ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Volume 13 Issue 3 2021

DOI: 10.21315/eimj2021.13.3.7 SWOT Analysis of the Universiti Sains Malaysia

ARTICLE INFO Medical Educationists’ Preparations to Make a
Received: 02-01-2021
Accepted: 12-06-2021
Regional Medical Education Hub: A Qualitative
Online: 30-09-2021 Study
Mohd Zarawi Mat Nor, Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff

Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Sciences,

Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, MALAYSIA

To cite this article: Mat Nor MZ, Yusoff MSB. SWOT analysis of the Universiti Sains Malaysia
medical educationists’ preparations to make a regional medical education hub: a qualitative study.
Education in Medicine Journal. 2021;13(3):65–75. https://doi.org/10.21315/eimj2021.13.3.7

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.21315/eimj2021.13.3.7

ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyse the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that describe
the current circumstances of medical educationists in the School of Medical Sciences in Universiti
Sains Malaysia (USM), particularly towards preparing themselves for becoming a regional hub
in medical education. A total of 21 documents, including nine strategic management records, three
department meeting documents and nine researchers’ observation journals were engaged in this
study. The gained data were clustered by themes for each of the four categories which were strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats regarding medical educationists in the USM. High motivation
and interest of the lecturers, interest in writing, presence of medical background, experienced in
clinicals, experienced in management, presence of good health status, presence of postgraduate
medical education and the presence of international students were designated as strengths of medical
educationists. Presence of personal challenges, a majority of young lecturers and a majority with no
PhD were stated as weaknesses of medical educationists. Positive support from family, strong support
from the top administration to the medical education department, positive attention to individual
instructors, two instructors having a PhD, supportive cadre, positive international perception to the
department of medical education and large opportunities for research and school-provided grants were
indicated as opportunities for medical educationists. Financial issues and facilities were expressed as
threats to medical educationists. Consistent with the positive mode to move forward, there is a good
chance for the USM medical faculty to become a medical education hub.

Keywords: Medical educationist, Medical school, Qualitative study, Regional medical hub, SWOT analysis

Corresponding author Mohd Zarawi Mat Nor, Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Sciences,
Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
E-mail: zarawi@usm.my

INTRODUCTION hub strategy is to attract international

students investing time and finance into
A recent call to becoming a well-known exploring quality knowledge and skills in
institution is welcomed by all the higher the country, particularly due to the high-
education institutions worldwide. A class education system offered by such
significant characteristic of the education institutions (1). Generally, an education

 Malaysian Association of Education in Medicine and Health Sciences and 65

Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia. 2021
This work is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
 Education in Medicine Journal 2021; 13(3): 65–75

hub is considered as an interchanging of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Univesiti

