The rapid progress of information technology has made public online participation in policy formulation an inevitable product of modern government reshaping and reconstruction. However, compared with developed countries, citizens’ online participation in policy formulation in China started relatively late. Thus, in order to explore an effective and efficient method for Chinese citizens’ participation in policy formulation, this research made a brief review of the experiences from the typical developed country of United States of America at first, followed by some other developed countries such as Singapore, South Korea, and Japan in Asia with similar situations. Still, combined with the current situation of the China itself into consideration, this research further proposes targeted recommendations. It is expected that the findings in this research could provide some references for the Chinese government to form more effective and efficient theoretical frameworks targeted at the future development trends of the Chinese society and accordingly, to improve the construction of democracy in China.

Social Prescribing (SP) is an approach which aims of improving health and well-being and connecting patients to community services. Examples of these services include physical activity and cultural activities. Despite its benefits, SP has still not been fully implemented in Portugal. This case study is part of a larger study on Social Prescribing Local System (SPLS) implementation, which comprised a quantitative approach, a pilot study and a qualitative approach, and aims at exploring patients' and healthcare workers' perspectives on SP. The study was carried out to understand the motivations of different stakeholders for participating in the pilot project, the anticipated benefits for patients, healthcare professionals, and the health unit, as well as their perceptions and experiences within the scope of the SP project. Data collection was carried out in December 2020 through semi-structured individual interviews and a focus group. A total of seven participants were included, of which one patient, one museum representative and five healthcare professionals. Different common dimensions related to SP emerge, including health and well-being, social interaction and community engagement, accessibility and inclusivity, motivation and adherence, collaboration and coordination, and education and awareness. The patient considered the adequacy of the activity to the patient's state of health and capabilities, adoption of a phased approach, with a focus on progress, in order to promote long-term adherence as facilitators. For the museum, disseminating its activities to healthcare professionals and patients through different channels such as posters at the health center, social media pages, and training sessions can significantly enhance visibility and engagement, while direct phone contact and digital publications can further promote adherence, ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated approach to patient participation and institutional benefit. Healthcare professionals identified several benefits, including reduction of social isolation and sedentarism, as well as a means of strengthening the therapeutic relationship with patients. The design and implementation of SP programs should be participative and involve all stakeholders participating in the process. Barriers to adherence included time for activity and the associated costs or prerequisites, availability of activities and lack of perceived interest in health.

This study aims to examine the impact of an innovative self-directed professional development (SDPD) model on fostering teachers’ professional development and improving their ability to manage this development independently. A quantitative research method was adopted, involving 60 participants from Almaty State Humanitarian and Pedagogical College No. 2, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to assess the SDPD model’s effectiveness, specifically in promoting teacher engagement, adoption of new pedagogical techniques, and improvement in reflective practices. The study findings reveal that teachers, particularly in developing regions, often face challenges in accessing formal professional development programs. The implementation of the SDPD model addresses these barriers by providing teachers with the tools and strategies required for self-improvement, regardless of geographic or economic constraints. The study participants in the pilot phase showed increased engagement with new pedagogical methods, improved reflective practices, and greater adaptability to emerging educational technologies. The algorithmic aspect of the model streamlined the professional development process, while the activity-based approach ensured that learning remained practical and relevant to teachers’ everyday needs. By offering a clear framework for continuous improvement, the model addresses the gaps in formal training access and cultivates a culture of lifelong learning. These findings suggest that the SDPD model can contribute to elevating teaching standards globally, particularly in regions with limited professional development resources.

This quantitative study explores the influence of organizational culture on the turnover intentions of millennial employees within multinational corporations (MNCs) in Penang, Malaysia. As millennials increasingly comprise a substantial portion of the workforce, their turnover rates have significant implications for organizational efficacy. The research examined the relationship between key elements of organizational culture—namely employee empowerment, work-life balance, and reward systems—and millennials’ decisions to stay with or leave their employers. Data were gathered through a questionnaire distributed to 183 millennial employees in the Penang MNC sector, employing a random sampling approach and utilizing Google Forms for submission. The survey instruments were based on established scales from prior research to ensure robustness and relevance. The findings indicate that all the studied variables significantly affect turnover intentions, with employee empowerment emerging as the strongest predictor, followed by work-life balance, and then reward systems. These results underscore the critical role of organizational culture in shaping millennial turnover intentions. The study’s insights can guide MNCs in Penang to implement strategic initiatives aimed at fostering a positive work environment that emphasizes empowerment, balance, and appropriate rewards, thereby enhancing employee retention within this pivotal demographic. While this study provides detailed insights specific to the Malaysian context, its findings may serve as a preliminary reference point for MNCs in similar regional contexts, suggesting further research to explore the applicability of these insights globally.

In Kazakhstan, for more than 20 years, the state policy on the formation of a single information space, aimed at reducing budgetary resources for the formation and maintenance of information resources of government agencies, as well as the creation of a unified communication environment. The relevance of the article is due to the following factors: the acceleration of digital modernization processes in Kazakhstan under the influence of global informatization and the consideration of the prospects of improving the efficiency of the Kazakh government through the introduction of information technology is not always recognized by society as an institutional advantage. As special methodological tools, the study used experimental, empirical and heuristic methods to analyze factors and identify problems in budget financing in the field of digitalization and E-Government in Kazakhstan. The main source of data is the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The main conclusions: there is a need for further economic and political modernization of Kazakh society through the widespread use of information technology, and in our view, the practical approach to the use of public financing to create a real e-government and the prospects for its development in Kazakhstan is interesting.