Norasmah Othman and Tengku Nor Asma Amira Tengku Muda
The purpose of this paper is to assess emotional intelligence levels and their contributions to entrepreneurial career choice behaviours among Malaysian public university students.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess emotional intelligence levels and their contributions to entrepreneurial career choice behaviours among Malaysian public university students.
Design/methodology/approach
This study surveyed 369 respondents selected from a population of 87,503 Malaysian public university students using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Respondents were given a three-part questionnaire covering their personal information, their emotional intelligence in terms of self-awareness, emotion management, empathy and social skills and their entrepreneurial career choice behaviours.
Findings
The results indicate that the surveyed students have high levels of self-awareness and empathy, and moderate levels of emotion management and social skills. This indicates that these students are able to manage their emotions in making decisions and consider people’s emotions. The results also indicate that students who were able to manage their negative emotions were more likely to choose an entrepreneurial career.
Research limitations/implications
This study aims to help higher institutions focus on emotional intelligence in the entrepreneurship curriculum to help students recognise their potential in terms of entrepreneurial characteristics and behaviours. Students’ involvement in entrepreneurship can foster economic growth in developing countries. A limitation of this study is that it focuses only on second-year undergraduates from public universities in the Selangor area.
Originality/value
Few studies address emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial career choices among public university students, which this study addresses.
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Norasmah Othman, Norashidah Hashim and Hariyaty Ab Wahid
The purpose of this paper is to observe the readiness of students and the internal environment of Malaysian public universities in the implementation of entrepreneurship education.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to observe the readiness of students and the internal environment of Malaysian public universities in the implementation of entrepreneurship education.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors employed a quantitative approach and the main instrument used to gauge the entrepreneurship readiness among students in Malaysia public universities was the questionnaire. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software to obtain descriptive statistics that describe the profile of entrepreneurship readiness, both among the students themselves and in the internal environment of the universities, as the students perceive it.
Findings
According to the findings, students in Malaysian public universities demonstrate strong readiness, in terms of entrepreneurial willingness and capabilities. Within the internal environment of public universities, however, readiness for entrepreneurship education remains, from the students’ perspective, imperfect, and requires improvement if these institutions are to support future entrepreneurship education.
Research limitations/implications
This research is limited to students in Malaysian public universities. It is suggested that further research should include the students of private universities also, in order to mine a wealth of information pertinent to the readiness of Malaysian students, as well as to provide material for the remodelling of the internal environments of higher learning institutions.
Practical implications
Readiness profiles of students and institutions towards the implementation of entrepreneurship education provide important resources for policymakers responsible for Malaysian public universities, enabling them to enhance the implementation of entrepreneurship education.
Originality/value
There has been little discussion or analysis of the readiness of students and the internal environments of public universities in Malaysia towards the implementation of entrepreneurship education. This paper attempts to fill this gap in current research.
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Norasmah Othman and Norfadhilah Nasrudin
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate students’ views on the on-the-campus entrepreneurship programs in Malaysian polytechnics. Participation in the entrepreneurship programs…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate students’ views on the on-the-campus entrepreneurship programs in Malaysian polytechnics. Participation in the entrepreneurship programs is able to stimulate an interest in entrepreneurship, and improve the knowledge, skills, and entrepreneurial experience of its students.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a survey method designed in the form of an objective-oriented program evaluation. Questionnaires were used to identify the students’ level of assessments of the instructional dimensions. This study explored the differences in evaluation based on gender, specializations, and courses attended.
Findings
The results showed moderately high level of evaluation. The analysis of gender differences shows that gender did not affect students’ views on the instructional dimension. However, students’ specialization and courses attended are associated with significant differences in the level of evaluation.
Research limitations/implications
This research is limited to only five Malaysian polytechnics. The study was looking into the instructional dimension of the entrepreneurship programs. Further research should include the assessment of the institutional side of the programs.
Practical implications
The evaluation results provide important recommendations to improve some practical aspects of the entrepreneurial activities. The polytechnics’ departments can focus on the actual content as well as on the learning experience to implement conducive, positive, and supportive practices that could lead to a maximum participation rate among students.
