Browsing by Author "Van Hoof, Hubert B."

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Bridging the Gap between Industry and Academia: Establishing an Industry Advisory Board in Ecuador’s Higher Education System
(2017) Van Hoof, Hubert B.; Galarza Torres, Marcela Alexandra; Sanchez Rodas, Lourdes Monserrat; Eljuri Jaramillo, Maria Isabel; Jaramillo Granda, Cristina Del cisne
Considering the recent changes regarding curriculum redesign in Ecuador’s higher education, as stipulated in the Ley Orgánica de Educación Superior (LOES), this article discusses the benefits of the creation of an industry advisory board in a professional hospitality and tourism management program. Based on a review of the literature, the article argues that an industry advisory board is helpful in creating employment opportunities for students, research opportunities for faculty and engaging alumni in the academic program. Its members can provide academic programs with information on the latest industry trends and assist them in enhancing their community outreach efforts.
Ecuador's higher education system in times of change
(2013) Van Hoof, Hubert B.; Estrella, Mateo; Eljuri, María Isabel; Torres León, Leonardo
Ecuador’s higher education system is undergoing dramatic changes. The National Constitution of 2008 and the Higher Education Law of 2010 have changed the way Ecuador’s universities are funded, administered, and accredited. The importance of research was elevated and drastic changes were made to the academic qualifications and employment conditions of full-time faculty. This article describes the attempt to raise the level of Ecuador’s system of higher education and its impact on faculty and administrators.
Las experiencias con programas de intercambio internacionales en la Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador: percepciones de participantes
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2015-12) Cueva, Ana N.; Van Hoof, Hubert B.; Han, Rachel; Eljuri, María Isabel; Universidad de Cuenca; Dirección de Investigación de la Universidad de Cuenca
This article reports on a study conducted among students who participated in international exchange programs at the Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador. The intent of the study was to compare student opinions about the value of an international experience to the literature on the topic, and to investigate what students saw as benefits and challenges of the experience and how the experience contributed to their personal and professional development. The study found significant differences of opinion between incoming and outgoing students with regard to their motivations to study abroad, their personal and professional development as a result of the exposure and about their experiences with the host institution. The article advocates greater attention to the international experience among the universities in the country and provides suggestions for future research.
Improving the publication visibility of Ecuador’s higher education system
(2016) Feyen, Jan; Milia, Matías Federico; Van Hoof, Hubert B.; Quinde Herrera, Karina Sandra; Ochoa Robles, María Verónica; Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria; Bojorque Iñeguez, Jaime Asdrúbal
This article reports on a comparative study between the publication productivity of Ecuador’s leading Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) (as reported in the SCOPUS journal/proceedings database; https://www.elsevier.com/solutions/scopus) and the publication efforts of similar universities in South America and Western Europe when those universities converted from a “teaching-only” to a “teaching and research” focus. The authors highlight the causes of Ecuador’s research and publication paucity and suggest remedial strategies which focus on adjusting the profile and activities of Ecuador’s HEIs to better meet the skills gap in the 21st century economy; economy driven by innovation and knowledge. The article proposes that Ecuador’s HEIs make teaching collaborative and more affordable, stimulate faculty to examine society-relevant problems in teams, educate and encourage faculty to publish in peer-reviewed journals and enhance effectiveness and efficiency so that a stronger teaching-researchservice nexus emerges; all even though Ecuador has entered a period of economic hardship with dwindling funds for higher education.
International students at the University of Cuenca: a study of their needs and perceptions
(Universidad de Cuenca, 2015-12) Sánchez Rodas, Lourdes Montserrat; Van Hoof, Hubert B.; Fan, Alei (Aileen); Ullauri, Narcisa; Universidad de Cuenca; Dirección de Investigación de la Universidad de Cuenca
This manuscript discusses a study that was conducted among incoming international exchange students at the University of Cuenca, Ecuador in the period 2011-2013. Its focus was not on the students’ educational experiences, but rather on their opinions about the tourism services that were provided and on their travel preferences. Several comparative analyses of the opinions of males vs. females and of Latin American students vs. European/US students found significant differences of opinion regarding the various experiences. The manuscript makes a contribution to the literature in its focus on the students’ perceptions about tourism services in Ecuador and on their travel behaviors. It offers practical recommendations for university administrators, tourism executives and policy makers as they try to enhance the country’s tourism offerings and to improve Ecuador’s image as a safe, well-developed tourism destination and as a welcoming site for international exchange students.
Quantifying cultural tightness-looseness in Ecuador
(2021) Jolly, Phillip
Cultural tightness-looseness represents the degree to which a particular culture possesses strong behavioral norms, and the degree to which members of that culture are likely to sanction individuals who deviate from those norms. While tightness-looseness has been quantified for a large and growing number of countries around the world, there are many countries where a tightness-looseness score has yet to be determined, thus impeding the inclusion of those countries in cross-cultural research with a tightness-looseness focus. There is a dearth of research on cultural tightness-looseness in South America in particular. We report results from a national survey of 1,265 Ecuadorian residents which provided quantification of the relatively tight culture of Ecuador.