idea networking, cultures, knowledge and Malaysia Sarawak and Universiti Sains
values between two or more countries Malaysia (USM) as well.
around the world (2). The recent trend of
education hubs is focused on two categories; It has many experiences in conducting
(a) student education and training, and teaching and research in medical education
(b) knowledge and innovation. The first hub programmes. Besides, it also has experience
emphasises the recruitment of international in managing seminars, workshops and other
students. Secondly, it encourages foreign programmes that relate to medical education
universities to set up branch campuses. at the national and international levels. It
Finally, it encourages foreign universities consists of nine full-time medical doctors
to collaborate with local institutions for the and one counsellor who possesses vast
production and distribution of knowledge experience in education. The team is led
and innovation (3). Many countries have by an ambitious associate professor who is
addressed their aim of being a higher recognised at the national and international
education destination. South Korea, level. To boost academic networking, a
Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and few international memorandums have
Malaysia are seen among the countries recently been signed with institutes such as
becoming excellent international education the Services Institute of Medical Sciences,
hubs in Asia. a public medical school in Lahore,
Pakistan. Considering these advantages,
Similar to other countries, Malaysia has the USM medical education department’s
produced an excellent international higher vision of becoming a hub of international
education hub that foresees the attraction medical education in 2025 is feasible. The
of 250,000 international students by vision is focused on two areas, including
2025. This internationalisation of higher recruitment of international students in
education aims has been stated as one of medical education and engagement in
the seven key goals of the Higher Education research networking among scholars in
Strategic Plan 2013–2025; in Malaysia, it the region of Asia. Consistent with this
has grown rapidly in the last decade (4). It regard, its mission is to design a compatible
is hoped that through this plan, Malaysia medical educationist in teaching, research,
will be an education exporter country assessment and administration. Thus, it
rather than an education importer. Many is important for the school to conduct a
foreign universities have been invited to specific study that focus on the status of its
operate their campuses in the country, such medical educationists and explores their
as Monash University and the University preparation to achieve a regional medical
of Nottingham. Areas of social sciences, education hub through SWOT analysis.
engineering, computer sciences and health
sciences are fields targeted in the Malaysia’s There are numerous benefits of being an
path to becoming a regional education hub educational hub, including social, political,
(2). economic and educational advantages. It
is a good platform to bridge the diversities
In the context of health sciences, medical of culture, knowledge and experiences in
school is a significant entity in Malaysia’s an integrated academic community. Apart
future regional hub. This is consistent with from that, it may also enhance the quality
the current course offered by Malaysian of research and teaching as well (5). A
universities. Currently, there are eight department of medical education and a
public schools of medical sciences operated competent medical educationist are both
in Malaysia such as Universiti Kebangsaan considered pillars to determine faculty
Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Universiti success. In this regard, a major function of
Sultan Zainal Abidin, Universiti Sains Islam the medical education department is to help
Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA, prepare the teaching staff with the necessary

66 https://eduimed.usm.my
 ORIGINAL ARTICLE | SWOT Analysis of USM Medical Educationist

skills to effectively undertake their roles as based on the possibility that each document
medical teachers. It includes functions of contributes to variability of the sample.
curriculum development, service provision, In qualitative inquiry, the intent is not to
assessment and ensuring the accreditation generalise to a population, but rather to
of the medical college. In addition, the develop in-depth exploration of a central
direction of medical education is expected phenomenon. The research term used for
to change its shift in pedagogy approaches, qualitative sampling is purposive sampling.
as well as integration of technology and In purposive sampling, researchers
assessment. To align with the predicted intentionally selected accessible documents
changes, medical educationists should and sites to learn or understand the central
prepare themselves in order to manage these phenomenon.
features well (6).
In this research, maximal variation sampling
In spite of the importance of medical is used. Maximal variation sampling is a
educationists in enhancing medical teachers’ purposive sampling strategy in which the
professionalism, very little information researcher samples documents that differ
exists on methods of improvement in the in content (8). Documents in this study
aspects of both talent and performance. must meet the following criteria such as
This has led to a lack of methods to properly explaining the strategic management of
train medical educationists. This situation medical educationists, and explaining
has caused a lack of practise models researcher’s observations pertaining to
in empowering medical educationists the behaviour and attitude of medical
worldwide. For this reason, the present educationists in the department. Documents
study aims to explore the strengths and which are not related to the research
weaknesses medical educationist in the interests were excluded from the study.
School of Medical Sciences, USM and To meet the outlined criteria, a total of
this research is well-timed. In addition, 21 (9–10) documents were involved in
no studies have been conducted to date this study. They consisted of strategic
with SWOT analysis, particularly for management records, department meeting
examining the current situation of medical documents and the researchers’ observation
educationists in USM. The research journal. The observation journal was based
question is as follows: What are the on the department meetings, personal
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and conversations with colleagues within or
threats facing medical educationists in outside departments and online department
USM? conversations through social media
applications such as WhatsApp.

