORK Muhammad Ismail
Abstract: Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan was established to help national universities provide internationally competitive and compatible education. One of its core strategic aims is achieving excellence (Quality) in higher education. HEC’s Quality Assurance (QA) Framework includes Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) and External Quality Assurance (EQA). IQA measures entail self-assessment of academic programs and university’s internal quality audit whereas EQA practices include accreditation of programs by accreditation councils and universities’ performance evaluation through HEC’s Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Author of this paper has first-hand experience of working for all four aspects of Framework. The paper gives an account of these aspects as being practiced in Pakistan for providing education that fulfills the expectations of stakeholders by meeting the threshold minimum requirements. The paper also describes various benefits accrued from the Framework exercises which are helping the universities to enhance quality of education as per national requirements and international standards.
A PROBE INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING MATERIALS AND QUALITY IN TEACHING CHINESE AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN TURKEY Prof. Yingjie Wang
Abstract: To guarantee and improve the teaching quality, teaching material is one of the three main factors. In China the existing Chinese language textbooks for foreigners are almost universal, which can’t meet the demands of learners from different countries. It’s become a priority for us to prepare and compile country-specific teaching materials for local Chinese language learners. When we prepare textbooks, we may take these specific measures like changing the Chinese language-based perspective, highlighting the usefulness and relevance of teaching material; penetrating moderately cultural factors, adopting the way of international cooperation, which can make the learning process easier and more efficient. Since 2009 China Hanban organized professors and experts to prepare a series of country-specific textbooks. However, most of these materials were only a translation of the original textbooks into different languages. They are not much used in Turkey as I know. My paper will search some solution to the real country-specific Chinese language textbooks for Turkish learners.
AN APPROACH TO EVALUATING PROFESSIONALISM IN HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION Fouzia Shersad, Sabeena Salam
Abstract: The higher education system lays a great deal of emphasis on attainment of knowledge and skills, but professional skills have not been emphasized and are rarely included in the assessment process. This study was aimed at evaluating if the use of multiple modalities of reflective assessment will help to provide an insight into the professional attitudes of students in health professions education. Method: Professional attitudes of 56 medical and 78 pharmaceutical students were evaluated using checklists and scenario interpretation. Result: It was seen that 92.16% of medical students and 91.67% of pharmacy students adopted health profession due to compassion for humanity. 95.24% of medical students and 92.86% of pharmacy students rated knowledge, clinical skills, attitude, communication skills and professionalism as highly important for success. 92.84% and 85.71% knew basics of professionalism. Conclusion: Professional attitudes can be measured by using surveys and scenario evaluation in the early phase of health professions education. There is a high standard of professional values among the newly admitted students in the two colleges studied.
BENCHMARKING AS A QUALITY ASSURANCE TOOL AND ITS APPLICATION TO HIGHER EDUCATION (A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK) Assist.Prof.Dr.Hatice SARIALTIN
Abstract: As a descriptive study which focuses on benchmarking literature in higher education (HE); this paper presents a general overview of benchmarking as a quality assurance tool and its application to higher education institutions (HEIs); introducing its true descriptions, its importance for HE and its application stages. The purpose is to draw more academic attention to the benchmarking theme by describing what really benchmarking is for HEIs and questioning how to apply it to HE. The study starts with the role of benchmarking in HE and then explains the relationship between benchmarking and quality assurance models and introduces current benchmarking implementations in HEIs. Finally, implementation stages and related issues relevant to literature findings are discussed.
