Factors Influencing Students' Decisions InudChoosing Private Institutions Of HigherudEducation In Malaysia: A StructuraludEquation Modelling Approach

摘要

There are almost 500 institutions of private higher education currently in operation inudMalaysia, these include colleges, university colleges and universities. These institutionsudare helpful because they fill the gap caused by limited seating for potential students inudgovernment institutions of higher learning. A total sample of 373 students comprisingudstudents from secondary schools was used in this study. These students were in the Britishudequivalent O and A levels of education. A questionnaire containing 46 statements wasuddistributed randomly to the respondents during a motivation seminar at their respectiveudschools. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS and AMOS software programmeudpackages for Windows. Factor analysis was performed to extract and decide on theudnumber of factors underlying the measured variables of interest. Structural EquationudModelling (SEM) was then used to examine the variables and the fitness of the proposedudmodel. The results indicate a substantial positive effect of perception and promotion onudthe students' choice of private institutions for higher education. The results also reveal audsignificant positive effect of perception on influence and promotion on influence.udTherefore, the findings of this study have a substantial effect on private institutions ofudhigher education.