Students’ Expectation, Perception and Personal Development on Their University Education

Abstract

Universities have offered the best platforms and learning ecosystem to enrich students’ characters development. However, how students in the new generation perceives the total experience they get from the university is yet to be examined. This research examines the impact of university education on the personal and social development of these students in Malaysia by focusing on their expectation and perception of university education, and their evaluation of their university experience. The data were derived from a survey of a stratified sample population of graduating students from a higher education institution in Malaysia. Based on the simple frequency counts and confirmation factor analysis, the findings indicate that university education, although marginally, has met the students’ expectation of university education towards enriching their social and personal experiences. The students believed that university education has mostly molded them with personal development such as Developing Integrity and Developing Purpose. The understanding of the students’ expectations, perceptions and evaluation of their university education and its impact on their personal development can assist universities to improve which aspects of education system that can support students to develop their motivation, behaviour and achievement.