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Access to education has been globalized and democratized to a certain extent through massive open online courses (MOOCs) and other open-access platforms and content databases. In a recent study by Inayatullah and Milojević (2014), the recommendations were to establish a pilot project, enhance digital pedagogy and learning, customize degrees, create a culture of change in higher education, enhance collaboration, support research activities, redefine frames of reference, and anticipate and prepare for futures trends. The need for democratization of education has been increasing to meet the need of individuals and groups to assert and highlight their identity and role in society. Education is the means to facilitate this through a practical and active approach through wider stakeholder participation. Religious belief was identified as the main cause of conflicts among multi-ethnic cohorts. Adding socio-cultural differences to the mix and uncontrolled access to various opinions through social media makes the task much more complex. Educational policies must consider mother-tongue learning to improve learning outcomes. However, making the vast learning content accessible in multiple languages could be daunting. This chapter explores these emerging challenges and changing stakeholder expectations from the formal education system. The policy implications, possible technology-driven solutions, and their effectiveness in addressing the growing challenges of a global learning village have been explored.

This paper examines the relationship between flexicurity and employment inflows in the EU28 countries over the 2007–2019 period. Flexicurity is defined as the mix of flexible contractual arrangements, social security systems, active labor market policies and lifelong learning strategies.

Using two-way fixed effects two-stage least squares, we estimate the employment inflows as a function of an equal-weighted flexicurity composite indicator and other labor market, economic and business environment characteristics. To ensure the robustness of results, in additional specifications, we test the sensitivity of the flexicurity’s coefficient to: (1) the change of instruments; (2) the removal of different non-core variables and (3) the consideration of recessionary periods European regions. In addition, we estimate regressions with separate flexicurity components and with differently constructed flexicurity indices.

In all the estimations, increased flexicurity efforts are positively related to employment inflows. Increased flexicurity efforts benefit Eastern European countries more than the Northern and Anglo-Saxon groups. Not only a synergistic policy action that uses an equal combination of the four pillars of flexicurity has a positive impact on the employment inflow rate. Strategies that give more weight to the formation of skills seem to favor the labor market reinsertion most.

To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study in the flexicurity–employment inflows literature since it: (1) follows all the European Union countries over more than a decade; (2) brings some tentative findings on the socio-cultural moderation of flexicurity’s impact on employment inflows and (3) explores different country-level flexicurity indices.

The recent pandemic forced a rethink of education based on the classroom model. Digital modes of education became the only option available. Educators, students, parents, and all stakeholders aided and changed over to the digital mode rapidly, embedding innovative practices to facilitate student engagement. While the changeover was fast, and technology ensured that continuity in education was maintained, the students with disabilities faced a technology barrier. Disabilities could be visual, cognitive, learning, neurological, auditory, physical, or speech. Technological tools leveraged for online education did not meet the requirements of students with disabilities. The distance mode further accentuated the teachers’ limitations about working with such students. India’s National Education Policy (NEP) mandates barrier-free education. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016) mandates free education for 6- to 14-year-olds with disabilities. The Sustainable Development Goals also focus on the education of children and young persons with disabilities. However, enabling technology itself could prove to be a barrier to education if it lacks adequate support. Assistive technologies integrated with online education tools would empower these students to maximize the benefits of technology online and in a classroom mode. In this chapter, we study the various assistive technologies, best practices followed in various countries, and provide recommendations for their integration with tools or technologies that should be leveraged for education. These recommendations would equip education technology organizations to adapt their tools to reduce accessibility friction for students and enable special educators and teachers in general to create a much-needed inclusive learning environment.

This study aims to fill various gaps detected in the literature on mass prestige (hereafter referred to as masstige) theory. The originality of the work stems from the multidimensional application of Paul’s (2015) model, the introduction of brand addiction as a construct from the consumer-brand relationship (CBR) theory within the context of wines and the exploration of a new and less studied sector in masstige strategies.

A structured questionnaire was distributed to collect data from masstige wine brand buyers in Portugal, of whom 166 completed the questionnaire correctly. A conceptual model was developed and tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling.

The findings include that only two dimensions of Paul’s (2015) masstige scale affect brand addiction: brand knowledge and excitement and status. Brand addiction has a positive effect on brand loyalty and electronic word of mouth (eWOM), and brand loyalty has a positive impact on eWOM. Theoretical and managerial implications were explored.

