Objectives: The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the stress on blood banks and deprived the blood sources due to the containment measures that restrict the movement and travel limitations among blood donors. During this time, Malaysia had a significant 40% reduction in blood supply. Blood centers and hospitals faced a huge challenge balancing blood demand and collection. The health care systems need a proactive plan to withstand the uncertain situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigates the psychosocial factors that affect blood donation behavior during a pandemic and aims to propose evidence-based strategies for a sustainable blood supply. Study design: Qualitative design using focus group discussion (FGD) was employed. Methods: Data were acquired from the two FGDs that group from transfusion medicine specialists (N = 8) and donors (N = 10). The FGD interview protocol was developed based on the UTM Research Ethics Committee’s approval. Then, the data was analyzed using Nvivo based on the General Inductive Approach (GIA). Results: Analysis of the text data found that the psychology of blood donation during the pandemic in Malaysia can be classified into four main themes: (i) reduced donation; (ii) motivation of donating blood; (iii) trends of donation; and (iv) challenges faced by the one-off, occasional, and non-donors. Conclusions: Based on the emerging themes from the FGDs, this study proposes four psycho-contextual strategies for relevant authorities to manage sustainable blood accumulation during the pandemic: (1) develop standard operating procedure for blood donors; (2) organize awareness campaigns; (3) create a centralized integrated blood donors database; and (4) provide innovative Blood Donation Facilities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally transformed the global education landscape, compelling institutions to adopt e-learning as an essential tool to sustain academic activities. This research examines the critical impact of e-learning on arts and science college students in Coimbatore, with an emphasis on its influence on their readiness for campus recruitment. Using a survey of 300 students, this study investigates their perceptions of online education, highlighting both its advantages, such as flexibility and accessibility, and its challenges, including engagement barriers and technical limitations. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using statistical methods to draw meaningful insights. The research also explores the efficacy of online assessments in recruitment processes and assesses students’ awareness of available e-learning platforms and courses. The urgency of this study lies in addressing the pressing need to optimize digital education models as institutions globally transition toward blended learning post-pandemic. The findings underline the dual potential and limitations of e-learning, concluding with actionable recommendations to enhance its effectiveness, particularly in preparing students for competitive employment opportunities.
This study investigates the integration of sustainability principles into educational curricula, focusing on the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Through a mixed-methods approach, the research identifies key institutional barriers, including outdated policies, insufficient teacher training, and limited resources. These barriers hinder the effective incorporation of sustainable development principles into education. The study reveals that while some educational systems struggle to adopt sustainability, examples from progressive institutions show that integrating these principles enhances student awareness and equips them with skills essential for sustainable development. The findings suggest that substantial changes are needed in existing educational frameworks to better support sustainability in curricula. Recommendations for future research include conducting longitudinal studies to assess the long-term impact of curriculum changes on sustainability outcomes and exploring the role of technology in advancing sustainable education. Policy recommendations emphasize the need for advocacy and the implementation of actionable strategies, such as industry collaborations for pilot projects and real-world applications. Furthermore, institutional support for teacher professional development is crucial, with structured programs that combine theoretical knowledge and practical skills in sustainability. Enhancing partnerships between educational institutions and industries, including co-designed curriculum modules and internship opportunities, is also essential for aligning education with the Sustainable Development Goals. This study highlights the importance of transforming educational practices to better address the challenges of sustainable infrastructure development, ultimately preparing students to contribute to a more sustainable future.
While the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council is sometimes criticized for the potential influence of political agendas on its decisions, while the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is criticized for its limited jurisdiction and dependence on the party's willingness to accept the ICJ's jurisdiction, a crucial concern is raised over the efficiency of the current Dispute Resolution Mechanisms (DRM) for aviation industry related disputes. Unravelling the compelling inquiry that hangs in the air: Just how efficient is the current aviation arbitration legal system? Is the efficiency of this system available to ad hoc arbitration1 or arbitral tribunals2? The authors aim to analyze the existing legal guidance to navigate the complex arbitration system. This article sheds light on precedent cases by the ICAO Council and the ICJ studying challenges, such as the lack of efficiency of the ICAO Council and the criticism of the Council's ineffectiveness for being hampered by the political interests of Member States. As well as the ICJ as it may be a more powerful authority in resolving such disputes, it also faces multiple challenges including the lack of enforcement, jurisdiction issues, and political influence, which in return makes it unlikely for dispute parties to seek the ICAO or the ICJ for resolution of their disputes, instead parties have now mostly adopted arbitration clauses as their primary dispute resolution method under Air Services Agreements (ASAs) and other aviation related agreements. While ad hoc arbitration has shown effectiveness and success, its secrecy and confidentiality might result in inconsistency and the inability to develop a case law system. The authors note the urgent need for an arbitration institution3 under the United Nations (UN) umbrella specialized in air law and aviation technology disputes, with the power to issue an enforceable, legally binding ruling. The article also examines the realm of arbitration in the aerospace industry, analyzing legal resources, current aviation arbitration systems, centres, and platforms, and further analyzing case studies to assess the results of the efficiency of each Dispute Resolution Mechanism.
In the current era of globalization, the need arises to train individuals who are spiritually enriched, creatively developed, and culturally grounded through the advancement of education and science, as well as through art and culture. These individuals must be capable of integrating artistic creativity into their professional activities. In this context, the issue of fostering values of historical and cultural significance through virtual reality technologies emerges as a novel area of research. The study aims to reveal the essence of the concept "virtual museum" and test the level of perspective art teachers' readiness for utilizing the virtual museum in their professional activity to foster their cultural values of artic creativity. Employing quantitative and qualitative methods, the study encompassed questionnaires, tests, and assignments administered to 135 university students divided into control and experimental groups. To diagnose students' readiness to utilize virtual museum technology in their professional activities, three components (motivational, cognitive, and operational), criteria, indicators and levels of readiness were identified. Findings indicate that there is a noticeable difference between the experimental group's results before and after completing the authors' elective course titled "Methodology of using the virtual museum". This demonstrates the effectiveness of this course conducted with the experimental group. The study highlights the importance of perspective art teachers' acquisition of knowledge, skills and competences necessary to implement the virtual museum method in their teaching activity through the proposed elective course incorporated into the university educational process in order to foster students' cultural values of artic creativity.
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