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Study Abroad Impact in the Mid-term: Influence on Professional Development in Japan
Full text linkThis mixed methods research study explores the impacts of studying abroad for Japanese individuals and examines how these experiences shape their professional development in the mid-term. This research also investigates whether there are any discernible generational differences in these impacts between older millennials and younger millennials. Data collection consists of a survey with seventeen participants and in-depth interviews with four participants. The findings suggest that participants reported that studying abroad had a transformative impact on both older millennials and younger millennials through the development of skills, including cross-cultural communication, cultural competence, global understanding, and language, and had a relatively positive impact on participants\u27 professional development in the mid-term. However, some of the skills and knowledge gained through study abroad do not always align with the skills and knowledge used in participants\u27 professional work, such as problem-solving and leadership. These findings also demonstrate that younger millennials have had greater opportunities for international exposure and are less risk-averse and more individualistic, whereas older millennials tend to be less individualistic and value long-term orientation when making decisions regarding their professional development. This research provides valuable insights for international educators to narrow the discrepancies between skills and knowledge gained abroad and used in the workplace. These efforts will have meaningful impacts on participants’ professional development in the mid-term. Consequently, these efforts align with the Japanese government’s internationalization strategies and support Japanese company\u27s efforts to hire globally-minded individuals.
Keywords: cultural capital, human capital, generational theory, internationalization, Japan, professional development, study abroa
Darija\u27s Dilemma in Defining Moroccan Identity
Full text linkThe relationship between language and national identity has become increasingly significant in the context of globalization, where nations grapple with the complexities of cultural diversity and collective belonging. Language serves as a powerful tool through which shared values, traditions, and historical narratives are transmitted and preserved, shaping the formation of national identity and influencing government policies. In Morocco, the linguistic phenomenon of Darija exemplifies the intricate interplay between linguistic diversity and national identity, reflecting centuries of historical interactions, conquests, and power dynamics. As a conglomerate of Arabic, Amazigh, French, and Spanish influences, Darija embodies Morocco\u27s multicultural heritage and serves as a symbolic marker of collective belonging within a diverse society. By exploring the multifaceted relationship between language and national identity in Morocco, we gain insight into the complex socio-political dynamics that shape the contours of national identity and cultural continuity within diverse socio- and geo-political contexts.
We also begin to see the cracks of the multilingual structure present in Morocco, and how the lack of a cohesive language for the national identity creates tension and ethnic divide within the country
Structural Responses to Land Use in Pollination Networks: Effects of Biodiversity and Alien Plants in the Ecuadorian Chocó
Full text linkAs a globally recognized hotspot of biodiversity, the Ecuadorian Chocó Andino region is extremely important for research and conservation. However, little research has been done regarding the mutualistic networks that sustain this ecosystem. The analysis of plant-pollinator networks helps us understand how ecosystems respond to change and is vital to conserving ecological productivity across multiple spatial scales. This study establishes a baseline for pollinator network structure across a land use gradient near the western montane cloud forest in Ecuador. Plants and pollinators were sampled along 11 transects in farms, communities, roads in the Río Manduriacu valley. Weedy herbs dominated overall, with exotic ornamentals playing an important role in the “town” network. Hymenoptera was the most abundant pollinator order in all networks, followed by Lepidoptera and Diptera. Plant richness and pollinator richness showed opposite distributions between the habitats, indicating asymmetry between trophic levels. Connectance was low in all networks, complemented by high levels specialization. The “farm” network was the most nested and most robust to secondary extinctions, indicating more network stability in agricultural areas. Non-native plants generally overperformed native plants for partner diversity, and non-native pollinators were central to network structure. These results indicate that land use has a destabilizing effect on pollinator networks and facilitates invasions of alien plants and pollinators. Although more research is needed to inform specific restoration proposals, this study reveals an urgent need for pollinator habitat enhancement in disturbed areas of the Chocó Andino to protect biodiversity and provide benefits to nearby communities
Reflejos de la injusticia: Narrativas de estudiantes mexicano-estadounidense en el sistema educativo
