This research aims to investigate the impact of knowledge-based human resource management (KBHRM) practices on organizational performance through the mediating role of quality and quantity of knowledge worker productivity (QQKWP). The data were collected from 325 employees working in different private universities of Pakistan by using convenience and purposive sampling techniques. The quantitative research technique was used to perform analysis on WarpPLS software. The result revealed that only knowledge-based recruiting practices have a positive and significant direct effect on organizational performance. While knowledge-based performance appraisal practices, training and development practices and compensation practices all were insignificant in this regard. However, through mediator QQKWP, the knowledge-based recruiting practices (KBRP), knowledge-based training and development (KBTD), and knowledge-based compensation practices (KBCP) all were positively and significantly influencing organizational performance but only knowledge-based performance appraisal (KBPA) was insignificant in this mediating relationship. Lastly, the current study provides useful insights into the knowledge management (KM) literature in the context of private higher educational institutes of developing countries like Pakistan. The future studies should consider the impact of KBHRM practices on knowledge workers’ productivity and firms’ performances in the context of public universities.

National unity is a matter of great concern for many countries around the world today. The study of policy evaluation is an important aspect of the study of national unity. The evaluation of policy implementation effects can help policymakers analyze whether there are problems in the formulation and implementation of the policy, thereby promoting further policy adjustments to better achieve national unity. This article adopts thematic searches and a systematic literature review as research methods. Through the systematic review, it summarizes and analyzes the research on national unity policies across different regions and countries. The article has two objectives: First, to explore the current perspectives in the research on national unity policies, and second, to analyze the state of research regarding the effectiveness of national unity policies. Among the 35 papers analyzed, 7 were on integration policy, 6 were on education policy and 4 were on language policy. To a certain extent, this reflects the perspectives of some countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, including France, Greece, Russia, Turkey, China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and other countries on the governance of national unity. Research on policy effectiveness is mainly conducted from the perspectives of policy content and policy implementation. However, there is little analysis of successful cases that achieved the desired goals. The main contributions of this article are as follows: first, it summarizes and identifies the characteristics of national solidarity-related policies in different continents and countries. Secondly, the experience of the success and failure of the national unity policy is studied and summarized. In addition, this article also found that there are still gaps in the research on successful experiences and causes.

Yunnan is rich in cultural heritage, with its primitive pottery techniques coexisting with modern pottery techniques, and is known as the “Museum of Ceramic History”. Due to regional and socio-economic development factors, some folk pottery and craftsmen have faded out of sight or only circulated in a few small areas and specific environments. The study analyzes and summarizes the characteristics of Yunnan folk pottery and industry and evaluates the Yunnan folk pottery value based on the conditional valuation method. The study takes the folk pottery of the Bai nationality in Dali, Yunnan as an example and obtains the evaluation results of the purchasing motivation value of the pottery through a questionnaire survey. 45.26% of people pay for their existence value, 26.03% pay for their choice value, and 28.71% pay for their legacy value. Based on the evaluation results, the study proposes targeted activation paths for Yunnan folk pottery, including innovative development combined with new technologies, highlighting the functional characteristics of pottery, and brand building. This study will help Yunnan folk pottery find more suitable ways of protection and inheritance in the rapid development of materials and technology. This study can help inheritors gain the possibility of sustainable development and provide reference value for the activation path of other traditional folk.

This study investigated the students’ perceptions of a self-paced fitness program that is integrated with SitFit, a fitness tracker that measures body inclination during sit-up exercises, and their acceptance of digital innovation in physical education. The data was gathered from a survey of 1001 Thai undergraduates. Results revealed that attitudes toward using the technology and the perceived ease of use were important predictors of behavioral intention to use the sit-up fitness tracker. consistent with previous TAM studies. Subsequently, SitFit was developed based on exercise principles and expert advice to enable users to exercise more effectively while reducing injury risk.

This study aims to elucidate the digital transformation process in Tunisian companies, identify its driving factors, and explain its key success factors. We examine a sample of 70 companies across various economic sectors using a Multinomial Logistic regression to assess the impact of digital strategy, corporate culture, and leadership on digital transformation success. The dependent variable “digital maturity” is categorized into low, medium, and high, with medium serving as the reference category. The results indicate a significant and positive effect of digital strategy on digital transformation success. Leadership influences companies at a low level of digital maturity but does not significantly impact those at a high maturity level. Corporate culture does not significantly affect digital transformation. Digital strategy is crucial for the success of digital transformation in Tunisian companies, while leadership plays a role primarily at lower maturity levels. Corporate culture, however, does not significantly contribute to digital maturity. The study provides insights for Tunisian companies and policymakers to focus on developing robust digital strategies and leadership qualities to enhance digital transformation efforts. This research expands the theoretical base on digital transformation in the Tunisian context, identifying critical success factors and barriers, and confirming the significant role of digital strategy in successful digital transformations.

This study focuses on the competency structure factors of elementary school English teachers under China’s new curriculum standards, aiming to reveal the core competencies that teachers should possess in the context of education in the new era. Through the comprehensive application of qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaire survey methods, this study provides an in-depth analysis of the competency structure of primary English teachers. It was found that the competency structure of elementary school English teachers is mainly composed of six dimensions: professionalism, personality traits, teaching ability, student views, teaching organization strategy and research ability. These dimensions work together to influence teachers’ teaching effectiveness and students’ learning effectiveness. The study also found that there were significant differences in the competency characteristics of elementary school English teachers across gender, teaching experience and educational qualifications. In general, this study provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the professional development of elementary school English teachers, which can help to improve the quality of teachers’ teaching and promote the comprehensive development of students.

This study examines the rapid convergence of the tourism industry with other sectors, driven by the expanding experience economy. A conceptual model was introduced encompassing industry convergence patterns, paths, and effects to assess this convergence’s effectiveness. Using a survey of 392 tourists in Macau, these findings reveal that the tourism industry convergence path and mode positively influence the convergence effect, thereby shaping tourists’ perceived value. Moreover, this study identifies that convergence mode and effect mediate the relationship between the tourism industry convergence path and perceived value. This study validates the efficacy of industrial convergence paths and models in fostering regional industry convergence within the tourism sector. Additionally, it contributes a theoretical framework for evaluating industry convergence effects at a micro level, enhancing both the theoretical understanding and practical applications of Macao’s tourism industry and industrial convergence theory.

This study aims to investigate the impact of dance training on the mental health of college students. Utilizing experimental research methods, we established an experimental group and a control group to compare changes in mental health dimensions—including anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and social skills—between the two groups before and after 12 weeks of dance training. The findings indicate that dance training significantly reduces levels of anxiety and depression, while also improving self-esteem and social skills, thereby enhancing social adaptability. These results provide empirical support for the use of dance as an intervention for mental health and offer new insights for mental health education in colleges and universities.

One of Indonesia’s main characteristics of tourism development is maritime tourism, which is synonymous with archipelagic countries. The diversity of maritime tourism offered by Indonesia will never end, so it needs to be considered more carefully and used relevantly to create sustainable tourism in Indonesia that provides broad benefits for the country. Many maritime tourism locations in Indonesia are beautiful but require more active promotion. The level of security and terrorism issues are a requirement that the government must consider. The novelty of this research describes the potential ecotourism development in the town of Makassar that stakeholders should consider in the formation of tourism policy. The research locations are in Makassar City, Samalona Island, Langkai Island, and Lanjukang Island. Ecotourism developed in the coastal areas of Makassar City, especially in Samalona, Lanjukang, and Langkai Islands, produces superior objects that collaborate elements of nature and society as the main attraction in the long term. Therefore, local governments need to strengthen monitoring of regional geopolitical developments in order to avoid security and terrorism problems that might cause inconvenience to tourists.

Environmental Education (EE) programs are of crucial importance. EE are aimed at global citizenship to generate new knowledge and new, more participatory and conscious ways of acting in the environment. This study, therefore, wants to verify the effectiveness of a training intervention that is based on education on climate change issues and on the active participation of subjects in the dimension of the small psychological group. At the intervention 309 students took part, equally distributed by gender (52.1% males), 64.4% enrolled in primary school, 35.6% enrolled in lower secondary school. A quantitative protocol was administered to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The study shows an increase in pro-environmental behaviors and their stability even after 15–30 days. The intervention seems to be effective in triggering pro-environmental behaviors and maintaining them in the following weeks. The results of this study highlight the need to develop environmental education pro-grams in schools to increase levels of knowledge and awareness on the issue of climate change.

This paper explores the path to solving India’s economic problems from a Social Keynesian Economics perspective, analyzing the history, current status and prospects of India’s economic development. India should formulate targeted social policies according to the stage of economic development and needs. Improve the institutional mechanism to stimulate the internal dynamics and innovative vitality of the main business entities. India can improve its economic structure and enhance the balance and sustainability of economic growth by accelerating the implementation of the “Make in India” program, strengthening infrastructure construction, supporting agricultural and rural development, and implementing education and health care reforms. Developing consumer credit and increasing consumer demand were also effective means of enhancing economic growth, but further transformation and innovation in the manufacturing sector needed to be promoted.

This study examines the impact of state highway construction contracts on state spending efficiency controlling for production structure, service demands, and situational factors. The theoretical argument is that because highway construction projects are relatively large in scale, complex, and can be monitored through objective performance measurement, state highway construction programs may save government production costs through contracts. Contracting helps highway producers achieve efficiency by optimizing production size based on workload and task complexity. The unit of analysis is 48 state governments’ highway construction contracts from 1998 to 2008. Through a two-stage analysis method including a Total Function Productivity (TFP) index and system dynamic panel data analysis, the results suggest that highway construction contracts enhance state highway spending efficiency, especially for large-scale construction projects.

This research examines the intricate connection between tourism and environmental destruction in 28 Asian countries, concentrating on the non-linear impacts of tourism. Moreover, this study contemplates how tourism can mitigate the effects of economic growth on environmental decline. Westerlund, Johansen-Fisher, and Pedronico-integration tests are necessary to detect the co-integration connection between the proposed factors. The research also uses the Augmented Mean Group; the dynamic system generalized method of moments, and fully changed Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). These tools help address econometric and economic problems such as co-integration, dynamism, variation, inter-sectional dependence, and endogeneity. The results demonstrate a U-shaped non-linear connection between ecological footprint and Tourism in Asian nations. Primarily, the tourism industry can initially decrease environmental damage. However, as it increases in size, it can worsen the harm. Additionally, the study suggests that tourism negatively influences how economic growth affects ecological footprint. This research contributes to the existing literature on tourism’s effects on the environment. The research suggests that tourism significantly impacts the environment; therefore, initiatives to reduce damage should be aimed at tourism.

Blockchain technology is poised to significantly transform the corporate world, heralding a new era of innovation and efficiency. Over the past few years, its impact has been noted by leaders, academics, and government representatives around the globe this growing interest underscores businesses’ need to evolve and reconsider traditional operational models. To remain competitive, organizations must embrace this change. Before introducing such ground-breaking technology, it is crucial to assess the motivations of primary stakeholders concerning its implementation. This study looks into what influences the use of Blockchain technology in the oil and gas sector, primarily using a quantitative survey of Iraqi oil and gas companies. A questionnaire was distributed among 250 top-level managers, senior executives, project managers, and IT managers for analyzing the data, the study employs the Structural Equation Modelling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) technique, with Smart PLS for data processing. The findings suggest that the intention to utilise blockchain technology is influenced by one’s attitude towards it. Competitive pressure (environmental factors), functional benefit, and privacy/security (technological factors) significantly affect blockchain adoption intention. Nevertheless, there was no discernible correlation between regulatory backing and the desire to use Blockchain. Additionally, cost concern and perceived risk (organizational factors) two factors contribute negatively to the perception of blockchain technology. Besides the direct relationship, the findings revealed that attitude toward blockchain technology mediate the relationship between cost concern, perceived risk, and intention to adopt Blockchain. Built upon the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) model and the Theory of Reasoned Action, this research offers a comprehensive framework for investigating the intention to adopt blockchain technology. The results enhance both theoretical understanding and practical implementation by providing valuable insights into the emerging area of blockchain adoption intentions.

Technical Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) encompasses teachers’ understanding of the intricate interplay among technology, pedagogy, and subject matter expertise, serving as the essential knowledge base for integrating technology into subject-specific instruction. Over the decade, advancements in information technology have led to the consistent application of the TPACK framework within studies on instructional technology and technology-enhanced learning, significantly advancing the evolution of contemporary teacher education in technology integration. In this paper, we utilize the Teaching and Learning Knowledge of Subjects Based on Integrated Technology (TPACK) framework to administer a questionnaire survey to teacher trainees at Chinese colleges and universities. This survey aims to evaluate the current status of their integrated technology-based subject teaching and learning knowledge. Based on the research findings, we propose strategies aimed at enhancing the educational technology integration knowledge of students pursuing integrated technology courses in colleges and universities. Furthermore, we integrate the smart classroom setting to develop a comprehensive TPACK-integrated model teaching framework. Our final objective is to offer valuable references for the progress of modern teaching skills among education students in higher education institutions.

The explosion of information technology, besides its positive aspects, has raised many issues related to personal information and personal data in the network environment. Because children are vulnerable to abuse, fraud and exploitation, protecting children’s personal information and personal data is always of concern to many countries. From the concept and characteristics of personal information and personal data of children in Europe, the United States and Vietnam, it can be seen that children’s personal information and personal data protection is very necessary in every country today. This research focuses on the age considered a child, the child’s consent and his or her parental consent when providing and processing personal information or personal data of children under the laws of the EU, US and Vietnam. Therefore, the article proposes some recommendations related to the child’s consent and his or her parental consent in protecting children’s personal data in Vietnam.

This research explores the role of social media in the political construction of identity, analyzing how these platforms mediate the expression and formation of individual and group political identities. The focus is on how social media changes the dynamics of communication and social interaction, facilitating the formation of “echo chambers” and increasing political polarization. Additionally, this study highlights challenges such as disinformation and the implications of social media for the health of democracy. As a researcher, I aim to highlight the broader implications of using social media in identity politics. By analyzing the impact of social media on political dynamics in Indonesia, this study reveals how social media influences public perception and political decisions. This study identifies how social media can be used as a tool to mobilize political support, but also how these platforms can spread disinformation and reinforce political polarization. Based on these concerns, researchers have not yet found research results that examine how social media specifically impacts the construction of political identity. This research aims to highlight how social media not only acts as a communication tool but also as a medium that influences the way individuals view and express their political identity. Through a qualitative approach, this study provides new insights into the impact of social media in contemporary political dynamics and the importance of digital literacy in addressing issues of identity politics in the digital era.

Technological advancements are transforming agriculture, yet adoption rates among agricultural extension officers, especially in regions like West Java, remain modest due to several challenges. This study applies the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to investigate factors influencing the adoption of agricultural technologies by agricultural extension officers in West Java. Specifically, we explore the role of socialization, training, access to technology, cost, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness in shaping behavioral intention and actual adoption. Data were collected from 295 agricultural extension officers via structured surveys and analyzed using SmartPLS 4 software. The findings indicate that socialization and training collectively enhance both perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, while Technology Investment Worth specifically enhances perceived usefulness by emphasizing the value of the investment. Access to technology also plays a critical role in increasing ease of use perceptions. Both perceived ease of use and usefulness positively influence behavioral intention, which in turn is a strong predictor of actual adoption. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to increase technology uptake among agricultural extension officers, promoting sustainable agricultural practices through improved access, support, and cost reduction initiatives.

The causation conundrum in climate change litigation has long plagued the legal and scientific communities. This article explores the role of climate attribution theory in solving the loss and damage causation puzzle in climate change litigation. First, it describes the limitations of traditional causation theories in climate change litigation and analyzes the performance of emerging theories, such as the “substantial contribution” theory and the “market share” theory, in addressing this issue. The paper then evaluates the application of climate attribution theory in actual litigation through specific case studies and puts forward a series of policy recommendations. These include strengthening funding and support for climate attribution research, establishing a platform for interdisciplinary cooperation, developing a unified standard of proof, promoting public and judicial education, and promoting the improvement of the international legal framework. Finally, the paper points out the main problems and limitations in the application of climate attribution theory and proposes key directions for future research. The paper posits that by fostering continuous scientific research and enhancing the legal framework, climate attribution theory will assume a more prominent role in climate change litigation and facilitate the process of global climate governance.

