This study employs a virtual reality (VR) game to examine the role of VR gaming in learning Saudi cultural heritage. By creating 3D (Three-dimensional) virtual heritage buildings, the game immerses players in cultural scenes, fostering a lasting appreciation for art history. Objectives include making heritage information dissemination engaging, blending learning and entertainment in a 3D environment, designing a gamified setting for active learning, and igniting interest in culture, tradition, architecture, and art history. This paper further highlights the significance of serious gaming in promoting the Saudi cultural heritage among the younger generation. The research involved immersing 59 participants into a heritage building environment using a VR game and then probing their experience of the environment through a questionnaire. Results indicate positive participant experiences, increased interest in Saudi cultural heritage and appreciation for VR technology. The study demonstrates the potential of VR games to make heritage accessible and enjoyable for the younger generation, motivating further exploration and learning. Valuable resources are provided for individuals and researchers interested in using VR gaming for cultural heritage engagement.
The perspectives of economic students in Can Tho City, Vietnam were investigated in order to have a deeper understanding of the relationship between green supply chain management (GSCM) and social performance. A comprehensive survey was conducted on a sample size of 526 undergraduate students enrolled in business administration and international business courses. This study effort examined the impact of several subcomponents of GSCM on social performance. The inclusion of green production, green distribution, green supply chain management, and environmental education was seen. The coefficients of 0.24 and 0.115 suggest a favorable relationship between green procurement and internal environmental management and social performance. The existing scholarly literature presents several instances in which the implementation of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) has resulted in enhanced societal performance. The objective of this study is to contribute to the existing literature by investigating the many factors that influence the performance of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) in improving financial outcomes. The investigation also encompasses the examination of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) and its influence on societal performance. The authors propose that the extent to which graduates were exposed to GSCM education throughout their college years will have a substantial impact on their contributions to their respective fields and to society as a whole. Individuals who proactively pursue higher education by enrolling in college and focusing their studies on attaining a business degree are more likely to increase their chances of achieving success as entrepreneurs. Hence, these affluent proprietors of companies possess the potential to expand their operations and provide significant economic benefits at a macro level. In order to ensure the enduring viability of businesses, local communities, and the natural environment, educational institutions should provide curricula including corporate social responsibility, volunteerism, and ecologically conscious manufacturing methods. The integration of environmental stewardship with ethical business practices is crucial.
Transitioning to a green economy is a global concern, considered a pathway to sustainable development. This paper aims to investigate the effect of the transition into a green economy on Vietnam’s sustainable development and its two economic and environmental dimensions, with consideration of several essential issues including renewable energy, technological innovation, natural resource rents (oils, forest, and minerals), foreign direct investment, and trade. This paper utilizes data from 1996 to 2020 and then applies the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method for analysis. The results conclude that renewable energy is a driving key to reducing environmental degradation, but it hampers economic growth, while the contrast occurs with technology. Our results emphasize the dependence on non-renewable energy, whereas the innovation of technology does not show a green orientation in Vietnam. Furthermore, there is a lack of sustainability in the effect of natural resource rents, foreign direct investment, and trade. Overall, the transition into a green economy in Vietnam does not illustrate the sustainable orientation. The findings of this research provide empirical evidence to clarify the relationship between this transition and its driving factor, with sustainable development and the two economic environment dimensions. In addition, this study will bring worthwhile implications for the policymakers and scholars on whether the transition to a green economy fulfills the orientation towards sustainability, then enhancing the economy's efficiency to achieve green growth, following the pathway to sustainable development.
