International Journal of Management in Education (12 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• The Mediating Role of Perceived Usefulness in Anticipating Students’ Satisfaction with University Portal  
  by Maan A. A. Alkhateeb, Rania A. M. Abdalla 
  Abstract: The university portal is the students’ gateway to access information related to their academic status However, assessing students’ satisfaction with the campus portal in developing countries are not fully investigated The study examined the factors that might have an influence on students’ satisfaction with the university portal using adapted version of Delone and McLean (2003) model Perceived usefulness was included in the model as a mediator variable between the quality dimensions and students’ satisfaction Proportional stratified sampling approach was used and a sample of 202 valid responses was collected using online survey Data was analyzed using Smart-PLS 3 3 3 Software Findings showed that services quality and information quality significantly influence perceived usefulness, while service quality, system quality and perceived usefulness found to be significant antecedents of students’ satisfaction with the portal Additionally, perceived usefulness mediates the relationships between information quality and service quality and students’ satisfaction with the university.
  Keywords: Perceived Usefulness Service quality System quality Students’ satisfaction Mediation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10053143
   
  
• Barrier factors affecting students' satisfaction with online learning in the context of Covid-19 pandemic  
  by Kim Hanh Nguyen, Trung Ngoc Phat Le 
  Abstract: In the context of the complicated spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, online learning was an urgent priority at educational institutions in Vietnam; however, learners were still confronted with enormous difficulties and certain barriers to online education. The study aims to analyze the barrier factors affecting students’ satisfaction in a higher education institution in Vietnam with online learning during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic by employing the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) method and Multivariate Regression Analysis, based on data from 486 students who online studied in the first semester of the academic year 2021 to 2022. The results indicate that the most influential factor is psychological barriers, followed by interaction barriers and economic barriers while technological and environmental barriers, teaching methods and course assessment barriers do not affect students’ satisfaction in this study. Based on the results, the authors propose solutions to limit barriers and enhance the quality of online education for stakeholders in an unpredictable future.
  Keywords: Barrier factors; satisfaction; online learning; Covid-19.
  
  
• Optimising synchronous online learning in higher education: perspectives from India  
  by Yasmeen Shamsi Rizvi 
  Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic drove an online teaching and learning 'revolution' of sorts in developing countries. The world has stepped into the year 2023; however, the pandemic is far from over as the threat of another wave is already upon us in India. With China's COVID-19 cases spike, India and multiple countries have stepped up their entry restrictions and measures (Hindustan Times, 2023). Students in Indian higher education institutes faced some unique challenges during online learning since the onset of the pandemic. It is thus important to find ways to optimise the online learning experience in this new normal. The objective of this study is to explore the factors/dimensions that are important in online synchronous learning among students in Indian universities. Past studies have mostly focussed on individual variables such as stress, anxiety, and depression among students in developed countries. While very few researches have been carried out in the context of Indian universities, no study was found to have identified the dimensions/components of online learning, thus making this study unique. This paper is based on a mixed-method cross-sectional research design and proposes an evidence-based model for the optimisation of online learning. It aims to fill in the research gap and identify important areas for innovation and research.
  Keywords: online synchronous learning; dimensions; components; exploratory factor analysis; COVID-19 pandemic; Indian universities; higher education; management degree programme; optimisation; new normal.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10053325
   
  
• Servant leadership and teachers' stress: the role of teacher engagement  
  by Marie Jaurian Osserand, Robert Ipiin Gnankob, Abraham Ansong, Kassimu Issau 
  Abstract: The study examined the link between servant leadership and teachers' stress through the mediating role of teacher engagement. The study adopted the positivist philosophy, focusing mainly on the explanatory design. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from 291 teachers randomly selected from the 11 senior high schools in the Cape Coast metropolis of Ghana. The PLS-SEM was used to analyse the data. The study found that servant leadership had no significant relationship with reduced stress. The study further disclosed that servant leadership had significant positive relationship with teacher engagement while teacher engagement also had a significant positive relationship with their reduced stress. Finally, we found that teacher engagement had a full significant mediation in the relationship between servant leadership and reduced stress of teachers.
  Keywords: servant leadership; teacher engagement; reduced stress; school heads; senior high schools.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10053147
   
