Factors Affecting Lecturers’ Willingness and Readiness to Teach the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Compulsory Course

Abstract

Recently, the Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia made it compulsory for all higher institutions to teach the Integrity and Anti-corruption course as part of the compulsory General Education (MPU) courses in tertiary education starting September 2023. This study examines the connection between the characteristics of the current MPU lecturers and non-MPU lecturers (n=50) in selected universities and their willingness and readiness to teach the Integrity and Anti-corruption course. A completed survey was analysed using descriptive analyses while selected lecturers did semi-structured interviews. The results showed that the lecturers willing to teach the Integrity and Anti-corruption course were more likely to have experienced teaching MPU courses before, taught at least one (1) MPU subject before, received the training to teach the mentioned course, and have a greater understanding on the importance of the course to the students. Almost half of the population who participated in the survey were reluctant to teach the new MPU course due to certain factors, such as the need to teach the course in the National Language, which is the Malay Language, and if they were not trained to teach the course. They also perceived that the MPU courses were less important to the students. In this study, the results are discussed regarding the implications for training designed to increase lecturers’ willingness and readiness to teach the Integrity and Anti-Corruption course.