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BACKGROUND: While studies have investigated relationships among learning motivation, social presence, and cognitive presence, there appear to be no studies on the inclusion of industry talks and the theory of inventive problem-solving (TRIZ) in strengthening engineering students’ learning motivation, social presence, and cognitive presence within a blended learning setting. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the influence of industry talks and TRIZ on learning motivation, social presence, and cognitive presence in a blended learning environment. METHODS: Data samples were obtained from 98 engineering students in a blended learning course and analysed using Spearman’s correlation test, regression, ANOVA, and t-test. RESULTS: Findings suggested that TRIZ and industry talks strongly, positively, and significantly correlated with learning motivation, social presence, and cognitive presence. A well-rounded learning experience compounded of TRIZ and industry talks significantly affected learning motivation, social presence, and cognitive presence, thereby enhancing students’ programme outcome (PO) achievement. CONCLUSIONS: These findings can be attributed to the students’ independent learning capabilities with TRIZ and industry talks. Analogically, embracing TRIZ and industry talks helps turn blended learning into a “sweet instead of bitter pill to swallow” for engineering students in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social media nowadays with the continuous development of ICT and technologies has penetrated into the daily life of users, especially students. It can clearly shown that social networking sites play an important role in education which enable students to have better collaborate to develop their skills that can be helpful for them in workplace. Nevertheless, the ‘new normal’ after the global pandemic have encouraged more and more social media users. Students especially the millennials are considering the digital natives are seeking for new creativity learning platforms. Therefore, this study concentrates on the determinants on the use of social media and university students’ academic performance with objective of investigating how student’s overall performance is affected by students’ use of social media. This paper is a conceptual paper using both Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Theory of Planned Behaviour and Cognitive Load Theory to determine the variables affecting the academic performance of university students.

Human error is a serious concern in manufacturing industries. It affects product error and liability and even leads to workplace injuries or fatalities. Malaysia has recorded a worrying figure of workplace accidents and injuries. In 2018 alone, there were more than 2700 workplace accidents which led to disabilities and death. A workplace accident would result in a no-win situation for a company. Manufacturing sectors in Malaysia make the highest claims from the total cost of accidents and injuries. The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) in Malaysia also imposes a fine for companies who breach safety and health regulations in the workplace. Inspections are carried out to ensure that manufacturers obey the rules of occupational safety and health (OSH), and fined for being errant employers. However, these penalisations are often due to the negligence and lack of awareness among employers and employees. Hence, it is of interest for researchers to identify the root causes of human error among manufacturing industries in Malaysia. This review highlights the common causes of workplace accidents and injuries in manufacturing through observation. Several well-known human error models since 1983 are also investigated. The potential outcome of this review is to improve OSH awareness among manufacturers for a more sustainable future in their business, employment, and social well-being.

Stepladders are compact, foldable ladders with flat steps and a platform. Despite all the research and design efforts, there are still limitations in terms of the multifunctionality, usability and simplicity of stepladders and related variants. By combining ideas, features and functions from patent literature, existing products and scientific journals, this study aims to conceptualise a multifunctional stepladder for improved usability. Five concepts are created, which are screened and evaluated against a set of criteria to select the best concept for improved usability, divided into three categories: simplicity, effectiveness and efficiency. The result is a versatile invention that functions as a stepladder, walker, wheelchair and Pilates chair, suitable for older people and caregivers in nursing homes. It allows medical records or supplies to be retrieved from high places without the need for inappropriate aids. The invention can replace wheelchairs and walkers and converts into a Pilates chair to provide a mobile exercise option for older people. The concept offers older people flexibility and independence in terms of mobility and healthcare, while saving space in the nursing home. Further design studies, prototyping and testing are needed before this idea can go into production.

Background: Driving-induced lower back pain (DLBP) is associated with long driving times and awkward postures. Nonetheless, its actual causes and solutions remain unclear due to intervening causes from activities of daily living and traumatic injuries. This study investigated the causes and recommendations for DLBP using the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ). Methods: A cause-and-effect chain analysis (CECA) was conducted based on discussions with 19 ergonomics experts from Malaysia. Engineering contradictions were formulated according to the causes and associated with the parameters of the TRIZ system. These parameters were then intersected in the contradiction matrix to extract the inventive principles. Finally, recommendations were made based on these principles. Results: CECA uncovered the design- and posture-related causes of DLBP. It was implied that missing seat adjustment controls might cause drivers to sit with their knees positioned higher than their hips. This issue causes an excessive posterior pelvic tilt, resulting in DLBP. To address this issue, an inert atmosphere involving the addition of inflatable bubble wraps to elevate the posterior position was recommended. Conclusion: While there have been studies on DLBP, the present study demonstrated originality by using TRIZ to preliminarily but systematically investigate and resolve DLBP. Further triangulations, prototyping, experimentations, and verifications were not possible due to time and budgetary constraints. Nevertheless, this research uncovered the TRIZ-integrated perspectives on ergonomic solutions to DLBP that are more cost-effective than medical treatments or design overhauls.

Innovations in food manufacturing support the agenda for sustainable development goal 9 (SDG9) on industry, innovation and infrastructure. Pursuant to this goal, this study aims to develop an automated multi-spit lamb rotisserie machine that potentially improves the lamb-roasting productivity for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The conceptualisation involved patents, scholarly literature and product reviews of lamb-roasting devices. The design and analysis are performed using Autodesk Inventor 2019. A scaled-down prototype is developed and tested with (1) roasting output, (2) roasting time and (3) temperature stability tests. The data for test (1) are analysed by comparing the means between control and experimental groups. The data for tests (2) and (3) are analysed using the t-test and Mann–Whitney U test, respectively. Significant differences are observed in tests (1) and (2), with outcomes being in favour of the proposed invention. The prototype cooks 92.27% faster with 700% more meat than a regular lamb roaster. It also cooks at a stable temperature. The cost analysis indicated that this invention could be sold at USD 278 if mass-produced. The design is structurally simple, inexpensive and easy to manufacture, allowing SMEs that rely on traditional spit-based machines to enhance their ability in producing roast lamb.

