Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal

Factors Influencing the Achievement of Social Development Goals in Public Universities

Alshahrani Ahmed Musa, Rosmah Mohamed, Anusuiya Subramaniam — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Achieving Social Development Goals (SDGs) within public universities is essential for fostering sustainable development globally. Despite the extensive research on sustainability in higher education, significant gaps remain regarding specific factors influencing SDG achievement in public universities. This study addresses these gaps by examining the integration of green human resource management (HRM) practices, green organizational culture, green knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement, curriculum integration, and infrastructure and policy updates. Utilizing a systematic literature review spanning from 2013 to 2024, this research synthesizes findings from Scopus and Web of Science databases, focusing on open-access articles relevant to the scope of the study. The results reveal that while traditional factors such as adequate funding, education and training, partnerships, and accountability are well-studied, the newer dimensions of green practices and stakeholder involvement are less explored yet critically important. This study underscores the multifaceted nature of sustainability efforts in higher education and advocates for a comprehensive strategy that incorporates both established and innovative practices. By highlighting these underexplored factors, this research provides valuable insights and practical recommendations for public universities to enhance their contribution to sustainable development, ultimately promoting a more sustainable future.

The Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility of Hotels and Brand Equity in Ho Chi Minh City, the Mediating Role Of Customers

Phung Tuan Thanh, Le Đinh Hac, Tran Van Dat — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Brand Equity has been clearly demonstrated in both theory and practice; however, there is still no consensus on which factors influence this impact. This study aims to construct a model focusing on understanding the impact of CSR on Brand Equity through Customer Commitment. A survey was conducted with 500 customers at 4-star and 5-star hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, using the PLS-SEM analysis tool. The research results indicate a direct impact between Corporate Social Responsibility and Brand Equity, while also demonstrating the positive mediating relationship of Customer Commitment.

The Effect of Practice on The Level of Some Elements of Physical Fitness of The Young Female Soccer Players In the Palestinian Clubs

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The study aimed to identify the level of some elements of physical fitness among female soccer players in Palestinian clubs, in addition to identifying differences in the level of fitness according to the variable years of playing: (1-2 years, 3 years or more). To achieve this, the researchers used the descriptive approach, using and conducting physical tests (speed, flexibility, endurance, agility, and muscular strength) on a stratified random sample of (89) emerging female soccer players. The results of the study showed that the level of physical fitness among young female soccer players in Palestinian clubs was good, as a function of the arithmetic average of the physical fitness elements, respectively: speed (8.9) m/s, flexibility (6.05) cm, endurance (2.39) m/min, Agility (14.7) m/s, muscular ability (1.45) meters. The results of the study showed that there are no differences in the level of some elements of physical fitness among female soccer players due to the variable years of playing. The researchers recommended the need for continuous training to improve and develop the level of physical fitness among female soccer players in Palestinian clubs.

The Effects of School Groupings on Student Performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Exam: A Classification Tree Approach

Christine Ouma — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This exploratory study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the academic performance of secondary school students in Kenya. The 2011 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) performance data from 26,067 female and 41,261 male students from 1,162 secondary schools in the Nyanza Region were analyzed. Academic performance was assessed based on whether students achieved a minimum grade (C+) for university admission. Using a data mining technique called Classification Tree (CRT), the study explored the influence of school groupings and gender on student performance. The results showed that school residential status (normalized importance=100%) was the most important predictor, followed by school type (normalized importance=95%), school size (normalized importance= 93%), and school designation (normalized importance=84%). Gender (normalized importance=2%) of the student had no effect on student performance. The final CRT accurately classified 93.7% of the students below the C+ grade threshold and 41.2% of the students at or above the C+ grade, yielding an overall classification accuracy of 76.7%. These findings provide valuable insights for educators and policymakers aiming to enhance educational outcomes in secondary schools.

The Mother of All Sins: An Interpretation of the Forbidden Fruit as Cannabis

Musaed A Al-Mutairi — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This article explores the reinterpretation of the forbidden fruit in the Adam and Eve narrative across Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, proposing that it was cannabis rather than the traditionally accepted apple, fig, grape, or wheat. The story's significance in each religion highlights themes of temptation, disobedience, and moral consequences. The author argues that cannabis, with its psychoactive properties, aligns with the altered states of consciousness experienced by Adam and Eve upon consuming the fruit. This theory challenges traditional symbolic interpretations by providing a logical explanation for their sudden awareness and shame. The article also examines the broader implications of cannabis use, such as its potential to impair judgement and behaviour, as illustrated in the story of Cain and Abel. By shifting the perspective from symbolic to practical, the reinterpretation aims to address the real-world impacts of cannabis, promoting informed public health strategies and responsible regulation to mitigate societal harm.

