Multimedia University Research Articles

Enhancing Cybersecurity Awareness through Gamification: Design an Interactive Cybersecurity Learning Platform for Multimedia University Students

Cybersecurity has emerged as a critical imperative in contemporary digital landscapes, necessitating heightened awareness and proficiency across all demographic segments. Accordingly, this research has been meticulously crafted to delve into the complexities of cybersecurity awareness, with a specific focus on university students. The study embarks on an exhaustive analysis encompassing the evaluation of cybersecurity awareness levels within the targeted groups, the identification of prevailing issues and practices, and an exploration of novel methodologies, notably gamification, to fortify cybersecurity knowledge and skills among diverse user cohorts. Central to this investigation is the efficacy of gamified learning environments tailored expressly for augmenting cybersecurity awareness among university students. Through a comprehensive examination of existing platforms, methodological frameworks, and user interactions, this research outlines critical trends, challenges, and latent opportunities within the cybersecurity awareness domain, with a specific emphasis on gamification's transformative potential. The study not only identifies key areas for improvement but also proposes innovative solutions rooted in gamified learning paradigms, with the overarching goal of fostering engaging, effective, and sustainable cybersecurity awareness initiatives among students. Drawing upon a synthesis of theoretical constructs, empirical insights, and pragmatic recommendations, this research significantly contributes to the evolving discourse on cybersecurity education. By underscoring the transformative efficacy of gamification as a pivotal tool in cybersecurity awareness initiatives, this study overlays the way for substantial advancements in cybersecurity education paradigms, offering a roadmap for enhancing cybersecurity awareness levels among university students and beyond.

Preface

It is our great pleasure to present the proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Mechanical, Aeronautical, and Automotive Engineering (ICMAA 2024), held virtually from February 2-4, 2024. We are happy to report that the meeting went exceptionally smoothly, safety protocols were followed, and an enjoyable and stimulating meeting was held. This year, ICMAA is sponsored by Singapore Institute of Electronics (SIE), with support from Sichuan Institute of Electronics, China, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology and Multimedia University, Malaysia, with an emphasis on theoretical and practical aspects, ICMAA 2024 provided a comprehensive platform for researchers and scholars to share their knowledge, insights, and experiences. The Proceedings of the conference contain many excellent papers representing the participants’ research and innovative thinking. All the papers have been checked through rigorous review and processes to meet the requirements of publication. These papers featured a wide range of topics, including but not limited to Applied Mechanics, Automation, Aerospace Propulsion, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Combustion and Emission Control, and Energy Management. We want to express our sincere gratitude to all the authors who contributed their papers to ICMAA 2024. We would also like to thank the members of the organizing committee, the technical program committee, and the reviewers for their hard work and dedication in ensuring the quality of the conference. We hope that the papers included in these proceedings will serve as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners in mechanical, aeronautical, and automotive engineering. We also hope that ICMAA 2024 has provided a platform for fruitful collaborations and new research initiatives. We look forward to welcoming you to future editions of ICMAA and continuing our journey of exploration and discovery in mechanical, aeronautical, and automotive engineering. Prof. Jia-Yush Yen National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan Conference Chair of ICMAA2024 List of Organizing Committees and Peer Review Statement are available in this Pdf.

Visual-based vehicle detection with adaptive oversampling

In this study, the class imbalance issue in vehicle detection was addressed. Specifically, certain classes such as Tow Truck were found to have significantly fewer samples compared to others such as normal trucks. This imbalance could be adversely impacted algorithm performance, favouring abundant classes over underrepresented ones. After thorough analysis, an adaptive dataset augmentation approach was proposed for the underrepresented classes. Evaluation was first performed on classic and state-of-the-art object detection methods. All experiments were undertaken on a tiny dataset called Multimedia University Diversity Dataset (MMUVD). The fastest training process and the highest mean average precision (mAP), which stood at 0.686 for mAP50 and 0.439 for mAP50-95, were demonstrated by You Only Look Once version 8 nano (YOLOv8n). By applying adaptive oversampling to the dataset and retesting it again on YOLOv8n, mAP50 was improved to 0.950 and mAP50-95 to 0.717, respectively. Notably, the contribution lay in identifying the optimal detection algorithm for vehicle detection, and the proposed adaptive oversampling method ensured consistent performance across all classes, enhancing the overall accuracy and reliability of the system.

