The COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse impact on the mental health of frontline workers including firefighters. To better understand this occurrence, this cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among 105 operational team and elite team firefighters in Kota Bharu, Kelantan State, Malaysia before and after the pandemic. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), a validated self-reporting survey tool, was used to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among the survey respondents. Findings revealed that firefighters had an increased level of anxiety and depression during the post-pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period. However, there was a decrease in the stress levels (20%) reported by study participants. Respondents belonging to the operational team had a higher reported level of depression, anxiety, and stress than those from the elite team. This may be attributed the operational team being more exposed to the risk of COVID-19 infection on account of their routine and more voluminous workload. The findings of this study suggest that firefighters, in general, are at an increased risk of mental health problems as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowing this, it is important to consider these findings when addressing the prevention and management of mental health among firefighters. This includes providing additional support and devoting more resources to those who are most at risk for experiencing symptoms of mental health such as firefighters performing functions aligned with that of an operational team.
The UN agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015–2030 is a holistic approach. Universities play an important role in dissemination of quality knowledge, developing the skills and attitudes of a large number of youth across the world. Though the emphasis on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) started as early as 1992, yet Universities adopted the concept of Green Campus integrating the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability quite recently. In developing countries including Pakistan, the Green Campus Initiatives (GCI) have not been implemented in the majority of the Universities. Northern Pakistan comprising Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) faces multiple challenges including Climate Impacts at the top. The fragile ecosystem of the region requires more sustainable initiatives at the University and community levels. In this research, the readiness of the seven universities located in Northern Pakistan have been assessed for GCI on the basis scanning of the websites and questionnaire survey of the relevant stakeholders. The results have shown that there is little commitment of resources for sustainability from senior management, lack of awareness in faculty & staff and less research focus on the related themes of green campus. The co-curricular activities in universities are not linked with sustainability and there are no incentives for faculty, staff and students to this end. It has been recommended that Green Campus Framework may be developed for Pakistani Mountain Universities, with commitment from leaders of the universities and allocation of sufficient resources for development of sustainable campuses. The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) needs to allocate special funds for promoting GCI across universities in Pakistan.
This study aims to examine and analyze financial statement fraud from the perspective of the hexagon theory using secondary data. The research sample was selected through purposive sampling, consisting of Ministries and Agencies in Indonesia. The research method employing the OLS (ordinary least squares) approach involves testing the model’s suitability through the F-statistical test, evaluating the coefficient of determination by examining, and conducting hypothesis testing using EViews. The findings of this study suggest that pressure and sscapability do not significantly influence financial reporting fraud. In contrast, opportunity, rationalization, arrogance, and collusion positively and significantly impact financial fraud reports. Implementing a whistleblowing system is crucial for ensuring that e-procurement encompasses all elements of government organizations, serving as a means of transparency and accountability to mitigate the occurrence of fraudulent financial reports within government entities, particularly in Ministries and Agencies in Indonesia. The financial audit opinion is not intended to detect fraud but to assess conformity with government accounting standards, the extent of disclosure, compliance with legislation, and the effectiveness of the government's internal control system. This can encourage institutions in other countries to strengthen the financial security of their organizations.
Artificial intelligence has transformed teachers’ teaching models. This article explores the application of artificial intelligence in basic education in Macao middle schools. This study adopts case analysis in qualitative research, using a total of eight cases from the innovative technology education platform of the Macau education and Youth Development Bureau. These data illustrate how Macao’s artificial intelligence technology promotes teaching innovation in basic education. These eight cases are closely related to the application of artificial intelligence in basic education in Macao. The survey results show that Macao’s education policy has a positive effect on teaching innovation in artificial intelligence education. In teaching practice, the school also cooperates with the government’s policy. The application of AI technology in teaching, students’ learning styles, changes in teachers’ roles, and new needs for teacher training are all influential.
The tourism sector is exponentially expanding across the globe. Despite different forms of tourism, community-based tourism has evolved with new dimensions of development. Assessing the sustainable development of the sector is a top priority in order to adopt the new forms. Therefore, in this study, the association between community-based tourism and its sustainable development was measured under the lens of collaborative theory and social exchange perspective. Non-probabilistic judgmental sampling techniques were applied, and 201 respondents were assessed. Data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM). The study grounded with residents’ perspectives and attested that community-based tourism directly enhanced residents’ economic conditions with a better environment, and the relationship between residents and tourists enhanced the tourism industry’s sustainable development. Stakeholders like government and local administrations play a significant role in exploring community-based tourism. This outcome of the research will be a substantial resource for local administrations, governments, researchers, policymakers and practitioners.
This study examines the impact of innovation governance and policies on government funding for emerging science and technology sectors in Saudi Arabia, addressing key bureaucratic, regulatory, and cultural barriers. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews with quantitative survey data to provide a comprehensive under-standing of the current innovation landscape. Findings indicate a high level of policy awareness among stakeholders but reveal significant challenges in practical implementation due to bureaucratic inefficiencies and stringent regulations. Cultural barriers, such as a risk-averse mindset and traditional business practices, further impede innovation. Successful initiatives like the National Transformation Program (NTP) demonstrate the potential for well-coordinated efforts, highlighting the importance of regulatory reform and cultural shifts towards entrepreneurship. Strategic recommendations include streamlining bureaucratic processes, enhancing policy coordination, and fostering a culture of innovation through education and stakeholder engagement. This study contributes to the existing literature by offering actionable insights to enhance innovation governance, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.
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