A Meta-Model Of E-Collaboration In Classroom Organization And Cbc Learners Performance In Public Primary Schools In Kilifi County

Scholastica Ratanya — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Classroom management is a significant aspect that matters a great deal to enhance student learning. Past studies have established a link between classroom management and student performance. Specifically, this study intends to fill existing knowledge gap on classroom organization and arrangement and classroom management time. This paper seeks to establish the effect of classroom layout of the seating patterns on students’ outcomes on improving CBC learners’ performance in primary schools in Kilifi County. The study also aims at finding out the effect of organization of classroom occurrences on improving CBC learners’ performance in primary schools in Kilifi South Sub-County. Two independent variables will guide this study and a dependent variable. This study was significant in providing support to both public and private schools during this COVID-19 era where learners are using more technologically based learning equipment and materials. This study will also provide novel insights to the Ministry of Education and policy makers in enacting suitable polices to enhance teaching and learning in primary schools. and Eison’s Active Learning Continuum and Classroom-Based Model of Student Engagement were the foundational theories of this study. Descriptive research design was applicable for this study a nd t he target population of the study was 65 public primary schools in Kilifi Sub-Counties. Sampling was carried out by use of simple random sampling and convenience sampling where a sample size of 30% of the population was achieved hence a 20 Public primary schools form Kilifi County. Structured questionnaires were used as the focal data collection instrument. Classification of data was done and data analysis was carried out by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), (version 22.0). Data was presented by descriptive and inferential statistics for simplification purposes. One of the findings of this study was that most primary schools in Kilifi Sub-Counties had similarities and differences in the classroom organization and arrangements patterns for the entire of terms of the year. The implication of this phenomenon was that classrooms are arranged to enhance student’s learning. This reflects the significance of primary school teachers with appropriate materials and equipment to establish appropriate classroom arrangements to enhance learner performance. One of the findings from this study was the diversity efforts in enhancing CBC learners team learning. It was concluded that efforts used by CBC teachers to ignite creativity through sharing of opinions and experiences provided new ways of learning. The study recommends that CBC teachers should be facilitated in order to share online space organization and enhance e-collaboration with teachers from other environments. This was significant as it would aid in enhancing learner’ concentration enhancing the ability of good time management. This was projected to improve overall learner’ outcomes.

The Special Bilingual Education Programme in Cameroon: The Scientific and Technical Components in Question

Gilbert Tagne Safotso, Ines Thérèse Gamgne — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Any teaching programme intends to train a specific type of citizens who able to answer a specific need of a country. It is for that purpose that the Special Bilingual Education Programme (SBEP) was launched in some Cameroonian secondary schools. That programme aims to train perfect bilingual students, and this goes in line with the promotion of bilingualism established by the Cameroonian government. This paper questions the marginalization/ ignorance of scientific and technical education within that programme which normally is supposed to consider all the components of education. The data was collected through questionnaires administered to 100 science students and 20 teachers of five bilingual secondary schools that host the Special Bilingual Education Programme. Another questionnaire was administered to 100 technical students and 10 teachers of three technical schools, making a total of 230 informants. The results revealed that the marginalization/ ignorance of scientific and technical components in the Special Bilingual Education Programme is a serious problem. Students who enrol in that programme and who ambition to continue with scientific studies are forced to leave it after the BEPC (Brevet d’Etudes du Premier Cycle) and the GCE- Ordinary Level examinations. Technical education students who want to be bilingual cannot enrol in that programme. This paper recommends that the government include the scientific and technical components into the Special Bilingual Education Programme to enable science and technical students to benefit from it.

