Educating Engineering Professors in Education

Engineering graduates with Ph.D. degrees need to know how to teach for both academic and industrial careers. Ideally, education in pedagogy will occur during graduate school. Research has an appropriate role in universities, but we need to ensure that all engineering professors are “good enough” teachers. Students can learn how to teach through TA training, a course in educational methods in engineering, supervised internships, and a combination of these methods. An action plan to improve teaching is presented.     

The gap analysis between Chinese pharmaceutical academia and industry from 2000 to 2018

The publication number in pharmaceutics from Chinese academia globally ranked second in 2014. However, the R&D capability of Chinese pharmaceutical industry significantly lags behind its globally 2nd market with 373 billion USD. The study aims to analyze the gaps between Chinese academia and industry in pharmaceutics. Publication, national funding programs and postgraduate training were analyzed to identify the academic output. R&D expenses input, research scientists and marketed products were investigated to evaluate the industrial demand. The Chinese publication number in pharmaceutics grows sharply, ranking first globally in 2017. The hot fields from Chinese scholars focused on nanomedicine and gene delivery, while the majority of products in Chinese pharmaceutical companies were still conventional dosage forms (e.g. tablet, capsule and injection). On the other hand, the number of Ph.D. graduates in pharmaceutics maintained a quite low-level output from 2000 to 2018, which seriously unmet the growing demand of high-level formulation scientists from Chinese pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, the development of Chinese drug administration system from 1978 to 2018 was detailed summarized, analyzed and discussed because the government policies strongly influence the academia and pharmaceutical industry. Two suggestions are provided to bridge the gaps between Chinese academia and pharmaceutical industry. On the one hand, Chinese universities should shift the academic evaluation system from publication-orientation to more diverse science and demand-driven researches. On the other hand, more industry-oriented Ph.D. graduates should be trained to meet the increasing demand from the pharmaceutical industry. As the second largest market in the world, Chinese pharmaceutical industry will face the enormous progress in next 5–10 years.

     

Path to success: an analysis of US educated elite academics in the United States

Few academics go on to become professors at prestigious universities. Candidates must have a very strong educational background in addition to demonstrating a high level of effort and academic ability. We analyze the educational backgrounds of elite academics with two main objectives. First, we evaluate the educational institutions in terms of the number of graduates who have become professors at prestigious universities. Second, we analyze the professor’s path to success to shed light on issues such as mobility and inbreeding. We analyze the educational backgrounds of 14,310 full professors from 48 top universities in the United States. We confine our analysis to undergraduate and graduate degrees attained within the United States. Some of our main findings are as follows: (a) 72% (44%) of the professors obtained their Ph.D. (undergraduate) degrees from 20 universities. (b) The top 17 universities with the highest number of Ph.D. alumni who became professors at prestigious universities were also among the top 20 universities with the highest number of undergraduate alumni who became professors at prestigious universities. (c) 70% of the professors who work at private universities obtained their degrees from private universities, whereas only half of the professors who work at public universities obtained their degrees from public universities. (d) Only 16% of the professors live in the same state in which they obtained their undergraduate degrees, which indicates a much higher mobility than the average graduate degree holder. (e) Only 4% of the professors work at the universities from which they graduated. (f) Professors graduate significantly faster than the median Ph.D. graduate.     

The Bologna reform’s impacts on the scientific publication performance of Ph.D. graduates—the case of Slovenia

Scientometrics - In this paper, the impact of the Bologna reform is analyzed based on differences in scientific publication performance among the Ph.D. graduates that enrolled into doctoral study...     

In Memoriam Nihat M. Bilgutay (March 31, 1952 - July 1, 2008)

NIHAT M. BILGUTAY was born on March 31, 1952, in Turkey. He received his academic training at Bradley University (B.S.E.E., 1973) and Purdue University (M.S.E.E., 1975; Ph.D., 1981). In 1981, Dr. Bilgutay joined Drexel University, where he was the Vernon L. Newhouse Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Associate Dean of Engineering. He served as the head of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department between 1995 and 2006 and as Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research in the College of Engineering between 1990 and 1995. He had been working in the area of ultrasound for 34 years and had earned an international reputation for his pioneering research in the area of split-spectrum processing for ultrasonic imaging applications.     

