Category: Refereed article

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Developing a qualifications structure for the finance services industry in Malaysia and beyond

Authors: Amat Taap Manshor and Siong Choy Chong, Finance Accreditation Agency, Malaysia; Roslyn Cameron, Curtin University, Australia

Edition: Volume 54, Number 3, November 2014

Summary:  The development of qualifications systems and frameworks assists in promoting lifelong learning and work-based recognition systems. Several nations in the Asian Pacific region have established national qualifications frameworks across their respective educational sectors (e.g., Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the Philippines), whilst others have frameworks for specific educational sectors (e.g., Singapore and Thailand). Work is also underway to develop an ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework which “will enhance each country’s national qualification framework or qualification system while providing a mechanism to facilitate comparison and transparency” (ASEAN 2013: p. 2). However, academic and vocational-based qualifications remain the primary emphasis of these frameworks. This paper focuses on the development of a Finance Qualifications Structure (FQS) and the crucial role this will play in the development of human capital in the financial services industry (FSI) not only in Malaysia, but across Asia and beyond into the Middle East, African and European regions. The FQS aims to integrate and harmonise all the professional qualifications in the FSI into a single structure on the basis of FAA Learning Standards and FAA Recognition of Learning (RPL). Talent management and mobility in the FSI is a key concern as is the need to recognise the competencies of those who have been working in the sector for many years but may possess only professional but not academic qualifications. The paper is centred on the role played by the Finance Accreditation Agency (FAA) in developing the FQS through high levels of stakeholder engagement and consultation, both nationally and internationally and the important role played by the recognition of prior learning. The level of industry and stakeholder engagement in the development of the FQS and the importance of the FAA Recognition of Learning (FRL) have been outstanding features of FAA’s activities and have been identified as key enablers by the International Labour Organization (ILO) for fostering effective lifelong policy and practice (Singh and Duvekot 2013).

Keywords: Finance Qualifications Structure, learning standards, recognition of prior learning, national qualification frameworks, finance services industry, Malaysia.

 

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 54_3. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.

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Continuous learning and its social organisation for engineers: An exploratory study in China

Author: Hongxia Shan, University of British Columbia

Edition: Volume 54, Number 3, November 2014

Summary:  Continuous learning for professionals such as engineers has undergone
sea changes around the world in the past few decades. This paper explores some of these changes in China. It starts by examining the learning experiences of five engineers and the training policies in three companies with different types of ownership. It shows three
major learning pathways for engineers: shadowing, title and license related learning, and further education. Associated with these learning pathways are issues such as differential training support from companies, tensions between the pursuit for professional
standardization and experiential knowing, and gendered streaming. The paper further traces the changing institutional relations that work in concert to shape companies’ investments in training and engineers’ motivations for learning. Specifically, it maps the traditional
vocational title system, the newly adopted practice licensure systems, as well as governmental sectoral regulations. The study pinpoints not only the pervasive power of state regulation, but also the profession’s desire for internationalization or to ‘connect rails’ with the engineering
educational and professional regulation systems in the West. Within this context, continuous development has increasingly become a professional mandate for engineers in China. It has also given rise to issues such as commodification of professional licences.

Keywords: Continuous learning, professional regulation, workplace training, internationalization, institutional ethnography, engineers, China

 

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 54_3. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.

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Identifying tertiary bridging students at risk of failure in the first semester of undergraduate study

Authors: Robert Whannell and Patricia Whannell, University of New England

Summary:  This study presents the findings of the second phase of a project examining the attrition and progression of two cohorts of students in a tertiary bridging program at a regional university in Australia. The first phase of the study (Whannell, 2013) based on data collected up to week 5 of the bridging program identified age, academic achievement on the initial assessment tasks, the level of peer support and the number of absences from scheduled classes as being the factors which predicted attrition from the bridging program. This phase of the study examined a sample of 92 students who subsequently completed a custom questionnaire in week 12 of the tertiary bridging program and then continued into the first semester of undergraduate study. Participants at risk of failure in the first semester of undergraduate study were characterised by being younger in age, demonstrating a high incidence of absence from scheduled classes and low levels of academic achievement in the final assessment tasks in the bridging program and reporting lower quality relationships with academic staff. The need to initiate interventions to target at-risk students prior to commencement of their undergraduate study is discussed.

