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1 – 10 of over 5000Nadia Rehman, Xiao Huang, Uzma Sarwar, Hani Fatima and Samra Maqbool
The Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) plays a crucial role in the socioeconomic development of a country. Still, it is often stigmatized as a secondary…
Abstract
Purpose
The Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) plays a crucial role in the socioeconomic development of a country. Still, it is often stigmatized as a secondary choice in the Global South. This study explored the interrelationships and impacts of factors such as family, school, and society on the perception and reputation of TEVTA.
Design/methodology/approach
By employing quantitative methods, the analysis focused on how family, society, and school support influence these perceptions and reputations within TEVTA programs. Social Cognitive Theory is the theoretical underpinning of this study, in which 350 students from 13 TEVTA institutes participated by filling out questionnaires. The data was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and IBM SPSS 28.
Findings
This study indicates that family and societal influences significantly shape students' perceptions, confirming their pivotal role in enhancing the reputation of these programs. School support also emerged as a critical factor, significantly impacting students' perceptions but not directly influencing the programs' reputation. The analysis underscores the importance of understanding the sociocultural context to develop effective strategies for the TEVTA sector in Pakistan. This clear understanding is essential for developing effective strategies to improve the reputation of TEVTA programs in this setting. Moreover, this research offers policy suggestions to make vocational education more attractive and accessible to diverse students, ultimately contributing to the country's socioeconomic development.
Originality/value
This study applied Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to explore how individual thoughts, environmental influences (such as family, school, and society), and behaviors interact within the context of TEVTA programs. This approach fills gaps in current research and offers a clearer understanding of what affects TEVTA's perception and reputation.
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Tuan_Thanh Chu, Thi Thu Tra Pham, Thai Vu Hong Nguyen, Chau Trinh Nguyen, Thi Hong Nhung Vu, Thanh Binh Nguyen and Thi My Hanh Nguyen
This study explores how authentic assessment has helped improve self-perception of leadership skills among business students in a developing society where authentic assessment is…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores how authentic assessment has helped improve self-perception of leadership skills among business students in a developing society where authentic assessment is not popular.
Design/methodology/approach
Data on self-perception of leadership was collected using the Leadership Skills Inventory. Collected data was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis, two-way ANOVA, and Multiple Regressions.
Findings
Authentic assessment designed toward enriching teamwork positively affects leadership development. Students' involvement in extra-curricular activities fosters the impact of authentic assessment on self-perception of leadership. Female students demonstrate higher self-confidence in leadership, which is surprising to the conventional view of cultural expectations. Work-integrated learning assessment or cross-country real-trade data assessment projects do not trigger gender biases in self-perception of leadership.
Practical implications
Our study emphasizes the importance of group work authentic assessments and a work-integrated approach to authentic assessment design in business education.
Originality/value
The results provide meaningful implications regarding authentic assessment development in business education in a developing country where authentic assessment is not common at high school and university levels.
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Kiran Joshi and Priyanka Kaushik
The perception of a situation or reality determines how one responds and awareness is the first step towards understanding, knowing or recognizing it. The majority of the public…
Abstract
The perception of a situation or reality determines how one responds and awareness is the first step towards understanding, knowing or recognizing it. The majority of the public and the police may be familiar with the phrase ‘cybercrime’, but all of them are fully informed of the nature and scope of these crimes, as well as of the cybercriminals and cyber victims, which has an impact on how they see these issues. This study's main goal was to examine the perception and awareness of cybercrime among undergraduate youth studying in BBA or BCA courses. In this study, we discovered that young people's responses to cybercrime mostly depend on their perceptions of it and their awareness level. To accomplish the study's objective, a thorough examination of existing literature was undertaken. Primary data of 200 students were collected through Google Forms. Percentile analysis, correlation analysis and t-test are done to test the hypotheses. The results of this study may help college administrators better comprehend the mindset of today's youth as they develop laws and policies aimed at reducing cybercrime among students. The results of this study show that the youngsters surveyed have high levels of awareness and a good perception.
