Search Results (1,975)

As an inherently fragmented and multisectoral phenomenon, tourism requires the involvement of a diverse range of stakeholders. The main aim of the present study is to map local tourism stakeholders and analyze governance networks. The researchers recruited respondents from key tourism stakeholders through purposive sampling techniques. Closed-ended questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions were used for collecting data. We applied the power–interest grid for mapping local tourism stakeholders. In addition, guided by the concept of resource dependency theory, the Social Network Analysis technique was employed for mapping local tourism governance networks. The findings disclosed that the local tourism stakeholder map primarily comprises government institutions, tourism businesses, local communities, and civil society organizations. Although tourism government institutions and large tourism businesses established strong linkages, the network density was found to be moderate. Implementing effective stakeholder mapping techniques and strengthening local tourism governance networks is crucial to promoting sustainable tourism. This study makes a substantive contribution to academia by providing insights into the methods and techniques essential for mapping tourism stakeholders and governance networks. Moreover, the study has practical implications for destination management organizations, policymakers, and destination administrators. Full article

Geothermal energy is a crucial component of climate adaptation and sustainability transitions, as it provides a dependable, low-carbon source of baseload power that can accelerate sustainable energy transitions and enhance climate resilience. Yet, in East Africa—one of the world’s most promising geothermal regions, with the East African Rift—a unique climate-energy opportunity zone—the harnessing of geothermal power remains slow and uneven. This study examines the contextual conditions that facilitate the successful and sustainable development of geothermal power in the region. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 17 experienced professionals who have worked extensively on geothermal projects across East Africa, the analysis identifies how technical, institutional, managerial, and relational circumstances interact to shape outcomes. The findings indicate an interdependent configuration of success conditions, with structural, institutional, managerial, and meta-conditions jointly influencing project trajectories rather than operating in isolation. The most frequently emphasised enablers were resource confirmation and technical design, leadership and team competence, long-term stakeholder commitment, professional project management and control, and collaboration across institutions and communities. A co-occurrence analysis reinforces these insights by showing strong patterns of overlap between core domains—particularly between structural and managerial factors and between managerial and meta-conditions, highlighting the mediating role of managerial capability in translating contextual conditions into operational performance. Together, these interrelated circumstances form a system in which structural and institutional foundations create the enabling context, managerial capabilities operationalise this context under uncertainty, and meta-conditions sustain cooperation, learning, and adaptation over time. The study contributes to sustainability research by providing a context-sensitive interpretation of how project success conditions manifest in geothermal development under climate transition pressures, and it offers practical guidance for policymakers and partners working to advance SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action) in Africa. Full article

Achieving food and nutrition security remains a significant challenge for small-scale farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, indigenous vegetables offer a promising solution to this challenge. This systematic review used four databases and retrieved 38 studies published over the past 20 years for synthesis. These studies highlight the growing importance of indigenous vegetables grown in home gardens as a sustainable solution to improve livelihoods and dietary diversity. Indigenous vegetables are well-suited to local conditions, nutritionally rich, and were associated with improved household food availability and income. However, farmers face various risks, including environmental, technological, economic, institutional, and social risks, which threaten their production. To overcome risks, farmers adopt strategies such as training, cooperatives, improved storage, and better seed varieties. Indigenous vegetable cultivation also empowers women and marginalised groups who play key roles in home gardening. Despite their benefits, indigenous vegetables remain overlooked in mainstream markets and policies. The review recommends that policymakers and stakeholders must provide support to promote indigenous vegetables through training and market integration, helping farmers commercialise their produce, while simultaneously enhancing food and nutrition security. Further research is needed to explore the profitability of indigenous vegetable production, analyse supply value chains, and investigate processing and manufacturing opportunities to support their market potential and sustainability. Full article

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has evolved into a strategic governance framework through which organisations address environmental sustainability, stakeholder expectations, and long-term institutional viability. In knowledge-intensive organisations such as universities, Green Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is increasingly recognised as an internal CSR agenda. GAI can reduce digital and energy-related environmental impacts while enhancing educational and operational performance. This study examines how higher education leaders, as organisational decision-makers, form intentions to adopt GAI within institutional CSR and digital sustainability strategies. It focuses specifically on leadership intentions to implement key GAI practices, including Smart Energy Management Systems, Energy-Efficient Machine Learning models, Virtual and Remote Laboratories, and AI-powered sustainability dashboards. Grounded in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study investigates how performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions shape behavioural intentions to adopt GAI. Survey data were collected from higher education leaders across Saudi universities, representing diverse national and cultural backgrounds within a shared institutional context. The findings indicate that facilitating conditions, performance expectancy, and social influence significantly influence adoption intentions, whereas effort expectancy does not. Gender and cultural context also moderate several adoption pathways. Generally, the results demonstrate that adopting GAI in universities constitutes a governance-level CSR decision rather than a purely technical choice. This study advances CSR and digital sustainability research by positioning GAI as a strategic tool for responsible digital transformation and by offering actionable insights for higher education leaders and policymakers. Full article

