This article analyzes the modes of organizing the political realm of society in Aceh, especially after the signing of the Helsinki MoU in 2005 by representatives of the Indonesian government and GAM as the two parties most interested in the social organization of Acehnese society. The post-conflict social and political phenomenon in Aceh is the fragmentation between democratic and customary institutions that can be directly observed by the public through their competition in local government elections. Former GAM leaders have chosen to revive Majelis Wali Nanggroe and Gampong as customary and cultural institutions to help the government organize the lives of Acehnese people post-conflict. This paper contends that the various relationships and networks of relationships present in institutional formations are understood and explained through the different rules and frameworks that define and regulate them. Data sources were collected through in-depth interviews with several key informants, such as former GAM members, DPRA members, university rectors, local Aceh mass media editors, and socio-political observers, field observations for eighteen days (5–22 August 2018), and literature studies. This qualitative research uses a new institutionalism approach that focuses on the dynamics of the social structure of Acehnese society, which was largely controlled by GAM before the Helsinki MoU and began to loosen after the elections and even formed fragmentation among former combatants in the struggle for leadership in local government institutions. This article finds that GAM elite divisions and conflicts after the conflict for official government positions occurred due to the absence of imagination of modes of organizing society that was able to connect structurally and functionally formal and informal institutions. Pragmatically, GAM leaders and negotiators tend to maintain identity politics as a resistance movement against the central government and at the same time, they continue to run governance in a special autonomy model that gives them a lot of constitutional, institutional and symbolic freedom.

Protecting the environment and the Earth's natural resources is one of the most important tasks for modern societies, economies, and countries. Changes in the environment have made climate protection a key task of state policy implemented at the local, national, and international. They also have caused such negative social manifestations as environmental radicalism and terrorism. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the capacity of state institutions to prevent environmental terrorism and radicalism, particularly in the Russian context, by identifying and prioritizing key challenges and countermeasures. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, involving both qualitative and quantitative analyses. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a total of 35 articles and reviews were selected to provide a foundation for understanding eco-terrorism trends. Additionally, an expert survey was conducted with 44 qualified participants to rank problems and recommended actions. The Kendall concordance coefficient was used to assess the consistency of expert opinions. The authors conclude that low environmental awareness and insufficient cooperation between state institutions and environmental organizations are the most significant challenges in preventing eco-terrorism. To adequately and competently prevent environmental terrorism and radicalism in society, the prevention system must be based on clear and thoughtful actions by state institutions.

The current study aims to determine the post COVID-19 adoption rates, the variation of the adoption by regions, and the effects of communication technologies on higher education with focus on students’ engagement and faculty satisfaction. The present research uses the convergent parallel design which is a form of mixed-methods research design. First, the study searched for 18 relevant articles using key search terms including “post-COVID-19 education”, “e-learning tools”, “communication technologies” and “higher education”. The qualitative analysis, however, shows that the technological strategies have to be in line with the preparedness of the people, the need to address challenges such as the lack of face-to-face contact and how technologies such as augmented reality and simulation-based learning can be used. Quantitative analysis shows that teleconferencing tools (β = 0.45, p < 0.001) and cloud computing (β = 0.38, p < 0.003) have positive impact on engagement and satisfaction. The one-way ANOVA results show that there is a difference in the adoption rates across the regions while the MCAs score for communication challenges is 60%. From the descriptive statistics it can be seen that there is a very high adoption rate of cloud computing (Mean = 89.7%, Standard Deviation = 3.1%) and teleconferencing tools (Mean = 84.9%, Standard Deviation = 4.5%). The Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) shows the domino effect of teleconferencing on engagement (β = 0.60, p < 0.001), satisfaction (β = 0.75, p < 0.002) and collaboration efficiency (β = 0.55, p < 0.001). Thus, the current study establishes the fact that there is a need to provide equal opportunities and technology which is adaptable to improve the students’ engagement and satisfaction in various learning institutions.

In response to the challenges of climate change, this study explores the use of moringa pod powder as reinforcement in the manufacture of compressed earth bricks to promote sustainable building materials. The objective is to evaluate the impact of African locust bean pod powder on the mechanical properties of the bricks. Two types of soils from Togo were characterized according to geotechnical standards. Mixtures containing 8% African locust bean pod powder at various particle sizes (0.08 mm, 2 mm, and between 2 and 5 mm) were formulated and tested for compression and tensile strength. The results show that the addition of African locust bean pod reduces the mechanical strength of the bricks compared to the control sample without pods, with strengths ranging from 0.697 to 0.767 MPa, compared to 0.967 to 1.060 MPa for the control. However, the best performances for the mixtures were obtained with a fineness of less than 2 mm. This decrease in performance is attributed to several factors, including inadequate water content and suboptimal preparation and compaction methods. Optimizing formulation parameters is necessary to maximize the effectiveness of African locust bean pods. This work highlights the valorization of agro-industrial waste, paving the way for a better understanding of bio-based materials and future research for sustainable construction.

The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC&R) industry is pivotal to Europe’s goals for energy efficiency, sustainability, and technological advancement. As demand for skilled HVAC&R professionals rises, the effectiveness of educational programs in this field has become a focal point. This article explores the Portuguese case to analyze how pedagogical strategies and student motivation contribute to the quality of HVAC&R training across Europe. The study highlights innovative teaching methodologies such as active and competency-based learning, as well as the use of laboratory training and digital simulations to provide hands-on experience. Additionally, it emphasizes Bloom’s Taxonomy as a framework for curriculum development, ensuring that students advance from foundational knowledge to complex problem-solving abilities. Motivation is also identified as a critical factor for student engagement and long-term career commitment. The article concludes that a balanced integration of theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and motivational support is essential for producing highly qualified HVAC&R professionals. This approach not only meets current industry needs but also aligns with Europe’s broader environmental and technological objectives, offering valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.

Major principles of organizational management like unity of command and unity of direction are quite important to foster co-ordination and efficiency in organizations. Since Islamic management is an offshoot of the modern Western management theories these principles have considerable relevance to Islamic management as well. This paper aims to discover how Islamic principles can solve modern problems of organizational management in order to demonstrate an interdependent system that teaches ethics and management. This paper attempts to offer an analytical discussion regarding Islamic views on the challenges that emerge regarding the need for cohesion in managing any organization. On the basis of a conceptual review, it highlights how unity of command and unity of direction can influence inspiring better management at all levels positively. Such clarification tries to elicit the Islamic interpretation that may lead to increased workforce commitment due to their motivation emanating from religion, contribute principles that will benefit the value addition process of labor and management’s decision-making process towards wider organizational goals, and enrich literature on management from Islamic principles and thoughts. This text succinctly examines the principles of unity of command and unity of direction that promote the development of management work ethics and the implications of Islamic management. The paper reviews the principles of unity of command and unity of direction as derived from The Holy Qur’an and Hadith, and examines various empirical studies conducted in different countries. These discussions subsequently bring out that the Islamic approach is comprehensive and practically relevant in the interest of present-day organizations. The paper concludes that intention and purity of hearts, regardless of the leadership styles of management, will direct the leaders and workforce to continually strive hard and give their best in their organizational management functions.