Malaysian Research Universities Research Articles

Ideologies of teachers and students towards meso-level English-medium instruction policy and translanguaging in the STEM classroom at a Malaysian university

Abstract English medium instruction (EMI) as a language policy in higher education is based on monolingual conceptions and limits the use of the full linguistic repertoire of bilinguals/multilinguals in the university classroom. Informed by the constructs of language ideology (Spolsky, Bernard. 2009. Language management. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press), translanguaging (Li, Wei. 2018. Translanguaging as a practical theory of language. Applied Linguistics 39(1). 9–30) and pedagogical translanguaging (Creese, Angela & Adrian Blackledge. 2010. Translanguaging in the bilingual classroom: A pedagogy for learning and teaching? The Modern Language Journal 94(1). 103–115), this case study aimed to examine the ideologies held by micro-level stakeholders (i.e., teachers and students) towards institutional English-only EMI policy, translanguaging, and the significance and scope of pedagogical translanguaging in EMI classrooms. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six teachers and 10 students at a public research university in Malaysia. Also collected were a variety of publicly accessible institutional documents, including the focal university’s programme brochures, promotional materials and policy statements on its website. Analyses of the interviews and documents revealed that although EMI was officially adopted in the programmes, both teachers and students advocated for translanguaging and underscored its important role in the transmission of new information, effective communication, and scientific meaning-making. In light of these findings, the study concludes that an inclusive language policy is required that allows teachers and students to access all their linguistic resources.

Academic Adjustment Issues in a Malaysian Research University: The Case of Cambodian, Laotian, Burmese, and Vietnamese Postgraduate Students' Experiences

Academic Adjustment Issues in a Malaysian Research University: The Case of Cambodian, Laotian, Burmese, and Vietnamese Postgraduate Students' Experiences

Unlocking the Potential of Innovative Work Behaviour on Academic Staff Performance: Evidence from Malaysian Public Universities

In Malaysian universities, academic staff play a crucial and vital role in improving their performance by utilising creative and innovative abilities. Therefore, the primary purpose of this research study was to examine and investigate the impact of innovative work behaviour on academic staff performance in Malaysian research universities. A survey was conducted among 300 business faculty members, who were requested to complete a set of questionnaires to achieve the study's objective. The data collected from the survey were meticulously analysed using two software programmes, namely SPSS 26 and SmartPLS 4. The study's findings revealed a significant positive association between innovative work behaviour and academic staff performance in Malaysian research universities. These research findings not only contribute significantly to the existing literature on innovative work practices among university academics but also offer potential strategies that could enhance academic staff performance levels. Thus, universities in Malaysia are recommended to focus on creating an environment that fosters innovation and encourages academic staff to engage in innovative work behaviour. Such initiatives can significantly impact their performance and contribute to the institution's overall success.

Factor Analysis Approach for Measuring Safety Culture in Research University in Malaysia

Introduction: Safety culture is an important factor for improving safety in university. This study aimed to examines the construct validity and reliability of the elements of safety culture in research universities in Malaysia. Methods: A measuring instrument was developed and analyzed for reliability using an exploratory factor analysis approach. The reliability analysis was determined using Cronbach’s Alpha. About 298 postgraduates’ students from five research universities were selected randomly. An exploratory factor analysis was performed using the principal component method with varimax rotation, Kaiser Meyer Olkin, Bartlett’s test of Sphericity and Cronbach’s alpha were obtained. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and Analysis Moment of Structures (AMOS) version 24.0 (IBM SPSS-AMOS V24.0) software. Results: Findings indicated that the Keiser-Meyer-Olkin for all elements of safety culture (training, leadership, management commitment and communication) was in the range 0.799 and 0.916, in which the value was greater than 0.70, while Barlett’s test with a p value of 0.000. Factor loadings were greater than 0.60 in all elements of safety culture. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was at the range of reliability between 0.8 < α < 0.9. Conclusion: It can be concluded the instrument was found to be a potential mechanism for measuring safety culture in research universities in Malaysia.

Factors Affecting Social Learning in Nearby Pockets on Tropical Campus Grounds: Towards a Sustainable Campus

Nearby natural environments on campus grounds have become imperative in enhancing sustainable academic experiences by facilitating sustainable social learning. However, tropical region campuses prioritise traditional education while neglecting sustainable social learning. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to facilitate the use of nearby sustainable pocket settings on campus grounds to enhance social learning experiences. The present study aimed to identify factors affecting social learning experiences in nearby (sustainable) pocket spaces on tropical campuses. It utilised a verbal questionnaire survey conducted in three research universities in Malaysia to investigate the factors affecting 408 respondents in nearby (sustainable) pockets. The respondents were selected using stratified judgemental sampling. This study’s findings revealed that many influencing factors predicted the social learning experience in tropical universities’ nearby pockets, which were arranged into four domain factors: elements and activities, natural environment factors, perceived environment factors, and social factors. This provided a proven correlation between the lack of social learning in nearby pockets and the factors of these sustainable settings. The findings also showed that students’ demographic factors, including education status and university affiliation, influenced their social learning experience. The present study significantly linked education to sustainability by integrating social learning into nearby sustainable pocket settings.

