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Learning communities in the various settings of lifelong learning
162-171Views:103This paper examines the role and functions of learning communities across different contexts of lifelong learning, focusing on higher education, vocational education and training, learning in later life, and cultural learning environments. Drawing on sociocultural learning theories and the concept of communities of practice, the study interprets learning as a socially embedded process shaped through participation, interaction, and shared meaning-making. The paper applies a conceptual and interpretive approach to explore how community-based learning manifests across diverse educational and cultural settings. The analysis highlights that learning communities extend beyond formal educational institutions and constitute important spaces for knowledge creation, social participation, and identity formation. In higher education, they foster student integration and intergenerational learning; in vocational education, workplace environments function as collaborative learning spaces supporting professional socialization; in later life, community learning contributes to active ageing and social inclusion; while cultural institutions provide alternative arenas for non-formal and informal learning. The findings suggest that learning communities represent a key framework of lifelong learning by strengthening the social embeddedness of knowledge and supporting participation and personal development throughout the life course.
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State language and foreign language competence in minority schools: Social and institutional determinants of Ukrainian and English proficiency in Transcarpathia
17–27Views:115This study examines Ukrainian (state language) and English language performance among students attending Hungarian-medium schools in Transcarpathia within the context of post-2017 language-use restrictions. The empirical assessment conducted in spring 2024 involved 1,082 students in Grades 6 and 8 from 39 Hungarian-medium schools. English language competence was measured using standardized tests, while Ukrainian language proficiency was assessed through locally developed instruments. A background questionnaire collected data on students’ family background, socio-economic conditions, and linguistic environment. Regression analyses indicate that Ukrainian language performance is most strongly predicted by socio-economic status and type of settlement, highlighting the role of structural and environmental factors. In contrast, English language achievement is primarily shaped by individual academic indicators and institutional characteristics, with students attending church-maintained schools demonstrating significantly higher performance. In both languages, a strong association was found between subject grades and test results. The findings underscore that Ukrainian language competence is substantially influenced by structural disadvantages, whereas foreign language learning outcomes are more strongly supported by institutional culture and pedagogical coherence. The research highlights that Ukrainian language competence is influenced by structural disadvantages, while the effectiveness of foreign language learning can be strengthened by institutional culture and pedagogical coherence.
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The Relations between Student Foreign Language Anxiety and Social Variables
87-100Views:346Due to the labour market expectations, universities are responsible for preparing their students for competitive employment in Hungary or abroad. However, language anxiety is an insurmountable problem for many people, making it difficult to learn foreign languages, even though a confident command of them is a key factor in any job interview and essential in the world of work. This complex is one of the main factors hindering language learning, affecting all people to either a greater or lesser extent. In 2023, the University of Debrecen's researchers studied the impact of language anxiety on foreign language learning, surveying approximately 400 students of the university's commerce, marketing, and business management courses. After having a questionnaire filled in, descriptive statistical and cross-tabulation analyses were conducted, and the focus was on analysing the impact of social variables on language anxiety. Our research shows that women are significantly more anxious than men. Students who work while studying and use their foreign language skills at work experience significantly more anxiety than students who do not use a foreign language. Parents' language skills significantly affect their children's language anxiety. The research topic is relevant, as it highlights the importance of teaching strategies to reduce language anxiety in university foreign language teaching. The present study facilitates the teaching of those students who would not be able to overcome the anxiety barrier.
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Students with Special Needs and Their Parents – Informal Participation of a Parent in the Education of an Adult Child
44-51Views:305The article presents the issue of participation of adult students’ parents in their academic life. There are many examples in the literature of how important is the support of students’ with disabilities parents at the universites. This determines academic success. Disability (its depth, type, cause, limitations resulting from it) is a determining factor for independence, and consequently for the parent’s participation in the student’s academic life. The parent’s attitude towards their own child’s disability is also related to the parent’s participation in the study. The main questions of presented research is: how do students, parents and university staff see the participation of parents in their adult chilredn higher education? This study was qualitative in nature and the individual in-depth interviews were conducted in the course of the study. Two female students with disabilities and their mothers, as well as a member of staff from the one of Polish university’s disability office, were invited to participate in the study. The results show that students, parents and university’s staff can present different opinions about parental suport. The fact is that parental participation cannot be permanent. Each time this type of support should be considered on an individual basis, with particular regard to the welfare of the the student. The results of the survey are relevant to the university’s process of planning support for students with disabilities so as to work with parents with the students’ consent.
