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The increase in borderless digital-based business competition shows how language education is impacted by neoliberalism in this global era. We explore how linguistic technopreneurship (LT) roles is increasingly constructed as a form of linguistic entrepreneurship to exploit language-related resources to enhance one's socioeconomic value strategically. This research aims to critically examine the influence of LT toward business success digitalization for Small Medium Enterprises in West Java and it's implication for Language Education. The research also focusing on the creation of novelty, namely linguistic technopreneurship (LT), which is a refinement of entrepreneurial linguistics (EL). LT is expected to be able to explain how linguistic entrepreneurship can be indexed from two different aspects, namely how to package language education and digital business success. We then discuss under what conditions the notion of linguistic technopreneurship can be applied to digital platform-based business settings and what kind of contradictions this gives rise to. The method used is quantitative, and it involves carrying out SEM analysis. A non-probability sampling technique was used to obtain a minimum of 250 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Industry owners who run their businesses through digital platforms in West Java province, which is the province with the most significant number of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Industries in Indonesia. The research results show that LT significantly influences the success of business success and impact the language education practice. It can be concluded that language education is an added value for a person and influences socioeconomic success.

Context: For many businesses, one of the key indicators in their management is the adaptation of Information Technology in their operations. In Kenya, there has been a phenomenal growth in access to mobile phones, by June 2023, over 66 million mobile phones were connected to various telecommunication operators of which 58.3% were smart phones constituting 67.1% of internet connections. There are many digital technologies which can be adapted to facilitate the processing, dissemination, and access of information. The modern world has become competitive due to the uptake of Information Technology as one of the main business management skill, with the availability of smart phones and many applications that are easily available and easy to use. One of the main beneficiaries of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) is the Jua Kali artisans who are a key player in the Kenyan economy. Entrepreneurial competencies help the growth of businesses along the dimension of innovation. Kenya intends to entrench the use of Information Technology for public service delivery, business, skills, and innovation. The Jua Kali sector cannot be ignored, it contributes more than 80% of the total employment in Kenya. Approach: This research was carried out in the Eastlands of Nairobi, Kenya. Data were collected using a questionnaire, an interview and observation schedule. The study used an interview schedule to collect data from Jua Kali artisans carrying out their artisan businesses in the Eastlands of Nairobi and a questionnaire survey to collect data from a sample of identified Nairobi residents who had engaged an artisan to work for them six months prior to the research. Findings: The research established that most Jua Kali artisans acquired their skills in the Jua Kali sector by apprenticeship (86.3%) while a small percentage (12.7%) trained in Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions while a further one percent were trained by their former employers. Most of the artisans had attained the basic formal education qualifications i.e. primary education (27.9%) and secondary education (47.6%). The Chi-square (?²) test was used to test the relationship between use of the basic social media digital platforms in business management and the formal education attained by artisans owning artisan businesses. Conclusion: At 0.05 level of significance (a) the research established that there is a significant relationship between the adaptation of digital platforms in business management and the formal education attained by the artisans.

This paper seeks to contribute to the knowledge of the relationship established between firms and vocational education and training (VET) schools around work placements in companies (both standard and extended, so-called 'dual', models) in Spain. An ad hoc survey of 332 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from two industrial regions was conducted and a categorical principal components analysis was applied to identify the main dimensions or components of those relationships. The main elements found are related to (i) staff selection and social responsibility; (ii) trust, reciprocity and knowledge sharing with schools; and (iii) the organizational culture of the companies. The results obtained illustrate an evolution from a 'provider-client' scheme towards a more strategic partnership between schools and firms, thus contributing new aspects to the literature available on the Spanish case.

This paper proposes a framework to create a small business and entrepreneurship accelerator designed based on prior work in evolving traditional place-based pedagogy to a more critical pedagogy of place. The case is crafted to utilize the built-in resources of a university as the core components in providing necessary resources for success, including expert-level technical assistance and a safe, empowering third space for collaboration. The included case focuses on a suburban/urban campus near several historically underserved geographies. This is important as the proposed framework for a small business and entrepreneurship accelerator focuses on educating and guiding local populations--including high school students--in growing their businesses. The case in this paper brings together university resources, local community elements, small business owners, social entrepreneurs, and high school students by activating a critical pedagogy of place rooted in improving economic conditions while addressing social issues.

