This study aims to identify research trends in student experience in higher education through analyzing the topics around which research on university students’ experiences has been conducted. Using the topic modeling technique, the Scopus database for studies published up to 2017 containing the terms “student experience” and either “higher education” or “tertiary education” in their titles, keywords, and abstracts was searched. After excluding overlapping studies, a total of 1211 studies were extracted. The articles were then classified into a total of 21 topics on university student experience, including “Learning with online technologies”, “Practice at the university”, and “Diversity in college”. The results of the current study indicate that it will be possible to offer various programs to support more valuable and better student experience at the university level. Thus, this study elucidates the ways in which research fields regarding student experience have been constructed and the ways in which the main research trends have changed.

The purpose of this study is to analyze data regarding courses making the transition from face-to-face to non face-to-face classes, and to find areas which are in need of improvement regarding the quality of these courses. All conclusions are grounded on the teaching reflection data of instructors who taught general education courses during the 1st semester of 2020. Seventy-seven instructors in charge of 169 general education courses participated in the online course reflection survey. The reflection data were classified and analyzed in four areas: the basic communication education (BCE), the basic science and math education (BSM), the liberal arts education (LAE) and the cultivated education (CE). The outcome reveals that the degree of achievement of the teaching goals, the adequacy of the teaching methods, and the appropriateness of the evaluation methods turned out to be between 2.5 and 3.0 points on average on a 4 point scale, which is lower than in face-to-face classes. Good examples were found in some areas though. In BCE, online classes are beneficial in terms of writing more than speaking, as well as for beginners who are reticent to speak in a foreign language. In BSM, it is useful to learn theories through recorded video lectures and to solve the difficult problems through real-time online classes. LAE was successful in redesigning teaching contents and learning activities to suit online classes and supplement interactions using the digital software. CE, including aesthetic and physical education, suffered certain teaching limitations through online classes. Several ideas for improving the courses in the 2nd semester were suggested, such as balancing recorded video lectures and real-time online classes, considering proper learning tasks and assignments, improving the quality of the teaching materials, dealing fairly with the evaluations given by the students, activating interaction and feedback, and extending the use of multiple digital SW in class. The study could contribute to support future teaching methods and to elevate the quality of the distance educational environment in higher education.

This study explores the concept of curriculum articulation between secondary and higher education, focusing on the continuity of curricula and their implications for foundational liberal education in universities. It analyzes the similarities and differences between general education at the high school and university levels. Both frameworks aim to cultivate holistic individuals equipped with essential competencies and a sound moral character through broad-based education. They share commonalities in historical origins, educational objectives, and curricular structures. However, high school curricula are typically organized around subject-based learning, whereas university curricula are more discipline-oriented, with pedagogical differences arising from the distinct roles of teachers and professors. These differences manifest in instructional content, teaching methodologies, and assessment practices. From the perspective of curricular continuity, sequence, and integration, the study advocates for the development of academically rigorous liberal arts courses at the university level that facilitate interdisciplinary mobility and integration for students, and the enhancement of teaching methods for interdisciplinary courses through ongoing faculty research. The conclusion suggests conceptualizing liberal education as encompassing three distinct domains: basic literacy education, liberal arts education, and experiential learning. It emphasizes that the scope of liberal arts education should extend beyond basic competencies, asserting that continuous faculty engagement and scholarly inquiry are essential for the effective development and refinement of liberal education curricula.

Basic science education in university serves as both a basic education and general education, responding to social demands for the teaching of content knowledge and the cultivation of scientific competencies. This study aimed to design and implement a competency-based blended learning approach (the experimental group) and a face-to-face lecture-centered approach (the control group) for the course “General Chemistry” to develop both content knowledge and scientific competencies, comparing changes and differences in scientific competencies, academic achievement, and course satisfaction. The experimental group acquired content knowledge through video lectures in a distance setting and developed scientific competencies through face-to-face activities emphasizing scientific problem-solving and writing. On the other hand, the control group received lecture-based instruction focusing on content knowledge. Finally, all classes were conducted face-to-face in a classroom. Both experimental and control group classes were led by the same instructor during the same semester for students of at A University, with 23 participants in the experimental group and 24 participants in the control group. Results revealed positive improvements in scientific competencies, specifically in “scientific inquiry” and “scientific communication skills,” for the experimental group, while the control group experienced a decline in “scientific participation and lifelong learning” competencies. Although there was no statistically significant difference in academic achievement, the control group's average was generally higher than that of the experimental group. Conversely, course satisfaction was generally higher for the experimental group compared to the control group. Finally, some implications are suggested for instructors aiming to design blended competency-based courses.