Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS) (Journal of UniSZA - Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin)
Not a member yet
422 research outputs found
Sort by
Museum pedagogy and assessment strategies: A case study of two museum educators at an Australian immigration-themed museum
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: The role of museums has increasingly evolved from artifact repositories to educational spaces, promoting meaningful and active learning engagement. Despite museums’ established role in supporting school curricula, there remains limited studies exploring museum educators’ instructional and assessment practices. This study addresses this gap by examining the pedagogical approaches and assessment strategies employed by museum educators at an immigration-themed museum in Victoria, Australia.
Methodology: A qualitative interpretivist case study design was employed, involving two experienced museum educators. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations of teaching sessions. Thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step framework, facilitated the identification and interpretation of emergent themes.
Findings: Key findings revealed that educators employed blended instructional frameworks combining constructivist and behaviourist elements. Pedagogical approaches predominantly featured narrative techniques supported by object-based learning (OBL), storytelling, questioning, and scaffolding. Informal assessment played a continuous role in enabling instructional adaptation to meet diverse learner needs.
Contributions: The study enhances museum education literature by detailing practical pedagogical strategies and assessment methods utilized within museum settings. These insights hold substantial implications for professional development, guiding curriculum-linked educational program development, and highlighting effective instructional practices beneficial to both museum and classroom contexts.
Keywords: Museum education, museum pedagogy, visitor engagement, assessment strategies, immigration museum
Factors influencing artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among Malaysian students: A partial least square-structural equation modeling approach
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education by enhancing learning experiences through personalised instruction, automated assessments, and intelligent tutoring systems. In Malaysia, AI adoption among students is gaining momentum, and it is influenced by digital literacy, perceived usefulness, and social influence. This study examines the key factors influencing AI adoption among Malaysian students.
Methodology: A survey research design was employed, utilising a structured questionnaire distributed to 286 students across four Malaysian universities. 224 valid responses were analysed using Partial Least Square (PLS-SEM) to test the hypothesised relationships among the variables.
Findings: Results indicate that social influence has the most substantial effect on AI adoption (β = 0.503, p < 0.001), followed by perceived usefulness (β = 0.236, p < 0.001) and digital literacy (β = 0.188, p = 0.036). These findings suggest that students are more likely to adopt AI when they observe peers and educators using it effectively. Additionally, students who perceive AI as beneficial for academic performance are more willing to engage with AI technologies.
Implication: The study contributes to understanding AI adoption in higher education; institutions can better prepare students for an AI-driven academic and professional landscape by addressing the identified factors.
Keywords: AI adoption, digital literacy, Malaysian students, perceived usefulness, social influence
Applying communicative language teaching in speaking and listening activities in Kurdistan regional government senior high schools: Meaning-focused instructions
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) is a learner-centred approach that encourages interaction and real-world communication, focusing on listening and speaking skills. Although numerous studies have been conducted to measure the impact of CLT, there is limited research on its effects on speaking and listening activities in senior high schools within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). This study aimed to gauge the impact of CLT implementation on the speaking and listening skills of senior high school students in the region.
Methodology: This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques. A pre-test was administered to the experimental and control groups to ensure that participants had comparable language proficiency. Following a four-week CLT workshop, a post-test was conducted to assess potential improvements in speaking skills. Additionally, a survey was distributed to English teachers in government institutions to gather their views on using CLT in speaking and listening activities in KRG schools. In-depth interviews were also conducted with three experienced teachers from different educational levels, each lasting 30 minutes, to gain deeper insights. This smaller sample allowed a more thorough understanding of the participants' perspectives.
Findings: SPSS analysis confirmed significant improvement in the experimental group’s speaking and listening skills. While the survey results show that most teachers were familiar with CLT, large class sizes and exam pressures limited its use. Interviews confirmed that teachers saw CLT as beneficial but faced time and assessment constraints. Despite these barriers, most teachers believed teaching functional language improved communicative competence.
Contributions: This study provides empirical evidence of CLT’s effectiveness in enhancing students' speaking and listening skills in Kurdish secondary schools. It highlights the gap between teachers' theoretical knowledge and practical implementation, emphasizing the need for targeted training. Additionally, it advocates for integrating communicative components into national exams and encourages the use of real-world interaction and authentic materials to align with CLT principles. These insights offer practical recommendations for educators, policymakers, and curriculum developers in exam-driven educational contexts.
Keywords: CLT, English, learning, communicative skills, Kurdistan
Comparative analysis of digital literacy and 21st-century skills among university graduates in Malaysia and Indonesia: The role of collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Digital literacy and 21st-century skills are increasingly needed to navigate today's globalized society. Recent study emphasises the necessity of these abilities for youngsters to actively participate in digital societies, civic and political affairs, and digital identity exploration. This study aims to compare the digital literacy and 21st-century skills of university graduates in Malaysia and Indonesia, and to examine how these skills shape digital literacy in both countries.
