E-Prosiding Seminar Pengantarabangsaan Pengajian Tinggi 2022 (SPPT 2022)

Malaysia aims to become the hub of international higher education. It is parallel with the current market trends that showed Asian universities are now becoming the main choice among international students to further their tertiary education. On becoming the best higher education provider, the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education has tabled its own internationalisation plans and policies, expanding upon and going beyond the guidelines set out by the Malaysian government. Apart from that, the Malaysian government and its related institutions came out with plans, procedures, and resources to entice overseas students together with the efforts taken by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The objectives of this study is to explore the factors behind migrating international students to Malaysia for higher study and examine the experiences that they face during studying at a Malaysian university. Third-country students choose Malaysia to further their higher education because of scholarships and grants, various initiatives, extended visas, high-quality education, social security, and rankings of universities. Additional appealing elements like tuition costs, ideological and cultural compatibility, language skills, job availability, and simple immigration procedures might affect their decision. However, the above-mentioned privileges are also certainly offered by other countries. Therefore, this research aims to comprehend the other justified reasons why international students decide to pursue their higher education in Malaysian universities, with a special focus on East-Coast universities. This research also makes an effort to analyze the experiences experienced by international students during their study period in Malaysia. The primary theoretical framework for discussing the findings of the study is the "Push and Pull factors" approach. Interviews were conducted with 25 international students enrolled in postgraduate programs at the East Coast universities in Malaysia. Education quality, world-class institutions, social security, the standard of living, simple application procedures, and Malaysia's amazing arts, culture, and heritage (MAACH) are recognized as major "pull factors" behind the decision of international students in choosing Malaysia as a higher education destination. Meanwhile, Social insecurity, political instability, educational opportunity and quality of the home country, personal choice, and job opportunity are found to be the major "push factors." The findings of this research offer prospective international students the best consequences they will experience when studying in Malaysia.

COVID-19 pandemic and its afterward endemic phase has caused a huge change on the educational institutions, yet provided new opportunities for universities gaining new breed of online generation, and enabling universities to be more diversified and potentially to extend for hybrid teaching and learning. International mobility programme has always been a good input and resource for universities, and the experience by students completed their course have extensive influence to the junior at their respective institution, in becoming new batches of international mobility students. This paper will discuss on two different perspectives of international mobility students based on the conventional programme right before the pandemic, discussion on the feedback and several cases being mentioned, as well as the new SHARE COIL course that getting more popular amongst 32 partner universities listed under COIL. Results on the impact of SHARE COIL course enriching students experience are also being reported in this paper. The paper here provides an insight that would always be meaningful to the international mobility students came from different countries within the past many years. It is concluded that the success of international mobility programme could be much impacted by the facilitation process exercised by the international relations office of each respective universities, and requires joint effort for a great internal ecosystem. Added-value could be well obtained when there is mutual understanding and commitment between management to provide full support, international relations office to facilitate, and faculty to execute. Coordinators for mobility students and education exhibitions would indirectly impact the success of the programme as well.

Academic recognition from overseas universities is an important matter for international students. In fact, international students must go through various challenges which require them to adapt to the system and cultural differences. This study explores the learning experience of international students in Malaysia who are pursuing academic studies at a local university by focusing on the students' perceptions, values, and emotions towards the experience. A total of 47 international students participated in answering the question. Data were analysed using a frequency and thematic analysis. There are three types of learning experiences encountered by international students, namely positive experiences, negative experiences, and mixed experiences. Each type of experience is supported by statements that highlight the students' values, emotions and perceptions of the events that happened to them. It is hoped that this study can help educational institutions build a support system for international students as well as improve the quality of learning experience at local universities.

According to Jane Knight, in internationalizing higher education, it is best to practice the dynamic activity approach and process approach to internationalization. Giving attention to one approach alone could contribute to a less focused approach and could potentially hinder the institutions from receiving the maximum benefits of internationalization. This study is part of a larger research that explores the approaches to the internationalization of higher education in the experiences of meso-level professionals of a Malaysia Technical University (MTU, a pseudonym). A qualitative case study methodology is adopted to gain adequate information from the internationalization key actors of the institution through an in-depth interview and was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that the major focus on internationalization from the perspective of meso-level professionals at MTU was viewed through a list of international activities which are the recruitment of international students, the execution of international programs, and the development of collaboration with international partners or organizations. This view represents the concept of the activity approach to internationalization per se. However, internationalization experts have long promoted the ideal practices of internationalization to be in a dynamic way between the activity approach and process approach. The result of this study offers the MTU valuable information on internationalization approaches to serve as a guideline in measuring the internationalization practices, strategies, and improvement of the institution.

