scholarly journals How Teachers Perceive the Ongoing Influence of a Portfolio on Reflection: A Case Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
My Binh Nguyen

<p>This case study investigated the long-term influences of compiling a portfolio on resource teachers’ (RTLB) reflection on practice. The findings provide a detailed analysis of the reflection that is stimulated by the portfolio process and the extent to which this has been ongoing in the RTLBs’ practice. Compiling the portfolio stimulated the RTLBs’ reflection on practice in a number of aspects, from selecting cases and evidence to writing, reading, collegial support, and professional supervision. It also promoted a more critical understanding of what it means to be a reflective practitioner. Among these, the writing involved in the portfolio process appears to be one of the most important factors in promoting reflection. However, reflective writing has not been maintained in the participants’ current practice, whereas other aspects of reflection have, to some extent, continued. The overall quality of reflection has thus become more technical, albeit less deep, as it grows to cater for participants’ professional needs. Much emphasis is put on formal/professional supervision and collegial support as important vehicles in maintaining the post-portfolio reflection. The former is deemed highly valuable because of the professional guidance and the sense of direction that a professional supervisor can offer as he/she triggers the RTLB’s reflection, while the latter provides them with opportunities to share with their colleagues the things that they find useful, discuss the issues that they have in common, have their practice challenged and critiqued, and look at better practice. The establishment of communities of practice particularly stands out as an effective vehicle for sustaining reflection. The study includes recommendations for maintaining reflection in the post-portfolio phase, as well as for sustained portfolio use. Suggestions are also made for the application of portfolio assessment in the Vietnamese higher education system. Further research is recommended to expand the scope and scale of this study, as is collecting empirical evidence that would validate the findings in a Vietnamese context. A more thorough investigation into the Vietnamese higher education system and its cultural, social and political features is also recommended in order to generate a more detailed proposal for the application of portfolio assessment in Vietnam.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
My Binh Nguyen

<p>This case study investigated the long-term influences of compiling a portfolio on resource teachers’ (RTLB) reflection on practice. The findings provide a detailed analysis of the reflection that is stimulated by the portfolio process and the extent to which this has been ongoing in the RTLBs’ practice. Compiling the portfolio stimulated the RTLBs’ reflection on practice in a number of aspects, from selecting cases and evidence to writing, reading, collegial support, and professional supervision. It also promoted a more critical understanding of what it means to be a reflective practitioner. Among these, the writing involved in the portfolio process appears to be one of the most important factors in promoting reflection. However, reflective writing has not been maintained in the participants’ current practice, whereas other aspects of reflection have, to some extent, continued. The overall quality of reflection has thus become more technical, albeit less deep, as it grows to cater for participants’ professional needs. Much emphasis is put on formal/professional supervision and collegial support as important vehicles in maintaining the post-portfolio reflection. The former is deemed highly valuable because of the professional guidance and the sense of direction that a professional supervisor can offer as he/she triggers the RTLB’s reflection, while the latter provides them with opportunities to share with their colleagues the things that they find useful, discuss the issues that they have in common, have their practice challenged and critiqued, and look at better practice. The establishment of communities of practice particularly stands out as an effective vehicle for sustaining reflection. The study includes recommendations for maintaining reflection in the post-portfolio phase, as well as for sustained portfolio use. Suggestions are also made for the application of portfolio assessment in the Vietnamese higher education system. Further research is recommended to expand the scope and scale of this study, as is collecting empirical evidence that would validate the findings in a Vietnamese context. A more thorough investigation into the Vietnamese higher education system and its cultural, social and political features is also recommended in order to generate a more detailed proposal for the application of portfolio assessment in Vietnam.</p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-110
Author(s):  
Matei Gheboianu

Abstract: In the Romanian education system, the 1980s were a time of big constraints. The most severe decline in the number of places in the higher education system occurred in the preparation of the academic year 1982/1983. This trend continued during the following years, albeit it was less drastic. In this paper I try to answer the following questions: Which was the overall significance of the cuts? How were the cuts distributed among forms of higher education – daytime courses, evening courses and extramural courses? Which were the reasons behind these cuts? Were the cuts motivated by the employers’ demand of graduates?


2002 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Y. Chen

The 1990s witnessed revolutionary change in China's higher education system, particularly through radical mergers. The reform process and its background are detailed here, with a case study focusing on Zhejiang University. After nearly 15 years of painstaking effort, the reform goals for the higher education system have been met, and a decentralized, two-tiered administrative system has been installed. However, the most hotly debated reform has been the amalgamation of universities. The need to optimize China's system of higher education has a background dating back about 50 years, when the first reordering of higher education took place. The reordering and its results are described, and the causes and after effects of this reform are detailed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoang Minh Son ◽  
Vu Van Yem ◽  
Nguyen Thi Huong

The transition from mass higher education to universal access globally marked by the creation of a series of higher education institutions (HEIs) has pushed countries to undergo reforms, rearrangement of higher education system. The wave of merger, consolidation, or alliance between HEIs may stem from the need of the schools themselves who gave proposal or from the administrative orders of the administrative authorities to fulfill the policy objectives. Countries in the world have continued the process of reforming and reorganizing the higher education system and have achieved certain successes and inevitably some mistakes. These are valuable lessons for the following countries. This paper is aimed at showing the experience of nations and some lessons learned. It is composed of four parts. The first part gives an overview of the current global higher eduction reform, the definition of concepts used herein and distinguishes some types of mergers, consolidations and alliances in terms of the number and the status of founding institutions. The second part analyzes the results of the process such as changes in system size, student size, performance, impacts on stakeholders after the merger. The third part summarizes the current status of Vietnamese higher education with outstanding issues which required the reorganization and the reform of the system for the purpose of enhancing efficiency and regional and global competitiveness. In the final section, the paper provides some recommendations for Vietnamese higher education, which were drawn from the successes and failures of the process of reforming higher education systems around the world.


Author(s):  
Elisabetta Marinelli ◽  
Cosmina Mironov

The chapter analyzes the links between the higher education system and the design and implementation of smart specialization strategies in north-east Romania, with the aim of providing actionable steps for policymakers, higher education institutions (HEIs), and other stakeholders. This case study allows reflecting on the potential of smart specialization in a region recognized as a higher-education hub in Romania and characterized by a very proactive regional development agency (RDA), but in which universities display limited engagement with the territory and where public administration is highly centralized. The findings identify actions that HEIs and the RDA can undertake to enhance universities' roles within RIS3. These revolve around (1) improving collaborations among HEIs within the region; (2) accessing international collaboration networks for research, teaching, and innovation; and (3) finding avenues of interaction with local actors.


Author(s):  
Dennis McCornac

There is no doubt that the Vietnamese higher education system is in need of serious reform. Corruption is epidemic, and actions must be taken to change the environment in which these practices flourish. The recent decision by the Ministry of Education and Training to adopt new, stricter measures on national exams and the increased media attention on corruption are steps in the right direction. If Vietnam desires to obtain an international standard educational system, required reforms are necessary from all parties. Perhaps, most importantly, there must be a monumental change in the attitude and thinking by students, faculty, and parents. Education is a right and privilege that is earned, not a commodity to be sold by administrators and faculty.


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