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There is an ever-increasing demand for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to engage with the challenges of the changing labour market contexts and trends, such as the Fifth Industrial Revolution and the new normal. However, a major criticism is that higher education institutions do not often prepare graduates for real-life contexts. For that reason, it is not surprising that graduate employability and the competencies required have become the primary concerns of HEIs. Often, we see the phrases "competency" and "employability" presented in the literature as essential requirements for graduates to attain gainful employment streams. Some studies also present them as interrelated concepts. However, we seldom find studies that unravel their intertwined relationships. This article tries to bridge this gap by looking into the role of HEIs in promoting the development of competencies for employability. We used a structured questionnaire to collect the quantitative data from 389 postgraduate students enrolled in a generic stream from an Indian State, Kerala. This paper proposes and tests a structural model of relationships between the perceived competencies of the postgraduates and their perceived career preparedness and, subsequently, perceived employability. This paper also highlights the need to reimagine tertiary education to suit the demands of changing times.

Neoliberalism has been the hegemonic ideology that has fundamentally transformed planning over the last four decades. Neoliberalism has significantly restructured pre-existing organisations, such as universities that were initially expanded during the period of industrial capitalism. From Foucault's perspective, universities work as components of the dominant control apparatus to subjectively normalise people to docile bodies in the capitalist society. In planning schools, new planning students are introduced to the discipline and its values, norms, knowledge, and practices. This article explores how neoliberalism has changed planning education and subsequently practice in favour of the market operation by detaching planning from its intellectual and theoretical context, and used planning as its scapegoat to conceal its failures. Following the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2008 and the global pandemic of COVID-19, several thinkers, economists and politicians have declared that 'neoliberalism is dead' and pointed to the necessity of a new doctrine to address the adverse side effects of neoliberalism that include social inequality and climate change. Planning was initially developed to address the environmental issues and social inequality that resulted from industrial capitalism. This article suggests that planning education should traverse neoliberalism by retrieving its critical and theoretical knowledge to redefine its role in the post-neoliberal era.

Recent technological developments have brought about innovations in many fields, such as education, health, economy, and finance. One of these innovations is the concept of digital transformation, which changes the way businesses, institutions, and organizations do business. The concept of digital transformation began with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and brought new technologies to it. The emergence of digital technologies has revolutionized various aspects of society, including education. Digital transformation has emerged as a powerful catalyst that reshapes traditional educational practices and offers new opportunities for teaching and learning. In particular, with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the whole world, online education has become very important, and all educational institutions have started to integrate their systems into this change. In addition, with the philosophy of lifelong learning, it has become very easy to access training on digital platforms. In line with this information, this study aims to reveal the developments in the historical process of digital transformation and education between 2000 and 2023 in the Web of Science database and to carry out bibliometric analysis by scanning the articles and books published to determine the most studied topics in the field. To achieve the aim of the study, the keywords "digital transformation and education" were scanned. As a result of this search, 2,739 publications were published. These publications were analyzed according to year, research area, country-based distribution, subject distribution, and the most used keywords. As a result of the research, when the research areas of the articles are examined, it is seen that the most studied area is "Education and educational research" and "business". This situation can be said that digital transformation is a very remarkable subject in the field of education and business. When we look at the distribution according to years, it is clear that the greatest acceleration occurred in the last five years. This shows that digital transformation has been increasingly emphasized in recent years. In terms of countries, the subject is studied more in countries such as Germany, Spain, the United States, and Russia.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has been the subject of discussion, and in most cases, it has been seen as a threat to jobs and conventional methods of performing certain activities. As a result, concerns over the preparation of the South African educational systems for the 4IR have been raised. Many industries still lack an advanced understanding of the 4IR, but the concept is already gaining ground in various economic areas. Thus, academics, business professionals, and legislators are paying closer attention to 4IR. The researchers were inspired to examine how the 4IR techniques were applied in South African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to advance the growth and development of teaching and learning by this noticeable knowledge gap. To investigate how 4IR technologies improve the growth and development of teaching and learning in South African HEIs, this study used a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology. A search procedure, research keywords, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and quality assessments of chosen literature were used in conjunction with the SLR approach. Twenty-one documents were retained after selecting them according to their theme and outline objectives. This study found that some South African HEIs have successfully adopted 4IR virtual and contact instruction technologies. The research further found that academics and support staff utilized various 4IR tools. This is done through a virtual or hybrid classroom, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), with different devices to send students messages, schedule Zoom classes, and provide feedback and educational resources. However, the study presented recommendations that academics can use to ensure that the 4IR is effectively integrated to support the expansion and improvement of teaching and learning in HEIs. Future research directions were suggested, and the study came to the conclusion that South Africa could change the direction of the management of the education sector by implementing various 4IR tools in HEIs.

Choice of career is one of the most important decisions that everyone makes in life. This choice in most cases determines placement in the workplace. The determinants of the choices students make career-wise include parents, peers, passion and perceived prospects among others. The choice of career made by individuals have long-term implications on their employability status most especially in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) which aims at raising global income levels and improve the quality of life for populations around the world through applied science and technology. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The multi-stage sampling procedure was used. A purposive sampling technique was used to select five faculties out of the existing thirteen faculties at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Five hundred (500) undergraduates were selected across the five selected faculties using simple random sampling technique with 100 students selected from each faculty. Descriptive and Inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected for the study. The study found out that parental values and expectations has significant influence on the career choice of students and that career choice in turn has significant relationship with their employability prospects. The paper recommended among others the need for students to be allowed to make their career choices based on interest and ability with proper guidance by parents and surrogate parents.