METHODS AND MATERIALS The SWOT analysis approach was utilised

in the study. This serves as a foundation
A qualitative case study was applied as a for evaluating the internal potential
research design. The study was carried out and limitations as well as the probable
in the Department of Medical Education opportunities and threats from the external
at the School of Medical Sciences, USM environment. Justifications of the choices
from 1st December 2018 to 28th February are as follows: (a) this method was broadly
2019. The case study method was applied applied in health sciences (11–12),
as it is connected with the naturalistic and (b) it is relevant for use in various
inquiry exploring the complex experience settings, including academic management.
of humans, and it is not over-simplified and Undoubtedly, there are various strategic
subsumed into a number or a statistic (7). management models offered in the
literature rear-view so far (e.g., the balanced
Documents in qualitative research are scorecard, the Baldrige framework, the blue
carefully selected for inclusion in the study ocean strategy, the alignment strategy and

https://eduimed.usm.my 67
 Education in Medicine Journal 2021; 13(3): 65–75

Porter’s five forces management models). of SWOT analysis, SWOT analysis

These instruments remain the most popular importance, advantages of SWOT analysis
and widely used strategies. Despite their and how SWOT analysis is used. At the end
popularity, they have limitations. Generally, of the process, information was clustered
these instruments are used in business into four quadrants, including strengths,
and marketing services rather than in the weaknesses, opportunities and threats
education sector. Apart from that, they have regarding medical educationists.
specific weaknesses. For instance, there
remains an absence of focus on external There were three steps applied in the data
factors and competitors, a lack of risk analysis; for instance, management of data,
analysis and the issue of time dimension understanding of data and analysis of data
are among the weaknesses of the balanced (10). For management of data, the first step
scorecard strategic management model. The entailed a given code index, such as: SMR-
Baldrige framework model has its limitations 1/10/3/2019; DMD-2,15/3/2019 and ROJ-3,
in achieving a complicated defined target. 12/3/2019. This translated as follows:
Considering these limitations, it was SMR-1 = Strategic document records
reasonable to select the SWOT analysis number 1; 10/3/2019 as the date of the
model in this present study. Additionally, document collected on 10th March 2019;
the SWOT analysis model is believed to be DMD-2 = Department meeting documents
consistent with three keys to success in the number 2; 15/3/2019 as the date of the
education sector, such as getting everyone document collected on the 15th March
on the same page, engaging community in 2019; ROJ-3 = Researcher’s observation
the process and encouraging collaboration journal number 3; and 12/3/2019 as the
among educational leaders. date of the document collected on the 12th
March 2019.
In the present study, we intended to
examine the strengths, weaknesses, Once the data code indexing was complete,
opportunities and threats faced by the the next step was understanding the data.
USM medical educationists in the journey The researcher read texts line-by-line and
of becoming a medical education hub in sentence-by-sentence in order to find out
the year 2025. SWOT analysis helps the the concepts, ideas and terminologies
user take a reasonable method to improve that relate to the research objectives. This
strategy implementation. To ensure the process was repeated to understand the
credibility of data obtained, a document entire dataset.
checklist was developed. The main functions
of the tool are to avoid missing data and Data interpretation is an on-going process
standardise the data collection process. The to group the data gained from the second
document checklist consists of the date, step. This process is known as a coding
types and the document relation with the process. This thematic analysis was done
research objectives. Aside from this, one by sorting the data into emerging themes
space for notes is provided to the researcher and regrouping them for similarities and
to share his/her ideas pertaining to the differences. From there, categories of
documents examined. The data collection information to search for the phenomenon
process took place over the duration of being studied were developed. At this step,
two months from 1st December 2018 to the researcher had read the document
28th February 2019. The obtained data actively in order to identify the similarities
was analysed using ATLAS-i software. and differences of the concepts, ideas
The data collection process was performed and terminologies identified during the
using the content analysis procedure. The second step. Research objectives acted as a
content analysis performed was based on controller to help the researcher focus on the
the following aspects, such as definition specific concepts, ideas and terminologies

68 https://eduimed.usm.my
 ORIGINAL ARTICLE | SWOT Analysis of USM Medical Educationist

that could potentially lead to answering the (15–16). This means that the analysis unit
research objectives. made by the researcher correlates with the
proposed themes.
The triangulation and thorough description
were two measures taken in order to seek
the validity of the data. In this research, RESULTS
the researcher utilised the documents that
represented the overall perspectives of A total of 21 documents were examined
medical educationists as a data collection in the study. Majority of the documents
method. By using a variety of documents, were SMR (43%) and ROJ (43%), while
the data became valid and reliable (9, 13). the remaining 14% consisted of DMD
Aside from this, a thorough explanation (Table 1).
of the data retrieved was presented by
the researcher. An in-depth explanation Table 1:  Document profile
provided by the researcher enabled the
readers to come to a personal conclusion Type of document n = 21 (%)
concerning the outcomes of different SMR 9 (43)
settings with similar contexts. DMD 3 (14)