Keywords: tertiary bridging program, attrition, educational transition.

 

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 54_2. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.

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Expectations and reality: What you want is not always what you get

Authors: Arlene Garces-Ozanne and Trudy Sullivan, University of Otago

Summary:  A total of 196 first year Principles of Economics I students participated in a study examining how students’ expectations about their course and grades are related to the grades they actually receive. We empirically test whether there is a significant difference between the students’ grade expectations and the actual grades they receive, and examine what factors contribute to this difference. In particular, we examine how much students’ expectations about their grades are conditioned by specific student characteristics, as well as by their attitude/behaviour over the semester. We hypothesise that students, like many from Generation Y, often make confident but also false predictions about their ability, but as reality sets in, they modify their behaviour accordingly and set more reasonable, realistic expectations to achieve their desired goals. We find that they are indeed over-optimistic, but there appears to be a gap between their optimism and actual performance.

Keywords: Gen Y, undergraduate students, expectations, optimism, behaviour, grades

 

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 54_2. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.

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Teacher professional learning communities: Going beyond contrived collegiality toward challenging debate and collegial learning and professional growth

Author: Susanne Owen, University of South Australia

Summary:  Professional learning community (PLC) is a current ‘buzz’ term in business and educational contexts, seemingly referring to anything from decision making committees to regular meeting groups or collegial learning teams. This paper explores the concept of a PLC within three significantly innovative schools, based on an examination of the relevant literature and also focusing on surveys and interviews. Findings indicate that, while there is broad consistency across the literature and within the innovative school cases in terms of core PLC elements of shared vision and values, collegiality, joint practical activities and student learning data, teacher inquiry and leadership support and opportunities, there are some pivotal PLC characteristics which heighten the professional learning impact. In this paper, using vignettes from the case study schools, these pivotal characteristics are related to developmental phases of PLC establishment. This offers valuable insights about nurturing more learning-focused PLCs, with significant benefits for teacher professional growth and ultimately for student learning.

Keywords: Professional Learning Community, PLC, teacher professional learning

 

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 54_2. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.

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How a personal development program enhances social connection and mobilises women in the community

Authors: Nandila Spry, Hillsong City Care and Southern Cross University: Teresa Marchant, Griffith University

Summary:  Gender equity and the empowerment of women is a significant international issue. Successful adult education programs are vital to enhance women’s situation. Lessons learned from a personal development program provided for thousands of women are analysed. The program is conducted by community service providers in Australia and internationally, with an Australian evaluation reported here. The three phase evaluation included 500 participants, with pre- and post-tests for a sample of 161, structured phone interviews with 53 and third-party observations from six organisations. The value includes multiple measurements over time, in a thorough evaluation with mixed methods, along with policy and practice implications. Key adult learning issues canvassed include the role of empowerment, adult education and transformative learning. Key findings included that women’s self-esteem, emotional intelligence, purpose and mobilisation increased, with the latter evident in vocational outcomes and social connection. Some women expressed interest in facilitating the program for other groups. As one facilitator observed ‘the program really empowers women to tap into their own gifts and talents’. Lessons learned encompassed improvements to the program including sustainable social networks, since for these women purpose in life and mobilisation were intertwined with social connection and helping other women.

Keywords: community, empowerment, evaluation, personal development, self-esteem, women

 

 

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 54_2. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.

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Diversity and achievement: Is success in higher education a transformative experience?

