Students In Institutions Of Higher Learning Research Articles

Descriptive Analysis of Psychological Well-being among Students in Higher Learning Institutions in Malaysia: Which Gender Contributes More?

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on our daily lives. Officials from the Department of Public Health are urging people to limit their social gatherings, limiting the amount of time and people they can interact with in person. Due to the closure of educational institutions, students have to changed their learning method from face-to-face to online learning. Stress, anxiety, and depression have been identified as the most common mental health issues among university students. Many people, notably students, have suffered psychological consequences as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. University students experience stress, worry, and despair even when there is no epidemic because of the constant demands of study. Research objectives of this study is to determine factor mostly influenced psychological well-being during online learning and to identify the significant relationship between digital competence, fear of infection COVID-19, social interaction, student attitude and psychological well-being.

The Exposure of Electrical Engineering Field as a STEM Branch towards Technical School’s Students in Malaysia

The decreasing interest in Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) amongst school students has become an issue that requires stern actions to be enforce. The decreasing interest in STEM will directly impacted the decreasing enrollment of students in Higher Learning Institution (HLI) engineering courses. Related to that, the school of electrical engineering Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor branch Pasir Gudang campus is not exempted with the mentioned problem. This decreasing interest in STEM issue may come from the lack of exposure related to the attributes of the STEM field amongst secondary school students. It is crucial to educate and expose these students towards the importance of STEM where they are the potential students for the HLI. Thus, the objective of this paper is to demonstrate the action that have been taken by conducting a webinar in order to expose secondary school students the attributes of electrical engineering as one of the important field in the branch of STEM. A webinar will be conducted that will explain the career, the experience of studying abroad, and the happiness that is related with electrical engineering in STEM. In addition a survey form will be distributed and an online quiz will be conducted at the end of the webinar. From the survey, important results were observed where 85% percent of students is interested to pursue their studies in the electrical field after listening to the webinar related to the career after finishing secondary school. In addition, 97.5% students are interested to further their studies in the electrical engineering field after listening to the webinar the experience of studying abroad after finishing secondary school.

Reading habits of students of higher learning institutions during COVID-19 lockdown period

Reading habits of students of higher learning institutions during COVID-19 lockdown period

USEFULNESS OF FINTAN INNOVATIVE PEDAGOGY MODEL IN FOSTERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS AMONG STUDENTS IN THREE HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS IN TANZANIA

The study focused on the usefulness of FinTan innovative pedagogy model in enhancing entrepreneurship skills among students in higher learning institutions in Tanzania. Guided by the Teaching Framework for Entrepreneurship Theory by Fayolle and Grailly (2006), The target population was three higher learning institutions, 120 lecturers, 700 students, and 9 team leaders who were beneficiaries of the FinTan innovative pedagogy model. A stratified random and purposive sampling technique were used to draw the sample for the study which consisted of 327 respondents. Questionnaires and interview guide instruments were used to collect data that was validated by researchers and evaluation expertise and Cronbach's Alpha was used to ensure reliability of questionnaires. Trustworthiness and triangulation were used for reliability of interview guide instruments. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented using tables, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of the study revealed that FinTan innovative pedagogy model was effective in helping students to build networking with experienced individuals in society and relate the topic materials to the needs of society which in turn develop entrepreneurship skills. The study concluded that FinTan innovative pedagogy model is useful in enhancing entrepreneurial skills in students. The study recommended that the three institutions should share the knowledge with other higher learning institutions for students to develop entrepreneurship skills, which are identified as essential skills in minimizing the unemployment rate as well as caring for the environment in the process of self-employment. Keywords: Fintan Innovative Pedagogy Mod

Gender differences and prevalence of sleeping disorder among arts students in higher learning institutions.

Every human being need a sufficient amount of high-quality sleep. However, according to studies, both men and women are becoming more afflicted by sleep disorders, which are particularly prevalent among university students. Nowadays, sleep problems are a frequent occurrence in people's daily lives. Due to the fact that female students have more difficulty falling asleep and continuously wake up earlier than male students, they are more impacted than their male counterparts. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of sleeping disorders between males and females among Music and Performing Art students in the institutes of higher learning. The survey was conducted online in June 2020. One hundred students from the faculty participated in this cross-sectional study. Simple random sampling used to select the samples. Students who took part in this survey were predominately female, 52% and male, 48%. The study found that here is a statistically significant difference between male and female Music and Performing Art students in the institutes of higher learning when it comes to sleeping disorder. The findings of the study revealed that there is a statistically significant difference in sleeping disorders between males and females’ students enrolled in a higher education institution. Hence, male and female morphologic differences in the context of sleeping difficulties may be revealed as a result of our study, which may provide information and evidence of such differences.

