Students understanding of comprehensive excellent: preliminary studies in international islamic university of Malaysia

A B ST R A C T This study was to investigate perceptions of selected International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) students’ regarding the definition and manifestation of Comprehensive Excellence in the university’s vision and mission statement of Integration, Internationalization, Islamization, and Comprehensive Excellence (Triple ICE) – irrespective of gender, nationality or academic achievement. Individual interview sessions lasting between 45 minutes to 55 minutes were conducted on selected IIUM students at separate venues and times. Each dimension was transcribed from the interview questions and decoded into a template. Main ideas were extracted from the template to answer the research questions within the purpose of the study. Two selected co-raters were identified to evaluate the main ideas of the researcher’s template in order to assure its reliability and validity. A percentage range of 96% to 100% showed that the items were highly reliable and valid. The results showed that Comprehensive Excellence was understood by a selected group of students only, thus more students need to be exposed to the conception of Comprehensive Excellence and other components of Triple ICE of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). This study may aid IIUM to compete and excel with other universities – locally and/or internationally as well as to prepare employable and marketable graduates.