Cities play a key role in achieving the climate-neutral supply of heating and cooling. This paper compares the policy frameworks as well as practical implementation of smart heating and cooling in six cities: Munich, Dresden and Bad Nauheim in Germany; and Jinan, Chengdu and Haiyan in China, to explore strategies to enhance policy support, financial mechanisms, and consumer engagement, ultimately aiming to facilitate the transition to climate-neutral heating and cooling systems. The study is divided into three parts: (i) an examination of smart heating and cooling policy frameworks in Germany and China over the past few years; (ii) an analysis of heating and cooling strategies in the six case study cities within the context of smart energy systems; and (iii) an exploration of the practical solutions adopted by these cities as part of their smart energy transition initiatives. The findings reveal differences between the two countries in the strategies and regulations adopted by municipal governments as well as variations within each country. The policy frameworks and priorities set by city governments can greatly influence the development and implementation of smart heating and cooling systems. The study found that all six cities are actively engaged in pioneering innovative heating and cooling projects which utilise diverse energy sources such as geothermal, biomass, solar, waste heat and nuclear energy. Even the smaller cities were seen to be making considerable progress in the adoption of smart solutions.

In developing metropolitan cities, the expansion of urban areas due to the urbanization phenomenon has resulted in massive transport infrastructure development in suburban areas. This development has prompted many governments to begin introducing Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) to organize emerging transit hubs in suburban areas into their city plans. The approach adopted to introduce TOD may differ, depending on the existing context. Countries with similar socio-cultural background typically adopt a uniform approach, but not Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur as the most developing metropolitan cities in Southeast Asia with similar urbanization and socio-cultural Based on the situation, through the examining documents and spatial analysis, this study seeks to examine the impact of different policy approach between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur on the progressions of transport infrastructure and TOD areas in suburban. The results showed that Kuala Lumpur had a more rapid progression in transport infrastructures development, accompanied by the establishment of several transit zones in urban and suburban areas. Meanwhile, Jakarta’s approach comprised the gradual development of infrastructures, initially focusing on TOD in central urban areas and only a limited number of suburban areas with significant commuter traffic. These results indicate that differences in policy approaches in the two regions with similar urbanization and socio-cultural contexts influence the evolution of transport infrastructure and TOD areas development. Several factors contribute to these discrepancies, including efficiency, synchrony, bias, clarity of organizational structure, and conceptual comprehension. At macro basis, policy makers must underline that the characteristics suitability between the approach and region critically determines the success of urban development.

Despite its leading role in the urban transport system, paratransit is accused of being unsustainable and hostile to modernity. The reform of the sector is necessary in the context of the modernization of the transport system of African cities. It requires the formalization of actors through technical and financial support such as fleet renewal projects. This article attempts to analyze the financing process and the level of formalism of the operators constituted within the AFTU in the context of the financing operation of paratransit operators in Dakar, Senegal. The methodological approach adopted is based on the analysis of qualitative data from questionnaire surveys carried out in the AFTU network in Dakar; official documents¹ were also used. The results show that the Dakar financing model put in place has made it possible to make significant progress in the reorganization of paratransit professionals. In addition to the concessioned lines, a salaried system was introduced, pricing is now official and the standardized ticketing system has been put in place. Nevertheless, improvements are expected on the working conditions of employees, the capacity building of actors and the evolution of the legal status of companies.

This paper investigates the impact of financial inclusion on financial stability in BRICS countries from 2004 to 2020. Using a panel smooth transition regression model, the results reveal a U-shaped relationship between financial inclusion and financial stability. Financial inclusion reduces financial stability up to a threshold of 44.7%. Beyond this point, financial inclusion contributes to greater financial stability, through gradual transitions. Enhanced financial inclusion supports banks in stabilizing their deposit funding by facilitating access to more stable, long-term funds and alleviating the negative impacts of fluctuations in returns. Furthermore, the study examines the role of institutional quality in shaping the financial inclusion-financial stability nexus, indicating a significant positive effect, especially in the upper regime. These findings provide valuable insights for financial regulatory authorities, highlighting the importance of promoting financial inclusion in BRICS economies and adapting regulations to mitigate potential risks to global financial stability.

This study examines the factors that predict successful transition outcomes for college students with impairments in Saudi Arabia. A stratified random sample method was employed to survey 500 people across various educational levels and disability categories. The efficacy of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), cultural variables, and perceptions of transition services have been investigated using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The study revealed significant positive correlations between the efficacy of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and favourable impressions of transition services. Additionally, it highlighted the impact of cultural variables on transition results. The assessment of indirect effects confirmed that cultural variables partially mitigate the connection between IEPs and transition assistance. The document provides practical suggestions for enhancing the efficiency of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), improving cultural proficiency among educators, facilitating collaboration among stakeholders, and guiding policies. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts to develop inclusive and culturally appropriate transition programs for students with impairments in Saudi Arabia.

The digital era has transformed education, making digital literacy essential for teachers to integrate technology and enhance student outcomes effectively. This study aims to examine how school culture influences teachers’ performance through their digital literacy, focusing on junior high school teachers in Malang City, East Java, Indonesia. Employing a quantitative approach, data were collected from 214 teachers out of a 457 population using questionnaires. The analysis was conducted through AMOS for Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), SPSS for descriptive statistics, and PLS-SEM for hypothesis testing. The findings reveal that school culture significantly affects teachers’ digital literacy (Ho1) and teacher performance (Ho2) with supportive and innovative environments, while rigid cultures limit creativity. Furthermore, digital literacy was found to enhance teachers’ performance (Ho3) and mediate the impact of school culture on teachers’ performance (Ho4), enhancing teachers’ effectiveness in planning, implementing, and evaluating instruction. This study highlights the critical role of school culture in shaping digital literacy and offers new insights for improving teacher practices in diverse educational settings. Moreover, the role of education policies in fostering a collaborative school culture that enhances teachers’ digital literacy and performance, leading to improved educational outcomes, plays a crucial implication.