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Article
Publication date: 30 March 2021

Mahtab Pouratashi and Asghar Zamani

This study aimed to understand university students' knowledge, attitude and behavior (KAB) toward sustainable development.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to understand university students' knowledge, attitude and behavior (KAB) toward sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 567 students studying humanities, agriculture or engineering at public universities of Iran participated in this study. A survey was administered to investigate KAB of the respondents according to their gender, membership in academic associations, academic major, educational and informing activities and social units; abbreviated as GAMES.

Findings

The results indicated that students had a medium level of KAB, with mean scores of 55.15 out of 75 (for knowledge), 45.68 out of 65 (for attitude) and 36.03 out of 50 (for behavior). Differences and similarities were found on students' KAB by GAMES. The results suggest that education and social units are useful to improve individuals' KAB toward sustainable development. In addition, positive correlations were identified between knowledge, attitude and behavior toward sustainable development.

Originality/value

The findings confirmed the key role of education for sustainable development in addressing sustainable development (SD).

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 January 2019

Mahtab Pouratashi and Asghar Zamani

A graduate must be qualified in order to be successful in the labor market. Hence, embedding employability into higher education is a priority of policymakers and universities…

1065

Abstract

Purpose

A graduate must be qualified in order to be successful in the labor market. Hence, embedding employability into higher education is a priority of policymakers and universities. The purpose of this paper is to promote students’ employability skills deal with the issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is accomplished in three phases, and qualitative and quantitative approaches were conducted. Data were collected from 14 entrepreneurs and experts in the field of business and 150 faculty members from the main academic categories (including: engineering, humanities, agriculture and veterinary, science, and art).

Findings

The findings revealed that employability skills of students could be totally classified in three categories (basic, intermediate and advance) and five levels. Also, factor analysis regarding university activities to develop students’ employability skills showed five activities including: support, cultural, informing, research and educational activities.

Practical implications

The results can be beneficial for universities’ plan activities and offer proper services that enhance students’ skills for their future career. Also, the findings can be fruitful for higher education policymakers to find the right way to foster employability issues at universities. Mechanisms such as employers’ participation in curriculum development and work-based learning are useful in ensuring a good match between the supply of skills and the demand for skills.

Originality/value

This study classified graduates’ employability skills in basic, intermediate and advance categories. Another important contribution of this study was the proposed paths for improving each level of employability skills, enabling universities to be aware of the proper activities for each skills enhancement.

Details

Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, vol. 9 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-3896

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 20 May 2024

Anita Tanwar

Introduction: India has the 15th-largest domestic natural gas consumption (NGC), critical to sustainable economic growth. Promoting natural gas will have a crucial impact on…

Abstract

Introduction: India has the 15th-largest domestic natural gas consumption (NGC), critical to sustainable economic growth. Promoting natural gas will have a crucial impact on production in all industries.

Purpose: This research gives an overview of NGC and gross domestic product (GDP) in India from 1990 to 2021 and investigates the association and nature of causality between NGC and GDP in India.

Methodology: For the years 1990 through 2021, we used annual statistics from the NGC and the GDP of India. Both research variables data have been taken from the World Bank Indicator.

Findings: There is no causality and correlation between natural gas and GDP in India.

Practical Implications: Based on the research, the Government of India can create different policies for substituting natural gas for other energy sources to have a healthier impact on a sustainable environment in the short and long term. In the future, researchers can work on environmental degradation and GDP.

Details

Sustainable Development Goals: The Impact of Sustainability Measures on Wellbeing
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83549-460-8

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 28 June 2023

Babak Zamani

This chapter aims to identify, analyse, classify and rank the sustainability indices and internationalisation challenges of the footwear industry in the emerging economy of Iran…