This research added a CBR perspective to masstige theory and applied masstige theory to wine brands for the first time. These three distinctive aspects collectively contribute to the novelty and significance of the research, opening up exciting possibilities for future investigations and providing a valuable contribution to the academic community and the wine industry alike.

In recent times, ternary hybrid nanofluid has garnered attention from scientist and researchers due to its improved thermal efficiency. This study aims to delve into the examination of ternary hybrid nanofluid (Al₂O₃–Cu–TiO₂/water), particularly concerning axisymmetric flow over a nonlinearly permeable stretching/shrinking disk. In addition, the investigation of convective boundary conditions and thermal radiation effects is also considered within the context of the described flow problem.

Mathematical formulations representing this problem are reduced into a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using similarity transformation. The MATLAB boundary value problem solver is then used to solve the obtained set of ODEs. The impact of considered physical parameters such as suction parameter, radiation parameter, nonlinear parameter, nanoparticle volumetric concentration and Biot number on the flow profiles as well as the physical quantities is illustrated in graphical form.

The findings revealed the thermal flux for the nonlinearly shrinking disk is approximately 1.33%, significantly higher when compared to the linearly shrinking disk. Moreover, the existence of dual solutions attributed to the nonlinear stretching/shrinking disk is unveiled, with the first solution being identified as the stable and reliable solution through temporal stability analysis.

Understanding ternary hybrid nanofluid behavior and flow has applications in engineering, energy systems and materials research. This study may help develop and optimize nanofluid systems like heat exchangers and cooling systems.

The study of flow dynamics across nonlinear stretching/shrinking disk gains less attention compared to linear stretching/shrinking geometries. Many natural and industrial processes involve nonlinear changes in boundary shapes or sizes. Understanding flow dynamics over nonlinear shrinking/stretching disks is therefore essential for applications in various fields such as materials processing, biomedical engineering and environmental sciences. Hence, this study highlights the axisymmetric flow over a nonlinear stretching/shrinking disk using ternary hybrid nanofluid composed of alumina (Al₂O₃), copper (Cu) and titania (TiO₂). Besides, this study tackles a complex problem involving multiple factors such as suction, radiation and convective boundary conditions. Analyzing such complex systems can provide valuable insights into real-world phenomena where multiple factors interact.

This paper employs the Biondi and Lapsley (2014) accounting information transparency model to investigate whether effective transparency can be achieved through digital platforms for popular reporting. In order to address the limitations in previous research, which predominantly targets non-expert users, this is attained by focusing on the perception of local government auditors. By engaging auditors who are experts in accounting, the study aims to investigate if any cognitive biases in the design of online platforms could impact the achievement of a sophisticated understanding with shared meanings among citizens.

The study adopts an explorative and inductive approach, semi-structured interviews and an online survey among the Italian local governments’ Professional Auditors’ Association (ANCREL). Auditors assessed the OpenBDAP (https://openbdap.rgs.mef.gov.it/) platform in facilitating the comparison and analysis of the budgets and financial statements of Italian public sector organisations.

The results present a nuanced assessment of OpenBDAP, highlighting a general consensus on its ability to enhance the access and understanding of financial data and the appreciation of the utility of infographics in understanding financial data. Therefore, a clear challenge emerges in achieving active engagement of stakeholders. Despite expectations expressed during interviews with the Italian National Accounting Office regarding the design of custom APIs to meet user needs, our findings indicate the potential presence of cognitive biases in the design of the online platform as key obstacles.

By extending the application of the Biondi and Lapsley (2014) model on digital platforms for popular reporting to local government auditors, this study highlights the potential presence of cognitive bias in the design of online platforms that may impact the achievement of effective transparency, an aspect not previously identified in existing research. Finally, it suggests that these popular reporting platforms may evolve beyond mere transparency tools, assuming a broader role as potent learning instruments. This transformation could help to address the inherent complexity of accounting information, which is the real obstacle to achieving transparency.

The competition in the academe has always been tough, but today, the academe seems to be more like an industry than an academic community as academics are evaluated through quantified and economic means.

This article leans on Heidegger’s thoughts on the essence of technology and his ontological view on being to show the dangers that lie in this quantification of researchers and research.

