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Search Results (920)

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Keywords = institutionalism

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27 pages, 392 KiB  
Article
Pioneering Public Sector Innovation: The Case of Greece’s e-Government Team
by Athanasios Pantazis Deligiannis and Vassilios Peristeras
Adm. Sci. 2025, 15(8), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15080306 - 6 Aug 2025
Abstract
This study offers the first systematic exploration of the Greek e-Government team, a public sector innovation unit that operated within the Office of the Prime Minister of Greece from 2009 to 2012—the sole example of such a unit in the country. It illustrates [...] Read more.
This study offers the first systematic exploration of the Greek e-Government team, a public sector innovation unit that operated within the Office of the Prime Minister of Greece from 2009 to 2012—the sole example of such a unit in the country. It illustrates how strategically positioned innovation units can function as change agents within government bureaucracies. The purpose of this work was to analyze how this distinctive unit functioned by bridging policy formulation, legislative drafting, and technological implementation at the highest government levels. The research involved thematic analysis of original interviews conducted with most core members of the team. The findings highlight successes, notably the Diavgeia transparency platform, which markedly improved administrative transparency, accountability, and citizen access to government decisions. Important challenges were also identified, particularly regarding the sustainability of the unit, issues of institutionalization, and meaningful citizen engagement. The experience of the Greek e-Government team suggests that public sector innovation (PSI) units are most effective when they combine high-level political access with multidisciplinary expertise and operational flexibility. The analysis also reveals inherent tensions between the need for centralized coordination and the benefits of decentralized implementation, as well as challenges in maintaining citizen participation throughout the policy development process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations, Projects, Challenges and Changes in A Digital World)
26 pages, 823 KiB  
Article
Reconciling Teaching and Research Tensions: A Sustainability Framework for Expert Teacher Development in Research Intensive Universities
by Yue Huang, Lin Jiang and Ruirui Zhai
Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 7113; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157113 - 6 Aug 2025
Abstract
The sustainable development of teaching expertise in research-intensive universities remains a critical global challenge. This study investigates the distinctive characteristics of expert teachers—exemplary faculty in research universities—addressing their developmental trajectories and motivational mechanisms within prevailing incentive systems that prioritize research productivity over pedagogical [...] Read more.
The sustainable development of teaching expertise in research-intensive universities remains a critical global challenge. This study investigates the distinctive characteristics of expert teachers—exemplary faculty in research universities—addressing their developmental trajectories and motivational mechanisms within prevailing incentive systems that prioritize research productivity over pedagogical excellence. Employing grounded theory methodology, we conducted iterative coding of 20,000-word interview transcripts from 13 teaching-awarded professors at Chinese “Double First-Class” universities. Key findings reveal the following: (1) Compared to the original K-12 expert teacher model, university-level teaching experts exhibit distinctive disciplinary mastery—characterized by systematic knowledge structuring and cross-disciplinary integration capabilities. (2) Their developmental trajectory transcends linear expertise acquisition, instead manifesting as a problem-solving continuum across four nonlinear phases: career initiation, dilemma adaptation, theoretical consciousness, and leadership expansion. (3) Sustainable teaching excellence relies fundamentally on teachers’ professional passion, sustained through a virtuous cycle of high-quality instructional engagement and external validation (including positive student feedback, institutional recognition, and peer collaboration). Universities must establish comprehensive support systems—including (a) fostering a supportive and flexible learning atmosphere, (b) reforming evaluation mechanisms, and (c) facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration through teaching development communities—to institutionalize this developmental ecosystem. Full article
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16 pages, 297 KiB  
Article
How to Disappear Completely
by Dominik Zechner
Humanities 2025, 14(8), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/h14080161 - 4 Aug 2025
Viewed by 55
Abstract
This article investigates the paradox of disappearance as both an aesthetic and a political phenomenon. Taking inspiration from Radiohead’s song “How to Disappear Completely,” it argues that aesthetic representations of disappearance never achieve total erasure; instead, they give rise to new forms of [...] Read more.
