Private University In Malaysia Research Articles

Factors influencing undergraduate students’ engagement in online learning: a PLS-SEM approach

ABSTRACT Effective engagement during online learning is essential for achieving successful student outcomes. This study aims to determine the level of engagement among undergraduate students and its influencing factors during the online learning process. Data were collected from a sample of 609 undergraduate students, taken from four public and private universities in Malaysia. Results showed that undergradaute students have a moderate level of engagement during online learning. Their engagement was significantly influenced by perceptions of online learning, experiences in online learning, and online self-regulation skills, as demonstrated by the results of partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). These factors accounted for 63.7% of the variance in students’ engagement (R2 = .637, p < 0.01). The implications of the study were discussed.

Mitigating Challenges in the Administration of Private Higher Educational Institutions in Malaysia

Education plays a crucial role in creating individuals who contribute positively to the development of a country. The private education sector in Malaysia, has proven to be a major source of revenue for the Malaysian government, and it is the government’s aspiration to capture a large percentage of the higher education global market. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the challenges faced by academic leaders in managing private universities in Malaysia and to provide feasible recommendations to overcome them. The findings are expected to provide valuable information to the management of Malaysian private universities, policymakers, and regulatory agencies. The information gathered could provide enlightenment regarding the difficulties faced in order to design and implement further policies to elevate their operational method and ensure long-term survival. Valuable recommendations have been provided to ensure the institutions remain profitable and sustainable as the development of Malaysia’s social and economic sector is dependent on its education sector.

An Exploring Rewards Systems and Turnover Intention among Malaysian Private University Academics: The Role of Continuance Commitment as a Mediator

This research employed an empirical approach in overviewing the relationship between five independent variables namely, remuneration, work-life balance, supervisor support, and employee recognition and the intention of turnover by means of employees' continuance commitment. The study comprises a total of 331 academics from the four private universities that were selected. This study utilized a structured survey to collect data, drawing on publicly available literature to inform the survey's design. Building upon a comprehensive review of existing literature, the survey instrument was tailored to address the specific research objectives of this study, incorporating modifications as deemed necessary. The analysis presented in this chapter offers a detailed examination of both the measurement and structural models employed in the study. The measurement model rigorously assessed the reliability and validity of the measurement instruments, ensuring that indicators met established criteria for accuracy and precision. Subsequent Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analyses revealed that neither direct nor mediated paths achieved statistical significance, indicating a lack of empirical support for the hypothesized relationships among the variables under investigation. This comprehensive evaluation provides valuable insights into the methodological rigor of the study and highlights avenues for future research exploration.

Thriving in Scarcity: Harnessing Intellectual Capital for Open Frugal Innovation

Private higher education institutions (PHEIs) are struggling to invest in the facilities, tools, and staff required to build a complete IR4.0 education ecosystem due to a lack of funding and technological resources. This research investigates the role of intellectual capital elements (Human, Relational, and Structural Capital) in promoting frugal innovation in Malaysian private universities utilizing knowledge-based theory. Using a quantitative research approach, we collected survey data from 308 respondents affiliated with Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) in Malaysia. The study found that human capital is not statistically significant in its relationship with frugal innovation in higher education, while structural capital and relational capital do show significant relationships. These findings contribute to our understanding of intellectual capital's role in frugal innovation in Malaysian PHEIs.

Effectiveness of Assessment Exemplars in a Business Management Course

Samples of past and present student work should not just be kept away in the faculty drawers, cabinets or simply stored in the digital space. There are many benefits from these valuable pieces of work that can be shared with their peers and future students. By sharing and showing these exemplars, students understand better the expectations for their own work to obtain good grades. They not only learn to benchmark their work against their peers and understand the assessment requirements better, but most importantly, exemplars provide them guidance when undertaking a piece of assessment. This action research explores the use of assessment exemplars and its effectiveness on Business Management students in a pre-university programme at a private university in Malaysia. A basic qualitative approach using focus group discussions was adopted. Four major themes on the impact of assessment exemplars emerged from the focus group discussions, namely assessment exemplars provide guidance, make students aware of standards and expectations, provide motivation to start writing, and builds confidence. This study provides insights into understanding students’ experience in using exemplars in the pre-university context.