Common understanding of pedagogic practice to the new quality Mirjana Šagud, Gordana Lešin
Abstract: Global changes, its dynamism and unpredictability create necessity for consistent and competent corpus of kindergarten teachers. Despite the fact that the traditional approach in professionalization of kindergarten teachers gradually becomes weaker, it is still, to a large extent, present technical- rational model of creating its professionalism. Contemporary approach in professional advancement of kindergarten teachers is focused on the development of sophisticated procedures in understanding of pedagogic theory and its implementation and transfer to the pedagogic practice domain. Dissonance between contemporary professional epistemology and conventional approaches requires reconstruction of fundamental modes of their initial teaching and learning and the subsequent lifelong learning.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING ASSISTANTS TO UNIVERSITIES IN TURKEY: A CASE STUDY Emrah EKMEKÇİ
Abstract: As a result of globalization and internationalization of universities, English language has become the dominant language taught and learnt almost all over the world. This dominance of English language has caused universities, schools, private institutions and various language teaching centres to hire native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) in order to offer quality language education for their students especially in English as a foreign language context (EFL). So as to meet this need, the Turkish Fullbright Commission and the Turkish Higher Education Council have initiated a cooperative program called The English Teaching Assistantship. Thanks to this program, English Teaching Assistants (ETA) have been placed to various Turkish universities in recent years. This case study investigates the contributions of ETAs to a state university from both the students and ETAs' point of views. Within this context, semi-structured interviews were administered to both ETAs and their students by the researcher. The results reveal that ETAs contribute to students' language development in that they provide authentic language, increase intercultural competence of the students, and constitute a good source and opportunity for a real communication in the class. In addition, most of the students stated that ETAs really helped them improve their speaking and pronunciation to a great extent, however; they complained about being too nervous while communicating with NESTs.
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP IN TURKEY AND IN THE WORLD:EDUCATIONAL APPLICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY Nazire Burçin Hamutoğlu, Yeliz Ünal
Abstract: Technological developments and movement to the digital era necessitate redefining some concepts or updating existing definitions. While identifying new notions, a gap is observed in the educational and social structure of 21st century. Among the standards of national educational technology, it is emphasized that both student and the teacher are required to have digital citizenship characteristics. Thus, it is thought that the quality in education will be increased. While defining digital citizenship, some elements are essential to mention. These can be listed as digital access, digital commerce, digital communication, digital literacy, digital etiquette, digital law, digital rights and responsibilities, digital health and wellness, and digital security. The present study gives information about digital citizenship through introducing different definitions stated by several researchers in the literature and examined with the educational activities at schools. Furthermore, it is emphasized that investing money on expensive technologies and facilities is not enough to meet the needs for the education of these individuals.
DIGITAL EDUCATION, DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY, TRADITIONAL EDUCATION TOOLS, A CRITICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL LOOK TO NEW STUDENTS Nevin ALGÃœL
Abstract: Traditional education tools started to change and evolve since the invention of fist personal computer in 1970‘s (Paul, 2003: 11). This irresistible change informed the world based on individual, it also changed education tools. The aim of this article is to handle positive and negative effect developing new technologies on digital education; comparing with traditional methods in general if for understanding the effect of digital age on education with a student cantered experimental and critical view.
EDUCATION IN AN ECOLOGICAL-SYSTEMIC PERSPECTIVE Flavia Dragoni, Renzo Campanella
Abstract: The present work aims to track and support the need for a rethinking of the ways, often "dormant", to configure the process of teaching and learning, in order to promote an attitude of waiting between us and our knowledge, an hermeneutic capacity that goes beyond the pure description. In other words, there is the need to develop new modalities to correlate the differentiation of identities to the symbolic and communication contexts, through correlation and recognition. Ecological-systemic education guarantees the diversities and supports the category of the possible and of the differences, exploring different horizon structures to build a methodology which is functional to a genuine process of inclusion. It is an alternative trip that could lead to acquire a attitude to knowledge that demands humility and commitment, undertaking of responsibility in the encounter with the other, the construction of a interweaving of stories, that is the enhancement of the possibilities to experiment the answers to the problems, answers based on silence as a guarantee of words. It is in particular in the work of Gregory Bateson that a new way of knowing is experimented. In this article this is the reference point: the mind connects different parts, captures relationships, relates to the educational dimension in an ecological perspective. Not to acquire a map that will replace another one, but as an opportunity to reflect on the actors involved in the educational relation and on the context in which this is actualized as a system.
