Sharon Yam

The practice of corporate social responsibility by Malaysian developers

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to assess the implementation of sustainable practice by Malaysian property developers, particularly on social and environmental perspectives.Design/methodology/approach – This is a qualitative research where content analysis is used to analyse leading property companies’ websites, annual reports, corporate responsibility and sustainability reports, and carbon disclosure reports.Findings – Findings from this research indicate that the majority of the developers have their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in place and there are variations in their approaches and reporting process. Of all, philanthropic activities are the mostly widely reported followed by human resource initiatives. Even though the majority of property companies reported their environmental practices, only the top few developers had their projects certified by sustainability rating agencies.Research limitations/implications – As this project was restricted to the top ten Malaysian d...

ASSESSING THE LINKAGES BETWEEN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND A-REIT PERFORMANCE

Abstract Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has taken on increased significance in the property sector in recent years. This paper assesses the level of CSR practices by A-REITs across the environmental, social and governance dimensions of CSR and compares this to other ASX sectors. A number of unique CSR A-REIT performance indices are developed for A-REIT investors committed to the principles of CSR, and their added-value assessed via risk-adjusted performance analysis and their portfolio diversification benefits. Importantly, these CSR A-REIT indices do not significantly under-perform the conventional A-REIT indices, as well as providing portfolio diversification benefits. The CSR A-REIT investment implications are also highlighted.

Student perceptions of the quality of property education in Australia : 1994 – 2009

Abstract Using the Graduate Careers Australia’s Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), the students ‘ perceptions of the quality ofproperty education in Australia is assessed over 1994–2009. Analyses are presented for the major property universities in Australia regarding good teaching and overall satisfaction, as well as the property discipline benchmarked against the property-related disciplines of accounting, building, business, economics, law and planning. The link between good teaching and overall satisfaction, and the delivery of added value by property programs are also assessed. Changes over this 16-year period are highlighted in terms of student perceptions of the quality of property education in Australia.

Online Learning and Blended Learning: Experience from a First-Year Undergraduate Property Valuation Course

Abstract With the growth of the world-wide web and e-learning some programs are now fully online but blended learning has also become popular, offering various combinations of internal classes and online content. This paper reports the results of delivering an introductory first-year property course using both online and blended learning. The paper investigates the effectiveness of blended and online learning based on the thesis that blended learning is more effective as students have the advantages of both face-to-face learning and the online environment. A case study approach was adopted that involved two recent cohorts of students. Course statistics from the newly introduced Moodle software were used to analyse how these two groups of students used the online material and how these activities were correlated with their learning outcomes. This paper contributes to higher education pedagogy in online learning by providing insights into the use of a project-based learning approach in engaging students.

Corporate Social Responsibility in Malaysia Housing Development – The Developer’s Perspective

Abstract The focus of this paper is on corporate social responsibility from the perspective of housing developers in Johor Bahru, Malaysia; particularly how they believe socially responsible practice can benefit project marketability. One-to-one interviews with housing developers were conducted to explore their perceptions, level of commitment and limitations to implementing CSR. An observational study of housing development trends from 1985 to 2004 was performed to identify major changes, predominantly from the aspect of CSR application, and to validate the interviews. Research findings showed that for the past five years, developers in Johor Bahru placed more emphasis on CSR elements; most developers committed to implement CSR; not only to improve marketability, but also to achieve the objective of sustainable housing development.

Tutoring – What do our First-Year Real Estate Undergraduates Expect?

Abstract An effective tutoring strategy is important in enhancing the student learning experience. This is a preliminary study using qualitative approaches to investigate how a group of first-year real estate students perceived the usefulness of tutoring strategies adopted in the first six weeks of study, specifically how they assisted in engaging students in their learning and how useful they were for their transition to university learning. In-class survey was performed in week 6 and constant comparison method was used in data analysis to examine the differences of perceptions between different groups of students. Student-centred teaching, feedback and assessments were the three main themes highlighted in the findings and the student-centred teaching style was identified as most significant in assisting students with their transition.

How can tutors engage property students in controlled teaching environments

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role and contribution of tutors to property education. Using the theory of tutor performance which outlines six behaviours which may positively influence student outcomes, this paper considers how tutors can maximise student learning and engagement in tutorials.Design/methodology/approach – This research used a mixed methods approach including student evaluations of teaching (SETs), a survey of students and reflexive journals of a tutor in property education.Findings – This research found that conscious adoption of the behaviours recommended under the theory of tutor performance and informed by further education in the form of a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education resulted in significant improvement of SET results. Student survey responses showed the influence of “real life” experience, amongst other things, in underpinning their learning.Research limitations/implications – While this research has limitations, in terms of number of responses a...

Female-Headed Households and Achieving Home Ownership in Australia

This paper begins by identifying the growth in female-headed households in Australia. Despite this increase, it is argued that females still lag males in terms of home ownership rates (HORs) with women in Australia facing similar ownership challenges as those experienced in the UK and the USA. In seeking to establish any dynamic change, the study analyses female home ownership rates in Australia for two points in time, 1998 and 2008. Logit models are used to predict HORs. The results indicate that factors such as household type, income and source of income have an impact on rates of ownership. The paper concludes that female-headed households in Australia show an increasing propensity to purchase which match, or even exceed, those of male-headed households.

Formative assessment in property education : a comparison between blended and online learning

Abstract Formative assessment is of vital importance to enhance student learning. Students are able to apply their knowledge by completing formative exercises and given the opportunity to rectify their mistakes prior to attempting the summative assessment. Feedback provided for formative assessment has been recognised as central in enhancing student learning as students can use this to reinforce their understanding of the subject. The paper is based on an exploratory research project using student survey data as well as records of students’ performance and activities over the first semester of 2012. The purpose is to study how two groups of property students exposed to different modes of learning responded to the online and traditional formative assessment. The student perceptions and the statistical relationship between formative and summative assessment will be analysed using quantitative analysis techniques. The research shows that both groups of students, internal (blended) and external (online) students, have benefited from the range of formative assessments offered in this first-year property course, albeit to a different extent. Property academics should, therefore, make good use of formative assessment to enhance student engagement and virtual classroom might be a solution to further engage external students. Besides highlighting challenges, student perceptions and the usefulness of formative assessment, the paper also provides recommendations for future research.