Public University In Malaysia Research Articles

VAX SAVVY: EXPLORING KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS, AND PERCEPTIONS OF COVID-19 VACCINES AMONG VACCINATED STUDENTS

Abstract: Efforts to control COVID-19 continue to be a global priority, with ongoing research and public health measures aimed at minimizing the impact of the disease. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines have emerged as a vital tool for mitigating its impact. This cross-sectional study involved the distribution of structured questionnaires to 165 vaccinated pharmacy students at a Malaysian public university. The study aimed to investigate the knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines among this specific cohort. The findings underscore a commendable level of knowledge (between 88.5% and 98.9%) as well as awareness and perceptions among the respondents regarding COVID-19 and its vaccines. They exhibited a clear understanding of the importance of vaccination in curbing the disease and expressed a willingness to educate others on its significance. Moreover, the respondents held positive perceptions about vaccine safety, the elicited immune response, and the protective efficacy conferred by vaccination. The study's outcomes reveal the pharmacy students' robust grasp of the importance, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Their positive attitude towards vaccination emphasizes its role in controlling the pandemic and underscores the importance of disseminating this knowledge. This study offers valuable insights into the knowledge and perceptions of a specific population group, contributing to our broader understanding of various aspects of COVID-19 vaccine.
 Keywords: Awareness; COVID-19; Knowledge; Perception; Students; Vaccine

Risk perception and its predictors towards type 2 diabetes mellitus among students in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become increasingly prevalent among young adults. Risk perception is believed to be an important determinant of preventive health behaviors; however, young adults remain unaware of the benefits. The current study aimed to examine Malaysian public university students' perceived risk of developing T2DM and its predictors. This cross-sectional study involved a total of 1078 healthy students at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The validated Malay version of the Questionnaire on Risk Perception of Developing Non-Communicable Diseases in Malaysia was used to assess their perceived risk of developing T2DM in the future. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the data regarding the predictors of perceived risk to obtain the final model after controlling the potential confounders. . It was found that the majority of respondents (83.8%) perceived low risk of developing T2DM. Results from the multiple logistic regression indicated that respondents from non-health related faculties (OR, 1.71: 95% CI 1.162, 2.515), smoking (OR, 8.43: 95% CI 1.108, 64.130), consume fast food ≥ 3 times/month (OR, 1.56: 95% CI 1.104, 2.207), and snacking ≥ 3 times/week (OR, 1.79: 95% CI 1.262, 2.550) were significant positive predictors while family history of diabetes was a negative predictor (OR, 0.50: 95% CI 0.350, 0.695). Students who self-rated themselves as practising healthy lifestyles and actively seeking health information perceived a low risk of developing diabetes in the future. . The findings indicate that students perceived their risk as low even though they have the risk. This creates an urgent need to emphasize the necessity of diabetes prevention education, especially on socio-behavioral factors, to address the widespread misunderstandings among university students regarding diabetes risk factors to reduce diabetes incidence.

MORAL REASONING AND INTENTION TO PERFORM UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR OF LECTURERS IN MALAYSIA

The process of deciding what is right or wrong in a particular scenario is known as moral reasoning. Moral reasoning is important as it will help to shape an individual’s intention whether to perform or not to perform an unethical behaviour. This study will examine the level of moral reasoning of lecturers in public universities of Malaysia and examine its relationship to intention to perform unethical behaviour. The Defining Issues Test 2 (DIT2) via N2 scores was used to measure the level of moral reasoning of lecturers. Intention to perform unethical behaviour was measured using ethical dilemmas scenarios. Online survey was sent to 30 lecturers of the Faculty of Business/ Management from 20 public universities. 130 responses were received, and data collected was sent to the Centre for the Study of Ethical Development University of Alabama for reliability test, scoring and analysis, as it is copyrighted. Only 83 responses passed the DIT2 reliability test and was then used for further analysis. The result shows that the N2 score of lecturers is at the low level of 23.39 which falls in Kohlberg’s Cognitive Moral Development stage 2 and 3 representing the personal interest schema. The study also found that moral reasoning of lecturers does not affect their intention to perform unethical behaviour. This could be because the level of moral reasoning of lecturers are at a low level and thus do not affect intention to perform unethical behaviour. Thus, efforts should be taken to develop the moral reasoning to a higher level such as exposing them to ethics courses and ethics training program that can increase their cognitive moral development to a higher level so that they do not only focus on self but also on law, social order and universal ethical principles.