Construction of Overseas Social Responsibility Image of Chinese State-Owned Enterprises Based on Corpus: Overseas Social Responsibility Image of Chinese State-Owned Enterprises

Yajuan Zhou, Wenzhong Zhu, Xiaoqin Liu — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

As the "cornerstone" of the socialist economy with Chinese characteristics and the "pioneer" in expanding international markets, state-owned enterprises' overseas social responsibility image directly affects the nation's image and reputation. Drawing on the latest achievements in discourse analysis, this study constructs a multidimensional analytical framework for the overseas social responsibility image of Chinese state-owned enterprises based on a corpus. Using state-owned enterprise social responsibility reports as the corpus, the study examines the linguistic features of the texts and the constructed social responsibility image from the perspectives of thematic words and phrases, intertextuality and interdiscursivity, modal verbs, and explores the underlying socio-cultural context. The findings of the research are as follows: 1) State-owned enterprise social responsibility reports construct multiple social responsibility images, including those of loyal party patriots, guardians of social stability and sustainability, practitioners of shared prosperity, industry leaders, and promoters of firm theoretical beliefs, thereby promoting traditional culture. 2) Furthermore, the reports exhibit positive traits such as openness, diversity, innovation, inclusivity, moderation, and friendliness. The research also indicates that the multifaceted and three-dimensional corporate social responsibility image of state-owned enterprises is closely related to their unique mission and status, as well as China's distinctive cultural context. This study also aims to provide insights into the construction of social responsibility images for non-state-owned enterprises.

Finding a Place: Education in the Meiji Period and Doshisha University

Richard H. Derrah — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This paper details the founding of Doshisha University by Joseph Hardy Niijima. It describes the unique social role played by the university and then contextualizes this role within the broader narrative of the creation of a modern educational system during the Meiji Period. The findings indicate that the combination of Christian and science education helped former samurai who felt disenfranchised within the new modern era of Japan to find their place within this new society.

Gender and Age-Related Variations in Elite Student-Athletes’ Experiences of Organizational Stressors

Medina Srem-Sai — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The study investigated gender and age-related group differences of experienced organizational stressors across young adults in popular sports. For this purpose, 93 males (60%) and 62 females (40%) student-athletes (n = 155) aged between 18 and 30 were conveniently surveyed using the Organizational Stressor Indicator for Sport Performers (OSI-SP) through a cross-sectional design. The frequency, intensity and duration dimensions were assessed under the five subcategories of the OSI-SP: "Goals and Development", "Logistics and Operations", "Team and Culture", "Coaching" and "Selection" using the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). There were no significant differences between gender and age groups in the frequency of occurrence of student-athletes’ organizational stressors. However, significant differences were found only in the subcategory "team and culture" under the duration and intensity dimensions of organisational stressors. Specifically, female and younger student-athletes experienced team and culture-related stressors longer and more intense than their male and older counterparts. Based on these findings, sport coaches, sport psychologists and directors of sports working with elite student-athletes in the universities could integrate or design stress management interventions. The rationale for these is to help athletes develop appropriate team dynamics to promote appropriate team culture, climate and optimum well-being, especially for female and younger student-athletes.

Rationalising the Digital Public Sphere

Abdullah Almuqren — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This paper explores the suitability of Jürgen Habermas' concepts about the rationality of communicative actions in relation to the Internet and social media. The paper investigates the contemporary digital realm, analysing whether it functions as an expansion of the public sphere classic conceptualised by Habermas, with the aim of improving the level of rational communication. To accomplish this, the paper analyses the characteristics of the digital era, exploring Habermas's stance on social media and contemporary media. The paper analyses Habermas's concepts about the rationality of communication and supports the arguments with relevant literature to investigate the impact of current communication tools, including the Internet and its applications, on enhancing the quality of rational discourse. In order to accomplish this, it is important to thoroughly examine the key subjects pertaining to Habermas's philosophy of communication and assess its relevance to the modern virtual public sphere.

Exploring Teachers' Perspectives on Attitude Change Instruction in Social Studies Education

Ebenezer Appiah-Kubi, Anthony Bordoh, Isaac Eshun — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This qualitative study explores the perspectives of social studies teachers in Ghana on attitude change instruction within the context of senior high school. The study investigates teachers' viewpoints, experiences, and practices related to attitudinal change instruction in Social Studies education. The study adopted a multiple case study design to gain in-depth insights into teachers' perceptions of attitudinal instruction. The population comprises Social Studies teachers in public Senior High Schools in the Oforikrom Municipality and Sekyere South District of the Ashanti Region. Sampling techniques involve selecting participants from nine public Senior High/Technical and Vocational Schools in the study area. The main instrument for data collection was semi-structured interviews. The study highlights the complexities and opportunities in fostering positive attitudes and behaviours among Ghanaian Senior High School students. Conclusions drawn from the study inform recommendations for enhancing attitude change instruction in Social Studies education, emphasising the importance of teacher commitment, student engagement, and a supportive educational environment.