Research production in the arts and humanities

This study explored the main factors influencing the research production in the arts and humanities. A questionnaire was constructed to identify and assess the effects of various factors important for the productivity of the individual researcher as reflected in the number of papers and Ph.D.'s produced. First, respondents were given the opportunity to list in their own words a number of important factors influencing research productivity. Secondly, they evaluated on rating scales the importance of a number of pre-selected factors (e.g. individual characteristics, organisational features, external factors) assumed to be important for research productivity. 50% of a sample of 256 researchers in the humanities responded. Ratings were grouped to produce a number of indices and these were subject to multiple regression analyses. The main results showed that the production of papers was predicted by the number of Ph.D.'s produced and inversely related to the importance of organisational factors. The production of Ph.D.'s was dependent on the year of the Ph.D. and the position of the respondent as well as on the number of papers s/he produced. A number of conclusions were drawn: a) there was support for the academic social position effect also in the humanities; b) organisational factors apparently played a minor role in comparison to individual characteristics in the humanities than in the sciences and; c) the differences in productivity of papers were also related to gender, but not to size, area or language of publications. Implications for further studies were suggested.This work was supported by a grant from the Council for Studies of Higher Education and finished while the first author was a Visiting Research Fellow at SPRU, University of Sussex, 1995. I wish to thankBen R. Martin, SPRU, University of Sussex andAnton Nederhof, CWTS, Leiden University for valuable comments on an earlier version of this paper which was presented at the workshop Studies on the Arts and Humanities and the Social Sciences, at SPRU, University of Sussex, 30 May, 1995.     

Regional R&D activities and interactions in the Swedish Triple Helix

The Swedish innovation system is analysed in terms of the interaction between academia, government and the private sector. For each of 21 Swedish regions we analyse the distribution of research activities, doctoral employment, and publication output, as well as the flow of doctoral graduates and the distribution of co-authorship links across regions and sectors. The three main urban regions have about 75 percent of all R&D activities and outputs. They also have a more balanced supply of academic, governmental and private research activities than the smaller regions, and the interactions among sectors within these regions are more intense. The inter-regional flow of PhDs is also to the advantage of the big regions. So far, decentralization of the academic sector does not seem to have had as similar decentralizing effect on private R&D. Unless this imbalance changes, smaller regions will continue to be net exporters of skill and knowledge to the big regions.     

Key Labs and Open Labs in the Chinese scientific research system: Their role in the national and international scientific arena

Summary Chinese science has developed rapidly over the latest fifteen years. It is said that it is now in a quantitative expansion phase. A series of programmes extending over a period of twenty years has resulted in more than 160 Key Labs and nearly 400 Open Labs at present. The organization and evaluation of this system of labs is one of the strategic measures for scientific resource reorganization in China. The role played by these labs is analysed in this article using data from the Chinese Science Citation Database(CSCD) and the Science Citation Index(SCI). Nowadays almost one quarter of all internationally oriented Chinese publications originate from these labs. The same is true for citations received by Chinese scientists in the SCI. Comparisons between SCI-based and CSCD-based performance results show that the relative academic impact of Key Labs and Open Labs is more international than domestic. Key Labs have a higher total production and receive more citations than Open Labs. Yet their impact, measured as citations per publication, is very similar. We conclude that when it comes to impact on the international scene, these labs have not yet led to a big step forward for Chinese science as a whole. The fact that in the year 2004 a new evaluation procedure has been put in place means that the Chinese scientific authorities have recognized this fact and are dealing with it.     

Application of scientometric methods to chemical research in Iran: Reflections on Iran&;#39;s current science policy

Summary Following a brief historical account of the initial difficulties of introducing modern sciences, especially the Western art of independent scientific inquiry, into Iran, using data obtained from the ISI (http://access.isiproducts.com/trials) an attempt is made to analyze the apparent present successes of Iranian scientists on the international science market. Using the corresponding ISI data of the publications (1990-2003) of 24 selected young chemistry Ph.D. graduates and present faculty members at various internal academia, a quantitative and qualitative assessment (www.geocities.com/iipopescu) of their achievements has been attempted and the results related to the strengths and weaknesses of the present science policy of the country.     

Are formally trained motorcyclists safer?