An animal welfare syllabus for wildlife tourism

An important sector of animal-based tourism is wildlife tourism, which includes a diverse base of attractions in captive, semi-captive and wild settings. We argue that actors (tourists, tourism operators, and academics) must have the prerequisite knowledge of animal welfare to assess animals’ conditions in tourism settings. To this end, this paper has two aims. The first is to develop an animal welfare syllabus that should be used to teach students in higher learning institutions (who may ultimately work at animal attractions upon their graduation) as well as operators. The second aim is to mesh the papers in this special edition as case studies within the syllabus in making a case for an enhanced animal welfare educational tool for wildlife tourism. While the animal welfare syllabus is constructed for all animals used in tourism, we apply it specifically to the wildlife tourism sector.

Technology Adoption for STEM Education in Higher Education: Students’ Experience from Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries

Challenges of a lack of formal technology-embeded teacher training, collaborative learning models, adequate technology know-how, and internet access are barriers to adopting technological-enabled teaching and learning STEM subjects in the African context. This study examined technology adoption for STEM in higher education while evaluating students’ experiences with evidence and implications for less developed countries. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The study population was students in higher learning institutions in selected countries in the sub-Saharan African region using a multi-stage sampling procedure consisting of convenience and purposive sampling techniques. A self-developed questionnaire titled Technology Adoption for Teaching and Learning Questionnaire “TATLQ” premised on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model was used for data collection. The instrument had an overall reliability coefficient of 0.96. The collated data were analysed using descriptive of the median and a network chart to answer the research questions. In contrast, the inferential statistics of t-test and Analysis of Variance statistics were used to test the hypothesis generated for the study and implemented in the psych package of R programming language version 4.0.2 software. Findings revealed that students had a positive experience with online teaching and learning and concluded that technology adoption for STEM education online teaching and learning is feasible in sub-Sahara Africa, with the need for improvements in internet access and technical support on the basis for which recommendations were made.

Assessing the challenges of e-learning in Malaysia during the pandemic of Covid-19 using the geo-spatial approach

The outbreak of the pandemic Covid-19 has transformed the education system in most countries worldwide. Following the lockdown measures in Malaysia, the Malaysian education system has fully transformed from conventional learning to online learning or known as e-learning as an alternative to minimize social contacts and physical communication to curb the transmission of Covid-19. In this regard, this study aims to identify the challenges faced by students in higher learning institutions throughout Malaysia during the implementation of the e-learning program. This study is based on a large sampling consisting of 2394 students from both public and private universities. The result from this study is analyzed through inferential methods such as the Spatial Analysis, the Principal Component Analysis, and the Mann–Whitney U test and through descriptive methods using the frequency analysis and the percentage analysis. Findings from this study suggest that location significantly influenced the challenges faced by students throughout the implementation of e-learning in higher learning institutions. For example, students in rural areas which can be identified as “vulnerable groups” are more likely to face both technical and connection with the internet access, tend to have a declining focus on learning and are prone to physical health problems, facing social isolation and low digital literacy compared to students in urban areas. Based on geographical analysis, students in Sabah, Perlis, and Melaka are most at risk of facing e-learning challenges. An anomaly case of students in Kuala Lumpur, however, posed another different result compared to other cities as they confront similar challenges with students in rural areas. This study provides the nuances of location and its implications for vulnerable groups that may put them at disadvantage in the e-learning program. Findings from this study will help to inform the relevant authorities and policymakers in improving the implementation of e-learning in Malaysia, especially towards the vulnerable groups so that it can be delivered more systematically and efficiently.

COVID-19 and The Impact of Online Learning on the Higher Institution Students’ Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on higher education institutions. Online teaching and learning have become a new norm, which may lead to lifestyle changes and impacting the university students' health. This study is conducted to investigate the impact of online learning on higher learning institution students’ health. A total of 384 students were recruited from a local university. All respondents were requested to complete an online survey for three months. The results indicated that majority of the respondents feel less satisfied with online learning. They reported to experienced several health issues as a result from online learning. Besides, online learning satisfaction level and health issue were found to be moderately positively correlated. This study can be a good rationale for the relevant parties to work cooperatively in improving the online learning satisfaction level as well as the students’ health condition.