Interest shown on entrepreneurs has been increasing for many years. Researchers are keen to know the behavior and characteristics of successful entrepreneurs. The purpose of this paper is to determine the contributing roles of Emotional Intelligence and Spiritual Intelligence in terms of entrepreneurial innovation and creativity. The study used both quantitative and qualitative approach. A total of 88 entrepreneurs took part in the study which span over a period of 1 year. It was found that successful entrepreneurs had strong levels of “Emotions Direct Cognition” and “Understanding Others Emotions”. In terms of the level of “Spiritual Intelligence”, successful entrepreneurs had high strong connections with many of the elements which included “Discernment”, “Egolessness”, “Freedom”, “Higherself”, “Intuition”, “Joy”, “Practice”, “Purpose” and “Relatedness”. These components are important in creativity and innovation.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the influence of Spiritual Intelligence to transformational leadership style displayed by student leaders. Students are the future leaders in organizations, be it in the public or the private sector. During the years spent at the institutions of higher learning, students will be able to learn and experience many types of leadership either through their own capacity as the leader or as a team member. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed to students. The students that participated in this study were from many parts of the world. It was found that correlation exist between Spiritual Intelligence and Transformational Leadership style displayed by the students. However, most of their coefficients indicate a moderate degree of strength. It is through group activities that students develop their leadership skills. As such, coordinators of these activities need to guide and nurture the leadership skills of the students.

Honey products have been developing from health supplements field to economic development field. There are numerous of explanations when it comes to exploring the factors that influence consumers to consume honey products. The portrayal of honey congregated importance ever since it has been commonly used in both medical and domestic needs and as well as beauty needs. In peoples’ perspective, the quality of the product will be the key success factor of honey product where industries of honey maker faced challenges for making and maintaining as well as preserving of honey products. With the increasing market size and the increasing consumer demand each year, honey makers have to search for new approaches and to learn to understand the consumers’ need in order to increase their product satisfaction and customers’ loyalty. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that will influence consumers’ purchase intention of honey related products. To facilitate this study, both quantitative and qualitative methods have been employed to gather the data. 200 questionnaires were collected. It was found that Medical condition, Quality of product, Brand Reputation and Pricing do influence the purchase intentions.

Although studies show that torque and sensation are important factors to consider in grip force, there appears to be few frameworks that focus on their roles in pinch force. This study proposes a framework that potentially explains the roles of torque and sensation in pinch force. A review was done on these factors followed by a literature synthesis which categorised them into sub-factors. The sub-factors were combined to output a framework that explains the mechanisms of their interactions. This framework enriches the knowledge on pinch force levels for reduced injury risks by identifying preliminary factors that may influence pinch force. It can potentially be used to improve the effectiveness of manufacturing tasks. Although further research on it is required, it still provides researchers with more factors to consider for studies on occupational risks and injuries. With this framework, researchers can potentially improve predictions on functional outcomes in precision manufacturing tasks.

This study aims to innovate and validate the design of a non-electric hearing aid for improved usability. Studies on conventional and existing hearing aids were carried out before the actual study on developing this non-electric hearing aid was done. The final product underwent a series of evaluations in order to verify its viability and usability. Conceptualisation, material selections and concept selections were carried out in order to select the most appropriate concept for this study. The material selection process ensures that the choice of material is appropriate for the specific requirements of the components to be achieved. Subsequently, a detailed cost analysis was carried out to ensure that the manufactured product would be affordable to the customers. Several experiments and tests were performed to evaluate the product’s performance. Although a validated prototype for a non-electric hearing aid is in hand, future improvements on the fabricated product are still needed in order to ready the product for its future commercialisation phase.

Ergonomic control devices can minimise risks of hand-related injuries. The pinch force exerted on a control knob during operations can be minimised so that excessive physical stress and strain on the hands are reduced. This improves working performance. Studies indicate that milling machine control knobs are difficult to operate. Hence, this study aims to validate an ergonomic knob design against a milling machine knob design to determine the extent of musculoskeletal comfort improvement. An ergonomic knob is designed based on a knurled spherical knob with ergonomics features. A validation is performed by requesting 12 participants to turn the knobs in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Pinch force data is recorded. Findings show that the ergonomic knob reduces more than 55 % of pinch force compared to the milling machine knob replica. This study is useful for machine designers in the development of safer and more ergonomic knobs for various equipment, apparatus and devices.

Researchers have shown much interest in unlocking the secrets of successful entrepreneurs. The current focus on entrepreneurs seems to be related to the role of affections – feelings and emotions. Some researchers have found that positive emotions may enhance entrepreneurial success. These entrepreneurial successes are in terms of the level of creativity and innovation. Entrepreneurs who are passionate in their work tended to be more successful than others. Success in business ventures does not lie solely in terms of the entrepreneur but also in terms of the people surrounding the entrepreneur – namely the employees and the customers. The ability to manage these people plays a critical role in the success of the business venture. Emotions affect the perceptions and attitudes of people in the workplace. The ability to assess verbal and non-verbal expressions helps in understanding the needs and wants of the employees and customers. The purpose of the study is to construct a conceptual framework to relate Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence in nurturing creativity and innovation among successful entrepreneurs.