Prizren Social Science Journal
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FACTORIAL ANALYSIS OF RISK PERCEPTIONS IN AGRICULTURAL FARMS: EVIDENCE FROM KORÇË COUNTY
Full text linkThis study aims to analyse farmers’ perceptions of agricultural risk in Korçë County, one of Albania’s most important agricultural regions. A structured survey was conducted with 300 randomly selected farmers, representing a diversity of farm sizes and production types across the area. The data were processed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), a statistical method that identifies latent patterns in multidimensional datasets.
A total of 25 variables were examined, grouped into five key categories of agricultural risk: production, market, financial, legal/institutional, and human resource risks. Farmers assessed both the probability of occurrence and the severity of impact for each risk factor using a 5-point Likert scale. Composite risk indices were then constructed to capture the perceived significance of each risk. The PCA helped extract the principal components underlying farmers’ responses, revealing dominant dimensions of perceived risk.
Findings indicate that production and market risks are the most prominent concerns among farmers, significantly influencing their decision-making, planning strategies, and the long-term viability of their farm operations. These two risk categories emerged as the most influential across the sample, suggesting a need for greater support mechanisms and risk mitigation strategies in these areas.
The study highlights the importance of designing targeted agricultural policies and support services that address the specific risk priorities of farmers in Korçë County. It underscores the value of strengthening farmers’ adaptive capacity and resilience in the face of environmental uncertainties and market volatility. These insights provide a useful foundation for informed decision-making and the development of sustainable, risk-responsive agricultural development policies in Albania
CONTESTED STATEHOOD: EXPLORING THE REASONS BEHIND NON-RECOGNISION OF KOSOVO BY CERTAIN STATES
Full text linkThis paper analyzes the non-recognition of Kosovo's statehood by a group of key states, including five European Union members (Spain, Greece, Romania, Cyprus, and Slovakia) and two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with veto power, China and Russia. The focus is on the interaction between legal factors and political considerations in formulating these positions. The use of recognition theories in international law, as well as an examination of literature and official documents, helps clarify the fragmented context of Kosovo’s international subjectivity. Non-recognition directly affects Kosovo's ability to integrate into international organizations and exercise multilateral diplomacy. The ongoing non-recognition of Kosovo remains a reflection of tensions between law and politics in the international system. In this context, the study suggests that Kosovo's international subjectivity could be built through approaches sensitive to the context, shifting the focus from diplomatic confrontation to the creation of stable relations with non-recognizing states
SHORT- AND LONG-RUN EFFECTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION ON POPULATION GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM DYNAMIC PANEL GMM MODELS
Full text linkThis study investigates the dynamic interrelationship between population growth, renewable energy adoption, and carbon emissions within a system GMM framework, drawing on a balanced panel of countries and spanning the period 1990–2023. The analysis is motivated by Malthusian and neo-Malthusian perspectives, which emphasize the interaction between demographic expansion and environmental constraints. Empirical results reveal weak short-run effects of renewable energy and trade openness on population dynamics, yet underscore the long-term role of renewable adoption in mitigating carbon dependency and enhancing sustainable development pathways. Unit root and stationarity tests confirm the robustness of the data series, while correlation analysis suggests modest linkages between renewable energy, emissions, and economic activity. The GMM estimation indicates limited immediate impacts, but diagnostic tests highlight the importance of long-run policy consistency and institutional quality in reinforcing the population–energy–environment nexus. The findings suggest that a comprehensive mix of renewable deployment, governance reforms, and demographic-sensitive planning is essential to align economic growth with global climate objectives
CLIMATIC RISK AND CERTIFIED INPUTS AS DETERMINANTS OF POTATO PRODUCTION RISK: EVIDENCE FROM SHISHTAVEC, ALBANIA: Evidence from Shishtavec, Albania
