Higher Education

I am going to explore to what extent does attending university (higher education) have an impact on the graduate’s employability. There are three sub research questions I will be focusing on. Firstly, I will be analysing the benefits and problems there are of going onto university in the hope of increasing employability. In order, to do this I will be identifying the relevant corpus of academic and policy related literature and documentation concerning university and employability.

The reason for this is that it is vital to realise that it’s still important to assess existing knowledge that’s associated with education and compare it with my research. Secondly, I will be focusing on to what extent has investing in a degree and other financial costs such as accommodation for example with going onto university has achieved the desired outcome for degree graduates. To find out this information, I will be looking at degree graduates, and how they believe their employability has affected their employability.

Finally, I will be looking at how 18 years not going onto HE, to what extent has that helped their desired outcome. I am now going to briefly explain the structure of my report. I will now provide a critical literature review analysing policy documents and academic literature and review what others have done. This will show how my research fits in with what others have done about my subject. This is my first research objective as I’ve mentioned earlier. I will then explain my research project and methodology used to gather and analyse data. After, I have decided my methodological approach; I will then report my research results.

I will undertake a critical analysis of public perceptions and carry out a small study, and provide evidence in my appendix to verify my research results. I will then discuss my findings in a critical manner and relate my results back to the literature material. In my ethical form under proposed methodology, I mentioned that I would find out information by not only questionnaires and face-to-face interviews, but also surveys. I have decided not to do surveys and face-to-face interviews the reason being is that it is very difficult to access surveys associated to my area of study.

Moreover, the time and money spent on getting this information would hinder time being spent on my study. Therefore, as a result I have decided to exclude the use of surveys in my research. I am not doing face-to-face interviews because of the availability of time for other students to be available to answer questions. In order, to resolve this problem I am going to add open-ended questions in my questionnaire to get insight. Progressing onto university (higher education) can greatly enhance wherever you want to go in the future.

The reason for this is, that it illustrates to employers the ability to acquire information in a specialised subject. (Directgov. 2005. ‘ The benefits of higher education’ [online] Available from http://www. direct. gov. uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/index. htm [Accessed 3 Jan 2007]) Therefore, this stands to reason graduates coming out of university and entering employment will have higher earning potential to those who don’t go on to higher education. However, in a report in the telegraph it stated that a third of university graduates are in jobs that do not require a degree in 2004-05.

This brings out the question; does it really enhance career prospects? In the same article, Boris Johnson says about a degree. ‘It is a wonderful thing to have irrespective of the kind of job you are doing. ‘ I am very critical of this statement because the main reason of going into higher education is to enhance your career. What is the point of attaining a degree, if it doesn’t? (Smith. H {25th July 2006} ‘Third of graduates in non-graduate jobs’ Telegraph [online] Available from http://www. telegraph. co. uk/news/main. jhtml? xml=/news/2006/07/23/nuni. xml Accessed 17th December 2006]) Is it right from degree graduates to find difficulty in finding graduate jobs and fall into ‘non-graduate jobs’?

In which they could of entered prior going to university and without the associated financial costs? I aim to find out the value of a degree in the economic market and whether it is actually worth it considering the New Labour’s target of 50% for 18-25 year olds to enter HE. The more graduates flooding the market, the less graduate jobs would be available? There are contrasting views of going into higher education.

The article written by Directgov provides a biased view of higher education, in my opinion. The reason being is that Directgov is a site produced by the Central office of Information, associated with the government. As a result, it will would emphasis the benefits of the HE, and they would do this to reach their target of 50%. In contrast, to the telegraph newspaper, there could be a tendency to over exaggerate words and statistics, in order to engage the ready and boost sales. I have chosen this topic of research as education as it affects not only me but also people around me.

I am investing my time and money in a degree in the hope of attaining a qualification, which will enhance my career prospects, but in the current climate, it may not. Therefore, which is the best route for a successful career (a graduate/non-graduate) and does it matter? I will explore and come up with conclusions to these questions later on in my report, by collecting and analysing information. I will be gathering both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data is data in which can be categorised and have a numerical relationship.

Whereas, qualitative data the information can’t be categorised numerically, the data type is unstructured and may involve long sentences. (Becker S and Bryman A. 2004. ‘Understanding research for social policy and practise’ pp 403-4) Quantitative research illustrates indicators to act as a measure that can stand for a point. Therefore, it can show relationships between variables (independent and dependent. ) For example, if the taxes are increased these would mean that there would be more financial muscle for public services.

The questionnaires that the people fill in will help provide this type of information and to show correlations between variables. In contrast, to qualitative data where the main aim is to understand people’s beliefs, values and behaviour. The qualitative data I will gain from face to face interviews will help me to explain the quantitative data. (Becker S and Bryman A. 2004. ‘Understanding research for social policy and practise’ pp 92-7) I am going to ask ten people who are graduates and that are a non-graduate on their views on higher education.

This will aid me into find finding some conclusions on this issue. There is a different questionnaire for graduates and non-graduates . The questionnaires are available in the appendix. Prior to giving out my questionnaires I had to pre test these questions to check that they are as clear as possible. I did this by asking the general public on their views and amending any necessary faults in the questions. I have to reassure the sample of respondents that I will not disclose any personal details and that the research details will remain confidential.

