Loo Sze Wei, Tuan Fatma Sulaiman , Wardah Mohamad Zorah Abu Kassim

1. Motivation and Study Habits of Working Adults: A Case Study of Masters Students in Open University Malaysia LooSze Wei, Tuan FatmaSulaiman, WardahMohamad Zorah Abu Kassim

2. Presentation Outline • Introduction • Objectives • Methodology • Findings • Implications

3. Introduction • Post Graduate Programmes of FBM • Student profile • Continuous initiatives to enhance programme learning experience • University administrators • Students • Academicians

4. Objectives • To explore: • what motivates working adults to continue with their studies • what are their study habits?

5. Methodology • Approach: • Case Study using open-ended questions • Exploratory research • Sample: • OUM masters students from the Faculty of Business and Management

6. Findings - Motivation • Main factors for enrolling into OUM masters programmes • Self-satisfaction • Self-improvement • To improve life quality • To expand professional network • To inspire their children • To have a better job prospect • To have higher academic qualification • To increase earning power

7. Excerptsfrom the students’ responses: Self-esteem and aspiration for a better life • "I am frustrated with my last supervisor who tended to look down on other people" • "Self-confidence, self-improvement for betterment and self-satisfaction are my motivation drivers to study”. • “Successful people around me do give me a vivid picture on the importance to learn and improve as much as I can in life.“

8. Excerptsfrom the students’ responses: as a strategy to motivate children, gaining confident and knowledge • "I enrolled in the Masters programme because I want to enhance my knowledge in management from experienced lecturers. I also gain new and up-to-date information ....from research and reading....furthermore it makes me more confident. Besides that I also want to inspire my children to work hard and be smart and for them to realise that it is very important to be knowledgeable".

9. Findings - Study Habit • How? • Participating in group discussion • Attending seminars • Concentrating in seminars • Doing more reading and revision • More reading for qualitative courses; doing more exercises for quantitative courses • Answering past exam questions

10. Findings - Study Habit • When? • Study at night • Whenever there is free time • Weekends • Study routine • Most following study routine; by time or by topic

11. Excerpts from the students’ responses: study habits – How? • “Staying up late at night or reading books and notes” • I believe very much in group study / discussion which is really effective to me” • Be attending seminars, reading and did all the researches and assignments given”

12. Excerpts from the students’ responses: study habits – When? • At night after office every day, and including weekends. • Every day between 8 till 12 at night

13. Excerpts from the students’ responses: study habits – Study routine? • Monday to Friday, study at nights or early in the morning, get some rest on Saturday and study 2-3 hours on Sundays after spent time with family • 2 main topics per week

14. Implications • Learners • Academics • University administrators

15. Future Research • Thank you