Psychosocial factors and gender influencing the level of Islamic financial literacy

The purpose of this study is to assess the level of Islamic financial literacy among the undergraduate students of Islamic finance and banking in Universiti Utara Malaysia. It aims to examine the influence of psychosocial factors which are hopelessness, religiosity and financial satisfaction as well as gender towards Islamic financial literacy. Hypothesized relationships are tested using survey response from a sample of 200 respondents. The result of this study shows that the level of Islamic financial literacy of the respondents is high. A significant difference in Islamic financial literacy is found between the respondents according to the gender and the respondents‟ year of study. Specifically, male have a higher level of Islamic financial literacy compared to female. Meanwhile, the third year‟s students have a higher level of Islamic financial literacy compared to first year and second year students. Additionally, the result indicates that there is a significant relationship between psychosocial factors and Islamic financial literacy. Moreover, it is found that the religiosity, hopelessness and gender have a significant influence towards Islamic financial literacy. Thus, this study suggests that it is important for the community, university administrators, government and financial advisor to increase the level of Islamic financial literacy by implementing various Islamic financial education programmes. Lastly, this study is considered as one of the studies that have contributed to the literature by developing understanding of Islamic financial literacy. More research related to Islamic financial literacy is suggested to be conducted for future research

Parameter Study Of Hopping Mechanism For One Legged Crank-Type Hopping Robot

Hopping is a desirable locomotion for a mobile robot particularly to move in unstructured environment. One of the common mechanisms for realizing the hopping locomotion is by using crank type mechanism. However the behaviour of the crank mechanism in terms of hopping performance is unknown. It is hypothesized that hopping performance of crank type hopping robot is influenced by three mechanical parameters which are crank length, spring coefficient and mass of robot. Thus the objectives of the research is to model the behaviour of crank type hopping robot particularly in terms of the effects of mechanical parameters (i.e. spring coefficient, mass and crank length) of the hopping robot towards its hopping performance, to design and simulate one legged hopping robot using Matlab software and finally to validate the simulation with experiments. The simulation and experimentation works were done by setting one of the mechanical parameters as constant value while the other two parameters were set as variable parameters. The step was repeated by changing each of the mechanical parameters as a constant while the other two are variables and vice versa. For experimentation purposes, a one legged hopping robot was developed. In the experiment, the hopping height was measured by using a calibrated Infrared Ranging (IR) sensor. The result shows that the equation of behaviour for the crank type hopping robot performance is true for a certain region as long as the upward force (stored energy in spring) can counter the downward force (force from mass)

STRATEGIC MODEL OF SOCIAL SECURITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN INDONESIA

Abstract: The discourse about security and its derivatives have become the main and interesting theme of discussion in every field of knowledge including social security. It has undergone several stages of principal changes ranging from public responsibility (social security), national security to human security. This paper aims to revisit the social security concept in the world and highlights its roles with additional perspective in Islam as reliable option to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This study also proposes a strategic model for social security instruments (financial inclusion) and all stakeholders (participation) to enhance implementation with specific target of the SDGs in Indonesia. With the methodology of qualitative paradigm for the analysis of the available literatures, this paper finds that social security concepts in the world needs a justification slightly to attain the Sustainable Development Goals especially among the Muslim countries. Keywords: Social Security, Islam, Sustainable Development Goals, Stakeholders.  Abstrak: Wacana mengenai keamanan dan turunannya menjadi tema utama dan menarik untuk diperbincangkan dalam setiap bidang ilmu termasuk jaminan sosial. Telah mengalami beberapa tahapan perubahan mendasar mulai dari tanggung jawab publik (jaminan sosial), keamanan nasional hingga keamanan manusia. Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk meninjau kembali konsep jaminan sosial di dunia dan menyoroti perannya dengan perspektif tambahan dalam Islam sebagai pilihan yang dapat diandalkan untuk mencapai Tujuan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan. Studi ini juga mengusulkan model strategis bagi instrumen jaminan sosial (inklusi keuangan) dan seluruh pemangku kepentingan (partisipasi) untuk meningkatkan implementasi SDGs dengan target spesifik di Indonesia. Dengan metodologi paradigma kualitatif untuk menganalisis literatur yang ada, makalah ini menemukan bahwa konsep jaminan sosial di dunia memerlukan sedikit pembenaran untuk mencapai Tujuan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan khususnya di kalangan negara-negara Muslim.  Kata Kunci: Jaminan Sosial, Islam, Tujuan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan, Pemangku Kepentingan

The effects of oil price changes and exchange rate volatility on unemployment: Evidence from Malaysia

The study aims to examine the effects of oil price and exchange rate on unemployment in Malaysia.The empirical analysis commence by analyzing the time series property of data. The Johansen VAR-based co-integration technique was applied to examine the long run relationship between exchange rate, oil price and unemployment and found the long run relationship does exist.The vector error correction model was performed to check the short run dynamics and found that the short run dynamics are influenced by the estimated long run equilibrium. Granger causality was done and found that oil price does not affect unemployment but exchange rate has an influence on unemployment.Therefore, putting the exchange rate under control should be implemented to control unemployment

