In engineering education, laboratory experiments or practical works are integrated in the curriculum to prepare students for engineering experience and practice prior to their graduation. Laboratory experiments provide students with knowledge and practical skills and expose them to the relevant engineering field. This paper investigates the levels of practical skills acquired by students after conducting the laboratory experiments with reference to Psychomotor Domain Taxonomy. This is achieved by administering a laboratory practical test at the end of the semester. A Skill Assessment Form was used as a checklist in identifying the levels of students’ practical skills. Four levels of students’ practical skills in Basic Electronic Laboratory were identified. The results indicate that there are some variations in students’ performance at each skill level

Communication apprehension is defined as “an individual's level of fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons” (McCroskey 1984: 279). While many prior studies have investigated oral communication apprehension among undergraduate students, there has been little research exploring this phenomenon among doctoral students. This study applied qualitative methodology via observation and interviews. The research subjects were international doctoral students from several Malaysian universities. The experiences of the students in communicating with their examination panel during academic presentations (e.g., proposal and viva) are analyzed and the strategies and techniques employed to overcome communication apprehension are explored.

This study investigated the students’ perspective on the use of abbreviations or textism in Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) and the effect of such practice on the students’ English language competence. Forty undergraduate students from different academic programs participated in this study. These participant volunteers were interviewed in a semi-structured face-to-face interview. The analysis of data indicated effective factors in the use of textism as well as its impacts on university students’ English language proficiency.

The programme outcomes or synonymously known as graduate attributes stipulated in the International Engineering Alliance’s graduate attributes and professional competencies serve as a benchmark of standards for engineering education to higher learning institutions in Malaysia as well as other signatory countries under the educational accords. However, with regard to assessing the programme outcomes, the Engineering Accreditation Council Malaysia, similar to most accreditation bodies in the Washington Accord, does not prescribe any specific model to inspire innovation and creativity in assessment. As a result, higher learning institutions often experience challenges in implementing a model that can reflect students’ real performances in these programme outcomes. In essence, a few assessment models have been adopted, namely the accumulating, culminating and comprehensive culminating. This review paper unveiled the advantages and disadvantages of these models and revealed why the comprehensive culminating model is a better approach in the Malaysian experience. From the literature review, and document analysis of accreditation visit reports and records from some accreditation bodies and higher learning institutions, a systematic approach to implement the comprehensive culminating assessment model is proposed. This approach will be useful for higher learning institutions and faculty members in the Washington Accord signatory countries in sustaining assessment efforts.

Self-esteem is one of the psychological variables which a language learning and academic achievement. This study aims to demonstrate the significance of self-esteem in the process of language learning and highlights the importance of dealing with such a psychological variable in Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) environments. The investigation on self- esteem is timely as it assists language instructors to engage in efficient instructions and develop the performance of langua ge learners in CALL