Methodology: 113 Malaysian and 271 Indonesian graduates participated in the online survey. The questionnaire was developed to measure the four determinants of digital literacy: Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication, and Creativity & Innovation. The core analysis assessed levels of each determinant using mean scores from survey responses. One-sample T-test and ANOVA test determined the significance of each determinant with relation to digital literacy. This methodology combined quantitative survey data with statistical analysis to gain insights into the digital literacy competencies of university students in both countries.
Findings: Findings indicate both countries' graduates possess strong digital competencies, with variations in skill proficiency and technology use reflecting socio-economic and educational factors. Collaboration skills notably exceed digital literacy expectations, highlighting cultural or educational emphases on teamwork. The study suggests enhancing digital infrastructure and educational programs to address identified gaps, advocating for tailored approaches to improve digital literacy and skill development.
Contributions: This research contributes to understanding digital literacy in the digital age, emphasizing the necessity of 21st-century skills for academic and professional success.
Keywords: Digital literacy and 21st-century skills, collaboration, critical thinking, communication, creativity
Chinese primary school teacher leadership behaviors: A mixed method study
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Teacher leadership is an important aspect of school leadership and is an essential factor in teaching quality across levels and disciplines. However, there is a deficit in the literature that describes a comprehensive conception and enactment of leadership behaviors among primary school teachers in the Asian context, including that of China.
Methodology: This paper presents an explanatory sequential mixed methods study that examined and explored the enactment of teacher leadership behaviors through a cross-sectional survey of 650 and semi-structured interviews of 26 primary school teachers in Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
Findings: Rasch model analysis of quantitative data revealed the most and least frequently endorsed indicators in the five domains of teacher leadership behavior: promoting professional learning, focusing learning process, encouraging collegial collaboration, engaging school decision-making, and liaising with external affiliations. The same was confirmed with the themes generated from the qualitative results, including two emerging themes: being assigned additional work and setting professional goals.
Contributions: The study suggests the need to develop and strengthen primary school teacher leadership behaviors to cope and keep up with the rapidly changing educational landscape, including the associated high level of epistemic fluency required.
Keywords: Teacher leadership, primary school, Rasch model analysis, explanatory sequential mixed methods, mainland China
Aligning with global trends: Assessing executive and fiscal reforms in Malaysia's public sector
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Due to Barisan Nasional (BN) governance issues, corruption, and financial scandals, Pakatan Harapan (PH) sought institutional reforms in Malaysia. International Public Sector Accounting Standard ( IPSAS) and Malaysian Public Sector Accounting Standard (MPSAS) improved financial reporting and transparency. New accounting regulations' costs and benefits, especially in honesty and fairness, are difficult to weigh. Therefore, the article examines how these reforms affect Federal Statutory Bodies and honest and fair view reporting.
Methodology: Malaysian Federal Statutory Bodies' accounting staff self-administered a quantitative survey questionnaire. Senior financial reporters with three years of experience participated. For clarification, a Malay and English five-point Likert scale poll had 99 valid responses. A questionnaire encompassed cost-benefit evaluations, social ideals, and honest reporting. We performed descriptive and inferential statistical tests, including factor and bivariate analysis.
Findings: Accurate financial reporting requires cost-benefit analysis, highlighting strategic accounting reform decision-making. Accrual accounting procedures justify the high initial costs with openness, uniformity, and financial monitoring. Social values favourably promote true and fair perspective reporting, however they lack statistical significance in the Malaysian public sector due to its stringent regulatory system.
Contributions: This study illuminates financial reporting complexities and suggests employing qualitative methods to improve findings and overcome limitations.
Keywords: True and fair view, reporting, societal values, balancing cost-benefit concern, public sector
Vocabulary learning strategies in early-stage foreign language learners at university level: Insights from Vietnamese learners in Brunei.
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: Vocabulary knowledge is foundational to foreign language learning, yet most research on vocabulary learning strategies (VLS) has focused on widely taught languages such as English. Less commonly taught languages (LCTLs), like Vietnamese, present additional linguistic challenges—such as tone systems and unfamiliar morphology—that complicate vocabulary acquisition and require more context-sensitive learning strategies. This study addresses this gap by investigating the VLS employed by early-stage university learners of Vietnamese in Brunei’s multilingual environment.
Methodology: This quantitative study surveyed 120 Bruneian undergraduates learning Vietnamese, selected for their beginner status. Data were collected via an adapted VLS Questionnaire and analysed using SPSS for descriptive and inferential patterns across Schmitt’s (1997) six VLS categories.