The present study was conducted to determine whether graduates of the Motorcycle Training Program (MTP) were less likely to have had an accident or committed a traffic violation while riding a motorcycle compared to informally trained (IT) motorcyclists. Since motorcyclists could not be randomly assigned to the training program, multivariate analyses were used to impose statistical control on the data. Samples of MTP graduates (N = 811) and IT motorcyclists (N = 1080) were interviewed about their riding experiences during the past four years including accidents and violations. Univariate analyses indicated that the MTP graduates were less likely than IT riders to have had accidents and violations during the criterion period. However, the graduates and IT riders differed in sex, age, time licensed, distance travelled, education and riding after drinking, all characteristics significantly related to accident and violation likelihood. Multivariate analyses, controlling for the differences in these characteristics, revealed that the MTP graduates and IT riders did not differ in accident likelihood but the MTP graduates were significantly less likely to have committed a traffic violation than the IT riders. Although the lower incidence of traffic violations among graduates could be attributed to the training program, it is possible that the graduates sought formal training because they were safety conscious and this attitude also influenced their riding behaviour.     

From Green to Sustainability—Trends in the Assessment Methods of Green Buildings

This research investigates recent developments in assessment methods of green buildings and compares the differences in rating systems among the United Kingdom, USA, and Germany. There are indications that the rating systems are moving from green buildings to sustainable buildings. In order to understand the recent research in academic areas, we survey the recent Ph.D. dissertations and literature related to green building assessment. Discussion is provided on the major research areas of green buildings, which cover accountability of life cycle cost, methodology for balancing the three pillars, and government vision and public policy.     

The Effectiveness of Learning Simulations for Electronic Laboratories

This work investigates the efficacy of software simulations of electronic circuits laboratories to support beginning electrical engineering students. Experiment 1 was a formative evaluation of an Electronic Laboratory Simulator (ELS), as an optional add‐on to physical labs for 120 subjects at four universities. All subjects received the same treatment: their normal classes and physical labs, with optional use of simulated labs. Subjects took written tests specific to the lab's content, before and after using each simulated lab. Only subjects who took both pre‐ and post‐tests were included. Pre‐ and post‐test comparisons indicated significant improvement in both theory and lab knowledge when scores for all labs were combined, but inconsistent performance on individual labs. As the treatment included other learning opportunities in addition to simulated labs, the results were not attributed to the simulations, but provided initial indications and qualitative data on subjects' experiences. These helped to improve the labs and the implementation strategies. Experiment 2 used 40 college sophomores in a beginning electronic circuits lab. Physical lab subjects received seven physical labs. Combined lab subjects received a combination of seven simulated labs and two physical labs. The latter repeated two of the simulated labs to provide physical lab practice. Both treatments used the same assignments. Learner outcome measures were: (a) time required to complete a new criterion physical lab; (b) score on written lab and theory tests over all the labs; and (c) comments on the lab experience. The group that used combined simulated and physical labs performed significantly better on the written tests than the group using entirely physical labs. Both groups were equivalent in time to complete the criterion physical lab. Comments about the simulated labs were generally positive, and also provided specific suggestions for changes.     

Relation of early career performance and recognition to the probability of winning the Nobel Prize in economics

To explore the relation between early career performance or recognition and receiving the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, we compare winners of the John Bates Clark Medal, the most prestigious early career recognition for economists, with other successful scholars. The initial comparison combines JBCM winners with scholars published in leading economics journals, controlling for educational background (institution conferring the Ph.D.) and publication and citation success. We then narrow the comparison group down to those given relatively early recognition (based on age category) in the form of other major awards. Lastly, we compare the JBCM awardees with synthetic counterfactuals that best resemble their pre-award academic career performance. All three analyses provide strong support for the notion that winning the JBCM is related to receiving the Nobel Prize, the award of which is also correlated with early career performance success as measured by number of publications and citations.     

Brazilian scientific production,financial support,established investigators and doctoral graduates

In the near future, Brazil is expected to face a number of challenges with regards to economic and social development, and scientific production is a critical aspect of this development process. Over the past 30 years, there has been an almost 18-fold increase in the number of brazilian papers published, up from about 2,000 in 1980 to more than 35,000 in 2009. In this study we analyze the evolution of scientific production in terms of input (resources and permanent investigators) and output (scientific papers and doctorate graduates). We evaluate whether structural investments and the number of investigators at universities are both able to explain the increase in the number of papers, by investigating the relationships among growth rates in investments and the quantity of the papers published, as well as the number of doctorate graduates and active permanent investigators. As an indication of the fluctuations in investments pertaining to academic research, we consider the budget history of the largest Brazilian federal agencies charged with providing academic grants. We observe that the burgeoning number of papers has occurred independently of investments and the number of established investigators, thus suggesting an increase in the efficiency of Brazilian scientific output. Moreover, this increase in efficiency has occurred in conjunction with an increased number of Doctoral graduates per year. In this context, we propose that an evaluation of the academic structure is necessary in order to ascertain the risks of this increased “efficiency”. Moreover, the recent cut of over US$ 1 billion announced by the Brazilian government may jeopardize the quality of scientific output in the future.     

