Historically, transportation projects and urban mobility policies overlook the dimension of social sustainability, mainly focusing on economic and environmental criteria. This neglect, seen enhanced in the Global South, leads to long travel times, growing congestion, reliance on motorcycles, high traffic accident rates, and limited access to public transport, jobs, and urban facilities, especially for the more vulnerable population. In light of these issues, this paper proposes the Social Sustainability of Urban Mobility (SSUM) approach as an analytical framework that assesses the state of social sustainability in urban mobility by applying a Systematic Literature Review where three gaps were found. First, by tailoring the SSUM approach to the context of the Global South, it is possible to address the population-focused gap in urban mobility. Second, in the literature review, a theoretical gap defining social sustainability in urban mobility and its three primary categories has yet to reach a consensus among practitioners and academics. Finally, more empirical research should be conducted to discuss methodological aspects of operationalizing the SSUM approach through the three main categories: accessibility, the sustainability of the community, and institutionality. The SSUM approach promotes implementing a sustainable urban agenda that builds inclusive, equitable, and just cities in urban mobility.
This paper examines the sustainability practices implemented by healthcare establishments, mainly Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs), We focus on identifying opportunities with challenges involved. This systematic literature analyses 47 studies that explore sustainability practices in the healthcare system globally. The finding from the studies reveals that healthcare organizations with SMEs adopt diverse measures like renewable energy, a reduction, and a response procurement in minimizing the impact on the environment and ensuring financial stability. The challenges SMEs face comprise limited financial resources, lack of expertise, with difficulties accessing information and support. Furthermore, we suggest opportunities for SMEs to enhance sustainability practices with partnerships with other organizations and investing in educating employees. Implementation of sustainability practices will improve the financial stability, and environmental impact, with the wellbeing of healthcare stakeholders. The empirical evidence, comparative studies with cross-disciplinary are needed in exploring the effectiveness of the different suitability practices, potential trade-offs, synergies between sustainability and other organizational goals, the effect of sustainability practice in the financial with non-financial performance on SMEs in healthcare establishment are positive, with cost-effectiveness, efficiencies operations, improving brand reputations and engaging the employee. Established factors like regulating frameworks and government initiatives play a major role in the influence of adopting sustainability practices with cultural factors.
Pakistan is grappling with significant economic and political challenges stemming from various factors. Positioned at the heart of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, Pakistan has been presented with a diverse array of opportunities encompassing trade, investment, energy resource development, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), the expansion of the Gwadar port, integration of its economy with neighboring nations via various connectivity projects, and the generation of employment prospects. Given the contemporary interdependence of economic performance and political stability, the potential for economic stability and the creation of opportunities through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is seen as crucial. The project helped Pakistan to attract a huge amount of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), created hundreds of thousands of jobs, significantly improved infrastructure, established nine SEZs, developed Gwadar port, increased its trade volume with China and controlled energy crisis to a significant level. Political development, stability and peace have also been positively influenced by economic development. This study aims to evaluate the impact of CPEC from both economic and political perspectives, especially as it approaches its 10th anniversary, and assess how it has shaped Pakistan’s economic and political landscapes. The forthcoming second phase of CPEC is poised to further bolster Pakistan’s economic growth, fortify industrialization through SEZs, and enhance its international trade. Additionally, the project is set to transform Pakistan into a pivotal regional trade corridor through its advanced connectivity initiatives and the development of the Gwadar port.
The improvement of critical thinking ability is a process of human brain’s cognition, reasoning and judgment of objective things. This experiment starts with the learners’ discourse cognitive construction model, and attempts to study the effect of the training of discourse cognitive model based on critical thinking habits on the English writing performance of the application-oriented English majors with three different levels of language expression ability, so as to help the learners improve their English writing in the construction of conscious discourse cognition.