Social implications
Increase the number of students involved in entrepreneurship.
Originality/value
There have been no discussions or evaluation of the entrepreneurship programs conducted in Malaysian polytechnics in terms of objective-oriented evaluation. This paper attempts to fill the current gap.
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Norasmah Othman and Hariyaty Ab Wahid
The purpose of this paper is to identify social entrepreneurship dimensions that emphasize the specific personal characteristics of social entrepreneurs (SPCSE) and social…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify social entrepreneurship dimensions that emphasize the specific personal characteristics of social entrepreneurs (SPCSE) and social entrepreneurship organization (SEO) among students in higher education institutions who are active participants of the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) program in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative approaches and instruments were used to analyze the profile of social entrepreneurship in this cross-sectional survey study, which involved 394 active SIFE students in Malaysia in 2011. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data and describe the SIFE student's SPCSE and SEO.
Findings
The social entrepreneurship of the SIFE students was high, with a dominant SEO. However, the dimensions of SPCSE need to be applied effectively to the students involved, whose social entrepreneurship was merely moderate. There was a strong positive relationship between SPCSE and SEO of SIFE students, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.73.
Research limitations/implications
It is recommended that further longitudinal research be conducted to assess the depth of the impact of social entrepreneurship on SIFE students. In this manner, more useful information related to the impact can be leveraged to improve the pattern of the social entrepreneurship program.
Practical implications
The SIFE participants’ social entrepreneurship profile can be used by the Ministry of Higher Education in formulating social entrepreneurship policy for higher education institutions. The Malaysia SIFE Foundation and the administrators of higher education institutions should encourage more university students to participate in SIFE program to increase the number of social entrepreneurs who will help solve social, economic, and environmental problems.
Originality/value
There has been no discussions of the social entrepreneurship programs in Malaysia. This paper attempts to fill the current gap.
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Yen-Chun Jim Wu and Tienhua Wu
The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the literature on entrepreneurship education (EE) in the Asia Pacific spanning a ten-year publishing period. The results of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the literature on entrepreneurship education (EE) in the Asia Pacific spanning a ten-year publishing period. The results of previous EE research are summarily analyzed and the key themes are critically addressed.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a systematic literature review of EE articles published from 2007 to 2016 in peer-reviewed, English-speaking journals that are available on the Scopus database. Frequency, bibliometrical data, and research content of the literature review are analyzed.
Findings
Research in this area is experiencing a steady growth, and a small percentage of scholars or countries in the Asia Pacific are found to make significant contributions to a body of knowledge on EE. The findings also show that the majority of studies lack theoretical legitimacy on the definition of EE and its underpinning theories; however, some articles consider an institutional or contextual perspective on EE, present individual-centered pedagogy in a traditional educational context, or indicate the intertwined connections between EE initiatives and economic growth. Thus, the findings manifest EE research in the Asia Pacific as relatively limited across research agenda, viewpoints, and levels.
Research limitations/implications
Based on the discussion on key themes, a multi-faceted and multi-tier perspective and a longitudinal study are suggested to provide broader and deeper understanding of the complexities in EE provision and its role in the relationship with national entrepreneurship. Thus, the gap between Western/Asian research contexts and enabling a common evolving body of knowledge can be bridged.
Practical implications
This study provides valuable insights that can aid educators and policymakers to establish and improve EE design and operations. This study would benefit EE systems in countries of the Asia Pacific region and should improve their practical outcomes. The relevance of integrating functional, personality, and behavioral views into EE development seems difficult but is suitable for EE advancements, thereby boosting the acceptance of entrepreneurship in society and subsequently impacting the economic development of a country.
Originality/value
This study is the first literature review on EE research in the Asia Pacific; it provides a summary analysis of the current state of EE and future directions in theory and practice.