Can Academic Librarians as Data Scientists Revolutionise User-Centric E-learning?

This investigation illuminates the vital contributions of academic librarians (ALs) functioning as data scientists (DSs) within the e-learning landscapes of Malaysian public universities. Derived from comprehensive interviews with ten experience ALs, this study distinguishes three key areas of contribution towards user-centric and effective e-learning: bolstering user experience and usability; endorsing continuous improvement and professional development; and stimulating interdepartmental collaboration and innovation. Despite the significant progress made by ALs, the study acknowledges the formidable challenges faced by these professionals in their capacity as DSs, specifically in areas of professional growth and evaluation. The paper presents strategic recommendations to overcome these obstacles, such as amplifying ALs' data science competencies, advocating for ongoing professional development, and endorsing the validation of their expertise through accreditation. By highlighting the essential role and proactive contributions of ALs as DSs, this study offers valuable insights and guidelines towards cultivating a robust and influential e-learning environment. Concluding with suggestions for future research, this study aims to propel the progression of academic librarianship and the enhancement of e-learning outcomes.
 
 
 

International Posture Of Malaysian Learners In Arabic Programme

Language learners with a solid international posture are generally more willing to communicate in the foreign language they learn. However, studies on global posture could have been conducted better, especially for Arabic language learners. Therefore, this study aims to examine the level of readiness of students of Arabic studies programs in terms of international posture. This study uses a quantitative design by distributing online questionnaire instruments to 180 final-year students of the bachelor’s degree from three public universities in Malaysia, namely Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), and International Islamic University (UIA). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. The results showed that students in tertiary Arabic Studies programs in Malaysia report that international posture is in the moderate range but relatively lower. Students need to capitalize on all these aspects, which will directly and indirectly contribute to better achievement in learning Arabic.

Value for money (VFM) in private finance initiative (PFI) implementation in Malaysia

PurposeDrawing on institutional work (Lawrence and Suddaby, 2006; Lawrence et al., 2011), this study aims to explore how the concept of value for money (VFM) is understood in terms of the private finance initiative (PFI) implementation in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachIn-depth interviews with 25 actors involved in the implementation of PFI projects at two public universities in Malaysia were conducted. The interviews focused on the ways in which participants in the projects make sense of VFM in their ongoing involvement with the projects. In addition, a review of publicly available documents was conducted to understand the ways in which the notion of VFM is reflected in the policies and procedures of the government. Data from the interviews and documents were analysed using thematic analysis.FindingsIt is found that the advocacy work of macro-level actors, as well as micro-level actors, has promoted PFI implementation to achieve VFM. However, to the micro-level actors, VFM is just a concept that carries different interpretations, depending on how PFI fits their everyday functional discourses. In addition, direct negotiation and lack of commercial appreciation are disruptive not only to the achievement of VFM but also to the public sector reform agenda of the country.Originality/valueThe present study contributes to the discourses on the concept of VFM that is assumed to be inherent in PFI. The findings are based on micro- and macro-level actors and cover both advocacy and disruption of VFM achievement.

