Politeknik & Kolej Komuniti Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities

Leadership Styles and Challenges in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutions

M. R. Mohd Khalid; F.M. Noor — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0800

In the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) era, leadership has been acknowledged as vital in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to produce holistic human capital and highly skilled future talent. Therefore, TVET institutions' leaders must become great leaders in order to train and develop future leaders and adapt to new technologies and global challenges. TVET leaders can practice various leadership styles to achieve organisational goals. A systematic literature review was conducted to investigate the leadership styles and challenges in TVET institutions. 21 research articles from multiple digital sources have been selected for this study to analyse the leadership in TVET. The findings of this study pointed out different leadership styles such as Transformational Leadership, Distributed Leadership, and Innovative Leadership. This paper also highlighted the leadership challenges faced by the TVET leaders in this IR 4.0 era such as change management, disruptive technology, and stakeholder collaboration. These findings are then proposed as a framework for developing TVET leaders’ professional competency in the IR 4.0 era.

Technology Transfer of Face Recognition to Strengthen Community Management for People with Disabilities

R.C. Tan, N. Yusof, S. Hussin — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Technology transfer to the community may improve social and economic development in an area while also hastening the process of technology adoption and use. As a result, the Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PPDK) Air Putih in Balik Pulau, Penang, has received the technology transfer project namely “An Advanced Face Recognition Technology” (i-FRAS 2.0) from Politeknik Balik Pulau (PBU). PPDK is a training and rehabilitation centre for children with the status Persons with Disabilities (OKU), which is supervised by the Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM). The problem faced is that PPDK officers record the attendance of OKU trainees in a conventional way, which is to write records in a logbook. This attendance record is also reported manually to the JKM officer for monthly allowance payment to each trainee. Attendance recording and generating reports like this is quite time-consuming, and PPDK officers have limited staff. Therefore, this study investigates the effectiveness of face recognition technology to record the attendance of OKU trainees and to identify the feedback from PPDK management of this technology transfer project. Ten PPDK staff who utilised this system were provided with User Experience Questionnaires (UEQ). An interview was also carried out with PPDK’s supervisor regarding the technology transfer of i-FRAS 2.0. The findings of the study show that the task of recording the attendance of trainees is time-saving. The transfer of face recognition technology through the i-FRAS 2.0 system was well organised, increased productivity, and eased the management of PPDK trainees. Future studies can examine the effectiveness of improved face recognition systems using the Raspberry Pi microprocessor.

Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels on DASS-21 Scale of First Semester Students at Community College

S. H. Rosli, M. H. Abdul Manah, A. Abdul Kadir — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The transition from high school to college is a challenging phase for students, often accompanied by academic, social, and personal stressors that can impact their mental health. First-semester students, in particular, face heightened levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, which can negatively affect their academic performance and well-being. This study aimed to assess the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among first-semester students at Kolej Komuniti Ledang using the DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale). A sample of 97 students was selected through stratified random sampling, and data were collected via self-reported questionnaires. The analysis revealed moderate to strong positive correlations between depression, anxiety, and stress, with a significant portion of students experiencing mild to severe symptoms, particularly anxiety. The results indicate that as depression levels rise, anxiety and stress levels also tend to increase. The study concluded that these mental health issues are interrelated and must be addressed simultaneously to improve student well-being and academic success. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive mental health interventions, including early detection, counselling, and stress management programs tailored to the specific needs of students.

Perceptions of Involvement in Pétanque Sports on Students’ Social Intelligence at Lahad Datu Community College