Full text linkEste trabajo examina los relatos personales de integración, discriminación y racismo institucionalizado entre dos estudiantes mexicano-estadounidense del sur de California. A pesar de tener diversas historiales de migración, sus experiencias se encuentran teniendo mucho en común por causa del racismo internalizado y estructuras discriminatorias en el sistema educativo. Mediante el método de investigación cualitativa, que incluye entrevistas semiestructuradas y análisis temático, el estudio pretende ampliar el discurso sobre los polifacéticos factores que influyen las desigualdades y estratificación racial de los estudiantes mexicano-estadounidense. Al centrarse en las voces de los estudiantes, la investigación desvela las complejidades de abordar la identidad cultural, los trasfondos lingüísticos y las estructuras institucionales dentro del panorama educativo
Guna community perspectives on attributes, changes, and revitalization of nainu agroecological practices in Isla Tigre, Guna Yala Comarca, Panama
Full text linkIndigenous agroecological systems are gaining international recognition for their capacity to conserve biodiversity while promoting food security and sovereignty. Nainu is the ancestral agriculture of the Guna people of eastern Panama, and it is characterized by a successional growing system that imitates the regeneration of the tropical forest in which it is practiced. This research aimed to (a) characterize how nainu is practiced by farmers in Isla Tigre, a community in Guna Yala, (b) characterize how nainu practices have changed over time, and (c) describe how farmers and community members in Isla Tigre are envisioning and actualizing the revitalization of their ancestral agrarian knowledge. Semi-structured interviews and nainu visits were conducted with farmers and community members in Isla Tigre. Farmers described a prescriptive annual calendar that nainu cultivation follows and detailed the specific practices involved in the successional regeneration of their parcels, including soil selection, slash-and-burn, intercropping, organic matter application, and erosion management. Isla Tigre has experienced a decline in farming and some specific ancestral agricultural practices and crops due to a breakdown in the intergenerational transmission of agrarian knowledge, young people increasingly leaving the community to pursue educational and career opportunities, and economic barriers, among other drivers. The decline in nainu practice in Isla Tigre carries implications for cultural integrity, autonomy, food security and sovereignty, and health, which motivates the community to revitalize the nainu tradition. The decline of nainu is Isla Tigre and its broader implications can be situated within trends of Indigenous food system decline globally. Revitalization of Indigenous agroecological knowledge can contribute to reversing these trends. Multiple organizations and initiatives in Isla Tigre are working to promote and improve nainu cultivation. Interviewees stressed the importance of revitalizing their ancestral agrarian knowledge while also adapting their agricultural production to changing environmental, socio-economic, and cultural contexts through the integration of non-Guna agricultural practices. Knowledge co-production between Guna and non-Guna agroecological knowledge systems has the potential to fortify and adapt nainu in a rapidly changing world. The ways nainu revitalization is being envisioned and actualized in Isla Tigre reflects the dynamism and adaptability of Indigenous ecological knowledge systems
Exploring Depictions of Mental Health in Popular Hindi-Urdu Cinema
Full text linkHindi-Urdu popular cinema, commonly referred to as Bollywood, largely reflects the evolution of various social attitudes in the Indian subcontinent. In order to better understand these films’ depiction of social attitudes surrounding mental illness and the implications for its treatment, this study creates and analyzes an anthology of Hindi-Urdu movies from the 1940’s to the present that portray some aspect of mental illness. These movies that depict mental illness were grouped into the various aspects of stigma that they portrayed: structural stigma, courtesy stigma, health practitioner stigma, self-stigma, and public stigma. I extracted and analyzed the attitudes towards mental illness, perceived cause of mental illness, types of stigmas related to mental illness, depiction of mental illness and, if applicable, the treatment methods portrayed. This study aimed to answer the following questions: how have films contributed to explanations of the stigma related to mental illnesses? What are the perceived causes of mental illness in Indian cinema and what implications does this depiction have on the current help-seeking behaviors of the South Asian community
Making the World a Better Place: Meaningful, Reciprocal Service Learning in Costa Rica
Full text linkDespite the countless benefits that international service learning can present to host communities and student service learners, current service learnings offerings for undergraduate students remain relatively limited in quantity and intentionality. Unless international service learning programs lead with reciprocity, meaning, and sustainability, their pitfalls may exceed their advantages, resulting in an industry that leaves both communities and student participants necessitating more. The following proposed program in Costa Rica plans to lead by example, remedying service learning’s greatest shortcomings by making community relationship building its utmost priority, emphasizing cross-cultural exchange between students and community members, and offering service projects that fill a genuine community need and align with students’ own skills. Qualitative interview data from professionals involved in international education and international service learning help to frame the proposed program’s curriculum and program design. Ultimately, the proposed program will lead the way in contributing to fields of service learning and international education that are more thoughtful, thematically targeted, beneficial for all stakeholders, and socially just.