Virtual Learning during COVID-19: Exploring Challenges and Identifying Highly Vulnerable Groups Based on Location.

Amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020, educational platforms have been forced to change and adapt from conventional physical learning to virtual learning. Nearly all higher learning institutions worldwide are forced to follow the new educational setting through virtual platforms. Sabah is one of the poorest states in Malaysia with the poorest infrastructure, with the technology and communication facilities in the state remaining inept. With the changes in virtual platforms in all higher education institutions in Malaysia, higher learning institutions in Sabah are expected to follow the lead, despite the state lagging in its development. This has certainly impacted the overall productivity and performance of students in Sabah. Therefore, this study aims to explore the challenges of the implementation of virtual learning among students in Sabah. More specifically, this study seeks to identify vulnerable groups among students based on their geographical location. To achieve the objective of this study, a survey has been conducted on a total of 1,371 students in both private and public higher learning institutions in Sabah. The sample selection for this study was determined using a purposive sampling technique. Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA), it was found that there are five challenges in virtual learning faced by students in higher learning institutions in Sabah. These are the unconducive learning environment (var(X) = 20.12%), the deterioration of physical health (var(X) = 13.40%), the decline of mental health (var(X) = 12.10%), the limited educational facilities (var(X) = 10.14%) and social isolation (var(X) = 7.47%). The K-Means Clustering analysis found that there are six student clusters in Sabah (Cluster A, B, C, D, E & F), each of which faces different challenges in participating in virtual learning. Based on the assessment of location, almost half of the total number of districts in Sabah are dominated by students from Cluster A (9 districts) and Cluster B (4 districts). More worryingly, both Cluster A and Cluster B are classified as highly vulnerable groups in relation to the implementation of virtual learning. The results of this study can be used by the local authorities and policymakers in Malaysia to improve the implementation of virtual learning in Sabah so that the education system can be more effective and systematic. Additionally, the improvement and empowerment of the learning environment are crucial to ensuring education is accessible and inclusive for all societies, in line with the fourth of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-4).

Self-Perception, Knowledge and Awareness of Halitosis among Students of Higher Learning Institutions of Chitwan

INTRODUCTION: Halitosis is production of offensive odour coming out from oral cavity which most people try to avoid. It also leads to anxiety and social embarrassment. The people having halitosis have compromised quality of life. Hence this study was planned to assess the self-perception, knowledge and awareness of halitosis among students of higher learning institutions of Chitwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 280 students of higher secondary schools and colleges of Chitwan. The data collection was done from August 2021 to October 2021. A self-administered questionnaire was used. The results obtained were entered into Microsoft Excel 2019 and then transferred into Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16. Descriptive statistical analysis was done. The study was analysed using frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation. RESULTS: In this study, the mean age of the participants was 23.75 years. More than 90% of the participants belonged to 20-29 age group. Among the participants 44.3% reported of bad breath, while only 15.4% visited doctor and received treatment. Around 41.1% believed oral check-up as common diagnostic measures for halitosis and 40.4% had an opinion of consulting dentist for bad breath. The bad breath affected their social life behaviour, ended up friendship, stayed separate and away from friends and family. Around 64.5% were isolated from society. CONCLUSIONS: From our study we can conclude that halitosis is common problem in developing and developed nation. In the present study self-reported halitosis was present. The proper oral hygiene methods were lagging. Proper need of oral hygiene education and awareness campaign is therefore necessary.

COVID-19 AND ITS EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH: CASE STUDY FOR HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTION STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA

COVID-19 is at risk of setting off global mental health crisis. The effect is also extended to the students in higher learning institutions. This research looks at the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health aspect among students from higher learning institutions in Malaysia. The study sample consists of 79 respondents who are randomly selected from various higher learning institutions. All respondents had attended online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research instrument used in this study is a questionnaire. Two things that were assessed on respondents are the situations or constraints encountered while pursuing online learning and its impact on their mental and emotional health. The research data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The research findings show that majority of respondents agreed that they encounter situations or constraints while attending online classes. Moreover, majority of respondents agreed that such situations or constraints affect their mental and emotional health. The findings of this research are supported by previous studies that reported the same thing.