Intention to Use Internet of Things Among Future Accountants: Analysis Using the Technology Acceptance Model

Nurul Syamila Jasmani, Shazalina Mohamed Shuhidan, Yunita Awang — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The study explores factors influencing future accountants' intention to use the Internet of Things (IoT) in accounting by employing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Key factors such as perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and attitude were examined using an online survey targeted to final-semester students at a public university’s Accounting Department. While 337 participants were targeted, only 121 took part. The primary objective of the survey is to access these students' perceptions of the various factors that influence the integration of IoT into accounting practices. The data was analysed using statistical techniques include correlation analysis and regression to test multiple hypotheses about the relationships between factors. The study was able to provide insights into how IoT adoption among future accountants can help transform the accounting industry. It also enhances understanding on the challenges and opportunities in integrating IoT into accounting practices. Key findings indicate that perceived usefulness has a significant and positive relationship with behavioural intention among future accountants, suggesting that they are more inclined to adopt IoT if they perceive it as useful. However, perceived ease of use and attitude do not have statistically significant impact on behavioural intention. The findings can help educational institutions and technology providers better prepare accountants for an evolving job market.

Dynamics towards Sustainable Food Security in Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) Parts of Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia

Almaz Taffesse Mossissa, Leonard Simiyu Mulongo, Pacifica Mining — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The main question policymakers as well as researchers are facing is ascertaining an appropriate way for sustainable food security in most ASAL parts of Africa. The efficacy of interventions is often hindered by lack of comprehensive understanding of local contexts and the socioeconomic landscape such as insufficient infrastructure and an inequitable distribution of resources that further complicate efforts, exacerbating food insecurity. The paper is based on a study undertaken in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, whose main objective was to assess the dynamics towards sustainable food security in the study area. The study used mixed method research approach and convergent research design. Using multistage and systematic random sampling techniques, a sample size of 397 households was generated from the 58,632 target household population of the study area. Data was collected using questionnaires, focus group discussions, and structured interviews. Results from regression analysis showed that there was a statistically significant negative correlation between restricted mobility (P-value=.000), land degradation (P-value=.031), biodiversity loss (P-value=.001), water shortage (P-value=.027), conflict (P-value=.000), and poor market facilities (P-value=.022) and household food production (at P-value <0.05). The study concludes that sustainable food security can be achieved by empowering the people through enhancing access to land resources and improving their market integration. It is, therefore, been recommended that coordinated efforts by national, regional, and local government bodies be undertaken to enhance food security sustainability by strengthening essential services such as market networks, raising awareness, and implementing policies that facilitate communities’ access to and sustainable utilization of land resources.

Enhancing EFL Students' Speech Presentation Skills through Aristotle's Rhetoric

Fumi Takegami — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This study explores the enhancement of EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students' speech presentation skills through principles of Aristotle's classic work, titled Rhetoric. By fostering metacognitive awareness of rhetoric, students gain insight into the purpose and benefits of speech activities, leading to improved public speaking and language fluency. Additionally, metacognition equips students with the skills to structure their efforts towards successful completion of speech activities, ensuring more effective and confident presentations. Introducing Aristotle’s three modes of persuasion—ethos, pathos, and logos—provides a framework for structuring speeches and evaluating others’ presentations. This metacognitive approach also benefits teachers, offering a deeper understanding of rhetorical principles rooted in the classic work on making persuasive speech presentations. The study proposes scaffolded lesson plans to integrate these rhetorical strategies into EFL instruction, demonstrating that such integration enhances students' ability to develop and deliver effective speeches. Ultimately, this pedagogical approach promotes learner autonomy and proficiency in public speaking by applying theoretical constructs to practical classroom activities.

