Educ. Sci., Volume 14, Issue 6 (June 2024) – 51 articles

Universities are commonly imagined as “enlightened institutions” that leave no room for discrimination. While studies from other countries and some studies from German universities cast doubt on this notion, the extent and characteristics of university students’ experiences of discrimination in Germany are not yet sufficiently researched. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess university students’ experiences of discrimination in a cross-sectional online survey. A total of 890 students completed the questionnaire. Of these, 45% reported that they had witnessed discrimination in the university, while 28% reported first-hand experiences. For those who had experienced discrimination themselves, it occurred repeatedly (68%) or regularly (15.5%). The most common grounds for discrimination were sex or gender (33% of all reported grounds for discrimination), non-German origin (12.5%) and having a chronic illness (7%). University lecturers were mentioned most often (by 80% of those who reported discrimination) as the perpetrators of discrimination. Taking these findings into consideration, universities should revisit their policies and structures that protect students against discrimination and support them in the case of harassment. This could entail obligatory training for university employees but should also consider that the university’s hierarchical structure facilitates abuses of power and can therefore be considered a variable in its own right. Full article

This article explores the training interests of non-university in-service teachers on the topic of innovative learning environments (ILEs). For this purpose, a specific questionnaire was designed and validated to collect teachers’ opinions on their current training interests. The questionnaire comprised a total of 32 items related to ILEs, grouped into four dimensions that included aspects of methodologies, digital technology, educational spaces, and specific didactic activities developed in these learning environments. The analysis of the 254 valid responses showed that the greatest interest is shown in the dimension that addresses didactic aspects of teaching in these environments, followed by aspects of the design of innovative educational spaces. Variations were also analysed according to demographic aspects such as gender, age, teaching seniority, and the educational stage at which the class is taught. The data obtained allow us to affirm that teachers have a high level of interest in the topic analysed. Furthermore, the grouping of different topics revealed by the correlational statistical study provides valuable information that allows teacher training consultants to create designs in coherence with the demands and interests expressed. Full article

In this study, we designed an educational experiment to evaluate the High Impact Leadership for School Renewal project’s impact on principal leadership, school leadership, and student achievement. Principals in the experimental group reported statistically significantly greater improvement in principal leadership than their counterparts in the control group (Hedge’s g of 0.73), but teachers in the experimental and control groups showed no difference in their ratings of principal leadership. Teachers in the experimental group reported statistically significantly more improvement in school leadership than their counterparts in the control group (Hedge’s g of 0.53 on the scale of Orientation to School Renewal and 0.58 on the scale of Learning-Centered School Leadership), but principals in the two groups reported no difference in the growth in school leadership. Schools in the experimental group showed statistically significantly larger annual growth in English language arts proficiency rate (2.05 percentage points more annually). The implications of the findings were discussed in the context of leadership development programs for school improvement. Full article

Leadership in both theory and practice usually emphasizes a person and a position. There has been a shift from emphasizing the senior level of organizational roles, to include the middle level and other sources of leadership. Nomenclature has emerged over time to reflect this, for example, collective, distributed, shared, and collaborative leadership. Another understanding of leadership needs to be added, one that does not first emphasize a person or position, instead incorporating process and practices, weaving through all levels and sources of leadership. This additional understanding has implications for how leadership development is constructed and facilitated. Over the last ten years, the authors have journeyed with groups of schools, using an emerging co-constructed approach to leadership development. The journey is relayed across three seasons. The first is the grounding of collaborative practices through inquiry, informed by a two-phase research project. The second focuses on adaptation and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas the third delves deeper into what sits behind prevalent practices that may enable and hinder student achievement. Our narrative over time shows that leadership development can be shaped through a continual cycle of review, reflection, and co-construction, leading to conditions for transformation across multiple levels and sources of leadership. Full article