Orientation: Rewards are integral to keeping employees happy, efficient and engaged in their work. Thus, the engagement of academic staff within higher education institutions has become a top priority for organisational productivity and competitiveness. Research purpose: This study investigated the impact of total rewards on work engagement among the academic staff at a South African higher education institution. Motivation for the study: Engagement of academic staff is vital as higher education institutions are influential in the country’s development. Literature, however, has shown that most studies on total rewards and work engagement focus on sectors such as financial institutions, the mining industry and others. However, few reports have been on total rewards and work engagement in higher education. Research design, approach and method: This study employed a cross-sectional survey design, following a quantitative approach. From a population of 100 academic staff, 74 respondents responded to a self-administered questionnaire. Main findings: The results show a positive relationship between two dimensions of total rewards (work-home integration and quality work environment) and work engagement. However, no relationship was found between base pay, benefits, performance and career management, and work engagement. From the five dimensions of total rewards, a quality work environment was the only significant predictor of work engagement. Contribution: The study provides theoretical contributions through new literature and possible recommendations. The study may guide management in developing a rewards strategy that can promote staff work engagement.

This study aims to examine the mediating role of institutional trust (IT) between perceived corruption and subjective well-being (SWB) using data from 1566 households in a developing country. It deploys ordinary least square (OLS) and an ordered logit model within the generalized structural equation model. Results show that individuals who perceived no corruption in a country report more IT and higher levels of SWB. Furthermore, the direct effects of good governance, perceived IT, and the absence of corruption on SWB is also positive. Moreover, satisfaction with hospital services also improves happiness and life satisfaction levels. This study improves and validates how corruption is assessed to support future measures that reduce its harmful effects. Moreover, the masses must have widespread awareness about the critical nature of corruption and IT relative to well-being. This study also highlights the need to develop strong institutions to improve trust and minimize corruption.

The COVID-19 crisis, which occurred in 2020, brought crisis events back to the attention of scholars. With the increasing frequency of crisis events, the influence of crisis events on stock markets has become more obvious. This paper focuses on the impact of the subprime crisis, the Chinese stock market crash crisis and the COVID-19 crisis on the volatility and risk of the world’s major stock markets. In this paper, we first fit the volatility using EGARCH model and detect asymmetry of volatility. After that, a VaR model is calculated on the basis of EGARCH to measure the impact of the crisis event on the risk of stock markets. This paper finds that the subprime crisis has a significant influence on the risk of the stock market in China, US, South Korea, and Japan. During the COVID-19 crisis, there was little change in the average risk of each country. But at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, there was a significant increase in the risk of each country’s stock market. The Chinese stock market crash crisis had a more pronounced effect on the Chinese and Japanese stock markets and a lesser effect on the US and Korean stock markets.

Climate change is occurring more quickly and has more complex effects than expected. The well-being of populations in general and financial resources have been impacted by climate change in recent years. Children, pregnant women and the elderly bear the brunt of the impacts caused by climate-related risks. This research aims to assess the perceptions of health personnel and clients on climate change as well as these impacts in the Greater Lomé health region in Togo. Furthermore, this research examines the differences between the perceptions of caregivers, patients and scientific observations in this area. Based on field observations, an interview guide and a questionnaire, the information collected shows that nearly 75.95% of those questioned perceived climate change, particularly in the form of an increase in precipitation concentrated on a cost duration causing floods and the scarcity of rain at the end of the year leading to droughts. More than 25.40% and 61.86% respectively perceive that droughts and floods impact their livelihoods, but do not fully understand the causes. The results are useful for planning useful actions to facilitate the management of climate-related risks in health establishments in the Greater Lomé health region. It is therefore important to carry out awareness campaigns, train stakeholders and take necessary measures to make health systems resilient.

The improper disposal of litter by tourists poses a significant threat to tourism destinations worldwide, including in Indonesia. To mitigate marine litter, promoting eco-friendly behavior (EFB) among tourists is essential. This study applies the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which posits that an individual’s behavior is driven by their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, to better understand the factors influencing eco-friendly behavioral intentions. In this research, ecological consciousness and ecological knowledge were added to the traditional TPB framework to gain deeper insights into tourist behavior. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 876 visitors to Lake Singkarak, Indonesia. The findings demonstrate that the inclusion of ecological consciousness and ecological knowledge significantly enhances the predictive power of the TPB model in explaining eco-friendly behavioral intentions. Based on these results, raising public awareness, improving government management, and enhancing the quality of lake attractions are recommended to encourage responsible tourism. These measures can reduce litter and conserve lake habitats, ultimately contributing to the sustainability of tourism in the region.

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the cash holdings behaviour on sectoral level for South African firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The accounting cash ratio is used to identify abnormal (excess) cash holdings for the firms listed on the JSE. This informed the panel regression analysis to identify cash holdings determinants on a sectoral level. The sample data included 255 firms of which 102 represent Financial Firms and 153 represent Non-Financial Firms for 2005 to 2019. The findings show the significant internal and external determinants of cash holdings. Comparing coefficient sizes, this research finds that financial and non-financial sectors with abnormal (excess) cash holdings exhibit higher coefficient sizes as opposed to sectors without. As a result, the higher coefficient size shows that the internal and external determinants of cash holdings have a greater effect on the cash holding levels of these sectors. The implications of the findings of this study are that each sector operates differently and that each firm within each sector has differing cash management policies and procedures. Therefore, analyzing cash holdings behaviour on an aggregated level and assuming that all sectors and firms within the collective operate the same is an erroneous assumption, as shown by this study. This research firstly contributed by introducing the use of the accounting cash ratio to indicate the presence of abnormal (excess) cash holdings. Most research focus on cash holdings of Non-Financial Firms. Therefore, the second contribution of this research is that both Non-Financial and Financial Firms with and without abnormal (excess) cash holdings were included to identify determinants of cash holdings, this was also done on a sectoral level.

Online community facilitates firm-consumer and consumer-consumer interactions for value co-creation. This study explores the relationship between social capital of online community users and community value co-creation in the context of the Xiaomi community. In the study, the forms of value co-creation are differentiated into two forms: initiated value co-creation and participatory value co-creation, and the effects of different types of online community users’ social capital on the forms of value co-creation in which they participate are empirically examined, and the results find that: structural capital has a significant positive effect on initiated value co-creation, while the effect on participatory value co-creation is insignificant; cognitive capital has a significant positive effect on both initiated value co-creation and participatory value co-creation; and cognitive capital has a significant positive effect on both initiated value co-creation and participatory value co-creation. In this context, the present study contributes to a deeper comprehension of the interplay between social capital and models of value co-creation.

The continuous escalation of social risks has exacerbated the challenges faced by aging urban communities. In this context, resilience building emerges as a critical approach, offering new perspectives and innovative solutions to address these issues. This paper applies the theories of risk society and resilience governance to establish an analytical framework for resilience governance, specifically examining the current status of resilience construction within the Jin Guang Men community in Xi’an. The findings indicate that resilience building within these aging urban communities is hindered by issues such as weak grassroots governance, deficient repair mechanisms, inadequate infrastructure, and a slow pace of information technology adoption. To effectively manage social risks, it is imperative to strengthen party leadership in governance, enhance community self-repair capacities, upgrade infrastructure, and accelerate the application of information technology. These measures are essential for bolstering the risk management capabilities of aging urban communities.

Weather and climate services are essential tools that help farmers make informed choices, such as choosing appropriate crop varieties. These services depend considerably on the availability of adequate investments in infrastructure related to weather forecasting, which are often provided by the State in most countries. Zimbabwean farmers generally have limited access to modern weather and climate services. While extensive attempts have been made to investigate farmers’ socioeconomic factors that influence access to and use of weather and climate services, comparative political economy analysis of weather and climate service production and use is limited. To address this knowledge gap, this study examines the production, dissemination, and usage of modern seasonal weather services through a political economy analysis perspective. The findings of this study highlight considerable discrepancies in access and use of seasonal weather forecasts between male and female farmers, those who practise African Traditional Religions versus Christians, and the minority group (Ndau tribe) and the majority group (Manyika tribe). This result suggested the presence of social marginalization. For example, minority Ndau members living in remote areas with limited radio signals and a weak mobile network have limited access to modern seasonal weather forecasts, forcing them to rely much more on indigenous weather forecasts. Further, due to unequal power relations, a greater proportion of male farmers participated in agricultural policy formation processes than their female counterparts. To promote inclusive development and implementation, deliberate efforts need to be made by State authorities to incorporate adherents of African traditional religions, members of minority tribes and female farmers in agricultural policymaking processes, including seasonal weather forecast delivery policies. Further, the study suggests the relaxation or elimination of international sanctions on Zimbabwe by the European Union, United Kingdom and the United States of America, given that they are considerably affecting marginalized groups of farmers in their climate change adaptation practices, including the use of modern weather and climate services. The vast majority of these marginalized farmers never benefitted from the land reform programme and were also not responsible for the design and implementation of this programme which triggered these sanctions.

Currently, there is little study on managing organizational silence in Malaysia post COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to examine the determinants of organizational silence and the impacts of silence on private sectors and employees. The target respondents are two hundred individuals above 21 years old working in private sectors across Malaysia. Purposive sampling is selected for this study because the target respondents must be individuals working in private sectors across Malaysia. The strongest predictor of organizational silence is the attitudes of immediate superior, followed by attitudes of top management and communication opportunities. This study provides valuable information to the employees and management in the private sector to recognize the behaviors that will create silence within the organization.

Road construction and maintenance are key interventions that support economic potential in the country. However, the deplorable state of some roads in Nigeria, and in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states draws research concerns. This paper seeks to examine the impact of the Niger Delta Development Commission Intervention on road construction and economic activities in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, Nigeria. Using the Sustainable Development Framework, a survey research design was employed, gathering data from 400 respondents across both states. The chi-square statistical technique was used to test the hypothesis that the Niger Delta Development Commission Intervention has no significant impact on road construction in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. The result of the data analysis showed the calculated value X² = 1592 > 16.92. By this result, the null hypothesis was rejected (16.92) at 0.05 level of significance and 9 Degrees of Freedom, and the alternate was accepted. The study concludes that NDDC road projects have positively influenced economic activities and livelihoods in the states. However, it highlights the need for further improvements, particularly on the Calabar-Itu federal highway.

The article presents an answer to the current challenge about needs to form methodological approaches to the digital transformation of existing industrial enterprises (EIE). The paper develops a hypothesis that it is advisable to carry out the digital transformation of EIE based on considering it as a complex technical system using model-based system engineering (MBSE). The practical methodology based on MBSE for EIE digital representation creation are presented. It is demonstrated how different system models of EIE is created from a set of entities of the MBSE approach: requirements—unctions—components and corresponding matrices of interconnections. Also the principles and composition of tasks for system architectures creation of EIE digital representation are developed. The practical application of proposed methodology is illustrated by the example of an existing gas distribution station.

This study explored how facilitation skills—defined as instructional techniques that accurately convey core messages in a trusting relationship and encourage self-directed learning participation among adult learners—affect the effectiveness of learning. The research focused on adult learners enrolled in lifelong education programs at seven universities, including general and vocational colleges in Busan. It aimed to examine the relationships between instructors’ facilitation skills, learner engagement, and learning outcomes, as well as the mediating effect of engagement on these relationships. A total of 213 valid survey responses were analyzed from an initial 215 responses, excluding 2 unsuitable entries. The findings are summarized as follows. First, facilitation skills were found to partially influence learner engagement. Second, learner engagement was shown to affect learning outcomes. Third, facilitation skills were found to have a partial effect on learning outcomes. Fourth, learner engagement partially mediated the relationship between facilitation skills and learning outcomes. Based on these results, this study is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationship between facilitation skills and learning outcomes in adult learners, providing practical guidelines for enhancing effectiveness in various educational contexts.

With the rapid development of society and the advent of the information age, counselors in higher vocational colleges and universities are facing the double test of burnout and network security. Burnout affects counselors’ work efficacy and psychological health, while cybersecurity poses certain hazards to counselors’ occupational safety. Based on the social ecology perspective, this paper explores the measurement of burnout and puts forward corresponding countermeasure suggestions, with a view to improving the work efficiency and occupational safety of counselors in higher vocational colleges and universities, and providing useful references for the construction and management of counselor teams in higher vocational colleges and universities. This paper takes the job burnout status and network security structure of vocational college counselors as the research object, and explores its causes. Corresponding countermeasures have been proposed. This article selects 100 counselors from a vocational college in X city as the research objects. The latest version of China’s job burnout scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), was used to study it. The experimental results showed that in the dimension of emotional exhaustion, 55% of the subjects were mild. 40% were moderate and 5% were severe. In terms of cynicism, 65% were mild. 30% were moderate and 5% were moderate. On the “low achievement” dimension, the participants were “slightly” rated at 10%. “Moderate” was 75% and “Severe” was 15%. Across the three dimensions, the results showed that job burnout was widespread among vocational college counselors.

The challenge of developing cadastral infrastructure in Africa is inextricably linked to the global issues of sustainable development. Indeed, in light of the constraints inherent to conventional cadastral systems, alternative systems developed through land regulation programmes (LRPs) are compelled to align with the tenets of sustainable development. A discursive study, conducted through a semisystematic literature review, enabled the selection of 53 documents on cadastral systems deployed in multiple countries across the African continent. A number of systems were identified and grouped into four categories: urban, rural, participatory and hybrid cadastral systems. These systems are developed on the basis of standards and sociotechnical approaches, including the LADM, STDM, and FFP, as well as innovative technologies such as blockchain. However, their sustainability is limited by the fact that they are not multipurpose cadastral systems. Consequently, there is an urgent need for studies to develop a global framework that will produce truly significant and sustainable results for all sections of society.

In recent years, China’s economy has undergone rapid development. Increased disposable income and the rapid expansion of Internet-based financial services have positioned China as the largest market for luxury goods. Gen Z, the youngest demographic within emerging markets, is expected to play a pivotal role as the primary driver of the luxury market. However, while China’s luxury market continues to exhibit a high growth rate, this growth has gradually decelerated in comparison to the previous two years according to researchers. This presents a significant challenge for the luxury industry, as maintaining and enhancing the global growth trend has become a pressing concern where consumer behavior is concerned. The second key issue addressed in this study revolves around the concepts of compulsive buying and brand addiction, which can lead individuals, particularly Gen Z, to develop an addiction to luxury consumption. This study is based on an integrated model of conspicuous consumption, social comparison, and impression management theory. The key variables are materialism, brand consciousness, status-seeking, peer pressure, and collectivism to predict the luxury consumption model with debt attitude introduced as a moderating variable to study consumer behaviour in this age group. A non-probability sampling method and 480 people were selected as research samples. Quantitative analysis was used in this study, and SPSS and Smart PLS were used as data analysis tools. Structural equation model (SEM) using partial least squares method was used to determine the relationship of the variables and the moderating effect of debt attitude. The results showed that brand consciousness, status seeking, debt attitude and materialism had the strongest relationship with luxury consumption. Debt attitude as a moderating factor has a significant impact on the hypothesized relationship of the model. This paper provides empirical evidence for research on Gen Z’s luxury consumption, which has practical implications to marketers, luxury companies, local luxury brands and credit institutions.

The COVID-19 pandemic occasioned significant changes in many aspects of human life. The education system is one of the most impacted sectors during the pandemic. With the contagious nature of the disease, governments around the world encouraged social distancing between individuals to prevent the spread of the virus. This led to the shutdown of many academic institutions, to avoid mass gatherings and overcrowded places. Developed and developing countries either postponed their academic activities or used digital technologies to reach learners remotely. The study examined the benefits of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants for the study consist of 5 lecturers and 30 students from the ML Sultan Campus of the Durban University of Technology, South Africa. Data was collected using open-ended interviews. Content analysis was applied to analyze the data collected. Data was collected until it was saturated. Different ways were implemented to make online learning and teaching successful. The findings identified that the benefits of online learning were that it promotes independent learning, flexible learning adaptability and others.

Interest in the impact of environmental innovations on firms’ financial performance has surged over the past two decades, but studies show inconsistent results. This paper addresses these divergences by analyzing 74 studies from 1996 to 2022, encompassing 4,390,754 firm-year observations. We developed a probability-based meta-analysis approach to synthesize existing knowledge and found a generally positive impact of environmental innovations on financial performance, with a probability range of 0.85 to 0.97. Manufacturing firms benefit more from environmental innovations than firms in other industries, and survey-based studies report a more favorable relationship than those using secondary data. This study contributes to existing knowledge by providing a comprehensive aggregation of data, supporting the resource-based view (RBV) and the Porter hypothesis. The findings suggest significant policy implications, highlighting the need for tailored incentives and information-sharing mechanisms, and underscore the importance of diverse data sources in research to ensure robust results.