HOW DOES ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY REDUCE BURNOUT AMONG ACADEMICIANS FROM MALAYSIAN RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES? A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

The prevalence of burnout among academicians in Malaysian Research Universities (RUs) is a growing concern in contemporarytimes. The confluence of high job demands, and limited job resources has contributed to heightened levels of burnout amongthis population. Recognizing the urgency of addressing this issue, the present study conducts a systematic review to examine theeffectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in reducing burnout levels among academicians in RUs in Malaysia.Through a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature, a limited number of studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified andreviewed. The findings of the study demonstrate that ACT holds promise as an effective intervention for decreasing burnout levels among academicians, while simultaneously enhancing psychological flexibility. The implications of this study extend to both scholars and experts invested in mitigating the pervasiveness of burnout among academicians in Malaysian RUs, offering valuable insights for the development of targeted interventions and strategies.

Metadata matters: evaluating the quality of Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) descriptions in Malaysian institutional repositories

This study investigates the quality of metadata records in institutional repositories for Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) in three Malaysian research universities. The study employs metrics derived from Bruce and Hillmann (2004) to evaluate the completeness, accuracy, and consistency of 1138 metadata records from the three institutional repositories, and utilizes quantitative content analysis to identify variants of Dublin Core metadata elements used to describe ETDs. The study uncovers a range of issues with metadata completeness, accuracy, and consistency, emphasizing the need for standardized systems to ensure quality metadata. By highlighting the importance of quality metadata for ETD collections, the study provides valuable insights for academic libraries in designing and describing ETD collections. Overall, this study sheds light on the current metadata practices and elements used in ETD collections, and underscores the significance of effective metadata management for the dissemination and discoverability of scholarly works.

Exploring Relevant Employability Skills 4.0 For University Students’ Readiness in The Work-Based Learning Program

This research discusses employability skills 4.0 for the university students' readiness in work-based learning. This research explored relevant employability skills 4.0 for university students' readiness in the work-based learning program. The survey questionnaire consisted of 65 items developed to study the student's readiness to acquire these skills in a work-based learning program. This research obtained 633 respondents from five Malaysian research universities. The association between employability skills and students' readiness for work-based learning was analysed using the PLS-SEM model of SMART-PLS software. Using measurement and structural model analysis, the PLS-SEM found six employability skills communication skills, interpersonal skills,IT skills, problem-solving skills, entrepreneurship skills, and self-management skills. From this analysis, the student's readiness employability 4.0 for the university students' readiness in work-based learning has developed. Further research can exploremore significant respondents from public or private universities, including postgraduate students in the survey.

The cautious faculty: Malaysian university researchers’ awareness, experiences, and attitudes towards Open Peer Review

The rationale of open peer review (OPR) is transparency as a general concept, where authors and reviewers’ identities are revealed and/or the reviews are published with the article. It is unclear whether there is an uptake for OPR from non-western researchers, given that there has been a geographical disparity in traditional peer review where non-western nations are under presented. As such, this study investigates the awareness, experiences, and attitudes of researchers in regard to OPR, which is part of a larger study that concentrated on the scholarly communication readiness of Malaysian researchers in open science. The data were gathered by means of a survey which obtained 135 responses from researchers based in five research universities in Malaysia. The main findings suggested that (a) attitudes towards OPR are reasonably positive with moderate levels of understanding and practices; (b) low awareness on open identities, open interactions and open reports traits of OPR; (c) a stronger levels of OPR experience amongst the sciences and younger researchers; and (d) the majority still have strong concerns about the transparency traits of OPR. The study concludes that OPR is not yet taking root among researchers from this emerging nation.

A Systematic Literature Review on Publication Productivity among Academics in Malaysian Universities

Publication count is used as one of the indicators of research productivity. It is also used to rank researchers, faculties, and academic institutions. The objective of this study is to identify what are the factors that influence publication productivity in Malaysia using SCOPUS database. This study utilised a systematic literature review methodology for academic articles for 5 years, starting from 2017 to 2021. Various factors that contribute to the publication output in many fields have been identified. These factors have been grouped under three main blocks which are individual, institutional, and situational factors. From 2017 to 2021, it shows that Malaysian research universities and private university have actively published articles. Keywords: Publication Productivity, Research Publication Productivity, Factors of Publication Productivity, Systematic Literature Review eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by E-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer-review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behavior Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioral Researchers on Asians), and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behavior Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.

SUPPORTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT AND TURNOVER INTENTION: TESTING THE MEDIATION EFFECT OF PERSON-ORGANIZATION FIT

The study’s overarching goal was to experimentally investigate how Person-Organization Fit (POF) mediates the connection between a Supportive Work Environment (SWE) and an employee Turnover Intention (TI). Academic staff from Malaysian Research Universities (RUs) were be selected using a technique of convenience sampling. Multiple items from previous studies were incorporated into questionnaires to collect responses utilizing quantitative methods. Partial Least Squares (PLS) Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were performed using the Smart PLS 3.2.8 software sampling technique for statistical analysis and testing the proposed hypothesis. The results of this study are meant to demonstrate why SWE is linked favourably and significantly to TI. Furthermore, POF worked as a mediator between an SWE and TI relationship. This study finds that university management should continue developing ways to deliver SWE to establish a healthy environment for employees, which would lessen their willingness to resign. The literature connecting SWE and TI will benefit significantly from this research while stressing the essential retention aspects that must be considered. Additionally, the study explains the constraints and scope of future research.

Relationship between Leadership Style, Self Esteem and Organizational Commitment among Students from Research Universities in Malaysia

Relationship between Leadership Style, Self Esteem and Organizational Commitment among Students from Research Universities in Malaysia

Course satisfaction and perceived learning among distance learners in Malaysian Research Universities: the impact of motivation, self-efficacy, self-regulated learning, and instructor immediacy behaviour

ABSTRACT Despite the rapid increase of students’ enrolment in online courses, higher education institutions in Malaysia face the problem of high dropout rates of students before completing their studies and earning a degree. With a view to addressing the issue, this study focused on critical factors to evaluate the effectiveness of distance learning systems using the criteria of course satisfaction and perceived learning. Further, this study developed a research model that integrated Transactional Distance Theory, Social Presence Theory and the Online Interaction Learning Model to facilitate student satisfaction with online courses. Three hundred and three usable online questionnaires were collected from respondents at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The data were analysed using SPSS and Amos version 22. Results supported all direct relationships between motivation, self-efficacy, self-regulated learning, instructor immediacy behaviour, perceived learning and course satisfaction. Interestingly, perceived learning fully mediated motivation, self-efficacy, and self-regulated learning. Findings from this study on the determinants of course satisfaction do provide guidelines to institutions on significant factors to prioritise when establishing an online learning system.

The impact of neoliberal education on the alignment of student–supervisor expectations in Malaysia

ABSTRACT While researchers explored arising expectations and the mismatches in perceptions of doctoral students and supervisors, less attention has been placed on the causes of such mismatches. This study contributes to a broader understanding of the current issues hindering the alignment of mutual expectations in postgraduate supervision within a dominating neoliberal agenda. Using an exploratory qualitative research design, interviews were held with 15 doctoral students and 12 supervisors in two research universities in Malaysia. Through an inductive thematic analysis, three sources of student–supervisor expectation misalignment were identified: power and hierarchy, student–supervisor dialogue and institutional support. The results suggest that within dominating neoliberal education, where focus has been placed on the achievement of tangible outcomes, Malaysian supervisors expect students to obey their decisions given their superior power. The monologic relationships between parties were observed because of limited time per student supervision. Lastly, given little attention towards development of supervisory relationships within a dominating neoliberal agenda, participants were unaware of the existing supervisory relationship’s guidelines. The findings of this study highlight the importance of improving higher education research policy and practices. Suggestions on improving existing practices and where the attention should be focused are provided in the conclusion.

Time-based changes in authorship trend in research-intensive universities in Malaysia

ABSTRACT Considering the fact that publications serve as an important criterion to evaluate the scientific accomplishments of an individual within respective fields in academia, there has been an increasing trend to publish scientific articles whereby multiple authors are defined as primary, co-, or corresponding authors according to the roles performed. This article analyzes the authorship pattern in 4,561 papers (including 60 single-authored papers) from 1990 till 2020 of 94 academics who hold a position as professors and are affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at three different research universities in Malaysia. Only 708 papers (15.5% of 4,561 papers) were authored by less than three authors. In 3,080 papers (67.5% of 4,561 papers), those academics appeared as coauthors. Using different years as cutoff periods, it was observed that the appearance as coauthor in the papers had steeply risen around the years: 2006, 2007, 2008 and onwards. The increased number of authors in the multi-author papers and the appearance of the selected academics as coauthors reflect the extent of boosting of collaborative research in that period which corresponds to the adoption of the “publish or perish policy” by the Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia.