Recent reforms in undergraduate science education have highlighted the need for student-centered learning that challenges students to take ownership of the scientific process through conducting authentic research. As such, Undergraduate Research Experiences (UREs) have become more prevalent in higher education. However, extensive variations in the structures, durations, and contexts of UREs exist and long-term implications are not well documented. We used the Social Cognitive Career Theory to guide our exploration of student outcomes from completing a required three-semester capstone URE at a predominantly undergraduate institution located in the Midwest, United States. We sought to answer two central research questions: (1) What skills and competencies do alumni perceive to have gained from completing the URE capstone, and (2) What is the impact of the URE capstone on alumni success in the workforce and/or graduate school? We conducted in-depth, one-on-one interviews with 16 alumni who recently completed their undergraduate research capstone and who were currently in a science-based career or attending graduate school. Results indicate long-term benefits from URE capstones and are described through three primary themes: technical skill acquisition and future application, soft skill acquisition and future application, and scientific pursuits. Full article

This study aimed to explore the impact of a mastery approach goal orientation (MAGO) on learning from worked examples. In this experiment (N = 98, mean age = 13.9 years), learners had their MAGO measured, and received instruction in mathematics, either through a worked-example or a problem-solving strategy. The study demonstrated that the worked-examples approach resulted in enhanced retention (but not transfer) and decreased cognitive load when compared to the problem-solving approach. However, there was a significant interaction between instructional strategy and the MAGO, indicating that only learners with a high MAGO benefited from worked examples. Learners with higher MAGO levels also experienced less cognitive load than learners with a lower MAGO. These results indicate a moderating role of MGO in enhancing the effectiveness of worked examples. This study also found that prior knowledge was the only factor influencing transfer performance, highlighting the importance of studying its impact. Full article

Within an educational context, the current aim of policy translation is to achieve policy coherence by strategically and structurally aligning components, enabling whole system reform. While acknowledging the importance of this coherence conceptualisation, the current literature perspective primarily emphasises message conveyance, and lacks a dimension that identifies policy coherence as the result of how individuals, including middle leaders, interpret and translate policy into actions, both individually and collectively. System middle leaders occupy a unique position within organisational structures, as they bridge the gap between executive system leaders and school- based leaders. To investigate how policy is interpreted and translated within their roles and the impact this has on attaining policy coherence, this study employed an interpretivist approach to exploratory case study methodology, grounded in a review of authoritative literature. The aim was twofold; first, to enhance understanding of policy coherence development at the system middle level by exploring the role enactment of system middle leaders within a large Australian government education system; and second, to examine the interconnectedness and impact of leaders’ role enactment on policy coherence for system reform. Findings suggest that achieving policy coherence is hindered by a lack of role clarity among system leaders, in relation to policy implementation, stemming from the inconsistent interpretation and translation of policy into system strategy documentation and a deficiency in formal policy interpretation and role induction practices. As a result, individual system leaders often turn to informal policy interpretations and interactions with peers to clarify roles, leading to role tensions, accountability ambiguity and partial policy implementation. As a result, this study concludes that the integration of role theory, policy implementation theory and organisational alignment theory offers an interpretivist insight into the development of policy coherence for system reform, illuminating a theoretical pathway and practical recommendations for systems to attain policy coherence. Full article

Distance education and the development of assistive technologies represent a possibility of balancing the access and participation of people with special educational needs in learning experiences and participation in society. This study is aimed at finding out what is known about distance education mediated by assistive technology based on an analysis of the characteristics of scientific production. Through a review of the literature, the sample content is analyzed, culminating in trends that point towards the autonomy and independence of this people, the need for accommodation and accompaniment in a scenario of permanent technological change, initial training and continuing education of inclusive education teachers, as well as collegiate participation between professionals, community, and family in the design of training courses and technologies for people with special needs. The results reveal limited scientific productivity at all educational levels, with greater use of technologies to assist visual and hearing disabilities. The trends emphasize autonomy, Universal Design for Learning, and the challenges of technological adaptation. Findings are discussed and synthesized with the purpose of informing policy makers, researchers, and school communities. Full article

