Importance-performance matrix analysis of the factors influencing international students’ psychological and sociocultural adaptations using SmartPLS

With the increase in international mobility in higher education especially in Asia, the issue of cross-cultural adaptation becomes paramount since international students try to overcome challenges and flourish psychologically and socioculturally in a new environment. Therefore, this study is conducted to identify the factors influencing international postgraduate students’ psychological and sociocultural adaptations in Malaysian public universities, an emerging education hub in the region. It also further investigates importance-performance matrix analysis (IPMA) of the antecedents for psychological and sociocultural adaptations as the endogenous variables to provide insights and derive recommendations for education policymakers and academic administrators to ensure successful international postgraduate students’ cross-cultural adaptatio

Malaysian Pre-University Students' Level Of Intellectual Quality

Abstract—This study identifies the level of intellectual quality of pre-university students in Malaysia. A mixed method approach is adapted to acquire data and information from the samples and informans. A total of 500 sixth form pre-university students from 38 secondary schools in Penang was selected quantitatively. Classroom observations of pre-university classes of 8 students from 8 schools in Penang were done to obtain information for qualitative method. Data analysis using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used. The research findings show that the intellectual quality of pre-university students is at a moderate level with girls showing higher intellectual level than boys for all six dimensions of intellectual quality. Meanwhile, the Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) and Problem Solving Skills dimensions have the most number of students at a high level compared to other dimensions. The study also showed that the students who major in religious studies  shown a higher  intellectual quality for all dimensions compared to those who major in science and arts. Information gain through qualitative study also found that students shows an interest in learning the subject when the teachers integrated the usage of ICT during teaching and learning session. This enhanced the students to apply HOTS as well as Problem Solving Skills.  Information gathered through this study will provide new understanding and knowledge to teachers and researchers related to intellectual thoughts and pedagogical practices that can be used to improve sixth form pre-university students intellectual quality and hence help improve students' intellectual capital to keep abreast with the rapid developing country in the 21st century

Assessing Factors Influencing Students’ Choice of Malaysian Public University : A Rasch Model Analysis

The purpose of this study is to calibrate factors that influence students in their choice of public university. The factors are university’s image, course offered, facility provided and university’s environment. The participants for this study are 1584 prospective students from pre-university institutions. The study employed a 32-items self-developed questionnaire measuring the mentioned factors. The Rasch Model analyses were used because it provides the researcher with richer interpretations of the data collected. Results showed that the participants endorsed university’s image as the most influential factors followed by university’s environment, facility provided and course offered by the university. Nevertheless, the difference between calibration measures between the factors were small. Thus, the present study suggest that all factors are considered equally important and should be considered as one unitarian factors rather than a few different factors

The right to health: discriminatory treatment against migrant workers in Malaysia

Due to globalization, migration has become a worldwide trend, and now poses a new challenge to countries that receive and send migrant workers. Many issues have arisen from this trend, especially in terms of the rights of the migrant workers. Malaysia is one those countries that receive migrant workers, with 6.7 million migrants working in Malaysia, comprises of both with legal and illegal status. Without a doubt, Malaysia is a receiving country which depends a lot on migrant workers in boosting her productivity, especially in the economic and development sectors. Migrant workers in Malaysia are required to be covered by a health insurance scheme, particularly for compensation in the event of an accident. The question is whether the right of migrant workers to access healthcare in Malaysia is protected adequately without burdening the government, particularly in terms of the cost? Has the practice in Malaysia fulfil the right to health of migrant workers? Therefore, this article aims at analysing the laws and related instruments governing the issue of right to health of migrant workers in Malaysia. The methodology used theoretical analysis and interviews of identified target groups in order to obtain the primary. The interim analysis demonstrates that the existing policies and legal framework in Malaysia are practising discriminatory treatment against migrant workers in terms of access to healthcare and social benefits

Effects of salvadora persica extract on the bacterial population in single-species biofilm

The effect of S. persica extract on the population of bacteria in single-species biofilm was investigated. An artificial mouth (NAM) system was used for the development of biofilm. In one experiment, aqueous extract of S. persica at sub-MIC concentration (5 mg/mL) was first pumped into the NAM system to treat the experimental pellicle on glass beads before inoculating it with the bacteria (Strep. mitis, Strep. mutans and Strep. sanguinis). This would resemble using the aqueous extract of S. persica before meals. In another experiment, the aqueous extract of S. persica was pumped into the NAM system after the bacterial inoculation and this would resemble using it after meals. In both experiments, 24 h biofilms were allowed to form. The bacterial population of the biofilms was determined and expressed as colony forming unit per mL (cfu mL-1). For negative control, sterilized distilled water was used whereas for positive control, commercial Listerine. It was found that the population of Strep. mitis, Strep. mutans and Strep. sanguinis in the respective biofilms for both experiments involving treatment with S. persica extract or Listerine was significantly reduced by more than 70% (p<0.05) when compared with the negative control. Comparing the effect of S. persica with Listerine on the bacterial population of the biofilms when used either before or after meal showed that S. persica is slightly less effective towards S. sanguinis before meal and towards S. mutans after meal (p<0.05). This study suggests that the efficiency of the antibacterial effect of S. persica is species-related and by its way of usage

