Search Results (11,035)

Professional online communities increasingly function as digital social infrastructures during societal disruption, yet less is known about how their support practices reorganize during prolonged crises. This study examined how social support, engagement patterns, and support-seeking behavior changed in a large Hebrew-language professional Facebook group for Israeli educators across routine and crisis periods. Quantitative content analysis was conducted on an analytic sample of 1008 posts published between January 2022 and July 2025, covering the pre-war period and the wartime period following October 2023. Posts were coded for informational, emotional, and instrumental support and for support-seeking, and negative binomial and logistic regression models examined engagement and predictors of support-seeking. Informational support was dominant (69.3%), followed by support-seeking (30.7%), emotional support (12.8%), and instrumental support (4.4%). During wartime, support-seeking and instrumental support were less frequent, whereas informational and emotional support were more frequent. Informational posts received approximately three times more likes, while support-seeking posts received fewer likes but sustained comment activity. Anonymous authors were more likely to seek support, but posts by anonymous authors received fewer comments. The findings suggest an aggregate pattern of support flexibility in the analytic sample, reflected in a relative shift from reactive support-seeking toward proactive informational sharing and emotional processing as part of collective resilience-building during sustained societal crisis. Full article

The paper analyzes the evolution and strategy development for sustainable community-based ecotourism (CBET) in the commune of Hoa Bac in Central Vietnam. It is based on a pilot project carried out from 2019 to 2025 within the scope of a larger research project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the research line ‘Sustainable Urban Regions’. As a key component of the overall research approach, the goal of this pilot project along the Cu De River valley in the vicinity of the city of Da Nang has been a culturally adapted and ecologically sensitive tourism model that leads to income and socio-economic improvement, environmental protection and a decentralized low-impact infrastructure. The results of six years of qualitative longitudinal participatory research based on community workshops, interviews and surveys, direct observations as well as participatory field activities show how transformations in natural, cultural, human, social, financial and built capitals have shaped the transition from resource-dependent livelihoods to a diversified ecotourism economy. By mobilizing and empowering the local community, partly belonging to the Co Tu ethnic minority, sustainable development emerged not from isolated interventions but from a structured process of interlinked development strategies including cultural revitalization, environmental preservation, locally adapted agroforestry, skills and capacity development, cooperative governance, decentralized infrastructure, and income diversification. The study demonstrates that stakeholder and community empowerment, appropriately designed governance models (in this case the establishment of a tourism cooperative), targeted capacity development and knowledge transfer can strengthen the resilience and long-term sustainability of ecologically sound and culturally adaptive community-based tourism initiatives. Overall, the lessons learned from the research in Hoa Bac contribute to designing and implementing a holistic approach to CBET in rural settings. Full article

This paper illustrates the theoretical framework, the methodological approach, and the primary findings of a project titled MASSTER (Managing(South)Africa-and-Senegal-Sustainability-Targets-through-Economic-diversification-of-Rural-areas), in which higher educational institutions (HEIs) and organizations from Senegal, South Africa, and Europe collaborate with the aim of addressing the nexus between migration, agriculture and development in Sub-Saharan Africa by co-creating evidence-based training, tools, and actions to foster development and co-development while targeting several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely Zero-hunger, Good-Health-and-Wellbeing, Gender-Equality, Quality-education, Decent-work-and-economic-growth, Responsible-consumption-and-production, all within the frame of Partnership-for-the-Goals. The MASSTER project employs a transdisciplinary and bottom-up approach based on a cross-sectional study conducted in South Africa and Senegal to identify actual challenges, needs, and resources from farmers (n = 737) and students enrolled in agricultural courses (n = 1.013). Findings underpinned the co-creation of the primary project outcomes: training on agritourism development, farm management, income-generating activities, climate change resilience, and food value chain; toolkits designed to boost the adoption of the Whole of Society Approach and to strengthen cooperation between HEIs and local communities; MASSTER Student-and-alumni-tracking-procedure-with-early-warning-mechanism-for-brain-drain; and a MOOC on critical-thinking-and-empowerment. The MASSTER project can have a relevant impact at local and international levels, providing evidence-based tools to be used by HEIs, stakeholders/policymakers, and the scientific community to actively foster development and co-development. Full article

