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The Impact of Entrepreneurial Attitude and Entrepreneurial Education on Entrepreneurial Intentions of Millennial College Students: The Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy
Get PDFEntrepreneurship is becoming increasingly significant in today’s society, as it is considered a major driving force for economic growth, innovation, and employment opportunities. Despite its importance, understanding the factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions among millennials remains challenging, with inconsistent research findings on the relationships between entrepreneurial attitudes, self-efficacy, education, and intentions. This study investigates these factors, including entrepreneurial intention mediation, among millennial college students in Jinan, Shandong Province, China. A quantitative research method was employed, with a response rate of 96.7% and 405 valid questionnaires were collected. In this study, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to conduct data analysis, encompassing reliability and validity assessments, examination of impact effects, and mediation effect testing, leading to comprehensive research findings. Key findings in this study show that entrepreneurial attitude, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial education all had a positive influence on entrepreneurial intention. Of the three factors, entrepreneurial self-efficacy has the most significant influence on entrepreneurial intention. Secondly, entrepreneurial self-efficacy plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between entrepreneurial attitude, entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurial intention. The findings provide actionable insights for educational institutions, policymakers, and entrepreneurial support organizations in Jinan City to foster entrepreneurship among millennial college students. The theoretical significance of this research lies in its contribution to the understanding of how attitude, self-efficacy, and education interact to shape entrepreneurial intentions among millennial college students in Jinan City, enriching existing knowledge in entrepreneurship. The practical significance is that it provides valuable insights for educational institutions, policymakers, and entrepreneurial support organizations to foster entrepreneurship culture among these students. Recommendation for future research is to investigate issues surrounding entrepreneurial self-efficacy among millennials. It is also recommended that longitudinal studies can be conducted for the purpose of providing better understanding and guidance for the entrepreneurship development of millennial college students
DETERMINANTS OF CONTINUOUS USAGE BEHAVIOR OF SOCIAL COMMERCE : A STUDY OF SMALL ONLINE VENDORS IN PAKISTAN
Get PDFObjective: The objective of this study is to investigate determinants of continuous usage behavior of small online vendors in social commerce under government support as moderator. Theoretical Framework: Social Exchange Theory and TOE framework provide theoretical underpinnings of this study to understand the continuous usage behavior in social commerce.
Method: In this regard, data was collected from the small online vendors under convenience sampling. In this case, a survey approach was employed, and 500 questionnaires were
distributed among the participants, out of which 392 were returned. Partially filled and incomplete responses were discarded and 376 useful responses were used for data analysis purpose.
Results and Discussion: Structural equation modeling has been used for data analyses through Smart PLS 4.0 software. All of the validity and reliability indicators for the measurement and structural models were found statistically fit.
Research Implications: According to path estimation, perceived usefulness, financial resources, and Security concerns have all been found statistically significant. In the case of moderation, the govt support has been proven a factor in mitigating the security concerns for
continuous usage behavior of social commerce.
Originality/Value: This study investigated the unexplored determinants related to continuous usage behavior in the context of social
time as a moderator in the study. It has not been tested before in this context of small online vendors, that how government support moderates the small online vendors in conjunction with the TOE framework to social commerce continuous usage behavior
Digital Drone Education in Sarawak : Enhancing STEM Learning through Hands-on Training for School Students
No full textIn Sarawak, concerns about low STEM enrolment, digital inclusivity gaps for rural children, and the transition from digital consumption to digital creation led to the introduction of the Drone Education Program. Participants began with foundational drone operation training, advancing to capturing images and videos. Subsequently, they were acquainted with elementary photo and video editing techniques, enabling them to enhance their drone-generated content. The aim of this research is to gauge the impact of the Drone Education Program on refining drone operations, bolstering digital editing competencies, and stimulating STEM engagement in students. In our methodology, we employed tailored pre-and post-surveys for evaluation, and younger students provided feedback via an emoji-based survey. Further analytical methods encompassed non-parametric tests, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and linear mixed-effect modelling. Results indicated significant post-intervention improvements in the targeted skills. The EFA grouped 21 Likert items into five distinct learning domains. Notable insights include district-wise variances in learning outcomes and the influential role of gender. The initiative showcases promise in confronting Sarawak's educational barriers, championing digital inclusivity, and preparing a digitally proficient generation
Effect of preservative and preservation methods on physical, chemical and microbiological properties of nipa palm (Nypa fructicans) sap
Get PDFObjectives This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the E’ food grade preservative – potassium sorbate
(E202) and sodium metabisulfite (E223) in an aqueous form, and impact of the timing of preservative addition on the
shelf-life, sugar and reducing sugars levels, organic acids content and microbial growth of nipa palm sap.