This article explores how the Quran provides a framework for deriving universal laws that guide human knowledge, behavior, and societal norms. It begins by raising three key questions: How does the Quran guide humans in deriving universal laws from revelation and the universe? What role does deduction play in understanding human behavior and societal norms as presented in the Quran? What are the differences between the “Sunnah of Allah”, the “Sunnah of the Messengers”, and the “Sunnah of past nations” in shaping human understanding of divine laws? The article explains that the Quran encourages humans to reflect on natural phenomena and human history to extract divine laws that govern the universe and human interactions. Through contemplation and deductive reasoning, individuals can derive legal rulings and societal norms from the Quranic text. Deduction, as explained by scholars like Ibn Manzur, involves extracting meanings from texts using reasoning and understanding, and it is considered a key method for understanding divine laws.

Nowadays, finding a suitable solution to the problem of generational change in case of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) is becoming increasingly challenging. The aim of this research to investigate whether entering into the stock exchange could be a realistic alternative for Hungarian companies to eliminate this issue. This study reviews the process of Initial Public Offering (IPO) and summarises the advantages and the difficulties of going public. The paper focuses on the opportunities for value creation and saving offered to SMEs by listing on the stock exchange. As primary research on practical experiences, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with the managers of 10 involved companies, and some financial indicators were examined. The research does not cover all relevant companies; however, it is still suitable for drawing a conclusion. The presence on the stock market proved to be useful for the companies and played a significant role in the preservation of the company’s value as well as in financing opportunities. The path demonstrated in this article is suitable for other businesses to follow the pioneers.

In Industry 4.0, the business model innovation plays a crucial role in enabling organizations to stay competitive and capitalize on the opportunities presented by digital transformation. Industry 4.0 is driven by digitalization and characterized by integrating various emerging technologies. These technologies can potentially change traditional business models and create new value propositions for customers. This paper aims to analyze and review the research papers through a bibliometric approach scientifically. The data were extracted from reputable Clarivate Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection sources from 2010 to 2023 (June). However, the publication started in 2018 for the research fields. The results show that scientific publications on research domains have increased significantly from 2020. VOSviewer, R Language, and Microsoft Excel were utilized for analysis. Bibliometric and Scientometric approaches conducted to determine and explore the publication patterns with significant keywords, topical trends, and content clustering better discussions of the publication period. The visualization of the data set related to research trends of Industry 4.0 in relation to Business Model Innovation resulted in several co-occurrence clusters namely: 1) Business Model Innovation; 2) Industry 4.0; 3) Digital transformation; and 4) Technology implementation and analysis. The study results would identify worldwide research trends related to the research domains and recommendations for future research areas.

As the involvement of Chinese enterprises in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) increases, on the one hand, it can drive enterprises to integrate with the international community and accelerate their transformation and upgrading, continuously enhancing their international competitiveness; on the other hand, it will also cause enterprises to experience more setbacks and challenges, especially the “weak acquisition of the strong” reverse cross-border acquisitions, which makes enterprises face a higher risk of failure. Reasonable control rights allocation can fully utilize the competitive advantages of enterprises, achieve synergistic cooperation among shareholders, board of directors, and management, promote the realization of enterprises’ cross-border acquisition goals, and thus enhance the value creation of acquisitions. There is a positive correlation between internal legitimacy and acquisition performance; the relevant assumptions about the distribution of shareholder control rights are invalid; the control rights at the board of directors level are negatively correlated with internal legitimacy and acquisition performance, and internal legitimacy has a mediating effect between the control rights at the board of directors level and acquisition performance, but the moderating effect of the acquisition mode is not significant; the control rights at the management level are negatively correlated with internal legitimacy and acquisition performance, and internal legitimacy has a mediating effect between the control rights at the management level and acquisition performance, and the acquisition mode negatively moderates the relationship between the control rights at the management level and internal legitimacy. This study takes the post-acquisition control rights allocation as the entry point, and examines the cross-border acquisition activities of Chinese enterprises from the perspective of stakeholders. The research results not only can enrich existing acquisition theory, but also can provide theoretical guidance for Chinese enterprise managers on allocation of control of target enterprises, and provide a theoretical basis for the state to formulate and optimize the system and policies of enterprises’ cross-border acquisitions.

The purpose of the research on which this paper is based was to test and validate the decision-making model previously set up by the authors. The model presents the internal factors influencing the decisions of family businesses regarding capacity expansion and the possible decision outcomes. The distinctiveness of the model is that it presents the internal factors affecting decisions related to capacity expansion, thereby helping family businesses to make decisions. For collecting data, both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used. As qualitative data collection techniques, in-depth interviews and focus group interviews were conducted. As quantitative method, an online questionnaire was used, whose questions were compiled based on previous research of the authors. The questions indirectly assess the internal factors influencing capacity expansion decisions of family businesses and the possible outcome of the decisions. The questionnaire was sent to the VOSZ (National Association of Entrepreneurs), MAPI (Hungarians on the Market Club) and the Association of Family Entrepreneurs, which means approximately 500 addresses. After data cleaning, 135 completed questionnaire were analyzed with SPSS software. In-depth interview was conducted with the heads of five family businesses, whose results were analyzed using tagging and artificial intelligence. The model previously set up by the authors was validated by both qualitative and quantitative research. It can be concluded that the following three internal factors influence the decision of family businesses regarding capacity expansion: socio-emotional wealth, cooperation between generations, and heterogeneous top management team. The family businesses themselves are not necessarily aware of this, so the model enriches the scientific literature and helps in the conscious operation of family businesses.

This research analyses the effects of openness, telecommunications, and institutional nexus on economic growth in African countries using a panel model with data from 16 landlocked countries from 1996 to 2021 and employing the pooled mean group estimation technique that mitigates bias from country heterogeneity and discerning short-term and long-term equilibrium dynamics and two-step system-generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation for robustness check. The empirical findings indicate that openness exerts a significantly positive effect on economic growth in the models. This supports the neoclassical model, suggesting that being landlocked should not impede economic growth, but rather, growth should depend on opportunities available to each country. However, institutions and telecommunications show a mixed correlation with economic growth. These findings can guide landlocked developing countries in enhancing their exports and fostering skill acquisition to attract advanced technology. In conclusion, policymakers should improve macroeconomic policies, telecommunications infrastructure, and institutional structure to strengthen the sustainability of economic growth in African landlocked countries.

The urban fringe – the zone lying between urban areas and the countryside, - offers valuable opportunities for commercial and residential development as well as for recreational activities, but it is often characterised by a number of land use problems and environmental conflicts. Within the UK, the urban fringe can be seen as a contested and dynamic space, yet for almost 70 years statutory town planning policies for the urban fringe have been largely concerned with containment designed to stop urban encroachment into the countryside. However, in 1970s a number of experimental urban fringe management projects were established around town and cities within the UK, culminating in the creation of the Groundwork projects, and here the focus was on a wider and more flexible approach, and more specifically on providing a range of opportunities for recreation, and to attempt to reconcile environmental conflicts. This paper explores the evolution of Groundwork, and more specifically focuses on two Research Questions namely, what was the initial rationale and aims of Groundwork? and secondly what is its current focus and future direction?

The research addresses the importance of ethics in public administration, focusing on public servants in the municipality of Rionegro, Colombia. Ethics is presented as an essential element to promote transparency and combat corruption in public management. Despite the fact that the 1991 Constitution establishes ethical principles, their application in practice remains a challenge, with a high level of immorality in public service. The study highlights the diversity of professional profiles in public servants, which hinders consistent ethical management. In addition, it mentions that many civil servants lack political training and understanding of the importance of their role, which contributes to corruption. Ethics, according to the authors, is a key tool for strengthening institutions and regaining public trust. The research evaluated the impact of a professional ethics training program on public servants, finding significant improvements in their ethical knowledge and behavior. It concludes that, although ethics will not solve all corruption problems, it is an indispensable component for strengthening accountability and justice in public administration. It underscores the need to implement continuous training programs that promote ethical values as part of a strategy to improve efficiency and transparency in public institutions.

The Intellectual Property (IP) chapter of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is recognized for its extensive coverage, encompassing a broad range of innovation areas such as patents, trademarks, geographical indications, and copyright. This chapter sets a new global benchmark for IP protection, posing significant challenges to the existing legal frameworks of member countries and necessitating rapid adaptation, particularly for developing members like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Mexico. These nations have undertaken comprehensive revisions to their IP laws to align with the international standards established by the CPTPP. Despite their unique national contexts, the legal amendments reflect distinct strategies and methodologies in meeting international standards. This paper conducts a qualitative analysis of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Mexico, comparing their law amendment strategies, contents, and techniques across three dimensions. It highlights the distinctive characteristics and impacts of their legal revisions, offering valuable insights for other prospective developing members within the CPTPP framework on the practice of IP law reform.

Cyber-physical Systems (CPS) have revolutionized urban transportation worldwide, but their implementation in developing countries faces significant challenges, including infrastructure modernization, resource constraints, and varying internet accessibility. This paper proposes a methodological framework for optimizing the implementation of Cyber-Physical Urban Mobility Systems (CPUMS) tailored to improve the quality of life in developing countries. Central to this framework is the Dependency Structure Matrix (DSM) approach, augmented with advanced artificial intelligence techniques. The DSM facilitates the visualization and integration of CPUMS components, while statistical and multivariate analysis tool such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and artificial intelligence methods such as K-means clustering enhance complex system the analysis and optimization of complex system decisions. These techniques enable engineers and urban planners to design modular and integrated CPUMS components that are crucial for efficient, and sustainable urban mobility solutions. The interdisciplinary approach addresses local challenges and streamlines the design process, fostering economic development and technological innovation. Using DSM and advanced artificial intelligence, this research aims to optimize CPS-based urban mobility solutions, by identifying critical outliers for targeted management and system optimization.

Diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) are gaining prominence in healthcare systems worldwide to standardize potential payments to hospitals. This study, conducted across public hospitals, investigates the impact of DRG implementation on human resource allocation and management practices. The research findings reveal significant changes in job roles and skill requirements based on a mixed-methods approach involving 70 healthcare professionals across various roles. 50% of respondents reported changes in daily responsibilities, and 42% noted the creation of new roles in their organizations. Significant challenges include inadequate training (46%), and coding complexity (38%). Factor analysis revealed a complex relationship between DRG familiarity, job satisfaction, and staff morale. The study also found a moderate negative correlation between the impact on morale and years of service in the current hospital, suggesting that longer-tenured staff may require additional support in adapting to DRG systems. This study addresses a knowledge gap in the human resource aspects of DRG implementation. It provides healthcare administrators and policymakers with evidence to inform strategies for effective DRG adoption and workforce management in public hospitals.

This article is devoted to studying the principles of the relationship between democracy and demoethics as tools for transforming the sustainable development of society. The study is based on the assumption that the effective functioning of democracy is associated with such social phenomena as elections and electoral behavior. The study examined electoral behavior and surveyed members of society about the qualities of candidates to which they pay special attention. An analysis of qualitative and quantitative data demonstrating the democratic foundations of elections of members of society was conducted, and an analysis of the choice of voters in the extraordinary elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan by region was conducted. In this study, Bayesian network modeling is experimentally applied to formalize the problem of identifying and analyzing the behavior of virtuous personality traits. A sociological survey of public opinion was conducted using the questionnaire method with the participation of 826 people from all regions of Kazakhstan from May to June 2023. A questionnaire was used to collect data, the main purpose of which was to compare attitudes and find out what values are considered important for people, what norms of behavior are considered acceptable, and to understand what values and norms prevail in society. It is concluded that the concept of demoethics promotes a positive transformation of humanity and helps to form a new leader of virtue, a ruler of the city, capable of making ethical rational decisions that can ensure a balance between the economic, social, and environmental needs of humanity.

This study aims to analyse the current state of library and information science (LIS) education in South Korea and identify educational challenges in building a sustainable library infrastructure in the digital age. As libraries’ role expands in a rapidly changing information environment, LIS education must evolve. Using topic modelling techniques, this study analysed course descriptions from 37 universities and identified 10 key topics. The analysis revealed that, while the current curricula cover both traditional library science and digital technology topics, focus on the latest technology trends and practical, hands-on education is lacking. Based on these findings, this study suggests strengthening digital technology education by incorporating project-based learning; integrating emerging technologies, such as data science and artificial intelligence; and emphasising community engagement and soft skills development. This study provides insights into improving LIS education to better align with the digital era’s evolving demands.

Plastic products, including plastic packaging, were products whose increasing demand continued because the community still needed plastic as packaging. On the other hand, plastic waste, which was increasingly high and difficult to decompose, was a problem that needed to be solved together. This study aims to understand how plastic company packaging implements TQM, its environmental impact, and how plastic packaging companies are taking steps towards green manufacturing. This research used a qualitative phenomenological method to understand the problem based on the actor’s perspective. The data collection method was in-depth interviews with informants from 3 plastic companies in East Java, Indonesia, followed by observation and FGD. We carried out Triangulation, member checking, and professional involvement to determine the data’s validity, reliability, and trustworthiness. The results of this study indicated a management system that promotes quality as a business strategy and is oriented towards customer satisfaction by involving all members of the organization. TQM emphasized continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, and employee involvement. By implementing aspects of TQM, plastic packaging companies could improve their production processes and reduce waste, increasing efficiency and profitability. In addition, TQM could also contribute to the company’s green performance by promoting environmentally friendly practices, including using electric machines to replace hydraulic machines, thereby reducing the use of electrical energy and CO₂ emissions. The use of solar panels was a step towards green manufacturing. Companies that adopt TQM principles are more likely to implement environmentally friendly initiatives such as reducing energy consumption and using recyclable materials and can demonstrate a commitment to corporate social responsibility. The company’s membership in EcoVadis and SMETA further strengthens the company’s direction towards Green Manufacturing and competitive advantage.

This study assesses the implementation of socioformation in Public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Mexico, exploring its impact on the quality of education in the knowledge society. With a sample of 150 educators, gender-balanced (44.7% female, 55.3% male), and an average age of 43.7 years, the research employed a validated socioformative rubric. Significant progress was observed in analytical and creative thinking, while areas related to living conditions and entrepreneurship education showed slower development. The findings highlight the advancements in socioformation but advocate for further research, including classroom observation and student evidence collection. Gender differences, communication, and leadership emerged as critical factors influencing socioformation implementation. Women demonstrated deeper comprehension of the educational model, willingness to adopt innovative strategies, and emphasis on socioformation axes. As educators gain experience, their adaptability to new pedagogical approaches increases. The study underscores the universal relevance of effective communication, leadership, and stakeholder involvement in successful educational model implementation. The research contributes valuable insights, emphasizing the importance of openness to new approaches and collaboration to prepare students for the challenges of the evolving knowledge society.

Enterprise green innovation drives sustainable development and contributes to the realization of a ‘beautiful China’. It enhances resource utilization, reduces energy consumption, and achieves economic-environmental objectives through technological advancements. This paper examines the impact of the gender composition of a company’s CEO and CFO on green innovation by empirical research method using the data of the firms listed on Chinese capital market from 2015 to 2022. Our findings indicate that: (1) Male CEOs and CFOs are more likely to promote green innovation compared to their female counterparts; (2) Leadership teams comprising opposite-sex pairs tend to weaken the promotion of green innovation. These conclusions are consistent across state-owned enterprises and within the manufacturing sector. This study provides a novel perspective on enterprise green innovation, offering insights for companies regarding their green innovation strategies and for policymakers in shaping relevant policies.

The study examined the mediating role of supply chain security performance on the relationship between supply chain security practices and supply chain disruptions occurrences in the manufacturing industry in Ghana. Drawing on a survey of 336 manufacturing firms, dynamic capability, and contingency theories were applied using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the conceptual model. It was discovered that both direct and indirect hypotheses supported the findings of the study. The results indicate that Ghanaian manufacturing firms have made progress in implementing supply chain security measures. The findings revealed that the adoption of comprehensive supply chain security practices is positively associated with improved performance metrics, including reduced inventory losses and damages, faster order fulfillment and delivery times, lower costs related to security incidents, and enhanced brand reputation and customer trust. Policymakers can leverage these insights to develop support programs aimed at strengthening the security capabilities of manufacturing firms, ensuring they are equipped to compete effectively in both local and global markets, improving security performance, and reducing the likelihood and impact of supply chain disruptions. In the quest of bridging the gap between theory and practice, this research contributes valuable knowledge to the discourse on supply chain security in developing countries, offering a roadmap for enhancing resilience and performance in the manufacturing sector.

