• Title/Summary/Keyword: STEM college students

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Does "Women Friendliness" Matter in STEM Education?: Differential Effects of High-Impact Practices on Career Aspiration of STEM College Students by Gender

  • Jin, Seonmi;Rhee, Byung Shik;Jeon, Seokjean
    • Journal of Engineering Education Research
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.37-51
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    • 2020
  • This study examined the differential effects of High-Impact Practices(HIPs) on the career aspiration of STEM college students by gender. Through the theoretical lens of Social Cognitive Career Theory(SCCT), a two-level model analysis was conducted. A sample of 2,101 third- and fourth-year undergraduate students majoring in STEM at 38 universities, which had been collected from the National Survey on College Student Experiences and Learning Outcomes funded by the Korea Research Foundation, was used. This study found that the three HIP domains(learning with peers, faculty support, content relevancy) had different influences depending on gender. These findings suggest that HIPs can benefit the development of female students' career aspiration and have gender-differential effects on students in STEM majors. Based on those findings, this study also deduced implications about the roles of faculty members and higher-education institutions that might foster the retention of women in STEM.

Exploring the Views of College Students in STEM Fields on the Social Responsibility of Scientists and Engineers (과학기술자의 사회적 책임에 대한 이공계 대학생의 인식 탐색)

  • Ko, Yeonjoo;Shim, Sungok Serena;Hwang, Yohan;Choi, Yuhyun;Ok, Seung-Yong;Nam, Chang-Hoon;Lee, Hyunju
    • Journal of Engineering Education Research
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    • v.25 no.2
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    • pp.42-56
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    • 2022
  • This study aimed to investigate the views of STEM college students on the social responsibility of scientists and engineers. A total of 660 students in STEM majors at several Korean universities participated in the study. We assessed social responsibility among college students in STEM majors using the VSRoSE scale, which taps into eight different domains of social responsibility: Concern for human welfare and safety (HUMAN), Concern for environmental sustainability (ENVIR), Consideration of societal risks and consequences (CONSEQ), Consideration of societal risks and consequences (CONSEQ), Consideration of societal needs and demands (NEEDS), Pursuit of the common good (COMGOOD), Civic engagement and services (CIVIC), Communication with the public (COMMU), and Participation in policy decision-making (POLICY). Group differences in social responsibility by gender, majors, and years in school were examined. Mean scores in HUMAN, ENVIR, and CONSEQ were relatively higher than those in NEEDS, COMGOOD, CIVIC, COMMU, and POLICY. Cluster analysis identified five different groups with similar patterns of social responsibility scores. In addition to two groups with overall high and low scores across all eight factors of VSRoSE, three additional groups with different combinations of high and low scores in different factors were identified. The results indicated that students with low social responsibility are not homogeneous and these heterogeneous sub-groups of students will need tailored interventions highlighting different factors of social responsibility that they lack. Pedagogical implications of social responsibility for education were discussed.

The Influence of College Choice Factors on Intention to Dropout of First-year Undergraduates in STEM Majors (이공계 신입생의 대학선택요인이 학업중단의도에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Songrim;Rhee, Byung-Shik
    • Journal of Engineering Education Research
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.26-36
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    • 2020
  • This study aims to investigate the effect of college choice factors on withdrawal intention of first-year undergraduates in STEM majors. The data for this study were collected from a national sample of 4-year institutions that participated in Collegiate Longitudinal Study funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea during 2013-2014. The data included 1,484 students in STEM majors from 30 institutions, and this study used bivariate and multivariate analytic methods to answer the research questions. This study found that while the internal dimensions of college choice showed a negative effect on the intention to dropout, external dimensions of college choice such as college environment, financial accessibility, admission possibility had a positive effect on the intention. The findings indicate that it is necessary to pay attention to college choice for enrollment management to prevent first-year undergraduates in STEM majors from dropping out.