ESTABLISHMENT OF COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION PLATFORMS BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES AND INDUSTRY TO IMPROVE EDUCATION QUALITY Ergun Demirel, Dinçer Bayer
Abstract: Although education is the primary mission of universities, research activities in support of businesses and industries are quite important as well. The education aims to provide qualified manpower for industry in addition to create scientists for the future of our civilization. Such an aim requires coordination, cooperation and collaboration with industry to fully understand and meet the requirements of the business. Today, techno-parks which provide opportunities for industry and university cooperation have many deficiencies in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, many countries established vocational qualification systems to realize the qualification requirements and provided a full spectrum education system to meet industrial requirements. The study is to be conducted in three steps. In the first step, capabilities of possible platforms and eligibility of them to meet the coordination requirements of universities and industries will be investigated. The second step is dedicated to investigate effectiveness of the use of different platforms. Finally possible solutions will be summarized and associated to propose an effective and applicable solution for better coordination, cooperation and collaboration.
EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE READING COMPONENT OF THE NIGERIA CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION (NCE) ENGLISH LANGUAGE CURRICULUM: IMPLICATION FOR QUALITY TEACHER EDUCATION Hanna Onyi Yusuf
Abstract: The study was aimed at evaluating the implementation of the Reading Component of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) English Language Curriculum for colleges of Education. This study was carried out using some colleges of Education in Kaduna, Nigeria. Twenty (20) teachers and fifty (50) students i.e (teachers-in-training) were used for the study. A questionnaire tagged “Evaluation of the Implementation of the Reading Component of the Nigeria Certificate in Education English Language Curriculum (EIRCNCEELC) was used to collect data from respondents. Data obtained was analysed using frequency counts and percentages. The findings revealed that the reading component of the NCE English Language Curriculum does not seem to be robust enough to train NCE students to become functional readers and effective reading instructors at the primary and secondary school level. The implementation of the curriculum was not efficiently and effectively done. In order to improve the quality of teachers in Teacher Education Programmes in Nigeria, the reading component of the NCE English language curriculum should be reviewed. The content should include topics/activities that will make NCE students become functional, competent, effective and efficient reading instructors at all levels of Education.
FACULTY SUPPORT FOR QUALITY ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES AT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN CAPPADOCIA REGION H. Serkan Akıllı, Aylin Alkaya, Hüsniye Akıllı, Ruveyda Kızılboğa
Abstract: In this presentation, we would like to discuss the findings of a research project (NEUBAP13S20) about the faculty support for quality enhancement activities at nine universities around Cappadocia region. 233 questionnaires were gathered from faculty members who are employed at four year faculties. The question form included three seven-point Likert style sub-scales which were used to measure the expected institutional and individual benefits of the quality enhancement activities (12 items), opinions about the establishment and employment of quality and performance indicators (13 items), and the existence of an internal/external assessment culture (11 items). Group comparison tests show that support for quality enhancement activities are significantly different among faculty members according to academic titles, disciplinary differences, gender, and administrative roles. We believe these findings should be considered in efforts to strengthen organizational support for quality enhancement policies.
IMPACT APPRAISAL OF ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU) STRIKE ON QUALITY OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN NIGERIA Adamu Ibrahim
Abstract: This paper examined the effect of ASUU strike on quality of education in Nigeria. The study has five objectives and five null hypotheses. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The researchers targeted 450 undergraduate students from three federal universities in the North-West Geo-political zone in the country. Four rating scale structured questionnaire titled, ASUU Strike and Quality of Education in Nigeria (ASQEN) was used for data collection. The researchers assisted by two research assistants distributed the instruments. Three hundred and eighty four copies of questionnaire were properly completed. Data collected were coded in to SPSS; the package was used to run multiple regression models to determine the five null hypotheses. In all the tests of the hypotheses, the .05 confidence level was used for determining statistical significance. The result revealed that, ASUU strike has negative effect on the quality of university graduates that the country produces. In view of this, it was recommended among others that, government should develop actions that will help to check incessant industrial action in Nigerian educational sector.
