Emotional quotient in higher education as a case study of awareness in Malaysia
List of Authors
  • Norzaini Azman , Usha Nandini Paskaran

Keyword
  • emotional intelligence, higher education, Malaysian Emotional Quotient Inventory (MEQI)

Abstract
  • Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to ground about emotions. A person’s needs to possess both academic and intellectual intelligence equally so that each individual will capable of dealing with challenges in life. This paper presents a case study which examines the level of emotional intelligence among selected higher education students to identify the significant difference between the most and least dominant domains of EI as well as the differences between the level of EI and demographic variables (age, gender, and ethnic group). Data were gathered from a convenient sample of 80 first-year students from a private college in Klang Valley. Using Malaysian Emotional Quotient Inventory (MEQI) as a tool for data gathering, the analysis suggests that, on the whole, the students generally scored well in most domains. The findings also revealed the students have lower means score in self-motivation compared to the other major domains and there are no significance differences between level of EI and the demographic variables. Based on the findings, the paper provides future implications such learning and counseling support program that may be relevant for first-year students.

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