Mohamad Basri Jamal’s research while affiliated with Sultan Idris Education University and other places

Based on the study of the level of knowledge, improvement and the impact of polite manners that has been carried out on students at the Diploma level of Sultan Idris University of Education (UPSI), there are 418 students in the second semester. Includes all courses such as the Diploma of Mathematics & Actuary Science, Diploma Allied Health Sciences, Early Childhood Learning Diploma, Applied Science Diploma & Diploma Performance Arts which takes courses from universities such as Society and Culture Malaysia. Based on the findings of the study obtained, the level of knowledge of the general level of consciousness is at a medium level of 2.96 min scores, the overall level of subsistence is medium of 2.97 mins and the average level of impact is 2.95 mins. The overall being in a moderate position, this condition should be given by all parties, as this position may fall to the next low position can have a negative impact on the behavior and validity of students who will become future leaders of the country. The focus of the study also explains that the majority of students are 56.2 percent from the city. The situation clearly shows that the urban community is not a heavy point in the question of consciousness that we need to care for or follow as a learned society, even if we think and live in a modern way. This situation needs to be upgraded to a higher direction in ensuring the quality of UPSI diploma students have a high academic and personal background.

This study was conducted to examine the economic transformation of the Mah Meri Orang Asli community, the majority ethnic grouping in Sungai Bumbun Village in Carey Island. The objectives of the study were to analyse the economic development of the community, identify the factors that facilitated this economic progress, and ascertain the effects of economic transformation on the present day Mah Meri people. Handicraft and culture were the two main economic sources of the community for their livelihood. Natural resources from the forest such as kayu nyireh provided the Mah Meri with the raw materials to produce unique carvings. Transformation initiatives implemented by the government brought positive impact to the economic development of the community especially in securing economic resources for the villagers. The factors that led to economic change for the Mah Meri were assistance from the Malaysian government channelled through the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), their suburban location, the self-reliant and independent nature of the community, and aid from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Badan Insaf Malaysia and independent bodies. The economic transformation of the Mah Meri was reflected in an increased income level, improvement of facilities and environment, creation of social interaction, and eco-tourism. This article is a concept paper that will explain the economic transformation of the Mah Meri Orang Asli community.

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic upheaval has resulted in a myriad of implications on daily life. In schools, students have also been affected due to their need to participate in online learning which used to be conducted in face-to-face mode. This study was aimed at identifying COVID-19 pandemic impact stress issues among students participating in online teaching and learning. In addition, this study was also for the purpose of examining the suggestions to address the identified stresses. This preliminary study was conducted in a qualitative manner by means of data collection through review of past research studies. Findings showed that stress issues among students participating in online teaching and learning were likely to persist for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, stress issues could be addressed by employing various effective methods based on the suggestions by the Malaysia Ministry of Health depending on each individual student’s acceptance and consistency.

A nation state is a sovereign country that has a clear territorial boundaries and the territory is inhabited by a group of people who are bound by the same citizenship and identify themselves as a nation. A strong Bangsa Malaysia is such a highest point of the nation-building in Malaysia. In this case, students are an important group to be exposed to the process of strengthening the concept so that a strong Bangsa Malaysia can be realized. This study was conducted to identify the level of understanding of the respondents who took part in this study on their knowledge of the concept of Bangsa Malaysia. In addition, this study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the course on Pembentukan dan Pembinaan Negara Bangsa (HNH3013) in shaping students' thinking on the understanding of the concept of Bangsa Malaysia. This is a quantitative research and the results of the study are described by descriptive statistical analysis. Overall, the results of this study found that the level of respondents' understanding of Bangsa Malaysia concept is good. While the HNH3013 course is effective in shaping students' thinking on the concept of Bangsa Malaysia. Based on the findings, this study identifies several things that need to be emphasized by the authorities in further strengthening students' understanding of the concept of Bangsa Malaysia. These include leaders from various religions, acceptance of the concept of Bangsa Malaysia and the latest national policies in further strengthening Bangsa Malaysia.

