Service Learning in Higher Education: Evidence from Malaysia

  • Authors

    • Norlai le Salleh Hudin
    • Juliana Osman
    • Suzyanty Mohd Shokory
    • Hariyati Ab Wahid
    2018-08-24
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i3.30.18361
  • Service learning, higher education, learning development

  • Abstract

    The conventional lecture teaching style designed by our education system is becoming less relevant in meeting the millennial students’ learning necessities. Common lecture seems no longer adequate in developing an engaging and effective lesson for the graduates. For that reason, Malaysian Ministry of Education suggests SERVICE-LEARNING (SL) to be conducted to supplement student learning. Nevertheless, prior studies on SL effectiveness showed mixed results. Therefore, this study is conducted to understand and provide a detailed account of students’ learning development in a higher education institution in Malaysia. By employing the qualitative methodology, 39 students participated in SL project were interviewed to understand students’ learning development. The responses were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by using thematic analysis. The results revealed that knowledge and skills developed meaningfully through SL unlike in typical classroom setting where knowledge is expected to flow effectively from lecturers to students without real world experience or lasting impact. However, some students were found to understand the lesson slightly different from their peers. This research provides guidelines for course instructors to design SL in academic courses and improve student learning for the purpose of realizing Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025.

     

     

  • References

    1. [1] Lee MNN. Educational reforms in Malaysia: Towards equity, quality and efficiency: Taylor & Francis; 2014.

      [2] Seetha N. Are Soft skills Important in the Workplace?-A Preliminary Investigation in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. 2014;4(4):44.

      [3] Mohd Adnan Y, Daud MN, Alias A, Razali MN. Importance of Soft Skills for Graduates in the Real Estate Programmes in Malaysia. Journal of Surveying, Construction and Property. 2017 2017-08-23;3(2).

      [4] Singh P, Thambusamy RX, Ramly MA. Fit or unfit? Perspectives of employers and university instructors of graduates’ generic skills. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2014;123:315-24.

      [5] Ghazali G, Bennett D. Employability for music graduates: Malaysian educational reform and the focus on generic skills. International Journal of Music Education. 2017;35(4):588-600.

      [6] Yusof Yusmarwati, Roddin Rohayu, Awang Halizah. What Students Need, and What Teacher Did: The Impact of Teacher's Teaching Approaches to the Development of Students’ Generic Competences. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2015 2015/08/24/;204:36-44.

      [7] Shaari AS, Yusoff NM, Ghazali IM, Osman RH, Dzahir NFM. The relationship between lecturers’ teaching style and students’ academic engagement. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2014;118:10-20.

      [8] Yusof H, Vyapuri L, Jalil NA, Mansor M, Noor MAM. The Factors Affecting Teacher Leadership in Malaysian Primary Schools. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. 2017;7(6):620-31.

      [9] Ph’ng LM, editor. Teaching Styles, Learning Styles and the ESP Classroom. MATEC Web of Conferences; 2018: EDP Sciences.

      [10] Annafatmawaty B.T. Ismail, Sukanlaya S, Roxanne Z. Entrepreneurship education pedagogy: teacher-student-centred paradox. Education + Training. 2018;60(2):168-84.

      [11] Jackson D. Business graduate employability–where are we going wrong? Higher Education Research & Development. 2013;32(5):776-90.

      [12] Siddiqui MH. Technology in Higher Education: APH Publishing Corporation; 2004.

      [13] Grapragasem S, Krishnan A, Mansor AN. Current trends in Malaysian higher education and the effect on education policy and practice: An overview. International Journal of Higher Education. 2014;3(1):85.

      [14] Hanapi Z, Nordin MS. Unemployment among Malaysia graduates: Graduates’ attributes, lecturers’ competency and quality of education. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2014;112:1056-63.

      [15] Chiu LK, Mahat NI, Rashid B, Razak NA, Omar H. Assessing Students’ Knowledge and Soft Skills Competency in the Industrial Training Programme: The Employers’ Perspective. Review of European Studies. 2016;8(1):123.

      [16] Lim Y-M, Lee TH, Yap CS, Ling CC. Employability skills, personal qualities, and early employment problems of entry-level auditors: Perspectives from employers, lecturers, auditors, and students. Journal of Education for Business. 2016;91(4):185-92.

      [17] World Economic Forum. The future of jobs: employment, skills and workforce strategy for the fourth industrial revolution. Geneva: World Economic Forum; 2016.

      [18] Jalil A, Azyani N, Esa A. Kemahiran menyelesaikan masalah menerusi aktiviti kokurikulum (khidmat masyarakat) dalam kalangan pelajar. 2012.

