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The participation of volunteers in volunteerism activities particularly in combating healthcare issues among underserved communities is highly demanded. Volunteerism refers to intangible contributions of time and effort spent to help those people in straitened circumstances in a community. Volunteerism is a type of philanthropic behavior. This study explored how social network acts as a mediator in the relationships between coping strategies and social trust with volunteerism. This study used a correlational research design involving 300 community health workers (CHWs) under MERCY Malaysia, a non-government organization (NGO) in the healthcare sector. Data were analysed using a two-step approach in structural equation modeling (SEM). Results showed that social network mediated the relationship between task-oriented coping and volunteerism in community healthcare. This study gives insights to managers and NGOs in hiring and retaining CHWs in community development work based on a developing country context.

This study aimed to contribute towards building a common understanding of the shared collaboration and enhancement between the industry, university, graduates and human resource development unite that strive to serve both in organizational learning, career development and training efforts to ensure that university education enhances quality education. Qualitative research design seems appropriate for this study because it entails the dynamic process and decision making to take process proceeds in problem identification, research questions, data collection, and research method, interpretation and presentation of findings. Phenomenological case was used as the most suitable of the study and purposive sampling was applied, while participants of the study consist of thirty (30) all together. The graduate employability capacities and self-esteem are not only promotes their employability skills, but enable the industry to obtain and sustain a competitive advantage in the dynamic world of work. Therefore, universities should critical evaluate their learning transfer, if it is aligned with industrial need to make graduates more viable. The findings indicate that in transfer of knowledge and learning, teaching is based on theory than practical which directly affects the transfer of the knowledge in the labor market. The study reports that there is “skills mismatch” because the application of what they have learnt in the universities is not applicable in the labor market. Therefore, the study recommends that university should engage in employment or open employment center within the university in collaboration with the industrial management. The university education should coordinate and promote academic activities; review their curriculum and other relevant academic matters with stakeholders and affiliating industries.

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti profil sukarelawan belia Malaysia. Kajian berbentuk kajian tinjauan ini menggunakan borang soal selidik. Sejumlah 1,200 orang responden terdiri daripada 708 sukarelawan belia dan 492 sukarelawan baharu belia di seluruh Malaysia yang terlibat dalam kajian ini. Kesemua data yang diperoleh telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan perisian SPSS. Hasil kajian menunjukkan profil kesukarelawanan belia iaitu faktor demografi: jantina, umur, bangsa, agama, status perkahwinan, tempat dibesarkan, negeri asal, tempat tinggal, jenis kediaman, status pekerjaan dan tahap akademik. Seterusnya, hasil kajian juga menunjukkan reaksi terhadap perkembangan semasa sukarelawan turut menyumbang kepada penglibatan mereka dengan aktiviti sukarela. Faktor tersebut termasuklah sebab utama terlibat, masa mula terlibat, bidang utama penglibatan, kumpulan sasaran kerja sukarela, pemilihan sektor kesukarelawanan, sumber kesedaran untuk terlibat dan sumber maklumat untuk terlibat. Hasil kajian ini mampu memberi sumbangan dalam membantu pihak yang bertanggungjawab untuk merancang strategi bagi menarik lebih ramai sukarelawan berpotensi serta memperkemaskan program dan aktiviti sukarela di Malaysia.

The involvement of youth in volunteer work is essential as it enables them to contribute to society (Checkoway, 2011). However, profile studies on Malaysian youth participation in volunteer activities are scarce and the subject warrants further research (Siti Raba'ah et al., 2011; Turiman et al., 2009). What is the level of participation of youth in volunteer activities? What hinders or motivates them to participate in volunteering work? This research profiles youth participation in volunteer activities in Malaysia. Specifically, it is aimed at profiling: 1) factors that motivate youth to participate in volunteer work; 2) the level of motivation towards participation in volunteer work among Malaysian youth; and 3) the most dominant motivation factor of youth participation in volunteer work. A total of 342 Malaysian youths participated in this nationwide study. A Youth Motivation on Participation in Volunteering Questionnaire was administered to Malaysian youth. Data were analysed and interpreted to provide the key findings on Malaysian youth engagement and participation in volunteer work. This study shows that the relationship between motivation and participation in volunteer work is positively significant. It shows that almost all the respondents in this study participating in voluntary activities were influenced by a number of motivating factors. The study ends with recommendations for policy makers and practitioners on how to attract youth to participate and to engage more effectively in volunteer work.

