Malaysian University Research Articles

Talk to engage: The influence of smartphone voice assistants on consumers’ brand engagement

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate how smartphone voice assistants (SVAs) impact brand engagement among Malaysian university students, who are leading in digital consumption trends. The study aims to investigate how brand characteristics such as appeal, attachment, perceived utility, and usability impact consumer behaviour by utilising Brand Identity and Technology Acceptance models. Analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) in AMOS, data from 500 students experienced with voice assistants was collected through a survey. The results show strong connections in all studied relationships, emphasising the crucial importance of various brand attributes in promoting engagement. Usability and perceived utility are essential factors, indicating that businesses should focus on creating products that are both functional and user-friendly. The study provides distinctive perspectives on improving student engagement and brand partnerships in a competitive environment. It highlights the necessity for more research to help voice assistant professionals and academics enhance consumer-brand connections, especially among the digitally adept youth population in Malaysia.

Critical Review of Lecturers' Attitudes towards Quality of Teaching and Learning in Malaysian Public Universities

This literature review aims to investigate how lecturers' attitudes impact the quality of teaching and learning in public universities in Malaysia. It provides the insights on understanding the relationship between lecturers’ attitudes (responsiveness, professionalism, and accountability) and their influence on quality (effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity). The study addresses issues such as limited curriculum development, ineffective monitoring of curriculum activities, job stress among academic staff, and the perception that public universities are less favourable compared to private institutions. Analysis of studies reveals that lecturers' attitudes such as responsiveness, professionalism and accountability significantly impact teaching and learning quality by lecturers. Positive attitudes are associated with improved effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. The review identifies various dimensions in which these attitudes affect quality and highlights the need for further exploration of these relationships. This review involved analysing 28 peer-reviewed journal articles related to lecturers' attitudes and quality measures. While not all studies focused specifically on public universities in Malaysia, the selected literature was relevant to the study’s themes. To improve teaching and learning quality, public universities should focus on enhancing lecturers' attitudes, particularly in responsiveness, professionalism, and accountability. Further research is recommended to explore these dimensions more specifically within the context of public universities in Malaysia.

Law Students and Literature: Uncovering Experiences and Overcoming Challenges

The benefits that literature offers have led many countries, including Malaysia, to integrate literature and literary texts into English education. In higher education, literature is not limited to English Language and Literature majors; students from various other degree programs also study literature as part of their curriculum. While numerous previous studies have explored students' perspectives and challenges in learning literature, most have focused on high school students and English major undergraduates. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the views of law undergraduate students on the subject. A survey was conducted with 103 students enrolled in an English for Literary Appreciation course at a public university in Malaysia. Quantitative data were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics. The results indicated that law undergraduates prefer drama as a genre. The research also showed that, like students in other disciplines, law students generally enjoy studying literature and recognize its importance in enhancing language skills, cultural awareness, and personal development. Moreover, the study found that law students see the relevance of literature to their future careers. Unlike earlier studies that highlighted the difficulty of texts and language as the main challenges, this study identifies rigorous assessments, the volume of these assessments, and time constraints as the primary challenges faced by law undergraduates.

A Qualitative Study of Malaysian University Students’ Experiences on Self-Care of Gastritis: Effects, Challenges, and Coping Strategies

A Qualitative Study of Malaysian University Students’ Experiences on Self-Care of Gastritis: Effects, Challenges, and Coping Strategies

Work-life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during COVID-19 in Malaysia.

Following the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, academicians from the universities in Malaysia needed to ensure that the quality-of-service delivery to the stakeholders is undisturbed by adopting new challenging norms. This compromises the work-life balance (WLB), causes more stress and potentially affects their quality of life (QoL). This study investigates how perceived stress (PS) impacts the QoL of Malaysian academicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the mediating role of WLB. Academics working in Malaysia during COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study, using a voluntary response sampling method, was conducted among 417 academicians from universities in Malaysia in September 2021. A self-reported online questionnaire, measuring PS, WLB and QoL, was distributed. The QoL scored a mean of 50 (standard deviation [s.d.] = 9.84), PS scored a mean of 24.26 (s.d. = 8.19) and WLB had a mean score of 51.12 (s.d. = 18.73). Work-life balance was a significant mediator of PS and QoL (β = -0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.52 to -0.35, p = 0.0001). Perceived stress was a significant predictor of WLB (β = 1.62, p = 0.0001). Institutions should consider implementing flexible working arrangements, and providing workshops on crisis management, time management, and resilience. Stress coping methods are recommended for enhancing WLB among academicians. This study contributes to the pool of evidence to support intervention strategies and policy recommendations aimed to enhance well-being.

