The dynamics of communication in ethnically diverse groups: the experiences of academics

This article outlines a study of the dynamics of group communication between ethnically diverse members in an academic setting. The study provides an understanding of how ethnic diversity influences communication in small groups of academics. Drawing on in-depth interviews with forty academic researchers from five universities in Malaysia, it is shown that despite little interaction among members of different ethnic backgrounds on non-task activities, the groups were cohesive and their communication climate was supportive; thus emphasising the practices of collaborative decision making, co-operative problem solving and equal participation in the groups. Based on findings that vary somewhat from the literature, the study concludes that ethnic diversity brings a positive outcome to communication in groups

The role of university in managing the teaching and learning community post COVID-19 pandemic: The experience of IIUM

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in early 2020, causing changes in various aspects of human life and their socio-economic activities. The global pandemic of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on higher education. Almost all activities must be halted abruptly, forcing universities to change the way they deliver their activities, including teaching and learning. Virtual classrooms and online examinations have replaced physical teaching and learning processes at almost all universities. Since June 2020, academics and students at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) have been embracing innovative teaching and learning techniques, similar to those used in other higher educational institutions in Malaysia and overseas. In this regard, the AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (AHAS KIRKHS) of IIUM has implemented a number of efforts to guarantee that proper methods are used when conducting remote teaching and learning activities. The endeavour of AHAS KIRKHS in managing remote teaching and learning process amidst and post COVID-19, as well as preparing the learning community for adjustment in the teaching and learning practices, will be discussed in this presentation. The issues, interventions and activities related to remote teaching and learning including assessment will also be discussed

Hijab wearing among Malay women in Malaysia: media or social influence?

Hijab wearing among Muslim women is currently seen as a common phenomenon in Malaysia. Is the religious awareness among them on the rise? Or is it just a fashion? Many studies (Williams and Vashi, 2007; Furseth, 2011) were carried out to understand factors that influ-ence hijab wearing among Muslim women. Nonetheless, little information is available on the roles that media play in women’s decision to wearing hijab. This study was conducted to find out the perception of Muslim women on the extent to which media and people surrounding them influence their hijab (head cover) wearing. Specifically, the objectives of this study are (1) to find out the patterns of hijab wearing, (2) to find out sources of media influence on hi-jab wearing among Malay women, (3) to determine sources of social/interpersonal influence on hijab wearing among Malay women, (4) to compare between the media influence and the social/interpersonal influence on hijab wearing among Malaysia women, and (5) to analyze the extent of media and social/interpersonal influence on impact change from hijab wearing. Using data from a survey conducted with 362 female students from an Islamic Higher Educa-tion Institution in Malaysia, the findings revealed that Facebook, blog and magazine are the top three highest media influencing on impact change from hijab wearing. Parents, friends/colleagues and siblings have more influence on hijab wearing than the other sources. Social/interpersonal influence has a bigger influence than the media influence on hijab wear-ing. In addition, both media influence and social/interpersonal influence are positively related to one another. The Malay women admitted that hijab wearing have much/very much changed them towards being good Muslims

Celebrity-fan engagement on Instagram and its influence on the perception of hijab culture among Muslim women in Malaysia

Celebrities who use Instagram can influence their female followers in many ways, for instance, in influencing their perceptions on body image, adoption of healthy eating lifestyles, and persuading them to purchase products or services endorsed by these celebrities. Accordingly, this study aims to examine the influence of celebrity-fan engagement on Instagram on hijab culture among Muslim women in Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among female university students from the International Islamic University of Malaysia (N = 630). In order to participate in the study, respondents completed an online survey and are instructed to think about a favourite female Muslim celebrity they follow on Instagram while completing the research instrument. Results indicate that almost one-third of the most popular Muslim celebrities among females Instagram users are non-traditional celebrities (i.e. bloggers/vloggers, YouTube personalities and social media influencers). Furthermore, attitude homophily and parasocial interaction with said celebrity may significantly influence the likelihood that the celebrity’s profile will be visited, and the number of likes on their photos. Finally, after controlling for the respondents’ religious educational background, this study found that those who had positive attitude and behaviour towards the hijab, and perceived a higher degree of parasocial bond with Muslim celebrities on Instagram tended to have a more positive perception towards the hijab culture. The repercussions of these findings on the parasocial interaction theory, and the influence of celebrity-fan engagement on social media over hijab culture are discussed