Women’s representation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is a powerful resource to motivate girls to study STEM degrees and fulfill the growing demands for professionals in these fields. From their youth, positive attitudes toward mathematics are characteristic of girls and boys who study STEM degrees. This research aims to identify the association between gender stereotypes and attitudes toward mathematics. The 6° grade generation from a middle school in Monterrey, Mexico, first answered tests on attitudes toward mathematics and gender stereotypes in mathematics. Afterwards, a sample group underwent a 4-week intervention during which students saw videos of STEM professionals and answered a questionnaire on student’s self-perception in STEM careers. Finally, the tests were reapplied with a questionnaire on the use and ease of mathematics. Quasi-statistical and discourse analysis were used to obtain the results. These are presented through a model that highlights the mediating role that the mathematical self-concept and the interest/enjoyment for mathematics have in the association between gender stereotypes and attitudes toward mathematics. The role of gender on female’s lower mathematical self-concept is also exposed, suggesting subsequent lines of research on improving self-concept as an approach to equitably increase students’ interests in STEM degrees from their youth. Full article

In an evolving perspective, lecturers consider that inquiry is one of the best forms of learning to drill critical thinking. This study assesses the practice of inquiry to develop the critical thinking skills of prospective science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers in Indonesia, which is a suitable way to address the problems in the country. Through the experimental design, three groups were formed, which were intervened with inquiry learning, inquiry-creative, and traditional teaching. The learning intervention was carried out within one month using a pre-validated instrument. The critical thinking data were analyzed descriptively based on the pre-test and post-test mean parameters and n-gain on critical thinking indicators, as well as individual critical thinking performance. Statistical analyses (paired-t test, ANOVA, and least significant difference test) were employed to provide confidence in the differences in critical thinking skills across the three learning treatments (p < 0.05). The prospective STEM teachers’ critical thinking skills showed varied performances among the three groups. The inquiry-creative group had the strongest impact, followed by inquiry and traditional teaching, all differing significantly. In summary, the findings suggest that current teaching practices in STEM education need to be reconsidered, showing the advantage of the inquiry-creative model in developing the critical thinking skills essential for future teachers and creators in the STEM fields. Full article

The renewed Lithuanian General Framework for Primary Education emphasises an integrated and holistic approach, advocating for active, experiential learning methods without compartmentalisation (2022). This study aims to determine which active, holistic educational methods are prevalent in the Lithuanian primary education system. In holistic education theory, active learning methodologies are divided into transactional and transformational strands. To accomplish the research goal, we carried out a two-phase quantitative study. This study involved 365 Lithuanian primary school teachers and seven public primary schools. The researcher observed 30 lessons conducted by different teachers. The collected data underwent quantitative analysis and qualitative interpretation. The results indicate that transaction-oriented active learning methods, such as group work, discussion, and play-based learning, are standard in Lithuanian primary education settings. The study identifies a lack of transformative educational approaches at the primary level. Full article

We developed and trained a prototype AI-based object-recognition app, blockplay.ai, to recognise Cuisenaire rods placed on a tabletop, and speak the rods’ lengths. We challenged 6-year-olds in a primary school in England to play a ‘game’: can you make the app say the two times table? Drawing methodologically on theories of embodiment, we analyse two videoclips, each of a child interacting with rods, the app and the task set by the researchers, as a dynamic, complex child-rods-app-task body-artefact system. Theoretically we draw on Davydovian concepts of learning as a concrete-to-abstract-to-new-concrete cycle, using abstract artefacts such as mathematical language to coordinate new perceptually-guided actions on concrete objects. In one videoclip the child’s pattern of actions are consistent with a change, within a few minutes, from perceiving and acting on rods as counters, to perceiving and acting on rods as lengths; in the other videoclip, this does not happen. We analyse the changes in patterns of interactions as shifts to new stable attractors in a dynamic child-rods-app-task body-artefact system, driven by tensions generated by unexpected concrete-to-abstract relationships. We end by looking forward to the range of possible uses of object-recognition technology in the learning of mathematics, for example, provoking algebraic awareness. Full article