A Campus-based Chatbot System using Natural Language Processing and Neural Network

A chatbot is designed to simulate human conversation and provide instant responses to users. Chatbots have gained popularity in providing automated customer support and information retrieval among organisations. Besides, it also acts as a virtual assistant to communicate with users by delivering updated answers based on users' input. Most chatbots still use the traditional rule-based chatbot, which can only respond to pre-defined sentences, making the users unlikely to use the chatbot. This paper aims to design and build a campus chatbot for the Faculty of Information Science & Technology (FIST) of Multimedia University that facilitates the study life of FIST students. Before the FIST chatbot can be used, natural language processing techniques such as tokenisation, lemmatisation and bag of word model are used to generate the input that can be used to train the neural network model (multilayer perceptron model). It makes the FIST chatbot comprehends user intent by analysing their questions, enabling it to address a broader range of inquiries and cater to the student's need with accurate answers or information related to the Faculty of Information Science & Technology. Besides, we also developed the backend interface allowing the admin to add and edit the dataset in the proposed chatbot and enable it continuously responds to the student with the latest and updated information.

Transactional Leadership Style and Job Satisfaction among Multimedia University Employees, Nairobi - Kenya

This study explores the transactional leadership styles and job satisfaction among the employees of the Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU) of Kenya. A descriptive survey research design was used. The study was guided by contingency leadership theory. Out of 386 employees of MMU, 197 supervised employees and 115 supervisor samples were drawn. This represented 83% of the total population was issued with a questionnaire. Purposive sampling was used to select the study location and the study population, while stratified random sampling was used to select the individual respondents. Two sets of structured questionnaires were used to collect data: the supervised employees’ questionnaire and the supervisors’ questionnaire. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 26.0. The study found that supervised staff felt that their supervisors sometimes practised transactional leadership through contingent reward and management by exception. This study recommends that leaders identify individual uniqueness, link the individuals’ current needs to the organisation’s needs, provide coaching, mentoring and growth opportunities, and implement a leadership that contains a mix of transactional and transformational leadership attributes. This will help design leadership development interventions for developing the capacity of managers to apply the leadership styles that are most likely to elicit employee job satisfaction and, therefore, contribute to its effectiveness.

Efficient Iris Image Recognition System Based on Machine Learning Approach

Iris identification is a well‐known technology used to detect striking biometric identification techniques for recognizing human beings based on physical behavior. The texture of the iris is essential and its anatomy varies from individual to individual. Humans have distinctive physical characteristics that never change. This has resulted in a considerable advancement in the field of iris identification, which inherits the random variation of the data and is often a dependable technological area. This research proposes three algorithms to examine the classifications in machine learning approaches using feature extraction for the iris image. The applied recognition system used many methods to enhance the input images for iris recognition using the Multimedia University (MMU) database. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) feature extraction method is applied as an input of three algorithms of machine learning approaches that are OneR, J48, and JRip classifiers. The result indicates that the OneR classifier with LDA achieves the highest performance with 94.387 % accuracy, while J48 and JRip reached to 90.151% and 86.885% respectively. Index Terms— Iris recognition, LDA, OneR, J48, JRip.

Awareness of Policy Frameworks that Affect the Provision and Utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among University Students in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Purpose: the study sought to determine awareness of SRH policy frameworks that impact on the provision and utilization of SRH services among university students.
 Methodology: The study used a cross sectional research design complemented by exploratory research design. The study was conducted in the main campuses of two public universities namely Kenyatta University and Multimedia University and two private universities, United States International University- Africa, KCA-University in Nairobi County in Kenya. The target population were students aged between 18-25 years studying in universities with main campuses in Nairobi County. The total study population was approximately 192,193 students. The study applied stratified random sampling to identify the 370 students who completed the study questionnaires. Purposive sampling was used to select the students and staff who participated in in-depth interviews. The students who participated in focus group discussions were randomly selected. 
 Findings: The study found out that most students, 95 (25.7%) reported to be aware of the Constitution of Kenya (2010) followed by 74 (20%) students who reported to be aware of the National Reproductive Health Policy (2007). When looking at the university level policy frameworks, most students, 229 (61.9%) split in almost equal numbers, male, 120 (32.4%) and female, 109 (29.5%) are aware of the university HIV/AIDS policy. The surveyed students who said they were not aware of any university SRH policies were 94 (25.4%), split in equal numbers between male and female students. The findings indicate low awareness of SRH policy frameworks by either gender which can be interpreted to mean that participation of the students in the development of the policy frameworks and dissemination of the developed policies is poor.
 Recommendations: The study’s recommendation to universities is to regularly disseminate national and university level SRH policy frameworks to the students. This can be done during orientation, as part of their studies and on special days convened to sensitize the students on their health.

