Boston College: Open Journal Systems
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Selling Sex, Drink and Gender: A Storyville Story
No full textFrom 1897 to 1917, there existed a legally sanctioned (though not technically legal) Red Light district in the city of New Orleans. Dubbed Storyville in dubious honor of the city alderman, Sidney Story, who allowed for its creation, the red light district spanned several blocks comprising both single-room bagnios and elaborate “high-end” brothels. Storyville’s pseudo-legal status allowed for multiple, regularly published guidebooks to the district—advertising everything from brothels and individual sex workers to restaurants, liquor and cures for venereal diseases. The scholarship on Storyville is sparse and often fails to recognize the complex gender dynamics playing out between the high end Madams, who held considerable economic sway as the “faces” and partial owners of their own establishments, and their male backers who controlled the service and entertainment complex that surrounded Storyville. In this paper, I examine advertising in Storyville’s guidebooks—archived in Pamela Anderson’s Guidebooks to Sin—to illustrate how Storyville constructed placating narratives of masculinity, especially around the districts entries, to put customers at ease while maintaining the brothels themselves as a heightened space of feminine exoticism. There is a particular focus throughout the paper on the advertisement of alcohol and how different beverages, drunk in different spaces, took on gendered connotations
Implementing Data-Driven Decision-Making to Improve the Quality of Education in Ethiopian Higher Learning Institutions
Full text linkThis paper investigates the barriers and facilitators to the adoption of data-driven decision-making (DDDM) in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ethiopia. The study employed a three-round modified Delphi method involving a panel of experts comprising of faculty members and specialists in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). A total of 57 experts participated, and 39 barriers and 20 facilitators were identified. The top three barriers included the lack of a data-driven decision-making policy, organisational culture, and a data management policy. The availability of network infrastructure was identified as the most important facilitator. The results of the study indicate that organisational barriers are important factors in the effective implementation of data-driven decision-making to improve the quality of education in Ethiopian higher education institutions. The findings emphasise the significance of policy in overcoming obstacles and promoting a culture of data-driven decision-making in Ethiopian higher education institutions. Improved policy and effective implementation of practices can address the identified barriers
Using Extended Curriculum Programmes to Improve Student Success at Universities
Full text linkThis study presents findings from a larger, mixed methods study that focuses on student success in an Academic Development Programme (ADP) at a South African university. Variables within the demographic, institutional, economic, cognitive, personal needs, and psychological domains of student success were investigated. A sequential triangulation research design was adopted. Data was collected in three phases: a quantitative, secondary analysis of existing, historical demographic data from students (n=5,560) in an Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) during an 11–year period (2010–2020), a quantitative survey phase (n=161) and an interview phase (n=15). Data was analysed by means of descriptive statistics and theory-driven, inductive coding. The findings revealed that the ECP alleviates the differences in demography and economic status to such an extent that students from deprived areas were equally successful as students from more affluent backgrounds. While all domains are important, the study indicates that the psychological domain and the personal needs domain are most notable in relation to student success. The study recommends that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) provide students with sufficient help and support especially on students’ mental well-being
The Diploma Divide
Full text linkThis paper uses political behavior to support the argument that affirmative action is still necessary in today’s culture to create more tolerant campuses, and in turn, a more tolerant American population. The sunset provision in previous Supreme Court cases, such as Bakke and Grutter, demonstrates that affirmative action should not be a forever policy, but is necessary in order to provide opportunities to students of all backgrounds and ultimately strive towards the American ideal of equality. Studies have shown that the more educated a person is, the more likely they are to be more tolerant of people outside of their own in-group due to social learning theory, contact theory, and increased levels of personal efficacy. Data also shows that this tolerance is enduring over a lifetime. The so-called “diploma divide” can also be explained by the aftermath of attending a university
Brazil’s Private Higher Education: Equity and Distance Learning
No full textThis study explores the complexities of Brazil’s higher education system, characterized by the dominance of private, for-profit institutions, the expansion of distance education, and persistent challenges in ensuring quality and equity. We analyze the historical and political factors that have shaped this landscape and discuss their implications for public policy, particularly in the context of the Lula administration
Higher Education Under Fire: Equity Policies in a Polarized World
No full textUniversities have faced an exceptional wave of backlash against the promotion of equity in access to and success in higher education in recent years, even in countries with a long democratic tradition. This article analyzes the forms and consequences of this backlash and outlines the type of research needed to monitor the impact of measures and actions to continue the promotion of equity and inclusion in higher education
The Twin Challenges for Tertiary Education in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
No full textSince the turn of the twenty-first century, tertiary education enrollments have exploded globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This expanding demand for tertiary education presents two central challenges for policy makers: managing the pressures on quality, relevance, governance, and equitable access; and managing the financing of the sector. Effective responses will involve substantial investments in infrastructure, training, diversification of delivery, and regulatory reforms
Recognition of Microcredentials in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities
No full textHigher education is expected to prepare students with skills relevant to the job market. In response to this, policy makers have begun integrating microcredentials into degree programs. Microcredentials carry academic credits, distinguishing them from traditional short courses. Therefore, it is important to focus on microcredentials by trusted providers, ensuring quality assurance and portability. Their expanded use will undoubtedly enable students to flexibly acquire skills of their interest while pursuing a degree