Examining Cognitive and Social Factors of TVET Enrolment Intention Among Asnaf Youth: Evidence from Institut Kemahiran Baitulmal (IKB), MAIWP
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/aej.v12i2.14084Keywords:
TVET, Enrolment Intention, Asnaf Youth, Self-Efficacy, Societal InfluenceAbstract
This study is developed based on an Applied Business Project (ABP) aimed at addressing a real-world organisational issue related to low enrolment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) among Asnaf young adults at Institut Kemahiran Baitulmal (IKB), Malaysia. Despite substantial government investment and fully subsidised programmes, participation remains below institutional capacity, highlighting a critical gap between policy intention and actual uptake. Unlike purely theoretical research, this study focuses on solving a practical problem through the application of strategic tools and an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) framework. The study examines the influence of TVET knowledge, self-efficacy, attitude, societal influence, and perceived family influence on students’ intention to enrol in TVET programmes using a quantitative approach involving 204 respondents. The findings reveal that the model explains a substantial proportion of variance in enrolment intention (R² = 0.517), with attitude emerging as the strongest predictor, followed by self-efficacy and TVET knowledge, while societal influence and perceived family influence were found to be statistically insignificant. These results indicate that internal cognitive and psychological factors play a more dominant role than external social pressures in shaping vocational enrolment decisions among marginalised youth. The study contributes to both theory and practice by extending the applicability of the TPB framework within a socio-economically disadvantaged context, while demonstrating how conceptual models can be operationalised to address real organisational challenges. From a practical perspective, the study proposes targeted interventions focusing on enhancing awareness, strengthening self-efficacy, and reshaping attitudes towards TVET, offering valuable insights for policymakers, TVET institutions, and zakat agencies in designing more effective outreach strategies to improve participation and optimise resource utilisation.
References
Abd Hamid, H. S., & Othman, M. (2024). Predicting behavioural intention to enrol at a TVET institution. Sains Humanika, 16(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.11113/sh.v16n2.2085
Abdulla, S. and Ugli, Q.S.A. (2022), “The role of family in the formation of learning motivation for adolescents”, Conference Zone, pp. 286-288, available at: https://conferencezone.org/index.php/cz/article/view/411/398
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
Alam, G. M., & Forhad, A. (2021). Roadblocks to university education for diploma engineers in Bangladesh. Abstract from ResearchGate. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339580109_Roadblocks_to_university_education_for_diploma_engineers_in_Bangladesh
Asia Foundation & Institute of Public Policy & Management (INPUMA). (2021). Recommendations towards improving Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Malaysia.
Ayanwale, M. A., Molefi, R. R., & Matsie, N. (2023). Modelling secondary school students’ attitudes toward TVET subjects using social cognitive and planned behavior theories. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 8(1), 100478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100478
Azeem, N., Omar, M. K., Rashid, A., Abdullah, A., & Zaremohzzabieh, Z. (2021). The role of perceived social support, vocational self-efficacy and vocational outcome expectation on students’ interest in the TVET program. Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education, 12(14), 3333–3340.
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control.
Bernama. (2026, February 2). RPN 2026–2035 set to elevate TVET as core pathway in national education system.
Chyung, S. Y., Roberts, K., Swanson, I., & Hankinson, A. (2017). Evidence-based survey design: The use of a midpoint in Likert-type scales. Performance Improvement, 56(10), 15–23.
Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling techniques (3rd ed.). Wiley.
Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2026, February 11). Labour force survey report, fourth quarter 2025.
Djaafar, Z., & Djaafar, H. (2023). Advanced statistical analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics 29.
Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1–4.
Grundall, K., & Mack, A. (2023). Influencing students’ Technical Vocational Education and Training career path: A qualitative research. Caribbean Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 2(1), 165–198.
Halik Bassah, N. S., & Mohd Noor, M. A. (2023). Employability skills needed for TVET graduates in Malaysia: Perspective of industry expert. Online Journal for TVET Practitioners, 8(1), 52–59.
Hanafi, A. G., Ahmad, H. H., Mansor, M. F., & Mustafa, W. A. W. (2023). An integrated approach in empowering Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for Malaysian Asnaf in the IR4.0 era. Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology, 30(2), 255–271.
Hanafi, A. G., Mansor, M. F., Mustafa, W. A., & Ahmad, H. H. (2025). Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) factors to the employability of Asnaf group in Perlis. Journal of Engineering Research and Education, 14, 83–96.
Hj. Ebil, S., Salleh, S. M., & Shahrill, M. (2020). The use of E-portfolio for self-reflection to promote learning: A case of TVET students. Education and Information Technologies, 25(6), 5797–5814.
