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Background: Educational institutions are strategic tools in disseminating knowledge on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since education is an effective developmental tool. All the 17 SDGs are tied in one way or the other to education, that is, the ability of people to learn and apply. This study applies unorthodox theories which include convergence models, neo-functionalism, intergovernmentalism, neorealism and the Hofstede model to explain how educational institutions are an essential enabling environment which accelerates the attainment of SDGs.

Methods: These factors are analysed in the context of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Empirically, some university case studies were highlighted in addition to unclear modus operandi, small, fragmented and heterogeneous markets and economies, political stability, deficient political will, and lack of standardisation of products and procedures among other factors. These dynamics affect both the quality of educational institutions and the quality of education thereby directly or indirectly affecting the attainment of the 17 SDGs and are compounded with the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic.

Results: The study reveals that acceleration of the 17 SDGs will require a holistic approach as opposed to silos (scientific, economic, political, academic) which usually emerge when pursuing overarching goals of this magnitude.

Conclusions: It concludes that accelerating progress towards the attainment of SDGs will not only require dynamic and visionary leadership but also well-functioning institutions which are based on economic feasibility as opposed to political alliances. Priorities should be placed on addressing poverty, inequality and quality education. Moreover, partnerships will be key in achieving sustainability especially given that the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded existing challenges.

The purpose of this paper is to supplement and update previously published articles about artificial intelligence (AI) instruments and operations in banking sectors with the following objectives in mind: to understand the role of AI in banking sectors; to explore the themes and context in this area based on keywords, co-citations and co-words; and to identify future research direction by evaluating the trend and direction of previous research.

This study adopts a semi-inductive approach with the convolution of bibliometrics and literature review. This study used bibliometrics for the identification of literature across multiple databases and systematic literature review on identified articles to explore heterogeneous sectors within AI in banking and finance.

This study contributes a literature-based model that accounts for both the broadly in AI application in banking and finance: predictive modeling in risk assessment and detection; financial decision-making; client service delivery; and emerging FinTech applications of AI and machine learning.

This study is among the few to address the literature of tools and application of AI in banking through mixed-methods approach and produce a synthesized model for the same.

Can digital financial inclusion (DFI) as an emerging and innovative financial service encourage economic development?

Based on a Bayesian macroeconomic investigation framework, this research study presents the level of internet growth as a threshold variable and examines the influence of DFI on economic development based on state panel data from 2008 to 2021 in India.

The outcome of DFI on economic development through various mediation models. The results illustrate that DFI growth substantially contributes to economic development.

Encouraging small and medium-sized enterprise entrepreneurship and motivating populations’ utilization are two significant networks through which DFI progress affects economic growth.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered technologies are revolutionising the landscape of education, ushering in a myriad of possibilities and challenges. This article delves into the dual nature of AI-driven tools in education, spotlighting pivotal advancements like automated grading, personalised learning algorithms, online monitoring, content filtering, AI-based learning tools, Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) and standardised testing (ST) platforms. Ultimately, the examination reveals a spectrum of advantages, risks and considerations associated with AI-driven educational applications. Employing the PRISMA protocol, this study systematically reviews peer-reviewed literature concerning the implementation and ethical implications of AI in higher education. The analysis incorporates 36 scholarly articles, uncovering the entrepreneurial advantages of AI, such as tailored learning experiences, self-assessment opportunities, heightened efficiency, skill enhancement and reduced educational disparities. Concurrently, the research identifies potential hazards, including user profiling, plagiarism, academic integrity breaches and excessive reliance on technology that may hinder creative learning dynamics. Crucial concerns emerge, encompassing the possible devaluation of educators' roles, privacy issues inherent in personalised learning platforms and the intrusive nature of online surveillance. Additionally, the study highlights biases embedded within AI algorithms and apprehensions regarding job displacement within the academic community. To steer AI integration responsibly within higher education, the investigation explores ethical frameworks and models, offering pragmatic suggestions for institutions. Recommendations advocate for a balanced approach, emphasising judicious AI utilisation and the formulation of institutional policies. This chapter's distinctiveness lies in its innovative stance, striving to reconcile the technical and entrepreneurial benefits of AI applications with the preservation of creativity in higher education contexts.

This chapter examines the involvement of finance companies in the purchasing and leasing of Australian farmlands. This is a new global phenomenon as, in past decades, finance companies have lent money to farmers, but have rarely sought to purchase land themselves. We investigate and discuss the activities of the Hancock company – an asset management firm that invested in farmland in northern NSW. Material on the activities of Hancock and other investment firms were obtained from documents on the public record, including newspaper reports. Semi-structured interviews with community members were conducted in the region of NSW where Hancock operated. Australian agriculture is being targeted for investment by companies in the finance industry – as part of a growing ‘financialization’ of farming. While it is financially beneficial for companies to invest, they do not do so in ‘empty spaces’ but in locations where people desire to live in a healthy environment. The Hancock company was criticized by community residents for failing to recognize the concerns of local people in pursuing its farming activities. To date, there have been few studies on the financialization of farming in Australia. By investigating the operations of the Hancock company we identify a number of concerns emerging, at the community level, about an overseas company running Australian-based farms.

Social enterprise and social entrepreneurship are concepts that have a real effect on social change. The strategies associated with social enterprise and social entrepreneurship have become popular in public policy circles, as they have a real aptitude for solving many societal problems. This popularity has led to the rapid development of social innovation and a rethinking of the interconnecting relationships of social entrepreneurship. The authors of this chapter present a model for social enterprise and innovation approaches, and critically explore these aspects and the ways in which they can be conceptualized within corporate social responsibility.

Since the fifteenth century when Europeans first established a credible presence in Ghana, colonial values have played a significant role in shaping lifestyles in the country. Despite these imported influences, the courtyard house remains the predominant house form in rural and urban areas alike. It is somewhat surprising, therefore, that there is relatively little appreciation within academic and policy-making circles of its versatility. In this paper, the authors focus on the built form of the urban courtyard house and examine its utilitarian qualities from a predominantly architectural viewpoint. Finally, an attempt is made at predicting the medium-term future of this house type.