This article discusses the growing importance of digital competencies in education, specifically focusing on the role of technical infrastructure in schools and staff support strategies. The discussion aims at the introduction of the ICT coordinator role in Czech Republic schools. Analysis indicates that schools with an ICT coordinator exhibit improved technology access for students and teachers, not solely determined by computer quantity per pupil. Noteworthy differences lie in the flexibility and availability of technology, with ICT coordinator-aided schools having more mobile computers, mobile labs, and more vital facilitation of BYOD methods. In conclusion, while recognizing the partial nature of school technology equipment data, the article concludes that training teachers and implementing the ICT coordinator role positively impact ICT technology use in schools. Recommendations based on Czech Republic research include establishing the ICT coordinator position, providing financial incentives, and reducing direct teaching loads. Future research should track changes in ICT equipment during ICT coordinators’ tenures and explore technology deployment dynamics, emphasizing collaboration between ICT coordinators, school management, and individual teachers.

Africa has an extensive and varied cultural history that includes works of art, music, literature, customs, and historical locations. These cultural resources are essential for creating identities, promoting social cohesiveness, and advancing economic development. However, for these institutions to have the greatest impact on the world and contribute to sustainable development, they must be managed and engaged effectively. Exploring the management of cultural institutions in Africa and their potential for global impact and sustainable development is the goal of this research study. The study relies on the extensive review of available literature, case studies, and in-depth interviews with key informants, and data obtained, subjected to content and thematic analyses. It aims to uncover flexible management techniques that can improve the global reach and sustainable development of African cultural institutions by examining successful models and cutting-edge approaches. The results of this study will help those responsible for administering Africa’s cultural institutions to formulate practical guidelines and policy recommendations. Africa can further establish its cultural identity, advance cultural diplomacy, and utilize its cultural capital to propel social and economic advancement by utilizing the potential of these institutions for global impact and sustainable development.

Over the last few decades, we have experienced a remarkable evolution of technologies, with a consequent impact on the modes of transport used. These developments have made all modes of transport more accessible. This study examines the evolution of transport in the European Union. To this end, we analysed the international framework, followed by the general legal framework and the type of transport sector at the European level. Furthermore, we examined areas where improvements could be made, facilitating a subsequent review of other key aspects of transport. This enabled us to identify a series of future actions to improve accessible transport in Europe.

The undeniable importance of migrants’ remittances to the welfare of developing countries was again demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has therefore led to a significant shift in attention to the relevance of remittances and has likewise spurred research interest in factors that motivate the inflows of remittances. However, in spite of the increasing recognition of the roles of digital technology in the macroeconomic performance of developed and developing economies alike, empirical analysis of its possible impacts on remittance inflows has not been well explored in the literature. Therefore, pooling the annual data of 35 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 2011 to 2020, this study investigates the nexus between digital technology and remittance inflows within the generalized method of moments (GMM) framework. Using two measures of digital technology infrastructure—internet usage and mobile cellular subscription—the study finds a positive relationship between digital technology and remittances inflow. In addition, the findings indicate that the magnitude of the effect is relatively higher for internet usage. The study thus shows that the increased rate of remittance mobilization constitutes a significant pathway through which digital technology impacts the economies of the SSA region. Moreover, it offers further insight on the importance of digital technology in the socioeconomic development of developing countries. From a policy standpoint, governments and policymakers in SSA countries should intensify efforts to promote the diffusion and penetration of digital infrastructure.

The Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (Intensive Cooperation Zone) has emerged as a pivotal economic hub, attracting Macao residents and enterprises. However, disparities in contract-related rules between the zone and Macao have led to legal challenges. This article delves into a comparative study of contract laws between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Macao. Analyzing key facets such as pacta sunt servanda, freedom of contract, principle of equity, contract form, principles of interpretation, and termination of contract, the study identifies nuanced differences. Recognizing the imperative of aligning contract laws for the Intensive Cooperation Zone’s development, the article advocates for a unified legal environment. To achieve this, the author proposes a model contract law that prioritises the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) as the basis. Notably, Macao’s contract-related rules should govern aspects not covered by the CISG given the policy trend in the Intensive Cooperation Zone. The proposed model law serves as a foundation for legislative reform, aiming to address the existing disparities and promote the Intensive Cooperation Zone’s economic growth.