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is rapidly transforming teaching, learning, research, and institutional practices in higher education, increasing the need to understand how university professionals engage with AI technologies in both functional and ethical contexts. This study examined AI adoption among sampled Generation Y (Gen Y) and Generation Z (Gen Z) higher education professionals by investigating the relationships among AI Competency Capability (AICC), AI Utilisation Behaviour (AIUB), Perceived Usability (PU), Perceived Strategic Value (PSV), AI Ethical Awareness (AIEA), AI Self-Efficacy (AISE), Responsible AI Utilisation Behaviour (RAIUB), Academic Engagement (AE), Perceived Performance Outcomes (PPO), and AI Adoption Intention (AAI). Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST) and Dual-Process Theory (DPT) were employed as complementary interpretive perspectives rather than as theories directly tested by the structural model. Data were collected from 870 higher education professionals employed at Saudi Arabian universities and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), Partial Least Squares Multi-Group Analysis (PLS-MGA), and the Measurement Invariance of Composite Models (MICOM) procedure. The PLS-MGA identified statistically significant between-group differences only for the relationships between AICC and AIUB, which were numerically larger among the sampled Gen Z participants, and between AIEA and Responsible AIUB, which were numerically larger among the sampled Gen Y participants. All remaining differences represented sample-specific numerical variations rather than statistically confirmed between-group differences. Given the cross-sectional design and differences in age, career stage, institutional role, and professional experience, the findings should be interpreted as sample-specific associations rather than fixed generational characteristics. This study introduces the Gen-AI Dual Competency Alignment Framework (GADCAF) as a provisional conceptual and interpretive framework, intended to guide future research on AI competency, responsible AI utilisation, and organisational AI integration rather than as a validated theoretical model. The findings advance understanding of the complementary functional and ethical dimensions of AI adoption in higher education. Full article

This study analyses the Environmentally Sustainable Human Development Index (ESHDI) across 42 municipalities in Puebla, Mexico, which share the same predominant biome, in 2010 and 2020. The objective was to compare four methods for constructing synthetic indices—Geometric Mean (GM), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and two variants of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA-CCR and DEA-SBM)—to identify the approaches most consistent with the ESHDI’s multidimensional nature. Considering the dimensions of Health, Education, Income, and per capita CO₂ emissions, the robustness of the classifications was evaluated using Kendall’s W, Spearman’s rho, and Kendall’s tau coefficients. The results reveal statistical convergence among the methods, as well as relevant structural differences in the weighting schemes and the generated rankings. While MG, ACP, and DEA-SBM assigned relatively balanced weights to the dimensions and produced similar rankings, DEA-CCR concentrated weights on the best-performing dimensions of each municipality, allowing a single dimension to exert a disproportionate influence on the aggregate index and compromise its multidimensional balance. Among the methods evaluated, DEA-SBM stood out for its ability to combine conceptual consistency with benchmarking capacity. In addition to measuring environmentally sustainable human development, the method enables the identification of reference municipalities, the establishment of realistic performance targets, and the diagnosis of specific inefficiencies in each dimension, thereby supporting the formulation of more effective and territorially contextualised public policies. The evidence reinforces the theoretical and empirical relevance of incorporating environmental sustainability into human development metrics and demonstrates that methodological choices in aggregation significantly influence the evaluation of territorial performance. Full article

