This article considers the role of meritocracy in the ruling ideology of Singapore. It argues that meritocracy, far from being a system for the management of scarce resources, is in fact the imposition of scarcity. It uses the example of the university in Singapore as the prime site for the production of meritocratic ideology and considers the…

Biocompatible and biodegradable block copolymers composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and aliphatic polyester are a class of promising biomaterials. Herein, a teaching experiment was designed to furnish undergraduates with a reliable method to synthesize an amphiphilic poly([epsilon]-caprolactone)-PEG-poly([epsilon]-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL)…

Higher education learning outcomes include attributes that are conventionally evaluated by self-reported responses to questionnaire items. Important personal traits include intellectual curiosity and openness to diverse ideas, experiences, and peoples. Evaluators need evidence for the validity and stability of research instruments across repeated…

We developed an advanced, year-long course sequence in eukaryotic cell and molecular biology in order to increase conceptual understanding. Three years of historical data from a one semester, traditional-lecture, senior cell and molecular biology course (n = 237) were compared with 3 years of data collected from the year-long course sequence (n =…

While a strong literature base exists around undergraduate experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), few studies examine how students approach the question of "what's next" after graduation. This study examines the impact of social ties on STEM college seniors' plans to enter the STEM workforce, and how…

Students with disabilities are an underrepresented demographic in higher education institutions that is often overlooked and excluded with limited engagement strategies. It is imperative for postsecondary institutions to actively foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment for this student group. Little is understood about the impact of…

We explore the structure of epistemological beliefs and its relation with the spontaneous formation of study groups in a sample of biomedical engineering students. The sophistication of the beliefs as well as the size and distribution of spontaneous small groups were measured for subjects in three different academic years: junior, intermediate and…

This paper analyses Web 2.0 facilitated collaborative design among undergraduate engineering students. The study used the actor-network theory as a methodological and analytical framework to study the role of Web 2.0 technology in the collaborative design process. Participants were drawn from fourth-year engineering students at a university of…

Previous research investigating the dynamics among the three inter-connecting variables of students' learning (i.e. learning strategies, academic performances and self-efficacy) was focused largely on Western countries. The present study attempted use a mixed approach to extend this line of research to an East Asian country. First, we randomly…

This paper reports qualitative findings from a large study on Indonesian teacher education students' career aspirations. The participants were 133 final-year undergraduate students who entered teacher education programmes with no intentions to teach in schools or had intentions to teach only for a short period upon graduation before pursuing…

Starting university studies, students must experience the transition from the familiar to the unfamiliar, encountering cognitive and social challenges. Universities need to be aware of this transition and provide an appropriate support mechanism that should be adapted to both first year students and senior year students. The aim of the study is:…

Reintegration into civilian life as nontraditional learners pursuing a four-year bachelor's degree remains a challenging career transition and goal achievement for many student veterans seeking career advancement through higher education. There is insufficient research on student veterans' academic achievement, knowledge about perceptions and…

Written examinations for laboratory courses fall short in testing students' technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and execution of experimental design. This has led to practical examinations growing in popularity, but examples for senior-level students remain scarce. Senior organic chemistry students are gearing toward independence to…

We explored the impact a new quantitative biology course for biology majors had on their ability and confidence to utilize hypothesis testing. Students currently in the quantitative biology course and the first cohort of students who took the course (currently seniors) were surveyed on ability and confidence regarding four types of hypothesis…

We examine the relationship between undergraduates' engagement in applied learning experiences and changes in students' fourth-year attitudes toward professional success and desire to contribute to the arts or sciences, using longitudinal data from the Wabash National Study. Results suggest applied learning experiences were positively or…