MODULE ONE
UNDERSTANDING HIGHER EDUCATION
Unit One: Features of Higher Education
Activity 1 - P. 5
1. Outline the characteristic features of higher education.
Access- HI ensure that students have equal and equitable opportunities to
take full advantage of their education
Equity- is a measure of achievement, fairness and opportunity in education
Unity with diversity-unity can be achieved in spite of the differences,
Adjustments, comprises and understanding should be emphasized in the
process if unification
Quality- a multi-dimensional concept with multiple and interrelated
meanings which can be distinguished but not completely separated such as
accountable, purposeful, exceptional and transformative
Relevance- learning experiences that are either directly applicable to the
personal aspirations, interests or culture experiences of students
Efficiency-related with productivity, the ratio of output produced to physical
inputs used, such as the number of students per faculty member, the number
of journal articles published per researcher…
2. How does the academic profession differ from other professions?
Academic profession is a base for other professions
It continuously update the professional development
Encourage research based outputs
Address real world issue and problems
Produce multiple skilled manpower
3. What are the current challenges of Ethiopian higher education
and what you think are their sources.
Educational quality
Source: lack of resource, out of date curriculum, lack of management/
leadership, lack of practical activities such as laboratories, workshops…
Secularism
Source: Interference of government in institutional decision
4. Higher education institutions across the globe are increasingly
pressed to find ways of proving their worth not only in the academic
preparation of students, but also in how their preparations are
linked to business and industry. Discuss the actions that need to be
taken by your university in addressing this issue.
Creating legal linkage between HI and industries and business
Prepare training to create awareness for industries and business
Higher education institutions should be an eye cache for industries and
business by giving civil services.
In addition to linkage, give an award/ recognition for the industries and
business
Activity 2- P.6
List the advantages and disadvantages of the process of
globalization in the development of higher education in Ethiopia.
Advantages of Globalization Disadvantages of Globalization
Global sharing of skills, Increase the technological gaps and
knowledge and intellectual digital divides between advanced
assets countries and less developed
Mutual support, supplement and countries
benefit to produce synergy Increase inequalities and conflicts
Promotion international between areas and cultures
understanding, collaboration, Promoting the dominant cultures and
harmony and acceptance to values of some advanced areas
cultural diversity across
countries and regions
Activity 3- P.6
1. What do you think are the advancements and challenges of
higher education institution in Sub- Saharan Africa in general and
in Ethiopia in particular?
Advancements Challenges
Secure private financial support to Quality challenges that caused by
the mission of the institution less number of teachers, new and
Engage alumni in the life inexperienced teachers, less resource
Promote or market the institution on class rooms, labs and developed
(students, parents and others) electronic networks
Communicate about the institution Cost considerations ( the cost of
with those who have a stake in its educating cohort of university students
success, including community is quickly exceeding available
members, business leaders, government funds
government officials, press and Human resources as a ‘Moving
others Target’
Long term planning versus short
term action ( Rapid growth without the
corresponding infrastructure, staff or
education)
2. State how globalization (in higher education) has affected the
development of Ethiopian higher education with regard to
organization (structure), curriculum development, and system of
evaluation, certification, and other similar aspects.
Globalization can be thought of as the speedy, free movement of people, services,
capital, goods, ideas and knowledge across national borders, encompassing the
entire globe. Accordingly, national systems, of nation-states have been affected
critically by the process the discourse of knowledge economy, life-long learning
international testing and technology are found to e the main concern of education
policy in both developing nations: these have thus become in effect globalized
education policy discourses.
3. How should Ethiopian higher education institutions be streed to
best accomplish their missions in the context of globalization?
Support for policies to generalize access to a quality education to all
sectors of the population with special concern for at risk groups
Develop programs that support socio-economically at risk boys, girls,
youth and adults
Develop collaboration of institutions dedicated to education development
as related to citizenship, multicultural societies and sustainable
development
Promote the consolidation and collaboration of institutions dedicated to
indigenous education
An educational policy should be promoted that considers human rights,
education for peace and democratic values, equality of opportunity and
rights between men and women and gender quality
Activity 4- P.7
Identify internal and external factors that influence the quality of
higher education in Ethiopia.