Chatbots can have a significant positive impact on learning. There is a growing interest in their application in teaching and learning. The self-regulation of learning is fundamental for the development of lifelong learning skills, and for this reason, education should contribute to its development. In this sense, the potential of chatbot technologies for supporting students to self-regulate their learning activity has already been pointed out. The objective of this work is to explore university students’ interactions with [EDUguia] chatbot to understand whether there are patterns of use linked to phases of self-regulated learning and academic task completion. This study presents an analysis of conversation pathways with a chatbot tutor to enhance self-regulation skills in higher education. Some relevant findings on the length, duration, and endpoints of the conversations are shared. In addition, patterns in these pathways and users’ interactions with the tool are analysed. Some findings are relevant to the analysis of the link between design and user experience, but they can also be related to implementation decisions. The findings presented could contribute to the work of other educators, designers, and developers interested in developing a tool addressing this goal. Full article

Professional identity has been suggested to be decisive for efficiency and high work quality among the workforces. Central in early childhood teacher education is the development of students to become professional actors in a workplace setting upon graduation, thus developing a professional identity. However, the field lacks knowledge about the factors that are associated with professional identity among early childhood teacher students. Thereby, the aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of learning climate (performance climate and mastery climate) in interaction with professors and academic self-efficacy on professional identity. The study adopted a quantitative cross-sectional approach, whereby data were collected by questionnaire. A total of 190 (first- and second-years students) attending a three-year bachelor’s degree in early childhood teacher education completed the questionnaire. The results show that learning climate and academic self-efficacy are significantly associated with professional identity among early childhood teacher students, indicating the importance of facilitating a learning environment that promotes students’ academic self-efficacy, mastery, and intellectual development. These findings indicate the importance of facilitating an environment that promotes students’ academic self-efficacy, intellectual development, and a mastery-oriented climate, in addition to strengthening the connection and interaction between students and professors. Full article

As the digital age permeates higher education, the cybersecurity awareness of university students has emerged as a pressing concern. This study examines the behavioral factors influencing students’ cybersecurity practices, developing a robust, empirically validated survey. Our research applies a comprehensive framework employing both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA; CFA) to affirm the survey’s ability to capture the intricate dimensions of students’ cybersecurity awareness. A structural equation model (SEM) has been developed to delineate and scrutinize five key dimensions of cybersecurity behaviors within the student body. Post-validation, we utilized this model to conduct a thorough comparative analysis of cybersecurity behaviors among members of the varied student demographic that participated in the survey. The investigation included an examination of behavior across genders, age groups, academic disciplines, and cultural backgrounds, shedding light on the diverse cybersecurity behaviors that define the modern student experience. Our research ultimately strives to contribute to the enhancement of digital security in educational environments, aligning student online practices with robust security measures and nurturing a cybersecurity-aware culture in academia. Full article

In the contemporary university environment, there is a growing trend towards the use of innovative pedagogical methods aimed at increasing student engagement and learner-centeredness. Despite this shift, traditional lecture formats continue to be used, particularly in large classes or language courses. This is largely due to the perceived efficiency and convenience of the traditional lecture format for both teachers and students. However, the limited interaction and communication inherent in traditional lectures can hinder student satisfaction and participation. To address this, the integration of an instant response system (IRS) into the classroom environment offers a promising solution. These systems, which leverage technology and anonymity, facilitate real-time feedback and active student participation without placing a significant burden on the instructor. This study examines the implementation of IRSs in Hindi language learning courses at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, focusing on their impact on student satisfaction, engagement, and self-efficacy at different levels of academic achievement. The findings reveal nuanced differences in perceptions and outcomes between high, average, and low achievers, highlighting the potential of IRSs to foster engagement and communication in diverse learner cohorts. Contrary to expectations, satisfaction levels did not consistently correlate with academic performance. In fact, middle achievers showed significant benefits. Qualitative findings further elucidate students’ experiences and highlight the importance of tailored approaches to maximize the effectiveness of IRSs. Overall, this research highlights the adaptability and effectiveness of IRSs in promoting active learning environments, and offers valuable implications for instructional design and pedagogical practice. Full article