In my questionnaire, I didn’t ask for their name, as I see that it is of no relevant to the study. I am now going to discuss the results I have discovered in my research. In the first section of the questionnaire, I have included a question about the respondent’s ethnicity. In my opinion, this is a question worth asking, because of evidence being illustrated that there is a trend. Gary Craig, professor of Social Justice in 2002, interviewed 16-18 year olds about their experiences of not being in education. ‘

Of the 64 young people interviewed, 41 were of African- Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin. Craig G and Britton L. 2002. ‘Missing connexions’? Bristol/York: The policy press 4 (2) p. 39-41) This is backed up by my research as, only 10% of the university graduates I interviewed were black. Despite, the figures the research done by Gary Craig, can’t be completely related to my research as he interviewed the 16-18 year old category. Despite, Gary Craig focusing on a different age category to me (18 and onwards), the issue of the high number of African Caribbean not going onto HE, in comparison to other ethnic groups, stems from an early age.

An article in the Times shows that only 27% of African- Caribbean achieve five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C. (Baldwin T. {13 March 2005} ‘ It’s not race that keeps black boys back’ The Times [online] also available from http://www. timesonline. co. uk/tol/comment/article426390. ece [Accessed 2nd January 2008]) In the same article it is mentioned that Trevor Phillips the chairman of the commission for racial equality. He did an experiment and found that black boys performed 12% better from all different races. This has sure to raises eyebrows with comprehensive secondary schools.

In 1956, labour politician Anthony Crosland, introduced the idea that the pupils in secondary schools be streamed into separate classes according to their academic ability. ‘ In my opinion, with the influence of Trevor Phillips’s findings, I think we should question the way the pupil are ‘streamed. ‘ (Alcock P. 2003 ‘ Social Policy in Britain,’ Second edition pp. 44-5) The reasons why graduates decided to go to university were to increase their chances of employability, higher earning potential and enhance personal development, as I expected.

Whereas, the non-graduates suggested that they didn’t have the discipline and motivation to stay in education any further. They also felt that they weren’t getting anything out of the years they had stayed in education before they left. In 2006, a study from the department for education and skills (DfES) found that the earnings between graduates and being educated at A Level is 45%. (Prospects Career Service Desk. ‘ How do graduates and non-graduates salaries compare? ‘ Available at http://www. prospects. ac. k/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Main_menu___Research/Labour_market_information/Labour_market_FAQs/How_do_graduate_and_non_graduate_salaries_compare_/p! elkFpLg;jsessionid=a630e2bd2c3b6b3225f1 [Accessed 2nd January]) The public perception of the benefits of going onto HE still remains and is clearly shown in my research. In the second question, I asked the respondent’s to answer on a scale of 1-10 to answer how had a university degree helped their career. The mean answer yielded a value of 8. 7, in comparison to the non-graduates with a value of 4. 5. This shows that the public are aware of the benefits and importance of HE.

The reasons included that the graduates felt they took their education as far as they can, to enable them with to have the best opportunities as possible. One candidate actually mentioned Labour’s government target of 50% of 18-25 year olds going into HE, which meant the value of a degree, is still invaluable. In contrast, to the non-graduates they stated that since they didn’t follow through with education, they were left with limited opportunities that have affected their career. 60% of the candidates mentioned that they were always going to be second best to those who gone into HE.

Despite, all the benefits of going into HE, in the current climate it is difficult to find jobs for graduates. In the article, in the telegraph it mentioned that over a third of graduates were in jobs in which they couldn’t see the benefits of being a graduate in the first place. (Smith. H {25th July 2006} ‘Third of graduates in non-graduate jobs’ Telegraph [online] Available from http://www. telegraph. co. uk/news/main. jhtml? xml=/news/2006/07/23/nuni. xml [Accessed 17th December 2006]). My research illustrates this point as only 40% of the graduates felt that they have been helped with investing in HE.

The remaining felt that their university degree hasn’t helped them as yet, but will do in the long run. The graduates have faith with the opportunities of HE, despite being in a current role, in which they couldn’t see the benefits of HE. 95% of the total respondents would recommend an 18 year old to enter HE. The graduates felt that it is essential for personal development, two candidates mentioned ‘ to find yourself. ‘ Going onto university does have many benefits, like expanding you social scene, broadening horizons and learning more about the world we live in.

These benefits help graduates in choosing the right and suitable path they want to go in terms of a job, because of the job prospects. In my opinion and my research shows this is that HE is important in the economic market. The literature documents I have used, doesn’t mention the class of students who got 1st, 2. 1 etc. This could explain why graduates were in ‘ non-graduate’ jobs. The research they have provided could have been more extensively. As we all know, the majority of university students are not going to get 1st class degree, as a result, they may not get their desire job.

The job market has become such a competitive, as more and more students are going into HE. Therefore, it is becoming increasing likely that graduate jobs are going to be offered to those who have graduated with a 1st class from a top university. This raises the issue, why is the government raising the tuition fees and still wants people to go into HE? Is it right for someone who is attending university with the exception of Oxford pay the same fees? These are issues, which still need to be considered, because of university league tables.

The university league tables have enabled employers to judge how well universities are doing. Therefore, is it right that the university which is last in the table be paying the same fees as the university at the top, whilst the job opportunities would be reduced? This area is very broad and brings about different questions, which still need to be looked. When New Labour took over they said their priorities is ‘education education education. ‘ Blair was quoted, as saying he wants to still ‘technocratic values,’ in which he wants the country to be as educated as possible, which in turn would have a positive effect on the economy.