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Aspects of the Well-being of University Instructors Related to Online Education During and After the Pandemic – Case Study of a Hungarian University
14-25Views:290In the past decade, quite a few articles have been published about the advantages and disadvantages of working from home online, and by studying the experiences that they present, it would be possible to much more thoroughly plan the rather complex, multi-faceted process of digital transition. However, the coronavirus epidemic that broke out in early 2020 did not allow for thoughtful preparation. The new work schedule resulted in profound changes to the work of university lecturers, thus, it obviously also had a significant impact on their well-being. In this study, we examine the state of the well-being of the instructors at one of the biggest universities in Hungary, the University of Debrecen. The period in question is at the introduction of emergency remote teaching and at the end of the pandemic period. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, we collected data and information at different times. Based on this, we revealed what resources the instructors relied on, how they were able to meet the challenges of education online.
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Teacher-Driven Strategies for Enhancing Parental Involvement in Rural Education
Views:279Parental involvement is widely acknowledged as a vital contributor to learners’ academic achievement and overall school success. While much is known about the benefits of parental engagement, particularly in urban and well-resourced settings, the dynamics and challenges in rural schools remain underexplored. This study addresses that gap by investigating how teachers perceive and implement strategies to enhance parental involvement in rural contexts. Specifically, the study aimed to answer the following question: (1) What are teachers’ perceptions and experiences regarding parental involvement in rural schools? and (2) What teacher-driven strategies do they propose to improve collaboration with parents? This qualitative case study draws on Rotter’s Social Learning Theory to explain how behaviour is shaped by observation, reinforcement, and social interaction. The study was conducted at a rural high school in Mandlanzini Agri-village, KwaZulu-Natal, with ten purposively selected teachers as participants. Data were collected through a semi-structured online questionnaire and analysed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) coding process. The findings reveal a pressing need for structured, teacher-driven strategies that extend beyond standard parent-teacher meetings to include structured and culturally responsive interventions. The study highlights the practical value of teacher agency in facilitating parental involvement and offers context-specific insights that may guide future interventions in similar rural settings.
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Department history research and collections in the service of understanding the Debrecen school of educational sciences
20–28Views:81Exploring the history of the Department of Educational Studies in Debrecen, as well as the history of university teacher training and the practice school, began in 2002 under the leadership of László Brezsnyánszky with the collaboration of the “Debrecen School” research group. In our study, we summarize the main results and present the collections under the supervision of the department, as well as the professional forums on departmental history organized by it. According to our findings, the Debrecen School of Educational Sciences – its various organizational units – possessed three functions: 1. It provided for the education of the scientific next generation in its own field of expertise; 2. It conducted training in its own discipline and announced lectures on pedagogical subjects for the interested circle of the student body; 3. It performed the instructional tasks of theoretical pedagogical courses for teacher candidates, and additionally carried out organizational and supervisory work in this field. The state university of Debrecen carried on the traditions of its predecessor, the Reformed College. In departments critical to the shaping of worldviews, such as pedagogy, Reformed faith and ecclesial commitment remained vibrant until 1950. In the years following the foundation (1912), lectures on educational science were held by the professor of the Department of Philosophy (Béla Tankó); later, the now independent Department of Pedagogy sought to strengthen its prestige with a more diverse and colorful range of lecture offerings. In his lectures, Professor Gyula Mitrovics strived to present the fields of science according to the traditional division of pedagogy (theory of education, history of education, didactics), while in his seminars, he covered the significance of the intelligence tests he conducted and of experimental pedagogy. Sándor Karácsony already spoke to his students about the practical questions of school educational work. The era of Béla Jausz and László Kelemen was about stabilization, the strengthening of the position within the Faculty of Arts, and the alignment with the direction and research designated by socialist educational science. During Kelemen’s leadership, the preparation for the independence of units growing out of the individual departmental groups took place.