Virtual mobility (VM) has been defined as a form of mobility that aims to expand the student’s experience and scope out of traditional mobility programs. The mobility programme was created to suit the current situation and changed into a virtual programme beginning in 2020 owing to the pandemic COVID-19. In order to promote mobility experiences throughout the pandemic and post-pandemic, virtual mobility (VM) has been introduced. The VM programme, however, may expose the participants to a variety of perceptions and experiences. This study describes a VM programme in which university students from Malaysia and Japan participated and aimed to give students the chance to experience mobility through online collaboration. To this aim, a qualitative approach, the e-interview method was used. This method is used to explicitly explain and identify the perception of the VM students about the program. The e-interview was distributed to the respondents and they submit their replies through Google form to be analyzed. Based on the perceptions of the respondents who participated in this programme, data were examined using Leximancer. The findings show that the respondent's perception of the VM can be divided into two, positive and negative perceptions. They also describe their experience during their involvement in this VM program. The respondents learn about the differences between their own culture and that of others through dialogue and group problem-solving during the VM programme. They emphasized the importance of the VM programme in assisting students in developing their intercultural competency. The findings also show that the VM is essential for a generation that will need to work in multi-ethnic and diverse teams and workplaces.

Internationalization and promotion are associated but not the same matter. Internationalization contains the policies and practices commenced by academic systems and institutions and even persons to deal with the worldwide academic ecosystem. Promotion relates to publicizing a product, organization, or venture to increase sales or public awareness. The rationales for internationalization of high institutional centre of excellence involve the academic, the cultural/social, the economic, and many others. Specific initiatives such as knowledge sharing, research mentoring, innovation hub extension programs, and others have been put into place as part of the internationalization and promotional strategies of the Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products.

Penjenamaan pengantarabangsaan pendidikan tinggi negara telah dilaksanakan secara berterusan sejak dua dekad lalu. Beberapa dasar pengantarabangsaan telah diperbaharui dan diperkenalkan untuk mempergiatkan program promosi pendidikan negara ke mata dunia. Untuk negara menjadi hub pendidikan asia dan dunia, pelbagai inisiatif dilaksanakan sehingga membawa kepada kewujudan agensi kolaborasi seperti Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia, Education Malaysia Global Services dan sokongan dari institusi pengajian awam dan swasta bagi memastikan peta pendidikan negara dapat dilukis glokal & global. Namun cabaran penjenamaan antarabangsa pendidikan negara kini perlu diperhalusi lagi dari segi strategi komunikasi penjenamaannya (branding communication strategy) dan ianya boleh dimulakan dari pelbagai sudut seperti meningkatkan taraf kedudukan indek tinjauan antarabangsa, merubah klise program promosi antarabangsa, memperkemaskan reputasi pengurusan pelajar antarabangsa oleh IPT dan dasar keselamatan negara boleh melebarkan lagi jaringan ekosistem promosi pendidikan ke pentas dunia. Kertas ini cuba merungkai permasalahan penjenamaan antarabangsa pendidikan negara yang belum mempunyai penyelesaian dan kaedah baru untuk mengatasinya. Kertas ini memberikan perpektif baru didalam melihat kejumudan program penjenamaan pendidikan negara yang kini semakin kerap diasak oleh negara-negara rakan Asean kita seperti Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam dan Filipina yang sudah mula mengorak langkah untuk menjadikan pendidikan sebagai salah satu sumber pendapatan negara dan bakal menyumbang kepada pembangunan kemanusian, sosial dan permodenan masing-masing. Segala pendapat yang ditulis adalah berbentuk makro dan ditujukan kepada penyata polisi pendid ikan negara untuk mula memikirkan kepentingan penjanamaan pengantarabangsaan pendidikan negara yang baru untuk menyambut kedatangan masa depan dunia yang tidak ketentuan ini.