To what extent does attending university have an effect on the graduate’s employability? From my research, I have gathered that HE does help you in terms of employability, to what extent? It depends on the individual, if they are attending at a good university and enter the job market with a good class degree. There is no reason that the HE, can increase employability and the individual’s career. The full extensive benefits of HE can be seen, if the individual makes use of this education to the best of their ability. It all depends on the individual.

Introduction

The cardinal factor in the appraisal of quality in higher instruction is the pupil experience. This is non restricted to the pupil experience in the schoolroom but to the entire pupil experience. ( Harvey et al.,1992, p. 1 ) . Increasing attending is being paid to the pupil experience at higher instruction establishments across the UK, both by establishments themselves and by the bureaus that fund them and back up them. This new focal point is driven partially by turning involvement in what pupils think about their experiences and a committedness to developing a more informed and nuanced apprehension of what the pupil experience agencies and what factors shape it. The cardinal implicit in driver is enhancement of the pupil experience, both as an terminal in itself, and as a agency to the terminal of deriving and keeping a competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining pupils ( Chris, 2008 ).In this survey a phenomenological method was employed to research the single experiences as a postgraduate pupil in the University of Ulster.

Literature Review

Evaluation of what is going universally known as the “ pupil experience ” is one of the dominant subjects of higher instruction research at this clip. This term embraces the impression that larning does non merely take topographic point in the schoolroom and that pupils ‘ clip spent in higher instruction is about a whole scope of experiences ( City University, 2002 ).

All facets of pupils ‘ university experience have an impact on their acquisition experience ( City University, 2002 ).

Purdue University ( 2004 ) refer to the ‘Pillars Supporting the Entire Student Experience ‘ and Thompson ( 2000 ) composing in the Kansas State eCollegian stated that: The entire pupil experience encompasses learning and acquisition, course of study, pupil life, reding and mentoring. The University of Edinburgh ( 2004 ) besides refers to a broad set of pupil experiences in which it was stated that accomplishments are derived from the entire pupil experience whether academic, excess curricular or work experiences. More late nevertheless the focal point has shifted to the rating of the entire pupil experience, which would include issues such as the installations available within the establishment, relationships with the academic staff and fellow pupils, and attitudes towards the instruction manner offered by lectors and coachs. Increasingly, pupils ‘ attitudes and perceptual experiences towards the establishment as a whole are seen as cardinal issues in finding the entire pupil experience. ( Savani, 2003 )

The survey entails an person ‘s experience as a postgraduate pupil.

Purposes:

• The survey, which was conducted as portion of an assignment of NUR816 faculty, aimed:
• To research a fellow pupil ‘s experience while set abouting a graduate student survey.
• To analyze the sort of job faced by a postgraduate pupil.
• To set up whether postgraduate pupil bask their surveies all through the semesters without any job from place or work topographic point for those working.
• To enable me to cognize whether they were able to get some rational accomplishments through their programme.

Research Questions/Objective

• To research a fellow pupil ‘s experience while set abouting a graduate student survey, in footings of the challenges of such survey.
• To find the impact of a graduate student survey on a pupil daily life.
• The methodological analysis for probe was based on the purposes and aims set.

The research inquiry shall be answered by utilizing the phenomenology methodological attack alternatively of the descriptive anthropology and grounded theory. This methodological attack is chosen because the research subject is centred on the perceptual experiences and readings of the universe held by an person. The speech pattern within this position is on the , even the singularity, of each individual ‘s set of perceptual experience which is located in a specific societal context ( Shepard et al., 1993 ).

Phenomenology evolved from Husserl ‘s philosophical enterprise to research the full significance of persons ‘ lived experience of a given phenomenon through contemplation on the world of their experiences ( Morse and Field, 1996; Koch, 1999; Jones and Borbasi, 2003 ; Racher, 2003 ). The research worker observes and efforts to construe the significance of the observations made ( Jones and Borbasi, 2003 ) . In understanding what is ‘real ‘ there is reading of the significance of people ‘s relationships with their life experiences

Phenomenology attack stands in blunt contrast to ethnography and grounded theory ( Julius and Chris, 2002, p.9 ). In particular, it takes a really different position of the relationship between experience and cognition. For rationalists, and for post-positivists, experience is an agency of accessing an nonsubjective world that lies outside the person who is sing it ( Julius and Chris, 2002, p.9 ).

In phenomenology, nevertheless, the universe as experienced by persons, or by a group of persons, is the existent universe. Social world is constructed by persons in the procedure of interacting within a peculiar context ( Anderson, 1991 ).

In add-on, phenomenology recognises the fact that societal phenomena are rooted in a specific context ( Julius and Chris,2002, p.10 ) .Similarly, phenomenology, trades chiefly with the ‘micro ‘ instead than the ‘macro ‘ characteristics of societal life ( Lassman,1974 ). Using this method enabled the single pupil to depict a lived experience of deriving ‘knowledge ‘ as a postgraduate pupil and pertaining to her daily life. Through following a post-positivist, phenomenological enquiry, the research worker aimed for objectiveness in roll uping and measuring informations. This involved actively recognizing and uncluttering the head of preexistent ideas, beliefs and values ( Holloway and Wheeler, 1996 ). This is combative, and non easy accomplishable. However, in this research such objectiveness was desirable, since the lead research worker was a co-worker to the interviewee.