The three methods of audit trailing, peer ROJ 9 (43)

checking and Cohen’s Kappa indexing
were applied to seek data reliability (14). Four themes and 21 sub-themes emerged
An audit trail was utilised by requesting at the end of the data analysis. Themes
someone outside of the research group to consisted of strengths, weaknesses, threats
check the narrative in order to confirm its and opportunities regarding medical
credibility. The reader was asked to check educationists in USM (Figure 1).
all the documents and reports related to the
process of data collection for verification. Theme 1: Strengths of Medical
Then, the completed groups were referred Educationists
to the panel of experts for review and
verification. In this context, the researcher The first main theme involved strengths
asked a reader to check the report and all of medical educationists, with sub-themes
documents related to the data collection of high motivation, interest in writing,
process. The groups that were complete experienced in the clinical field, having good
were then referred to the expert panels for health status and presence of international
review and verification. This process is postgraduate students.
known as peer checking. For this purpose,
the researcher referred data to three medical Sub-theme 1: High motivation and interest
educationist experts in the school of medical in writing
sciences. All responses made by the panel of
experts were taken into account. Since I [have been] here (medical
education department), I [have
Finally, the reliability was measured by done] many things with honesty
and [enjoyment]. Presenting paper
determining the Cohen’s Kappa index. The
and becoming a keynote speaker
researcher then coded it to the agreement are my [annual] routine. I like these
level and coding was subsequently kinds of works. (ROJ-1/10/3/2019)
performed by the experts in the field (13).
This was achieved by corresponding the I noticed that our lecturers
list of themes and sub-themes with the [really like] conducting academic
operating definition to measure reliability. activities…including manuscript
The value given by the Cohen’s Kappa writing and conducting research.
index was 0.88, which is considered reliable (ROJ-1/10/3/2019)

https://eduimed.usm.my 69
 Education in Medicine Journal 2021; 13(3): 65–75

Strengths Weaknesses
High motivation of lecturers High commitment to family
Interested in writing Majority are junior lecturers
Experienced in clinical field The majority are no PhD holder
Having a good health status
Presence of international of postgraduates’
students

Opportunities Threats
Positive support of their family Facilities need to be upgraded
Very strong support from top management
to medical education department
Two lecturers having PhD
Very supportive staff
Positive perception to the department of
medical education internationally
Many grants provided by internal and external

Figure 1:  Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of medical educationists in USM.

Sub-theme 2: Experienced in clinical field Sub-theme 4: Presence of international of

postgraduate’s students
Before joining the teaching
profession (as a lecturer in medical At the moment, we received many
education), I noticed many of my foreign students; among them
colleagues worked in few hospitals were Jordanians, Palestinians and
in the Malaysian Ministry of other countries as well…we [are]
Health. Thus, their experiences confident [that] international
helped them, especially in clinical students’ admission [will continue]
domains. (ROJ-1/10/3/2019) in the future. (DMD-8/15/4/2019)

Majority of lecturers have

[experience of] more than five years
Theme 2: Weaknesses of Medical
in clinical areas in the government Educationists
hospital…this led me to [become] a
good lecturer in medical education. The second theme consisted of weaknesses
(SMR-1/10/3/2019) regarding medical educationists, with sub-
themes of high commitment to family, a
Sub-theme 3: Having good health status majority of junior lecturers, and a majority
with no PhD.
Almost all the lecturers [were]
between 35 to 40 years old… Sub-theme 5: High commitment on family
meaning that they are [of] middle
age and in a good health to perform I assumed that our academic staff
the task; we are able to be [good have high commitment to family;
workers] in realising a medical for example, one of them [has]
education hub as stated by the head four children who are studying in
of department. (ROJ-1/10/3/2019) primary school. Of course, they
(the children) need more attention
during [the] educating process. In
addition, his partner is a professional
who has [a] commitment, too.
(ROJ-1/10/3/2019)