The Pattern of Epistemological Belief in Design among Engineering Students

This study was geared toward identifying the pattern of epistemological belief in design among engineering students enrolled in one of the research universities in Malaysia. To this end, data collection was carried out by employing an adapted instrument of a Likert-type questionnaire with five scales consisting of 68 items. Then, 120 engineering students from several engineering disciplines, such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and civil engineering, were selected from the overall population of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to determine their epistemological beliefs on design. According to the literature, six dimensions of beliefs were commonly perceived. The students were to describe their beliefs about design knowledge and the nature of knowing and learning design, including the source of knowledge, the certainty of knowledge, structure of knowledge, speed of knowledge acquisition, innate ability of personal and general knowledge, and real-world applicability of knowledge. The study's findings revealed that the epistemological beliefs of engineering students in each dimension yielded a difference across varying engineering majors.

Speaking the language of defence: narratives of doctoral examiners on the PhD viva

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate doctoral examiners' narratives on their expectations of the candidate's oral performance in the PhD viva. Both the PhD examiners and handbooks that offer advice on the PhD viva preparation appear to share the same expectation of the candidate's oral performance in the viva. That is, candidates must answer questions to the satisfaction of examiners to warrant a pass in the oral examination. However, what constitutes a satisfactory viva performance – let alone an excellent one – is often undefined.Design/methodology/approachUsing narrative inquiry as the guiding research approach to investigate this issue, 12 experienced doctoral examiners from across the disciplines at a Malaysian research university were interviewed. Their narratives were analysed inductively.FindingsThe findings show that examiners expect candidates to speak the language of defence by manifesting confident, interactional behaviour, providing credible and convincing responses and displaying doctoralness. The aspects of candidate's oral performance undesired by the examiners, as well as the reasons for having such expectations, are also discussed. The paper argues that the expectations of examiners in the PhD viva should be made explicit and communicated to the candidates and examiners to ensure a positive doctoral assessment process and outcome.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature on doctoral assessment, particularly on the PhD viva, through the voices of examiners in the Global South. It also offers an examiner expectancy model of the PhD viva.

Factors Determining Academics’ Behavioral Intention and Usage Behavior towards Online Teaching Technologies during Covid-19: An Extension of the UTAUT

Faced with lockdowns and social isolation because of COVID-19, alternative teaching methods such as online teaching allow academics and lecturers to teach students. Hence, the study aimed to investigate academics’ intention and behavioral patterns in adopting online educational technologies in Malaysia via the unified theory of acceptance and the use of technology (UTAUT) with an additional academics’ ethical considerations. The data were collected randomly from a sample of 321 academics from five Malaysian research universities using a questionnaire. For model and hypothesis testing, partial least squares (PLS) regression was utilized. The findings revealed that (1) ease of use, social influence, and ethical considerations all influenced behavioral intention significantly; and (2) facilitating conditions had positive relationships with usage behavior. The present results are consistent with the original UTAUT model and ethical considerations as an additional factor. The study findings serve as a beneficial guide for universities and educational planners who are programming online teaching technologies for use in universities.

Sustainable supervisory relationships between postgraduate international students and supervisors: a qualitative exploration at a Malaysian research university

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the perceived sustainable supervisory relationships between supervisors and postgraduate international students at a research university in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with 33 international postgraduate students and 10 academic staff at a Malaysian research university.FindingsPerceived sustainable supervisory relationships were perceived by both stakeholders in terms of future employment rapport, further research collaborations upon graduation and global engagement via networking initiatives.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the supervision literature by establishing novel nuances in the nature and lived experiences of the sustainable supervisory relationships beyond graduation. The implications of developing significant and profound relationships beyond graduation at micro and macro levels are also discussed.

The Influence of Career Commitment and Workload on Academics’ Job Satisfaction: The Moderating Role of a Supportive Environment

This paper serves to study the influences of career commitment and workload on job satisfaction among academics in higher education. We investigated whether a supportive environment is a significant moderator between workload and job satisfaction. For this cross-sectional study, the stratified random sampling method yielded 191 academics from five research universities in Malaysia. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) showed that high levels of career commitment correspond with high levels of satisfaction at work of academics. Also, a greater workload diminishes job satisfaction among academics. The analysis of the interaction-moderation dynamics showed that a supportive environment reduces workload effects on academics’ job satisfaction. This study contributes to confirming the important roles of career commitment and workload in predicting job satisfaction. It also expands literature on the buffering role of a supportive environment in the interaction between workload and job satisfaction among academics.