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This study aims to explore the determinants that impact state Islamic University/Perguruan Tinggi Keagamaan Islam Negeri students’ intention to adopt online cash waqfs. In doing so, this study integrates knowledge of cash waqf and trust variables within the theory of planned behavior (TPB), allowing an examination of the mediating role of TPB variables and trust within the relationship between knowledge of cash waqf and intention for online cash waqf behavior.

To carry out an empirical analysis, the authors developed a well-structured questionnaire and distributed it to a group of students currently enrolled in PTKIN, obtaining 443 usable responses. The partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was used for the dual purposes of data analysis and hypothesis testing.

This study demonstrates that factors such as attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, trust and knowledge of cash waqf have a significant and favorable influence on the intention to donate through e-cash waqf. Knowledge of cash waqf impacts attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and trust. The final analysis shows that attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and trust partially mediate the relationship between knowledge and intention in the online cash waqf context.

The aforementioned elucidates the paramount importance of trust in shaping individuals’ tendencies to engage in cash waqfs. The insights mentioned have the potential to be used by cash waqf establishments to promote transparency and accountability, ultimately bolstering the confidence of potential donors.

The concepts of waqf and the use of online cash waqf as a means of donation in developing countries are relatively new. In this study, the intention of students to adopt online cash waqf was predicted for the first time by considering their knowledge of cash waqf and their trust in online cash waqf transactions.

The purpose of the paper is twofold. Firstly, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing stakeholders’ intention to invest in Shariah-compliant social impact bonds (SC SIBs) in Malaysia. Secondly, this study compares the differences in the perception of different stakeholders on the importance of the factors.

Using the extended theory of planned behaviour, the study undertakes a questionnaire survey on licensed capital market investors and individuals involved in the development of the financial market (developers). A total of 260 complete and valid responses were obtained from the survey. Multiple regression and Mann–Whitney tests were carried out to achieve the two objectives, respectively.

The results reveal that attitude (β = 0.447, p < 0.01), subjective norm (SN) (β = 0.255, p < 0.01) and moral norm (MN) (β = 0.163, p < 0.01) are significantly positive predictors of intention to invest in SC SIBs. In terms of the differences in the perceptions of the two parties, the results show that the factors have more effect towards developers than investors.

The empirical evidence from this study on the factors that influence stakeholders’ participation in SC SIBs is useful to the policymakers and interested parties in taking the next steps to develop, implement and promote SC SIBs to stakeholders in Malaysia. Fund managers can use the study’s insights to promote positive attitudes, SNs and MNs towards SC SIBs, especially targeting developers who are more influenced by these factors. More importantly, the results indicate a need for different strategies to influence the stakeholder investment behaviour of SC SIB in Malaysia to ensure that it is sustainable and viable in the long run.

This study aims to present a comprehensive research framework designed to assess stakeholder perceptions in the nuclear power plant (NPP) industry, with a focus on the unique context of the Al Barakah NPP in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The framework combines a thorough literature review, primary data collection methods and strategic action planning to facilitate stakeholder engagement and drive progress in the industry.

To develop the framework, an extensive review of relevant literature was conducted, identifying gaps and incorporating insights from sectoral reports, governmental documents and scholarly works. Primary data collection was then carried out using an online survey administered through Google Forms. The survey instrument was carefully designed, adhering to established guidelines and incorporating closed-ended questions, Likert scales and multiple-choice formats. Pilot-testing of the survey was conducted among the general public residing in the vicinity of the Al Barakah NPP.

The multi-level research framework enables a systematic assessment of stakeholder perceptions in the NPP industry. Through the analysis and synthesis of collected data, a strategic approach and customised managerial action plan can be formulated, tailored to the specific context of the NPP. This approach encourages stakeholder involvement and plays a vital role in driving industry advancements.

The proposed framework offers a valuable tool for NPP stakeholders, policymakers and industry professionals to gather and analyse stakeholder perceptions effectively. It empowers informed decision-making, fosters stakeholder engagement and supports the development of strategic actions that address concerns and propel progress in the NPP industry.