Objective: This study evaluated the educational value and motivational impact of unit-based Key Terminology Tests, combined with a dedicated glossary, in a second-year dental physiology course designed to support preparation for computer-based testing (CBT) and the Japanese National Dentist Examination. Methods: Seventy-six second-year dental students completed periodic terminology tests aligned with lecture units (50 items per test, 25 min each). Bonus points were awarded for scores of ≥45/50. At the end of the semester, students completed an anonymous questionnaire assessing perceived test burden (scope, duration, and number of items), preparation time, clarity and use of the glossary, perceived contribution to lecture comprehension, and the motivational impact of bonus points. Quantitative data were summarized descriptively, and free-text responses were analyzed thematically. Results: Most students rated the test scope and number of questions as appropriate (50.0% and 67.1%, respectively), although 48.7% perceived the scope as somewhat excessive or excessive, and 35.6% felt the time limit was short or somewhat short. The glossary improved lecture comprehension for 68.4% of respondents, and bonus points enhanced learning motivation for 53.9%. In addition, 86.9% reported using the glossary at least occasionally during routine study. Conclusions: Students perceived the terminology test system as supportive of lecture comprehension, perceived learning support, and sustained learning motivation, suggesting that it may serve as a useful preparatory approach for CBT and the National Dentist Examination. Full article

Background/Objectives: Therapeutic adherence remains a critical challenge in the management of chronic conditions, yet most research has focused on pharmacological adherence from the perspective of physicians and pharmacists. The views of non-physician healthcare professionals—particularly physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists, and nurses—remain underrepresented. This study aims to explore how these four healthcare disciplines perceive the factors influencing therapeutic adherence, the strategies they use to support it, and how they address patient resilience in clinical practice. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 32 healthcare professionals (8 per discipline) recruited through purposive sampling across diverse care settings across Spain. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis following a hybrid deductive–inductive approach. Quality criteria were applied in accordance with the standards proposed by Lincoln and Guba. Results: Three thematic domains emerged. Patient-related factors, especially motivation, health literacy, illness beliefs, and socioeconomic constraints, emerged as central determinants across all disciplines. Health system barriers, particularly limited consultation time and fragmented continuity of care, also constituted significant barriers. Discipline-specific strategies ranged from the teach-back technique and customized visual aids in nursing and podiatry to functional goal-setting and group-based dynamics in physiotherapy and expectation-setting and digital follow-up in psychology. Resilience was consistently described as a key mediating factor enabling patients to sustain adherence despite adversity. Conclusions: Therapeutic adherence is a multifactorial and discipline-sensitive phenomenon. The complementary strategies identified across professions support the value of coordinated interdisciplinary approaches. Resilience-informed interventions and profession-specific adherence training represent promising directions for improving clinical practice and professional education. Full article

Sustaining learner motivation remains a persistent challenge in higher education Japanese-language e-learning, where learners often study with limited social presence and personalized encouragement. This paper proposes a preliminary Design Framework for Motivational Robots in E-Learning (DFMRE), derived through a retrospective, theory-guided synthesis of two previously published empirical studies on robot-assisted Japanese-language learning. The synthesis interprets the prior findings through Self-Determination Theory and self-efficacy theory and formulates five candidate design principles: human-affine compact hardware, multi-level learner-selectable gestures, calibrated vocal encouragement, learner-initiated interaction protocol, and content-independent system integration. To provide an initial external check, nine domain experts with diverse backgrounds in education, educational technology, human–robot interaction, and related fields provided a preliminary appraisal of the principles in terms of clarity, feasibility, transferability, and overall usefulness. The framework received broadly favorable ratings, including a mean overall usefulness score of 4.33 on a 5-point scale, while expert comments highlighted the need for clearer operational definitions and flexible interaction modes. Because the empirical base consists of two small-sample Japanese-language learning studies conducted at one institution using one robot platform, DFMRE should be read as an early, context-grounded, falsifiable proposal rather than as a confirmed model for higher education e-learning in general. Full article

Interactions with people who are highly engaged in sustainability (e.g., zookeepers, environmental educators) can have a significant impact on motivating less-engaged individuals to adopt more pro-environmental beliefs and to act on them. The current work examined two groups, graduate students mainly in conservation careers (n = 35) and an undergraduate comparison group (n = 237), to observe how they differed on sustainability beliefs (e.g., reports of willingness to sacrifice for the environment, anthropogenic global warming beliefs), reports of emotional experiences, reflections on nature, and nature–self–humanity cognitive representations. In comparison to undergraduate students, a frequently studied population in sustainability research, the graduate students reported greater willingness to sacrifice for the environment, stronger belief in anthropogenic global warming, and weaker self-interested emotions. When spontaneously reflecting on nature, the graduate students expressed greater connection with nature and stronger negative feelings about how humanity treats the environment. Finally, the graduate students showed more sustainable nature–self representations (e.g., greater inclusion of nature in self, viewing nature as larger than the self). We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding groups that may vary in environmental engagement, for developing measures to assess qualitative and quantitative assessments of nature–self–humanity knowledge, and for providing observations that may spur future work on encouraging people to care more strongly about nature and for supporting people engaged in sustainability fields. Full article

Background/Objectives: Police is an occupational group characterised by high and variable physical demands, shift work, and the need for sustained operational readiness. Despite the importance of maintaining good health in uniformed services, relatively little is known about dietary habits and nutritional status among police populations, particularly in Poland. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterise dietary habits and nutritional status among Polish police officers participating in the National Health Programme. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 262 Polish police officers (216 men and 46 women) aged 19–64 years. A 61-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess dietary behaviours and bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to assess body composition. Results: Suboptimal food consumption frequency patterns were observed for several food groups, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, nuts, and seeds. Female police officers reported more frequent consumption of fruits, vegetables, and grains, and less frequent consumption of processed meats, animal fats, sugar-sweetened beverages, energy drinks, beer, and spirits than male officers. Normal body weight according to BMI criteria was observed in 33% of participants, whereas only 16% of participants had normal fat mass index values. Excessive body weight was observed in 67% of participants, and excess fat in 82% of participants. Conclusions: The study provides a comprehensive characterisation of dietary habits and nutritional status among Polish police officers within the National Health Programme. These findings suggest the need for nutritional education, health promotion activities, and continued monitoring of dietary habits and nutritional status in this occupational group. Full article

Background/Objectives: Advancing clinical competence within contemporary healthcare systems requires innovative educational approaches that bridge professional silos. While Interprofessional Education (IPE) is globally recognized as a mechanism to enhance teamwork, its implementation within resource-constrained public health systems marked by historical and structural inequalities remains poorly understood. This study explored the perspectives and experiences of healthcare professionals and clinical educators regarding how interprofessional education (IPE) may contribute to clinical competence in selected South African public hospitals. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 purposively selected healthcare professionals and clinical educators from nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and social work. Interviews were conducted at selected hospitals following approval from hospital Chief Executive Officers. Data were collected by the researcher and co-researcher who is not part of this manuscript, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Ethical clearance and institutional permissions were obtained, and informed consent was secured from all participants. Trustworthiness was ensured through credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. Findings: The thematic analysis yielded two primary patterns: (1) the perceived capacity of IPE to enhance clinical decision-making, communication, and collaborative practices; (2) systemic and structural constraints, including rigid professional hierarchies, severe time constraints, and a lack of formally institutionalized opportunities. Conclusions: IPE is perceived as an important contributor to collaborative clinical competence, but its sustainability depends on explicit institutional mandates. These findings imply that hospital managers and curriculum developers must transition from ad hoc interactions to structured, short-duration interdisciplinary platforms to overcome operational bottlenecks. Full article

Within modern culinary education, education on sustainable development is essential for vocational students. Using the example of sous vide, its suitability for addressing sustainability in culinary education was investigated as well as the extent to which it is currently implemented in Germany. Therefore, the literature on potential environmental, social, economic and health impacts of sous vide was reviewed and its current implementation in German culinary educational materials was analyzed. The literature review revealed a number of sustainability aspects of sous vide. Despite being covered in textbooks, it is not brought into a sustainability context. Moreover, existing sustainability concepts for the gastronomy sector neither identify environmental conditions as a basic requirement for any socio-economic activity nor illustrate interdependencies and trade-offs between different sustainability dimensions. Therefore, the sustainability concepts and culinary teaching and training materials currently used in German culinary schools do not support the development of a systemic understanding and multi-dimensional engagement in the training of future chefs. Full article

The transition to kindergarten is a critical developmental milestone within the broader continuum of early intervention and early childhood special education, particularly for children with disabilities who must navigate new instructional expectations, service changes, and social environments. This systematic review synthesized 12 peer-reviewed studies to examine parents’ perspectives on this process and the extent to which evidence-based transition practices are reflected in research and practice. Guided by PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) procedures and appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, the review identified seven themes: communication and collaboration, transition practices, parental concerns, inclusion priorities, formal and informal supports, transition programs, and implementation gaps. Parents consistently emphasized the importance of early and sustained communication, continuity of services, and culturally responsive engagement while also describing stress, inequities, and gaps in implementation that undermined confidence in schools. Findings further indicate that many practices valued by families align with established evidence-based and recommended practices; however, their implementation remains inconsistent across settings. Although high-intensity, individualized transition practices were valued, they were inconsistently available, and low-intensity events were viewed as insufficient. Emerging evidence on structured transition programs and family-focused interventions suggests promising, yet underutilized, approaches for improving child and family outcomes. Findings highlight that parents serve as central advocates, decision-makers, and partners, underscoring the need for relationship-based, equitable transition systems. Implications for research, practice, and policy include the need to strengthen implementation fidelity, expand access to evidence-based supports, and explore innovative approaches, including technology-enhanced strategies, to improve transition experiences. Future research should prioritize more inclusive and intersectional approaches and evaluate structured interventions that strengthen family–school collaboration. Full article

Women remain underrepresented in leadership positions in higher education institutions (HEIs) across the Gulf region despite sustained policy efforts to advance gender equity. This study examined how stakeholders perceive the relationship between gender diversity and inclusion policies and women’s leadership advancement at the University of Sharjah, UAE. Specifically, it investigated the association between perceived policy adequacy and leadership opportunities, explored how policies supported or hindered progression, and identified persistent barriers. A concurrent mixed-method cross-sectional design was employed. The study population comprised academic and administrative staff at the University of Sharjah, from whom 40 survey participants (29 women, 72.5%; 11 men, 27.5%) were invited, with all 40 completing the form, and eight were purposively selected for qualitative interviews (seven women and one man, spanning administrative, faculty, and leadership roles). Quantitative findings revealed a very strong positive correlation between perceived gender diversity policies and women’s leadership (r = 0.95, p < 0.001), with policies explaining 89.8% of the variance in leadership perceptions. However, qualitative data highlighted gaps between formal policy commitments and practice, linked to structural, managerial, and cultural constraints. The study recommends adopting gender-responsive, enforceable policies supported by accountability mechanisms, transparent promotion systems, and targeted leadership development initiatives to achieve sustainable and substantive progress. Full article

Low-noise pavements (LNPs) are increasingly important under Green Public Procurement policies, yet public administrations still lack clear guidance on selecting pavement types based on noise-related externalities. Although traffic noise generates substantial societal costs—affecting health, education, and property values—these external burdens are often overlooked or excluded from traditional pavement appraisal and investment decisions, leading to systematically underestimated life cycle costs (LCC). This study develops an integrated framework to monetise traffic-noise impacts within an LCC perspective by combining health effects (Disability-Adjusted Life Years, DALYs), property-value capitalisation (willingness to pay, WTP), and noise-induced educational losses. The system limit is intentionally restricted to noise-related externalities during pavement operations, while agency, user, and vehicle operating costs are excluded. A comprehensive review of existing monetisation approaches is provided, and a new unified method is proposed. The framework is applied to a case study from the LIFE SNEAK project on Via La Marmora (Florence, Italy), comparing existing, acoustically non-optimised, and acoustically optimised surfaces. The results showed that the LIFE SNEAK pavement significantly alleviated the burden of noise on public health and education costs, which were 34% and 33% lower than in the baseline scenario, respectively, with a welfare surplus of +€2.38 million over the ten-year period. In particular, it was noted that the most important economic contribution of LNPs stems from the WTP approach. This study provides clear evidence that noise externalities play a considerable role in long-term pavement cost estimates, thereby supporting the systematic inclusion of these costs in LCC analyses. The proposed method puts forward a practical approach to support the selection of noise-sensitive, sustainable, and socially responsible road pavements. Full article