Abstract

This chapter aims to identify, analyse, classify and rank the sustainability indices and internationalisation challenges of the footwear industry in the emerging economy of Iran. This would provide deeper decision-making insights into Iranian footwear businesses. First, a list of sustainability indices and internationalisation challenges was obtained by reviewing the literature. Then, a combination of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches was implemented. The initial sustainability indices and internationalisation challenges were screened using the fuzzy Delphi method, keeping a total of 14 criteria. The best–worst method (BWM) was employed to weigh and rank the criteria. The interpretive structural modelling (ISM) technique and cross-impact matrix applied in MICMAC were employed to visualise the conceptual model based on the levels and classification of the important criteria for the internationalisation of the Iranian footwear industry. The 14 criteria were demonstrated to be important in internationalisation. The most critical sustainability indices were reducing hazardous substances in leather tanning and labour education and training. In contrast, exchange rate instability in Iran’s economy and strict chemical regulations for clothing and footwear were found to be the most important internationalisation challenges. Hence, these criteria should be considered in the internationalisation strategies of the Iranian footwear industry. A combined multilayer sustainable decision-making approach was used to analyse the Iranian footwear industry’s essential sustainability indices and internationalisation challenges. Furthermore, implications and insights are offered to footwear businesses for future decision-making.

Details

Decision-Making in International Entrepreneurship: Unveiling Cognitive Implications Towards Entrepreneurial Internationalisation
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80382-234-1

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 December 2019

Sahbi Farhani and Mohammad Mafizur Rahman

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between natural gas consumption and economic growth of France.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between natural gas consumption and economic growth of France.

Design/methodology/approach

To analyze the relationship, an extended Cobb–Douglas production function is used. The auto-regressive distributive lag bounds testing approach is applied to test the existence of the long-run relationship between the series. The vector error correction model Granger causality approach is implemented to detect the direction of causal relation between the variables.

Findings

The results show that variables are cointegrated for the long-run relationship. They also indicate that natural gas consumption, exports, capital and labor are the contributing factors to economic growth in France. The causality analysis indicates that feedback hypothesis is validated between gas consumption and economic growth. The bidirectional causality is also found between exports and economic growth, gas consumption and exports and capital and gas consumption.

Research limitations/implications

The feedback hypothesis between gas consumption and economic growth implies that adoption of energy conservation policies should be discouraged; rather, gas consumption and economic growth policies should be jointly implemented.

Originality/value

This study is an original work for France and shows the results of the relationship between natural gas consumption and economic growth. In line with the results of this study, new direction for policy makers is opened up to formulate a comprehensive energy policy to sustain long-term economic growth in France.

Details

International Journal of Energy Sector Management, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6220

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 September 2014

Asghar Zajkani, Abolfazl Darvizeh and Mansour Darvizeh

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a computational time dependent modeling to investigate propagation of elastic-viscoplastic zones in the shock wave loaded circular…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a computational time dependent modeling to investigate propagation of elastic-viscoplastic zones in the shock wave loaded circular plates.

Design/methodology/approach

Constitutive equations are implemented incrementally by the Von-Kármán finite deflection system which is coupled with a mixed strain hardening rule and physical-base viscoplastic models. Time integrations of the equations are done by the return mapping technique through the cutting-plane algorithm. An integrated solution is established by pseudo-spectral collocation methodology. The Chebyshev basis functions are utilized to evaluate the coefficients of displacement fields. Temporal terms are discretized by the Houbolt marching method. Spatial linearizations are accomplished by the quadratic extrapolation technique.

Findings

Results of the center point deflections, effective plastic strain and stress (dynamic flow stress) and temperature rise are compared for three features of the Von-Kármán system. Identifying time history of resultant stresses, propagations of the viscoplastic plastic zones are illustrated for two circumstances; with considering strain rate and hardening effects, and without them. Some of modeling and computation aspects are discussed, carefully. When the results are compared with experimental data of shock wave loadings and finite element simulations, good agreements between them are observed.

Originality/value

This computational approach makes coupling the structural equations with the physical descriptions of the high rate deformation through step-by-step spectral solution of the constitutive equations.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 31 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 September 2023

Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi, Fazeeda Mohamad and Norwazli Abdul Wahab

The purpose of this study is to review the application of social media for knowledge sharing (KS) in higher education. KS is the most crucial component in knowledge management…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to review the application of social media for knowledge sharing (KS) in higher education. KS is the most crucial component in knowledge management. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are the epitome of knowledge creation and acquisition. With the advancement in technology and the embracement of social media, knowledge should be shared more freely and easily.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a bibliometric analysis, this study applies bibliographic coupling and co-word analysis to analyze the present and future trends on KS using social media in HEIs. 455 journal publications and 21,181 cited references were retrieved from Web of Science (WoS) database.