Science communication training plays a crucial role in enabling scientists to effectively connect with the public, emphasizing essential skills such as building trust in scientific and technological advancements. Despite significant progress, some studies show a notable deficiency in higher education (HE) institutional structures and mechanisms dedicated to science communication training, addressing a diverse audience including researchers, teachers, and science monitors. This study delves into the key characteristics of current science communication postgraduate training programs within the HE landscape of Portugal. Our analysis is based on a comprehensive examination of the curricula of five science communication doctoral programs offered by four public universities in Portugal. The research involves a meticulous review of course documents and insights gathered from five directors through a detailed questionnaire. The primary objectives of this research are to discern the specific goals pursued by each course, uncover the content and development of competencies within their curricula, and explore the market opportunities envisioned by each offering. The results underscore that these programs equip students with the necessary competencies to effectively address challenges in science communication, notably enhancing public understanding of science. Significant findings suggest that Portugal’s current higher education scenario predominantly emphasizes cultivating postgraduate training activities in authentic settings, fostering collaborative partnerships with society. This article is a foundational resource for further exploration into the discipline-specific applications of science communication, aiming to elevate academic engagement with society. Full article

A person-centered approach was applied to identify the motivational orientation profiles in a sample of 1533 higher education students in Finland at different years of their studies. We also explored the extent to which study engagement and study burnout relate to motivational orientation profiles, and we examined the association between motivational orientation profiles and academic achievement (i.e., study credits). Three groups of students with distinctive motivational orientation profiles—mastery-oriented, moderation-oriented, and avoidance-oriented—were identified using latent profile analysis. The results showed that high study engagement and academic achievement, in terms of study credits, were associated with the mastery-oriented group. High study burnout was associated with the avoidance-oriented group. The moderation-oriented students reported average levels of motivation relative to the two other groups. The study also considered the importance of motivational orientation, study well-being, and academic achievement across different years of study, seeing this as relevant and beneficial, as motivational issues may be crucial during studying, not only upon entering higher education. Full article

With growing mental health concerns among college students, they need to effectively develop skills to alleviate stress amidst the demands of university life. Teaching mindfulness skills to engineering students early in their programs, such as during introductory courses, may provide students with the tools they need to effectively cope with academic stressors, support well-being, and mitigate mental health concerns. This study aimed to understand the variation in experiences of engineering students who participated in weekly mindfulness meditation during a first-year cornerstone engineering course. This study used a thematic analysis approach to analyze students’ in-class, weekly reflections from eight meditation exercises across two course sections. The frequency of codes and themes were then analyzed across meditation types to identify trends in student experiences. Our results show that the most common student experience from engaging in mindfulness meditation was feeling less stressed, calmer, and more relaxed. Other positive experiences include feeling more energized and focused. Some students, however, did report some negative experiences, such as distress and tiredness. The Dynamic Breathing exercise, in particular, showed higher rates of negative experiences than other meditation types. The results also demonstrate that different types of meditations produce different student experiences. Meditation exercises with open monitoring components showed higher rates of insight/awareness and difficulty focusing attention than focused attention meditations. These findings indicate that utilizing weekly mindfulness exercises in introductory engineering courses can benefit students’ overall mental health and well-being when adequately implemented. Full article

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) reflect the relevance that sustainability is gaining in our societies. Including sustainability-related topics in university curricula requires the revision of the contents, teaching/learning strategies and assessment techniques. Although engineering degrees are starting to introduce them, it may become complex to design significant educational experiences. This partly comes from the fact that sustainability is a highly multidisciplinary issue but, currently, the knowledge is compartmentalised into subjects. In this challenging scenario, concrete activities are required for students to better internalise sustainability issues. This work aims to present a methodology that guides academic staff to materialise the design of sustainability-related multidisciplinary activities. Since the designers of new activities may benefit from knowledge of similar experiences, this article describes one implementation throughout eight subjects within the Bachelor’s degree on Industrial Electronics and Automation Engineering at UPV/EHU. The analysis and optimisation of the thermal comfort and energy consumption in the Faculty building became the common thread to design an educational itinerary that covers several subjects along all academic years of the degree, making use of active methodologies. The problem is analysed for every subject from different perspectives. Two questionnaires, carried out before and after the activities, were used for analysing the perception of the students after the activities. Results proved that the multidisciplinary project raised awareness about the SDGs and allowed students to visualise how to apply the acquired skills in problems close to their experience. As a result, more students considered sustainability as a possible future professional activity. Full article