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The Differing Effects of Symbolic Interpretation and Inclusion of Transcendence on Life Goals and Mental Health in Hungarian Adults
61-75Views:503This study aimed to investigate the influence of religious attitudes, namely Inclusion of Trancendence and Symbolic Interpretation on life goals and different aspects of mental health.
Participants (N = 604) filled in an online questionnaire including the Post-Critical Belief Scale (Martos et al., 2009), the short version of Aspiration Index (Martos et al., 2006), and the Mental Health Test (MHT; see Oláh et al., 2018).
We investigated the relationship between religious attitudes, life goals, and the subscales of mental health using path analyses. The Symbolic Interpretation of religious content predicts support for intrinsically motivated life goals, while the Inclusion of Transcendence predicts the refusal of extrinsic aspirations. Positive effects were revealed between the Inclusion of Transcendence and global well-being, strategies aim at creating and enchancing happiness, and resilience. Symbolic Interpretation was positively related to creative, executing individual and social efficiency, while negatively influenced resilience.
The Inclusion of Transcendence and Symbolic Interpretation separately predict different aspects of life goals and mental health, and jointly support a higher quality of life. -
Family-School Partnership in Supporting Level 4 Students at a Community Education and Training College
52-59Views:286Family-school partnership is essential for achieving quality school and academic performance to level 4 students at a Community Education and Training (CET) College. The partnership comprises the ability of families and schools to provide holistic support and guidance to students as they progress toward independence and becoming responsible community members themselves. However, this is not prevalent in the majority of CET centres, particularly those in low-income communities (Madzinga, 2021). This study explored the role of different stakeholders within the CET Colleges in enhancing family-school partnership and supporting level 4 students. The current study intends to assist schools/centres with strategies that could be used by the centres to involve families and communities to enhance the academic performance of students in the CET College. This study was underpinned by the interpretivism paradigm. Data was gathered using semi-structured individual interviews. Epstein's model of school, family, and community interaction served as the foundation for the study. The idea was deemed appropriate for this study because it promotes parental and family involvement through mutual collaboration among many stakeholders. The findings of this study show that families want to be involved in their children's education, but they don't have the time owing to various commitments.
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The Relations between Students’ Intercultural Communication Competencies and Employability
72-79.Views:476In today’s globalised world, businesses operate on an international level. Most business and economics graduates will interact with colleagues, clients, and partners from diverse cultural backgrounds. Intercultural competencies are essential for their success and effective collaboration in the labour market. A special questionnaire was compiled to investigate students’ intercultural competencies. Based on the statements and responses of the questionnaire, the examination aimed to establish the principal components of the intercultural communication competencies of the students of a Hungarian university. In the next phase of the research, the principal components served to create student clusters which were analysed from a labour market point of view, focusing on advantages and disadvantages. The crucial question was: which cluster is in demand the most in the labour market? By utilizing a principal component analysis, the dataset was reduced to three key components. Subsequently, to classify the students into groups, a multivariate statistical procedure, i.e., cluster analysis, was used to reveal the structures by clearly considering the similarities of a relatively heterogeneous population and to create a relatively homogeneous subset. The study revealed five distinct student clusters, each with varying advantages and disadvantages for employers. In this context, the Interculturally Active and Open with Good Language Skills cluster proved to be the most competent, with the least ideal collection indisputably being the Interculturally Reluctant in Cooperating cluster. The research underscores the importance of intercultural communication competencies for employees and enriches our understanding of the dynamics between intercultural communication competencies and workforce readiness. Developing these competencies in foreign language classes will significantly facilitate our students’ employment.