Chagas Disease: A Fortuitous Share of Evolution and Natural Selection

Antonio R. L. Teixeira — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

American Trypanosomiasis, known as Chagas disease, can be acquired sexually, and the disease has spread to five continents. The disease attacks the heart and is a leading cause of failure. The multifaceted clinical manifestations of the disease are a persisting challenge to scientific medical-biological research. The T. cruzi life-long infection accumulates lateral transfer of kDNA mutation in the human genome and drives Chagas disease auto-immune lesions. Trypanosoma cruzi-infected human inherits the Protist mitochondrial kDNA minicircle sequences. The transfer of the kDNA to genomes of several vertebrate animal species and the polygenic kDNA mutation is a common denominator driving the disease pathogenesis in circa one-third of chronically infected Chagas patients. If so, why do many patients get sick, but others do not? An answer to this question stems from mapping kDNA integration sites in transposable elements of the human genome. Lateral transfer of the kDNA minicircle sequences to multiple copies of LINE-1 was retrievable with available biotechnologies. The kDNA mutation integration sites hitchhike to several loci, thus, polygenic genome modifications. This is a route toward knowledge-bearing benefits concerning the clinical handling of Chagas heart disease and digestive system ailments. The studies show that two-thirds of the T. cruzi chronically infected human population do not show disease clinical manifestations, and the remaining one-third of those showing Chagas disease leave their children when they die at 45 ± 10 years of age; then, we conclude that Chagas disease is a fortuitous share of natural selection.

Determinants of Students with Disabilities’ Attainment of Graduate/Professional Program Admission Credentials

Joyce Ann Miguel, Kayla D. Bazzana-Adams, Michael deBraga, Stuart Kamenetsky — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Multiple explanations have been provided as to why individuals with disabilities are so underrepresented in the ‘helping’ professions (e.g., medicine, social work, psychology and more). One possible reason is that as undergraduate students they were less likely to obtain the competitive credentials needed to gain admission to professional programs in such areas, either due to lower ability or lack of sufficient accommodations. The present study assessed the degree to which type and severity of disability, demographic factors (e.g., SES), dispositional factors (e.g., self-esteem), perceived stress, and perceived barriers are predictive of undergraduate students’ ability to obtain such credentials. A survey of 132 North American students suggests that dispositional factors such as the Big Five personality trails of Conscientiousness, Openness and lower Agreeableness, self-esteem and, self-efficacy/self-advocacy, as well as lower disability severity and higher SES are the strongest predictors of success in obtaining competitive post-graduate admission credentials. We propose that, similar to other demographic groups, dispositional factors are the strongest predictors of resilience necessary for academic success.

Analysis of Teacher Professional Commitment with Self-Efficacy and Digital Literacy Perfective

Erni Murniarti, Hotmaulina Sihotang — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This study aims to investigate the effect of digital literacy and self-efficacy on the commitment of the teaching profession at the Pangudi Luhur Foundation Jakarta. Teachers have an important role in educating, guiding, and assessing learners at various levels of education. The teacher qualification standards stipulated by Law No. 14/2005 emphasize the importance of pedagogic, personality, social, and professional competencies in carrying out their duties. The commitment of the teaching profession greatly affects the effectiveness of the learning process, while digital literacy and self-efficacy are internal factors that influence this commitment. The research method used was quantitative using Likert scale questionnaires. The research sample consisted of 104 teachers at Yayasan Pangudi Luhur Jakarta. The results showed that digital literacy had a positive and significant influence on the commitment of the teaching profession, with a regression of 0.909 and a determination of variance of 0.827. Similarly, teacher self-efficacy also had a significant influence on professional commitment, with a regression of 0.828 and a determination of variance of 0.686. However, when digital literacy and self-efficacy were considered together, the effect became stronger with a regression of 0.926 and a determination of variance of 0.858. These findings provide important implications for education practitioners, school principals, and educational foundations in developing strategies to increase the commitment of the teaching profession. Suggestions include organizing workshops and seminars to improve teachers' digital literacy and self-efficacy, as well as support from school principals and foundations in this regard. Thus, this research makes a significant contribution in understanding the factors that influence the commitment of the teaching profession and provides a foundation for the development of more effective education in the future.

Constelante x/y/z Spatial Direction Project: Aggregator of Light and Darkness Three-Dimensional Mapping Without The Use of Artificial Satélites

Valdecir de Godoy Borges — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Ψ - Light and Darkness (L/D) Spatial Positioner, based on light perturbation.

N - Velocity Input.

Z - Spatial Graph.

