This study compares the hostel facilities and living conditions at two different universities in Malaysia: Desasiswa Fajar Harapan at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Bank Rakyat Hostel at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). A survey was conducted among 50 students at each hostel to gather their feedback on five areas: their room, bathroom/toilet, hostel facilities, hostel cleanliness, and hostel security system. The findings indicate that, overall, students at USM’s Desasiswa Fajar Harapan are content with their room; however, they did express concerns about the brightness of the table lamp and the outdated furniture.
According to feedback received, students expressed dissatisfaction with the cleanliness of the bathroom facilities and reported issues with some toilet flush systems not working. The hostel amenities also faced complaints, specifically regarding insufficient iron availability and malfunctioning washing machines, such as water overflow. Nevertheless, USM students were content with the cleanliness of the hostels overall, commending the diligent work of the cleaners and the maintenance of clean corridors, aside from a shortage of rubbish bins.
USM students living in Desasiswa Fajar Harapan are pleased with the hostel’s security measures, such as regular fire drills and extensive CCTV monitoring. However, they have identified areas where improvements can be made. These include periodically replacing table lamps, ensuring proper functioning of toilet flush systems, providing extra irons and rubbish bins, conducting regular maintenance on washing machines, and installing emergency press buttons in the hallways. Implementing these recommendations would help create a better living environment for the students.
2.0 INTRODUCTION
This report presents the results of our recent survey in 2012, which evaluated the hostel facilities and living conditions at Desasiswa Fajar Harapan in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Additionally, it provides a comparison with the Bank Rakyat Hostel in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), another public university. The focus of our survey included students’ rooms, bathroom/toilet areas, facilities, cleanliness, and security system. The main objective of this report is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the hostel facilities and conditions, particularly at Desasiswa Fajar Harapan, while also comparing them to those at UUM.
We hope that this brief study, focused on one hostel at USM, serves to bring attention to the deficiencies present and encourages improvements. The goal is to create better living conditions and environment for students residing there. It is important to conduct this study as the situation at Desasiswa Fajar Harapan may be indicative of conditions in other hostels at USM. We expect the Vice Chancellor of USM to take necessary steps in addressing any weaknesses identified in this study. The objective of this report is to evaluate both the strengths and shortcomings of the hostel.
Our survey involved questionnaires, verbal interviews, and email communication with friends at UUM. These methods were used to gather information about the facilities and conditions of the hostels. However, our research has some limitations. Firstly, due to limited resources, we could only focus on one hostel, Desasiswa Fajar Harapan. Secondly, our sample size was small, consisting of only 50 USM Desasiswa Fajar Harapan students. Lastly, the feedback from UUM students was obtained solely from our UUM friends.
The report was based on various sources of information including survey questionnaires and telephone communication to gather opinions about the hostel facilities and conditions. We distributed 50 questionnaires to USM’s Desasiswa Fajar Harapan residents and another 50 to Bank Rakyat Hostel residents at UUM. Additionally, we emailed our friends at UUM to obtain photographs of their hostel conditions and facilities as well as their responses to our survey questions.
To quickly obtain the information we needed, we reached out to our friends studying at Universiti Utara Malaysia, as this would expedite our response time regarding their hostel facilities.
4.0 FINDINGS
Hostel Facilities and Conditions
Number of students
| Strongly Disagree| Disagree| Moderate| Agree| Strongly Agree|
| USM| UUM| USM| UUM| USM| UUM| USM| UUM| USM| UUM|
| Room| | | | | | | | | |
| Is the lighting in the room bright enough?| | | | | 10| 10| 15| 20| 25| 20|
| Is the furniture in good condition (e..study table, cupboard, bed)?| 5| | 5| | 15| 5| 15| 20| 10| 25|
| Are you satisfied with your room size?| | | | | 5| 10| 15| 20| 30| 20|
Are there enough washing machines in your block? Is the washing machine in your hostel working? Is the water dispenser in your hostel working? Does the water dispenser provide clean water at all times? Is the space provided to dry clothes enough? Are the corridors outside your room swept daily by the sweeper at the hostel? Are there enough rubbish bins in your hostel? Is the rubbish removed from the hostel daily?
Security System| | | | | | | | | | | Is the number of CCTV enough? | | | | 50| | | 50| | | | Is the fire alarm working? | | | | | | | 50| 50| | | Is there any regular fire drill during the semester? | | | | | | | | | 50 |50 |
5.0ANALYSIS Room Based on our survey, both USM and UUM students agreed that the lighting in their room is bright.