This article investigates the paradox of disappearance as both an aesthetic and a political phenomenon. Taking inspiration from Radiohead’s song “How to Disappear Completely,” it argues that aesthetic representations of disappearance never achieve total erasure; instead, they give rise to new forms of visibility. A true aesthetics of disappearance does not exist. Through case studies such as H.G. Wells’s The Invisible Man and Guy Debord’s Society of the Spectacle, the article demonstrates that disappearance is always mediated: the invisible man becomes hyper-visible through his clothing, bandages, and mask, while the spectacle conceals marginalized lives only to expose them through mechanisms of institutional control (e.g., prisons, medical facilities, schools—as analyzed in Michel Foucault’s work). An investigation of the “novel of the institution” (Campe), especially as it appears in the works of Franz Kafka and Robert Walser, eventually explores the nexus between aesthetic representation and institutionalized forms of coerced visibility. Ultimately, the essay argues that disappearance, as an aesthetic and political event, destabilizes regimes of visibility—not by erasure alone, but by exposing the fragility of appearance itself. The tension between opacity and exposure suggests that resistance lies not in pure absence but in subverting the very mechanisms of representation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Cultural Studies & Critical Theory in the Humanities)
26 pages, 1103 KiB  
Article
How to Compensate Forest Ecosystem Services Through Restorative Justice: An Analysis Based on Typical Cases in China
by Haoran Gao and Tenglong Lin
Forests 2025, 16(8), 1254; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081254 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 218
Abstract
The ongoing degradation of global forests has severely weakened ecosystem service functions, and traditional judicial remedies have struggled to quantify intangible ecological losses. China has become an important testing ground for restorative justice through the establishment of specialized environmental courts and the practice [...] Read more.
The ongoing degradation of global forests has severely weakened ecosystem service functions, and traditional judicial remedies have struggled to quantify intangible ecological losses. China has become an important testing ground for restorative justice through the establishment of specialized environmental courts and the practice of environmental public interest litigation. Since 2015, China has actively explored and institutionalized the application of the concept of restorative justice in its environmental justice reform. This concept emphasizes compensating environmental damages through actual ecological restoration acts rather than relying solely on financial compensation. This shift reflects a deep understanding of the limitations of traditional environmental justice and an institutional response to China’s ecological civilization construction, providing critical support for forest ecosystem restoration and enabling ecological restoration activities, such as replanting and re-greening, habitat reconstruction, etc., to be enforced through judicial decisions. This study conducts a qualitative analysis of judicial rulings in forest restoration cases to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of restorative justice in compensating for losses in forest ecosystem service functions. The findings reveal the following: (1) restoration measures in judicial practice are disconnected from the types of ecosystem services available; (2) non-market values and long-term cumulative damages are systematically underestimated, with monitoring mechanisms exhibiting fragmented implementation and insufficient effectiveness; (3) management cycles are set in violation of ecological restoration principles, and acceptance standards lack function-oriented indicators; (4) participation of key stakeholders is severely lacking, and local knowledge and professional expertise have not been integrated. In response, this study proposes a restorative judicial framework oriented toward forest ecosystem services, utilizing four mechanisms: independent recognition of legal interests, function-matched restoration, application of scientific assessment tools, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. This framework aims to drive a paradigm shift from formal restoration to substantive functional recovery, providing theoretical support and practical pathways for environmental judicial reform and global forest governance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)
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17 pages, 487 KiB  
Article
“Crises Around the World Have Been More Frequent and Deeper”—But How Do They Impact EU Convergence?
by Dženita Šiljak
Economies 2025, 13(8), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13080214 - 24 Jul 2025
Viewed by 413
Abstract
This paper analyzes how two major economic downturns—a recession and a stagflation—affected convergence in the European Union (EU). Absolute and conditional convergence rates are estimated using ordinary least squares (OLS) semilog regressions based on cross-sectional data from 2004 to 2022. The study tests [...] Read more.
This paper analyzes how two major economic downturns—a recession and a stagflation—affected convergence in the European Union (EU). Absolute and conditional convergence rates are estimated using ordinary least squares (OLS) semilog regressions based on cross-sectional data from 2004 to 2022. The study tests two hypotheses: there was no absolute convergence in the EU during either the recession or the stagflation period, and conditional convergence occurred during the recession but not during stagflation. The regression results indicate that neither hypothesis can be rejected. External variables—economic openness, inflation, and investment—were more influential during stable periods, whereas internal variables—debt, unemployment, and the control of corruption—had a greater impact during crises. These findings suggest that the EU was more institutionally prepared for the stagflation due to mechanisms developed after the financial crisis, but these tools proved less effective in addressing supply-side shocks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies on Factors Affecting Economic Growth)
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21 pages, 1792 KiB  
Article
From Urban Planning to Territorial Spatial Planning: The Evolution of China’s Planning System and the Persistent Barriers to Urban–Rural Integration
by Shengxi Xin and Hui Qian
Land 2025, 14(8), 1520; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14081520 - 24 Jul 2025
Viewed by 397
Abstract
This paper critically examines the persistent limitations of spatial planning reforms in China in addressing urban–rural integration, despite significant and successive legislative and planning reforms. Through a historically grounded and institutionally informed analysis, the study traces the evolution of China’s planning regimes across [...] Read more.
