Assessing the Impact of the Educators Mentorship Pedagogy (EMP) on Sales Performance Among Diploma-Level Students

Authors

  • Ahmad Syahmi Ahmad Fadzil Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Johor Branch, Segamat Campus , Malaysia
  • Ainol Mardhiyah Rahmat Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Johor Branch, Segamat Campus , Malaysia
  • Nor Insyirah Mohsin Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Johor Branch, Segamat Campus , Malaysia
  • Nor Zubaidah Nor Abashr Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Johor Branch, Segamat Campus , Malaysia
  • Muhammad Zulqarnain Abd Jalal Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Johor Branch, Segamat Campus, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24191/aej.v12i2.14021

Abstract

The traditional entrepreneurship education (EE) in conventional formats needs to include effective components for behavioral change. This is an exploratory study of Educators Mentorship Pedagogy (EMP) framework utilizing Traditional Teaching (TTC), Psychosocial Mentorship (PTM), Career-Related Function (CRF) and Peer Mentoring (PMM) to determine the basis of recommendation for real-world sales performance. A qualitative multiple-case study was conducted analyzing 10 student groups across a four-week project assignment for business opportunities at an institution in Malaysia. The intervention embedded mentorship into weekly tutorials to convert explicit theoretical frameworks into tacit experience. Findings show that while TTC established the cognitive foundation, PTM and PMM were essential in mitigating the "fear of failure" and building sales resilience. Despite time and resource constraints, top cases achieved significant market traction: BrosJelly sold 360 units (RM720 revenue), Cakesistars sold 341 units (RM341 profit commission), and Kemamzz sold 200 units. Results demonstrate that structured, multidimensional mentorship effectively bridges the "knowledge-action gap," enabling diploma level students to achieve high-volume sales and operational efficiency. This study validates EMP as a superior pedagogical tool for driving tangible performance outcomes in the Malaysian Higher Learning Institution (HLI) ecosystem.

References

Ademola, O., Kimanzi, M. K., & Modise, M. A. (2023). Investigating the Pedagogical Potential of Entrepreneurial Projects

in Higher Education. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 13(3), 273. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2023-0076

Ali, A., Selamat, S. M., Musa, A. H., Antara, P. M., Beta, R. M. D. M., & Baharuddin, F. N. (2024). Preparing Future

Entrepreneurs: Fostering Innovation Through Experiential Learning in Higher Education for the Demands of the

Working Environment. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development,

13(3). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarped/v13-i3/22766

Ali, Y. M., & Negasi, R. D. (2021). The Differential Impact of the Experiential- Entrepreneurial Learning Method on the

Entrepreneurial Intentions of Higher Education Students. International Journal of Learning Teaching and Educational

Research, 20(9), 236. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.20.9.14

Badwan, A. R., Tamvada, J. P., & Rentocchini, F. (2022). Evaluating mentorship based learning in entrepreneurship

education. International Review of Entrepreneurship, 20, 69–86.

Bell, R., & Bell, H. (2016). Replicating the networking, mentoring and venture creation benefits of entrepreneurship centres

on a shoestring. Industry and Higher Education, 30(5), 334. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422216660921

Carolis, D. M. D., & Litzky, B. E. (2019). Unleashing the potential of university entrepreneurship education. New England

Journal of Entrepreneurship, 22(1), 58. https://doi.org/10.1108/neje-04-2019-0022

Chasaya, W., & Ayandibu, A. O. (2025). Mitigating entrepreneurial fear of failure: a literature review [Review of

Mitigating entrepreneurial fear of failure: a literature review]. International Journal of Research in Business and Social

Science (2147-4478), 14(5), 525. Ümit Hacıoğlu. https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v14i5.4227

Elliott, C., Anis, H., & Mavriplis, C. (2017). Peer mentoring in engineering entrepreneurship: A learning environment for

women students. Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA).

https://doi.org/10.24908/pceea.v0i0.6477

Gascon, K. V. D., Obrero, M. K. M., Nacional, J. B., & Pentecostes, K. S. (2025). Navigating Challenge, Growth, And

Innovation: Stories of Student Entrepreneurs in A Philippine State College. Research and Analysis Journal, 8(9), 14.

