The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity for educators and policymakers to reconsider education systems and rethink what is essential, necessary, and desirable for future generations. A sequential generic qualitative approach was used in this study. Based on the systematic literature review, a content analysis was conducted to identify dimensions that contribute toward higher education institutions sustainability. Subsequently, the Expert Opinion method that involved five professors holding key positions in respective universities from Malaysia, the Netherlands, India, and Bangladesh was applied to propose a post-COVID-19 sustainable framework. Four themes: 1) educational reform; 2) digital transformation; 3) resilience and change management; and 4) sustainability coupled with agility and flexibility formed the framework for HEIs’ sustainability during the post-COVID-19 pandemic. We propose that the themes be examined from an integrated perspective to ensure HEIs can be sustainable in the long run. Finally, other scholars are recommended to conduct a tracer study as well as develop qualitative instruments based on the themes and dimensions identified from the systematic literature review and the Expert Opinion Method to better understand the phenomenon of HEI sustainability.

This comprehensive review examines recent innovations in green technology and their impact on environmental sustainability. The study analyzes advancements in renewable energy, sustainable transportation, waste management, and green building practices. To accomplish the specific objectives of the current study, the exploration was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines in major academic databases, such as Web of Science, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and ScienceDirect. Through a systematic literature review with a research influence mapping technique, we identified key trends, challenges, and future directions in green technology. Our aggregate findings suggest that while significant progress has been made in reducing environmental impact, barriers such as high initial costs and technological limitations persist. Hence, for the well-being of societal communities, green technology innovations and practices should be adopted more widely. By investing in sustainable practices, communities can reduce environmental degradation, improve public health, and create resilient infrastructures that support both ecological and economic stability. Green technologies, such as renewable energy sources, eco-friendly construction, efficient waste management systems, and sustainable agriculture, not only mitigate pollution but also lower greenhouse gas emissions, thereby combating climate change. Finally, the paper concludes with recommendations for policymakers and industry leaders to foster the widespread adoption of green technologies.

Credit risk assessment is one of the most important aspects of financial decision-making processes. This study presents a systematic review of the literature on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques in credit risk assessment, offering insights into methodologies, outcomes, and prevalent analysis techniques. Covering studies from diverse regions and countries, the review focuses on AI/ML-based credit risk assessment from consumer and corporate perspectives. Employing the PRISMA framework, Antecedents, Decisions, and Outcomes (ADO) framework and stringent inclusion criteria, the review analyses geographic focus, methodologies, results, and analytical techniques. It examines a wide array of datasets and approaches, from traditional statistical methods to advanced AI/ML and deep learning techniques, emphasizing their impact on improving lending practices and ensuring fairness for borrowers. The discussion section critically evaluates the contributions and limitations of existing research papers, providing novel insights and comprehensive coverage. This review highlights the international scope of research in this field, with contributions from various countries providing diverse perspectives. This systematic review enhances understanding of the evolving landscape of credit risk assessment and offers valuable insights into the application, challenges, and opportunities of AI and ML in this critical financial domain. By comparing findings with existing survey papers, this review identifies novel insights and contributions, making it a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the financial industry.

The integration of chatbots in the financial sector has significantly improved customer service processes, providing efficient solutions for query management and problem resolution. These automated systems have proven to be valuable tools in enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction in financial institutions. This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review on the impact of chatbots in customer service within the financial sector. A review of 61 relevant publications from 2018 to 2024 was conducted. Articles were selected from databases such as Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ARDI, Web of Science, and ProQuest. The findings highlight that efficiency and customer satisfaction are central to the perception of service quality, aligning with the automation of the user experience. The bibliometric analysis reveals a predominance of publications from countries such as India, Germany, and Australia, underscoring the academic and practical relevance of the topic. Additionally, essential thematic terms such as “artificial intelligence” and “advanced automation” were identified, reflecting technological evolution in this field. This study provides significant insights for future theoretical, practical, and managerial developments, offering a framework to optimize chatbot implementation in highly regulated environments.

Objective: This study synthesizes current evidence on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and, where relevant, Open Science (OS) practices in enhancing Human Resource Management (HRM) performance. It focuses on recruitment processes, ethical considerations, and employee participation. Methodology: A systematic literature review was conducted in Scopus covering the period 2019–2024, following PRISMA guidelines. The initial search yielded 1486 records. After de-duplication and screening using Rayyan, 66 studies (≈ 4.4%) met the inclusion criteria, which targeted peer-reviewed works addressing AI-supported HR decision-making. A combined content and bibliometric analysis was performed in R (Bibliometrix) to identify thematic patterns and conceptual structures. Results: Analysis revealed four thematic clusters: 1) Implementation and employee participation emphasizing human-in-the-loop approaches and effective change management; 2) ethical challenges including algorithmic bias, transparency gaps, and data privacy risks; 3) data-driven decision-making delivering higher accuracy, fewer errors, and personalized recruitment and performance assessment; 4) operational efficiency enabling faster workflows and reduced administrative workloads. AI tools consistently improved selection quality, while OS practices promoted transparency and knowledge sharing. Implications: The successful adoption of AI in HRM requires employee engagement, strong ethical safeguards, and transparent data governance. Future research should address the long-term cultural, organizational, and well-being impacts of AI integration, as well as its sustainability.

The economy, unemployment, and job creation of South Africa heavily depend on the growth of the agricultural sector. With a growing population of 60 million, there are approximately 4 million small-scale farmers (SSF) number, and about 36,000 commercial farmers which serve South Africa. The agricultural sector in South Africa faces challenges such as climate change, lack of access to infrastructure and training, high labour costs, limited access to modern technology, and resource constraints. Precision agriculture (PA) using AI can address many of these issues for small-scale farmers by improving access to technology, reducing production costs, enhancing skills and training, improving data management, and providing better irrigation infrastructure and transport access. However, there is a dearth of research on the application of precision agriculture using artificial intelligence (AI) by small scale farmers (SSF) in South Africa and Africa at large. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) and Bibliometric analysis guidelines were used to investigate the adoption of precision agriculture and its socio-economic implications for small-scale farmers in South Africa or the systematic literature review (SLR) compared various challenges and the use of PA and AI for small-scale farmers. The incorporation of AI-driven PA offers a significant increase in productivity and efficiency. Through a detailed systematic review of existing literature from inception to date, this study examines 182 articles synthesized from two major databases (Scopus and Web of Science). The systematic review was conducted using the machine learning tool R Studio. The study analyzed the literature review articled identified, challenges, and potential societal impact of AI-driven precision agriculture.