An analysis of the impact of soft skills on Malaysian technical institutions

Many people recognize the importance of technical skills as knowledge and proficiencies required in the accomplishment of professional jobs. However, the importance and applicability of soft skills are mostly ignored despite the fact that, it is a process how individual carry himself in an organization or professional environment for the progress of that individual and the organization he found himself. The paper explored into some journals from the previous the literatures, some soft skills were identified such as communication, lifelong learning, entrepreneurship, leadership, and teamwork, problem solving and critical among TVET institutions in Malaysia. Document analysis was conducted as a methodology for this study. The impacts of these soft skills on TVET related institutions like polytechnics, training centers and universities in Malaysia. It was indicated that, the result of the impact of soft skills on these institutions was generally moderate. The paper concluded that, technical skills alone could not bring about the organizational development there must be a compliment of soft skills for any organizational sustainability. Supplementary of soft and technical skills conceptual model was formulated. The paper was concluded by saying that, the competitive nature of the present situation, soft skills are essential because they have affected all aspect of human development. Some recommendations were suggested, teachers, lecturers and instructor must teach students soft skills for complete individual proficiencies and organizational sustainability

Technical and vocational skills (TVS): a means of preventing violence among youth in Nigeria

Technical and vocational skills are an important tool for reducing violence among youth, especially in Nigeria, who face security challenges due to different kinds of violence. This paper focusses on the policies and programmes intended to provide youth with skills that can help them improve their life instead of engaging in violence. The paper also studies youth participation in violence. The study shows that youth in Nigeria participate in violence because of unemployment and economic pressure. These youth are mostly from poor families and are mostly used by others to achieve their own unlawful ambition. The data were collected from various secondary sources such as textbooks, journals and conference papers that were carefully reviewed. The results obtained from the literature revealed that youth are not committed, sensitised and mobilised to taking advantage of the opportunities available to them. The results also revealed that almost all the programmes meant to provide youths with skills have failed. Poverty alleviation programmes established to create jobs, self-employment and self-reliance have been unsuccessful. Therefore, alternatives must be provided to help the younger generations. Based on the literature reviewed, the paper discusses related issues and outcomes and ends with recommendations to improve the situation

A document analysis of the visibility of sustainability in TVE teacher education programme: the case of a Malaysian HEI

There has been a global call for institutions of learning to engage in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) by leading world organisations. Although scholars advocate for an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability, the research literature shows that majority of sustainability issues are addressed through fields such as environmental and developmental education. There has also been a call for the integration of Sustainable Development (SD) in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes by various scholars and bodies such as the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The issue, however, is that Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) programmes are not yet embracing this call to integrate ESD into their programmes. Hence, it is imperative to reiterate the intersection between TVE and SD and how the former can contribute significantly to the SD agenda. Therefore, by completing a qualitative documentary analysis of a TVE programme, using a Malaysian Higher Education Institution (HEI) as a case study, this paper discusses the visibility of sustainability in TVE programmes as well as explores the overarching goal of ESD and why it is especially crucial for TVE. Findings reveal that the concept of sustainability is only barely reflected in the TVE teacher training curriculum. Recommendations for practice change and further research are presented and discussed

Reformation of offenders in Nigerian correctional institutions

This study examined the correlations between rehabilitation and reformation programmes such as moral instruction and counselling and medical services in Nigerian correctional institutions. A survey design was adopted. The participants were 224 offenders selected from seven correctional institutions in Nigeria. Questionnaire items were administered. Pearson correlation was used to examine the relationships between the variables. The findings reveal a moderate positive significant relationship between moral instruction and rehabilitation; there is a strong positive significant relationship between counselling services and rehabilitation and there is a strong positive relationship between medical care and rehabilitation. It is therefore recommended that Nigerian correctional institutions be in compliance with international best practice. More effort should also be given towards the teaching of moral instruction that has been identified as moderate because the higher the moral instruction given to offenders the higher the offender rehabilitation

