The Wiley Handbook of Sustainability in Higher Education Learning and Teaching. Группа авторов
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СКАЧАТЬ The outcome is nothing but employment! (89% of the participants opined) This statement is not completely correct. Though getting a job or employment is the result of an impactful outcome in the graduates, what is more important is the performance of the candidate after getting employed and achieving sustainability in growth of the self and the organization where the candidate is working. The OBE framework is practiced in paperwork (98% of the participants opined) This opinion arises because most of the average performing academic institutes do not like that the OBE details and outcome‐attainment are maintained as paperwork, and they do not like doing this rather than actually practicing. This does not apply to good performing universities and organizations. It requires a lot of pragmatic approaches, best practices, and the involvement of learners, teachers, policy‐makers, and the management of the universities.

      Based on above discussion and response to the apprehensions raised, the following are the major advantages and disadvantages of the OBE system of education:

      1 OBE and its impact are quantifiable and measurable, if suitable rubrics are genuinely used.

      2 OBE encourages participation of candidates and all stakeholders in addition to continuous improvement in quality of the graduates.

      3 OBE has the potential to contribute toward SDG 4 with the help of the practices used.

      4 OBE enables candidates for lifelong learning, making them competent and able to strive toward excellence in their profession.

      5 The major challenge is the participation of teachers and students, and this can be overcome by creating awareness about the importance and advantage of OBE to both learners and teachers.

      Based on background studies, current literature, and the research on the impact of OBE for sustainable growth in higher education, discussed in this chapter, we recommend some specific strategies toward true mapping between POs/SLOs and PEOs so that we can achieve sustainability in higher education sector. The strategies are outlined here according to the major factors of the OBE framework:

      1 Formulation of vision and mission statements: In most mediocre academic organizations, the vision and mission statements are formulated and shared among all stakeholders just as a customary, especially in most of the Asian nations. The statements formulated actually determine the roadmap of the institutes and thus, while being developed, the stakeholders who are accountable and associated with the progress of institute and the students need to be taken into consideration. This requires 360° feedback from all stakeholders, namely employers, industries, students, alumni, parents, etc. The feedback will provide an exact estimate of where the institute stands and what more needs to be achieved. Accordingly, the goals of the institution can be set as LRGs and SRGs. The goals so written should be in sync with SDG 4 in all their components or expectations.

      2 POs and PEOs: Similar to vision and mission statements, POs and PEOs of the institutes have to be articulated in accordance with those vision and mission statements and must be derived from the organization's SRGs and LRGs. The goals set are to be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, result‐oriented, and timebound) so that the assessment can be made practically and plans made to overcome any gaps that might be present. Accordingly, POs and PEOs can be modified from time to time.

      3 Mapping: Mapping is the most important step in a true assessment of growth in students if the students are to meet any of the goals under SDG 4 of sustainable goals of development. True mapping requires a lot of participation, time, and effort from learners as well as teachers. If the mapping is performed properly, then the identification of any gaps is ve,ry easy and accordingly the POs, COs, PEOs, CEOs, SLOs, and even the goal statements if required, can be modified. If we still believe that the set POs are achievable, then we will modify our best practices so that we can achieve the goals associated with the POs.

      4 Rubrics: Mapping in a true sense between PEOs and POs requires a mechanism, metrics, or rubrics as important approaches that can quantify the impact of education in transforming the students into employable graduates. The rubrics play a very important role because scoring is evaluated in terms of suitable rubrics which can have three main components: rating scale, performance criteria, and indicators. The ability of rubrics lies in their determination of actual outcomes in students in the institute or in workplace.

      5 Focus on research and industry interaction: A research culture and project‐based learning have to be essential parts of the curriculum at all levels to help develop competence and a set of skills in students.

      6 Inclusion of independent studies and special projects in the curriculum: Independent studies (IS) and special projects (SP) of three and four credits respectively can be offered to help develop a specific skill set in students. IS is actually a focused study on a certain topic that exposes students to the complete description, review, analysis, survey, and research about the topic assigned. This is a very important component in developing analytical skills, survey skills, critical thinking, judgment ability, reasoning, and critical review skills; if they study IS seriously, students demonstrate measurable changes in their skill set. Similarly, the SP is also offered, involving some kind of research, which is not very extensive, and other subcomponents of IS, aimed at developing a skill set beyond conventional academic components.

      3.4.1 Strategies for Meeting SDG 4

      “Every child learns” is the strategic statement of the 2019–2030 UNICEF plan. UNICEF has been trying its best to make sure that every child in the world is literate and formally educated so that they can stand on their own. In a broad statement of sustainable development for the planet, SDG 4 is dedicated to higher education and was set with a very specific 2030 agenda. Important points were included in the agenda, keeping some essential factors in mind. The main aim of the agenda is to provide education and access to it to all equally. So, our recommendation or strategic thoughts toward meeting SDG 4, are as follows:

      1 Primary and secondary education completely free to all: This is an important agenda in visualizing SDG 4 so that absolute poorest can access education, since primary and secondary education are important ladders to higher education for employment and sustainable growth in personal and professional life. As far as OBE is concerned, it has not much to do with primary and secondary education. However, if the OBE type of pedagogy is adopted right from the start, then that would greatly help in getting goals achieved well in time. In fact, many practices are used in schools and institutes that actually help teachers to assess the changes in their students, but a formal or procedural means assessment can help this sector to ensure that we can meet the agenda in time for 2030.

      2 Equal access to quality education: Access not only to education but to quality education has to be ensured; only then can we think about achieving this part of the SDG 4 СКАЧАТЬ