Results The pH, sugar and reducing sugars levels, organic acids content, total bacterial count (TBC) and sensory
characteristics of the sample were determined. The results showed that the treated samples were able to slow down
the pH and sucrose content from dropping during storage. Sample A had lactic acid at 0.93±0.01 g/L and acetic acid
at 0.05±0.0.1 g/L, while Sample B had 0.97±0.02 g/L and 0.07±0.01 g/L, respectively, both lower than the control
(1.10±0.01 g/L and 0.09±0.02 g/L). Sample A with TBC of 1.03 (±0.08) x 105 CFU/mL was able to inhibit microbial
growth better than Sample B, 1.14 (±0.13) x 105
CFU/mL. Preservative application prior to tapping was shown to be more successful in preserving the quality and shelf-life of nipa palm sap. This approach is likely preventing early microbial activity and fermentation without the need of proper packaging, preserving the freshness and quality of the sap more effectively than adding the preservative after collection
Effect and Process Evaluation of an Intervention to Promote Physical Activity Among White-collar Employees at a Public University: The Profit-study
No full textIntroduction: The ProFit (Promote Fitness) study was a multi-component workplace environmental intervention to enhance participants' physical activity (PA). This study utilized a dual approach to determine the intervention's effects on MET-min/week and steps/week over time, and to evaluate whether the intervention effects differed based on process evaluation scores (PES) in the ProFit study. Materials and methods: This six-month, two-group, parallel, quasi-experimental study included 11 eligible workplaces, which were randomly assigned to either intervention group (IG) or control group (CG) in a 1:1 ratio. Each group had 84 participants. The IG received intervention, while CG maintained their usual routines. PA levels were measured at baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and pedometers. Repeated measures ANOVA was employed to analyze changes over time. PES for IG participants were calculated post-intervention to evaluate implementation dynamics. Results: Although no significant differences were found between IG and CG over time, the IG demonstrated significant improvements in total MET-min/week (ηp2=0.031), housework-related PA (ηp2=0.101), and steps/week (ηp2=0.827). The mean PES of 28.65 out of 35 indicated effective intervention implementation. Participants in the high-PES category experienced significant increases in total steps/week (p<0.001) and total MET-min/week (p=0.039) compared to those in the low-PES category. Conclusion: This intervention effectively improved PA levels in IG. Those in the high-PES category achieved significantly better post-intervention outcomes. These findings highlight the ProFit study's potential to promote PA and provide valuable insights for employers and researcher
Effect of Green Polymerisation Via Microwave-Assisted Synthesis on Morphology, Size, and Rebinding Properties of Aspirinate Molecularly Imprinted Polymer
No full textMolecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) has been vastly investigated for various applications, including drug delivery systems. Precipitation polymerisation has been widely used in the preparation of MIP to obtain small-sized polymer beads that are vital in drug delivery applications. However, the process requires a longer time and produces larger polymer particles, which often appear as a constraint for large-scale production and drug delivery applications. In this study, a series of MIPs were synthesised via microwave (MW) irradiation employing aspirin as a template in the presence of methacrylic acid (MAA) as functional monomer and divinylbenzene as crosslinker in acetonitrile at 80°C (MW80 in 60 minutes), 100°C (MW100 in 15 minutes), 110°C (MW110 in 8 minutes) and 120°C (MW120 in 4 minutes). MW110 produced homogeneous spherical particles (1.24 μm ±
0.17 μm), higher yield (0.62 g) and excellent rebinding capacity (7.27 mg/g) compared with other MIPs. Green synthesis of MIP via MW emerged as a powerful tool for well-controlled, rapid reactions and is significantly useful for drug delivery applications
Pioneering TiO2/G-C3N4 Heterostructures for Enhanced Organic Pollutant Removal
Get PDFThe remarkable synergy and versatility of TiO2/g-C3N4 compos-ites in photocatalytic applications, particularly for the removal of organic pollutants, have attracted considerable interest. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the modifications employed to enhance the properties of binary TiO2/g-C3N4 het-erostructures. The examination encompasses the modification of binary TiO2/g-C3N4 systems with various materials, includ-ing metal and nonmetal dopants, carbonaceous supports, and other semiconductors, among others. The effects of various parameters, such as synthesis methods, types of precursors, calcination procedures, and concentrations of precursors, are also correlated with the physicochemical properties and pho-tocatalytic performance of the materials. This in-depth explo-ration highlights TiO2/g-C3N4 advancements in engineering, more advanced and smart materials with enhanced visible light utilization and charge-transfer ability. Additionally, the review highlights the need for further investigation into the underlying mechanisms involved and the advancement of synthesis tech-niques that are both scalable and environmentally sustainable. Future directions for improving TiO2/g-C3N4-based heterostruc-tures are presented, with an emphasis on the potential to revolutionize photocatalysis for environmental remediation and sustainable energy generation
