A Pilot Study of Brand Loyalty in Generation Y of Technical and Vocational Education Training Colleges

Objective - In an increasingly changing and dynamic South African higher education landscape, institutions must communicate their brand to stakeholders to perceive the institution as offering quality services,to have a loyal stakeholder. However, thereseemsto be little attention devoted to the influence of brand communication, brand satisfaction and service quality on brand loyalty in higher education, particularly in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. Considering this view, and noting that prior research on brand loyalty in the service sector has shown a connection between brand communication, service quality, brand satisfaction and brand loyalty, it is unknown if a similar correlation is found in the South African TVET sector. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate Generation Y students' views of brand communication, brand satisfaction and service quality in the TVET sector throughout the Gauteng Province of South Africa.As a result, this paper summarises the findings of a pilot study to establish the validity and reliability of a questionnaire used to examine Generation Y students' perceptions of brand communication, brand satisfaction and service quality related to brand loyalty in Gauteng TVET colleges. Methodology/Technique - The variables for the paper were derived from previously established questionnaires. A section of the questionnaire asked students about their views of a TVET's brand communication. Additionally, there were questions concerning the quality of service, brand selection and brand loyalty. Finally, all scale items were modified to be more contextually relevant.The questionnaire used a six-point Likert scale, with 1 indicating strong disagreement and 6 indicating strong agreement. The questionnaire was piloted with a convenience sample of 50 students not included in the primary study's sampling frame. Finding - The overall number of respondents (46) was insufficient to undertake extensive statistical testing. As a result, only frequency and correlation coefficients were computed. Correlation analysis revealed a substantial association between brand loyalty and the variables that influence it. All had a strong association between brand loyalty and brand communication, service quality and brand loyalty and satisfaction. Additionally, there were substantial correlationsbetween service quality and brand satisfaction and between service quality and brand communication. Correlation coefficients between constructs ranged from 0.294 to 0.781. This demonstrates that these constructs do not correspond to the same concept. As a result, all construct items were kept for use in the main study. Novelty - The results from the pilot study provides preliminary support for the hypothesised relationship between brand loyalty and its predictors. Marketers and service organisations need to recognise that the future patronage of a service organisation depends on loyalty. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: Brand Communication; Service Quality; Brand Satisfaction; Brand Loyalty; Technical and Vocational Training JEL Classification: M31, I23, I29

Antecedents of Organizational Change and Its' Consequence towards Organizational Performance

Objective - The research was conducted to identify the positive influence of transformational leadership and organizational commitment towards organization change and the influence of change on learning and its' implication onorganizational performance. Methodology/Technique - The research design method is a hypothesis-testing approach. Units of research analysis areemployees of BUKU 3 and BUKU 4 Banks in Jakarta who have a supervisory function. The study data is cross-sectional obtained in a specified time period. Data was obtained through distributing online questionnaires containing statements to be responded with a minimum of 365 respondents required. Structural Equation Model was used to test the model of the research and AMOS software is used for data processing. Finding - The major finding of the research is that transformational leadership is not directly related to positive performance of the organization but more on how transformational leaders are able to manage organizational change that in the end will have a positive impact on organization performance.Organizational change also perceived has no positive impact on learning and learning also has no direct and mediating impact on positive organizational performance. Novelty - Type of Paper - Keywords: Change; Leadership; Organizational Commitment; Organizational Change; Organizational Learning; Organizational Performance.

Green Purchase Behaviour among Students in Higher Learning Institutions

Objective - In recent years, rapid economic growth coupled with overconsumption of products and services contributed to environmental degradation, prompting escalated consumptionrelated environmental concerns. As such, this study aims to explore the factors influencing green purchase behaviour among students in higher learning institutions in Malaysia – a setting where the market is experiencing expansion and changes in consumption patterns. Methodology/Technique - Specifically, this study employs the Theory of Planned Behaviour by integrating relevant variables such as environmental attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, environmental knowledge and willingness to pay a premium into the model to investigate their effects on green purchase behaviour. This study specifically looks into the green purchasing behaviour among University students in Malaysia. Finding - The research used multiple linear regression analysis to evaluate the online questionnaire gathered from various university students in Malaysia. Overall, the findings indicate that subjective norm and perceived behavioural control have significant relationships with green purchase behaviour, while environmental attitude, willingness to pay a premium and environmental knowledge have insignificant relationships with green purchase behaviour. Novelty - This study concludes with implications for marketers, as well as limitations and suggestions for future research in green consumption. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: Green Purchase Behaviour, Green Marketing, Green Products and Services, Students

Developing Quality Hospitality Students Through Simulation and Experiential Learning asa Guide for Hospitality Education