  
• Transforming the paradigm of public university leadership into a more political one in emerging nations: a case of Bangladesh  
  by Gazi Mahabubul Alam 
  Abstract: Studies have examined the impact of political interference on 'instructional', 'constructive' and 'distributed' models of leadership. There is not enough evidence on whether the leadership of universities is now a political one, and/or its impacts; that is the subject of this investigation. Considering Bangladesh as a case study, this qualitative study discovered that the public university sector does not appear to follow 'instructional' and 'constructive' models, let alone 'distributed' leadership. Without recognising and utilising an established education leadership model, political leadership does in fact manage the university. This cultivates 'corruption' and 'nepotism' which interfere with real higher education. Innovation of a specialised model for university leadership is consequently particularly suited to emerging nations and well-timed.
  Keywords: leadership models; instructional; constructive; distributed; political interference in leadership; politics in leadership.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10052236
   
  
• Impact of institutional climate on the student's engagement and learning outcomes in private sector universities of Karachi  
  by Muhammad Irshad, Muhammad Azeem Qureshi, Ummi Naiemah Saraih, Sayed Fayaz Ahmad 
  Abstract: The organisational climate of any institute plays a significant role in students' engagement and learning outcomes. This research study investigates the impact of the organisational climate and student engagement on students' learning outcomes at private sector universities in Karachi, Pakistan. The primary data was gathered from 323 students from the 40 private sector universities in Karachi with the help of a closed-ended questionnaire. The Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) technique was used for the data analysis by PLS-Smart. The data analysis result shows a significant positive effect of the organisational climate on student engagement and learning outcomes. The result also shows that student engagement significantly positively impacts learning outcomes.
  Keywords: organisational climate; student engagement; student learning outcomes; private sector universities; Karachi.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10053451
   
  
• Factors influencing students' satisfaction: an exploratory study in Vietnam  
  by Greeni Maheshwari 
  Abstract: Despite Vietnam being the third largest populated country in ASEAN region with a young age structure consisting of around 41% of population under 24 years of age. To the best of the knowledge none of the study is conducted in public high schools in Vietnam to identify the factors influencing the satisfaction of students. The study included 360 students from 18 public schools studying in grade 11 and grade 12 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A confirmatory factor analysis was used to confirm the set of factors influencing the students' satisfaction. Then an ordered logistic regression was conducted to analyse what factors are more likely to influence the students' satisfaction from the chosen set of factors. The study results suggest that along with government's initiatives at macro-level changes which might take longer time, some micro-level adjustments can be made at school level at a shorter time span.
  Keywords: student satisfaction; high school; Vietnam; logistic regression; confirmatory factor analysis.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10053321
   
  
• Stressors and stress coping strategies of UAE school leaders  
  by Zeina Hojeij, Ali Ibrahim, Sandra Baroudi 
  Abstract: Through exploratory quantitative research, 120 school leaders in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were found to have a moderate level of stress. School leaders have regularly sought social support and focused on the problem as strategies to cope with stress. There was no difference in the means of stress related to the leaders' gender, marital status, age, years of experience, or school size and level. However, interpersonal relations and administrative responsibilities made the largest contribution to the prediction of coping strategies. Considering the quick changes aimed at by the national educational reform, leaders found themselves unaware of their new job descriptions and expectations. Leaders struggled with a combination of little autonomy, limited resources, bureaucracy and intensification, and increased responsibilities. Self-efficacy and self-motivation indicated perseverance in managing stress. School leaders, especially during a reform, face the burden of role expectations and administrative constraints due to changing requirements from authorities.
  Keywords: school principals; stress at work; coping strategies; administrative stress index; ways of coping checklist-revised.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10051937
   