The scope and breadth of the COVID-19 pandemic were unprecedented. This is especially true for business continuity and the related area of cybersecurity. Historically, business continuity and cybersecurity are viewed and researched as separate fields. This paper synthesizes the two disciplines as one, thus pointing out the need to address both topics simultaneously. This study identifies blind spots experienced by businesses as they navigated through the difficult time of the pandemic by using data collected during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. One major shortcoming was that most continuity and cybersecurity plans focused on single-axis threats. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in multi-axes threats, pointing out the need for new business strategies moving forward. We performed multiple regression analysis and constructed a correlation matrix to capture significant relationships between percentage loss of revenue and levels of concern for different business activities moving forward. We assessed the most pervasive issues Florida small businesses faced in October 2020 and broke these down by the number of citations, the total number of impacts cited, and industry affectedness. Key security risks are identified and specific mitigation recommendations are given.

The industrial work practice program is essential in vocational education to prepare students to work according to their fields. Analysis of the level of capability of students who carry out work practices in large and small industries and the differences between aspects that require assistance to be considered. This research also measures the difference in the level of capability of students who carry out work practices in large and small industries. This research uses a quantitative approach and uses a survey method. Two hundred thirty vocational education students were involved in this study out of 596 students. Sampling using a simple probabilistic random sampling technique and collecting data using a Likert scale questionnaire (1-4). Data analysis in this study used one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent sample t-test. The research results on the capability level of students who carry out work practices in large industries obtain a higher score than small industries. The capability aspect significantly differs in value for each type of industry used for program implementation. This research implies that the implementation of industrial work practice programs in vocational education needs to be improved and developed so that industrial work practice programs have better quality results.

A majority of service learning (SL) studies focus on the student benefits and challenges, whereas few consider the organization (community partner) viewpoint. This study examines the value that small businesses place on a marketing-oriented SL project run by the academic Marketing Department at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa. A client programme evaluation was administered via a structured questionnaire and a survey in order to discern the perceptions of 107 small business community partners. Perceived value was cross-tabulated with the performance benefits, lack of value reasons, satisfaction, lasting value, future participation, and student group variables (registration and grades). Small businesses generally found that the SL project added value to their organizations. Those small business community partners who found the SL project less valuable noted reasons such as lack of project coordinator involvement, ineffective communication, and the SL project was not apt for their business.

This systematic literature review (SRL) examines the impact of English educational tourism (EET) on the growth of local Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Through a comprehensive search of academic databases and systematic assessment of study quality, a total of 49 studies were selected for inclusion. The studies varied in design, location, and intervention, but all focused on the relationship between English educational tourism and the growth of local SMEs. This SLR focuses on the typology of SMEs in EET, its impact on rural economy and local community empowerment, and SMEs' challenges in growing their businesses. The findings suggest that English educational tourism can have a positive impact on local SMEs and rural communities, including increased revenue, community empowerment, cultural preservation, and poverty reduction. However, it is crucial to ensure that the benefits of EET are distributed fairly and that local communities are actively involved in the decision-making process to maximize positive impacts and mitigate potential negative impacts. Overall, the results suggest that English educational tourism can be a promising strategy for promoting the growth of local economy, but more research is needed to fully understand the conditions under which this impact is most effective. [The page range (304-318) shown on the .pdf is incorrect. The correct page range is 304-319.]

As the twenty-first century advances technologically, the era is also becoming notorious for the rise of organized cybercrime and attacks on business information and operations. Company data and intellectual property are considered the "New Oil" that generates value for organizations and their constituents. With the escalating number of cybersecurity incidents, businesses--especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)--are increasingly at risk of compromise and economic debilitation. Therefore, current and future business students would benefit from awareness of unfamiliar measures, such as cyber insurance, which can potentially reduce the devastating effects of a cyber incident. In this paper, the authors describe cyber insurance, present a framework that could be incorporated into the classroom to teach risk management techniques, and provide exercise resources.

A global transition to low-carbon, resource-efficient economies is occurring in response to risks posed by climate change and environmental degradation. Hydrogen is proposed as a zero-carbon substitute for natural gas with the potential to reduce carbon emissions in homes and businesses. Trades, including gasfitting, will be affected by the transition to a low-carbon economy and require upskilling to develop competencies to work with hydrogen to ensure safety and support domestic uptake. Understanding the training needs of trades practitioners is essential to the successful transition to a zero-carbon economy. This paper presents findings from a qualitative study of Australian gasfitters, exploring what motivates gasfitters to participate in training, what informs their ongoing learning and what their preferences are for hydrogen training. Most gasfitters are either self-employed or work in small businesses, and, as such, this context presents both challenges and opportunities to consider in upskilling strategies. Drawing on interview findings and literature on small business learning, the paper presents considerations to inform training approaches and policies in the transition to hydrogen and also, more broadly, for upskilling other small trade businesses similarly affected by a shift to low-carbon and green technologies.