Globalisation is increasingly affecting every part of what is happening worldwide. With the help of globalisation, students everywhere can further their studies abroad. Activities such as student exchange programs and virtual cross-border forums had been introduced to help realise the mission. Nevertheless, the movement of international students has become more and more vulnerable to upheavals in politics, culture, economy, and public health, especially during the pandemic. Now, approaching the post-pandemic era, higher education institutions have been called to accelerate sustainable internationalization aspirations to make sure they are ready for a more cooperative global community. Past research had dwelled on the subject of post-pandemic learning with a variety of issues and solutions. International students had some problems managing their way of adapting to the locals and the normalities within the country. Thus, presented here are a series propositions to help sustain and enrich the international students’ experiences who are studying at local institutes to be adopted by the institutions even during unprecedented uncertainties and some of the best practices implemented by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), serving a student population of diverse cultures and backgrounds. A qualitative research method will be used to support the findings as well as acquiring data and information from various research papers that had been published before ranging from the year 2020 until today. Solutions like providing cultural exposure and digital learning demonstrated by the institution had been found to be practical enough for assessing the issue. Regardless, institutions hosting international students should be able to impart a more inclusive and multicultural environment throughout.

Matlamat penawaran kursus Bahasa Melayu Komunikasi oleh Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi di IPTA dan IPTS adalah bertujuan untuk membantu pelajar asing supaya dapat bertutur dengan menggunakan Bahasa Melayu mudah serta dapat membiasakan diri dengan budaya dan kehidupan di Malaysia. Walau bagaimanapun, terdapat beberapa permasalahan yang didapati berlaku semasa pelajar mengikuti kursus ini selama satu semester. Hal ini kerana, kursus Bahasa Melayu Komunikasi merangkumi komponen linguistik yang menjadi teras utama dalam pembelajaran bahasa dan pada masa yang sama terdapat juga beberapa elemen budaya Melayu yang bercanggah dengan budaya penutur asing yang tidak tepat apabila diterjemahkan menerusi aplikasi sedia ada dalam laman web. Oleh itu, objektif makalah ini akan membincangkan masalah-masalah penutur asing dalam mempelajari Bahasa Melayu Komunikasi dari sudut linguistik, iaitu fonetik dan fonologi, morfologi serta sintaksis. Makalah ini akan menggunakan video tugasan akhir yang dihasilkan oleh pelajar Bahasa Melayu Komunikasi di Universiti Xiamen Malaysia sebagai data kajian. Perbincangan akan dibahagikan mengikut komponen linguistik supaya permasalahan yang timbul dapat dijelaskan dari sudut bahasa secara khusus. Hasil dapatan kajian menunjukkan terdapat masalah yang timbul semasa proses pembelajaran semasa penutur asing mengikut kursus Bahasa Melayu Komunikasi, namun permasalahan ini dapat diselesaikan sekiranya elemen linguistik diambilkira dalam pengajaran kursus ini.

The economic recession due to the COVID-19 crisis has influenced the affordability of most international students to further their studies overseas. The fear of the global health crisis and the lockdowns has affected the demand for international education, including international student recruitment. This paper discusses the experience of the international office of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, a public university in Malaysia, in enhancing marketing and promotional strategies during the pandemic to attract international students. It analyses the marketing and promotional strategies implemented, including the strengths and constraints faced in getting international students. This paper is divided into several subheadings, which are the strategies employed to attract international students, including repositioning brand visibility, student recruitment agencies, digital marketing, and virtual info day, where each strategy is scrutinised and assessed thoroughly based on the author’s observation as the person involved in international promotion. All the strategies employed were found to be the most effective types of marketing strategies to be implemented during the pandemic. The findings would assist policymakers, universities and international office personnel in reviewing their current promotional strategies.

The purpose of this research is to predict the effect of empathy (EM), moral obligation (MOB), self-efficacy (SE), and social support (SS) on social entrepreneurship competency (SEC). Drawing upon theory planned behavior (TPB) and experiential learning theory (ELT), using stratified random sampling and cross-sectional research design, the study collected and analyzed 384 questionnaires with a response rate of 73.8% from students ENACTUS universities members in the Guangdong province, China. The study revealed that MOB, SE, and SS were significantly influenced SEC. Although EM records an insignificant effect on SEC. The results also indicated that EL positively influences SEC substantially. This study addressed the critical role of EL in strengthening students’ social entrepreneurial competency. The study advances TPB by elaborating on new insights to determine the importance of EL and students' social entrepreneurial skills to develop existing social entrepreneurial competencies.