Aggressive corporate tax avoidance represents a significant fiscal and governance challenge in developing economies, where public revenues are critical for sustainable development and enforcement capacity is often uneven. This study examines whether environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance constrains corporate tax avoidance and whether this relationship is conditioned by national institutional quality. Using a multi-country panel of 2464 publicly listed non-financial firms from 14 developing economies over the period 2015–2023, the analysis employs fixed-effects estimation, dynamic System GMM, and instrumental-variable (2SLS) techniques to address unobserved heterogeneity and endogeneity concerns. The results indicate that stronger ESG performance is associated with significantly lower levels of tax avoidance; however, this effect is highly contingent on institutional quality. ESG exerts a substantive disciplining role primarily in governance-strong environments characterized by effective regulation and credible enforcement. Heterogeneity analyses further reveal that the ESG–tax avoidance relationship is driven mainly by the governance and environmental pillars, is more pronounced among large firms, varies across regions, and strengthens over time as ESG frameworks mature. In contrast, the social ESG dimension and smaller firms exhibit weaker or insignificant effects, consistent with symbolic compliance in low-enforcement settings. By integrating stakeholder, legitimacy, agency, and institutional theories, this study advances a context-sensitive understanding of ESG effectiveness and helps reconcile mixed findings in the existing literature. The findings offer policy-relevant insights for regulators and tax authorities seeking to strengthen fiscal discipline and development financing in developing economies. Full article

This study examines the social factors shaping solar energy transitioning in Zambia’s mining sector, a key contributor to the national resource economy. It focuses on how policies, incentive systems, communication channels, training and skills development, and stakeholder engagement and partnership influence the sector’s readiness to adopt solar energy and support more reliable operations. A quantitative design was used, with a 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire administered to 192 respondents from mining companies, regulatory bodies, energy suppliers and local authorities. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, reliability tests and hierarchical regression. The results show that stakeholder engagement and partnership and incentive systems are the strongest predictors of transition intentions, underscoring their role in improving energy security and supporting sustainable production. Policies, communication and training had weaker effects, indicating the need for stronger institutional coordination and targeted capacity building. Overall, the findings illustrate how social conditions shape renewable energy adoption and contribute to more resilient mining activities. Full article

The global maritime and logistics sectors are undergoing rapid digital transformation driven by emerging technologies such as automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain. Artificial Intelligence (AI), with its ability to analyze complex datasets, predict operational patterns, and optimize resource allocation, offers a transformative potential beyond the capabilities of conventional technologies. However, mixed results are shown in its implementation. This study examines the current state of AI applications to unlock higher levels of efficiency and competitiveness in logistics firms. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining surveys from logistics companies with in-depth interviews from key stakeholders in ports and logistics firms to triangulate insights and enhance the validity of the findings. Our results reveal that while technologies such as automation and digital tracking are increasingly utilized to improve operational transparency and cargo management, AI applications remain limited and largely experimental. Where implemented, AI contributes to strategic decision-making, predictive maintenance, customer service enhancement, and cargo flow optimization. Nonetheless, financial conditions, data integration challenges, and a shortage of AI-skilled professionals continue to impede its wider adoption. To overcome these challenges, this study recommends targeted investments in AI infrastructure, the establishment of collaborative frameworks between public authorities, financial institutions, and technology-driven Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and the development of human capital capable of sustaining AI-enabled transformation. By strategically leveraging AI, Oman can position its ports and logistics sector as a regional leader in efficiency, innovation, and sustainable growth. Full article

