Malaysian Postgraduate Students Research Articles

Exploring Religious Practices and Religious Identity Among Yemeni Postgraduate Students in Malaysia

Many Arab Muslim students come to predominantly Muslim countries to pursue their education because they are drawn to these nations for their Islamic identity, in which they can share the same religious beliefs and practices. Nevertheless, these students still need to adapt to the differing cultural and religious aspects of the host country. This study aims to delve into the dynamics of intercultural communication among groups with similar religious identities but originating from distinct cultures. By utilizing data collected from Yemeni postgraduate students in four public universities in Malaysia, this article explores how these students manifest their religious identity through religious practices and how they establish both in-group and out-group mentalities to navigate the challenges of living in a foreign country. The findings reveal that Yemeni postgraduate students in Malaysia maintain a strong connection to their religious and cultural practices, suggesting minimal shifts in their overall religious identity. The analysis also indicates that the students who are more devout and frequent religious centers tend to assimilate more fully into Malay Muslim society.

The Mediating Role of Social Adjustment in the Relationship between Psychological Well-Being, and Achievement Motivation among Arab Postgraduate Students in Malaysia

The Mediating Role of Social Adjustment in the Relationship between Psychological Well-Being, and Achievement Motivation among Arab Postgraduate Students in Malaysia

Social Presence and Satisfaction in Online Learning between Indonesian and Malaysian Students

Online learning has become increasingly popular in the educational environment, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aims to describe the social presence and satisfaction of students in online learning, as well as examine the relationship between social presence and student satisfaction. A cross-sectional online study was conducted, involving 508 Indonesian and Malaysian postgraduate students from August 5 to October 2, 2023. Participants completed the social presence and student satisfaction scale developed by Gunawardena and Zittle. Data analysis techniques included descriptive statistics, the Man-Whitney test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's Rank-Order Correlation using SPSS 26.00. The social presence and student satisfaction were categorized as good, as there were no items with scores below average. Univariate analysis indicated that the online learning experience and the quality of the network in the place of residence were determining factors for the differences between the variables, while other characteristics, including the country (Indonesia and Malaysia), showed no significant differences. Correlation analysis indicated a positive relationship between social presence and student satisfaction. This research has important implications for improving the quality of online learning. Universities should consider revising their curriculum to be more ICT-friendly, helping students become familiar with using the platform. Educational policies should also focus on training and developing educators to effectively implement online learning. Additionally, government support is crucial in realizing high-quality online learning.

A Study on Psychological Well-Being and Kesejahteraan among IIUM Malaysian Postgraduate Students

The study aimed to investigate the two elements of well-being, namely psychological well-being, and the threats towards well-being to ascertain the relationship between psychological well-being and the Sejahtera of Malaysian postgraduate students at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). While mental health issues among university students have been abundantly researched, only a few studies have focused on psychological well-being. Employing the Carol Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being (PWB) questionnaire, data were collected from 283 IIUM Malaysian postgraduate students. Descriptive analysis, independent t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyse the data. The results revealed that Malaysian postgraduate students’ education at IIUM are doing well in terms of their psychological well-being (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance). The relationship between psychological well-being and student’s Sejahtera showed that these students were able to manage their psychological well-being, including personal matters, stress, time management, acceptance of emotions and thoughts. In conclusion, the six factors of psychological well-being were able to support and balance the threats, at the same time helping the students to achieve Sejahtera.

Exploring the Perception of Postgraduate Students in Malaysia on Facebook as a Reliable COVID-19 Source of News

Exploring the Perception of Postgraduate Students in Malaysia on Facebook as a Reliable COVID-19 Source of News

Psychometric Properties and Factor Analyses of the a New Social Adjustment Measure for Arabic Postgraduate Students in Malaysia (SAMA)

The purpose of this study was to create a theoretically driven instrument of Social adjustment entitled Social Adjustment measure for Arabic Postgraduate students in Malaysia )SAMA) and determine its validity and reliability. Exploratory factor analysis ( EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to assess the dimensionality, structural validity and internal consistency of the instrument. The Chronbach Alpha coefficient was also calculated using the test-retest and Split-half methods. The Participants included 206 Arab postgraduate students in Malaysia. It was found that this measure has theoretically been effectively supported to measure the social adjustment by assessing three dimensions ( Academic, Family, and local dimensions “friends & neighbors”(. Regarding its reliability, The Chronbach Alpha coefficient was 0.75. The test-retest method yielded a coefficient of 0.82 while the split-half method yielded 0.76, indicating that the scale enjoys high reliability .