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Resource or risk? The role of higher education parental involvement in students’ future-aware work ethic
99-110Views:127One of the key determinants of higher education students’ academic progress is future-oriented work ethic, which can be reflected in persistence in pursuing long-term goals, goal-directed effort, and disciplined work practices. The aim of this study is to examine how different patterns of parental involvement in higher education are associated with students’ future-aware work ethic and how these forms of involvement function as either resources or risk factors in its development. The analysis is based on a secondary examination of data from the 2023–2024 survey of the MTA–DE Public Education Development Research Program (N = 1,336), conducted among higher education students in Hungary and Hungarian minority regions of the Carpathian Basin. To identify patterns of parental involvement, cluster analysis was applied, followed by an examination of the relationship between the identified clusters and the studied attitude using analysis of variance and two-step linear regression models. The findings indicate that parental involvement does not exert a uniform effect on students’ future-oriented work ethic. Students with highly involved parental backgrounds are characterized by significantly higher levels of future-oriented work ethic, and this association remains robust even after controlling for socio-demographic background variables. In contrast, ambivalent parental involvement shows a consistently negative relationship with the examined attitude. The effect of low parental involvement weakens when background factors are taken into account, suggesting a mediating role of social background. Overall, the results highlight that the quality and patterns of parental involvement play a decisive role in shaping this form of work ethic: supportive and consistent parental engagement can be interpreted as a resource, whereas ambivalent involvement constitutes a risk factor.
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A quantitative study of teacher trainees' experiences of board game pedagogy
129–142Views:71Nowadays, educating the young generation is a challenge for educators, as traditional teaching methods are no longer sufficient (Khalaf & Zin, 2018), so teaching methods that build not only on the cognitive but also on the social and emotional dimensions of learning must be used (Illeris, 2010; Lim et al, 2019.) Board game pedagogy is proving to be a useful method for solving the problems of 21st century education: board games can be used to introduce new topics or to teach specific parts of the curriculum (Damsa & Fromann, 2016; Antonaci et al, 2015). In our quantitative, pilot study (n=103), we seek to answer the question of the extent to which teacher trainees are familiarised with board game pedagogy during their training, and to assess the frequency of didactic methods and working methods used by university teachers. Of the students surveyed, only 54 had heard of board game pedagogy, a large proportion of them consider it to be a motivating and effective teaching tool and would like it to be part of their training. Regarding the variety of working methods and forms of work of university teachers, the more traditional methods of lecture and explanation, as well as individual and frontal forms of work, predominate. Despite these limitations, we have data that could serve as a basis for future research and could also contribute to the development of teacher education.
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How Do University Students Get Relevant Information?
67-79Views:392The web and learning have evolved parallel as technological changes have influenced teaching and learning processes. In this study, I intend to extend this parallel with two other dimensions, namely, human 1.0-3.0 and influencer 1.0-3.0. The concepts are closely related to how the online world became popular abroad and what their impact is on learning and education. Thus, the question, “what is the significance of social media, and of its latest, most popular actors, of the “work” of influencers (which can be interpreted as fake news) in the lives of students in higher education?”, is also a very pertinent issue to touch on. Its involvement in our lives is ever growing and very often influences our media literacy. This gives us even more reason to look into social media’s impact.
However, our main goal is to find answers to the following questions:
• What opportunities does the digital toolkit give to students? What kind of digital literacy do students think they need to thrive in the job market?
• To what extent does the ICT literacy of pedagogical students differ from that of other students (lawyer, economics, doctor, technical)? What form of cognitive development is used for lifelong learning?
• To what extent are students’ IT literacy influenced by cultural, material, and family capital?
• How is information acquisition implemented in education? How conscious is the use of media among university students, and what is their critical attitude?