The recent development of characteristic towns has encountered a multitude of challenges and chaos. Nevertheless, there have been many instances of information asymmetry due to the absence of an effective management model and an intuitive digital management system. Consequently, this has caused the erosion of public interests and inadequate supervision by public agencies. As society is progressing at a rapid pace, there is a growing apprehension regarding poor management synergy, outdated management practices, and limited use of technology in traditional construction projects. In today's technologically sophisticated society characterized by the “Internet+” and intelligent management, there is an urgent requirement to identify a more efficient collaborative management model, thereby reducing errors caused by information asymmetry. This paper focuses on the integration of building information modeling (BIM) and integrated project delivery (IPD) for collaborative management within characteristic towns in the PPP mode. By analyzing the available literature on the application status, this study investigates the implementation methods and framework construction of collaborative management while exploring the advantages and disadvantages. On this basis, this study highlights the problems that arise and provides recommendations for improvement. Considering this, the application of the BIM-based IPD model to characteristic towns in PPP mode will enhance the effectiveness of collaborative management among all parties involved, thereby fostering an environment that facilitates decision-making and operational management in the promotion of characteristic industries.

This study further explores women’s role in top management in Indonesia, where men still dominate that position. This study underlines the role of women’s boards of commissioners in producing better financial performance in the specific sectors, manufacturing and service sectors, where the power of women to lead these sectors is more optimal. The sample is selected from the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period 2009–2018. The final sample is 780 observations. This study applies panel data, which is more robust when controlling heterogeneity. Data panel regression is applied to analyze data. This study finds that gender diversity harms market-based performance, while from accounting-based measures, gender diversity has a significant positive effect. This study is applied explicitly in the manufacturing and services industrial sectors; therefore, carefully generalizing the results is necessary. Research in other specific sectors is very open to obtaining specific results in various industries, including developing countries other than Indonesia. The market has not trusted the role of women in top management; there is still a kind of ‘hidden distrust’ about the capabilities of women in running the top leadership captain. The market needs more substantial evidence to believe in women’s performance on the board of directors. Therefore, it is necessary to provide wider opportunities for women to sit on the board of commissioners, as much as men have.

As urbanisation increases, questions arise about the desirability of further urban growth, as it was not accompanied by corresponding economic growth, and social and environmental problems began to grow in the largest cities in the world. The objective of the article is to substantiate the limits of urbanization growth in Kazakhstan based on the study of theoretical views on this process, analysis of the dependence of social and economic parameters of 134 countries on the urbanisation level and calculation of the urbanisation level that contributes most to economic growth and social well-being. To achieve the goal, the following tasks have been set and solved: theoretical views on the process of urbanization have been generalized; a hypothesis has been put forward about the emergence of an “urbanization trap” in which the growth of large cities is not accompanied by economic growth and improvement of social well-being; an analysis of the dependence of socio-economic indicators on the level of urbanization has been carried out on the example of 134 countries of the world; the level of urbanization that maximizes economic growth and social well-being is calculated; the necessity of the development of small towns in Kazakhstan is substantiated. To solve the problems, the methods of logical analysis, analogies and generalizations, economic statistics, index, graphical, Pearson correlation analysis, Spearman and Kendall rank regression based on models in SPSS were used. As a result, the following conclusions are made: the hypothesis of a possible deterioration of socio-economic indicators in large cities is confirmed; the best positive result is demonstrated by the level of urbanization of 50%–59%. The recommendations are justified: in Kazakhstan, it is necessary to adhere to the level of urbanization no higher than 59%; the growth of urbanization should be ensured through the development of small towns; it is necessary to improve the methods of managing the process of urbanization and develop individual city plans.