It is globally accepted that the earth's climate is changing. Such a phenomenon affects communities across the globe. One of these communities is that of small-scale fishermen. Past studies have shown poor understanding of climate change and low progress in development among fishermen because of the failure among stakeholders in understanding the mindset of beneficiaries such as their attitudinal setting. Much of the top-to-bottom development is impromptu, and most of the time, this makes them disorientated and may open them to the risks associated with climate change. Therefore, a better understanding of their attitude in relation to climate change will provide an important foundation for future planning for climate change mitigation and engagement of fishermen communities with stakeholders. In general, this paper aims to determine the attitude of small-scale fishermen towards adaptation to climate change. The nature of this study is quantitative and the study uses a set of questionnaires and involves a total of 300 respondents from two fisheries districts in Peninsular Malaysia. The fishermen surveyed had a high level of adaptation with regards to attitude towards climate change, while their level of education, catching area, fishing technology, type of vessel and income are confirmed as influential factors.

The inconsistencies among findings and lack of related studies have led to this study, the main objective of which is to gain the views of Malaysian small-scale fishermen on environmental changes and to recommend several strategies that can assist the fishermen community in coping with changes. This study is qualitative in nature. A total of three FGDs and one in-depth-interview were conducted among small-scale fishermen. Based on the thematic analysis, their awareness of environmental changes, the causes of environmental changes, the impact of these changes on the community and measures taken to absorb this impact have been identified. A number of recommendations related to providing alternative skills, conducting research, encouraging proactive roles by influential persons, using fisheries technology, conducting extra monitoring activities and making conservation efforts are highlighted.

Youth leadership development is a primary focus in Malaysia’s development agenda as outlined in the ‘Transformasi Nasional 2050’ or TN 50 policy initiative. Research and practice concur that the involvement of young leaders can be strengthened through wider exposure to professional training and mentoring. Yet, mentoring offers a unique learning process that enhances youth development and strengthening connection within communities. The current study was conducted to explore the contribution of mentoring to positive youth development and mentees’ sense of connection to the community and youth stakeholders. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach informed by the case study paradigm. In this study, connection resulted from the mentoring process through communication with mentors, new social and work-related networks as well as within one’s existing networks. In conclusion, data indicated that mentoring clearly has the potential to constitute the process of connection building among youth, and this process contributes to the development of their leadership capacities.

Community engagement has been acknowledged as a core function of higher education, along with research and teaching which helps in promoting economic, environmental and socio-cultural development of communities. This article explores the barriers obstructing community engagement activities in Nigerian higher education. Kwara State University, Malete, being an institution with the philosophy of community development is an interesting case in this study. Using in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews, nine professors of the university were asked to reflect on how they develop academic career through community engagement activities. From data analysis, even though there is documentary evidence on the remarkable successes been achieved and reported with regard to community engagement activities and outreaches by the professors which help to sustain professional identities and, in turn, career development. Four factors were found as a barrier obstructing the professors’ participation in community engagement activities and outreaches. These were, (a) Educational gap between professors and community members, (b) lack of funds to execute community development projects, (c) time constraint due to multiple engagements, and (d) resistant to change by community members. This study discussion and recommendations are timely, as it concludes with a number of crucial issues that future on community engagement in Nigerian higher education need to address.

