Education Commons^™

Ph.D. Productions And Employment Prospects In Zimbabwe; Imperative From Education 5.0 Heritage-Based Education System, Kudakwashe Muchena, Tendai C. Muhle

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

The production of PhDs has been a topical issue for debate about the need for such a qualification as a foundation for development. Literature is awash with arguments that support the need for a Ph.D. as a development thrust in many countries. In most countries in the West and Europe, their developmental thrust has been anchored on the production and employability of Ph.D. holders. Although this has been the case elsewhere, the same may not be accurate in Africa, particularly Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe engaged in an ambitious project called Education 5.0 Heritage-Based Education System as an impetus to develop the country …

Embedding Internationalization At Home – What Do Irish Heis Need?, Nidhi Piplani-Kapur, Don O'Neill, Helen Murphy, Suzanne Denieffe

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

In Irish higher education, only four percent of learners have benefited from mobility opportunities. Whilst mobility continues to be accessible to a limited few, Irish higher education institutions (HEIs) increasingly realize the need to engage in 'Internationalization at home (IaH)' to provide international experiences to all learners. However, as evident from the literature review, IaH has been underdeveloped and understudied to date in the Irish context. Grounded in organizational and curriculum design and change management theories, this study critiques the development of IaH and suggests strategies to embed a culture of IaH in Irish HEIs. It adopts a constructivist-interpretivist methodology …

The Perceptions Of Senior International Officers On Internationalization Strategies At Research Universities, Iyonka M. Strawn-Valcy

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

This dissertation utilized semi-structured interviews with 15 Senior International Officers at U.S. research universities to interrogate three institutional issues: 1) motivations for internationalization, 2) strategies for internationalization, and 3) leadership for internationalization. Through inductive data analysis, the first finding uses globalization theory to explore how SIOs navigate the tension between global collaboration and competition, serving as both mission stewards and strategic advisors within research universities. The second finding utilizes contingency theory to depict how internationalization is a driver of mobility, cross-cultural learning, and global integration, yet often disrupts institutional norms, introduces unfamiliar ideas, and challenges the status quo. The third …

“Even If I’M An International Student, I Have A Voice And I Should Make A Stand”: A Phenomenological Inquiry Into International Students’ Development Of Critical Agency In U.S. Higher Education, Sarang Kim

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

International students’ experiences with race and racism in U.S. higher education have received increasing scholarly attention. However, few empirical studies explore how these students resist and develop critical agency in response to systemic racism. This represents a significant gap, as international students can serve as important transnational allies in racial and social justice movements both in the U.S. and globally. To address this gap, this dissertation employs a phenomenological approach to examine the development of critical agency among 19 international students of color in the U.S. higher education. This study contributes to the broader discourse in Comparative and International …

Cultivating Climate And Culture: New Jersey Principals' Use Of Sel In Pk-12 Schools, Michelle Papa

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, intrinsic case study is to explore how PK-12 principals in New Jersey perceive their approaches to leadership through their own social and emotional learning (SEL). With growing demands placed on school leaders, the study examines how principals integrate the five SEL competencies (self-awareness, self- management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making) into their leadership practices to positively impact school climate and culture. Through semi- structured interviews and document analysis, ten principals revealed that SEL is not only essential for student and staff well-being but also central to their own leadership development. Findings indicate that …

Decolonizing Links Between International Scholarships And Peace Insights From A Critical Realist Study In Palestine, Anas N. Almassri

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

In this article, I summarize my doctoral research of the potential contribution of international graduate scholarships to peace in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT). The research challenges predominant explanations of scholarships' contribution to peace on account of advancing human and global capitals and facilitating Western-style liberal-democratic socialization. Within a critical realist paradigm, interview and documentary data from 32 Palestinian scholarship alumni were analyzed in a three-stage process. First, the descriptive findings show that the participants perceive significant gains from scholarships in their academic, career, and multidimensional identity development. Second, the inferential findings demonstrate that these gains represent increased effective ability …

“Me Dancing”: An Intrinsic Case Study Of Primary School Boys’ Understandings Of Movement And Dance Through Their Drawings, Rosemary G. Bennett Ms, Jane Southcott

The Qualitative Report

In this research we explore the place of creative embodiment through movement and dance from the understandings of a group of 8-10-year-old elementary school boys. Children can be asked to speak or write about their movement experiences, but for younger cohorts it may easier for them to reveal their ideas via their own drawings. In this qualitative study using drawings as a research method, two classes (a total of 31) of Year 3-4 boys in a suburban elementary school in Melbourne, Australia were asked to produce a drawing of “me dancing” in an empty frame. Each child was then asked …

Implementing A Questioning Strategy In Teaching Reading Texts In Efl Classes: A Qualitative Study, Mohammed A. Alzahrani Dr.

