Search Results (1,637)

Kazakhstan has aggressively pursued the internationalization of higher education, evidenced by the strategic Bolashak scholars’ program, adoption of the Bologna Process, and expanded academic mobility. In this paper, we argue that these efforts, while structurally significant, have yielded results that have prioritized institutional outputs over intercultural learning outcomes. To achieve genuine modernization, internationalization must move beyond technical compliance and be grounded in the cultivation of intercultural competence and citizenship. We review the trajectory of Kazakhstan’s educational history, development, and reforms and conclude that current efforts lack the cohesion and theoretical grounding necessary to foster globally engaged, interculturally competent citizenship. We narratively review selected international case studies of higher education institutions that have developed intercultural competence and citizenship programs to develop cross-case themes and practices. Consequently, we suggest a contextualized paradigm for developing intercultural competence within Kazakhstani higher education. We present a series of theoretical, practical, and institutional suggestions tailored for Kazakhstani higher education institutions to consider. Ultimately, intercultural competence in Kazakhstan must begin with a critical exploration of national and local values to engage the global community from a “glocalized,” culturally resonant, and decolonized standpoint. Full article

Against the backdrop of rapid population aging, investigating the intersection and impacts among lifestyle, cognitive health, and retirement holds significant academic value and great practical significance for advancing the achievement of the sustainable development goal (SDG) of “Good Health and Well-being”. This study employs data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and adopts a Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Design (FRDD) to examine the impact of lifestyle on cognitive health, identify lifestyle changes induced by retirement, and explore the underlying mechanisms and heterogeneous effects across population subgroups. The empirical results indicate that social engagement and physical exercise exert positive effects on cognitive health, while smoking and drinking significantly impair cognitive health. Retirement leads to reduced social participation and physical activity, as well as increased smoking and drinking, which in turn significantly lower cognitive health through the mediating role of lifestyle. Furthermore, the negative impact of retirement on cognitive health is heterogeneous: it is statistically significant among males, individuals with higher educational attainment, and those employed outside the government departments, but insignificant among females, individuals with lower educational attainment, and those working in the government sector. This study clarifies the functional logic linking retirement, lifestyle, and cognitive health, providing theoretical references and practical implications for formulating policies to safeguard cognitive health among middle-aged and older adults. Full article

This study examines the development and consequences of student–institution distrust (SID) in higher education. While prior research has predominantly focused on trust, limited attention has been given to distrust as a distinct psychological construct influencing student experiences. Guided by Institutional Logics Theory, the study investigates how perceived institutional practices, institutional support, and cost–value (ROI) perceptions shape SID and how distrust influences sense of belonging, academic engagement, and help-seeking intentions. Data were collected from 600 undergraduate students enrolled in Business Administration and Tourism programs at public universities in Saudi Arabia. Multi-Group Structural Equation Modeling (MG-SEM) was employed to examine the proposed relationships and the moderating role of academic discipline. The results indicate that institutional practices, perceived support, and ROI perceptions significantly predict student–institution distrust. In turn, distrust exerts significant negative effects on students’ sense of belonging, academic engagement, and help-seeking intentions, confirming the theorized detrimental role of distrust in shaping student outcomes. The findings further reveal that academic discipline strengthens the negative impact of distrust on student outcomes, with stronger effects observed among Tourism students. By conceptualizing distrust as a multidimensional construct rather than simply the absence of trust, this study contributes to the literature on student–institution relationships and provides practical insights for designing transparent and supportive institutional environments that reduce distrust and enhance student engagement. Full article

Student attrition remains a persistent challenge in higher education and is shaped by interacting socioeconomic, academic, institutional, and wellbeing-related mechanisms. Although learning analytics and educational data mining increasingly support early-warning and intervention workflows, dataset reuse is often limited by incomplete documentation and inconsistent variable definitions. This Data Descriptor presents a structured cross-sectional survey dataset on factors influencing student persistence at a Colombian public university campus (La Paz). Data were collected between August and December 2025 through an online questionnaire and subsequently cleaned to remove duplicate entries and personally identifiable information. The released dataset contains 333 student records and 33 variables covering demographics (e.g., age, gender, first-generation status), socioeconomic conditions (e.g., residential stratum, housing, financial aid), academic experience and satisfaction (multiple 1–5 Likert items), perceived dropout intention across personal/socioeconomic/academic domains, thematically coded open-ended items describing challenges and motives, and a self-allocation of 0–100 weights across three dropout-factor domains. We provide a machine-readable codebook, a transparent preprocessing description, and technical validation checks (value ranges, category consistency, and composite-score integrity). The dataset is intended to support reproducible retention research, equity-oriented analyses, and benchmarking of predictive models, while encouraging responsible reuse through privacy-preserving release practices and FAIR-aligned metadata, repository deposition, and versioning. Full article

