The role of motivation camp towards academic performance and time management among first year biomedical science students

• Main Authors: Siti Fathiah Masre, Ismarulyusda Ishak, Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin, Asma Afifah Shamhari, Syed 'Imran Syed Idros, Nur Adilah Abdul Rahman, Shahira Baso, Funnyla Sim Nyam Joo, Izzati Jamaludin, Nur Emynatasha Omar, Nurul Farhana Jufri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Biome Scientia 2020-06-01
• Series: Life Sciences, Medicine and Biomedicine
• Subjects: academic performance; university; motivation camp; biomedical science; time management
• Online Access: http://biomescientia.com/index.php/lsmb/article/view/59

Background: Time management is one of the factors that may influence students’ academic performance in university. A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the role of motivation camp programme towards time management among first-year undergraduate students of the Biomedical Science Programme, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) by using a questionnaire.  Methods: A total of 32 students was categorized into group 1 and group 2 (n=16 per group), with group 1 is students who did not attend the motivational camp and group2 participated in the camp. Their academic performance in terms of Grade Point Average (GPA) was evaluated in semester 1 and 2 of the 2017/2018 session. A correlation test between total study hours and GPA in both semesters showed a weak correlation for group1 and group2. Independent T-test was also carried out to compare time management and GPA. Results: There is no significant difference between group1 and group2 in time planning; however, there is a significant difference (p<0.05) between both groups in time attitude. Lastly, though all students in group2 showed an increment in GPA, Fisher’s test revealed no association between motivation camp and GPA. Discussion and Conclusion: This study indicated that by having the motivational camp alone, it may not warrant the improvement in time management skill and academic performance among the first-year undergraduate students of Biomedical Science, UKM. Data from this study can help educators to improve the programme with post-camp activities to enhance the outcomes.