Design And Development of Tripod Hopping Robot

In this paper, we discuss on the validity of using infrared ranging sensor instead of using ultrasonic ranging sensor for the developed tripod hopping robot. The infrared sensor is mounted on the shared platform and the real distance of infrared ranging sensor from the shared platform to the floor in both static and vertical jumping motion are measured. MATLAB&Simulink model including CPG networks is designed to evaluate the performance of infrared ranging sensor by converting the measurement data from infrared ranging sensor from Voltage to Distance by using function blocks. As the result, the jumping height for each hopping motion can be observed. In addition, the maximum height of the developed tripod hopping robot is also evaluated in order to identify the highest jumping capability. Therefore, MATLAB&Simulink model with maximum height detector system is designed without including the PI controller system. As the result, the effectiveness of the maximum height detector system for the developed tripod hopping robot is confirmed in order to evaluate the highest and stable jumping height

Translation and validation of Malay version of the simplified diabetes knowledge test

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a non-communicating disease with an increasing trend in Malaysia. One of the most important aspects in the selfmanagement of diabetes mellitus is the assessment of knowledge among diabetes patients. This study aimed to translate and validate the Malay version of Modified Diabetes Knowledge Test (DKT) questionnaire

Islamic Financial Literacy and its Determinants among University Students: An Exploratory Factor Analysis

This study aims todevelop the constructs in order to test the validity and reliablity of Islamic financial literacy and its determinants such as hopelessness, religiosity and financial satisfaction.  The development of validated constructs for Islamic financial literacy is crucial  since most contemporary research focus on conventional financial literacy which contains some elements that are not compatible with the principles of Islamic finance.  The data for the study was collected via structured questionnaires distributed to 200 students of Universiti Utara Malaysia.   An exploratory factor analysis using SPSS programme were used to analyze the data.  The results show that only 7 items load reliably in Islamic financial literacy construct. Specifically, religiosity was found to exhibit the highest variance followed by hopelessness and financial satisfaction. This paper enables future researchers to expand the knowledge in the area of Islamic financial literacy by providing validated constructs to assess Islamic financial literacy among university students. Keywords: Islamic financial literacy, exploratory factor analysis, validity JEL Classifications: I2, I

SMARTPHONE ADDICTION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH AMONG STUDENTS OF A MEDICAL SCHOOL IN EAST COAST MALAYSIA

Objective: Smartphones have now become a common and almost essential tool in our daily living activities. Students are among those who use smartphones regularly, which could lead to addiction if overused. This study aims to measure the prevalence of smartphone addiction and its relationship with psychological health among clinical year medical students in International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Kuantan. Methods: A total of 226 medical students in their clinical years were recruited through quota sampling method. The students filled in a four-part online-based questionnaire consisted of questions on sociodemographic characteristics, smartphone usage information, smartphone addiction scale-short version, and WHOQOL-BREF. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics. Results: The prevalence of smartphone addiction among clinical year medical students in IIUM was 51%. Bivariate analysis showed that the majority of students chose social networking as their primary purpose of using a smartphone, and this was significantly associated with smartphone addiction (p=0.037). Following multiple logistic regression analysis, students who had chosen games as their primary purpose of smartphone users are 88% less likely to be related with smartphone addiction (p=0.009, 95% CI: 0.025–0.595) as compared to those who used it for academic performance tasks. Students who were not addicted to smartphones reported significantly better psychological quality of life compared to those who were addicted (p<0.001). Conclusion: Half of IIUM’s medical students in clinical years was found to have smartphone addiction, and those with smartphone addiction had poor psychological health. Immediate intervention such as creating awareness in the campus is important in curbing this problem

Effects of Oil Price Shocks on the Economic Sectors in Malaysia

This paper aims to examine the effects of oil price shocks on economic sectors in Malaysia. A unit root test was conducted, in which data were shown to be non-stationary in all levels, and stationary in the first difference for all variables. The co-integration model was applied, and the results indicated that one co-integrating equation exists, suggesting the long-term effects of oil prices on the agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and transportation sectors. Finally, Grange causality test was performed, and the results implied that in Malaysia, oil price shocks can affect agriculture, similar to Hanson et al. (2010). Oil price instability also influences the performance of the agriculture sector, contrary to the results of Alper and Torul (2009). In addition, the construction sector was found to be dependent on oil prices. Therefore, the current study has an important implication for the Malaysian government in formulating policies on oil prices. The Malaysian government needs to control the price to ensure that unstable price will not harm the agriculture, manufacturing, and construction sectors. Keywords: oil price; agricultural, manufacturing and construction sectors. JEL Classifications: E31; E52; E6