The Third-Person Effect and Islamic Religiosity: Perceptions of Moral and Non-Moral Issues on Social Networking Sites among IIUM Students

Third-Person Effect theory (TPE) postulates that audiences deny the media's direct impact on themselves but perceive the same media as having a larger impact on others. This study examines TPE and its relationship with Islamic religiosity in shaping perceptions of moral and non-moral issues on social networking sites (SNS) among students at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Another objective of this study is to determine how students perceive the effect of moral and non-moral issues in SNS on themselves compared to others. This study employed a quantitative design, with 357 students from the IIUM serving as respondents. The findings indicate that participants perceive moral issues as affecting others more than themselves, which is consistent with TPE. However, non-moral issues are perceived as influencing both the self and others. The results also indicate that Islamic religiosity positively affects the perceived impact of moral issues on others and non-moral issues on oneself in SNS. The data were analyzed using SPSS, with paired t-tests comparing self versus others' perceptions of moral and non-moral issues on SNS. The findings confirm that students perceive moral issues as having a greater impact on others than on themselves, aligning with TPE. Conversely, non-moral issues are perceived as influencing both the self and others, demonstrating SPE. The study also reveals that Islamic religiosity positively influences the perceived effect of moral issues on others and non-moral issues on oneself in SNS.

Fostering Adjustment: The Role of International Student Societies in Malaysian Higher Education

International students often face greater challenges than local students during their time on campus, particularly in academic, psychological, and sociocultural aspects of adjustments. These problematic issues make them more fragile and vulnerable compared to their local friends. In Malaysia, majority public universities established an International Student Society which provides platforms for connection, event organization and support international student development. This study explores the role of International Student Society in supporting international student’s adjustment, the activities organized and international students’ perception on their participation in activities in supporting academic, psychological, and sociocultural aspect of adjustment. Using qualitative research approach, this study used document analysis and semi-structured interviews involved two group of participants consisted of six international students and six International Student Society officers from six public universities in Malaysia. Result shows that International Student Society are responsible in managing five aspects of international students including organize activities to provide support in term of academic, psychological and sociocultural aspects. International students’ participation in activities foster connections and enhances adjustment in three key areas: academic, psychological, and sociocultural. In summary, the presence of International Student Society at each public university in Malaysia is a crucial strategy for supporting international students' adjustment in the host country.

Physical activity levels among Malaysian University and State University of Medan Students: gender difference and the influence of BMI

Physical activity levels among Malaysian University and State University of Medan Students: gender difference and the influence of BMI

Aligning Beliefs with Action: A Study of Esl Teachers' Beliefs on Fostering Learner Autonomy

Learner autonomy, where students take charge of their learning, is a growing focus in language education. However, research suggests a gap exists between teachers' belief in learner autonomy and their actual classroom practices. This study, conducted at a public Malaysian university, investigates this disconnect by exploring how ESL teachers perceive learner autonomy and how those beliefs translate into action. Using a mixed methods approach, the research first employed surveys to examine the correlation between teachers' beliefs and their reported use of autonomy-fostering practices. In-depth interviews then provided richer insights into the experiences and challenges teachers face in implementing such practices. The findings revealed a positive correlation - teachers with stronger beliefs were more likely to report using autonomy-fostering methods. However, interviews highlighted the complexities of implementing learner autonomy, revealing both potential benefits and practical challenges. This study underscores the need for targeted professional development programs that bridge the gap between teachers' beliefs and effective classroom strategies. By equipping teachers with practical tools and addressing implementation challenges, such programs can empower them to cultivate truly autonomous learners.