There is a growing trend among elderly people to live alone and this trend is expected to increase in the future. Social isolation and limited support can have a negative impact on the physical and mental well-being of older adults. The increasing life expectancy and expanding geriatric population necessitate the development of innovative solutions to support their health, independence, and autonomy. This article addresses the key challenges and issues confronting the elderly and analyzes various IoT technologies and solutions proposed to enhance their lives. Smart home technologies improve the quality of life and enable older adults to live independently in their own homes while their adult children are at work. This article presents a smart home model for the elderly in Kazakhstan, based on their needs, concerns, and financial capabilities. The proposed prototype will be developed using an accessible, open-source intelligent system that includes health monitoring, medication adherence monitoring, alerting family members in case of falls or deteriorating health indicators, and video surveillance. Another advantage of this system is the automation of processes such as automatic lighting control, voice command functionality, home security, and climate control. Preliminary testing of the hardware model shows promising results, with plans for continuous improvement and evaluation as it is deployed. Key criteria for its implementation include affordability, accessibility, and feasibility. Based on Kazakhstan’s unique socio-cultural and economic context, this paper proposes a sophisticated smart home model tailored to the specific needs and financial capabilities of elderly Kazakhs.
Metaverse technology has various uses in communication, education, entertainment, and other aspects of life. Consequently, it necessitates using some interactive mobile applications to enter the virtual world and gain real-time, face-to-face experiences, particularly among students. This research focused on the factors accelerating metaverse technology acceptance particularly, Metaverse Experience Browser application acceptance among the students under the factors proposed by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model. Notably, lack of studies in metaverse browsers and their prevalence during the post pandemic era, indicates a strong literature gap. The researchers gathered data from n = 384 higher education students from the two cities in the United Arab Emirates and applied Structural Equation modelling (SEM) for data analysis. Results revealed that Performance Expectancy (p < 0.003) and Social Influence (p = 0.000) were significant factors affecting the Behavioral Intention of the students to consider Metaverse Experience Browser as an interactive mobile application. On the other hand, behavioural Intention significantly affects (p = 0.000) Effort Expectancy, which shows how fewer efforts and greater accessibility are associated with one’s behavioural Intention. Besides, the effect of Behavioral Intention (p = 0.000) on Metaverse Experience Browser acceptance also remained validated. Finally, Effort Expectancy (p = 0.000) also indicated its significant effect on the Metaverse Experience Browser. These results indicated that the factors proposed by UTAUT have greater applicability on the Metaverse Experience Browser as they showed their relevance to its acceptance. The present study concludes that the acceptance of Metaverse Experience Browser as an interactive mobile application is a level ahead in improving students’ experiences. Thus, the Metaverse Experience Browser is considered a modified way of creating, sharing, participating, and enjoying the virtual world, indicating its greater usage among students for different purposes, including education and learning.
This study examines the spatial distribution and structure of traffic offences in the Northern Great Plain region. The research is unique in that it examines a specific area through the lens of geography. The research shows and demonstrates that the research area of crime and transport geography is much broader than previous researches has shown. At the beginning of the study, the authors clarified the conceptual framework, as the terms “violation” and “offence” are often confused even in technical materials. The research shows which routes are the most frequently used by road hauliers in the regions under study and what type of checks have been carried out on these routes by the Transport Authorities of the Government Offices. The type of administrative penalty detected and the nationality breakdown of the infringements are described. The study typifies the infringements involving administrative fines by nationality category.
Agriculture is an industry that plays an essential role in economic development towards eliminating poverty issues, but foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to this sector remain modest in Vietnam. This study analyzed the determinants of foreign direct investment in the agricultural sector into the Southern Key Economic Zone (KEZ) of Vietnam, which is considered the foreign direct investment magnet of Vietnam, but its FDI inflows into the agricultural sector have been consistently low, and has shown a downward trend in recent years. The study was based on a sample of 129 foreign investors of a total of 164 multinational enterprises (MNEs) in the agricultural sector, including representatives of the Board of Directors and representatives at the department level. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was used to test the hypotheses. Findings indicated that FDI attraction policies have the strongest impact on FDI inflows. This was followed by infrastructure, regional agriculture policies, public service quality, natural conditions, and human resources. This study suggests policy recommendations to improve foreign direct investment inflows into the agricultural sector of the Southern Key Economic Zone (KEZ) of Vietnam.
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