No full textThis study empirically examines potato production risk in the Shishtavec Administrative Unit, focusing on two key determinants: climatic risk and the use of certified agricultural inputs. Based on primary data collected from potato farmers, the empirical analysis employs descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. The results indicate that climatic risk does not exert a statistically significant direct effect on potato yield, suggesting that local farming practices and farmers’ experience mitigate the impact of climatic variability. In contrast, the use of certified inputs shows a positive and statistically significant association with potato productivity, contributing to the reduction of production risk. These findings highlight the central role of farm-level management factors in stabilizing agricultural production. The study underscores the importance of agricultural policies aimed at improving farmers’ access to certified inputs and extension services as effective instruments for risk mitigation, particularly in mountainous farming systems
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No full textThis study investigates the degree of idiomatic equivalence between English and Albanian, focusing on how culturally bound expressions are translated across these two distinct linguistic systems. Idioms pose a significant challenge in translation due to their non-literal meanings and deep cultural embedding, often requiring strategies that go beyond word-for-word translation. By analyzing a corpus of 29 idiomatic expressions, including, business, body part and sports idioms, this research identifies patterns of full, partial, and non-equivalence and explores the implications of these findings for translation theory and practice. Through comparative analysis, the study examines the strategies employed to preserve meaning when direct translation is not feasible, including paraphrasing, cultural adaptation, and metaphor substitution. Special attention is given to idioms that reflect cultural norms and societal values, such as those rooted in physicality (body parts) and competitive behavior (sports), both of which are prevalent in daily language use. The results indicate that while full equivalence is occasionally possible, the majority of idiomatic expressions require creative solutions to achieve communicative and cultural resonance in the target language. This research contributes to the field of translation studies by highlighting the importance of cultural literacy and contextual sensitivity in idiomatic translation.Bu çalışma, İngilizce ve Arnavutça arasındaki deyimsel eşdeğerlik derecesini araştırmakta olup, kültürel açıdan bağlı ifadelerin bu iki farklı dil sistemi arasında nasıl çevrildiğine odaklanmaktadır. Deyimler, mecazi anlamları ve derin kültürel kökenleri nedeniyle çeviride önemli bir zorluk oluşturarak, çoğu zaman kelime kelime çevirinin ötesine geçen stratejiler gerektirir. İş, vücut parçaları ve spor deyimleri de dahil olmak üzere 29 deyimden oluşan bir derlem analiz edilerek bu araştırma, tam, kısmi ve tam olmayan eşdeğerlik örüntülerini belirlemekte ve bu bulguların çeviri teorisi ve pratiği için taşıdığı sonuçları incelemektedir. Karşılaştırmalı analiz yoluyla, doğrudan çevirinin mümkün olmadığı durumlarda anlamı korumak için kullanılan stratejiler, örneğin, açıklama, kültürel uyarlama ve mecaz değişimi gibi yöntemler incelenmektedir. Fiziksellik (vücut parçaları) ve rekabetçi davranışlar (spor) gibi günlük dil kullanımında yaygın olan ve kültürel normları ile toplumsal değerleri yansıtan deyimlere özel önem verilmektedir. Sonuçlar, tam eşdeğerliğin bazen mümkün olduğunu, ancak çoğu deyimin hedef dilde iletişimsel ve kültürel uyum sağlamak için yaratıcı çözümler gerektirdiğini göstermektedir. Bu araştırma, çeviribilim alanına kültürel okuryazarlık ve bağlama duyarlılığın deyim çevirisindeki önemini vurgulayarak katkıda bulunmaktadır
HAS THE GENDER GAP NARROWED IN STUDENT ADMISSIONS IN ENGINEERING STEM COURSES? EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY
Full text linkDespite the emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5, which advocate for quality education and gender equity for all, the gender gap in the admission and enrolment of students in STEM fields, particularly in engineering, persists. The study, therefore, investigated the extent SDG has been achieved in the enrolment of students into Engineering courses. Faculty of Engineering in Nigeria University was used. The population of the is 6,159 (5,481 males and 678 females). Documentation analysis was used for quantitative data collection, while the Interview guide was used for qualitative data collection. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentages, and Chi-square (x2). Findings indicate that there exists a gender gap in enrolment among students admitted to Engineering courses in the university, among others. It was recommended that the government, parents, students, and teachers/lecturers have a lot of roles to play to see that this gender disparity or gap is narrowed.  