IMPROVING THE TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS: AN EXPERIENCE IN AN ITALIAN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE Renzo Campanella
Abstract: The implementation in Italy of the so called "3+2" system, in adoption of the Bologna process, led to an initial increase of the efficiency of the overall results, in terms of the ratio of the number of students who completed the degree over the number of the students enrolled. These findings are measured in the first cycle (BS level) in a mechanical engineering University degree. After a several years tendency to increase, the data show a relevant change of the slope, that became negative. In this poster the actions implemented to face this situation and revert the tendency to a positive behaviour are described.
New Management Approaches in Higher Education Eisa Amiri, Mokhtar Ranjbar, Habib Zamani
Abstract: Today’s universities may want to consider strengthening their customer oriented approaches in interactions with students. Institutions of higher education are grappling with difficult fiscal realities, a new emphasis on students as consumers, faculty challenges in balancing rigor and student course ratings, as well complex human performance processes. Student expectations, faculty pressures, and competitive markets all contribute to an environment where it’s now commonplace to negotiate critical standards in higher education. This paper examines various influences on institutions of higher education as they move toward a customer-oriented focus. It presents relevant aspects of the marketing approach of the universities’ activities in the current market conditions of higher education institutions. It also stresses the importance of balancing the needs of various customer groups while continuing to serve as purveyors of educated human resources in a global economy. The result showed that higher education managers must be more open and flexible, to help them explore “new angles†for addressing some of the many difficult problems of HE management through the use of new approaches.
Presenting a Model for Promoting Quality Of Life among Dormitory Students Reza Shaban Nejad
Abstract: Goal of the present research is to give a model for promoting quality of life of the dormitory students in district 12 of Islamic Azad University. The population of this research included all students of different educational levels in dormitories of District 12 of Islamic Azad University in academic year of 2013-2014. The sample included 350 students in dormitories who were selected with multistage cluster sampling method. The research method was applied in terms of goal and fact-finding method was used. Information collection instruments in this research was researcher-made questionnaire which measured factors affecting quality of life of the dormitory students in the present and ideal situation. Frequency distribution tables, bar chart, mean and standard deviation were used to describe data and Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to answer the research questions and exploratory factor analysis was used to identify components with principle component analysis method and structural equation modeling method was used to present the model. The obtained results included technology, sociocultural, psychological, human force, physical and hygienic factors as the principle components of quality of life among the dormitory students. Technology is effective on quality of life directly and through sociocultural components and human force is also effective on quality of life directly or through sociocultural component. Psychological factor is also effective directly on quality of life and also plays intermediary role and hygienic, technology and physical factors are also related to quality of life. Sociocultural factor is also effective directly on quality of life and plays intermediary role and relates all components to quality of life. Hygienic factor is not directly effective on quality of life and is effective on quality of life through sociocultural and psychological components. Physical factor is not directly effective on quality of life but is effective on quality of life through sociocultural and psychological components.