The Qualitative Report

Developed by Beck and McKeown in the 1980s, Questioning the Author (QtA) emphasises active engagement with texts to construct meaning rather than passive information extraction. Despite numerous studies attempting to solve challenges in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context, there is a lack of interpretive studies that investigate this issue from the actual field. This exploratory study investigated how EFL teachers' implementation of QtA and their perspectives toward the use of the QtA strategy in teaching reading comprehension in Saudi secondary schools through nine interviews and eighteen classroom observations, analysed thematically. Findings showed that effective QtA use requires …

Trans* Student Experiences In Higher Education, Megan Chaffee, Deborah King

New York Journal of Student Affairs

This paper reviews literature on trans* students' experiences in higher education, examining their obstacles and institutional approaches to inclusion. The study investigates challenges regarding chosen names and pronouns, access to facilities, extracurricular involvement, and the impact of increasing anti-trans* legislation. Despite growing visibility, trans* students continue to report harassment, discrimination, and a decreased sense of belonging. The paper explores current Title IX interpretations and recommends that higher education administrators develop inclusive policies, enhance professional development, and create supportive campus environments that foster trans* students' academic success and overall well-being.

Interdisciplinary English Language Arts And Tesol Education To Advance Academic Achievement Of Immigrant, Refugee, And Urban Students, Elizabeth G. Krahe

Research from the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025

By 2043, the United States is projected to become an official “plurality” in which the non-Hispanic White alone population will comprise less than 50% of the nation’s total population (Devine and Ortman, 2014). Schools are reflecting this demographic shift as they are more diverse culturally and racially. Yet the teaching population remains predominantly White middle class females. Teachers need to find ways to engage with all of their students to promote excitement in the classroom to joyfully learn. Reading and writing are central to education and are naturally found in all subject areas to be tied to academic achievement.

This …

Tackling Translation Problems In Short Stories, Shatha Saleh Elshehry, Zainab Abuelmaatti

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

In the age of globalization, the fact of being exposed to different cultures and backgrounds is unavoidable and literary texts are one of the most important sources that portray people's lives and believe. Translating such texts is vital in order to achieve understanding between different societies. However, the task of translating a literal text from Arabic into English is not easy as Arabic and English belong to different semantic maps and cultural settings. Therefore, problems encountered in translating these texts are inescapable. This study addresses the major problems faced by translators during translating a literary text from Arabic into English. …

Investigating Cultural Issues Encountered In The Audiovisual Translation Of Qomrah Show, Lujain Alumari, Ahmad Khuddro Dr

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

This study analyzed the issues of translation and subtitles of four episodes of the TV show Qomrah. This TV show is produced by ARAM Production House, hosted by Mr. Ahmad Al Shugairi and was aired on MBC channel during the month of Ramadan in 2016\1437 H. It is a competition show that encourages members of the Arabic society to produce and create a purposeful, positive and influential content that discusses their social, cultural and religious issues within their societies. This study aims to prove that the translator is the mediation between different languages, cultures and religions. It also aims to …

The Relationship Between Self-Talk And Self Esteem Amongst University Students, Weam Batarfi, Saddiga Al-Ghalib

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

The theory of self-talk is important to human nature and has the capacity to enhance person's life. In addition, self-esteem plays a major role in mankind life, either in a positive or a negative way. This work was done to analyze the relationship between self-talk and self-esteem among university students. This work was carried out based on quantitative method. For this work, the sample population was university students and the sample size used was 100 students. Data collection was done using survey method. Furthermore, the scales that were used are the Self-Talk Scale development, Factor Analysis, and Validation and self-esteem …

Analysis Of Linguistic Issues In Audiovisual Translation - Subtitling, Marwah Abdullah Hilabi, Ahmad Khuddro Dr

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

Audiovisual Translation (AVT) is a term used for the translation which appears on screen. This product can be written in the form of subtitles, or spoken as in dubbing and it could be also done as a voiceover. This study discusses the AVT with subtitling as an example. Due to the massive growth of media, the need for professional translators and good translation is high. This study used an animated TV series called Fruits Basket as the main example of subtitling. This TV show is an English dubbed version of the Japanese series consisting of 26 episodes. Therefore, the first …

Potential Pitfalls In Visual Models Of Tipping Points - And How To Fix Them, Jonathan Dechert, Svetlana Gurevich, Stefan Heusler

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

Visual models play a crucial role in both science and science communication. However, the distinction between mere analogies and mathematically sound graphical representations is not easy and can be misunderstood not only by laypeople but also within academic literature itself. Moreover, even when the graphical representation exactly corresponds to the mathematical model, its interpretation is often far from obvious. In this paper we discuss the potential landscape visualization commonly used for tipping points in the context of nonlinear dynamics and reveal potential pitfalls, in particular when distinguishing bifurcation induced tipping (B-tipping) from noise-induced tipping (N-tipping).

