Browsing by Author "Afareez Abd Razak Al-Hafiz, Ph.D"

This study intended to explore thorough discernments of educational leaders on the function of innovative leadership style in vitally contributing to the implementation of hybrid learning at the university level aiming to understand the role of educational leaders in reference to adopting innovative leadership style for the execution of the matter. The recent pandemic had forced drastic change in reshaping the approaches and designs in the setting of formal education which demands the implementation of hybrid learning to be executed comprehensively in order to accommodate the situation. Through a qualitative research design the targeted informants consisted of head of departments selected from various kulliyyahs in International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) using purposive sampling technique. The data collection method used was in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data gathered from the interviews were transcribed using thematic analysis and themes were extracted to answer all of the research questions. Findings had shown relevant support for the mentioned leadership style towards the effectiveness of hybrid learning, and had highlighted the challenges faced in abruptly implementing hybrid learning, and interesting suggestions for considerations.

This study examines the experience that educational administrator undergoes when implementing teaching and learning during crisis. Covid-19 pandemic has brought drastic changes in method and approaches of implementing teaching and learning. Besides that, the unpredictable nature of the current climate has also posed a challenge to education institution in implementing teaching and learning due to the prevalent of natural disaster. There is a need for a study to come up with a better policy and method when implementing teaching and learning during this unprecedented time. By utilizing a qualitative research design which targeted subject that consist of educational administrator from various private universities in Malaysia. The subjects were selected from those who held an administrative position in their respective institution such as dean, head of department, course leader and course coordinator. Data was collected by using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The data that was obtained from the in-depth interview were transcribed using thematic analysis and themes were extracted in order to answer all the research questions. The finding suggested that crisis is something that causes changes to the way things are being done and it occurs over a long period of time. The informants from the study also suggested that managing teaching and learning during crisis is challenging due to the various issues that they have to encounter and overcome. Issue with the hardware, adaptation, health of the lecturers and assessment were among the issue that were faced by the informant from the study. The study also suggested different approach to management need to be taken. The study showed that informants applied servant and innovative leadership was applied by the academic administrator in the study. The informant also noted that the method that they employed were effective. The study also found that most informant agree that there is a need for a guideline and plan to better prepare academic administrator to manage teaching and learning during crisis. The study provided a better understanding on how educational administrators manage teaching and learning during crisis. It highlighted the issues that need to be addressed and the method taken to by academic administrator to handle those issues. Further research on the specific issues regarding the health problem suffered by the lecturers need to be explored. Apart from that, future research is commended to see how the method taken by the academic administrator were effective.

This study investigates the roles and attitudes of Malaysian academic administrators in promoting peace in higher institution. It also aims to understand how academic administrators understand peace and peace culture, the benefits and challenges faced by them to promote it. This study has employed a qualitative design, with the informants consisting of ten lecturers selected from four different universities located in Klang Valley Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia using purposive sampling technique. Utilizing in-depth semi-structured interview as a data collection method, it revealed valuable input to this study. Triangulation exercise between field notes, interviews and personal memos were carried out to establish trustworthiness and credibility of data. Thematic analysis was used and amongst the most important themes were extracted to answer all of the research questions. The findings suggested that academic lecturers’ roles and attitudes were profound towards Education for Peace and their effort to spread its mission in public universities even though little is known about it. There are pre-requisites, benefits and challenges when implementing Education for Peace in higher education. The need for peace pedagogy, leadership capacity and enculturation of peace culture are indispensable to bring Education for Peace in higher education despite challenges that posed as hindrance towards the processes such as long-term planning, lack of awareness and applicability of Education for Peace in higher education. Future research is commended to observe the level of awareness on this subject for both students and lecturers.