This study evaluated the performance of several machine learning classifiers—Decision Tree, Random Forest, Logistic Regression, Gradient Boosting, SVM, KNN, and Naive Bayes—for adaptability classification in online and onsite learning environments. Decision Tree and Random Forest models achieved the highest accuracy of 0.833, with balanced precision, recall, and F1-scores, indicating strong, overall performance. In contrast, Naive Bayes, while having the lowest accuracy (0.625), exhibited high recall, making it potentially useful for identifying adaptable students despite lower precision. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis further identified the most influential features on adaptability classification. IT Resources at the University emerged as the primary factor affecting adaptability, followed by Digital Tools Exposure and Class Scheduling Flexibility. Additionally, Psychological Readiness for Change and Technical Support Availability were impactful, underscoring their importance in engaging students in online learning. These findings illustrate the significance of IT infrastructure and flexible scheduling in fostering adaptability, with implications for enhancing online learning experiences.

Most countries have adopted a more liberal policy to socialize public relations under the influence of neoliberalism and lobbying by economic elites to strengthen the role of market mechanisms and citizens’ entrepreneurial activity. The nature, scale, sequence, and strategy of economic and social reforms in each country have their specifics. Today multi-vector and large-scale changes are taking place in social and labor policy, and they do not always have an internal logic. The study assesses prospects for the development of the labor market in the context of global transformations. Within the framework of this study, the collected information was processed gradually. Data processing was modified during the study phase. At the first stage, data processing results were used to determine total and non-farm self-employment for two groups of countries with developing economies and estimate the scale of vulnerable employment. At the second stage, indicators were identified that characterize various categories of economically active population that belong to the precariat. At the third stage, the authors analyzed data on non-standard forms of employment. The authors assumed that these forms have a right to exist and will be implemented more often. There is an imbalance between standard and non-standard forms of employment. Further research should consider the transformation of labor from material and intangible dominants to creativity.

The aim of this study is to determine how bank diversification affects bank stability. To this end, it examines data of 136 commercial banks operating in 14 MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries observed from 2005 to 2021, using the System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) panel data regression analysis. The selected countries are Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, Iran, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates. The main results point to the enhancing effect of income diversification on bank stability. Our results underline the “Bright Side” of banking income diversification in the MENA region. However, this stabilizing income diversification effect is not always maintainable. The results also point to a non-linear relationship between interest/non-interest income and financial stability, suggesting that higher diversification reduces risk. We use a dynamic panel threshold model to determine income diversification thresholds that stabilize banks in the MENA region.

Purpose—Quality service plays a significant role in enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. The main objective of this research is to investigate the effect of Salalah port service quality on customer satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach—This paper used a quantitative research design. Data were collected from 300 repeated customer of Salalah Port in Oman. Statistical Package (SPSS) version 25.0 was used for analysis of data and adopted to test the hypothesized model. Findings—The research findings confirm the positive influence of the five dimensions of service quality – tangible, empathy, reliability, responsiveness, assurance (TERRA) on customer satisfaction. Originality/value—The findings of this study develop the literature by adding empirical research evidence that the TERRA of Salalah port service quality which have a significant effect on customer satisfaction. The result also provide evidence from the Arab region where the data and research in this region are limited.

This study explored the relationships between college students’ indecisiveness, anxiety, and career decision-making ability. Using the convenience sampling method, 1072 college students at a college in Hunan Province, China completed a questionnaire online that included the Indecisiveness Scale, Career Exploration and Decision Self-Efficacy Scale, and Generalized Anxiety Scale-7. Participants reported their gender and place of origin (rural or city). They indicated whether they were an only child, were left behind, and liked the major they were studying. The t-test was used to identify differences in indecisiveness, career decision-making ability, and anxiety according to demographic characteristics. Correlations were calculated between the main variables of interest. Regression analysis was conducted to test the mediation model. Participants who liked their major were significantly more indecisive than those who did not like their major. Career decision-making ability was significantly higher among men than women, participants from urban areas than those from rural areas, participants who were an only child than those with siblings, and among non-left-behind participants than those who were left behind. Anxiety was significantly lower in participants who liked their major than those who did not like their major. In addition, anxiety partially mediated the relationship between indecisiveness and career decision-making ability. College students’ indecisiveness and career decision-making ability are affected by sociocultural background, gender, family background, and career interest. Anxiety partially mediates the relationship between indecisiveness and career decision-making ability. Implications of the findings for counseling college students are discussed.

This study introduces an innovative approach to assessing seismic risks and urban vulnerabilities in Nador, a coastal city in northeastern Morocco at the convergence of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. By integrating advanced spatial datasets, including Landsat 8–9 OLI imagery, Digital Elevation Models (DEM), and seismic intensity metrics, the research develops a robust urban vulnerability index model. This model incorporates urban land cover dynamics, topography, and seismic activity to identify high-risk zones. The application of Landsat 8–9 OLI data enables precise monitoring of urban expansion and environmental changes, while DEM analysis reveals critical topographical factors, such as slope instability, contributing to landslide susceptibility. Seismic intensity metrics further enhance the model by quantifying earthquake risk based on historical event frequency and magnitude. The calculation based on higher density in urban areas, allowing for a more accurate representation of seismic vulnerability in densely populated areas. The modeling of seismic intensity reveals that the most susceptible impact area is located in the southern part of Nador, where approximately 50% of the urban surface covering 1780.5 hectares is at significant risk of earthquake disaster due to vulnerable geological formations, such as unconsolidated sediments. While the findings provide valuable insights into urban vulnerabilities, some uncertainties remain, particularly due to the reliance on historical seismic data and the resolution of spatial datasets, which may limit the precision of risk estimations in less densely populated areas. Additionally, future urban expansion and environmental changes could alter vulnerability patterns, underscoring the need for continuous monitoring and model refinement. Nonetheless, this research offers actionable recommendations for local policymakers to enhance urban planning, enforce earthquake-resistant building codes, and establish early warning systems. The methodology also contributes to the global discourse on urban resilience in seismically active regions, offering a transferable framework for assessing vulnerability in other coastal cities with similar tectonic risks.

Tourism plays a crucial role in driving economic development, and there is a growing demand to integrate sustainability into the sector, particularly in the financial practices of governments. This study introduces the Quintessence Sustainable Tourism Public Finances (QSustainableTPF) model, which combines five established financial models commonly used in the tourism industry. The research aims to identify statistically significant relationships between these models and assess their impact on sustainability and financial performance in tourism. A quantitative methodology was employed, with data collected from financial reports and budget documents of both local and central governments, along with a survey of 2099 citizens and visitors conducted during the 2023–2024 period. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS and AMOS, incorporating exploratory factor analysis (EFA), reliability testing using Cronbach’s alpha, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The findings underscore the essential role of public finance in supporting tourism sustainability, particularly through transparent budgetary practices, efficient allocation of resources, and targeted investment in local tourism initiatives. The analysis reveals key insights into the benefits of financial transparency, citizen-centred budgeting, and the promotion of innovation in tourism finance. The interconnectedness of the five models highlights the importance of responsible public financial management in fostering tourism growth, enhancing investment, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability in the sector. The study offers practical implications for policymakers, advocating for the adoption of transparent and innovative financial practices to boost tourism development. It also recommends further research to broaden the scope across different regions, integrating additional public finance dimensions to strengthen sustainable tourism growth.

The purpose of this study is to explore new financial product’s impact on the behaviour of individual investors. To analyze investors’ risk and return expectations, this article investigates trading volumes before and after the introduction of financial product innovation. An event research technique was used to gather data from the National Stock Exchange. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Sharpe ratio approach, which were provided by different investors. The research results highlight that individual investors’ overreaction behaviour is brought out by financial product innovation. Furthermore, the study’s results imply that rising trading volumes are not entirely explained by updated risk-adjusted returns and that new financial products lead to excessive trading by investors and lowering returns. Higher trading volumes are not explained by better risk-adjusted returns. Young investors often respond irrationally to information offered by financial advisors, resulting in short-term gains at the expense of long-term gains. The study demonstrates that the development of innovative financial products does not always result in investors’ long-term prosperity. Worse outcomes and excessive trading could follow from it. The paper concludes by providing various real-world implications that the benefits and drawbacks of innovative financial products should be spelled out in detail by financial institutions and representatives. his research contributes to the implementation of individual investors’ overreaction behaviour that is brought out by financial product innovation. It highlights that higher trading volumes are not explained by better risk-adjusted returns.

The purpose of the current study is to examine the mediating role of intercultural communicative competence on the relationship between teaching of English language and learning at Chinese higher vocational colleges. The convenience sampling technique was used to collect data from 668 teachers, teaching English language subjects in different public and private Chinese higher vocational colleges. Smart partial least squares-structural equation modeling on SmartPLS software version 4 was used to test the hypotheses. The result revealed the direct effect of English language teaching (ELT) is not significant on English language learning (ELL). However, the intercultural communicative competences (ICC) have been tested and proved to be a potential mediator between English language teaching and learning. Because the indirect effect of ELT on ELL is positive and significant through mediator ICC. Therefore, based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the inclusion of intercultural communication ability is a crucial component in the vocational education of college students. Policymakers should be cautious about promoting and expanding the availability of cultural teaching and learning across demographic conditions (e.g., linguistic and ethnic diversity, age, and gender) and various levels of language proficiency. In accordance with the effects of teacher education and professional development programs, the implementation of ICC content necessitates a harmonization of pedagogical approaches and assessment practices across designated levels in order to effectively achieve educational objectives. To promote ICC in English language education, there must be clear guidelines and communication to school leaders, educators, and administrators regarding the necessity and goals of cultural integration.

This paper investigates the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing infrastructure governance and economic outcomes. Through a bibliometric analysis spanning more than two decades of research from 2000 to 2024, the study examines global trends in AI applications within infrastructure projects. The analysis reveals significant research themes across diverse sectors, including urban development, healthcare, and environmental management, highlighting the broad relevance of AI technologies. In urban development, the integration of AI and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is advancing smart city initiatives by improving infrastructure systems through enhanced data-driven decision-making. In healthcare, AI is revolutionizing patient care, improving diagnostic accuracy, and optimizing treatment strategies. Environmental management is benefiting from AI’s potential to monitor and conserve natural resources, contributing to sustainability and crisis management efforts. The study also explores the synergy between AI and blockchain technology, emphasizing its role in ensuring data security, transparency, and efficiency in various applications. The findings underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in AI research and implementation, advocating for ethical considerations and strong governance frameworks to harness AI’s full potential responsibly.

This study aimed to explore the indirect effects of appearance-related anxiety (ARA) on Instagram addiction (IA) through sequential mediators, namely social media activity intensity (SMAI) and Instagram feed dependency (IFD). The study also aimed to provide theoretical explanations for the observed relationships and contribute to the understanding of the complex interplay between appearance-related concerns, social media usage, and addictive behaviors in the context of IA. A sample of 306 participants was used for the analysis. The results of the sequential mediation analysis (SMA) revealed several important findings. Firstly, the mediation model demonstrated that SMAI mediated the relationship between ARA and IA. However, there was no direct relationship observed between ARA and SMAI. Secondly, the analysis showed that IFD acted as a second mediator in the relationship between ARA and IA. Both ARA and SMAI had significant direct effects on IA, indicating their individual contributions to addictive behaviors. Furthermore, the total effect model confirmed a positive relationship between ARA and IA. This finding suggests that ARA has a direct influence on the development of IA. The examination of indirect effects revealed that ARA indirectly influenced IA through the sequential mediators of SMAI, IFD, and ultimately IA itself. The completely standardized indirect effect of ARA on IA through these mediators was found to be significant. Overall, this study provides evidence for the indirect effects of ARA on IA and highlights the mediating roles of SMAI and IFD. These findings contribute to our understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying the complex relationship between appearance-related concerns, social media usage, and the development of IA.

Local community members play a critical role in the success of conservation projects, which in turn have the potential to influence the perceptions of local people. Relationships matter when it comes to sustainable long-term conservation and community well-being. The study aims to establish the relationship between local communities and wildlife conservation organizations in the context of Phinda Private Game Reserve and the Mnqobokazi community, located in South Africa. Data was collected using the qualitative methods of interviews and focus group discussions. The findings show that a symbiotic relationship between conservation organizations and local community members is critical in conserving the environment. The research indicates that both participation and benefits result in improved perceptions towards the protected area and a strong positive relationship. The accrual of benefits also appears to result in pro-environmental consciousness amongst community members. Several existing studies examine participation or benefit-sharing in community-based tourism in developing nations. However, less is known about the relationships between local communities and conservation organizations and the effect of participation and beneficiation on these relationships. This research narrows this gap in the body of knowledge by qualitatively examining a single case study. The findings add value to global collaborative efforts aimed at achieving positive relationships between communities and conservation management.

This study investigates non-academic employees’ perceptions of their line managers’ leadership styles at a private university in Malaysia and how these perceptions influence their intention to remain employed. Employing a qualitative approach and the path-goal theory as a theoretical framework, data were collected through purposive sampling from 10 non-academic employees and analyzed thematically using NVivo 12 software. The findings reveal that a supportive and participative leadership style fosters an informal leadership dynamic between line managers and subordinates. Informal leadership behaviors encompass affective qualities and effective communication that enable the development of close relationships outside the workplace, facilitating increased employee engagement and motivation levels. Consequently, this approach notably improves employee retention. This study offers a comprehensive understanding of informal leadership styles contributing to enhanced human resource management at the private university while providing an inclusive perspective on employees’ perceptions and their intention to remain employed. Finally, we propose a model of employees’ perception of leadership styles as the main driver that better serves their intention to stay in organizations.

Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) are critical for biodiversity conservation and ecological balance. These areas are not only refuges for wildlife but also pivotal in promoting sustainable tourism. Geoparks, a unique subset of NPAs, emphasize geological heritage, offering distinctive educational and recreational opportunities. This article explores the significance of Geoparks in Portugal for geotourism and assesses the accessible digital communication strategies of Portuguese Geoparks, emphasizing the analysis of pedagogical concerns. The study highlights the importance of online engagement in enhancing visitor experiences and promoting sustainable tourism practices.

This study aims to analyze Closed Varosha, a prominent tourist destination in the Eastern Mediterranean, as a traumatic landscape in the 1970s. This study also seeks to evaluate this site from the perspective of landscape architecture, with a particular focus on urban memory and dark tourism concepts, and to introduce the concept of “traumatic landscapes” to the existing literature on the subject. The case study analysis, on-site observation and document examination techniques were employed as research methods. A comprehensive literature review was conducted as part of this study, encompassing data on Closed Varosha, the study area, and its surrounding context. The Varosha city visited with the assistance of a travel guide, and comprehensive information and visual materials (photographs, video footage, etc.) collected in the field study. Study results proposed that the landscapes where social traumas are experienced and which have become a symbol should be used for cultural and scientific activities. This may be achieved by making use of urban memory in order to transform these landscapes into an improved version of the existing ones. Furthermore, this could serve to awaken the awareness of universal peace in visitors within the scope of dark tourism. Another potential avenue for exploration is the organization of common sense workshops with the participation of stakeholders from both communities. This could facilitate the development of future solutions through a participatory approach. Additionally, there is a need to expand transnational and multidisciplinary studies. This would enable future generations to engage in dialogue about Closed Varosha in a constructive manner.

This study investigates the impact of tourism and institutional quality on environmental preservation, utilizing principal component analysis to generate three composite indices of environmental sustainability for 134 countries from 2002 to 2020. The results reveal that environmental sustainability indices have generally improved in lower- and middle-income nations but have declined in certain high-income countries. The findings also underscore the critical role of institutional quality—particularly regulatory standards, government effectiveness, anti-corruption efforts, and adherence to legal frameworks—in promoting environmental sustainability. However, the study shows that both domestic and international tourism expenditures can have adverse effects on environmental sustainability. Notably, these negative effects are exacerbated in countries with well-developed institutions, which is an unexpected outcome. This highlights the need for careful, thoughtful policymaking to ensure that the tourism sector supports sustainable development, rather than undermining environmental objectives.