Enhancing Prospectives Educators’ Readiness Through Multidisciplinary Collaboration in STEM Education: An Analysis of Students Enrolled in Science and Mathematics Majors at a Public University in Malaysia

Enhancing Prospectives Educators’ Readiness Through Multidisciplinary Collaboration in STEM Education: An Analysis of Students Enrolled in Science and Mathematics Majors at a Public University in Malaysia

The Mediating Role of Spiritual Well-Being and Social Support in the Relationship between Mental Health and Suicidal Ideation among Malaysian University Students

The Mediating Role of Spiritual Well-Being and Social Support in the Relationship between Mental Health and Suicidal Ideation among Malaysian University Students

PERSONALITY TRAITS AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS TOWARDS IMPOSTOR SYNDROME

Impostor syndrome (IS) is a psychological phenomenon characterized by feelings of incompetence and self-doubt regarding one's achievements, despite external evidence of success. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the personality trait of neuroticism, socioeconomic status, and impostor syndrome among postgraduate students at the National University of Malaysia (UKM). A total of 365 postgraduate students from various disciplines participated in this study. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that measured neuroticism, socioeconomic status, and impostor syndrome. However, there was a weak association between socioeconomic status and impostor syndrome. These findings suggest that neuroticism plays a crucial role in the development of impostor syndrome among postgraduate students, while socioeconomic status has a minimal influence. The implications of this study are important for developing appropriate interventions to address IS among postgraduate students, focusing on emotional management and enhancing self-confidence.

Exploring educators’ epistemological worldviews and their influence on pedagogical decision-making in scientific ethics education at Malaysian universities

ABSTRACT Scientific Ethics Education (SEE) plays a pivotal role in cultivating students’ understanding of complex ethical dilemmas and guiding their ethical decision-making processes. Effective instruction in this area requires a tailored approach suited for science students. This study explores how epistemological worldviews (EW) influence pedagogical strategies (PS) among educators in Malaysian universities. By investigating the diverse perspectives of 23 educators using the Fuzzy Delphi methodology, the research reveals a significant preference for contextualist and relativistic worldviews. These orientations support teaching methods that enhance critical thinking and ethical reasoning. Integrating these worldviews into the SEE curriculum fosters a transformative learning environment, equipping students with the ethical skills to navigate complex scientific challenges with integrity and proficiency.

Intention to purchase eco-friendly stationery: A study on university students using S-O-R framework

Due to the high usage and demand of stationery among university students, this study investigates the factors that significantly influence university students' intention to purchase eco-friendly stationery. A novel research model has been developed using the stimulus-organism-responses (S-O-R) framework. Four external factors have been proposed as stimuli, namely, environmental knowledge (EK), environmental concern (EC), perceived environmental responsibility (PER), and university green initiatives (UGI), with attitude (ATT) as an organism and purchase intention (PI) as the response. Using purposive sampling, 367 Malaysian university students participated in this study, and the result of the partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) revealed that EK, EC, and PER significantly influenced students' ATT toward eco-friendly stationery. In addition, only the PER and ATT significantly affect the students' PI on the eco-friendly stationery. Additionally, the indirect hypothesis testing showed that EK, EC and PER indirectly influenced students' PI on eco-friendly stationery through ATT. This study's findings provided several important implications, including theoretical and practical implications, which would be utilized to understand the subject area better and cultivate students' PI on eco-friendly stationery in establishing a sustainable environment, communities and campus.