MALAY LANGUAGE USE AMONG UKM STUDENTS IN TERMS OF DAILY INTERACTIONS AND AFFAIRS

This study aims to look at the frequency of Malay language practice by Malay students in higher learning institutions in the aspect of interaction with people around them such as family and acquaintances as well as in public affairs. The survey involved 258 Malay students at The National University of Malaysia (UKM) who attended various undergraduate programs. The data were analysed using a percentage descriptive statistical analysis to find out the frequency value for each Malay language usage situation. The five-point Likert scale of that frequency value is marked with Each Time, Frequent, Sometimes, Rare, and Never. Data collection is done using an online questionnaire through the Google Form application. The percentage analysis recorded a value below 70% for the ‘Every Time’ frequency scale in the use of Bahasa Melayu when with friends (64.4%), when meeting new or unknown people (55.2%), during shopping at shopping malls (58.7%) and when chatting with college friends (66.5%). The results also showed that the use of language in the communication and daily affairs of Malay students at UKM is also dominated by English in certain matters, other than Bahasa Melayu. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the planning of programs, courses and appropriate measures to inculcate the use of Bahasa Melayu among students in Malaysia.

An Assessment of Online Learning Competency among Students of Higher Vocational and Technical School in China

Online learning has become a useful tool in education with the advancement of technology in higher learning institutes. It has gradually become a required ability for students in higher learning institutions to participate in online lessons where teaching and learning takes place virtually, following crucial changes in the current context with 21st century skill-set requirements within the educational sector. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the online learning competency among students at Henan Vocational College Institute of Art; to analyze if the factor of differences in gender and different majors of students’ present differences in online learning competency. The questionnaire used for data collection is done with reference to the Likert scale with 19 items (4 of which are the demographic items, and 15 of which are the constructs of knowledge, skill, and attitude of competency), with anchor ranges from 1 to 5 in each item to probe for the 409 students' knowledge, skill and attitude regarding online learning competency. By using SPSS, students’ online learning competency was analyzed with respect to the three mentioned aspects. The study found that students have high knowledge of online competency but only an intermediate level of skill and an intermediate level of attitude towards online learning. This study also found that there are no significant differences in gender and there are no significant differences between students' online learning competency in the aspects of students' majors. The study shows that higher learning institutions adopt online learning as a way to deliver learning content, it will not pose a challenge to students in terms of the knowledge and skill requirements to participate in online learning, and that it will be fair to the students as they have high knowledge, intermediate skills and intermediate attitude towards online learning. The implications of this study and direction for future studies are discussed.

MALAY LANGUAGE USE AMONG UKM STUDENTS IN TERMS OF DAILY INTERACTIONS AND AFFAIRS

This study aims to look at the frequency of Malay language practice by Malay students in higher learning institutions in the aspect of interaction with people around them such as family and acquaintances as well as in public affairs. The survey involved 258 Malay students at The National University of Malaysia (UKM) who attended various undergraduate programs. The data were analysed using a percentage descriptive statistical analysis to find out the frequency value for each Malay language usage situation. The five-point Likert scale of that frequency value is marked with Each Time, Frequent, Sometimes, Rare, and Never. Data collection is done using an online questionnaire through the Google Form application. The percentage analysis recorded a value below 70% for the ‘Every Time’ frequency scale in the use of Bahasa Melayu when with friends (64.4%), when meeting new or unknown people (55.2%), during shopping at shopping malls (58.7%) and when chatting with college friends (66.5%). The results also showed that the use of language in the communication and daily affairs of Malay students at UKM is also dominated by English in certain matters, other than Bahasa Melayu. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the planning of programs, courses and appropriate measures to inculcate the use of Bahasa Melayu among students in Malaysia.

Malay Translation and Validation of Career Adapt-Abilities Scale for Higher Learning Institution Students in Malaysia

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional face-to-face teaching and learning activities were replaced with online learning. Consequently, there were less opportunity for students to test their knowledge and skills particularly through practicums and industrial trainings. This has impacted their career adaptability, specifically in the readiness to carry out face-to-face work tasks in the real working environment. To get a good picture of career adaptability, a psychometrically sound instrument is needed. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Malay version of the Career-Adapt Abilities Scale (CAAS) among students in higher learning institutions in Malaysia. A total of 360 undergraduates (72.80% females) completed a back-to-back translated 24-item CAAS. Both full- and short-versions of Malay-CAAS were found equally valid and reliable. Significant correlations were found between the subscales of Malay-CAAS and age, and gender, indicating more supports for its validity. For it is more practical and user-friendly, the short-version of Malay-CAAS with 12 items is recommended.

