Private Higher Education Institutions In Malaysia Research Articles

Thriving in scarcity: Harnessing intellectual capital for open frugal innovation

Private higher education institutions (PHEIs) are struggling to invest in the facilities, tools, and staff required to build a complete IR4.0 education ecosystem due to a lack of funding and technological resources. This research investigates the role of intellectual capital elements (Human, Relational, and Structural Capital) in promoting frugal innovation in Malaysian private universities utilizing knowledge-based theory. Using a quantitative research approach, we collected survey data from 308 respondents affiliated with Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) in Malaysia. The study found that human capital is not statistically significant in its relationship with frugal innovation in higher education, while structural capital and relational capital do show significant relationships. These findings contribute to our understanding of intellectual capital's role in frugal innovation in Malaysian PHEIs.

Remote Learning Satisfaction during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of a Private Higher Education Institution in Malaysia

Since 2020, the abrupt change of pedagogy in education amid the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in various challenges to both instructors and students. Higher education institutions (HEIs) shut down to contain the spread of the virus and shifted to online learning environments. Due to uncertainties, instructors and students were unprepared to cope with the future. Accordingly, instructors and students had to embrace new technologies quickly. This study examines how students perceived remote learning and their level of satisfaction. The data collected were from a Malaysian private HEI that involved 2,097 undergraduate students quantitatively, modeled on Ramsden’s (1991) Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ). The findings revealed the effects of six factors, i.e., instructors’ performance, students’ educational goals, the remote learning platform, study workload, online assessment, and learning support with a positive relationship on the overall satisfaction of remote learning. Policymakers, university administrators, and instructors could benefit from this study because it has demonstrated that several factors shape students’ satisfaction and affect their learning effectiveness in a remote learning environment.

Factors Influencing International Students' Choice to Study at Malaysian Private Higher Education Institutions

The decision of international students to pursue private HEIs in Malaysia is examined in this study. It attempts to investigate the relationship between the programmes offered, the tuition price, an institution's recognition and reputation, and the choice made by international students to enroll in Malaysian private higher education institutions (HEIs). This paper aims to identify the determining elements while choosing to attend Malaysian private HEIs, and the push-pull theory was applied. Through an online survey, a total of 110 respondents were gathered. The findings of Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a substantial association between the programme offered, the cost of education, the reputation and recognition of institutions, and the choice of international students to study in Malaysian private HEIs. The findings of this study can be valuable to policymakers, educators, and higher education institutions in Malaysia, as they provide insights into the factors that influence international students' choice to enroll at private HEIs. The results may also be useful for marketing and recruitment strategies to attract more international students to Malaysian private HEIs. Recommendations for HEIs are provided based on the findings.

Does Enterprise Risk Management Influence Performance? Evidence from Malaysian Private Higher Education Institutions

Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) play an important role in the country’s growth and development. However, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has shut about 60 private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in the year 2020 (Azman, 2021). For firms to attain excellent organisational performance, enterprise risk management (ERM) is viewed as a critical requirement. This study aims to examine the roles of enterprise risk management on the performance of private higher education institutions in Malaysia from customer perspectives, financial perspectives, internal processes perspectives and learning and growth perspectives. To evaluate the hypotheses, data is collected from PHEIs in Malaysia using an online survey questionnaire. Structural equation modelling software SmartPLS 3.3.9 is used to analyse the 186 valid responses received. This empirical research discovers that ERM has positive and significant impact on financial perspective performance, customer-focused perspective performance, internal processes performance and learning and growth perspective performance of PHEIs in Malaysia. The findings contribute to the advancement of the resource-based view (RBV) theory. Practitioners of PHEIs will understand how to maximise the resources and skills to improve ERM that eventually drive the performance of their institution.

