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.

The study of authoritarian leadership has undergone significant development, with researchers exploring its different dimensions and consequences. This leadership style, characterized by a top-down approach and centralized decision-making authority, has been extensively examined in psychology, organizational behavior, and management literature. Scholars have delved into the effects of authoritarian leadership on various aspects of organizations such as employee satisfaction, motivation levels, productivity rates, turnover rates, and team dynamics. The research landscape surrounding authoritarian leadership has witnessed a recent surge in interest as scholars strive to understand its intricate connections with different variables. The primary objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on authoritarian leadership, aiming to identify the key research areas, influential authors, prominent journals in the field, and citation patterns. To our knowledge, no bibliometric analysis on authoritarian leadership can be found in the Scopus database, highlighting the novelty of our research. Through a source-based examination of scholarly articles and their citations pertaining to authoritarian leadership, this analysis offers valuable insights into the current state of research in this domain. By focusing on publications from the past decade onwards, we aim to uncover trends and potential gaps within existing literature while also providing guidance for future research endeavors. Our research findings will provide valuable insights into the phenomenon of authoritarian leadership, contributing to a deeper understanding of its implications. By delving into this topic, we hope to pave the way for future studies and investigations in this field that can build upon our findings and expand knowledge even further.

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of community involvement in waste management through participatory research. Its objective is to bridge the theoretical underpinnings of participatory research with its practical implementation, particularly within the realm of waste management. The review systematically analyzes global instances where community engagement has been incorporated into waste management initiatives. Its principal aim is to evaluate the efficacy of participatory strategies by scrutinizing methodologies and assessing outcomes. To achieve this, the study identified 74 studies that met rigorous criteria through meticulous search efforts, encompassing various geographical locations, cultural contexts, and waste management challenges. In examining the outcomes of participatory research in waste management, the study explores successful practices, shortcomings, and potential opportunities. Moving beyond theoretical discourse, it provides a detailed analysis of real-world applications across various settings. The evaluation not only highlights successful engagement strategies and indicators but also critically assesses challenges and opportunities. By conducting a comprehensive review of existing research, this study establishes a foundation for future studies, policy development, and the implementation of sustainable waste management practices through community engagement. The overarching goal is to derive meaningful insights that contribute to a more inclusive, effective, and globally sustainable approach to waste management. This study seeks to inform policymaking and guide future research initiatives, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in addressing the complexities of waste management on a global scale.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer eco-friendly alternatives to chemical fertilizers, promoting sustainable agriculture by enhancing soil fertility, reducing pathogens, and aiding in stress resistance. In agriculture, they play a crucial role in plant growth promotion through the production of agroactive compounds and extracellular enzymes to promote plant health and protection against phytopathogens. In the rhizosphere, diverse microbial interactions, including those with bacteria and fungi, influence plant health by production of antimicrobial compounds. The antagonism displayed by rhizobacteria plays a crucial role in shaping microbial communities and has potential applications in developing a natural and environmentally friendly approach to pest control. The rhizospheric microbes showcase their ecological importance and potential for biotechnological applications in the context of plant-microbe interactions. The extracellular enzymes produced by rhizospheric microbes like amylases, chitinases, glucanases, cellulases, proteases, and ACC deaminase contribute to plant processes and stress response emphasizing their importance in sustainable agriculture. Moreover, this review highlights the new paradigm including artificial intelligence (AI) in sustainable horticulture and agriculture as a harmonious interaction between ecological networks for promoting soil health and microbial diversity that leads to a more robust and self-regulating agricultural system for protecting the environment in the future. Overall, this review emphasizes microbial interactions and the role of rhizospheric microbial extracellular enzymes which is crucial for developing eco-friendly approaches to enhance crop production and soil health.

Water splitting, the process of converting water into hydrogen and oxygen gases, has garnered significant attention as a promising avenue for sustainable energy production. One area of focus has been the development of efficient and cost-effective catalysts for water splitting. Researchers have explored catalysts based on abundant and inexpensive materials such as nickel, iron, and cobalt, which have demonstrated improved performance and stability. These catalysts show promise for large-scale implementation and offer potential for reducing the reliance on expensive and scarce materials. Another avenue of research involves photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells, which utilize solar energy to drive the water-splitting reaction. Scientists have been working on designing novel materials, including metal oxides and semiconductors, to enhance light absorption and charge separation properties. These advancements in PEC technology aim to maximize the conversion of sunlight into chemical energy. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, artificial photosynthesis approaches have also gained traction. By integrating light-absorbing materials, catalysts, and membranes, these systems aim to mimic the complex processes of natural photosynthesis and produce hydrogen fuel from water. The development of efficient and stable artificial photosynthesis systems holds promise for sustainable and clean energy production. Tandem cells, which combine multiple light-absorbing materials with different bandgaps, have emerged as a strategy to enhance the efficiency of water-splitting systems. By capturing a broader range of the solar spectrum, tandem cells optimize light absorption and improve overall system performance. Lastly, advancements in electrocatalysis have played a critical role in water splitting. Researchers have focused on developing advanced electrocatalysts with high activity, selectivity, and stability for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). These electrocatalysts contribute to overall water-splitting efficiency and pave the way for practical implementation.

This paper utilizes an advanced Network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model to examine the impact of mobile payment on the efficiency of Taiwan banking industry. Inheriting the literature, we separate the banking operation process into two stages, namely profitability and marketability. Mobile payment is then considered as the core factor in the second stage. Our paper discovers network DEA model can effectively enhance the analysis of banking industry’s efficiency, and mobile payment has a notable impact on Taiwan banking industry. Regarding the profitability stage, there is only one efficient bank in 2019 and 2022, respectively. These banks also perform better in terms of “mobile payment production”. In the marketability stage, there is also only one bank in 2021 and one bank in 2022, that can reach to unique efficiency score. This indicates many banks attempt to increase earnings per share through investing in mobile payment services. However, the achievement still needs more wait. This leads to the fact that no bank can reach the ultimate overall efficiency. Within our sample, we also find that regarding promoting mobile payment services, Private Banks outperform Government Banks.