      [19] Salleh MSM, Mokhtar M. Service Learning: Experiences and Perceptions Towards Students in UTM, Malaysia. Sains Humanika. 2017;9(1-3).

      [20] Bernacki ML, Jaeger E. Exploring the impact of service-learning on moral development and moral orientation. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning. 2008;14(2).

      [21] Flannery BL, Pragman CH. Service-learning and integrated course redesign: Principles of management and the campus kitchen metaproject. Journal of Management Education. 2010;34(1):11-38.

      [22] Vega G. Teaching business ethics through service learning metaprojects. Journal of Management Education. 2007;31(5):647-78.

      [23] Schoenherr T. Serviceâ€Learning in Supply Chain Management: Benefits, Challenges and Best Practices. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education. 2015;13(1):45-70.

      [24] Stelljes AD. Service-learning and Community Engagement: Cognitive Developmental Long-term Social Concern: Cambria Press; 2008.

      [25] Kolb AY, Kolb DA. Experiential learning theory: A dynamic, holistic approach to management learning, education and development. The SAGE handbook of management learning, education and development. 2009:42-68.

      [26] Ghee WY, Zakaria F. Promoting civic engagement through a service learning experience. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. 2012;2(12):83-8.

      [27] Weber J, Urick MJ. Examining the Millennials' Ethical Profile: Assessing Demographic Variations in Their Personal Value Orientations. Business and Society Review. 2017;122(4):469-506.

      [28] Lancaster LC, Stillman D. When generations collide. New York: Harper Collins Publishers Inc.; 2002.

      [29] Howe N, Strauss W. Millennials rising: The next great generation: Vintage; 2009.

      [30] D'Souza MJ, Rodrigues P. Engaging Millennial Students in an Engineering Classroom using Extreme pedagogy. Indian Journal of Science and Technology. 2015;8(24):1.

      [31] Pinder-Grover T, Groscurth CR. Principles for teaching the millennial generation: Innovative practices of UM faculty. Center for Research on Learning and Teaching. 2009;26:1-8.

      [32] Tewari S, Bhattacharyya R, editors. Aspirations & Wants of Generation Z-A Study on the Work Force of the Future. International Conference on Technology and Business Management April; 2017.

      [33] Gloeckler G. Here come the millennials. Business Week. 2008;4109:46-50.

      [34] Weiler A. Information-seeking behavior in generation Y students: Motivation, critical thinking, and learning theory. The journal of academic librarianship. 2005;31(1):46-53.

      [35] Karakas F, Manisaligil A, Sarigollu E. Management learning at the speed of life: Designing reflective, creative, and collaborative spaces for millenials. The International Journal of Management Education. 2015;13(3):237-48.

      [36] Phillips CR, Trainor JE. Millennial students and the flipped classroom. Journal of Business and Educational Leadership. 2014;5(1):102.

      [37] Reilly P, editor. Understanding and Teaching Generation Y. English teaching forum; 2012: ERIC.

      [38] Raslie H, Pit S, Ting S-H. Millennials’ Expectations of Life at the University and the Workplace: A Malaysian Perspective. International Journal of Education. 2016;8(3):71.

      [39] Furco A. Service-learning: A balanced approach to experiential education. 1996.

      [40] McAllum K. Instructional Communication and Millennial Students: Managing Imposter Syndrome among the" Trophy Kids": Creating Teaching Practices That Develop Independence in Millennial Students. Communication Education. 2016;65(3):363-5.

      [41] Twenge JM, Campbell WK, Gentile B. Generational increases in agentic self-evaluations among American college students, 1966–2009. Self and Identity. 2012;11(4):409-27.

      [42] Yin RK. Qualitative research from start to finish: Guilford Publications; 2015.

      [43] Bringle RG, Ruiz AI, Brown MA, Reeb RN. Enhancing the Psychology Curriculum Through Service Learning. Psychology Learning & Teaching. 2016;15(3):294-309.

      [44] LeCompte MD. Analyzing Qualitative Data. Theory Into Practice. 2000;39(3):146-54.

      [45] Mat-jizat JE, Khalid K. A Service-Learning Project Using Crowdfunding Strategy: Students' Experience and Reflection. International Association for Development of the Information Society. 2016.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    le Salleh Hudin, N., Osman, J., Mohd Shokory, S., & Ab Wahid, H. (2018). Service Learning in Higher Education: Evidence from Malaysia. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(3.30), 474-479. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i3.30.18361

    Received date: 2018-08-27

    Accepted date: 2018-08-27

    Published date: 2018-08-24