Ostracism Amongst Junior Employees

This study provides tenets that guide a wide range of researchers, industry practitioners, and academics in order to work multifaceted environment of workplace ostracism, work engagement, and turnover intention. The prevalence of turnover intention has received critical attention among Human Resource practitioners as the alarming statistics nowadays allude to global epidemic of actual turnover. High turnover can be costly to any organization. Therefore, this issue needs special attention as it may impact the company’s bottom line. Based on the research philosophies of positivism, this study employs a deductive approach or quantitative research design. This shall provide empirical evidence of the effect of ostracism on turnover and moderated by work engagement. Based on the available literature, a comparative analysis of different experiences with ostracism and turnover from diverse background studies has shown their adequacy for the requirement to involve work engagement as the mediator. This study only looking from East Culture’s perspective which is the Malaysian Private Higher Education Institutions (MPHEIs). It is a cross-sectional, which prevents examining the evolution over time of the phenomenon under investigation. Many studies have examined the antecedents of turnover intention, however, the effects of relational experiences at work on turnover intention amongst junior employees have not been fully explored.

The influence of big data analytics technological capabilities and strategic agility on performance of private higher education institutions

PurposeThis study aimed to examine the roles of big data analytics technological capabilities (BDATC) on the performance of private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in Malaysia. This study explored mediating effect of strategic agility (SA) between BDATC and PHEIs' performance. The moderating effect of enterprise risk management (ERM) influencing the relationship between SA and PHEIs performance was also examined.Design/methodology/approachTo evaluate the hypotheses, data were collected from PHEIs in Malaysia using an online survey questionnaire. Structural equation modelling software SmartPLS 3.3.9 was used to analyse the 186 valid responses received.FindingsThis empirical research discovered that BDATC and SA have positive and significant impact on PHEIs' performance. BDATC has positive and significant influence on SA of PHEIs. Moreover, SA mediates the influence of BDATC on PHEIs' performance. ERM enhances the impact of SA on performance of PHEIs in Malaysia.Originality/valueThe findings contributed to the advancement of the resource-based view (RBV) theory and dynamic capability theory (DCT). Practitioners of PHEIs will understand how to maximise the resources and skills to improve BDATC, SA and ERM that eventually drive the performance of the practitioners' institution.

Job pursuit intentions of undergraduates towards green job positions and descriptions, green performance management, green employee relations with employers' prestige as the mediator

PurposeThe aim of this research is to explore the relationship between green job positions and descriptions, green performance management, green employee relations with job pursuit intentions and the role of employers’ prestige as the mediator.Design/methodology/approachA survey research design with a sample of 216 undergraduate specialising in the business fields from Malaysian private higher education institutions responded to the questionnaire, while purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques were used in order to determine the research sample. Data for the research were collected from the target participants via questionnaires and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), while partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) via Smart-PLS was utilized to test the developed hypotheses of the research.FindingsThe results showed that only green employee relations has a significant relationship with job pursuit intentions out of the three direct hypotheses. As a result of assessing the mediating hypotheses, employers’ prestige mediates the effect of green job positions and descriptions and green employee relations on job pursuit intentions. Conversely, green performance management did not support the mediating association.Practical implicationsThis research recommended practitioners to adopt green HRM fundamentals to enhance EP, which results in JPI. Also, the research aids managers and practitioners by providing the outlook of green HRM from a job seeker’s perspective, which can embolden the managers and practitioners in planning a systematic human resource.Originality/valueThe study contributes by enriching the literature concerning the dimensions of green HRM, which is an emergent topic in the human resource field. Furthermore, the study advances by proposing GER in the research framework.

