This chapter seeks to clarify the contextual factors and challenges inherent in quality assurance practices at two prominent national universities in Vietnam. It further provides recommendations to improve the effectiveness of quality assurance within these institutions. This chapter is organized into three primary sections. The initial part…

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education is a high priority in many countries, seen to enable future economic growth and competitiveness. An integrated STEM approach seeks to combine these disciplines to solve real-world problems. Teachers play a central role in this endeavour. This paper reports on a research project which…

According to the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013), an substance use disorder (SUD) involves patterns of symptoms caused by using a substance that an individual continues taking despite its negative effects. Though there are 11 specific DSM-5 criteria for an SUD, they…

Previous research indicates that learners appear to connect with nature and have heightened environmental perceptions after participating in environmental education programs (EEPs). Positive changes in attitudes toward nature are important because they can precede environmentally responsible behaviors, such as individuals' leadership on…

Beyond correlational studies exploring the benefits of nature exposure, there have been studies assessing interventions that aim to improve nature connection in children and adolescents. A feeling of connection with nature or 'nature connectedness' describes our attitude towards nature, primarily reflecting the emotional, cognitive, and…

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness, from a system's perspective, of offering group counseling options in college counseling centers. Methods: We achieve this through a data-driven simulation-based approach with the aim of providing administrators with a quantitative tool that informs their decision-making process. Results: Our simulation…

For young people, schools are platforms for learning and strengthening competencies about nature preservation; despite being faced with the same learning opportunities, learning outcomes are very heterogeneous. We were interested in environmental knowledge gains and retention after participation in a student-centred learning programme, and in…

This study examines the relationship between Japanese children's inquiry skills and their participation in various after-school programs. Inquiry skills--encompassing the ability to explore, analyze, and synthesize information--are essential competencies in 21st-century education. However, limited research has explored how different types of…

This research aimed to determine preschool teachers' views, the current situation, and schools regarding STEM education. A case study, which is a qualitative research approach, was used for this research. The study group was determined by the purposeful sampling method. The research study group comprises 10 preschool teachers with STEM education…

The integration of guided inquiry, outdoor learning, and diverse school environments is essential for enhancing students' Science Process Skills (SPS), particularly in biodiversity topics. This study aims to improve students' SPS through the implementation of Environment-Based Guided Inquiry in Outdoor Learning on biodiversity. The research was…

Pupil premium is a direct grant paid to state-funded schools in England which aims to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils aged 5-16. As disruption to learning during the COVID-19 pandemic had a greater impact on disadvantaged pupils, the recovery premium grant was introduced in 2021 to help address this. Recovery premium funding finished…

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system which is widely used to support children with developmental disabilities. In the present study, we surveyed individuals responsible for implementing PECS in special educational settings in the United Kingdom (N=283). We explored knowledge…

Environmental education (EE) seeks to inspire individuals to adopt sustainable practices and foster a deeper awareness of environmental responsibility. Effective EE develops and enhances environmental knowledge, connectedness to nature (CN), and builds socially benefitting attributes that prepare individuals and communities to undertake positive…

The higher education shift to remote learning due to mobility restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to improve the student learning experience using more active learning models. One model is peer assessment. Despite positively impacting student learning, peer assessment uptake remains low, partly because designing…

Since 2022, the District of Columbia has invested in the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund to achieve pay parity between early childhood educators and their K-12 counterparts. Research to date has shown that the fund has many benefits, such as increasing retention of qualified educators and improving the quality of care. Beginning in fiscal…