This paper critically examines the persistent limitations of spatial planning reforms in China in addressing urban–rural integration, despite significant and successive legislative and planning reforms. Through a historically grounded and institutionally informed analysis, the study traces the evolution of China’s planning regimes across three key phases—urban planning, urban–rural planning, and territorial spatial planning (TSP)—highlighting shifting policy logics and the enduring structural challenges that shape rural marginalization. Drawing on national planning documents and authors’ empirical insights from planning practice, the paper identifies four interrelated and persistent constraints: (1) cross-scalar and interdepartmental fragmentation in governance, (2) contradictions in the land system that restrict rural development rights, (3) fiscal dependence on land conversion that distorts planning priorities, and (4) technical and conceptual gaps that reduce rural planning to physicalist and exogenous interventions. The paper contributes by offering a periodized account of China’s rural planning reforms, situating these within global debates on rural marginalization, and evaluating the transformative potential of the TSP framework. It argues that achieving meaningful urban–rural integration requires a fundamental rethinking of planning as a developmental, rather than solely regulatory, practice—one that is territorially embedded, socially responsive, and functionally aligned with endogenous rural revitalization. Full article
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19 pages, 3806 KiB  
Article
Farmdee-Mesook: An Intuitive GHG Awareness Smart Agriculture Platform
by Mongkol Raksapatcharawong and Watcharee Veerakachen
Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1772; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081772 - 24 Jul 2025
Viewed by 348
Abstract
Climate change presents urgent and complex challenges to agricultural sustainability and food security, particularly in regions reliant on resource-intensive staple crops. Smart agriculture—through the integration of crop modeling, satellite remote sensing, and artificial intelligence (AI)—offers data-driven strategies to enhance productivity, optimize input use, [...] Read more.
Climate change presents urgent and complex challenges to agricultural sustainability and food security, particularly in regions reliant on resource-intensive staple crops. Smart agriculture—through the integration of crop modeling, satellite remote sensing, and artificial intelligence (AI)—offers data-driven strategies to enhance productivity, optimize input use, and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study introduces Farmdee-Mesook, a mobile-first smart agriculture platform designed specifically for Thai rice farmers. The platform leverages AquaCrop simulation, open-access satellite data, and localized agronomic models to deliver real-time, field-specific recommendations. Usability-focused design and no-cost access facilitate its widespread adoption, particularly among smallholders. Empirical results show that platform users achieved yield increases of up to 37%, reduced agrochemical costs by 59%, and improved water productivity by 44% under alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation schemes. These outcomes underscore the platform’s role as a scalable, cost-effective solution for operationalizing climate-smart agriculture. Farmdee-Mesook demonstrates that digital technologies, when contextually tailored and institutionally supported, can serve as critical enablers of climate adaptation and sustainable agricultural transformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Farming Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture—2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 262 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Frailty Indices Based on Sociodemographic and Clinical Determinants in Older Women
by Filipe Rodrigues, Diogo Monteiro, Miguel Jacinto, Rui Matos, Nuno Amaro, Ricardo Pocinho, Sara Gordo, Sílvia Silva and Raul Antunes
Healthcare 2025, 13(15), 1791; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13151791 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 212
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to analyze levels of frailty, across physical, psychological, social, and overall dimensions, according to marital status, age, number of diagnosed illnesses, and number of medications taken in community-dwelling older women. Methods: The study included a total [...] Read more.
