Factors Affecting Adaptability of International Students in Malaysia during COVID-19 Pandemic

It is crucial to investigate adaptability in the context of COVID-19, as evidence suggests that difficulties posed by adaptability can be exacerbated during times of crisis. International students encounter additional pressures during this period, which might impair their capacity to stay and prosper in a new place. In light of this context, the purpose of this study is to examine the factors that contribute to the adaptability of international university students in Malaysia, namely the academic system, acculturation, and social support. A cross-sectional research design was used, and the research instruments were adapted from a number of previous studies. A total of one hundred thirty online questionnaires were filled out by international students in Malaysia. The research hypotheses were evaluated using SPSS Version 27.0. All predictors were found to have a statistically significant and positive effect on the adaptability of international students. This research aims to shed light on educational management strategies for addressing the adaptability challenges faced by most international students within COVID-19 by illuminating the key drivers that influence adaptability. © Journal of Curriculum and Teaching..All rights reserved

Secondary school students' school-related stressors during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Sabah, Malaysia

IntroductionDue to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption of education systems worldwide, secondary schools in Malaysia have shifted to online classes to ensure educational continuity. Therefore, it was necessary to investigate the various effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on secondary school students. MethodsA self-reported survey with closed and open-ended questions was used to collect data involving 1,067 secondary school students from eight schools in Sabah, Malaysia. The participants were mostly male (53.4%), with a mean age of 14.8 (SD = 1.64). The study involved students from various levels/grades, including transition class, forms 1-5, lower six, and upper six. ResultsStudents faced a variety of school-related stressors, including academic failure due to a poor online course;general mental health issues;a poor internet connection;a lack of in-person interaction;a SOP restriction;an inability to focus;too many homework assignments;burnout;becoming lazier;home conditions;and financial difficulties. DiscussionThe implications for classroom practice, policy formulation, and future research are examined.

Shakespeare as a vehicle for empathy and diagnostic skills training in undergraduate medical students in their psychiatry posting

Psychiatry undergraduate training has been significantly curtailed by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article examines the use of Shakespeare's Hamlet, especially via the characters of Hamlet and Ophelia, to impart two core skills in psychiatry, namely diagnostic abilities and empathy. Medical students undergoing the psychiatry posting watched Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet online, focusing on identifying psychopathology, forming diagnoses, identifying countertransferences, and developing empathy through acting out close passages. Students were able to identify the features of bipolar disorder in Hamlet, correlating his behavior with separate depressive and manic episodes. They were also able to appreciate the unique quality of dissociation in Ophelia, especially in Act 4 of Hamlet, and recognize it as a manifestation of post-traumatic stress disorder. Through acting out closed passages, students were also able to feel empathy by putting themselves into the shoes of Hamlet and Ophelia. Such a pedagogical approach has additional unexpected utility in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly curtailed face-to-face medical education, leading to alternative online methods such as movies and Shakespearean plays in psychiatry education. In conclusion, though online methods cannot fully supplant face-to-face patient contact, they can be crucial tools in times of necessity and allow students to engage in interdisciplinary education, marrying the arts and the humanities.

Integrating the technology acceptance model on online learning effectiveness of emerging adult learners in Guangzhou, China

Due to the Zero-COVID policies implemented in China, students have accepted online education for curriculum learning for a considerable period of time. The objective of the current study was to determine the relationship between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, gender, and the online learning effectiveness of emerging adult learners in Guangzhou, China, who were enrolled in a continuing education program. The research framework was created in accordance with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The convenient sampling and snowball sampling methods were used to collect 123 respondents for the study. Findings revealed that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were positively associated with online learning effectiveness, but gender was not. The study recommended that school administrators enhance students' perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use to improve the online learning effectiveness. The findings of this study will provide scholars with insights for improving the investment effectiveness of adult education programs. In addition, because online learning tends to be more adaptable and economical than traditional classes, the increase in learning effectiveness can provide schools with justifications to continue utilizing online education even after the pandemic. © 2023 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved.