Elevating academic staff’s learning goal orientation: The role of supervisory trust, workload, and work engagement

Based on the Social Exchange Theory (SET) and the Job-Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this study examines how supervisory trust and workload influence the work engagement and learning goal orientation (LGO) of academic staff. Survey data collected from 265 full-time academic staff in Malaysian public universities were analysed using structural equation modelling. The results suggest that both supervisory trust and workload have a significant positive influence on the work engagement of academic staff. This, in turn, indirectly enhances their LGO. This study provides empirical evidence that supervisory trust is not the only important predictor of academic staff’s work engagement, as workload also significantly boosts their engagement. Therefore, it is essential to consider these factors when cultivating work engagement and LGO, which are prerequisites for a true learning culture and key to developing a cutting-edge university. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are also highlighted.

Students Experience Using Learning Factory at the Faculty of Industrial Management

One of the issues faced by the industry internationally is a lack of skilled workers to meet growing industrial demands. To satisfy the demanding requirements of the manufacturing industry in such a scenario, both the educational content and didactical methodologies need to be enhanced. However, the university and other higher education institutions do not currently use training and teaching strategies that prepare students for employment in the industrial sector. The learning factory concept can be introduced to the institution to resolve this problem. The learning factory technique mixes business activities with the educational process. This study evaluates the student’s perception in using the learning factory concepts at the Universiti Malaysia Pahang, a Malaysian public university located in Pahang, Malaysia. A qualitative research method was employed, and data was collected by interviewing six undergraduate students who had used the learning factory for their lean manufacturing subject. The interview took place at the end of the semester using a structured, open-ended interviewing questions technique. According to the study, the learning factory has four primary advantages which are increase students' interest in TVET topics, boost their level of soft skills, increase their comprehension, and offer tools to help them retain knowledge. The findings of this study can be used to provide new suggestions for lecturers, instructors, or higher education institution administration on how to make teaching students simpler and more engaging using learning factory concept. Future research should study the relationship between learning factory infrastructure, instructional approaches, with student performance.

Internationalization of Higher Education, University Quality Service, and International Students’ Loyalty in Malaysia

This quantitative study examines the effects of internationalization practices on university quality service and students’ loyalty as perceived by international students in Malaysian public universities. A total of 1,575 international students from 10 different public universities in Malaysia and from different home countries participated in this study. Stratified sampling was used to select the international students by dividing the population into continents. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using SmartPLS Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM). The findings of PLS-SEM confirmed the effect of internationalization of higher education practice and university quality service on international student loyalty in Malaysia. It was also found the effect of internationalization of higher education practice on university quality service. The research reported here adds to the growing body of knowledge on foreign student satisfaction and perceptions of quality, internationalization of education, and student mobility. It also helps provide some insights for the education industry in Malaysia and beyond in their effort to gain global recognition in the field of academic teaching, research, and professional development.

STRENGTHENING ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOVERNANCE OF CROWDFUNDING: ENHANCING FUNDING OF HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Background and Purpose: The reduction in government funding requires public universities to seek different forms of funding for their activities, and crowdfunding has become an essential enhancement to public university funding sources. This research aims to evaluate the strength of accountability and governance of crowdfunding for public universities
 
 Methodology: The study has adopted factual data based on relevant literature reviews and documents on crowdfunding.
 
 Findings: This study explored the aspects that will strengthen the accountability and governance framework of crowdfunding, especially for public universities. To increase public confidence in crowdfunding, it must be well-governed with strict criteria to ensure proper accountability and transparency to reduce the possibility of corruption and prevent fraud. From the strengthening of the crowdfunding mechanism, it can be concluded that the governance system developed will include methodologies and standards for evaluating the sources of funds, protecting the donors, evaluating projects qualified for funding, and reinvestment of contributions, where applicable
 
 Contributions: The significance of this study is that it makes a new contribution by investigating perspectives on improving accountability and governance of crowdfunding. Moreover, the current study suggests that Malaysia may determine the level of adaptation of crowdfunding mechanisms and the sustainability of crowdfunding as an alternative platform to fund Malaysian public universities in the future.
 
 Keywords: Crowdfunding, governance, accountability, transference, higher education.
 