This study examined factors associated with self-reported workplace artificial intelligence (AI) use in a Norwegian employee sample (N = 196). Hierarchical logistic regression tested whether education, job sector, gender, age, leadership role, strengths-based leadership (SBL), perceived work training, and work engagement were associated with AI use. Higher education, employment in knowledge-intensive sectors, male gender, and higher perceived SBL were associated with greater odds of reporting AI use, whereas age, leadership role, general work training, and work engagement were not. The study’s contribution is exploratory: it suggests that organizational context, and particularly perceived SBL, may add explanatory value beyond demographic and sectoral differences in a Norwegian setting. Because the study relies on a cross-sectional convenience sample, a binary self-report measure of AI use, and models affected by sparse cells, the findings should be interpreted as tentative associations rather than causal evidence about AI adoption. Full article

The ambition of policymakers to ‘raise aspirations’ among young people from disadvantaged backgrounds as a means for improving social mobility in Britain has been a mainstay of political rhetoric for the last three decades. Reports such as Higher Education in the Learning Society in 1997, Unleashing Aspiration in 2009, and Success as a Knowledge Economy in 2016 are all underpinned by an ideology of neoliberal meritocracy that has transcended political parties and governments since the Thatcher administration. Even those who lean more to the left of the Labour Party within contemporary Britain have perpetuated this narrative by reframing it as ‘working-class ambition’. This paper advances an alternative view which reconceptualises the way in which young people from non-privileged backgrounds experience and perceive the world, and their place within it. Drawing upon our work on Connected Belonging in 2025 and our research on the From the Centre to the Periphery project in 2025, we suggest that ‘hopeful optimism’ offers a more realistic lens through which to understand what is needed to address the ‘personal troubles and public issues’ that young people face. Unlike aspiration, which has an inherently individualistic and future-orientated framing, with value systems directed by dominant hegemonic notions of ‘success’ that are commonly positioned in economic terms, we recognise optimism as being a holistic and relational process that resides in the present as well as looks to the future. Optimism, grounded within principles of hope, allows young people the freedom to be and to dream; by celebrating who they are and their interconnectedness, it protects them from fears of failure; by reimaging what success might mean, it liberates them as creators. Full article

Although sexuality education is delivered in schools, Chinese adolescents’ preferred sources may still be inconsistent with where they currently receive sex education. Based on two theories (Objectivism and Sex-Positivity) that emphasize the use of information and rational choice in seeking information with a desire to learn more, this explanatory study analyses survey data on sexual health topics, the sources Chinese adolescents used and preferred, and the gender differences in how they seek information on sexual topics. From 17 secondary schools, Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong, aged 14–18 (n = 4869), took a 51-question survey on sexual risks and sex education sources conducted by a local agency. Using the secondary dataset, a discrepancy score was computed by matching 15 actually used and 15 preferred sources for getting sexual knowledge listed in the survey. The discrepancy scores were shifted along the X-axis to eliminate negative values and create the dependent variable, ‘Discrepancy-S’, which ranged from 1 to 11, where 1 = no discrepancy, and 11 = wide discrepancy (Cronbach Alpha = 0.750). The higher the score, the higher the discrepancy. Regression results indicated that the youth’s prior coitus and different information sources (except school) could explain the “use–prefer” discrepancy. Although these adolescents regarded parents as the primary sex educators, most did not consult with their families. They preferred electronic media and peers as their top “go-to” choices. Sex education should come from sources that teenagers rely on and choose to access. Personal responsibility must be explicitly discussed in various sexual health sources as teens prepare for transitions to adulthood. Full article

Radon (²²²Rn₈₆), the second leading cause of lung cancer, is common in indoor air. However, radon testing is generally low throughout the US. In this study, we utilized 134,496 short-term indoor air radon test results from Georgia, USA. We investigated the association of the radon testing rate with a total of 104 different independent variables belonging to seven categories: (1) Demographic and Neighborhood Characteristics; (2) Housing Characteristics; (3) Literacy and Numeracy; (4) Employment and Economy; (5) Selected Social Factors; (6) Access to Computer/Internet; and (7) Status of Healthcare, Health, Well-being, and Lifestyle. We used Bivariate Correlation, Multivariate Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Regression, and Factor Analysis, followed by factor score-based OLS regression. Significant negative associations of the testing rates were observed with population diversity, residential segregation, urban population density, younger population, housing age, household size, low literacy, unemployment, childcare cost burden, poverty, obesity, and the frequency of mentally and physically unhealthy days. In contrast, testing rates were positively associated with older population, home value, owner-occupied homes, higher literacy, higher institutional education, income, prevalence of social association, and life expectancy. The findings provide valuable insights for identifying the communities where socio-culturally relevant outreach activities would increase testing rates and minimize the public health consequences of environmental radon. Full article

