Teacher well-being plays an important role in education reform because it marks teachers’ positive evaluation of and healthy functioning in their work environment. However, there has been insufficient research on the relationship between distributed leadership and teacher well-being and on how organisational trust works as a mediator between these two constructs. Based on responses from 587 teachers in primary schools in southwest China, this study examined how distributed leadership contributes to teacher well-being with attention to the mediating role of organisational trust. Using structural equation modelling and bootstrapping tests, the analysis showed a nonsignificant direct effect between distributed leadership and teacher well-being. Organisational trust and its two dimensions, namely trust in the working team and trust in the principal, had significant mediating effects on the relationship between distributed leadership and teacher well-being. However, the dimension of trust in the work setting did not appear to be a significant mediator. This study contributes to a better understanding of the transferability of leadership theories across cultures and to a deepening comprehension of strategies for improving teacher well-being in Chinese schools and similar contexts. Implications of the study and future research direction are presented.

This study attempts to validate an integrative Teacher Commitment scale using rigorous scale validation procedures. An adapted questionnaire with 17 items was administered to 600 primary school teachers in Penang, Malaysia. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with SPSS 19.0 and AMOS 19.0, respectively. The results support Teacher Commitment as a multidimensional construct with its four underlying dimensions: Commitment to Student, Commitment to Teaching, Commitment to School, and Commitment to Profession. A validated Teacher Commitment scale with 13 items measured can be proposed to be used as an evaluative tool to assess the level to which teachers are committed to their students’ learning, teaching, school, and profession. The Teacher Commitment scale would also facilitate the identifications of factors that influence teachers’ quality of work life and school effectiveness. The practical implications, school cultural influence, and methodological limitations are discussed.

Purpose: This study intends to extend the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model by integrating perceived enjoyment as an intrinsic motivation so as to investigate factors influencing Chinese undergraduate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students' intention to use ChatGPT for English learning.Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional quantitative survey method research design was used in this study. Data were collected from 432 undergraduate students at two Chinese universities. The data analysis was carried out using SmartPLS 4, a computer software that employs the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. The analysis of the model was performed in two stages, including the assessment of reflective measurement model and structural model. The PLS predict was utilized to assess the model’s predicting power.Findings: Findings showed that effort expectancy, performance expectancy, social influence and perceived enjoyment were positively related to Chinese undergraduate EFL learners' intention to use ChatGPT for English learning. Perceived enjoyment mediated the relationships between effort expectancy, performance expectancy, social influence and intention to use ChatGPT for English learning respectively.Originality/value: Through incorporating the perceived enjoyment as an intrinsic motivation into the UTAUT model to explore factors that impact Chinese undergraduate EFL learners' intention to use ChatGPT for English learning, this study has extended the applicability of the UTAUT model and provide insights into factors affecting students' intention to utilize ChatGPT or other AI-based technologies for English learning.

This study aims to validate Western-based distributed leadership and teacher academic optimism scales in the Malaysian primary school context. This study further examined the relationships between distributed leadership and teacher academic optimism as well as each dimension of teacher academic optimism. Data were collected from 442 primary school teachers in Penang, Malaysia. This study used exploratory factor analysis and partial least squares structural equation modeling for data analyses. Findings revealed that both distributed leadership and teacher academic optimism scales were applicable in the Malaysian primary school context. Distributed leadership has a significant positive relationship with teacher academic optimism by controlling teacher gender and teaching experience. Likewise, distributed leadership has a significant positive relationship with academic emphasis, teachers’ trust in students and parents, and teacher sense of efficacy. Implications and future studies are presented.

Professional learning community (PLC) studies in the Asian Chinese nations remain scarce despite the emerging interest in the practice of PLC beyond the Western context. This study attempts to provide an understanding of the practices of PLC and challenges in implementing PLC in a Malaysian Chinese culture–dominated secondary school. This qualitative study used a phenomenological constructivist approach as a strategy of inquiry. Semi-structured interview data were collected from six middle leaders and ordinary teachers in a national-type Chinese secondary school in the northern region. Findings informed three existing PLC practices at the school level, namely, (a) peer coaching, (b) sharing of personal practices, and (c) professional development courses. However, the practice of PLC encounters various challenges, including excessive workload, teachers’ passive attitudes, unsupportive conditions in the school, poor execution of PLC by the school community, and a vague understanding of PLC. Interestingly, this study identified two uncovered challenges hindering the development of PLC: misconception about PLC and lack of supervision from the authority. Implications and future studies are presented.

The scarcity of literature in higher education addressing the enablers or challenging factors influencing the progression of women academics from middle-level to senior leadership roles is noteworthy. This study aims to explore the factors that enable or impede the advancement of middle-level women academics and identify recommendations for promoting women leadership in higher education institutions. This qualitative study has collected interview data from 17 informants from five Malaysian public universities. The thematic analysis revealed four enablers and three challenges faced by women in academic leadership. The thematic analysis revealed four enabler factors - gender-neutral policies, management of multiple roles, core personal competencies, and the presence of mentors and role models. Conversely, traditional women’s roles, social stigma, and personal factors were identified as factors that hinder women’s leadership in universities. The findings underscore the importance of implementing gender-neutral policies to foster inclusivity, the establishment of formal mentorship programmes, and cultivating multitasking skills among women. Understanding the dynamics from the perspective of middle-level women academics is essential for crafting a more equitable and supportive institutional environment to equip them with the necessary resources and support to transition into senior leadership positions smoothly, ultimately strengthening the leadership pipeline within the institution.