As China’s urbanisation continues, the building area is expanding, of which the occupancy of rural residential buildings is also very large. However, most rural buildings have poor thermal performance. This paper analyses the energy-saving potential of green facades for rural buildings in China by simulating typical buildings with different types of facades in rural China. The simulation results show that indirect green façades can achieve good energy savings. Buildings with four types of facades: red brick, rubble, hollow brick, and concrete achieve energy savings of 18.39%, 17.85%, 14.47%, and 11.52%, respectively, after retrofitting with green facades.

The evolution of the internet has led to the emergence of social media (SM) platforms, offering dynamic environments for user interaction and content creation. Social media, characterized by user-generated content, has become integral to electronic communication, fostering higher engagement and interaction. This study aims to explore the utilization of SM marketing, particularly in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), focusing on Széchenyi István University’s academic social network sites (SNS) as a case study to enhance student engagement and satisfaction. The primary objective of this study is to review recent academic literature on SM marketing, especially for HEI marketing, and investigate the potential of the University’s SNS platforms as a case study in increasing student engagement. First a systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus and Science Direct databases to analyze recent research in academic SM. Then the article examined the University’s website and SNS platforms using the Facepager program to collect and analyze posts’ content. The findings from the literature review and observation indicate the growing importance of SM in higher education marketing. The university’s use of various SM strategies, such as visual storytelling, multimedia content, blogs, and user-generated content, contributes to increased student engagement of the university’s values.

In the fast-paced modern society, enhancing employees’ professional qualities through training has become crucial for enterprise development. However, training satisfaction remains under-studied, particularly in specialized sectors such as the coal industry. Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of personal characteristics, organizational characteristics, and training design on training satisfaction, utilizing Baldwin and Ford’s transfer of training model as the theoretical framework. The study identifies how these factors influence training satisfaction and provides actionable insights for improving training effectiveness in China’s coal industry. Design/Methodology/Approach: A cross-sectional design that allowed the study to capture data at one point in time from a large sample of employees was employed to conduct an online survey involving 251 employees from the Huaibei Mining Group in Anhui Province, China. The survey was administered over three months, capturing a diverse sample with nearly equal gender distribution (51% male, 49% female) and a majority aged between 21 and 40. The participants represented various educational backgrounds, with 52.19% holding an undergraduate degree and most occupying entry-level positions (74.9%), providing a broad workforce representation. Findings: The research indicated that personal traits were the chief predictor of training satisfaction, showing a beta coefficient of 0.585 (95% CI: [0.423, 0.747]). Linear regression modeling indicates that training satisfaction is strongly related to organizational attributes (β = 0.276 with a confidence interval of 95% [0.109, 0.443]). In contrast, training design did not appear to be a strong predictor (β = 0.094, 95% CI: [−0.012, 0.200]). Employee training satisfaction was the principal outcome measure, measured with a 5-point Likert scale. The independent variables covered personal characteristics, organizational characteristics, and training design, all measured through validated items taken from former research. The consistency of the questionnaire from the inside was strong, as Cronbach’s alpha values stood between 0.891 and 0.936. We completed statistical testing using SPSS 27.0, complemented by multiple linear regression, to study the interactions between the variables. Practical implications: This research contributes to the literature by emphasizing the necessity for context-specific training approaches within the coal industry. It highlights the importance of considering personal and organizational characteristics when designing training programs to enhance employee satisfaction. The study suggests further exploration of the multifaceted factors influencing training satisfaction, reinforcing the relevance of Baldwin and Ford’s theoretical model in understanding training effectiveness. Ultimately, the findings provide valuable insights for organizations seeking to improve training outcomes and foster a more engaged workforce. Conclusion: The study concluded that personal and organizational characteristics significantly impact employee training satisfaction in the coal industry, with personal characteristics being the strongest predictor. The beta coefficient for personal characteristics was 0.585, indicating a strong positive relationship. Organizational characteristics also had a positive effect, with a beta coefficient of 0.276. However, training design did not show a significant impact on training satisfaction. These findings highlight the need for coal companies to focus on personal and organizational factors when designing training programs to enhance satisfaction and improve training outcomes.

This study determines the efficiency and productivity of Mexico’s urban and rural municipalities in generating economic welfare between 1990 and 2020. It establishes the incidence of context and space on efficiency, using Data Envelopment Analysis, the Malmquist-Luenberger Metafrontier Productivity Index, and Nonparametric Regression. The results indicate that 4 of the 2456 municipalities analyzed were efficient, that productivity increased, and that context and space influenced efficiency. This highlights the need for policies that optimize resource utilization, enhance investment in education, stimulate local business development, encourage inter-municipal cooperation, reduce rural-urban disparities, and promote sustainability.

