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The study addresses the challenges of limited access to technology and gender inequality in Ghana's education system, particularly science, technology, engineering, and mathematics/information and communications technologies (STEM/ICT) education. It focuses on the culturo-techno-contextual approach (CTCA), which has been shown to improve student outcomes and reduce educational gender inequality in Africa. Thus, this study addressed two research objectives: whether the CTCA will improve basic school students’ understanding of ICT and reduce the gender gap without ICT facilities.

The study was conducted using a quantitative method and a quasi-experimental design. 120 participants (44 in the experimental group and 76 in the control group) were selected using purposive and random sampling techniques. Data were collected using the Windows Interface Achievement Test (WIAT) and analysed using ANCOVA analysis.

The study found that the CTCA improved students’ understanding of ICT without ICT resources. The study also found that using the CTCA, there were no differences between male and female students in their understanding of ICT without ICT resources.

Based on the study’s findings, the researchers recommend the use of the CTCA in teaching basic school ICT, particularly in rural areas where access to ICT resources is problematic.

Researchers typically experiment with alternate teaching strategies to overcome obstacles in learning issues. This study’s originality stems from applying an indigenous teaching method (CTCA) to break down learning difficulties in ICT education.

This study aims to explore the relationship between managerial ownership and environmental innovation, particularly focusing on the impact of minority shareholder protection within the context of China’s A-share listed companies.

The study employs a fixed effect model over a decade-long sample, analysing secondary data from nonfinancial Chinese A-share firms. The two-stage least squares (2SLS) method is adopted to address endogeneity concerns.

The results demonstrate a significant positive influence of managerial ownership on environmental innovation, suggesting that top managers who have a say in the boardroom are inclined towards sustainable development. The presence of minority shareholders' protection positively moderates this relationship, underlining their roles in fostering environmentally friendly development. The subsample analysis showed that these relationships vary between state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and non-SOEs. It also differs between heavily and lightly polluting industries, which indicates that it is not enough to just have internal self-management, and more external pressure is necessary in heavily polluting industries.

Our study underscores the importance for managers to recognize the potential of aligning their ownership interests with environmental objectives. Companies can enhance their commitment to sustainability by fostering an internal environment that supports minority shareholder rights.

This study specifically focuses on the role of top managers and minority shareholders, providing new empirical evidence on how their influence can drive sustainable development initiatives. It is also among the few studies that differentiate between firm characteristics and pollution intensity, which provides valuable insights into how the impact of managerial ownership and minority shareholder protection varies across different contexts.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how educators perceive and adapt their roles in the face of changes in technology-driven learning environments. The Gioia methodology explores how educators enable adaptive learning, broaden their pedagogical practice and promote cultural inclusivity to educate diverse students.

This paper involves a qualitative interpretive phenomenological research design using the Gioia methodology. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 14 educators across various disciplines. Gioia methodology is a structured exploration of first- and second-order themes and aggregate dimensions that capture the nuanced ways in which educators navigate adaptive learning contexts.

This study highlights how digital tools help enable personalized self-directed learning, how adaptive learning adapts educators to become more than just traditional teachers and how the culturally responsive teaching that is required in a globalized learning environment promotes inclusivity and resilience in a diverse group of learners.

This study contributes to the growing body of literature on adaptive learning and identifies educators’ critical, expanded roles in a technology-centred world. This research provides a structured, in-depth analysis of educator perspectives on adaptive learning using the Gioia methodology, offering unique insights into the policy and practice implications.

This study identifies key challenges to adopting smart real estate (SRE) technologies and offers insights and recommendations to enhance decision-making for stakeholders, including buyers and property investors.

To achieve the aim of the study, a rigorous research approach was employed, conducting an in-depth analysis of 41 academic papers utilising PRISMA guidelines and checklists. The chosen methodology also applies a PEST (Political, Economic, Social and Technological) framework to identify factors influencing technology adoption in the real estate sector.

The study uncovers critical challenges to adopting smart real estate technologies, such as regulatory ambiguity, high implementation costs, and societal resistance. PEST analysis reveals that unclear standards and guidelines, coupled with the high financial burden of technology implementation, are significant obstacles. Socially, resistance to change and difficulties in integrating new technologies are prevalent. The study also underscores the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for predictive analytics and blockchain for secure transactions and records, though their adoption is currently hindered by inadequate infrastructure and regulatory challenges. These findings underscore the need for strategic interventions to address these challenges and facilitate the effective integration of advanced technologies in the real estate sector, thereby enhancing industry innovation and competitiveness.