The Sexual and Reproductive Health Concerns, Needs and Priorities of University Students in Nairobi County, Kenya

Despite the efforts universities are putting in place to address the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) concerns and needs of their students, the rate at which students are engaging in casual unprotected sex is reportedly high. This has resulted in increased rates of unsafe abortions and unintended pregnancies among the student population. It is against this background that this thesis sought to establish the SRH concerns, needs and priorities of university students in Nairobi County in Kenya. The Social Economic Model guided the study in understanding the problem while the Andersen and Newman Framework of Health Services Utilization guided the study in identifying possible solutions to the challenges identified. The targeted population was students studying in universities with main campuses in Nairobi County. Stratified random sampling was used to select the four public and private universities (Kenyatta University, Multimedia University of Kenya, United States International University - Africa and KCA University) which were part of the study. The study was guided by cross-sectional and exploratory research designs. The target population was 192,193 students. Stratified random sampling was used to select the three hundred and seventy (370) students who completed the study questionnaires. Sixteen key informants were purposefully selected to participate in-depth interviews while four focus group discussions (FGDs) of either gender were carried out. The study established that university students are most concerned about getting infected with HIV/AIDS followed by getting pregnant or impregnating someone. The study revealed that what the students need the most is access to condoms, pills and contraceptives for pregnancy prevention and youth friendly services. The study also revealed that university students prioritize confidentiality, the cost of SRH services and being attended by friendly healthcare providers in this order.

Learn Malay as a Second Language: Language Etiquette

Any language teaching and learning process should include language etiquette. The learning of foreign languages during any stage is characterised by the interaction of many factors such as mother tongue, culture, educational background, and psychological characteristics, among others. The development of socio-cultural competency in teaching a foreign language is a challenging undertaking for teachers. Foreign students from Sudan, Egypt, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other countries can learn Malay in one semester at Multimedia University, Malaysia. This study aims to discuss the importance for international students to learn language etiquette, and to explore the components of language etiquette that international students acquired. This study used a field research method, i.e. the language method in its context, for data analysis. Observations in class and conversations from the Google Meet chat box were used to collect data for this study. It was discovered through data analysis that instructors should be aware of and appreciate the students' native culture as well as their cultural differences in the classroom. It helps all participants/students to pick up the foreign language and its culture as well. In terms of cultural aspects, if the learner's socio-cultural competence is well defined and built during the language teaching process, he or she can be almost on par with native speakers. However, it should be noted that, while etiquette is a fixed part of the culture, norms are constantly evolving. This research focuses on foreign students' language etiquette in Malay language classes. However, future research could focus on other courses or on students' everyday lives. The primary goal of foreign language teaching and learning is for students to be able to speak and comprehend the foreign language. The education of culture and linguistic etiquette is critical to achieving these goals.

The Human Eye Pupil Detection System Using BAT Optimized Deep Learning Architecture

The pupil recognition method is helpful in many real-time systems, including ophthalmology testing devices, wheelchair assistance, and so on. The pupil detection system is a very difficult process in a wide range of datasets due to problems caused by varying pupil size, occlusion of eyelids, and eyelashes. Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNN) are being used in pupil recognition systems and have shown promising results in terms of accuracy. To improve accuracy and cope with larger datasets, this research work proposes BOC (BAT Optimized CNN)-IrisNet, which consists of optimizing input weights and hidden layers of DCNN using the evolutionary BAT algorithm to efficiently find the human eye pupil region. The proposed method is based on very deep architecture and many tricks from recently developed popular CNNs. Experiment results show that the BOC-IrisNet proposal can efficiently model iris microstructures and provides a stable discriminating iris representation that is lightweight, easy to implement, and of cutting-edge accuracy. Finally, the region-based black box method for determining pupil center coordinates was introduced. The proposed architecture was tested using various IRIS databases, including the CASIA (Chinese academy of the scientific research institute of automation) Iris V4 dataset, which has 99.5% sensitivity and 99.75% accuracy, and the IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Delhi dataset, which has 99.35% specificity and MMU (Multimedia University) 99.45% accuracy, which is higher than the existing architectures.