Purpose: To advance understanding about the way endogenous knowledge on mangrove swamp rice (MSR) farming is transmitted, reinvented and negotiated between generations and highlight the implications this has for R4D. Design/Methodology/Approach: Long-term qualitative research using an ethnographic approach, technography and biographies of farmers. Findings: The endogenous Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) is dynamic but faces shortcomings owing to socio-environmental changes. This highlights the relevance of knowledge exchanges from multiple sources, eroding the divide between endogenous and exogenous from the farmers' point of view. For positive exogenously induced socio-technical change to occur, external actors must fully understand the conditions under which (a) endogenous knowledge is produced and reinvented and (b) endogenous innovations flow among farmers. This will then allow the co-production of innovations adapted to each specific agro-ecological, cultural and socio-economic context, leaving them to be further transformed and refashioned by smallholders to meet their individual 'dispositions' and generate the roots necessary for a strong AKIS. Practical implications: This paper highlights the importance of locally embedded processes of learning and innovation, the better understanding of which can provide a more solid basis for the co-production of technologies and the establishment of an AKIS. Theoretical implications: This paper improves understanding of socio-technological change in smallholder agriculture by focusing on endogenous processes of learning and innovation. Originality: This paper advances the knowledge on endogenous processes of learning and socio-technical change in smallholder agriculture.

This article outlines a novel approach for career readiness which embeds a global engagement trip within a social entrepreneurship course. Utilizing an empathy driven approach, the instructional innovation exposes students to social impact and innovation in an entrepreneurial setting, provides an opportunity for rich engagements with social and micro-entrepreneurs, and facilitates connection with self and others. Reflexive assignments and dialogues are integrated throughout the instructional innovation allowing students to identify and reflect on their aspirations and intentions for creating societal impact in their career journeys. Participation in this experience has resulted in outcomes related to career goals, including new plans for building social impact into work and renewed social entrepreneurial intentions. Instructions, exercises, and evidence of their effectiveness are provided.

Achieving inclusion and equity in international business (IB) education remains a challenge, given the rising costs of college tuition and the increasingly diverse and non-traditional student population. These changes may reduce the feasibility and relevancy of activities, such as study abroad programs, and an MNE-centric IB curriculum for a significant number of college students today. To overcome these challenges, in this paper, we share our findings from a case study on a virtual service-learning project that fostered cross-border interactions between undergraduate students in North America and small business owners in Central America. Over the course of one semester, students worked to draw connections between their unique individual backgrounds and skill sets, connect IB and global strategy concepts to small business operations, and deepen their understanding of sustainable development. Our findings demonstrate that this practice can enhance student enjoyment, academic learning, professional growth, and civic learning. Overall, virtual service-learning can be effective as an alternative teaching and learning approach to address the significant challenges in IB education.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the relationship between intrinsic motivators and the transfer of knowledge/skills gained during training to work. The intrinsic motivators considered for the study were self-efficacy and motivation to transfer the training knowledge. The study also examined how work conditions mediate the association of intrinsic motivators and training transfer. The working conditions considered in the study were autonomy and the opportunity to perform in the job. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 426 participants from microfinance institutions in Karnataka, India, who had received a three-week job training six months earlier. Data were collected using a questionnaire and structural equation modelling was performed for the analysis of the data. Findings: The study found positive significant relationships between motivation motivators and training transfer of learning. Positive relationships were also seen between work conditions and training transfer of learning acquired via training. The study also established the role of intrinsic motivators in predicting training transfer through work conditions. Originality/value: This study stands among the pioneering works to investigate the influence of intrinsic motivators on training transfer, while also examining the mediating role of work conditions. It focuses on an emerging economy, specifically India, thereby contributing valuable insights to the field.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge structure of knowledge management (KM) applications within small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In pursuit of excellence, SMEs must adopt KM like large corporations, even with limited resources. Design/methodology/approach: Through a bibliometric approach, this study evaluates current themes based on bibliographic coupling analysis and predicts future trends based on coword analysis. A total of 726 documents and 2,658 keywords were derived from the Web of Science database. Findings: Findings show four clusters in bibliographic coupling and three in coword analysis. A common theme discovered converged on digital technology to ensure SMEs follow current market trends. Research limitations/implications: Advanced application of Industry 4.0 requires digital transformation for SMEs' pursuit of excellence. Implications include sustaining SMEs through a considerable KM system integrated with digital technology for sustainable business activities. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is among the first to provide a science mapping analysis on KM in SMEs by applying a bibliometric analysis.

