Private Institutions Of Higher Learning Research Articles

Growth Strategies at the Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (IME) in Cameroon

Business growth is a process of adaptation and development that occurs in the business cycle of an organisation, and is an increase in the size or scale of operations of a firm usually accompanied by increase in its resources and output. In addition, ‘growth strategy’ refers to a strategic plan formulated and implemented for expanding firm’s business. The current paper is a case study that addresses the growth strategies developed by a private Higher Learning Institution in Cameroon. The case study develops in its first part the different growth stages that IME went through, the growth strategies adopted by the institution, and the results that resulted from these policies. The case study illustrates how the choice made by IME to pursue growth strategies helped the institution to deal with the fierce competition existing in the region education sector.

Effects of the handheld technology instructional approach on performances of students of different achievement levels

The handheld technology selected and the ways it is implemented influences the way mathematics is taught and learnt, which in turn generates positive effects in the mathematics education. This study was conducted to examine the effects of handheld technology instructional approaches on performance of students of different achievement levels in Probability at a private higher learning institution in Malaysia. A quasi-experimental study with non-equivalent control group design with pre-test and post-test design was conducted on a sample of 65 students. The sample was divided into the experimental group and control group. The handheld technology instructional approaches, i.e. teaching and learning approaches using the graphing calculator (GC) as a teaching and learning tool and the GC instructional worksheets, were employed in the teaching and learning of probability in the experimental group. The conventional teaching approach was adopted in the control group. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to collect and analyse data. Quantitative data was collected using the Probability Achievement Test (PAT). PAT was administered to both groups at the beginning and end of the study. Qualitative data was collected using students' journals. The results show that students, the high, average and low achievers, gained benefits when the handheld technology instructional approaches were used in learning Probability, particularly random variable, poisson distribution, binomial distribution and normal distribution.

The Linkage between Human Element of Service Delivery and Customer Satisfaction in Private Institutions of Higher Learning

The present study explores the relationship between human element of service delivery and customer satisfaction in private institutes of higher education. Human element of service delivery is important for higher education institutions in Malaysia as they themselves are preparing to become exporters of premier educational services. The data were collected by the method of the survey. Survey questionnaires were delivered by hand the respondents who volunteered to be participants in this study. Respondents were given information sheets, along with verbal and written instructions. They were to complete the questionnaires and return to a mailbox on campus. A total of 331 representative samples were obtained from private institutions of higher education, using the private institutions of higher education directory as a sampling frame, after leaving the number of private institutions of higher education, which had ceased their operations. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential analysis. The statistical analyzes used, were the Pearson correlation and multiple regression. Descriptive statistics were employed. The results revealed that the human element of service delivery has a relationship with the customer satisfaction. Using multiple regression analysis, the predictor variable indicated that the variables can explain 44.9% of variation that occurred in customer satisfaction. Whereas, the relationship between the predictor variables and customer satisfaction, there was a 13.7% variation explained. Human element of service delivery has significant and positive relationship with customer satisfaction. Therefore, this variable deserves to be monitored and appropriate adjustments in order to improve organizational performance through customer satisfaction. In conclusion, this study provides an overview greater understanding on how to improve organizational performance through the implementation of excellent human element of management practices of service delivery and, at the same time, it gives due emphasis to customer satisfaction.

Reading Movies, Watching Novels

The qualitative research was carried out in a private institution of higher learning. The participants were undergraduates who volunteered for the research. The participants read a canonical text and data were collected from the participants” journals, online forum postings and interviews. This paper discusses how literature is an effective pedagogical tool in teaching language skills. It also discusses how participants used movies online to help understand canonical texts. It is argued that movies can be used as a pedagogical tool to bridge students” reading and understanding of canonical texts.

E-Filing Behaviour among Academics in Perak State in Malaysia

Perak State government in Malaysia has been promoting an Internet tax filing called electronic filing as part of its e-government initiative. Starting in year 2006, Malaysia Inland Revenue Board (IRBM) has launched the e-filing method for individual taxpayers and from that point of time, Malaysia’s citizens are provided with the option to choose their tax filing method either in the way of manual tax-filing method or e-filing method. This study focuses on the Perak State academics’ intention and behavior to adopt e-filing tax system. The target population for this study is academic staff in Perak State in Malaysia. 116 usable questionnaires were collected from three public institutions and two private institutions of higher learning in Perak State in Malaysia and the data analyzed through the SPSS. The findings show that perceived use of use, perceived usefulness, perceived security, and perceived credibility do influence the Perak State academic’s e-filing adoption intention. However, perceived service and information quality has not influenced their e-filing adoption intention. This study provides several important implications for building and promoting effective e-filing system by the IRBM.

