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MEMBERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS AND ENGAGEMENT IN AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE FOR TECHNOPEDAGOGY: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
Full text linkThis article examines the individual characteristics and motivations of members within a Community of Practice (CoP) that brings together professionals from diverse educational and geographical sectors. The CoP focuses on knowledge exchange and the development of technopedagogical skills. The study was conducted with 134 members from nine countries, featuring a predominance of female participants and substantial representation from Belgium. The research is framed within a quantitative methodological approach. It aims to understand the demographic and professional profiles of members as well as their motivations for joining the community. The findings reveal that CoP members are predominantly experienced professionals with an average age of 42 and high educational attainment, with the majority holding a university degree. Most members are actively engaged in their careers, occupying positions across a wide range of educational levels, from primary to adult continuing education. Finally, the motivations for joining the CoP are primarily related to the desire to acquire new technopedagogical skills and to interact with other professionals from diverse backgrounds. The study also highlights four main predictors of willingness to participate actively in CoP: availability of time, intention to collaborate, interest in an original and innovative learning environment, and desire to learn technopedagogical content
TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AS ECOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE: AN ECOPEDAGOGY STUDY
Full text linkHumans living in ancestral environments tend to preserve inherited habits, including rituals and daily practices rooted in local wisdom. This traditional knowledge, reflecting ecological intelligence, is at risk of fading due to the lack of educational exposure. Using qualitative methods—observation, interviews, documentation, and audio-visual records—this study explores how schools can become a platform for revitalizing ecological intelligence through traditional knowledge. More importantly, this study introduces the integration of digital literacy as a vital tool in documenting, disseminating, and preserving traditional ecological knowledge. Digital storytelling, community-based multimedia archives, and ecopedagogical content delivered via online platforms enable students not only to appreciate but also to participate in the conservation of their cultural and ecological heritage. The findings suggest that both ecological intelligence and digital literacy can be developed in synergy through project-based learning rooted in local content. This combination equips students with the cognitive and technological skills necessary to engage with global environmental issues while remaining grounded in local wisdom
OPTIMIZING AI ASSISTANCE IN THE PROCESS OF ENGLISH WRITING: A TAIWANESE PARADIGM OF FACILITATING AI-ASSISTED EFL WRITING TRAINING
Full text linkIn the past decade, automated correction has become increasingly integrated into EFL writing pedagogy, especially with the vast advancement of AI-assisted software. This study looks at how Wordtune, as an AI tool, can facilitate the writing process of intermediate-level EFL students at the Department of Applied Foreign Languages, Tatung University in Taiwan. The selection of Wordtune in this research targets a major challenge for Taiwanese learners that I have been observing for years in my EFL writing classes, namely, their tendency to write generalizations without specific details due to their Chinese ways of thinking, regardless of what genres they are writing. With an AI tool such as Wordtune, students are more likely to get instant feedback on the language scaffolding in their writing process in order to communicate more effectively, as long as AI has been used wisely and ethically. The study analyses how the facilitation of Wordtune helps the paragraph structure and idea development of 25 students across five writing genres: narration, description, classification, cause and effect, and problem-solution. A comparative analysis was conducted between self-revised and AI-enhanced versions of students’ writing. Results indicate that the implementation of Wordtune as an AI tool, together with proper instruction, raised metacognitive awareness of their writing problems. The findings highlight the potential of AI to support intermediate EFL learners in overcoming L1 interference and improving the coherence and specificity of their writing
CHINA’S COVID – 19 RESPONSE STRATEGIES IN KUNMING YUNNAN PROVINCE
Full text linkChina, the country where the first cases of COVID-19 were detected and which was profoundly impacted by the global pandemic, has been a focal point for scrutiny and research regarding governmental performance and infection management. In the early stages of the epidemic, China swiftly implemented stringent lockdown and control measures, which proved effective in rapidly controlling the number of infections and maintaining them at a very low level for an extended period. However, following the official announcement on December 7, 2022, marking the end of the "Dynamic-Zero-COVID policy," China experienced a significant surge in infections. This outcome appears to have deviated from the Chinese government's initial plans, primarily due to the difficulty in balancing strict containment measures with economic stability. Consequently, the intensity of these policies was gradually relaxed until their complete cessation. The case of China demonstrates that the government's capacity to manage national crises is constrained by fragmented state power and increased autonomy among local administrative units. It is therefore inappropriate to view China through the lens of traditional West- philia assumptions. Instead, we must adopt a more open and contemporary perspective when analyzing the impact of COVID-19 in China. It is necessary to recognize that the Chinese government operates as a complex system characterized by decentralization, fragmentation and internationalization. Therefore, this paper aims to explore two questions through qualitative research: 1. How should we make sense of the Chinese government's prompt shift from a Dynamic Zero-COVID policy to an Opening-Up policy? 2. How did the local authority contribute to the decision-making of central government on the removal of Dynamic COVID–19 policy? I argue that the theory of securitization can serve as a valuable framework for understanding and explaining China's comprehensive policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, given the dispersion of power and interests among various units, deviations in objectives and conflicts are inevitable. Consequently, the process of securitization does not conform to a simplistic or idealized model. Instead, “contestation” occurs throughout the process, and the roles of “actors” and “audiences” are fluid rather than fixed, undergoing constant transformation. Furthermore, the research perspective applied in this article has value for the study of issues in other authoritarian countries
