No abstract

No abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) on international scientific journals. A bibliometric analysis was conducted of publications included in three main scientific publication databases: Eric, EBSCOhost and the ISI Web of Knowledge, from 2002 to 2010. The paper focused on four main questions: who carried out these studies, in which academic journals have the articles been published, what has been the evolution of these publications and what were the main article topics? The study concludes that PISA has had a considerable impact on the scientific research, reflected primarily by university-based authors from the areas of education and social sciences analysing student performance. The evolution since 2007 seems to indicate that more articles will be published in coming years through the initiative of researchers (rather than the editorial boards), even from other scientific areas, thus increasing the number of topics of analysis.

The main objective of this article is to analyse the importance given to student guidance and diversity in the standards and criteria used in the quality accreditation and evaluation processes in Europe and the US. Agencies selected in this study are the members of ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education), EQAR (European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education) and regional and programme accrediting organisations in the US that are recognised by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The data were analysed by means of qualitative and content analysis of the principles, standards and criteria published in the guidelines of the respective agencies. The results of this study reveal that guidance and attention to diversity are included in the quality evaluation guidelines for university study programmes and for higher education institutions in different ways. The main conclusion is that most guidelines include general criteria about guidance and diversity. In order to assist HEIs in the way to plan this support, guidelines should include specific criteria for the provision of academic, career and personal guidance within general student support services. Additionally, criteria should specify the actions to be taken and the resources to respond to diversity.

RESUMENLa Educación Superior se encuentra en un momento de profundos cambios al asumir los retos que implican la sociedad del conocimiento, la globalización, la revolución tecnológica, la diversidad de losestudiantes, el aprendizaje permanente, la rendición de cuentas, entre otros. Especialmente en Europa,estos cambios están liderados por el proceso de construcción del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES) en el que se otorga un papel preponderante al aprendizaje de los alumnos. Por tanto, el EEES supone una ocasión excelente para reflexionar sobre el modelo de universidad que queremos construir. Aprovechando esta excelente ocasión, en este estudio se realiza (1) una revisión de la literatura sobrela situación de la orientación universitaria, (2) una descripción de las tendencias actuales de la Educación Superior y, por último, (3) un análisis de las ventajas e inconvenientes que la actual situación de la Educación Superior suponen para el desarrollo de la orientación universitaria.ABSTRACTHigher Education (HE) confronts an era of increasing change characterised by globalisation, knowledge-based economy, technological revolution, lifelong learning, greater pressures towards accountability, a much more diverse student population, amongst others. Mainly in Europe, the process towards the construction of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), in which the student learnin experience is a central issue, is undertaking these changes. In this context, the EHEA is an excellent occasion for rethinking the university. Considering this situation, this article will (1) review recent literature related to student support and career guidance, (2) describe and discuss the current trends of HE and, (3) analyse the advantages and disadvantages in the relationship and articulation between the current situation of HE and the development of student support and guidance at Higher Education Institutions.