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The purpose of this article is to discuss the “learning nation” concept and examine the characteristics and implications of using the “learning” premodifier in this nation-building program.

This article reviews how the “learning” aspect is inter-related to a series of national information and communication technology masterplans and includes a comparative analysis of the related premodifier “smart” as Singapore sets forth its ambition to become a “smart nation” as part of the digitalization megatrend. A print media indicator and Google Trends form part of the methodology to ascertain the rise of digital technology over a certain period. The former technique involves identifying relevant bibliographic databases and analyzing the volume of publications. The latter technique is a real time index of the volume of queries that users input into Google.

It is suggested that using the term “learning nation” previously and more recently “smart nation” is a consequence of the rise of the digitalization megatrend. The “smart-ness” involves learning about digital technologies, developing digital competencies and harnessing the benefits of these digital capabilities. From a public policy perspective, the article showcases how a city-state can transform itself through technology by riding on megatrends. Also, there is a need to be selective in developing specific areas for the application of digital technologies.

This article contributes to a better understanding on the frequent usage of the word “learning” as a premodifier and Singapore’s nation-building journey through human capital development and digitalization.

The purpose of the study is to explore the integration of facets of information technology (IT) governance at a professional council in South Africa with the view to develop a framework.

This critical emancipatory study used the Information Governance Initiative pinwheel to explore the architecture facet of information governance at the professional council, with a view to developing a framework for entrenching a culture of good corporate governance. Qualitative data was collected through interviews and document analysis. The study was a participatory action research project that involved collaboration between the researcher and study participants in defining and solving the problem through a needs assessment exercise.

The key findings report on the processes taken by a professional council in identifying and implementing the facets of information governance, that is, records management, IT, content management, data governance, information security, data privacy, risk management, regulatory compliance, long-term digital preservation and, even, business intelligence.

The study was a participatory action research project that involved collaboration between the researcher and study participants in defining and solving the problem through a needs assessment exercise.

The study’s findings suggest that, with the right information governance policy in place, adopting the facets of information governance can be used to address concerns related to information integrity in the short and medium terms. As a long-term option for retaining data and information, it would have various drawbacks and would not, however, ensure the initial dependability of the information.

A framework for information governance to ensure that the professional organisation and board members adopt a tailored governance system is suggested.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the mental health literacy of schizophrenia in a South African community sample. This study is part of the growing interest in community mental health literacy.

A sample of 192 Black African participants from municipalities (Ditsobotla and Mahikeng) between 18 and 65 years participated in this study. Participants viewed fictional (male and female) sufferers of schizophrenia vignettes and responded to the same questions regarding each vignette. They completed a questionnaire examining the capacity to recognise schizophrenia as well as the capacity to source appropriate help.

For both vignettes, a substantial majority of participants indicated that older people believe that when a male is diagnosed with schizophrenia, the cause is traditional (spiritual). In contrast, more participants with lower education believed that medical reasons cause a female person’s diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Overall, the study highlights the complexity of beliefs about the causes of schizophrenia. It underscores the importance of considering cultural and educational factors in mental health research, practice and policy development.

By uncovering the differences in perceptions between older individuals and those with lower education levels, the study sheds light on previously unexplored aspects of mental health literacy and cultural understanding of schizophrenia.

While previous research has examined cultural beliefs about mental illness, this study specifically focuses on how age and education intersect with these beliefs, particularly regarding gender differences in diagnosis.

This unique approach contributes to the broader literature on mental health disparities. It has implications for tailored interventions and public health strategies aimed at addressing stigma and improving mental health outcomes in diverse populations.

The purpose of this study focused on a global longitudinal bibliometric mapping of research in the field of health biotechnology between 1990 and 2023 to determine who is leading this field of knowledge and to estimate the sub-disciplines that are emerging and project those that will prevail in the future.

The study identified the most relevant countries, institutions and researchers, as well as the type of scientific collaborations. The applied steps applied in the study were the following: identification and selection of keyword terms by a panel of experts; design and application of an algorithm to identify these selected keywords in titles, abstracts and keywords using Web of Science terms to contrast them; performance of JCR data processing during 2023 using R, Python and VOSviewer.

Among the most relevant conclusions of the study are the following exponential growth has been observed in the study period; new branches of knowledge have emerged in which the subjects have been acquiring their own autonomous capabilities; and R&D in this field is still concentrated in a small group of core countries, and the trend is for it to remain so due to the capacity needs required.

This contribution seeks to systematize the existing scientific knowledge in the field of biotechnology, specifically in the area of health, using the technique of scientific mapping based on a logical model of indicators that aims to determine potential thematic ramifications.

Many professionals who work with children champion the concept of child participation. However, professionals’ attempts at listening to children to understand their perspectives and include them in decision-making are often difficult or missing. This paper aims to report on a study that examined the lived experiences of child and family professionals and children, aged five to nine years, to understand what happens in their everyday conversations and interactions and what is needed to prepare pre-service professionals to uphold children’s right to have their views heard and considered in decision-making.

Narrative Inquiry was used as the methodology for this study as it is a useful research methodology for developing interventions for practice. Narrative Inquiry methodology allows the researcher to learn from their participants, and to validate them as knowledgeable in their own lives and as contributors to change.

The findings indicated that everyday conversations and interactions that take place between professionals and children influence an adult’s ability to hear a child’s perspective. The key findings indicate that for adults to hear a child’s perspective and include them in decision-making, there is a need to build trust and acknowledge how power plays a role in having meaningful conversations with children.

To better prepare the child and family practice workforce, they will need theoretical knowledge and practice skills in developing self-awareness about how children are viewed, building reciprocal relationships with children and creating safe spaces for conversations to take place.

The development of zero-carbon buildings (ZCBs) is beneficial to the society and biodiversity. Despite the benefits of ZCBs, there are challenges limiting its development in construction industry. The current study seeks to examine the technology-related factors affecting the development of ZCB in Lagos Nigeria.

The study designed a questionnaire to achieve the main objective. Data were collected using non-probability and snowballing sampling methods. Questionnaires were distributed, and 272 valid responses were collected. Thereafter, data were analysed using mean value, percentage, frequency distribution, normality test, Kruskal Wallis test and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance.

The results from data analysis showed that, “less technical expertise in new technological advancements”, “research outcomes are not translated effectively into technology innovations”, “high cost of maintenance on ZCB”, “poor knowledge on renewable technologies” and “industry’s ability to embrace ZCB technologies (policy initiatives and industry practices)” were the topmost five technology-related factors hindering development of ZCBs in Lagos, Nigeria. Also, the results from the study show a statistically significant degree of agreement between various groups of construction organisations in Lagos, Nigeria concerning the technology-related factors hindering the development of ZCBs.

The study contributed to more effective ZCB studies by drawing attention to technology-related factors hindering the development of ZCBs in construction industry. An understanding of these challenges can help construction stakeholders, organisations, policymakers and governments in devising strategies targeted at minimising these challenges and fostering the development of ZCBs in the construction sector. The identified results on technological barriers to ZCBs development can guide targeted interventions and policy adjustments, promoting more effective implementation of ZCBs in Lagos Nigeria and serving as a model for addressing similar challenges in other developing countries. Recommendations for future research on ZCBs were also highlighted.

The circular economy (CE) is a sustainable economic model that has the potential to create new opportunities, reduce environmental impact and enhance social well-being. Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), the largest city in Vietnam, has experienced rapid economic growth in recent years, but at the cost of the environment and public health. The city could reduce waste, conserve resources and promote sustainable production and consumption by adopting CE principles. Employing qualitative research, including content analysis, we construct a SWOT analysis to assess HCMC's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the CE context. The city possesses several strengths, such as a vast potential for a CE and a robust economic foundation. However, it also faces multiple weaknesses, including insufficient infrastructure, inadequate citizen and business awareness and participation, ineffective policy enforcement and a deficiency of standards for recycled products. This chapter will conclude that the CE presents an opportunity for HCMC to reduce its dependence on imported raw materials, increase local value creation and create new jobs in the CE sector.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are currently showing an increasingly open innovation (OI) approach. Public policies supporting the adoption of OI by SMEs are becoming a priority for policymakers. Therefore, the aim of this article is to contribute to the literature by mapping scholars' policy recommendations for implementing OI among SMEs.

The authors conducted a systematic review of the literature (SRL) on the topic to achieve this purpose. A total of 99 academic articles were selected from the Web of Science and Scopus databases to suggest the main scholars' policy recommendations to implement OI among SMEs.

Results indicated that scholars' policy recommendations for OI adoption in SMEs can be organized into: research and development (R&D), networking, collaboration, knowledge and intellectual property rights (IPR), ecosystem, managerial capabilities, funding and incentives and sustainability policies.

Only relevant articles about this topic have been included due to the reliance on the interpretations of the authors. The analysis of the literature revealed that the authors did not always distinguish policies dedicated to SMEs and those dedicated to large companies. Moreover, policies are not matched according to each OI dimensions (e.g. inbound, outbound and coupled OI).

The article uses a systematic literature review method that combines qualitative and quantitative analyses. This method contributes to theoretical development of OI policies dedicated, in particular to SMEs. This paper also provides policymakers and researchers with insights on the scope of OI policies that could support economic growth.

The purpose of this study is to explore how the South African government has used accounting technologies to manage the pervasive issue of racial inequality.

Premised on Foucault’s notion of governmentality, we conducted a qualitative case study. Publicly available archival data are used to determine the extent to which accounting techniques have helped to shape policy responses to racial inequality.

We show that accounting techniques and calculations give visibility to the problems of government and help design a programme to solve racial inequality. The lived experiences and impacts of racism in the workplace have been problematised, turned into statistics, and used to rationalise the need for ongoing government intervention in solving the problem. These processes underpin the development of the scorecard system, which measures the contributions firms have made towards minimising racial inequalities.

This study augments the existing body of Foucauldian literature by illustrating how power dynamics can be counteracted. We show that in governmental processes, accounting can exhibit a dual role, and these roles are not always subordinate to the analysis of political realities. The case of B-BBEE reveals the unintended consequences of utilising accounting to control the conduct of individuals or groups.

Considering the critical role of higher education institutions in the advancement of the 2030 Agenda, this paper aims to analyse the incorporation of the gender perspective (Sustainable Development Goal 5) in the University Cooperation for International Development.

Following a qualitative methodological strategy, this paper identifies the potentialities and challenges of this perspective from the point of view of the technical staff of the cooperation units of seven Spanish universities.

Results show a strong intention to incorporate gender principles, in accordance with the SDGs framework. However, the findings also point to certain divergences in the forms of understanding and implementing gender equality in practice. Finally, this paper uncovers a variety of strategies to navigate the resistances, still existing in the university community.

Spain is orienting the legal framework of its cooperation and international relations towards the ambitious horizon of a feminist foreign policy. Universities are key actors in international development cooperation and the implementation of the SDGs. This is an issue that has received little research attention, particularly from a gender perspective.