Work-Life Challenges and How to Overcome: An Explorative Study among Female Criminal Investigators
Get PDFThis study explores the significant challenges faced by female investigators in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), focusing on the complexities of balancing professional duties and family life. The nature of their work, coupled with irregular hours, makes achieving work-life balance particularly difficult. The research, conducted in Malaysia, aimed to identify the work-life challenges, their impacts, and potential solutions to improve the situation for female investigators. Seven female participants, selected through purposive sampling, were interviewed using semi-structured questions. The criteria for selection included a minimum of one year of marriage (with or without children) and at least two years of experience in the CID. Content analysis revealed several challenges, including time constraints, heavy workloads, role conflict, inadequate working facilities, health issues, and long work-home distances. These factors contribute to work-life conflict, highlighting the need for improved time management, stress management, work policies, workplace environment, and enhanced family support
CONSTRUCTING DIGITAL ECONOMY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR ASEAN COUNTRIES
Get PDFDigital revolution has dramatically changed the world. Today, ASEAN is a key global economy but yet to be a key digital economy. As recognising digital integration lays the foundation of digital economic innovation and growth, ASEAN quickly adapts to change by targeting ‘single digital market’ as the regional market plan and secures massive opportunity to leapfrog in the vanguard. Digital integration is imperative but digital divide among member countries could be a hurdle to promote the region as a global hub of technological progress and growth. This study aims to assess the digital economy performance of ASEAN Member States (AMS) through the construction of a comprehensive Digital Economy Performance Indicator (DEPI). Specifically, the study has three main objectives: (1) to evaluate the performance of AMS across five critical dimensions—connectivity, infrastructure, affordability, human capital, and digital technology integration; (2) to aggregate these dimensions into a composite index using the entropy weighting method to ensure objectivity; and (3) to compare the digital economy performance of AMS for the period 2017–2021 to identify strengths, weaknesses, and developmental gaps. The entropy weighting method is chosen as the estimation strategy to derive unbiased weights for the indicators based on data variability. The weighted score of all dimensions is then aggregated into a final index score annually that wholly represents the digitalisation performance of each member country. The findings show that Singapore tops in all dimensional performance across years. From intra-country perspective, the analysis provides useful insights for all individual member country to identify the level of performance across dimensions with the calculated final scores. Meanwhile, inter-country analysis enhances economic convergence and reduces development gap within the region. The study will be of great assistance to propel ASEAN towards a digitally-enabled economy that is secure, sustainable and transformative, and to further leverage digital technology to enable an innovative, inclusive and integrated ASEAN as in ASEAN Economic Community 2025 vision
Strategi Pemasaran Hasil Produk Kraftangan Usahawan dalam Masyarakat Iban di Kapit, Sarawak
No full textPenyelidikan ini meneroka strategi pemasaran usahawan kraf tangan Iban di kawasan luar bandar bahagian Kapit, Sarawak, khususnya di daerah Kapit dan Song. Usahawan-usahawan ini aktif dalam penghasilan dan perniagaan kraf tangan tradisional dan menghadapi cabaran seperti kebergantungan kepada strategi pemasaran tradisional, akses terhad kepada teknologi digital, kekurangan sokongan dalam latihan dan infrastruktur, serta kesukaran menembusi pasaran yang lebih luas. Mereka juga berdepan isu seperti modal yang terhad, pendekatan perniagaan digital, dan persaingan daripada produk komersial yang lebih murah, menjejaskan daya saing mereka dalam industri. Oleh itu, penyelidikan ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif berdasarkan Model Campuran Pemasaran 7P untuk mendapatkan pemahaman yang lebih mendalam mengenai pendekatan pemasaran yang digunakan oleh usahawan kraf tangan Iban. Data dikumpulkan melalui temu bual terbuka secara bersemuka dan melalui telefon dengan 12 informan. Penemuan penyelidikan ini menunjukkan bahawa strategi pemasaran mereka kekal dalam pendekatan tradisional dan mereka belum memanfaatkan strategi pembangunan perniagaan moden. Penyelidikan ini menawarkan cadangan komprehensif untuk memperkasakan usahawan kraf tangan Iban dalam mengatasi cabaran pemasaran dan bersaing dalam era digital semasa. Sokongan daripada kerajaan, NGO, dan individu amat penting untuk memajukan dan mengekalkan industri kraf tangan, terutamanya di kawasan luar bandar seperti Kapit dan Song. Penubuhan Pusat Pengurusan Kraf Tangan di bahagian Kapit merupakan inisiatif ke hadapan disesuaikan dengan norma sosio-budaya Kapit untuk dan merancakkan ekonomi tempatan dan perlancongan.
Kata kunci: Usahawan, kraftangan, Iban, pembangunan luar bandar, strategi pemasara