This study explores the feminization of poverty and the dynamics of the care economy in rural areas, focusing on the municipality of Génova, Quindío, Colombia. The novelty of this study lies in its analysis of the compounded effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s economic participation and care responsibilities in a rural context, offering insights relevant to Latin America. This study addresses the critical problem of how increased caregiving responsibilities and labor informality during the pandemic have disproportionately impacted economically active women, exacerbating gender inequalities. The objective is to analyze the relationship between the care economy and feminization of poverty, providing policy recommendations for post-pandemic recovery in rural settings. The methodology consisted of a two-stage approach. In the first stage, a probabilistic stratified sampling design was applied using data from the Colombian National Population and Housing Census and the Génova, Quindío, and Colombia Municipal Panel. In the second stage, fieldwork was conducted with a sample of 347 women using the RedCap application for data collection. The results indicate a significant increase in unpaid domestic and caregiving work during the pandemic, particularly for the elderly, disabled, and children. Additionally, labor informality increased, further limiting economic opportunities for women. The key conclusion is that public policies aimed at reducing gender disparities in rural labor markets must prioritize caregiving support and formal employment opportunities for women. These findings suggest that addressing the care economy is crucial for closing gender gaps and fostering equitable economic recovery in rural Latin American areas.

Leadership behavior is a critical component of effective management, significantly influencing organizational success. While extensive research has examined key success factors in road management, the specific role of leadership behaviors in road usage charging (RUC) management remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by identifying and analyzing leadership behavior dimensions and their impact on management performance within the RUC context. Using a mixed-methods approach, focus group discussions with industry practitioners were conducted to define eight leadership behavior dimensions: Central-Level Leadership Guidance (LE1), Local-Level Leadership Guidance (LE2), Central-Level Leadership Commitment (LE3), Local-Level Leadership Commitment (LE4), Subordinate Understanding from Central-Level Leadership (LE5), Subordinate Understanding from Local-Level Leadership (LE6), Work Motivation (LE7), and Understanding Rights and Obligations (LE8). These dimensions were further validated through a quantitative survey distributed to 138 professionals involved in RUC management in Vietnam, with the data analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and partial least squares (PLS) estimation. The findings revealed that LE3 (Central-Level Leadership Commitment) had the strongest direct impact on management performance (MP) and mediated the relationships between other leadership dimensions and management outcomes. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of leadership in RUC management by highlighting the centrality of leadership commitment and offering practical insights for improving leadership practices to enhance organizational performance in infrastructure management.

Leisure education has an impact not only on individuals but also on the environment and society. The present study aimed to explore and describe experts’ knowledge and experience about leisure education to develop leadership among youth with physical disabilities. The present study used a qualitative research approach through an exploratory design to answer the research question. Five participants were purposefully recruited and selected based on their expertise in the topic of interest. Participants’ expertise ranged from leisure, recreation, youth and leadership. The participants had experience working in higher education institutions, and community projects, held doctorate qualifications, and have over ten years in this field. Data was collected online using Google Meet software using semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions. Data was analyzed using a thematic analysis framework and guidelines. The findings of this study suggest that youth with physical disabilities can develop personal capacity through leisure education programmes. Leisure education programmes can be meaningful to youth with physical disabilities and have a developmental impact, including leadership. Youth with physical disabilities’ capacities and abilities should be nurtured and protected to allow growth and independence. The implications are that leisure education programmes for leadership development must be intentional to achieve the intended outcome.

On the basis of the enlightenment of international engineering education accreditation for the reform and development of higher education in China, combined with the important measures of the national “double first-class” construction, new challenges have been proposed for innovative talent cultivation among engineering majors in the context of promoting national development. These challenges also promote the reform of science-oriented courses among engineering majors. As a core mandatory course for engineering majors, biochemistry plays a crucial role in the entire educational process at universities, serving as a bridge between basic and specialized courses. To address challenges such as limited course resources, insufficient development of students’ advanced thinking and innovation skills, and overly standardized assessment methods, the bioengineering major from Guilin University of Technology restructured the biochemistry course content. A blended teaching model termed “three integrations, three stages, one sharing”, was implemented. This effort has yielded significant results, providing a research foundation for constructing an innovative talent cultivation system that is oriented toward industry needs within modern industrial colleges. It also offers valuable insights into and reference points for the cultivation of engineering talents and curriculum reform in local universities.

This study examines the effectiveness of Kazakhstan’s grant funding system in supporting research institutions and universities, focusing on the relationship between funding levels, expert evaluations, and research outputs. We analyzed 317 projects awarded grants in 2021, using parametric methods to assess publication outcomes in Scopus and Web of Science databases. Descriptive statistics for 1606 grants awarded between 2021 and 2023 provide additional insights into the broader funding landscape. The results highlight key correlations between funding, evaluation scores, and journal publication percentiles, with a notable negative correlation observed between international and national expert evaluations in specific scientific fields. A productivity analysis at the organizational level was conducted using non-parametric methods to evaluate institutional efficiency in converting funding into research output. Data were manually collected from the National Center of Science and Technology Evaluation and supplemented with publication data from Scopus and Web of Science, using unique grant numbers and principal investigators’ profiles. This comprehensive analysis contributes to the development of an analytical framework for improving research funding policies in Kazakhstan.

This research explores the dynamic intersection of sustainable design, cultural heritage, and community enterprise, focusing on the innovative utilization of post-harvest sugar cane leaves in bamboo basketry production from various provinces in Thailand. This study aims to investigate how design anthropology principles can enhance community enterprises’ resilience and sustainability by employing a qualitative case study approach. Findings reveal that while traditional bamboo basketry reflects the region’s rich cultural heritage, a shift towards sustainable practices offers environmental benefits and economic opportunities. Design anthropology informs the development of culturally relevant products, fostering market competitiveness and preserving traditional craftsmanship. Moreover, government policies play a pivotal role in supporting or hindering the growth of community enterprises, with soft power initiatives holding promise for promoting cultural heritage and sustainability. Collaboration between policymakers, design anthropologists, and local stakeholders is essential for developing inclusive policies that empower communities and foster sustainable development. Overall, integrating sustainable design practices and cultural insights holds significant potential for enhancing the resilience and effectiveness of community enterprises, ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for both the industry and the communities it serves. This study is a testament that design anthropology provides a powerful framework for addressing complex social and environmental issues through the lenses of culture and design.