Students In Institutions Of Higher Learning Research Articles

Mainstreaming ICT Mobile in Teaching Large Classes in Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania: The Case of Ardhi University

Mobile learning is part of a new learning landscape created by the availability of technologies supporting flexible, accessible, personalized education. With the increasing demand of over enrolment of students in higher learning institutions (HLI) around the world teaching of large classes has become an issue that requires close attention. This study was conducted to generate evidence for proposing solutions on how to mainstream mobile ICT technology and facilities in teaching and learning in expanding large classes in the higher learning institutions in Tanzania. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Random sampling was used for the selection of respondents. Study population consisted of 120 first to fifth year students. Generally, the findings of the study showed that most students (90.7%) are capable of using ICT facilities, 90% of the students agreed that the ICT facilities in the university need to be updated to suffice the demand posed by large classes as well as catch up with the increasing pace of Information and Communication Technology. The majority 96.9% use internet for studying purposes. Moreover, a small number of respondents 14% pointed out that the ICT facilities used are excellent. Furthermore, the results highlighted the challenges faced by students when taught in large classes.Based on the findings the HLI management can improve upon usage of mobile ICT technology in teaching large classes by increasing the ICT budget, setting clear rules to ensure students are taught using ICT facilities and include laptop/computer as a mandatory faculty requirement to students.

Attitude to Business Reality, Perceived Value Creation and Subjective Norms: How They Impact on Students of Higher Learning Institutions’ Self-Employment Intentions in Malaysia

The modern-day economy demands dynamic real estate entrepreneurial professionals as graduates’ job placement are becoming more competitive. The purpose of introducing entrepreneurship education into the Malaysian Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) is to boost the employability of the graduates but the realization of this purpose in some of the university’s programmes is still unclear. In this regard, this research employed the theory of planned behaviour to assess hypotheses of the role of attitude in business reality, perceived value creation perceptions and subjective norms in influencing the self-employment intention of real estate management (REM) students. The hypotheses were tested using cross-sectional data from 408 REM students of the Malaysian public universities. The research findings reaffirmed that attitude to business reality and perceived value creation did play a significant role in explaining REM students’ self-employment intention while subjective norms had no significant impact. However, the role of attitude to behaviour in business reality acted to be more relevant. The implications of the research findings could impact educational policy, particularly, academic entrepreneurship education. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5s1p186

Factors Influencing the Satisfaction of International Postgraduate Students in the Malaysian Context—A Literature Review and A Proposed Model

The Malaysian government is continuously striving to develop the country to become a regional education hub. Hence, higher learning institutions, especially universities, are becoming the centre of attention in order for Malaysia to achieve its desired status. Although the number of international postgraduate students in Malaysia has progressively increased, the country still needs an annual growth of 13.5 per cent to attain the target of 150,000 international students by 2015. Previous studies have reported that student satisfaction can lead to attracting new students and retaining the existing ones. Hence, it is essential for Malaysian universities to understand the factors that influence the satisfaction of students. Despite its importance, less attention has been given to the experiences and satisfaction of students in higher learning institutions in Malaysia. The key objective of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive review of the literature and develop a conceptual model that integrates several antecedents that are theoretically linked to student satisfaction. The proposed conceptual model suggests that the internal and external environment of a university, and the feedback of research supervisors are the key factors that influence the level of satisfaction among international postgraduate students. Finally, recommendations for future studies are proposed.

Reflecting the Process of Teaching and Listening in Two Different Approaches in Educational Philosophy

In the philosophical sense, learning should be enjoyable, fun, dynamic and engaging with access of a lot of sources. While philosophical perspective in the context of this writing is regarded as integral to reflecting the quality of learning in connection to the listening process, it is also an inclination of practice with deep understanding without limitation on the aspect of the learning process itself. The question of traditional classroom and online learning is important in the learning process. To produce high achievers in education, it is important to find out the best type of learning that we can provide for students. It differed on the type of strategy the higher learning institution students used but the frequency of applying the strategy between the groups of traditional classroom and of online learning are the same. The result showed that students that subscribed to traditional classroom performed better than those who subscribed to online learning. This could be due to the fact that less instruction was provided by the teacher in online learning consequently causing the inability within students to perform.