Financial and Emotional Aspect of College Students Due to Covid 19-A Study on Kozhikode District

The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped at national borders. It has affected people regardless of nationality, level of education, income, or gender. But the same has not been true for its consequences, which have hit the most vulnerable hardest. This crisis has exposed the many inadequacies and inequities in our education systems. There is a significant positive relationship between the emotional aspect, financial aspect, and the impact of COVID-19 among Kerala’s students in higher learning institutions. There is a significant unfavorable influence on the emotional, and financial impact of COVID-19 among Kerala’s students in higher learning institutions.

Needs Analysis for the Development of a Counseling Module as an Intervention to Reduce Communication Apprehension among Students of Higher Learning Institutions

Communication apprehension can hinder communication skills among higher learning institutions students in their employment. Communication apprehension refers to an inability of a person to communicate effectively as a worker. Therefore, this article aims to identify the level of communication apprehension problems in various situations and the needs analysis to develop a counseling module to be used by counselors to reduce communication apprehension among higher learning institutions students. The study was conducted using a quantitative cross-sectional survey. A total of 384 students from six universities of different programs were selected to participate in this study. The findings from each item using the Personnel Instrument Communication Apprehension (PRCA 24) revealed that there is a need to design a counseling module. In addition, the findings from the descriptive statistics indicated that the majority of the participants had a moderate to a higher level of communication apprehension. Meanwhile, the analysis of the activities to be included in designing a counseling module should focus on the components of thoughts and feelings. Due to this, the cognitive behavior therapy is suitable as the basis for designing a module to reduce communication apprehension among students. The findings from this study have a significant contribution to counselors and lecturers who are dealing with students’ affairs in helping them solve this issue once they register as universities students. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a need for one strategy or action to assist tertiary students who have problem in communication apprehension.

Challenges Faced by Disabled Students in Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought changes to the scenario of teaching and learning in schools and higher institutions of education. The shift from face-to-face traditional mode to online platforms has brough many challenges along with it. This ‘new norm’ of pedagogy has also posed challenges to disabled students in higher learning institutions across Malaysia especially when using online platforms to study. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the mental and emotional challenges and learning problems faced by disabled students in online classes during the current pandemic. Fifteen disabled students of various disabilities from universities participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were employed to interview the participants and the collected data was analysed qualitatively using the self-determination theory. The findings showed that most of the disabled students faced mental stress challenges as they were not familiar with Skype, Zoom and Google Meet. They were also not familiar with modern electronic and sophisticated gadgets. The findings further revealed that disabled students were not ignorant in their learning and their disabilities were not obstacles to excel in education. However, they do need help to overcome their fears and challenges. The present study hopes that higher learning institutions assign special task force to facilitate disabled students. The task force should recognise the prospective requirements of disabled students plan and carry out counselling to provide fundamental preparations for online learning. These measures would better prepare them physically and mentally to face unpredictable challenges in the future.

Green Purchase Behaviour among Students in Higher Learning Institutions

Objective - In recent years, rapid economic growth coupled with overconsumption of products and services contributed to environmental degradation, prompting escalated consumptionrelated environmental concerns. As such, this study aims to explore the factors influencing green purchase behaviour among students in higher learning institutions in Malaysia – a setting where the market is experiencing expansion and changes in consumption patterns. Methodology/Technique - Specifically, this study employs the Theory of Planned Behaviour by integrating relevant variables such as environmental attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, environmental knowledge and willingness to pay a premium into the model to investigate their effects on green purchase behaviour. This study specifically looks into the green purchasing behaviour among University students in Malaysia. Finding - The research used multiple linear regression analysis to evaluate the online questionnaire gathered from various university students in Malaysia. Overall, the findings indicate that subjective norm and perceived behavioural control have significant relationships with green purchase behaviour, while environmental attitude, willingness to pay a premium and environmental knowledge have insignificant relationships with green purchase behaviour. Novelty - This study concludes with implications for marketers, as well as limitations and suggestions for future research in green consumption. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: Green Purchase Behaviour, Green Marketing, Green Products and Services, Students