This study contributes to the existing literature by presenting a comprehensive research framework specifically designed for assessing stakeholder perceptions in the NPP industry. By integrating literature review, primary data collection and strategic action planning, it provides a holistic approach to comprehend stakeholder perspectives and promote sustainable development in the nuclear energy sector.

SRI Sukuk, with its outcome-based emphasis, aims to align the Islamic finance industry with its original ideals and address criticisms related to form over substance. In Malaysia, while the pioneering Sukuk Ihsan was a “social” sukuk, recent SRI Sukuk issuances have predominantly been “green” or “sustainable” sukuk. This paper aims to evaluate the Malaysian SRI Sukuk market, identifying factors favouring “green” sukuk. It also examines whether structural issues in Sukuk Ihsan deterred subsequent issuers from “social” sukuk. The emergence of SRI Sukuk responds to sustainable development goals and the shift towards a low-carbon economy. Sukuk Ihsan, as the first Shariah-compliant pay-for-success structure, poses complexity and risk management challenges to meet performance criteria.

The study used a qualitative method in the form of a critical review of literature, interview sessions with experts and stakeholders who are familiar with SRI Sukuk and Sukuk Ihsan and a case study analysis of Sukuk Ihsan.

The popularity of “green” sukuk reflects the growing global environmental consciousness. The main factors driving the popularity of “green” sukuk are the maturity of the market and the existence of a strong supporting infrastructure for “green” issuances while the positive profiling benefits and availability of incentives for “green” issuances also contribute to a lesser extent. The recommendations include the promotion of “social” sukuk by regulators through a focus on establishing a similar supporting infrastructure for “social” sukuk as there are for SRI and standard Sukuk. In addition, issuers of “social” sukuk may want to reconsider the inclusion of key performance indicators (“KPI”) into the structure of future “social” sukuk issuances.

Although all respondents considered Sukuk Ihsan to be a success, some potential areas of improvement were also noted. These include the structuring of future “social” sukuk issuances with a bigger discount to compensate for the additional risk being assumed by the investor; the need to be more careful in the KPI selection process; and one respondent even went so far as to suggest the possibility of totally removing the step-down feature of Sukuk Ihsan.

Industry implications of Sukuk Ihsan study include findings that require balancing disclosure and economics by providing additional disclosure requirements for SRI Sukuk that may pose risks without corresponding benefits for issuers. KPI selection and investor confidence should also be properly identified, as KPIs are essential for the pay-for-success model to work successfully. For sukuk holders, findings indicate that any approval for waivers during issuance can impact investor confidence negatively. Investor literacy and impact understanding should also be improved for social Sukuk success. Investors should understand the different risk exposures and evolving impact requirements vital for sustainable growth.

The findings provide significant implications for social impact Sukuk issuance. They include providing a substantial case study for future social impact issuances, based on the pioneering impact of Sukuk Ihsan. Furthermore, Sukuk Ihsan’s unqualified success validates the feasibility of socially responsible sukuk. Despite its early introduction, both tranches being fully subscribed reflects robust investor interest. Stakeholders were also proud of their involvement in such an initiative, viewing it as a significant achievement in creating societal impact.

Although there have been several prior studies done on Sukuk Ihsan, the focus of those studies was on its structure and the novelty of its “step down” returns structure where investors would receive lower returns if certain key performance indicators (“KPIs”) are met by Yayasan AMIR in the execution of its Trust School Programme. Bearing in mind that the first Sukuk Ihsan has a June 2022 maturity date, and the results of its KPIs were announced in December 2021, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the only documented case study that comprehensively reviews Sukuk Ihsan and identifies lessons learned and/or opportunities for improvement for the benefit of potential SRI Sukuk issuers in the future.

The purpose of this study is to explore the role of direct public engagement in shaping the sustainability image of nuclear energy in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf region. The study aims to measure the conflicting viewpoints of stakeholders, particularly the local community, regarding nuclear energy's dependability, cost-effectiveness, safety and environmental friendliness. The study also seeks to assess the effectiveness of direct stakeholder engagement strategies in enhancing public confidence in nuclear energy as a safe and sustainable source of electricity.