As a neighborhood-scale derivative of the Business Improvement District (BID) model, the Neighborhood Business Improvement District (NBID) represents a collaborative governance framework aimed at fostering spontaneous urban regeneration. Its successful establishment critically depends on building consensus among diverse stakeholders during the preparatory phase. This study addresses a significant gap by investigating the psychological mechanisms that shape stakeholders’ willingness to engage in NBIDs prior to their formation. Employing an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews in the Tiyuan North Community (Tianjin) and the Yulin East Road Community (Chengdu). Insights from the qualitative phase informed a subsequent quantitative survey administered to 215 stakeholders in Tianjin. Data were analyzed using regression analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results reveal that stakeholders’ performance expectations and collaborative willingness are significantly influenced by three core confidence factors: “Confidence in Authority Support (AS)” (particularly “Confidence in Council Representation”), “Confidence in Organization Capability (OC)” (especially “Confidence in Coordination Ability”), and “Confidence in Multi-party Collaboration.” Crucially, “Confidence in Enabling collaboration (MC_3)” itself acts as a key mediator, translating institutional trust into performance expectations. This study contributes a novel “Confidence–Expectation” framework to the literature on collective action and offers practical, context-sensitive insights for designing collaborative community governance structures aimed at sustainable urban regeneration in China and beyond. Full article

Modular construction (MC) offers significant environmental and efficiency advantages yet maintains low market penetration in China despite substantial government support. This study addresses the critical knowledge gap by systematically analyzing complex barrier interrelationships across project phases and stakeholder groups (university, construction authority, supplier/manufacturer company) to develop a comprehensive MC promotion framework. A four-phase mixed method approach was employed. (1) Grounded theory analysis of MC policy frameworks was performed in Singapore, the United States, and Hong Kong to extract best practice insights. (2) A systematic literature review and multi-round Delphi expert consultations were used to identify 21 core barriers across six project stages (decision-making, procurement, design, production, transportation, and construction acceptance). (3) The DEMATEL analysis reveals causal relationships among barriers based on experts’ perceived influence between factors. (4) Integrated ISM-MICMAC methodology was used to establish hierarchical structures and barrier classifications. Institutional barriers emerged as the primary impediment to MC diffusion, with unclear authority distribution between government administrations and design organizations identified as the most critical factor. The MICMAC analysis categorized the 21 barriers into four distinct groups based on their driving power and dependence characteristics, revealing complex causal relationships among barriers across the six project stages while highlighting the emergent role of higher education institutions in industrial transformation. Successful MC implementation requires market-oriented, context-specific strategies prioritizing institutional framework development, with the findings providing actionable insights for policymakers to address regulatory ambiguities and practical guidance for industry practitioners developing targeted MC promotion strategies in emerging markets. Full article

In the era of digital intelligence, cultural heritage is undergoing a profound transformation. This study investigates how digital technologies facilitate the inheritance and innovation of traditional culture in China, focusing on the case of Huangyan’s Song Rhyme Culture in Zhejiang Province. Drawing on the framework of “glocalized intelligent heritage,” the research explores how global technological systems interact with local cultural practices to produce new forms of cultural continuity. Methodologically, the study employs a qualitative case study approach supported by empirical data. It combines policy analysis, semi-structured interviews with twenty-six stakeholders, field observations, and quantitative indicators such as visitor statistics, online engagement, and project investment. This mixed design provides both contextual depth and measurable evidence of digital transformation. The findings show that digital intelligence has reshaped cultural representation, platform-based public engagement, and local sustainability. In Huangyan, technologies such as AI-based monitoring, 3D modeling, and VR exhibitions have transformed heritage display into an interactive and educational experience. Digital media have enhanced public engagement, with more than 1.2 million virtual visits and over 20 million online interactions recorded in 2024. At the same time, the project has stimulated cultural tourism and creative industries, contributing to a 28.6% increase in cultural revenue between 2020 and 2024. The study concludes that digital intelligence can function as a cultural bridge by strengthening heritage mediation, widening access, and enabling platform- and institution-based participation, while noting that embodied intergenerational cultural transmission lies beyond the direct measurement of this research design. Full article

This study explores how small and micro fashion and apparel enterprises (SMFAEs) conceptualize and structure social and environmental responsibility within an industry characterized by fragmented supply chains and limited institutional guidance. A qualitative, exploratory case study design examined four Québec-based enterprises through semi-structured interviews; these were analyzed using a hybrid thematic approach interpreted through stakeholder and legitimacy theories. The findings reveal three interdependent dimensions of responsible entrepreneurship: foundational commitments rooted in personal values; organizing mechanisms combining formal tools and informal learning to support continuous improvement; and contextual constraints related to sourcing and systemic opacity. The study advances understanding of early-stage responsibilization as a dynamic alignment between conviction, method, and feasibility. It contributes an integrative model that reframes sustainability from a compliance-oriented goal to an adaptive practice grounded in dialogue and learning. This perspective shows that meaningful sustainability emerges not from universal standards alone but from strengthening everyday human-scale processes of collaboration and adaptation. Full article

