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Two essential components, a robust information technology (IT) infrastructure and faculty training in student-centred pedagogies and technology usage, are necessary for effective blended learning designs. Many universities invest in IT infrastructure such as bandwidth, high-end subscriptions, servers, SMART boards, projectors, Wi-Fi enhancement, learning management systems, IT support, and other tools. Faculty training is crucial and includes instruction on using the new infrastructure and adopting pedagogical methods associated with blended learning. This study’s primary objective is to explore the challenges and pedagogical transformation towards blended learning designs in India. The research also investigates the impact of social context and emotional support on blended learning. It examines the mediating role of technostress among teachers between hybrid mode transformation and blended learning. The study’s results will provide critical insights for academic institutions’ higher management to encourage the adoption of learning designs and blended techniques by their employees during unforeseen events in the future, utilizing effective leadership and management skills. The study aims to assist academic institutions in meeting the demand for experiential learning in the classroom by incorporating blended learning. It acts as a bridge between industry expectations and academic outcomes. The study uniquely addresses the need for increased student engagement in the classroom.

This paper introduces a novel method to improve building safety management by leveraging building information modeling (BIM) and adaptive information retrieval techniques. The integration aims to overcome the limitations of traditional safety management methods in connecting construction processes with risk management efficiently.

The proposed method involves developing industry foundation classes (IFC) ontologies and integrating them with a safety document ontology to form a comprehensive BIM-based safety context framework. Custom reasoning rules and an inference engine are constructed to enable automatic context-aware safety information retrieval. The methodology is demonstrated through an adaptive information retrieval system using job hazard analysis (JHA) documents.

The implementation of the BIM-based adaptive information retrieval system shows significant improvements in identifying and managing construction risks. By mapping job-specific risks to corresponding safety measures, the system enhances risk detection and management tailored to particular construction tasks. The results indicate a marked improvement in the precision and accuracy of safety assessments and recommendations, aligning them closely with planned construction activities and conditions.

This paper offers an innovative approach to construction safety management through the development of a BIM-facilitated context-aware information retrieval system. This approach provides a more intelligent and automated framework for identifying and managing risks in construction projects. By focusing on specific job steps and related risks, the system enhances the effectiveness and accuracy of safety measures, contributing to better overall building safety management.

After the COVID-19 epidemic, educational paradigms experienced radical changes, especially in the way that architecture was taught. This chapter explores how architecture education evolved because of the current economic crisis, and how COVID-19 has affected instructional approaches. The main goal is to expose emerging educational strategies and their consequences for encouraging flexibility and resilience in architectural instructors and students. The study used a mixed-methods research methodology to gather information from stakeholders, educators, and students of architecture by combining document analysis of academic theses and publications with semi-structured interviews. Data analysis techniques such as thematic coding and pattern recognition revealed distinct categories of influencing factors, such as technological advancements, pedagogical modifications, student engagement and support, curriculum changes, faculty development, resource allocation, assessment and evaluation, as well as global and cultural considerations. The results highlight the varied and dynamic character of the pandemic’s effect. The crisis sparked a faster adoption of digital technologies, bringing forth blended learning and novel pedagogical approaches. As a significant result, resilience helped instructors and students overcome uncertainty by enhancing flexibility and using transdisciplinary methods. It also demonstrates how architectural education has persevered in the face of the COVID-19 epidemic and has the potential to spur larger changes in education. The possibility of sample bias and the crisis’s dynamic character are limits, though. Future research might examine the long-term effects of these emerging methods beyond crisis situations to expand the study’s results and influence the ongoing development of architectural pedagogy in a continuously changing global environment.

Health technologies are advancing rapidly and becoming more expensive, posing a challenge for financing healthcare systems. Health technology assessment (HTA) improves the efficiency of resource allocation by facilitating evidence-informed decisions on the value of health technologies. Our study aims to create a customized HTA roadmap for Oman based on a gap analysis between the current and future status of HTA implementation.

We surveyed participants of an advanced HTA training program to assess the current state of HTA implementation in Oman and explore long-term goals. A list of draft recommendations was developed in areas with room for improvement. The list was then validated for its feasibility in a round table discussion with senior health policy experts to conclude on specific actions for HTA implementation.

Survey results aligned well with expert discussions. The round table discussion concluded with a phasic action plan for HTA implementation. In the short term (1–2 years), efforts will focus on building capacity through training programs. For medium-term actions (3–5 years), plans include expanding the HTA unit and introducing multiple cost-effectiveness thresholds while from 6–10 years, publishing of HTA recommendations, critical appraisal reports, and timelines is recommended.

Although the HTA system in Oman is still in its early stages, strong initiatives are being taken for its advancement. This structured approach ensures a comprehensive integration of HTA into the healthcare system, enhancing decision-making and promoting a sustainable, evidence-based system addressing the population’s needs.

This study aims to examine the impact of logistics performance and technological innovation on environmental quality in Africa, focusing on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and renewable energy consumption as indicators of environmental quality.

The study employs a panel data analysis of 43 African countries over the period 1990–2021. Data on logistics performance, technological innovation, CO2 emissions, and renewable energy consumption are sourced from the World Development Indicators database of the World Bank. Grounded in the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, which integrates economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability, the analysis utilises the generalised method of moments (GMM) technique to address the issue of endogeneity.

The regression results reveal significant relationships between logistics performance, technological innovation and environmental quality indicators. Logistics performance demonstrates a negative impact on CO2 emissions, while technological innovation positively influences renewable energy consumption. The interactive effect of logistics performance and technological innovation mitigates CO2 emissions, aligning with the TBL framework’s environmental dimension by promoting sustainability. Furthermore, trade openness exhibits a significant negative effect on both CO2 emissions and renewable energy consumption. The findings highlight the potential synergies between logistics performance and technological innovation in driving environmental sustainability while offering economic benefits and addressing social well-being.