21st Century Skills attainment for women in ICT in facing globalization

Globalization and technological revolution are two major contributors to displacement of workers, for both men and women in the labor market. Thus, the 21st Century Skills is the skills required by career women to remain competitive in countering the challenges of globalization. The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of women involved in the ICT world, about their competence to 21st Century Skills, necessary in their job in the face of globalization. Two research questions were developed to assist this research: (1) What are the 21st century skills possess by ICT women in their job in the face of globalization?; (2) Is there any significant difference in the skills possesses by women in ICT according to their field of work? On line survey were distributed by using the 'snow ball' technique to obtain 389 respondents of women working in ICT in Malaysia. Results indicate the overall mean ratings for the 21st Century Skills possesses by women in ICT is 4.01 with standard deviation 0.25. The 21st century skills attained by ICT women vary according to each specific field. There is a significant difference in the skills possesses between women working as in the field of Web Development with women working in the field of Programming, Graphic Design, Multimedia Creative and Network Engineering. If 21st Century Skills could be trained and developed systematically, it can definitely help women to counter the challenges of globalization and be successful in their respective careers

Kemahiran Abad ke-21 Wanita Dalam Mengharungi Cabaran Globalisasi

Laporan Tenaga Buruh 2012 menyatakan wanita merupakan salah satu komponen penting dalam memajukan ekonomi negara. Kemahiran Abad ke-21 enGuage merupakan kemahiran yang diperlukan oleh wanita berkerjaya untuk terus berdaya saing dalam menangkis cabaran era globalisasi. Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji persepsi wanita yang berkecimpung dalam dunia ICT, mengenai kompetensi mereka terhadap Kemahiran Abad ke-21 enGuage dalam menghadapi era globalisasi serta cabaran yang akan datang. Dua persoalan kajian dibina bagi membantu kajian ini:(1) Apakah persepsi wanita dalam ICT mengenai Kemahiran Abad ke-21 yang dimiliki untuk mengharungi globalisasi?, dan (2) Apakah perbezaan antara Kemahiran Abad ke-21, yang dimiliki oleh wanita mengikut bidang pekerjaan?. Borang kaji selidik disebarkan menerusi atas talian dengan bantuan aplikasi “google formâ€. Kutipan data menerusi kaedah „snow ball’ membantu memperoleh 389 responden dari wanita yang bekerja dalam bidang ICT yang berada di sekitar Malaysia. Hasil dari kajian menyatakan bahawa Kemahiran Abad ke-21 enGuage harus dimiliki dengan tahap penguasaan yang tinggi dan Kemahiran Berkomunikasi adalah kemahiran yang mendahului diantara tiga kemahiran Abad ke-21 enGuage yang lain iaitu Kemahiran Berfikir, Kemahiran Literasi Digital dan terakhir Kemahiran Produktiviti Diri. Kemahiran Abad ke-21 yang dimiliki oleh setiap wanita menerusi bidang mereka adalah berbeza mengikut khusus bidang masing-masing. Perbezaan yang ketara adalah diantara wanita yang bekerja sebagai Pembangun Laman Web dengan wanita yang bekerja dalam bidang Pengaturcaraan, Senireka Grafik, Multimedia Kreatif dan Jurutera Rangkaian. Sekiranya Kemahiran Abad ke-21 enGuage ini dapat diaplikasikan secara sistematik, ia pasti dapat membantu wanita untuk terus berjaya dalam mengharungi cabaran globalisasi disamping berjaya dalam kerjaya masing-masing

