INTRODUCTION




The Historical fact of Taylor's University
Taylor’s University. It is one of the most well-known reputable private education institution in Malaysia, as it never fails to deliver a holistic education that results not just excellence in academic accomplishment but also the capability of achieving graduate qualities that are most needed in the global market place. Taylor’s University was founded in 1969 as a college, 2006 as University College and finally in 2010 it officially gained the title of University. The first campus was built at Jalan Pantai,Kuala Lumpur and at Subang Jaya four years later. In 2001, the fourth campus in Wisma Subang, Taylor’s Business School was introduced. In the following year, Taylor’s College Petaling Jaya became the fifth campus and also by including Taylor’s School of Hospitality and Tourism,School of Communication, School of Architecture Building & Design and Taylor’s School of Computing into this new campus. In 2004, the sixth campus was launched in Subang Square introducing the American Degree Programme. With the launch of the seventh campus in Sri Hartamas, expansion began to occur. This campus was able to run the Cambridge A level programme, South Australian Matriculation programme and International Baccalaureate Diploma programme. In the early 2007, work commenced resulting the cost of Rm450 million for the major project of Taylor’s Lakeside Campus in Subang Jaya which was completed in 2010.


 This campus houses all tertiary programmes under one branch. More than 65,000 students graduated proudly and took Taylor’s University as their leading authorities in their chosen field. (Study Malaysia Online. 2012.)

The reason of selecting Taylor’s University is because education industry plays a major role and it is fairly in demand for an individual especially in tertiary level, to be successful in the world and also it helps satisfy their needs and wants in their future. Besides that, education industry also benefits the nation in terms of politic, economy and social. Therefore,Taylor’s University is picked as an analytical company that is to be observed because of its remarkable being known as one of the best private university in Malaysia

Market Competition
Taylor’s University can be seen as a firm in a monopolistically competitive industry. Monopolistic Competition is characterized by a relatively large number of sellers, differentiated products and easy entry to and exit from, the industry.(McConnell C.R.; Brue S.L.; Flynn S.M. 2012 and unknown 2013). There are many universities in Malaysia other than Taylor’s University but each firm has a comparatively small percentage and has limited control over the market price. Moreover, the presence of relatively large number of firms but collusion is prohibited. Even though there are many universities, there is no interdependence among them,each universities can determine their own pricing policies. Besides that, the product differs by certain aspects such as location, some students from the vicinity of Bandar Sunway and Subang might choose Taylor’s University for convenience whereas some students might choose Taylor’s University for the quality of the service provided for example the quality of lecturers and reputation or image of it. Apart from that, entry and exit into monopolistic industry is relatively easy and the financial barrier may develop from the need of advertisements. Also note that in monopolistic industry the firm can be the price maker. Overall, the monopolistic competition has many sellers selling differentiated products which have close substitutes. Therefore the demand curve is fairly elastic.

 
Issues/Problem Statement
The number of students in Taylor’s University has been increasing lately. As a student in Taylor’s University it is very obvious that it can be seen by the crowd of students flocking around the campus commercial block during lunch hour and the increased traffic around the campus during the peak hour. Moreover, it can also be seen at the library where it is so crowded almost everyday.

Objective
The objective here is to identify the demand factor of students joining Taylor’s University and to determine the elasticity response of the students towards the price of tuition fees.

Limitations/Constraint
The limitation in conducting this survey is the student’s answers might not be accurate as they might take it for granted. Besides that, some students were hesitant to answer the survey questions and there might be some biasness in distributing the survey forms to the students in terms of international and local students.

METHODOLOGY


The survey was conducted by using survey questionnaires. Once the questions were developed then the questions were determined whether each of the questions is providing the information needed according to the problem statement.There, were seven questions in a form which consist of four open ended questions, two close ended questions and one Likert-scale question.The survey form was distributed randomly to a group of 50 students around Taylor’s University.The students took approximately less than 10 minutes to complete the questions. Then, the survey form was analyzed, the answer for each question was calculated into percentages and the demand factor was identified.

Survey questionnaires present a set of questions to a subject who with his/her responses will provide data to a researcher. The survey questions were reliable as the survey forms were distributed personally to the students of Taylor’s University and the questions were set specifically to assess the problem statement as stated. Therefore, the questionnaires were very helpful because the demand factor was identified which the courses offered that showed the highest percentage and the response to the price elasticity was also determined. Overall, this methodology was effective as the objective was achieved.

FINDINGS & ANALYSIS


What is demand?
Demand is something more than a need or desire.Demand is a schedule or curve that shows the various amounts of a product that consumers are willing and able to purchase at each of a series of possible prices during a specified period of time.(McConnell C.R.; Brue S.L.; Flynn S.M. 2012).

The factors of demand that shift the demand curve are as follows:-

1)Level of Income
An increase in income will cause an increase in demand.

2)Prices of other related goods
A price change of a related good may either increase or decrease depending whether
the related good is a substitute or a complement.

3)Taste and preferences
A favorable change in consumer tastes for a product, a change that makes the product more desirable means that more of it will be demanded at each price.

4)Expectations about future
A new consumer expectation that either prices or income will be higher in the future.

Results:

                                                                        Figure 1

The demand factors that are currently affecting the demand of Taylor’s University based onthe findings (Figure 1) are mainly focused on courses offered with the highest percentage of 40%. Taylor’s University is most in demand due to the numerous amounts of courses that are offered compare to other universities. There are around 15 faculties which are Architecture,Biosciences,Business,Communication,Computing & IT,Design,Education, Engineering,Hospitality & Culinary Arts,Languages,Law, Medicine, Pharmacy,American Degree Transfer Program whichoffer foundation, diploma,degree, post-graduate and professional programmes. Besides that, each of the faculties offers variety of courses compared to other universities. This is highly in demand for the people because most colleges or university does not provide the programmes thatare in search by a student that Taylor’s University had offered. This explains why the demand on courses offered is the highest.