Background: In the education sector, technologies are (or can be) repurposed in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) to facilitate teaching and learning. However, this shift may impact on learners' access to reading materials and reading motivation. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine whether Grade 8 English First Additional Language (FAL) learners' motivation to read is influenced by access to reading materials in a traditional classroom setting or through online reading platforms. Method: Likert-scale survey questionnaires were used to measure this relationship. Data from 466 Grade 8 English FAL learners from six South African township schools were collected and SPSS version 25 was used to analyse the data. Results: In traditional classrooms, the findings showed that increased access positively influenced motivation, whereas this effect was not evident in online reading platforms. However, in both settings, motivation increased when learners had access to a diverse selection of reading materials. Finally, the findings indicated a parallel relationship between learners' low motivation and limited access to reading platforms. Conclusion: The study concluded that while traditional classrooms continue to play an important role in global education, the ongoing evolution of technology-based learning platforms has compelled a shift in reading practices toward online platforms, which are reshaping the educational landscape, demonstrating the increasing significance of technology-mediated learning in modern education. Contribution: The authors recommend enhanced collaboration between teachers and learners to devise innovative methods for motivating online reading, ensuring learners' inclusion in the 4IR literacy pedagogy evolution.

This study aims to evaluate the opportunities and limitations of switching from conventional, face-to-face education to online, asynchronous education made possible by the Fourth Industrial Revolution's technology. This transition has been considerably expedited in several nations by the COVID-19 epidemic. Desktop analysis was used to conduct the research, along with non-intrusive approaches, including documentary analysis and conceptual analysis, and reliable sources were consulted. The research findings identified several barriers to the broad implementation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution asynchronous online education in emerging nations to address COVID-19's effects and keep the needs of the revolution. Among these challenges are poverty and inequality, power shortages, a lack of knowledge, restricted access to technology and the internet in rural areas, and a clear national policy. Despite these difficulties, institutions can increase access to top-notch education by establishing themselves as centres of excellence and innovation through online learning. Therefore, for the infrastructure required to enable the widespread use of asynchronous education, the education sector in emerging nations requires additional resources. Therefore, the study recommends that educational institutions in emerging markets prioritize investments in digital infrastructure and training. This will enable a smoother transition to asynchronous online education. Additionally, policymakers should develop comprehensive strategies that address the digital divide, ensuring equitable access to technology and the Internet, especially in rural and underserved areas. Collaboration between governments, educational institutions, and private sectors is essential for the effective implementation of 4IR technologies in education.

Making the most of online or hybrid teaching platforms is essential to making sure that, in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), higher education settings in developing universities and places are not left behind. While a number of the technological platforms adopted during the COVID-19 lockdown have the potential to reach more kids, they have also overloaded educators and pupils. Therefore, it seems ironic that the same technology that makes it possible for higher education to offer online courses also frequently impedes student progress and places restrictions on the pedagogy of teachers. Regardless of format, the teaching and learning encounter should not come at the expense of caring for the actual student in the ever-changing hybrid teaching model that most tertiary institutions have since adopted. Therefore, the interest of this article is on how 'care pedagogies' might improve online teaching and learning at developing universities. In this sense, the role of university teachers should be reflected not only by the number of students engaged in class content, but also by the embodied cultural capital that students bring to online, face-to-face and hybrid learning spaces.

It is widely believed digital technologies are transforming all aspects of economy and society, driven by scientific advances across interdisciplinary fields and innovations relating to artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, etc. But what, if anything, is revolutionary about these developments and what are the implications for the neo-liberal opportunity bargain based on a market competition where 'learning equals earning'. This article outlines different interpretations of the 'fourth industrial revolution' presenting contrasting theories of labour scarcity and job scarcity, to highlight why we need to rethink education, opportunity and the future of work in a context of increasing job scarcity. This is urgent not because we are approaching the end of work, but the end of 'knowledge' work as understood in public policy, with no viable solution to how to create in a new opportunity bargain for a fair and efficient future of work.

The discourse that revolves around the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Vietnam has witnessed participation from policy makers, business circles, and academics. This study sought to explore the future of Vietnamese workforce's awareness and competencies in meeting labour market needs in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To capture these awareness and competencies, the study used the mixed method. Questionnaires were initially conducted with 800 third- and fourth-year students who were studying in four fields: social sciences and humanities, science and technology, natural sciences, and finance and banking in public and private universities in Ho Chi Minh City. Thirty lecturers and managers from private and state-owned enterprises were then invited to participate in interviews to gain a multidimensional perspective. Analyses showed the large proportion of students had heard of the Fourth Industrial Revolution primarily from the media, which led to a difference in both awareness and behaviour towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The survey students had a positive outlook on employment trends, but felt doubtful and diffident about job-seeking after graduation. From a multidimensional perspective, the study also pointed out obsolete knowledge, traditional teaching, and the shortage of connection between universities and enterprises. The present study provided significant implications for higher educational institutions in the development of future training programmes to prepare the future workforce for the digital economy.

Implementation of the practices of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is currently a trendy topic worldwide since various interruptions are expected. Education is considered as a major tool to equip people with the necessary kills to be prepared for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Botswana's education system was ranked among the top ten on the African continent. Hence, this study explored the 4IR and education in Botswana, using a scoping review. The literature was analysed and presented, using themes. The findings showed that factors such as curriculum issues, lack of electricity in rural areas, amongst others are stumbling blocks in Botswana's way as it continues to prepare itself for the 4IR through education. Also, there is limited scholarly work on education and the 4IR, specifically from the perspective of Botswana. Hence, research into current practices in the education sector and institutions of learning in Botswana was recommended.

This paper proposes an original synthesis of teleological aims and priorities of Christian colleges and universities. Based on historical trends and trajectories, I provide a typology of ages based on the purpose of college education and the subsequent views of human personhood: the age of faith, the age of reason, the age of industrialization, and the age of feeling. Each age emphasizes a particular view of personhood and a corresponding view of human flourishing. The paper concludes with an argument for an Augustinian anthropology and purpose. Opposed to the previous models of personhood and flourishing, Augustine and his successors posit that human beings exist fundamentally as lovers, with the heart or soul as central to biblical anthropology and epistemology, and the flourishing life as the double-love of God and neighbor in God.