We propose new visualization techniques …

Posture - A Framework With Measures And Mediating Effects In Support Of A Structural Model For Attitude In Identity Formation, Christopher Kyle Prather

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation develops a framework and new, valid, abbreviated instruments for researching engineering identity formation as an evolving relational and attitudinal development process rather than a fixed outcome. The framework centers on “posture”, a mediating effect analogous to physical posture in human factors engineering. The investigation was unique, and developed evidence for a structural model using an interdisciplinary, systems-oriented approach. Methodologically, a clinical measure of internal emotional states from the Marriage and Family Therapy literature was administered alongside existing scales for perseverance, perceived workload, and psychological ownership. This study used the broad coverage of the clinical instrument to search for …

Oral History Interview With Timothy Clark (Part 2), Timothy Clark

Oral History Collection

The interview covered:

• Teaching and Curriculum
• Research
• Challenges & Future
• Personal Reflections
• Libraries
• Advice
• Advice for Students

Exhibiting Rural Consciousness: A Study Of State And Local Level Governance In Rural Higher Education, Steven J. Skadron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Evolving economies in Craig and Salida, CO, spurred community interest in joining Colorado Mountain College’s taxing district and bringing the college to their communities. When they sought to join, Craig had a local college embedded in its community that was governed by a state-level board; in contrast, Salida had no local college of its own. The two communities’ pursuit of a locally governed college raised a question about governing boards and whether one type of governing board might serve rural communities better. Using a framework of rural consciousness, this nonexperimental, cross-sectional, quantitative study employed data gathered from a survey instrument …

Recruiting, Retaining, And Culturally Sustaining Latine Teachers In A School District With A High Population Of Latine Students, Lisa Garcia Simms

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Latine students make up 52% of the Denver Public Schools (DPS) population, yet only 23% of its teaching force is Latine. This imbalance has real implications for student experience and opportunity. In 2024, DPS commissioned the La Raza Report, which detailed challenges faced by Latine students and educators and called for systemic improvements. The findings highlighted a clear need to strengthen recruitment, retention, and culturally sustaining support for Latine educators.

This improvement science project investigated how DPS might improve the experiences of Latine teachers—engaging educators across career stages, with a particular focus on supporting early-career Latine teachers —through identity-affirming mentorship …

Examining Whiteness: A Narrative Inquiry Into Racial Identity Among White Women In Study Abroad Programs, Audrey Moreno Townsend

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to better understand race in contexts both domestically and abroad through the perspectives and experiences of white women who studied abroad outside of Europe and the Anglosphere. The investigation explored on how these experiences shaped white women’s understanding of racial identity upon returning to their home institutions. The research question which was addressed was: How do white women experience study abroad programming? Research highlights a critical gap in existing literature on this topic. While white women are centered in the study, it is contextualized considering how People of Color experience the world. …

A Phenomenological Study Of Caregivers For Sexual Minority Hospice Patients, Catherine H. Bianchi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals face disproportionate barriers in healthcare across the lifespan that persist and often intensify at the end of life. Despite hospice’s mission to provide comfort, dignity, and patient-centered support, it remains unclear whether these services equitably meet the needs of sexual minority patients. Seeking hospice care presents a unique conundrum for many LGB individuals: it necessitates inviting representatives of a historically exclusionary healthcare system into the privacy of their homes - spaces that often serve as sanctuaries of identity, safety, and autonomy. The already vulnerable experience of seeking care in one’s final days can be …

Establishing Cultivating Dialogic Feedback (Cdf): Enhancing Teacher Evaluation Through The Humanization Of Teachers, Adrian Michael Blumenthal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Current practices in K-12 teacher evaluation look to mechanize the evaluation model, and effectuate better teaching by enforcing compliance to the evaluation model. This practice treats teachers as disseminators of instructional practice and thereby of information to students which dehumanizes teachers. The following research takes a different approach to understanding teacher evaluation by working away from fixing the evaluation model by replacing it with another model. Instead, the research examines the breadth of compliance culture, called performativity, and examines the relationship between teacher and evaluator. At the root of the research is discovering how the relationship between teacher and evaluator …

A Developmental Evaluation Of A Dental Hygiene Program And A Community Health Partnership, Laura Jacob

Higher Education: Doctoral Research Projects

Today, dental hygiene education commonly occurs in community college settings which are removed from dental schools thus dental hygiene students graduate with relatively little to no exposure to dentistry or directly with a clinically practicing dentist. With dental hygiene workforce shortages at an extremely high level, locally and nationally, it is imperative to matriculate students who are poised to be successful in the changing landscape of healthcare.