Subjective norms towards entrepreneurship and Malaysian students’ entrepreneurial intentions: does gender matter?

Purpose Adopting an institutional view of entrepreneurship, this study aims to explore the potential mediating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) in the relationship between subjective norms and the entrepreneurial intentions of Malaysian students. Additionally, social role theory (SRT) was used to examine whether gender acts as a boundary condition in the proposed relationship. Design/methodology/approach Empirical evidence was based on responses from 220 final-year students registered from a final-year entrepreneurship module at a private university in Malaysia. The hypothesised relationships were tested using Model 7 of the PROCESS macro. Findings The findings indicated that subjective norms had a weak but positive effect on the entrepreneurial intentions of Malaysian students. Moreover, ESE was found to mediate the relationship between subjective norms and entrepreneurial intentions. However, contrary to theoretical expectations, gender did not act as a boundary condition in the proposed mediation relationship. Originality/value By incorporating SRT with institutional theory, this study sought to address a knowledge gap in the existing literature by investigating and empirically exploring the moderating influence of gender on the mediating effect of ESE in the relationship between subjective norms and entrepreneurial intentions.

A comparative study of critical reading abilities among students in Malaysia and Vietnam: Insights from PISA-based assessment

This study conducted a comparative analysis of critical reading skills among engineering students at private universities in Malaysia and Vietnam, using the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reading framework. Involving 182 undergraduates, the research included a quantitative critical reading test followed by statistical analysis (T-tests) to examine score variability among first-year and final-year students. The analysis revealed significant performance differences among first-year students but not among final-year students from both countries. To complement the quantitative data, semi-structured interviews with 16 participants across different critical reading levels were conducted. These interviews aimed to capture students’ perspectives on the PISA test, highlighting challenges such as the Western orientation of texts, English vocabulary, and the format of open-ended questions. Integrating quantitative and qualitative methods, the study offers an in-depth understanding of the critical reading abilities of engineering students in Malaysia and Vietnam, underscoring the importance of considering cultural and linguistic factors in educational assessments.

Higher Education Institutions Resilience During Covid‑19 Post-Pandemic: A Quantitative Approach

The pandemic of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on higher education institutions (HEI). The question is whether HEI have been able to adapt to the pandemic's new normal. There is a need for quantifying the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on HEI in a formal manner. This paper aims to presents a structural quantitative approach to operationalizing a proposed conceptual framework that addresses the resilience of HEI in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. So far, there has been little quantitatively based empirical research on HEI resilience. Even though several authors proposed formidable frameworks for conceptualizing organizational resilience, none of these studies presented quantitative evidence of the COVID-19 pandemic of HEI resilience. The current study aims to quantify the HEI resilience framework by measuring the inter-relationships between the components of the framework using Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) method. The data from 121 public and private universities in Malaysia were collected and used as a basis for determining the significant relationships in the HEI resilience framework. The empirical findings demonstrated that the (higher order) three stages of HEI resilience, namely anticipation, coping, and adaptation, which were precedingly linked to four HEI capability (lower-order) constructs, namely knowledge-based, resources availability, social resources, and power-based, positively influence HEI Resilience. In the meantime, the knowledge-based and power-based capabilities of the HEI appeared to have significant indirect effects on their resilience via their adaptation stage. Recommendations for practice and research were also discussed.