Methods

Participant

The research was conducted with a fellow pupil from within the NUR 816 faculty category in the University of Ulster. Ethical was obtained from the University of Ulster Ethics and administration Committees. Flying was in a site unconnected with the chief survey.

The methodological analysis was qualitative in design. In peculiar it drew on phenomenological rules which “ seek to understand, describe and interpret human behavior from the position of the individual or participants being studied ( Finlay, 1999 ) . The purpose of the interview was hence to derive an apprehension of the interviewee ‘s ain place in relation to her experience has a postgraduate pupil.

Data aggregation procedure

Design – Ethical and research administration Issues

Qualitative research is based on the premiss that in order to get cognition about people, we need to give them the chance to specify and depict their experiences as these were lived by themselves ( Polit and Hungler,1993 ). This attack allows the geographic of worlds by worlds admiting the value of a holistic position and the worth of individualism and subjectiveness ( Chinn, 1985 ).

Nursing and phenomenology portion the same beliefs in sing people holistically as entities who create significances and in valuing them as alone individuals ( Omery, 1983; Taylor, 1994 ). Using a phenomenological attack nevertheless holds assorted troubles such as ‘method slurring ‘ ( Baker et al., 1992 ) and the acknowledgment of the research workers consequence upon the survey and the reading of the findings. The deficiency besides of defined guidelines high spots the issue of asperity ( Hallet, 1995 ). This stresses the demand for elaborate certification of the survey and the demand to integrate the cogency of the findings within the information analysis. However, the reading on any research has to be considered probationary instead than absolute ( Walters, 1995 ).

Sampling Procedure

Participant Numberss within phenomenological surveies are typically little, for illustration, less than 10 ( Morse and Field, 1996; Parahoo, 1997; Kleinman, 2004 ), and interviews are in-depth with much rich informations ( Whimpenny and Gass, 2000 ). The sample used for this survey was a convenience sample drawn from a mark population of NUR816 faculty category. A fellow pupil was approached and she agreed to take part. Participant was informed about the right to retreat from the survey at any clip and was assured that in written studies they would non be able to be identified as imposter names would be used. This attack was agreed by the moralss and research administration commission as being acceptable.

Data Aggregation Method

Interviews

Contact with the fellow pupil was made by telephone with a follow-up participant information sheet, consent signifier given to her in category. A hebdomad was allowed from the telephone call until the clip agreed for interview, therefore giving clip for participants to read and discourse the information with others if they wished. Final consent was undertaken instantly anterior to interview. Participants were offered the school country that is a mall or talk room. She opted for the talk room ( Dashiff, 2001 ). Prior to the interview, the intent of the survey was discussed. This served to loosen up the interviewee and the interviewer ( Morse and Field, 1996 ).

The interview that lasted for about 30 proceedingss was audio – recorded and manus written and later transcribed verbatim ( Streubert and Carpenter, 1995 ). An un-structured interview usher was used ( see Appendix 4 ), although inquiries were asked in different ways to arouse all possible ideas from participants. Time for treatment was made after the interview. This was once more agreed as portion of ethical blessing for the work. Get downing the Interview ( Appendix 5 ).

As for the method of informations aggregation, single interview have been used. The intent of the phenomenological interview has been defined as an effort to derive penetration into the other individual worldview and to understand shared significances through active hearing ( Sorrell and Redmond 1995 ). However the pilot interview was non used in the concluding analysis of the informations.

Unstructured interviewing is described as “ automatic ” ( Hammerseley and Atkinson, 1993 ).In a big grade the precise subjects on which the interview will concentrate, and the manner in which it is conducted, emerge in the procedure of the interview, and are antiphonal to the perceptual experiences, concerns and precedences of the source. The control of the informations aggregation procedure was surrendered partly to the source ( fellow pupil ) ( Julius and Chris, 2002, p.54 ) . The unstructured interview is conducted harmonizing to an interview usher ( Arksey and Knight, 1999 ).

Subjects in an unstructured interview may be raised in different ways or in a different order

Since my purpose in this signifier of interview is to derive insight into a subject from the position of the source, the docket for the interview was non imposed by the interviewer, but was negotiated between interviewer and interviewee ( Jones, 1985 ).

Rubin and Rubin ( 1995 ) described such interviews as a “ guided conversation ”.

Data Analysis

The analytical procedure began during informations aggregation. Analysis of interviews was coincident with informations aggregation so that new subjects could be identified for inclusion in subsequent interviews. Data aggregation continued until impregnation occurred, whereby no new or relevant stuff emerged. The research worker made notes after the interview of cardinal points that arose in the conversation with the participant. These helped to clear up the emerging issues and allowed minor accommodations to be made to the interview . The transcript was so read through carefully to place the perceptual experiences and attitudes of pupil toward the graduate student survey. The informations were so explored in relation to the available literature and checked against the research notes to guarantee that issues perceived as of import to the interviewee had been addressed. A bill of exchange transcript of the reappraisal was sent out to interviewee ask foring her remarks and leting for some minor accommodations to be made. Quotation marks from interview are given because they represent the positions or to foreground a specific point. Pseudonyms are used throughout the paper to maximize interviewee namelessness.

Data was analysed utilizing a model that is geared towards phenomenology methodological analysis of Colaizzi ‘s ( 1978 ) seven phase procedure, reflexiveness in informations aggregation and frequent re-analysis of informations as new subjects emerged ( Miles and Huberman,1994 ). This theoretical account of analysis Fosters transparence and cogency in the analytical procedure ( Mays and Pope,2000 ).