Clown Teachers and the Circus of Education: The Role of Educators and the Evolution of Educational Curricula

Musaed A Al-Mutairi — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The article "Clown Teachers and the Circus of Education: The Role of Educators and the Evolution of Educational Curricula" critiques the rigid and outdated nature of current educational curricula, using a circus metaphor to highlight the performative aspect of teaching within these constraints. It explores standardised curricula' historical context, examining their rationale and the disconnect between these predetermined frameworks and contemporary societal needs. The analysis reveals how current curricula often fail to prepare students for the modern job market, supported by case studies and expert opinions. The challenges educators face in balancing adherence to outdated curricula with fostering genuine learning are highlighted through testimonials. The impact on students, including psychological and developmental effects, is discussed, emphasising the consequences of an exam-focused education system. The article advocates for curriculum reform, presenting successful examples and recommendations from theorists and policymakers. Innovative educational approaches are showcased, illustrating technology integration and experiential learning. The conclusion underscores the need for evolving educational practices to balance examination success with fostering genuine learning.

The Rise and Resilience of Telegram: An Examination of its Origins, Current Positioning, and Future Prospects in the Context of Russian Realities

Mane Avetisyan — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In recent years, Telegram has emerged as a significant global phenomenon, driven by its innovative approach and commitment to freedom of speech. Founded by Pavel Durov following his contentious departure as CEO of VKontakte, Telegram represents a paradigm shift in messaging platforms, characterized by its predominantly open-source nature, global distribution, and reliance on cloud-based infrastructure. This architectural choice has endowed Telegram with remarkable resilience against censorship attempts, particularly those instigated by the Russian government. This paper delves into the circumstances precipitating Telegram's inception, analyzing the strategic decisions and underlying motivations that shaped its development. Furthermore, it evaluates Telegram's current status within the Russian digital landscape, exploring its role as a bastion of free expression amidst increasing governmental scrutiny and control. Additionally, the paper examines the reactive measures employed by Russian authorities to regulate the internet, juxtaposing these efforts with Telegram's steadfast commitment to providing unfettered communication channels.

The Role of the United Nations and Its Agencies in the Israel-Hamas War

Ruth Endam Mbah, Drusilla Engonwei Mbah, Laura Hultquist — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Institutional Liberalism, an International Relations theory argues that international institutions play a significant role in influencing cooperation and peace among nations. Although criticized by some as unrealistic, the tenets of Liberal Institutionalism have contributed to the rising interest in the capabilities of international organizations like the United Nations (UN) in ensuring long-lasting international relations and peace among countries after the Cold War Era. This is due to their mediation ability that provides a ‘common ground’ for discussions among states while maintaining the common interest of each state actor. It is considering this tenet of Institutional Liberalism that we explore the role of the UN and some of its agencies in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war of 2023. The involvement of the UN in the Israeli-Palestinian tension dates back to November 29, 1947, when the UN General Assembly voted to divide Palestine into Jewish and Arab states with Jerusalem as its international city (Resolution 181- Partition Plan). However, the focus of this article is limited to the October 7, 2023, Israel-Hamas war, as the role of the UN and its agencies have been active in mediating international relations in a manner supported by the theory of Liberal Institutionalism. The agencies under consideration in this article include the UN General Assembly, UN Security Council, International Court of Justice, UNHCR, UNRWA, UNESCO, UNICEF, and WFP. This article is, however, limited to a few UN agencies and, as such, gives room for further research as to the role of unexamined UN agencies as well as other international institutions in the ongoing 2023 Israel-Hamas war.

Comprehensive Quality Principles as A Contribution to The Development of Premier League Club Management in Libya

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The research aims to develop administrative work in Premier League clubs in Libya by applying the principles of overall quality. In this research, the descriptive method was used depending on the nature of the research. The study population included members of the boards of directors of Premier League clubs, which had twenty (20) clubs registered with the Libyan Football Federation for the 2023-2024 sporting season. The research sample was selected from members of the boards of directors of twenty (20) professional sports clubs of the Premier League in Libya, including fourteen (14) board chairmen, fifteen (15) treasurers and forty-seven (47) board members responded. The results of this research showed that there are statistically significant differences between the frequencies of responses of the research sample members in all the statements of the first axis titled “The extent of officials’ awareness of the concept and philosophy of comprehensive quality in Premier League clubs” and the second and third axes titled respectively “The extent to which senior management in Premier League clubs is centered around the beneficiaries to achieve their needs, desires, and expectations”; “The style of administrative leadership that must be implemented in the Premier League clubs in Libya” , in favor of the most frequent response. Regarding the questionnaire, the arithmetic mean was 2.54, with a relative importance of 84.8%, and the response direction was (high) on the principles of comprehensive quality for developing administrative work in the Premier League clubs in Libya. The researcher recommends the necessity of using the principles of comprehensive quality in sports clubs in order to develop their administrative work, as well as asking the responsible authorities to establish a special center for comprehensive quality in the sports field for continuous development and improvement.

