The Lecturer’s Formal Appointment and Group Elite Status: A Case Study of Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah and Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin.

Abstract

This study, an extension of work by Jamaludin and Bahaudin (2017), examine and compare the structural relationship of lecturers’ network in the institution of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Malaysia. This study is using social network analysis (SNA) techniques at the lecturer’s level. Furthermore, this study also analyses whether TVET institution’s additional task appointment practice focuses on the creation of valuable network size and pattern. By using UCINET and NetDraw software, this study shows that the lecturers in the networks are moderately connected. Thus, it suggests that there are a small group of lecturers that are well connected and well positioned. These positions enable their potential to exercise power and control of influence over the other lecturers within the network. Preliminarily, all networks’ centrality indicated a positive and significant association among others. Except for lecturers in Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin. Further analysis results identified a group of most well-connected and well-positioned TVET institutions lecturer in the Commerce Department, both in Politeknik Tuanku Sultanah Bahiyah and Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin. The results derived suggested that lecturers with sufficient access to critical resources and information are perceived to be highly valuable to others. However, to certain extent, the closer each lecturers might weaken the network positive effects. Therefore, this study propose that there are perception for others to maintain with these well-connected and well-positioned lecturers for the best interests.