Maintaining balance is essential for daily activities; deficits in hearing-impaired adolescents can severely impact their academics and daily life. Suspension training is employed to enhance the coordination of multiple muscle groups within the body and ultimately to improve balance. A total of 105 students with non-genetic hearing impairments, comprising 65 boys and 40 girls, participated in the study. Balance training using the TRS suspension belt included exercises such as prone elbow brace, supine back brace, kneeling elbow brace, lateral elbow brace, prone hip flexion, and supine hip lift. Strength training using equipment involved exercises like single-leg suspension squat, flying bird brace, supine suspension arm flexion, seated static brace, and standing butterfly pinch chest. The main outcome measures included static balance tests (lambda footwork, Wolfson postural stress test), dynamic balance tests (functional forward reach test, balance beam walk test), and vestibule function tests (rotation-walk test). The results of the lambda footwork and Wolfson postural stress tests revealed highly significant differences between 8 weeks and 16 weeks of intervention (p < 0.01). The Functional Forward Stretch test demonstrated a significant difference between 8 weeks of intervention and 2 weeks of intervention at 16 weeks (p < 0.05). The balance beam walking test indicated a significant improvement at 8 weeks (p < 0.05) and a highly significant improvement at 16 weeks (p < 0.01). In the spin-walk test, no statistically significant differences were observed between the pre-experimental test, the 8-week intervention, and the 16-week intervention (p > 0.05). Leveraging the expropriation system to mediate skeletal muscle movement and muscle contraction coordination can improve balance. Suspension training significantly improved balance during activities requiring static non-interference maintenance. However, suspension training did not demonstrate a significant effect on improving vestibule function. Overall, suspension training was effective in enhancing balance in all patients with non-hereditary deafness.
Background: According to the 2023 World Economic Forum report, the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation on the job market was more significant than originally projected. Although 2018 research forecasted significant job losses balanced by job creation, current data indicates otherwise. Between 2023 and 2027, it is anticipated that 69 million new jobs will be created due to advancements in AI, however, this will be offset by the loss of 83 million jobs, leading to a net decrease of 14 million jobs worldwide. Roles related to AI, digitalization, and sustainability, such as AI specialists and renewable energy engineers are expected to grow, while those in clerical and administrative sectors are most at risk of decline. This shift underscores the need for reskilling and adapting to evolving fields, as nearly 44% of workers skills will face disruption by 2027. The demand for analytical thinking, technological literacy, and adaptability will grow as companies increasingly adopt frontier technologies. Objectives: (1) identify key variables influencing adaptability of college graduates in Indonesia, (2) quantify the strength of relationships between these variables to understand the combined effect on graduate adaptability. The research also aims to (3) develop theoretical and practical recommendations to strengthen ICIL policy and equip students with the relevant skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing job market. Methodology: The research focuses on predicting future employment trends, adaptability, and learning agility (LA), along with the implications for improving the Independent Campus Independent Learning (ICIL) policy. It focused on the significant unemployment rate among college graduates, along with the lack of research on the relationship between job change predictions, graduates’ adaptability, and the impact on graduates’ general well-being. The mixed-method strategy with quantitative analysis was used to conduct this research with data collected from 284 ICIL participants through online survey. The gathered data was evaluated using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Lisrel version 10. Results: The result showed that job trend projections significantly influence responsiveness, which demonstrated a robust association between employment trend predictions and LA. Responsiveness significantly influenced learning agility which indicated no significant direct association between job trend projections and graduate adaptability. Conclusion: The research emphasized the need to consider adaptability as a concept with multiple dimensions. It proposed incorporating these factors into strategies for education and human resources development in order to better equip graduates for the demands of a constantly changing work market. Unique contribution: This research focused on adaptability as a multifaceted concept that consist of the ability to forecast job trends, be sensitive, and possess LA. It offered a deeper understanding of the relationships between these variables as discussed in the human resources literature. Technology, corporate culture, and training played a critical role in connecting employment trend prediction with the ability to respond effectively. Key recommendation: Institutions should implement a comprehensive approach to the development of human resources, with emphasis on fostering critical thinking, analytical abilities, and the practical application of information. By employing these tactics, higher education institutions may effectively equip graduates with both academic proficiency and the ability to adapt and thrive in quickly changing organizational environments, leading to the production of robust and versatile workers.
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