Despite students' growing interest in entrepreneurship education (EE), the small body of research exploring rhetorical strategies for proposing new business ventures has focused only on the argument strategies that startup entrepreneurs use when delivering oral pitches to investors. This study, by contrast, explores the "topoi," or lines of argument, that small business entrepreneurs use in written business plans created for bank lenders. Small business entrepreneurs use nine "topoi" in order to accomplish two rhetorical goals: justifying their ventures, via the creation of stability-focused value propositions, and establishing their entrepreneurial credibility. Ultimately, I argue that small business entrepreneurs use these "topoi" to frame their ventures as low-risk and stable, which contrasts with startup entrepreneurs' arguments that their ventures are innovative and disruptive. In addition to learning strategies for highlighting innovation and disruption, EE students would likely benefit from learning rhetorical strategies for minimizing risk and emphasizing stability.

Background: Political and economic upheavals in the current millennium globally have displaced millions of people, making cross-border and forced migration a reality. Many refugees are forced out of their countries and flee to other countries to find new languages with which they are not familiar. South Africa as a signatory to the 1954 UN Convention on refugees and stateless persons accepts refugees (asylum seekers) from all over the world. The displaced persons are mostly illiterate in English and the indigenous languages of their new settlement countries. Objectives: The study was set up to investigate the socio-economic value of literacy in the lives of refugee adults in South Africa. Hence, in this article, literacy refers to the ability to read, write, calculate, communicate and function in any language with a basic understanding in one's environment. Method: This ethnographic qualitative study used interviews, observations and focus group meetings to explore how literacy matters in the sustainable development of entrepreneurial activities among the refugee adults and youths in South Africa. The study is grounded in Paulo Freire's critical pedagogy theory and has some implications for adult literacy throughout the developing world where millions of adult refugees find themselves vulnerable. Results: The study revealed that refugee adults learn functional literacy in English and other 11 local South African languages informally as communication skills for the survival of their small businesses and for social and economic use in their 'adopted home'. They find it difficult to get employment in the formal sector and often use their ingenuity to create their own jobs for survival and livelihoods in informal trade and entrepreneurship. Conclusion: The article concludes that within the public adult learning interventions by the Department of Basic Education, where literacy programmes are offered, refugees should be encouraged and supported in attending formal classes to deal with their livelihoods and small businesses for survival.

English educational tourism (EET) is a new breakthrough in the tourism industry in eastern Indonesia, carrying the concept of a global village to promote economic development, education, and tourism. Research on this topic has been well documented in the literature; however, it is necessary to understand the communal attitudes from a local community perspective. It seeks to explore the public's perception of this innovation based on three dimensions of attitude: (affective, behavioral, and cognitive). This study employed an exploratory case study through an online self-perception survey and interviews with the local communities. Data generated from the online survey and focus group interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. As a result, the study found that local communities have positive emotions (thoughts and feelings) towards the global village initiative and generally believe that it will bring significant contributions to the local communities' economic growth, education, and tourism. Thus, they will participate and take necessary actions to promote the village in the global societies. This program will enhance community economic growth, English immersion education, and the tourism industry in eastern Indonesia. In other words, this village will catalyze the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the hospitality industries, such as transportation, accommodation, recreation, and food and beverage businesses.

This research aimed to investigate learning strategies for survival adaptation and develop guidelines for Mo Lam entrepreneurs. Qualitative research was employed by collecting data through interviews and group discussion, including the band's owners and executives, the band's members, musicians, performers, and audiences. The learning successful of Mo Lam business owners were; confident in their performance ability, creative and capable of using technology in their performances, determined to work hard to achieve targets, and involved at all steps of the planning. Concerning the factors for successful survival strategies, the entrepreneurs reported having used various techniques to help them accommodate the need to surviving. By pressing the like and share buttons, online viewers help spread the brand's name. Money transfers were sparked by the internet Mo Lam business, which reduced business costs and made material movement easier. Furthermore, the web business aided in the prevention of epidemics by allowing audiences to communicate with one another. Most crucially, online performance enabled entrepreneurs to generate company returns with minimal expenditure, while crime and conflict rates were theoretically reduced as a result of online performances.