The purpose of this program evaluation was to investigate via the developmental program evaluation model, the perceived benefits of a potential collaboration between the Colorado Mountain College (CMC) dental hygiene program and a …

Belonging: Stories From Multilingual Learners In The Linguistic Minority, Riley Stouffer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study examines how multilingual learners in the linguistic minority (MLLMs) experience connection and belonging in a Rocky Mountain middle school. Although multilingual learners (MLs) have received increased attention, MLLMs, whose home languages are not widely spoken in the school context, remain overlooked. Grounded in Krashen’s (1982) Affective Filter Hypothesis and Wills and Shinar’s (2000) Supportive Functions of Belonging, this study explores how MLLMs navigate school, what fosters or hinders belonging, and how these experiences shape engagement.

Data from semistructured interviews, classroom observations, and field notes with eight MLLM students in grades 6–8 revealed that belonging was fostered …

The Experiences Of School Psychologists Serving Students With Traumatic Brain Injuries: A Phenomenology, E. Grace Ritchie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a complex experience associated with a diverse constellation of symptoms and challenges. TBI scholars have extensively explored the varying needs of youth in the aftermath of a head injury. Likewise, recent literature details recommendations for school psychological services in support of these students. Such recommendations largely reflect insights drawn from broader TBI and disability research, integrated with the established scope of school psychologists’ practice (e.g., the National Association of School Psychologists Practice Model). Nevertheless, school psychologists’ perceptions of these students’ challenges have been inadequately examined. Such perspectives are likely valuable, given school psychologists’ unique training …

A Guidance Practice Model: Reframing Prevention, Identification, And Treatment Of Trauma-Impacted Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Mark H. Thomas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The experience and exposure of trauma among youth, especially continuous traumatic experiences, poses considerable risks of long-term effects. Moreover, untreated trauma and subsequently negative mental health outcomes, like anxiety and depressive disorders, can negatively impact the psychosocial and academic functioning of students. One population that is generally overlooked regarding mental health in schools are students with intellectual disabilities (ID). This is problematic as this population is at an increased risk of traumatic experiences, such as maltreatment and social exclusion.

Moreover, the comorbidity of trauma and internalizing disorders among students with ID can exacerbate already existing challenges and deficits with social …

Making Fractals: Expanding Learning Opportunities In The Classroom, Eliza Leszczynski, Eileen Fernández, Elise Lahiere

LASER Journal

Fractals have long been appreciated for their beautiful, self-similar structure and infinite complexity. Commonly found in art and architecture, fractals are not only visually appealing but they have been found to reduce stress in individuals because of their patterns’ connections to nature. Fractal structures can even be seen in familiar real-life objects like trees or cauliflowers. Fractal geometry, with its ability to create complicated effects from simple formulas, provides a way to connect mathematics with visual results that are “spontaneously attractive, and often breathtakingly beautiful". The act of creating fractals can spark curiosity, enabling participants to generate vastly different results …

Enhancing Cataract Surgery Outcomes: Optimal Use Of Pre- And Post-Operative Eye Drops, Keith Skolnick M.D., Anu Valiaveedu

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Many preoperative and postoperative cataract patients struggle with comprehending the use of prescription medication as directed. Language barriers and low health literacy levels are major factors contributing to improper use of prescriptions. To increase patients comprehension, the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute employed an educational intervention consisting of a live presentation and an instructional video. Results found that 44% of patients were hesitant to ask questions to clinical staff, 32% felt overwhelmed, and nearly 70% lacked confidence in using their prescribed eye drops. Following the intervention, 91% of patients reported increased confidence in their medications, and most indicated that the video …

From Infection To Restoration: A Case Study On Dental Extraction In The Maxilla Anterior, Melanie Ramirez

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

A dental implant is a restorative surgical procedure that serves as a solution to replace missing teeth that imitate the function, sensation, and appearance of natural teeth. The objective of this dental case study is to examine the diagnosis, treatment, and post-operation of a patient with a history of tooth loss and infection in the anterior maxilla. This case follows a 55-year-old patient, Jorge Marquez, name changed for confidentiality, who presented a severe tooth abscess on tooth #10 on the anterior maxilla which had previously undergone root canal treatment (Figure 1B). Radiographic evaluations illustrated the severity of the abscess the …

“Can You Hear Me?” Teacher Stories About State-Mandated Standardized Testing, Michele I. Shelton

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study strives to understand teacher perceptions as a meaningful examination of state-mandated standardized testing's impacts on students and its outcomes by asking:

How do teachers experience the impact of state-mandated standardized tests on the students as evidenced in their stories?

What are the benefits and disadvantages to the use of state-mandated standardized tests?

To what extent has state-mandated standardized tests created inequalities in the educational system?

This study utilized a Narrative Research approach with [descriptive] interpretive qualitative research. Questionnaires and interviews were analyzed using the Thematic Inductive Analysis approach. The theoretical framework was adopted from Robinson & Robinson: centering …