Descriptive Study of Safety and Health Training Content in Iranian Universities and Higher Education Institutes

The root cause of many workplace incidents is the lack of knowledge on occupational safety and health principles. Despite the safety and health authorities in organizations, safety and health is the general responsibility of all other experts working in an organization. Experts and managers are expected to think, decide and work safely in workplaces. However, we don’t have enough information about the level of safety and health-related education when they were in universities. In addition, there is not too much reliable published reports on the academic teaching of safety and health courses and syllabus in higher education in Iran. Therefore, the current study was aimed to provide a general view of the status of occupational safety and health teaching subjects in different academic disciplines (excluding specialized fields in occupational safety and health) in the Iranian higher educational system. Firstly, the latest edition of the entire program (curricula) of all academic disciplines held in Iranian universities was downloaded. Secondly, the required information, including discipline title, program’s degree, number of required (core) and elective (non-core) courses, and program’s date of approval, were recorded in an Excel sheet. Every course’s title and syllabus were then studied to find out any safety and health-related topics. Finally, data were analyzed and reported. 251 academic disciplines in the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) and 771 disciplines in the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) were investigated. Most of the curriculums have been revised by both ministries since 2011. Results showed that 20 percent of the MOHME‎ ‎disciplines and 10.4 percent of MSRT‎ disciplines were included in the occupational safety and health courses. The number of courses with health and safety content (syllabus outline) in the MOHME ‎‎and the MSRT‎ were 168 and 173. Most health and safety courses presented in the MOHME academic majors were in the basic medical sciences category of disciplines. A majority of MSRT covered academic safety and health courses and topics were presented in the engineering category of disciplines. Presenting lessons with health and safety content at the MOHME ‎was more practical than that of the MSRT. The quality and quantity of teaching on safety and health topic were not at satisfactory levels. Revising the course syllabus of the academic disciplines and adding theoretical and practical courses related to each field's specific health and safety curriculum can make a significant contribution in improving the general knowledge of the safety and health of the university graduates. In turn, it improves future workplace safety and health conditions, managers’ insights and decision-makers on the importance of safety and health at work. It protects the people's life and the property of the organization.

Adherence to Mediterranean diet among adults during the COVID-19 outbreak and the economic crisis in Lebanon

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the adherence to MedDiet among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, using the validated 14-item MedDiet assessment tool. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research approach, based on the distribution of an online survey throughout the social media platforms, via networking, was the applied method. The structure of the survey included the socio-economic and demographic data along with the weekly adherence to physical activity; and the validated MedDiet assessment tool. The target population included 1,030 Lebanese adults from all provinces. Descriptive statistics were used to explore the characteristics of the sample population. Adherence to the MedDiet was determined by the Med-Diet score ≥ 9. Significant differences among the variables and the adherence to the MedDiet were examined using the chi-square test. Findings Mean adherence to the MedDiet was found to be lower than an adequate score among 60.8% of participants [mean adherence 8/14 < 9 (S.D. 2.2)]. Participants from North Province, those aged 45 years and above, university graduates, participants with an average income and those who exercised for a minimum of 30 min for three times/week had a higher mean of adherence compared to other groups. Higher percentage of those who exercised had adequate adherence compared to those who exercised less or did not. More than 50% of the participants consumed olive oil, vegetables, red meat, butter/margarine, sugary drinks, commercial sweets and sofrito according to recommendations. Less than 50% of the participants consumed fruits, nuts, fish and wine according to the MedDiet standards. More men consumed fruits (55.1%), wine (21%), fish (29%) and nuts (48.5%) than women according to the MedDiet recommendations; however, more women consumed legumes (69.7%) and Sofrito (88.4%) than men, in addition more women preferred consuming chicken over meat (72.3%). Originality/value The findings call for an urgent need of spreading national awareness among adult population in Lebanon to increase the adherence to MedDiet. To add, information gained from this study serve to help understanding nutritional behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, so public health authorities can start planning to save the threatened health-care system and preserve the wellness of the population.

Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka: Application in Education Faculty

The independence policy is a hot topic in the world of education. The premise that learning exists is carried out in the preparation of university graduates, both public and private, to meet the modern-day and rapid change challenges. Independent learning is a notion that aspires to excel from graduates as future leaders with an increasing number of personalities. Independent programs provide students with independence and flexibility to develop their potential through their hobbies and talents. This study will first examine the format of the eight Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka programs (MBKM) featured in the Merdeka Independent Campus Free Book released by the Ministry of Education and Culture's Directorate General Higher Education (Published in 2020). Second, a variant of MBKM that was adopted in the Odd and Even semesters of the 2020/2021 Academic Year at a university in Aceh's Faculty of Teacher Training and Education. The findings indicated that there were eight Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka programs, including the following: 1) student exchange, 2) internship/work experience, 3) teaching in educational institutions, 4) village projects, 5) research, 6) entrepreneurial activities, 7) independent studies, and 8) humanitarian projects. The Faculty of Teacher Training and Education has run a student exchange program with another university, a teaching assistant program in educational institutions, and a program to build villages/thematic lectures for students and lecturers who passed the selection process for a grant program called "Kampus Mengajar."

Deployment of service-learning as a pedagogy for social transformation

Teaching is not only a traditional role of universities, but it remains one of the most critical missions of them. The pedagogy used in teaching determines if learning will be transformational or just transactional. Transactional learning has continually increased university graduates who become a problem to the community instead of being a source of solutions to the community problems. This study introduces service-learning as a transformational learning pedagogy that empowers students to identify problems in their community and enables them to work with the community as co-creators to solve the myriad challenges that the communities battle with daily. The study provides empirical evidence of how the service-learning model is used as an education pedagogy in the informal settlements of Nairobi to train slum dwellers in civic education and development. The study adopted a qualitative approach. The study's findings demonstrate that service-learning enables students to acquire knowledge and skills to deploy in their communities. It provides evidence on how service-learning can be modelled for transformative education. The study results reveal how service-learning as a teaching pedagogy can contribute to students' personal transformation and the social transformation of the community.

The Effect of Soft Skills on the Successful Employment of Future Engineers: Self-Evaluation Results

The research focuses on “integrating” technological universities’ graduates in the current labor market. In pedagogical practice, it is widely known that university graduates with welldeveloped “soft” skills feel more confident about their future, and they can more easily cope with job search. In order to identify the effect of “soft” skills on the readiness of future engineers to job search, a survey was conducted among 106 students, including programmers, business analysts, IT designers, materials scientists, and nanotechnologists.The authors used the statistical methods to identify the relationship between students’ self-evaluation of “soft” skills and their readiness for job-seeking. We have found that 71.7% of all respondents who determined a high level of proficiency in “soft” skills, only 29.6% are confident that job search should not cause difficulties, 28.8% can see a clear connection between their studies and future profession, and 37% believe that they have motivation for professional fulfillment.The results of the survey based on self-evaluation showed that in spite of having a high score in evaluating their “soft” skills, the respondents express extreme uncertainty that they will be competitive enough outside the university and that will be prepared to apply the skills which are crucial for successful employment.

Formation of university graduates employment culture

Introduction. Successful employment of university graduates is necessary for the productive solution of socio-economic problems of modern society. It is a particularly urgent task in the context of the global economic crisis and the significant changes of labor and employment area caused by it. Many students are not able to get a job, which means a significant lack of qualified specialists with higher education, who are strategic resources for the progressive development of society. This article aims to develop and give scientific justification for the extracurricular program of the Formation of University Graduates Employment Culture based on a modular approach. Materials and methods. The study involved 564 senior students of Russian universities (bachelor’s degree, master’s degree). Online survey was conducted to identify problem areas and prospects for employment. The parameters and characteristics of the formation of student’s employment culture are diagnosed using a set of valid diagnostic techniques. The reliability of the data obtained was checked using the Pearson’s chi-squared (χ2) test. Results. The author’s program for the formation of university graduates' employment culture was developed in the course of the study. The essence of the program is the development of students’ skills of job search, self-presentation, self-promotion, self-image, CV writing, effective communication, teamwork, creative problem solving, forecasting the trajectory of employment after graduation. A significant increase in the formation of student’s employment culture level was recorded as a result of the program implementation in the experimental group (χ2emp = 26.554) compared with the students of the control group who did not show positive dynamics in the level of the measured personal characteristics (χ2emp = 0.334) during the experimental work. Discussion and conclusion. The study has resulted that the effectiveness of the formation of university graduates' employment culture increases with the use of modular structuring for extracurricular programs (communicative, facilitation, socio-legal, administrative, psychological and pedagogical, project, information and interactive modules).