Background: The aim of this study was to analyze levels of frailty, across physical, psychological, social, and overall dimensions, according to marital status, age, number of diagnosed illnesses, and number of medications taken in community-dwelling older women. Methods: The study included a total of 94 older women, aged between 60 and 89 years. All participants completed a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, as well as an instrument to measure physical, psychological, and social frailty, along with the total frailty score in the study participants. Group comparison test, such as the Kruskal–Wallis test, was applied. Results: Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in frailty were associated with marital status, clinical burden, and polypharmacy, with widowed/divorced individuals, those with more diagnosed diseases, and those taking more medications exhibiting higher physical and total frailty levels, while psychological frailty was notably higher in the oldest age group. Conclusions: The results indicate that physical and social interventions should be more relevant for older women with greater social isolation, as they may increase frailty indices and consequently the risk of hospitalization, institutionalization, and mortality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Body Composition in Healthy Aging)
23 pages, 346 KiB  
Article
Thirst for Change in Water Governance: Overcoming Challenges for Drought Resilience in Southern Europe
by Eleonora Santos
Water 2025, 17(15), 2170; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17152170 - 22 Jul 2025
Viewed by 295
Abstract
This article investigates the institutional and informational foundations of water governance in Southern Europe amid escalating climate stress. Focusing on Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece, it develops a multi-level analytical framework to explore how information asymmetries and governance fragmentation undermine coordinated responses to [...] Read more.
This article investigates the institutional and informational foundations of water governance in Southern Europe amid escalating climate stress. Focusing on Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Greece, it develops a multi-level analytical framework to explore how information asymmetries and governance fragmentation undermine coordinated responses to water scarcity. Integrating theories of information economics, polycentric governance, and critical institutionalism, this study applies a stylized economic model and comparative institutional analysis to assess how agents—such as farmers, utilities, regulators, and civil society—respond to varying incentives, data access, and coordination structures. Using secondary data, normalized indicators, and scenario-based simulations, the model identifies three key structural parameters—institutional friction (θi), information cost (βi), and incentive strength (αi)—as levers for governance reform. The simulations are stylized and not empirically calibrated, serving as heuristic tools rather than predictive forecasts. The results show that isolated interventions yield limited improvements, while combined reforms significantly enhance both equity and effectiveness. Climate stress simulations further reveal stark differences in institutional resilience, with Greece and Italy showing systemic fragility and Portugal emerging as comparatively robust. This study contributes a flexible, policy-relevant tool for diagnosing governance capacity and informing reform strategies while also underscoring the need for integrated, equity-oriented approaches to adaptive water governance. Full article
22 pages, 827 KiB  
Article
Disaster Risk Reduction Audits and BIM for Resilient Highway Infrastructure: A Proactive Assessment Framework
by Seung-Jun Lee, Hong-Sik Yun, Ji-Sung Kim, Hwan-Dong Byun and Sang-Hoon Lee
Buildings 2025, 15(14), 2545; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142545 - 19 Jul 2025
Viewed by 292
Abstract
Highway infrastructure faces growing exposure to natural hazards, necessitating more proactive and data-driven risk mitigation strategies. This study explores the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction Audits (DRRAs) into the lifecycle of highway infrastructure projects as a structured method for enhancing disaster resilience and [...] Read more.
Highway infrastructure faces growing exposure to natural hazards, necessitating more proactive and data-driven risk mitigation strategies. This study explores the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction Audits (DRRAs) into the lifecycle of highway infrastructure projects as a structured method for enhancing disaster resilience and operational safety. Using case analyses and scenario-based labor estimation models across design and construction phases, this research quantifies the resource requirements and effectiveness of DRRA application. The results show a statistically significant reduction in disaster occurrence rates in projects where a DRRA was implemented, despite slightly higher labor inputs. These findings highlight the value of adopting phased DRRA implementation as a national standard, with flexibility across different project types and scales. This study concludes that institutionalizing DRRAs, particularly when supported by digital platforms and decision-support tools, can serve as a critical component in transforming traditional infrastructure management into a more resilient and adaptive system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Construction Management, and Computers & Digitization)
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11 pages, 266 KiB  
Article
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Functionality and Fall Risk in Institutionalized Geriatric Patients: A Longitudinal Observational Study
by Javier Torralba Estelles, Jorge Velert Belenguer, Elena Martinez Mendoza and Javier Ferrer Torregrosa
Life 2025, 15(7), 1130; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15071130 - 18 Jul 2025
Viewed by 286
Abstract
Background: The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced elderly functionality, particularly in terms of balance, gait, and independence in daily activities. This study sought to evaluate how these aspects have changed over the course of the health crisis. Methods: We [...] Read more.
