The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity for educators and policymakers to reconsider education systems and rethink what is essential, necessary, and desirable for future generations. A sequential generic qualitative approach was used in this study. Based on the systematic literature review, a content analysis was conducted to identify dimensions that contribute toward higher education institutions sustainability. Subsequently, the Expert Opinion method that involved five professors holding key positions in respective universities from Malaysia, the Netherlands, India, and Bangladesh was applied to propose a post-COVID-19 sustainable framework. Four themes: 1) educational reform; 2) digital transformation; 3) resilience and change management; and 4) sustainability coupled with agility and flexibility formed the framework for HEIs’ sustainability during the post-COVID-19 pandemic. We propose that the themes be examined from an integrated perspective to ensure HEIs can be sustainable in the long run. Finally, other scholars are recommended to conduct a tracer study as well as develop qualitative instruments based on the themes and dimensions identified from the systematic literature review and the Expert Opinion Method to better understand the phenomenon of HEI sustainability.

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of community involvement in waste management through participatory research. Its objective is to bridge the theoretical underpinnings of participatory research with its practical implementation, particularly within the realm of waste management. The review systematically analyzes global instances where community engagement has been incorporated into waste management initiatives. Its principal aim is to evaluate the efficacy of participatory strategies by scrutinizing methodologies and assessing outcomes. To achieve this, the study identified 74 studies that met rigorous criteria through meticulous search efforts, encompassing various geographical locations, cultural contexts, and waste management challenges. In examining the outcomes of participatory research in waste management, the study explores successful practices, shortcomings, and potential opportunities. Moving beyond theoretical discourse, it provides a detailed analysis of real-world applications across various settings. The evaluation not only highlights successful engagement strategies and indicators but also critically assesses challenges and opportunities. By conducting a comprehensive review of existing research, this study establishes a foundation for future studies, policy development, and the implementation of sustainable waste management practices through community engagement. The overarching goal is to derive meaningful insights that contribute to a more inclusive, effective, and globally sustainable approach to waste management. This study seeks to inform policymaking and guide future research initiatives, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in addressing the complexities of waste management on a global scale.

In the process of global economy, in the face of increasing business competition, it is more difficult than ever for brands to approach consumers and persuade them to consume. In the commercial environment, the competition between enterprises is essentially the competition of brands, and the competition of brands must first carry out the competition of brand image. Brand image carries the mission of information dissemination and value creation and plays an important role in business behavior. How to improve customer purchase intention by optimizing brand image and greatly promote the development of business through brand image is the purpose of this study. The construction and application of brand image not only covers all the characteristics of the brand, but also the focus of consumers’ attention when choosing brands and products. This paper comprehensively uses the systematic theories and methods of art design, marketing and consumer psychology and behavior as support, and adopts research methods such as literature data to explore and study the field of brand image. This study finds that customer perception of brand image directly affects customer purchase intention. At present, there are relatively few researches on how brand image can empower business. Through the study of “optimizing brand image to improve customer purchase intention”, this paper focuses on the direction of brand image empowering business, broadens the research breadth and depth in the field of brand image, and enrichis the research achievements in the field of brand image.

Depression is a mental disorder caused by various causes with significant and persistent depressed mood as the main clinical feature, and is the most common mental illness worldwide and in our country. The number of patients with depression worldwide was as high as 350 million in 2017, and the number of patients with depression in our country was nearly 100 million in 2019. The greatest danger of depression is self-injurious and suicidal behaviour, and this behaviour carries a high medical burden. Medication is the most costly treatment for depression in China, and while it is an effective way to treat patients with depression, it has many side effects and poor patient compliance. Non-pharmacological treatments commonly used in clinical practice include physiotherapy and psychotherapy. Physiotherapy is commonly used in non-convulsive electroconvulsive therapy, but its clinical efficacy is uncertain and it can also cause adverse effects such as heart failure and arrhythmias, which are poorly tolerated by patients. Psychotherapy is also a common non-pharmacological therapy. Cognitive therapy is a common form of psychotherapy, but the cycle of cognitive therapy is too long, the cost to the patient is high, and the patient’s cognitive ability has certain requirements. Music therapy is a combination of art and science. It is a cross-discipline that combines body, movement, dance and psychology and is a method of psychotherapy that has biological, psychological and social functions to compensate for deficiencies. Music therapy sees a fundamental connection between mind and body and emphasises that what affects the body also affects the mind. When mind-body integration is lacking, individuals will suffer from a variety of psychological disorders. Therefore, the core principles of music therapy emphasise that holistic individual health is embodied in the integration of mind and body, that body movement is expressive and communicative, and that music therapy uses body movement as a method of assessing the individual and as a means of clinical intervention.

Rapid urban expansion gives rise to smart cities which pose immense logistical and supply chain challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the holistic system identified by Zhao et al. in 2021. The system encompasses logistics and supply chain integral to the concept of smart cities, with a focus on sustainability. This transformation requires an in-depth study on challenges of a common framework of policies for smart cities in countries comprising the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The study employs an extensive literature analysis for the period 2020–2022. an approach which contextualizes the model. The model identifies the causes, impact, and spillovers of new trends in logistics and supply, including the sustainability of adopted technologies. The study includes the variables involved, and barriers to creating a shared model. The results reveal that the two elements affecting the supply chain and transport in smart cities are Industry 4.0 and 5.0 technologies supporting specific sectors. The resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises positively impacts the sustainability of large urban centres. The study presents both factors that help and hinder the adoption of environmental, social, and economic sustainability technologies.

The business life cycle is examined through a comprehensive literature review in this academic study. Our initial approach involves searching for relevant articles on firm life cycle and strategy using the Web of Science and Scopus databases. We conduct bibliometric analyses to identify key contributors and recurring keywords. Subsequently, we select twenty-seven research papers to explore the Theory Development, Characteristics, Context, and Methodology (TCCM) framework for firm life cycle and strategy. Our analysis summarizes corresponding business strategies for each stage, including the use of Initial Management Control Systems (MCS) in the introduction phase. As companies grow, a high inventory-to-sales ratio may hinder effectiveness, but it proves beneficial in the growth and revival stages. Mature companies excel in green process innovation and engage more in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. In the decline stage, firms use cost efficiencies, asset retrenchment, and core activity focus for recovery, signaling commitment to a successful turnaround. However, there is a research gap in exploring appropriate global strategies for various life cycle stages, providing an opportunity for additional articles to thoroughly investigate this relationship and assess multinational enterprises’ success trajectories throughout their life cycles.