It’s has been almost 2 years since pandemic Covid-19 has shocked the world. The pandemic has affected all over the world in many sectors including education. Malaysia is one of the countries that also hugely affected by the pandemic, and Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) as one of the leading tertiary education has struggled to maintain its studying and learning process throughout the time. In order to continue its learning process, the educators and students have tried their best to proceed although facing challenges. Apart from using its own online application known as Myguru, several methods have also been applied by lecturers and students including social media mediums like Facebook, WhatsApp, Google Meet, Zoom, and many more. However, sometimes smart and high technologies could not meet all that people demand especially in terms of human touch or soft skills and manner. This paper hence explores the Islamic manner (Adab) been practiced and observed both by academicians and students in selected courses (HIA 3033& HID 3033) while using the online learning process during a pandemic. This study will analyze the Islamic manner (Adab) of lecturer and students from early up to midst semester, their ways of communication, attitude, pre and post classes, punctuality, and attention. This study very essential because towards the end, not academic solely would be the main focus, but morally and Adab sound also would be achieved. Then, the process of learning without neglecting academics, skills, and attitudes would be realized in producing smart human capital in the future.

University is a final education place or destination for students before they walk into a real-world of jobs. However, recent statistics show unpleasant rising cases of white-collar criminals involving professionals and educated people including university graduates proven behavioural and moral crises among our community. This moral crisis also happened in university while students still studying. This can be regarded as moral corruption or leakage among graduates and this issue highly influences their lives. Therefore, the University as a center of excellence and a so-called “sacred place” in knowledge plays a very big role to produce smart graduates academically and morally sound. These smart graduates hence become the best human capital for themselves, the nation, and religions. There are multiple methods that can be implemented to produce a balance smart academic and moral student in university for the betterment of the country’s development in the future.

Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia – KPM (Ministry of Education - MoE) has launched the Public University Volunteer Project in 2017. The Volunteer Program aims to provide exposure and training to the students to improve their soft skills, identity, and level of concern for their environment. In order to instill the importance of Volunteerism Education in cultivating a good value toward the community and to meet the KPM’s purpose to make university close to the community, this study is conducted to highlight the importance of volunteerism activities and education in order to improve the soft skills among the students of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). This study used qualitative methods which are interview, literature review, and content analysis. There are three objectives in this study. The first objective is to enhance the definition of voluntary, volunteer, and volunteerism. Followed by the second objective which is discussing how volunteerism activities could improve the soft skills among the students. And the third objective is to identify the relevance of Volunteerism Education for the students’ future. As a result, the study found that education and volunteerism activities can improve the soft skills among the students in terms of communication skills, relation-building skills, and teamwork skills. While being a volunteer, the attitude can be improved in terms of the sense of help, helping each other, love, sincerity, and strengthen one's identity.

Jawi script and Khat are a Malay heritage and cultural tradition with high artistic value. For centuries both were used as mediums of communication in everyday life in Nusantara especially in the Malay Peninsula before this role was replaced by the Roman script. The effort to revive the Jawi script and Khat by introducing them in Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (SJK) has given rise to issues and opinions from various parties. This study, therefore, was aimed at exploring the perception of undergraduates on the issue. This study was in the form of a survey and utilised the questionnaire method. A total of 326 first semester undergraduates of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) drawn from various faculties and ethnic backgrounds responded to 21 questions in the questionnaire regarding the implementation of Jawi and Khat in Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (SJK) Descriptive analysis of the findings showed eight questionnaire items generating 80% or more agreement which proved that the respondents viewed Jawi script and Khat as a unique artistic element capable of inculcating unity. Although both reflect Islamic and Malay history and identity, Jawi script and Khat are suitable to be introduced in schools since these develop various skills and at the same time enable students to produce and diversify creative works in written form.

Recently, there have been frequent misunderstandings regarding the understanding of culture and practices in the multi-ethnic society in Malaysia, which has caused anger among them. If this situation is not resolved, it will cause ethnic tensions and could disrupt national security. Through the Malaysian Society and Culture course offered at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) to Diploma level students, the researcher wanted to identify the level of students' understanding of this course. The research findings indicated that students' understanding in the Malaysian Society and Culture course was very high with an average mean of 4.21 and above. Majority of students stating strongly agree that this course can give them a clear understanding of the cultural diversity that exists besides this course can help students get to understand the multi-ethnic society with confidence.