• To what extent does online media penetrate the medium of formal-informal and non-formal learning? How does the influencer activity of professional opinion leaders help students to think critically and thoughtfully?The sample of the survey is made up of students from the University of Debrecen. From the results we can see, that university students behave differently in the online space, on social media platforms and on messengers than they would elsewhere, thus this affects how they get information. The current situation, the pandemic, clearly demonstrates that advanced digital competence is essential for a confident presence in the online space and advanced critical thinking. Problems of digital inequality and division have surfaced, and the constructed reality mediated by the media is becoming increasingly distorted. During this period, the relationship between the media and media consumers has changed greatly, and the interaction has intensified.
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Educational Psychology
107-111Views:490Bibliography of the reviewed book: Santrock, J. W. (2018). Educational Psychology (6 Ed). McGraw-Hill Education.
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Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation to Learn as Factors of Resilience in Students' Pedagogical Disciplines - Pilot Study
17-23Views:747Motivation determines the dynamics of behaviour and helps in overcoming obstacles. A related concept is resilience, which also relates to overcoming stressful situations and speaks to an individual’s ability to adapt to challenging circumstances in life. The aim of this paper was to investigate the relationship between resilience and motivation to learn in students studying in the field of education. One hundred and thirty students participated in the research (100 bachelor students and 30 master students). The research instrument used to measure resilience was The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 10) and to detemine motivation The Academic Motivation Scale (AMS-C 28) tool was used. The Mann-Whitney test found no significant difference between the two groups of students in each of the variables measured. The results show a significant association between resilience and types of intrinsic motivation in particular, but the strongest relationship was found between resilience and the lack of motivation. Students with low resilience scored higher on amotivation. For students at university, motivation to learn based on intrinsic drives is assumed to be self-evident. However, the ability to overcome obstacles is also necessary for the attainment of learning goals. Its degree can also be developed through educational intervention, which provides an opportunity for university teachers to expand their area of operation.
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Introductory Survey on Challenges Encountered by University Teachers in Online Teaching of STEM Subjects During COVID-19 Lockdown
22-32Views:5632020 will be remembered for COVID-19, a pandemic that forced the world to lock down and urged most educational providers to promptly implement e-learning solutions. In this paper, we point out some challenges faced by university teachers who had almost no earlier practice in online teaching. Nine lecturers working in different universities from Brazil, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, India, Macedonia, and Slovakia – all teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects – were interviewed to share their online teaching experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown. The aim of this introductory small-scale research paper is to provide a basis for future research regarding the influences that the COVID-19 situation has had on educational processes, as well as to assist educational providers in foreseeing and eliminating the possible problems of lecturers when establishing an online educational environment. Some conclusions are formulated from the interview survey, and possibilities for further research are described.
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Curricular and Extracurricular Learning among Students with Resilience Potential. Social Inequalities in Higher Education
37-42Views:375Does resilience potential in higher education mature into success or does it remain merely a promise of success due to rising social inequality? We studied curricular and extracurricular learning of students with outstanding academic achievement who entered higher education despite their disadvantage of social background (= students with resilience potential). A student survey database compiled in the research project “Higher Education for Social Cohesion – Cooperative Research and Development in a Cross-border Area” (HERD) (HURO/0901/253/2.2.2.) in 2012 was analyzed. Students of three Eastern Hungarian higher education institutions were surveyed (N = 1205). Students with resilience potential were identified in the intersection of two groups of variables: social background and input academic achievement. We have conducted a cluster analysis, which has resulted in the identification of students with resilience potential and other researched groups: drifters (low social background and low input academic achievement), beneficiaries (high social background and high academic achievement) and indifferent prodigals (high social background and low academic achievement). To sum up our results, the students with resilience potential only use higher education to fulfill curricular requirements, and hit a ceiling, compared to the beneficiaries, when it comes to the student year mining, meaningful extracurricular activities. Thus social inequalities crawl through these invisible channels into higher education and beyond.