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Ab Halim Tamuri, Mohd Yusof Othman, Jawiah Dakir, Ahmad Munawar Ismail and Zakaria Stapa
The study aims to investigate the students' perceptions on the teaching of Islamic education in the Malaysian secondary schools. The study will also look into the students'…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to investigate the students' perceptions on the teaching of Islamic education in the Malaysian secondary schools. The study will also look into the students' attitudes based on their personal self-evaluation as well as to examine the relationship between these two variables.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs quantitative and survey research design. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire which is distributed to samples that were randomly selected in representing the selected population among students of Malaysian secondary schools. The instrument used is a modification of instrument developed by Ab Halim et al., Ahmad Munawar and dan Azhar. The pilot study done shows a high reliability of 0.924 for the assessment of Islamic education teachings and 0.869 for the aspect of Islamic attitudes. 3,262 Form 4 and 6 students from selected schools in Malaysia participated in the study. The data were analyzed to display the frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and Pearson's correlation.
Findings
The study revealed a high level of mean on the aspect of students' evaluation on the teaching of Islamic education at their schools. It was also found that the level of students' attitudes was also high, i.e. 4.26. There was a significant relation between the students' perceptions on the teaching of Islamic education and their attitudes (r=0.740, p=0.000).
Practical implications
The implementation of teaching and learning strategies and new approaches are some of important elements in the teaching and learning process of Islamic education. This study shows that the lesson of Islamic education has significant and strong relationship with the students' attitudes in their daily lives. Since the students felt that the lesson of Islamic education was important for them, teachers should improve the lesson on Islamic education by using different types of teaching methods, technique application and motivational approaches. The teaching of Islamic education should not only focus on theoretical aspects but must also emphasize on practical implementation of Islamic knowledge.
Originality/value
This paper describes the religious teaching and learning in schools which has significant relationship with the students' daily attitudes. A new area of research can be conducted to explore the most important factors of teaching and learning that contribute to the students' attitudes development. These findings can also be used by educators to improve the quality of the lessons based on the students' evaluation.
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Noorkartina Mohamad, Hock-Eam Lim, Norhafezah Yusof and Jan-Jan Soon
Previous studies on the effect of entrepreneur education are not comprehensive. Thus, estimating the effect of entrepreneur education is imperative. According to the Malaysian…
Abstract
Purpose
Previous studies on the effect of entrepreneur education are not comprehensive. Thus, estimating the effect of entrepreneur education is imperative. According to the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MoE), only 1.7 percent (as of 2013) of university graduates are self-employed, that is managing one’s own business or known as graduate entrepreneurs. Consequently, a huge gap exists between what is targeted by the government (5.5 percent by 2015) and the reality (a small number of graduate entrepreneurs). The purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors influencing a graduate’s choice to be entrepreneur, particularly the effects of different entrepreneur education, either formal or informal.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 2,300 graduates from Universiti Utara Malaysia participated in this study.
Findings
The findings showed that the majority of the respondents are consistent in terms of their intent to become entrepreneurs.
Research limitations/implications
Due to time and resource constraints, the data are limited to only one university in Malaysia. It is suggested that future studies include more universities, especially entrepreneurial universities. Although it is believe that public universities’ undergraduates population are highly homogeneous, it is good that the findings of the present study to be further validated by future studies using larger sample that consists of varies of public universities.
Practical implications
This paper supports government policies in terms of cultivating educated entrepreneur such as promoting the entrepreneurship education among higher institutions of education (MoE, 2007). However, there are negative relationships among higher academic achievement of graduates toward their intention to be entrepreneurs. It is indicated that high academic achievements are negatively related to becoming entrepreneurs. Thus, it is suggested that entrepreneurship education in terms of both formal and informal education be implemented into the curriculum in order to cultivate entrepreneurial intentions.
Originality/value
There is still much more to be learned to fully understand the processes that leading to the decision to become an entrepreneur. Nevertheless, the results presented in this paper provide some understanding of the factors influencing the decision to become an entrepreneur among university students and graduates using a convenience sample. Thus, the results are exploratory and subjected to validation by future studies using more representative samples. Nevertheless, the study makes a contribution to the effort to predict and develop entrepreneurs in the country.