Engineering Ph.D. Studies in Portugal: Process and Product

This brief research note is based on data that were gathered as part of the Human Capital and Mobility project “Postgraduate Education and Training in the European Community,” a research network directed by Robert Burgess of CEDAR—University of Warwick involving eight countries. The case study reported here focuses on the engineering doctorate in Portugal, with specific attention to the different paths taken by Ph.D. students, the research process context, supervision patterns, and present uses of an engineering Ph.D. degree in Portugal.     

Does online technology provide sustainable HE or aggravate diploma disease? Evidence from Bangladesh—a comparison of conditions before and during COVID-19

Higher education (HE) serves to produce well trained and job-ready graduates. Despite this belief, whether HE produces certificates/qualifications or job-ready graduates—this debate remains unsettled. To date, the current COVID-19 pandemic which erupted in late 2019 continues to create much economic, social and political dislocation throughout the world. Consequently, one outcome for HE during this crisis is the much greater dependence on online/digital technology to deliver courses and programs. Although it is not considered to be a complete substitute, critics argue that education delivered through online technology has expended the ‘diploma disease’ crisis and subsequently may pose a threat to the viability of producing HE graduates. It has been suggested that this can result in significant long-term problems that may be impossible to recover from. This study was based on a ‘empirical survey’ where the sample incorporated 240 people in two groups (before and during COVID-19, for a total of 120 in each), and the objective was to examine academic and job-readiness of graduates in greater depth. Findings demonstrate that pre-pandemic students scored poorly academically compared to their post-pandemic classmates. Pre-pandemic graduates, on the other hand, had higher work readiness scores in terms of both aptitude and practical aspects. Furthermore, both groups outperformed their job-readiness scores in terms of learning performance. This raises the question: is it the job of higher education to promote sustainable production of graduates or deliver certificates and degrees? COVID-19 appears to have been utilised by the HE system as an excuse to exacerbate the “diploma disease crisis,” a scenario that must be resolved by developing a proper policy framework that allows HE to play the necessary role in an emergency. Meaningful measures should be taken so that online technology is employed properly in this situation.     

The significance of the number of highly cited papers as an indicator of scientific prolificacy

After presenting arguments that the number of highly cited papers (HCPs, 25 or more citations) has some advantages as an indicator of an author's scientific impact, the paper discusses citation data of 338 university professors in departments of medicine in the Netherlands. An analysis of the distribution of HCPs over the years provides support for the following conclusions: (1) prolific researchers with a large number of HCPs usually manifest themselves already in their Ph.D. work, apparently almost independent of the scientific setting; (2) it cannot be taken for granted that a successful Ph.D. student with some HCPs connected with his/her doctoral thesis will become a prolific successful researcher; (3) it is unlikely that an unsuccessful Ph.D. student without HCPs connected with his/her doctoral thesis will turn out to be a prolific successful researcher; and (4) for researchers, just as for artists, sportsmen, etc., talent is the most decisive factor in being successful.     

减速器虚拟拆装实验系统的构建

针对当前实验课程的设备台套数和场地等的不足,分析了国内外虚拟实验室的现状与特点,在研究Cult3D构建交互式三维虚拟场景的过程、方法和相关技术的基础上,以齿轮减速器为例,利用Cult3D及其它相关软件工具,构建了一个基于网络的齿轮减速器虚拟拆装实验,该实验系统具有三维、动态性、交互性、低带宽网络传输等特性,克服了传统实验的不足,在实际应用中取得了良好的效果。     

Research performance and bureaucracy within public research labs

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between bureaucracy and research performance within Public Research Bodies. The research methodology is applied on a sample of 100 interviewed belonging to 11 institutes of National Research Council of Italy. The main finding is that within Italian Public Research Council there is academic bureaucratization that reduces performance and efficiency of institutes. In fact, institutes have two organizational behaviours: high bureaucracy — low performance and low bureaucracy - high performance. These bureaucratic tendencies are also present in other countries and particularly: the public research labs have an academic bureaucratization because of administrative burden necessary to the governance of the structures, whereas the universities have mainly an administrative bureaucratization generated by the increase of administrative staff in comparison with researchers and faculty.