An undergraduate course in development economics presents an ideal opportunity to introduce students to the importance of gender differences in economic outcomes. The authors of this article argue that a systematic integration of gender into development economics courses based on standard textbooks is feasible and desirable. They provide a gendered narrative of how to engender a development economics course in the Global North using as examples topics that are commonly taught and show how gender-aware scholarly articles, classroom activities, and assignments can complement a course based on a standard textbook or set of articles. They engender three main sections of a prototype development economics course: meanings and measures of economic development; strategies for economic development; and salient issues in development; and they add a forward-looking section on creating equitable development.

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of an intervention program based on the PROSPER, a comprehensive framework which emphasises the importance of "positivity," "relationships," "outcome," "strength," "purpose," "engagement," and "resilience" in pre-service teachers' well-being in Hong Kong. Participants were pre-service pre-school teachers (N = 77) who participated in a 1-month randomised control trial with four intervention workshops. They were randomly assigned to either intervention (n = 40) or wait-list control conditions (n = 37). A survey with measures that assessed PROSPER well-being components was administered to participants before and after the intervention. Findings of repeated measures "MANCOVA" revealed no significant time x group interaction effect, Wilks' Lambda "F"(7, 50) = 1.66, p = 0.14, [eta-squared] = 0.19. Results of univariate analyses showed that a significant time x group interaction effect existed in relationship component ([eta-squared] = 0.08), indicating that the intervention was effective in facilitating pre-service pre-school teachers' positive relationships with their peers. Findings underscore the potential benefits of designing positive psychological interventions for teachers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose: This study aims at analyzing the impact of perceptions of the fourth industrial revolution (crisis and opportunity) in the relationship between workers' career attitudes and future learning intentions. Design/methodology/approach: This study analyzed the multiple mediating effect of the perception of the fourth industrial revolution in the relationship between career attitudes and future learning intention using data of 305 Korean workers. As career attitude variables, boundaryless and protean career orientation variables were used, and perception of the fourth industrial revolution was analyzed (opportunity and crisis perception). Findings: Both workers' boundaryless career orientation and protean career orientation influenced future learning intention through the perception of opportunity for the fourth industrial revolution. This result suggested that flexible career attitudes positively recognized the changes of the fourth industrial revolution and had an effect on promoting attitude toward future learning. Research limitations/implications: The study confirmed that workers' flexible career attitudes could promote perception of opportunity rather than crisis in changing situation and strengthen their intention to prepare for the future by mediating this perception. These results suggest that lifelong learning and competency development can be reinforced by facilitating perception of an opportunities for external change for individual career development. Originality/value: Insights for personal career development were provided by analyzing the relationship between flexible career attitudes, which are increasing in importance in the modern society, and perceptions of changes in external environment.

Research on Artificial Intelligence, especially in the field of machine learning, has exploded in the twenty-first century. AI research in universities has long been funded by a combination of government and corporate sources. The funding of AI research in the contemporary university includes technology companies as both funders and generators of research areas. This paper looks at the links between technology companies and AI research in three areas: first, the ways in which technology companies influence both the content and practices of AI research in universities; second, how university research policies enable conditions that blur traditional boundaries between corporate and academic AI research; and third, how an ethos of 'open science', that is increasingly corporatised, moves ideas about AI from universities to companies. We conclude that technology companies influence AI research within established feedback loops in the transformed relationships between economy, society, research, and the contemporary university.

This paper delineates the intellectual history of endeavours to generate a unified science of child welfare in Finland in the early twentieth century by elucidating the efforts of leading Finnish protagonists to depict the concept of child welfare science. The idea of such a new science was not unique to Finland; similar trends emerged extensively throughout the industrialising world, in which child welfare was being increasingly championed. The fundamental reasons given for developing a child welfare science in Finland were linked with ambitions to develop child welfare as a consistent system in modern society. The aspiration to develop a scientific basis for child welfare was not only about adapting relevant research-based knowledge to practice, but also about creating historical and theoretical self-understanding in the field. The intention was to construct a comprehensive conceptual framework for the child welfare needed in policymaking, legislation, and systems building, as well as in the development of professional practices. Although focusing on Finland, the review is of more general significance.

Over time, the concept of social movement has evolved as society has changed, but has always implied collective action in the public space. The form of social contestation has changed, according to the conjuncture of each historical period. In 18th century, the transition from the Old Regime to Liberalism provoked movements considered by some authors as "primitive" or "premodern," as they were spontaneous, sporadic and depoliticized. Industrial society of the 19th century gave rise to the labor movement and trade unionism, which from then on organized the social movements. In the 20th century there were changes and innovation in the collective way of acting, there was the emergence of a series of social movements that differ from the traditional in terms of the objectives and actors involved, such as the pacifist, ecologist, feminist movements, acting on the fringes of parties and unions. The 21st century has witnessed a set of movements that begin on social networks, such as Generation Scratch, Outraged, Occupy Wall Street, Screw the Troika, and quickly outgrow local scales to become global. Through the use of a theoretical and conceptual framework derived from the theories of social movements and taking into account the current transformation of collective action that has been witnessed in the 21st century, we intend to verify if we are facing a new social phenomenon or another phase of "repertoire" change.

The advent of COVID-19 exposed the lack of readiness for school leaders to cope with demands of leading during a pandemic. Globally, school leaders were not trained to deal with a crisis of COVID-19 proportions. Leaders in the twenty-first century need to have the required skills like the twenty-first century leadership skills and Fourth Industrial Revolution skills. This study investigated how school leaders are handling the challenges of school leadership under the COVID-19 pandemic in the 4IR era. This study adopted a qualitative research approach. An analysis of local and international literature was done to identify gaps. The study revealed that school leaders and teachers have inadequate information and communication technology skills. Leadership preparation programmes are lagging behind in preparing school leaders to lead in a crisis. Furthermore, the study revealed that school leaders and teachers do not establish communities of learning to learn leadership skills from each other. The study has concluded that there is no alignment between the level of readiness for school leaders and leadership skills of the twenty-first century.