Community engagement has been acknowledged as a core function of higher education, along with research and teaching which helps in promoting economic, environmental and socio-cultural development of communities. This article explores the barriers obstructing community engagement outreach and intervention in Nigerian higher education. Kwara State University, Malete, which adopted the philosophy of “the University for Community Development” is an interesting case in this study. Using in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews, nine professors of the university were asked to reflect on how they sustained community engagement participation at different stages in their academic career. From data analysis, even though there are documentary evidences on the remarkable successes been achieved and reported with regards to community engagement activities and outreaches by the professors which helped to sustain professional identities and, in turn, career development. Four factors were found to be a barrier obstructing the professors’ participation in community engagement activities and outreaches. These were, (a) Educational gap between academics and community members, (b) lack of funds to execute community development projects, (c) time constraint due to multiple engagements, and (d) resistant to change by community members. The discussion and recommendations of this study are timely, as it concludes with a number of crucial issues that future community engagement in Nigerian higher education needs to be addressed.

This study aims to confirm the information sharing behavior using social media scale and to vali-date every item and make it reliable as an inventory by using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The researcher adapted the measuring instruments for every latent construct from the literature and customized the items to suit this particular study. The study sent the revised questionnaire to 262 respondents in order to gather the pilot study data and able to get 163 filled ones as final data. The set of questionnaires consists of 66 items that assess the 6 constructs. Data is analyzed using SPSS AMOS Version 21.0. The results show that every construct achieved its Bartletts’ Test of Spherici-ty 6.0 with the re-sult of Information Sharing Behavior .000 and .871; Intention .000 and .782; Belief Expectancy .000 and .911; Attitude Influence .000 and .925; Readiness For Change .000 and .959; and Self-Efficacy .000 and .902. The entire item of the construct has exceeded the minimum limit of 0.7 reli-ability of Alpha Cronbach value to achieve the Internal Reliability. The new integrate model has been proposed due to this finding.

Academics who choose to engage in community service to fulfil their internal professional obligations often face challenges that force them to turn to private consultancy work outside of their university obligations. This is often for better remuneration and personal fulfilment, rather than a perceived importance to scholarly engagement in service to the immediate community. Although much research has been conducted on community engagement in higher education, few studies have explored how such work is sustained, especially among academics in non-Western universities. In response, this study sets out to explore sustainable community engagement among academics in Nigeria, where academic community engagement has recently been given a renewed emphasis by policy makers. The study utilized a qualitative case study approach, by way of in-depth interviews with nine professors from diverse academic fields of study in a community-based Nigerian university. The findings point to several potential strategies for making community engagement more sustainable, including incorporating community engagement into university policies, providing a more supportive institutional culture, facilitating engagement through reward and recognition of engaging academics, conducting continuous research into community problems, and encouraging engagement based on academics’ area of specialization. Implications to practice and suggestions for future research are also presented.

Purpose: Social media application such as Blog, Wikipedia, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace, are currently become a useful medium of communication as well as sharing information especially in an organisation. This phenomenon effected not only individual all over the world but also employees in Malaysia organisations. Thus, this study is a work-in-progress that referring to a few theories and journals to identify employee's intrinsic attitude as a predictor that contribute to information sharing behavior using social media with the readiness for change as a mediator factor. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study based on a review of several journal and theories related to individual behavior focusing on intrinsic attitude that has significantly contribute to employees' behavior to adapt with new technologies, which is in this study, social media.  Findings: The results shows that intention behavior, belief expectancy and attitude influence are the predictors for employees' intrinsic attitude and readiness for change comes as mediator factor that being predict to have a significant relationship with information sharing behavior using social media among the employee.   Implications/Originality/Value: The existence of readiness for change as mediator between employee's intrinsic attitude and information sharing behavior using social media among the employee of Government-Link Company can be taken into consideration for developing a new model of information sharing behavior using social media.

