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1 – 10 of over 33000This chapter relies on comparative case analysis to examine how and why particular social entrepreneurs in a higher Asian middle income economy broke new grounds in private higher…
Abstract
This chapter relies on comparative case analysis to examine how and why particular social entrepreneurs in a higher Asian middle income economy broke new grounds in private higher education. The study provides arguments as to why these private higher education entrepreneurs, when viewed inclusively, are social entrepreneurs. Findings from the study suggest that social entrepreneurs distinctively used prior insights from their working experiences to harness the financial power of local capital to fund the scaling up of their social ventures while simultaneously engaging with the country’s economic and social challenges.
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Rong Zhang and Dennis C. McCornac
The purpose of this paper is to examine a number of current innovations made by private higher educational institutions in Japan to counter decreased enrollments and financial…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine a number of current innovations made by private higher educational institutions in Japan to counter decreased enrollments and financial constraints.
Design/methodology/approach
The design of this study is both descriptive and conceptual, based on the latest data available. Additional information was obtained through informal surveys of private institutions.
Findings
Efforts on all fronts will be required to resolve some of the more glaring problems facing private higher education in Japan today. While some of the factors contributing to the deterioration of educational standards, such as the economy and demographic changes are beyond the control of the institutions themselves, efforts to staunch the rapid deterioration of educational quality are essential. Renovation in Japanese private university higher education should start with improvements in teaching and faculty development. Private universities must realize that reinvigorating the system will need the cooperation of both faculty members and administrators if universities are to survive in the new economic and social environment.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the need for private universities to be the agents of change to address the dire straits of higher education in Japan and it is imperative that new and innovative approaches be implemented.
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Azilah Anis, Rafikul Islam and Nur Anisah Abdullah
The paper aims to identify the emerging themes on the challenges faced by the Malaysian private higher learning institutions (HLIs) in the provision of providing quality education.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to identify the emerging themes on the challenges faced by the Malaysian private higher learning institutions (HLIs) in the provision of providing quality education.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were purposively conducted with 29 of the Malaysian private HLI internal and external stakeholders ranging from the relevant personnel of the institutions (the quality director, administrators and senior academics), regulatory agencies, prospective employer, students and parents. Thematic analysis was then applied to analyze the participants’ responses in determining and clarifying the challenges faced by the Malaysian private HLIs in the issue of providing quality education.
Findings
Eight overarching themes were identified, namely, Academics, Facilities, Students, Programs and curriculum, Competition, Accreditation, Finance and Research. Academics represent the most frequent challenge raised by the participants, whereas Research emerged as the least mentioned challenge during the interview sessions.
Research limitations/implications
The present paper focused solely on Malaysian private HLIs, and thus, the findings may not be applicable to the foreign private HLIs that are operating in Malaysia as well as to the public HLIs.
Originality/value
The findings are expected to provide valuable guidelines to the Malaysian Private HLIs in areas where resources need to be critically disbursed. To the regulatory agencies and policy-makers, the findings could enlighten them on the difficulties faced by these privately funded institutions so that further policies can be designed and implemented to assist these institutions in their operations and long-term survival.
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Jayaraman Krishnaswamy, Cliftton Baba Nyepit and Nelvin XeChung Leow
This study explores the similarities and dissimilarities among master and bachelor students, which impetus on the marketing strategies for private higher education (HE…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explores the similarities and dissimilarities among master and bachelor students, which impetus on the marketing strategies for private higher education (HE) institutions to have more intake of master students.
Design/methodology/approach
The unit of analysis of the present study is the master and bachelor students from the four leading private universities in Malaysia. Based on the extensive literature review and expert opinion, the framework and the structured questionnaire have been conceptualized. A sample of 410 students responded to the structured survey questionnaire, and the question items were adapted from the existing literature.
Findings
There are statistically significant differences between master and bachelor students on the dimensions of smart classroom, peer support, patnership and perceived benefits. Interestingly, master students are highly influenced by smart classroom, peer support and perceived benefits, while bachelor students favor patnership.
Practical implications
The present study provides a conceptualized research framework with some new dimensions, which can be used to examine the factors influencing master's and bachelors' students. Further, the differences in the perceptions of the master and bachelor students were tested to study the performance of the private HE institutions.