The antecedents of university loyalty: a study of postgraduate students in Malaysia

PurposeThis study investigates the antecedents of student loyalty towards universities. This study offers new insights into postgraduate loyalty in the context of the Malaysian higher education industry.Design/methodology/approachPartial least squares structural equation modelling is used to analyse data obtained from a survey of 231 postgraduate students in Malaysia.FindingsThe findings indicate that there is a significant relationship between price value and both student satisfaction and student loyalty. There are also strong relationships between learning environment and student satisfaction and between student satisfaction and student loyalty. While university prestige showed a significant relationship with student satisfaction, it is not related to student loyalty. Another important finding is that price value has a strong and direct relationship with both student satisfaction and student loyalty.Originality/valueThis study presents an updated empirical model of student loyalty. Contrary to previous studies, the results indicate that service quality is not related to student satisfaction. However, it is found to influence student loyalty towards the University. The results also indicate the important mediating effect of student satisfaction. This is the first study to look specifically at student satisfaction and loyalty of postgraduate students in Malaysia.

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA

In recent years, Malaysia has seen a significant increase in enrolment in postgraduate programs as part of the government's efforts to advance into a developed nation status by developing a skilled talent pool of scientists and researchers. However, despite the increasing trend of mental health issues among youths in Malaysia, the psychological well-being of postgraduate students has received limited attention in research and literature. This review paper provides a contemporary overview of the state of mental health in Malaysia to contextualise the psychological challenges faced by students in Malaysian universities. The article also highlights the lack of research on the psychological well-being of postgraduate students in Malaysia, which has led to a limited understanding of how this population is affected by their well-being. The article also discusses evidence from previous studies to illustrate how different aspects of psychological well-being are essential for not only academic success but also physical and mental health for postgraduate students. The article argues that more research involving a wider range of methods is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying the psychological well-being of the wider postgraduate student population in Malaysia. Additionally, the paper discusses several implications for various stakeholders in higher education institutions to take appropriate action in promoting a greater sense of psychological well-being among postgraduate students on campus.

Mentoring Mengelola Keuangan dan Perbankan Mahasiswa Master Penerima Beasiswa NTB di Malaysia dan Polandia

NTB Scholarship is a program designed by the Provincial Government of West Nusa Tenggara which is intended to improve the existing human resources in the NTB through sending the best youngers to pursue their studies in country and abroad. Life as a student in country will certainly be very different from overseas life, especially in managing finances while being an international student. Considering that, it is very essential to transfer information and to accompany what is needed before taking off. The aim is to provide an insight and how to manage finance and what they need to know in preparing for overseas life. This program of community development is carried out using an online mentoring strategy through the google meet site. The target is NTB scholarship awardees who are postgraduate students in Malaysia and Poland. The results of these activities include the emergence of awareness and deeper knowledge about how to do financial management rationally, easy to implement, effective and efficient, as well as being able to apply the theory of proportional percentage of financial planning in two different currencies. So that our targets can maintain their good economic stability during taking overseas study.

EXAMINING FACTORS AFFECTING KNOWLEDGE SHARING BEHAVIOUR ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA

Knowledge sharing is crucial for students’ learning process, yet can be an issue for some reasons, as students often refuse to share their knowledge with others. There are various personal, social and technological factors that can affect students’ knowledge sharing behaviour on social media. Hence, this study aims to investigate the factors affecting knowledge sharing behaviour among postgraduate students in Malaysia through the lens of Theory of Planned Behaviour Model and Social Cognitive Theory. This study adopted a quantitative research design and used a survey questionnaire via Google Form as its data collection technique. Simple random sampling was used, and data was collected from 406 postgraduate students in Malaysia, including from Sabah and Sarawak. Data were analysed using SPSS to construct the findings. The findings demonstrate that all independent variables (usefulness, ease of access, reputation enhancement, enjoyment in helping, sense of belonging, social interaction, trust and reciprocity) significantly affect postgraduate students’ knowledge sharing behaviour on social media. Sense of belonging and reciprocity have a strong positive relationship with knowledge sharing behaviour. Whereas, usefulness, ease of access, reputation enhancement, enjoyment in helping, trust and social interaction have a moderate positive relationship with knowledge sharing behaviour. The findings of this study may have various implications for higher education institutions (HEI) and corporate organisations, where knowledge sharing behaviour is essential for academic performance and organisational success. However, this study only used the questionnaire given to obtain data from the respondents without asking for further clarifications or any additional comments from them. Although it is convenient and easy to analyse, the questionnaire does not allow researchers to gain a deeper understanding of respondents’ motivations to share their knowledge on social media. Therefore, future studies may include qualitative research such as structured observation and interviews. A longitudinal study is also recommended for this future study.