Student Learning Experiences in Higher Education: Investigating a Quantity Surveying Programme in Malaysia

Higher education institutions (HEIs) play a crucial role in fostering quality education. This paper examines the attributes that influence student learning experiences in a quantity surveying (QS) programme in a Malaysian private HEI and uncovers the underlying factors involved. The significance of these attributes as recognised by the students, obtained through a questionnaire survey, are subsequently presented. The findings reveal that the five most important attributes are closely related to the lecturer, namely the lecturer’s preparedness, responsiveness, interpersonal and communication skills, clarity and academic experiences. An exploratory factor analysis identifies the five major underlying factors to be the quality of academic learning to relate to professionalism and competency of lecturers, quality of academic services and support facilities, interpersonal connections and external considerations, curriculum structure and physical environment and facilities. Understanding these factors could help HEIs to devise effective strategies to enhance the quality of service and programme in higher education, which can result in a greater impact on the effectiveness of contemporary QS education and the reputation of the HEI as well as fostering student satisfaction and loyalty.

The Role of Competency: Comparing Social Intelligence and Teaching and Learning Performance among Academics Staffs’ in Malaysian Private Higher Education Institutions

The Role of Competency: Comparing Social Intelligence and Teaching and Learning Performance among Academics Staffs’ in Malaysian Private Higher Education Institutions

Factors contributing to Gen Z's deep learning: investigating undergraduates' course experience in Malaysian private higher education institutions

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationship between undergraduates' course experience and their deep learning approach and to identify areas of improvement to facilitate students' deep learning in the private higher education context.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 844 Malaysian undergraduate students who studied in six private higher education institutions (HEIs) in Penang and Selangor. This study used partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) for data analysis.FindingsThe findings revealed that good teaching and appropriate assessment have no significant relationship with deep learning. Generic skills, clear goals and standards, appropriate workload and emphasis on independence are positively related to deep learning. Generic skills and emphasis on independence are two domains that deserve attention to enhance deep learning among undergraduates.Practical implicationsLecturers need to focus on to the cultivation of generic skills to facilitate students' deep learning. Student autonomy and student-centred teaching approaches should be empowered and prioritised in teaching and learning.Originality/valueThe current study has its originality in providing empirical findings to inform the significant relationship between dimensions of course experience and deep learning in Malaysian private HEIs. Besides, it also identifies the areas of improvement concerning teaching and learning at the private HEIs using importance-performance matrix analysis (IPMA) in a non-Western context.

Exploring the role of technology infrastructure capability and intrapreneurship to influence higher education institutions’ performance

The dawn of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has shifted the landscape of private higher education industry in Malaysia. It becomes more liberalized and competitive, raising the issue of sustainability among the private higher education institutions (PHEIs). Working within the theory of resource-based view (RBV), PHEIs need to develop their technology infrastructure capability and intrapreneurial skills among their academicians to enhance performance. The purpose of this paper is to develop a better understanding on the claim that technology influences organizational performance, and to investigate the mediating role of intrapreneurship in higher education industry. Data are collected from 261 respondents from 19 PHEIs in Malaysia and analyzed using SmartPLS 3.0. The result reveals that technology infrastructure capability have significant impact on PHEIs’ performance, and that intrapreneurship mediates the relationship between both variables. This paper also provides valuable insights for PHEIs to focus on enhancing technological infrastructure capability and developing intrapreneurial skills among their academicians. Furthermore, this paper adds value to by addressing multiple predictors in contributing to PHEIs’ performance.

Vital organisational capabilities for strategic agility: an empirical study

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the organisational capabilities needed for strategic agility among private higher education institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia that are operating in a turbulent business environment. In addition, the study also intends to determine the area of prioritisation for these institutions.Design/methodology/approachA two-month data collection was carried out on 375 private HEIs via a Web-based survey, which garnered a response rate of 41.33%. The data were subsequently analysed with the partial least squares structural equation modelling to establish the validity and reliability of the research model and to test the postulated hypotheses. The assessment of importance and performance matrix analysis (IPMA) was also carried out to highlight the areas of significance for improvement.FindingsThe study discovered that all three constructs of organisational capabilities, i.e. environmental scanning, marketing and organisational learning, attributed significantly to strategic agility. This in turn enabled strategic agility to significantly influence the organisational performance of private HEIs in Malaysia. Finally, IPMA revealed that private HEIs need to prioritise organisational learning to strengthen their strategic agility, thus optimise organisational performance.Originality/valueAside from business and management research of strategic agility in other industries, the current study manages to establish that strategic agility also plays an important role in the private higher education sector. Furthermore, the use of IPMA provides fresh insight into the importance and performance of the organisational capabilities examined against strategic agility.