The analytic procedure of Colaizzis ( 1978 ) was modified to supply a more executable model for the analysis of the information. Firstly tape – recorded interview was played and re – played and written transcripts were read in order to get a ‘first feeling ‘. The really first rematch of the cassette took topographic point instantly after the interview, it was recorded and a transcript was kept individually for safety grounds. Additionally notes were written after the interview and during the first rematch to capture initial thoughts. Initial data bunch was achieved utilizing underscoring for the participant important statements. This enabled informations submergence and assisted an overview of the participant ‘s part to each bunch.

At phase two important statements were extracted from the individual transcript, which was after organized into bunch of subjects. Each subject was attempted to be conceptualized and contextualized ( Strauss and Corbin.1990, p.61 ) and notes were written for each identified subject to be discussed with the participant during proof. The following phase involved the readying of a descriptive text for the participant which included quotation marks from the interviews. At the proof phase participants were re-approached and alongside an explanatory note, the descriptive text was assessed. The participant to the full agreed with the written descriptions and the treatment of her experiences and he signed and retains a 2nd transcript of the proof text.

Formulated significances were devised but arranged into one grid to compare their relationship to the formulated significances as a whole. Colaizzi supports this stance to his procedure of analysis. He argues his method of analysis be ‘used flexibly and freely by the research worker, they can modify them in what of all time manner they sees fit ‘ ( Colaizzi, 1978, p.59 ). Further divergence arose from Colaizzi ( 1978 ) who acknowledged there will be repeat of experience and that repeats should be eliminated.

It is argued instead that by placing repeats, greater weight can be added to significance of the significance jointly for persons ( Hantikainen and Kappeli, 2000 ). To help participant in understanding the analysis of the information, and supply her with grounds that the response could act upon pattern, a grid the cardinal findings was devised for her. The presentation to the participants of what Colaizzis ( 1978 ) calls the ‘exhaustive description ‘ instead than the concluding ‘essential construction ‘ of the phenomenon, was besides recommended by Holloway and Wheeler ( 1996 ), as it could be more easy recognizable by her because it has the possible to move as a precursor to arouse more information and remarks at this phase of the survey. Although cogency in qualitative research is multifaceted, it appears to be an advantage of using a method of analysis which incorporated proof by participants themselves. The concluding analysis of the phenomenon can be seen as the ‘product ‘ of a shared procedure between those who have experience it and the research worker ( Halarie, 2006 ).

Discussion

The survey revealed a sequence of findings, which could be summarised under the undermentioned seven classs: All seven classs emerged from the participant descriptions, irrespective of the length of the interview

• Aspiration in life
• Challenges of being a graduate student pupil degree Celsius
• Time direction vitamin
• Positive and negative feelinge
• Library usage degree Fahrenheit
• Internet usage
• Lecturers attitudes.

Each class will be explored and deductions for development discussed.

Aspiration in life: The pupil emphasised that the graduate student programme was an chance for her to rich greater tallness.

“ My end in life is to draw a bead on to make the extremum in my educational calling ”

Challenges of being a postgraduate pupil: Being admitted for the graduate student programme was the first challenge the pupil faced, followed by funding the programme, cost of adjustment in school, run intoing the class work deadline for entry, and plagiarism menace.

“ The adjustment I got was rather expensive in school ”.

“ Geting admitted gave me a challenge ”

“ I mean the support of the P.G surveies was non excessively easy ”.

“ I was so witting of the mentions quoted but am still afraid that I did non plagiarize ”.

“ haste through the coursework assignment, so as to run into the deadline for entry ”.

Time direction: The pupil usage most of the clip in the school country for go toing talks, making class work, and personal reading while the free talk yearss is used for parttime occupation.

“ I realised that I need to make a batch of personal reading “

“ My faculty clip besides gave me a good chance to prosecute in a portion clip work in a shop ” . Lecturers Attitudes: it was gathered from the pupil experience that the lectors were accessible and they help in work outing pupil academic problems. “ The lectors have ever been really helpful and accessible and unfastened to suggestions and unfavorable judgment ”.

Library usage: was reportedly used to accomplish a batch of work through class work administration and easy cyberspace entree, run offing the assignment and printing relevant papers. It was so a good resource. “ I did non hold a resource to acquire a lap-top so I spend most of my clip in ( LRC ) ”.

Internet usage: At interview, the pupil reported equal usage of the Internet at school, for email communicating, online resource from the lectors, and for a assortment of reasons. “ Most of our classs had online resource which could merely be assessed through the WebCT from the library portal ”.

Positive and negative feeling: There was the fiscal influence on the household, but a batch of accomplishments were acquired.

The probe confirms the utility of using a phenomenological method to the human side of research and to lend to the alleged “ studies-of-studies ” literature, and to the turning shared experiential civilization in research. It could assist decrease the clasp of the positive paradigm in the survey and to happen a cardinal topographic point for the human side of research, alternatively of concealment or disregarding this of import aspect of research.

Finally, this survey was exploratory in nature and the consequences may be limited to the respondent who participated in the probe, merely. Therefore, merely general suggestions for future research can be offered. One possibility is to research the experiences of pupil who have non received didactic direction on , but who have to put to death graduate student survey. Another possibility is to depict the experiences of pupils who failed to finish their surveies successfully.