Findings: Results indicate a strong reliance on cognitive and social strategies, while memory and metacognitive strategies were underused despite their potential benefits. Notable mismatches between usage and perceived effectiveness suggest the need for pedagogical realignment. Importantly, the findings support the broader applicability of Schmitt’s taxonomy beyond English learning contexts, demonstrating its relevance for LCTL instruction when appropriately adapted.
Contributions: By contextualising VLS use in a Southeast Asian setting and focusing on an underrepresented language, this study offers practical implications for LCTL instruction and contributes to a more inclusive understanding of vocabulary strategy research.
Keywords: Vocabulary learning strategies, less commonly taught languages, Vietnamese learner, Schmitt’s taxonomy, multilingual learners
The effects of commuting to the workplace on the quality of life of low-income employees
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: It is crucial to take into account the repercussions of mobility. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of commuting to work on individuals from the low-income population in the island area of Penang State, Malaysia.
Methodology: The study utilized a combination of quantitative and qualitative procedures, employing a mixed methods approach. The quantitative aspect was distributing a questionnaire to 306 low-income urban workers. Concurrently, the qualitative component entailed conducting comprehensive interviews with a subgroup of 10 employees who consistently travel over 15 km to their place of work.
Findings: The study's findings suggest that a substantial majority of the participants, precisely 89.21%, demonstrate a considerable dependence on their own vehicles. Only a small fraction of persons, specifically 5.56%, opt to employ public transit for commuting to their workplace. The findings suggest that health challenges have a greater impact on the impacts of commuting, compared to decreases in work performance and the existence of a mental illness.
Contributions: Hence, policymakers must prioritize the inclusion of measures to decrease travel duration when developing sustainable transport regulations. This is crucial in promoting sustainable mobility among low-income urban workers and addressing health concerns associated with their daily journey to work.
Keywords: Effects of commuting, commuting to the workplace, quality of life
ESG disclosure, Multiple Large Shareholding (MLS), female directors and firm performance: The case of Chinese manufacturing firms
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: In China, rapid industrialisation and economic growth have heightened the scrutiny of corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, particularly in the manufacturing industry, which significantly contributes to environmental degradation and social challenges. This study examines the potential advantages of ESG reporting for Chinese manufacturing firms. Additionally, it assesses the role of female directors in moderating the relationship between ESG practices and reporting towards firm performance, offering insights into the importance of gender diversity on corporate boards in promoting sustainable and responsible business practices.
Methodology: This study employs a quantitative approach, utilising publicly available data on ESG reporting and corporate financial performance in Chinese A-share listed manufacturing firms from 2018 to 2022. Financial data and relevant metrics were sourced from the CSMAR and Winds databases. Two regression models were used. The first evaluates the direct relationship between ESG reporting and MLS on corporate financial performance, measured by return on assets (ROA). The second incorporates the moderating effect of female directors on this relationship.
Findings: The study found that ESG reporting positively influences the financial performance of Chinese manufacturing listed companies. Improved ESG performance enhances corporate transparency, reduces information asymmetry, and fosters stakeholder trust. The findings also indicate that female directors significantly moderate the relationship between ESG reporting, MLS, and performance. Their presence strengthens ESG initiatives’ impact.
Contributions: The study provides insights into the relationship between female directors and ESG practices in Chinese firms. It contributes to understanding ethical decision-making and has implications for developing corporate governance policies in China.
Keywords: ESG reporting, firm performance, female directors, gender diversity, corporate governance
Charting the landscape of corporate philanthropy: A bibliometric exploration of trends and themes
Get PDFBackground and Purpose: This study aims to identify the key areas and current dynamics of Corporate Philanthropy (CP) while providing recommendations for future research directions.
Methodology: A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 558 studies retrieved from Scopus, covering research activities on CP from 1955 to 2022. High-impact articles and authors were identified based on their citation scores and significance within the field. The study also explored contemporary issues, highlighted limitations in the existing literature, and proposed new avenues for future inquiry.
Findings: The study provides an in-depth analysis of CP, highlighting recent discoveries and shifts in perspectives. While earlier studies often portrayed CP as disadvantageous to companies due to financial outflows, critiques from agency theory revealed instances where managers misused CP to justify unnecessary expenditures. However, more recent research demonstrates that CP provides tangible benefits, including additional revenue streams, enhanced visibility, and stronger market presence, ultimately benefiting stakeholders and contributing to corporate sustainability. Directions for future research are outlined to further explore these dynamics.
Contributions: This research is among the first to utilize Harzing and VOSviewer software for analyzing the evolution of CP studies. The review identifies key trends in annual publications, prolific authors, highly cited papers, leading countries, top institutions, and prominent sources. The insights generated provide a robust foundation for advancing the study of CP and fostering new research agendas.
Keywords: Corporate philanthropy, bibliometric analysis, citation network, Scopus, systematic literature review