Abstract
This study explored factors affecting student engagement and performance in Work-Based Learning (WBL) among culinary students at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Pulau Pinang Branch, using a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews with six (6) Diploma Culinary Arts students from the 2019 and 2020 WBL programs were analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings revealed crucial factors influencing engagement and performance. Positive aspects included a strong knowledge base, high discipline, effective time management, and proactive behavior. However, significant barriers such as sexual harassment and unfair treatment by supervisors were identified. The study also highlighted the importance of industry involvement and feedback for successful WBL experiences. To improve the WBL program, it is recommended to enhance collaboration with industry partners, systematically gather feedback, and adopt flexible program designs. Addressing these issues could significantly boost learning outcomes, performance, and overall student engagement in the WBL program.
Keywords
- Student Engagement Search this journal for Student Engagement (opens in a new tab)
- Performance Search this journal for Performance (opens in a new tab)
- Work-Based Learning Search this journal for Work-Based Learning (opens in a new tab)
- Culinary Students Search this journal for Culinary Students (opens in a new tab)
References
- Ahmad, A., Bin Hashim, A., Samsudin, A. B., & Mustafa, M. Z. (2007). Community college education through collaborative engagement and partnerships with industries: Work-Based Learning project proposal. Kuala Lumpur.
- Almita, N., Tahir, M., & Hajjad, M. N. (2023). Employee performance and the impact of workplace facilities and discipline. Jurnal Manajemen Bisnis, 10(2), 417–425. https://doi.org/10.33096/jmb.v10i2.616
- Ammon, C. (2022). Results section for research papers: How does a results section differ from a discussion section? What are the differences between qualitative and quantitative data? https://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/docs/handouts/Results%20Section%20for%20Research%20Papers.pdf
- BrightHR. (2010). Unfair treatment at work. BrightHR. https://www.brighthr.com/articles/equality-and-discrimination/unfair-treatment-at-work/
- Brown, P., & Davis, R. (2019). Reflective practices: Bridging theoretical knowledge and practical applications in work-based learning. Journal of Experiential Education, 45(1), 56-78.
- Cambridge Dictionary. (2019). Feedback. Cambridge English Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/feedback
- Coates, H. (2006). Student engagement in campus-based and online education. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203969465
- Collins. (2019, July 19). Collins online dictionary: Definitions, thesaurus, and translations. https://www.collinsdictionary.com
- Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Sage Publications. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Creswell%2C-J.-W.-(2013).-Qualitative-inquiry-and-3e-Salah/2c5bb78d1256126652910960fd863937abd372a6
- Doherty, O., & Stephens, S. (2019). The cultural web, higher education, and work-based learning. Industry and Higher Education, 34(5). https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422219879614
- Fredricks, J. A., Blumenfeld, P. C., & Paris, A. H. (2004). School engagement: Potential of the concept, state of the evidence. Review of Educational Research, 74(1), 59–109. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543074001059
- Frenette, A. (2013). Making the intern economy: Role and career challenges of the music industry intern. Work and Occupations, 40(4), 364-397.
- Handajani, S., Miranti, M. G., & Ngelambong, A. (2024, February). Entrepreneurial Interest of Culinary Students. In 5th Vocational Education International Conference (VEIC-5 2023) (pp. 251-257). Atlantis Press.?
- Heffernan, T. (2023). Abusive comments in student evaluations of courses and teaching: The attacks women and marginalized academics endure. Higher Education, 85(1), 225–239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00831-x
- Holliman, A. J., Martin, A. J., & Collie, R. J. (2018). Adaptability, engagement, and degree completion: A longitudinal investigation of university students. Educational Psychology, 38, 785–799. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2018.1426835
- Hospitality industry. (2021, February 11). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospitality_industry#:~:text=The%20hospitality%20industry%20is%20a
- Hughes, K., Mylonas, A., & Benckendorff, P. (2013). Students’ Reflections on Industry Placement: Comparing Four Undergraduate Work-Integrated Learning Streams. Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, 14(4), 265–279.
- Major, D. (2016). Models of work-based learning: Examples and reflections. Journal of Work-Applied Management, 8(1), 17–28. https://doi.org/10.1108/jwam-03-2016-0003
- Malaysian Qualifications Agency. (2016). Guidelines to good practices: Work-based learning (GGP: WBL).