Climate change is causing serious impacts, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where poverty rates could increase by 2050 if climate and development measures are not taken. The health consequences are diverse and include transmissible and non-transmissible diseases. The objective of this study is to analyze the strategies implemented in health facilities in the Greater Lomé health region to cope with the impacts of climate change. The survey was carried out in 23 health facilities in 2022. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study which was carried out from July to September 2022. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Non-probability sampling method and purposive choice technique were used. Four techniques made it possible to collect the data, namely documentary analysis, survey, interview and observation. The collected data were processed with Excel software and exported to SPSS for analysis. In total, 112 people were surveyed out of 161 planned. According to the results, 52.68% of health facilities did not implement adaptation strategies, 47.32% used adaptive strategies depending on to their means. Strategies exist but at low percentages due to limited technical and financial resources and the insufficiency of innovative policies. These strategies need to be supported in order to make them more effective. The study provides a basis for adopting innovative strategies and encouraging financing for adaptation actions.

Objective: This study assessed the prevalence of psychological disorders and their correlation with health-promoting lifestyles among Chinese college students. Method: We used the Chinese version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) questionnaires. Gender and major differences were analyzed with the chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression explored the relationship between HPLP and psychological disorders. Results: Among 17,636 students, low prevalence rates were observed for stress (4.0%), depression (7.2%), and anxiety (15.4%). Females and students in humanities and social sciences reported higher rates of multiple psychological disorders. Higher HPLP scores were inversely correlated with depression (OR = 0.479, 95% CI: 0.376–0.609), anxiety (OR = 0.480, 95% CI: 0.408–0.565), and stress (OR = 0.821, 95% CI: 0.636–1.060) after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions: The study found low overall prevalence of psychological disorders, with higher rates among females and humanities/social sciences majors. Higher HPLP scores, particularly in interpersonal relationships and nutrition, are associated with a lower risk of mental disorders.

The hopes and aspirations of Law No. 6/24 on Village autonomy has faced several problems and challenges. These problems and challenges arose when the village government had to undertake various delegated tasks assigned by the regency, provincial, and central governments. As a result, the village is preoccupied with delegated tasks assigned by supra-village authorities, straining its resources and budget. The shift in focus resulted the village government are unable to perform their main tasks and responsibilities. This situation is akin to the Village Head functioning as a state employee. Stunting is one of the assignment programs that causes various problems and instrumentalizes villages. This process involves mobilizing village institutions, human resources, and budgets to ensure the program’s success. This study employed exploratory-qualitative approach to investigate the challenges arising from the stunting program’s implementation in Ngargosari Village. The research informants included the village head, village officials, posyandu cadres, community leaders, and program beneficiaries. The data were gathered through in-depth interviews were validated and reconfirmed using Focus Group Discussions. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis was carried out to obtain findings related to village instrumentalization in the stunting program. The findings revealed that the stunting program’s implementation involved mobilizing village institutions, resources, and budgets. The village government lacked bargaining power against supra-village policies, despite their alignment with local values and wisdom. The central government dictated the system, procedures, mechanisms, and methods for handling stunting in a centralized manner, disregarding local wisdom and the authority of village governments as outlined in Law Number 6 of 2014 on Villages. Consequently, the stunting program represents a form of village instrumentalization akin to the New Order era, with centralistic initiatives that relegate village heads to the role of state employees.

This study offers a new perspective on measuring the impact of village funds (DD) on rural development. Using a mixed-method approach, the qualitative analysis reveals that, like previous rural development programs, the DD program struggles to implement inclusive methods for capturing community aspirations and evaluating outcomes. Despite rural infrastructure improvement, many villagers feel they have not fully benefited and do not view it as offering economic opportunities. The econometric model confirms the qualitative findings, indicating no significant DD influence on the village development index (IPD). Instead, effective governance factors like Musdes, regulations, and leadership are essential for the IPD improvement. Thus, enhancing village governments’ institutional capacity is crucial for increasing the DD effectiveness. The paper recommends several measures: training village officials in financial management and project planning, providing guidelines for the DD allocation and usage, creating robust monitoring-evaluation systems, developing communication strategies, and fostering partnerships with local NGOs and universities.

This study aims to analyze the current situation of inheritance taxation in Spain and evaluate the legitimacy crisis surrounding the decision of whether to tax mortis causa transfers, as well as the scope and conditions under which such taxation should occur. The Inheritance and Donations Tax (IDT) frequently sparks debate, and this paper aims to analyze its evolution since its transfer to the Autonomous Communities, tracing its development to the present day. A thorough examination is essential to clarify its significance within a modern tax system, its role in the new system of regional financing, and the reforms necessary for its potential continuation, while also assessing the level of public dissatisfaction it provokes. The methodology employed in this paper involved a review of the existing literature, current legislation, and available scientific-academic resources relevant to the topic. The approach is predominantly theoretical and intentionally cross-disciplinary, aimed at enhancing accessibility and comprehension.

This study aims to examine the role of automotive industry development in the regional growth of Hungarian counties. Through word frequency analysis, the counties were grouped, and their unique characteristics were highlighted. Some counties already play a prominent role in the domestic automotive industry hosting established Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), a significant number of automotive suppliers and high R&D and innovation potential. Another group includes counties that currently lack a significant automotive industry and did not identify it as a key focus area for future development. Additionally, an intermediate group has also emerged, including counties where the automotive industry is either in its early stages of investment, or such development is prioritized in regional planning documents. The study details the direction of automotive development in counties where the industry plays a significant role, focusing on labor market characteristics and human resource development. The findings have significant implications for the future of the automotive industry in these counties, underlining the urgent and immediate need for well-managed and well-established human resource development and ensuring effective partnership to realize its full potential in the automotive industry.

“This paper’s purpose l is to determine whether certain firm-specific factors have an influence on the catering theory of dividend in the MENA region.” The catering theory of dividend related to the dividend policy by the different companies used in our paper to explain the decision by managers. The sample includes 600 non-financial firms listed stocks in the Stock Exchange of 6 countries from MENA region during the years 2010–2019. Catering theory explains why managers initiate (continue) to distribute dividends. A high dividend premium encourages managers to increase the level of dividend payment and explains why firms pay dividends or do not pay them thereafter. Investors should increase their demand for dividends to push managers to comply. Investors show their preference for dividend to self control, satisfaction and increase their profit. “This could be the catering incentive of the firm to decide to pay dividends”. Even although the result Investor preference for dividend is explained by different factors related to the firms characteristics from each firms is different from markets, it can be the evidence supporting the catering theory of dividend, not only in well-developed markets, but also in emerging markets such as our country.

The article examines the appearance of various unfortunate situations and tragic events in modern Kazakh novels that arise due to human and natural ecology problems. The research’s primary goal is to analyze human and natural ecology issues based on contemporary Kazakh novels. We have chosen A. Nurpeyisov’s novel “The Last Duty” as our research material, which focuses on issues of human and natural ecology, and we will discuss the large-scale issues concerning the fate of human, nature, and society as a collective. The research topic’s practical significancelies in examining Kazakh novels that address crucial issues like safeguarding the ecological environment and preserving the green earth, which directly impact the destiny and future of humanity. It also aims to highlight their role in advancing societal development, elevating human values, and safeguarding our spiritual heritage. The research method involves mentioning the names of Kazakh novels that specifically and indirectly focus on the topic of human and natural ecology and summarizing their common features. The article also employed research methods such as analysis, comparison, and discussion. The novelty of the research result: Here are some relevant points. First, in the article, the core topic of the problem of human and natural ecology, which is common to all humanity in modern Kazakh novels, was highlighted. Second, analyzing the three characters, Zhadiger, Pakizat and Azim, which reveal the actual idea of the novel “The Last Duty,” the writer’s stylistic features and skillful aspects were also mentioned during the analysis of the character image through deep psychological analysis, landscape description, clear image, and artistic language, and theoretical conclusions and analyses were presented.

The objective of this work was to analyze the effect of the use of ChatGPT in the teaching-learning process of scientific research in engineering. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a topic of great interest in higher education, as it combines hardware, software and programming languages to implement deep learning procedures. We focused on a specific course on scientific research in engineering, in which we measured the competencies, expressed in terms of the indicators, mastery, comprehension and synthesis capacity, in students who decided to use or not ChatGPT for the development and fulfillment of their activities. The data were processed through the statistical T-Student test and box-and-whisker plots were constructed. The results show that students’ reliance on ChatGPT limits their engagement in acquiring knowledge related to scientific research. This research presents evidence indicating that engineering science research students rely on ChatGPT to replace their academic work and consequently, they do not act dynamically in the teaching-learning process, assuming a static role.

This study conducts a comparative analysis of various machine learning and deep learning models for predicting order quantities in supply chain tiers. The models employed include XGBoost, Random Forest, CNN-BiLSTM, Linear Regression, Support Vector Regression (SVR), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), Bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM), Bidirectional GRU (BiGRU), Conv1D-BiLSTM, Attention-LSTM, Transformer, and LSTM-CNN hybrid models. Experimental results show that the XGBoost, Random Forest, CNN-BiLSTM, and MLP models exhibit superior predictive performance. In particular, the XGBoost model demonstrates the best results across all performance metrics, attributed to its effective learning of complex data patterns and variable interactions. Although the KNN model also shows perfect predictions with zero error values, this indicates a need for further review of data processing procedures or model validation methods. Conversely, the BiLSTM, BiGRU, and Transformer models exhibit relatively lower performance. Models with moderate performance include Linear Regression, RNN, Conv1D-BiLSTM, Attention-LSTM, and the LSTM-CNN hybrid model, all displaying relatively higher errors and lower coefficients of determination (R²). As a result, tree-based models (XGBoost, Random Forest) and certain deep learning models like CNN-BiLSTM are found to be effective for predicting order quantities in supply chain tiers. In contrast, RNN-based models (BiLSTM, BiGRU) and the Transformer show relatively lower predictive power. Based on these results, we suggest that tree-based models and CNN-based deep learning models should be prioritized when selecting predictive models in practical applications.

The quest for quality postgraduate research productivity through education is on the increase. However, in the context of the African society, governance structures and policies seem to be impacting on the quality level of the provided education. Hence, this conceptual study explored the roles of governance structures and policies in enhancing and ensuring quality postgraduate education programmers in African institutions of higher learning. To this end, various relevant literature was reviewed. The findings showed amongst others that governance structures and policies affect the quality of education provided. Meanwhile, other factors such as curriculum, foreign influence, lack of resources, training, amongst others contribute to the quality of education provided. The study concludes that there is need for the current structures of governance and the designed and implemented policies for postgraduate education to be reviewed and adjusted towards ensuring the desired transformation.

This study aims to use dialectical thinking to explore the impacts and responses of Artificial Intelligence (AI) empowerment on students’ personalized learning. The effect of AI empowerment on student personalization is dissected through a literature review and empirical cases. The study finds that AI plays a significant role in promoting personalized learning by enhancing students’ learning effectiveness through intelligent recommendation, automated feedback, improving students’ independent learning ability, and optimizing learning paths, however, the wide application of AI also brings problems such as technological dependence, cheating in exams, weakening of critical thinking ability, educational fairness, and data privacy protection to students. The study proposes recommendations to strengthen technology regulation, enhance the synergy between teachers and AI, and optimize the personalized learning model. AI-enabled personalized learning is expected to play a greater role in improving learning efficiency and educational fairness.

The process of internationalization and innovation (IPI) in the urban road passenger transport (URPT) sector is driven by the need to provide cities with efficient and sustainable mobility solutions. The objective of this study is to understand the perceptions of URPT employees in relation to PII, based on a comprehensive case study. By exploring how these two concepts interrelate and influence each other, the study seeks to provide valuable information that can help improve strategic planning and policy formulation in the urban transport sector. The research, based on semi-structured interviews with 20 employees, reveals significant gaps in internal communication, with only about half of the participants aware of ongoing national and international projects. Information was often limited to those directly involved, indicating a need for improved dissemination strategies. Despite these communication issues, employees positively view the company’s presence at international events and recognize the importance of involvement in European organizations, particularly for knowledge acquisition and networking. Challenges identified include inadequate internal communication and insufficient investment in international projects. However, there was strong agreement on the value of internationalization and innovation process (IIP) for both professional development and organizational growth. To enhance the company’s international presence and return on investment (ROI), the study recommends better coordination, improved information sharing, and strategic planning. These findings emphasize the critical role of effective communication and active participation in international initiatives for the sustainable growth of the organization.

This study aimed to assess the influence of awareness and health habituation techniques, student management activities, the role of stakeholders, and the character of healthy living on health independence. The method used in this study is quantitative with descriptive test analysis techniques, partial t statistics and F test. This research was conducted in elementary schools in East Java Province, consisting of 92 elementary schools in 5 regions at East Java. Samples were taken using purposive techniques, and the number of samples was 348 people, consisting of principals, teachers and students. The results found that awareness and health habituation techniques have a significant influence on the character of healthy life of students, student management activities have a significant influence on the character of healthy life, the role of stakeholders has a significant influence on the character of healthy life, awareness and health habituation technique have a significant influence on health independence, student management activities have a significant influence on health independence, the role of stakeholders has a significant influence on health independence, the character of healthy living has a significant effect on health independence, and student management activities and the role of stakeholders have a significant effect on the character of healthy life, and have a significant impact on health independence.

South Korea’s over 3300 islands play vital roles in the nation’s geography, economy, culture, and national security. Despite their importance, these islands face significant challenges, including population decline, aging demographics, and a severe lack of healthcare, childcare, and education facilities. With only 20% of inhabited islands connected to the mainland by bridges, coastal ferries are the primary transportation mode. However, the infrequent ferry services and numerous intermediate stops cause considerable inconvenience. This study conducts an analysis of the coastal ferry route connectivity within the Mokpo Area, focusing on proposing improvements to enhance access to community infrastructure for local island residents. This study analyzes the Mokpo Area’s coastal ferry network, identifying Dochodo as a central hub island to improve connectivity for sustainable island development. By reorganizing routes around Dochodo with larger ferries for main routes and smaller ferries for local trips, the study aims to enhance service access and boost tourism for island communities.

This article focuses on analyzing the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned in the process of building the Socialist Rule of Law in Vietnam after nearly 40 years of renovation, with the goal of proposing the direction of building and perfecting the Socialist Rule of Law in the new period, and ensuring its conformity with Vietnamese realities and international integration. The article draws on data from documents of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 2013 Constitution, relevant laws and resolutions, along with data from reports on administrative reform and the promulgation of legal documents. The research methods used include document analysis, comparison, and synthesis in order to assess the reality and propose solutions to the problems identified. Alongside the achievements gained, building a Socialist Rule of Law State in Vietnam still faces many challenges. This article identifies the main orientations for constructing a Socialist Rule of Law State in Vietnam in the coming period.

Manuscript type: Research paper. Research aims: This study aims to explore the determinants of voluntary IFRS application in listed firms in Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach: Analyzing data from 552 public companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange and Ha Noi Stock Exchange during 2019–2022, this study employs a logistic model with robust analysis. Research findings: The findings indicate that voluntary IFRS application is positively associated with firm size, leverage, internationalization, corporate efficiency, state ownership, and foreign ownership. Particularly, internationalization has the most significant impact on voluntary IFRS application. Theoretical contribution/originality: These findings of this study align with positive accounting theory, which proposes how factors affect voluntary IFRS application. Practitioner/policy implications: Policymakers should consider these findings when developing or revising policies concerning voluntary IFRS application, particularly for state-owned and foreign-owned companies. Research limitation: This study spans from 2019 to 2022, during which economic and regulatory conditions may have fluctuated, potentially impacting the results. Moreover, the data on voluntary IFRS adoption were collected through surveys, which may be subject to respondent bias and dependent on participants’ understanding and willingness to provide accurate information.

This research article explores the relationship between psychological well-being and satisfaction with life among young, athletically talented students educated through individualised programs. The primary objective is to assess whether a safe educational environment, emphasising psychological safety and individual support, positively impacts the general satisfaction and academic performance of these students. Using Ryff and Keyes’ Psychological Well-Being Scale and Diener’s Satisfaction with Life Scale, data were collected from 188 participants—Secondary and university students engaged in rigorous athletic training while completing their studies in the Czech Republic. Key findings reveal a strong correlation between self-acceptance, autonomy, coping with the environment, and enhanced satisfaction with life, indicating that well-being in young athletes is significantly influenced by psychological resilience, emotional support, and control over one’s educational journey. Research highlights that individually tailored learning environments, which provide flexibility for training and access to mental health support, contribute to a balanced development between academic and athletic goals. Additionally, the results suggest that a positive correlation within the educational environment, both with peers and instructors, further strengthens the satisfaction with life and reduces the risk of burnout. Implications underscore the need for educational institutions to adopt holistic approaches that support psychological well-being and accommodate the unique needs of athletically talented students. Recommendations include structured mentorship, flexibility in academic scheduling, and access to professional counselling. Future research should investigate the long-term impacts of such environments on academic and athletic success, considering factors such as social inclusion and the effects of digital education.