70 https://eduimed.usm.my
 ORIGINAL ARTICLE | SWOT Analysis of USM Medical Educationist

Sub-theme 6: Majority have no PhD to conduct critical [programmes]

either at [the] department or
Seven of nine [of] our lecturers have school level. For instance, we have
no PhD. This is a big challenge for been requested to conduct [a]
our department, definitely. To be workshop on curriculum review
an attractive destination, we first and strategic management for [the]
must have [a] PhD. In medical school of medical sciences. (SMR-
education, having a Master in 5/10/4/2019)
such field [is] not sufficient to be a
good medical educationist. (DMD- We have been receiving [positive
1/10/3/2019) support] from the dean and other
top management as well, not only
I knew that majority of our academic in [a] kind of morale support, but
staff have no PhD qualification. It also in financial [issues]. They (top
is important [in order] to attract management) try to do the best to
foreign students here (Malaysia). fulfil the department [needs], such
(ROJ-1/10/3/2019) as teaching and learning matters.
(ROJ-4/1/4/2019)
Theme 3: Opportunities for Medical
Educationists Sub-theme 9: Two lecturers having a PhD

The theme of opportunities regarding Two of nine medical educationists

are PhD holders. One is pursuing
medical educationists consists of several
her [PhD studies]…both of them
subthemes which are positive support of are skilful [in guiding] others in
their family, very strong support from top teaching, research and others.
management, two lecturers possessing a The other lecturers are willing to
PhD, supportive staff, positive international pursue their study soon. (ROJ-
perception of the department of medical 3/27/3/2019)
education and many grants provided by
internal and external parties. Sub-theme 10: Very supportive staff

Sub-theme 7: Positive support of their family [Apart] from that, we have positive
support staff, they work very
We can see their partner and hard, [and understand] their job
children really understand their specification [well]; importantly
task, thus I am sure that they [are] they work independently with…
able to [manage] time well so far. minimum monitoring from the
(ROJ-8/15/4/2019) supervisor. In other words, [they do
help] to achieve the vision. (SMR-
Interestingly, in my opinion some 2/20/3/2019)
of their [partners offer for] them to
pursue their [PhD study]. (ROJ- Yes, our non-academic staff [is]
1/15/3/2019) very supportive; I [have] been here
for five years…they help me to
Sub-theme 8: Very strong support from top manage many things [and they are
management to the department of medical experts] in their tasks and a humble
staff. (ROJ-6/13/4/2019)
education

At the faculty level, [the] department

of medical education [is] seen as
a valuable entity, whereby our
dean respects our lecturers and
staff, our entity [is] always tasked