This study uses a quantitative-methods research design and used a sample of 318 participants. The SPSS AMOS application was used to conduct a structural equation model analysis. The purpose of this analysis is to examine the relationships among variables that constitute the key constructs of the study. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the reliability of the testing approach. Various fit indices and measurements, such as chi-square ratio, degrees of freedom, GFI, CFI and RMSEA, were used to evaluate the adequacy of the model.

The study finds that the construct “Direct Stakeholder Engagement (DSE)” has a positive effect on the dependent variables “Trust in Nuclear Sustainability (TNS)” and “Perception of Nuclear Energy as Safe (PNE)” with a probability value of (0.003, p < 0.05). Therefore, the hypothesis of the study is deemed acceptable. Hence, it can be concluded that each of the foregoing variables (DSE1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) and (TNS1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) with (PNE1, 2 and 3) have been observed and analysed in this study, and based on this analysis, it is plausible that the public's trust in nuclear sustainability and their acceptance of nuclear energy as a safe source of their nation's electricity can be positively affected by direct stakeholder engagement.

The study's findings have implications for policymakers and managers of nuclear power plants in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf region. The study provides insights into effective stakeholder engagement strategies that can enhance public participation and confidence in nuclear energy. The study's recommendations highlight the importance of incorporating public opinion in policymaking and management practices to address conflicting viewpoints and enhance public trust in nuclear sustainability. The study's findings also contribute to the ongoing discourse on nuclear sustainability and provide insights into the role of direct public engagement in shaping public perception of nuclear energy.

This study's originality lies in its focus on the UAE and the Arabian Gulf region, where nuclear energy is a critical source of electricity. The study contributes to the limited research on stakeholder engagement and public perception of nuclear energy in the region. The study's novel framework of stakeholder engagement, tailored to cultural dimensions, provides insights into effective engagement strategies that can enhance public participation and confidence in nuclear energy. The study's quantitative-methods research design also provides a comprehensive understanding of the conflicting viewpoints of stakeholders, enhancing the understanding of the role of direct public engagement in shaping public perception of nuclear energy.

This chapter is about the role Islamic finance has been able to stay on the track of facing social–economical predicaments and on the way to sustainable development with the involvement of social prosperity. When trying to investigate the convergence between social finance and Islamic standards, what is argued is that a need for observing financial operations in the same way as prodevelopment theories arise. It is considered that in a holistic approach, which assumed a social justice as the basic ethic of the Islamic financial system, the final result tends to be more appropriate. One of the main elements that makes Islamic banking stand up in a high grade is maqasid al-Shari'ah due to its responsibility to assess social performance and apply new updated technologies for sustainable growth based on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition to that, the situation is critically observed and the gap between ambitions functions and the reality in Islamic banking and finance is also pointed out to find some reconciliation between aspirations and facts. While its ancient foundations did point to the prospect of Islamic banking to serve as a major contributor to the social and economic development, the industry players of today have now been preoccupied with the profit-making objectives and financial performance rather than social banking. This chapter focuses on the role of Islamic finance as a breakthrough force and shows the way that this influence could shape the discussions of financial systems, so that economics follow, and ethical principles and become factors for the national economy to grow more robustness.

Face is the most intuitive and representative feature at the individual level. Many studies show that beautiful faces help individuals and enterprises obtain economic benefits and form a high economic premium, but the discussion of their potential social value is insufficient. This study aims to focus on the impact of the personal characteristics of executives. It mainly analyzes the impact mechanism of CEO facial attractiveness on corporate social responsibility (CSR) decision-making, clarifying the social value of beauty from the perspective of CSR.

The authors use the regression model to analyze the panel data set, which was conducted by a sample of Chinese publicly listed firms from 2016 to 2018.