Psychometric Properties of a New Achievement Motivation Measure for Arab Postgraduate Students in Malaysia (AMMA)

Psychometric Properties of a New Achievement Motivation Measure for Arab Postgraduate Students in Malaysia (AMMA)

An Experimental Study on Tracking Identity of Moving Shapes: Do Stimulus Complexity and Familiarity Affect Tracking Accuracy of Male and Female Students?

The current study explored the effects of stimulus complexity and familiarity on tracking accuracy between male and female postgraduate students in Malaysia. Since online courses are not restricted by location, the convenience of recording classes has become a steady trend, especially during the COVID-19 period. However, some are also skeptical about the efficacy of online teaching and learning through the digital environment and believe that the stimulus generated on these foundations will result in undesirable consequences (Dhawan, 2020). As student attention determines their tracking accuracy, external factors like stimulus complexity and familiarity tend to be an obstacle for students to be attentive. In this quantitative experimental study named "Simon Effect", 24 postgraduate students (12 males and 12 females) in a Malaysian public research university were used as samples to test whether or not gender plays a role in tracking accuracy. Results show that gender does not influence the tracking accuracy of postgraduate students. At the same time, the stimulus complexity and familiarity do influence the tracking accuracy of the postgraduate students. The implication of the study lies in promoting the teaching and learning sessions not only for a postgraduate student but for all the students in different educational levels during the COVID-19 period and maximizing the educational outcomes.

Psychological Well-being, Social Adjustment and Social Responsibility as Predictors of Achievement Motivation among Arab Postgraduate Students in Malaysia

Psychological Well-being, Social Adjustment and Social Responsibility as Predictors of Achievement Motivation among Arab Postgraduate Students in Malaysia

The Roles of Aesthetics and Information Quality on Continued Use of Digital Library (CUDL) by Malaysian Postgraduate Students

The Roles of Aesthetics and Information Quality on Continued Use of Digital Library (CUDL) by Malaysian Postgraduate Students

Relationship between Psychological well-being and Achievement Motivation Among Libyan Postgraduate Students in Malaysia

Relationship between Psychological well-being and Achievement Motivation Among Libyan Postgraduate Students in Malaysia

The influence of language and cultural difficulties on the psychological adjustment of Saudi Arabian postgraduate students in Malaysia

The influence of language and cultural difficulties on the psychological adjustment of Saudi Arabian postgraduate students in Malaysia

The influence of self-esteem and social support on the psychological adjustment of Saudi Arabian postgraduate students in Malaysia

The influence of self-esteem and social support on the psychological adjustment of Saudi Arabian postgraduate students in Malaysia

Role of Restorativeness in Improving the Psychological Well-Being of University Students.

Many university students experience high levels of study-related fatigue, hence, necessitating opportunities for restoration. They could potentially benefit from campus-based physical activities that provide them with effective restoration breaks and allow them to return to their studies cognitively refreshed. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the association between perceived restorativeness among postgraduates and their psychological well-being by using the four constructs of Kaplan's attention restoration theory (ART): fascination, being away, extent, and compatibility. In this study, nature view windows were also used as a moderator. Malaysian postgraduate students [n = 192; 94 females; age in years (M = 30.64, SD = 2.73)] completed the Ryff's scale of psychological wellbeing (PWB) and perceived restorativeness scale for activity (PRAS). This study used the partial least squares-structural equation model (PLS-SEM) to examine these relationships. The results demonstrate that three ART constructs, namely, being away, fascination, and compatibility, are significant predictors of psychological well-being across the sample size. Furthermore, for participants who reside in university dormitories, windows that overlook nature can enhance the relationship of being away, compatibility, and fascination to psychological well-being, compared with those with less natural views. Thus, this study confirmed the moderating effect of nature view windows and provided insight into the ART constructs that facilitate and enhance restorative experiences. By strengthening ART with additional factors, this study has also contributed toward the improvement of the psychological well-being of university students.

You’re Such A Burden, COVID-19! Psychological Impact among Postgraduate Students in Malaysia

You’re Such A Burden, COVID-19! Psychological Impact among Postgraduate Students in Malaysia

Now Look What You’ve Done, COVID-19! The Impact on Academic Survival among Postgraduate Students in Malaysia

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the closure of various sectors in Malaysia including the education sector. The COVID-19 pandemic caused major concerns among postgraduate students. Little is known about the academic survival impacts of COVID-19 among tertiary students, especially among the postgraduates. Therefore, this article aims to identify the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on academic survival among postgraduate students in Malaysia. An online survey through Google Form is conducted in October 2020, participated by a total of 606 postgraduate students from different backgrounds. Several postgraduate students have high level of social relationships; however, they are facing problems in terms of academic performance and financial stress. This study suggests that strategies and actions are urgently needed between the higher education ministry and universities to ensure the academic survival among postgraduate students amid the pandemic.