Su Jinxia

Universities and governments are steadily recognising international students as strategic assets due to their contributions to cultural exchange, global visibility, and economic growth. However, international higher education institutions continue to face challenges in delivering contextually relevant curricula, particularly in disciplines related to urban development, such as urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, geography, and urban management. In these fields, international graduates must navigate complex professional environments shaped by local regulations and socio-cultural norms in their home countries. Accordingly, this study examined the post-graduation employment experiences of international graduates in disciplines related to urban planning and development. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with eleven master graduates (2010–2024) employed in their home countries, data were subjected to analysis using inductive thematic analysis in NVivo 15. Through iterative comparison, the following five major themes were identified: (1) nature of the studied discipline, (2) curriculum design, (3) job classification, (4) employment location, and (5) job culture ecosystem differences. Findings revealed a tension between globally oriented training and locally grounded job expectations. Graduates often face difficulties applying international academic models to local practices, undervaluation of qualifications, and challenges in cultural and professional reintegration. Nonetheless, many leverage their international exposure to introduce innovative solutions, sustainability principles and cross-cultural perspectives in local urban projects. The study highlights the need for context-sensitive curricula and institutional support to bridge global knowledge and domestic employment systems. Such efforts are forecasted to enhance graduate employability whilst reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a competitive higher-education hub in the Asia–Pacific region.

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified concerns about healthcare access, particularly among vulnerable populations. This study extends Andersen’s behavioral model to investigate how fear of high-risk locations, alongside predisposing, enabling, and need factors, shapes healthcare-seeking behavior in Penang, Malaysia. A survey of 211 individuals (58% response rate) was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results reveal that need factors—specifically self-rated health and chronic illness—strongly predict healthcare utilization. However, this relationship is moderated by fear of infection, leading some high-risk individuals to forgo care despite medical necessity. Enabling factors, including financial resources and access to public healthcare, showed limited influence, likely due to Malaysia’s universal healthcare system and growing use of telemedicine. Older adults maintained healthcare utilization among predisposing variables, while higher-educated individuals were more cautious, possibly due to heightened health literacy and trust in digital alternatives. Although fear influenced care-seeking behavior for minor ailments, it did not significantly deter individuals from accessing services for severe conditions. These findings underscore the nuanced interaction between psychosocial factors and institutional context in shaping healthcare decisions during health crises.