Keywords: Service learning, study abroad, international education, volunteering, community service, community engagement, experiential learning, cultural immersio
An Illustrated, Experiential Field Guide to Melbourne
Full text linkThis paper documents the creation of a field guide designed to promote sustainability by encouraging connection and understanding of Melbourne\u27s native environment. The guide features illustrations, distribution maps, and descriptions of their physical traits and traditional Aboriginal uses. The guide emphasizes accessibility for diverse audiences, using simple language and a balance of visuals and text to appeal to both beginners and experts in plant identification. Grounded in respect for the Traditional Owners of the land, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong/Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, the project integrates traditional ecological knowledge to highlight Aboriginal approaches to environmental stewardship. These knowledge systems, communicated through oral traditions, art, and cultural practices, inspired the structure and content of the guide. By including Aboriginal names and uses of plants, the guide bridges cultural knowledge with ecological awareness, encouraging the development of a holistic understanding of sustainability for its users. Through its focus on localization, Aboriginal perspectives, and hands-on engagement with nature, this field guide demonstrates how creative science communication can encourage sustainable interactions with the environment. It aims to inspire users to appreciate and protect Melbourne’s unique biodiversity
Overcoming Barriers to Sustainable Fashion in Australia: Insights from Clothing Producers and Consumers
Full text linkThe fashion industry is one of the world\u27s most polluting sectors, contributing approximately 10% of global carbon emissions and 20% of global wastewater. Despite growing awareness of fashion\u27s environmental impact, sustainable practices face significant adoption challenges in Australia, where the majority of clothing is imported and fast fashion remains dominant. This study aimed to identify and analyze the key barriers preventing both producers and consumers from fully engaging in sustainable fashion practices in Australia, with a particular focus on New South Wales and the Gold Coast regions. The study employed a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative data collection. Eight in-depth interviews were conducted with Australian-based fashion label owners and industry experts. Additionally, 92 surveys were administered to consumers across various retail locations and online platforms, with 51 completed in person and 41 through Facebook community groups. Analysis revealed three primary barriers to sustainable fashion adoption: financial, educational, and logistical challenges. While these challenges are daunting, interviews reveal positive solutions and suggestions to keep sustainability at the core of the situation. While 83% of consumers expressed interest in sustainable fashion, only 33% considered environmental impact in purchasing decisions. Price (76%), style (74%), and quality (68%) emerged as dominant purchasing factors. Significant demographic variations were identified, with younger consumers (18-24) shopping more frequently but showing higher price sensitivity. A notable gender gap in sustainable fashion awareness was found between men (45%) and women (75%). Producer insights suggest successful strategies including year-round basics production, strategic cost allocation, and direct manufacturer relationships. The study recommends implementing age-specific marketing approaches, standardized sustainability certification systems, and enhanced consumer education about garment longevity. Future research should explore the gender awareness gap and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of sustainable fashion initiatives across different Australian regions
The Barriers and Motivations to Recycling Behaviors in the Byron Shire
Full text linkThis research investigates the key factors influencing recycling behaviors in the Byron Bay area, focusing on barriers and motivations within the community. The study aimed to identify perceptions and practices around recycling, with particular attention to confusion, social norms, and infrastructure. Data was collected through a survey of 62 local residents, supplemented by interviews with waste management professionals Findings revealed that confusion over recycling rules was a significant barrier, with 42% of survey participants reporting it as a challenge. Despite this, 97% expressed confidence in knowing what can and cannot be recycled, indicating a gap between perceived and actual knowledge. Motivations for recycling were largely driven by environmental responsibility, with 79% of respondents identifying recycling as very important. Additionally, social norms were found to play a significant role, though responses varied across age and gender demographics. The study highlights that while local residents are motivated by environmental concerns, confusion, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of clarity in communication present barriers to more effective recycling practices. The findings suggest that clearer communication and improved infrastructure could enhance recycling rates in Byron Bay. Further research is needed to explore specific strategies for addressing these barriers and to evaluate the impact of local waste management policies on long-term recycling behavior