Evidence of COVID-19's financial epidemiology on the ASEAN-5 stock indices

Little research has been done to determine whether the pandemic's impact is strong enough to innovate all of the ASEAN-5 stock indices. The traditional studies of financial epidemiology in regional equities mainly focus on the major global stock markets. This paper utilizes the conventional t-test and the advanced computational power of the Wavelet Power Energy Spectrum (WPES) to investigate the magnitude of the significance of the COVID-19 impacts on the ASEAN-5 stock indices. Our t-test confirms that the pandemic has caused significant changes to the overall stock index activities. Further, the WPES analysis yielded notable results based on the spectrogram plots. First, based on the spectral analysis, during pandemic, the ASEAN-5 stock indices experienced episodes of innovation in terms of market activities. It was also observed that the regional stock indices experienced phases of volatility persistence, volatility clustering and long memory of up to four months. We conclude that, due to the impact of the pandemic, trend-following investors can't dominate the market as they react quickly and efficiently to new information. It is suggested that asset allocation strategists particularly should regularly review and conduct climate tests on their baskets to ensure their positions are durable and resistant to shocks. The results of this study offer significant insights for both institutional and retail investors, particularly in strategizing investment baskets during uncertainties. © 2023 AESS Publications. All Rights Reserved.

EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY IN MALAYSIA

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a decline in employee satisfaction. It would appear that ensuring the contentment of one's workforce in their place of employment is the most significant obstacle that companies must overcome. Therefore, this study examined the effects of wages and welfare, relations with superiors, and learning and development on employee satisfaction in Malaysia. The study employed a cross-sectional design, and the research instruments were adapted from several prior studies. Employees working for a telecommunications company in Malaysia completed a total of 162 questionnaires online. The research hypotheses were analysed using SPSS Version 26.0. The findings show that although relations with superiors had a significant positive effect on employee satisfaction, learning and development had an even stronger positive effect. On the other hand, wages and welfare did not display a significant effect on employee satisfaction. This study makes a unique contribution to theoretical understanding by investigating these factors in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic as intrinsic and extrinsic components impacting employee satisfaction. Additionally, this research gives corporate organisations vital insights to ensure they can maintain a competitive edge in their industry. © 2022 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved.

E-books Purchase Intention During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Southern Region of Malaysia

This study aims to explore the effects of price, accessibility, and brand image on e-books purchase intention in Southern Region of Malaysia. A total of 237 questionnaires were collected online from e-book users.Partial least square structure equation modeling was employed to evaluate the research model and hypotheses.The results showed that only price had a positive effect on e-books purchase intention, but accessibility and brand image do not have significant effect on e-books purchase intention.This research givesremarkable theoretical contributionsby exploringthese elements amidst the COVID-19 situation as components of theory of reasoned action,and their effects on e-books purchase intention. This study likewise gives imperative insights to business organizations especially book publisher to consider better price as the business initiative to gain a competitive advantage in the market.

ONLINE GROCERY SHOPPING BEHAVIOR AMONG CONSUMERS IN SINGAPORE

The globalization trend during the Covid-19 pandemic showed that there are more consumers willing to shop online than visit physical stores. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of convenience, service quality, and social factors on consumer online grocery shopping behavior in Singapore during the Covid-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 153 respondents in Singapore via a survey, which was distributed through an online platform. A cross sectional study was applied, and the research instruments used were adapted from several past studies. Research hypotheses were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that convenience (β = 0.360, t = 4.063, p < 0.01) and service quality (β = 0.416, t = 5.495, p < 0.01) significantly influence consumer online grocery shopping. However, social factors (β = 0.042, t = 0.490, p > 0.05) have no significant influence on consumer online grocery shopping. With the help of the Theory of Planned Behavior, the present study has provided support for previous studies as well as clarified the roles played by convenience, service quality, social factors in consumer online grocery shopping behavior in Singapore. © 2022 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved.