Search Results (42)

During the transition of culture-featured district planning from static conservation to innovation-driven models, existing research remains constrained by mechanistic paradigms, reducing districts to functional containers and neglecting human perceptual interactions and meaning-production mechanisms. This study explores and quantifies the generative mechanisms of spatial communicability and cultural dissemination efficacy within human-centered frameworks. Grounded in humanistic urbanism, we analyze Harbin Central Street as a case study integrating historical heritage with contemporary vitality, developing a tripartite communicability assessment framework comprising perceptual experience, infrastructure utility, and behavioral dynamics. Machine learning-based threshold analysis reveals that spatial encoding elements govern communicability through significant nonlinear mechanisms. The conclusion shows synergies between street view-quantified greenery visibility and pedestrian accessibility establish critical human-centered design thresholds. Spatial data analysis integrating physiologically sensed emotional experiences and topologically analyzed spatial morphology resolves metric fragmentation while examining spatial encoding’s impact on interaction efficacy. This research provides data-driven decision support for sustainable urban renewal and enhanced cultural dissemination, advancing heritage sustainability. Full article

Integrating sustainability into STEAM education is crucial for fostering environmental awareness among students. The Erasmus+ project Clean Environment–Clean School Climate with Creative Environmental Practices in School Education—Clean&Creative aims to develop environment-themed curriculum content that seamlessly integrates into ten different STEAM school disciplines. This initiative enhances multidisciplinary learning by connecting scientific knowledge with creative environmental practices, equipping students with the skills and mindset needed for sustainable problem solving. This paper presents the project’s key findings, highlighting innovative pedagogical approaches that merge sustainability with STEAM and humanities-based education. By incorporating hands-on, creative activities into school curricula, the project fosters active student engagement and a deeper understanding of environmental challenges. The results demonstrate how multidisciplinary strategies can bridge the gap between scientific principles and real-world sustainability issues, reinforcing the role of education in shaping eco-conscious citizens. Furthermore, the study discusses the challenges and opportunities in implementing these practices, providing insights into their long-term impact on students and educators. The findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on sustainability education, offering practical solutions for integrating environmental themes into diverse educational contexts. Ultimately, this research underscores the importance of creative, inter- and multidisciplinary methods in promoting sustainability within STEAM and humanistic education. Full article

This study explores the intersection of landscape design and ecosystem services, emphasising context-sensitive design and the integration of indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) in forest health bases. Current challenges include disconnects between design practices and local cultural identity, as well as insufficient ecological integration, necessitating systematic approaches that harmonise ecological functions with sociocultural values. While existing research prioritises health benefit assessments, the role of ILK in long-term sustainability remains underexplored. To address this gap, we developed a multidimensional evaluation system integrating ecological, cultural, community, and human health indicators. Using a hybrid Delphi–Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), we identified 33 core indicators through literature word-frequency analysis. These indicators were refined via two rounds of expert surveys involving 48 interdisciplinary scholars and empirically validated at the Yuping Mountain Forest Health Base in Sichuan, China. The case study achieved an overall score of 4.371 (Grade I), with “Site location” (weight 0.064) and “Maintenance of the human landscape” (weight 0.056) as pivotal factors. ILK integration enhanced ecological resilience and community cultural engagement. Quantitative data revealed strong performance in five senses of experience (weight 0.056), though cultural resource utilisation requires refinement. The innovation of this study is that it is the first to construct an ILK-driven assessment framework to achieve the deep integration of scientific quantification and local wisdom. The study provides a decision-making tool that is both humanistic and scientific, in order to promote the synergistic development of human health, ecological protection, and cultural heritage and to help sustainable landscape design practice. Full article

This study evaluated an innovative teaching methodology in a Health Anthropology course for Pharmacy students aimed at transforming their perceptions of diabetes. Through patient interviews and the photovoice technique, students gained deeper insights into the psychosocial aspects of the disease. Surveys were administered at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the course to assess shifts in students’ perspectives. The results revealed a significant change, with students evolving from a primarily biomedical view to a more holistic understanding, emphasizing the patient’s lived experience. Additionally, students responded positively to the innovative approach, citing enhanced motivation and learning, though some noted the methodology’s demanding workload. This teaching intervention fostered empathy and a broader perspective on the challenges faced by patients living with diabetes, supporting a more patient-centered and humanistic approach to healthcare. Despite the positive feedback, there was some uncertainty about whether this methodology could be applied to other subjects within the Pharmacy curriculum. Full article

Government budget management serves as a critical enabler for the development of a green economy and represents an essential pathway to promote sustainable urban development. The government budget delineates the scope and direction of governmental activities, while the advancement of a green economy heavily relies on the support of budgetary funds. Adopting the perspective of government budget management capabilities, this study examines the budget deviations across 288 prefecture-level cities in China from 2007 to 2021. By constructing a double fixed-effects model, we assess whether government budget management can effectively balance environmental governance with sustainable economic development, thereby fostering green economic growth. The findings indicate that government budget management indeed achieves this balance, with revenue management playing a more significant role compared to expenditure management. Mechanism analyses reveal that at the revenue level, government budget management regulates local economic behavior through tax constraints, while at the expenditure level, it drives green economic development by promoting technological innovation. Heterogeneity analysis further demonstrates that geographical differences, humanistic environment factors, and the degree of marketization significantly influence the development of the green economy. Based on these insights, this paper proposes targeted policy recommendations aimed at mitigating the tension between environmental governance and sustainable economic development and facilitating the attainment of green economic objectives ultimately. Full article

Heritage buildings are significant humanistic tourism resources for a city. Yangzhou’s heritage buildings have conservation and utilization value and are a key vehicle for promoting urban tourism development. However, there is a lack of research on their spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and subdivision types. This study aims to explore the spatial and temporal clustering and distribution characteristics of Yangzhou’s heritage buildings, as well as the factors contributing to the formation of these distribution patterns, as a means of promoting the tourism development of Yangzhou. Using mathematical statistics and GIS spatial analysis methods, this study analyzes the geographical distribution patterns of 528 heritage buildings and their influencing factors by using average nearest neighbor analysis, an imbalance index, and density mapping. This study reveals the following findings: (1) The temporal distribution shows an “Λ” shape, in which ancient buildings, modern historical sites, and important modern historical sites and representative buildings account for a significant proportion. (2) The temporal center shows a trend of shifting over time, moving from the southwest to the northwest and then to the northeast. (3) The spatial distribution is uneven; most of these are clustered in Hanjiang District, Gaoyou District, and Baoying County, while few are distributed in other regions. (4) The distribution is influenced by both natural and human factors, including topography, water resources, salt merchant culture, revolutionary culture, war culture, and canal transportation culture, with humans and human factors having a more profound impact than natural factors. Based on these findings, strategies such as regional integration and route planning, the prioritization of sustainable tourism development and preservation, and culture fusion and innovative promotion are proposed in this study as references for the all-for-one tourism development and cultural dissemination of Yangzhou. Full article

While national museums focus on broader national narratives, regional museums function as vital community hubs, establishing deeper local connections and facilitating intimate interactions between local residents and their heritage. These regional museums face dual challenges in their sustainable digital transformation, including the following: technical barriers arising from the high costs of traditional digitization methods like Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and humanistic challenges, including preserving distinctive multi-directional communication and balancing professionalism and authority with collaborative community engagement in the digitization process. This study addresses these challenges through a case study of the Ryushi Memorial Museum in Ota City, Tokyo. We present a comprehensive approach that integrates technical innovation with community engagement, including the following: (1) A cost-effective workflow combining photogrammetry with iPad LiDAR technology for spatial reconstruction, demonstrated through the digital reconstruction of the museum’s Atelier and Jibutsudo (family hall for worshipping Buddha); (2) a new Exhibition Co-Design framework that co-ordinates diverse stakeholders to create digital exhibitions while balancing professional guidance with community participation. Through questionnaire surveys and semi-structured interviews with museum volunteers, we demonstrate how this approach enhances community engagement by enabling volunteers to incorporate their local knowledge into digital exhibitions while maintaining professionalism and authority. This cost-effective model for spatial reconstruction and community-driven digital design can serve as a reference for other regional museums to help them achieve sustainable digital innovation in the digital age. Full article

In the context of European migratory flows, the inclusion paradigm gives education the responsibility of welcoming, integrating, and training students in an environment that defends humanistic values of equity, respect and dignity. In higher education, this requires institutions to implement inclusive educational policies, promote supportive cultures, and adopt practices that promote change, development, and individual and social well-being. This study examines inclusion variables and their relationship with well-being in a sample of 256 higher education students, including immigrant (n = 107) and non-immigrant (n = 149) students. Immigrant students reported lower perceptions of inclusion across policies (p < 0.001), practices (p < 0.05), and cultures (p < 0.001) compared to their non-immigrant peers. Furthermore, structural equation modeling analysis revealed that inclusive practices of teachers and institutions are significantly associated with the well-being of all students (β = 0.33, p = 0.032). These results highlight the need to implement inclusive educational strategies in both intervention and research. In this context, innovative approaches to participatory research stand out. These approaches must consider the diversity of students, create conditions that promote the well-being of the entire school community, and promote an academic environment that is agentive, relational, and empathetic, and which supports the integration of immigrant students. Full article

Despite an increase in the promotion of equal opportunities at work, there is still persistent discrimination against lesbian and gay (LG) workers. In this vein, this study aimed to systematically review the research investigating the peculiarities of the work experience of LG people, particularly considering the theoretical frameworks in the approach to sexual minorities’ work-related issues, as well as individual and contextual variables influencing the work experience and the impact they may have on health and well-being. We explored the PsycArticles, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases and the EBSCOHost (PsycInfo, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection) scholarly search engine, between 01/01/2013 to 01/03/2023, with regards to the search terms “lgb*”, “gay*”, “lesbian*”, “homosexual*”, and “sexual minorit*”, associated with “employee*”, ”personnel”, “worker*”, and “staff”, and with “workplace”, “work”, “job”, “occupation”, “employment”, and “career”. Data were narratively synthesized and critically discussed. Of the 1584 potentially eligible articles, 140 papers contributed to this systematic review. Five main theoretical frameworks were identified: (a) minority stress, (b) sexual prejudice and stigma, (c) queer and Foucauldian paradigms, (d) social identity theories, and (e) intersectionality. Furthermore, significant individual (e.g., outness, disclosure, and work–family conflict) and contextual (e.g., heterosexist and heteronormative workplace climate and culture) variables influencing LG people’s work experience were identified. This review highlights the need to develop a unified theoretical model for the construction of specific measurement tools to assess the work experience of LG people and for the implementation of interventions aimed at minimizing the effects of stigma in work contexts. Full article

In an era of rapid technological advancement, decisions about the ownership and governance of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence will shape the future of both urban and rural environments in the Global North and South. This article explores how AI can move beyond the noise of algorithms by adopting a technological humanistic approach to enable Social Innovation, focusing on global inequalities and digital justice. Using a fieldwork Action Research methodology, based on the Smart Rural Communities project in Colombia and Mozambique, the study develops a framework for integrating AI with SI. Drawing on insights from the AI4SI International Summer School held in Donostia-San Sebastián in 2024, the article examines the role of decentralized Web3 technologies—such as Blockchain, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, and Data Cooperatives—in enhancing data sovereignty and fostering inclusive and participatory governance. The results demonstrate how decentralization can empower marginalized communities in the Global South by promoting digital justice and addressing the imbalance of power in digital ecosystems. The conclusion emphasizes the potential for AI and decentralized technologies to bridge the digital divide, offering practical recommendations for scaling these innovations to support equitable, community-driven governance and address systemic inequalities across the Global North and South. Full article

This study aimed to elucidate how consumers engage in cultural activities in Quanzhou and analyze innovative service experiences in this ancient city. We also sought to create a model integrating humanistic innovations into the enhancement of service experiences. We used an exploratory case study approach, combining secondary data analysis with on-site observations. The findings include the following: (1) The tourist experience in cultural tourism involves six stages: “Connect and Attract”, “Orientate”, “Interact”, “Extend and Retain”, “Advocate”, and “Recollect”. (2) We developed the TESP model for innovative cultural tourism services in Quanzhou, with four dimensions: Technological, Experiential, Systemic, and Platform. The Platform dimension introduces the Hub and Service Process sub-dimensions. Additionally, the study suggests that creating a sense of place in historic districts relies on traditional culture, emphasizing the core competitiveness, identity, and culture of a locality. (3) Integrating “humanistic innovation” into cultural tourism is essential, utilizing digital platforms and interpersonal networks to promote core values and thus foster local economic prosperity. The research outcomes hold practical significance for cultural heritage tourism in Quanzhou, as well as for the study and implementation of service and experience innovations among experience providers, practitioners, managers, and marketing professionals in the field. Full article

As the core course of civil engineering, the teaching quality of bridge engineering and the learning effectiveness of students are crucial for the construction of bridge engineering. The traditional teaching of bridge engineering courses tends to be teacher-centered, with learning as a supplement, and therefore is commonly referred to as teacher-centered. This article analyzes the drawbacks of the teacher-centered teaching model and proposes a student-centered holographic teaching method in the teaching practice of bridge engineering courses. By reconstructing the learning content and constructing a holographic information field from a comprehensive perspective of digital, physical, and humanistic aspects, a teacher–student learning community guided by teachers and deeply participated in by students is established. From the perspective of integrating life experience, professional knowledge cognition, and engineering philosophy thinking, the learning effect of students is made high order, innovative, and challenging. The improved analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to evaluate the student-centered holographic teaching concept, and the results showed that adopting a multidimensional and multi-level holographic teaching method has great practical significance in promoting the establishment of student knowledge systems and the development of diversity. Full article

This article presents the innovative endeavor by Muḥammad ʿĀbid al-Jābrī and Nasr Ḥāmid Abū Zayd in interpreting the Qurʾān through a humanistic lens. Their approach marks a pivotal shift, viewing the Qurʾān as a dynamic text that actively engages with the human interpreter. This human-centric perspective underpins their hermeneutical method, which employs lexicography, philology, and semantics to unearth the layered meanings within the Qurʾānic narrative. The article delves into the nuances of their methodologies, drawing parallels and distinctions, and underscores their profound impact on modern Qurʾānic hermeneutics. Full article

Design thinking is a set of cognitive, strategic, and practical procedures used in innovation. This article argues that this approach varies across disciplines. The contexts for this study are two higher educational frameworks where language and technology have different aims and target unique skill sets and where transdisciplinarity is crucial. In our contrastive case study, we use a four-step model to compare two contexts. QUAN(qual) → QUAL mixed methodology is used which includes a quantitative and a qualitative comparative analysis. Context one takes place in an education faculty and focuses on developing cultural heritage. Context two takes place within a research project on linguistics and telecommunications involving linguistic analysis and bioelectrical measurement. Our findings indicate that there are clear and specific differences between the two domains when approaching design thinking. We observe that engineers seem to have a tangible final product in mind at each step of the process, while in the social sciences, the construct is more humanistic in its approach and works towards multiple tangible goals, including an examination of the existing needs in the community. The novelty of the study is the applied approach it takes in treating transdisciplinarity as a skill that is essential both in research as well as in the teaching–learning process. Full article

Humanistic Buddhism is one of the mainstreams of modern Buddhism, with special emphasis on the humanistic dimension. With the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, Humanistic Buddhism is also at an important stage of modernization and transformation, thus facing a continuous negotiation between religious values and technological innovations. This paper first argues that AI is technically beneficial to the propagation of Buddhism by citing several cases in which AI technology has been used in Buddhism. Then, by comparing Master Hsing Yun’s Buddhist ethics to “Posthuman” ethics, it points out that the theories of Humanistic Buddhism share similarities with AI and Posthuman ethics. Among them, Master Hsing Yun’s theory of “the nature of insentient beings” provides an important theoretical reference for the question of “whether AI can become a Buddha”. From the technical and ethical dimensions, it points out that the interaction between Humanistic Buddhism and AI can promote original uses or implementations of AI technology. However, it should also be noted that compared to the cases of “Artificial Narrow Intelligence”discussed in the paper, the “Strong AI” could lead to much more ethical crises. It is also likely to cause the cult of science and technology, and thus subvert the humanistic tradition of Buddhism with a new instrumental rationality. In addition, there are some potential pitfalls that Humanistic Buddhism may encounter when using AI. Hence, while it is necessary to encourage the use of technologies such as AI in contemporary Buddhism, it is also important for Buddhism to keep a critical distance from digital technologies. Full article