Background: The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced elderly functionality, particularly in terms of balance, gait, and independence in daily activities. This study sought to evaluate how these aspects have changed over the course of the health crisis. Methods: We employed the Tinetti scale for assessing balance and gait, and the Barthel Index for measuring functional independence, conducting a comparative analysis of scores before and after the onset of the pandemic in a sample of elderly individuals. Results: Our findings indicated an increase in Tinetti scores, suggesting some improvement in balance and mobility, albeit with marked variability across participants. On the other hand, Barthel scores showed a significant decline, pointing to a reduction in functional independence. Conclusions: These results suggest that the impact of COVID-19 on elderly functionality is not uniform, highlighting the need for personalized rehabilitation strategies. Such strategies should not only focus on physical recovery but also consider the psychological and social repercussions of the pandemic to fully address the diverse needs of this vulnerable population. Full article
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22 pages, 1210 KiB  
Systematic Review
Peri-Urban Land Transformation in the Global South: Revisiting Conceptual Vectors and Theoretical Perspectives
by Shiwaye M. Tesfay, Genet Alem Gebregiorgis and Daniel G. Ayele
Land 2025, 14(7), 1483; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071483 - 17 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1079
Abstract
Peri-urban areas in the Global South are rapidly transforming due to urban expansion, land commodification, and institutional change. Although diverse theoretical perspectives address these dynamics, existing scholarship remains fragmented. This study systematically reviews how various theoretical frameworks deepen our understanding of peri-urban land [...] Read more.
Peri-urban areas in the Global South are rapidly transforming due to urban expansion, land commodification, and institutional change. Although diverse theoretical perspectives address these dynamics, existing scholarship remains fragmented. This study systematically reviews how various theoretical frameworks deepen our understanding of peri-urban land transformation, focusing on conceptual and institutional dimensions. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic review was conducted on 120 studies published between 1996 and 2024, sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and additional unindexed repositories. Eligible studies explicitly addressed peri-urban land issues in the Global South and applied theoretical approaches. Data extraction involved detailed coding of study characteristics, theoretical orientations, and thematic insights. Using open and selective coding, 19 thematic codes were identified. Three overarching themes emerged: (1) conceptualizing peri-urban spaces through territorial, functional, and transitional lenses; (2) institutionalization of place; and (3) theoretical interpretations of land transformation grounded in neoclassical, modernization, neo-Marxist, dependency, structuration, institutionalist, and urban political ecology frameworks. Studies were appraised for theoretical rigor, relevance, and potential conceptual bias. Limitations include the exclusion of non-English studies. Findings highlight the need for pluralistic, context-sensitive frameworks, with political ecology offering a particularly integrative analytical lens to examine global–local power dynamics and socio-natural transformations. This review was funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Georg Forster Fellowship, grant no. 1233452). Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Urban Contexts and Urban-Rural Interactions)
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14 pages, 1322 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Impact of Psychiatric Deinstitutionalization and Substance Use on Patient Outcomes: A Multi-Faceted Analysis
by Elena Tanase, Sorina Maria Denisa Laitin, Adrian Cosmin Ilie, Radu Ion, Dan-Alexandru Surducan, Adina Bucur, Felicia Marc, Roxana Folescu and Sorin Ursoniu
Healthcare 2025, 13(14), 1700; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13141700 - 15 Jul 2025
Viewed by 303
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The worldwide shift toward psychiatric deinstitutionalization has aimed to enhance patient autonomy, social integration, and overall quality of life. However, limited studies have examined how concurrent substance use—particularly alcohol, marijuana, and inhalable drugs—affects clinical outcomes in these populations. This [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: The worldwide shift toward psychiatric deinstitutionalization has aimed to enhance patient autonomy, social integration, and overall quality of life. However, limited studies have examined how concurrent substance use—particularly alcohol, marijuana, and inhalable drugs—affects clinical outcomes in these populations. This study aimed to evaluate psychiatric patients with varying degrees of institutionalization and investigate whether substance use complicates or exacerbates treatment outcomes. We hypothesized that individuals using substances would demonstrate worse psychosocial functioning, higher healthcare costs, and increased readmission rates. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 95 participants recruited from long-term care facilities. Participants completed the SF-36 survey validated in Romanian. Financial data were collected to gauge direct and indirect healthcare expenditures. Results: Results indicated that 34.7% of participants reported alcohol use, 12.6% used marijuana, and 9.5% used inhalable substances. Substance-using patients experienced higher mean hospitalization costs of approximately USD 3251.8, compared to non-users (USD 2743.6, p = 0.032). Quality-of-life scores were significantly lower among substance users (mean SF-36 score 58.4 vs. 66.7, p = 0.027). Rates of relapse and readmission were also notably higher in the substance-using cohort (42.1%) relative to non-users (29.8%, p = 0.041). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first Romanian study—and one of only a handful in Europe—to quantify how specific substance-use profiles simultaneously alter quality of life and direct healthcare costs in a deinstitutionalized psychiatric population. Our findings highlight the need for integrated interventions targeting both mental health and substance abuse. Full article
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15 pages, 217 KiB  
Article
The Institutional Evolution of Chinese University Data Governance: An Analytical Framework Based on Historical Institutionalism
by Duanhong Zhang, Bowen Song, Hongwei Geng, Yiming Chen and Hong Liu
Educ. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 891; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15070891 - 12 Jul 2025
Viewed by 308
Abstract
This article examines the institutional evolution of university data governance in China through the lens of historical institutionalism, offering a novel perspective on this critical topic. This framework provides a structured approach to analyzing the role of institutional factors, power dynamics, and path [...] Read more.