A framework informing the interplay of physical, digital and social spaces in supporting an environment for active learning

ABSTRACT This study aims to provide insights from the STEM and non-STEM perspectives on the interplay of the physical, digital and social spaces in supporting active learning processes (constructivism, collaboration and self-regulation) explored through the Social Interdependence Theory (SIT). Specifically, the fluid movement between physical and digital learning spaces may subconsciously influence how lecturers should teach. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach, supplementing quantitative questionnaires with qualitative data from semi-structured interviews. There were eight STEM and four non-STEM lecturers from an established private university in Malaysia who volunteered for this study. Data from the semi-structured interviews were analysed using the codebook analysis as a form of thematic analysis. To this end, the seating arrangement in a classroom may indicate to students how information should be transmitted, informal gatherings build social bonds and teaching and grades may affect collaboration. In relation to the five constructs of SIT, we suggest the CPC (Cohesiveness, Participation, Collaboration) active learning framework for considering the interplay of the three spaces mentioned within the evolving pedagogies and the learning process. Specifically, cohesiveness which sits at the core of the framework, provides a pivotal support for the other two dimensions, that is, participation and collaboration.

Recent Trends and A Future Direction of Malaysia’s Climate Change Law Program

Climate change is a critical global issue that is predominantly caused by human activities. To equip students in higher education institutions (HEIs) with the necessary knowledge and skills to play an active role in mitigating the effects of climate change, HEIs need to incorporate climate change-related programs into their teaching curricula. These programs should emphasize law and policy, enabling students to become environmentally aware and motivated to act. The Climate Change Institute (Institut Perubahan Iklim or IPI) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is among several (HEIs) in Malaysia offering a master’s program in Climate Change (Coursework), with a specialization in Environmental Science and Earth Science. This paper aims to analyse the structure of existing climate change programs at both public and private HEIs in Malaysia. Desk research is conducted to gather various information from the available structures involving seven public universities and two private universities in Malaysia which offer 24 environmental-related programs both in undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The findings were analysed by a constant comparative approach that is guided by the key themes of the study. The finding shows that all universities that offer law programs do not have climate change postgraduate law programs offered at their faculties. Other faculties, should they have such a similar program, are more related to sciences, engineering, technology and management. This paper concludes by providing insights into the key features of recent trends in the offering of climate change postgraduate law programs in Malaysia. Accordingly, the findings of the study would serve as a significant guide for the development of any new climate change policy and law programs in the future in line with United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal SDG13 on climate action which focus on Target 13.3 in improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. The new climate change postgraduate law program will also contribute to the sustainability of climate action, particularly in capacity building of the people on teaching delivery methods of climate change policy and law, protecting the planet, promoting prosperity, maintaining peace and establishing connections and partnerships in the teaching methods, such as global learning.

A Qualitative Perspective of Entrepreneurial Intention Among Students in a Private Higher Institution in Selangor

Entrepreneurship as a field of study has different sub-dimensions due to its usefulness in society, which makes it difficult to gain a holistic understanding of its key due to practical applications. A shift in generations creates a different yet unique business environment, especially in new business ventures. Younger generations have a different view and insight about entrepreneurship in small business. Thus, this study aims to seek deeper insight into entrepreneurial behaviour and intention among younger generations. Twenty semi-structured interviews with students from a higher private university in Malaysia were performed using the qualitative method. Using Nvivo 12, the interviews' transcriptions were used for content analysis to produce themes. This study highlights the four emerging themes from students’ perspectives: expectations for future goals, financial constraints in business venturing, personal growth, and opportunity cost to venture into business. The results of this study add to the body of knowledge in the field of entrepreneurship research since they emphasize students' intentions, worries, and considerations while starting a small firm. Additionally, it contributes to empirical research aimed at improving entrepreneurship ecosystems.

