Efficiency Analysis of Graduate Alumni Insertion into the Labor Market as a Sustainable Development Goal

The assumption that greater education levels of a given population leads to better employability levels thanks to higher education institutions (HEI) is widely known. However, most of the research related to HEI is focused on the determination of efficiency levels from an eminently academic perspective. The objective of this research is to carry out a comparative analysis of the efficiency degree of Latin American universities in terms of labor insertion for their graduate alumni, in order to evaluate the Sustainable Development Goal 8 related to decent work and economic growth. The data enveloping analysis (DEA) methodology was implemented. Main results showed different levels of labor efficiency among the studied institutions that were classified into eight groups of universities. Likewise, it was noted that Latin American university students showed employment levels above those of workers with lower levels of education and training.

The Strategic Imperative of Quality Assurance

This chapter focuses on the fundamental question: What is the strategic importance of quality assurance (QA) for higher education institutions (HEIs)? Divided into four main segments, the chapter begins by defining QA within the context of a continuum, ranging from entirely voluntarily QA—as a part of the HEI internal standard procedures—to more ‘prescriptive' models, as mandated by ranking and accreditation bodies. Secondly, the chapter engages in identifying specific strategic functions of QA in light of two inherent objectives of HEIs: competitiveness and sustainable impact. Next, the chapter showcases the role of QA played in advancing the American University in Cairo (AUC) School of Business to the renowned triple-crown accreditation status (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA), while highlighting both challenges encountered and implementable solutions. Last of all, the chapter discusses potential future changes to QA, given the ‘new normal' of the higher education landscape.

Creating an Agile University During COVID

The world has seen conflict and political instability since World War II, but currently the world is uniting to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, although education has suffered with schools and universities closed for long periods. The practice of social distancing minimized interpersonal contact in all higher educational institutions. Afghanistan was catapulted into the online learning community despite having limited infrastructure. The American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) had faced disruption of normal university life in 2016 when terrorists attacked the university. This chapter will highlight some of the best practices at AUAF implemented to make the university agile. Secondary data was collected from the university to evaluate the effectiveness of e-learning, with further improvements identified, implemented, and evaluated. The findings show that while the campus prepared to open for students along with the HyFlex model of face to face, synchronous online, and asynchronous online teaching, the institution continues to remain agile, irrespective of the situation.

J.UCS special issue on Challenges for Smart Environments – Human-Centered Computing, Data Science, and Ambient Intelligence. Smart Human-Centered Computing (volume 2)

Based on a successful funded collaboration between the American University of Armenia, the University of Duisburg-Essen and the University of Chile, in previous years a network was built, and in September 2020 a group of researchers gathered (although virtually) for the 2nd CODASSCA workshop on “Collaborative Technologies and Data Science in Smart City Applications”. This event has attracted 25 paper submissions which deal with the problems and challenges mentioned above. The studies are in specialized areas and disclose novel solutions and approaches based on existing theories suitably applied. The authors of the best papers published in the conference proceedings on Collaborative Technologies and Data Science in Artificial Intelligence Applications by Logos edition Berlin were invited to submit significantly extended and improved versions of their contributions to be considered for a journal special issue of J.UCS. There was also a J.UCS open call so that any author could submit papers on the highlighted subject. For this volume, we selected those devoted mainly to human-computer interaction problematics, which were rigorously reviewed in three rounds and 6 papers nominated to be published.

The Role of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 1 Insertion/Deletion Genetic Polymorphism in the Risk and Severity of COVID-19 Infection

Background: Individuals infected with the COVID-19 virus present with different symptoms of varying severity. In addition, not all individuals are infected despite exposure. Risk factors such as age, sex, and comorbidities play a major role in this variability; however, genetics may also be important in driving the differences in the incidence and prognosis of the disease. An Insertion/Deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the ACE1 gene (rs1799752) may explain these genetic differences. The aims of this study were to determine the potential role of ACE1 I/D genetic polymorphism in the risk of contracting COVID-19 as well as predicting the severity of COVID-19 infection.Methods: Three-hundred and eighty-seven non-related Lebanese subjects, 155 controls and 232 cases, who presented to the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) for COVID-19 PCR testing were recruited. Clinical data were collected via filling a questionnaire and accessing the medical records. Peripheral blood was withdrawn for DNA isolation, and genotyping performed with standard PCR followed by band visualization on agarose gel.Results: In our study population, previously described risk factors such as gender, age, and comorbidities were associated with increase in disease susceptibility and severity. ACE1 I was the least common allele, and there was a positive association between ACE1 I and the risk of contracting the COVID-19 disease. More specifically, the frequency of II genotype was significantly higher among cases when compared to controls (P = 0.035) with individuals with the II genotype having greater risk for contracting the COVID-19 disease: OR = 2.074, P = 0.048 in the multivariate analysis. As for disease severity, the DD genotype and D allele were associated with increased risk for developing severe symptoms (OR = 2.845, P = 0.026 and OR = 2.359, P = 0.014, respectively), and the DD genotype with necessitating hospitalization (OR = 2.307, P = 0.042). In parallel, D allele carriers showed a significantly increased risk for developing hypoxia: OR = 4.374, P = 0.045.Conclusion: We found a positive association between ACE1 I and the risk of contracting the COVID-19 disease, and between ACE1 D and a worse outcome of the COVID-19 infection. Therefore, genotyping for ACE1 I/D polymorphism could be used to assess risk and predict severity for better prognosis and management of the disease.

