Political patronage has become a notable concern in the South African public sector, often compared to a new epidemic because of its adverse effects on governance and public administration. This phenomenon involves by political leaders offering rewards and appointment people for key government positions and allocating resources to them based on their political loyalty rather than their abilities and qualifications. This intensifies corruption by fostering a culture in which competence is subordinate, resulting in inadequately qualified individuals assuming key positions and receiving benefits, thereby amplifying opportunities for unethical conduct. In turn, this practice undermines the effectiveness and integrity of public sector institutions. The purpose of this article is to offer a broader analysis and implications of political patronage and how it fuels corruption and governance in the South African public sector. This article employs a secondary research method through the review of existing literature to examine the nature of political patronage, its nexus with corruption and misgovernance in the public sector, drawing reference to contemporary, renowned corruption cases. This paper submits that overcoming these challenges necessitates a holistic approach that involves the professionalization of the public sector, robust measures to combat corruption, and improved transparency. The objective is to establish and promote a public service that emphasizes competence, responsibility, and the fulfilment of governance functions in order to serve the wider interests of citizens.

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are intentionally designed to be easily accessible to many learners, regardless of their academic level or age. MOOCs leverage internet-based technology, allowing anybody with an internet connection to have unrestricted access, regardless of their location or time limitations. MOOCs provide a versatile and easy opportunity for acquiring top-notch education, enabling anyone to learn at their preferred speed, free from limitations of time, cost, or geographical location. Given the advantages they offer, MOOCs are a valuable method for improving the quality and availability of education in Indonesia. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and institutions have implemented the establishment of digital campuses. One important characteristic of these digital campuses is that they prioritize processes but overlook data and lack standardized standards. The problems and fundamental causes include challenges related to the comprehensive information architecture. The main factor contributing to this challenge is the absence of uniform and well-defined information standards. The existing connectivity and data exchange mechanisms in several schools are poor, leading to substantial data discrepancy among various departments due to the limited content of the fundamental data utilized. Moreover, the absence of clear information about the reliable source of data exacerbates the problem. The main objectives of data governance are to improve data quality, eliminate data inconsistencies, promote extensive data sharing, utilize data aggregation for competitive benefits, supervise data modifications based on data usage patterns, and comply with internal and external regulations and agreed-upon data usage standards. The aim of this project is to create a data governance framework that is customized to the specific conditions in Indonesia, with a specific emphasis on MOOC providers. The researcher chose design science research (DSR) as the research paradigm as it can successfully tackle relevant issues linked to the topic by creating innovative artefacts about the data governance framework for MOOC providers in Indonesia. This research highlights the necessity and significance of implementing a data governance framework for MOOC providers in Indonesia, hence increasing their awareness of this requirement. The researchers incorporated components from the data management body of knowledge (DMBOK) into their data governance framework. This framework includes ten components related to data governance, which are further divided into sub-components within the MOOC providers’ framework.

Introduction/Main objectives: This study aims to test the influence of the application of the concept of value for money on regional government financial management at the quality level of regional development, which is determined by the level of foreign and domestic investment in local governments. Background problems: State the problem or economic/business phenomena studied in this paper and specify the research question(s) in one sentence. Novelty: This study has a research model that has yet to be widely carried out in Indonesia, namely, a moderated model regression analysis of the value concept for money on the quality of regional development with investment as a moderating variable. Research methods: This study uses data on financial performance, domestic and foreign investment levels, and human development index of 34 provincial governments from 2017 to 2021. This research data comes from the website of the Directorate General of Fiscal Balance, Ministry of Finance and the Central Bureau of Statistics. The data collected in this study is then analyzed using moderated regression analysis (MRA) with the SPSS ver 23.0 application. Findings/Results: The findings in the research show that the application of value for money ( economics, efficiency, and effectiveness ) from local government financial governance can influence the quality of regional development in Indonesia’s provinces in 2017–2021. In addition, the existence of foreign and domestic investment in the provincial government also strengthens the influence of value-for-money financial governance on the quality level of regional development in the provincial government. Conclusion: Based on existing research, local government financial management applies the concept that value for money needs to be increased to create optimal public services to improve the quality of human development in the regions. Regional governments are also expected to be able to encourage the level of capital investment both domestically and abroad to support the creation of development that can strengthen the quality of regional development in the regions.

Comparative analysis of the development history of sports social organizations in China, Japan and South Korea from multiple perspectives, in order to provide reference suggestions for solving the existing problems of the development of sports social organizations in China as well as for the sustainable development in the future. This paper explores the optimization path of sports social organizations in China by using the literature method and comparative analysis method. The study finds that the current development of sports social organizations in Japan and South Korea is characterized by independence and autonomy, a relatively rich number and variety of organizations, mutual separation of powers and responsibilities between government agencies and social organizations, and autonomous operation and efficient governance of sports social organizations. The development of sports social organizations in China has reached a new level since the founding of New China, and the Party’s attention to and support for their development has been increasing, but China still has deficiencies in the number of organizations, organizational capacity, and policy system. The study concludes that Japan and South Korea have three development conditions for sports social organizations: a socially oriented governance system, a more complete policy and regulation system, and a standardized and efficient financial support system. The study concludes that the prosperity of sports social organizations is crucial in building a strong sports nation at the present time. Combining the successful experiences of Japan and South Korea and integrating into China’s national conditions, we strive to build a governance system that combines government and society, construct a diversified financial support system, and improve the policy support system for sports organizations to promote the progress of sports social organizations in China, and open the way for the autonomy and independence of sports social organizations in China, and put the improvement of the governance system of sports social organizations on the agenda.

This study examines the impact of innovation governance and policies on government funding for emerging science and technology sectors in Saudi Arabia, addressing key bureaucratic, regulatory, and cultural barriers. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews with quantitative survey data to provide a comprehensive under-standing of the current innovation landscape. Findings indicate a high level of policy awareness among stakeholders but reveal significant challenges in practical implementation due to bureaucratic inefficiencies and stringent regulations. Cultural barriers, such as a risk-averse mindset and traditional business practices, further impede innovation. Successful initiatives like the National Transformation Program (NTP) demonstrate the potential for well-coordinated efforts, highlighting the importance of regulatory reform and cultural shifts towards entrepreneurship. Strategic recommendations include streamlining bureaucratic processes, enhancing policy coordination, and fostering a culture of innovation through education and stakeholder engagement. This study contributes to the existing literature by offering actionable insights to enhance innovation governance, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.