The study offers insights for real estate stakeholders to embrace technology effectively, with a conceptual framework contributing to industry advancements.

The study’s key contribution is offering real estate stakeholders execution tactics and recommendations to navigate challenges and utilise technology, thereby driving industry innovation and enhancing competitiveness.

The case study aims to achieve the following learning objectives, structured according to the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy: First, explore the corporate governance framework: recall the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders at UCICI Bank and AUDIOCON Group and their coordination in governance structures; interpret the principles of stakeholder theory and their application in governance decision-making processes; apply ethical frameworks like the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Framework and the Josephson Institute Ethical Decision-Making Model to evaluate governance effectiveness; analyse governance lapses and identify gaps in oversight and stakeholder coordination; and propose reforms in governance frameworks to prevent future fraud; evaluate how effectively the governance structure addresses corporate fraud. Second, examine the concept of conflict of interest: understand the ethical and legal implications of conflicts of interest presented in the case; apply knowledge to assess corporate governance failures related to conflict of interest; analyse oversight lapses and identify causes for governance failure; evaluate SEBI regulations on conflict of interest and recommend strategies to mitigate such conflicts in corporate settings; explore the concept of related party transactions (RPTs); understand how RPTs influence governance and stakeholder interests; apply governance principles to assess the legality of RPTs in the case; analyse risks and ethical concerns associated with RPTs and governance failures linked to these transactions; and evaluate proposed regulatory reforms to enhance oversight and transparency. Third, derive key lessons from the case: understand areas for improvement in corporate governance practices, internal reporting mechanisms and whistleblower protections; apply lessons to create strategies for improving governance practices and protecting stakeholders; analyse systemic governance flaws that contributed to the fraud; evaluate the effectiveness of governance practices in preventing similar frauds in the future; and create recommendations for improving governance, ethics and whistleblower policies. Fourth, examine basic issues and remedial measures: understand the root causes of governance failures in the case; apply knowledge of corporate governance principles to recommend reforms in regulatory and accountability frameworks; analyse weaknesses in the existing governance system that enabled fraudulent activities; evaluate the feasibility of proposed remedial measures for transparency and ethical practices; and create new governance policies to enhance accountability and prevent future frauds.

By studying the UCICI AUDIOCON Loan Fraud Case, the above objectives are aimed to shed light on the complex dynamics of corporate governance, conflicts of interest, regulatory compliance, wrongdoing reporting mechanism, whistle-blower policy and reputation risks within the banking industry. The findings and insights from the case study can contribute to improving governance practices and strengthening the integrity of financial institutions.

The UCICI – AUDIOCON loan fraud case epitomises a crisis in corporate governance, spotlighting ethical breaches at the highest echelons of leadership. This case study delves into the dilemma faced by UCICI Bank’s Board of Directors regarding the prosecution of its former CEO, Mhanda Mochhar. Accusations of impropriety stem from a suspicious loan of US$391.57m to AUDIOCON Group, allegedly facilitated by Mochhar in exchange for personal benefits. The ensuing investigation unearthed violations of banking regulations, including non-disclosure, conflict of interest and RPTs. The pivotal board meeting, dissected in this study, underscores the delicate balance between accountability and reputational damage. Through analysis and debate, stakeholders grapple with the repercussions of their decisions on the bank’s integrity and stakeholder trust. The case encapsulates broader lessons on corporate governance, conflict of interest and regulatory oversight, serving as a springboard for critical inquiry and strategic reform in the financial sector. As the saga unfolds in the courtroom, this study provides a lens into the complexities of corporate morality and the imperative for robust governance frameworks.

This case study can be used in classes/subjects such as Finance, Strategic Management, Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Law for (Vidgen, Hindle, & Randolph, 2020).▪ Graduate students and officials.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS1: Accounting and Finance.

This study proposes the theory of higher education learning (THEL). The theory argues that certain concepts are difficult to understand, so learners and instructors should consider common factors that will enhance learners’ understanding of key concepts that are difficult to comprehend across various fields of study. The components of this theory have been tested in three different fields (public administration, entrepreneurship and chemistry) in separate studies in Ghana, Nigeria and Burundi within a five-year span to validate their applicability to higher education learning.

The design covers empirical, philosophical and theoretical discussions and comparative studies of other researchers and the authors’ work and thinking.