Students experience both positive and negative emotions during lessons. However, little research has been conducted into students’ perspectives on how they deal with these emotions. For this reason, the current study aimed to investigate how students perceive, deal with, and interact in emotional classroom situations, using a mixed-methods approach. In Study 1, 28 primary school children in the fourth grade drew pictures of achievement-emotion situations and were subsequently interviewed. In a three-step analysis process, students’ drawings and interviews were analysed using open coding and content analysis. In Study 2, 635 students from 38 primary and secondary schools in northern Germany reported (via the DECCS questionnaire) their appraisals, achievement emotions, emotion regulation behaviour, and desired teacher support regarding two case vignettes: one involving a learning situation and the other a performance situation. The results of Study 1 reveal that peers play a crucial role in how students deal with positive emotions in class. The structural equation model of Study 2 shows that almost all pathways between emotion regulation behaviour (maladaptive as well as adaptive) and students’ desired teacher behaviour in the form of praise and support are significant. The results of both studies indicate that social support (i.e., peer interactions and teacher support) is crucial in how students deal with both positive and negative achievement emotions in class. Full article

Women of Color faculty continue to experience many challenges in their careers, especially in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. As such, more research is needed that considers structural issues inhibiting their success. Using structuration theory and critical race feminism as a conceptual framework, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 faculty and administrators in STEM departments at higher education institutions to investigate their perceptions of structural impediments impacting early-career Women of Color STEM faculty careers. Our findings revealed the need to establish policies that are clear, documented, and transparent. Additionally, incremental approaches to tenure and promotion evaluations should be reconsidered, especially when this approach may position Women of Color faculty to appear as if they are underperforming, when the opposite may be true. Furthermore, as higher education institutions endeavor to diversify the professoriate, this study is significant in enabling institutions and STEM departments to be aware of systemic issues confronting them to make significant inroads in retaining and advancing Women of Color faculty in these disciplines. Full article

Self-regulated learning refers to the learner’s ability to regulate his or her behaviour, focusing on the acquisition of academic content, skill, or task. This concept includes aspects related to cognitive and emotional self-regulation. According to research studies, the aspect of STEAM education is a crucial determinant of academic success. Thus, in this type of education, attitudes towards science are also important, considering different aspects such as enjoyment, interest, usefulness, and self-efficacy and factors like age, educational stage, gender, family context, and self-concept. This study aims to analyse how Primary School students, who participated in a STEAM project, perceive their own learning process in aspects related to metacognition and self-efficacy, as well as their interest and enjoyment during the activities; furthermore, how the connections between these aspects are. In this project, 109 students between 9 and 11 years old from two different schools participated, using a questionnaire validated by experts. The results show that students show a high appreciation for STEAM work through this type of project as it enables problem-solving and critical thinking associated with the development of satisfaction and positive self-concept in doing it. These distinct aspects show significant correlations between them favoured by the designed STEAM project. Full article

Teachers play a critical role in supporting the early literacy development of students; however, keeping up with evidence-based practice while performing a busy teaching role can be challenging. Micro-credentials are one potential route for keeping teachers up to date with the best practices for literacy teaching due to their ability to provide targeted and flexible professional development opportunities. The current study used a mixed-methods design to evaluate two micro-credential courses being offered through the Better Start Literacy Approach. The Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA) is an evidence-based, structured literacy approach, targeted at 5–7-year-old children in New Zealand. An online survey was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 263 teachers and literacy specialists regarding their experience of completing the BSLA micro-credential training. Overall, respondents reported positive experiences, describing how the micro-credential changed their teaching practice, built their knowledge of effective literacy instruction and led to measurable progress in students’ literacy skills. Several design features were highlighted as useful, including the ability to revisit videos and resources multiple times, the organization into modules and the ‘24/7’ nature of access. Findings from the current research demonstrate the importance of utilizing key course design decisions to ensure accessibility and the potential for the positive impact of micro-credentials in the education sector. Full article