THE INTERPLAY OF SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL CAPITAL AS RESOURCES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: Received: 11th November 2025, Revised: 21st November 2025, 25th November 2025, Accepted: 27st November 2025, Date of Publication: 28th November 2025
No full textThis study examines the interplay between social and physical capital resources in shaping students’ perceptions, motivation, and academic performance across two rural community contexts—L County (high-performing) and F County (low-performing), Kentucky. The primary objective is to explore how community-level resources influence students’ educational orientations and how these dynamics vary between high- and low-achieving groups. Grounded in motivation theory and cultural models theory (D’Andrade & Strauss, 1992; Gee, 1996), the study conceptualizes social and physical capital as motivational structures that mediate students’ agency, aspiration, and achievement. Employing a pragmatic mixed-methods design, the research integrates quantitative analysis (n = 42) with qualitative interviews (n = 40). Quantitative findings indicate that in L County, students’ motivation was primarily shaped by teacher influence (r = 0.596, p < .01), whereas in F County, motivational drivers were dispersed across teachers, peers, and parents, reflecting weaker coherence. Qualitative evidence further reveals that deficits in physical capital—such as inadequate infrastructure, limited facilities, and restricted local opportunities—indirectly constrained long-term aspirations, while social capital, particularly through teacher and family relationships, exerted a more immediate influence on motivation and performance. Overall, the findings suggest that the quality and coherence of social relationships, rather than the quantity of available resources, are decisive factors in educational success. The study contributes to the sociology of education by integrating spatial and relational dimensions of capital into motivational analysis and by illuminating how students in resource-constrained settings mobilize social and physical capital to navigate structural inequalities and pursue academic advancement.
 
COMMUNICATION: THE “MULTIPLIER COMPETENCY” FOR EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP IN SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES OF TECHNOLOGY
Full text linkThis study examines communication as a vital competency for executive management in South African universities of technology. Interviews with executives reveal that communication consistently amplifies other managerial skills, functioning as a multiplier competency across both routine and crisis contexts, and is therefore essential for effective higher education leadership. This exploratory study adopts a qualitative design, using semi-structured online interviews held through videoconferencing with 13 executive management members of UoTs. This approach provides a secure and flexible means of collecting real-time audio-visual perspectives from participants, closely resembling face-to-face interviews while maintaining compliance with COVID-19 safety measures. To examine management competencies in depth, the study applies Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA). Communication competency emerged as a core multiplier competency for executive management in universities of technology. In normal operations, it strengthens leadership, decision-making, negotiation, and accountability, while in crises, it reinforces risk management, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and stakeholder reassurance. It is therefore indispensable for effective leadership across both stable and turbulent contexts. This study highlights communication as a pivotal “multiplier” competency for executive management in universities of technology, enhancing both routine and crisis leadership functions. Its dual-context impact—strengthening decision-making, accountability, and stakeholder engagement under normal operations, while supporting risk management and problem-solving during crises—offers novel insight. These findings underscore the strategic value of developing communication skills to reinforce multiple leadership competencies and promote resilient, adaptive management
ANTHROPOCENTRIC OR BIOCENTRIC? SOCIO-CULTURAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND POLITICAL DRIVERS OF URBAN WILDLIFE SIGNAGE PREFERENCES AND SUSTAINABLE COEXISTENCE
Full text linkWhat determines whether the public favors anthropocentric or biocentric signage in urban contexts? As cities face the intensifying challenges of human–wildlife encounters in the Anthropocene, the need for policy responses grows urgent. This research positions signage preferences within the fields of public administration, local politics, environmental governance, and urban management, conceptualizing signage as a policy instrument that reflects broader socio-environmental and political dynamics. Unlike earlier studies that approach signage mainly as a behavioral nudge, we examine the socio-cultural, environmental, and political dimensions that influence attitudes along the anthropocentric–biocentric spectrum. While anthropocentric signage highlights human safety and casts wildlife as hazardous or problematic, biocentric signage underscores coexistence, ecological interdependence, and shared constraints. Using data from a large-scale public opinion survey, we analyze the case of wild boars and the related urban-environmental tensions in Mount Carmel and the municipality of Nesher. The findings reveal that socio-cultural vulnerability, perceptions of harm, support for policy, and political ideology all play a decisive role in shaping signage preferences. By doing so, the study contributes to scholarship on environmental governance, urban management, urban semiotics, and policy design, showing how signage functions as a contested political and ecological symbol. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for municipal governance, morality policies, and the aesthetics of urban signage
