International Business Education Journal

Globalization and Higher Education in Malaysia

Kavithanjali Sandrasegaran — 2024-02-22

This study reviews previous study related to globalization in Malaysian tertiary education in creating innovative learning environment. A systematic literature review (SLR) research technique is utilized to identify and analyse previous studies related to the topic. Based on the SLR, five most relevant studies are identified and an analysis of how globalisation has affected private tertiary education in Malaysia is carried out. This paper offers a new and thorough viewpoint on the varying landscape of higher education in context of globalisation which could be a foundation for future advancements of higher education in Malaysia. Higher education is undoubtedly faced with new opportunities, threats, and problems as a result of globalisation. However, this study explains how globalisation and private tertiary education interact intricately in Malaysia, providing policymakers and educators with actionable knowledge. It contributes to the scholarly discussion on the topic while offering practical advice for overcoming obstacles and seizing possibilities posed by globalisation. This study adds to our knowledge of the topic and offers useful recommendations for policy and practise in Malaysian private tertiary education.

A Preliminary Study on Artificial Intelligence and Labour Productivity in China

Lai Zouya — 2024-02-22

Using the total number of patents as a proxy for artificial intelligence (AI), this study adds to the body of knowledge by analysing the relationship between AI applications and labour productivity in China's overall sector and concentrating on China's agriculture sector. Even though this study only employed ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation, the results could still provide a rough idea of the current stage of China’s AI patent applications and their impact on enhancing labour productivity. Our findings demonstrated that the impact of AI patent applications statistically affects the labour productivity of China's overall sector but did not appear to be well supported by our research in the agriculture sector. Our findings suggest that China's agriculture sector has less frequent and lesser experience with patenting to fully exploit innovation activities due to a lack of skilled labour and employee participation in scientific research and innovation activity as a result of the agriculture sector's continued dominance by low-educated labour. To address these challenges, we recommend that the Chinese government continue to invest more in innovation and AI, conduct employee retraining programmes to improve their skills and knowledge, create rules and guidelines to protect the privacy of patents, and promote a climate of openness and accountability when deploying AI in the industry.

Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Business Education Students’ Green Entrepreneurial Intention: Does Green Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy Matters?

Kennedy Ediagbonya — 2024-02-27

Encouraging sustainable entrepreneurial practices becomes essential in a society where environmental degradation and ecosystem depletion due to entrepreneurial exploitation are on the rise. The current study looked into how, in Edo State, green entrepreneurial self-efficacy (GESE) mediated the relationship between green entrepreneurial intention (GEI) and sustainable entrepreneurship (SE). Four hypotheses were formulated and tested at the significance level of 0.05. A correlational survey research design was used in the study. The study's population consisted of all 382 business education students from Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma and the University of Benin. The convenience sampling technique was used in selecting a sample of 285 students. The Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Self-Efficacy and Green Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (SESEGEIQ) was the tool utilized. Two professionals validated the instrument. After the instrument was given to thirty business education students at Delta State University, Abraka, who were not parts of the sample, the reliability coefficient of the instrument, as determined by Cronbach's alpha, was found to be .85. A straightforward linear regression analysis was used to examine the responder data. The findings revealed that sustainable entrepreneurship and green entrepreneurial self-efficacy were significant predictor of business education students’ green entrepreneurial intention in Edo State. The finding also revealed that green entrepreneurial self-efficacy is a significant predictor of business education students’ green entrepreneurial intention. The finding further revealed that green entrepreneurial self-efficacy mediates the relationship between sustainable entrepreneurship and green entrepreneurial intention in Edo State. This study has made significant contribution to knowledge as it was able to establish the mediating role of GESE in the relationship between SE and GEI among business education students in Nigeria. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the teaching and learning of sustainable entrepreneurship should be emphasized across the nation’s tertiary education level.

Quantitative Data Analysis using PLS-SEM (SmartPLS): Issues and Challenges in Ethical Consideration

Kesavan Nallaluthan — 2024-07-09

In research, ethical issues are crucial, including the preservation of participants' rights, privacy, and well-being to secure informed consent and minimize potential harm. Throughout the study, researchers must maintain transparency, honesty, and integrity, promoting trust and credibility in the pursuit of knowledge. In the realm of quantitative research, the process of data analysis plays a fundamental role, serving as a critical element in the generation of reliable and precise findings. The purpose of this concept paper is to provide the growing recognition of the ethical importance of quantitative data analysis in research. This paper delves into the ethical aspects of quantitative data analysis, underscoring the necessity for researchers to approach matters related to data collection, storage, and analysis with meticulous attention when using SmartPLS. This study highlights that preserving privacy and confidentiality requires the secure handling of various data types, especially those containing personally identifiable or health information. Additionally, it is crucial to subject biases and discrimination in data analysis to rigorous examination to ensure fair representation and mitigate potential negative consequences. The current prevalence of privacy breaches and the accompanying ethical concerns underscore the critical importance of prioritizing ethical considerations. This paper also explores the ethical complexities unique to Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), a widely used statistical technique across multiple disciplines by using SmartPLS software. SmartPLS enables researchers to analyse intricate relationships, facilitating the derivation of significant conclusions. Nevertheless, researchers employing SmartPLS must remain attentive to distinct ethical dilemmas, particularly those related to the interpretation, management, and disclosure of data. The exercise of ethical vigilance becomes essential when the conclusions drawn from SmartPLS have an impact on various stakeholders, such as employees, consumers, and shareholders. Researchers can ensure the integrity, accountability, and ethicality of their research endeavours by adhering to ethical guidelines, conducting comprehensive analyses, and exercising caution when making generalizations while utilizing SmartPLS.