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Adriana Medina-Vidal, José Carlos Vázquez-Parra, Marco Cruz-Sandoval and Arantza Echaniz-Barrondo
This article endeavors to detail the outcomes of an exploratory investigation into the perceived attainment levels of complex thinking competencies among business students at a…
Abstract
Purpose
This article endeavors to detail the outcomes of an exploratory investigation into the perceived attainment levels of complex thinking competencies among business students at a technological university in western Mexico. It seeks to examine and contrast the students' self-assessed development of this critical competency, along with its associated sub-competencies, throughout their academic tenure.
Design/methodology/approach
Our analysis focused on two distinct groups of students, one at the beginning of their academic journey and the other nearing its completion, to explore whether perceptions of competency development were equitable across genders. Utilizing multivariate descriptive statistical analysis, we were able to substantiate the existence of a gender gap in the perceived development of competencies.
Findings
While both male and female students showed improvement in their self-perceived competencies, the results indicate that women outperformed their male counterparts in the area of complex thinking and its associated sub-competencies by the conclusion of their degree programs.
Practical implications
The evidence suggests that there is a gender gap in the educational process for this group of students, highlighting the urgent need to minimise disparities in the perception between male and female business students about their competencies.
Originality/value
This article presents findings that pave the way for future research aimed at exploring strategies to narrow the gap in perceived competency achievement throughout the educational journey in business studies, considering how the environment and cultural elements can be determining factors in how students perceive their abilities and skills.
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Elies Seguí-Mas, Guillermina Tormo-Carbó, Throstur Olaf Sigurjonsson and Auður Arna Arnardóttir
This study aims to identify students’ perceptions of the importance and objectives of sustainability and business ethics education, considering contextual factors (ethics-friendly…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify students’ perceptions of the importance and objectives of sustainability and business ethics education, considering contextual factors (ethics-friendly environments) and including the social desirability (SD) bias to strengthen data robustness and assess response truthfulness.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was administered to 170 business students at an Icelandic university to measure their attitudes and perceptions toward sustainability and business ethics courses. Descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney tests, χ2 tests and multivariate regression were used for the analysis.
Findings
The results show no significant differences among participants, depending on individual and organizational factors. The authors did not find significant differences in gender, age or exposure to sustainability and business ethics courses concerning social desirability bias. Contextual solid factors can explain these results.
Originality/value
This study expands on previous research by examining students’ perceptions of sustainability and business ethics education in an “ethics-friendly environment” like Iceland, a new and fertile territory for business ethics education research. These elements are crucial for further research on students’ attitudes toward sustainability and business ethics and the role of this subject in university curricula.
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Creating active learning opportunities requires building a learning culture in which the instructor plays the role of a facilitator, leaving the ultimate responsibility of…
Abstract
Purpose
Creating active learning opportunities requires building a learning culture in which the instructor plays the role of a facilitator, leaving the ultimate responsibility of learning to the student. The question, however, is whether this is happening in practice. This study aims to answer this question through instructors' perceptions of active learning in a higher education institution in Oman.
Design/methodology/approach
The study participants were 85 instructors working for a private university in Oman. Data were collected by surveying these instructors' perceptions of active learning practice indicators, such as active teaching strategies and student educational practices. This was followed by interviewing a random sample of the same instructors (N = 10) to obtain a deeper understanding of their implementation of the active learning approach.
Findings
Data collected through the survey revealed that the shift from passive to active learning in higher education in Oman created a discrepancy between instructors' willingness to practice active learning and learners' unpreparedness to become autonomous learners. The follow-up interview findings confirmed this point, revealing instructors' negative perceptions of student participation and engagement in out-of-class activities.
Originality/value
This study is among the first to investigate the application of active learning in a higher education institution in Oman from the perspective of instructors.
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This study aims to explore students’ perceptions of the use of an artificial intelligence-generated content avatar (AIGC avatar) within a learning management system (LMS).
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore students’ perceptions of the use of an artificial intelligence-generated content avatar (AIGC avatar) within a learning management system (LMS).
Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative research involved seven postgraduate students. Data were collected through individual, in-depth interviews. The videos of the AIGC avatar, created using Leonardo, ChatGPT and Heygen, were uploaded to the LMS to communicate with students for the purposes of a welcome note, assignment guide, assignment feedback, tutorial reminders and preparation as well as to provide encouragement and study tips. Students were interviewed at the end of the semester.