 Cite as: Hoque, M. N., Mohamed, N., Azad, A. K., Nuruzzaman, A. F. M., & Zaid, B. M. Y. (2023). Strengthening accountability and governance of crowdfunding: Enhancing funding of higher educational institutions. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 8(TI), 300-321. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol8issTIpp300-321

Consociational politics as a mediating effect in strengthening ethnic unity among youth in Malaysian public universities

This study analyses the role of consociational politics as a mediating effect in enhancing ethnic unity among youth in Malaysia, with reference to the university students, through educational policy, economic system and religious practice. The research focuses on ethnicity due to its persistent influence on election outcomes over the previous two decades. Besides, a significant number of voters choose to base their political choices on the party that resonate with their ethnic interests. For this study, it involved a survey of 373 students from two Malaysian public universities, namely University of Malaya and the National Defence University of Malaysia. The obtained data are subjected to descriptive analysis as well as structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis. The results indicate that all three domains are significant in strengthening ethnic unity among youth, and this finding has national significance since it demonstrates the efficacy of this strategy in safeguarding Malaysia's diverse population The study's findings demonstrate that the grand coalition, as a fundamental component of consociational politics, possesses the capacity to cultivate a political alliance comprising many ethnic groupings, ultimately earning the confidence of the broader populace, particularly the younger generation. This facilitates the ascendance of a politically diverse party with individuals from various ethnic backgrounds to take over governance of the nation. Hence, the successful promotion of racial peace among the youth in Malaysia can be attributed to the implementation of a consociational strategy within the country.

Predictive Model for Factors Influencing Students’ Continuance Usage Intention on a Gamified Formative Assessment Application

Formative assessments help students identify their strengths and weaknesses as well as the target areas that need work. Meanwhile, the success of gamification implementation in mobile learning (m-learning) applications has been proven by many research associated with technology acceptance. However, studies on the technology post-acceptance phase are scarce. Deploying gamification concepts in competency-based education and assessment method, aim to diversify the game dynamics usage in new and practical areas such as technical and vocational education. Therefore, this study focused on the development of a predictive model for a gamified m-learning application that extends the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) with perceived enjoyment. This study applied a correlational research design on the students of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) based diploma programmes in one of Malaysian public university. An online survey was conducted, and garnered 269 responses, which were used in the final analysis based on the Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings showed that all the factors in the model, which are the confirmation of expectation, satisfaction, perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment, appeared to be significantly influencing the students’ continuance usage intention towards the gamified m-learning application as well as jointly explained 64.6% (R2) of the changes. The addition of variable perceived enjoyment provided an increment of 2.7% compared to the R2 value of the original ECM model. Most importantly, the proposed extended ECM proved to be a reliable prediction model when the Q2 values for continuance use intention and perceived usefulness displayed strong predictive accuracy, having 0.368 (Q2) for both variables, while satisfaction showed moderate strength with the value of 0.305 (Q2). Therefore, the predictive model is reliable to be used to investigate future usage and effective designs of gamified m-learning products among the technical and vocational education students in other Higher Education Institution (HEI).

Understanding Digital Citizenship Indicators from Student Perspective in Malaysia

"The lifestyles of people have changed as a result of the recent rapid advancements in information and communication technologies. These technologies’ digital tools and platforms have centred on the lives of individuals and have grown to be an integral component of people, especially young adults. The idea of digital citizenship is becoming more and more significant as people interact online. It is also recognized as a notion that aids educators and technology leaders in comprehending what students need to know in order to use technology responsibly. This study intends to determine student levels of digital citizenship and investigate factors affecting digital citizenship among Malaysian university students. A quantitative technique was used, with 205 undergraduate students from a Malaysian public university as the subjects. The findings demonstrate that the sample has a high degree of digital citizenship and that students’ internet self-efficacy and attitudes toward the internet have a significant influence on their digital citizenship. The results of this study should be useful to educators and technology leaders in setting the right amount of assistance and direction to ensure that our future leaders can be active digital citizens. The study’s shortcomings are emphasized, and some suggestions for fostering digital citizenship among university students are made."