Approximately 40% of accounting graduate recruitment in Australia is by small and medium accounting (SMA) firms, firms which can face different constraints compared to their larger counterparts. Given the characteristics of SMA firms it is important to appreciate what they consider makes a work ready graduate. This article reports the findings of a study that explores what makes a graduate work ready when commencing employment within an Australian SMA firm. The findings suggest that a work ready graduate for an SMA firm has a working knowledge and understanding of business accounting software programs, taxation and tax software. Additionally, there is a high emphasis on communication and interpersonal skills. This raises the question as to what extent should current university degrees provide adequate technical knowledge and generic skill development for those graduates seeking employment with SMA firms, and who should be responsible for it?

Learning the content of entrepreneurship arithmetic is an extension of social arithmetic that focuses on mathematical calculations in business or creative economy. Most teachers do not link students' daily activities to classroom teaching and learning on traditional markets around the environment. This significantly affects the interest in learning the material content. Therefore, this study aimed to design a learning trajectory of entrepreneurship arithmetic content using a Badung traditional market. A design approach with three stages was used, including preliminary design, teaching experiment, and retrospective analysis. The results showed that the learning trajectory can be practiced using local contexts, such as traditional or other students' daily activities. Moreover, the Badung Traditional Market stimulates students to understand the entrepreneurship arithmetic content from five activities. These include Engagement with content and context, Story of Entrepreneurship on Video, Concept Deepening, Collaborate to Solve Problems, and Making Conclusions. The learning trajectory is essential in understanding the mathematical concepts of expenditure, income, profits, and loss within the trading activities.

This study investigated the impact of implementing Ngawi Hijau, a regional spatial planning policy adopted by the Ngawi Regency government, on green entrepreneurship behavior of micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) actors engaged in the wood processing industry subsector in Ngawi Regency, Indonesia. Using 150 MSME actors as the research sample and the ordinary least squares estimation technique, this study found that green policy, which includes policy targets, MSME group abilities, MSME resources, incentives, and security, has a positive and significant impact on green entrepreneurship in Ngawi Regency. This study proves that clear and relevant public policy objectives are a prerequisite for effective policy implementation. Clear policy targets make the target group of the policy understand the policy implications, thereby lowering the resistance to the policy. Therefore, in contrast to the top-down model, which emphasizes the role of authority institutions, this research empowerment model proves that, as one of the parties most responsible for policy, aspects related to MSME actors have a pivotal role in realizing effective policy implementation. Among the five factors under consideration, the ability and resources of MSMEs and incentives have a relatively more significant contribution than the other factors in encouraging green entrepreneurial behavior in the wood industry business in Ngawi regency. Thus, to strengthen the readiness of the wood industry MSME actors in implementing the green policy, the Ngawi Regency government needs to pay more attention to the condition of MSME resources, which include HR, financial, and technical aspects. Incentives in terms of financial and non-financial assistance can be an instrument for strengthening MSME resources.

This study investigates occurrences and tools of informal and non-formal learning at work, focusing on the Hungarian IT sector. The aim is to demonstrate that learning at work mainly manifests informally and to identify its patterns. Companies shifting towards teleworking during the pandemic further increased the importance of informal learning. The empirical research uses complex methodology of three pillars: A questionnaire about workplace learning conducted among employees in the IT sector (N = 162). Case studies of three Hungarian IT companies using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Learning activity logging of work-related learning events were recorded by participating employees (N = 19). According to the main conclusions there is a positive correlation between the number of available workplace learning opportunities and opinions on the efficacy of informal learning. Informal learning dominates the learning patterns of employees in a knowledge-intensive industry. In supporting employees' learning the average number of informal learning opportunities are significantly higher than those of formal learning and both employees and employers agree that this mode of learning is more effective. The results highlight that reinterpreting workplace learning is necessary due to economic, social and technological trends not to mention employer flexibility becoming more and more inevitable. Thus, the importance of informal learning is unquestionable.

This study is part of a larger research study that seeks to understand how employee-driven innovation (EDI) is initiated, enacted and sustained in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore. To date, most of the EDI studies are conducted in the Nordic context where management, employees and public authorities work closely with each other. In more hierarchical societies, such as those in Asia, employees may be given less discretion in exercising initiative to improve work processes and conditions. This study seeks to provide insights on factors that support employees initiating, enacting and sustaining innovations in Singapore SMEs through case studies. Besides interviews, data gathering was also undertaken through observations of the employees, supervisors/managers and owners at work and their interactions where possible. It is found that employees' engagement in workplace learning contribute to initiation, enactment and sustenance of EDI in Singapore SMEs. The findings underline the significance of workplace learning in developing and strengthening employees' innovation capacity.