The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is introducing developments in Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and other technologies in different sectors of our society, including education. This reality leads to a paradigm shift in which web-based cyber-physical environments will shape future learning environments. Thus, learning becomes ubiquitous, and schools assume new roles with systemic changes in communication, administration and management, becoming learning organisations. The use of technologies aligned with pedagogical strategies and new methodologies must lead to more-personalised systems. In this article, a comprehensive definition of smart schools is proposed. Smart schools must be endowed with integral management systems, inclusive, sustainable, and adopt new learning methodologies and advances from Industry 4.0 in an efficient way. Despite this conception and because research, government policies and business projects are not always in line with research, there is a need for deeper knowledge of how schools are approaching their upcoming transformation. To illuminate this purpose, in this study 37 principals from primary and secondary schools in Catalonia were interviewed. Thematic analysis focusing on technological and pedagogical innovations, management systems, inclusion, and sustainability identified some analogies with related research, pointing out that schools are far from implementing advanced technologies. Inclusion is the most-respected element thanks to the existing government regulation. Sustainability is hardly considered because of a lack of economic resources, but several schools consider themselves green schools and exhibit environmental practices. Conclusions are drawn to show that, although schools are not yet prepared to cope with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, its impact relies on the technology's level of maturity and ease of use, as well as stakeholders as policymakers.

Richard Kerridge and Helen Snelson present a brief sequence of lessons using the life of the Gypsy woman Mary Squires as a way into the changes of industrialising Britain. More significantly, they also present a compelling rationale for why history teachers should be slotting in the stories of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people to broaden inclusive representation and challenge intolerance. The authors provide useful links and resources for this specific area of inclusive teaching, as well as broader suggestions for how to portray the history of all the people in Britain in the history classroom.

Jacob Olivey set out to design enquiries which would enable his pupils to reconstruct, using evidence, the perspectives of people in the past. In this article he shares in detail the planning and outcomes of two enquiries: one for Year 7 and one for Year 8. Olivey offers a example of 'the curriculum as the progression model', considering how to plan for progression in pupils' thinking about historical perspectives and showing how his curriculum was designed to achieve this.

In the ongoing march of industrial evolution there comes along technologies that have the power to transform businesses as we know it. The Internet revolutionized business/marketing in the nineties and today and bockchain has the potential to do the same for commercial transactions. Blockchain is a peer-to-peer model that can speed up processes resulting in robust tracking and reducing costs of transactions. Given the implications of this far-reaching technology, it is essential for marketing students to understand its significance in the conduct of marketing activities. Consequently, it is imperative that faculty comprehend aspects of the technology and its applications in marketing to integrate them in marketing courses. The purpose of the paper is to enlighten marketing faculty on the concept of blockchain in a non-technical manner along with highlighting its applications in marketing that can be imparted through their courses. To do so, the paper is structured around three research questions relating to (a) understanding the idea of blockchain technology; (b) expounding on the importance of the technology in marketing applications; and (c) illustrating how marketing faculty can integrate the concepts and application in marketing courses.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote masterpieces describing the exploitation and victimisation of the socially disadvantaged who were affected by industrialisation in the 19th century. In "The Brothers Karamazov," Pavel Fyodorovich Smerdyakov (hereafter, Smerdyakov) plays a critical role in various spheres of the story. His birth was the result of the rape of Lizaveta Smerdyastchaya by Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov (hereafter, Fyodor). Tragically, Lizaveta died immediately after the delivery. Grigory and Marfa, Fyodor's serfs, adopted Smerdyakov, who then also grew up as a serf. Eventually, Smerdyakov murders Fyodor, and accordingly, this destined act turned Smerdyakov into a hybrid of goodness and evilness, being described by the narrator as 'a contemplative', which makes the story quite complicated and tragic. Despite his complexities, Smerdyakov remains one of the least-discussed characters in the studies hitherto. Hence, this paper has two aims, the first of which is the discussion of the meaning of the early life of Smerdyakov by revealing a tragic tension within him. It will also discuss education for a contemplative like Smerdyakov from the perspectives of polyphony as advocated by Bakhtin -- as it is important to view the contemplative as an indispensable protagonist and understand them through listening.

Purpose: This paper aims to examine the possible link among the African Development Bank (AfDB), Results Measurement Framework 2016-2025 and the research published at institutions of higher education on the continent in the last five years. The unregulated commercialisation of higher education in most African countries has been prone to large-scale abuse through wanting curriculum development and processes accruing to competence, skills needy and job market disoriented graduates. Design/methodology/approach: This study took a qualitative literature review analysis where research papers published in the last five years on higher education in Africa were searched. These were from Google and Semantic scholar and these were categorised in a detailed concept matrix. Findings: Findings indicate that there is hardly a connection between the AfDB Group development agenda on the continent and the research conducted and published by institutions of higher learning on the continent. Practical implications: Universities should prioritise a needs-based research agenda in their strategic planning and this implies commitment in terms of funding, human resource competency empowerment and partnerships with development agencies on the continent. African institutions of higher learning have not emphasised applied research practices to tackle pervading knowledge needs on the continent. Just like findings indicate, research in most of these institutions has been donor driven. Originality/value: This study brings to speed the fact that if transforming Africa is going to take a strategic direction in the post-COVID-19 era, then partnerships between higher education institutions and development agencies operating on the continent will be an inevitable venture.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the industry's expectations on the key employability skills of fresh graduates in the communication and media industry. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has raised the question of whether the university should produce work-ready graduates with employability skills. Driven by the theory of human capital, society expects higher education to produce graduates with skills that are useful in their workplace. Design/methodology/approach: The data were gathered primarily through a quantitative survey, which was later extended to include qualitative interviews. Quantitatively, questionnaires were completed by 313 employers from the middle and top-level management from the communication and media industry. This study also expands on qualitative data through in-depth interviews with nine respondents who were among key decision-makers of recruiting graduates to garner their insights on required employability skills. Findings: The findings revealed the following employability skills required by the industry in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: communication, ICT or digital, leadership, interpersonal, and personal qualities skills. Research limitations/implications: These findings are beneficial to education providers as well as media and communication industries in preparing students and developing their skills to adapt to the changes in the workplace. Originality/value: The authors provide an empirical understanding of industry expectations towards employability skills in the Fourth Industrial Revolution of the communication and media industry within the Malaysian context.

