Higher Learning In Malaysia Research Articles

An Assessment of Students’ Mobile Self-Efficacy, Readiness and Personal Innovativeness towards Mobile Learning in Higher Education in Malaysia

Mobile learning, or M-learning, has become a new educational paradigm, gaining popularity especially at institutions of higher learning in Malaysia. Using the latest technology in M-learning, students are able to choose when and where they wish to learn anything. The main aim of this study was to assess learners’ self-efficacy, readiness and personal innovativeness towards Mobile learning. This study also examined the relationship between learners’ self- efficacy and readiness towards M-learning with learners’ perception of the effectiveness of M-learning. The respondents in this study were 137 trainee teachers who had enrolled in various education programs at the Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia. The findings of this study indicated that the respondents had a high level of personal innovativeness and mobile readiness. However, their level of mobile self-efficacy was only.moderate.

Towards a Curriculum Design Maturity Model

The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) is used in the software industry to improve design process as well as product quality. Likewise, CMM is also used in the education sector for a similar purpose. This paper presents, in particular, a proposed maturity model for curriculum design for Institutions of Higher Learning in Malaysia. The Curriculum Design Maturity Model OE (CDMM-1) is specifically aimed at guiding curriculum designers in producing quality curricula according to programme specifications. In this study, CDMM-1, which is derived from the proposed maturity model, has both process and product components. However, this paper only focuses on the product quality aspect.

Are UKM Graduates Ready to Face the Challenges of the Job Market?

An increasing number of graduates, especially from public institutes of higher learning in Malaysia are unemployed. A degree can no longer be regarded as an automatic passport to employment. What are the causes for this state of affairs? Is this because the job market is getting more competitive? Or are the current batch of job seekers and graduates unmarketable? It is not prudent to blame the graduates entirely for their predicament. It is crucial to find out whether the courses offered at the universities, adequately prepare them with the right blend and attitude to compete in the job market. Hence, it is important to study whether UKM graduates are equipped with sufficient communication skills and the basic research knowledge to fulfill the needs of the prospective employers. As a preliminary study, this paper will report on what graduates from The School of Language Studies and Linguistics share about their experiences with employers during their Industrial training and propose strategies to address these issues.

Have libraries in private institutions of higher learning in Malaysia lost their original purposes? What else does the evidence say about gender issues?

The original purposes of a library as a place for knowledge fulfillment alongside other social responsibilities are perceived to have eroded over the years. This could be due to the emergence and dominance of the ever progressive digital media and has likely changed the availability and mode of access to knowledge thereby affecting library patronage. This paper attempts to validate the above perception of the utilization patterns of library in private institutions of higher learning. It has been observed that students still visit libraries. However, the intentions of their visits are more for general or self utilization purposes rather than for intellectual pursuits. The study has revealed that more than 65% of the students surveyed spent their time doing personal work in the library without utilizing other library services and facilities. This has raised a real concern that libraries are now made places for social gathering and self utilization. Gender has turned out to be non-significant factor in this research. Key words: Library, self utilization, general utilization, specific utilization.

Moral Philosophies Underlying Ethical Judgments

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of moral philosophies namely deontology and teleology on ethical judgments. Deontology is evaluations made by referring to a set of predetermined rules and guidelines. On the other hand, teleology is evaluations made based on the consequences. Three hypothesized relationships were tested using a sample of 424 business students from 4 public institutions of higher learning in Malaysia. Based on the results of regression analysis SPSS 16.0, it can be concluded that both deontology and teleology were found to have a significant positive effect on ethical judgments. In addition, deontology was more likely to be used as opposed to teleology in the formation of ethical judgments. Hence, the findings of this study emphasize the importance of usage of these moral philosophies among future businessmen in enhancing ethical judgments.

Corporate Real Estate (CRE): Public Institution of Higher Learning in Malaysia

Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) seem to concern themselves with knowledge and hence knowledge creation, dissemination and learning are regarded as core activities. The most important factor affecting the knowledge sharing behavior is the quality of place and space. Thus, in designing an academic environment they need to provide accommodation designed for people to meet and share their knowledge. The study is expected to be able to give awareness on the importance of quality of workplace space in enhancing the human interaction of knowledge sharing behavior among the lecturers.

