The Role of University Preparation for Developing Students’ Employability and Professional Competencies

The present research examines the effects of professional competencies of the university on students’ perceived employability including the relationship between perceived employability and professional competencies of postgraduates from public and private universities. The study was carried out on a sample of 300 hundred postgraduates including males (n= 150) and females (n=150). Data was gathered through a survey using the multistage proportionate random sampling technique. Perceived employability scale (Rothwell and Arnold, 2007) and Gutierrez's community college student survey (Gutierrez, 2012) were utilized. Results indicating a significant positive correlation between perceived employability and professional competencies of university postgraduates. Furthermore, results demonstrated the positive effects of professional competencies on the perceived employability of university postgraduates. Key Words: Perceived employability, professional competencies, postgraduates.

Effects of University Preparation and Engagement on Achievement

<p>This study comprised an investigation of the longitudinal achievement of New Zealand first-year undergraduate students (n=967) who transitioned to their degrees through the Certificate of University Preparation (CUP) programme at Victoria University of Wellington between 2008 and 2012 and the role of preparation and engagement on their achievement. Certain student behaviours, development of study skills, importance of academic challenge, and emphasis on academic support were all correlated with later university achievement. Although engagement is a highly acclaimed concept, its links to achievement were unsubstantiated. Using linear regressions, students' academic perseverance and their achievement in CUP each uniquely predicted first-year university degree programme achievement. CUP students' university achievement was higher than mainstream students with similar secondary school achievement, based on a statistical model of achievement that accounted for the relative difficulty of achieving each result. These findings indicate that the CUP programme was effective in preparing learners to access and achieve in university.</p>

Effects of University Preparation and Engagement on Achievement

<p>This study comprised an investigation of the longitudinal achievement of New Zealand first-year undergraduate students (n=967) who transitioned to their degrees through the Certificate of University Preparation (CUP) programme at Victoria University of Wellington between 2008 and 2012 and the role of preparation and engagement on their achievement. Certain student behaviours, development of study skills, importance of academic challenge, and emphasis on academic support were all correlated with later university achievement. Although engagement is a highly acclaimed concept, its links to achievement were unsubstantiated. Using linear regressions, students' academic perseverance and their achievement in CUP each uniquely predicted first-year university degree programme achievement. CUP students' university achievement was higher than mainstream students with similar secondary school achievement, based on a statistical model of achievement that accounted for the relative difficulty of achieving each result. These findings indicate that the CUP programme was effective in preparing learners to access and achieve in university.</p>

ENGLISH TEACHER EDUCATION IN SLOVAKIA

The paper sheds light on the university preparation of future English teachers in Slovakia. Since the requirements for becoming an English teacher differ around the world, the first part of the paper describes and explains the requirements and career development of English teachers in Slovakia. Twelve Slovak faculties provide university preparation of future English teachers, and this research analyses their curricular offer. The courses offered to future English teachers are firstly categorized into linguistic, intercultural, methodological, and literary groups. As teaching practice becomes an essential part of the teacher preparation, the hours devoted to the teaching practice were counted at each institution. The tables and graphs show the sums of the courses and allocated hours. Thus, this paper brings an overview, comparison, and differences in the university preparation of future English teachers in Slovakia. Even though this survey shows only a quantitative point, this research results can be considered as one of the quality indicators in the university preparation of future English teachers in Slovakia

Studying students’ opinions as a stage of designing proactive preparation for provid-ing moral education

Introduction. The article is devoted to the problem of taking into account students’ opinions (their attitudes, preferences and suggestions) in preparing future professionals in the social sphere for providing moral education. Traditionally, students are included in the assessment of the implemented degree program in order to evaluate its outcomes, but their capacity to influence the transformation of programs has not been properly investigated. The purpose of this article is to study students’ opinions about their satisfaction with university preparation for providing moral education in order to improve its quality. Materials and Methods. By adopting a systematic approach, the authors have used the following theoretical methods: systemic analysis, synthesis, and modeling. An online survey was conducted to collect empirical data. The study involved 674 undergraduate students (3rd, 4th and 5th years). For the mathematical analysis, Cramer V-test was used. Results. The authors justify the expediency of developing a proactive programme aimed at preparing undergraduates for providing moral education, within the framework of which students are involved in the interaction and transformation of themselves, educational practices and educational environment, responding to urgent tasks and challenges of the future. The study has revealed general satisfaction of students with their preparation for providing moral education, as well as a range of shortcomings. Significantly, there is a correlation between the dissatisfaction with university preparation and proposals for improving it. It is noted that students’ proposals are aimed at changes in all subsystems of proactive training: subject-environmental (ensuring engaged collaboration of stakeholders both on-campus and off-campus); contents (enhancing practical components of the curriculum and ensuring students’ personal development); procedural (using active and interactive teaching methods). However, the implementation of students’ proposals requires collaborative efforts of all the stakeholders who create conditions for the manifestation of students’ subjectivity. At the same time, students’ proposals is a valuable resource for the transition to proactive preparation for providing moral education. The research findings have enabled the authors to clarify the purpose, content, methods of ensuring students’ subject position in proactive preparation for providing moral education. Conclusions. The investigation of students’ opinions has expanded the understanding of risks and opportunities for improving preparation for providing moral education, indicated the significance of proactive training future professionals in the social sphere for providing moral education and the need to ensure the continuing development of students’ subjectivity in the process of studying, implementation, critical analysis and transformation of practical educational activities into interactions with other subjects. The introduction of tools for collaborative thinking and action in the process of practical training will enable students to influence its implementation and improvement.