This paper examines three interrelated factors outside of formal provision of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in sub-Saharan Africa that have undermined TVET systems. The first is the process, pace, and levels of industrialisation, which has had a direct effect on TVET provision: low numbers of well-paying jobs requiring technical expertise. This has an indirect effect, which is the second crucial factor: lack of economic development and change in labour markets. There are very few jobs that would be considered 'middle class' or 'mid-level' in wealthy countries. Most people are in survivalist work. An international consensus since the 2000s on palliative approaches to development which address the effects but not the causes of the lack of economic development in Africa has resulted in mass poor quality provision of education--the third factor. Education systems are rapidly expanding and achievement levels rising, in the context of very little possibility of labour market rewards for most people, and substantial labour market rewards confined mainly to graduates. This reinforces deeply embedded cultural preferences for general education, which originate in the type of education systems established by colonial powers, as well as the relationships between educational credentials and elite jobs.

Purpose: The present paper aims to examine the concept of "plant blindness" in the context of current sustainability debates. "Plant blindness" was the term introduced in 1999 by the botanists and educators James H Wandersee and Elisabeth E Schussler to describe what they saw as a pervasive insensitivity to the green environment and a general neglect of plants on the part of biology education. Design/methodology/approach: The fundamental importance of plants for life on Earth and the socio-educational challenges of redacted awareness of this importance are considered. Also, the diverse physiological, psychological, philosophical, cultural and geopolitical origins and consequences of indifference to plants in relation to aspects of sustainability agendas are examined with special reference to education. Findings: An examination of the outcomes of a range of research and practical initiatives reveals how multidisciplinary approaches to education and public engagement have the potential to address the challenge of "plant blindness". The need for these opportunities to be reflected in curriculums is not widely appreciated, and the socio-economic forces of resistance to confronting plant neglect continue to be formidable. Originality/value: Plant blindness is a relatively new field of research, and the full breadth of its implications are only gradually becoming apparent. If the present paper contributes to positioning plants as an essential element in sustainability education and practice, it will have met its objective.

The article explores the role of the "Syndicat du matériel et mobilier scolaire de l'enseignement" in supplying French school materials to several countries, including Mexico, Canada, and Brazil, in order to demonstrate the profitability of a new industry, the school industry, and of a new type of trade, the transnational trade in school artefacts used as didactic resources. It is divided into four parts. The Introduction presents the context in which this commercial activity flourished, favoured by the developments of the second industrial revolution and the new educational guidelines associated with mass schooling and the method of "object lessons". Next, it characterises the enterprise in Brazil, from the presentation of commercial agents operating in the states of Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo to the identification of the strategies mobilised for the sale and importation from France of school artefacts, conceived as merchandise. In the third part the lens is reversed, and the objective is to examine the ways in which purchases were made by the public education administration in São Paulo. As a final comment, the article reaffirms the connections between the values of capitalist society, consumption practices and the material elementary schooling universe between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The liberal theory of industrialism is one of the chief political theories impacting education. Such a framework associates academic achievement directly with employability and establishes education's dominant position in mediating social mobility. However, Chinese graduates are confronted with the broken promises of higher education, since college credentials are no longer regarded as 'golden tickets' that guarantee decent jobs or high social status. Therefore, this paper establishes a critical framework for analysing the liberal theory of industrialism. By referencing to empirical research, the current study provides an in-depth discussion from the national perspective and offers explanations from both quantitative and qualitative evidence. The study suggests that the implementation of the theory in egalitarian societies has been largely compromised with regard to meritocratic selection. Meanwhile, the theory relies on a veil of ignorance, for it assumes that people would have a unanimous perception regarding social status. In both respects, it is argued to be incompatible with the contemporary Chinese context. Thus a more comprehensive and flexible perspective is needed to identify functions of higher education in developing countries.

