IIUM Journal of Educational Studies

Evaluation of the Quality of Academic Supervision of Graduation Research through the Online Portal of the Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education at the University of Science and Technology in Yemen

Raja Aljaji — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0800

The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of academic supervision for graduation research through the online portal in the Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education at the University of Science and Technology in Yemen. This was done by identifying the criteria for quality of academic supervision and analyzing the content of conversations between students and supervisors in the online portal to determine the extent to which those criteria were met. The study employed a mixed approach and used content analysis to analyze electronic conversations based on four criteria that describe the quality of academic supervision for graduation research: development of research skills, clarity of instructions, communication flexibility, and continuity. The study population consisted of 206 students who completed their graduation research in the first and second semesters of the academic year 2022-2023. They were enrolled in the online portal in five academic departments (Islamic Studies and Arabic Language, Administrative Sciences, Accounting and Finance, Sharia and Law, Humanities and Social Sciences). A 20% proportion was selected from the population to be the study sample, consisting of 41 male and female students. Among the key findings of the study were that the quality of academic supervision was average, with the Department of Accounting and Finance performing the best. The criterion of "development of research skills" was the weakest in terms of achievement, despite being the most important and prioritized according to the course description, with an achievement rate of 46%. The criterion of "communication flexibility" achieved the highest percentage of 85.6% among all criteria, followed by "clarity of instructions" with a rate of 77.8%, and "continuity of communication" with a rate of 70%.

The Experience of the International Islamic University in Digital Media Education

Homam Altabaa, Iylia Marsya Iskandar, Dawood Al-Hidabi, Adham Hamawiya — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0800

The IIUMToday platform is the main source of news for the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). It has been managed and published by university students since its establishment in early May 2014, under the supervision of the Department of Communication at the Abdul Hamid Abu Sulaiman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences. The aim of this research was to analyse the platform's experience to assess the success of media students in developing their skills to meet the requirements of the media industry in general, and digital media in particular. The research employed a qualitative approach and utilized thematic analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with a purposive sample of members affiliated with the IIUMToday platform. Among the most prominent findings of the research is that university media is an important element that should be rooted in the teaching curricula of media departments, in order to ensure that students obtain sufficient practical experience other than compulsory training.

Exploring KOED Students’ Perceptions regarding Emergency Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of Self-directed Learning Ability according to Gender and Academic Specialization

Muslima Saleh Karawani, Abdul Shakour Preece — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0800

This study examines the perceptions of students regarding remote teaching and learning (RTL) during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically synchronous and asynchronous teaching, and their relationship to students' self-directed learning abilities. The study sample consisted of 318 undergraduate students from four disciplines: curriculum and instruction, guidance and counseling, teaching English as a second language, and teaching Arabic as a second language. Data were collected through an online survey and advanced statistical analysis techniques including descriptive statistics and parametric analysis were used for data analysis. The research findings indicate that students had a positive outlook on their experiences, but synchronous RTL sessions were rated higher than asynchronous RTL sessions. Despite differences in gender and specialization, students provided high ratings for self-directed learning, suggesting that instructors need to enhance asynchronous RTL to improve students' self-directed learning abilities.

Perceptions of Arabic Language Learners on the Development of Speaking Skills through Cooperative Learning: AHAS-KIRKHS’ Students as a Model

Rahmah Ahmad Hj. Osman, Nor Asiah Abdullah — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0800

Cooperative learning has a significant impact on learners' positive attitudes towards their peers and friends who may come from diverse cultural and social backgrounds. This enhances the exchange of learning among them and equips them with life skills that are beneficial for their interaction with the environment they are in. Some studies have shown that cooperative learning can improve the learning outcomes of speaking skills for learners, making the learning process easier and more enjoyable. Therefore, this research employed a quantitative approach through a questionnaire distributed to a sample of students from AHAS-KIRKHS, IIUM. The aim was to understand their perceptions of the implementation of cooperative learning methods and identify the facilitating and hindering factors in applying cooperative learning for the development of Arabic speaking skills. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software, calculating percentages, frequencies, mean scores, and standard deviations. The results revealed that the majority of students agreed that cooperative learning helps them develop their Arabic speaking skills.

Transnational Education Programme Leadership in Four Business Schools in Malaysia

Rozilini M. Fernandez-Chung, Robert E. Smith — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0800

A general understanding among colleagues working at private higher education institutions in Malaysia is that homegrown programmes are led differently from Transnational Education (TNE) programmes. It is generally accepted that TNE programmes have a more vibrant culture of distributed leadership, as the leadership style mirrors the practice in the home universities. The mixed method study investigated the phenomenon by comparing the prevalence of distributed leadership in four private universities offering homegrown and TNE business programmes using the Edvantia Shared Leadership Continuum. The finding showed that distributed leadership practice was considerably lower in the TNE than in the homegrown programmes in all four universities. Leaders in all four universities were less inclined to practice distributed leadership as there were greater reputational and financial risks in TNE programmes. As a result, a higher level of oversight is required to maintain good relationships, successful partnerships, and profitability.

Malaysian In-Service Teachers’ Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation towards Teaching English

Shajna Ismail, Ainol Madziah Zubairi, Jafar Paramboor — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0800

The most extensively studied second language in the world, English is the language of the global economy. It is crucial to understand whether instructors are sufficiently motivated at different stages of their professional journeys because good teaching is a prerequisite for students' learning. This study aimed at investigating the overall motivation of in-service English language teachers in Malaysia. Employing a quantitative research design, a survey instrument was used to collect data from in-service English teachers who are currently doing their undergraduate degree. They were requested to respond to the items on motivation, which are categorized into two sub-dimensions, intrinsic and extrinsic. The study reveals that Malaysian in-service English teachers are generally motivated to teach English, whereas the motivation comes mostly from the intrinsic aspects. The findings have significant implications on the Malaysian educational policy and system as well as its various professional development programs for teachers generally, and English teachers specifically.

Exploring the Juvenile Delinquency Involvements of Former Young Male Juvenile Delinquents

Anisah Zainab Musa, Haniza Rais — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0800

In recent years, the incidence of juvenile delinquency has been increasing, posing a threat to the well-being of families and society. This urges the understanding of the involvement in delinquent behaviours among young male juvenile delinquents. The main objective of this study was to explore juvenile delinquent involvement among former young male juvenile delinquents. A phenomenology qualitative research design was utilised to explore the participants’ lived experiences and their involvement in juvenile delinquency. Eight (8) former young male juvenile delinquents aged 26 years old and below participated in this research. The non-probability sampling technique of snowball sampling was utilised to select the participants. An intake form was administered to obtain the participants’ socio-demographic information. A semi-structured interview questions were used to explore the participants’ involvement in juvenile delinquency. The analysis of the data collected from former young male juvenile delinquents using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) revealed several themes that led to such delinquent behaviours; namely, lucrative business, recidivism, and peer pressure. The results indicate that the participants’ initial involvement was influenced by their social circle or peer group, the challenges of relapse, and the advantages they gained from their unlawful conduct. The analysis of the results helps us determine the need for early intervention in order to prevent the increasing percentage of juvenile delinquency among adolescents in Malaysia.

4IR, 5IR, Society 5.0, and Values in Education

Noor Lide Abu Kassim — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0800