https://doi.org/10.18535/raj.v8i09.567

Ghannad, N., & Sörensson, A. (2024). Entrepreneurial education in a pandemic era: Timeframes, demographics, and the

nexus between teaching and experiential learning. Industry and Higher Education, 39(1), 8.

https://doi.org/10.1177/09504222241249898

Gonçalves, J., Duarte, A. M., Marques‐Pinto, A., Paulino, P., Figueira, C. P., Ferreira, P., Hagá, S., Barros, A., Pereira, N.,

Luz, R. J. B., Amaral, A. C., & Mesquita, F. (2025). Mentoring for well-being, engagement and academic achievement

in higher education students. Frontiers in Education, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1606103

Hird, A. (2020). Redefining the learning space: Developing peer mentoring in the enterprise curriculum. Industry and

Higher Education, 35(4), 531. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422220981269

Hu, B., Zheng, Q., Wu, J., Zhi-bin, T., Jian-chun, Z., Wu, S., & Ling, Y. (2021). Role of Education and Mentorship in

Entrepreneurial Behavior: Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 775227.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.775227

Ismail, A., Mokhtar, A., Tunca, M. Z., Genturk, M., & Ibrahim, Z. (2023). Mentoring relationships as an enhancer of

mentees’ success. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 12(3), 1233.

https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v12i3.25075

Jitjumnong, K., & Suksakulchai, S. (2021). A Comparison of Achievement in Large University Classes Using Mentored

Groups versus Lectures. International Journal of Instruction, 14(2), 757. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2021.14242a

Johari, H. S. Y., Mohamad, M., Yahya, N., & Nahar, H. S. (2023). A Brief Review Note on Enhancing Entrepreneurial

Excellence: Success Factors in Higher Education Entrepreneurship Education [Review of A Brief Review Note on

Enhancing Entrepreneurial Excellence: Success Factors in Higher Education Entrepreneurship Education].

Accounting and Finance Research, 12(4), 144. Sciedu Press. https://doi.org/10.5430/afr.v12n4p144

Khazanah Research Institute. (2024). Shifting Tides: Charting Career Progression of Malaysia’s Skilled Talents. Khazanah

Research Institute. https://www.krinstitute.org/publications/shifting-tides-charting-career-progression-of-malaysiasskilled-talents

Lam, L., SOH, R., & TEO, G. (2022). The Effectiveness of Business Essentials through Action Module in Developing

Entrepreneurial Thinking. Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research/Advances in Economics,

Business and Management Research. https://doi.org/10.2991/aebmr.k.220501.055

Letloenyane, P. C., Mokhele-Makgalwa, M., & Letloenyane, D. M. (2025). What Mentorship? Pre-Service and In-Service

Teachers’ Experiences of a Teaching Practice Mentorship Programme. ˜ The œAustralian Journal of Teacher

Education, 50(3). https://doi.org/10.14221/1835-517x.6283

Malathi, M., & Venugopal, P. (2025). Entrepreneurial intention and engagement in entrepreneurship education. Journal of

Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-025-00524-6

Mawson, S., Casulli, L., & Simmons, E. L. (2022). A Competence Development Approach for Entrepreneurial Mindset in

Entrepreneurship Education. Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy, 6(3), 481.

https://doi.org/10.1177/25151274221143146

Neergård, G., Aaboen, L., & Widding, Ø. (2021). Entrepreneurial Passion in Entrepreneurship Education. In Advances in

higher education and professional development book series (p. 87). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-

7456-0.ch005

Neneh, B. N., & Dzomonda, O. (2024). Transitioning from entrepreneurial intention to actual behaviour: The role of

commitment and locus of control. The International Journal of Management Education, 22(2), Article 100964.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2024.100964

Pantano, G. (2024). Co-creation in the entrepreneurial university : unraveling systemic value tensions. Research Portal

Denmark, 242. https://local.forskningsportal.dk/local/dki-cgi/ws/cris-link?src=dtu&id=dtu-5ee705ce-98b3-4f0abf22-20a14e9bbf48&ti=Cocreation%20in%20the%20entrepreneurial%20university%20%3A%20unraveling%20systemic%20value%20tensio

ns

Petrylaitė, E., & Rusk, M. (2020). Entrepreneurial marketing learning styles used by entrepreneurial teams. Journal of

Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, 23(1), 60. https://doi.org/10.1108/jrme-12-2019-0099

Phạm, M., Nguyen, A. T. T., Tran, D. T., Toai, T., & Nguyen, V. T. (2023). The impact of entrepreneurship knowledge on

students’ e-entrepreneurial intention formation and the moderating role of technologic

Prastyaningtyas, E. W., Sutrisno, S., Soeprajitno, E. D., Ausat, A. M. A., Ausat, A. M. A., & Suherlan, S. (2023). Analysing

the Role of Mentors in Entrepreneurship Education: Effective Support and Assistance. Journal on Education, 5(4),

14571. https://doi.org/10.31004/joe.v5i4.2511

Ribeiro, A. T. V. B., Uechi, J. N., & Plonski, G. A. (2018). Building builders: entrepreneurship education from an

ecosystem perspective at MIT. Triple Helix Journal, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40604-018-0051-y

Rofa, N., & Ngah, R. (2024). Exploring the nexus of entrepreneurial potential and entrepreneurial mentoring among TVET

programme students. Issues and Perspectives in Business and Social Sciences, 4(1), 94.

https://doi.org/10.33093/ipbss.2024.4.1.7

Silva, N. da. (2021). Mentoring Student Start-Up During Covid19 Pandemic. Dinamika Pendidikan, 16(2), 124.

https://doi.org/10.15294/dp.v16i2.30225

Soelaiman, L., Keni, K., & Puspitowati, I. (2024). Empowering Entrepreneurial Intentions: Educational Support And SelfEfficacy In MBKM Context. Jurnal Manajemen, 28(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.24912/jm.v28i1.1760

Sørensen, K. B., & Gronemann, S. T. (2021). Broadening the entrepreneurial mindset by training a Life Design Attitude.

Research Portal Denmark. https://local.forskningsportal.dk/local/dki-cgi/ws/cris-link?src=dmjx&id=dmjxc4831958-a527-4002-bd0c7db18a523c4f&ti=Broadening%20the%20entrepreneurial%20mindset%20by%20training%20a%20Life%20Design

%20Attitude

Tanggaard, L., Ernø, S., Warhuss, J., & Robinson, S. (2015). From I to we : a new paradigm for enterprise learning?

Research Portal Denmark. https://local.forskningsportal.dk/local/dki-cgi/ws/cris-link?src=au&id=au-eb5ac82d-c2e5-

44d2-a025-

800042ba8fbf&ti=From%20I%20to%20we%20%3A%20a%20new%20paradigm%20for%20enterprise%20learnin

g%3F

Udeozor, V., Hughes, M., Ogundana, O. M., & Umoru, U. (2025). Enhancing entrepreneurial outcomes: The role of

experiential pedagogy in compulsory entrepreneurship education in developing economies. Journal of the

International Council for Small Business, 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/26437015.2025.2497250

Vickers, B., Pirie, E., & Reid, C. (2023). Trials and Triumphs of Running Cross-Year Experiential Modules: Blending

Theory and Practice to Advance Student Professional Development and Academic Practice. Journal of Perspectives

in Applied Academic Practice, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.56433/jpaap.v11i3.590

Villa, L. K., Ruth, A., Luchmun, R., & Cantú, E. A. (2021). Increasing Self-Efficacy in Mentoring Relationships for

Aspiring Entrepreneurs in Community Colleges. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 46(10), 693.

https://doi.org/10.1080/10668926.2021.1896397

Vizdák, K., & Kovács, J. (2023). Higher Education Educator Roles in Developing Entrepreneurship. Köz-Gazdaság, 18(3),

115. https://doi.org/10.14267/retp2023.03.07

Downloads

Published

2026-08-15

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Assessing the Impact of the Educators Mentorship Pedagogy (EMP) on Sales Performance Among Diploma-Level Students (A. S. Ahmad Fadzil, A. M. Rahmat, N. Z. Nor Abashr, & M. Z. Abd Jalal, Trans.). (2026). Asean Entrepreneurship Journal, 12(2), 41-54. https://doi.org/10.24191/aej.v12i2.14021