- Maran, D. A., Varetto, A., & Civilotti, C. (2022). Sexual harassment in the workplace: Consequences and perceived self-efficacy in women and men witnesses and non-witnesses. Behavioral Sciences, 12(9), 326. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12090326
- Martin, A. J., Nejad, H. G., Colmar, S., & Liem, G. A. D. (2012). Adaptability: Conceptual and empirical perspectives on responses to change, novelty, and uncertainty. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 22, 58–81. https://doi.org/10.1017/jgc.2012.8
- McHugh, P. P. (2017). The impact of compensation, supervision, and work design on internship efficacy: Implications for educators, employers, and prospective interns. Journal of Education and Work, 30(4), 367-382. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2016.1181729
- Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2015). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
- Mimi M. M., Ismail, S., & Nur, M. H. (2021). A tie between educational institution and industry: A case study of benefits from work-based learning. Journal of Technical Education and Training, 13(1), 128–138.
- Mohajan, H. K. (2018). Qualitative research methodology in social sciences and related subjects. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, 7(1), 23–48. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/85654/
- Ossenberg, C., Mitchell, M., & Henderson, A. (2020). Impact of a work-based feedback intervention on student performance during clinical placements in acute-care healthcare settings: a quasi-experimental protocol for the REMARK program. BMJ Open, 10(6), e034945. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034945
- Owen, C., & Lewins, A. (2002). Book reviews. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 5(3), 289-291. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645570210146339
- Prabowo, H., Ikhsan, R. B., & Yuniarty, Y. (2022). Student performance in online learning higher education: A preliminary research. Frontiers in Education, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.916721
- Schuh, G., Gartzen, T., Rodenhauser, T., & Marks, A. (2015). Promoting work-based learning through Industry 4.0. Procedia CIRP, 32, 82–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2015.02.213
- Sobri, E. N., Ngelambong, A., Ariffin, H. F., Anuar, J., & Handajani, S. (2022). Elucidating work-based learning dissatisfaction and graduates' intention to pursue careers in the hospitality industry.
- Stalheim, O. R. (2020). Developing professional knowledge through innovation in higher education. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning. https://doi.org/10.1108/heswbl-06-2019-0082
- Sudjimat, D. A., & Permadi, L. C. (2019). Effect of Work-Based Learning Model on Students’ Achievement Motivation. Jurnal Pendidikan Teknologi Dan Kejuruan, 25(2), 204–212. https://doi.org/10.21831/jptk.v25i2.24416
- Thomas, L. (2020, August 28). An introduction to simple random sampling. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/simple-random-sampling/
- Vaismoradi, M., Jones, J., Turunen, H., & Snelgrove, S. (2016). Theme development in qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 6(5), 100–110. https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v6n5p100
- Wazli, W., Ismail, N. I., & Mohamad, M. (2015). The problems of bilateral relations between educational institutions and industrial committees towards work-based learning in Malaysia. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 172, 352–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.377
- Wei, L. M. (2018). Management of a Malaysian hospitality academic program: A work-based learning approach (Doctoral dissertation, Asia e University).
- What is monitoring? (n.d.). Retrieved July 5, 2024, from https://www.evalcommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/What-is-Monitoring.pdf
- Wilcox, A. B., Gallagher, K. D., Boden-Albala, B., & Bakken, S. R. (2012). Research data collection methods: From paper to tablet computers. Medical Care, 50(7), S68–S73. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0b013e318259c1e7
- Zehr, S. M., & Korte, R. (2020). Student internship experiences: Learning about the workplace. Education + Training, 62(3), 311–324. https://doi.org/10.1108/et-11-2018-0236
Downloads
No downloads have been recorded for this article yet. Figures appear here once readers begin downloading the full text.
How to Cite
Share this article
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Arnieyantie Abdul Hadi, Norfezah Md Nor, Nur Syafiqah Mohd Yunus, Nur Athirah Najihah Mat Radzi, Teku Zariff Zaeimoedin, Amirul Hakim Zulkifli (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Author (s) should affirm that the material has not been published previously. It has not been submitted and it is not under consideration by any other journal. At the same time author (s) need to execute a publication permission agreement to assume the responsibility of the submitted content and any omissions and errors therein. After submission of revised paper in the light of suggestions of the reviewers, the editorial team edits and formats manuscripts to bring uniformity and standardization in published material.
This work will be licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) and under condition of the license, users are free to read, copy, remix, transform, redistribute, download, print, search or link to the full texts of articles and even build upon their work as long as they credit the author for the original work. Moreover, as per journal policy author (s) hold and retain copyrights without any restrictions.
Keywords
- Student Engagement Search this journal for Student Engagement (opens in a new tab)
- Performance Search this journal for Performance (opens in a new tab)
- Work-Based Learning Search this journal for Work-Based Learning (opens in a new tab)
- Culinary Students Search this journal for Culinary Students (opens in a new tab)
Section
Published in
Vol. 16 No. 3(I)S (2024)
Supply Chain Sustainability, Smart HRM & Inclusive Education
View issue contents
Published
Submissions
Have research to publish? Information Management and Business Review welcomes submissions.
Make a Submission