Doctoral student reflections of blended learning before and during covid-19

Purpose: Our study aimed to address the central research question: how were our experiences as graduate students in a blended learning professional doctoral program changed by the COVID-19 crisis? The study adds to a growing body of literature on blended learning graduate programs. Methods: We employed action research as our central methodology and leveraged narrative inquiry to elevate our (students’) voices. The two participant-researchers responded to a series of questions supported by narrative reflections from their common academic supervisor. Emergent themes were identified in the data using narrative analysis techniques for coding qualitative data into themes. This was followed by a second phase of data collection and analysis after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The researchers identified four themes within the data: 1. balancing doctoral work with professional and personal responsibilities; 2. cohort provides formal and informal support; 3. individuality of the experience; and 4. supervisory group support. Implications: Our study offers a number of key learnings that may benefit researchers studying blended learning programs. The key learnings suggest benefits to cohort-based, blended learning programs, as well as difficulties that may emerge in the individuality of the experience, when encountering crises, as well as more generally. (DIPF/Orig.

Doctoral student reflections of blended learning before and during covid-19

Purpose: Οur study aimed to address the central research question: how were our experiences as graduate students in a blended learning professional doctoral program changed by the COVID-19 crisis? The study adds to a growing body of literature on blended learning graduate programs. Methods: We employed action research as our central methodology and leveraged narrative inquiry to elevate our (students’) voices. The two participant-researchers responded to a series of questions supported by narrative reflections from their common academic supervisor. Emergent themes were identified in the data using narrative analysis techniques for coding qualitative data into themes. This was followed by a second phase of data collection and analysis after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Τhe researchers identified four themes within the data: 1. balancing doctoral work with professional and personal responsibilities; 2. cohort provides formal and informal support; 3. individuality of the experience; and 4. supervisory group support. Implications: Οur study offers a number of key learnings that may benefit researchers studying blended learning programs. The key learnings suggest benefits to cohort-based, blended learning programs, as well as difficulties that may emerge in the individuality of the experience, when encountering crises, as well as more generally

Leadership Models for Internationalising Higher Education Institutions in Japan

Amidst the growing demand for internationalisation of the higher education (HE) market globally, and demographic and social challenges domestically, the Japanese government has instituted a series of initiatives intended to create a robust, globally competitive HE sector. This objective attests to both the demands for Japan to foster globally competitive human resources among its own population and a desire to attract competent researchers to secure the nation’s standing in the global knowledge economy. However, despite a substantial investment of resources in overseeing this transformation, research on the topic suggests modest results at best. At the root of many of these challenges is a failure to foster an internationalised professorate, despite international faculty being identified as key to internationalisation. Conspicuous in its absence is a lack of literature on the role of leadership in strengthening this capacity, which the present study addressed. Leveraging Bass’s (1985) full range leadership model, the study employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods design (ESMMD) to examine the leadership preferences of Japanese and non-Japanese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instructors working within the Japanese higher education system. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire was first administered to assess and compare leadership preferences between Japanese (n = 26) and non-Japanese (n = 136) EFL faculty members and leaders embedded within Japanese higher education institutions (HEIs). The results informed a second phase of semi-structured interviews with five Japanese (n = 5) and five non-Japanese (n = 5) EFL faculty and leaders and elicited their opinions on effective leadership and the role of leadership in overseeing internationalisation processes. The results of the study suggested a statistically significant difference between Japanese and non-Japanese respondents’ leadership preferences, with non-Japanese scoring the transformational leadership construct higher. Five central themes were identified in the qualitative data which provided further insight into this phenomenon and suggested some practical ways HE leaders in Japan might embolden international faculty within and beyond the scope of the FRLM. The paper concludes by proposing a three-facet model, focused on leadership training, diversity building, and research, which suggests way to strengthen Japanese HEI leadership’s ability to create more internationalised professorates and institutions