The findings suggest the importance of prioritising investments in enhancing logistics performance and fostering technological innovation to achieve environmental sustainability goals in Africa.

To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this study presents an initial attempt to examine the nexus between logistics performance and environmental quality in Africa using the logistics performance index. Furthermore, beyond assessing the individual effects of logistics performance and technological innovation on environmental quality, we delve into their interactive dynamics, adding novelty to the study.

This paper evaluates the benefits of harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) tools for safety compliance on construction projects in Nigeria.

This study employed a specialised approach by combining qualitative and quantitative approach. The study carried out a brief systematic literature review (SLR) to identify the variables of the study. These variables were prepared in a questionnaire which was distributed among professionals within the Nigerian construction sector using purposive sampling. A total of 140 questionnaires were retrieved. The collected data were analysed using Relative Importance Index (RII), Ginni’s Mean (GM) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA).

The analysis revealed that all the identified benefits hold considerable importance, with an average RII of 0.86, with real-time monitoring as the most prominent advantage. However, using the GM which was 0.861, the study identified “mitigation of hazards on worksites” as the stationary benefit of AI in safety compliance.

The study was conducted exclusively within Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, using a cross-sectional survey approach.

The results will be valuable for professionals and practitioners in the Nigerian construction sector, as they will acquire insights into the potential advantages of utilising AI tools for monitoring of safety compliance on construction projects.

The study adopted a robust approach by identifying the stationary benefit using the GM in combination with RII and EFA.

This study aims to examine the effect of corporate governance (CG) mechanisms on financial fragility in non-financial corporations, using Nishi’s operationalization of Minsky’s financial instability hypothesis. Specifically, the study investigates the influence of board size, board independence, CEO duality and audit quality on the financial fragility of non-financial companies (NFCs).

Using a panel logit regression model, the authors analyse annual data from (66) NFCs listed on the Amman Stock Exchange, spanning over the period 2015–2021. This methodology enables us to assess the relationships between the identified CG mechanisms and the categorical proxy of financial fragility.

The findings of this study reveal that a large share of NFCs fall within Minsky’s “Ponzi” classification, indicating elevated levels of financial vulnerability. Remarkably, the analysis demonstrates that larger board sizes and the CEO-Chairman duality exacerbate financial fragility within these firms. Conversely, the study results suggest that board independence and audit quality exhibit limited effects on financial fragility. In addition, profitability, firm size and financial leverage are identified as key predictors of financial fragility.

This study adds to the current literature by using a financial fragility index grounded in Minsky’s financial instability hypothesis. The constructed index is then used to examine specific CG factors in relation to financial fragility, which offers new insights into the dynamics influencing the default exposure of NFCs. Furthermore, the study findings have direct implications for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to enhance CG practices and foster financial stability in the private sector.

Higher education in Malaysia only began in 1949 with the establishment of the University of Malaya in Singapore. With independence in 1957, a new campus was established in Kuala Lumpur in 1962. Since then, Malaysian higher education has undergone several major changes. The first was the focus on affirmative action while opening up to private institutions, which heralded a new phase. Malaysia’s early 21^st century higher education sector can be characterised as having roughly equal numbers of students enrolled in about 120 public and 500 private institutions with the gender ratio biased significantly in favour of females. Public institutions employ more qualified academic staff, but private institutions emphasise teaching over research. The sector faces major challenges, some internal to the system while others related to the rest of the economy. Internal challenges relate to the primacy of affirmative action over merit as entry qualifications for enrolment as well as the paucity of science and technology graduates. Economy-wide challenges relate to female graduates’ low participation in the labour force, attrition through brain drain, and failure to achieve technological catch-up. These factors combined conspire to ensnare Malaysia in the ‘middle-income trap’ the escape from which requires fundamental reform.

This paper aims to assess the economic, environmental, policy-related and social implications of establishing green hydrogen production in Jordan.

The comprehensive analysis has been investigated, including economic assessments, environmental impact evaluations, policy examinations and social considerations. Furthermore, the research methodology encompasses energy demand, sector, security and supply analysis, as well as an assessment of the availability of renewable energy resources.

The results indicate substantial economic benefits associated with green hydrogen production, including job creation, increased tax revenue and a reduction in energy imports. Additionally, the study identifies positive environmental impacts, such as decreased greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Noteworthy, two methods could be used to produce hydrogen, namely: electrolysis and thermochemical water splitting. As a recommendation, the study proposes that Jordan, particularly Aqaba, take proactive measures to foster the development of a green hydrogen industry and collaborate with international partners to exchange best practices and establish the necessary infrastructure.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is among the first to provide a comprehensive perspective on the potential of green hydrogen production as a driving force for Jordan’s economy, while also benefiting the environment and society. However, the research recognizes several challenges that must be addressed to materialize green hydrogen production in Jordan, encompassing high renewable energy costs, infrastructure development requirements and community concerns. Despite these obstacles, the study asserts that the potential advantages of green hydrogen production outweigh the associated risks.

This paper aims to examine the direct and indirect impact of competitive intelligence (CI) practices on sustainable competitiveness (SC) and firm performance (FP) mediated by strategic design collaboration (SDC).

This empirical study is based on a survey of 179 respondents comprising senior managers from pharmaceutical companies operating in Egypt across three sectors: public, private and multinational corporations (MNCs).

The results show that CI has a positive and significant impact on SDC, which, in turn, positively impacts SC and FP. The study also shows that SDC mediates the relationship between CI and both SC and FP.

This study sheds light on the significant and mediating role of SDC in explaining the relationship between CI and both SC and FP.