The Influence of Headmaster’s Servant Leadership and Teacher Motivation on Student Performance in Sharjah Primary Schools in UAE

Hanan I H Yousef — 2024-10-01

Today, every school strives to achieve a reasonable level of student performance and to enhance student performance in order to improve educational quality. Despite the fact that the UAE's population has high literacy rates and people of United Arab Emirates (UAE) are fairly educated, whereas the enrolment in primary and secondary schools has expanded in recent decades, the UAE's educational systems have a number of challenges that must be addressed, such as the performance of pupils in primary schools in the majority of schools is not high and not satisfactory according to OECD. In addition, several evaluations indicate that student performance in all subjects is average according PISA Database. Thus, the aim of this study is to examine the influence of headmasters’ servant leadership and teacher motivation on student performance in UAE primary schools. This study applied quantitative methods to analyze relationships between these variables. The population is the teachers in Al-Sharjah primary schools. Data instrument is self-administrated questionnaire. The data collection has been conducted on a sample of 382 respondents. Simple random sampling technique has been applied in the survey procedure. SPSS software is deployed to conduct data analysis. To test the hypotheses, simple linear regression was applied for data analysis. The result revealed that headmaster’s servant leadership and teacher motivation have significant effects towards student performance. Based on this result, this paper suggests Al-Sharjah school headmasters create a friendly and empowering atmosphere for both teachers and students. This can be done by encouraging open communication, teamwork, and instructor appreciation. Additionally, providing teachers with professional development to improve their abilities and expertise can boost their intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, which in turn should enhance student achievement. The results of this study will help principals in Al-Sharjah schools as well as policymakers in the Ministry of Education in the UAE to understand why headmasters’ servant leadership and teacher motivation are essential factors for fostering student performance.

Islam and Women Entrepreneurship: Constraint or Enabler? A Qualitative Study

Ashraf Borham — 2024-10-01

This study delves into the perceptions and interpretations of Islam among Muslim women entrepreneurs and how it influences their entrepreneurial endeavors within the context of Egypt. In achieving this objective, a qualitative interpretive method was employed. In data collection, ten in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with female entrepreneurs in Egypt. Accordingly, the contextualized analysis was used adopting the Islam feminist perspective to investigate the empowerment of Islamic feminism on women entrepreneurs to validate their business ventures and behaviors within the constraints of a patriarchal society. Based on the research framework, their interpretations and application of the Islamic beliefs were in line with Islamic feminist principles that challenged the prevailing patriarchal structures in Egypt. This research has contributed to the literature of entrepreneurship by investigating how Islam inspires and supports women entrepreneurs, particularly in the view of Islamic feminism.

Gender Differences in Financial Awareness and Financial Knowledge Among Tertiary Students in Malaysia

Mei Si Chia — 2024-10-01

A low level of financial literacy and the increasing trend of the young generation's bankruptcy rate has become a significant issue in Malaysia. Hence, this study aims to examine the level of financial knowledge and financial awareness among tertiary students in Malaysia. A total of 1,800 respondents were selected based on gender and location. There are from the Northern Region (Perlis, Kedah, Penang, and Perak), East Coast Region (Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang), Central Region (Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya), and Southern Region (Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and Johor). In this study, most respondents reported low financial knowledge but moderate financial awareness toward financial products. However, a factor of gender among the respondents shows a minor difference in financial knowledge and awareness which suggests that both indicators do not influence their low-level literacy and moderate awareness of finance products in Malaysia. To this extent, this study recommends that tertiary students raise their financial literacy before graduation. Tertiary students are encouraged to attend talks, webinar or seminars relevant to financial management to improve their financial knowledge and enhance their financial awareness toward financial products in Malaysia especially related to credit cards, car loans, personal loans, insurance, and mortgage. Educators and policymakers are urged to implement various financial education programs to improve literacy and awareness. In conclusion, this study contributed to Malaysia's literature on financial literacy.