https://eduimed.usm.my 71
 Education in Medicine Journal 2021; 13(3): 65–75

Sub-theme 11: Positive international perception DISCUSSION

to the department of medical education
The aims of becoming a globalised educator
We have been receiving many must be shadowed by a high quality of
applications of foreigner educators’ professionalism. The presence of
postgraduates students, such as
strengths and opportunities in the SWOT
[those from] Saudi Arabia and
analysis are good indicators that the USM
India to join Master and PhD
programme. (DMD-8/15/4/2019) medical educationists are on the right track
in their journey to becoming a regional
Every year we have received many medical education hub. High motivation
applications from international and interest in teaching and journal
students to pursue their study in writing are critical factors to enhance their
medical education at Master and professionalism level. These advantages
PhD [levels, and] this is a good are able to boost higher education activities
sign that the department of medical through pairing programmes with other
education has been becoming institutions (17). In addition, having
a popular destination. (DMD-
international students will be an extra
2/20/3/2019)
point to invite more foreign students to
invest their time in the proposed medical
Sub-theme 12: Many grants provided
education hub. This is consistent with the
The chances to gain research grants current students’ perceptions that foreign
are big including internal or external qualifications can enhance their social status
grants… we have may kinds of (18). Thus, international students will
grants provided by the USM and automatically be a source of highlighting
other agencies, too. For instance, USM medical education as a good
Ministry of Health, Ministry of destination.
Education, Ministry of Science
and Technology and, interestingly, Having medical background is an important
international grants are also offered feature not only to become a professional
to the USM lecturers. (SMR- medical educationist but also to promote
7/13/4/2019) academic quality assurance to potential
students. As an experienced figure in the
Theme 4: Threats of Medical Educationists medical field, s/he is able to provide a high
quality education system to foreigners. This
The fourth category entails threats to feature is consistent with the characteristic
medical educationists, with a sub-theme of of an education hub that is able to offer
facilities that are not conducive to. high quality education matters (2). Through
an experienced team, the process of
Our facilities in [the] department
need to be upgraded. For example, interchanging education input and output
[the] learning space must be between two or more countries around the
redesigned to align with the world becomes increasingly easier.
current challenges (21st century
education). Besides, management Our study shows that medical educationists
must provide the latest equipment also have broad opportunities that can be
of teaching [aids] and materials. manipulated to realise the overall vision.
(DMD-9/10/4/2019) Solid support from top management and
support staff can ensure the department’s
Physical facilities and other improved strength and the proper
equipment must eventually be management of activities related to the
upgraded...this is important in [the]
vision. Provision of grants to medical
teaching and learning process and
education lecturers will help them to attract
other activities. (ROJ-1/15/3/2019)

72 https://eduimed.usm.my
 ORIGINAL ARTICLE | SWOT Analysis of USM Medical Educationist

postgraduate students both locally and of Medical Education. The findings do not
internationally who wish to further their represent the real status in the context of
studies at USM. Therefore, this opportunity becoming a medical education hub. Second,
may, in turn, enhance the quality of research we did not apply the previous validated
and teaching (19). Regarding threats to questionnaire for the data collection. This
medical educationists, positive support is due to the fact that no previous SWOT
from top management can potentially be analysis was conducted on this subject
utilised to reduce them. For instance, top matter. Considering these limitations, it
management may be asked to recommend is suggested that other groups should be
financial support in providing facilities, such involved in future studies. Also, a broad
as teaching-learning equipment. In this way, SWOT analysis is recommended to gain
the top management factor is important to significant study results.
achieve the visions of the organisation.

As a result of SWOT analysis, it is CONCLUSION

recommended that the Department of
Medical Education in USM highlight The findings of the study showed that
eight valuable strategies as a mechanism of the USM medical educationists are in the
medical educationists’ preparedness. The preparation process of becoming a regional
proposed strategies are as follows: medical education hub in the future. They
have many advantages which directly or
(a) Maintaining lecture motivation,
indirectly contribute to achieving these
(b) Specialising individual lecture visions. The study’s aim to analyse the
competency, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
and threats regarding USM medical
(c) Utilising international students educationists were successful. The strengths
to promote medical education were characterised by personal attributes of
programmes at the international academicians as well as top management.
level, Despite some weaknesses and threats that
(d) Encouraging lecturers to obtain a emerged, the strengths and opportunities
PhD, continue to outweigh them.

(e) Exposing junior lecturers to

international events, ETHICAL APPROVAL
(f) Maximising senior lecturers’ ability
This study was approved by the USM ethic
to guide junior lecturers through
committee (USM/JEPeM/18120790) and all
effective mentoring programmes,
participants voluntarily participated in this
(g) Encouraging lecturers to publish study by signing consent forms prior to the
works in high impact journal, and start of the study.
(h) Exposing support staff to the
department’s vision.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The study findings provide evidence for The authors would like to thank the head of
policy makers and faculty management the Department of Medical Education and
to enhance academic staff’s competency. its members for their continued support in
Medical educationists must improve their completing this study. This study did not
knowledge and competencies to make receive any financial support.
them significant at all times. This study
has two limitations. First, the documents
of the study are limited to the Department

