The current study aims to determine the post COVID-19 adoption rates, the variation of the adoption by regions, and the effects of communication technologies on higher education with focus on students’ engagement and faculty satisfaction. The present research uses the convergent parallel design which is a form of mixed-methods research design. First, the study searched for 18 relevant articles using key search terms including “post-COVID-19 education”, “e-learning tools”, “communication technologies” and “higher education”. The qualitative analysis, however, shows that the technological strategies have to be in line with the preparedness of the people, the need to address challenges such as the lack of face-to-face contact and how technologies such as augmented reality and simulation-based learning can be used. Quantitative analysis shows that teleconferencing tools (β = 0.45, p < 0.001) and cloud computing (β = 0.38, p < 0.003) have positive impact on engagement and satisfaction. The one-way ANOVA results show that there is a difference in the adoption rates across the regions while the MCAs score for communication challenges is 60%. From the descriptive statistics it can be seen that there is a very high adoption rate of cloud computing (Mean = 89.7%, Standard Deviation = 3.1%) and teleconferencing tools (Mean = 84.9%, Standard Deviation = 4.5%). The Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) shows the domino effect of teleconferencing on engagement (β = 0.60, p < 0.001), satisfaction (β = 0.75, p < 0.002) and collaboration efficiency (β = 0.55, p < 0.001). Thus, the current study establishes the fact that there is a need to provide equal opportunities and technology which is adaptable to improve the students’ engagement and satisfaction in various learning institutions.

In response to the challenges of climate change, this study explores the use of moringa pod powder as reinforcement in the manufacture of compressed earth bricks to promote sustainable building materials. The objective is to evaluate the impact of African locust bean pod powder on the mechanical properties of the bricks. Two types of soils from Togo were characterized according to geotechnical standards. Mixtures containing 8% African locust bean pod powder at various particle sizes (0.08 mm, 2 mm, and between 2 and 5 mm) were formulated and tested for compression and tensile strength. The results show that the addition of African locust bean pod reduces the mechanical strength of the bricks compared to the control sample without pods, with strengths ranging from 0.697 to 0.767 MPa, compared to 0.967 to 1.060 MPa for the control. However, the best performances for the mixtures were obtained with a fineness of less than 2 mm. This decrease in performance is attributed to several factors, including inadequate water content and suboptimal preparation and compaction methods. Optimizing formulation parameters is necessary to maximize the effectiveness of African locust bean pods. This work highlights the valorization of agro-industrial waste, paving the way for a better understanding of bio-based materials and future research for sustainable construction.

The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC&R) industry is pivotal to Europe’s goals for energy efficiency, sustainability, and technological advancement. As demand for skilled HVAC&R professionals rises, the effectiveness of educational programs in this field has become a focal point. This article explores the Portuguese case to analyze how pedagogical strategies and student motivation contribute to the quality of HVAC&R training across Europe. The study highlights innovative teaching methodologies such as active and competency-based learning, as well as the use of laboratory training and digital simulations to provide hands-on experience. Additionally, it emphasizes Bloom’s Taxonomy as a framework for curriculum development, ensuring that students advance from foundational knowledge to complex problem-solving abilities. Motivation is also identified as a critical factor for student engagement and long-term career commitment. The article concludes that a balanced integration of theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and motivational support is essential for producing highly qualified HVAC&R professionals. This approach not only meets current industry needs but also aligns with Europe’s broader environmental and technological objectives, offering valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.

The health of employees is so paramount for employee productivity. While emphasis is often placed on the physical health of employees, less emphasis is placed on the psychological or mental health of the employees. Similarly, it seems as if health challenges are more occurring in manufacturing industries, but the service organizations employees are as well susceptible to mental health challenges. Understanding the predictive factors to mental health challenges therefore becomes imperative. It is on this note that the present research examines how employee mental health is predicted by work safety measures like perceived workplace safety, work overload and pay satisfaction. The workplace safety variables include perception of job, co-worker, supervisor, management, and safety programs. A cross sectional survey method was adopted, using ex-post-facto research design. Data were gathered from 258 employees, including 150 (58.1%) females and 108 (41.9%) males of a non-governmental organization. Correlation and regression analyses were used to analyze data obtained from the standardized psychological scales that were administered. The results showed that mental health correlated positively with perceived job safety, but negatively with perceived co-worker, supervisor, management, safety programs and pay satisfaction. Workplace safety variables jointly predicted mental health, accounting for 23% variance, but only perceived job safety and supervisor safety were significant. The higher employees perceived job safety, the lower their mental health challenges. Similarly, the higher they perceived supervisor safety, the lower their mental health issues. Pay satisfaction accounted for 3% variance in mental health, and the higher the pay satisfaction, the lower the level of employee mental health issues. It is implied that the human resource unit of service organizations should intermittently examine their organizations to identify and prevent possible job and supervisor safety threats. Supervisors should be trained on how to be discrete in communicating safety measures to subordinates so that it will not boomerang to hamper mental health. The human resources unit should also intermittently organize workshop, training, and employee-assisted programs for younger and lower grade employees on adaptive mechanisms for reducing mental health challenges.

Major principles of organizational management like unity of command and unity of direction are quite important to foster co-ordination and efficiency in organizations. Since Islamic management is an offshoot of the modern Western management theories these principles have considerable relevance to Islamic management as well. This paper aims to discover how Islamic principles can solve modern problems of organizational management in order to demonstrate an interdependent system that teaches ethics and management. This paper attempts to offer an analytical discussion regarding Islamic views on the challenges that emerge regarding the need for cohesion in managing any organization. On the basis of a conceptual review, it highlights how unity of command and unity of direction can influence inspiring better management at all levels positively. Such clarification tries to elicit the Islamic interpretation that may lead to increased workforce commitment due to their motivation emanating from religion, contribute principles that will benefit the value addition process of labor and management’s decision-making process towards wider organizational goals, and enrich literature on management from Islamic principles and thoughts. This text succinctly examines the principles of unity of command and unity of direction that promote the development of management work ethics and the implications of Islamic management. The paper reviews the principles of unity of command and unity of direction as derived from The Holy Qur’an and Hadith, and examines various empirical studies conducted in different countries. These discussions subsequently bring out that the Islamic approach is comprehensive and practically relevant in the interest of present-day organizations. The paper concludes that intention and purity of hearts, regardless of the leadership styles of management, will direct the leaders and workforce to continually strive hard and give their best in their organizational management functions.

Infrastructure decision-making has traditionally been focused on the use of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA). Nevertheless, there remains no consensus in the infrastructure sector regarding a favored approach that comprehensively integrates resilience principles with those tools. This review focuses on how resilience has been evaluated in infrastructure projects. Initially, 400 papers were sourced from Web of Science and Scopus. After a preliminary review, 103 papers were selected, and ultimately, the focus was narrowed down to 56 papers. The primary aim was to uncover limitations in both CBA and MCDA, exploring various strategies for amalgamating them and enhancing their potential to foster resilience, sustainability, and other infrastructure performance aspects. Results were classified based on different rationalities: i) objectivist, ii) conformist, iii) adjustive, and iv) reflexive. The analysis revealed that while both CBA and MCDA contribute to decision-making, their perceived strengths and weaknesses differ depending on the chosen rationality. Nonetheless, embracing a broader perspective, fostering participatory methods, and potentially integrating both approaches seem to offer more promising avenues for assessing the resilience of infrastructures. The goal of this research proposal is to devise an integrated approach for evaluating the long-term sustainability and resilience of infrastructure projects and constructed assets.