Workforce diversity in Kenyan public universities: an analysis of workforce representativeness and heterogeneity by employee gender and ethnic group

Workforce diversity is considered an indicator of successful diversity and equal employment opportunity initiatives. In Kenya, it is a legal requirement for all public establishments to seek to represent the diversity of the population in employment of staff. This study analyses ethnic and gender representativeness and heterogeneity of the workforce in public universities. The results show over-representation of certain ethnic groups and non-compliance with diversity requirements in most universities. Variations between universities with regard to workforce heterogeneity are not statistically significant. However, the link between workforce heterogeneity and degree of urbanisation of university location is statistically significant. The conclusion is that compliance with legal requirements does not necessarily translate into representativeness and heterogeneity of the workforce. A shift from legal compliance to planned increase in numbers of under-represented gender and ethnic groups through diversity initiatives that identify and address barriers to equal employment and discriminatory employment practices is recommended.     

School Effects on Performances of Minority Pupils 1

The impact of determinants from the individual, school and school environment level with regard to educational performance of pupils from various ethnic origins in the Netherlands is examined in this article. From rational choice and empowerment theory crucial variables were deduced. By means of multilevel modelling school effects in secondary education on performances in mathematics and linguistics were established. Results indicate the importance of a school policy orientated towards improving achievements of minority subgroups. A more general approach, based on the notion of shared circumstances of pupils from ethnic minority and low socio‐economic background families, did not generate positive results.

     

How is the approach to teaching at secondary school related to first-year university achievement?

The study presented here is an elaboration on recent educational effectiveness research focusing on long-term school effects. Central in this study is the approach to teaching at secondary schools and its relation to student perception of the fit between school and university and 1st-year academic achievement. Based on previous research, a coding scheme is developed to classify pre-university schools based on the approach to teaching in the upper 3 years. Schools are scored according to this coding scheme and grouped with hierarchical cluster analysis, resulting in 3 groups: 1 characterized by a strong teacher-regulation approach, 1 with a shared regulation approach to learning, and 1 intermediate group. Multiple analysis of covariance shows differences between school clusters regarding student 1st-year achievement in soft science programmes.     

Determinants of Study Progress: The Impact of Student,Curricular, and Contextual Factors on Study Progress in University Education

The subject of this research is the impact of student characteristics, curriculum, and contextual factors on the careers of students in university education in The Netherlands. A theoretical model including various measurements of these factors was evaluated by means of linear structural equation modelling. Students in the ‘prestatiebeurs’ (performance scholarship) system, which requires a shorter nominal duration of a given study programme, achieve better results compared to those in the ‘tempobeurs’ system, which allows more study time. Women make better progress in their studies than men do. Students in technical education obtain fewer study points than others, even though they spend more time studying and have earned better grades in secondary school. In general, paid work during higher education has a negative effect on study progress, while the amount of time spent studying has a stronger influence on the study progress of men than of women.     

Cognitive Effects of a Structural Overview in a Hypertext

Disorientation and navigation inefficiency are the consequences of the fragmented and incoherent structure of most hypertexts. To avoid these negative effects, researchers recommend—among other things—an interface with a structural overview of the relations between sections. Some authors have found that with such an overview, information is looked up faster and remembered better. This study examined whether a structural overview also leads to a deeper understanding. Forty students read a hypertext about the effects of ultraviolet radiation in one of two presentation conditions (structural overview and list). In the list condition, the same topics were mentioned as in the overview condition, but just in the format of a list. After reading, they answered textbase questions which measured their recognition and also inference questions supposed to measure their situation model constructed from the information read. The last type of questions indicated the readers' understanding of the text. On textbase questions, subjects with low as well as high prior knowledge scored equally well in both conditions. In contrast to our expectation, the overview did not improve the recognition of main points. However, on situation model questions low prior knowledge subjects scored significantly lower in the overview condition than in the list condition. These results supported our hypothesis that a structural overview may hinder the understanding of less knowledgeable readers, because it draws their attention to the textual macrostructure at the expense of attention to the microstructure of the text.     

Twenty years of World Bank support for basic education

Chief of the Education and Employment Division in the World Bank's Population and Human Resources Department. Prior to joining the Bank, he worked for UNESCO and UNICEF in Africa. He has published extensively on educational planning and management; he is co-author, with Marlaine Lockheed, of Improving Primary Education in Developing Countries: A Review of Policy Options.     

Cross‐level Relationships within Effective Schools

In this paper the focus is placed on cross‐level relationships within effective schools in secondary education in the Netherlands. Three hypotheses have been formulated. The outcomes related to the contingency hypothesis make clear that the managerial capacities of schools in secondary education are of great importance with respect to the effectiveness of schools, especially when a school's position gets under pressure at the local (student) market.

Results show the affirmation of a congruency hypothesis with respect to the extent of production orientation of management and teaching staff, and the overall congruence of school and classroom policy. Results of contextual hypothesis suggest that the average intelligence of the school population exerts no effect on school careers in general or on careers of low/high intelligent pupils in particular. However, a school environment with a relatively low average socio‐economic status is positively associated with the school careers of pupils from families with low socio‐economic status. No positive effects are found regarding school careers in general, or ethnic minority careers in particular, when the number of ethnic minority pupils was increasing.     

Competency-based training in international perspective: comparing the implementation processes towards the achievement of employability

This article undertakes a comparison of competency-based training (CBT) systems in a number of countries with the purpose of drawing lessons to support Ghana and other countries in the process of CBT implementation. The study focuses on recognition of prior learning and involvement of industry since these features seem crucial in achieving employability. The study shows that industry is involved in the training activities. However, recognition of prior learning (RPL) requires innovative techniques, such as e-portfolio and on-line facility, to provide greater awareness and quality information to assist learners to produce work-related evidence. Performance criteria in RPL assessment must cover situational contexts and contingency management skills to enhance flexibility and adaptable labour force in the event of changes in workplace practices.