Search results

This paper aims to analyze the extent to which education for sustainable development (ESD) training enhances university teachers’ professional competence and whether it has the same effect in the digital as in the face-to-face format.

A training concept was developed based on the professional action competence model. Between 2018 and 2021, 19 training sessions were conducted with 183 university teachers: ten in face-to-face sessions and nine in the digital format. Questionnaires were administered before and after the training to determine its impact.

Overall, the training proved to be effective. There was a significant increase in professional knowledge and self-efficacy after the training, but there was no change in motivation. The face-to-face and digital formats proved to be equally effective.

The long-term effect of the training could not be determined.

There should be regular ESD training and coaching for university teachers.

There has been little research on the effectiveness of ESD teacher training, and no comparison between the face-to-face and digital approaches exists. It has been possible to train a relatively large number of university teachers from a wide range of subject areas, about two-thirds of whom have had no previous ESD experience.

A novel method for modelling permanent magnets is investigated based on numerical approximations with rational functions. This study aims to introduce the AAA algorithm and other recently developed, cutting-edge mathematical tools, which provide outstandingly fast and accurate numerical computation of potentials and vector fields.

First, the AAA algorithm is briefly introduced along with its main variants and other advanced mathematical tools involved in the modelling. Then, the analysis of a circular Halbach array with a one-pole pair is carried out by means of the AAA-least squares method, focusing on vector potential and flux density in the bore and validating results by means of classic finite element software. Finally, the investigation is completed by a finite difference analysis.

AAA methods for field analysis prove to be strikingly fast and accurate. Results are in excellent agreement with those provided by the finite element model, and the very good agreement with those from finite differences suggests future improvements. They are also easy programming; the MATLAB code is less than 200 lines. This indicates they can provide an effective tool for rapid analysis.

AAA methods in magnetostatics are novel, but their extension to analogous physical problems seems straightforward. Being a meshless method, it is unlikely that local non-linearities can be considered. An aspect of particular interest, left for future research, is the capability of handling inhomogeneous domains, i.e. solving general interface problems.

The authors use cutting-edge mathematical tools for the modelling of complex physical objects in magnetostatics.

The goal of this article is two-fold. The first is to contribute new insights to inform education policies for addressing the underlying educational inequalities and injustices that are caused by lack of epistemic access in the context of Fiji higher education. The second is to explore how the Grounded Theory Methodology can be applied to longitudinal language testing research that seeks to reverse epistemic injustices and educational inequalities in Fiji and other comparable multilingual countries.

To explore how the Grounded Theory Methodology can be applied to longitudinal language testing research that seeks to reverse epistemic injustices and educational inequalities in Fiji and other comparable multilingual countries. The study was conducted at a university in Fiji where 120 students were sampled at the beginning of the first year and at the end of their first year of university programme. The same cohort was tracked throughout the project, out of which 30 students were interviewed at the end of the first year.

The four indicators include: (1) lack of teaching and learning resources, (2) language barriers, (3) problems with the medium of instruction and (4) shortage of experienced teachers.

Although widely acknowledged in previous studies from elsewhere, the indicators of educational inequalities identified in this study are worth reporting on due to the unique socio-cultural and linguistic context of Fiji.

Digital transformation (DT) innovation is a monumental contribution that has had a profound effect on several worldwide industries. The aim of this research is to evaluate the current and future trends in DT specifically focusing in construction industry.

This study adopts a qualitative analysis approach grounded on descriptive and bibliometric analyses. In total, 283 papers from Scopus between January 2015 and April 2023 were retrieved in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) review methodology. This study examines the publishing trends, most productive nation, university, publications and authors. Keyword co-occurrence analysis and thematic evolution were analyzed through Vosviewer and Biblioshiny.

The results illustrate a growing desire to use digital technologies in the construction industry, which shows the topic's power and expanding popularity. This research reveals various emerging themes based on technology usage in construction sector. Out of 14 themes, occupational health and safety, mass customization, virtual reality and artificial intelligence were identified as isolated themes. Further, this study elaborates the difficulties encountered by the construction industry while employing digital technologies and examines the interrelationships among various keywords in DT and reveals the paradoxes and hotspots.

This research adds to the body of literature as it identifies the research areas and gaps in the existing DT domain in construction industry. The integration of technology in this sector has an intense positive future vision as various subareas have immense potential for technology application.

Various health systems are challenged by a multifaceted crisis of increased service demand and workforce shortages. The effects are devastating and may end up in decreased access to care, poor quality of patient care and extreme demands on the workforce. The introduction of the physician assistant (PA) profession provided an avenue to address such challenges in several countries. In Germany, the integration of PAs has been proceeding slowly.

To understand the integration of the profession in Germany, we conducted 15 expert interviews to reveal how the PA profession is perceived among healthcare experts as well as the barriers and facilitators of integration in inpatient care.

Our results highlight a generally positive perception of PAs, particularly in terms of workload relief and bridging the gap between healthcare professionals. Nonetheless, barriers include resistance from healthcare workers unfamiliar with the PA role, while workforce shortages and collaborative teamwork facilitate integration.

These findings lay the groundwork for potential integration-enhancing strategies in Germany.