Institut Kemahiran Baitulmal. (2024). Manual pengurusan pengambilan pelajar 2024.
MAIWP. (2019). Laporan MAIWP 2019.
Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (MAIWP). (2023). Laporan Tahunan 2022: Memperkasa agenda kebajikan ummah.
Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan. (2025). Laporan tahunan agihan zakat 2024.
Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan. (2025). Statistik agihan zakat dan bantuan kewangan Asnaf.
Malaysian Investment Development Authority. (2026, March 6). Malaysia breaks investment record with RM426.7 billion in 2025, up 11% year-on-year; creating over 240,000 new jobs.
MIDA. (2023). Make TVET more inclusive. Malaysian Investment Development Authority.
Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. (2024, June 8). Dasar TVET Negara 2030 [National TVET Policy 2030].
Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR). (2022). Malaysian Skills Certification Directory. Department of Skills Development.
Mohamad Fadzil, N. F., Samad, P. N. S. N., Mohd Nawawi, A. F., Mohamed Pandi, N. Z., & Puteh, F. (2022). Towards a high standard of excellence in Malaysia's higher education institutions: Obstacles and enablers. Journal of Administrative Science, 19(2), 162–192.
Mohamed, S. Z. A., Alavi, K., & Selamat, M. N. (2022). Effectiveness of training methods on technical education and vocational students: A systematic review. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 11(1), 193–210.
Mustapha, R., & Abd Karim, R. (2022). TVET student’s perception on digital mind map to stimulate learning of technical skills in Malaysia. Journal of Technical Education and Training, 14(1), 1–11.
Mustapha, R., Abd Karim, A., & Noraini, M. (2022). Public perception of vocational education in Malaysia: A lingering stigma. ASEAN Journal of Education, 8(3), 55–66.
National TVET Council. (2025). Dasar TVET Negara 2030. Jabatan Perdana Menteri.
Nawi, M. Z. M., Ahmad, N. A., Ghazali, A. M., & Anuar, M. H. M. (2024). A systematic literature review examining the impact of societal factors on student’s intention to enrol in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs at the tertiary level. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(5), 746–757.
Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Omar, M. K., Zahar, F. N., & Rashid, A. M. (2020a). Knowledge, skills, and attitudes as predictors in determining teachers’ competency in Malaysian TVET institutions. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(3), 95–104.
Omar, M. K., Rauf, M. A., Ismail, N., Rashid, A. M., Puad, M. H. M., & Zakaria, A. (2020). Factors on deciding TVET for first choice educational journey among pre-secondary school student. European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine, 7(3), 609–627.
Pasha, R., Hermawan, Y., & Sartika, S. H. (2024). The influence of socioeconomic status and self-efficacy on students' academic achievement: The intervening role of learning interest. Journal of Educational Analytics, 3(2).
Penang Institute. (2021). TVET in Malaysia: Current situation, challenges and recommendations.
Praswati, A. N., Sari, N. P., & Murwanti, S. (2022). Youth entrepreneurial intention: Theory of planned behaviour and social cognitive theory. Benefit: Jurnal Manajemen dan Bisnis, 7(1), 66–79.
SEA-VET. (2025, October 30). TVET enrolment in Malaysia soars, driven by high employability and salaries.
Shaari, R., Haron, M. Z., Abdul Wahab, S. R., Abu Samah, I. H., & Yusof, J. (2024). Malaysian youth’s propensity towards ambidextrous learning: An in-depth analysis of behavioural insights dimensions. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11, 953.
Shah, I. A., Amjed, S., & Jaboob, S. (2020). The moderating role of entrepreneurship education in shaping entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Economic Structures, 9(1), Article 11.
Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2019). Using multivariate statistics (7th ed.). Pearson.
Tantawy, M., Herbert, K., McNally, J. J., Mengel, T., Piperopoulos, P., & Foord, D. (2021). Bringing creativity back to entrepreneurship education: Creative self-efficacy, creative process engagement, and entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 15, e00239.
UNESCO-UNEVOC. (2023). Inclusive TVET systems: A global overview.
Wohlin-Elkovsky, N., Nordin, N., & Tan, K. (2023). Societal perceptions and the appeal of TVET among secondary students: A review. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(12), 684–698.
Wolf, C., Joye, D., Smith, T. W., & Fu, Y. (Eds.). (2016). The SAGE handbook of survey methodology. SAGE Publications.
Yusran, N. A., Puad, M. H. M., & Omar, M. K. (2021). Role of career exploration in influencing career choice among pre-university students. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 29, 77–99.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.