Findings
The findings of this study indicated that the majority of participating students held positive perceptions regarding the use of the AIGC avatar in the LMS. They reported that it enhanced their perceived instructor’s social presence and motivation to learn. The assignment guide and feedback were particularly valued by the participants. While some students noted the AIGC avatar’s lack of naturalness, others appreciated the clear and professional speech it delivered.
Research limitations/implications
The study was confined to seven students from a single course at one institution, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Future research could involve a larger and more diverse group of participants.
Practical implications
The findings may offer education providers an alternative solution for engaging students in an LMS.
Originality/value
This study highlights the potential of AIGC avatars to replace text-based communication in LMS and enhance students’ perceived instructor social presence.
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Virginia Harrison, Jordan Morehouse and Brandon Boatwright
The purpose of this study is to expand corporate social responsibility research in communication management by understanding the dynamics of university social responsibility…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to expand corporate social responsibility research in communication management by understanding the dynamics of university social responsibility (USR). The COVID-19 pandemic and social justice protests of 2020 provide a context to study communication about universities’ dual roles as economic engines and social activists. Messaging from a university about its social responsibility goals can impact student perceptions.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was conducted of 493 students enrolled at a major university in 2020. Students were asked about two real campaigns at their university, one about healthy behavior and one about racial justice on campus.
Findings
Altruism positively predicted reputation, trust and donation intent, while distrust was inversely predicted. Message credibility and believability were mediators of these relationships, but only source credibility mediated altruism for the social justice campaign. For universities, this study demonstrates the importance of communicating social responsibility messages with students. As an important and overlooked stakeholder group in USR, students may respond positively to these messages, which have implications for their potential willingness to donate after graduation.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by merging variables from public relations and marketing with theory development in higher education management to provide a new perspective on ethical organizational communication.
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Tuan Duong Vu, Lan Phuong Bui, Phuong Anh Vu, Thac Dang-Van, Bao Ngoc Le and Ninh Nguyen
This study aims to examine how entrepreneurial climate, gender inequality perception and self-efficacy affect female students’ entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions, with the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine how entrepreneurial climate, gender inequality perception and self-efficacy affect female students’ entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions, with the moderating role of perceived family support.
Design/methodology/approach
This study collected data from 466 female students studying at universities in an emerging economy, i.e. Vietnam. This study assessed the proposed relationships between the examined variables using partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results reveal that entrepreneurial climate, as a stimulus factor, significantly influences organism factors, including gender inequality perception, self-efficacy and attitude toward entrepreneurship. Furthermore, gender inequality perception is identified as a barrier to self-efficacy, attitude toward entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intention. Also, self-efficacy positively influences attitudes toward entrepreneurship and both factors jointly predict entrepreneurial intention. Lastly, perceived family support moderates the relationships between entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents.
Originality/value
This study extends the extant knowledge about the factors affecting women’s entrepreneurial attitudes and behavior, especially in emerging economies. This study’s findings assist university managers, policymakers and researchers in developing effective strategies to reduce the adverse effects of gender inequality perception and promote women's entrepreneurial behavior.
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Hau Thi Kim Do and Son Thanh Thai
This study addresses the gap in research concerning student attitudes toward ethics and social responsibility (E&SR) within diverse organizational contexts, specifically as they…
Abstract
Purpose
This study addresses the gap in research concerning student attitudes toward ethics and social responsibility (E&SR) within diverse organizational contexts, specifically as they transition into managerial and non-managerial roles.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 425 business students from four universities participated. To determine statistically significant differences between potential managers and non-managers (M&NM), a paired comparison inferential t-test was employed.
Findings
The study revealed positive E&SR attitudes among business students. However, it differed from existing literature by finding a significant difference in perceived E&SR importance between aspirants in managerial and non-managerial positions. Notably, non-managerial students exhibited significantly stronger support for these principles.
Originality/value
This study, conducted in an emerging economy, offers a unique perspective by analyzing E&SR perceptions across both potential management and non-management employees. Given the direct and indirect influence employee perceptions have on business performance, this research sheds light on the crucial role of E&SR in management practices. The findings are further substantiated by robust data and include implications for human resource management, along with suggestions for future research directions.
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