Internal factors External factors
Management and leadership Globalization
Teaching Learning process Environment
Lack of resources (Laboratory, Campus size, location and life
Workshops…) style
Expired policies and curriculum Comfort zone for Disable
persons, Employee, teachers
and students
Unethical practice such as Corruption
Secularism
Reflective Activity 1- P.8
Discuss the mission and vision of your university from the point of
view of content, relevance, clarity, precision, etc.
1. Reflection on the Mission
The institution completely ignored technology and engineering. How a
higher education institution could be relevant and complete with the
ignorance of technology in this century?
The University must rise to the challenge of recruiting adequate numbers of
qualified staff for the newly established programs and schools.
2. Reflection on vision
As Federal institution of higher education, it must orient itself to advance
student-centred approach as well as development-oriented research that
best supports the fulfilment of the primary national goals of
democratization, development and the achievement of other national
priorities.
3. How effectively are the teachers in your HEIs working towards
realizing the mission and vision of the institution?
Though the idea of a democratic, modern university requires the creation of
a student-centred educational environment that encourages students to
take a more active role in the teaching learning process, the teachers still
has a gap on transmission from passive recipient of information to that of
active participant.
4. What are the core values of your institution?
Quality service delivery and equity access in all our services
Confidentiality and security of record
Integrity and integration among alumni
5. To what extents are, the above core values practiced.
It may be being among the top 10 universities in East Africa by the year 2030
and achieving the mission and vision.
Reflective Activity 2- P.8
1. How relevant and important are the various leadership
positions for the effective functioning of HEIs?
Providing direction
Creating a structure to support the direction
Fostering a supportive and collaborative environment
Facilitating participation in decision-making; consultation
Representing the department/institution to advance its cause(s) and
networking on its behalf
2. To what extent does the top leadership understand and
support the efforts of lower academic units to achieve the
ultimate goals of the institution?
Idealised influence: Entails leaders sharing risks with followers and being
consistent in their dealings with them.
Inspirational motivation: Providing meaning and challenge to followers;
being enthusiastic; arousing commitment to future states.
Intellectual stimulation: Stimulating innovation and creativity; encouraging
new ways of dealing with work.
3. From the point of view of need and efficiency, how satisfactory
is the organization of HEIs?
Imbalance of need and efficiency
Reflective Activity 3- Pp.8-9
1. How reasonable are the rights and duties of the academic staff
as indicated in senate legislation of your university?
DU Senate Legislation describes the rights and duties of the academic staff in a
ways of Higher Education Proclamation No.650/2009. For that reason, 80% of the
rights and duties of the academic staff are reasonable and due to some staff
members and high leaders’ irresponsibility, and on some other reason 20% still
unreasonable.
2. To what extent are higher education teachers (in your
university) performing according to their duties and
responsibilities as indicated in the senate legislation?
Effort and encourage for the fulfilment of vision and attainment of DU University’s
mission and entertain the rights.
Activity 5 Pp. 9-10
1. In your opinion what are the strengths, gaps or limitations of
the 2009 Higher Education Proclamation?
Strengths Limitations/gaps
Create an appropriate legal Majorly focus on educational quality
framework to guide institution assurance
Confers considerable financial and Controlling the organizational
administrative autonomy on the structure is not clearly specified
country’s Federal and public
institutions of higher education;
Determines the organizational
structures and the powers and
duties of the major units of the
institutes;
2. Do you think that the current academic and administrative
bodies of higher education institutions in Ethiopia are
competent enough to meet the expectations of the society?
No, both the academic and administrative bodies pass through the traditional
process therefore in order to meet the expectations of the society, still there should
be a professional upgrading with adequate training.
3. Based on your experience as a higher education teacher,
discuss the theoretical, structural and practical options for the
success of HEIs in Ethiopia.
Theoretical options- Improve policies
Structural options- the structure should be based on secularism and any other
biased
Practical options- need a team to follow up the execution of rules and policies
4. Rate the level of responsiveness of Ethiopian HEIs to the
issues indicated in the following table.