Obstacles to the Implementation of Total Quality Management and Organizational Performance in Private Higher Learning Institutions

This paper aims to identify the main obstacles to the implementation of Total Quality Management. The study is to test the structural order which would enhance Total Quality Management and at the same time seek to discover the systems sensitivity to the human resources with its ultimate effect on performance. To do so, the findings of a stratified sample size comprising of top management team, academic heads of departments, lecturers, support staff and students was obtained for the study. Structured questionnaires were administered and an interview schedule was arranged for a number of members chosen at random and all class representatives. Secondary data was obtained from the University reports on the Total Quality Management implementation and progress. Descriptive statistics have been used to analyse data. The data has been presented in terms of tables and graphs. The study revealed that the implementation of Total Quality Management in KCA University is facing challenges because members do not yet know how best to implement it. At the same time some members are not aware of Total Quality Management principles and do not understand how it works. The study only relied on an accessible sample within the University and was based on their word not considering the fact that sometimes people would respond depending on what they think you want to hear and not sincerely. The result of this study does not only identify the obstacles of TQM but also provides a reference to the managers of this learning institutions as well as the wider business world. The research provides a direction for both TQM scholars and managers and it can serve as a roadmap and a challenge to quality driven organizations.

A Qualitative Study of Factors Contributing to International Students’ Satisfaction of Institutional Quality

This study explores the factors contributing to institutional quality at five private higher learning institutions in Malaysia. There have been numerical quantitative researches on the perceptions of university quality learning environment but it is argued that a qualitative approach would add to existing knowledge by providing deeper insights from a different perspective. A random sample of 15 international students studying in institutions of higher education in Malaysia were investigated. The study was based on the data collected through open-ended interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded accordingly. A number of constructs emerged from this study and were categorized into a few main themes. The results of the study indicate that constructivist approach, lecturers’ teaching styles, campus experiences, state-of-the-art facilities and career preparation influence students’ perceptions of quality campus experiences. This study provides useful insight that offer opportunities for stakeholders to plan and initiate appropriate strategies for the betterment of the educational institution.

Identifying Trends In Job Hopping In Private Institutions Of Higher Learning

Since early 20th century, there is greater mobility among academicians in the private institutions of higher learning in Malaysia. The high turnover is the result of economical and social changes in the country. With globalization, Malaysia has now become a hub for international education. This has led to the growth in private institutions of higher learning. With the vast increase in such institutions, employees today have greater opportunities to job hop for various reasons. This research paper investigated the emerging trends in job hopping and the reasons behind it. The reasons were attributed to intrinsic and extrinsic motivating factors. The research further investigated whether there are differences in the trends between the various age groups; Baby Boomers (48 years and above), Generation X (33-47 years) and Generation Y (32 years and below). The researchers were motivated to do this research due to the increasing concern over the drastic mobility that is taking place in the private institutions of higher learning. The sample for this research comprised of 100 academicians working in private institutions of higher learning. Participants were given questionnaires to obtain responses on the intrinsic and extrinsic motivating factors leading to their decision to job hop. The selection of participants was based on a purposive sampling method as the researchers wanted to obtain responses from the three categories of generation. The findings proved the key hypothesis of the research which is; firstly, there is a trend in the job hopping exercise in the private institutions of higher learning and secondly, there are differences in the trends between the three categories of generations. The researchers went on to offer practical suggestions to the private institutions of higher learning and the Ministry of Human Resources in Malaysia to establish guidelines and policies to ensure that the job hopping practice is kept to the minimum.

Workplace spirituality and organizational citizenship behaviour: Exploring gender as a moderator

Despite extensive studies on the antecedents of organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB), empirical studies on the effect of the workplace spirituality on OCB remains limited. The present study investigates the effects of workplace spirituality dimensions on OCB, with the moderating role of gender. Analyses of 171 academic staff attached to 15 private institutions of higher learning in Malaysia partially supported the relationship between workplace spirituality and OCB, as well as gender's role as a moderator in the workplace spirituality-OCB linkage. Findings are discussed in the light of available literature. Implications for future research and practice are also highlighted.

