Learning Analytics in Higher Education

It is known that big data has penetrated several if not all spheres of life. In higher education, the ability to take these large amounts of data and process it into something meaningful for academic decision making is commonly referred to as learning analytics. This chapter provides an overview of learning analytics and its importance, as well as identifying academic data sources, techniques used for learning analytics and prediction, and data visualisation techniques used to present analysis for better understanding and eventual decision making. It also includes a discussion of learning analytics frameworks for research and some identified research challenges.

The Effect of COVID-19 in University Tutoring Models

This research is part of the Educational Research Project developed at the University of La Laguna during the academic year 2019–2020, which included the period of confinement by COVID-19. The study was carried out with a sample of 193 student teachers in Early Childhood Education, Primary and four master’s degree programs offered by the Faculty of Education of the University of La Laguna. Four tutoring models were analyzed; in person, by e-mail, using virtual tutoring (Hangout/Google Meet) and WhatsApp. The results confirm the need to enhance synchronous models, as the most effective models for the development of the process of academic orientation and support for students, compared to asynchronous models. These delay the processes of academic decision-making and have a significant effect on them, as well as the pace of study and the motivation of the students, hindering the processes of learning, adaptation and fulfilment.

Whiteness, Power and the Politics of Demographics in the Governance of the Canadian Academy

The predominance of Whiteness, and the corresponding lack of representation of people who are both racialized and minoritized, in the governance of universities is a political issue. We present the results from an intersectional diversity audit of central and senior academic administrators at five Canadian universities: Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, University of Victoria and York University. Our findings indicate that racialized men and women are hitting ceilings in the middle administrative ranks. Conversely, we find a notable overrepresentation of White men and women in the senior administrative ranks. Our analysis suggests that White women, unlike racialized women and men, no longer face serious barriers to representation within these senior ranks. These findings raise concerns about processes of racialization that may impede career progress for some but accelerate it for others. They raise concerns about the politics of who lifts whom into the echelons of academic decision making, which in turn has implications for justice, knowledge and social meanings of competency.

Relationship of Principals Academic Decision-Making Practices with Faculty Morale: A Study of Colleges in Punjab

This study examines the relationship between principals academic decision-making practices and faculty morale. A descriptive survey study has been adopted. The population of the study comprised all the faculty members working in public sector colleges of Punjab, province of Pakistan. Two questionnaires based on five-point Likert Scale, namely Academic Decision-Making Practices (ADMP) questionnaire to measure practices was adopted by the principals and Faculty Morale Scale (FMS) to measure morale of teaching faculty. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, correlation coefficient and linear regression model. A positive significant relationship between principals academic decision making practices and morale of faculty members was found. Some academic decision-making practices like decisions based on policy matter, promote academic development, power delegation, employees participation collect information and planning are significantly correlated with morale of faculty. While, some practices such as diplomacy and use rules to suit themselves do not correlate with morale.

Application of Qualitative Management Techniques in Administrative and Academic Decision Making at Higher Secondary Level in Punjab

The purpose of the present research was to study the application of qualitative management techniques in administrative and academic decision making at higher secondary level in Punjab. The present study was a kind of exploratory and descriptive research. By using stratified random sampling technique, (197) principals of public higher secondary schools were selected as a sample. A self developed questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed by performing independent sample t-test. The findings of the study showed that there was no significant difference between over all male and female Principals extent of the use of qualitative decision making techniques in planning, directing and as well as in administrative and academic decision making process. However, there found to be difference between over all male and female Principals extent of the use of qualitative decision making techniques in organizing process. Training may be launched to improve the use of decision making techniques.

Implementing gender quotas in academia: a practice lens

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the practices utilized by university actors when implementing gender quotas, and study how these practices affect gender equality in academic decision-making bodies. Design/methodology/approach The study applies a practice theory lens to the case study of a Belgian university implementing a gender quota by performing 26 semi-structured interviews with actors, and collecting and analyzing relevant organizational documents. Findings This study shows that university actors implement gender quotas through three practices: gender-specific calls, scouting and “playing around”. Identifying this variation in practices helps to understand both actors’ sense-making of compliance with gender quotas and women’s decision-making power in academic bodies. Research limitations/implications This study explores how practices interact with the organization’s broader context and its power dynamics. In future studies, adding ethnographic observations would strengthen the practice approach. Practical implications The study indicates that implementing gender quotas can foster women’s representation in decision-making, but that a strictly procedural sense-making of gender quotas could also undermine this. Universities should continue implementing gender quotas, further analyze their implementation practices and comprehensively adapt their organizational policies and practices to comply with gender equality goals substantively. Originality/value Through a practice theory approach, this paper offers original insight into how actors comply with gender quotas. Uncovering the implementation process in particular, the paper reveals how gender quotas could foster gender equality in academic decision-making.

Dyskurs akademicki jako praktyka społeczna. Zwrot dyskursywny i Społeczne Badania Szkolnictwa Wyższego

One can broadly divide research on higher education settings into three strands investigating 1) the production of specialized scientific knowledge, 2) the dynamics of institutional power (academic decision-making and governance), 3) teaching and learning. In all three areas the notion of ‘discourse’ has been salient in the last decades. However, the term is often understood differently by researchers from different fields, and the respective disciplines haven’t always been receptive one to another. In the paper we present an overview of discursive approaches to the study of higher education in 1) social theory, poststructuralism in particular, and 2) linguistics. We explain the outlook on discourse which is prevalent in these areas and present the most significant studies on higher education contexts conducted within them. We argue that while social theory often lacks analytical detail and focus on empirical objects, linguistics on the other hand does not account for the way practices produce and reproduce social order. Therefore, a study of academic discourse drawing on both strands would enable putting forward a robust theory and a precise methodology. In the last section of the paper we present an outline of such a field informed by both poststructuralism and pragmatics – Social Studies of Higher Education.