Perceived Human Resource Management Practices and Intention to Stay in Private Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia: The Role of Organizational Citizenship Behaviour

Addressing the problem of lecturer turnover in Malaysia, this study investigated the motivations behind the intention of employees to stay in private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in Malaysia, with a focus on the relationship between the perceived practices of human resource management (HRM) and the intention to remain at Malaysia’s PHEIs. Based on the social exchange theory (SET), this article proposed that the perceived HRM practices at those institutions are uniquely positioned to support employee intention to stay, particularly with the intervention of organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB). Data from 323 lecturers working at PHEIs in Malaysia confirm this model. Based on the analysis, this study revealed that recruitment and selection; training and development; and rewards and recognition all had a meaningful relationship with the intention to stay. In contrast, notably, performance appraisal did not have any significant relationship with the intention to stay.

Prioritised challenges and critical success factors for delivering quality education in Malaysian private higher education institutions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a hierarchical model to rank the challenges faced by the private Malaysian higher education institutions (HEIs) in the provision of quality education and subsequently their corresponding critical success factors (CSFs) to address those challenges. Design/methodology/approach A sequential mix method was adopted in this study. Semi-structured interviews with 29 participants were initially conducted to identify the challenges and CSFs. This was followed by a questionnaire survey involving 158 respondents to prioritise the identified findings. Thematic analysis was conducted in the qualitative stage, uncovering the challenges and their corresponding CSFs. Data for both stages were accumulated from internal and external stakeholders of Malaysian private HEIs. Finally, the four stages of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) were applied to rank the challenges and CSFs. Findings The qualitative stage identified eight challenges, i.e. “academics”, “facilities”, “students”, “programmes and curriculum”, “competition”, “accreditation”, “finance” and “research” together with their corresponding CSFs. The AHP enables the ranking of these challenges. “Finance” has been found to be the most crucial challenge and “high competency in managing the institution’s finance” as the most important CSF to address this challenge. Research limitations/implications As the study restricted its focus on Malaysian private HEIs, the results may not be generalised for public HEIs and foreign private HEIs operating in Malaysia. Originality/value The hierarchical model developed in this study is deemed important for implementation to resolve the prioritised challenges. It spells out the specific areas in which the resources of Malaysian private HEIs need to be prudently disbursed and properly managed.

Measuring the performance of private higher education institutions in Malaysia

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a comprehensive model using balanced scorecard (BSC) approach instead of the current ranking system to measure the performance of private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in Malaysia as the ranking system is deemed inaccurate and certain items in the system are redundant.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 105 academicians from seven PHEIs in Malaysia. The data were analyzed for factor analysis using Principal Axis method with Promax rotation in IBM SPSS Statistics Version 20.FindingsThe result demonstrates that 22 items were successfully extracted into four dimensions that suited the BSC approach with acceptable range of composite reliability and factor loading values.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper reveals the issues of ranking system of the current method in measuring performance of PHEIs. The proposed BSC model should be tested on more PHEIs to increase its validity and reliability.Practical implicationsThis research analyzes the performance of PHEIs from academicians’ perspectives based on the four BSC perspectives. It can be considered as an alternative model for PHEIs’ managers to measure performance of PHEIs in Malaysia rather than the current ranking system.Social implicationsIn the midst of intense competition in private higher education industry in Malaysia, it is crucial to understand that a high performance PHEI is expected to deliver quality tertiary education. This research assists the society to evaluate the strength of a particular PHEI in Malaysia, and further enable them to make a deliberate choice on which PHEI to enter.Originality/valueA growing concern for sustainability of PHEIs requires a method to be undertaken by the authority to measure PHEIs’ performance. This paper addresses this concern by offering 22 items to measure PHEIs’ performance and dictating the need to manage PHEIs in a strategic manner, not by ranking system per se.

