A model of higher education institutions choice in Malaysia - A conceptual approach

With the liberalization of Malaysia government policy in higher education services in the 1990s, student enrollment has increased substantially. This is evidenced by the number of private higher education institutions being set up in Malaysia. However, the higher education institutions (HEIs) are faced with a difficult situation of trying to understand how students select HEIs of their choice. This conceptual paper seeks to explore the criteria with which students select their HEIs and build a conceptual model to suit to the local higher education services industry. Factors influence student’s choice of HEIs are student characteristics, external influences, college attributes. Also, in the model, information satisfaction as a mediating variable is discussed. Areas for future research are highlighted

A Model of Higher Education Institutions Choice in Malaysia -A Conceptual Approach

Abstract -With the liberalization of Malaysia government policy in higher education services in the 1990s, student enrollment has increased substantially. However, the higher education institutions (HEIs) are faced with a difficult situation of trying to understand how students select HEIs of their choice. This conceptual paper seeks to explore the criteria with which students select their HEIs and build a conceptual model to suit to the local higher education services industry. Factors influence student's choices of HEIs are student characteristics, external influences, college attributes. Also, in the model, information satisfaction as a mediating variable is discussed. Areas for future research are highlighted

Managers' perspectives on restaurant food waste separation intention: the roles of institutional pressures and internal forces.

The hospitality industry, particularly restaurants, generates a large amount of food waste daily. This study draws upon institutional theory using the lens of isomorphic pressures and two internal factors, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and restaurant size, to investigate what drives food waste separation intention in the restaurant sector of a developing economy. Data collected from 395 restaurant managers show that normative, coercive, and mimetic pressures positively impact intention; isomorphic pressures are mediated by CSR to achieve higher intention; and the crucial interaction between restaurant size and CSR significantly strengthens food waste separation intention. The study contributes to institutional theory by offering a novel integrated model to explain the respective mediating and moderating roles that CSR and restaurant size play between institutional pressures and behavioral intention in food waste management

Integrative model of behavioural intention: the influence of environmental concern and condition factors on food waste separation.

This paper positions environmental concern as the antecedent of attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control. It also sets to expand the theory of planned behaviour by including two condition factors: favourable situation and facility availability on the intention to separate food waste at source. The study collects data by using self-administered questionnaires on 682 respondents in Malaysia. Structural equation modelling is employed to test the conceptual model and the proposed hypotheses. The results show that environmental concern positively influences attitude and subjective norms, which, in turn, influences food waste separation intention. Favourable situation and facility availability are found to influence the separation intention. This study is one of the earliest studies to investigate residents' intention to participate in food waste separation at a source that employs the expanded theory of planned behaviour with environmental concern and condition factors

Recruiting higher education students: a systematic review of the college selection process models

The study of student enrolment decision-making or college choice behaviour is an extremely practical operation that leads to greater efficiency and effectiveness. Understanding student college choice behaviour enables institutions of higher learning to estimate the probability of student interest and enrolment. Higher education institutions (HEIs) would be able to strategise their marketing efforts in the scramble for students. This paper seeks to review systematically the student college choice models. The models to be reviewed are Chapman model (1981), Hanson and Litten model (1982), Jackson model (1982) and Hossler and Gallagher model (1987). It is suggested that future research should investigate on 'campus security' on student decision making in college enrolment as it has not been empirically studied in the models abovementioned. Furthermore, future empirical research can also be carried out on prospective students, i.e., students who have yet to enrol in HEI in Southeast Asia countries.college choice models; higher education institutions; HEIs; recruitment strategy; college selection; student enrolment; student choice; marketing; modelling; campus security; university choice; university selection.