Originality/value
This study suggests marketing strategies for private HE institutions in developing countries since the masters' intake of students has been declining. Findings of this study will help private universities in developing countries to enhance procedures and formalities of curriculum and functional operating systems to achieve Higher Education Success.
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The purpose of this paper is to develop a hierarchical model to rank the challenges faced by the private Malaysian higher education institutions (HEIs) in the provision of quality…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a hierarchical model to rank the challenges faced by the private Malaysian higher education institutions (HEIs) in the provision of quality education and subsequently their corresponding critical success factors (CSFs) to address those challenges.
Design/methodology/approach
A sequential mix method was adopted in this study. Semi-structured interviews with 29 participants were initially conducted to identify the challenges and CSFs. This was followed by a questionnaire survey involving 158 respondents to prioritise the identified findings. Thematic analysis was conducted in the qualitative stage, uncovering the challenges and their corresponding CSFs. Data for both stages were accumulated from internal and external stakeholders of Malaysian private HEIs. Finally, the four stages of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) were applied to rank the challenges and CSFs.
Findings
The qualitative stage identified eight challenges, i.e. “academics”, “facilities”, “students”, “programmes and curriculum”, “competition”, “accreditation”, “finance” and “research” together with their corresponding CSFs. The AHP enables the ranking of these challenges. “Finance” has been found to be the most crucial challenge and “high competency in managing the institution’s finance” as the most important CSF to address this challenge.
Research limitations/implications
As the study restricted its focus on Malaysian private HEIs, the results may not be generalised for public HEIs and foreign private HEIs operating in Malaysia.
Originality/value
The hierarchical model developed in this study is deemed important for implementation to resolve the prioritised challenges. It spells out the specific areas in which the resources of Malaysian private HEIs need to be prudently disbursed and properly managed.
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Samuel Jebaraj Benjamin, M. Srikamaladevi Marathamuthu, Saravanan Muthaiyah and Murali Raman
The purpose of this paper is to examine the affordability of private tertiary education for households in Malaysia.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the affordability of private tertiary education for households in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
The relevant literature is reviewed to provide an overview of the affordability of private tertiary education. Data are obtained randomly from a private university in Malaysia and the results are analyzed using the one‐sample t‐test and one‐way ANOVA.
Findings
The proxy of affordability, which is the average household income, reveals the per capita average is more than three times the national average, which points out the non‐affordability of students from low and average earning households to afford private tertiary education in Malaysia. Financial assistance of students at the tertiary level is insufficient and may warrant further policy and administrative improvements to reach deserving students. There is also difference in income and hence affordability between urban‐rural households, a perspective that demands changes in the current income distribution policies. In order to address the issues highlighted in this study, salient suggestions have been proposed.
Originality/value
This paper reinforces the need to address the issue of affordability of tertiary education and its significant importance, especially to developing countries.
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Zahir A. Quraeshi and Mushtaq Luqmani
The growing professionalization of Malaysian industry over the past three decades, and the need for skilled business talent, have led to an increased demand for business…
Abstract
Purpose
The growing professionalization of Malaysian industry over the past three decades, and the need for skilled business talent, have led to an increased demand for business education. This paper aims to examine how institutions in Malaysia have responded to this need.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a case study that synthesizes and organizes institutional experiences in delivering business education in Malaysia.
Findings
Malaysian academic institutions have responded to the demand for business education through a process modeled by the authors as a “cycle of business education” (CBE). The authors discuss institutional developments and competitive marketing strategies directed toward target markets during the five stages of the CBE.
Practical implications
The Malaysian experience in meeting business education needs can provide valuable guidance to educators and policy makers, among others, in developing countries engaged in similar initiatives. These countries can benefit from understanding more about institutional practices as well as from the problems that surfaced during the Malaysian CBE.
Originality/value
The paper makes an original contribution first by delineating and discussing the five stages of the cycle of business education (CBE), including institutional developments. Next it systematically articulates various components of the marketing strategies institutions use to deliver business education. Finally, recommendations are offered to improve the institutional provision and marketing of business education.
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Hussein Al Jardali, Nada Khaddage-Soboh, Mohammad Abbas and Nour Al Mawed
The purpose of this study is at creating a performance management system template based on the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) framework, which could lead the scorecard to function…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is at creating a performance management system template based on the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) framework, which could lead the scorecard to function properly at Arts, Sciences and Technology University in Lebanon (AUL) and, as assumed, in other Lebanese private higher educational institutions.
