The COVID-19 epidemic caused unexpected complications, complexities and challenges in higher educational institutions (HEIs). In order to promote and strengthen the role of women leadership, this study aimed to clarify the unique challenges faced by female leaders at Saudi HEIs during the epidemic, find possible solutions to these challenges, and provide policy as well as management implications. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted, examining 27 records (i.e., research papers, articles and conference studies). The data were qualitatively analysed and categorized based on themes like challenges faced, opportunities recognized, and solutions proposed. Findings highlighted women leaders in Saudi HEIs grappled with multiple challenges, including technological barriers, cultural constraints, and increased workloads. Merging challenges with solvable strategies offers a forward-looking perspective, advocating for systemic changes that can shape a resilient and inclusive future for HEIs in Saudi Arabia.

The development of the times and the progress of society have put forward new requirements for the conduct of party building work. Only by adhering to innovative ideas, continuously adjusting and scientifically planning the mode of party building work, can a new and systematic guidance system for party building be constructed, so that the conduct of party building work in universities presents a new development state and mode. Based on the influence of the information technology environment and the guidance of the spirit of the 20th National Congress, this article explores and analyzes the innovative reform of party building work in universities in the new era. From different perspectives such as introducing advanced technology and innovative party building work concepts, it systematically explores the innovative planning measures for party building work, striving to build a new organizational system for party building in universities, and scientifically optimize the value and effectiveness of party building work in universities.

Ecological beauty not only means the beauty of nature, but also refers to the balance between living things on earth. Ecological aesthetic education takes the holistic ecological view as the philosophical basis, advocating appreciating nature and caring about life with an aesthetic attitude, realizing the coexistence of man and nature, and promoting the harmonious development of man and society. In view of this, the current school ecological aesthetic education should deepen the integration of large and small ecological aesthetic education discipline system construction, improve the comprehensive quality of ecological aesthetic education teachers, combine social aesthetic education to enrich ecological aesthetic education extracurricular practice, and train new people for the construction of Chinese modern ecological civilization.

This study investigates the intricate relationship between a nation’s GDP growth rate and three key variables: the number of granted patents, research and development (R&D) expenditure, and education expenditure. The purpose of the research is to discern the impact of these factors on GDP growth rates. Drawing on theoretical frameworks, including Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), and Canonical Correlation Regression (CCR) techniques, the paper employs a robust methodological approach to unveil insights into the dynamics of economic growth. Contrary to conventional assumptions, the results reveal a negative correlation between R&D expenditure and GDP growth rate. In contrast, the number of patents granted and education expenditure shows a positively significant effect on the GDP growth rate, underscoring the pivotal roles of intellectual property creation and education investment in fostering economic growth. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of a nuanced understanding of these relationships for policymakers. The research’s implications highlight the need for balanced investments in innovation and education. The originality and value of this study lie in its unique findings challenging established beliefs about the impact of R&D expenditure on economic growth.

Universities play a crucial role in supporting sustainable development. In recent decades, indicator-based assessment tools have emerged to quantify universities’ efforts towards sustainability. The most widely known is the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings (UI-GWUR): In our paper, we examine the sustainability performance of the three greenest Hungarian universities. The University of Pécs, the University of Szeged and the University of Sopron were among the top 200 higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UI-GWUR in 2023, which proves that they have successfully integrated sustainable development into the components of their system. The aim of the paper is to identify the sustainability measures implemented by the three-top Hungarian HEIs. Their experiences shed light on how it is possible to move forward in the UI GWUR for a Hungarian higher education institution. In order to evaluate the sustainability efforts of the universities, the UI GWUR database was first examined. The websites and sustainability reports of the three universities were also analyzed to gain insight into their activities. Identifying the sustainability actions of the three institutions will help other universities to successfully plan and implement their sustainability initiatives. In the last part of our paper, we evaluate how the three Hungarian universities communicate sustainability through their websites. The results show that advancement in the UI Green Metric World University Rankings primarily requires conscious planning, which means a deeper understanding of the ranking methodology on the one hand, and a clear strategy creation and implementation on the other hand.

Under the background of engineering education certification, the traditional personnel training model can’t meet the requirements of high-quality personnel training under the new engineering background. Taking Surveying and mapping engineering major of Liaoning Institute of Science and Technology as an example, this paper explores the continuous improvement of the output-oriented talent training model through collaborative education of talents training objectives, curriculum system, practical teaching system, teacher team construction, enterprises and graduates. Over the years, the surveying and mapping engineering major of our school has achieved good results in personnel training. The major actively ADAPTS to the regional development of the local economy, closely connects with the needs of regional talents, and highlights its characteristics in serving the local economy.