Decision

Postgraduate Student experience could be summarized into a deliberate and necessary attempt to derive credence into an organized and defined educational scene. The findings illustrate the ‘lived experience ‘ of a postgraduate pupil about her surveies, the cognition respondents have about her school, and some consideration about duty for cognition and why perusal may be hard. An overruling subject throughout the work is related to dedication to classwork and support. Key concerns included:

• The support of a postgraduate class.
• Entree to resources and
• Proper clip direction

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION Ranjana, Lecturer Doaba College of Education ABSTRACT In this world of ever-growing competition, rapid changes of technology, privatization and internalization in education have led to the use of the concept of TQM in higher education. Student is nowadays considered as a customer and the system of education needs to be according to the needs of the customer (Student). In India, inspite of a large number of Universities, deemed universities, medical, engineering, arts and science colleges the quality of higher education leaves much to be desired.

Therein lays the need of applying TQM in higher education. The paper answers to the question as how to apply TQM in higher education. PAPER Excellence-Whether in a National Endeavour, a Company, an Athletic competition or a Personal Goal-Comes from the Never Ending Pursuit of Improvement. Introduction In this world of ever increasing competition, rapid changes of technology, declining quality, changing demographics, privatization and internalization in education have led to the use of the concept of TQM in education.

The student nowadays is considered as customer and the system of education needs to be according to the requirement of the customer (student). India has 350- plus Universities and deemed universities and over 14,000 medical, engineering and arts and science colleges. Despite this the quality of higher education in India has left much to be desired. All this highlights the need for TQM in higher education. In this paper I intend to throw light on the application of TQM in higher education, simultaneously highlighting the benefits of applying TQM and the Accreditation agencies in India.

For this, I surveyed the relevant literature on the topic. Conceptual background of TQM The three major figures in the TQM movement are: W. Edwards Deming, originator of fourteen points of TQM, Dr. J. M. Juran, author of the Juran Trilogy and Philip B. Cresby, who outlined the four Absolutes of Quality Management. Dr. W. Edwards Deming, an American by origin is known as the “Father of the concept of TQM”. He framed the concept of TQM in 1946 after World War II for production of goods and services in consumer sector.

It was intended to satisfy the quest by customers for quality in products The Americans didn’t realize its importance but the Japanese embraced the concept. As a result, Japanese secondary markets were rebuilded and its Tertiary economy also nurtured. This led the American Industrialists in 1980’s to adopt TQM as a vital component in their operations. TQM: Meaning Total Quality Management or TQM is a management strategy aimed at embedding awareness of quality in all organizational processes. Everyone in organization strives and creates customer satisfaction continually at lower real costs.

Quality assurance through statistical methods is a key component. TQM aims to do things right the first time, rather than need to fix problems after they emerge. Higher education: Meaning Higher education is the education beyond secondary school level. It includes the colleges and the Universities. TQM in Higher Education TQM has been recently introduced and experimented in higher education. Many Universities and Colleges enhance the quality of higher education by applying Total Quality Management as a tool. We can understand the meaning of TQM in higher education in light of a definition given by Tulsi (2001) TQM in higher education means improving the quality of courses, input, instructional process, resource management processes and structure as well as student support service output and linkages with world of work and other organizations. ” As the definition embraces a vast area of educational activity, therefore the support and cooperation of Faculty and Staff members are needed for quality improvement. Participatory team work of all occupies a critical place in the practice of TQM. TQM is total in 3 senses:- 1) Customer focus 2) Involvement of staff members ) Continuous Quality Improvement( CQI) The student is the customer, who buys the study course, thus he has a right to get the relevant course material, fairness, congenial learning environment, access and expertise of the teacher and also access to course material (Sytsma, 1996). It involves the combined and continuous efforts of all those involved with system of education, directly or indirectly: may they be the College Board, superintendent, principal, students, faculty, administrative staff, Universities and Accrediting agencies in India.

In India we have Accrediting Agencies like NAAC and ISO (The International Organization for Standardization Accreditation) which are enforcing standards of TQM in higher Education institutions. Benefits of Applying TQM Application of TQM in Higher education Institutions ensures improved communications, increased involvement, improved quality and efficiency in a general context, and increased potential for productivity. How to Apply TQM in Higher Education The essential elements of TQM in higher education may be summed up as:- • Awareness and commitment for everyone

To promote an al-round development of the student in terms of his linguistic, kinesthetic, visual and mathematical talents every participant in the teaching-learning process needs to put his/her best efforts to promote the highest possible quality at each step of the developmental process. For this everyone should be made aware of TQM. For this a staff meeting between the staff parents and college management should be held where the overview of TQM elements should be given and a clear commitment from the College Board, principal should be made for applying TQM in their system of education. A clear mission There should be a clear customer-focussed mission statement accompanied by necessary programmes to achieve it. The programmes should be set according to local, state and employer needs. In other words they should enable the students to face the problems of real life rather than mere memorization of subject matter. • A Systems Planning Approach Instead of compartmentalizing knowledge into separate subjects, it should be provided as an integrated whole so that a student can use his scientific or mathematical knowledge effectively by combining it with the communication skills of English.