A significant number of local academicians were awarded opportunity to study abroad for their PhD. However, this figure is contradicted with the number of scientific articles published by one academician with his/her PhD supervisor. With the strict criteria being set by the Times Higher Education 2014 Ranking with regard to citations and internationalism, it is of great interest to strategize on the the co-authorship work between local academicians and their foreign PhD supervisors. To illustrate this, a case study is presented in this paper involving an academia from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) and his former PhD supervisor from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). A series of published journal and proceeding articles are listed, of which collaboratively written by both parties. The articles comprise the ones being published during and after PhD completion, with some awards achieved at the respective conferences. This case study is aimed to inspire other academicians in adapting the same strategy.

Higher Education in Malaysia, particularly private higher education is one of the contributors to the country’s economy through services sector. Throughout 2015-2020, Malaysian economy grew at an average annual rate of 2.7%, mainly driven by the services and manufacturing sectors. The services sector was significantly contributed by the traditional services subsector at 71.1%, while the balance 28.9% was by the modern services subsector, in which private education services is one of the subsectors. According to the data by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), Malaysia has recorded a downward trend in 2018 and 2019 and steady increase of international students’ applications in 2020 and 2021. The positive trend signals a growing interests from international students in pursuing study in Malaysia. Furthermore, according to the data by Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), it is seen that the biggest fraction of international students in Malaysia is from South Asia region and considerable portions of them are from East Asia, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Southeast Asia (SEA) and Africa regions. Thus, it can be concluded that the data predominantly shows that a very small fraction of international students is from the first-world or high income countries. Therefore, the current marketing narratives are suggested to be reviewed and improved by incorporating Malaysian identity across online and offline touch-points; boasting Malaysia’s expertise and advancement; leveraging Malaysia’s Foreign University Branch Campuses; defining Malaysia via niche industry-focused curriculum and universities; and empowering international alumni as Malaysia’s Mini Education Ambassadors (MEA).

Globalization requires internationalisation. Higher education must embrace the internationalisation agenda by implementing innovative, strategic programmes and approaches. Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) is one of Indonesia's top universities, and it has a long-term plan for internationalisation. Technically, international programmes such as International Program for Islamic Economics and Finance (IPIEF) execute the internationalisation process. In line with internationalisation, IPIEF refers to the department of economics' vision and mission to become a reputable international programme (2015-2020) and research excellence university (2020-2025). IPIEF's programmes indicate serious efforts and commitments based on integrating Islamic and conventional values in its curriculum. Integration aims to show that internationalisation isn't just about pragmatics, but also about values. International instruments are divided into five pillars and buffered by activities within each pillar. IPIEF proposes a masterplan as a raw model with standardised input, process, and output business models, vision, and mission. Internationalization agenda is expected to showcase university agenda as part of international community and promote community impacts.

In recent years, Malaysia has been attracting many international students to our public higher institution, which is expected to increase by the year 2025. This research objective examines the relationship between English proficiency and social support on academic adjustment and acculturative stress among international students. Guided by the Berry Acculturation Model (1997), this quantitative research design uses the survey method to collect data from the sample. A total of 129 data was collected. Results revealed a positive correlation between English proficiency and academic adjustment and a positive correlation between social support and academic adjustment, however no significant correlation on acculturation stress. Findings from multiple linear regression analysis further showed that English proficiency significantly predicted their academic adjustment. Neither main effects nor between-subjects effects of gender and length of stay in Malaysia is significant on students’ academic adjustment and acculturative stress. This research will contribute to the international students to increase their awareness of the importance of English proficiency and social support on academic adjustment. It also gives insight to the public higher institution to create support services and the community and local students can be aware of giving help to the international students.