The Influence of TikTok eWOM on the Purchase Intention of Local Cosmetic Products Among College Students

Daniela Yzabelle Adapon — 2024-10-01

This study aimed to discover the importance of electronic word-of-mouth using the TikTok application to the consumers' purchase intention on Local Cosmetics and the significance of eWOM. The advancement of technology has proven to be essential in introducing the product and brand to the market, which needs further investigation. The study aimed to determine the Influence of the use of technology and social media, specifically eWOM in the application TikTok in communicating a product to potential customers by measuring factors such as the relevancy of TikTok eWOM on purchase behaviors, advertisements of products on social media, frequency of exposure, retention to the viewer, the credibility of the product reviewer, quality of videos, the usefulness of information, information adoption and lastly the video content in determining whether these factors have a significant influence to the purchase intention of the Female College Students studying in Metro Manila. The researchers gathered data through purposive sampling to a sample size of 384 students calculated through Cronbach's Formula, which was analyzed using the binary logistic regression model. The study revealed that the variables resulted in most respondents agreeing that it affected their purchase intention. The gathered result of the collinearity test shows that no independent variables were highly correlated with each other, satisfying the non-multicollinearity assumption. Among the predictors, with the help of backward stepwise regression, the best model to use in classifying the significance of the purchase intent of local cosmetic products using TikTok eWOM is the variable' Information Adoption.

A Framework of Teacher Satisfaction in UAE Primary Schools

Badria Ali Mohamed Humaid Alhammadi — 2024-10-01

Schools face a lot of challenges related to the teaching staff. School principals who possess the traits of transformational leadership can change the behavior of teachers and inspire them to be productive and highly motivated in their work. Thus, the aim of this study is to develop a framework linking transformational leadership with teacher motivation and teacher satisfaction in Abu Dhabi primary schools. To validate this framework, quantitative methods based on SEM for conducting data analysis. Self-administrated questionnaire is data instrument. The data collection has been conducted on a sample of 450 teachers. Simple random sampling technique has been applied in the survey procedure. The findings reveal that modeling transformational leadership with teacher satisfaction through the mediating influence of teacher motivation is theoretically developed and empirically validated according to the result of fit-indices, specifically RMSEA = 0.042, CFI = 0.942, and TLI = 0.938. This result indicates that adopting transformational leadership style in schools provide clear vision of the teachers which influence them and raise their satisfaction, those teachers have the ability to foster a sense of direction and purpose among the teachers. They establish a collaborative and inclusive culture which motivate the teachers through inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration, idealized influence. This not only boosts teacher morale but also promotes a sense of ownership and commitment to the school's vision and mission.

Exploring Gen Z’s Preferences Toward Higher Education Institutions’ Promotional Strategies

Hana Afifah — 2024-10-01

This study was conducted to explore Gen Z's preferences for promotional strategies when choosing a university to enroll in. The study applied one-to-one semi-structured interviews with recent university students around Purbalingga as participants. The number of participants was determined by saturation, and the data collected were transcribed verbatim. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using ATLAS.Ti to identify emerging themes. The results of this study show that the most attractive promotional strategies for Generation Z students to enroll were printed brochures, Instagram social media pages, personal messaging via WhatsApp, and direct messages (DMs) on Instagram. The study reveals that Gen Z, as today’s targeted consumers of HEIs, values both digital and traditional advertising, provided they offer relevant information clearly, feature aesthetic design, and include personal interaction that gives them a sense of real engagement without visiting the campus. Therefore, higher education institutions (HEIs) should also utilize social media pages to promote their academic programs besides the conventional promotional strategy using printed brochures. The results supported the previous studies and theory that broaden existing literature on brand knowledge, brand awareness and brand equity which led to brand loyalty. This study contributes to the knowledge and literature in marketing and education especially HEIs, as well as the practical in education marketing to consider the precise promotional mix in order to attract more prospective students from the Generation Z era.

The Relationship between Female Directors and Male Muslim Directors on the Firm Performance: Evidence from Malaysia

Nooraisah Katmon — 2024-12-01

This study examines the relationship between female directors and male Muslim directors on the firm performance in Malaysia. The sample comprises of 180 listed firms in the trade and service industry in Bursa Malaysia. This study measured the firm performance using Return on Assets (ROA). This study also controlled for audit committee characteristics and board characteristics when examining the association between female directors and male Muslim directors with firm performance. The findings indicate a significant positive relationship between female directors and the firm performance. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression also demonstrated a complementary relationship between female directors, male Muslim directors, and the firm performance, thus suggesting a positive interaction between the variables. This study deduces that female directors are able to perform their monitoring roles effectively in improving the firm’s performance, especially when they are accompanied by male Muslim directors. This finding provides supporting evidence for the appointment of 30% of female directors in the listed firms in Malaysia at the beginning of 2016. The finding of this study is significant for the policymakers to justify the need to increase future woman's involvement in becoming part of the firm's board members.