For this, there should be an Inter-department planning. • Teaming Replacing Hierarchy The administrators, supervisors and department chairpersons should extend full support towards the Task improvement teams so as to make TQM a success. They should insist on clear missions and should coordinate between the task improvement teams • Enablement and empowerment replacing fear Instead of generating fear among the members of improvement teams, they should be given opportunities to become experts by giving them authority to take informed decisions. This will eventually motivate them to work with dedication. Focus on Mastery-Learning In traditional classrooms, teachers often follow the sequence:- As a result many students fail to learn up to the highest possible level. The TQM alternative is In “Check” step, formative (Not-for-grade) testing is used to determine which learning some students missed. Then that portion is taught to students in some other styles. The checking and revised teaching can be repeated if it is needed. The students who have mastered the material either move to enrichment learning or assist other students with their instructions. This ensures complete mastery over learning material for most of the students. Management by measurement The teacher should measure the data in Steps#3 and Step#4 to study the relationship of the remedial program and final learning result. This recorded data results in improved learning and cost effectiveness. • Development of student TQM Skills The college staff should integrate TQM in the learning courses of students or provide it as a separate course. • A Humanistic Focus on learning environment William Glasser has given some conditions for quality work based upon his translation of TQM principles as:- o Give a warm, supportive environment. Ask students to do useful, best possible work and to evaluate their own work. o Quality work should feel good and should be constructive. Conclusion In the end we can say that Total quality Management in Higher education is the need of the hour. It would motivate teachers to contribute to educational standards and development of academic culture. It would inculcate a team spirit among teachers and administrators to promote harmonious development of students, so as to make them befitting citizens of tomorrow. REFERENCES

Herzler, Elizabeth, TQM in Higher Education: What does the Literature say? , www. google. com P. S. Mohan Kumar, Total Quality Management in Higher Education and Relevance of Accreditation, www. google. com Hardik Vachhrajani, TQM in Education: Renewing the Research Agenda, University News P. K. Tulsi (2001), Total Quality in Higher Education, Reforms and Innovations in Higher Education, AIU, New Delhi. Deming’s Rules, Higher Education in India . ———————– PLAN TEACH TEST PLAN TEACH (Do) CHECK REVISED TEACHING (ACT) TEST

The number of college graduates has recently been on the increase. Due to the increase of college graduates, there is a lot of competition in hunting for a Job. Many companies have been cutting back on hiring due to the slow down in the economy. When I think about what it takes to get a well-paying Job these days, one must be very knowledgeable about many different topics. This means companies are looking for people who can hit the ground running when they hire them.

In addition to one’s knowledge they possess, a college diploma is very important while Job hunting. According to the essay, “Are they really ready to work”, mfoung people need a ange of skills, both basic academic skills as well as the ability to apply these skills and knowledge in the workplace. At the high school level, well over one-half of new entrants are deficiently prepared in the most important skills – Oral and Written Communications, Professionalism/Work Ethic, and Critical Thinking/Problem Solving “(Casner-Lotto, and Barrington, 2006, p. 51). Generally, there is a limit to what students can learn until they graduate from high school. The time spent in high school is not enough time to gain sufficient knowledge or skill to get a well paying Job. Additionally, high school is place where one learns a little about a lot of different things, receiving a general education. On the other hand, even if students have a college diploma, they still lack some skills, such as writing in English, written communications, and leadership, but they are better prepared than high school graduates.

Especially, at the college level, students can concentrate on areas that they think they would want to work in the future, so they can get specialized knowledge and technology. Why do we need adequate skills? The essay “Work and Workers in the Twenty- First Century’ stated that “Automation will continue to displace low-skilled or unskilled workers in America’s manufacturing firms and offices” (Judy, and Amico, 1997, p. 234). In the twenty-first century, there is increased use of computers, robots, and automation in the workplace.

This mechanization certainly has brought production costs down, but has lead to fewer unskilled Jobs available in America. The lost of these unskilled Jobs makes it more competitive for the unskilled labors, with not all unskilled labors able to find adequate paying Jobs. Therefore, the companies now require us to have brains. In addition, the physical labors are moving to second and third world countries, in order to build the groundwork for these developing economies.

Studying at a college or university in the US these days, could cost tens of thousands of dollars annually including the student’s room and board cost. So after a 4 years of thousand dollars. These students must start paying their loans back shortly after they graduate. With employers not hiring and very limited Jobs available, these graduates have a difficult time findings Jobs paying the salaries required to pay their loans. Now, if tudents live with their parents, they do not have to pay for room, and board, but only tuition and material fees.

Although the students college education is cost them less due to the fact that they did not have to pay for room and board, the cost of the education is still a big burden on most families. However, according to the essay “The Private Benefits of Higher Education”, there is a big difference between salaries for high school graduates and college graduates. “Among wage and salary workers between the age 25 and 34, median annual earnings were 58% higher for men who completed at least a achelor’s degree than for men who completed only high school ($42,341 vs. 26,842), but 92% higher for women who earned at least a bachelor’s degree than for women who earned only a high school diploma ($32,145 vs. $16,770; Perna, 2013, p. 451). ” As stated above, men who received at least bachelor’s degree are able to earn more than one and half times more than the median high school graduate. Now as for woman, the numbers are even more pronounced than for the men with a women who earns a Bachelor earns about doubled than that of the median women with only a high school diploma.

Research shows that parents with low income and no academic qualifications normally do not have a lot of information about how to get financial aid for their children. Job hunting is a highly competitive in the twenty first century. Moreover, mechanization and globalization narrow the workplace in the US. Therefore, although students have to pay a lot of money to go to a college or university, they still pursue college education. This is due to that higher education will be useful in order to find well-paying Job. In the next five years, college graduates will continue to increase more and more.