Despite the benefits that information systems (ISs) offer to people and research, it seems that technology has made it possible to objectify researchers and research. This has a negative impact on the academe and should thus be looked into especially by the IS field, which should note the problems that exist in its core. This phenomenon of quantified academics is clearly visible at academic quantification sites, where academics are evaluated using metrics that count their output. It seems that the essence of technology has disturbed the way research is valued by emphasising its quantifiable aspects. The study claims that it is important to look for other ways to evaluate researchers rather than trying to maximise research production, which has led to the flooding of articles that few have the time or interest to read.

This paper offers new insights into the current phenomenon of quantification of academics and underlines the need for critical changes if in order to achieve the academic culture that is desirable for future academics.

This study aims to explore the essential factors of the reason for (RF) and reason against (RA) and their impact on tourist attitudes and intentions to use e-bike sharing services by using a novel approach based on behavioral reasoning theory (BRT).

A quantitative method was used to collect data from 292 tourists and analyze the data using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique.

The outcomes indicate that both “RF” and “RA” are crucial in affecting tourist attitudes and intentions to use e-bike-sharing services. In addition, factors such as convenience, price saving and time saving were identified as “RF” while “RA” weather conditions, safety concerns and image barriers were identified that affect tourist attitudes and intention to use e-bike sharing services. These findings also indicate that tourists’ values of openness to change significantly influence “RF” and have no impact on “RA” and attitude toward e-bike-sharing services.

This study provides valuable insights that complement the existing literature on electric bike sharing and BRT in the context of promoting sustainable and eco-friendly consumption.

This research takes a significant step forward in investigating the tourist attitudes and intentions toward using e-bike sharing services in a tourist destination growing economy by using the BRT theory and proposing a model that considers both the “RF” and “RA” using e-bikes for urban transportation.

本研究旨在利用基于 BRT 的新方法, 探讨使用电动自行车共享服务的支持原因（RF）和反对原因（RA）的基本因素及其对游客使用电动自行车共享服务的态度和意图的影响。

采用定量方法收集 292 名游客的数据, 并使用 PLS-SEM 技术分析数据。

结果表明“RF”和“RA”对于影响游客使用电动自行车共享服务的态度和意图至关重要。此外, 方便、节省价格和节省时间等因素被确定为“RF”, 而“RA”则被确定为影响游客态度和使用电动自行车共享服务意愿的天气条件、安全问题和形象障碍。这些发现还表明, 游客对变革的开放价值观显着影响“RF”, 但对“RA”和对电动自行车共享服务的态度没有影响。

这项研究提供了宝贵的见解, 在促进可持续和环保消费的背景下补充了有关电动自行车共享和 BRT 的现有文献。

本研究利用 BRT 理论, 在调查经济增长的旅游目的地中游客对使用电动自行车共享服务的态度和意图方面迈出了重要一步, 并提出了一个同时考虑“RF”和“RA”的模型用于城市交通的电动自行车。”

Este estudio pretende explorar los factores esenciales de las razones a favor (RF) y en contra (RA) y su impacto en las actitudes e intenciones de los turistas de utilizar los servicios de bicicletas eléctricas compartidas (e-bike sharing) utilizando un enfoque novedoso basado en la BRT.

Se utilizó un método cuantitativo para recopilar datos de 292 turistas y analizarlos mediante la técnica PLS-SEM.

Los resultados indican que tanto la “RF” como la “RA” son cruciales para afectar a las actitudes e intenciones de los turistas de utilizar los servicios de e-bike-sharing. Además, se identificaron como “RF” factores como la comodidad, el ahorro de precio y el ahorro de tiempo, mientras que como “RA” se identificaron las condiciones meteorológicas, las preocupaciones por la seguridad y las barreras de imagen que afectan a las actitudes de los turistas y a su intención de utilizar los servicios de e-bike sharing. Estos resultados también indican que los valores de apertura al cambio de los turistas influyen significativamente en “RF” y no tienen ningún impacto en “RA” ni en la actitud hacia los servicios de e-bike sharing.

Este estudio aporta valiosas ideas que complementan la bibliografía existente sobre el uso compartido de bicicletas eléctricas (e-bike sharing) y el BRT en el contexto de la promoción de un consumo sostenible y respetuoso con el medio ambiente.”

Esta investigación da un importante paso adelante en la investigación de las actitudes e intenciones de los turistas hacia la utilización de los servicios de e-bike sharing en un destino turístico de economía en crecimiento utilizando la teoría del BRT y proponiendo un modelo que tiene en cuenta tanto la “RF” como la “RA” que utilizan las e-bikes para el transporte urbano.”