The Moderating Effects of Gender and Major on the Relationship Between Entrepreneurial Orientation and Entrepreneurial Intention (대학생의 기업가정신이 창업의도에 미치는 영향: 성별 및 전공의 조절효과를 중심으로)

  • Bae, Byung Yun;Lee, Joo-Heon
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.13 no.6
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    • pp.63-74
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    • 2018
  • Youth unemployment including college graduates has become more serious in recent years. It is very necessary to study the factors affecting entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intentions. These days, the number of female entrepreneurs has been increased dramatically. There have been many successful entrepreneurs with technology background in Korea. Until now, there have been not so many empirical studies examining moderating effects of gender and college major. A lot of studies have examined the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial intention of college students. The purpose of this article is to examine gender and major as moderators in the relationship. Until now, there has been very few research investigating the moderating effects of gender and major on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial intention. Survey questionaries were given to 400 college students randomly chosen in Gangwon-do. Finally, 334 surveys were used to analyze the relationship. The findings of our study are as follows. First, similar to previous studies, entrepreneurial orientation of college students has a positive effect on entrepreneurial intention. Second, participation both in school entrepreneurship courses and out of school entrepreneurship education does positively affect entrepreneurial intention. Gender and major are moderating variables between entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial intention. Third, compared to male students, female students with low entrepreneurial orientation show much lower entrepreneurial intention. Fourth, compared to Non-STEM students, STEM students with low entrepreneurial orientation show much lower entrepreneurial intention. Thus, in order to improve entrepreneurial intention among college students, it is very important to develop entrepreneurial orientation, especially for female and STEM college students.

Exploring the motivation for science learning of 3rd year high school students who chose different college majors from their track (계열과 다른 대학 전공으로 진학한 고등학교 3학년 학생의 과학학습동기의 특성 탐색)

  • Ha, Minsu;Shin, Sein;Lee, Jun-Ki
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.36 no.2
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    • pp.317-324
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    • 2016
  • This study aims to investigate the motivation for science learning of 3rd year high school students who choose different majors from their track. A total of 2,012 high school 3rd year students participated in this study. We used Science Motivation Questionnaire II (Glynn et al., 2011) to measure the students' science motivation and performed Rasch analysis, MANOVA and logistic regression analysis. First, results showed that 11.5% of students in the science track switched their pathway to a non-STEM major and 14.3% of students in the humanities track switched to a STEM major. In addition, there were gender differences in switching majors. Second, we found a significant difference in science motivation between two groups of students switching their major only in career motivation. Third, science motivation was the significant predictor of STEM major choice; in particular, career motivation was the most influential variable. Based on these results, we proposed that prediction of and paying close attention to students' career motivation are required before making decisions on which track to take.

Enhancing STEM education using nanotechnology: Integrating nanoscale concepts into K-12 curriculum

  • Yawen Su;Maryam Shokravi;M.H. Fakhar
    • Advances in nano research
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    • v.17 no.1
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    • pp.87-94
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    • 2024
  • Nanotechnology is one of the leading edges of science and technology today, holding out the promise for revolutionary advances in just about any discipline. With the integration of nanoscale concepts into K-12 STEM education comes a special opportunity pertaining to the cultivation of future innovators and scientists who are more adept at traveling in this burgeoning field. It discusses some strategies and frameworks for effectively bringing nanotechnology into the K-12 curriculum. Hands-on activities, interdisciplinary approaches, and age-appropriate educational materials have been used with an emphasis on improving student engagement and enhancing understanding in nanoscale phenomena. Thus, early exposure to the principles of nanotechnology can be effectively used by teachers to develop curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, which are necessary for technological advancement. These results highlight the potential of nanotechnology education integration in the development of future STEM professionals. It results in an increase in the enrollment rate. Hence, this proves that there is a lasting impact of the intervention on the choice that students made while in school.

Differences in Career Motivation and Career Exploration Behavior Among STEM Students and Their Affecting Factors (STEM 전공 대학생의 진로동기, 진로탐색행동에 대한 인식 차이와 영향요인)

  • Hwang, Soonhee;Cho, Sunghee
    • Journal of Engineering Education Research
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.13-31
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    • 2024
  • In recent times, STEM graduates are confronting a decline in employment rates influenced by economic, social, cultural, and policy-related factors. Career decisions are closely linked to education, college experiences, and university settings. To comprehend the reasons behind the decline in STEM employment, it is essential to explore the relationships among these factors. This study aims to comprehensively examine differences in career motivation and career exploration behavior among 2,393 STEM undergraduates in Korea. Additionally, factors affecting career motivation and career exploration behavior were investigated. The findings indicate significant differences in perceived career motivation and career exploration behavior based on individual backgrounds and university characteristics. And analyzing the data, 37.8% of career motivation is explained by contextual supports, career barriers, individual backgrounds (grade, GPA), university characteristics (major fields, location), field to enter after graduation, and timing of job preparation. For career exploration behavior, 30.1% is explained by contextual supports, career barriers, individual backgrounds (gender, grade, GPA), university characteristics (major field, location), field to enter after graduation, and timing of job preparation. Practical implications underscore the need for tailored educational and policy support, considering individual backgrounds and university characteristics, to effectively address challenges faced by STEM graduates in the evolving employment landscape.