N.A. Hammade, Z. Sahrul — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This study to identify perceptions of involvement in pétanque sports on students' social intelligence at Lahad Datu Community College. The study has two objectives: (i) to identify students' perceptions of involvement in pétanque sports, and (ii) to determine the correlation between students' involvement in pétanque sports and its impact on social intelligence. This study uses a quantitative approach, using a Likert scale questionnaire as the research instrument. A total of 75 students were chosen as respondents in this study. Data was collected through an online survey which has two main sections: perceptions of involvement in pétanque sports and the impact on students' social intelligence. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software, which uses descriptive analysis for students' perceptions and correlation analysis to determine the relationship between students' involvement in pétanque sports and their social intelligence. The study results show that students have a positive perception of their involvement in pétanque sports and a significant positive relationship between students' involvement and the development of their social intelligence. Furthermore, the study shows that students' involvement in pétanque sports contributes positively to their social intelligence. Pétanque sports can be an effective way in enhancing students' social intelligence, aligning with previous research that supporting sports activities can improve students' interpersonal skills. The limitation of this study is the sample being limited to Lahad Datu Community College students only. The researcher suggesting future research should be conducted and include respondents from various educational institutions across different age groups.

Keywords: perception, pétanque sports, social intelligence, students

Assessing Public Support for Peak-Hour Truck Restrictions on Sepanggar KKIP and Tuaran Bypass: A Road User Survey

A. Paramasivam, A. Awang Jual, E. Archunan — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This study explored the commuter’s opinion on implementation of heavy vehicle restriction during peak hours on Sepanggar KKIP and Tuaran Bypass Road links in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The rapid industrialization and tourism growth in Kota Kinabalu has led to significant challenges in traffic management, particularly during peak hours. By employ a structured survey research method, data was collected from 406 respondents between March 22, 2024, and June 16, 2024. Using a convenience sampling technique, the questionnaire was distributed online through social media platforms such as Facebook, Facebook messenger, Telegram, WhatsApp and Instagram. Finding of the study describe sizable majority of respondents (84.5%) recognize heavy vehicle as a primary cause of congestion during peak hours. Especially, 79.5% of participants strongly agree the implementation of heavy vehicle restriction during peak hours, citing potential benefit such as reduce congestion, improve travel time and enhanced road safety. The study future identifies ideal time for restriction. Finding exposes that morning 5.00 AM to 7.00 AM (78.6%) and evening 4.00 PM to 6.00 PM (79.1%), is a most optimal time for this implementation. Outcome of this study emphasize authorities in Sabah for implementing effective peak hour truck restriction that align with public opinion to ensure potential improvement in traffic flow, safety and create of more pleasant and enjoyable driving experiences.

Keywords: Heavy Vehicle, Bans, Sepanggar KKIP, Tuaran Bypass, Peak Hours and Social Media Platforms.

An Opportunity for Vegetarian Option in Menu Rahmah: The Social Stratification Barriers

K. Subaramaniam, C. C. Ng — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Stumbling upon a vegetarian option is a fresh idea for the Menu Rahmah initiative. However, the opportunity can be seized if the right chances turn up and to be granted by the respective authorities in ensuring the success of this programme. As such, there are several obstacles that limits the plant-based alternative to reach the mass. The qualitative methodology is employed to collect the data for this research. Therefore, this paper will explore two research questions focusing on why the food entrepreneurs have difficulties in serving a vegetarian menu and how the social stratification is a barrier for this option. 20 food operators from the Klang Valley region participated voluntarily for the face-to-face interview sessions that investigated their dilemma in this course of study. In addition, their conversations were recorded with their consent and remained anonymous in order to protect their identities. The transcriptions were transcribed and the themes were generated to analyze the information. Hence, the authority and cost played a crucial role in determining the barriers that stratified the vegetarian option for the food operators. Besides that, this article is significant to the stakeholders to strengthen the loose ends and to transpire the necessary solutions for the betterment of Menu Rahmah plan.

Educator’s Readiness for the Implementation of Micro-Credentials in Terms of Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes for Design Programs in Polytechnics

M. I. Mohamad Ghazi, Z. Yasak — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The increase in the need to integrate micro-credentials in higher education has led to the need to conduct a study to understand the readiness of teachers for the development of micro-credentials. This study was conducted with the aim of identifying the perception of polytechnic instructors towards the implementation of micro-credentials in design programs in terms of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The design of the study was a survey with a quantitative approach that used questionnaires as the main instrument, this study involved a total of 79 teaching staff respondents from three polytechnics in the states of Johor, Pahang and Penang, namely Ibrahim Sultan Polytechnic, Muadzam Shah Polytechnic and Tasek Gelugor Metro Polytechnic. The actual results of the study showed that the perception of the level of knowledge, skills and attitudes was at a moderate level. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between knowledge and attitude while there was no significant relationship between knowledge and skills. The implication is that these results can assist policymakers and management of educational institutions in strategizing more effective implementation of micro-credentials as well as improving professional development programmes for teachers, in order to improve the quality of learning and teaching relevant to current industry needs.