Embracing an uncertain future: COVID-19 and MICE in Malaysia

In March 2020, the Malaysian government implemented the Movement Control Order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden surge in COVID-19 cases was later found to be linked to an event, hinting that mass gatherings are among the risk factors for rapid spread of COVID-19. Consequently, all types of gatherings were prohibited, presenting challenges to the event industry. Although the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) sector was allowed to resume operations from 1 July 2020 onwards, the event industry landscape is bound to be changed. This paper presents an overview of Malaysia’s reaction to “flatten the curve” of the COVID-19 pandemic, reviews the local government’s effort to facilitate the recovery of MICE sector and suggests some possible future trends in MICE hosting post COVID-19 crisis. This paper also develops various specific research questions related to post COVID-19 pandemic and MICE that need to be answered by future research in tourism domain

To verify or not to verify: using partial least squares to predict effect of online news on panic buying during pandemic

Purpose: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has given rise to different dimensions of uncommon human behavior, and panic buying is one of them. Interestingly, panic buying research has not been given much attention. The purpose of this paper is threefold. Firstly, it examines the influences of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) elements (subjective norm, attitude and perceived behavior control (PBC)) on panic buying. Secondly, it investigates online news and the perceived likelihood of being affected (PLA) as antecedents to the TPB constructs. Finally, to examine online news verification as a moderator on the relationship between the TPB constructs and panic buying. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 371 respondents and analyzed using the partial least squares method structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). PLS predict was applied to determine the predictive power of the model further. Findings: This study found that subjective norms and attitude influence panic buying. The results further revealed that online news has a direct influence on the PLA and attitude. However, PBC has no such effect on panic buying. Surprisingly, online news verification also has no moderating effects on the relationships between the TPB elements and panic buying. Originality/value: This research helps to understand consumer panic buying behavior, especially during shock events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is the first that extends the TPB incorporating both online news and PLA as antecedents to panic buying in the same model. Furthermore, the study serves as an initial attempt to investigate online news verification as a moderator between the link of three constructs of TPB and panic buying, contributing to existing literature. Lastly, it advances the body of knowledge on consumer behavior and contributes methodologically by introducing the PLS approach

What are Convention Attendees Looking for? An Examination of the Impact of Perceived Value and Value Co-creation on Attitude Formation

Despite convention tourism is becoming an important segment of the tourism industry in many countries, the specific benefits that convention attendees see valuable when attending conventions are inconclusive. Based on the consumption values theory, this study considers the impacts of two types of value: perceived value and value of co-creation on convention attendees’ attitude formation. Derived from a sample of 434 convention attendees and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis, results indicate that value of co-creation, together with another two dimensions of perceived value, emotional value and functional value, have significant influences on convention attendees’ attitude towards the convention attended. Particularly, it was found that perceived value by itself had limited effects in contributing the positive attitude towards conventions in the contemporary business world as consumers today are increasingly prefer co-creation of value and collaboration with service providers. The study contributes to the convention tourism literature by being the first to incorporate both perceived value and value of co-creation within the same model and testing related hypotheses. The results may facilitate decision-making and strategic development of tourism-related investments among convention organisers, destination marketing organisations and government agencies, which can eventually strengthen a country’s competitive edge in attracting convention attendees

Students' choice of international branch campus in Malaysia: a gender comparative study

Purpose: In the last decade, female students' enrolment in higher education has experienced significant growth. However, male and female students still differ in criteria set of choosing higher education institutions. While several studies have been disentangled in developed countries in analyzing gender differences in pursuing higher education, a similar area of studies conducted in developing countries is scarce. The purpose of this study is to examine gender differences and the factors that influence first-year students' choice of higher education in a developing country. Design/methodology/approach: The study involved 575 students who were either enrolled in an undergraduate or foundation program of an international branch campus. We tested the hypotheses using partial least squares multigroup analysis (PLS-MGA). Findings: Our results revealed that graduate employability, information sources, program characteristics, institution characteristics and campus safety were influential factors affecting the students' institutional choice. The MGA results also indicated that gender differences exist in selecting higher education institutions. Male students are more strongly influenced by information sources such as family, friends, media compared with female students. Originality/value: Very few international branch campus choice studies explore gender differences in developing countries. This study enriches the current literature of institutional choice through the lens of an Asian developing country and extends the discourse regarding the role of gender in influencing students' institutional choice, of which they are commonly overlooked in most literature. The study has significant implications for student recruitment managers in higher education institution to develop marketing strategies targeting to potential male and female students