This article examines the institutional evolution of university data governance in China through the lens of historical institutionalism, offering a novel perspective on this critical topic. This framework provides a structured approach to analyzing the role of institutional factors, power dynamics, and path dependence in shaping university data governance. Since the onset of the information age, Chinese university data governance has evolved through three distinct phases: functional departmentalism, cross-departmental collaborative governance with hierarchical structures, and governance focused on data openness and application. At a deeper level, shifts in governmental data governance serve as key indicators of transformations in university data governance, demonstrating the interplay between institutional frameworks and power structures. Path dependence is evident, with rational choices made by both the government and universities driving the persistence of existing governance models. Legitimacy emerges as the core driving force behind these institutional changes, while efficiency acts as an accelerator, contingent on legitimacy. To advance data governance, Chinese universities must break free from path dependence, reform institutional frameworks, and adapt data power structures to meet the evolving demands of data openness and effective application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Higher Education Governance and Leadership in the Digital Era)
25 pages, 2940 KiB  
Article
Sustainability in Action: Analyzing Mahasarakham University’s Integration of SDGs in Education, Research, and Operations
by Woraluck Sribanasarn, Anujit Phumiphan, Siwa Kaewplang, Mathinee Khotdee, Ounla Sivanpheng and Anongrit Kangrang
Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6378; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146378 - 11 Jul 2025
Viewed by 416
Abstract
The UI GreenMetric World University Ranking has become a widely adopted instrument for benchmarking institutional sustainability performance; nevertheless, empirically grounded evidence from universities in diverse regional contexts remains scarce. This study undertakes a rigorous appraisal of the extent to which Mahasarakham University (MSU) [...] Read more.
The UI GreenMetric World University Ranking has become a widely adopted instrument for benchmarking institutional sustainability performance; nevertheless, empirically grounded evidence from universities in diverse regional contexts remains scarce. This study undertakes a rigorous appraisal of the extent to which Mahasarakham University (MSU) has institutionalized the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within its pedagogical offerings, research portfolio, community outreach, and governance arrangements during the 2021–2024 strategic cycle. Employing a mixed-methods design and guided by the 2024 UI GreenMetric Education and Research indicators, this investigation analyzed institutional datasets pertaining to curriculum provision, ring-fenced research funding, 574 peer-reviewed sustainability publications, student-led community initiatives, and supporting governance mechanisms; the analysis was interpreted through a Plan–Do–Check–Act management lens. The number of sustainability-oriented academic programs expanded from 49 to 58. Student participation in community service activities strongly recovered following the COVID-19 pandemic, and MSU’s GreenMetric score increased from 7575 to 8475, thereby elevating the institution to the 100th position globally. These gains were facilitated by strategic SDG-aligned investment, cross-sector collaboration, and the consolidation of international partnerships anchored in Thailand’s Isaan region. The MSU case provides a transferable model for universities—particularly those operating in resource-constrained contexts—endeavoring to align institutional development with the SDGs and internationally recognized quality benchmarks. The findings substantiate the capacity of transformative education and applied research to engender enduring societal and environmental benefits. Full article
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