2020
Authors
Traqueia, A; Nogueira, S; Barbosa, B; Costa, F; Dias, GP; Filipe, S; Melo, A; Rodrigues, C; Santos, CA;
Publication
14TH INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE (INTED2020)
Abstract
Despite the growing popularity of Vocational Education and Training (VET), which is mainly oriented towards labour market inclusion, literature shows that there is still stigmatization and association of those programmes with lower quality training offers when compared to the so-called general secondary education. The main aim of this article is to shed light on the differences in students' sociodemographic profiles between the two education alternatives. It adopts a quantitative approach, exploring secondary data collected by national (e.g., Ministry of Education) and international (e.g., OECD) organizations regarding secondary education students in Portugal. Results confirm that students in VET secondary education have a different sociodemographic profile, namely in terms of income, parents' academic qualifications and professional activities, thus presenting a clear lower social status than students in general secondary education. Indeed, VET is more common in Portuguese secondary schools with a student population originating from more disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. This study also highlights the limitations of the available secondary data, suggesting a set of variables and hypotheses built on contributions from extant literature that may enable a better understanding of the reasons behind the differences in students' profiles. Implications for schools and decision makers, as well as suggestions for future research, are also presented.
2020
Authors
Nogueira, S; Traqueia, A; Barbosa, B; Costa, F; Dias, GP; Filipe, S; Melo, A; Rodrigues, C; Santos, CA;
Publication
14TH INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE (INTED2020)
Abstract
Despite the existence of Vocational Education and Training (VET) programmes allowing dual certification (general school and vocational diplomas), the main aim of vocational courses is arguably the insertion of young people in the labour market. Still, there is a diversification of pathways for upper secondary vocational students, including continuing studies at a tertiary level. In fact, international statistics point to the increased number of vocational students that choose to pursue studies at a higher level, encouraged, among several motivations, by the quest for social mobility. Despite the relevance of this theme, studies that explore students' pathways after the completion of upper secondary vocational education are still scarce. To fill this gap, the paper synthesizes and reviews literature contributions with the purpose of identifying the factors that explain the adoption of each of the pathways (working, continuing to study or neither) by upper secondary education VET students. As a result, the article discusses a list of factors associated with career choices after completion of VET secondary studies and proposes a set of questions for future research. Overall, this paper shows that VET deserves urgent consideration by researchers and offers valuable insights for academics, students, parents and decision makers alike.
2020
Authors
Barbosa, B; Santos, C; Prado Meza, CM;
Publication
Revista Lusofona de Educacao
Abstract
Internationalization at Home (IaH) is the most accessible approach for internationalizing education, as it does not involve mobility or considerable investment. This article discusses results of two distinct IaH initiatives: a 4-week collaboration between students from a Portuguese university and a Mexican university, and a set of activities conducted throughout one semester in a multicultural classroom in one Portuguese university. The analysis shows that, despite the clear differences of the two initia-tives, they provided very interesting outcomes, with students recogniz-ing the development of intercultural communication skills and other soft skills, which were perceived as adding value to the learning process and to their future professional careers.
2020
Authors
Qalati, SA; Li, WY; Vela, EG; Bux, A; Barbosa, B; Herzallah, AM;
Publication
JOURNAL OF ASIAN FINANCE ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS
Abstract
Electronic commerce is becoming a significant hub for sourcing products/services which helps organizations to connect with potential customers and gain competitive advantages, though little empirical work focuses on small businesses operating in developing countries to date. Increasingly, companies are looking to utilize social media to connect with stakeholders and pursue several benefits. This study aims to investigate the technological, organizational, and environmental (TOE) factors that influence small- and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) social media (SM) adoption in developing countries. This study used a closed-ended questionnaire to collect data from randomly-selected respondents (owners, executives, and managers) from SMEs in Pakistan. SMART PLS version 3.2.8 was used for path analysis of 316 responses and for structural equation modeling. The research findings include the direct influence of TOE factors (relative advantage, interactivity, visibility, top management support, and institutional pressure) on SMEs' SM adoption, and in turn SM adoption also has a positive influence on SMEs performance. Moreover, the coefficient of determination of the study showed that 77.7% of the variation in SM adoption occurs because of TOE factors and 29.8% variation in SMEs occurred because of SM adoption. This paper has implications for practitioners and scholars interested in exploring the SM adoption and usage by SMEs.
2020
Authors
Crawford, I; Swartz, S; Luck, S; Barbosa, B;
Publication
International Conference on Higher Education Advances
Abstract
International trade, enabled by rapid technological advances, has had a profound effect on the way employees work and communicate in a borderless, virtual environment. Within this context, classroom collaboration through online virtual teams can be an effective strategy to enhance intercultural and employability skills. Research in this area advocates that using digital media to connect students with international classrooms is an easy and efficient way to develop intercultural competence. In this paper we describe and present the results of one such initiative. The authors have designed and implemented virtual and experiential intercultural communications assignments across four countries: Germany, Portugal, Scotland, and the United States. By creating virtual teams and then simulating a real-world team project, we have been able to study how students work with, and react to, teammates from other cultures. We explored students' views and opinions on the expected outcomes of their international experience in virtual teams and the potential impact of online intercultural learning experiences on their future employability. The findings suggest that collaborative online international learning (COIL) can help to develop the kind of soft skills that employers value and need in the globalized workplace. © This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
2020
Authors
Mahdavi, M; Barbosa, B; Oliveira, Z; Chkoniya, V;
Publication
RBGN-REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE GESTAO DE NEGOCIOS
Abstract
Purpose - Perfume is arguably one of the most challenging experience products offered online. This article explores how the associations between the human senses of olfaction and audition can help consumers recognize the characteristics of the scent in the absence of the real scent. Method - Given the scarcity of contributions regarding online shopping behavior for perfume, an exploratory qualitative approach was implemented. Twenty-seven in-depth interviews were conducted among individuals from three countries with prior experience of purchasing perfume online. Results -The study highlights the associations made by the interviewees between the types of sounds/voice and types of scents and the complementary role of these cues in online shopping of perfume. Practical implications - Both e-sellers and e-buyers can benefit from the findings of this research. In fact, it is likely that e-shoppers decide to either consider or ignore an unknown perfume for purchase based on the scent signals perceived from sounds, which can provide guidance for e-sellers as well.
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