Applied UX and UCD Design Process in Interface Design

This paper addresses an applied user-centered and user-experience product development process for non-physical interface designs. Interface design involves the design of tangible (physical) and intangible (non-physical) products. This paper highlights a mixed user-centered design (UCD) and user experience (UX) models applied by interface designers in an institution of higher learning in Malaysia. Many design processes are available and have been proposed. However, this mixed UCD and UX model is presently being practiced by the institution for eight years now in training young interface designers. The experiences and observations will be shared here. This paper will first review available design processes, followed by accentuating the phases, techniques and methods applied for a non-physical user-centered design process.

A Qualitative Inquiry of Online Instruction among Teachers in Malaysian Universities and Colleges

There are many approaches in implementing online instructions in institutions of higher learning. The Malaysian government through its Malaysian Qualifications Agency, an auditing and accrediting agency, encouraged all institutions of higher learning in the country to use online instruction. The objectives of this study are to explore the views of teachers in Malaysian universities and colleges on the use of online teaching and learning. A total of 10 teachers from private institutions of higher learning in Malaysia were interviewed. Their responses were coded and the themes that emerged are presented. The results of this study present the teachers' awareness, and their views about the challenges, benefits, performance evaluations and motivation. The study also presents the teachers' views on the student attitudes and behaviors. These results are then summarized and represented in a model.

Effects of the application of graphing calculator on students’ probability achievement

A Graphing Calculator (GC) is one of the most portable and affordable technology in mathematics education. It quickens the mechanical procedure in solving mathematical problems and creates a highly interactive learning environment, which makes learning a seemingly difficult subject, easy. Since research on the use of GCs for the teaching and learning of probability in institutions of higher learning appears to be limited, a study was conducted to examine the effects of the use of GCs on students' performance in probability. The study involved 65 pre-university students in a private institution of higher learning in Malaysia. Hypothesis testing showed that there is a significant difference in the mean score of the post achievement test between the experimental and control groups. Students in the experimental group displayed higher achievement than their peers in the control group in the Probability Achievement Test (PAT). Findings also showed that the use of GCs benefits students of all levels, that is, high, average and low mathematics achievers. Qualitative data provides a more lucid picture of how GCs aid in improving understanding and performance. Recommendations made will provide researchers, policy-makers and educators an alternative means of enhancing the quality of probability education.

Change of policy on English and its implications on institutions of higher learning

This research paper looks at a change in policy on English language and its implications to public institutions of higher learning in Malaysia. In 2000 the Ministry of Education of Malaysia introduced a common public examination on English which was known as Malaysian University English Test (MUET) for all preuniversity students. Its introduction created uncertainties, language centres at these institutions which used to service university students suddenly found the need to review or revamp their English language (EL) programmes so that there is no overlapping with the MUET syllabus but one which is in continuity of the MUET programme. Universiti Sains Malaysia at Penang, Malaysia carried out pilot tests on the pre university students. The findings provide insights on the proficiency level of the students and also the need to review and revamp the existing EL programmes so as to stay relevant and in continuity of MUET. Most students are clustered in band 3 of the MUET scores. To stay relevant, the minimum English language entry requirement for university new entrants should be one level higher and the appropriate choice is band 4 scores. And students scoring less are recommended to repeat MUET or follow remedial courses to enhance their proficiency.

The leadership performance of departmental heads in an institution of higher learning in Malaysia

Higher learning institutions in Malaysia recently became a subject of scrutiny by stakeholders and the public at large. Its managerial and leadership performance were being assessed through various perspectives. A pilot study was conducted to measure the performance of the heads of department leadership, with an objective to identify factors that drive their leadership performance. One hundredand twenty twofull-time managerial/professional and supervisory staff in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Terengganu, Malaysia, participated in this survey. The questionnaire was adopted from an international management survey to measure the effectiveness of the management capability of Malaysian organizations. The results from the survey showed that there were different perceptions between the academic and non-academic staff in UiTM of the ability of the heads of department leadership performance in developing the organization's capability. The survey also concluded that visionary & strategic leadership; and leadership skills & personality traits of these department heads were pivotal in shaping their leadership performance in UiTM Terengganu.

