Due to the gradual growth of urbanization in cities, urban forests can play an essential role in sequestering atmospheric carbon, trapping pollution, and providing recreational spaces and ecosystem services. However, in many developing countries, the areas of urban forests have sharply been declining due to the lack of conservation incentives. While many green city spaces have been on the decline in Thailand, most university campuses are primarily covered by trees and have been serving as urban forests. In this study, the carbon sequestration of the university campuses in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region was analyzed using geoinformatics technology, Sentinal-2 satellite data, and aerial drone photos. Seventeen campuses were selected as study areas, and the dendrometric parameters in the tree databases of two areas at Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University were used for validation. The results showed that the weight average carbon stock density of the selected university campuses is 46.77 tons per hectare and that the total carbon stock and sequestration of the study area are 22,546.97 tons and 1402.78 tons per year, respectively. Many universities in Thailand have joined the Green University Initiative (UI) and UI GreenMetric ranking and have implemented several campus improvements while focusing on environmental concerns. Overall, the used methods in this study can be useful for university leaders and policymakers to obtain empirical evidence for developing carbon storage solutions and campus development strategies to realize green universities and urban sustainability.
This study investigates the impacts of converting agricultural land into agrotourism areas on environmental, socio-cultural, and economic perspectives within Batukliang District, Central Lombok Regency, Indonesia. With a case study approach, this qualitative descriptive research employed interviews with three target groups: local farmers, residents, and tourism actors. The findings revealed seven key points identified as influences affecting the socio-cultural aspects of land change, including community impact, cultural preservation, cultural identity loss, community dynamics change, local cultural commercialization, cultural heritage loss, and traditional livelihoods. The results also unveiled nine financial impacts, 8 of which were associated with economic implications such as economic challenges, risk management, brand building, costs and investments, market access, increased revenue, and income diversity, which contribute positively to local economic development. The study concluded that integrating community involvement empowerment strategies, income diversification, sustainable farming promotion, and land-use regulation is crucial for developing a successful sustainable agrotourism destination.
A comprehensive survey was conducted in 2012 and 2020 to assess the financial culture of Hungarian higher education students. The findings revealed that financial training effectiveness had not improved over time. To address this, a conative examination of financial personality was initiated by the Financial Compass Foundation, which gathered over 40,000 responses from three distinct age groups: Children, high school students, and adults. The study identified key behavioral patterns, such as excessive spending and financial fragility, which were prominent across all age groups. These results informed Hungary’s seven-year strategy to enhance financial literacy and integrate economic education into the National Core Curriculum. The research is now expanding internationally with the aim of building a comparative database. The study’s main findings highlight the widespread need for improved financial education, with more than 80% of adults demonstrating risky financial behaviors. The implications of these findings suggest the importance of early financial education and tailored interventions to foster long-term financial stability. The international expansion of this research will allow for the examination of country-specific financial behaviors and provide data-driven recommendations for policy development.
Humanitarian workers face numerous challenges when providing assistance to people affected by natural disasters, armed conflicts, and other crises, which often leads to burnout and psychological distress. This qualitative study investigates the interplay of factors that contribute to burnout among Malaysian employees of a refugee-focused humanitarian organization. Ten staff members participated in focus group discussions, which revealed five themes: positive and meaningful emotions; difficult and negative emotions; vicarious trauma, stress, and burnout; work environment, culture, and managerial policies; and structural and governmental stressors. The study emphasizes the need for improved support and resources for humanitarian workers, as well as enhanced organizational policies and practices to prevent and mitigate burnout. The findings suggest that culturally adapted interventions, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), can help humanitarian workers address their unique psychological challenges. More research is needed to examine the issues present within humanitarian organizations using qualitative methods and adapt appropriate interventions to prevent the development of psychopathology in these settings.
Some platforms in the collaborative economy offer a combination of sectoral and information society services, which characterises them as a hybrid entity. The concurrent provision of disparate types of services necessitates the determination of the predominant activity of a given platform on a case-by-case basis. This, in turn, gives rise to legal uncertainty and inconsistent case law at the national level. This paper examines the impact of the choice of institutional alternatives in the context of multilevel governance in the EU on the legal status of collaborative economy business models such as Uber and Airbnb in the EU single market. The paper employs a mixed-methods research approach to analyse pivotal jurisprudential decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and national courts. It reaches the conclusion that the Airbnb platform, in its capacity as an information society service provider, is subject to the provisions of the Electronic Commerce Directive (2000/31/EC). Conversely, Uber, by virtue of its definition as a transport undertaking, is subject to shared jurisdiction between EU institutions and Member States in the field of transport services. This paper initiates a discussion on the suitability of the extant regulatory apparatus and underscores the necessity for the establishment of an appropriate institutional framework, either centralised at the EU level or decentralised at the level of Member States, that would provide substantive rules aimed at comprehensively regulating the legal status of hybrid business models, thus allowing for more uniform conditions for their operation in the EU single market.
Hate speech in higher education institutions is a pressing issue that threatens democratic values and social cohesion. This research explores student perspectives on hate speech within the university setting, examining its forms, causes, and impacts on democratic principles such as freedom of expression and inclusivity. This research is extended to determine the debates and theories elaborated from different perspectives qualitative and quantitative analysis of data collected from 108 participants at Higher Education in Kosovo. From the communication standpoint, analyzing hate speech in the media and social media is key to understanding the type of message used, its emitter, how the message rallies supporters, and how they interpret message. The findings highlight the need for proactive policies and educational interventions to mitigate Research on hate speech in higher education in Kosovo is crucial for fostering social cohesion and inclusivity in its diverse society. Hate speech undermines the academic environment, negatively affecting students’ mental health, learning outcomes, and overall well-being, necessitating efforts to create safer educational spaces. The study aligns with Kosovo’s aspirations for European integration, emphasizing adherence to human rights and anti-discrimination principles. Despite the issue’s significance, there is a lack of empirical data on hate speech in Kosovo’s higher education, making this research vital for evidence-based policymaking. With a youth-centric focus, the study aims to educate and empower young people as future leaders to embrace respect and inclusivity. By addressing hate speech’s local challenges and global relevance, the research supports institutional reforms and offers valuable insights for post-conflict and multicultural societies. Hate speech while fostering a culture of mutual respect and democratic engagement.
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