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Evaluating the impact of a retail management programme on graduates’ industry readiness at a selected South African university
101–114Views:89This study explored the effectiveness of a Retail Management Programme in preparing students for employment in the retail industry. In South Africa, there is growing concern about the disconnect between university education and the labour market's expectations. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether the programme provides students with the relevant skills and knowledge necessary for the workplace. A quantitative research method was employed, and data was collected through questionnaires completed by 40 retail management students. The responses were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings indicate that most students felt well-prepared for customer service, digital work tools, and retail operations. However, some students expressed uncertainty about their readiness, particularly in areas such as data analysis and decision-making. Students were primarily motivated to enroll in the programme to acquire transferable skills and enhance their employment prospects. They also valued training that mirrored real work environments. The study recommends incorporating more input from industry professionals, utilising greater practical learning methods, and placing a stronger emphasis on soft skills, including communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Additionally, curriculum updates and improvements to career support services are suggested to facilitate a smoother transition for students into the job market.
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Student employment and work values across borders - Comparative study of students from two Carpathian Basin universities
143-153Views:111This study examines the correlations between student employment and work values among full-time students at the University of Szeged (SZTE) in Hungary and Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania (Sapientia, Romania) in Romania. The research aims to explore whether the propensity for employment and attitudes toward work are primarily shaped by individual value orientations or by structural factors, such as family background and the institutional academic milieu. The empirical basis of the study is a database (N=2078) compiled from two questionnaire-based surveys conducted in 2024. The analysis employs descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and a binary logistic regression model. Findings indicate that the proportion of working students is significantly higher at Sapientia (56.5%) than at the University of Szeged (29.0%). Regarding work values, work-life balance and a positive workplace atmosphere are of paramount importance to students. Based on the regression model, the intention to work is positively influenced by higher paternal educational attainment, as well as by 'stability and work-oriented' and 'socially responsible' value orientations; conversely, gender and socio-economic status did not prove to be significant predictors. The study’s primary conclusion is that student employment today is no longer merely a consequence of financial necessity but a complex phenomenon determined by local factors and value systems. Our research highlights that the act of seeking employment is shaped by complex explanatory variables that should not be reduced solely to social background.
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Reading Assessment for Diagnosing Acquired Reading Disorders in Adults: Theoretical and Practical Aspects of its Development
70-83Views:308The study of reading processes is of particular importance in the assessment of cognitive-linguistic functions in both atypical development and acquired disorders of the adult developmental skills system. A comprehensive assessment of cognitive processes allows the selection of the appropriate therapeutic techniques, which in turn contributes to the best possible quality of life following rehabilitation. A common leading symptom of cognitive dysfunction in adult acquired neurological impairment is a deficit in reading. Our aim was to develop a reading assessment procedure based on national and international theoretical and empirical research to allow a complex assessment of reading processes. In order to investigate the reliability of the test and to develop an assessment system for it, a large-scale survey was organised. During the analyses, an evaluation system was developed which would allow us to objectively describe not only the fact of impairment but also its extent. Based on our results, the design of the Adult Acquired Reading Assessment and the comprehensive assessment system associated to it have resulted in a complex test procedure that is not only well applicable in clinical diagnostics but also in exploratory empirical work.
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A dimension of well-being among talented students – An empirical study at the University of Debrecen
87–100Views:51Talent management in higher education remains a key issue, as university students are inherently talented when pursuing academic studies. Beyond this, many students engage in extracurricular activities, reflecting deeper personal motivations. This examines participants' future career orientation in a university Talent Management Program by examining their life goals. While many students lack clear aims during their studies, we hypothesize that talented students show stronger self-acceptance, autonomy, and a commitment to continuous development and growth. The Ryff-18 questionnaire assessed students’ psychological well-being across six dimensions: self-acceptance, quality of relationships, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth. The research is part of a longitudinal study, launched in the 2016/2017 academic year and repeated in 2023/2024, allowing for generational comparison between Generation Z and Millennials. All Talent Program students were invited to participate. In 2016/2017, 359 of 489 students responded (73.41%), and in 2023/2024, 201 of 671 (16.69%). Students rated “living day by day” highly in both years, and acquiring new experiences was low. Despite this, results indicate that participants are generally goal-oriented and prioritize long-term aims over novelty-seeking. These findings highlight consistent traits among talented students across generations.