Prediction of energy consumption in campus buildings using long short-term memory

In this paper, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) was proposed to predict the energy consumption of an institutional building. A novel energy usage prediction method was demonstrated for daily day-ahead energy consumption by using forecasted weather data. It used weather forecasting data from a local meteorological organization, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET). The predictive model was trained by considering the dependencies between energy usage and weather data. The performance of the model was compared with Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Gaussian Process Regression (GPR). The experimental results with a dataset obtained from a building in Multimedia University, Malacca Campus from January 2018 to July 2021 outperformed the SVR and GPR. The proposed model achieved the best RMSE scores (561.692–592.319) when compared to SVR (3135.590–3472.765) and GPR (1243.307–1334.919). Through experimentation and research, the dropout method reduced overfitting significantly. Furthermore, feature analysis was done with SHapley Additive exPlanation to identify the most important weather variables. The results showed that temperature, wind speed, rainfall duration and the amount had a positive effect on the model. Thus, the proposed approach could aid in the implementation of energy policies because accurate predictions of energy consumption could serve as system fault detection and diagnosis for buildings.

University Media Content Detection and Classification Based on Information Fusion Algorithm

In order to further solve the problems in promoting the classification of media content in colleges and universities, the effective analysis and understanding of multimedia data content can be better realized based on the characteristics of multimedia data in colleges and universities, combining with the characteristics of rich information, large differences in performance, and large amount of large-scale data. This essay mainly introduces the technology of university media content detection and classification based on information fusion algorithm and focuses on the application of university multimedia content detection, analysis, and understanding, to explore the image discrimination auxiliary attribute feature learning and content association prediction and classification. A benchmark model for media content detection and classification is constructed. Through the model test, it is found that the F 1 value of the model is more than 70%, the check rate is more than 80%, and the recall rate is more than 50%. On this basis, a content detection system based on campus network is constructed.

Wau Animation Studio: The Mastermind Behind ‘Ejen Ali The Movie's' Rm 30 Million Box Office Haul

WAU Animation Studio, a relatively new company, shocked everyone in 2019 when their film "Ejen Ali The Movie" made RM30 million in profit. WAU Animation Studio was established on March 18, 2013 by Usamah Zaid Yasin, who is also the company's Chief Executive Officer. Prior to the release of Ejen Ali The Movie, the animation studio created an animated series with the same title, which aired on Malaysian television channel TV3. A group of creative talents in the animation company has successfully generated quality content to the point of winning numerous awards for the animated series and film category of choice, thanks to their seven-year experience. Their tenacity and perseverance in this industry has paid off, as every production aired on tv has been well received by audiences of all races and ages.
 Muhammad Usamah Zaid Yasin is a successful Malaysian animator who was born on December 19, 1983. During his time with the company Les' Copaque, he was one of the most influential figures in the development of the animated series Upin & Ipin. Then, in 2013, he resigned from Les' Copaque and founded WAU Animation Studios. The Multimedia University (MMU) graduate's seven-year experience with Les' Copaque Production has given him the motivation and excitement to form a company with several other key individuals to develop the Malaysian animation industry. The dedication he shows must have held some secrets since the new company was able to produce animated films on par with foreign animated films.

MANAGING CORPORATE IDENTITY DURING ORGANISATIONAL TRANSFORMATION IN A PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN KENYA