Leadership and Innovation on Performance of Private Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia

The contribution of private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in Malaysia is important to the higher education industry. Among the roles of PHEIs are providing a pathway to local and international students to the tertiary level of education, contributing towards making Malaysia an international and highly reputable hub for higher education as well as limiting the flow of our intellects to foreign countries. However, there has been a major concern over the performance of PHEIs. Due to the volatility of the higher education landscape, many local PHEIs are facing with serious issues and challenges which affect their organizational self-sustainability. If the issues and challenges are not seriously addressed, it could impede the growth of PHEIs as well as become the barriers to PHEIs to serve their roles in Malaysia higher education sector. This conceptual paper provides some insights into the issues and challenges of PHEIs in Malaysia. It also identified leadership and innovation as the critical success factors for PHEIs organizational self-sustainability and proposed that these two independent variables are tested in future research.

Evaluation of students' satisfaction with perceived performance value projection in Malaysian private higher education institutions

Drawing from the perceived performance theory to justify students' satisfaction is the primary focus of this study for education institutions image brand building. The strength in service delivery quality performance is an essential factor for students' long-term loyalty. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between service delivery quality dimensions on student satisfaction. The variables used are administrative support, career placement and employability, academic staff support, institutional factors and information systems with satisfaction among undergraduate students from Malaysian private higher education institutions. This empirical study focused with probability stratified random sampling with the final sample size of 309 students. With the theoretical contribution, this study able to recognise and achieve adjusted R2 .852 indicating that, the model explains 85% of the variance in students satisfaction level with the service delivery quality dimensions used with perceived performance concentration.

Evaluation of students' satisfaction with perceived performance value projection in Malaysian private higher education institutions

Drawing from the perceived performance theory to justify students' satisfaction is the primary focus of this study for education institutions image brand building. The strength in service delivery quality performance is an essential factor for students' long-term loyalty. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between service delivery quality dimensions on student satisfaction. The variables used are administrative support, career placement and employability, academic staff support, institutional factors and information systems with satisfaction among undergraduate students from Malaysian private higher education institutions. This empirical study focused with probability stratified random sampling with the final sample size of 309 students. With the theoretical contribution, this study able to recognise and achieve adjusted R2 .852 indicating that, the model explains 85% of the variance in students satisfaction level with the service delivery quality dimensions used with perceived performance concentration.

Mediating Influence of Satisfaction on Reputation, Relationship Benefits and Student Loyalty in Private Higher Education Institutions in Malaysia

Malaysian private higher education institutions are currently operating in a competitive education market. Their profitability and viability are being compromised by uncertain levels of student loyalty. Therefore, it is imperative for managers of private higher education institutions to be aware of the drivers of their students’ loyalty. This study aims to investigate the significant effects of reputation (university management, academic and media reputation) and relationship benefits on student loyalty in private higher education institutions in Malaysia and to determine the mediating effects of satisfaction on the aforementioned relationships. The methodology utilises primary data obtained from questionnaire administered to a sample of 400 students from several private higher education institutions using stratified random probability sampling. Multiple regression technique and mediation analyses were employed to analyse the data via SPSS statistical package. The results revealed that reputation and relationship benefits had significant effects on student loyalty. Empirical evidence concludes that university management and relationship benefits have significant effects on students’ loyalty, whilst academic and media reputation did not. Satisfaction was found to mediate the relationship between the independent variables and student loyalty. The study concludes with the discussion and implications, as well as limitations and suggestions for future research.

Satisfaction Evaluation of Perceived Performance Service Delivery Quality Dimensions in Malaysian Private Higher Education Institutions

Satisfaction Evaluation of Perceived Performance Service Delivery Quality Dimensions in Malaysian Private Higher Education Institutions