Development of Waqf from an Islamic Perspective through the Land Professional Society of Malaysia in an Effort to Increase Waqf Literacy

Partners for this International Community Service activity are the Malaysian Land Professional Association (PERTAMA) community and also lecturers from various universities in Malaysia and Indonesia. The partners' problems are: 1) Community waqf literacy still needs to be improved, 2) Community participation in waqf still needs to improve, 3) The use of social media to disseminate information about waqf development still needs to be improved, and 4) Cooperation between institutions related to efforts to increase waqf literacy still needs to be improved. Based on these three problems, the solutions included: 1) Efforts to increase waqf literacy through discussions on waqf development, 2) Carrying out seminars on increasing community participation, especially in this activity, namely community members and lecturers, 3) Promote social media to disseminate waqf information and increase waqf literacy, and 4) Collaborating with PERTAMA to convey the waqf literacy message. A qualitative approach was used for data collection using the discussion group forum method. After the implementation of the activities, several changes occurred as follows: 1) The participants know the importance of developing waqf and the law regarding waqf, 2) The participants know about various training programs for waqf development, 3) Participants can understand how to use multiple social media to support increasing waqf literacy, and 4) Establishing collaboration/partnerships with PERTAMA communities to support the Zakat literacy program. This international community service activity successfully supported efforts to increase waqf literacy for academics from various universities and PERTAMA members in Malaysia.

Navigating through pandemics: a bibliometric analysis of research trends in Islamic finance and Islamic banking

Purpose This study aims to provide a bibliometric analysis of 1,104 journal articles to explore the multifaceted research field of Islamic finance and banking, explicitly emphasising the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach Insights into the evolving trends and dynamics within the academic discourse are presented. Findings The research highlights different patterns and collaborative networks through co-authorship, co-occurrence and thematic map analyses. Prior to the pandemic, research focused primarily on customer satisfaction and compliance with Shariah principles. However, the pandemic heralded an increased discourse on sustainability, fintech and the financial crisis. Research limitations/implications This review describes the prevailing academic terrain and identifies potential avenues for future research, particularly those that examine the socio-economic impact of the pandemic within the context of Islamic finance and banking. Originality/value Prominent author such as M. Kabir Hassan, leading institution such as the International Islamic University Malaysia and esteemed journal such as the International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management have been instrumental in shaping academic discussions and creating synergies in research. Moreover, Malaysia’s strong commitment to spatial research, evidenced by its robust global collaborations, underscores its pioneering role in the academic world of Islamic finance and banking.

The Application of Infrared Thermography for Enhancing Maintenance in Public University

A university’s main function is to produce quality graduates, and in doing so, university buildings do play significant roles and are vital assets and resources. Hence, to prolong a university building lifecycle to ensure all university activities to continue performing at an optimum level, building maintenance management is central. Eventhough previous studies have been conducted in this area, university buildings maintenance is still viewed as insignificant. The research about utilization of infrared thermography in term of maintenance in public universities is still lacking. The objective of this research was to provide recommendations for areas within the public universities that can benefit from the application of infrared thermography to enhance maintenance. The research method used in this research was a qualitative method. Three public universities that were established for more than 50 years were chosen as case studies. The data was collected through narrative review and then analyzed. The findings highlighted the benefits of implementing infrared thermography in older building maintenance within public universities, particularly in improving energy efficiency and identifying hidden issues such as moisture intrusion and structural defects. The study emphasized the importance of timely maintenance actions based on infrared thermography assessments to reduce energy consumption and apply predictive maintenance strategies. By conducting in-depth analyses at three established public universities in Malaysia, the researchers demonstrate the effectiveness of infrared thermography in enhancing maintenance practices and prolonging the lifecycle of university buildings.

Public-Private Partnerships and Sustainable Development Goals: A case study of IIUM

A community with aging infrastructure while struggling with maintenance due to limited allocation is becoming more common. This study discusses the initiatives by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) campus community of overcoming these challenges through Public-Private Partnerships. Instead of relying solely on government’s budget, IIUM and a private company embarked on a journey to achieve a landmark effort to become energy efficient and make a conscious effort to a better environment. Simultaneously, IIUM gets to reduce its carbon footprint which further strengthening the attainment of its Strategic Direction of Humanizing Education and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Happiness Among Malaysian University Students Who Stayed on Campus During Movement Control Order: What Really Matters?

Happiness Among Malaysian University Students Who Stayed on Campus During Movement Control Order: What Really Matters?

Exploring factors of international students’ satisfaction: a case of Islamic universities in Malaysia

Exploring factors of international students’ satisfaction: a case of Islamic universities in Malaysia