Study abroad benefits and graduates employability: Asian International Mobility for Students Programme (AIMS): Malaysia
The multitude of existing research conducted within the field of study abroad generally reinforces the popular understanding that the practice not only broadens the mind, provides valuable experiences and enhances stagnating perspectives, but also contributes to a skillset that is becoming incre...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2020
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17068/1/40242-132530-1-PB.pdf http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17068/ https://ejournal.ukm.my/akademika/issue/view/1275 |
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| Institution: | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | The multitude of existing research conducted within the field of study abroad generally reinforces the popular
understanding that the practice not only broadens the mind, provides valuable experiences and enhances stagnating
perspectives, but also contributes to a skillset that is becoming increasingly necessary for success in the globally
focused world of today. Despite the evidence supporting their effectiveness, relatively few undergraduate students of
Malaysia choose to participate in some form of study abroad programmes especially to the ASEAN countries. The
following analysis will examine the potential reasoning of why this is so. In this context the focus is on the mobility
programme on the short-term exchange and study abroad issues. Through the survey, this research examined the
attitudes and inhibitions of undergraduate university students as they relate to studying abroad and to what extent these
perceptions fall in line with the escalating importance of employability. Used as an exemplifying case of Asian Mobility
for Students Programmes (AIMS), ten participating public universities under the AIMS-Malaysia furnished the sample
of participants used in this study. Factors such as a student’s previous international travel experience and awareness of
available programmes are seen to influence these perceptions to some degree. The students highlighted the benefits of
studying abroad as to have better understanding of cultural differences and new friends share the same highest mean.
The students also developed their soft skills by being more independent, confident and improve their problem-solving
skills. In addition, they also have better communication, self-assessment and personal skills. The finding also showed
that the most important criteria that the alumni being hired for their first job after graduation are communication skills,
high adaptability, analytical thinking and problem solving. These findings corroborate international student mobility
programmes whilst providing additional insight through student testimony. Indeed, AIMS programme leverages the
competency and employability of students, hence contributes to producing global citizens and ASEAN harmonization. |
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