Sibling Birth Order Among Undergraduate University Students and Its Influence on Personality Traits: Some Implications for Education

This cross-sectional survey explores the influence of sibling birth order on university students’ personality traits. The sample consisted of 184, predominantly Chinese, Malaysian undergraduates of a private university in Malaysia. The Big-Five personality questionnaire (John &amp; Benet-Martinez, 1998) was used for data collection, while Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and path analysis from SEM were used to analyse the data. The CFA results show a significant interrelationship between the traits of extroversion and agreeableness but no significant direct effect of birth order on personality traits. The results are consistent with the previous studies in Malaysia and around the globe and suggest the likelihood of other factors (e.g., social culture and environment) possibly influencing student personality. Subsequent research that employs various Malaysian samples is needed to further test the applicability of Sulloway’s theory in explaining the influence or effect of sibling birth order in Malaysia.

Test Anxiety Among Chinese Master of Education Students in a Malaysian Private University: A Case Study

Test anxiety is a pervasive issue affecting students' academic performance and well-being across various educational settings. This study investigates test anxiety and coping strategies among Chinese Master of Education students, filling a gap in the literature. A quantitative approach was employed, surveying 48 participants from a Master of Education program using a Test Anxiety Inventory and a Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire. Results from the Test Anxiety Inventory reveal a substantial prevalence of test anxiety among these students, with high mean scores across multiple anxiety-inducing statements. Notably, feelings of apprehension and uncertainty during examinations were prominent, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. In contrast, the analysis of coping strategies shows a preference for active and positive approaches, such as addressing challenges directly, seeking social support, and maintaining a positive outlook. These findings suggest a resilience and adaptability among Master of Education students in managing stress. The study's outcomes align with some previous research while highlighting nuanced variations in coping efficacy across different educational stages and cultural backgrounds. Notably, the preference for active coping strategies in this population diverges from certain earlier studies, indicating the importance of context and individual coping preferences. In conclusion, this research underscores the significance of recognizing and addressing test anxiety while promoting effective coping mechanisms among Master of Education students. Tailored interventions and supportive educational environments can enhance academic performance and overall well-being, contributing to students' personal growth and success. These insights have implications for educators and policymakers seeking to create conducive learning environments for students facing test anxiety challenges. Keywords: Test anxiety, Coping strategies, Quantitative approach, Questionnaire survey, Likert-scale questionnaire

Role of Demographic Factors on Academic Motivation of Medical Students in a Malaysian Private University

Introduction: Medical students are highly motivated compared to other students in higher education. Various factors internal and external to the students can affect their academic motivation. It has direct bearing on their performance as well as their professional development. The present study aims to validate the adapted questionnaire on academic motivation of medical students in Malaysia and to study the influence of gender, ethnicity, and year of study on it. Methods: The quantitative research approach using the cross-sectional survey design is used in the present research. Stratified random sampling method used to collect data from 318 participants using adapted academic motivation scale for college students. The reliability and construct validity of the instrument was evaluated. The data was analysed, for inferential statistics using SPSS version 26. Results: The intrinsic and extrinsic motivation was higher in female medical students. However, the male students are significantly amotivated. Variation in different types of motivation was observed among three ethnic groups. A significant (p&lt;0.005) difference was found in Introjected regulation and amotivation among ethnic groups. Medical students of clinical years had higher score for Intrinsic motivation and lower score for extrinsic motivation. Amotivation was comparable in medical students of all years with lowest in year 2 students. The level of different types of motivation differs among the medical students of different gender, ethnicity, and year of study. Conclusion: The educators and the curriculum designers need to strategize to improve the motivation of the medical students which will improve their academic performance and well-being.