Digital Content Creation Tools: American University Teachers’ Perception

This paper studies the perception of Latin American university teachers about the effectiveness of digital content creation (DCC) tools for the creation of e-learning training actions. For this purpose, the opinions of a group of 564 teachers from different universities in 16 Latin American countries have been collected and their answers have been analyzed according to different sociological and academic characteristics (gender, age, teaching experience, area of knowledge, and academic degree). The results indicate that Latin American university teachers express high levels of digital training and highly value the didactic effectiveness of DCC tools to develop e-learning training actions. This valuation is significantly higher among females than males. Gender is also revealed as the most influential characteristic in the perception of teachers about the use of digital resources in the classroom, above any other aspect.

Conciliation: Culture Making Byproduct

Reclaiming public space at Oakland's Arroyo Public Park, a nexus of crime and illegal activities. A coalition of neighbors invited local performing artists to help animate city agencies, inspire repair of the amphitheater and create daytime performances in the summer, mostly by children. It gave voice to and represented many people. Reclaiming space for community was the impetus, structured curriculum activates were means. Safe public space and learning were two inseparable goals. Conciliation learning through specific responses, example: Crisis Of Perseverance acute among children and youth lacking role models or witnessing success through perseverance. Artists of all types are the embodiment of achievable mastery and completion. Taking place on redefined historic 1940 passenger-cargo/military ship for public peacetime use and as a cultural space. Mixt generations after and outside school programs: Children and Architecture project’s intention was to integrate children’s internal wisdom of playing with learning about the world of architecture (environment and co-habitability) as starting point was an intergenerational setting: 5-12 olds + parents and volunteers, twice weekly from 1989 to 1995 at the Museum of Children’s Art in Oakland, California. Concluding Examples Public celebration and engagements as inadvertent conciliations if prepared for before hand. Biographical sketch: Slobodan Dan Paich native of former Yugoslavia was born 1945. He lived in England from 1967 to 1985. Slobodan taught the History of Art and Ideas, Design and Art Studio from 1969 through 1985 at various institutions in London, including North-East London Polytechnic, Thames Polytechnic and Richmond College-American University in London. Between 1986 to1992, he taught at the University of California at Berkeley. With a number of scholars, artists, and community leaders, he founded the Artship Foundation in 1992, and has been its Executive Director ever since. He also served as a board member of the Society of Founders of the International Peace University in Berlin/Vienna from 1996 to 2002, where he lectured annually and chaired its Committee on Arts and Culture. [email protected]

The Current Status of Applying E-Learning Quality Standards from the Perspective of Faculty Members at Arab American University

The study aimed to identify the current status of applying e-learning quality standards at the Arab American University from the point of view of faculty members, and to what extent average means differ according to the different demographic variables. To achieve this, the descriptive analytical method was used, and (211) members were randomly selected, who represented (45.4%) of the study population (465) faculty members working at the Arab American university. A questionnaire consisting of (39) items covering (3) dimensions (the lecturer’s role in using e-learning system, the quality of e-learning system, the role of the university administration in the quality of e-learning system) was used after testing its validity and reliability. After the descriptive statistical analysis, the results showed that the average means of the study sample towards the current status of applying the quality standards of e-learning at the university received a high degree. There were also statistically significant differences in the gender variable in favor of females; in qualification in favor of PhD holders; and in experience in favor of (more than 10 years). The study concluded with a number of recommendations, including developing and innovating new methods of evaluation suitable for the e-learning system, providing all kinds of support to faculty members, and relieving the psychological stress faced during the e-learning process.