The use of augmented reality for the formation of multicultural competence of undergraduates

The problem and the aim of the study. The system Higher education of Russian Education adapts to the challenges of globalization and new priorities of society, the values of students from different countries, expands the range of pedagogical technologies and ways to include them in the educational process. For the training of highly qualified specialists, the development of multicultural competence as an integrated personal quality, mixed learning, 3D modeling, augmented and virtual reality are actively used in higher education. The purpose of the article is to investigate the features of the use of augmented reality for the formation of multicultural competence of undergraduates. Research methods. The theoretical analysis and generalization of scientific literature are used to identify the problems of using innovative pedagogical technologies for the development of professional and general cultural competencies of university graduates in the conditions of digitalization of society. The main idea is determined by the principle of multicultural education, which involves obtaining of new knowledge, intercultural interaction, the formation of a worldview, etc. in an environment of augmented reality. The Zome application is used as a software tool. The study of augmented reality and software implemented in the format of a quest. The experiment involved 42 students of the Vyatka State University of the training program 44.04.01 Pedagogical education (level of magistracy). As a method of statistical processing of the experimental data, the χ2 (chi-square) Pearson test was used. Results. In the experimental group, undergraduates used the tools of the AR-application to studies of fundamental theory, consolidations of professional skills, intercultural communications and joint activities. The assessment of the levels of digital literacy formation was made and statistically significant differences in the qualitative changes that occurred in the pedagogical system were revealed, χ2obs. 2 > χ2crit0.05 (6, 27 > 5,99). In conclusion, the features of the use of augmented reality as a new pedagogical technology for the formation of multicultural competence of undergraduates and improving the quality of education are summarized.

Employability of job applicants in skilful jobs: commonality in employer and employee perspectives

Purpose The purpose of this research is to explore the employer and employee perspectives about the employability skills of skilful jobs. The research is conducted in a developing country (Palestine) which has a high percentage of university graduates, high unemployment rate and intense job competition. This paper defines skilful jobs as those that require employees who have attended a college or university and have completed a two-year diploma or a four-year degree.Design/methodology/approach This research integrates the components of discussion with local experts in the skilled labour market, primary data from employers (N = 415) and primary data from employees (N = 880). Binary logistic regression is used to measure the relationship between the dependent variable (likelihood of hire or not hire) and independent variables (job applicants' hard and soft skills).Findings The results from both employer and employee data revealed that the previous work experience, computer skills, professional certifications and high grade point average have significant impact on hiring and recruitment in the skilful jobs. In addition to these, the employers seek applicants who have communication skills. However, the employees consider personal relationship with employers to be a highly significant factor in accepting job offers.Practical implications To increase their likelihood of obtaining a skilful job, and then sustaining it, the job seekers should hone their soft skills and acquire professional certifications. The universities should adapt their curriculum to match these skills and move their focus from disciplinary knowledge to competencies. The public policy makers should design awareness and capacity building programmes that will facilitate the recent graduates' integration into the labour market. The empirical model in this study shows that previous work experience is the most important recruitment factor for employers – accordingly, creating internships and apprenticeship opportunities would be its clear policy implication.Originality/value The study contributes to the literature by providing a parsimonious employability model of skilful jobs, which fits as much as possible the perspectives of the employers and employees about the employability skills in a developing country.