Aim:To gain knowledge of how adult students experienced the first year of a blended learning master programme to better understand their learning process.Methods:A qualitative,exploratory,descriptive study based on da...Aim:To gain knowledge of how adult students experienced the first year of a blended learning master programme to better understand their learning process.Methods:A qualitative,exploratory,descriptive study based on data from two focus group interviews with students attending a blended learning Master programme.Qualitative content analysis based on Graneheim and Lundman’s procedures was applied.Findings:Our analyses revealed one main theme:aspiring for competence in a multifaceted everyday life and four main categories:acquiring professional competence,struggling to manage diverse forms of communication,demanding task juggling and confused student role.Conclusions:The participants experienced that the programme enabled them to acquire professional competence relevant to practice.Despite the challenges,the programme is recommended for prospective students who live in both urban and rural areas,who are working and also responsible for children and other family tasks.展开更多
This paper gives an analysis of the quality issues in the expansion of university education in Kenya examining the human resource challenges and opportunities. It examines a variety of factors that impact the nature, ...This paper gives an analysis of the quality issues in the expansion of university education in Kenya examining the human resource challenges and opportunities. It examines a variety of factors that impact the nature, content, and mode of delivery of the teaching. The paper is an introduction and highlights the importance of higher education to societal development. It observes that higher education enables individuals to develop their capabilities to the highest potential, serves the needs of an adaptive, sustainable and knowledge based economy and plays a major role in shaping a democratic, civilized and inclusive society. It is thus seen as the key to progress in the 21 st century. It examines government policy with respect to education in general and higher education in particular. It is noted that the government recognizes the important role that education plays to foster national development and has therefore through various policy instruments sought to ensure that access, relevance, and quality become the major areas of the development of higher education in the country. The management of the universities in the country has faced serious human resource challenges. These challenges arise from the fact that the rapid expansion of university education in the country has not been accompanied with provision of resources in order to maintain high standards, quality, and relevance. This in turn has negatively affected the quality and relevance of the programmes. It is recommended that in order to enhance the quality of teaching, research, and service delivery.展开更多
基金supported in part by Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences,Faculty of Health and Social Sciences,NO-2418 Elverum,Norway.No external funding.
文摘Aim:To gain knowledge of how adult students experienced the first year of a blended learning master programme to better understand their learning process.Methods:A qualitative,exploratory,descriptive study based on data from two focus group interviews with students attending a blended learning Master programme.Qualitative content analysis based on Graneheim and Lundman’s procedures was applied.Findings:Our analyses revealed one main theme:aspiring for competence in a multifaceted everyday life and four main categories:acquiring professional competence,struggling to manage diverse forms of communication,demanding task juggling and confused student role.Conclusions:The participants experienced that the programme enabled them to acquire professional competence relevant to practice.Despite the challenges,the programme is recommended for prospective students who live in both urban and rural areas,who are working and also responsible for children and other family tasks.
文摘This paper gives an analysis of the quality issues in the expansion of university education in Kenya examining the human resource challenges and opportunities. It examines a variety of factors that impact the nature, content, and mode of delivery of the teaching. The paper is an introduction and highlights the importance of higher education to societal development. It observes that higher education enables individuals to develop their capabilities to the highest potential, serves the needs of an adaptive, sustainable and knowledge based economy and plays a major role in shaping a democratic, civilized and inclusive society. It is thus seen as the key to progress in the 21 st century. It examines government policy with respect to education in general and higher education in particular. It is noted that the government recognizes the important role that education plays to foster national development and has therefore through various policy instruments sought to ensure that access, relevance, and quality become the major areas of the development of higher education in the country. The management of the universities in the country has faced serious human resource challenges. These challenges arise from the fact that the rapid expansion of university education in the country has not been accompanied with provision of resources in order to maintain high standards, quality, and relevance. This in turn has negatively affected the quality and relevance of the programmes. It is recommended that in order to enhance the quality of teaching, research, and service delivery.