Peningkatan enrolmen pelajar antarabangsa yang melanjutkan pelajaran di Malaysia sama ada di Institut Pengajian Tinggi Awam (IPTA) atau di Institut Pengajian Tinggi Swasta (IPTS) kian meningkat. Pada tahun 2019, jumlah bilangan pelajar antarabangsa di Institusi Pengajian Tinggi Awam (IPTA) negara adalah berjumlah sekitar 182,536 orang. Pada tahun 2020 pula, bilangan pelajar antarabangsa telah menurun kepada 177,710, hal ini berikutan wabak virus Covid-19 yang telah melanda dunia seterusnya menyebabkan semua aktiviti pendidikan, perniagaan, ekonomi dan pelancongan terjejas dan lumpuh. Walaubagaimanapun, peningkatan kemasukan telah berlaku pada tahun 2021, di mana jumlah bilangan pelajar antarabangsa di Malaysia meningkat sebanyak 181,901 orang. Senario pendidikan tinggi di Malaysia mengalami perubahan ideologi bagi memenuhi aspirasi pembangunan negara dan pasaran antarabangsa. Ini selaras dengan hasrat Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi untuk menarik minat 250,000 pelajar antarabangsa seterusnya menjadikan Malaysia sebagai hab pendidikan global. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti peranan ISS bagi merapatkan jurang perbezaan sosio-budaya di dalam kampus. Seramai 20 orang wakil pelajar antarabangsa yang terdiri daripada ahli jawatankuasa tertinggi dalam Persatuan Pelajar Antarabangsa di UTM telah dipilih sebagai responden melalui kaedah persampelan rawak mudah. Hasil kajian mendapati komunikasi yang lemah dari segi perbezaan bahasa, amalan dan norma merupakan aspek yang menjurus kepada jurang sosio-budaya di kalangan pelajar antarabangsa dan komuniti tempatan. Oleh yang demikian, pemerkasaan terhadap peranan ahli persatuan pelajar antarabangsa telah menjadi elemen yang sangat penting untuk merapatkan jurang perbezaan sosio-budaya yang wujud. Selain itu, Universiti juga harus bertanggungjawab mewujudkan persekitaran yang harmoni dan lestari agar jurang perbezaan budaya, agama dan bahasa dengan komuniti tempatan UTM serta masyarakat setempat dapat di integrasikan.

Research has plays significant roles in the development of technological solutions and contributes to the development of one’s nation and country. Due to hefty amount of monetary requirement, longer time span for a result, and higher risk for completion, an innovative approach is desired. Research collaboration, an external matching grant, and universities-industry paired scheme are the efforts made by Malaysian government, specifically Ministry of Higher Education, as the largest recipient for managing research grant in Malaysia. It perceived that research is now as diplomatic tools, for finding, matching, pairing, and even managing Malaysia research community with international research community, research firms, or even foreign government. Using cases as a reference, this study found that research not only contributes to the embarking new knowledge and advancing modern technologies, but it also serves as diplomatic tools in strengthening international collaboration. It is hope that the government will consider a more research funds, because it not only benefitting Malaysia internally, but also paving for Malaysia as potential international collaborators, thus enhancing Malaysia prestige internationally

The internationalisation of higher education has been an important strategy in leaping knowledge dissemination and broadening the impacts to a larger community to increase visibility regionally and globally. Sustainable Agricultural Landscapes in Southeast Asia (SALSA) is an international cooperation platform for building research and training among the researchers, students, and industrialists between the three key founding members, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia, Institut Pertanian STIPER (INSTIPER), Indonesia and University of Los Banos (UPLB), Philippines. SALSA is envisioned to champion the scope of transforming a new generation of survival smallholders into agro-preneur by employing digitalisation approaches in supporting the sustainability of the tropical agri-food sectors in Southeast Asia. SALSA platform aims to highlight the international agenda in shaping research and development (R&D) programs linking multiple stakeholders in a cooperation platform. It is also to work on complex scientific questions underlying global agricultural issues. The idea of partnership platforms for research and training is involving the circular process of higher education, research, and innovation. In working in a collaborative platform, partners are established in different sizes and natures. Partners need the ability to be flexible and adaptable to the differences. Strengthening communication, would nurture good teamwork and maintain trust and commitment.

To increase visibility of an institution and to recruit a growing number of international students, marketing and promotion of a university are vital. University Sultan Zainal Abidin is one of the youngest and smallest of the 20 public universities in Malaysia. It is also one of three Islamic public universities in the country. With limited resources in terms of a dedicated marketing team for internationalisation, the International Centre at UniSZA looks at marketing and promotion from a pragmatic perspective and has focused on 4 key areas that serve to increase international student enrollment at the institution. By supporting a well-functioning ecosystem on campus, collaborating with scholarship bodies, engaging with individual agents, and taking advantage of new opportunities, UniSZA has been able to recruit and maintain a healthy international student population. This in turn serves to support Malaysia’s higher education internationalisation aspirations.

When the pandemic hit and the physical movement restriction was enforced worldwide, all sectors especially international higher education reacted reactively towards the new and unprecedented challenges. The partnerships among universities and countries halted for a while before finding out that the virtual realm allows the relationship to carry on, and even foster old ones and create new partnerships via online means. UKM shares the challenges, the success stories and the best practices hosting webinars during the pandemic and how it helps to lessen the bridging gaps among partners, old and new. Not only webinars manage to gather enthusiast from all corners of the world, but it also connects parties with similar intention to start a new partnership and creates more opportunities for the masses to connect and engage.