This theory proposes five variables (gender, age, opportunity, instructor knowledge and instructor confidence) that address students’ difficulty in understanding concepts in higher education learning. These factors are premised on six assumptions: (1) gender orientation must be either male or female; (2) age must be consistent with the parameter set; (3) there must be learners’ desire to study the same subject after school; (4) there must be an institution offering further studies on the same subject; (5) the instructor might have understood the subject in his/her official training, experience or practice and (6) the instructor must demonstrate certainty, accuracy, verifiability and reliability in the transfer of knowledge to the learners. Given these assumptions, the uniqueness of this theory lies in its application of the five variables to solve challenges uniquely related to studies in higher education.

This theory will incite debate and provide further insights into higher education learning models. The novelty lies in the five prepositions proven to enhance effective teaching and learning in higher education. Specifically, it introduces an extension to Piaget’s cognitive constructivist theory by proposing higher age brackets for students at the university level, opportunity (for future studies) to close the gap in Ausubul’s theory of advance organizers and endogenous factors to bridge the gap in Okebukola’s culturo-techno-contextual approach.

Given the perceived weak corporate governance systems in Ghana, corporate governance education curriculum requires empirical investigations to ascertain factors that can enhance student knowledge in governance systems based on their career interests and programme of study. Therefore, we investigate whether students with a career interest in corporate governance exhibit a significantly different level of comprehension compared to those without such an interest. Furthermore, we explore whether the comprehension of course concepts differs across various business-related programmes, investigating potential variations in understanding among students from diverse programme backgrounds.

Using a descriptive design, we adopt a quantitative approach and survey method to collect cross-sectional data from 1,050 undergraduate students in selected Ghanaian public universities. We analyse the data using t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).

We establish no statistically significant difference in comprehension levels of corporate governance concepts between students with a career interest in corporate governance and those with no career interest. However, we find statistically significant differences in the comprehension of corporate governance concepts among students pursuing different business-related programmes.

Our findings imply that the corporate governance course should be taught practically, giving students insights into what the course entails from an industrial viewpoint. This may entail engaging experts from industry as visiting lecturers at intervals to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Students could also benefit from mentorship programmes from industry, internships and related placements to ensure an understanding of theoretical concepts from practical perspectives.

Our study is novel and contributes to extant literature because it is the first empirical study on corporation governance education that emphasizes on students career interests and programme of study from a developing country perspective.

This study aims to review recent conceptualizations and theories of organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB) and its role in the energy transition from Malaysia’s perspective. It examines how factors of OCB, such as individual values, attitudes, motivations, leadership style, organizational culture and policies, affect the energy transition process. The research findings have implications for future studies on energy transition, highlighting the role of OCB in shaping the country’s strategies, addressing challenges and contributing to the transition process.

This study conducts a narrative review of past literature and documents OCB in the context of energy transition; factors influencing OCB (individual, organizational and external factors); OCB in the context of energy transition; and insights into energy transition in Malaysian organizations.

This study finds support in the literature for the impact of OCB on energy transition efforts from the Malaysian perspective. OCB, which extends beyond formal role expectations, can significantly support the effective implementation of energy policies and contribute to organizational objectives. By encouraging OCB within organizations, Malaysia can facilitate the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency practices, thereby playing a crucial role in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and advancing the energy transition, instilling hope for a more sustainable future.

This study encourages future research to explore the relationship between discussed variables and their impact on OCB, which is crucial for organizational policies aimed at advancing the energy transition in Malaysia. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on OCB within the context of energy transition and provide a foundation for further related research.

This paper aims to develop a conceptual model showing how the concept of distinctive value positioning (DVP) could be a strategic solution for improving marketing performance in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia.

A survey was conducted among owners and managers of creative SMEs using a structured questionnaire to test the proposed model. Additionally, the sample size included 200 respondents who were analyzed using structural equation modeling with the aid of AMOS 23.

This research used serial mediation to investigate the mediating effect of two concepts in the strategic path to enhance DVP. Channel partner power was incorporated to mediate the relationship between product innovation capability and marketing performance.

Service-dominant logic perspective was enriched with diversity through various analyses. This research further contributed to the field of knowledge by developing a new variable known as DVP. However, it did not extensively explore the various cultural elements in Indonesia that could affect the unique values attached to creative industry products.

DVP was reported as a new concept and showed a significant effect on marketing performance in SMEs.