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Different Forms of Civil Activity and Employment in Hungary and Abroad, and the Development of Student Drop-out
41-54Views:622Young people involved in higher education have created a specific culture, to which, in addition to their studies, social and cultural activities associated with university life are also related (Kozma, 2006). Among these activities, student employment and participation in civic organizations should be highlighted. Voluntary and paid work among higher education students is increasing. These activities have several advantages in terms of future benefits; however, the attracting role of the labour market is one possible reason for dropout. In our current research, we emphasize the role of employment and civil activity in the development of student dropout. Masevičiūtė et al. (2018) found that a quarter of students stopped studying for work-related reasons. In addition, a negative perception of the marketability of the course they are on may lead to the interruption of university studies. In our study, we analysed the extent to which students are willing to interrupt their higher education studies in exchange for voluntary work. In our current research, we examined how often and for what reasons students who dropped out did paid work and volunteering during their studies.
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Favouring Middle-and Upper-Class Students? The Structure and Process of Attending China’s Selective Universities
1-16Views:554Research suggests the increasing influence of family socioeconomic status, as measured by parents’ income and occupations, in access to Chinese higher education. Yet, the literature remains inconclusive about the extent to which the social background of rural and urban students is associated with academic and social performance at elite universities. We address this limitation by looking at the academic and social success of representative samples of first- and second-year students enrolled at four Chinese elite universities. Our aim is to understand the characteristics that students from both urban and rural environments bring with them and how those characteristics bear on academic and social performance in university. We found an overrepresentation of students from middle- and upper-class backgrounds in both urban and rural student groups. The fact that the process indicator of cultural capital has a direct association with social success suggests students from urban areas exhibit traits valued in the selective university environment.
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For the Sake of the Cause – Persistence of Romanian Higher Education Students in Finishing their Studies
22-30Views:393As a consequence of the expansion in higher education, the number of students has increased and the academic population has diversified but at the same time the university dropout has become a general problem since the last century (Trow, 2005; Kozma, 2010; Barro & Jong, 2013; Stanciu, 2014; Berei, 2018). In this paper, I proposed to analyze the persistence of students from 5 universities from Romania. We examine at institutional and individual level the perspective of their willingness to finish their studies. In partnership with the Center for Higher Education Research and Development - Hungary, named CHERD – H, from the University of Debrecen, was collected dates among students in 2012 (N=1323) and in 2014 - 2015 (N=323). Through a quantitative analysis, on a longitudinal perspective, I used SPSS statistical program to analyze data. The question of the research was: is there any difference between students` intentions to graduate on private and state institutions? Who is intending to finish and who is preparing to abandon his study? I concluded that students with unfavorable family background have nearly two times lower chance to enroll at state university and in private institutions students intention to enter into possesion of diploma was significant lower. With logistic regression I found also, that low financial status or low schooling of parents is not a significant obstacle on student academic path if they make every effort to participate in educational programs, submit assignments on time and are able to prepare for exams.
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Physical Activity and Workplace Stress: Influences on Health Perception Among Academics in Central and Eastern Europe
1-13Views:339Several studies have drawn attention to the unhealthy lifestyles of academic staff (lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, high levels of stress, etc.). However, few studies have addressed the physical activity (PA) of academics, the problem of inactivity as compared to the average population or university students. Our study aims to determine the role of PA and participation in university sports, as well as other health behaviours and sources and resources of stress at work, on the self-assessed health (SAH) status of academics in five Central and Eastern European countries (Hungary, Ukraine, Slovakia, Serbia and Romania). To answer our research question, we used the database of our international survey (CEETHE 2023, N=821). According to our results, SAH is mainly and positively influenced by PA and health-conscious eating, as well as work engagement, and negatively correlated with age, burnout, work-life conflicts and workplace bullying as work stressors. Based on our findings, workplace interventions including sports and time management programmes are recommended for universities, and a safe working environment is essential to improve academics' subjective health status.