The Acceptance of TikTok as a Tool in English Language Learning among University Students

TikTok is considered a potential tool for enhancing the development of students’ language skills and proficiency. However, research on the extent of students’ acceptance of using it as a language learning tool is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the level of acceptance of TikTok in English language learning and the factors contributing to the actual use of TikTok among undergraduate students in Malaysia. This study employed quantitative research methodology by disseminating a 32-item questionnaire to 200 undergraduate students at a public Malaysian university via a Google Form link. Sections A, B, C, D, E, and F of the questionnaire sought responses on the demographic profile, perceived usefulness, ease of use, attitudes, behavioural intention, and actual use of TikTok in English language acquisition, respectively. The findings revealed that the average scores for the individual items and the overall scores for each component being studied were within the range of 3 to 4.1 on a 5-point Likert scale. This result indicated that the student’s level of acceptance was above average. Students’ behavioural intentions were also found to be the most significant factor in determining whether or not TikTok was used for English language instruction. Students acknowledged the use of TikTok in English language learning, suggesting that it could be used as a pedagogical instrument in English language classrooms. Consequently, the findings highlight TikTok’s potential as a language learning tool in English language courses, as it strengthens educational platforms and enhances instruction by giving students more ways to learn languages.

Assessing the Energy Performance of Public University in Malaysia by using Energy Conservation Measure (ECM): A Case Study of UiTM Tapah, Malaysia

The growth of energy consumption in Malaysian universities has elevated national concern because it increases government annual expenditure and at the same time influence the national energy performance. In managing the energy performance of universities, it is significant to monitor the energy usage whereby areas and facilities that have the potential for energy savings can be audited in order to obtain energy-efficiency. The objective of this research is to focus on the energy performance processes conducted by identify and evaluate a various of the Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) that may contribute towards energy efficiency in the public universities. ECM has been used to acquire achievable solutions and improvement of energy consumption during the energy audit. A related information on energy audit, like electrical and mechanical systems specifications have been compiled and the use of energy have been profiled. A potential finding method used was a comparative analysis between energy implementation process before and after audit. It has been found that the significant processes in an energy audit can help to save energy consumption by comparing the energy implementation process. It is done through an investigation of energy consumption behaviour in the ECM process for the electrical and mechanical systems, and buildings activities that have an impact on energy consumption which allow energy-efficiency in a building. A case study of UiTM in Tapah Campus, Malaysia has been selected for this research since this university is among new public university in Malaysia that has higher energy users. It has been found that with the aid of ECM, this university will be able to achieve 135 kWh/m2/year of Building Energy Index (BEI). Eight (8) improvement strategies in ECMs have been suggested that significantly achieve the energy performance efficiency, involving eight (8) strategies, which are four (4) No-Cost Measures, two (2) Medium-Cost Measures and two (2) High-Cost Measures.

THE EFFECT OF TRAINING TOWARDS EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE: AN EVIDENCE FROM A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN MALAYSIA

Employees are the true determinant of the success or competency of an organization. An adequately trained workforce is important to ensure the workplace has the right and valuable employees. Employees in the education sector need the training to improve their performance as they face limitations or challenges to be creative in completing a task. Despite the increasing effects on the training of organizational employees by organizations, there is still limited literature on human resource development issues in developing countries. The study is focused on the effect of training towards employee performance in a public university in Malaysia. Consequently, all the necessary data were collected from primary sources using questionnaires from 244 respondents. This study employed a quantitative approach and found that induction, technical, and soft skill training positively influence employee performance in the case company. In addition, the study recommended future research in training and development strategies, assisting the employees in understanding the relevance of training towards employee performance, monitoring the performance to ensure employees are on track to achieve the best performance, growing and maintaining the employee’s performance to ensure the organization and personal goal can be achieved.