Purpose: Universities, like other institutions, are under pressure to manage their corporate identity and corporate reputation, in the global competitive climate. Few studies in Africa focus on the impact of internal communication on corporate identity and reputation management during organizational transformation. This study interrogates how a transforming and complex public institution in Kenya managed its corporate identity, image and corporate reputation during transformation for competitive advantage. The study sought to establish whether Multimedia University of Kenya (MMU) management communicated excellently with its employees to nurture the corporate identity, image and reputation during a ten-year period of rapid transformation.
 Methodology: Data was collected using in-depth interviews from eighteen seniour and mid-level management and employee representatives who were purposively selected. In addition, data was gathered through 153 self-administered questionnaires using the stratified random sampling method from MMU faculty and administrative staff.
 Findings: The study established that MMU management created awareness of institutional changes and identity using formal meetings as well as interactive and mediated channels such as telephone conversations and intranet which facilitated record-keeping. It was noted that top-down and bottom-up communication approaches build employee engagement and trust yet respondents lacked trust in the accuracy of the information from subordinates which implied an element of information exclusion. Thus, the employees advocated for digital, interactive and interpersonal channels such as social media, telephone exchanges, personal visits by MMU management, and university events for bonding, engagement and identification in the changing institution. The study established that publicity and marketing activities to prospective students and sponsors be through paid media using private television and vernacular radio stations, owned media using MMU radio and website, and earned media using traditional print media to manage MMU brand and image. The respondents recognized the MMU brand as a leader in telecommunication, technology, mechanical, manufacturing, and media training with state-of-the-art equipment and robust faculty. These findings challenge university administration to engage with the corporate communication function and focus on the continual enhancement of corporate identity and reputation management practices for competitive advantage.
 Recommendations: The study recommends a communication policy and management practice for effective employee interpretation of institutional messages to enhance engagement, positioning, brand ambassadors, and employee coaching to nurture the new ethos, identity and brand during institutional changes. A progressive policy in which institutional management addresses inclusion to build trust, provides for interactive digital channels for engagement, and articulates identity through written and verbal channels to effectively communicate corporate messages and enrich the corporate reputation of a transforming public institution.
 Keywords: Corporate communication, corporate identity, corporate image, corporate reputation, employee engagement, organizational transformation

Students’ attitudes and coping strategies relating to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Background: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced most classes at the tertiary education level to be held online or in a digital mode. This study investigates Multimedia University (MMU) students’ attitudes and coping strategies in relation to online learning classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis among students at the MMU campus in Malaysia. Student respondents were chosen using simple random sampling. They answered online surveys developed through Google forms with an appended consent form. Two questions were developed inquiring about students' acceptance of online learning courses to gauge their attitudes. The coping strategies questions were adapted from the Brief-COPE questionnaire with 28 items. There are 14 strategies in the Brief-COPE: self-distraction, active coping, denial, substance use, emotional support, instrumental support, behavioural disengagement, venting, positive reframing, planning, humour, acceptance, religion, and self-blame. We hypothesised that there would be a significant correlation between attitudes and coping strategies among MMU students taking online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: 8 out of 14 coping strategies were significantly correlated with students’ attitudes towards online learning. The study showed that those students with a positive or accepting attitude towards online learning were more likely to use positive coping strategies. Those students with negative, less accepting attitudes towards online learning seemed to use more negative coping strategies. Conclusion: The study focuses on students studying at MMU. Therefore, the outcome cannot be generalised for all university students in Malaysia. The primary goal of the study was to investigate the attitudes and coping strategies of Multimedia University students when confronted with the unexpected outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the study may assist MMU in understanding student behaviour and developing strategies to assist the students.

COVID-19 awareness among undergraduates in a private university

Since the first declaration of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in December 2019, the pandemic has brought some significant lifestyle changes among the people across the globe. There might be some underestimation in the severity level of COVID-19 among younger people, specifically around the age group of undergraduates. This study evaluated the awareness level of Malaysian undergraduates towards COVID-19 in Malaysia via an online survey hosted in a COVID-19 awareness roadshow event. This study highlighted the importance of high awareness level of the pandemic among undergraduates and their impact towards managing the spread of the pandemic to the vulnerable population. The respondents were information technology (IT) undergraduates from Multimedia University Melaka Campus, Malaysia. The overall awareness level of the undergraduates is high. Most respondents had a clear understanding on the effects of personal hygiene and personal protective equipment to avoid getting infected with COVID-19, as well as where to go if they got infected with the coronavirus. Most respondents also showed decent knowledge in identifying the basic symptoms of COVID-19. These findings give an insight into the COVID-19 awareness level among undergraduates and may help the policymakers and university managements to control the spread of COVID-19 and other emerging infections.