Purifying a Television Viewing Measure for Use in Consumer Socialization Research

Aims: The purpose of this study is to report confirmatory factor analysis on existing previously validated scales, by means of validating a television viewing scale. Study Design:Survey. Place and Duration of Study:A survey was conducted in the Klang Valley in Malaysia for a period of four consecutive months. Methodology: The target population were college students (age ranged 19 -30 above) in public and private institution of higher learning. College students were chosen because generally they represented the future of a country as with a good education, they would become middle-class professionals.Of the 1,200 randomly selected university and college students 956 completed questionnaires were usable for the data analysis. A television viewing scale was modified and adapted for the study. Results: Using a combination of exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic approaches, this research replicated a television viewing measure. Initially, an exploratory factor analysis (N=956.) evaluated two solutions, ranging from 1 to 2 factors. Next, a confirmatory factor analyses, was used to examine the two �factor model identified by the exploratory factor analysis. A number of indices were used to evaluate the model fit. A confirma tory factor analysis of the factor structure of the adapted television viewing scale was conducted to assess whether the scale's purported 2 factors emerged. T he findings of alternative model comparison converge with the results obtained from factor analys is, which demonstrated that television

Integrating CSF and change management for implementing campus ERP system

Institutions of higher learning are currently facing a challenging environment, which demands the integration of business processes. Most institutions are facing reduction in operating budgets but at the same time the need for technology and business services have also increased. Enterprise resource planning ERP is a type of business technology that is rapidly catching the attention of institutions of higher learning in enhancing the administrative and academic functions. Without a solid history of successes and failures, implementers are at a disadvantage in knowing how best to implement ERP systems to enable them to provide operational and strategic benefits to their owners. This makes the task of implementing these systems more challenging. Due to these problems, this research is being carried out in order to develop an integration strategy, discovering important critical success factors and the necessary processes of implementing ERP system in a private institution of higher learning in Malaysia. In this study, one institution has been chosen for the case study. The needs of this institution in implementing ERP and the problems faced by the institution are being documented. The findings will be used as a ground work for more intensive study for all Malaysian higher learning institutions.

Turning around low-performing private universities in China: A perspective of organisational ecology

While China has a long history of private institutions of higher learning, they disappeared almost entirely after the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and did not re-emerge until the 1980s. Their reappearance is one of the ramifications of economic marketisation and privatisation in China. But private higher education institutions are now facing new challenges and competition in the education system. Approximately 500 of them were shut down between 2000 and 2009 for financial, legal or other reasons. Looking through the theoretical lens of organisational ecology – a sociological theory that applies ecological principles to organisational studies – this paper traces how the social and economic environment induced the re-emergence of private universities in China and how it has had an impact on their non-linear pattern of development. Using a number of relevant theory fragments from the overarching framework of organisational ecology as tools, the author then explores possible strategies for turning around low-performing private universities in China.

Managerial Skills Development of Selected Private Institutions of Higher Learning in Batangas, Philippines

Abstract - Institutions of higher learning face a new situation on higher education. It holds some novel threats and presents some fresh opportunities. Given the uncertainty of the future, collage and university administrators cannot allow their organizations to drift. This study assessed the managerial skills development of the administrators of the five (5) well-established private institutions of higher learning in Batangas, Philippines. A combination of descriptive-purposive research design and survey method was used to determine the managerial dimensions exhibited by the administrators. Mean, Likert Scale, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and and Bivariate Correlation were used. There is no significant difference in the assessment of the three groups of respondents in terms of communication skills and solving problems effectively. However, there is a significant difference in terms of self leadership, managing the task effectively, managing the people effectively, and managing interpersonal relations effectively. There is a very high significant relationship among all the managerial skills dimensions required of the institution administrators using the same managerial dimensions. The managerial skills of the administrators have to be enhanced to improve the quality of people in the institution. The Proposed Executive Development Program and Training Model are strongly recommended. Keywords – managerial skills, institution of higher learning, private institutions, education

Study on Strategy-Based Total Budget Management System of Private Higher Learning Institution in China

Based on total budget management, the problems and reasons existing in budget management of private higher learning institutions in china are analyzed with reference to total budget management theory in enterprise budget management. The guiding thought and principles for construction of strategy-based total budget management system of private higher learning institutions are proposed. The constructions of the organizational system, target system, planning system and examination system of total budget management system are systematically studied. The specific targets and appraisal indicators of total budget management are determined by using the balanced scorecard. The operable total budget management system of private higher learning institutions is constructed so that it can efficiently guide the total budget management practice of private higher learning institutions.

Have libraries in private institutions of higher learning in Malaysia lost their original purposes? What else does the evidence say about gender issues?

The original purposes of a library as a place for knowledge fulfillment alongside other social responsibilities are perceived to have eroded over the years. This could be due to the emergence and dominance of the ever progressive digital media and has likely changed the availability and mode of access to knowledge thereby affecting library patronage. This paper attempts to validate the above perception of the utilization patterns of library in private institutions of higher learning. It has been observed that students still visit libraries. However, the intentions of their visits are more for general or self utilization purposes rather than for intellectual pursuits. The study has revealed that more than 65% of the students surveyed spent their time doing personal work in the library without utilizing other library services and facilities. This has raised a real concern that libraries are now made places for social gathering and self utilization. Gender has turned out to be non-significant factor in this research. Key words: Library, self utilization, general utilization, specific utilization.

