The COVID-19 pandemic prompted global crises and enforced strict measures like the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia, significantly impacting societal norms, particularly affecting secondary school students. The current study employs a qualitative methodology to determine how COVID-19 affects the life stress experienced by secondary school students. Secondary school students were recruited in Sabah, Malaysia, from April to August 2022, after Malaysia entered the endemic phase on 1 April 2022. As part of a larger survey, students were asked to respond to an open-ended question about life stressors they face as a result of the pandemic COVID-19 or during home-based teaching and learning (PdPR). A total of 1069 secondary school students from various backgrounds were included in the study. However, only 714 students responded to the open-ended question. The pattern of meaning across the texts was determined using Birks and Mills’s method of multilevel coding. The students’ perspectives on life stressors were classified into five broad categories: restriction stress, emotional stress, online study stress, family-related stress, and others-related stress. Restriction stress, which refers to being confined at home, restricted movement, hampered family, friendship, and outdoor activities, and no freedom were rated as the most significant life stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic by students. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and parents, emphasizing the profound effect of pandemic-induced restrictions on student life and the essential role of targeted interventions in fostering resilience among students.

This study examined the dissatisfaction among Chinese medical students with online medical English courses, which overemphasize grammar yet fail to provide practical opportunities related to medical situations. This study compared co-teaching’s effects, involving native and non-native instructors, with a single-instructor (traditional) model on student satisfaction in online medical English courses. Using a qualitative design, pre- and post-course interviews were conducted with 49 second-year medical students across seven classes, exploring their perceptions of instruction, curriculum, and course satisfaction. The findings indicated that the co-teaching model improved student engagement and satisfaction, not specifically due to the native English-speaking instructor but likely because of the focus on more interactive and discussion-oriented strategies. In contrast, the single-instructor model maintained the traditional grammar-focused instruction, leading to lower satisfaction levels. Both instructional models faced limitations related to their reliance on textbooks for delivering core material needed for the course’s comprehensive exam. These results suggest that the instruction design and approach, rather than the native instructor alone, was the main driver of positive outcomes in co-teaching. The study’s findings suggest a need for curriculum reforms that reduce textbook dependence and incorporate more practical, interactive learning strategies. Future research should consider applying various research techniques, such as mixed-method approaches, longitudinal studies, and experimental designs, to comprehensively assess the long-term effects of instructional strategies and curriculum innovations on student outcomes.

This study aimed to explore the influence of entrepreneurial skills development on entrepreneurial confidence in university students. Using an empirical approach, a structured questionnaire was administered to 322 students at a university in Lima, Peru, to assess participants’ perceptions of self-awareness and self-assessment, problem solving, communication and presentation of ideas, as well as their entrepreneurial confidence. The data collected were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM), which allowed for the identification of significant relationships between the variables. The results revealed that self-awareness, problem solving and effective communication have a positive and determinant influence on the development of entrepreneurial skills, which in turn significantly strengthen students’ entrepreneurial confidence. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating the promotion of entrepreneurial skills in university education, as this can increase students’ readiness and willingness to successfully start and manage their own entrepreneurial projects.

Sustainability and green campus initiatives are widely examined in developed countries but less attention has been paid in developing countries such as Pakistan. Therefore, this study intends to examine the links between sustainability dimensions and green campus initiatives by mediating role of teachers and students’ involvement. Green campus or sustainable campus or environment friendly campus is based on the principles of environmental sustainability, incorporating social, and economic and environmental dimensions. Questionnaire for assessment of sustainability was adopted and 529 responses were received from the faculty, management and servicing staff of the seven Mountain Universities of the Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Northern Pakistan. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PL-SEM) was used to analyse the data. The results indicated that energy conservation, water conservation, green transport, sustainable waste management have enhanced campus green initiatives. Teachers and students’ involvement partially mediate the relationship between green transport strategies, sustainable waste management and green campuses initiatives. While on another hand, teachers and students’ involvement have not mediated the links between energy conservation, water conservation and green campus initiatives. The study contributes to theory building in the area of green and environment friendly campus initiatives by enriching the understanding of the processes carrying the effect of sustainability dimensions and both teachers and students’ involvement.

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship among higher vocational college (HVC) students’ social support (SS), learning burnout (LB), and learning motivation (LM), and to further explore the influence regulation mechanism. By analyzing the questionnaire survey data of 500 HVC students, this study found some important conclusions. First, a positive correlation is found between SS and LM, whereas LB exhibits a negative correlation with LM. Second, regression analysis results indicate significant influences of SS and LB on LM, with the latter serving as a partial intermediary between SS and LM. Lastly, analysis of group disparities reveals noteworthy distinctions in SS, LB, and LM across students of varying grades. These discoveries underscore the pivotal roles of SS and LB in molding the LM of HVC students, offering valuable insights for educational practices and policy recommendations. This study benefits the understanding of the key factors in the learning process of HVC students and provides a new direction for further research.

This study, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), aims to explore the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in Shandong Province, China, and analyze the major factors influencing these intentions. Structural Equation Modeling was applied to data collected from 680 students across five universities in Shandong Province. The findings reveal that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly influence the students’ entrepreneurial intentions. Specifically, a positive attitude towards the outcomes of entrepreneurship emerged as the strongest factor influencing their intentions, indicating that positive perceptions and expectations of entrepreneurship significantly enhance students’ entrepreneurial inclinations. Perceived behavioral control also showed a strong influence, suggesting that enhancing students’ self-efficacy and awareness of accessible resources is crucial for fostering entrepreneurial intentions. However, the influence of subjective norms was weaker, which may relate to specific cultural and social environmental factors. This study not only provides an empirical basis for entrepreneurship education and policy-making in Shandong Province and beyond but also offers new insights into the application of TPB in the field of entrepreneurship research.