International Students’ Academic Adjustment in Private Universities in Malaysia

Malaysia is known for having a mixed population with diverse backgrounds and religions living in peace. Malaysian education systems opened their doors to foreign countries in 1996, allowing for the establishment of branch campuses, and the private education system entered our educational sector. Since then, many international students have travelled to Malaysia to study. According to the Star Online in 2019, Malaysian higher education institutions have registered more than 170,000 international students from over 135 countries for their intercultural adaptation experiences. The top three countries are from Bangladesh, Indonesia, and China. This qualitative study investigates the academic adjustment experiences of international students in private universities in Malaysia through the lens of Cross-Cultural Adaptation (CCA) theory. Employing in-depth interviews, the research seeks to unveil the intricate processes, challenges, and adaptive strategies that shape the academic trajectories of international students within the Malaysian higher education landscape. The study aims to explore how cultural, linguistic, and academic factors influence the academic adaptation of international students. Through purposive sampling, participants will share their personal narratives, shedding light on the dynamic interplay between cultural nuances and the pursuit of academic success. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data will uncover patterns and insights into the ways in which international students negotiate academic challenges and integrate into the Malaysian educational milieu. The findings aim to contribute to the broader understanding of cross-cultural adaptation in academic settings, providing context-specific knowledge that can inform institutional policies and practices to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for international students in Malaysian private universities. Keywords: International Students, undergraduate, adaptation, challenges, Malaysia.

An Investigation into the Critical Reading Skills of Engineering Students at 2 Private Universities in Malaysia and Vietnam

This study compares the critical reading proficiency of engineering students from two private institutions in Malaysia and Vietnam. It examines the degree to which PISAbased critical reading test scores of first- and final-year students vary. 182 engineering students, including 86 Malaysian and 96 Vietnamese undergraduates, were involved in this project. Descriptive and quantitative analyses were performed on the data. According to the findings, most students at two universities exhibited moderate critical reading skills. Moreover, the study’s outcomes revealed no substantial disparities between the critical reading levels of the final year Malaysian and Vietnamese students. By contrast, the performance of first-year students at two universities varied significantly on some test items. Some considerations regarding the selection of Western-based texts and the use of open-ended questions in the PISA reading test that might cause difficulties for Eastern students are also demonstrated in this study.&#x0D; Keywords: critical reading, Pisa 2018 reading assessment, engineering students, higher education

Online Learning Engagement Factors of Undergraduate Students’ Learning Outcomes

This study aimed to explore the factors influencing the learning experience, using the community of inquiry (CoI) framework, that contribute to students’ satisfaction with online learning and academic performance during the pandemic. Data were collected from 609 undergraduate students at four private universities in Malaysia through an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was derived from the community inquiry survey and the satisfaction with the online learning questionnaire. The empirical results indicated that the primary factors influencing students’ satisfaction with online learning were cognitive presence, social presence, and teaching presence, in that order of importance. The model was further tested with specific measures of online learning satisfaction, including online course interaction, instruction, course management, instructor quality, and satisfaction with the technology used in the course. Factor reduction analysis groups satisfaction into three categories: “interaction, instruction, and course management” were combined into one category, which includes the course instructor and the technology. Stepwise correlation analysis indicated that all the CoI areas had a significant influence on the satisfaction of all three groups, except for the impact of social presence on the satisfaction of online instructors. Among the predictors, cognitive presence consistently played a significant role in all aspects of satisfaction and performance.

Predictive modeling of career choices among fresh graduates: application of model selection approach

PurposeThe post-pandemic crisis has reshaped work dynamics across industries, leading to a widespread reliance on technology for remote work and business continuity. Operations have shifted to the digital space, altering job requirements and creating new career opportunities. The expansion of the digital industry has generated numerous career choices. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationships between self-efficacy, social media, career outcome expectations and career choices among fresh graduates in Malaysia amid the pandemic crisis.Design/methodology/approachResearch data were collected from a sample of 318 fresh graduates from both public and private universities in Malaysia. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data in this study.FindingsThe empirical findings revealed significant correlations between self-efficacy, social media usage and career outcome expectations and the career choices of Malaysian fresh graduates.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study offers an empirical framework to explain career choices among fresh graduates in Malaysia during the pandemic crisis, based on a review of related literature on careers. This research contributes to the body of knowledge on career choices among Generation Z fresh graduates and provides practical implications for organizations and individual employees. It suggests developing relevant Human Resource Development (HRD) interventions to retain the young workforce within organizations.Originality/valueThis study enriches the existing literature on self-efficacy, social media and career outcome expectations in the context of a pandemic crisis. It offers a new interpretation of how individual and contextual factors impact career choices, shaping the career management attitudes of fresh graduates in the post-pandemic era. The empirical findings also give valuable insights into higher education institutions, organizations and government authorities in Malaysia to develop relevant interventions to assist undergraduate students in their career choice exploration.