S/ HEIs responsibilities Hig Mediu Lo Justification for
N h m w rating
1 Local needs and
expectations
2 Regional needs and
Yet only focused on
expectations
implementation of
3 National needs and
institutional plan
expectations
4 International needs and
expectations
Unit Two: The Role of Reflection among Higher Education
Reflective Activity 4- P.12
1. What do reflection, reflective practice and reflective teaching
means to you?
Reflection- the act of reflecting/ redirect back to the source
Reflective practice- is a way of studying your own experiences in a
process of continuous learning to improve the way you work.
Reflective reaching- a process where teachers think over their teaching
practices, analysing how something was taught and how the practice
might be improved or changed for better learning outcomes.
2. How well do you practice reflective thinking to deepen your
own understanding and to improve your teaching competence?
Plan, make provision & act
Monitor, observe & collect data of mine and students intention, actions &
feelings
Critically analyse & evaluate data such that it can be shared, judgements
made & decisions taken
Revise the classroom policies, plans & provision and the cycle repeat
itself
3. Based on your teaching experiences, give examples on
reflection on, in and for action.
Reflection in- watch and listen students, use up-to-date subject
knowledge & information, apply educational theory, and put new ideas
into action,
Reflection on- check what has been achieved, review session plans &
teaching methods, evaluate new ideas impact
Reflection for- prepare clear lessons objectives, read pedagogy books
4. How well have you handled the technical, practical and critical
levels of reflection? Elaborate.
Technical reflection- deal with technical issues in classrooms & the
learning environment in the university such as (lack of teaching media
(white board, projector), resources (paper), facilities (lab, workshops)...,
afternoon class (hot))
Practical- practice practical-based learning rather than formal learning,
deliberate purposeful structured activity to link & practice encourage
Critical- view things from multiple perspectives, makes appropriate
judgements based on reasoning and evidence
Activity 6- P.13
How applicable are the different phase of reflective thinking to
teaching and research? Cite examples.
Design the teaching and research process. Examples:
Planning- expediency to educational attainment, considering the developmental
levels of the students, regarding with students with special needs, considering
socio cultural environment of HEI, considering the resource, using materials,
time management
Interaction with the students- regarding the needs and interests of the students,
motivation, appeal to the students, information, feedback
Principles- crating a positive atmosphere, providing active participation,
affiliation with real life, providing an active life style
Reflective Activity 5- P.14
1. What are the different techniques of reflection that you have
been using in your reflective learning endeavours? Why did you
use them and how?
From different techniques of reflection, I have been using ‘Action Research’
techniques. The reason of using this technique is, it is a systematic way on
reflecting a particular problem in teaching learning process, devising an
appropriate solution to the problem and it tests the solution.
How?
Identify the problem
Reflect and share Devise a plan
Act to implement the plan
Observe, collect and analyse the data
2. Which reflective technique is more preferable and appropriate
for teaching/learning and for lifelong learning? How?
I believe critical Incident is a systematic way of reflecting on more preferable
and appropriate for teaching/learning and for lifelong learning, because critical
Incident is social in nature and require reflection on the part of the learner and
influence students’ critical thinking skills.
Reflective Activity 6- P.15
1. What have you understood about reflective higher education
teachers in higher education from the above cases?
Reflective teaching in higher education has a major role for improving
teachers’ skills, student efficiency and facilitate educational quality
development.
2. How effective are the above cases in changing your attitude
towards applying reflective thinking in your study and in your
teaching? Explain
From the above three cases, case 1 has shown the effective reflective teaching
in higher education. Some of this helps changing my attitude such as,
Prepare and plan lessons
Use active learning methods & assessment techniques
Manage classroom and take immediate action for situation happened in the
class
Identify own strength & weakness and Plan to improve own weakness
3. After going through the cases, do you feel you should change
your attitude towards the application of reflection in your
practice? Explain.
Yes. Many of teachers in higher education have come directly from different
profession to teaching without HDP in the campus. Therefore many has faced
same problem like that case 3 faced and develop usual type of teaching skills
as case 2. After I came to know reflective teaching and read cases 1, I felt of
exercising reflective teaching.