Applied Mathematics cans Enhance Employability Skills Through PBL

As a development country, Malaysia facing the challenge to develop their economic liked others. Economic changing from agriculture to manufacturing drastic change need people also adapt to that situation. Now days, changing become issues, such as changing of work life from agriculture to manufacturing, changing of technologies, changing of people thinking, etc. From previous studies found that major issues that majority graduate not enough employability skills. This is day by day issues and keep challenges all of Malaysian not only government also students and institutions. As previous study we found that PBL can be alternative to overcome this. Changing of delivery should be applied to applied subjects that taken by applied mathematics students to facing this problem. Applied mathematics students and subjects can be more attractive using PBL as alternative methodologies to facing now day and future issues. In this research, we study effectiveness of PBL as an alternative tool in enhancing employability skills among graduates. This study adopts a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data shall be collected using documents analysis. Students sample of the quasi-experimental study comprise manufacturing engineering undergraduates from several public institutions of higher learning in Malaysia. This result shows that student can be enhanced employability skills through PBL. Furthermore, student be more competitive and become more relevance with what industries need on employability skills. This is shown that applied mathematics with helping by PBL also valuable for become major function to catalyst employability skills.

Soft skills at the Malaysian institutes of higher learning

This article discusses human capital development through the seven soft skills elements which comprise communication skills, critical thinking and problem solving skills, team work, lifelong learning and information management skills, entrepreneurship skills, ethics, and professional moral and leadership skills. The Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia recently announced that the said soft skills are to be introduced to undergraduates of Institutes of Higher Learning in Malaysia. Suggestions on how these elements are to be incorporated in the undergraduates program are also put forward.

An Attitude Approach to the Prediction of Entrepreneurship on Students at Institution of Higher Learning in Malaysia

An attitude approach to the prediction of entrepreneurship has been the subject of extensive research in the developed world. However, this approach especially entrepreneurship attitude among students in the institutions of higher learning has not been conducted extensively in Malaysia and is ripe for research. This paper reports the findings on the entrepreneurship attitude perspective of the final year business management undergraduate students in one of the Institutions of Higher Learning in Malaysia. Fifty-eight undergraduates minored in entrepreneurship courses and sixty-five non-minored undergraduates from the Faculty of Business Management were tested and validated using the Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation (EAO) scale instrument. Discriminant validity was used to test the known groups. There was a significance difference between known groups for two of the four EAO subscales (self-esteem and personal control); all subscales were entered into a stepwise discriminant function. The classification results showed that the overall number of cases classified correctly was 104 or 84.6 percent of the sample.

A research framework using SERVQUAL instrument to analyse the quality of services provided by private institutions of higher learning in Malaysia

The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for researchers who intend to conduct research on service quality in education sectors. This paper is written based on the literature review conducted in the area of service quality. Limited studies have been conducted in the area of service quality at higher education in Malaysia. Understanding the service quality expectations and perceptions of the students from the institution of higher learning is important to determine the strength and weaknesses in providing quality of services to its students. This paper highlights the various service quality dimensions used by the researchers to measure the service quality in different types of institutions. It also includes the discussions on the most common methods used to measure the service quality by prominent researchers. It is expected that this paper would provide a good insight to researchers who are planning to conduct research on service quality in education sectors.

Hospitality & Tourism Vocation: Program Selection in a Private Institution of Higher Learning in Malaysia

The aim of this paper is to investigate the perception of students enrolled in the hospitality, tourism and culinary program in Malaysia, and their choice of this vocation. A sample of 232 first term (first 3 months of their studies) students of these diploma and degree programs were surveyed from a private institution of higher learning in Malaysia. The results showed differences in the perception between male and female students when deciding the program to study.

Malaysian Students’ Preferences to Online Products and Services on the Internet: An empirical study

The study aims to discover the preferences of Student Internet Users (SIUs) for Online Products and Services (OPS) and research into the demographic factors that affect SIUs’ preferences. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 800 SIUs from private institutions of higher learning in Malaysia, an Industrially Developing Country (IDC). Parametric statistical methods were used to analyze the survey data. It was found that SIUs preferred OPS under the following categories, i.e. education (e.g. loan, scholarship and credit transfer), entertainment (e.g. songs and artistes’ photos for downloading, shared music and computer games), news and information (e.g. online newspaper, news on famous artistes, book reviews and jobs) and communication and collaboration (e.g. free e-mail, SMS and ring tones/logos/pictures). It was also found that gender, race and faculty (field of study) influence SIUs’ preferences. The research findings can provide some useful insights to providers of OPS and policy makers.