What makes undergraduate students enroll into an elective course?

Abstract

Purpose-The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the acceptance level of Islamic accounting course by undergraduate students at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). The study used theory of reasoned action (TRA) to analyze the findings. Design/methodology/approach-The primary data for the study are collected using self-administered questionnaires. Altogether, the sample comprised of 135 respondents. Data are analyzed using statistical package for social science 13.0 and Analysis of Moment Structures 7.0 to determine the acceptance level and model fit. Findings-Attitude (ATT), subjective norm (SN), and amount of information on Islamic accounting (AIIA) are found to affect the intention of students to enroll in the Islamic accounting course. Other proposed hypotheses are also supported. Research limitations/implications-The study limitations are confined to three only. The first limitation is the narrow focus on one University in Malaysia as a case study. The second is about its limited relevant measures used in the model that may potentially support the acceptance. The third is about the lack of adequate sample of non-Muslim students. Nevertheless, these limitations drive for the future research in the area of Islamic accounting. Practical implications-Despite its limitations, this study is still of importance in providing insights on a particular issue. The findings of this study shed some light on the students' acceptance level of an Islamic course. This course is unique as it is different in orientation compared to other existing courses on offer. This paper also provides an invaluable insight, especially in the case of UMS, to consider Islamic accounting course as a core course in the future instead of only an elective course. The university's management should consider the importance of students' ATT, SN, and AIIA prior to offering the course. Originality/value-This paper examines undergraduate students' acceptance level of an Islamic accounting course using TRA and highlights the factors affecting the acceptance of students of an Islamic accounting course in a Malaysian higher learning institution.

Increasing Student Learning: Factors influencing hospitality students' intention to engage in community service

“…The responsibility could be taken from learning about social norms such as appropriate values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors about the community prior to actual participating in any community service. In previous studies, an individual tended to follow others' expectations to strengthen relationships in a society (Deutsch & Gerard, 1955), and the importance of norms to increase intention has been confirmed (Amin, et al, 2009;Bentler & Speckart, 1979;Shaftel & Shaftel, 2005). In their studies, norms were a highly predictive factor of behavioral intentions.…”

“…In a study on the impact of effective accounting education, Shaftel and Shaftel (2005) presented that subjected norms were highly linked to students' attitude. The importance of norms to increase intention has been indicated in various research studies such as Internet banking intention (Raymayah, Jantan, Noor, & Ling, 2003), intention to trade online (Gopi & Ramayah, 2007), and enrolment intention for an elective course (Amin, et al, 2009). …”

“…Higher education institutions are requiring service learning development in various fields because this is one of the popular and new disciplines being offered and taught at universities and colleges (Amin, Rahman, & Ramayah, 2009). …”

An Analysis on Islamic Insurance Participation

“…Thus, if applied on the issue of the present study, this positive relationship indicates that the more positive the subjective norm, the more likely that an Islamic insurance be chosen. On the same note, Amin, Abdul- Rahman and Ramayah (2009) examine the acceptance level of Islamic accounting course among 135 undergraduate students. Using structural equation modelling and regression analysis, the study reports that subjective norm is pivotal in explaining why students choose Islamic accounting course.…”

“…A study by Amin et al (2009) find that amount of information which is adapted from Pikkarainen et al (2004) is an important factor in Islamic accounting course selection by students. This explains that the effect of information is somewhat essential when we are thinking about attracting students to opt for certain course(s).…”