The study found that CEOs with high facial attractiveness are more active in fulfilling CSR, which can usually bring higher social benefits. CEOs with beautiful faces are prone to overconfidence, are optimistic about their ability and the future development of the enterprise and are more willing to increase their investment in CSR. CEO duality can positively regulate the positive correlation between a CEO’s facial attractiveness and CSR.

Based on the perspective of upper echelons theory, this paper explores the mechanism of CEO facial attractiveness on CSR. This study enriches the perspective of the upper echelon’s theoretical research and has essential enlightenment for CEO selection and training practice.

Organizational transformation and widescale upgradation of working conditions have resulted in disrupted work–life balance and employee health. In this era of drastic change interventions taking place, there is an urgent need to balance organizational changes simultaneously with forces of continuity. It is essential to consider these forces of continuity with respect to employees’ well-being.

This research employs an integrated approach, which consists of two distinct stages. In the first stage, the relevant forces of continuity are identified, validated and ranked with reference to employees’ subjective well-being. In the second stage, TISM-derived criterion weights are utilized to obtain the final ranking of these forces.

This paper has identified six forces of continuity operating in the information technology (IT) sector and constructed a unique IRP model. Findings advocate that preserving organizational culture and following performance standards were at the upper levels and were found to be the most significant forces influencing employees’ well-being.

The established framework for continuity forces among IT professionals offers a potential solution to the challenges encountered by organizations in mitigating the adverse change effects on the employees. This framework offers a means to boost their performance by improving organizational effectiveness through the enhancement of strategic change management.

This is one of the pioneering studies providing a breakthrough in applying the multi-criteria decision-making techniques in organizational behavior and human resource management. As per our awareness, this is the first study incorporating the IRP-TISM technique to recognize and prioritize the forces of continuity for Indian IT professionals.

This study aims to investigate the impact of Islamic fintech lending on the performance of microenterprises in Indonesia.

This study conducted a survey involving 400 microenterprises located in East Java, Indonesia. This investigation used a two-year panel data set and used the double differences-in-differences (DID) approach for rigorous analysis, including both standard DID and adjusted DID.

The findings demonstrate that microenterprises benefiting from Islamic fintech lending witnessed significant growth in their annual revenue, indicating a positive impact of Islamic fintech on their performance. In addition, these microenterprises showed an increase in the number of employees, suggesting improved business expansion and sustainability due to access to Islamic fintech lending services.

This study’s limitations arise from its focus on a specific region and time frame. However, recognizing potential future developments enhances its relevance and applicability within Islamic finance literature.

This study offers valuable insights for microentrepreneurs, Islamic fintech platforms, policymakers and regulators, helping them make informed decisions and support the microenterprise sector in Indonesia.

This study brings new insights and adds value by examining the unique relationship between Islamic fintech lending and microenterprise performance, which can contribute to better understanding and decision-making in this field.

In 1966, Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani coined the term “literature of resistance” through his seminal work “Resistance Literature in Occupied Palestine 1948–1966” (Harlow, 1987). This genre focuses on depicting experiences of resistance and resilience amidst colonization, often investigating the personal struggles of writers within contexts of injustice and oppression. When created for children and youth, the literature of resistance diverges from that intended for adults due to many reasons. Eventually, this genre aims to engage children with significant societal issues such as patriotism, liberty, disdain for injustice, and the fundamental importance of justice. This chapter explores examples within the realm of children’s literature of resistance, encompassing both stories and novels tailored for young and teenage audiences. The chapter comprises four main sections. Firstly, a comprehensive introduction will elucidate the concept of resistance literature and underscore its scholarly significance. The second part will examine existing literature, highlighting thematic foundations and prevalent discourse within this genre. Subsequently, the third part will outline criteria used to ensure chosen narratives align with the overarching theme of resistance, followed by an examination of selected stories in terms of their literary and narrative aspects. Lastly, the fifth part will detail the dual analytical approach employed to offer a comprehensive understanding of how resistance is conveyed in the chosen narratives and the extent to which these stories fulfill their intended objectives.