Azniza Ahmad Zaini

Export, Aid, Remittance and Growth: Evidence from Sudan☆

Abstract The role of export, overseas development aid (ODA) and remittance inflows in relation to economic growth in Sudan is examined in this paper, for the periods of year 1977-2010 using the Johansen Cointegration technique within the augmented Solow-model approach. The results reveal that there is a long run positive relationship between growth, export and remittance, supporting the export-led growth and remittance-led growth hypotheses for Sudan, while aid-growth hypothesis is rejected. Thus, there is a need to manage and boost greater inflow of traditional capital such as aid and the contemporary capital like remittances, besides stimulating greater trade liberalization.

Blended Learning Mode: An Analysis of the Practices Among UiTM Pahang Lecturers

The emergence of blended learning mode for its ubiquity has gradually replaced the conventional teaching approach in the educational contexts. In UiTM Pahang itself, majority of the academicians have adopted blended learning mode in their teaching and learning. Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)’s official Learning Management System (LMS) which is known as i-Learn portal, is widely used by both registered and unregistered blended learning instructors in conducting all blended learning activities. However, since there is no proper mechanism or tool used to check whether the blended learning practices at UiTM Pahang is achieved in terms of total time spent on i-Learn portal, it is difficult for the Head of i-Learn Unit, UiTM Pahang to gather and submit the data to UiTM Pahang’s higher authority on the number of registered blended learning instructors that have fully achieved the required total hours spent on i-Learn portal every semester. Thus, blended learning tracking form and blended learning tracking template were designed to ensure that the learning mode is fully practiced by the respective registered lecturers. Data on the usage of online learning by the registered lecturers was obtained from the distribution of blended learning tracking forms by the i-Learn representatives from all faculties. The data were then entered into the blended learning template for immediate result and analysed descriptively using SPSS version 21. The findings showed that majority of all the registered lecturers have fulfilled their online hours spent on LMS and only a small number of them failed to do so. It is hoped that by using the blended learning tracking template, the monitoring process as well as the management practices would become more efficient and systematic in the future.

Investigating the Satisfaction and Intention to Use Blog: The Application of Extended TAM

This study aims to investigate the satisfaction of adult internet population toward intention to use blog. The components of Extended Technology Acceptance Model (eTAM) such as perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived usefulness (PU), and perceived enjoyment (PE) were used to examine the relationship with satisfaction in blogging activities. Besides that, the intention to use blog was examined as a result of being satisfied with the blogging activities. The results were analyzed using PLS method to test the hypotheses. The findings indicate that all the components of eTAM are positively related to satisfaction, and satisfaction is significant to predict intention.

Assessing the Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment Inflow to Malaysia

As Malaysian economy continued to record rapid progress on the back of sustained economic growth, the contribution of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the Malaysian economic expended at a faster pace since the early 1970s. Thus, the major concern of this paper is to discuss and assess the economic factors or influences that led to the expansion of inward capital inflows to Malaysia over the period 1980–2010. This paper also tries to identify the major factors that have influenced FDI inflows to Malaysia. In this paper, a regression analysis has been done to determine the important factors, which was expected to attract foreign firms to locate productions in Malaysia. The significance of these factors was statistically tested by using a multivariate regression model. The result shows factors like labour cost, exchange rate and interest rates were significant in influencing FDI to Malaysia.

e-PERLU: Design and implementation of a Training Needs Analysis system for lecturers

Designing and implementing a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) is vital to identify areas of training required by the employees. The existing manual process of distributing the TNA survey forms to user is not effective due to some challenges such as time consuming and high printing costs. This paper proposed a web based online system for TNA to overcome the drawbacks. The system allows feedbacks and training needs to be captured and implemented via online with the uses of web based architecture design and database. The design and implementation of the system is based on software development life Cycle (SDLC), whereby the empirical research approach was employed to gather all requirements needed from lecturers and training provider. The current manual business process flow of getting users training needs was improved and converted into an online based business process. The improved TNA process was validated with the development and implementation of Training Needs Analysis System prototype. The usefulness and efficiency of the system to user and training provider was observed and measured from time to time for continuous improvement.

Long Run Relationship between Global Electronic Cycle, Yen/Dollar Exchange Rate and Malaysia Export☆

Abstract Depreciations of the Japanese Yen vis-a-vis the US Dollar have been shown to be negatively affecting East Asian economies. Studies have also shown a high correlation between the Yen/US Dollar exchange rate and the electronic cycle, therefore the negative relationship may be due to the global electronic cycle instead of the Yen/Dollar exchange rate. This paper examines the importance of the fluctuations in the global electronic market and the Yen/Dollar exchange rate in influencing Malaysias exports and subsequently its output by using the ARDL approach.