This study aimed at measuring the level of job burnout among King Khalid University staff. The descriptive-analytical approach was employed to describe job burnout, determine its prevalence, identify its causes, and propose ways to address it. This method was used for comparison, interpretation, and generating information to assist in understanding the phenomena of job burnout and to devise recommendations for mitigating its prevalence. The results showed that the overall mean estimation of the dimensions of the level of occupational burnout from the perspective of university staff was (2.28), with a standard deviation of (0.81), indicating a low degree. The arithmetic means of the study sample responses to the dimensions ranged from (1.98–2.66). This provides a good indicator of the prevalence of occupational burnout. The findings showed that individuals in higher ranks experience higher levels of job burnout compared to the rest of the ranks classified in the study.

Accounting education highly affects the level of Professional Accounting Education offered in a country by academic institutions, thus determining the job market competitiveness of accounting professionals. The purpose of this paper is to determine the relationship between accounting education and accounting practices in Sri Lanka. The data for this study is obtained through a well-structured questionnaire among the Finance Managers of listed companies in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). The sample size of the study was 165 Finance Managers, and of them, 122 responded to the questionnaire. This study is significant to the Sri Lankan context due to scant research in the respective research area. The results depict a moderating positive relationship, while effectiveness of accounting education determines the role and performance of accounting professionals in Sri Lanka.

The low-carbon economy is the major objective of China’s economy, and its goal is to achieve sustainable economic development. The study enriches the literature on the relationship between digital Chinese yuan (E-CNY), low-carbon economy, AI trust concerns, and security intrusion. The rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) offered more ways to achieve a low-carbon economy. The digital Chinese yuan (E-CNY), based on the AI technique, has shown its nature and valid low-carbon characteristics in pilot cities of China, it will assume important responsibilities and become the key link. However, trust concerns about AI techniques result in a limitation of the scope and extent of E-CNY usage. The study conducts in-depth research from the perspective of AI trust concerns, explores the influence of E-CNY on the low-carbon economy, and discusses the moderating and mediating mechanisms of AI trust concerns in this process. The empirical data results showed that E-CNY positively affects China’s low-carbon economy, and AI trust concerns moderate the positive impact. When consumers with higher AI trust concerns use E-CNY, their feeling of security intrusion is also higher. It affects the growth of trading volume and scope of E-CNY usage. Still, it reduces the utility of China’s low-carbon economy. This study provides valuable management inspiration for China’s low-carbon economy.

South Africa’s border posts are increasingly becoming crucial hubs for organized crime posing serious national and regional security implications with far-reaching consequences. The country’s national security, economic stability, and community safety are significantly jeopardised by organised criminal enterprises at border posts. As a result, the porous borders of South Africa have fostered an environment that is conducive to a variety of unlawful activities, such as the smuggling of drugs into the country and human trafficking. This paper seeks to identify political, economic, and social factors that lead to organised crime, corruption, and weak border management systems. The paper employed a secondary data analysis of existing scholarly articles, government reports as well as relevant case studies. The study found that local communities are most affected by illegal activities at the ports of entry. The findings further emphasize the importance of inclusive approaches in responding to security challenges that address cross-border flow regulation, fight corruption in service delivery, and promote community resilience. The paper concludes with recommendations for strengthening border controls towards enhancing cooperation between countries and curbing transnational crime networks.

This research examines intangible assets or intellectual capital (IC) performance of tourism-related industries in an underexplored area which is a tourism intensively-dependent country. In this study, VAIC which is a monetary valuation method and also the most widely applied measurement method, is utilized as the performance measurement method for quantifying IC performance to monetary values. Moreover, to better understand performance, the standard efficiency levels are further applied for classifying the performance levels of tourism industries. The sample sizes of study are 20 companies operating in the tourism-related industries in the world top travel destination or Thailand, and the companies’ data are collected from 2012 to 2021. Therefore, finally, there are 187 firm-year observations. The utilization of VAIC could assess IC performance of tourism firms and industries, and the standard efficiency levels further support the uniform interpretation of IC efficiency levels. The obtained results show the strong performance of both human and structural capital of the focused tourism dependent country especially in the logistics industry that directly supports and connects to the tourism attractions. Moreover, the finding also highlights the significance of human capital which plays as a major contributor for overall IC performance in this tourism dependent economy. This study contributes the new exploration of IC in the high impact industries and also specifically in the top significant tourism country. Moreover, the application of VAIC also confirms a practical application for management. The limited number of studied countries is a limitation of study. However, these new obtained data and information could be further applied for making comparisons or in-depth or statistical analysis in the future works.

The purpose of this study is to analyze how the entrepreneurial mindset, social context, and entrepreneurial ambitions of university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have progressed over time in terms of starting their businesses. The research aims to investigate the evolution of the entrepreneurship mindset, considering the implementation of educational and governmental policies over the past decade to promote entrepreneurship among UAE university graduates. To collect primary data and evaluate the impact of the studied variables on the dependent variable “entrepreneurial ambitions,” a self-created questionnaire was used. The results reveal a positive correlation between personal context variables and entrepreneurial ambitions, as well as between personality traits and entrepreneurial ambitions. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the constructive effect of education, government policies, and capital availability on fostering entrepreneurial ambitions in the UAE.

This research analyzes the relationship between political stability, renewable energy utilization, economic progress, and tourism in Indonesia from 1990 to 2020. We employ advanced econometric techniques, including the Fourier Bootstrap Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach and Fourier Toda-Yamamoto causality testing, to ensure the robustness of our results while accounting for smooth structural changes in the data. The analysis uncovers a long-term equilibrium relationship between tourism and its fundamental determinants. Our research reveals significant positive impacts of political stability and renewable energy consumption on tourism in Indonesia. A stable political environment creates a favorable climate for tourism development, instilling confidence in both domestic and international tourists. Promoting renewable energy usage aligns with sustainable tourism practices, attracting environmentally conscious travelers. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate a bi-directional causal relationship between these variables over time. Changes in political stability, renewable energy consumption, and economic growth profoundly influence the tourism sector, while the growth of tourism itself can also stimulate economic development and foster political stability. Our findings underscore the need for environmentally sustainable and politically stable tourism policies. Indonesia’s tourism sector can grow sustainably with renewable energy and stability. Policymakers can develop strategies with tourism, political stability, renewable energy, and economic prosperity in mind.

Several studies have investigated Islamic endowment (Waqf), but less attention has been given to the application of legal principles of Islamic objectives in the regulation and management of Islamic endowments in Muslim communities. The primary focus of this study is to explore the legal implementation of Maqasidush-Shari’ah or otherwise known as the Objectives of Islamic Law, as evidenced in Islamic charitable endowments. This study employs an analytical research approach (ARA), systematic literature review (SLR) and content analysis (CA) to demonstrate and evaluate how the Waqf institution can be revitalized in contemporary times, drawing parallels with its effective implementation during the formative years of Islam, rooted in the principles of Maqasidush-Shari’ah. The results demonstrate that the efficacy of Waqf typically stems from the societal advantages it offers, derived from the safeguarding of faith, property, life, honour, and lineage, which are fundamental of Maqasidush-Shari’ah or objectives of Islamic law. The study further demonstrated that Islamic endowment has various benefits such as providing grant to the social development and interests to the public. However, various challenges such as knowledge deficit in the application of Shari‘ah principles in Waqf, lack of a developed framework for managing various types of Waqf among others are identified. Nonetheless, effective regulation and management of Waqf applications of Islamic objectives on Waqf. In conclusion, this study has underscored the significant contributions of the Islamic endowment system across various spheres, including social welfare, scientific advancements, economic prosperity, and healthcare, all of which align with the objectives of Islamic legal principles encapsulated in Maqasidush-Shari’ah. Hence, the research ultimately proposes several favourable elements that could bolster the resurgence of Waqf in contemporary times, reviving its significance and societal impact. It is therefore suggested that the stakeholders should enhance understanding of the policies, legal principles, and governance structures governing Waqf as an Islamic charitable foundation, substantiated by Islamic objectives (Maqasidush-Shari’ah).

This research intends to find out the compliance acts based on the manufacturing industry of Bangladesh and lead to the development of the integrated theory of compliance model. There are several compliance regulations, that are separately dealt with in any manufacturing organization. These compliance regulations are handled at various ends of the organization making the process quite scattered, time-consuming, and tedious. To fix this problem, the integration of organizational compliance regulations is brought under one platform. Researchers have applied the qualitative approach with multiple case studies methodology scrutinizing the in-depth interviews and transcripts. Furthermore, the NVIVO tool has been used to analyze, where the necessary themes of the Organizational Compliance Regulations are found. Therefore, we have proposed a conceptual framework to inaugurate a standalone combined framework, which is an innovative and novel measure.

The COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse impact on the mental health of frontline workers including firefighters. To better understand this occurrence, this cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among 105 operational team and elite team firefighters in Kota Bharu, Kelantan State, Malaysia before and after the pandemic. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), a validated self-reporting survey tool, was used to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among the survey respondents. Findings revealed that firefighters had an increased level of anxiety and depression during the post-pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period. However, there was a decrease in the stress levels (20%) reported by study participants. Respondents belonging to the operational team had a higher reported level of depression, anxiety, and stress than those from the elite team. This may be attributed the operational team being more exposed to the risk of COVID-19 infection on account of their routine and more voluminous workload. The findings of this study suggest that firefighters, in general, are at an increased risk of mental health problems as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowing this, it is important to consider these findings when addressing the prevention and management of mental health among firefighters. This includes providing additional support and devoting more resources to those who are most at risk for experiencing symptoms of mental health such as firefighters performing functions aligned with that of an operational team.

The UN agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015–2030 is a holistic approach. Universities play an important role in dissemination of quality knowledge, developing the skills and attitudes of a large number of youth across the world. Though the emphasis on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) started as early as 1992, yet Universities adopted the concept of Green Campus integrating the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability quite recently. In developing countries including Pakistan, the Green Campus Initiatives (GCI) have not been implemented in the majority of the Universities. Northern Pakistan comprising Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) faces multiple challenges including Climate Impacts at the top. The fragile ecosystem of the region requires more sustainable initiatives at the University and community levels. In this research, the readiness of the seven universities located in Northern Pakistan have been assessed for GCI on the basis scanning of the websites and questionnaire survey of the relevant stakeholders. The results have shown that there is little commitment of resources for sustainability from senior management, lack of awareness in faculty & staff and less research focus on the related themes of green campus. The co-curricular activities in universities are not linked with sustainability and there are no incentives for faculty, staff and students to this end. It has been recommended that Green Campus Framework may be developed for Pakistani Mountain Universities, with commitment from leaders of the universities and allocation of sufficient resources for development of sustainable campuses. The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) needs to allocate special funds for promoting GCI across universities in Pakistan.

This study aims to examine and analyze financial statement fraud from the perspective of the hexagon theory using secondary data. The research sample was selected through purposive sampling, consisting of Ministries and Agencies in Indonesia. The research method employing the OLS (ordinary least squares) approach involves testing the model’s suitability through the F-statistical test, evaluating the coefficient of determination by examining, and conducting hypothesis testing using EViews. The findings of this study suggest that pressure and sscapability do not significantly influence financial reporting fraud. In contrast, opportunity, rationalization, arrogance, and collusion positively and significantly impact financial fraud reports. Implementing a whistleblowing system is crucial for ensuring that e-procurement encompasses all elements of government organizations, serving as a means of transparency and accountability to mitigate the occurrence of fraudulent financial reports within government entities, particularly in Ministries and Agencies in Indonesia. The financial audit opinion is not intended to detect fraud but to assess conformity with government accounting standards, the extent of disclosure, compliance with legislation, and the effectiveness of the government's internal control system. This can encourage institutions in other countries to strengthen the financial security of their organizations.

This article addresses the pressing issue of training and mediation for conflict resolution among employees within a corporate setting. Employing a methodology that includes literature analysis, comparative studies, and surveys, we explore various strategies and their effectiveness in mitigating workplace conflicts. Through a comprehensive comparison with metrics and conclusions from other scholarly works, we provide a nuanced understanding of the current landscape of conflict resolution practices. As a result of our research, we implemented a tailored training program focused on conflict resolution for employees within a mobile company, alongside the development of a competency framework designed to enhance conflict resolution skills. This framework comprises five integral components: emotional, operational, motivational, behavioral, and regulatory. Our findings suggest that training in each of these competencies is essential for fostering a healthy workplace environment and must be integrated into organizational practices. The importance of this initiative cannot be overstated; effective conflict resolution skills are not only vital for individual employee wellbeing but also crucial for the overall efficiency and productivity of the organization. By investing in these competencies, companies can reduce turnover, enhance team cohesion, and create a more positive and collaborative workplace culture.

The Modern Cities Program is the largest-scale urban development effort in the history of the country, with which the Government of Hungary aims to promote the simultaneous development of municipalities at the same hierarchical level. Its projects focus on the preservation of intangible and tangible cultural heritage, the transformation of urban public spaces and green areas into community spaces, the creation of institutions for sports and recreational activities, research and development, digitalization, projects for innovative and creative professionals, and public educational and cultural institutions. The study aims to analyze the funding granted for developing the cultural and creative sector of cities with county rights through the Modern Cities Program in the period 2016–2025, by comparing the size of their population, their strategic importance in regional economic policy and the relationship between the value of the cultural heritage with the amount of funding received. The paper unveils the distribution of grants over time and space, the modalities and proportion of grants, and the way the cities that has received grants align with the national strategy. This will also reveal a shift in the regional importance of the cities and their relationship. Until February 2024, the Government of Hungary has contributed more than HUF 322.6 billion (809.5 million EUR) to the implementation of 98 cultural and creative projects in 22 cities with county rights through its urban development support program that has been established for the development and regeneration of cities with county rights and to counter the dominance of the capital.

The tourism sector is exponentially expanding across the globe. Despite different forms of tourism, community-based tourism has evolved with new dimensions of development. Assessing the sustainable development of the sector is a top priority in order to adopt the new forms. Therefore, in this study, the association between community-based tourism and its sustainable development was measured under the lens of collaborative theory and social exchange perspective. Non-probabilistic judgmental sampling techniques were applied, and 201 respondents were assessed. Data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM). The study grounded with residents’ perspectives and attested that community-based tourism directly enhanced residents’ economic conditions with a better environment, and the relationship between residents and tourists enhanced the tourism industry’s sustainable development. Stakeholders like government and local administrations play a significant role in exploring community-based tourism. This outcome of the research will be a substantial resource for local administrations, governments, researchers, policymakers and practitioners.

This study examines the impact of innovation governance and policies on government funding for emerging science and technology sectors in Saudi Arabia, addressing key bureaucratic, regulatory, and cultural barriers. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews with quantitative survey data to provide a comprehensive under-standing of the current innovation landscape. Findings indicate a high level of policy awareness among stakeholders but reveal significant challenges in practical implementation due to bureaucratic inefficiencies and stringent regulations. Cultural barriers, such as a risk-averse mindset and traditional business practices, further impede innovation. Successful initiatives like the National Transformation Program (NTP) demonstrate the potential for well-coordinated efforts, highlighting the importance of regulatory reform and cultural shifts towards entrepreneurship. Strategic recommendations include streamlining bureaucratic processes, enhancing policy coordination, and fostering a culture of innovation through education and stakeholder engagement. This study contributes to the existing literature by offering actionable insights to enhance innovation governance, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.