The Success of Students’ Loans in Financing Higher Education in Tanzania

Students’ loans in financing higher education in Tanzania have been subjected to many researches. However, less information is available on how the success of students’ loans in financing higher education can be revealed. Therefore the purpose of this study is to examine the factors indicating the success of students’ loans in financing higher education in Tanzania. Using data collected from a larger cross sectional survey in Tanzania, this study found that students loans in financing higher education in Tanzania is successful as it increases enrollment of students in higher learning institutions, the study also revealed that Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB) is employing enough efforts to recover loans granted to loans beneficiaries since 1994 as well as the guidelines and criteria for granting loans was found to be satisfactory. The study recommend that, enrollment decision making has been affected by other factors other than a successful students’ loan financing, these factors includes political factors, economical factors, family influences and school impacts. Therefore for better understanding of the successful students’ loans financing in Tanzania these factors need to be considered too. To ensure more effective recovery of already issued students loans since 1994, HESLB is recommended to institute a sound financial management which include setting appropriate interest rates to cover inflation in order to maintain the capital value of the loan fund and covering administrative costs as well as presence of adequate legal framework to ensure that students’ loans are legally enforceable to reduce default among loan beneficiaries. Guidelines and criteria should be improved to be more effective such as the inclusion of economics factors to measure the economic ability among loans applicants for instance presence of collateral security.

Management Training in U.S. Hospitality Schools: A Comparative Study of Instructional Methods

Management Training in U.S. Hospitality Schools: A Comparative Study of Instructional Methods The article examines management education for Hospitality Management students in higher learning institutions. It provides the findings of a comparative study of two instructional methodologies—traditional classroom and online courses. The study compared cognitive retention learning outcomes of a sample of students in both modalities over a single academic year. The overall results indicate similar efficacy between the two instructional techniques for participants within the sample.

E-Learning Continuance Intention Among Higher Learning Institution Students’ in Malaysia

E-Learning is the teaching and learning approach that used the network technology as an important medium to support the conventional class activities. It becomes the worldwide issues in higher education institution to facilitate their students with E-Learning technology. There are many research is done to determine the effectiveness of e- Learning. This study focuses on individual continuance intention for the e-Learning services in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) as a support for traditional classes. The objective of this study is to determine the level of e-Learning continuance intention and identify the factors that lead to the acceptance or reluctant of continuity in using e- Learning services in UiTM. The questionnaire used in this research is based on the decomposed technology acceptance model (TAM) in the context of e-learning service proposed by Juan Carlos Roca et al. This model stated that e-Learning user's continuance intention is determined by user's satisfaction level with the conjunction of information quality, service quality, system quality, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, confirmation and cognitive absorption. The respondents are among UiTM students that have an experience using e-Learning service in their studies. The statistical result of this study shows that continuance intention towards e-Learning among UiTM students is moderate. This result is influence by two main factors: low in interpersonal influence and information quality in our e-learning services. The results of this research provide clear guideline to the organization to improve their e-Learning services in terms to get the students engagement.

Head of Program's Leadership Style and Academician's Perception towards Higher Learning Institution Students’ Academic Achievement

This study examines the relationship between the Head of Program's leadership style and the academicians’ perception towards the higher learning students’ academic achievement. The literature review part also develops a conceptual framework of the relationship between the Head of Programs’ leadership styles and academicians’ perception on the academic achievement of the higher learning institution students. The leadership styles are categorized into two sub categories which are Transformational and Transactional, while the students’ academic achievement will be based on the qualities of their attendances, punctuality and attentiveness. The study has been conducted in University Technology of MARA where the respondents are from the Centre of Applied Management Sciences (CAMS), Faculty of Business Management, involving the Head of Programs, the academicians and the students’ academic achievement. There was no specific sampling technique chosen since the population of the academicians itself became the total number of respondents. Quantitative type of research has been applied in this study where questionnaire has been used as the instrument and the approach was self-delivery and mailing system. The finding stated that there is a positive significant relationship between the leadership style of Head of Programs and the academicians’ perception towards the students’ academic achievement.

Learning Techniques among Adult Students in Higher Learning Institutions, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia

A suitable learning technique among adult students especially in the early adult age. could create an active and conducive learning environment. The objective of this study is to investigate the problems faced by students during learning process. The study also will identify the dominant learning technique being practiced by most of the students. In addition, the study will also point out the most suitable learning technique for the present time adult students. Apart from that, the study will also identify if there is a relationship between students’ learning technique with their demographical aspects. This study focused on students in the early adult age that is students who are undergo the course of Bachelor of Education (Technique and Vocational) at UTHM. They are in the age of 21 years old and above. Sample of the research involved 108 students. The research is carried out qualitatively through the instruments of survey forms and supporting interviews. All data obtained are analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 12.0 in order to find the min score, percentage and standard deviation. Spearman’s Rho correlation is used to attain the relationship between student’s learning technique with their demographical aspects namely, their gender, race, age and academic achievement. The findings of the research show that the common problem usually faced by students is being too worried about the academic achievement. Where as, the dominant learning technique used by adult students are discussion and memorizing techniques. Furthermore, there is a slight relationship between students’ learning technique with their age. Consequently, it is highly hoped that this research could benefit all the entities involved. There are also some suggestions stated in this research for the purpose of improving the learning techniques of students.