Authors: Robyn Benson, Margaret Heagney, Lesley Hewitt, Glenda Crosling and Anita Devos; Monash University

Summary:  This paper reports on a longitudinal project examining how a group of students from diverse backgrounds succeeded in higher education. The project explored participants’ pathways into higher education, how they managed their studies, and their reflections at course completion. In this paper, the concept of perspective transformation is used to consider the extent to which their success in higher education was a transformative experience. Data from the project’s first stage identified the role of perspective transformation in influencing participants’ pathways to higher education, while here we focus on the impact of their university study on perspective transformation, comparing evidence of transformative experiences during study with those that led to enrolment. Analysis of participants’ reflections at course completion indicated that higher education success was a transformative experience for most of them and that perspective transformation affected more participants during study than before it. Participants identified several aspects of the course that contributed to the changes experienced in their perspectives. We consider some implications for university staff, which may help others involved with students from diverse backgrounds.

Keywords: Higher education, perspective transformation, transformative learning, student diversity, student success

 

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 54_2. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.

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Improving the quality of student experience in large lectures using quick polls

Authors: Angelito Calma, Beverley Webster, Stefan Petry and Jenny Pesina; University of Melbourne

Summary:  A quick polling initiative was tested in finance classes using multiple choice questions to determine whether it can improve student interaction and engagement in a large class. Students (n = 446) responded using either a smartphone app (53%) or by using pen and paper (47%). Immediate feedback was provided to students using charts that were generated from the responses of those who used the app. The sample included 41% males, 59% females, 76% undergraduates and 24% graduate students. Student perceptions of the usefulness of quick polling in relation to their engagement in and preparation for the classes and their understanding of the subject content were evaluated using a questionnaire. Results indicate that females perceived they were more prepared for and engaged in class than males. Graduate students felt they were more engaged in classes, prepared for classes, and that their understanding of the subject improved than undergraduate students. There were limited differences between those who used the app and those who used pen and paper.

Keywords: student engagement, audience response system, personal response system, large class, mobile learning, quick poll

 

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 54_1. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.

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Case studies in e-RPL and e-PR

Authors: Roslyn Cameron, Curtin University and Allison Miller, Vanguard Visions Consulting Pty Ltd

Summary:  The use of ePortfolios for recognition of prior learning (e-RPL) and for professional recognition (e-PR) is slowly gaining in popularity in the VET sector however their use is sporadic across educational sectors, disciplines, educational institutions and professions. Added to this is an array of purposes and types of e-RPL and e-PR models and practice. The aim of this paper is to build on the conceptual framework developed by Cameron (2012) for e-RPL and e-PR and to provide case studies for each of the four types developed within this framework: e-PR for Professional Accreditation; e-RPL for Workplace Recognition; e-RPL for Access and; e-RPL for Self Recognition. We use the case studies to explore the four types and the two dimensions or continuums central to the framework. The vertical dimension is a continuum between RPL as process and RPL as product and the second horizontal dimension is a continuum between formal learning contexts and low learner control as opposed to informal learning contexts and high levels of learner control. The case studies have aided the further development of the framework and its theoretical and practical applications.

Keywords: e-RPL, e-PR, recognition of prior learning, professional accreditation, eRecognition, VET, ACE

 

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 54_1. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.

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The use of peer assessment in a regional Australian university tertiary bridging course

Authors: Kelly Chambers, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Robert Whannell, University of New England, NSW; Patricia Whannell, University of New England, NSW

Summary:  This paper presents the findings from research on peer assessment practice that was specifically focussed on improving the experience in a tertiary bridging course. The objective of the study was to examine the impact of this assessment approach on student social relationships and the overall assessment experience. The study also examined whether peer assessment provided a valid and reliable method of assessment at the tertiary bridging level and whether students were equipped to be able to engage with this form of assessment. Data were collected from 107 students enrolled in a tertiary bridging program at a regional university in Australia using a custom designed questionnaire. Four subscales, Task Experience, Feedback, Peer Relationships and Process Understanding, were identified and analysed. The initial results suggest this model of assessment did add value for students in the positive attitude toward the task and the feedback they received from their peers. The participants did not report a preference for peer assessment over other traditional forms. Improvements in the quality of peer relationships were also not identified. It was concluded that, while there are benefits provided by peer assessment in improving the students’ understanding of the process of assessment, there were limited benefits in its use in relation to improving the overall student experience. 

Keywords: tertiary bridging education, peer assessment, peer relationships

 

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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 54_1. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.