50% of USM students were strongly satisfied with the lighting in their rooms which is more by 10% compared with UUM students (40% of the sample students).
However, 20% of USM students expressed dissatisfaction with the brightness level of their table lamps and emphasized the need for immediate action by USM to prevent eye damage. Furthermore, the quality of furniture in the hostels is crucial to the comfort and study environment for USM students. Regrettably, 20% of USM students were not content with the condition of the furniture, while no UUM students reported any issues. USM students specifically highlighted problems with the beds and tables in Desasiswa Fajar Harapan, particularly the malfunctioning drawer on the tables.
Half of the UUM students expressed high satisfaction with the condition of their room furniture. In contrast, 60% of USM students showed strong satisfaction with the size of their rooms. The satisfaction level with room size among UUM students was divided, with 30% agreeing and 10% moderately agreeing. Furthermore, 40% of UUM students were in the “agree” category for room size satisfaction, surpassing the percentage at USM. Moving on to the bathroom and toilet section, 30 students from Fajar Harapan reported dissatisfaction with the functioning of the flush system.
According to the data, it was found that 60% of Desasiswa Fajar Harapan students were dissatisfied with the toilet flush system in their hostel. However, in UUM, 45 students (or 90% of the samples) expressed satisfaction with the flush system. Additionally, most students agreed that the sanitary ware was clean. Only 10 Desasiswa Fajar Harapan students (or 20% of the samples) were unhappy with the cleanliness of the sanitary ware in their hostel. Meanwhile, USM students reported a habit among some students of throwing unfinished or leftover food in the washing basin instead of the rubbish bin.
In UUM, half of the students agreed with the cleanliness of the sanitary ware there. Out of the 50 students surveyed, 30 did not disagree with the cleanliness of the bathroom due to its surrounding cleanliness. Additionally, 35 students in UUM were satisfied with the cleanliness of the bathroom surrounding. Fajar Harapan’s students also showed a high satisfaction rate with the toilet lock, with 80% of students expressing satisfaction. However, in UUM, only 34 students agreed that the toilet lock was working effectively. When it comes to the existing number of showers, 60% of students disagreed. None of the students strongly disagreed, while the rest had a moderate level of disagreement. On the other hand, 35 UUM students agreed and an additional 5 strongly agreed with the existing number of showers. It is worth noting that both USM and UUM students do not require hot showers in their bathrooms. Our comments regarding facilities only focus on the problem areas identified from the survey questions. For instance, almost 40 out of the sampled 50 students strongly disagreed that the number of irons provided in their hostels is sufficient.
This is a prevalent problem as there are only 3 irons for each floor and around 100 students sharing them. Additionally, when the students were asked about the adequacy of washing machines, 30 students strongly disagreed, which is the third highest group in terms of strongly disagree feedback. The highest level of dissatisfaction was regarding the functionality of the washing machine. Approximately 90% of the students strongly disagreed that the washing machine is working, with some even reporting that water from the machine overflows.
A survey was conducted to compare the amenities at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). The results showed that the washing machines at UUM received the highest level of satisfaction among students, with 30 students strongly agreeing. The water dispenser at UUM was also highly regarded, as 35 students agreed that it works well and provides clean water consistently. Additionally, when asked about the adequacy of clothes lines, 20 students strongly agreed and 20 students agreed. Overall, cleanliness was an important factor for UUM students.
Based on the survey results, USM students expressed higher satisfaction with the cleanliness of their hostel compared to UUM students. A majority of USM students (90%) strongly agreed that the corridor is swept daily, contributing to the overall cleanliness of the hostel. They also emphasized that the corridor is consistently well-maintained, creating a comfortable living environment. In contrast, only five UUM students agreed that the corridor outside their rooms receives daily cleaning, and 70% of UUM students disagreed that it is always clean.
The availability of rubbish bins is crucial in upholding cleanliness standards within the hostel. None of the USM students strongly agreed that there are enough rubbish bins provided in their hostel. On the other hand, UUM students showed a higher level of satisfaction, with 40% more UUM students strongly agreeing that there are adequate rubbish bins in their hostel. Furthermore, only USM students disagreed with the sufficiency of rubbish bins in their hostel.
Overall, USM students were highly satisfied with the cleanliness of their hostel. 45 USM students strongly agreed and 5 students agreed that rubbish is removed from the hostel on a daily basis. Compared to UUM’s hostel, a smaller proportion of UUM students agreed with the frequency of rubbish removal compared to USM students.
