This monograph discusses the importance of lifelong learning in developing knowledge workers and human capital. Facets of lifelong learning, knowledge workers and human capital are highlighted to provide basic understanding to all readers. The facets of lifelong learning include accessibility to learning, investment for learning, methods and contents of learning, values of learning, direction and guidance in learning and learning opportunities closer to home. Meanwhile, the facets of knowledge worker are problem solving, using intellectual skills, requiring a high level of autonomy, emphasizing on quality of judgment, using unique processes, possessing un-codified knowledge, sourcing between his ears and using knowledge and information to add to deeper knowledge and information. There are several individuals whom we would like to thank for their contributions to this monograph. This monograph has benefited greatly from the inputs, comments and expertise as well as working experience of all contributors. We also would like to thank the School of Business Management, the College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia, the Research Innovation and Management Center (RIMC) of Universiti Utara Malaysia and the top leaders of the University for their encouragement and support. Those who have contributed directly or indirectly toward the publication of this monograph also deserve our appreciation.

Malaysia’s childcare industry has expanded dramatically over the years. Because of the vital role that formal early childhood education plays, the number of childcare centres in Malaysia has steadily increased and will continue to rise in the future. The expansion and improvement of comprehensive early childhood care and development programmes and services, particularly for the most vulnerable and underprivileged children, is one of the fundamental components of Malaysian childhood education. A good quality childcare centre provides overwhelming effects on the children’s development, survival, and growth because of their childcare experiences gained based on the wise enrolment decision made by their parents. Furthermore, the quality of early childhood service and staff is a trademark of early childhood care and education programmes since the study on brain development has shown that the quality of childcare enhances children’s development. Therefore, it is believed that the quality of childcare nurtures healthy brain development in the first five years of development. Research has also shown that the quality of childcare contributes to successful later learning. The role of childcare employee is crucial in ensuring the development of children under their care. Studies showed that high job satisfaction among childcare employees contributed to a high level of commitment among them. Hence, the main objective of this book is to discuss a new standard of safety and quality assurance model of childcare to safeguard our future leaders or generations from receiving poor service. This book considers ways to increase and sustain a person’s mental health, to cope with child abuse crises, as guidance to foster self-control and to cope with aggression. It also highlights the ways to build social concern, kindness, and learning to value different cultures. This book is suitable for use by all university students for reference purposes in their daily learning. In addition, this book is also suitable to be read by all employers and employees of the childcare centres as well as parents who send their children to the childcare centres to be used as a guide in their daily child’s care and management. In other words, this book is suitable to be read by all communities for self-awareness.

Accreditation is a certification of the academic quality of an institution of higher learning. Some countries require accreditation and others consider it as optional. Some countries accredit through official government agencies while others appoint independent or private organizations that oversee the whole educational accreditation process. In Malaysia, the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) is the sole responsible body to monitor the accreditation process for all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This manual is a standard reference to assist lecturers and teachers in preparing MQF documents. It sets to provide clear guidelines on details of how to prepare all documents necessary for MQA accreditation.

Statistics in Social Science encompasses studies on population dynamics, education and social well-being. The chapters are arranged to enable readers to quickly identify their interests while looking beyond the sub-themes and exploring how these studies will impact society, industry, or policymakers. In the past few decades, Malaysia has undergone rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. These changes have brought forward many social and educational issues that need to be addressed by the authorities and communities. In addition to raising awareness of societal issues, this book provides various statistical methods to investigate them. Readers will be able to learn and appreciate the application of such techniques in their respective fields. In the first part, this book explores issues like life satisfaction of ageing populations, world population growth and distribution, population redistribution and urbanisation in Malaysia. In the second part, the book examines the issues of the rural-urban gap and gender differences in Mathematics and Science achievement, gender differences in education and work among young Malaysians, the employability model of science graduates, and the relationship between physical activity and happiness are explored. Undoubtedly, some issues raised cannot be solved in the short run, for example, the achievement of learning Mathematics and Science. However, policy intervention is needed to increase the effectiveness of learning these two subjects in school. Thus, Malaysia can continue to boost its long-term competitiveness and move in its trajectory to achieve the vision of advanced civil society (Malaysia Madani).

This book investigates the critical success factors of knowledge sharing behaviour among Malaysian undergraduate students. Each university has their own method in delivering knowledge to their undergraduates, but occasionally they still have to meet the students’ requirement and these have not achieved. In this book, the question on what makes knowledge sharing behaviour successful among two Malaysian undergraduate communities in Manchester, United Kingdom and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will be answered. This book is very applicable and reliable for those who are interested in knowledge sharing behaviour research area.

High Impact Educational Practices (HIEPs) have been extensively tested as compelling pedagogies for university students from an array of backgrounds, especially for the underprepared, and those with limited opportunity for high-impact learning experiences. This handbook is written with our firm belief that while higher education practitioners around the world are focused on improving student outcomes, not many have access to a better understanding of the conceptual foundations, empirical research and best practices in student engagement and high impact educational pedagogies. In this book, we unpack the essential conceptual constructs around the notions of student engagement to encourage readers to purposefully add HIEPs to their pedagogical repertoire and engage in Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) practices.

This book is about research in brand management and contemporary issues in marketing. It is designed to bring today’s professionals, managers, academicians and students the current research findings relating to issues in branding and marketing across the globe. Generally, branding has been accepted as an important strategy in managing business and marketing activities. This is because effective branding and marketing strategies can help improve business performance and bring up companies to a better position. Hence, this book is a good reference to those who wanted to understand factors influencing product and service brand performance, issues on brand loyalty, consumer purchase intention and Islamic retailing.