https://eduimed.usm.my 73
 Education in Medicine Journal 2021; 13(3): 65–75

REFERENCES 9. Cresswel J. Research design: qualitative,

quantitative, and mixed methods
1. Gunter A, Raghuram P. International study approaches. US: SAGE Publication; 2013.
in the global south: linking institutional, p. 11–4.
staff, student and knowledge mobilities.
10. Corbin J, Strauss A. Basics of qualitative
Globalisation, Societies and Education.
research: techniques and procedures for
2018;16(2):192–207. https://doi.org/10.1080
developing grounded theory. US: Sage
/14767724.2017.1401453
Publication; 2012. p. 143–4.
2. Shahijan MK, Rezaei S, Preece
11. Scheibe A, Daniels J, Kutner B, Lane
CN. Developing a framework of
T. A SWOT analysis of health service
internationalisation for higher education
access by men who have sex with men in
institutions in Malaysia: a SWOT analysis.
South Africa: lessons for higher education
International Journal of Management
institutions. South African Journal of
Education. 2016;10(2):145–71. https://doi.
Higher Education. 2017;31(4):219–33.
org/10.1504/IJMIE.2016.075556
https://doi.org/10.20853/31-4-871
3. Knight J. Regional education hubs –
12. Ma X, Han Z, Ma H. SWOT analysis
rhetoric or reality. International Higher
on medical informatics and development
Education. 2010;59. https://doi.org/10.6017/
strategies. Higher Education Studies.
ihe.2010.59.8491
2015;5(2):98–107. https://doi.org/10.5539/
4. Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. Pelan hes.v5n2p21
Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia
13. Strauss AL, Corbin JM. Basics of qualitative
(PPPM) 2013–2025. Putrajaya: Bahagian
research: grounded theory procedures and
Perancangan dan Penyelidikan Dasar
techniques. US: SAGE Publication; 1990;
Pendidikan, Kementerian Pelajaran
p. 3–21.
Malaysia; 2013. p. 1–7.
14. Mohd Ishak N, Abu Bakar AY. Developing
5. Wen W, Hu D. The emergence of a
sampling frame for case study: challenges
regional education hub: rationales of
and conditions. World Journal of Education.
international students’ choice of China as
2014;4(3):29–35. https://doi.org/10.5430/
the study destination. Journal of Studies in
wje.v4n3p29
International Education. 2019; p. 303–25.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315318797154 15. Mahamod Z, Ishak NHM. Analisis Cohen
Kappa dalam penyelidikan bahasa: satu
6. Davis MH, Karunathilake I, Harden
pengalaman. Seminar penyelidikan pendidik
RM. AMEE education guide no. 28: the
guru peringkat kebangsaan. 2003 [cited
development and role of departments
2021 Sept 1];1–7. Available from: http://
of medical education. Med Teach.
www.ipbl.edu.my/portal/penyelidikan/
2005;2798):665–75. https://doi.org/10.1080/
seminarpapers/2003/zamriUKMkk1.pdf
01421590500398788
16. Guba EG, Lincoln YS. Competing
7. Yin RK. Applications of case study research.
paradigms in qualitative research. In: Denzin
US: Sage Publication; 2013.
NK, Lincoln YS, editors. Handbook of
8. Gay LR, Mills GE, Airasian PW. Education qualitative research. US: Sage Publications;
research: competencies for analysis and 1994. p. 105–17.
application. UK: Pearson; 2006. p. 129–33.

74 https://eduimed.usm.my
 ORIGINAL ARTICLE | SWOT Analysis of USM Medical Educationist

17. Cheng MW. The Southeast Asian higher 19. van der Wende M. Internationalization of
education space: transnational, international higher education. In: Peterson P, Baker
or national in new ways? European E, McGaw B, editors. International
Education Research Journal. 2018;793–808. encyclopedia of education. Netherlands:
https://doi.org/10.1177/1474904117699627 Elsevier; 2010. p. 540–5. https://doi.org/
10.1016/B978-0-08-044894-7.00836-8
18. Kondakci Y. Student mobility reviewed:
attraction and satisfaction of international
students in Turkey. High Educ.
2011;17(6):573–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/
s10734-011-9406-2

https://eduimed.usm.my 75