Impact of Physical Exercise on College Students' Loneliness: The Mediating Role of Social Support

Chaoyi Ma, Dan Johnston, Kyungyeol Kim, Yi Zhang — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This study examines the impact of physical exercise on loneliness among college students, as well as the role of social support as a mediating variable. An online questionnaire measuring loneliness, physical exercise level, and social support was administered to a sample of 1,175 college students in China. Structural equation modeling analysis shows the significant negative effect of physical exercise on loneliness. Social support is found to be negatively associated with loneliness. Social support plays a partial mediating role. The preset research introduces social support as an intermediary variable, which highlights its significance in enhancing physical exercise and reducing a sense of loneliness for college-age individuals

Resilience of Amalgamated Frameworks of Morality and the Law: Nigeria’s Road to Recovery

Ayodeji Jayeoba — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

There has, for about two centuries, been a whirlwind of controversies about the relationship between the law and morality, and whether morality should be legislated by national governments. In a typical African setting, there used to be no clear-cut distinction between law and morality before the colonialism and its system of government. Until lately in Nigerian communities, morality had as much force as the law. However, Nigerians’ attitude towards enforcement of morality and moral values has changed dramatically in recent times, so much so that as predicted by Dworkin, what used to be unthinkable and repulsive are fast becoming the norms. The 21^st Century Nigeria is besieged by a variety of socio-economic and political problems such as terrorism and ethnic militia activities, widespread insecurity, poverty, hunger, homelessness, corruption and massively looting of public treasury. This paper explores such themes as the possibility of a nexus between decline in morality and the perennial socio-economic and political challenges of the contemporary Nigerian society and the law’s limitation and weaknesses in resolving the various challenges confronting the contemporary Nigerian state. It also examines the effectiveness of combining the frameworks of morality and the law in search of solutions to the challenges of contemporary Nigeria society.

A Case Study of Examination Malpractice Terminated Through Counselling (21-Year-Old Undergraduate Male)

Margaret George Kennedy — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The goal of counseling is to get the client better than he/she came for counselling. The aim of this case study is to share the experiences of Owunari (21-year old undergraduate male) who was invited for counselling by the counsellor on account of an alleged involvement in examination malpractice (within ethical limits). The client came for counselling because he was invited by the counsellor. Owunari did not deny the allegation, he confessed that it has been his trade in stock since his second year as he goes about doing menial jobs to finance his education after the demise of his sponsor. Counsellor with the consent of the client mapped out a weekly schedule of meeting, the goal was to have a better understanding of the client’s problem with a view to helping him overcome it. Six sessions of Counselling were held with the client during which active listening and responsiveness, empathy, questioning and directive counselling were explored to help the client to learn how to solve his problem. The counsellor did a background check on him from classmates and associates and confirmed all his claims. Counsellor provided immediate help by providing upkeep, and payed the balance of his fees, she gave him several links to seek for sponsorship. One of the links yielded dividend as George Mangibo reach out foundation offered him a full scholarship to complete his education. At this point counselling was terminated and examination malpractice jettisoned.

Construction and Validation of An Audiovisual Program on Body Education

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

To build and validate an audiovisual program as a resource to encourage body education. Study with a qualitative and quantitative methodological approach. The content was developed with a view to encouraging people who work predominantly seated to seek new well-being strategies based on (self-)knowledge of the body. For the development of the program, the contents were divided into scripts for 11 videos. All materials were built based on the CTM3 Method, a method for structuring educational products. Validation was carried out with the contribution of ten reviewers, five specialists and five laypersons. They evaluated the videos through a form composed of six questions. The criteria used for validation were a) Agreement Index (simple majority) and Content Validity Index (CVI ≥ 0.8). The body education program was validated with AI equal to or greater than 80% and CVI equal to or greater than 0.8. The content of the audiovisual program was considered valid for stimulating a culture of body education.