Malaysian Research Universities Research Articles

Unlocking the influence of psychosocial safety climate on work engagement and job satisfaction: exploring the mediating role of job demands

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the influence of psychosocial safety climate (PSC) on work engagement, job satisfaction and the mediating role of job demands among young academics in Malaysian research universities.Design/methodology/approachThe study participants consisted of 177 full-time lecturers employed by Malaysian research universities for at least one year. Respondents were selected using a purposive sampling technique.FindingsThe findings reveal the significance of PSC in fostering work engagement and job satisfaction by mitigating the impact of job demands. However, the finding indicates that the relationship between job demands and work engagement was not statistically significant.Research limitations/implicationsThe necessity for a thorough three-wave research to precisely analyze the model’s longitudinal impacts was discovered in all correlation and cross-sectional studies.Practical implicationsThe results indicate that the university should focus on job design and PSC support to enable university management to investigate further avenues for minimizing the impact of job demands to support academicians in RUs and enhance their job satisfaction. The results also indicated that young academicians’ work engagement might be improved by appropriate job demands.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine these relationships among young academic staff in Malaysian universities. This paper offers recommendations to university policymakers on enhancing PSC, work engagement and job satisfaction among young academicians. It highlights the mediating role of job demands in Malaysian research universities.

Exploring the Role of Psychological Empowerment in Enhancing Career Satisfaction among Academics Staff: A Pilot Study in Malaysian Research Universities

Exploring the Role of Psychological Empowerment in Enhancing Career Satisfaction among Academics Staff: A Pilot Study in Malaysian Research Universities

THE INFLUENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL OWNERSHIP ON INTENTION TO STAY AMONG ACADEMICS EMPLOYED AT MALAYSIAN RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

In the context of Malaysian research universities, this study examined how psychological ownership influenced Malaysian academics’ intention to stay. Based on self-determination theory, a model was developed to investigate how psychological ownership and employee engagement might improve the intention to stay. A questionnaire survey was used to gather the data, which was then analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that psychological ownership positively and significantly impacts employee engagement. The intention of an employee to stay is also positive and significantly impacted by employee engagement. In addition, when employing employee engagement as a mediator, psychological ownership also revealed a significant indirect effect on the intention to stay. The novelty of this study contributed to the body of knowledge on psychological ownership and intention to stay while also shedding light on the mediation of employee engagement in the context of Malaysian research universities. The findings of this study also have significant practical implications for academics and policymakers who wish to understand the roles of psychological ownership and employee engagement that contribute to the intention to stay among academics.

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

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

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

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

Influences of Learning Experiences on Research Literacy Among Postgraduate Students at Malaysian Research Universities

Aim/Purpose: Given the limited research on assessing research literacy among postgraduate students in the education field, this study aims to explore the association between research literacy scores and learning experiences. These experiences include reading intensity, participation in formal research-related courses, and engagement in presenting and publishing articles. Background: Postgraduate students are required to master essential skills such as reading, evaluating, interpreting, and synthesizing information from primary research articles, as they are expected to be both consumers and producers of scholarly work like theses and research articles. Developing research literacy, which encompasses these skills, is crucial. Without adequate research literacy, students may misinterpret research findings, compromising the quality of their studies. This not only affects their own work but also negatively impacts other researchers who reference their research outputs. Methodology: This study utilized a survey method with a sample of 236 postgraduate research students in education. The participants were selected through stratified sampling, dividing them into two strata: master’s students and doctoral students. The survey data were analyzed using multiple regression for inferential purposes. Contribution: This study offers guidance on designing supportive programs based on the examined factors influencing research literacy among postgraduate students. Understanding these factors will enable more targeted and effective program development to foster students’ research abilities. Findings: Findings revealed that all five predictors predict the research literacy of postgraduate students in education. Nevertheless, further analysis shows that three of the five predictors significantly predicted research literacy scores. These include the total number of courses attended, t (230) = 2.62, p < .05; the total number of papers published, t (230) = 4.05, p < .05; and the number of articles read monthly. Among these, the total number of articles published emerged as the strongest predictor, followed by the total number of courses attended and the number of articles read monthly. Recommendations for Practitioners: Practitioners in education should focus on enhancing research literacy within formal research courses provided for postgraduate research students. These courses should be tailored to improve research literacy skills and align with evolving needs and expectations, especially in the context of academic publication. Additionally, practitioners should implement interventions that cultivate reading habits, as staying informed directly affects students’ academic publication endeavors. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers should investigate additional learning experiences that could impact research literacy. This includes exploring the role of mentorship, collaborative projects, and the use of digital resources in research education. Furthermore, engaging in longitudinal studies to track the development of research literacy over time is recommended. This would provide insights into how research skills evolve throughout the course of postgraduate studies. Impact on Society: This study aims to empower research students by providing them with essential skills and knowledge for critical assessment, engagement, and contribution to research findings. Enhancing research literacy leads to a more informed, problem-solving, and evidence-based research community. Ultimately, this effort can significantly improve the quality of research education. Future Research: Future studies may examine other factors, such as the barriers and challenges that students face in acquiring research literacy skills, including motivational, psychological, and socio-economic factors.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Pattern of Epistemological Belief in Design among Engineering Students

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