The developmental and advancement of engineering vis-à-vis scientific and technological research and development (R&D) has contributed immensely to sustainable development (SD) initiatives, but our future survival and development are hampered by this developmental and advancement mechanism. The threat posed by current engineering vis-à-vis scientific and technological practices is obvious, calling for a paradigm change that ensures engineering as well as scientific and technological practices are focused on SD initiatives. In order to promote sound practices that result in SD across all economic sectors, it is currently necessary to concentrate on ongoing sustainable engineering vis-à-vis scientific and technological education. Hence, this perspective review article will attempt to provide insight from Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria to be specific) about how engineering vis-à-vis scientific and technological R&D should incorporate green technologies in order to ensure sustainability in the creation of innovations and practices and to promote SD and a green economy. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance as well as prospects and advancements of engineering vis-à-vis scientific and technological education from the in Sub-Saharan Africa context.
Despite having a strategic position in supporting the Indonesian economy, the productivity of SME’s is still suboptimal. The increase in the number of SME’s has not been followed by increased competitiveness due to various limitations experienced by this sector. In an effort to provide a comprehensive picture in improving the performance of food processing SME’s in developing countries such as Indonesia, the purpose of this study was to examine the function of product innovation, internet marketing, and brand identity in shaping competitive advantage having an impact on business performance. This research is focused on food processing SME’s in the city of Bogor. The number of samples used was 100 SME’s. The sampling method used the non-probability sampling method with a snowball sampling technique. The data obtained were analyzed using the Structural Equation Model (SEM). Based on the age characteristic of business actors, the majority of business actors were 40–50 years old, of which 52% had their final formal education at high school level. As many as 61% of respondents had attended business training. Based on the results of the Partially Least Square (PLS) SEM analysis, it was found that product innovation, internet marketing and brand identity all had a significant positive effect on competitive advantage and business performance. The influence of brand identity on competitive advantage had the greatest effect, with a value of 0.451. This study contributes to existing research by examining the determinants of the business performance of processed food SME’s through the holistic model offered. This research is innovative because the business raises new issues related to internet marketing by SME’s and investigates them empirically.
The COVID-19 outbreak on international cruise ships during the early stages of the pandemic has exposed deficiencies in the governance of public health emergencies within the framework of existing international law. These deficiencies encompass various aspects, including the shortcomings of the system of flag state jurisdiction, the vague definition and reasonableness of governments’ “additional health measures” as stipulated in the International Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005, the role of World Health Organization (WHO) in the protection of the fundamental rights of passengers and crew members during epidemic outbreaks on cruise ships, the application of the free pratique rule under the international health law, and other challenges that have not been adequately addressed in current international law. In the post-COVID era, it is essential to revisit these core issues of international law and reassess the allocation of responsibilities among all evolving actors to foster effective multilateral cooperation in epidemic control. This paper adopts the “Diamond Princess” incident as a case study, examining how such public health emergencies pose challenges to international laws, particularly when they occur within the context of a cruise ship. The paper argues that cooperation on global health emergencies will continue to be a challenge until responsibility is more clearly allocated among stakeholders. Additionally, the paper formulates three principles for enhancing governmental cooperation, namely the fairness principle, the nationality principle, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. It is advisable to carefully consider these key principles when reevaluating the international laws on public health emergencies in the post-COVID era.
The recent coronavirus-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a global digitally enabled healthcare advancement infrastructure to ease e-coverage in the future and reduce human losses, facilitating access to high-quality and cost-effective health solutions. As the concept of a virtual healthcare system is still premature, it would have required noteworthy speculation in technologies and an overhaul of most of the current classical healthcare infrastructure, policies, and systems around the globe. Aims and objectives: This study aims to create a viable autonomous virtual universal health care system to modify the comfort of health care through emerging digital and communication innovations to fulfil consumer needs. Methodology: This study falls under the fact-finding category, which encompasses an exploratory approach with literature examination, limited field visits with informal interviews with local key authorities, and an initial assessment of current circumstances to examine the possibility of application of virtual health coverage. Findings: This study discovered that it is imperative to organize and develop the prospected healthcare system at the country level to be governed by international organizations as speculatively it is functioning in comparative improved healthcare systems across the world, which should be based on special processing of the prospected six types of data with their operationalization to serve multidisciplinary bunches by e-governance and exchanges between distinctive measurements. It requires more dependence on digital infrastructure and learning materials through electronic resources and ordinary techniques. Among other effective components for the development of virtual health coverage, are the applications of digital technology, the middle utility of voice and brief advising framework, complex functionalities, and applications of fifth generations (5Gs) arranged into universal servers attached to GPS-appropriate for sound choice and high-quality measures. Recommendations: This study recommends the construction of a virtual healthcare system by utilizing the proposed Electronic domestic medical adviser, virtual clinics, or “e-health incubators” which will allow individuals to relate through the web rather than the face-to-face institutive fragmented structure systems.
Through the research on the communication mode of rural youth e-commerce, the paper puts forward that there are some advantages and many problems in the e-commerce engaged in.
Since 2019, Togo has resolutely engaged in the decentralization process marked by communalization and elections of municipal councilors. Financial autonomy constitutes an essential lever for the free administration of municipalities, allowing them to ensure decision-making and the implementation of development projects. However, despite a legal and regulatory framework defining taxation specific to local authorities, Togolese municipalities are often perceived as needing more financial resources. This study aims to map the financing mechanisms for decentralization in Togo and analyze their contribution to municipal budgets. By adopting a quantitative approach combining documentary analysis and interviews with 188 experts and practitioners of local finance from various Togolese structures, four main financing mechanisms were identified: local, national, Community, and international. Among these mechanisms, own resources (in particular from the sale of products and services, fiscal and non-fiscal taxes) and state transfers via the Support Fund for Local Authorities emerge as the primary sources of financing for municipalities. However, the study reveals that several instruments of local mechanisms, although institutionally defined, still need to be updated in many municipalities, thus limiting their effectiveness in resource mobilization. These results highlight the importance of optimizing the management of local mechanisms to strengthen municipalities’ financial autonomy and support territories’ sustainable development.
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