This study addressed how business administration training influenced perceptions of sustainable development goals (SDGs) within park management, situating the research at the intersection of sustainability education and applied management practice. A controlled experiment was conducted in Chongqing Central Park, where 100 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to either an integrated business administration training program or a conventional park management program for two months, followed by standardized questionnaire surveys and statistical analyses, including analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression. A pretest verified randomization equivalence. The results demonstrated that participants who received integrated training reported higher perceptions of SDGs related to quality education, climate action, and life on land, alongside improvements in entrepreneurial mindset, social and economic value preferences, multitasking awareness, decision-related attributes, and interest in nature education. Regression analyses revealed that SDG perception was primarily strengthened by social value orientation and entrepreneurial mindset factors, whereas certain employee attributes and elements of nature education satisfaction exerted negative or weaker effects, particularly among trained participants. In contrast, the control group showed limited and mostly insignificant relationships, with SDG perception relying largely on baseline attitudes. Overall, the findings indicate that embedding business administration concepts into park management training enhances multidimensional sustainability awareness and provides evidence that socially oriented entrepreneurship and structured management thinking contribute meaningfully to SDG perception formation without overstating causal claims. Full article

Background: The purpose of this article is to identify the expectations of Generation Z representatives regarding organizational changes and directions of innovation supporting sustainable development of enterprises, considering social and environmental aspects of working conditions. Methods: The study was conducted in the form of an online survey from 2024–2025. The research sample included 310 people selected using a purposive sampling method, with inclusion criteria covering membership of Generation Z (people born after 1995). In the research questionnaire, “organizational innovations” were operationalized through flexible work arrangements, process digitalization, new models of team collaboration, the development of digital competencies, and solutions supporting work–life balance. “Sustainable development” was conceptualized across three dimensions: social (well-being, inclusivity, CSR), organizational (development opportunities, employment stability), and environmental (ecological responsibility). The Mann–Whitney U test and the Kruskal–Wallis test were used to analyze intergroup differences. Results: Descriptive results (mean scores) indicate that respondents rated flexible work arrangements, opportunities for professional development, and effective team collaboration as the most crucial factors supporting sustainable organizational development. The Mann–Whitney U test showed that women rated the importance of well-being (p = 0.003), work–life balance (p = 0.001), diversity and inclusivity (p = 0.012), and corporate social responsibility (p = 0.008) significantly higher than men. Educational and professional status differentiated the assessment of employment stability (Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.021). Although social and environmental aspects are recognized, for the younger generation, the most crucial factors remain direct working conditions and development opportunities that foster innovation. Conclusions: The results of the study may be useful for employers (entrepreneurs and HR managers) in shaping modern HR strategies. This applies to the design of attractive working conditions in the realities of the digital economy. The research fills a gap in understanding the values that young people appreciate in terms of ensuring high-quality working conditions. Full article

Background: Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are widespread environmental contaminants with growing evidence linking them to adverse health effects, including progression and worsening of allergic diseases. As allergies are rapidly increasing among youth (affecting almost 30% of children), this demographic represents a vulnerable population facing emerging environmental threats. Since no prior study has investigated MNP risks perceptions in an allergic population, this study aimed to assess public awareness and risk perception of MNP in Croatian youth, focusing on the influence of urbanicity, education, and allergy status. Methods: A total of 1155 participants (aged 6–18 years) were recruited from three Croatian regions as part of the EU Horizon 2020 IMPTOX and the Horizon Europe EDIAQI studies. Allergy status was determined via skin prick tests (SPT), and standardized questionnaires were used to collect data on MNP awareness and perception. Results: Awareness was significantly higher among allergic individuals (89.5% vs. non-allergic 79%, FDR p value= 0.036) and those with university-level education (88.3% vs. elementary 63.3%, FDR p value = 0.050). Allergic participants were also more concerned about food contamination by MNPs (87.7%) compared to non-allergic individuals (79.2%), FDR p value = 0.005). Media and social media were the primary sources of information regarding MNPs (FDR p value = 0.026). Conclusions: Education and allergy status are the strongest predictors of MNP awareness and related risk perceptions in the Croatian population. Targeted public health communication and educational strategies are needed to translate basic awareness into informed behavioral and policy engagement. Full article