Collaboration among teachers in inclusive special education program classrooms

Collaboration between teachers and special education teachers is a vital factor in ensuring the success of the implementation of the Inclusive Education Programs especially in the teaching and learning aspects. Until 2016, there is no detailed document or information regarding how the collaboration is conducted or implemented in the inclusive classrooms. Therefore, this study is aimed to explore how collaboration is conducted and implemented in the Inclusive Special Education Program classrooms, particularly identifying the stage of collaboration the school are at and approach used in the inclusive classrooms. To achieve this, a survey questionnaire was used as an instrument for this study and it is conducted on 53 schools and 441 participants including headmasters, senior assistant principals for special education teachers, subject teachers and special education teacher. Results showed that most of the participants are at the “Starting a partnership” stage (mean score = 4.165, SD = 0.797). The type of collaboration approach that are usually being used is the “collaboration-consultation” approach (mean score = 4.10, SD = 0.721). This suggests that more action is needed to ensure the successful implementation of an inclusive program. This is because without done the recommended steps of collaboration, the inclusive may not carried out effectively. A successful inclusive classroom also can be achieved through multiple approaches of collaboration are implemented. Therefore, knowledge about steps and approaches of collaboration should be knowledgeable to general, special education teacher and also school administrators

DEVELOPING PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS FOR LIFELONG LEARNING THROUGH WORK-BASED LEARNING AMONG COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS

Many training providers are working to improve their curricula to meet the demand of today’s industries. The Malaysian College Communities, one of the major providers for lifelong learning program, had introduced the Work-Based Learning (WBL) concept since 2007 to ensure that their graduates met these demands. One of the key skills required by industry is problem solving skill. The ability to solve a complex or an ill-structured work problem in the workplace is the kind of skill demanded at a high-level performance organization. This study investigates how the students rate their problem solving skills after undergoing WBL training. The Problem Solving Rating Scale for Employee (PSRS-E) questionnaire was used as the instrument for this study. Study shows that work-based learning may facilitate in developing the problem solving skills in students. Thus, the strengthening cooperation between industries and training institutions is essential in order to benefit students, the future workers of tomorrow

The Establishment Of Strategic Program In Research Support Service (SPIRESS) In USM Library

Along with the modernization, Malaysia Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) have implemented multiple kinds of transformation plans. Currently, there is a comprehensive transformation plan written in Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) (MEB) (HE) as a guideline for Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs), Polytechnics and Community Colleges. Hence, the HLIs Libraries or known as Academic Libraries were intangibly pressured to perform new roles and services in order to fulfil the future demands in the rapid pace of Research and Development (R&D) landscape. This paper shares Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Library’s experience in developing the new service segments called Strategic Program in Research Support Service (SPiReSS). The introduction of SPiReSS was intended to facilitate students and academicians research activities. Five service segments were introduced namely as Mendeley, Easy-to-Write with Microsoft (MS) Word, Open Access Publication, Google Drive, and Google Scholar. This paper described comprehensively on how the USM Library implement the SPiReSS project especially in terms of developing the service model, enhance the Academic Librarians capabilities, analyzing the participants’ feedback, and explain the types of challenges the Academic Librarians encounter. The SPiReSS project has triggered the interest of HLIs community especially in USM. Due to the remarkable result, the SPiReSS project should create more service segments in order to substantially supporting the research activities in HLIs

The Establishment Of Strategic Program In Research Support Service (SPIRESS) In USM Library

Along with the modernization, Malaysia Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) have implemented multiple kinds of transformation plans. Currently, there is a comprehensive transformation plan written in Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) (MEB) (HE) as a guideline for Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs), Polytechnics and Community Colleges. Hence, the HLIs Libraries or known as Academic Libraries were intangibly pressured to perform new roles and services in order to fulfil the future demands in the rapid pace of Research and Development (R&D) landscape. This paper shares Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Library’s experience in developing the new service segments called Strategic Program in Research Support Service (SPiReSS). The introduction of SPiReSS was intended to facilitate students and academicians research activities. Five service segments were introduced namely as Mendeley, Easy-to-Write with Microsoft (MS) Word, Open Access Publication, Google Drive, and Google Scholar. This paper described comprehensively on how the USM Library implement the SPiReSS project especially in terms of developing the service model, enhance the Academic Librarians capabilities, analyzing the participants’ feedback, and explain the types of challenges the Academic Librarians encounter. The SPiReSS project has triggered the interest of HLIs community especially in USM. Due to the remarkable result, the SPiReSS project should create more service segments in order to substantially supporting the research activities in HLIs