EXAMINING BEST PRACTICES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM IN THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Full text linkThe Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is characterised by disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain, which present significant opportunities to transform governance, enhance service delivery, and foster community development.
This article explores best practices for local government reform, with the focus on integrating 4IR technologies to advance governance and sustainable development.
The research is situated within the context of South Africa’s local government framework and juxtaposed with international benchmarks to provide actionable insights.
The study utilised a qualitative research approach in the form of secondary data analysis, whereby academic literature, policy documents, case studies, and reports were reviewed. This methodology enabled a comprehensive examination of international best practices and their applicability in the South African context. The analysis was guided by theoretical frameworks, including the diffusion of innovation and stewardship theories, to provide insight into the adoption and implementation processes of 4IR technologies in governance.
The findings reveal that the adoption of 4IR technologies in local government necessitates inclusive governance, robust policy frameworks, and substantial investment in digital infrastructure to bridge the digital divide.
Integrating 4IR technologies into local government operations can significantly enhance service delivery and governance; however, achieving this requires addressing systemic challenges such as policy gaps, infrastructure deficiencies, and inequities in access.
This article contributes to the discourse on governance innovation by offering a comparative analysis of best practices and strategic recommendations tailored to the South African context
THE ABSURD CHARACTER- “THE STRANGER” AND “THE LOST ONE” - ALBERT CAMUS AND FATOS KONGOLI
Full text linkThis paper addresses the concept of the absurd in Albert Camus’s The Stranger and Fatos Kongoli’s The Lost One, works that come from different temporal and regional realities. Through a comparative method, it aims to reveal how the absurd is experienced and presented in two distinct literary worlds. In this context, similarities and differences are highlighted in the ways the characters confront the absurd: Meursault accepts it without resistance, while Thesari accepts it in an imposed manner because there is no other choice. This concept is viewed from different perspectives, also taking into account social factors, as social and political conditions play an important role in Kongoli’s absurd, whereas Camus’s absurd is deeply existential. It is understood that this comparative analysis emphasizes the universality of the theme of the absurd in literature, where the challenges faced by the individual in different cultures are also evident
PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEE ATTITUDE TOWARDS TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF GENDER AND JOB TITLE
Full text linkThe study examines employees' attitudes towards the training and development programmes offered by the public service based on Gender and Job title. The study followed a quantitative approach, and a self-developed and self-administered research instrument was used for data collection. The sample consisted of 286 employees in skilled, semi-skilled, and managerial positions within the Mpumalanga government complex. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyse employees' attitudes based on Gender, and Kruskal Wallis gathered employees' attitudes based on Job titles. The instrument was validated using Cronbach alpha and yielded an alpha coefficient of (α).853, which Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analysis further validated. The study results revealed differences in employees' attitudes based on Gender on the ease of training and quality of training programmes dimensions. Furthermore, differences were revealed based on the Job title on the quality of training, facilitation of training, and career and personal development dimensions. The study concludes that the public service needs to address the skills gap and shortage within its service. The study recommends that employers, especially the public sector, consider introducing tailor-made training and developmental programmes for individual employees, and training materials should be designed to address the specific needs of individuals or groups of employees with similar needs
THE ROLE OF DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIES IN ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY AND FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN EMERGING BANKING SECTORS: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA
Full text linkThis study investigates the impact of digital marketing strategies on the productivity of United Bank for Africa (UBA), focusing on social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO). Using a cross-sectional survey design and quantitative analysis, the research explores the correlation between digital marketing variables and organizational productivity. The findings reveal that social media marketing and content marketing have significant positive effects on productivity, while SEO shows a moderate but meaningful contribution. Conversely, email marketing demonstrates no significant effect, reflecting changing consumer preferences toward more interactive platforms. The study reinforces the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, emphasizing digital capabilities as critical drivers of competitive advantage. Policy implications highlight the role of digital marketing in advancing financial inclusion, reducing transaction costs, and enhancing customer engagement in Nigeria’s banking sector. Overall, the study concludes that strategic deployment of digital marketing not only enhances firm performance but also contributes to broader economic growth in emerging economies