Online Learning Process from the Perspective of Communication Strategy and Politeness

Today, online teaching and learning is widely accepted in institutions of higher learning. Although there were various problems in the beginning, all parties were receptive to thislearning approach after many improvements were made to ensure that students could followthe online teaching learning activities even during the lockdowns. The objective of the study was to identify the elements of communication strategy and politeness factors and describe the use of these elements during online learning. This study was conducted through observation and recorded sessions of Google Meet (chat room). The respondents of the study consisted of 35 students of various races who took a Malay language course (MPU3201 National Language A) for one semester at Multimedia University, Melaka campus. Data recordings were analysed according to the approach of Asmah Omar and Hymes where the use of language through direct communication strategies is often expressed in the form of statements and direct questions. In addition, communication strategies that mark politeness are examined based on the factors of adherence to social rules and factors in maintaining face. The results show the importance of selecting effective communication strategies even in a formal but friendly atmosphere during teaching and learning as this can build harmonious relationships. Therefore, it is highly recommended that instructors or lecturers use communication strategies, especially in the aspect of opening expressions and appropriate language behaviour expressions by emphasizing the politeness factor so that the formal teaching and learning sessions in a formal atmosphere is appealing to students.

The influence of extrovert and introvert personality types on the acceptance of virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey

Background: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all courses taught in Malaysian schools and universities were conducted entirely virtually, after a movement control order was imposed in Malaysian on 18th March 2020. According to the research by Offir et al., (2007), extroversion-introversion (E-I) personalities have been shown to influence students’ involvement in class, their learning style and their understanding of the course materials. The purpose of this research was to explore how extrovert and introvert personality traits influence the acceptance of virtual learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A case study was conducted, focusing on a group of students taught by one of the researchers in our research team, HR. A total of 31 Diploma students (13 first year students and 18 second year students) taking Grooming and Professional Etiquette at Multimedia University, Malaysia (MMU) participated in the study. Open-ended questions were used to learn about the personality of each participant, as well as to provide a better understanding on how the opposing personas differs in their experiences with virtual learning. Results: Our results showed that 54.83% (17) of the students were introverts, 29.03 % (9) were extroverts, and 16.1% (5) were private-public-introvert-extroverts (PPIEs). The results for the acceptance level of virtual learning varied based on the different personality types. Results showed the extroverts expressed that the virtual learning experience was unpleasant, while the introverts and the PPIEs found virtual learning a useful and pleasant experience. Conclusion: This study was mainly descriptive, with open-ended questions used to gain insight on how different personality types differ in their acceptance of fully virtual learning. In future studies, inferential analysis could be carried out to test the hypotheses and assumptions. Future studies could also compare and contrast both students and lecturers’ acceptance of, and engagement in, online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Business and Management Studies, Vol. 7, No. 4

Business and Management Studies (BMS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether BMS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue. Reviewers for Volume 7, Number 4 Abdul-Kahar Adam, University of Education, Winneba, GhanaDalia Susniene, Kaunas University of Technology, LithuaniaIulia Cristina Muresan, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaIza Gigauri, St. Andrew the First-Called Georgian University, GeorgiaJayalakshmy Ramachandran, Multimedia University, Malaysia

The impact of virtual learning on Multimedia University student performance: a cross-sectional study

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has imposed adaption to virtual learning for students and educators across all levels of education in the world. The effectiveness of virtual learning varies amongst age groups. It has been suggested that the adoption of virtual learning will continue to be implemented even after pandemic, particularly in higher education. Therefore, it is crucial to validate the effectiveness of a virtual learning approach among university students to ensure a smooth transition from a conventional education model to a hybrid education model. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the impact of virtual learning on students’ performance in a virtual classroom. Methods: We analysed survey data collected from undergraduate students at Multimedia University, Malaysia. Convenience sampling and self-administered online surveys were used to understand the impact of virtual learning. Multiple regression analysis was performed using SPSS software Results: A total of 210 first and second year degree and diploma students responded to the online surveys. Factors affecting virtual learning were segregated into three categories: virtual teaching techniques, technology issues, and environment distraction. Respondents stated that the critical factor that affect the effectiveness of virtual learning and impacts on students’ performance was the virtual teaching techniques employed by educators. Conclusions: This study concluded that virtual teaching techniques have significant impact on students’ performance whereas technology issues and environment distraction do not significantly influence students’ performance during virtual learning. Although this study is limited to students from Multimedia University, it lays the groundwork for future research to involve students from other universities or other countries. A future study can address more factors that affect virtual learning and students’ performance, such as students’ attitude and motivation.