Analyzing complaints of arm, neck, and shoulder pain among academicians in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study on prevalence and contributing factors

OBJECTIVES: Complaints of arm, neck, and shoulder (CANS) have been recognized as an important cause of work disability. Therefore, it is essential to identify those health risk factors for the development of CANS before they escalate into a disabling musculoskeletal condition. This study aims to ascertain the association between individual, physical, and psychosocial risk factors and the occurrence of CANS among academics in Malaysia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was adopted, enrolling 296 academic staff working at a private university in Malaysia using a convenient sampling approach. A content-validated questionnaire was distributed among selected academic staff to gather their feedback on the prevalence and contributing factors of CANS, and the survey was conducted for a period of six months. The chi-square test was used to analyze the association between risk factors and CANS, and multiple logistic regression was used to predict the risk factors of CANS. This study links all the health risk factors to CANS in Malaysian academicians. RESULTS: Of the academic staff who participated in this study, 63.5% reported an annual prevalence of CANS. Physical risk factors, including work experience, adopting a static head-down posture, time spent per day in teaching, and the number of hours spent in front of a computer, are associated with CANS (p&lt;0.05). However, the utility of back support (p=0.878) and footrests (p=0.078) does not show any association with the occurrence of CANS (p&gt;0.05). Besides job demand, other psychosocial factors do not show any significant association with CANS. DISCUSSION: The study found that 63.5% of academic staff suffer from arm, shoulder, and neck pain, which is linked to physical risk factors such as work experience, static posture, teaching time and computer use. Back support and footrests had no significant influence on the complaints. Addressing physical risk factors is key to reducing these conditions among academic staff.

Lecturers' turnover intention and intention to remain with the organization: a dynamic cross-lagged panel model estimation using the PLSe2 method

PurposeAlthough numerous studies have been conducted to explore the impact of various factors on employees' turnover intention and intention to remain with the organization, the relationship between these two constructs remains largely unexplored. Considering the significance of these constructs, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors aimed to investigate their association within an academic environment using a dynamic modeling approach.Design/methodology/approachThis study follows a quantitative approach and utilizes a longitudinal survey design. The authors utilized a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) and employed the parametric efficient partial least squares (PLSe2) methodology to estimate the dynamic model using data gathered from lecturers associated with both public and private universities in Malaysia. In order to offer methodological insights to applied higher education researchers, the authors also compared the results with maximum likelihood (ML) estimation.FindingsThe findings of the authors' study indicate a reciprocal relationship between turnover intention and intention to remain with the organization, with intention to remain with the organization being a stronger predictor. Moreover, situational factors were found to have a greater influence on eliciting turnover intention within academic settings. As anticipated, the use of the PLSe2 methodology resulted in higher R2 values compared to ML estimation, thereby reinforcing the effectiveness of PLS-based methods in explanatory-predictive modeling in applied studies.Practical implicationsThe authors' findings suggest prioritizing policies that enhance training and consultation sessions to foster positive attitudes among lecturers. Positive attitudes significantly impact judgment-driven behaviors like turnover intention and intention to remain with the organization. Additionally, improving working environments, which indirectly influence judgment-driven behaviors through factors like affective work events, affect and attitudes, should also be considered.Originality/valueThis study pioneers the examination of the causal relationship between turnover intention and intention to remain with the organization, their stability over time and the association of changes in these variables using a dynamic CLPM in higher education. It introduces the novel application of the cutting-edge PLSe2 methodology in estimating a CLPM, providing valuable insights for researchers in explanatory-predictive modeling.