The percentages of students who strongly agree and agree are 16% and 36% respectively. Among UUM students, 20% disagree that the rubbish is removed from the hostel daily. Regarding the hostel security system, all 50 respondents from Desasiswa Fajar Harapan agree that the number of CCTVs is sufficient. The CCTV cameras adequately cover all entry points of Desasiswa Fajar Harapan. Respondents from Bank Rakyat Hostel, UUM, stated that their hostel CCTV coverage is insufficient and there are blind spots. Consequently, UUM students disagree that the hostel CCTVs are enough.
Both USM and UUM respondents agree that the fire alarm in the hostel is functioning properly. The management of the hostel is effective in maintaining the fire alarm system. All USM respondents strongly agree that regular fire drills take place every semester, but this is not the case for UUM students. Both USM and UUM students rate the fire drill highly due to the compulsory policy and rule of conducting fire drills every semester in the hostels. In conclusion, based on this survey, both USM and UUM students expressed high satisfaction with the bright lighting in their rooms.
Most of the students from USM were dissatisfied with the room furniture, particularly the drawer lock, which caused discomfort. However, there were no complaints about the room size from both USM and UUM students as they found it spacious enough for daily activities. In terms of room facilities, the survey revealed that many USM students believed there was a shortage of irons and washing machines. Additionally, some of them were dissatisfied with the washing machine function as it often caused water overflow. On the other hand, UUM students were pleased with their hostel facilities such as properly functioning washing machines and a water dispenser that consistently provided clean water. When assessing hostel cleanliness, more USM students expressed satisfaction compared to UUM students.
In USM, the sweeper cleans the corridor daily and there are sufficient rubbish bins on each floor. Rubbish is also removed from the hostel on a daily basis. As for security, USM students have not encountered any problems. The number of CCTV cameras in USM is adequate as they cover all entry points of the hostel, ensuring that students feel safe. This is in contrast to the situation at UUM. Both USM and UUM students agree that the fire alarm is functioning properly and that there are enough fire drills (once every semester). Fire preparedness is crucial in every hostel to prevent issues in the event of a fire.
Finally, after analyzing the situation, it was discovered that a significant number of USM students were unhappy with the state of their hostel toilets and bathrooms. The main sources of dissatisfaction were the toilet flush system, bathroom cleanliness, and insufficient number of showers and toilets. This stands in stark contrast to the situation at UUM, where the majority of students reported being satisfied with their bathroom facilities. Additionally, some USM students expressed dissatisfaction with the brightness of the table lamp in their rooms. To address this issue, it is recommended that the dimly lit table lamps be replaced regularly.
This will provide a favorable setting for USM students if there is adequate brightness. Additionally, the furniture in Desasiswa Fajar Harapan needs upgrading to enhance students’ contentment. For instance, outdated tables should be substituted with new ones. This is necessary as some students were dissatisfied with the hostel’s antiquated furniture. The cleaner of Desasiswa Fajar Harapan should regularly inspect the toilet’s flush system. If the flush system is not operational, the cleaner should report it to the responsible individual.
This will enable the problem of insufficient sanitation facilities to be solved as soon as possible. The cleanliness of sanitary ware can be improved by prohibiting students from washing their plates or disposing of their unfinished food in the washing basin. Additionally, students who fail to maintain clean toilets should be subject to fines. In order to address the issue of inadequate toilets and shower rooms, Desasiswa Fajar Harapan should consider installing more toilets and creating additional shower rooms. Furthermore, Desasiswa Fajar Harapan can solve the problem of insufficient irons by simply increasing their number, as irons are not expensive.
Additionally, it is recommended to increase the number of washing machines and maintain them regularly (e.g., every two months) to ensure their proper functionality. Furthermore, if the water dispenser does not work, officials of Desasiswa Fajar Harapan should proactively inspect the hostel facilities instead of waiting for students to report complaints.
Desasiswa Fajar Harapan should address the issue of insufficient space for drying clothes by either creating more open spaces or installing additional clothes lines. Additionally, it is important for Desasiswa Fajar Harapan to maintain cleanliness within the hostel area. This can be achieved by placing more rubbish bins around the hostel to discourage students from littering.
Regular education should be encouraged for hostel students to understand the importance of keeping the hostel area clean. In terms of security, Fajar Harapan’s students express satisfaction with the existing security system. However, improvements can be made by installing emergency press buttons along the corridor for any emergencies. Additionally, a loud public address system should be implemented to ensure that all students in the hostel can be informed during emergency situations, such as earthquake announcements.