A Qualitative Inquiry of Online Instruction among Teachers in Malaysian Universities and Colleges

There are many approaches in implementing online instructions in institutions of higher learning. The Malaysian government through its Malaysian Qualifications Agency, an auditing and accrediting agency, encouraged all institutions of higher learning in the country to use online instruction. The objectives of this study are to explore the views of teachers in Malaysian universities and colleges on the use of online teaching and learning. A total of 10 teachers from private institutions of higher learning in Malaysia were interviewed. Their responses were coded and the themes that emerged are presented. The results of this study present the teachers' awareness, and their views about the challenges, benefits, performance evaluations and motivation. The study also presents the teachers' views on the student attitudes and behaviors. These results are then summarized and represented in a model.

Impacts of Training on Knowledge Dissemination and Application among Academics in Malaysian Institutions of Higher Education

This paper explores the linkage of knowledge dissemination and the application of new knowledge in teaching and learning practices. A survey data were collected from 519 academics from all the Malaysian public and private institutions of higher learning (IHLs) during the teaching and learning trainings offered by the Academy of Leadership in Higher Education Malaysia, known as the Akademi Kepimpinan Pengajian Tinggi Malaysia (AKEPT). Three out of ten behavioral actions were found to have a significant change in behaviors at the workplace: keep-up with the institutional change process, p=0.037, involvement in departmental change, p=0.027 and confidence in decision-making, p=0.037. The seven insignificant behavioral actions were asking peers and colleagues for suggestions, involvement of colleagues in the change process, reluctance in making decisions, holding group meeting, taking time to transform plan into action, and taking time to reflect the consequences of making decisions. These findings raise awareness and provide initial guidelines for AKEPT to develop appropriate strategies to ensure that the knowledge dissemination processes lead to the application of new knowledge. Further exploration of the formulation of comprehensive strategies to properly implement and manage the knowledge dissemination processes among the academics was also suggested. It is also one of the initial studies that highlight the linkages between AKEPT’s Training Centre and the local teaching and learning training centre. It opens up new lines of future research possibilities on the provision of centralized professional development training programs that facilitate the application of new knowledge at the local teaching and learning context.

Effects of the application of graphing calculator on students’ probability achievement

A Graphing Calculator (GC) is one of the most portable and affordable technology in mathematics education. It quickens the mechanical procedure in solving mathematical problems and creates a highly interactive learning environment, which makes learning a seemingly difficult subject, easy. Since research on the use of GCs for the teaching and learning of probability in institutions of higher learning appears to be limited, a study was conducted to examine the effects of the use of GCs on students' performance in probability. The study involved 65 pre-university students in a private institution of higher learning in Malaysia. Hypothesis testing showed that there is a significant difference in the mean score of the post achievement test between the experimental and control groups. Students in the experimental group displayed higher achievement than their peers in the control group in the Probability Achievement Test (PAT). Findings also showed that the use of GCs benefits students of all levels, that is, high, average and low mathematics achievers. Qualitative data provides a more lucid picture of how GCs aid in improving understanding and performance. Recommendations made will provide researchers, policy-makers and educators an alternative means of enhancing the quality of probability education.

Relationship between Performance Based Pay, Interactional Justice and Job Satisfaction: A Mediating Model Approach

This study was conducted to examine the influence of interactional justice in the relationship betweenperformance based pay and job satisfaction using 334 usable questionnaires gathered from employees who workin Malaysian private institutions of higher learning (PRIVATE INSTITUTION), Malaysia. Exploratory factoranalysis confirmed that the measurement scales used in this study met the acceptable standards of validity andreliability analyses. Further, the outcomes of Stepwise Regression analysis showed two important findings: First,performance based pay (i.e., participation in pay systems and adequacy of pay) significantly correlated with jobsatisfaction. Second, linking performance based pay (i.e., participation in pay systems and adequacy of pay) tointeractional justice significantly correlated with job satisfaction. Statistically, this result demonstrates thatinteractional justice does act as a partial mediating variable in the relationship between performances based paysand job satisfaction in the studied organizations. In addition, discussion, implications and conclusion areelaborated.

Teaching Method Reform and Practice on Programming Foundation in Chinese Private Higher Learning Institution

Programming foundation is a basic required course of computer-related subjects, and thus how to improve the teaching quality of this course is a very important problem for computer educators. To improve the teaching quality of programming foundation course in private higher learning college in China, some reform measures are proposed, including the following 5 aspects: teaching content, teaching method, teaching practice, examining form and network teaching. The well teaching practice effect shows that these reform measures can improve the teaching quality of programming foundation course, and also can be used for reference to other computer-related subjects.