Background: This exploratory study investigates whether STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) students’ increasing reliance on off-campus resources (e.g., online platforms, private tutors) reflects an authentic preference for autonomous learning or a compensatory response to perceived deficiencies in on-campus instruction. Methodology: Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from 118 engineering and science students. A model was developed to examine the relationship between the intensity of student criticism and their declared preference for off-campus learning. Findings: The model revealed a significant negative relationship between the intensity of criticism and the preference for off-campus instruction. This suggests that for highly critical students, external resources function primarily as a compensatory mechanism for “needs frustration” rather than a preferred alternative. The results imply that these students continue to value the frontal model but find its current implementation insufficient to meet their pedagogical needs. Conclusion: These findings challenge the assumption that digital trends signify a voluntary abandonment of the classroom. Instead, reliance on external resources is positioned as a reactive, compensatory strategy. Higher education institutions should prioritize revitalizing frontal instruction through enhanced clarity and focus to reduce dependency on off-campus platforms and restore the value of the campus experience. Full article

Authentic, situated learning experiences which mirror the collaborative nature of healthcare practice are essential in preparing students for their future professions. Feedback literacy may be thought of as the understanding, capacity, and disposition needed to make sense of information and use it to enhance work or learning strategies. This study explored how feedback literacy can be developed through situated, interprofessional peer-to-peer feedback within a community-based paediatric health screening programme. Using an exploratory Action Research qualitative design, the planning activities stage explored current practice, gathering student insights via interviews, reflections, and a workshop to co-design an Interprofessional Feedback Conversation Guide (IPFCG). The IPFCG was piloted, integrating structured feedback tools and protected time for peer exchange, within the community screening activity. Feedback regarding use of the IPFCG contributed to the gathering data stage, which was followed by the evaluation and reflection stage. Evaluation revealed four key themes: value, engagement, optimising relationships, and structuring conversations. Students valued receiving feedback from peers outside their discipline, actively engaged with the process, emphasised the importance of building rapport, and utilised structured dialogue. These findings highlight how authentic, field-based learning can foster feedback literacy, enhancing the development of professional identity. The interprofessional nature of the program reflects the complexity of modern healthcare and demonstrates how curriculum-integrated models of authentic learning can enhance student engagement and workplace readiness. This study contributes to the evolving conversation about embedding authenticity in higher education and offers a practical model for building collaborative communication within situated learning experiences at scale. Full article

Academic functioning in university students emerges from the interplay of motivational, self-regulatory, emotional, and contextual processes. The present study examined the network structure linking academic motivation, self-regulated learning, academic engagement, academic burnout, generalized anxiety, self-esteem, and students’ ratings of instruction. Participants were 530 university students from Western Romania (Mage = 28.86, SD = 9.75; 87.5% women). Data were collected through an online cross-sectional survey using validated self-report instruments. A Gaussian Graphical Model was estimated using the EBICglasso procedure to examine the unique associations among the study variables and their relative structural importance within the network. The results indicated a moderately dense psychological network, with academic burnout emerging as the most structurally central node. Intrinsic motivation toward achievement, identified regulation, and performance control were positioned within the adaptive core of the network, whereas burnout, anxiety, amotivation, and low self-esteem clustered within the maladaptive region. Academic engagement occupied an intermediary position linking motivational and self-regulatory processes. Overall, the findings support a systems-oriented interpretation of academic functioning, suggesting that burnout represents a key convergence point in students’ psychological functioning, while self-determined motivation and self-regulated learning may serve as protective processes. These results highlight the value of network analysis for identifying psychologically meaningful intervention targets in higher education. Full article

Background and Objectives: Population ageing is a major challenge of the 21st century and is associated with declining physical and mental abilities, increased disease burden, and higher mortality. Latvia has the lowest healthy life expectancy in the European Union. Social well-being is an important component of healthy and active ageing and may be associated with older adults’ quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess the relationship between social well-being, as a component of health, and QoL, including its components (control, autonomy, self-realisation and pleasure), among adults aged 50 and older in Latvia. Materials and Methods: Data from 1643 Latvian participants in wave 9 of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (2022) were analysed using linear regression. QoL was measured using the 12-item Control, Autonomy, Self-Realisation, and Pleasure (CASP-12) scale. Social well-being factors included household composition, education, employment status, financial capacity, living area, social network (SN) characteristics, and received help, based on self-reported questionnaires. Results were considered statistically significant if the p-value was less than 0.05. Results: The factors positively associated with overall QoL were being employed, better financial capacity, greater satisfaction with SN, larger SN, participation in social activities, and higher educational attainment. Being employed and the ability to make ends meet easily were positively associated with all QoL components. Higher satisfaction with the SN and participation in social activities were positively related to the control, autonomy, pleasure, and self-realisation components. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of social and economic resources for QoL in later adulthood, suggesting that both the quality of social relationships and material security play a central role in shaping overall QoL and its components among older adults. Full article