THE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE COLLEGE CHOICE OF STUDENTS

Mohd Hilmi Bin Isa Dr. Amirmudin Bin Udin

Introduction
Vision 2020 Transformation plans:
GTP ETP

TVET in Malaysia also going through transformation:

To achieve 40% of skilled workers by the year of 2015

But this is what happen now

There is still a lack of participation of students in certain fields:
Science & technology: in the year of 2000 shows that only 17.5% students that enrolled in diploma science programs and 25.8% in technical field. While in degree level, only 35.63% students were enrolled in science and technology field.
(Source: Norliza dan Sufean, 2009)

But this is what happen now

At Giatmara in Johor state:
14 from 20 kinds of course lack of students enrollment.
(Source: Giatmara, 2011)

Level of educational aspiration

High school performance

Significant persons influences

Aptitude

Fixed College Characteristics

Socioeconomic status

THE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE COLLEGE CHOICE OF STUDENTS

College Efforts to Communicate with students

Socioeconomic Status
Level of parents income. Parents level of education. Family size.

Aptitude
Defined as skill or nature talent of someone. Used by college administrator for screening purpose of new students admission. Sometimes, students themselves will choose the college that fit their own aptitude.

Level of educational aspiration

Usually it involve 2 parties which are the students themselves and their parents. Students with high education aspiration will doubled their efforts to further their study in degree programs. But, either students or their parents with low education aspiration will end up by further their study in colleges that offered diploma programs.

High school performance

Will be counted by the college administrator for the admission of new students. Students that excellent in their study will be encouraged by others to further their study to a higher level.

Significant persons influences

Family members Peers High School Personnel Influenced in 3 ways: Their comments will form expectations of the particular college to the students. They will give their views directly for the college in which the student must go. close friend who was in the same college selection process can affect the results of their partner.

Fixed College Characteristics

includes:
Locations Cost (Financial aid) Availability of Program

College Efforts to Communicate with students

Students preferred to attend a college that have a good reputation. The college efforts such as:
Written Information Campus Visit Publicity
Public relations Radio & TV adds

Conclusion
The decreasing rates of enrollment in TVET programs can tarnish the image of TVET itself. Terminating those courses are not always a good idea to encounter the crisis, but research must be done to identify the causes of the problem.