The purpose of this research were 1) to synthesize the structure of product design management of small and medium industries in Thailand to the international market education, and 2) to verify the consistency of the relationship between marketing demand and corporate strategy, research and development, innovation and technology and design goals. This research is quantitative and qualitative research. The sample group for quantitative research was 500 small and medium business entrepreneurs, 9 key informants divided into 4 groups: business people, government organization group, academic group, and designer data analysis uses a structured analysis. The analysis of the developed structural models was found that the evaluation criteria were consistent with the empirical data. The relative chi-squared probability was 0.306, the relative chi-squared probability was 1.042, the consistency index was 0.957, and the mean square of the estimation of the error was 0.009.

Swiss Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on national legislation which was introduced in the 1930s and renewed in the 1960s (as well as in the 1970s and in 2002). At first, the goal of the national VET legislation was to further Vocational Education and Training in order to support small and medium enterprises; however, later, it also included industry and services and has more recently grown to support the learners themselves. The 1963 national legislation and the following implementation acts in the cantons were decisive in shaping the Swiss VET system from a historical and comparative perspective. We argue that still today we do not have a unified, national system of education, but rather e cantonal modes of education and also of VET. However, the cantonal actors--with a specific focus on Ticino, Geneva, and Zurich--argue with similar justifications, when it comes to the reform of VET. Nevertheless, within this national legal framework, the cantons adopt rather different solutions. The result is that different (language specific) regional pathways of VET were established, based on various education and training regimes. In this research paper, we aim to concentrate on the years from 1950 to 1970, a period that turns out to be particularly significant for the development of Swiss VET. We focus our research on the introduction of the Vocational Training Act in 1963 and look in detail at the extent to which the cantons developed their corresponding implementation acts from the perspectives of different motives and logics.

This study explored the experiences and implications of transitioning from school to work without family support for university graduates in Uganda. The research was a qualitative exploratory study in Kampala city, Uganda. The data was collected through in-depth individual interviews with university graduates (first-degree graduates). The research findings showed that young men and women, upon graduation, strongly believe that the family is obliged to support their transition from school to work. The implications of not being supported by the family include prolonged unemployment and the risk of falling into the Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) category, engaging in precarious and informal work as they queue waiting for formal employment that matches attained educational qualifications, emotional stress, and the dependence on friends for survival. The graduates' most expected forms of family support include financial support for job search expenses and practical job search assistance through informal networks. However, there is also a strong feeling that the family should support the graduates by providing capital for small businesses (self-employment), which they can depend on during the transition period. The desire for self-employment can be attributed to the fact that many youths in developing countries are self-employed. In Uganda, self-employed young people constitute three-quarters of the working young persons.

This study explored the process followed by a small manufacturing company in a rural area to implement a planned training program to develop the technical skills of its engineering/production workers as the company expands its operation. A case study design was used. Data was collected over an eight-month period by the examination of documents, direct observation, and interview. Findings indicate the process followed were consistent with elements of the Talent Development Architecture. The growth of the company presents learning opportunities for both the owner and his management team. The job analysis provided inputs to implement a planned training program and to develop documents to support talent development. To maintain a pipeline of skilled entry-level workers, partnership needs to be built with the high school CTE program.

This study examined the relationship between family support and internal locus of control with entrepreneurial intention among grade XII students attending Muhammadiyah 3 Vocational High School. From 172 grade XI students attending the school, 93 were selected to participate in the study. This study used a cluster-sampling technique. The data was collected using the entrepreneurial intention scale, the family support scale, and the internal locus of control scale. Multiple regression techniques were used to analyze the data on SPSS 19.0. The results indicated very significant positive relationship between family support and internal locus of control with entrepreneurial intention, family support with entrepreneurial intention, and internal locus of control with entrepreneurship intention. Thus, it can be inferred that the contribution of internal locus of control to entrepreneurial intention is more dominant than family support's contribution.