This study aims to explain the design of policy strengthening in forest and land fire disaster mitigation governance, through the integration of ecotourism development in Siak Regency. Based on the research topic, this study employs a qualitative approach to describe governance conditions and the design of policy strengthening in ecotourism-based disaster mitigation governance. Data analysis is performed using Nvivo 12 Plus software. The results of this study indicate that forest and land fire disaster mitigation governance based on ecotourism development still has shortcomings that need to be addressed in the principles of conservation, economy, and community involvement. Then, the design of a policy to strengthen ecotourism-based disaster mitigation governance includes three crucial policy recommendations, namely: the need for special regulations related to forest and land fire disaster mitigation prevention based on the integration of ecotourism principle development, the need for a balance of roles between actors in determining and implementing ecotourism-based disaster mitigation policies, and the need for effective and efficient implementation of ecotourism-based disaster mitigation policies through increasing the involvement of strategic actors. Substantially, the handling of forest and land fire disasters in Siak Regency can be combined with ecotourism activities, especially in tourist village areas, by developing policies to strengthen the utilization of village-owned disaster mitigation facilities such as reservoirs, lakes, or ponds that are converted into water supplies during the dry season for forest and land fire disaster prevention activities and local economy-based tourist destinations. Our findings are a strategic effort to raise awareness among actors and highlight the need for policy-strengthening design in ecotourism-based disaster mitigation. These findings can also contribute to the literature that will be useful for all stakeholders in developing future long-term disaster mitigation governance policies. This study relies heavily on information from key informants, who represent only the perspectives and expertise of the stakeholders encountered. However, it still refers to important elements based on the informants’ knowledge capabilities in the disaster and tourism sectors. Therefore, we propose to conduct future studies on a comprehensive analysis of sustainable ecotourism-based disaster mitigation governance to promote and accelerate the idea of disaster and tourism in the future.

As the population’s demand for food continues to increase, aquaculture is positioned as a productive activity that provides high-quality protein. Aquaculture activity is characterized by its socio-economic impact, the generation of jobs, its contribution to food, and constant growth worldwide. However, in the face of threats of competition, producers must quickly adapt to market needs and innovate. Given this, this research aims to analyze the impact of the knowledge absorption capacity with the adoption of innovations by aquaculture producers in the Mezquital Valley in Hidalgo, Mexico. The methodological strategy was carried out through structural equation modeling using partial least squares and correlation tests. The findings show that knowledge absorption capacities explain 77.8% of the innovations carried out in aquaculture farms. Both variables maintain a medium-high correlation; the more significant the absorption capacity, the greater the innovation.

Families are the central nucleus of society; however, they face internal challenges that affect their functioning and stability, often manifesting in incidents of domestic and gender-based violence. The World Health Organization has classified this violence as a severe public health problem and a violation of human rights. To address this issue, the Congress of the Republic of Colombia enacted Law 2126 of 2021, introducing significant changes to the responsibilities of authorities in preventing, restoring, protecting, and repairing the rights of victims. This law provided a three-year implementation period for territorial entities, which concluded on 4 August 2023. In 2023, 119,483 cases were reported, and by June 2024, the number had reached 63,528—the highest recorded to date. This situation continued to escalate uncontrollably throughout 2024, overwhelming functional capacity and resulting in a crisis. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze the guarantee of rights for victims of violence in the family context, within the competencies of Family Commissariats, as outlined in Law 2126 of 2021. The methodology focuses on analyzing academic and scientific databases, including studies and articles published in indexed journals, to evaluate government measures and describe the challenges in service provision by Family Commissariats to propose conclusions. The approach is qualitative, with a hermeneutic, documentary, legal-dogmatic orientation and anthropological contributions. The results reveal that the law’s implementation has been gradual, surpassing the established deadline. Administrative, political, and financial factors identified over the three years remain unresolved in 2024. The situation for victims of physical, psychological, economic, and sexual violence within the family context has worsened due to multicausal obstacles to accessing justice in a timely, efficient, and effective manner. Consequently, there is evidence of an exponential increase in violence, underreporting, impunity, setbacks, procedural delays, normalization of violence, and re-victimization, among other issues.

the study deals with the issue of mining transport technology and its use in mines in Slovakia and Hungary at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. It focuses on the analysis and comparison of the transport infrastructure used in these mines, either as original Slovak inventions or as products of foreign provenance. The research is based on the analysis of monographic and periodical press production from this period, where these technological achievements were presented and discussed. In addition, the study examines the media presentation of these products in the contemporary traditional periodical press. The findings of the study offer an important historical perspective on the development of mining transport technology and related industries in the region and contribute to the understanding of the media presentation and promotion of mining technology. This research is in line with the objectives of the “CultureMind” project, which focuses on the promotion and promotion of cultural heritage through media and education.

This paper aims to systematically analyze the current state of plastic waste legal supervision in China and to propose a vision for future governance frameworks. In recent years, along with the vigorous rise of emerging industries such as the express delivery industry and takeaway services, the consumption of plastic products has increased sharply. This trend has triggered profound reflection and high vigilance on the issue of plastic waste supervision. This trend has triggered profound reflection and acute vigilance regarding the regulation of plastic waste. Although the Chinese government has initiated multiple regulatory measures and achieved certain outcomes, from a macroscopic perspective, the issue of plastic waste pollution remains grave, and the relevant legal and regulatory system presents a complex situation with limited enforcement efficacy. Hence, it is exceptionally urgent and significant to deeply explore and formulate legislative strategies aimed at alleviating and regulating plastic waste pollution. This paper is dedicated to systematically analyzing the current state of plastic waste legal supervision from both international and domestic dimensions, and meticulously outlining the regulatory framework for plastic waste governance in China. Through the application of legal norm research methods, this paper dissects the flaws and challenges existing in the current governance mechanisms and further conducts a comparative study of the successful practices in this field in developed countries like the United States, with the intention of drawing valuable experiences. On this basis, this paper not only offers a forward-looking outlook on China’s future legislative tendencies in plastic waste pollution but also innovatively proposes a series of new insights and recommendations. These explorations aim to provide a more solid theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the governance approach to plastic waste pollution in China, promote the improvement and enhancement of the enforcement effectiveness of environmental regulations, and thereby effectively confront the global challenge of plastic pollution.

This article explores the development and legislative process of concession agreements within the framework of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the EU, tracing their origins to the United Kingdom in the early 1990s. Driven by national policies, the Ministry of Finance in China has promoted PPPs in infrastructure and public services. This study focuses on the basic principles, legal nature, and general rules of EU concession agreements, aiming to provide legal strategies for Chinese franchising agreement legislation by drawing on the EU’s legislative experiences.

Developing “New Quality Productive Forces” (NQPFs) has been accepted as a new theory to accelerate the high-quality development in China. In current, China’s high-quality development mainly relies on the traction of the digital economy. In view of this, developing NQPFs in China’s digital economy sector requires locate and remove some obstacles, such as the insufficient utilization of data, inadequate algorithm regulation, the mismatched supply and demand of regional computing power and the immature market environment. As a solution, it is necessary to allocating data property rights in a market-oriented way, establishing a user-centered algorithm governance system, accelerating the establishment of the national integrated computing network, and maintaining fair competition to optimize the market environment.

In recent years, the environment in the manufacturing industry has become strongly competitive, which is why companies have found it necessary to constantly adjust their strategies and take actions aimed at improving their performance and competitiveness in a sustainable way to grow and remain in the market. Therefore, this paper aims to present an analysis to explain the current situation in the manufacturing industry in Aguascalientes, Mexico, by means of a survey in which product eco-innovation (PEI), process eco-innovation (PrEI) and organizational eco-innovation (OEI) and its effect on environmental performance (EP) and sustainable competitive performance (SCP) were measured. The results show that (EP) is positively and significantly influenced by (PEI) and (PrEI), while no significant influence is found for (OE). Furthermore, it is confirmed that environmental performance positively and significantly influences (SCP). The findings obtained from this study point to the relevance of promoting eco-innovation activities in the manufacturing sector, as this will ensure sustainable competitiveness.

The article examines the modern vectors of implementation of measures to achieve results in the field of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), both at the level of national priorities and at the level of Central Asian countries. The purpose of this study is a multidimensional analysis of actions that make it possible to develop solutions to stabilize the environmental situation in Central Asian countries based on global international trends. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the integrated use of thematic modeling methods, as well as sociological surveys used to improve the efficiency of business processes in the field of environmental protection. The methodological basis for conducting a comparative assessment of the impact of environmental policy instruments used on regional development is the concept of sustainable development. In conclusion, conclusions are drawn about the need to develop effective mechanisms for the implementation of environmental policy in the studied countries.

This article investigates the income and expenditure patterns of individuals, with a specific focus on investments in luxury items, real estate, and expensive modes of transportation. Using global databases such as “Luxury Goods—Worldwide/Statista Market Forecast” and “Data—WID—World Inequality Database”, the authors explore the correlation between high demand for luxury items and economic inequality. The study emphasizes the role of luxury tax as essential for implementing a progressive personal income tax system in Russia. By examining country-specific factors, particularly in China and Russia, and conducting a comparative analysis of progressive tax systems globally, the research highlights the potential of luxury tax to enhance the efficacy of income tax in reducing inequality.

This study aimed to examine the impact of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) scores and Country Governance Indicators (CGI) on companies’ value. The study procedures were carried out by creating a linear empirical model where the dependent variable was companies’ value. In addition, the variables of interest in the model were ESG scores and CGI. Analysis was carried out on annual data from 278 non-financial Asian companies spanning 11 years from 2011–2021. The feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) method was used for estimation due to the presence of serial correlation and heteroscedasticity in the data obtained. The results showed the presence of a positive relationship and correlation between ESG scores and companies’ value. Meanwhile, CGI had a negative impact, revealing the potential difficulties caused by country governance framework. This study also found a positive correlation between CGI and ESG on company value. These findings have important practical contributions emphasizing the significance of ESG factors in improving companies’ value and the complex relationship between country governance and corporate valuation.

Introduction: The growing global focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards necessitates that companies optimize their corporate governance to balance economic, social, and ecological responsibilities. This study examines how the synergistic effects of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental Responsibility (ER) can promote sustainable corporate development. Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze the critical elements of corporate governance structure optimization and to explore how companies can enhance their governance to achieve sustainable development through strengthened social and environmental management practices. Methods: The study uses case analysis and literature review to assess high-performing enterprises in CSR and ER integration, examining their governance, policy, and environmental strategies to uncover the factors behind their success in economic, social, and environmental spheres. Results: The research shows that optimizing governance structures markedly improves operational effectiveness. Companies need to create strong internal controls for equitable and transparent decisions, embedding CSR and ER into their strategies. CSR fulfillment builds public trust and environmental support, whereas ER improves brand reputation and competitiveness, driving sustainable and mutually advantageous development. Conclusion: The key to sustainable development in ESG practice lies in optimizing corporate governance and strengthening the synergy between social and environmental responsibilities. It is imperative for companies to build a governance structure that complies with ESG standards and to incorporate social and environmental considerations into their corporate strategies to effectively manage the triple bottom line of economic, social, and environmental performance.

Comparative studies of national values are becoming increasingly important in the context of contemporary globalization processes. An essential condition for the shaping of national values in learners is the enrichment of pedagogical technology with components of digital technology. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used in the current study. The purpose of this research is to examine the efficacy of mobile learning in shaping the national values of prospective teachers. The experiment included 180 participants. Diagnostics of the levels of national values formation in the initial stage confirmed the assumption about the low formation of national values among teacher candidates and, consequently, the need for targeted work on their formation. This study demonstrates that significant advances in students’ national values have occurred following the introduction and testing of mobile learning with experimental group (EG) participants to shape national values. The data from this study can serve as the basis for creating strategies for shaping the national values of learners in universities and as a methodological basis for adapting mobile learning for the shaping of national values.

The interest in using project management office (PMO) services in organizations to manage their construction projects is growing in light of rising economic, technological, and social developments based on their ability to achieve organizational goals while avoiding risks. Accordingly, organizations use PMO services to manage their technical and financial project issues to periodically evaluate PMO performance and services in a scientific, practical, and measurable way to ensure successful project path via PMO. Therefore, this research aims to develop a performance evaluation system that enables organizations to follow up and evaluate the PMO performance to ensure that PMO manages the organizations’ expectations and goals successfully according to certain quality, scope, and cost. The study builds on significant findings in PMO competence indexes as evaluation matrix, which includes five basic categories with 136 indexes covering the project life cycle. The matrix was developed based on literature analysis and supplemented with experts’ interviews in construction management. The developed robust competency-based index (RCI) for directive PMO supports the organizations to conduct client satisfaction, correction, or partial/total change of the PMO’s competence flow within five construction project life cycle and process, i.e. governance, portfolio, information, execution, and contract issues.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education has both positive and negative impacts, particularly in term of increasing plagiarism. This research analyzes Indonesia’s plagiarism regulations and offers solutions. It uses doctrinal methods with legislative, case, and comparative studies, revealing that plagiarism is regulated but not specifically for AI involvement. The results show that plagiarism in scientific work has actually been regulated through several regulations. On the other hand, there is no regulation governing the involvement of AI in the process of preparing scientific articles. Comparative studies show that the US, Singapore, and the EU have advanced regulations for AI in education. The US has copyright laws for AI works and state regulations, Singapore’s Ministry of Education has guidelines for AI integration and ethics, and the EU has the Artificial Intelligence Act. To tackle AI-related plagiarism in Indonesia, the study suggests enacting AI-specific laws and revising existing ones. Ministerial and Rector statutes should address technical aspects of AI use and plagiarism checks. The Ministry should issue guidelines for universities to develop Standard Procedures for Writing and Checking Scientific Work, using reliable AI-checking software. These measures aim to prevent plagiarism in Indonesia’s educational sector.

This paper investigates the implementation of ijarah muntahiyah bittamlik (IMBT) as an infrastructure project financing scheme within the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models from a collaborative governance perspective. This paper follows a case study methodology. It focuses on two Indonesian non-toll road infrastructure projects, i.e., the preservation of the East Sumatra Highway projects, each in South Sumatra province and Riau province. The findings revealed that Indonesia’s infrastructure development priorities and its vision to become a global leader in Islamic finance characterized the system context that shaped the implementation of IMBT as an infrastructure project financing scheme within the PPP-AP model. Key drivers include leadership from the government, stakeholder interdependence, and financial incentives for the partnering business entity to adopt off-balance sheet solutions. Principled engagement, shared motivation, and the capacity for joint action characterized the collaboration dynamics, leading to detailed collaborative actions crucial for implementing IMBT as a financing scheme.

Most airport development projects entail disputes due to the features that are distinctive and complicated. Disputes can be minimized through creative problem-solving by implementing knowledge management practices into the system. This study investigates the direct influence of knowledge management (KM) on dispute minimization (DM) along with the key factors for developing a strategy that can enhance KM success. A mixed method was adopted including statistical data analysis based on the PLS-SEM and descriptive analysis with the SECI (Socialization, Externalization, Combination, Internalization) model approach for strategy development. These findings show that KM has a positive and significant direct influence on DM, while the factors that are considered to have a significant influence on KM success are human resources management (HR) and learning & training (LT) on airport development projects in state-owned airport companies. This research supports the importance of a well-developed HR system accompanied by regular LT to all members of the organization to optimize and encourage the spread of knowledge in the organization.

Several studies have explored green economy and the needs for improvement on the standard of living among low-income families or households in many developing countries including Bangladesh. Similarly, there is an emphasis on economic growth and vision 2030 is regarded stressed. Nonetheless, there is less attention in exploring green economy in propelling sustainable financial inclusion among low-income families and households in Bangladesh in order to attain vision 2030 and overall economic growth.  The primary objective is to explore green economy in fostering sustainable financial inclusion among low-income families and households in Bangladesh in enhancing economic growth and vision 2030 in Bangladesh. Content Analysis (CA) and systematic literature review (SLR) as an integral part of qualitative research. Secondary data were gathered through different sources such as: Web of Science (WOS), related journals, published references, research papers, library sources and reports. The results indicated that poverty is a prime challenge impeding sustainable financial inclusion among low-income families and households in Bangladesh. The study has further established the potential of green economy in improving well-beings and social fairness in fostering sustainable and inclusive finance among families or households with low-income in the country. The paper also highlighted the necessity of implementing policy relating to vision 2030 by enhancing sustainable and inclusive finance among low-income households in particular and overall economic growth in the country in general. In conclusion, it has been reiterated that green economy has been a mechanism for achieving sustainable development in general and poverty eradication among low-income households in Bangladesh. It is therefore suggested that the government and economic policymakers should provide enabling environment for improving green economy among low-income households in achieving Vision 2030 and overall economic growth in the country.