Development of the ENACT Model for Cultivating Social Responsibility of College Students in STEM Fields (이공계 대학생의 사회적 책임감 함양을 위한 ENACT 모형의 개발과 교육적 함의)

  • Lee, Hyunju;Choi, Yuhyun;Nam, Chang-Hoon;Ok, Seung-Yong;Shim, Sungok Serena;Hwang, Yohan;Kim, Gahyoung
    • Journal of Engineering Education Research
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    • v.23 no.6
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    • pp.3-16
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    • 2020
  • This study aims to introduce the ENACT model, which is a systematic teaching-learning model for cultivating social responsibility of science and engineering college students, and to discuss its educational implications. For the development of the ENACT model, we conducted extensive literature reviews on RRI, STEM education, and science and technology studies (STS). In addition, we examined exemplary overseas education programs emphasizing social responsibility of scientists/engineers and citizens. The ENACT model consists of five steps; 1) Engage in SSIs, 2) Navigate SSIs, 3) Anticipate consequences, 4) Conduct scientific and engineering practice, and 5) Take action. This model links Socioscientific Issues (SSI) education with engineering education, dividing the major elements of social responsibility education for scientists and engineers into the dimensions of epistemology and praxis, and reflected them in the model. This effort enables science and engineering college students to pursue more responsible and sustainable development by carrying out the responsible problem-solving process based on an understanding of the nature of science and technology. We plan to implement ENACT model based programs for science and engineering college students and to examine the effects.

Chinese College Students Perception and Preference of Korean Kimchi (김치에 대한 중국 남녀 대학생의 인식 및 기호도 조사)

  • 한재숙;홍주희;서봉순;변재옥
    • Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.44-59
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    • 2001
  • The purposes of this study are to investigate perception and preference of Chinese college students for Korean Kimchi by a survey and sensory evaluation and to globalize and industrialize Kimchi in the world. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 588 students residing in Beijing. About 80% of all the participants knew what Kimchi was and 63.4% had eaten Kimchi before the survey . On thier first impression of Kimchi, 43.6% of respondents, answered the nationality of Kimchi is impression after eating Kimchi was 'good'. 51.4% of respondents, answered the nationality of Kimchi is 'Korea'. The most liked Kimchi is Baechu Kimchi, and they preferred the white stem of the Chinese cabbage. On their perception of Kimchi,'Kimchi is a good side dish with cooked rice' was totally received point. The most well-known cooking method of Kimchi turned out to be Kimchi Chigae. As the results of sensory evaluation on several types cabbage Kimchies at room temperature, the most preferred Kimchi by the students was two-day old and made out of 5g red pepper. And two-day old Kimchi lOg red pepper and 2g shangchai added was preferred, too. But the six-day old Kimchi was disliked. The two-day old Kimchi made out of lOg red pepper preserved in the refrigerator was the most-liked. The dishes using Kimchi as the main ingredient are listed according to the students preference as follows Kimchi Hundun, Kimchi Ddungchai, Kimchi Bokum, and Kimchi Ramen, and so on.

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Does the nuclear engineering field perform worse in utilizing women? Evidence from South Korea

  • Jihye Kam;Sungyeol Choi;Soohyung Lee
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.56 no.7
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    • pp.2676-2682
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    • 2024
  • Despite its remarkable socioeconomic development, South Korea underperforms in terms of female labor force participation and women in leadership positions. As women appear to avoid nuclear engineering, we aim to evaluate its relative performance in attracting women to its labor force compared to other college majors. Using college-major level information from 2000, we test whether the female faculty share in nuclear engineering is lower than its counterparts. Although nuclear engineering has one of the lowest female faculty shares, its share exceeds that of agricultural science, business and economics, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, and industrial engineering once we properly control for gender composition among students and other compounding factors. In other words, once female students major in nuclear engineering, they are less likely to leave their fields compared to their counterparts in other disciplines. This result implies that if the nuclear engineering field aims to attract more women to its workforce, it is important to target them from the early stage of their careers.