BRIDGING BORDERS, PROTECTING RIGHTS: EVALUATING INDONESIA’S MIXED MARRIAGE POLICY FOR CITIZENS IN CHINA
Full text linkThis study examines the implementation of Indonesia’s Mixed Marriage policy for Indonesian citizens residing in China. The rising number of mixed marriages between Indonesian women and Chinese men has brought about legal and social challenges, including cases of exploitation, human trafficking, and unclear legal status. A notable phenomenon is the emergence of informal Mail Order Bride arrangements, where Indonesian women relate to foreign spouses through unregulated networks and digital platforms, often bypassing official procedures and facing significant risks. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, the research analyses the effectiveness of existing policies, identifies structural, legal, and social barriers, and evaluates the roles of both Indonesian and Chinese authorities in safeguarding citizens’ rights. Data was collected through interviews, document analysis, and field observations. Findings reveal that weak inter-agency coordination, limited institutional capacity, and unclear bureaucratic procedures hinder effective policy implementation. These gaps leave Indonesian citizens vulnerable to rights violations and legal insecurity. The study recommends strengthening bilateral legal frameworks, providing pre-marital legal education for prospective spouses, and establishing joint verification and protection mechanisms to ensure the dignity, safety, and legal certainty of Indonesian citizens in transnational marriages. This study investigates how Indonesia’s policies on mixed marriages are implemented for its citizens living in China. The increasing trend of marriages between Indonesian women and Chinese men has triggered a range of legal and social issues, including exploitation, human trafficking, and ambiguous legal standing. A particularly concerning development is the rise of informal “mail-order bride” arrangements, wherein Indonesian women connect with Chinese partners via unregulated digital channels and informal networks—often circumventing official legal processes and exposing themselves to serious risks. Adopting a qualitative descriptive methodology, the research evaluates the efficacy of current policies, pinpoints structural, legal, and societal obstacles, and assesses the roles played by both Indonesian and Chinese governmental bodies in protecting their citizens’ rights. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews with embassy staff, analysis of official documents, and on-site fieldwork. The findings indicate that ineffective coordination among government agencies, insufficient institutional resources, and vague bureaucratic protocols significantly impede policy enforcement. These systemic shortcomings leave Indonesian nationals—particularly women—in vulnerable positions, susceptible to rights abuses and legal uncertainty. To address these challenges, the study proposes several key interventions: reinforcing bilateral legal agreements between Indonesia and China, instituting mandatory pre-marital legal education for couples entering transnational unions, and creating joint verification and protection systems. These measures aim to uphold the dignity, safety, and legal security of Indonesian citizens involved in cross-border marriages
THE DIALECTIC OF THE NATIONAL AND THE LOCAL: INDIAN EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE
Full text linkThis study investigates the tension between national policy and local practice in achieving educational justice in India. It aims to develop a more effective governance model by introducing the concept of scale-sensitivity. Methodology: A comparative case study analysis of the national Right to Education (RTE) Act and the grassroots Akshar Model is conducted, guided, and refined through Nancy Fraser’s 3R (redistribution, recognition, representation) framework. Findings: The research reveals that the RTE Act’s centralized power is effective for redistribution but weak on local recognition and representation. Conversely, the Akshar Model excels in recognition and representation at the grassroots level but lacks scalable redistribution. The findings demonstrate that centralized and localized models are not opposites but necessary complements. Research Outcomes: The primary outcome is the proposal for a synergistic state-grassroots ecosystem. The core theoretical contribution is the refinement of Fraser’s framework with the scale-sensitivity principle, arguing that different dimensions of justice are optimally pursued at different governance levels. It offers a more nuanced analytical tool for India and similar diverse nations to foster educational justice. Future Scope: Future research should explore the institutional channels and policy mechanisms required to operationalize this synergistic ecosystem in practice
PERCEPTIONS OF LEARNERS, TEACHERS, AND THE COMMUNITY ON THE IMPACT OF MUSEUM PROGRAMS IN SUPPORTING SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULA IN THE FREE STATE PROVINCE: Received: 10th October 2025, Revised: 22th November 2025, Accepted: 10th December 2025, Date of Publication: 31st December 2025
No full textMuseums possess significant potential to inspire, educate, and engage learners through interactive, object-based learning. However, their benefits remain underutilized in many secondary school contexts, particularly in under-resourced regions. This study investigates the perceptions of learners, teachers, and community members regarding the contribution of museum programs to secondary school curricula in the Free State Province of South Africa. Employing a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with science teachers and Grade 10–12 learners from ten schools in the Xhariep District, along with selected community stakeholders. Findings revealed that while museum experiences offer substantial educational value, barriers such as logistical constraints, lack of awareness, misalignment with curricula, and socio-economic challenges hinder meaningful integration. The study advocates for strategic collaboration between museums and schools, improved outreach, and tailored educational resources to enhance accessibility and curriculum alignment. This study offers insights for educators, policymakers, and museum practitioners on strengthening educational outcomes through informal learning environments