The purpose of this article is to explore the Human Resource Development (HRD) practices and factors that influence executives' retention as well as uncovering strategies in retaining them in selected oil palm organizations. This article is based on a review of the HRD literature particularly in talent retention. Human resources are very important asset in any organization and act as a source of competitive advantage in the organization. Many studies have focused on the factors that contribute to the employee retention from the Human Resource Management (HRM) practices perspective, whereas, this study will look into it from the perspective of HRD. The differences between HRD and HRM in terms of meaning and practices are discussed to give a clearer picture of both fields and how they are linked to one another so as to identify the factors and the appropriate strategies to retain executives.

The ‘Skuad Jelajah Motivasi Pendidikan dan Kepenggunaan’ programme is considered as a response programme towards the increment of issues in consumerism among teenagers and youth, as well as a programme intended for giving motivation and knowledge of consumerism to form five students at Malaysian Secondary Schools in the Peninsular of Malaysia (“Dedah pelajar mengenai,” 2014). During its implementation, an evaluation was concurrently carried out at the end of the programme in order to improve its implementation in the future. In order to evaluate the programme, three aspects were given the emphasis, of which, the overall perception of effectiveness among students, their early reactions, and their acceptance of knowledge and skills of consumerism using the Kirkpatrick (1994) model of programme evaluation. A cross-sectional survey design was implemented for the purpose of the evaluation. A total number of 7,840 form five students were asked to answer the student’s perception scale towards the effectiveness of Consumerism Programme. The MANOVA test revealed that there are significant differences of mean score for the three independent variables (overall perception of students, their early reactions, and their acceptance of knowledge and skills of consumerism) according to gender; F(2, 6845)=109.80, p<.05; Pillai’s trace=.98; partial eta squared=.031. Female respondents (M=3.85, SD=.53) scored higher than their counterparts (M=3.66, SD=.56) in the overall perception of effectiveness, female respondents (M=3.74, SD=.62) scored higher than their counterparts (M=3.55, SD=.66) in early reaction, and female respondents (M=3.90, SD=.59) scored higher than their counterparts (M=3.72, SD=.63) in their acceptance of knowledge and skills of consumerism. Overall, the effectiveness of ‘Skuad Jelajah Motivasi Pendidikan dan Kepenggunaan’ programme is rated moderate by the female students, surpassing the male students. In specific, the programme was able to moderately improve the leve

To receive support is crucial among youth in order for them to achieve success in life as it could hinder social exclusion, especially for at-risk young people. Empowering the potentials of at-risk youth through the support of external protective factors may enhance and optimise their potency. This study explores the role of external protective factors in young entrepreneurs’ resilient development. This research is based on the hematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with five graduates from Baitulmal Skills Institution who are recognized by the Institution as successful entrepreneurs. This research has found four thematic external protective factors, which contributed to young entrepreneurs’ resilient development; namely getting support from educational institutions, good rapport with peers, supportive teaching staffs, youth-adult attachment and support in business management. The role of external protective factors in developing young entrepreneurs’ entrepreneurial resilience heavily relies on youth’s positive interaction with his/her environment.It is suggested that in the future,studies should focus on protective factors that concentrate on other types of at-risk youth who are able to develop positively.

This paper examines the perception of Malaysian on the proposed removal of race section in official documents used by government and private organizations. The paper employed mixed method research paradigm. A total sample of 1513 Malaysian residents in Peninsular Malaysia was randomly selected from the whole population and data was collected using structured set of instruments, focus group interview and document analysis. The data was analysed using IBM SPSS software version 24 for both descriptive and inferential analysis. The findings shows that majority of Peninsular Malaysians did not support the proposal to remove race section in the official government and private documents. However, the findings revealed that Chinese and Indian communities are keen to support the proposal of removing the race section in the official government and private documents compared to the Malays, so also Sabah/Sarawak Bumiputera living here in Peninsular. Moreover, Gen Z also support the proposal, which contradict from the Baby Boomer, Gen X and Gen Y. Based on the findings of this paper, the removal of the race section in the official government and private documents, can spark race sensitivity and polemic among the multiple race of Malaysia. The paper, however recommends allowing the race section in the official government and private documents in Malaysia.