TINJAUAN TERHADAP FAKTOR DEMOGRAFI DALAM PENGKOMERSIALAN PENYELIDIKAN DI UNIVERSITI

Commercialization of research is receiving increasing attention across various research fields in universities. The aim of this study is to identify the differences in demographic factors (gender, age, position, type of university, research experience, knowledge of commercialization, and research field) in research commercialization activities among lecturers in public universities in Malaysia. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was used, and a sample size of 155 lecturers was selected through simple random sampling from 20 public universities in Malaysia. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire in the form of a Google Form distributed via email. Subsequently, the collected data was analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. The results of the t-Test and ANOVA analyses indicated that there were no significant differences in research commercialization activities based on demographic factors, including gender, age, position, type of university, research experience, knowledge of commercialization, and research field. This demonstrates that academic researchers should not perceive demographic factors as barriers to their research commercialization activities. Therefore, the findings of this study are expected to benefit those involved in formulating various strategies and decision-making processes, with the aim of stimulating greater efforts in the commercialization of research results, especially at the university level.

SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION: VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES

SWD are often part of the minority in public society and their special needs are often not heard, as well as in the field of education. This study aims to learn more about the SWD’s social surroundings, mental state, and support network from their own perspective based on their experience in a Malaysian public university. This study is a qualitative research and researchers performed focused in-depth interviews with 10 SWD that are registered with UPO for data collection. The results demonstrate that the issue of support systems is dynamic, and SWD must be ready for any future developments. The majority of the support required is related to the special equipment, facilities, and infrastructure in order to ease their mobility. In order to develop assertiveness and the capacity to assimilate into society, SWD also needs to be subjected to training or courses that can improve mental resilience, emotional control, and social skills. To meet the SWD’s increased expectations, present systems need to be improved in accordance to the effectiveness of technology and changes in the demographics of the SWD nowadays. It is recommended that a similar study be carried out in all IPTAs and also private IPTs involving all SWD of various categories. This is to ensure that the rights and needs of all SWD can be implemented. The results of this study are expected to channel information about the support received by SWD at UiTM to be an example to other IPTAs in addition to identifying the challenges faced so that efforts towards solving the problem can be implemented immediately.

Islamic Perspectives on Recognizing Opportunities: Insights from Malay-Muslim academic librarians

This paper aims to identify the antecedents of entrepreneurial competencies among Malay-Muslim academic librarians in Malaysian public universities. To collect qualitative data, ten academic librarians were interviewed in focus group discussions. The findings revealed that academic librarians' practices are influenced by their personal beliefs and knowledge of Islam, which have become ingrained in their Muslim way of life despite their lack of understanding of entrepreneurial competencies. These factors have a significant impact on librarians' cognitive processes, thus, on their entrepreneurial behavior. The findings suggest that it is pivotal to strengthen the personal beliefs and knowledge of academic librarians to be entrepreneurial.

Challenges of Using Online Distance Learning Platforms in Higher Education: Perception of Business Students

The year 2020 has changed the world of education intensely with the distinctive rise of online distance learning (ODL), whereby teaching and learning are undertaken remotely and on digital platforms. Driven by both the pandemic and advancements in digital technologies, the new norm of online learning continues to persist post-pandemic. Therefore, this paper explored the extent of ODL challenges faced by semester 5 business students in one of the public universities in Malaysia. Their perception of internal and external challenges namely time management, attitude, self-esteem, internet connection, socioeconomic and non-conducive environment will be examined. By using non-probability sampling, data were gathered from a total of 110 semesters 5 business students from 9 courses in the Faculty of Business and Management. The findings of this study revealed that internal challenges domain (time management, attitude, self-esteem) affect students the most in ODL. Consequently, the result of this study is hoped to help the education community prepare for a hybrid and flexible learning system as recently announced by the Malaysia Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).