World Applied Sciences Journal 15 (Innovation and Pedagogy for Lifelong Learning): 36-41, 2011 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2011 Corresponding Author: Siti Rahayah Ariffin, Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43000 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. 36 Profile of Creativity and Innovation Among Higher Learning Institution Students in Malaysia Siti Rahayah Ariffin, Faiz Daud, Roseni Ariffin, Nur Aidah Rashid and Ayesha Badib 1 2 3 1 1 Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia 1 Department of Public Health, University Kebangsaan Medical Centre, 2 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia School of Business and Economics, University Malaysia Sabah, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia 3 Abstract: The Malaysian Creativity and Innovation Instrument (MyCrIn) was used in this study to measure the levels of creativity and innovation among students at a higher learning institution (HLI). This study aims to profile students of HLI according to levels of creativity and innovation based on gender and ethnicity. The instrument contains 275 items, of which 180 are Likert scale items, 72 are dichotomous scale items and 23 are partial credit items. The MyCrIn is comprised of five constructs: Higher Order Thinking (HOT; 72 items), Curiosity (CUR; 24 items), Sensitivity (SEN; 64 items), Visionary (VIS; 45 items) and Adaptable to Change (ATC; 70 items). The MyCrIn was administered to 300 undergraduate students from one public university in Malaysia. Results show that the five constructs have a high reliability index (above .9). Results indicate that males have a higher level of higher order thinking ability (HOT:F = 5835, p =.001) and a higher visionary score (VIS:t = 5445, p =.000) compared to females. Student profiling of Malays, Chinese and other ethnicities showed no differences. In conclusion, the study has been able to profile HLI students according to their levels of creativity and innovation. This is expected to help administrators, university lecturers and employers in student selection in order to fulfil the needs of the employment sector. This can facilitate the channelling of creative and innovative minds toward the development of the nation. Key words: Creativity Innovation Student profiling Gender Ethnicity INTRODUCTION A Canadian study of creativity and innovation showed that university students differed according to Critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills place of origin, gender and ethnicity [12, 13]. Curiosity are explicitly incorporated in outcome-based education and the desire to try new things tend to be stronger (OBE) in all higher learning institutions (HLIs) in Malaysia among male students, most of whom are from suburban [1]. The formation of the Malaysian Qualifications and rural areas and by using their thinking skills, they are Framework (MQF) is another paradigm that is propelling able to control, drive and measure their progress and meet HLI education to produce well-rounded, creative and challenges faced by them [4, 6, 14, 15]. According to the innovative graduates to lead the country [2, 3]. University education system, thinking is regarded as a key literacy students are exposed to generic and soft skills from their skill, particularly in terms of creative and innovative first year of university until graduation so as to fulfil thinking in higher education [16]. Students are exposed to professional requirements [1, 2, 4, 5, 6]. One of the primary creativity and innovation early in the schooling process emphases of the MQF is that creative and innovative and it supposed to continue at the university level. skills are fostered in order for people to learn and explore Learning activities at the university level are geared knowledge wisely. This culture of creativity and toward providing students with knowledge and better innovation is different between males and females, thinking skills. Whether students have mastered the especially in high-order thinking, adaptation to change expected levels of creativity and innovation depends on and the desire to try new things [7-11]. the individual ability of students to apply the techniques