SKILLS PERCEIVED NEEDED AND CONFIDENCE LEVEL AMONG THE ELDERLY IN THE KLANG VALLEY,MALAYSIA Ngu Kee Shing, Norlidah Alias, Saedah Siraj, Husaina Banu Kenayathula, Dorothy DeWitt, Zaharah Hussin
Abstract: This study aims to identify the skills that exist in the elderly and also the level of confidence that exists among the elderly to share their expertise with students in schools. Data collection was conducted through a survey questionnaire to 618 senior citizens around Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur . The findings showed that the elderly were willing to share their skills and time with pupils at schools. The skill elderly are confident in training students. They also have the confidence to accept the comments from the students and join academic visit. However, the elderly seem to be less confident to speak in front of an audience of students.While seniors have skills in the academic subjects, in handyman skills, music, art and crafts, they are less proficient in computer. Result showed that they want to learn new skills,mainly in using the computer. There is a need for a module to meet the needs of the elderly and as well as for the elderly to contribute to the intergenerational program
Teaching Performance of Novice Teachers: Its Relationship with Academic Achievement and Teacher Testing Rosemarievic V. Diaz
Abstract: This study discusses the relationship of Teaching Performance with Academic Performance and Teacher Testing Scores of the novice teachers who graduated from a sampled institution in the years 2007-2010.The respondents are novice teachers or those who have 0-5 years of teaching experience. Their teaching performance has been gauged using a common tool adopted from the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) accomplished by their Immediate Supervisor in private and public academic institutions from regions where they teach. The teacher test scores were obtained from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). The results indicate that there is a negligible link between the Teaching Performance and Academic Achievement; and between Teaching Performance and Teacher Testing Scores of the respondents. The “Very Satisfactory†or “Outstanding†teaching performance evaluation rating earned by the respondents indicates the knowledge, skills and philosophies learned during the pre-service training. Finally, this research posits that an emerging paradigm of teaching performance must be progressively developed.
TEACHING READING FLUENCY TO HAUSA ADULT LEARNERS USING GRADUAL RELEASE OF RESPONSIBILTY MODEL Ramlatu Jibir Daura
THE COOPERATIVE LEARNING IN THE INTERCULTURAL CONTEXT R. Tammaro, V. Merlino
Abstract: Within the multi-ethnic society in which we live the interaction and cohabitation between different people for ethnic and cultural aspects is an important key driver to exchange and share behaviours, values and rules for mutual enrichment as well as for individual and collective growth. So the “intercultural education†is an important way to drive and strengthen the process of teaching/learning. In this context research, knowledge and experience are the main pillars that attribute to the cooperative learning the meaning of “intercultural contextâ€, allowing at the same time to validate this approach by means of criteria related to academic success, personal well-being and the quality of relationships in the classroom. The aim of the paper is to discuss about the birth, structure and development of the Cooperative Learning (CL) in order to analyze methodologies able to improve the learning outcomes of the members of a working group by using the effective teaching method.
Using the Integrated Management System and Approach SIPOC in higher education for the Evaluation and Improving the Quality of Life of students Brahim SABIR
Abstract: In industry, the quality can be guaranteed (insured) by compliance with the standards for organizational functioning, which are certain to come out identical products In a field as higher education, the quality can be probably more approximated by the reachable goals that are in this context related to the university, faculty, students, enterprises, the Ministry, the strategy of the country Students are certainly the first to benefit from a higher education of quality. But the notion of "customer"; from the first definitions of quality "Ability of a product or service to satisfy, at minimum cost and prompt the user needs. (ISO 9000 1982) "; cannot be limited to them. (2) Thus the society is regarded as another major beneficiary of higher education of quality. (2) It must provide answers to economic, intellectual, scientific and cultural expectations of the society (2). Certainly, an outcome of higher education of “quality" can be completed only by combining several factors (7): • The introduction of quality assurance tools: the self-assessment through internal audits, external evaluation, accreditation (in relation to an external guide such as ISO), and empowerment. • Monitoring of an integrated management system: Process mapping of higher education activities; and their control indicators, the establishment of a documentary control system, the establishment of evaluation processes (audits ...), and the definition of continuous process improvement criteria. And among the processes identified in the development of process mapping in higher education, the assessment process that could be the final phase of qualifying products (students) for the end user (Market of employment); and the ability of the product to meet a need expressed or implied could be a measure of performance of such a process, that qualifies as key performance indicators (KPI Key Performance Indicator) (3). Thus, the introduction of performance indicators for the identified process will help the control vision for continuous improvement. It is in this perspective that the proposed combination of the integrated management system approach with SIPOC (Supplier, Input, Process, Output, Customer) will ensure the needs of the management of the higher education system. Thus, the student is the customer of his teacher, and the same vision is applied with respect to: <university, companies>, <teacher, institution administration> ...
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