Personal branding is a conscious activity that utilizes classic product marketing methods to make a person more marketable. In our study, we employed a quantitative research methodology. Through a survey, we examined the importance respondents assign to visible and non-visible traits and characteristics. During the data analysis, we established a ranking of the most important traits identified by the survey participants, which they believe contribute to a more favorable perception. Among the top five ranked traits—reliability, appearance, charisma, grooming, and authenticity—three are recognizable during the first encounter. Our findings suggest that women place greater emphasis on social perception than men, making them more likely to remain unnoticed. At the same time, younger generations tend to overvalue their presence on social media platforms.

This research explores the dynamic intersection of sustainable design, cultural heritage, and community enterprise, focusing on the innovative utilization of post-harvest sugar cane leaves in bamboo basketry production from various provinces in Thailand. This study aims to investigate how design anthropology principles can enhance community enterprises’ resilience and sustainability by employing a qualitative case study approach. Findings reveal that while traditional bamboo basketry reflects the region’s rich cultural heritage, a shift towards sustainable practices offers environmental benefits and economic opportunities. Design anthropology informs the development of culturally relevant products, fostering market competitiveness and preserving traditional craftsmanship. Moreover, government policies play a pivotal role in supporting or hindering the growth of community enterprises, with soft power initiatives holding promise for promoting cultural heritage and sustainability. Collaboration between policymakers, design anthropologists, and local stakeholders is essential for developing inclusive policies that empower communities and foster sustainable development. Overall, integrating sustainable design practices and cultural insights holds significant potential for enhancing the resilience and effectiveness of community enterprises, ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for both the industry and the communities it serves. This study is a testament that design anthropology provides a powerful framework for addressing complex social and environmental issues through the lenses of culture and design.

This study explores the feminization of poverty and the dynamics of the care economy in rural areas, focusing on the municipality of Génova, Quindío, Colombia. The novelty of this study lies in its analysis of the compounded effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s economic participation and care responsibilities in a rural context, offering insights relevant to Latin America. This study addresses the critical problem of how increased caregiving responsibilities and labor informality during the pandemic have disproportionately impacted economically active women, exacerbating gender inequalities. The objective is to analyze the relationship between the care economy and feminization of poverty, providing policy recommendations for post-pandemic recovery in rural settings. The methodology consisted of a two-stage approach. In the first stage, a probabilistic stratified sampling design was applied using data from the Colombian National Population and Housing Census and the Génova, Quindío, and Colombia Municipal Panel. In the second stage, fieldwork was conducted with a sample of 347 women using the RedCap application for data collection. The results indicate a significant increase in unpaid domestic and caregiving work during the pandemic, particularly for the elderly, disabled, and children. Additionally, labor informality increased, further limiting economic opportunities for women. The key conclusion is that public policies aimed at reducing gender disparities in rural labor markets must prioritize caregiving support and formal employment opportunities for women. These findings suggest that addressing the care economy is crucial for closing gender gaps and fostering equitable economic recovery in rural Latin American areas.

The objective of this article is to present the analysis we conducted regarding interdisciplinarity in the training of legal professionals in the Law program at UNAD, focusing on emerging anthropocentric and biocentric perspectives that offer a different view in the training process from territorial and environmental approaches. The program, which has been in existence for three years and being the first virtual modality program authorized in Colombia, is a pioneer in its field. In consequence, we ask ourselves: What are the relevant aspects in the training of legal professionals in the face of the environmental challenges of the 21st century? For this purpose, we used a qualitative methodology with semi-structured interviews, surveys and literature review, highlighting the holistic and hermeneutic methods. We found five key aspects: a) interdisciplinary perspective in legal training; b) development of skills and competencies; c) paradigmatic changes from anthropocentrism to biocentrism from a pedagogical perspective in law; d) training of legal professionals with an environmental humanistic sense; and e) the territorial and environmental approach of the UNAD Law program. Furthermore, in the discussion, we analyzed the aspects identified above, based on complex thinking, professional skills and competences, environmental humanism and ethics in the exercise of the legal profession from a formative approach. We conclude by highlighting the importance of interdisciplinarity, critical thinking and the territorial approach as positive aspects with an opportunity for strengthening, particularly related with emerging paradigms and environmental humanism in law.