This study examines how corporate social responsibility (CSR) influences sustainable finance outcomes (SFO) in the Ethiopian Insurance industry through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices and institutional challenges (IC). Using covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) with data collected from a primary survey, the results show that CSR has both a direct and an indirect positive effect on SFO through ESG. However, the adoption of ESG practices also tends to increase institutional challenges, which in turn negatively influences SFO. This interaction produces a competitive partial mediation effect. The serial mediation path CSR–ESG–IC–SFO is found to be negative, suggesting that enabling and constraining forces operate simultaneously. From a theoretical point of view, the study combines stakeholder, legitimacy, and institutional theories to explain this competitive mediation within a less-studied Sub-Saharan African (SSA) frontier market. On the practical side, the findings highlight the importance of establishing ESG disclosure standards, investing in capacity building, and strengthening governance systems to reduce institutional frictions and make CSR a stronger driver of sustainable finance. Full article

This study explores the development potential of thematic tourism in the Municipality of Pella, Northern Greece. It examines local residents’ perceptions regarding tourism as a growth strategy, evaluates current informational and promotional efforts by the local government, and assesses the public’s willingness to participate in tourism activities. A structured questionnaire was distributed to a representative sample of residents that was given both in person and via the internet. Quantitative analysis revealed that while respondents generally support the idea of tourism development and feel moderately informed, there is a strong perception that the municipality’s efforts to promote tourism are insufficient. Key factors influencing residents’ attitudes include age, level of education, and personal involvement with tourism. The findings suggest that thematic tourism could serve as a viable development path, provided that local authorities implement targeted education, infrastructure, and promotion strategies. This study recommends enhanced cooperation between public institutions and local stakeholders to support sustainable tourism growth. It is suggested, therefore, to increase the depth of focus given in the development of an innovative agricultural area development model that will combine traditional agriculture with agritourism and the remaining types according to each place’s capabilities. Full article

This article presents a case study from a Social and Health Care School in Denmark, where a rooftop garden was designed to promote student health and support nature-based teaching across subject areas. A novel aspect of the project is the formal integration of the garden into teaching, implying that its long-term impact may extend beyond the students to the end-users they will later encounter in nursing homes and hospitals nationwide. This study applies the Evidence-Based Health Design in Landscape Architecture (EBHDL) process model, encompassing evidence collection, programming, and concept design, with the University of Copenhagen acting in a consultancy role. A co-design process with students and teachers was included as a novel source of case-specific evidence. Methodologically, this is a participatory practice-based case study focusing on the full design and construction processes, combining continuous documentation with reflective analysis of ‘process insights,’ generating lessons learned from the application of the EBHDL process model. This study identifies two categories of lessons learned. First, general insights emerged concerning governance, stakeholder roles, and the critical importance of site selection, procurement, and continuity of design responsibility. Second, specific insights were gained regarding the application of the EBHDL model, including its alignment with Danish and international standardised construction phases. These insights are particularly relevant for project managers in nature-based initiatives. The results also show how the EBHDL model aligns with Danish and international standardised construction phases, offering a bridge between health design methods and established building practice. The case focuses on the EBHDL process rather than verified outcomes and demonstrates how evidence-based and participatory approaches can help structure complex design processes, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and support decision-making in institutional projects. Full article

Objectives: We aimed to develop expert-informed recommendations for colleges and universities to support students with celiac disease (CeD) managing a gluten-free (GF) diet. Methods: A multidisciplinary panel of 40 stakeholders, including physicians, dietitians, a disability rights attorney, university staff, and students, was convened by the Celiac Disease Foundation to create expert-based and experience-informed recommendations. Over a 6-month period, the group conducted literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, and expert consensus discussions to identify common barriers and accommodations aligned with federal disability law. The expert panel collaboratively developed and revised an initial set of recommendations. Two rounds of structured voting were held during which panelists provided feedback to refine content and ensure clarity. All final recommendations were adopted with at least 90% of panelists voting in support. Results: The panel identified 24 accommodations across four domains: academics, housing, dining, and campus life. Academic recommendations include flexibility for illness-related absences, support for remote learning, and classroom modifications. Housing recommendations emphasize access to priority placement, appropriate appliances, and proximity to safe dining. Dining accommodations address GF food availability, ingredient transparency, staff training, and meal plan flexibility. Campus life recommendations ensure full participation in athletics, study abroad, social events, and internships, with supports for psychosocial well-being. Conclusions: This manuscript presents the first expert-informed recommendations focused specifically on the needs of college students with CeD. These recommendations are intended to support institutions as they develop strategies to enhance access to GF food, quality of life, educational supports, and student experience for those living with this chronic autoimmune condition. Full article