Objective - Teaching quality is more and more profoundly decisive for the achievement of higher educational institutions. On this background, Games-Based Learning (GBL) and Experiential-Based Learning (EBL) are the key teaching methodologies which are often used to enhance the teaching-learning quality by assisting both teachers and students gain their objectives. Teaching in the Age of Covid-19 is also another challenge for most of the Educators. Given the importance of the topic in university, the aim of this research is to present an organized review of the literature on the use of GBL as a tool to boost the distinction and the excellence of the teaching process in general, and, in particular, the teaching of hospitality management. Methodology/Technique - The work searched mainly the most appropriate literature on the application of gamification to educational contexts. The empirical analysis of a game-based project assigned to 27 players, who are Hospitality Students at FPT University Danang, has shown very significant results. Finding - One of the primary outcomes of this research is to describe theoretical approaches mainly to GBL, then EBL and provide a conceptual model that gathers the contribution of various studies and make way for in future deeper research. Another important finding is the gradual integration of various types of experiential learning activities into a hospitality and tourism management syllabus. Novelty - The significance of the research results shows that he best of both academic and reality world should be closely connected in purpose so as to make the teaching-learning more engaging, more fun and more efficient. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: Games-Based Learning; Simulation and Experiential Learning, PBLs, Learning in Covid-19 Age, Hospitality Education. JEL Classification: I23, A22,Z32

How to Improve the Performance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises?

Objective - The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened economic conditions and jeopardized the performance of many micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia. So the question arises of how to improve its performance so that MSMEs can maintain their survival in conditions like this. This study aims to answer these problems, namely to analyze the influence of management characteristics on MSME business performance with innovation as a mediator. The population in this study is MSMEs from various types of businesses in Indonesia. Methodology/Technique - A total of 123 samples were selected by stratified judgment sampling. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Finding - Data analysis using structural equation model (SEM) partial least squares (PLS) program. Novelty - Based on the analysis conducted, it can be concluded that to improve the performance of MSMEs, management characteristics need to be strengthened by efforts to create innovation, because without strengthening innovation, only having adequate management characteristics will not increase MSME performance. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: Characteristics; Innovation; Micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); Performance JEL Classification: M19

Psychological Readiness for Mobile Learning Among Maldivian Students at Higher Education Institutions

Objective - Mobile learning had widely impacted higher education, providing technology enabled educational opportunities to the mobile-first learners of the millennium, anytime, anywhere. The adoption of mobile technology rapidly increased among higher education institutions of Maldives, changing the psychological perception of distance learners who were located in different atolls of the country. Methodology/Technique - This paper was developed to explore psychological readiness of institutional distance learning students to adopt mobile learning in Maldives. Using quantitative approach, the research was conducted among the distance learners from three key higher education institutions of Maldives. Contributing to the e- questionnaire, three hundred and forty-three (n=340) students expressed their psychological readiness to adopt mobile learning in Maldives. Data collected using mobile technology was analysed using the analysis summary retrieved from Google forms and SPSS. Finding - The analysis revealed that majority of the students of Maldives higher education institutions were acquainted and psychologically ready to adopt mobile learning as a convenient mode of delivery. Novelty - Thereby, it can be said that students were willing to welcome mobile learning enhanced by mobile technology and were psychologically ready to adopt the emerging shift in the paradigm. Type of Paper - Empirical. Keywords: Mobile learning, psychological readiness, paradigm shift, higher education institutions, Maldives JEL Classification: I21, I23

Enhancing Students' Online Engagement: A Study on Online Distance Learning Institutions' Students

Objective - This study evaluates the direct relationships among online learning attitude, online peer collaboration, psychological motivation, digital readiness, and online engagement among students in Malaysia's online distance learning (ODL) higher education institutions. Methodology/Technique - The structural Equation Model (SEM) method was employed to evaluate the direct influence of online learning attitude, online peer collaboration, and psychological motivation on digital readiness and the direct influence of digital readiness on online engagement. The model was developed based on the conceptual development and subsequently analysed using the Partial Least Square (PLS) technique on 391 data acquired during the survey. Finding - The outcomes from the statistical data analysis have clearly shown that the online learning attitude, online peer collaboration, and psychological motivation have positively and significantly influence digital readiness. Novelty - The model of this study is the first model been used by utilising Smart-Pls version3 for data analysis to study students' engagement in ODL higher institutions in Malaysia. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: Online Learning Attitude; Online Peer Collaboration; Psychological Motivation; Digital Readiness and Online Engagement. JEL Classification: 120

Didactic Approaches for a Quality Digital Learning

Objective -This paper identifies and explains the types of interactions facilitated by teachers during online classes. Methodology/Technique - An important part of the paper is intended to classify the most successful techniques that stimulate synchronous and asynchronous interactions in teacher-student relationship in primary school. Finding - The research whose result is illustrated in this paper investigates the ways in which teachers overcome the temptation to limit the lesson only to content delivery and assessment. Novelty - The professional experience of the teachers included in this research is explored and capitalized on, in order to decide on the right ways for connection, as well as productive interaction in the online environment. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: learning community, constructivist didactic planning, growth mindset, interactions facilitated, online classes, connection, and productive interaction in the online environment JEL Classification: A20, D83.