The SMARTER model, an innovative educational framework, is designed for blended learning environments, seamlessly integrating both online and face-to-face instructional components. Employing a flipped classroom methodology, this model ensures an equitable division between online and traditional classroom interactions, aiming to cultivate a dynamic and collaborative learning atmosphere. This research focused on developing and rigorously evaluating the SMARTER model’s validity, practicality, and effectiveness. Adopting a research and development (R&D) approach informed by the methodologies of Borg, Gall, and Gall, this study utilized a mixed-methods strategy. This encompassed a robust validation process by experts in design, content, and media, alongside an empirical analysis of the model’s application in actual educational settings. The aim was to comprehensively assess its effectiveness and practicality. The findings from this study affirm the SMARTER model’s validity, practicality, and effectiveness in improving students’ information literacy skills. Comparative analysis between a control group, taught using a traditional expository approach, and an experimental group, educated under the SMARTER model, highlighted significant improvements in the latter group. This effectiveness underscores the model’s capacity not only to efficiently deliver content but also to actively engage students in a collaborative learning process. The results advocate for the model’s potential broader adoption and adaptation across similar educational contexts. They also establish a foundation for future research aimed at exploring the SMARTER model’s scalability and adaptability across diverse instructional environments.

The following paper assesses the relationship between electricity consumption, economic growth, environmental pollution, and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) development in Kazakhstan. Using the structural equation method, the study analyzes panel data gathered across various regions of Kazakhstan between 2014 and 2022. The data were sourced from official records of the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan and include all regions of Kazakhstan. The chosen timeframe includes the period from 2014, which marked a significant drop in oil prices that impacted the overall economic situation in the country, to 2022. The main hypotheses of the study relate to the impact of electricity consumption on economic growth, ICT, and environmental sustainability, as well as ICT’s role in economic development and environmental impact. The results show electricity consumption’s positive effect on economic growth and ICT development while also revealing an increase in pollutant emissions (emissions of liquid and gaseous pollutants) with economic growth and electricity consumption. The development of ICT in Kazakhstan has been revealed to not have a direct effect on reducing pollutant emissions into the environment, raising important questions about how technology can be leveraged to mitigate environmental impact, whether current technological advancements are sufficient to address environmental challenges, and what specific measures are needed to enhance the environmental benefits of ICT. There is a clear necessity to integrate sustainable practices and technologies to achieve balanced development. These results offer important insights into the relationships among electricity consumption, technology, economic development, and environmental issues. They underscore the complexity and multidimensionality of these interactions and suggest directions for future research, especially in the context of finding sustainable solutions for balanced development.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technological innovation, the safeguarding of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) emerges as a critical factor influencing economic growth and technological advancement. This study, conducted in the context of organizations operating in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), meticulously explores the intricate dynamics between IPR awareness, enforcement, and their implications for information security practices. The research undertakes a thorough investigation with three primary objectives: a comprehensive examination of IPR awareness, an exploration of the relationship between IPR enforcement and information security practices, and an assessment of the impact of information sensitivity. To achieve these objectives, a sample population of 150 respondents from various sectors was engaged, employing a combination of survey instruments and robust statistical analyses. The findings of the study illuminate a strong positive correlation between IPR awareness and information security practices, underscoring the pivotal role of cultivating IPR awareness among organizations. Furthermore, the enforcement of IPR, intricately connected with a resilient legal framework, regulatory authorities, international agreements, and effective customs and border control measures, is identified as a significant influencer of information security practices. The study employs a statistical model that exhibits a high explanatory power, elucidating approximately 85.9% of the variance in information security practices. In conclusion, the research offers profound implications for organizations, policymakers, and stakeholders in the UAE, advocating for strategies such as education, legal and regulatory support, international collaboration, and robust access control mechanisms to fortify IPR awareness, enforcement, and information security practices. The integration of advanced tools such as the smart PLS software adds depth and reliability to the study’s analytical framework, contributing to its comprehensive insights.

For this, the primary aim of this study was to analyze of the impact of cultural accessibility and ICT (information and communication technology) infrastructure on economic growth in Kazakhstan, employing regression models to asses a single country data from 2008 to 2022. The research focuses on two sets of variables: cultural development variables (e.g., number of theaters, museums, and others) and ICT infrastructure variables (e.g., number of fixed Internet subscribers, total costs of ICT, and others). Principal component analysis (PCA) as employed to reduce the dimensionality of the data and identify the most significant predictors for the regression models. The findings indicate that in the cultural development model (Model 1), the number of recreational parks and students are significant positive predictors of GDP per capita. In the ICT infrastructure model (Model 2), ICT costs are found to have a significant positive impact on GDP per capita. Conversely, traditional connectivity indicators, such as the number of fixed telephone lines, show a low dependence on economic growth, suggesting diminishing returns on investment in these outdated forms of ICT. These results suggest that investments in cultural and ICT infrastructure are crucial for economic development. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers, emphasizing the need for quality improvements in education and strategic modernization of communication technologies.

The study is focusing on cyberspace—a new type of space mastered by humans with the help of digital technologies. This systematic review uses SPAR-4-SLR protocol to analyze over 30 years of scholarly research indexed in Scopus database, highlighting five time periods: before 1995, 1996–2008, 2009–2012, 2013–2019, and after 2020. A final sample of 6645 publications in social sciences, Business, management and accounting (BMA), and Economics, econometrics and finance (EEF) was analyzed across multiple parameters, including: chronology, types of documents, sources, countries, institutions, authors, topics, and most cited publications. The review has systematized information about the most influential organizations and individuals involved in cyberspace research. First of all, these are researchers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. Key journals that publish research on the topic have been identified, and a ranked list of funding organizations supporting research on the social and economic aspects of cyberspace are identified. The study provides insights into the achievements of the social and economic sciences in cyberspace over the past 30 years. The results will be useful to scholars who seek for a general overview on the topic of cyberspace, as well as experts and policymakers developing mechanisms and tools for regulating cyberspace as a mixture of the virtual and real worlds.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is profoundly transforming the information ecosystem, reshaping the ways in which information is produced, distributed, and consumed. This study explores the impact of AI on the information environment, examining the challenges and opportunities for sustainable development in the age of AI. The research is motivated by the need to address the growing concerns about the reliability and sustainability of the information ecosystem in the face of AI-driven changes. Through a comprehensive analysis of the current AI landscape, including a review of existing literature and case studies, the study diagnoses the social implications of AI-driven changes in information ecosystems. The findings reveal a complex interplay between technological innovation and social responsibility, highlighting the need for collaborative governance strategies to navigate the tensions between the benefits and risks of AI. The study contributes to the growing discourse on AI governance by proposing a multi-stakeholder framework that emphasizes the importance of inclusive participation, transparency, and accountability in shaping the future of information. The research offers actionable insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society organizations seeking to foster a trustworthy and inclusive information environment in the era of AI, while harnessing the potential of AI-driven innovations for sustainable development.