There is an abundance of studies on work engagement found in the literature. However, there is a lack of grounded research framework to be based on relating stress to work engagement of Malaysian private academics. Therefore, this study is aimed at 1). reviewing the literature on stress and work engagement; 2). applying the ASSET model of stress to work engagement; 3). hypothesizing the relationships among these variables, and 4). deriving a conceptual framework. Based on the literature review on psychological literature and the application of the ASSET model of stress, the paper proposes a model of the relationship between stress and work engagement through commitment and health. Suggestions for practice and future research are also presented. Keywords— ASSET, Malaysian private academics, stress, work engagement.

Abstract-There is an abundance of studies on work engagement found in the literature. However, there is a lack of grounded research framework to be based on relating stress to work engagement of Malaysian private academics. Therefore, this study is aimed at 1). reviewing the literature on stress and work engagement; 2). applying the ASSET model of stress to work engagement; 3). hypothesizing the relationships among these variables, and 4). deriving a conceptual framework. Based on the literature review on psychological literature and the application of the ASSET model of stress, the paper proposes a model of the relationship between stress and work engagement through commitment and health. Suggestions for practice and future research are also presented.

Purpose of Study:  This research focuses on three factors influence students’ decisions making to enroll at private Higher Education Institution (HEI) namely as academic program, tuition fees and location as independent variable and students’ decision making as dependent variable. Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) applied for this study. Methodology: The survey consists of questionnaire responded by 100 undergraduate students in Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Business School Campus. Data were analyzed by employing exploratory factor analyses and reliability analyses. SPSS version 24 applied. Main Findings: The result revealed for factor loading all items above 0.5, academic program remarks the highest Kaiser Meyer-Olkin (KMO) with .804 and for Cronbach’s alpha tuition fees was the highest one with .819. Implications/Applications: The present study helps in investigating the factors which influence students’ decisions making to enroll at HEI.

Purpose:  The purpose of this research is to determine either financial aid moderates the factors influence among undergraduate students’ decision making to enroll at private HEI. Methodology: The survey consists of a questionnaire responded by 500 undergraduate students in private HEI located at Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Data were analyzed by SPSS applied model 1 moderating analysis with the usage of the macro PROCESS by Hayes and Matthes (2009). Results: The results of this research shows that Competition among private HEI is becoming tougher as students have many options and set of selection criteria. The high numbers of private HEI indirectly given ample choice to students to choose based on their requirements. Private HEI at the same time competes with each other to increase the number of students in order to survive. As resulted, four hypotheses (H8a, H8b, H8c, and H8e) were moderated by financial aid and two hypotheses (H8d and H8f) rejected in this study. Implications: Therefore, the existence of financial aid was important and slightly influential students’ decision to enroll in private HEI for four hypotheses (H8a, H8b, H8c, H8e), while for two hypotheses (H4 and H6) students consider financial aid not at all influential their decision to enroll in private HEI in this study.