Reputation is the second highest demand factor with the percentage of 23%. Taylor’s University offers a good reputation to the student, as it has a high standard of education qualities which only a certain people are able to join with a certain entry requirements. Also, the ability of obtaining a higher reputation to a student gives them an advantage in the future such as good job opportunities locally and globally. Apart from that, Taylor’s University has glorious history of achieving awards that lifts up its reputation such as Putra Brand Awards (Gold) since 2010.(Study Malaysia Online. 2012.)

 Was Taylor’s University your first choice?
                                                      Figure 2
Based on one of the question in the survey form (Figure 2), 52% shows that Taylor’s University was their first choice. This shows why, reputation is also another factor that is in demand of the people for Taylor’s University. 

The third highest demand factor is quality with the percentage of 17%. The quality that is provided by Taylor’s University is most delicate as students are thought with the finest lecturers from overseas and also locally with a great teaching skills and expertise.In 2012, the quality of teaching and learning at Taylor's University was once again acknowledged when it garnered a 'Tier 5: Excellent' rating in the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education (SETARA '11), by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia for the second time after 2009.(Taylor’s University. 2012.). Nevertheless, Taylor’s University has a high quality standard because of a close collaboration with leading universities around the world such as, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK and University of South Australia, this enable Taylor’s University students to be recognised globally.

Location holds 9% of the demand factors on Taylor’s University. Taylor’s University is located in an area that is quite happening and busy most of the time. Also, it is located near to the capital city; Kuala Lumpur. Besides that, there are an abounded of malls situated close to Taylor’s University. This benefits the students as they do not need to travel far if they are living near to the main city also they are able to gain a little of entertainment not far away from the campus.

Environment also has an effect on the demand factors towards Taylor’s University. It has a percentage of 7% which ranked the second lowest in the demand factor. The environment at Taylor’s University is most exquisite as it is flooded with wonderers of restaurants that serve multiple choices of food. Not only that, Taylor’s University provides an enormous library with thousands of books for references , an 24-7 room for students to study or to have group discussions and also a comforting zone for students to enjoy and relax for a brief moment at the student life central. Taylor’s University is also known for its beauty of nature, as it has a magnificent lake within the campus which gives positive effects towards many such as the feeling of relaxation and calmness.

Others factors have the least percentage of the demand factor which is 4% that effects Taylor’s University. Scholarship is one of the other factors. In each intake for foundation and degree, scholarship such as JPA is provided to those who had applied regarding to the terms. Besides that, Taylor’s University also offers study grants, discounts for alumni family and study loans like MARA and PTPTN during degree intakes thus this helps the students to minimise the settlement on the fees.

Price Elasticity

The elasticity of a person is shown where, as there is a change in the quantity demanded or supplied in relation to the price. However, the price change does not affect the quantity of demand for this case. Based on one of the question in the survey form (Figure 3), 68% shows that if the price of the tuition fees of Taylor’s University were to increase, the students will not switch to other universities because they are less elastic towards the price hence, the students are more sensitive towards other factors. As the demand of Taylor’s University is high, students are willing to study in Taylor’s University disregards to the price even if it were to increase. This is because Taylor’s University offers the wants of the students such as thecourses offered and reputation which showed the higher percentages. This shows that the students are perfectly inelastic towards the price.(ZubairHasan. and Habibah Lehar,2011)

If Taylor’s University increases the tuition fees would you switch to other universities?

                                                         Figure 3

 






CONCLUSION

The conclusion is based on a completed research. In this case, the questionnaire forms that have been given out shows that the majority of the people who are willing to join Taylor's University are due to the courses offered by the Taylor's University itself. However, it also shows that if the price of the fees is increased, it literally does not change their decision to pursue their studies or having any difficulties towards it. This is because Taylor's University is able to satisfy their demand by offering various courses of their choices. Furthermore, the reputation is one of the significant factor for them in choosing Taylor's University as their educational institution compared to other colleges or universities. By this, it clearly proves that the reputation has great symbolic importance for them. Besides, one of the finest solutions that can lead Taylor's University in becoming well-progressed is by enhancing the quality from the aspect of the teaching techniques. The next thing is to have various sessions between the lecturers and the students. This is because interaction and communication are needed to upgrade the level and also the quality of the university. Finally, Taylor's University should offer more scholarships for those who succeed to achieve excellent results. Without realizing it, this matter is able to attract more capable students to join the Taylor's University.
Overall, the students are inelastic towards the price because price does not play a major factor in demand in selecting an university.

REFERENCES


McConnell C.R.; Brue S.L.; Flynn S.M. 2012.Economics Principles, Problems and Policies. 19th Ed. USA: McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Study Malaysia Online. 2012. Undergraduate. Available from: http://www.studymalaysia.com/where/profile.php?code=taylor. [ 27 April 2013]
Taylor’s University. 2012. About Taylor’s, Our Story. Available from: http://www.taylors.edu.my/en/university/about_taylors/our_story. [ 01 May 2013]
Unknown.(2013) Untitled. [online] Available at: http://www.econ.uiuc.edu/~seppala/econ102/lect15.pdf [Accessed: 5 May 2013].
ZubairHasan. andHabibah Lehar. (2011) Fundamentals of microeconomics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.