  
• Students' perception of extended producer's responsibility and business sustainability in Nigeria  
  by Isidore Ekpe, Justus Adim Nzemeka, Godwin Omogbai Ofeimun, Oluwafunmilayo Ajibola 
  Abstract: With particular reference to electronic waste disposal, this study seeks to examine youths' perception of the relationship between extended producer's responsibility and business sustainability in Nigeria. The result will enable Nigerian government and universities management to develop appropriate policies on waste disposal and recycling for cleaner and safer environment. The study samples the opinions of 432 final year students from two universities in the south region of Nigeria through proportionate stratified random sampling method. Analysing data with descriptive statistics and correlation methods, the study finds that Nigerian university students perceive a positive correlation between electronic waste recycling, human health and business innovation. Therefore, the government and universities management should develop appropriate policy to ensure proper disposal of e-waste by producers of electronic equipments in order to avoid harmful effect on human beings. This study is limited to private university students. Further studies can involve students in public universities in Nigeria.
  Keywords: students' perception; extended producer's responsibility; electronic waste; business sustainability; Nigeria.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10053148
   
  
• Using principal component analysis to explore managerial factors influencing lecturers' job performance: a perspective from Nigeria  
  by Ahmed Aliyu Palladan, Kadzrina AbdulKadir, Muhammad A. Ahmad 
  Abstract: Proper use of relevant managerial factors is fundamental to organisational performance. Employing the methodology of systematic review, we placed 92 English empirical articles on this subject into perspective. 26 managerial factors were found to be relevant to determining lecturers' performance in Nigerian universities. In furtherance to that, the study sent online survey to 322 lecturers in Nigerian tertiary institutions using Google form, soliciting the respondents to rank the identified managerial factors based on how they affect their lecturing job. Then, the study used the Principal Component Analysis technique to identify the managerial factors with the highest variance. Motivation, recruitment process, adoption of strategic management practices and organisational support to employees were found to contribute 73.6% of the total variance. This indicates that these four factors were the top predictors of job performance among lecturers in Nigerian public universities. Motivation was found to explain 58% of the total variance. The study can go a long in way by providing tertiary institution managers with a guide on formulating robust human resource policies. The policies when formulated are expected to yield good results, since the input of the policies originated from those the policies affect the most.
  Keywords: lecturers' performance; managerial factors; Nigerian universities; principal component analysis; systematic review.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10051684
   
  
• Exploring the factors of social media in facilitating knowledge-sharing among university academics: a case study approach  
  by Farah Fairuza, Faiq Aziz, Nor Erlissa Abd Aziz, Samsilah Roslan, Zeinab Zaremohzzabieh 
  Abstract: Social media is becoming a vital medium for knowledge-sharing. Although many researchers have attempted to understand the role of social media on knowledge-sharing in organisations, their impact on higher education institutions and academics is still unclear. This study covers interviews with 32 Malaysian academics to determine the elements that influence knowledge-sharing on social media and to assist higher education institutions in leveraging these elements to improve their knowledge-sharing. Five themes and 10 sub-themes emerged from the interviews, including motivational factors (enjoyment in helping others, financial rewards and reciprocal benefits), a social factor (social interaction tie), a social barrier (knowledge hoarding), organisational factors (open communication climate, training and management support) and technological factors (functionality and ease of use). Moving forward, this research gives managers and policymakers valuable insights into how higher educational institutions' stakeholders might be encouraged to feel the need to share knowledge and how they can utilise social media to do so effectively.
  Keywords: social media; knowledge-sharing; academics; Malaysia; knowledge management.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10053146
   
  
• Improving private higher education strategies through fuzzy analytical hierarchy process: insight from Indonesia  
  by Muhammad Ramaditya, Mohamad Syamsul Maarif, Joko Affandi, Anggraini Sukmawati 
  Abstract: The current study seeks to offer a key strategy shift in attaining private higher education performance based on higher education's resource-based perspective. The processing technique used to determine the strategy is the fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP). This research was conducted in private higher education in Indonesia by conducting focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with seven experts. The results show that the most dominant factor in improving performance is strategic planning, and the actor is the university leader. The availability of graduates ready to enter the job market is the main objective of improving higher education performance. The prior alternative strategy to recommend is to improve human resource competencies through talent management. The results of this study are presented and discussed, and the results of this study can be helpful for universities in similar developing countries.
  Keywords: higher education strategy; analytical hierarchy process; university transformation; talent management.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2023.10052135