Tracer Study of Teacher Education Graduates of the Eastern Visayas State University-Tanauan Campus, Philippines

The study's purpose was to examine the employment characteristics of teacher education graduates from the classes of 2013 to 2017. Specifically, to explore a graduate's perception of the extent of the relevance of their chosen program curriculum learning areas to employment, and the extent of the use of competencies and values they learned at university. A survey study design that is descriptive was utilized in the study with a random sample of 179 graduates identified as the primary study respondents. Based on the results, the majority of respondents were employed with permanent or regular employment status and worked locally within the region. Graduates' initial and current employment levels were professional, technical, or supervisory, and they were hired within 1 to 6 months of graduation. Salaries and benefits were the major factors in changing the first job careers of graduates. Moreover, graduates perceived the extent of the curriculum offered as relevant, and the general education and teaching practicum learning areas were found to be the most relevant areas that contribute the most to their employment. Communication, human relations, and self-assurance skills are the most useful workplace competencies and values. Students' university preparation has greatly aided their employment. Similar research may be undertaken in the future, which should include other school-related and employability variables not covered in the study.

MOOCS FOR BRIDGING THE SCHOOL - UNIVERSITY GAP

This chapter presents an update of the MOOC orientation strategy implemented by Federica Web Learning, Centre for Innovation, Experimentation and Diffusion of Multimedia learning at the University of Naples, Federico II since January 2019 and already published in the same year. A solid orientation strategy is designed to support students in their university choice and prepare them for the intellectual demands of university life and study. According to OECD, graduate numbers in Italy increased in 2019 from 20% to 28%(25-34 age range), and Italy has high numbers of post-graduate degree holders. However, overall graduate numbers are still relatively low compared to other European member states and dropout rates continue to be high, as do the numbers of students changing degree course after one or two years of study. In line with the updated DEAP, Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027), and Italian Ministerial recommendations, the Federica MOOC-based orientation strategy explores ways of bridging the gap between school and university in a 3-pronged approach designed to address students’ choice of degree subject and university; preparation for university entrance exams and difficult modules; and last but not least, raising student self-awareness to help them adapt to change as they shape their future.

Inclusive Physical Education During the University Preparation Programme in Ghana: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice.

Hands-on experience plays a key role in every teacher education programme as it helps the prospective teacher to experience a real world of teaching rather than in abstract. One of the most difficult aspects of inclusive teacher education programmes is capacitating pre-service teachers to practice inclusion in the classroom in real live conditions. This study aimed at evaluating student-teachers’ hands-on experiences in inclusive practical PE lessons during their university preparation programme using sequential mixed-method design. 152 PE student-teachers’ in level 300 from the two universities who train PE teachers in Ghana were purposively sampled for this study. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires while qualitative data was collected through focus group discussion with 20 of the same participants. Quantitative data were analysed using means and standard deviation and presented in tables. Inferential statistics of independent t-test was used to ascertain the mean difference between student-teachers’ hands-on experiences. Qualitative data were transcribed verbatim with trustworthiness assured through peer debriefing and member checking. Both quantitative and qualitative results showed that the university preparation programme has no practical component for inclusion in PE. Student-teachers’ hands-on teaching experience in inclusive practical PE was found to be inadequate. However, a significant difference (t (-4.020) at df (32.9), p< .005) was found between the two institutions. The study concludes that the preparation programme in the universities does not give student-teachers’ adequate inclusive practical exposure. To make inclusion experience more viable to student-teachers’, it is recommended that inclusive experiences should be incorporated into student-teachers’ on-campus teaching practice and all practical courses to help bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Evaluating the Quality Of E-Courses from The Students Perception and E-course Quality Evaluation Metrics (DAU- EQEM) at Dar Al Uloom University

E-learning and e-courses have received great practical and research interest during the previous years. Recently, there has been a growing interest in increasing efficiency and adherence to quality standards for e-learning and e-courses. With the restrictions imposed by the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to reliance on e-learning and e-courses, this has increased the interest of higher education institutions, especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dar Al-Uloom University has developed a framework to ensure the quality of electronic and electronic learning courses DAU-EQEM The framework consists of eight standards, And that was applied through this study on 272 electronic courses distributed over three colleges in addition to the university preparation program at Dar Al Uloom University. To verify the evaluation results, the evaluation results were matched with the results of a survey of students' perception at the university about the quality of e-courses. The questionnaire consists of 5 themes and 25 items. The results showed a great convergence in the results of the evaluation tools used to verify the quality of electronic courses at Dar Al Uloom University. The results also showed an advanced level of quality of e-courses at Dar Al Uloom University, with the need to develop plans to ensure continuous improvement and raise the level of performance related to the e-learning system and its e-courses.