Pertalian antara pengalaman masteri dengan efikasi kendiri guru: regresi-meta kajian keratan lintang = The relationship between teachers' mastery experience and teacher self-efficacy: A meta-regression of cross-sectional studies

This study is an attempt to gather and investigate in depth information on Malaysian university students’ use of the English language in their daily interactions. Essentially, it is a qualitative phenomenological study that utilizes the interview as a tool to gather information from undergraduates of a Malaysian public university based in the Klang valley. Nine students were enquired upon the extent to which English language is used in their daily interactions and challenges that they faced in using the language. Analysis done led to five main themes that represented the pattern of their English language usage. The themes found were indicative that the uses of English language in interactions were (1) limited to needs and situation, (2) based on location and purpose, (3) affected by low self efficacy and language skills (4) strong affective barriers and (5) unsupportive social environment. It could be said that the findings can act as an eye opener for definitive actions to be taken to improve EL interaction amongst Malaysian undergraduates towards the fulfillment of the Malaysia Education Blueprint (MEB-HE) 2015-2025 (Higher Education) aspirations

A preliminary study on Malaysian polytechnics students’ academic credentials and its relationship to education choice on TVET

The purpose of this paper is to provide information and in depth comprehension related to the research findings on the education choice on TVET among Malaysian polytechnics’ students in terms of program enrolled and its academic credentials. The academic credentials studied consist of two variables which are the availability of the desired program and employment opportunities. There are 47 students from a Malaysian polytechnic were participated in this study. The study employed a self administered questionnaire measuring the mentioned variables. Descriptive test and rank biserial correlation were conducted on the data analysis. Results suggest that there is a weak association between the education choice in terms of program enrolled and academic credentials in terms of the availability of desired program among Malaysian polytechnics’ students. On the other hand, the results also suggest that there is no association between the education choice in term of program enrolled and academic credentials in terms of employment opportunities. Future research suggested to be carried out is on exploring the other academic credentials’ variables on education choice on TVET among Malaysian polytechnics students

Flexible strategies for ensuring quality learning outcomes in education in emergencies

The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted schooling for students globally and challenged how policy-makers might respond and recover from this protracted emergency. In collaboration with NEQMAP, the GEM Centre has conducted a rapid review of policy and practice documents for 14 countries, and an online survey with policy-makers in 7 of them to identify the types of flexible learning strategies that were implemented over the course of this pandemic. An education in emergencies Policy Monitoring Framework was used both to guide the analysis of documents and survey data, and to provide the basis for reporting findings. The range of flexible learning strategies identified in this review focused on: enhancing system level processes to ensure quality learning outcomes; streamlining the curriculum; utilising a range of student assessment and monitoring approaches; improving inclusion and equity for vulnerable learner groups; and supporting school leaders and teachers using education tools and resources, professional development courses, and support networks

A legal study on the rights of the prisoners in Malaysia with special reference to the right of prisoners to complaint and grievances, living in adequate prison condition, medical treatment, conjugal visits, and voting / Bazlilah Mohd Bukhari … [et al.]

This is a research project conducted to determine the rationality of the right given to the prisoners in respect of medical treatment, right to conjugal visits, right to vote and to complaint and the prison condition itself. Basically, even the prisoners are the one who had been detained as a punishment for their wrongful conduct or an offence that they had done, the right of the prisoners are not explicitly taken away by the fact of imprisonment. Even though their freedom of movement is curtailed, they are still subjected to the protection of rights same as one who is not being detained. In Malaysia, it has been enumerated in Part II of the Federal Constitution, which stated that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty saves in accordance with law. These provisions are applicable to the prisoners too because a prisoner remains a 'person' in the prison. There was Article 5 of the Federal Constitution that laid down the protection towards personal liberty and Article 8 that outline that all people are subjected to equality before the law and being treated equally. Besides that, there are Prisons Act 1995 and Prison Regulations 2000 to govern the right of the prisoners. However, all this above provision does not provide absolute protection to the prisoners, as there are still subject to certain denial and restrictions being imposed by the government on the reason of ineligibility and unqualified. They are often argued that the prisoners are put in an unusual legal position where some of their right had been denied. The prisoner's right and the extent to which they are able to contact and engaged with the outside world are defined and limited by a mass of rules and regulations. Many things are taken for granted outside are privileges which have to be fought by a prisoners. Every country is urged to take an action as rule of law is to mean anything. Therefore, it has to mean that the prison system is no less answerable to the courts than any other limb of the state, but both for how it serves and protects the prisoner's right