Noorul Azwin Binti Md Nasir

Acceptance and usage of social media as a platform among student entrepreneurs

Purpose While it is perceived that adoption reflects acceptance, the purpose of this paper is to argue that individual usage is critical and cannot be guaranteed by mere adoption. This study, therefore, focuses on the factors (i.e. performance expectancy, perceived trust, perceived risk, facilitating condition, and perceived enjoyment) contributing to the adoption and ultimately usage of social media as a business platform among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia under the premise of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a cross-sectional design and quantitative data are collected from 300 selected respondents listed as student entrepreneurs in the entrepreneurship centers of all public universities within Peninsular Malaysia. Findings Performance expectancy, perceived risk, perceived trust, and perceived enjoyment have a significant effect on the adoption of social media leading to its usage as a business platform. Findings also report a significant mediating effect of adoption of social media on the relationship between performance expectancy, perceived trust, perceived risk, and perceived enjoyment with the depth of social media usage. Research limitations/implications In order to promote entrepreneurial activities among student entrepreneurs using social media as a business platform, programs and policies should focus on improving cyber security and value-added services. Originality/value This study puts forward and tests the original UTAUT model to assess the adoption and depth of social media usage as a business platform among young student entrepreneurs in Peninsular Malaysia, which provides a foundation for the design and implementation of programs and policies that promote entrepreneurial activities using social media among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia.

Policies and practices for entrepreneurial education: The Malaysian experience

ABSTRACT:Entrepreneurship education is considered one of the key instruments that increases the entrepreneurial attitudes of potential entrepreneurs. The Malaysian government has made tremendous efforts in promoting entrepreneurship education by improving the current policy on entrepreneurship education, providing various entrepreneurship programs to increase the number of young entrepreneurs, and highlighting the need to empower entrepreneurship education among graduates of Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). However, despite the policies implemented by the Malaysian government, studies done on the effectiveness of policy implementation are still lacking. This paper therefore aims to examine the achievements of the Strategic Plan on Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (2013-2015) on promoting entrepreneurial education in Malaysian HEIs. The achievements were measured through Key Performance Indicators that were developed by the Ministry of Education. A set of questionnaires has been adapted and modified from the list of Key Performance Indicators. The questionnaire consists of 6 sections that represent the six thrusts in the Strategic Plan on Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (2013-2015). 20 set of questionnaires were distributed to the respondents from the Entrepreneurship Centers in 20 public Malaysian HEIs via emails. Completed data was collected from 10 respondents who represent 10 public HEIs in Malaysia. Some data was also retrieved from the Ministry of Education’s database to provide a thorough analysis of the key performance indicators (KPIs). Findings of this study noted that four out of six thrusts, including the first thrust, which is to empower the Entrepreneurship Center in every HEI, the second thrust, which is to provide holistic and well-planned entrepreneurial education and programs, the fourth thrust, which is to enhance the competency of HEIs’ entrepreneurship trainers and facilitators, and the sixth thrust, which is to increase the effect of the implementation of HEIs’ entrepreneurial education and development, have been successfully achieved. Meanwhile, the other two thrusts that include the third thrust, which is to empower entrepreneurial development programs, and the fifth thrust, which is to provide a conducive environment and ecosystem for entrepreneurship development, have failed to be achieved. Overall, it has been shown that the efforts taken by the Malaysian government in promoting entrepreneurship education among HEI graduates still require some improvement. Therefore, it is important for the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to join hands in making sure that the current policies and programs as well as the curriculum and content on entrepreneurship are improved.

The Roles of Islamic Religiosity, Brand Image and Knowledge on Relationship between Perceived Value and Tourist Satisfaction: A Review

Islamic tourism industry must be innovative to remain competitive in an increasingly global economic. This conceptual paper examines the relationship between key component and factor that can affect the customer satisfaction in the Islamic tourism industry. The paper conceptualizes perceived value, brand image and Islamic attributes to studies the relationship that exists in the industry. The paper also uses knowledge and religiosity to investigate the moderate factor that exists in the framework between Islamic attributes and customer satisfaction. This paper will shed some light on measuring customer behavior in tourism from Islamic perspective. The dimension use in this paper also could be used as a base for tailoring Islamic tourist packages.

Factors Affecting Entrepreneurial Intention Among The Malaysian University Students

Entrepreneurship is regarded as one of the key economic development strategies to advance a country’s economic growth and to sustain its competitiveness in facing the increasing trends of globalization. This study aims to explore the factors that affect students’ intentions to be an entrepreneur. Furthermore, it also aims to examine the moderating effects of entrepreneurship education in enhancing entrepreneurial intentions among Malaysian university students. Findings of this study note a positive significant effect on the relationship between innovativeness, risk-taking propensity, family background, and a supportive environment. Findings also note a negative and significant effect in the relationship between entrepreneurship barrier and students’ intentions to be an entrepreneur. Furthermore, in terms of the moderating effects of entrepreneurship education, this study finds no significant support on the moderation of entrepreneurship program on the relationship between Innovativeness, Risk-Taking Propensity, Family Background, and Entrepreneurship Barrier with Entrepreneurial Intention. However, findings of this study note that the entrepreneurship program in entrepreneurship education moderates the relationship between supportive environment and entrepreneurial intention. This could be explained by suggesting that students who undergo entrepreneurship programs in their universities may improve their knowledge on the entrepreneurship programs and policies instituted by the government to produce graduates who want to be entrepreneurs. Moreover, this study also finds no significant support on the moderation of service quality of entrepreneurship education on the relationship between innovativeness, risk-taking propensity, family background, and supportive environment with entrepreneurial intention. However, findings of this study note that the service quality of entrepreneurship education moderates the relationship between entrepreneurship barrier and entrepreneurial intention. This could be explained by suggesting that students who perceive lack of experience and lack of social capital as barriers for them to start a business would be more motivated to pursue their career in entrepreneurship if their lecturers manage to instil knowledge and suggest solutions to overcome the barriers. This study provides empirical evidence of the factors that influence entrepreneurial intention and the moderating role of entrepreneurship education. Findings of this study also provide a clear indication to academicians and academic policy makers about the effectiveness of the current entrepreneurial education designed and practiced by public universities in Malaysia.