International Journal of Management in Education (5 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Online education during COVID-19 in the Western Balkans: a case study of a university in Kosovo  
  by Giuseppe Ciccone, Gazmend Qorraj, Nada Trunk, Arbnor Bajraliu 
  Abstract: The educational environment has changed worldwide due to COVID-19, including in the European Union (EU) and the Western Balkans (WB). While the main challenge for the EU member states, according to the EU Commission (2018), is the quality of education and research activities, in contrast, the Western Balkans lack digital infrastructure, including broadband access and digital skills. The aim of the paper is to analyse and address the response of the universities regarding the digitalisation process, quality of education, networking, interactive approach, capacity building and further valuable issues. In addition, the paper analyses the government response in support of universities to overcome the challenges and exploit the opportunities offered by the digital experience during COVID. With regard to the methodology, this study applies descriptive statistics derived from the online surveys with respondents and a focus group as a qualitative method.
  Keywords: digital education; COVID-19; e-learning; academics; digital transformation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10057675
   
  
• Unveiling COVID-led great resignation and its impact on organisational survivors: a study of higher educational institutions  
  by Swati Sisodia, Sumaira Jan 
  Abstract: COVID-led disruptions have led to a substantial number of individuals being fired, voluntarily abandoning their jobs or looking for new opportunities. In light of this, the objective of the current study was to identify and investigate the factors that encouraged teaching professionals from higher educational institutions to resign from their jobs during the COVID-led pandemic. Furthermore, job satisfaction and motivation surveys were conducted to identify the impact of great resignation on organisational survivors. The results reveal that dissatisfaction with pay, toxic work culture, high level of burnout and duality of roles significantly encouraged teaching professionals from higher educational institutions to resign from their jobs during the COVID-led pandemic and also significantly impacted the satisfaction and motivation of those left (organisational survivors) in the higher educational institutions. This study has implications for leaders of higher educational institutions, HR managers, policy makers, etc.
  Keywords: employee resignation; COVID; pandemic; higher educational institutions.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10057517
   
  
• Disparities in school type and gender: the importance of students' attitudes toward mathematics, family support, active learning strategies and self-efficacy  
  by I.L. Animasaun, J.B. Oyadeyi 
  Abstract: The decline in academic performance in mathematics is a major problem known to not only the guardians but also academicians inspiring the improvement of students' performance most especially in mathematics. This report presents the effects of gender disparities and school type on student attitudes toward mathematics, parental support, active learning practices, the academic performance of students in mathematics and self-efficacy. The observed disparities in male and female students' attitudes toward mathematics and academic achievement are statistically significant. Male students have a more evident and positive attitude toward mathematics than female pupils. Academic achievement of male students is much higher than that of female students. Home support is weak for students who attend a boys-only school or a girls-only school. There is a considerable gap in academic achievement between children who attend a boys or girls school and those who attend a mixed school.
  Keywords: attitude towards mathematics; school type; self-efficacy; gender difference; active learning strategies; home support; academic performance.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10057453
   
  
• Extending the TAM model to evaluate the impact of online learning on students' knowledge and career growth during COVID-19  
  by K. Ravishankar, N. Akbar Jan, A.K. Subramani, Rajasekhar David 
  Abstract: The study aims to evaluate the impact of online learning on students' knowledge and career growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study extends Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by adding e-learning access, trust, students' knowledge and career growth as external variables. This research is quantitatively based and administered through an online survey and a judgmental sampling technique. This survey was conducted among 912 college and university students across India concerning online learning, which was mandated during COVID-19. The data analysis was performed using PLS-SEM. Through Q square values using PLS-SEM analysis, the study found that the present developed model represents strong predictive relevance. Hence, the present model can be generalised in different contexts ahead in future. Among the constructs, intention to use online learning (f² = 0.396) discloses a strong effect size on the usage of online learning improves the students' knowledge and career growth.
  Keywords: technology acceptance model; online learning access; trust; students' knowledge; career growth; COVID-19.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10057516
   
  
• Building blocks of vocational higher education teachers' communication competences in e-learning and work experience: a qualitative study  
  by Monja Pust, Boris Bukovec, Franc Brcar, Mirko Markič, Annmarie Gorenc Zoran 
  Abstract: This study examined the identification of communication competencies in e-learning by higher education vocational teachers' with varying levels of teaching experience in higher vocational schools. While experience emerged as a significant building block of communication competencies from the literature review, the participants highlighted personal attitude over experience as the primary building block of communication competencies in e-learning. Our research was conducted in January 2022 using MS Teams, a tool also used by teachers in their online teaching and is accessible during class. Through focus groups, semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, the findings indicate that novice teachers prioritise content over communication, while more experienced teachers with work experience highlighted the importance of effective communication. This study contributes to the understanding of communication competencies in e-learning with the aim of establishing a more humanised online environment and highlights the need for further research in this area.
  Keywords: communication competences; e-learning; vocational higher education; teachers work experiences; personal attitude; ICT skills; challenges of e-learning.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10058609