José Teixeira, Sandro Alves, Pedro Mariz and Fernando Almeida
The current student selection process for short-term mobility actions under the Erasmus + program (i.e. intensive programs and blended intensive programs) is based exclusively on…
Abstract
Purpose
The current student selection process for short-term mobility actions under the Erasmus + program (i.e. intensive programs and blended intensive programs) is based exclusively on the students' order of enrolment and their grades. This study offers an alternative approach using the analytic hierarchy process based on a four-layer model that collects information about the specificities of each project and the profile of the students and also promotes greater inclusion and homogenization of the project teams.
Design/methodology/approach
A decision support system was built by decomposing it into three stages: the predesign stage, in which the problem is characterized, and the user requirements are identified; the design stage, in which the models, the database and the interfaces are formulated; and the field stage, in which six test scenarios were built to validate the proposed solution.
Findings
The results show that this model can be applied with various selection criteria among students and consider both their hard and soft skills. It can also be applied to help build teams in which the students' knowledge is aligned with the technical skills required by the projects.
Originality/value
The proposed approach is innovative in that it responds to the emerging challenge of short-term European mobility programs that aim to involve students with multidisciplinary competencies. The solution considers both hard and soft skills in the selection of students, which allows changing the student selection paradigm and obtaining potentially more homogeneous multicultural teams with greater learning potential.
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Keywords
Sandro Valença, Maria do Carmo M. Sobral, Daniella Ramos and Carmen Cavalcanti
The aim of the paper is to document the development of prospective scenarios for the village of Porto de Galinhas for the year 2018, based on the enlargement of the industrial and…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the paper is to document the development of prospective scenarios for the village of Porto de Galinhas for the year 2018, based on the enlargement of the industrial and portuary complex of Suape.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to conceive the prospective scenarios, the following methods were used: literature research; field research, to direct observations; semi‐structured personal interviews; and, qualitative analysis of the collected data and information.
Findings
The research identified four critical factors to the future environmental sustainability of the village of Porto de Galinhas: elaboration of Ipojuca's coast support capacity study; elaboration of Ipojuca's director plan; use and occupation of the area of the old holiday home of the Governor of the State of Pernambuco, in Maracaípe; and the enlargement of the industrial and portuary complex of Suape.
Practical implications
The following key aspects were found: creation of employment and income; industrial complexes; general infrastructure; education system; and environmental impacts. For each key‐aspect, the scenarios present forecasts that can guide the development of sustainable urban policies to Porto de Galinhas.
Originality/value
Both prospective scenarios, documented in the paper are clearly probable of practical application and, based on them, public, private and social organizations can develop policies of sustainable urbanization to the village. These will maximize the chances of the positive scenario being achieved and/or minimizing the chances of the negative scenarios happening.
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Simone Spagnol, Michele Geronazzo, Davide Rocchesso and Federico Avanzini
The purpose of this paper is to present a system for customized binaural audio delivery based on the extraction of relevant features from a 2-D representation of the listener’s…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a system for customized binaural audio delivery based on the extraction of relevant features from a 2-D representation of the listener’s pinna.
Design/methodology/approach
The most significant pinna contours are extracted by means of multi-flash imaging, and they provide values for the parameters of a structural head-related transfer function (HRTF) model. The HRTF model spatializes a given sound file according to the listener’s head orientation, tracked by sensor-equipped headphones, with respect to the virtual sound source.
Findings
A preliminary localization test shows that the model is able to statically render the elevation of a virtual sound source better than non-individual HRTFs.
Research limitations/implications
Results encourage a deeper analysis of the psychoacoustic impact that the individualized HRTF model has on perceived elevation of virtual sound sources.
Practical implications
The model has low complexity and is suitable for implementation on mobile devices. The resulting hardware/software package will hopefully allow an easy and low-tech fruition of custom spatial audio to any user.
Originality/value
The authors show that custom binaural audio can be successfully deployed without the need of cumbersome subjective measurements.
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Dien Van Tran, Phuong Van Nguyen, Sam Thi Ngoc Nguyen, Thang Nam Huynh and Khanh Van Ma
Open social innovation has become a critical practice for firms competing in volatile markets. Simultaneously, the rise of digital technologies has opened opportunities across…
Abstract
Purpose
Open social innovation has become a critical practice for firms competing in volatile markets. Simultaneously, the rise of digital technologies has opened opportunities across sectors, making digital transformation a key driver of corporate change. This study examines the impact of internal and external factors, such as social capital, absorptive capacity and government support, in facilitating open social innovation and digital transformation activities, which may ultimately enhance business performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through a questionnaire survey distributed to management members across various enterprises in a wide range of industries in Vietnam. A total of 289 valid responses were obtained, and the research hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
First, open social innovation positively influences digital transformation, with absorptive capacity mediating this relationship. Second, social capital directly affects open social innovation and indirectly impacts digital transformation through open social innovation. Third, digital transformation directly enhances business performance, while absorptive capacity indirectly influences business performance through digital transformation. Finally, government support directly impacts business performance and indirectly influences digital transformation via open social innovation.
Originality/value
By integrating social capital theory and the resource-based view, this research significantly advances the understanding of the complex relationships among government support, social capital, open social innovation, digital transformation, absorptive capacity and business performance.