Towards adabic intercultural communication

The Islamic communication can be seen and studied through the teachings of the Quran and the exemplary practices of the prophet Muhammad S.A.W. Unfortunately it is yet to be noticed nor accepted mainly because of how Muslim scholars are unable to put communication into context and materialize it into a proper scholarly discipline in the ways that the western scholars have been able to do through their development of models, theories, ideas and even ethics for communication. This article attempts to fill in this gap in the study of Islamic communication by highlighting an area very relevant in this contemporary time that is intercultural communication. More than simply discussing about it, this article proposes an Islamic model that can expand the study of ICC by offering an alternative that can improve and even complement the existing approaches that are inherently secular and western-centric

Are you happy at work? Unraveling the roles of social media usage, individual wellbeing and working environment

Employee happiness at workplace has been an increasingly popular topic among researchers and scholars in the past two decades due to the rise concern on its role as one of the contributing factors to the positive outcomes in organizations. Despite many studies conducted on employee happiness, limited studies have been focusing on its relationship with social media usage. During the last two decades, social media has infiltrated every aspect of socio-cultural, economic, and human existence at an unprecedented rate. However, little is known whether the social media usage is an antecedent to their happiness at work. This study delineates the potential effects of social media exposure on individual wellbeing and whether this has a favorable effect on their happiness at work. The study delves into the social media usage among employees of manufacturing companies and their impact on their wellbeing, working environment and happiness. A survey involving 475 employees of manufacturing companies in Malaysia was conducted. Results revealed significant relationships between social media usage with job position and income. In addition, the survey results also found significant relationships between individual wellbeing and working environment with happiness at work. Findings of the study will enrich the literature on happiness and social media in organizations. The implications of these findings will be discussed within the framework of social media usage and workplace happiness

Factors driving the intention to adopt a tobacco-free policy among employees in a public higher education institution

Due to their role as a centre of knowledge and character development, public higher education institutions serve as the best platform for emphasising health communication messages and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Higher educational institutions’ employees should have good physical and mental health to enable them to demonstrate good values to the students. Thus, the social cognitive theory (SCT) was specifically selected to take a close look at how a conducive environment and knowledge influence employees’ intention towards the tobacco-free policy. This study used the partial least squares (PLS) and structural equation modelling (SEM) software to examine factors influencing the adoption of tobacco-free policy among employees in a Malaysian higher education institution. It also measured the impact of workplace health promotion on employees’ intention to comply with tobacco cessation regulations. Statistical results confirmed that all three constructs of employees’ environment, self-efficacy, and knowledge have a significant influence on employees’ intention to adopt the tobacco-free policy. The results of the study contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness of higher education institutions’ tobacco-free policy in Malaysia. The findings are useful for policymakers, higher education institutions, and practitioners in enhancing tobacco cessation policy in Malaysia. Limitations and suggestions for future research are also included in this paper

Media and politics: a study among youth in Malaysia

Media have a tendency to shape youth’s opinion on politics and election. The exposure of youth to media is more likely to change their opinions towards political issues that are widely covered in the media. This paper discusses media usage patterns among youth in Malaysia and their particpation in politics and election. A study using focus groups with Malaysian youth was carried out in June 2015. The purpose of the study was to examine how media influence perception of youth in Malaysia in relation to politics and election. Using purposive sampling, the study employed focus group to examine how and why youth use media to understand about politics and election. Findings indicated that youth mostly rely on new rather than traditional media to get updated with political news. Facebook and whatsapp are among the two channels that they mainly utilised to gain information about politics