The Effects of Industrial Training on Students’ Generic Skills Development

This conceptual paper reviews the underpinning theories and past literatures on generic skills in relation to industrial training attended by students in higher learning institutions. Subsequently, a number of hypotheses and a framework of generic skills development are proposed. Four generic skills discussed are communication skill, teamwork skill, critical thinking and problem solving and moral and professional ethics. The paper proposes that the development of these generic skills is influenced by or have some relationships with students’ demographic and motivation, as well as organizational characteristics and culture. The methodology of conducting this study is also illustrated.

Mobile Learning Readiness among Malaysian Students at Higher Learning Institutes

Learning today is beyond the four walls and the Internet environment. The advancement of mobile technology has opened up a myriad of learning opportunities for students in Higher Learning Institutions who need to cope with a complex and demanding learning environment. With this increasing number of mobile phone owners, especially among the student population in Malaysia, educators should look into the possibility of integrating mobile learning into the academic programmes at Institutions of Higher Learning. This paper focuses on basic readiness, skills readiness, psychological readiness and budget readiness of students at two different universities in relation to mobile learning. An online questionnaire survey was used to collect data for this study. The findings revealed that the students are highly familiar with computing skills and they welcome the integration of mobile learning in education. The study also revealed that the students were uncertain as to how much money they needed to spend for the telephone line and Internet line apart from the software and hardware requirements. A discussion on the implications of the findings will also be presented.

EDITORIAL: Urgent need for addressing Reproductive Health (RH) related challenges in higher learning institutions in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia evidence from various research studies show that among female university students there is a low level of knowledge and practice of emergency contraceptives. With the recent increase in higher education enrollment the pronounced increase in youth and young adults studying in urban centers away from home exposes them to risky sexual practices and greater likelihoods of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STI) or having unplanned pregnancies. Given the HIV related risks facing this population subgroup colleges and universities need to take more vigorous action to combat risk behaviors and scale up existing programs to appear on university campuses as well. All these evidence indicate the need for urgent and concerted actions to address risky sexual behaviors among students of higher learning institutions which would be vital to improve female performance in higher education and to avert the relatively high attrition rates among female students.

A Study of Subject-Verb Agreement: From Novice Writers to Expert Writers

Students in higher learning institutions need to write lots of reports based on the projects done. Since they are at the tertiary level of education, they are required to use English in their reports. This is to ensure that they are able to function well in English later at the workplace. Writing requires students to apply rules regarding sentence structures, grammar and also its mechanic that refers to punctuation and capitalization. However, many of the students have problems in applying these rules in their writing even though they have been learning English for about 12 years in school. This is a case study on BEL 311, semester 3 students at one local higher learning institution that comprises ‘Bumiputra’ (a Malay term widely used in Malaysia, embracing ethnic Malays, Javanese, Bugis, Minang and other indigenous ethnic groups such as the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia and the tribal peoples in Sabah and Sarawak) students regarding their problems with subject-verb agreement in their writing. These students are required to write a term paper that worths 30% out of their 100% total score. They are taking their BEL 311, English for Academic Purposes –an undergraduate diploma course. The researcher gathered information for this study through her observation, interview and written assignment given to students. The findings from the study are of significant important since this will help the lecturers to further enhance their teaching methods and find ways to help students improve their writing and avoid making errors in subject-verb agreement as possible.

Senario Masalah Pelajar Universiti Utara Malaysia

Students of higher learning institutions inevitably face many problems during their studies. The problems faced are academic stress, time management, adjustment, teaching method, student-lecturer communication, learning environment and heavy workload. Students’ self-esteem and parenting styles also contributed towards such problems. The aims of this study were to identify the contributing factors based on several demographic components, to examine the relations among the factors and to propose some suggestions to help students deal with the problems. A cross-sectional survey was employed and data were collected using questionnaire. A total of 1923 respondents were chosen to participate in the study through stratified-random sampling. Results indicated that adjustment was the most dominant factor among male and female students. Among the most dominant factors based on ethnicity were adjustment, self-esteem, time management, student-lecturer communication and teaching method. There were relationships between academic stress and other factors such as time management, students’ workload, parenting styles, and self-esteem. In addition, adjustment was found to have relationships with time management, self-esteem, learning environment, parenting styles, teaching method, studentlecturer communication and workload. Results also showed female students having a higher level of academic stress compared to their male counterparts. Malay students also had a higher level of academic stress than other ethnic groups. In term of academic discipline, there were significant differences in four factors which were academic stress, workload, learning environment, and parenting styles.