Design/methodology/approach
This study compares existing theoretical models applied in private higher education institutions (HEIs) in Lebanon. It adopts inductive approach with semi-structured interviews that helped the authors understand the way BSC is implemented in the private Lebanese institutions.
Findings
This study suggested a customizable BSC to be used at AUL and other Lebanese private HEIs to enhance and calibrate their organizational performance.
Originality/value
Many researchers have investigated the use of Robert Kaplan and David Norton's BSC in various types of organizations, but there was no specific study describing the Lebanese higher education system. This study investigates the use of the BSC framework in Lebanese private HEIs taking Arts, Science and Technology University in Lebanon (AUL) as a sample. Moreover, this study also adapted a BSC model to the case of a private HEI, which extends the current body of literature related to the use, implementation and adaptation of the BSC.
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This study aims to fill this research gap by providing a comprehensive exploration of the transnationalization of higher education in China and Asia, with a particular focus on…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to fill this research gap by providing a comprehensive exploration of the transnationalization of higher education in China and Asia, with a particular focus on how institutions maintain quality assurance and how student learning experiences are reported.
Design/methodology/approach
The transnationalization of higher education involves educational programs and services provided by institutions or universities in a country other than their home country where students from diverse countries are trained. The goal of transnational education is to offer higher education to students who face obstacles in physically entering the host country of a transnational program, encourage globalization, enhance cross-cultural communication and improve the quality of education by expanding students' learning opportunities, providing diverse educational experiences and elevating academic standards. The transnationalization of higher education has become a crucial endeavor in Asia, especially in countries such as China, Malaysia and Singapore, where rapid economic development and globalization have prompted the need to evolve into knowledge-driven economies to meet the increasing demand for higher education. The factors driving the expansion of transnational higher education in China and Asia include the desire for top-quality education, the allure of international students, the establishment of worldwide collaborations and aspirations to be recognized as centers of academic distinction. The rapid expansion and increasing importance of transnational higher education has underscored the vital role of quality assurance. To guarantee educational quality, maintain institutional reputation and improve overall student outcomes, several agencies and frameworks have been established to uphold international standards.
Findings
Based upon extensive literature reveiw and case analysis, our findings indicated the quality assurance assessment varies and is primarily influenced by host countries and provider polices. However, students in transnational higher education programs report satisfaction with their experienes and the quality of their programs, which tends to meet their expecations.
Originality/value
This study presents the first comprehsensive literatrue rewiew and case analysis of how transnational higher education in China, Sinapore, Malaysia and Vietnam uphold quality assurance and report students learning experiences. Additionally, the findings highlight why future researceh on this topic is crucial and why forestering colloboration among countries in Asian regions is imporant in term of growing geo-politics.
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Cheng_Yoke Tan, Abdul Ghani Kanesan Abdullah and Abdul Jalil Ali
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of soft skill integration in the curriculum on quality of college life of diploma business students in Malaysian private higher…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of soft skill integration in the curriculum on quality of college life of diploma business students in Malaysian private higher educational institutions.
Design/methodology/approach
Descriptive quantitative survey research was used to assess the views and relationship between variables from 429 business students in Peninsular Malaysia. The adapted self-administered questionnaires were distributed through stratified random sampling method. Descriptive analysis, correlation and regression analysis were used in the findings.
Findings
The results advocated significant influence from soft skill integration on quality of college life. Soft skill integration in critical thinking and problem solving especially has significant positive influence on quality of college life in all the aspects from academic, social and also facilities.
Research limitations/implications
Generalizability of the research as it was conducted in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia only. It was also limited by subjectivity bias of the students who responded to the questionnaire.
Practical implications
The implication of this study was that it serves as an evidence-based information of soft skill integration and effects on college quality. In this way, it provides an empirical reference to the authorities for better guidelines, evaluation, control and development in the curriculum, delivery approaches, co-curriculum, campus environment or facilities.
Social implications
Local education in particular is closely linked to the neighboring community and also dependent on the socio-economic needs of the state or region. According to Kayrooz and Parker (2010), greater engagement with local issues and higher local autonomy for spending could lead to greater effectiveness and efficiencies.
Originality/value
The study was a pioneering research in the context of Malaysian private higher education, guided by Devadason et al.’s (2010) soft skill integration study in Malaysian public higher education, plus Sirgy et al.’s (2007) study on quality of college life.
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