The main purpose of this research is to investigate the cash holdings behaviour on sectoral level for South African firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The accounting cash ratio is used to identify abnormal (excess) cash holdings for the firms listed on the JSE. This informed the panel regression analysis to identify cash holdings determinants on a sectoral level. The sample data included 255 firms of which 102 represent Financial Firms and 153 represent Non-Financial Firms for 2005 to 2019. The findings show the significant internal and external determinants of cash holdings. Comparing coefficient sizes, this research finds that financial and non-financial sectors with abnormal (excess) cash holdings exhibit higher coefficient sizes as opposed to sectors without. As a result, the higher coefficient size shows that the internal and external determinants of cash holdings have a greater effect on the cash holding levels of these sectors. The implications of the findings of this study are that each sector operates differently and that each firm within each sector has differing cash management policies and procedures. Therefore, analyzing cash holdings behaviour on an aggregated level and assuming that all sectors and firms within the collective operate the same is an erroneous assumption, as shown by this study. This research firstly contributed by introducing the use of the accounting cash ratio to indicate the presence of abnormal (excess) cash holdings. Most research focus on cash holdings of Non-Financial Firms. Therefore, the second contribution of this research is that both Non-Financial and Financial Firms with and without abnormal (excess) cash holdings were included to identify determinants of cash holdings, this was also done on a sectoral level.

The proliferation of digital literary discourse has led to a competitive, and often times antagonistic, relationship between this new form and its traditional paper-based counterpart. The success of this new critical literary media has come as a result of major global changes to social consciousness and societal pressures to utilize communication systems that can keep pace with the speed of social action. Discussions on the legitimacy of digital literary discourse are often limited by the use of conciliatory debates that merely present moderate viewpoints. This research addresses the issue using a socio-discursive lens, focusing on a critical exploration of the underlying reasoning for the technological wariness of paper-based literary practitioners. Contrary to the views of many traditionalists, digital literature does not derive its discursive identity, nor its legitimacy, from a combative relationship with paper-based criticism. Instead, this analysis indicates that the use of digital media marks a significant turning point in the institution of literary discourse, formed as a response to shifting individual and collective needs of an accelerating pace of life. Therefore, digital literary discourse is not simply a form or idea that can be accepted or rejected. Rather, it is a forced formation of a new and constantly evolving expressive and inferential space, created by the combination of existing and innovative media, producing new meanings that were impossible to generate under the dominance of old media.

Latin America is increasingly contributing to scientific research on leadership, although less than other regions. What are the predominant paradigms on leadership within the scientific community in Mexico? The article reviews doctoral dissertations on leadership from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the Anahuac University of Mexico (UA) defended before 2021. The findings highlight that 1) the number of doctoral dissertations has grown from 2016 onwards, especially in educational leadership. 2) In both universities a “functionalist” paradigm prevails, based on the transformational leadership model. 3) Two other leadership paradigms are present, referred to in this article as ‘political’ and ‘humanistic’. 4) These three paradigms have their characteristics and preferences in terms of research methodology, language, and reference authors. 5) The use of a paradigm is associated with the type of faculty rather than the type of university (public or private): in business faculties the functionalist paradigm predominates, in education faculties the humanist paradigm, and in political science or communication faculties the political paradigm. In conclusion, it is recommended to confirm the exploratory result obtained and to promote the dialogue between leadership paradigms.

This article evaluates the Didactic Strategies for Teaching Mathematics (DSTM) program, designed to enhance the teaching of mathematical content in primary and secondary education in a hybrid modality. In alignment with SENACYT’s Gender-STEM-2040 Policy, which emphasizes gender equality as a foundational principle of education, this study aims to assess whether initial teacher training aligns with this policy through the use of mathematical strategies promoting gender equality. A descriptive-correlational approach was applied to a sample of 64 educators, selected based on their responses during the training, with the goal of improving teaching and data collection methodologies. Findings indicate that, although most teachers actively engage in training, an androcentric approach persists, with sexist language and a curriculum that renders girls invisible, hindering the fulfillment of the National Gender Equality Policy in Science, Technology, and Innovation of Panama (Gender-STEM Policy 2040). Additionally, through a serendipitous finding, a significant gap in student activity levels, especially in secondary school, was discovered. While in primary school, activity levels were similar between genders, a decline in active participation among girls in secondary school was observed. This discovery, not initially contemplated in the study’s objectives, provides valuable insights into gender differences in active participation, particularly in higher educational stages. The serendipity suggests the need for further exploration of social, environmental, and family factors that may influence this decrease in girls’ active participation. The article concludes with a preliminary diagnosis and a call to deepen gender equality training and the effective implementation of coeducation in Panama’s educational system.

This study aims to evaluate theories and ideas about social values and determine the high quality of virtues that potentially change social practices, thinking, self-awareness, and behavior of the individual and society. The relevance of the study of value components is determined by the fact that such values as “spirituality and morality”, “responsibility”, “justice”, “rationality”, and “security” are capable of capturing the greatest value of many interests, which allows for the integration of society. An experimental study was conducted using sociological research methods based on developed questionnaires with questions touching on the parameters of sustainable development of society, determining the high quality of virtues and behavior of the individual and society. The study was conducted from May to June 2023 (N = 1387). Based on Demoethical values, special attention is paid to global problems related to climate change and inefficient use of energy and water resources, thereby achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. As a result of the study, Demoethical values are revealed in interaction with the economic components of demography, democracy, and demoeconomics as a tool for social transformation, as they shape the harmonious vision of the world, human behavior, decisions, and relationships with other people.

This study investigated the use of digital story strategy in teaching Islamic education on achievement and how it affects the development of moral thinking. The quasi-experimental design was implemented as a methodology and the sample included of (60) students from the fourth grade from Abdul Rahman bin Awf School in Abha. The results showed that there are statistically significant differences at the significance level (α ≤ 0.05) between the average responses of students in the two groups in the test. The experimental group performed better than the control group. The findings also showed that there are statistically significant differences at the significance level (α ≤ 0.05) between the average responses of students in the two groups (experimental and control) in the moral thinking scale and favour of the experimental group.