This study investigates the effects of the organization of industrial Research & Development on industrial researchers' knowledge acquisition behavior. Specifically, we test a model about how the fit of individuals with their research tasks affects whether industrial researchers acquire knowledge from outside their assigned projects. Empirical analyses from the R&D laboratory of a global pharmaceutical company show that person-task-fit has a non-linear effect on the knowledge content exchanged through interpersonal interactions. Implications for the management and organization of R&D activities are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, marriage breakup or divorce has become a significant issue, and Bangladesh is no exception. The divorce rate among urban women has dramatically increased in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka City. This study aims to uncover the factors contributing to the rising divorce rate among women in Dhaka. Utilizing desk-based research and expert interviews, it critically examines the causes of marriage breakdown. The study argues that industrialization, women's empowerment, and feminist movements have fostered a rise in individualism among women in Dhaka, making them more educated and empowered compared to those in other Bangladeshi cities. This individualism serves as a deterrent against physical and mental abuse, extramarital affairs, authoritarian attitudes, and other forms of discrimination traditionally faced by women. Women's sense of individualism also fosters intolerance toward unhappy marriages, allowing them to pursue independent lives due to their financial solvency. Additionally, the study identifies other factors negatively impacting divorce-seeking behavior, including drug addiction, marital dissatisfaction over infertility or impotence, extramarital affairs due to partner absence, and the influence of social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The latest developments in the industrial Internet of things (IIoT) have opened up a collection of possibilities for many industries. To solve the massive IIoT data security and efficiency problems, a potential approach is considered to satisfy the main needs of IIoT, such as high throughput, high security, and high efficiency, which is named blockchain. The blockchain mechanism is considered a significant approach to boosting data protection and performance. In the quest to amplify the capabilities of blockchain‐based IIoT, a pivotal role is accorded to the Glowworm Swarm Optimization (GSO) algorithm. Inspired by the collaborative brilliance of glowworms in nature, the GSO algorithm offers a unique approach to harmonizing these conflicting aims. This paper proposes a new approach to improve the performance optimization of blockchain‐based IIoT using the GSO algorithm due to the blockchain's contradictory objectives. The proposed blockchain‐based IIoT system using the GSO algorithm addresses scalability challenges typically associated with blockchain technology by efficiently managing interactions among nodes and dynamically adapting to network demands. The GSO algorithm optimizes the allocation of resources and decision‐making, reducing inefficiencies and bottlenecks. The method demonstrates considerable performance improvements through extensive simulations compared to traditional algorithms, offering a more scalable and efficient solution for industrial applications in the context of the IIoT. The extensive simulation and computational study have shown that the proposed method using GSO considerably improves the objective function and blockchain‐based IIoT systems' performance compared to traditional algorithms. It provides more efficient and secure systems for industries and corporations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epoxides are high‐valued intermediates in the production of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, and polymers. Given the growing demand for epoxides, it is imperative to develop more environmental friendly and sustainable routes instead of the chlorohydrin process. Notably, the direct utilization of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for the epoxidation reaction presents significant advantages from both environmental and economic perspectives. The review provides insights into both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts employed in the 1‐butene epoxidation using the green oxidant H2O2. Among the diverse range of catalysts, titanosilicate‐1 (TS‐1) has garnered extensive attention due to its exceptional selectivity and high oxygen atom utilization. The aim of this review is to illustrate various strategies for TS‐1 catalysts preparation that can lead to more versatile, higher‐performance, and greener epoxidation processes. Additionally, various potential approaches to enhance the catalyst performance of TS‐1 are highlighted, including (i) constructing specific coordination modes of Ti sites, (ii) regulating the microenvironment around Ti sites, and (iii) improving the accessibility of Ti sites. Furthermore, advances in molding TS‐1 catalysts are also introduced from the perspective of the industrialization. Finally, future research directions are discussed with emphasis on the application scope of TS‐1 to gain deeper insights into epoxidation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scrophularia L., a genus of the Scrophulariaceae, is a group of important medicinal plants used for eliminating heat and detoxifying. East Asia has an abundance of potentially medicinal Scrophularia species, and it serves as a secondary diversity center of the genus. However, the genomic resources available for germplasm identification and pharmaceutical exploration of East Asian Scrophularia are insufficient, hindering its commercial and industrial development. Additionally, the interspecific relationships of most East Asian Scrophularia species remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we sequenced the leaves of 25 East Asian species of the genus Scrophularia, assembled and annotated the complete chloroplast genomes, and subsequently performed comparative and phylogenetic analyses on these genomes. Results and discussion: The conserved plastome length of these 25 species ranged from 151,582 bp to 153,239 bp, containing a total of 132 coding genes, including 18 duplicated genes and 114 unique genes. Through genome alignment of these 25 species, 38-53 repeated sequences and 7 shared SSRs were identified, along with regions with high nucleotide polymorphism (Pi), which could potentially serve as molecular markers for species identification. The genome structure, gene content, and arrangement showed conservation, while variations were observed in the IR boundary regions and IGS. Phylogenetic inferences based on whole plastomes or on coding sequences (CDS) only yielded congruent results. We categorized the 25 East Asian Scrophularia species into six distinct clades and further explored their interspecies relationships using morphological characteristics, such as flower color, the relative position of stamens and corolla, and plant height. This could lay a genetic basis for future resource development of Scrophularia in East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prolonged dependence on industrial development has accentuated the cumulative effects of pollutants. Simultaneously, influenced by land construction activities and green space depletion, the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect in cities has intensified year by year, jeopardizing the foundation of sustainable urban development. Prudent urban spatial planning holds the potential to robustly ameliorate the persistent deterioration of the UHI phenomenon. This study selects Jinan City as a case study and employs spatial autocorrelation and spatial regression algorithms to explore the spatiotemporal evolution of urban-rural patterns at the township scale. The aim is to identify key factors driving the spatiotemporal differentiation of Land Surface Temperature (LST) from 2013 to 2022. The research reveals a trend of initially rising and subsequently falling LST in various townships, with low-temperature concentration areas in the southern mountainous region and the northern plain area. The "West-Central-East" main urban axis and the southeast Laiwu District exhibit high-temperature zones. Significant influences on LST are attributed to pollution levels, topographical factors, urbanization levels, and urban greenness. The global Moran's Index for LST exceeds 0.7, indicating a strong positive spatial correlation. Cluster analysis results indicate High-High (HH) clustering in the central Shizhong District and Low-Low (LL) clustering in the northern Shanghe County. Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) outperforms Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and Ordinary Linear Regression (OLR), providing a more accurate reflection of the regression relationships between variables. By investigating the spatiotemporal evolution of LST and its driving factors at the township scale, this study contributes insights for future urban planning and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT With the rapid development of industrial technology, industrial processes become increasingly complex, presenting characteristics of large‐scale and multi‐unit collaboration. However, most current fault detection methods focus on nonlinearity, dynamics, and other characteristics, while neglecting spatiotemporal information. To address this issue, an adaptive spatiotemporal decouple graph convolutional network based quality‐related fault detection method is proposed in this article. First, the temporal graph convolutional network and spatial graph convolutional network are combined organically in the form of joint training. Second, considering that fixed graph structures cannot reflect the dynamic relationships among nodes, we proposed an adaptive weighted mask mechanism to construct dynamic correlation graph embedded with priori knowledge. Multi‐attention mechanism is used to integrate spatiotemporal information, besides, we designed a decoupling layer to avoid information redundancy. Finally, the proposed spatiotemporal graph convolutional network is used to establish a regression model, the quality‐related latent variables are extracted by the decoupling layer, and the statistic is constructed based on Kullback–Leibler divergence. The effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method are illustrated with the hot strip mill process and the Tennessee Eastman process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The booming digital economy is promoting industrial upgrading and transformation, providing an opportunity for the industrial low-carbon development. Based on input–output analysis and panel data regression, the impact of the input of intermediate digital products on Chinese industrial carbon intensity from 1997 to 2017 has been evaluated. The results reveal that the input of China's intermediate digital products can significantly reduce industrial carbon intensity, and significantly reduce the carbon intensity of non-energy-intensive industries. It has also been discovered that the input of intermediate digital product manufacturing can significantly reduce the carbon intensity of different types of industries, while the input of the intermediate digital products services industry has no significant effect on the reduction of industrial carbon intensity. Channel analysis shows that the input of the intermediate digital products can reduce industrial carbon intensity by improving productive efficiency and promoting innovative technology. In the current climate, it is especially necessary to increase the input of the intermediate digital product manufacturing industry in industrial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offsite construction is a major approach to promote industrialisation in construction. However, implementation of prevailing industrial solutions is often less adequate and unsatisfactory, especially in renovation projects. Thus, the overall objective of this study is to understand the reasons behind the poor performance in implementation of the industrial solutions. The specific objectives include identifying the prominent barriers and enablers of prefabricated products in renovation projects. This study employed exploratory sequential mixed method. The qualitative data were gathered via semi-structured interviews to collect experiences and perception of experts related to industrial solutions. This was followed by quantitative data collection via questionnaire survey using a seven-point Likert scale. The major barriers and enablers of industrial solutions in renovation projects have been ranked in this study. The findings reveal that immutability of heritage buildings, the tolerances of old buildings and insufficient spaces to ensure construction work ranked the top three barriers for implementing industrial solutions in renovation projects. Moreover, the study identifies the most significant enablers including shorter project schedules, quality improvement and work safety improvement. The novelty of the research lies in the comprehensive presentation of the barriers and enablers of industrial solutions in the renovation project context. Policymakers, designers, and contractors can utilize these findings as guiding principles to enhance decision-making processes and create viable solutions for the obstacles encountered in renovation projects. This study further represents a vital step towards the efficient and effective implementation of industrial solutions in renovation projects, resulting in more sustainable and cost-effective outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries, implementing effective industrial policies faces challenges due to capacity and governance constraints, hindering accumulation of recognised success stories. This impedes our understanding of effective industrial policy tools in countries with accountability deficits. This article explores Russia’s Industrial Development Fund (IDF) support programmes, initiated since 2014, aimed at promoting import substitution through low-interest loans to industrial firms. These IDF programmes appeared to be more effective than most of Russia’s other industrial policy instruments. The article shows that they have resulted in statistically significant sales growth for supported businesses. It highlights institutional features contributing to programme effectiveness, ensuring the integrity of beneficiary selection and project support. It offers valuable insights for organisations implementing state support programmes in challenging governance conditions. Additionally, the recent emergence of more effective industrial policy tools like the IDF may partly explain Russia’s increased economic resilience against international sanctions imposed due to the war in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) offers a promising path for greenhouse gas conversion, but industry usually relies on pressurization conditions, and the drawback of rapid carbon deposition leading to deactivation of conventional catalysts under pressurization has hindered its industrial development. In this study, a cost-effective N-doped Co-based DRM catalyst was developed by utilizing melamine to induce heteroatom doping defects on modified lignite to overcome the problem of deactivation due to rapid carbon deposition under pressurized conditions. The catalyst, Co/CN-40 (Impregnated with 40 wt% melamine), has the smallest metal particle size (3.13 nm), the largest specific surface area (376 m2/g), high defectivity (I D /I G ratio = 0.84), enhanced metal-support interactions and a relatively high pyridine N content (48%). The evaluation of DRM activity and stability at 780 °C and 0.5 MPa demonstrates that Co/CN-40 offers the highest catalytic efficiency. The highest conversion was quickly achieved by the catalyst during activity assessments, and maintain an efficient conversion with suppressed metal agglomeration over a 100-h stability test. These improvements are attributed to the increase in the number of defects which enhances electron transfer, improves metal anchoring and boosts the adsorption and activation of reactant molecules. [Display omitted] • Increased defectivity enhances metal anchoring and inhibits metal sintering. • Co/CN-40 shows the best catalytic performance and activation rate. • Co/CN-40 under pressure effectively inhibits carbon nanotube generation. • Stable catalyst operation relies on enhanced metal anchoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The development of the digital economy has a profound impact on industrial economics. The article starts from the perspective of industrial organization theory. The thesis aims to analyze the industrial development of the digital economy and its three structural variables: digital manufacturing industry, digital service industry, and the development of industrial digitization on carbon emission intensity. Method: Based on the data of Input-output Tables with extended tables of 30 provinces, this paper analyzes the industrial development of digital economy and its three structural variables: digital manufacturing industry, digital service industry, and the development of industrial digitization on carbon emission intensity. Results and discussion: The empirical results show that: 1) at the national level, the development of China's digital economy industries has a suppressive effect on carbon emission intensity; 2) in terms of spatial effects, the development of digital economy has significant carbon spillover effects, but digital industrialization and industrial digitization present different spatial effect results; 3) from the analysis of regional heterogeneity, in the northeast, central and western regions, the direction of influence of digital industrialization and industrial digitalization on carbon emission intensity is consistent; in the eastern region, the development of digital industrial service sector and industrial digitalization has a suppressive effect on carbon emission intensity, while digital industrial manufacturing sector presents a pro-increasing effect; 4) Non-linear relationship analysis