منیره مختارزاده

Education plays a pivotal role in shaping societal development, influencing economic growth, social stability, governance, and individual well-being. By enhancing skills, abilities, and individual competencies, education contributes to the accumulation of human capital at both the individual and societal levels. It expands personal freedoms by increasing capabilities, which in turn fosters democratic participation and social resilience. There are two primary theoretical approaches to understanding education’s impact on human capital: the productivity approach and the capability approach. While the productivity approach views education as a means to enhance workforce productivity, the capability approach emphasizes broader cultural and social advancements, seeing increased productivity as an intermediate rather than an ultimate goal. Adopting a systematic qualitative literature review (SQLR) methodology, this study synthesizes peer-reviewed journal articles, policy reports, and scholarly books from reputable sources such as Google Scholar, JSTOR, Scopus, and institutional reports from UNESCO and the World Bank. A thematic analysis was conducted following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step framework, identifying key themes such as education’s role in economic mobility, governance, and global competitiveness. Findings highlight that nations with well-designed educational systems, such as Japan and China, have achieved sustainable economic growth by leveraging high-tech and knowledge-based production. The study concludes that an appropriate educational system is a primary prerequisite for any country’s development, as it determines its position in the global economy. This review underscores the importance of context-specific educational policies that align with broader societal needs. It offers insights for policymakers seeking to bridge the development gap through strategic investments in education.

Online education, as a type of distance education, has attracted the attentions of administrators, instructors, and students in recent decades. In the midst of the Covid-19 epidemic, online education has become an unavoidable need. Students' participation in such programs may have an impact on their learning and achievement. The current study looked at the link between engagement and achievement in online classrooms. As a result, the study used a correlational design to address the research questions using Dixon's Online Student Engagement Scale and a researcher-created achievement exam. The questionnaire was developed in 2015 and comprises four categories and 19 items on a seven-point Likert scale. In 2020, the questionnaire was modified with Google Form and distributed to 297 students enrolled in general English courses via a university LMS. The second instrument was a 40-item test of reading comprehension developed by the researcher. The examination was created on the basis of reading theories and was given as a final exam. The one-sample t-test findings indicated that students’ achievement and engagement levels are adequate. Quantile regression revealed a strong link between top achievers’ engagement and achievement. However, bivariate correlation revealed no statistically significant link between typical students’ engagement and achievement. However, students’ level of engagement perception was satisfactory. The concept of engagement applies to high achievers but not to ordinary or low performers, making measurement error possible.