South Korea has experienced rapid economic development since the 1960s. However, pronounced regional disparities have concurrently emerged. Amid the escalating regional inequalities and persistent demographic challenges characterized by low fertility rates, regional decline has become a pressing issue. Therefore, the feasibility of expanding transportation networks as a countermeasure to regional decline has been proposed. This study utilizes the synthetic control method and spatial difference-in-differences methodologies to assess the impact of the 2017 opening of Seoul–Yangyang Expressway on economic development and population inflow within Hongcheon-gun, Inje-gun, and Yangyang-gun. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of highway development as a policy instrument to mitigate regional decline. Findings from the synthetic control method analysis suggest a positive impact of the opening of the expressway on Hongcheon-gun’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) in 2018, as well as Yangyang-gun’s net migration rates from 2017 to 2019. Conversely, the spatial difference-in-differences analysis, designed to identify spillover effects, reveals negative impacts of the highway on the GRDP and net migration rates of adjacent regions. Consequently, although targeted transportation infrastructure development in key non Seoul Metropolitan cities may contribute to ameliorating regional imbalances, results indicate that such measures alone are unlikely to suffice in attracting population to small- and medium-sized cities outside the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

This article measures the performance of listed commercial banks in Vietnam and identifies factors influencing their efficiency. The study follows a two-stage approach: (i) In the first stage, scale efficiency scores from 2016 to 2022 are assessed using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method; (ii) In the second stage, Tobit regression analyzes internal factors, macroeconomic conditions, and the impact of Covid-19. Key findings show that internal factors such as return on assets positively affect efficiency, while the ratio of equity to total capital has a negative and statistically significant impact. Bank size positively influences efficiency scores. Macroeconomic factors, including economic growth and inflation, were statistically insignificant. However, the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant negative effect on bank efficiency.

As social growth and educational concepts continue to evolve, college libraries, as hubs of cultural innovation and inheritance, are crucial in advancing the practice of great traditional culture aesthetic teaching. Based on the special status and resource advantages of college libraries, this paper explores the paths and approaches colleges libraries take in advancing the practice of aesthetic education of excellent traditional culture by combining the connotation and characteristics of excellent traditional culture. With a study of the research and case studies that concentrate on the planning of cultural events, the development of collection resources, and the use of digital innovation, it suggests a workable path. The goal is to give university libraries theoretical direction and useful references so they can carry out the aesthetic education of superior traditional culture.

Sustainable development within music education is essential, particularly in ensuring that popular music can continually and effectively serve educational systems. This research aims to 1) examine pop music chord progression, 2) develop a chord progression book specifically for teaching music students, and 3) evaluate the effectiveness of this educational tool in improving music composition skills. A mixed-methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research, was used. Research tools included an interview guide, Ioc forms, a textbook, and a performance assessment form. Interviews were conducted with five experts in pop music composition, while a group of 14 undergraduate music students participated in the experimental study. These methods evaluated how teaching popular music chord composition enhances students’ practical composition abilities. The findings indicate that 1) chord composition in popular music primarily involves five aspects: melody, rhythm, chord structure, music form, and melody development techniques, with melody and chord as the foundational elements; 2) the chord progression textbook for popular music differs from traditional composition theory texts, combining theory and practical application with a focus on chord progression techniques; and 3) instruction in popular music chord composition significantly enhances students’ skills in melody creation, production, and listening, ultimately fostering practical music creation abilities. This study supports the sustainable integration of popular music in both music infrastructure construction and music education system development, offering insights into how such integration can drive long-term advancements in music education.

Growing urbanization in sub-Saharan Africa, with its attendant degradation of natural vegetation, is a real scourge. It takes the form of urban sprawl, with its corollary of native vegetation degradation. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of urban sprawl in Brazzaville and the related degradation of the vegetation covering on the urban site. The methodological approach was based on the collection of documentary and field data, as well as the analysis of Landsat satellite images from 2002, 2012 and 2022. The results show a regressive evolution of natural plant formations in favor of urbanization. The area of vegetation cover fell from 17,523 ha in 2002 to 8355.5 ha in 2022, representing a regression rate of 52.32% in 20 years. At the same time, the urban area has grown from 12,164 ha in 2002 to 29,892 ha in 2022, an increase of 145.74%. This deterioration in vegetation cover is reflected in water erosion, resulting in silting-up and flooding of homes and sanitation facilities.

This research aims to develop a Synergy Learning Model in the context of science learning.  This research was conducted at Islamic Junior High School, Madrasah Tsanawiyah Negeri 2 Medan, involving 64 students of Grade 7 as the research subject. The method used in this research refers to the development research approach (R&D). In collecting the data, the research employed test and non-test techniques. The results prove that the Synergy learning model developed is effective in improving student learning outcomes. This is evident through the t-test statistical test where the t-count of 4.26 is higher than the t-table of 1.99. In addition, the level of practicality with a score of 3.39 is categorized as practical. This learning model emphasizes the learning process that supports the development of science skills and develops students' competencies in planning, collaborating, and critically reflecting. The findings of this study contribute to pedagogical practices and literature in the field of science learning.

This paper addresses the main logistics challenges in used car maritime traffic from Europe to West Africa. Thus, the methodology (quantitative and qualitative) analyses data from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), from 2015 to 2023 of government and port authorities to show the importance of used car market for mobility and socioeconomic activities. This is supplemented by surveys based on direct observation in the field, questionnaires and interviews involving in Europe 55 stakeholders and 127 in Africa. The results demonstrate that cars used and their parts, but not wrecks, are essential for motorization in West Africa. A pre-export process needs to be set up to ensure that exported vehicles are parked in better condition to meet the required common environmental standards for sustainable mobility.

This study explored the competencies required for informal community leaders to effectively promote health within Thai communities, employing an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. The qualitative phase, comprising in-depth interviews with thirteen community leaders, identified four critical domains of competency: basic health knowledge, communication skills, network building, and cultural awareness. These domains were subsequently validated through second-order confirmatory factor analysis, which confirmed their reliability and construct validity. The findings highlighted the pivotal role of these competencies in enabling community-led health promotion initiatives. This research provides a robust, evidence-based framework to inform the development of training programs, policy strategies, and targeted interventions aimed at enhancing health outcomes within Thai communities.

Sustainable innovation is crucial for addressing social and environmental challenges and is a key driver of enterprise competitiveness and economic growth. This study examines how board heterogeneity influences sustainable innovation in enterprises, particularly within the context of China’s Science and Technology innovation board. Findings reveal that diverse boards enhance sustainable innovation and impact M&A activities, which in turn mediate the relationship between board diversity and corporate sustainability. The research aims to understand the optimal board composition for scientific and creative enterprises, analyze the mechanisms behind board heterogeneity’s effect on innovation, and assess M&A’s role in this process. The study’s outcomes underscore the importance of board diversity for fostering sustainable innovation and suggest that M&A can be a critical pathway to enhancing corporate sustainability.

ESG (environmental, social and governance, a framework used to assess an organisation’s business practices and performance on various sustainability and ethical issues) and Digital Transformation (the process of using digital technologies to change a business’s operations, products and services by integrating digital solutions into all areas of the business, which can lead to cultural and technological changes) are emerging issues across different industries, including the banking field. There has been limited research focusing on exploring the linkages between ESG, Digital Transformation and Customer Behaviour in the banking area, especially within developing countries such as Vietnam. Based on this gap, this study analyses and assesses the role of Digital Transformation and ESG on customer behaviour towards brands in the banking sector in Ho Chi Minh City. The research employed the quantitative research methods with the combination of fundamental analytical methods such as statistics, Cronbach’s alpha reliability, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), measurement models and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The analysis was based on survey data from 550 customers who are the commercial banks’ current customers and live in Ho Chi Minh City, yielding 514 valid responses. Using SPSS and SMART PLS software, the study provided notable results. Specifically: (1) The component factors of ESG, including Environmental Issues (EN), Social Issues (SO), Government Issues (GO) and Digital Transformation (DT), positively influence Customer Behaviour (CB); (2) The component factors of ESG, including Environmental Issues (EN), Social Issues (SO) and Government Issues (GO), play a mediating role in the relationship between Digital Transformation (DT) and Customer Behaviour (CB).

This study explores the role of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) and STEM education in building the soft infrastructure necessary for economic development within Kazakhstan’s transforming education system. The authors conducted an interdisciplinary analysis, emphasizing the cognitive and communicative aspects of foreign language education in secondary schools, proposing a model for integrating ICC through the use of information and analytical technologies. The research focuses on personalized education, teacher competencies, and student engagement, with experimental methods applied in a Karaganda-based school. The study aims to identify mechanisms and principles that enhance ICC development, contributing to Kazakhstan’s modernization efforts in fostering globally competitive graduates prepared for the demands of the international arena. This research lays the foundation for further practical experimentation in profiled schools, aligning education with national development goals.

This study developed a specific scale to measure the impact of extrinsic motivations on students’ decisions to pursue online graduate programs at business schools in Latin America. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research proceeded in three stages. In the first stage, the construct was defined by identifying key extrinsic factors motivating students to enroll in online graduate programs, followed by the creation and initial validation of the scale in Colombia. The second stage involved testing the scale in Chile to determine its cross-cultural applicability. In the third stage, the scale’s predictive validity was confirmed, demonstrating its effectiveness in explaining how extrinsic motivations influence students’ intentions to enroll in online graduate programs. The findings indicate that the scale, composed of five dimensions—Cost Reduction, Ability to Study from Any Location, Control Over Learning Pace, Flexibility to Balance Study and Work, and Avoiding Commuting Time—is a reliable predictor of student preferences and intentions in online graduate education. The final scale includes 25 items across these dimensions, measuring extrinsic factors through items related to flexibility, time savings, and global accessibility. Validation in two Latin American countries confirms the scale’s relevance across diverse cultural contexts, enhancing its applicability within the region. This study provides empirical evidence that extrinsic motivation is a key determinant of students’ intentions to enroll in online programs in developing countries. It confirms that extrinsic motivations reflect a preference for flexible learning options compatible with students’ lifestyles and professional needs, linked to their beliefs about time management, professional advancement, and career opportunities associated with earning a graduate degree.

Presently, there exists a burgeoning trend of female entrepreneurs worldwide, notably within the realm of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), many of which manifest as family-run enterprises. The systematic literature review endeavors to construct an integrative framework concerning the practical ramifications of female involvement in family businesses by amalgamating extant global studies. The findings elucidate the practical implications inherent in female participation across global family businesses, concurrently furnishing a reservoir of prospects for prospective investigations. The deduction posits the imperative eradication of gender disparities, cognizant that gender parity underpins economic and financial advancement and is contingent upon female involvement. Furthermore, familial enterprises are urged to acknowledge and integrate women’s contributions in entrepreneurial decision-making processes.

The development and expansion of economies depend heavily on entrepreneurship, and Malaysia is no exception. Understanding the underlying elements that impact the success or failure of user adoption behaviour of online shopping activities is significant since entrepreneurship is critical in driving economic growth and innovation. The study includes 73 articles published from 2004 to the last of 2023 from Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. We utilised qualitative methods and systematic review issues through the findings of “qualitative” studies as the last step inside a systematic review using Nvivo14. Our study’s result illustrated that applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) in Malaysian e-commerce validates the relevance of established theoretical frameworks. This study explores the relationship between 20 independent variables and five mediator factors, with dependent variables, e-commerce in Malaysia. The results highlight the intricate relationships between these variables and their importance for companies, decision-makers, and other stakeholders involved in Malaysian infrastructure financing. This review provides legislators, educators, researchers, and businesspeople with new knowledge in Malaysia so that decision-makers, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs can make informed decisions.

This study explores the impact of technological innovations on audit transparency, objectivity, and assurance. The study employs a systematic literature review methodology, analyzing a wide range of scholarly articles, research papers, and reports to synthesize the findings. The methodology involved identifying keywords, conducting comprehensive searches in academic databases, and evaluating the selected literature. The study identifies key themes on how technological innovations impact audit practices through analysis of the literature. The impacts of technology include enhanced audit transparency through improved documentation capabilities, real-time reporting, and increased stakeholder engagement. Technological advancements bolster audit objectivity by automating repetitive tasks, facilitating advanced data analysis, and promoting standardized audit procedures. However, the analysis highlighted challenges associated with the use of technology in audits including complex technology implementation and the potential for biases. This research study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by consolidating relevant research and insights on the subject matter.

The research issue at hand pertains to the intricate mechanisms of state regulation that govern the economy of Kazakhstan, particularly in the context of the international sanctions that have been instituted by the nations comprising the Eurasian Economic Union. In order to thoroughly investigate this complex subject matter, this scholarly paper employs a variety of sophisticated methodologies grounded in bibliometric analyses of the most recent 90 academic papers that focus on the various mechanisms of state regulation pertinent to the economic landscape of Kazakhstan. As a subsequent phase in this research endeavor, the modeling of higher-order moments is undertaken with the express aim of delineating the multifaceted ramifications that stem from a singular and isolated perturbation affecting one of the key variables encapsulated within the higher-order moments model. This detailed analytical approach facilitates an in-depth exploration of both the immediate outcomes and the subsequent values of the endogenous variables that are under scrutiny. The innovative aspect of this article’s findings lies in the comprehensive analysis dedicated to the state regulation of Kazakhstan’s economy, which is significantly influenced by the international sanctions that have been imposed by member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union. The outcomes of this research provide a methodical and scientifically rigorous framework for understanding the overarching system of state regulation, which is of paramount importance for cultivating sustainable development within the socio-economic dynamics that characterize the nation of Kazakhstan.

In older adults with disabilities, muscle weakness reduces mobility and causes postural issues. Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) training is effective for increasing strength by inducing involuntary skeletal muscle contractions. Thus, this study aimed to examine changes in lumbar movement, muscle activity during walking, and maximum muscle strength of lower-limb joints based on an 8-week EMS exercise program for older adults with physical disabilities. Sixteen older adults (aged 56–78 years) with physical disabilities were selected and randomly assigned to either the exercise group (EG, n = 8) or the control group (CG, n = 8). EG participants were instructed to wear EMS suits and participate in an elastic band and bare-body exercise program, whereas CG participants performed the exercise program without the EMS suits. Lumbar range of motion (ROM), body circumference, partial volume, maximum muscle strength, and muscle activity were measured. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 28.0 for Windows, with the critical value of α = 0.05. Compared to CG participants, EG participants had a superior ROM, body volume, partial volume, maximum muscle strength (knee joints), and muscle activity while walking. These positive outcomes highlight the efficacy of combining EMS with an exercise program for strength and rehabilitation training in older adults with physical disabilities.

The interest in smart grids and new technologies is growing around the world. Countries are investing in the development of new technologies that will help achieve environmental goals, energy supply efficiency, improve energy efficiency and increase consumer involvement in the energy generation. One of such technology is a blockchain. It is believed that the blockchain, combined with a smart grid, provides an opportunity to integrate the activities of all stakeholders, including: generators, distributors and consumers of electricity. The aim of the article is to identify the key research areas discussed by the researchers of both the smart grid and the blockchain issues. An analysis of the Scopus database from 2015 to 2023 was conducted. Using a created bibliometric query, a systematic literature review was conducted. 476 scientific publications relating to the issues addressed were identified. Using the VOSviewer software, a bibliometric analysis was performed using the author’s keywords. The bibliometric maps obtained allowed for the identification of key research areas. The article also presents potential future directions of scientific considerations, which should be focused on the issue of green smart grid and green blockchain. The results presented in the article can inspire researchers looking for research gaps or describing the current state of knowledge in the field of the smart grid and the blockchain issues.

Currently, important efforts are being made to improve governability and governance by combining the monopoly of state decisions with the collaboration of diverse actors in public practice. Based on the above, the purpose of this article is to analyze the evolution of conceptual approaches to both terms over the last 23 years, examining scientific production by author authors, journals, and countries. The methodology was based on a bibliometric analysis: First, the WoS and Scopus databases were searched. Subsequently, scientometric techniques and the Science Tree methodology were used to identify patterns, structures, and trends, to understand the progress and behavior of scientific production, and to measure the quantity and quality of research that has addressed these issues from different perspectives. This study examined governability and governance publications and their annual citations to assess their impact and analyzed the total output of both datasets to identify similarities and differences in governability and governance research. The findings reveal that the number of publications and citations in this field is increasing, with the United States being the most academically influential country and the journal Marine Policy being the most prominent in ranking. These data provide key information for decision-makers, researchers, and academics for future debate and discussion toward operationalizing the concepts at the practical level of action, management, and the functioning of government structures.