Implementation of Entrepreneurship Education in Community Colleges: Effects on Students' Entrepreneurial Aspirations

N. Subramaniam, M.A. Ali, I.H. Hasan @ Talib — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This study aims to find out the level of knowledge of Community College students in Malacca on the basic concept of entrepreneurship and their tendency to choose a career in the field of entrepreneurship after graduation. Data was obtained through a questionnaire distributed to a total of 145 semester 3 students who attended the MPU12012 Entrepreneurship course at Melaka State Community College from various study programs. This questionnaire has five (5) basic entrepreneurial knowledge constructs that include entrepreneur characteristics, creativity and innovation, marketing, financial management and business plans. Data collection was done using a spreadsheet linked to an online questionnaire and Microsoft Excel software. The analysis of the data obtained shows the level of students' basic knowledge of entrepreneurship on five (5) research constructs with four (4) of them being Basic Knowledge of Entrepreneurship on the Basic Characteristics of Entrepreneurs, Basic Knowledge of Entrepreneurship on Creativity and Innovation, Basic Knowledge of Entrepreneurship on Marketing and Basic Knowledge Entrepreneurship towards Business Plan is at a high level while one (1) construct which is Basic Knowledge of Entrepreneurship towards Financial Management is at a moderately high level. The study also found that the level of desire to choose an entrepreneurial career is moderately high. This shows that the exposure of entrepreneurship knowledge to students whether in the form of curriculum or co-curriculum is welcomed by students. In general, the results of this study can help the management of Community Colleges to obtain information about the level of student knowledge in the field of entrepreneurship and then plan related activities to encourage student involvement in entrepreneurship-related activities. The implementation of entrepreneurship programs or activities has proven to be necessary as an early exposure to Community College students to choose entrepreneurship as their future career.

Impact of a Portable Energy Efficiency Intelligence Power Socket (PEEiPS) for IoT Deployment

M.R. Mohd Roni, H.H. Hanafee, N.H. Mohd Yusoff — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0800

In the rapidly evolving domain of smart technology and Internet of Things (IoT) integration, the imperative for portable and energy-efficient solutions has become increasingly critical. The Portable Energy Efficiency Intelligence Power Socket (PEEiPS) represents a groundbreaking innovation in addressing the pervasive issue of energy wastage resulting from human forgetfulness in turning off electrical appliances. By integrating the ESP8266 microcontroller with IoT capabilities and solar energy, PEEiPS offers a robust solution to combat energy wastage caused by the common problem of leaving electrical appliances on unnecessarily. The automated switching feature, driven by the HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor can be set to ensure devices are active only when needed, effectively addressing energy inefficiencies. PEEiPS's reliance on solar power enhances its sustainability, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional energy management systems. The results demonstrate that PEEiPS can achieve significant energy savings, reducing total energy consumption from 12,000 kWh per year to 11,654 kWh per year. This represents a 3.63% saving for devices with a 600W usage and a substantial 36.3% saving for devices with a 6000W usage. The mobile application facilitates convenient remote control and monitoring, fostering user engagement and improving energy management practices. PEEiPS presents a promising avenue for enhancing energy efficiency and promoting sustainable energy practices, ultimately mitigating environmental impact and reducing electricity costs in residential and commercial settings. The implications of these findings are significant, suggesting that PEEiPS has the potential to revolutionise energy management practices in IoT deployments. Moving forward, further research and development efforts could focus on refining PEEiPS's functionalities, scalability, and interoperability to maximize its commercial potential and applicability across various industries. Additionally, initiatives to raise awareness and promote the adoption of PEEiPS could be instrumental in driving widespread adoption and realizing its full impact on energy conservation efforts globally.