Findings

Findings show that most themes are categorized towards academics and students. Themes related to academics are the use of social media for expertise sharing and KS's impact on university-industry networking. In contrast, themes related to students revolved around the impacts of social media and academic performance.

Practical implications

Implications towards major social media practices on KS are discussed.

Originality/value

This study provides a novel, state-of-the-art bibliometric review of knowledge sharing via social media in the higher education context.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 August 2021

Olubimbola Oladimeji

This paper aims to assess COVID-19 (C-19) pandemic influence in the 37 factors identified from extant literature as factors influencing the viability of local construction firms…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to assess COVID-19 (C-19) pandemic influence in the 37 factors identified from extant literature as factors influencing the viability of local construction firms (LCFs).

Design/methodology/approach

A sample size of 65 staff of 31 LCFs that were awarded construction projects contracts in institutions in Nigeria was purposefully selected and accessed based on relevant predetermined criteria. Respondents’ views on factors determining the viability of LCFs were obtained. Factors known to be influenced by C-19 are 25 of the 37 factors rated on a five-point Likert scale of importance by the respondents. Mean scores were used to rank the factors and principal component analysis was used to obtain key component factors (CFs) influenced by the C-19 pandemic.

Findings

Six of the first ten “extremely important” and “very important” factors are known to be influenced by C-19 pandemic. A total of 8 CFs having 20 variables with factor loadings of more than 0.5 each were known to be influenced by C-19. The C-19 pandemic influenced LCFs’ cash flow and management of construction labour, plant and equipment amidst variables that had above 0.8 factor loading.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of this study is the inability to conduct close contact interview during this period to obtain personal views on the influence of C-19 on LCFs. However, this does not reduce the quality of findings of this study, as there are valid literature basis hinging this study findings.

Practical implications

The paper recommends that all stakeholders pay prompt attention to the factors adversely affected by the C-19 pandemic to improve or at the least sustain the viability of LCFs.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils a present pertinent need of assessing the influence of the C-19 pandemic on various factors influencing the viability of construction firms.

Details

Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology , vol. 20 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1726-0531

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 February 2019

Elham Lafzi Ghazi and Miguel Goede

The purpose of this paper is to contribute critically to understanding the structure of creative industries in Isfahan.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute critically to understanding the structure of creative industries in Isfahan.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first gather needed information about the case study and then analyze the data according to three measures of gross value added, employment and the dynamics of business for each sector of creative industries.

Findings

Results indicate that creative industries are medium-sized domestic enterprises which are comparatively weak in productivity in some sectors.

Originality/value

This paper illustrates the model of creative industries assessment for Isfahan city and, finally, provides a good understanding of the concept of the creative industries as a key element of the creative city.

Details

International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 46 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0306-8293

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 April 2023

Lili Zheng

The study aims to examine the indirect relationships via application (app) brand self-relevance emotions and self-relevance that underlie the relationships between perceived value…

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to examine the indirect relationships via application (app) brand self-relevance emotions and self-relevance that underlie the relationships between perceived value of mobile apps and (brand) love with respect to mobile apps. The study further investigates the moderating role of user–app relationship duration in the formation process of brand love for mobile apps from a dynamic and long-term perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple moderated-mediation model is developed and empirically tested with a sample of 396 users of popular Chinese mobile educational apps.

Findings

The study reveals that utilitarian value exhibits positive indirect relationships with brand love for mobile apps through increased positive self-relevance emotions. All three types of perceived value of mobile apps (utilitarian, hedonic and social) affect app brand love positively via self-relevance. These three types of perceived value were found to be serially linked to brand love through self-relevance and self-relevance emotions. Furthermore, empirical evidence is found for the moderating effects of user–app relationship duration.

Originality/value

By testing mechanisms simultaneously in an integrative model, this study investigates the reasons for app brand love that attract a user into a lasting relationship with an app and extends knowledge of the app brand love building process in inducing strong and positive brand–self connections. Our study also makes practical contributions by offering insights into delivering the most desired benefits to mobile app users according to different contextual conditions, in order to attract and retain users in a more cost-effective manner.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 37 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

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