This paper focuses information literacy (IL) from a methodological perspective, addressing quantitative IL measures, suitable for evaluating the role of IL in supporting work activities. So far, IL in workplace contexts has mostly been studied using qualitative methods, designed for studying situational and context-dependent practices. Therefore it is important to explore how quantitative measures could be used to bring forward the relation between IL and organisational outcomes, that is the assessment of the impact of IL in workplace contexts. Quantitative research into IL is not unknown, but has been mainly developed in higher education, in order to measure students' abilities to make use of information. This paper brings forward three separate studies, conducted by the authors, highlighting different workplace contexts: small and medium enterprises; universities; and community councils. The common approach is that survey instruments were used to measure IL and its impact in these organisational contexts. The methodological implementations and insights are presented and combined, and methodological strengths and challenges are discussed, "with the aims of (1) building knowledge about IL measures in workplace settings that is currently lacking, (2) finding additional measures for the complex IL construct, and (3) considering the scope of the practices that can be measured." The paper highlights the complexity of studying the impacts of IL in workplace contexts, and the importance of using multiple methods. It constitutes an important step towards a more unified understanding of how to study workplace IL.

The purpose of this study is to describe how the learning process is based on the value of "Gotong royong" which occurs in the MSMEs community in order to face the challenges of high competition in the current era of globalization. Gotong royong is a principle of reciprocity. It means that it does not aim to get money or other materials but it is a hope that when needed there are those who help in the community of gotong royong. This study applied a qualitative method using case study approach. This study was conducted in the MSMEs community consisting of 43 members in various business in Malang of Indonesia. The data were gathered through indepth interview, observation and a group discussion. The learning process that occurs between the community members who are members of the community raises the value of gotong royong (mutual cooperation) in accordance with the vision and mission carried out. With this spirit of gotong royong, it can overcome the difficulties together to advance together in the face of globalization. From the learning model produced, it can be used as literature for policy holders such as the cooperative and community service agencies in developing the community based on the cultural perspective of gotong royong that is characteristic of Indonesian. The essence of this cultural value is a driving force for common progress which is the philosophy of the development of the people economy.

The present research aims to compare the entrepreneurial intention of university students before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. For this purpose, some dimensions were analyzed, such as the availability of this target audience to undertake an activity at their own risk, the preference for a future while employed by others, their perception of the values that society places on entrepreneurship, and the entrepreneurial abilities/skillsets. A comparative study of a quantitative nature was used, associating two samples composed of students of higher education in Portugal, the data were obtained before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis of the results permits us to conclude: (1) in the circumstances of macroeconomic changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, entrepreneurial activity does not decrease; (2) respondents are less interested in being employed by others and more attracted to being entrepreneurs; (3) there is a growing concordance with the values that society places on entrepreneurship; and (4) there is now a greater aptitude for entrepreneurial activity. The present research is original, as it compares data obtained in different contexts of economic and social stability. It contributes to theory and practice, in the sense that it points to conclusions in the opposite direction of other studies carried out in situations of disasters of another nature, and can serve as a reference for the development of strategies to promote entrepreneurship, within higher education institutions and official entities to publicize and promote new public policies.

A nonprofit community development financial institution and Extension collaborated to conduct a demonstration project to evaluate efficacy of Grameen peer-group microfinance methodology in addressing barriers faced by low-income women entrepreneurs in a small metro area. Program performance metrics achieved by 284 culturally diverse, low-income entrepreneurs (almost all women) over 5 years included a program loan repayment rate of 99%, increased average client income, bank savings accumulation, and increased opportunities for improved credit scores. Client survey responses indicated program methods developed confidence and skills in finances, leadership, and teamwork. Extension professionals may play various roles in such endeavors.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe risk their competitiveness if they fail to embrace digitalization. Indeed, SMEs are aware of the need to digitalize--more than one in two SMEs are concerned that they may lose competitiveness if they do not adopt new digital technologies. However, a key obstacle is related with decision-makers' lack of awareness concerning digital technologies potential and implications. Some decision-makers renounce digital transition simply because they do not understand how it can be incorporated into the business. Take into account this common reality, especially among SMEs, this research project intends to identify the skills and subjects that need to be addressed and suggests the educational methodology and implementation strategy capable of maximizing its success. Therefore, and supported by a focused group research methodology, an innovative training program, oriented to decision-makers, was designed and implemented. The program was conceived based on a self-directed learning methodology, combining both asynchronous lecture/expositive and active training methodologies, strongly based on state-of-the-art knowledge and supported by reference cases and real applications. It is intended that the trainees/participants become familiar with a comprehensive set of concepts, principles, methodologies, and tools, capable of significantly enhancing decision-making capability at both strategic and tactical level. The proposed programme with a multidisciplinary scope explores different thematic chapters (self-contained) as well as cross-cutting thematic disciplines, oriented to the Industry 4.0 and digital transformation paradigm. Topics related with Digital Maturity Assessment, Smart Factories and Flexible Production Systems, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence for Smarter Decision-Making in Industry and Smart Materials and Products, as well as new production processes for new business models. Each thematic chapter in turn is structured around a variable set of elementary modules and includes examples and case studies to illustrate the selected topics. A teaching-learning methodology centered on an online platform is proposed, having as a central element, a collection of videos complemented by a set of handouts that organize the set of key messages and take-ways associated with each module. In this paper, we present the design and practice of this training course specifically oriented to decision-makers in SME.