Technology Taking Over The person of the 21st century has the luxury of being dependent on technology, allowing for certain weaknesses to sprout out of individuals due to their lack of natural abilities. Technology is the making, modification, use, and knowledge of tools, machines, or techniques, in order to solve a problem, improve a preexisting solution to a problem, achieve a goal, or perform a specific function. It’s true; technology has made life more efficient and reliable. Many great inventions have been possible through technology.

Technology is also one of the causes of people becoming lazier, uninspired, and less creative. Technology is not bad in and of itself, but people are misusing it. Planes, trains, and automobiles carry people from place to place at high speeds. Telephones, television and computer networks help people communicate with others across the world. Medical technologies from vaccines to Stem Cell therapy, allow people to live longer, healthier lives. Although most people think technology made life easier, it’s actually making them overly dependent on those technologies.

Today’s generation is becoming much lazier because they are too dependent on the latest gadgets. Some of them are unable to do things on their own. Nowadays, people use computers in business, public services, education, and most of all, in entertainment. There are many advantages to this situation. Firstly, computer controlled cars, planes or ships all people to travel safely and reduce travel time. However, a disadvantage to this is that all of these affect our environment in some way or another which eventually ends up harming ourselves.

Faster travel times have led to easier dispersal of airborne viruses and diseases between locales, as well as increases in jet lag. Jumping from time zone to time zone can have a detrimental effect on the body. Most powerful countries depend on their industrial power to stabilize their status. Technology made industrial development increase rapidly. Industries depend more on machines than human power. This newly discovered robotic technology makes human workers obsolete in some factories. Robots have been built to do tasks equally the same or better as humans, leaving them jobless.

Robotics are a blessing and a curse to a company. While it’s nice to have a machine do everything, it can lead to issues down the road as customers notice the quality may not be the same as the quality they experienced from human hands. Another major con to robotics is that companies still need employees to manage the machines. When a problem happens, the machine will continue to run instead of stopping and “thinking” of what needs to be done in order to fix the problem. This is why companies still need to have skilled and qualified employees to run the machines before they cause them to lose millions of dollars.

Also, today’s society is based upon quick sound bites and short attention ps. The world is at our fingertips, yet paradoxically, the more we connect, the more we actually disconnect. The internet has taken over, dominating our lives. The internet is an easy access for information from around the world that can be attained within seconds. There are many interactive applications on the internet that can bring distant people closer together without having to commute. Also, shopping has become more convenient. The disadvantage of the internet is that it has become too reliable for most people.

People can get “hooked” on the internet. Some people may take advantage of all these things and scam others for their money, as it is that simple to create a legit seeming website. Despite it’s ease, technology has caused people to become so reliant that, in a poll by CNET, 28 percent of people said they wouldn’t be able to live without high-speed internet. Many people don’t know how to look up information in libraries or encyclopedias. Though technology has allowed us to improve and modify traditional tasks, it has also clouded our realization of the dependency we have on it.

America’s education level has become an average ranking. Education has developed into a network of many avenues that now allows the average American to obtain education easier. Higher education has branched out from the traditional university into online degrees, trade schools, and junior colleges. Obtaining a high school education has also advanced : high school students can take AP courses and high school dropouts can get a GED. With all these opportunities, why is it that America ranked as average in the international education ratings?

The number of options available has caused our country to have no ambition to excel. Other countries have less options and freedoms which may be the motivation that allows them to achieve higher education rankings than the U. S. Many people are pointing to technology as a cause of childhood obesity. The younger generation has lost it’s curious nature to explore the world. Instead, children are hiding behind a TV screen or video game. For adults, the accused culprits are different yet the same, for example people spending more time driving and less time walking or biking to reach their destinations.

Technology doesn’t just keep people in their chairs, it changes the way people eat. Obesity in children has increased by thirty percent in the past thirty years in America according to the Center for Disease Control and prevention. Obesity leads to many health problems including, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, respiratory problem, and cardio-vascular disease. The public is carried in street cars; elevators take the place of stairs in our larger buildings, and the necessary activity of the energetic is not directed in the use of muscles needed in running and walking.

It is becoming noticeable that people are slowly losing those abilities and letting machines or computers do the work for them. People are no longer required to think. If posed with a difficult or even simple problem people will simply “Google” it on an iPhone and the answer is found within seconds. Students are also becoming too dependent on calculators. Instead of using a graphing calculator to solve complex mathematical formulas, students turn to calculators for even simple calculations.

Though calculators are important in an evolving world, it is still important for teachers to teach students how to do mental math and reasoning (Metz). Scholars, particularly teen scholars, are no longer required to spell correctly. Words like tomorrow, tonight, and before, become 2morrow, 2night and b4 in playful texting conversation. Spell check is also contributing to the downfall of spelling. Too often, people type a word sloppily into a web document and let spell check do the work without even noticing the word was misspelled.

We are living in a society which is called “technologically civilized”. Every small work we do is technology dependent. Today every other person is recognized with the device or gadget, he or she carries. Ultimately we can say that, “living without technology is like living without air”, in this technical world of today. In conclusion, we can use technology but with moderation. If we use it, firstly we should have to check if we can do that action without it. If we are ever in a situation where technology is not present, we will find it difficult to resolve the situation.