Zsuzsanna Tóth and Bálint Péter Bedzsula
The purpose of this paper is to identify and interpret the critical quality attributes of core educational services at the course level both with student and lecturer involvement…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and interpret the critical quality attributes of core educational services at the course level both with student and lecturer involvement. Significant differences between the viewpoints of these two directly involved stakeholder groups are also demonstrated to provide a better understanding of student expectations.
Methodology
Students of quality management courses were invited to collect those attributes that could have an impact on their perceived educational service quality. The compiled list of 23 characteristics has been formed on the basis of a four-point Likert scale-based questionnaire. With approximately 360 responses, thorough statistical analyses have been executed to investigate whether any significant differences could be detected between the quality attributes perceived by the different student segments. A group of lecturers has also been invited to fulfil the same questionnaire to compare their viewpoints with those of the students.
Findings
The results allow us to identify critical quality attributes which may be used in all platforms and interactions with students. The conclusions can be implemented on the course level to adjust the plan-do-check-act-based improvement of courses in which lecturers are directly interested.
Originality
As the new generation of students increasingly regard themselves as customers, they have become more aware of how they are taught and how they participate in the learning process. Institutionalizing this approach may contribute to the shaping of the organizational quality culture by emphasizing student focus and may result in the identification of best practices and standardization of processes at the course level.
Details
Keywords
La Ode Nazaruddin, Md Tota Miah, Aries Susanty, Maria Fekete-Farkas, Zsuzsanna Naárné Tóth and Gyenge Balázs
This study aims to uncover apple preference and consumption in Indonesia, to disclose the risk of non-halal contamination of apples and the importance of maintaining the halal…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to uncover apple preference and consumption in Indonesia, to disclose the risk of non-halal contamination of apples and the importance of maintaining the halal integrity of apples along the supply chain and to uncover the impacts of food miles of apples along supply chain segmentation.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted mixed research methods under a fully mixed sequential dominant status design (QUAN → qual). Data were collected through a survey in some Indonesian provinces (N = 396 respondents). Samples were collected randomly from individual consumers. The qualitative data were collected through interviews with 15 apple traders in Indonesia. Data were analysed using crosstab, chi-square and descriptive analysis.
Findings
First, Muslim consumers believe in the risk of chemical treatment of apples because it can affect the halal status of apples. Second, Indonesian consumers consider the importance of halal certification of chemical-treated apples and the additives for apple treatments. Third, the insignificance of domestic apple preference contributes to longer food miles at the first- and middle-mile stages (preference for imported apples). Fourth, apple consumption and shopping distance contribute to the longer food miles problem at the last-mile stage. Fifth, longer food miles have negative impacts, such as emissions and pollution, food loss and waste, food insecurity, financial loss, slow development of the local economy and food unsafety.
Practical implications
This research has implications for the governments, farmers, consumers (society) and business sectors.
Originality/value
This study proposes a framework of food miles under a halal supply chain (halal food miles) to reduce the risk of food miles and improve halal integrity. The findings from this research have theoretical implications for the development of the food mile theory, halal food supply chain and green supply chain.
Details
Keywords
Zsuzsanna Eszter Tóth, György Andor and Gábor Árva
This paper aims to describe an internal quality enhancement system based on peer reviewing and summarizes the first results of application at the Budapest University of Technology…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe an internal quality enhancement system based on peer reviewing and summarizes the first results of application at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences.
Design/methodology/approach
A peer review framework has been developed to evaluate and further develop the teaching programs and practices. The questionnaire-based peer review program included 22 courses and involved almost 100 lecturers. Peer review outcomes are completed by end-of-semester student course evaluations.
Findings
The results allow us to map differences between lecturers and courses and to identify correlations between the assessment criteria applied for peer reviewing.
Practical implications
The implemented framework implies individual, faculty and organizational development to enhance a deeper understanding of how to create quality in teaching programs and processes. Secondly, the peer review program contributes to the establishment of a learning community with a growing common understanding of what is considered good quality in business education.
Originality/value
The paper is valuable as a guide to faculty management wishing to implement a peer review framework within their own institution. The novelty of the presented approach is that it focuses on a semester-long teaching performance including classroom performance, course outlines, teaching materials, course requirements and processes and means of student performance assessments.
Details
Keywords
Zsuzsanna Eszter Tóth and Vivien Surman
The purpose of this paper is to propose a service quality measuring and evaluating framework for courses that are not part of the regular end-of-semester course evaluation system…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a service quality measuring and evaluating framework for courses that are not part of the regular end-of-semester course evaluation system because of their special characteristics. The results of an academic year-long application are also to be demonstrated.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the SERVQUAL methodology and specific models proposed in the literature, altogether 26 statements related to project works were formulated, in case of which, students rated both the importance and performance addressed in each statement on a seven-point Likert scale. With an average 68 per cent response rate and more than 500 filled out questionnaires, importance-performance analyses complemented with statistical analysis were executed to investigate whether there are any differences between the different levels of project work courses, programmes, levels of studies and sub-departments. These results were then followed by focus group interviews by further addressing the importance issues.
Findings
Based on the joint conclusions drawn from the statistical analyses and extracted from focus groups, those statements were highlighted that can be considered as dealing with critical to quality issues. The results have been utilized to adjust the questionnaire according to the “voice of students”.
Research limitations/implications
A complex approach is adopted to measure and evaluate service quality on a course level in the form of a post-course questionnaire. The first results lay the foundation for managerial decisions related to project work courses and supervising processes according to the plan–do–check–act philosophy.
