Reinventing Administrative Prescriptions: Spirituality in China?

The decade of experience following the 9/11 incident suggests a complex process of international development with a particular resurgence of interest in religiosity and spirituality. This paper attempts to explore the situation of spirituality if indeed it exists in China or if it is more identifiable with atheism, communism, Confucianism or Marxism. Such serious attempt may present difficulties as the dividing line between administration, politics, and economy is by no means clear. Further, the situation of religiosity and spirituality is characterized by leadership and history of political legitimacy and inherent tension. Several developments of moral degeneration of public administrators and silent crisis in governance are arguably related to spirituality/non-spirituality factor. Arising from complexities of governance issues, China perhaps may reinvent its administration by working on elements of spirituality as it proceeds with its market-oriented reforms though this may be a lengthy struggle

Issues of Ethics and Governance in Malaysia and China

This paper seeks to develop an understanding of the issues that public administrators should strive to provide in ethical practices and governance thus allowing distinctive administrative and social traditions that each country possess to flourish. Significant changes and continuities in the realm of government in contemporary China and Malaysia will be drawn upon. Recent developments have brought a sense of urgency in contrast to complacency with the status quo. This paper reviews pertinent administrative and ethic issues related to both countries and whether the administrators engage in sustaining the reform agenda while still maintaining the professional capacity and flexibility of administrators when re-delegating responsibly within changing institutional settings. public administration, state, policy, administrative reforms, governanc

Trials of large group teaching in Malaysian private universities: a cross sectional study of teaching medicine and other disciplines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This is a pilot cross sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative approach towards tutors teaching large classes in private universities in the Klang Valley (comprising Kuala Lumpur, its suburbs, adjoining towns in the State of Selangor) and the State of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The general aim of this study is to determine the difficulties faced by tutors when teaching large group of students and to outline appropriate recommendations in overcoming them.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Thirty-two academics from six private universities from different faculties such as Medical Sciences, Business, Information Technology, and Engineering disciplines participated in this study. SPSS software was used to analyse the data. The results in general indicate that the conventional instructor-student approach has its shortcoming and requires changes. Interestingly, tutors from Medicine and IT less often faced difficulties and had positive experience in teaching large group of students.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>However several suggestions were proposed to overcome these difficulties ranging from breaking into smaller classes, adopting innovative teaching, use of interactive learning methods incorporating interactive assessment and creative technology which enhanced students learning. Furthermore the study provides insights on the trials of large group teaching which are clearly identified to help tutors realise its impact on teaching. The suggestions to overcome these difficulties and to maximize student learning can serve as a guideline for tutors who face these challenges.</p