shows that the development of the digital industrial manufacturing sector has a "promoting and then inhibiting" effect on carbon emission intensity. Overall, the impact of digital industry development on carbon intensity exhibits a "promoting increase, then suppressing, then promoting increase" trend. In conclusion, the findings suggest that China's digital economy industry has entered the low-carbon development stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), as a promising strategy for storing renewable energy and promoting carbon resource recycling, is critical for industrial development. Previous reports have extensively explored catalyst‐electrolyte microenvironmental modulation to elucidate coupling mechanisms and enhance catalytic conversion to multicarbon products. Currently, most reviews mainly focus on the impact of microenvironment modulation in low‐current systems on mechanism exploration and performance optimization, yet few of them can integrate macroscopic applications with microscopic investigations to explore the relevance between industrial development and catalyst‐electrolyte microenvironmental optimization. To address the gap, this review focuses on summarizing the challenges and advancements in microenvironment modulation for the development of high‐current devices. By introducing models of different scales sequentially, the connection between microenvironmental modulation and device performance is clarified. Then, various invalidation mechanisms and effective solutions are summarized to intuitively expound the impact of microenvironment modulation on high‐current stability. Meanwhile, as an intuitive measure of the rationality of microenvironment modulation, evaluation methods of device performance should be refined, which are also covered in further detail below. Finally, more valuable and challenging prospects are discussed for guiding the further industrial transformation of CO2RR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New arrangements of power are emerging in response to the turbulence generated by the quest to improve life and render it productive. This paper specifies such arrangements by developing the concept of metabolic politics: an apparatus that shifts from discipline to power regulating material, bodily, and environmental transformations. The dominant function of metabolic politics is to render the transformative capacities of living bodies and the circulatory dynamics of materials into object‐targets of governance. Through a comparative analysis of regulating pollution from industrial poultry units in Britain and India, the paper identifies logics of a metabolic politics and distinguishes these from the biopolitics of populations. Metabolic politics entails interventions targeting a milieu rather than deviant populations; its actions are directed at transformative capacities of bodies in addition to improving their productivity; its modes of governance operates via regulation and not just discipline; and its techniques of operation proceed through modulation instead of enclosure. Metabolic politics is a transversal form of power. It is situated and historically contingent, rather than uniform and universal. As a response to crises generated by the industrialisation and cheapening of life, metabolic politics furnishes vital insights into the administration and governance of the contemporary living and material world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the interconnections among industrialization, urbanization, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and carbon emissions (CO2e) across 31 OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries from 1998 to 2020. In addition, it analyzes how education moderates these relationships. This study employs CO2e as the explained variable, while industrialization, urbanization, and FDI serve as explanatory variables, with education as a moderator. This research utilized Hierarchical regression analysis to examine how education moderates the associations among industrialization, urbanization, FDI, and CO2e. Additionally, to validate the reliability of our results, we utilized the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). The results of this study imply that CO2e levels increase with the level of industrialization and urbanization. The pursuit of education also contributed to the increase in CO2e. Moreover, education and industrialization have detrimental effects on CO2e. To fill this gap in the existing literature, this study investigates the relationship between industrialization, urbanization, FDI, and CO2e, a domain with scarce empirical investigations. Furthermore, this study contributes uniquely to the literature by investigating the moderating influence of education on the relationships between independent variables and CO2e. This original aspect of this research aims to enhance our understanding of the complex connections between these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital economy (DE) is a new driver for enhancing total factor productivity (TFP). Using panel data from 30 provinces in China between 2011 and 2022, this study measures DE and TFP using the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method and the Global Malmquist–Luenberger method and further examines the impact of DE on the TFP of industries. The main findings are as follows: (1) DE can significantly improve TFP, though the extent of improvement varies. DE has the greatest impact on the TFP of the service industry, followed by the manufacturing industry, with the weakest effect on the agricultural industry. (2) The enhancement effect of DE on agriculture and the service industry is more pronounced in the central and western regions, while the improvement effect on manufacturing is more evident in the eastern region. (3) DE has facilitated the improvement of TFP in manufacturing industries such as textiles and special equipment manufacturing, as well as in service industries like wholesale and retail. However, it has not had a significant impact on the TFP of industries such as pharmaceutical manufacturing and real estate. This study has significant theoretical value and policy implications for China and other developing countries in exploring DE and achieving high-quality industrial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cymbidium faberi, a member of the Cymbidium genus known for its fragrant blooms and graceful foliage, has recently become endangered in the wild due to reproductive challenges. This study aimed to establish systematically a tissue culture system for Cymbidium faberi Rolfe (wild species) by evaluating the effects of various plant growth regulators its propagation stages, including rhizome proliferation, differentiation, shoot strengthening, and rooting. The results showed that 0.5 mg⋅L-1 thidiazuron significantly promoted rhizome proliferation, achieving a proliferation coefficient of 6.08 after 60 days of culture. For adventitious bud induction, 1.92 mg⋅L-1 brassinolide was most effective, inducing 6.43 buds per rhizome with an average bud height of 5.25 mm after 90 days of culture. The optimal strategy for shoot growth was using 3.0 mg⋅L-1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, resulting in an average shoot height of 6.47 cm after 60 days. The highest rooting rate of 87.5% was achieved with 0.5 mg⋅L-1 zeatin, producing an average of 3.5 roots per shoot with an average root length of 3.06 cm. This study successfully developed a propagation system for C. faberi and highlighted the significant role of BL in promoting rhizome differentiation. In conclusion, this study provides a robust propagation method to support the conservation and industrial development of C. faberi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article briefly examines the life of Mori Arinori, who in 1871 became Japan's first resident diplomat in Washington, D.C., with the primary assignment of making preparations for the upcoming Iwakura Mission. Mori's pedigree of being from a samurai family from Satsuma domain and his unusual background of having already lived in Britain and the United States led senior officials of the new Meiji Imperial government to name Mori to the all-important position of being Japan's top representative to the United States despite his youth – he was only 23 years old at the time of his appointment. Notwithstanding his occasional impatience with Japanese traditions and the more reserved senior officials of the Iwakura Embassy, Mori's connections in Washington D.C., his understanding of American society, and his skill at the English language significantly contributed to the institutional, cultural, and economic information that members of the Japanese delegation gathered. Mori's post-Washington career as an intellectual, diplomat, and top education official in Japan in the late 1870s and 1880s also contributed to his country's progression from the collapse of the Tokugawa Shogunate to the cusp of Japan's international recognition as a major power in a world being transformed by industrialization and imperialism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]