In recent years, a decline in employment rates has been observed among science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates in South Korea, influenced by diverse factors, including economic, social, and policy-related factors. Understanding the reasons behind this decline in STEM employment requires an exploration of academic persistence intentions in STEM and their interconnected relationships with relevant factors. This study aimed to comprehensively examine differences in academic persistence intentions, environmental factors, achievement-related factors, and career motivation among 2393 STEM undergraduates in Korea. Furthermore, this study investigated the factors affecting academic persistence intentions. Data were analyzed using different statistical methods, including factorial multivariate analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and multiple regression models conducted by adding variables of interest. The findings revealed significant differences in academic persistence intentions, environmental factors, achievement-related factors, and career motivation as perceived by STEM undergraduates, based on individual background and university characteristics. Moreover, 53.9% of academic persistence intentions were explained by 10 variables (gender, career direction after graduation, career field to enter after graduation, start period of career path preparation [career-related factors], contextual supports and career barriers [environmental factors], engineering self-efficacy, outcome expectations, major interest [achievement-related factors], and career motivation). Specifically, career motivation contributed the most to the academic persistence intentions of STEM undergraduates, followed by engineering self-efficacy and career barriers. The findings underscore the necessity for customized educational and policy support, considering individual background and university characteristics, to effectively address the challenges faced by STEM graduates in the changing employment landscape. Full article

Identifying ways to improve transition support for autistic students exiting secondary school is an important research priority. However, few studies have consulted with autistic/autism community members to identify how to make this support effective. This co-produced study asked autistic adults to reflect on their own transition, with the aim of identifying what was helpful and effective in supporting their transitioning from secondary school. It also aimed to identify whether there were any differences for students from non-metropolitan areas. Ten autistic adults participated in semi-structured interviews conducted online or via telephone. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis, which generated two themes: (1) accessing opportunities that supported decision making and (2) being able to develop the “skills of adulthood”. The findings suggest the importance of supporting all autistic students to explore multiple pathways to make well-informed post-school decisions. A holistic approach is needed to support autistic students in developing the logistical skills and independence needed to succeed in post-school life. This approach should include guidance from autistic role models. For autistic young people attending non-metropolitan schools, the impact of local cultures and additional logistical barriers indicate that they may need further tailored support to aid their transition to adulthood. Full article

The process of doctoral students transitioning from being knowledge learners to being knowledge researchers is beneficial for personal growth and career development. This study explores how doctoral students at Chinese research universities understand academic identity from a psychological perspective based on grounded theory. Understanding academic identity for doctoral students involves three psychological activities: situation recognition, psychological interaction, and reflective positioning. The sense of academic meaning and the sense of academic efficacy shape doctoral students’ understanding of academic identity, resulting in four patterns: Adeptness, Academic Pursuit, Alienation and Powerlessness, and Struggling for Meaning. Academic meaning serves as the internal driving force for developing academic identity, while academic efficacy acts as a psychological condition for maintaining academic identity. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance doctoral students’ recognition of academic meaning and academic efficacy. Full article

Research on introductory psychology textbooks used in higher education abounds around the world. Although most studies focus on textbooks designed for students majoring in psychology, this paper looks into textbooks used for a compulsory undergraduate course on mental health and well-being in mainland China. Like in many other countries, Chinese students face mental and well-being issues and this course aims to support all undergraduate students in dealing with their own psychology rather than specialising in the subject. Based on an in-depth discourse analysis of two widely used textbooks published in Chinese for this course, the authors examine how the textbooks construct the university experiences of Chinese students. At the same time, the paper also delves into the ways different kinds of Chinese students are portrayed and the types of changes that they are said to experience at university. The foci of invisibility and selectivity from the field of textbook analysis help highlight generalising, stereotyping, and recourse to biases in the textbooks. Recommendations as to how such textbooks could be used to boost university students’ mental health and well-being, while taking into account their diversity, are proposed at the end of the paper. Full article