Originality/value
During project works, students can master the necessary professional knowledge and those inevitable soft skills that are needed to be successful in the labour market. Therefore, the measurement and evaluation of project work courses may provide new information on course-level service quality and may be linked to total student experience results.
Details
Keywords
Zsuzsanna Eszter Tóth and Tamás Jónás
The purpose of this paper is to ask how the EFQM Excellence Model and organizations' self‐assessment practice could contribute to the managerial and quantification efforts of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to ask how the EFQM Excellence Model and organizations' self‐assessment practice could contribute to the managerial and quantification efforts of intellectual capital (IC) and how indicators and measures applied during self‐assessment can be connected to well‐known intellectual capital measuring models such as Sveiby's Intangible Asset Monitor.
Design/methodology/approach
The method applied highlights the potentials in the EFQM Excellence Model's criteria system to measure specific IC elements by studying the self‐assessment practice of 31 Hungarian National Quality Award (NQA) winners.
Findings
The EFQM Excellence Model is a suitable approach for characterizing the management and measurement of human, customer and structural capital within the organization.
Research limitations/implications
Corporations following regular self‐assessment practice have the ability to measure most of their intangibles, at least those which serve the traceability of strategic purposes and internal measuring objectives. IC measurement can be regarded as part of organizational excellence.
Originality/value
The criteria system of the EFQM Model makes synergic effects between single IC elements visible. Due to regular and systematic self‐assessments those IC elements are highlighted which support the execution of current strategic purposes. These fortify the contribution of IC management to strategy deployment.
Details
Keywords
Zsuzsanna Eszter Tóth, Tamás Jónás, Roland Bérces and Bálint Bedzsula
The Department of Management and Corporate Economics as the flagship of teaching and researching quality management at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics has…
Abstract
Purpose
The Department of Management and Corporate Economics as the flagship of teaching and researching quality management at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics has conducted an extended survey among students in five different business courses in order to get deeper knowledge about the factors influencing student (dis)satisfaction. The papers aims to discuss this.
Design/methodology/approach
Initially students were asked to fill out a course evaluation questionnaire of 11 questions. After processing the questionnaires, problem solving techniques with strong student involvement were applied in order to lay the foundation for long‐term course improvement actions. The main objective was to identify the factors that were given the greatest importance by the students, but where the performance of the course was low in order to reveal the potentials of development.
Findings
Improving student satisfaction is a must at all courses as the financial issues of the faculty and the department are strongly affected by students' course ratings. By extending the application of this type of course, evaluation to faculty and university level would be a step forward regarding the development of satisfaction questionnaire in use at this moment.
Originality/value
This kind of questionnaire structure and the validation of the presented dual approach would not only highlight the areas needing to be developed, but also student deliverance could have more aspects.
Details
Keywords
Despite the increasing number of transnational universities around the world, little attention has been paid to students who attend foreign universities in their own countries and…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the increasing number of transnational universities around the world, little attention has been paid to students who attend foreign universities in their own countries and their adjustment to the new learning environment. This study aims to examine some of the adaptations freshmen students have to undergo while studying at an American university in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Design/methodology/approach
This study is conducted at an American university in the UAE and involved 152 freshmen students, investigating their challenges to adapting to the university academically and socially. The target respondents were first-year students, typically 18–19 years old men and women of various majors and nationalities who completed high school in the country. Questionnaires were emailed to students; a total of 184 surveys were completed (with prior permission), but only 152 of those fitted the criteria and were used in the study.
Findings
Findings indicate that although these students study at home, by attending a foreign university many of them rely heavily on the support of peers, especially co-nationals. They require similar academic and emotional support from teachers as many first-year students at university do.
Research limitations/implications
The findings have limitations as data were collected at a single point in time through surveys. Being a single researcher, the study did not opt for breadth to answer the research questions but aimed to find out freshmen students’ challenges in adapting to the university. Despite the limitations of the study, several issues were raised that can be investigated in future studies.
Originality/value
The study provided insights into the challenges first-year students face at a transnational university in the UAE. It identifies the support that could be provided by the university to facilitate students’ successful adjustment process to the educational and socio-cultural environment of the university. Although this was small-scale research and cannot be generalized to a larger population, the findings could be transferable to other, similar settings in transnational universities in the region. Findings might be compared and contrasted to other, related cases, as the structural aspects could be noticed in similar cases or situations.
Details
Keywords
Gabriella Lamanda and Zsuzsanna Tamásné Vőneki
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between ESG disclosure and banks performance and to discuss how banks are committed to the implementation of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between ESG disclosure and banks performance and to discuss how banks are committed to the implementation of sustainability issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors examined the annual, risk and sustainability reports published by 26 banks located in four Central European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) in the period of 2017–2021. The authors applied the methodology of content analysis and developed indexes. Panel regression was performed to improve and ensure the robustness of this study.
Findings
The results show that social and governance aspects dominate the ESG preparedness; however, after 2019, there was a significant improvement in the integration of environmental issues. This study confirms a strong association between bank size (total assets) and ESG reporting, and between capital adequacy and ESG reporting. The results demonstrate that there is no connection between banks' operational and financial performance and ESG disclosure. Finally, this study concludes that the integration of ESG risks into the risk management framework is at an early stage.
Practical implications
This study also adds to the existing research in the field of sustainability reporting. For regulators, this research proves their essential role in the facilitation of sustainable development. For practitioners, the ESG disclosure index could serve as a “detection tool” in the sustainability self-assessment process.
Originality/value
The authors examined – through a self-developed multidimensional ESG disclosure index – the sustainability reporting of the banking sector in four countries from the Central European region.