The study aimed to propose some learning activities that might enhance quality of work for employees of small businesses in Thailand. Developmental research was applied via literature review and interviews. Literature review focused on contextual learning, learning activities, quality of work, and small hotel business in Thailand. The data were also collected via an interview form administered to purposively selected two employers and two employees from small hotel businesses in Thailand. The data were analyzed using qualitative data analysis methods. The result posited six created contextual learning activities applying technology, such as computer and internet that businesses authentically possess on business purpose, as contextual tools to enhance quality of work for employees of small hotel businesses in Thailand.

Microbusiness owners face significant challenges in accessing, acquiring and controlling resources, including human resources. This research examines the resource value(s) gained by microbusiness owners when they engage in a temporary human resourcing strategy using interns. Qualitative, information-rich, narrative interviews with microbusiness owners examined resourcing motives, management experiences and perceptions of human resource value. The data were subject to thematic analysis. The findings indicate that the unforeseen value of working with an intern was learning "management by doing", which arose due to a challenging of owner-intern dynamics, compelling owners to develop their skills, knowledge and practice of management and leadership. Second, microbusiness owners were strategically motivated to fill human resource skill and expertise gaps at little or no cost, gaining expected value. Thus, temporary human resources enable microbusiness owners to gain both expected and unforeseen value. Future research should focus on examining the value of unforeseen learning from low/no cost resources on microbusiness growth and sustainable development potential.

Chinatowns, as neighborhoods for overseas ethnic Chinese, have garnered considerable scholarly attention from linguistic landscape (LL) researchers in recent years. These investigations tend to treat old immigrants who have been tied to the neighborhoods for generations as the key text producers of LL, with far too little attention paid to the LL practices of new Chinese immigrants in Chinatowns, who are often associated with transnationalism and the rise of China. Focusing on Singapore's Chinatown, the present study attempts to explore Chinese Singaporean and new Chinese immigrants' linguistic choices concerning the Chinese-language signs displayed in the LL. Drawing on 326 instances of signs collected during site visits, the study found that Chinese Singaporeans and new Chinese immigrants make different linguistic choices when projecting their respective authenticities and identities. These findings suggest that there is indeed a linguistic basis for previously expressed arguments that Chinese Singaporean authenticity is threatened by new Chinese immigrants, shedding light on the need to examine the heterogeneity of Chinatown from the perspective of LL. This study enriches the scholarly understanding of LL practices within Chinese diasporic settlements in the East.

Purpose: The present study aimed to analyze the entrepreneurial resilience of small and medium-sized businesses among rural women. Design/Methodology: The study was conducted using a survey, and 269 individuals were selected through stratified random sampling. This research was conducted in three stages. First, the Lifespan Resilience Scale-Business was used to identify the factor structure of women's business resilience. Second, the resilience of women entrepreneurs' businesses was analyzed. And third, path analysis was carried out to identify the factors affecting the resilience of women's businesses. Findings: The business resilience of rural entrepreneur women was determined by the following components: external resources, internal resources, innovation, opportunity and adaptation, risk management, and family support. The results of the causal model indicated that the variables of marketing strategy, marketing mix, marketing methods, business communication, business plan preparation skills and supporting policies are effective factors in improving business resilience. Theoretical Implications: To improve the entrepreneurial resilience of rural women, it is necessary to identify the influential factors and their indicators to reduce entrepreneurial failure, analyze the factors that foster resilient behaviors in rural entrepreneurship, and provide contexts that are resistant against changes for women. Practical implications: Holding companies that specialize in agricultural development in Iran play an important role in improving women's entrepreneurial resilience. These companies could empower rural women to overcome barriers and apply new methods through educational and extension programs that are appropriate to changes in technology and the market. Originality/value: This study presents the Lifespan Resilience Scale-Business as a native model for measuring the resilience of rural women's businesses in Fars province of Iran.