Many argue that the changing nature of research universities globally is making the academic profession demanding. Academics are expected to do more, produce more, and ‘justify their existence’ at their respective universities often in the form of outcomes-based performance measures that are historically foreign to the academic profession. At the same time, they may have to engage in volunteerism outside the academy. Despite much existing research on volunteerism within the context of higher education, a few studies have been conducted on volunteerism among senior academics in non-Western countries, in an attempt to understand how academics balance these pluralistic roles and responsibilities, and the personal philosophy behind their ongoing engagement in volunteerism. To address this gap, this study explored the personal volunteerism philosophies of university professors from a leading research university in Malaysia. Using a purposeful sampling approach, the authors conducted in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews with seven professors from different academic departments who have regular engagement in volunteering activities beyond their internal academic obligations. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. From the analysis, three factors were found to contribute to the formulation of the personal philosophies about volunteerism. These were: (a) individual orientation and exposure; (b) religious beliefs; and (c) work related identities. Volunteerism was found to foster recognition for academics in their related field of expertise. The study concludes with suggestions for enhancing the volunteerism experiences of academics and implications for future research.

Several conceptual models have been developed to measure health literacy. However, health literacy of the community, particularly the young is still under reported and under-explored. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate health literacy assessment tool for high school students. Participants were 150 students. The concept of health literacy evolved from defining, redefining, outlining and quantifying health literacy needs of a young population. Seven health education experts reviewed the initial item pool and helped select 85 questions for testing. The reviewer also provided confidential feedback via an evaluation questionnaire. Seven distinct health literacy domains meanings emerged viz health promotion, health care, disease prevention, health behaviour, health attitude, health wellbeing and health culture. The instrument has 85 questions that look promising for measuring health literacy in high school students, but needs additional and continuous testing with larger population to see how these questions continue to perform. The findings of present study might be a useful policy maker and health organizations to reflect and focus their promotion efforts on the more practical aspects of day-to-day in health promotion and are concerned with empowering young through enhancing their knowledge and improving their ability to make choices about their health well-being.

Youth leadership is an element critically needed in nation building agenda. The involvement of new youth leadership talent can be enhanced through wider exposure and professional training, including via mentoring. This paper discusses the potential of mentoring on positive youth development through the help of the communities of practice (COP) in a youth leadership development program. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach informed by the case study paradigm. This study found that mentoring provides opportunity to communicate directly between protégé and mentor and allowing learning through the organizational members. In conclusion, protégé is not only limited to the mentor, but learning process also occurred through organizational members. The qualitative findings provide insight that mentoring clearly has the potential to constitute the process of leadership learning through the COP and provide the opportunity for youth to learn to become better leaders and better individuals.

Public sector plays a pivotal role in accelerating national development by progressively introducing and implementing series of change initiatives at all levels of public administration. In Malaysia, successful implementation of the change initiatives rest on the shoulder of the Administrative and Diplomatic Officers (ADO) whose managerial responsibilities cut across the most important administrative roles in the Malaysian Public Services (MPS). As their leadership roles continue to grow in significance, they constantly face various challenges in managing their subordinates towards achieving the common goals of the change initiatives. Thus, by having positive perceptions and attitudes towards change are crucial in promoting acceptance of change (AOC) behaviour among the ADO. However, negative perceptions and low attitude towards change would discourage the AOC, which would be detrimental to realizing the change initiatives in the public organizations. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the important roles of locus of control (LOC) and attitude towards change (ATC) in explaining the AOC behaviour among the middle managers in the MPS. A cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing self-administered questionnaires to a total of 400 respondents who were randomly sampled from the list of ADO. The findings revealed that the ATC indicated a statistically significant positive linear relationship with the AOC behaviour. However, the LOC was not statistically significant to explain the variance in AOC behaviour. This study provides new information for the Human Resource Development practitioner and can be used as input during change process in the context of public organisation. Several recommendations are briefly discussed to improve the AOC behaviour towards the end of this paper.