OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open-access, peer-reviewed journal
| Title | Page No. |
| Resilience of Coastal Communities to Climate Change, in Thiruvananthapuram Region, Kerala State, India | 989-1008 |
| An Integrated Conceptual Framework for Understanding Continuance Usage Intention of Online Course Platforms in Indonesia | 1009-1018 |
| The Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) Approach to Sustainability Education and Practice: The Administrative Challenge | 1019-1024 |
| The Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) Approach to Sustainability Education and Practice: The Pedagogical Challenge | 1025-1034 |
| The Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) Approach to Sustainability Education and Practice: Program Evaluation, Transformation, and Recognition | 1035-1044 |
| The Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) Approach to Sustainability Education and Practice: From the Classroom to the Workplace | 1045-1052 |
| Impact of Land Use types on the Spatial Heterogeneity of Extreme Heat Environments in Jaipur City, Rajasthan, India | 1053-1074 |
| Trade Facilitation and Non-Tariff Barriers at Regional Economic Community Level of the African Union | 1075-1084 |
| Enhancing Sustainability with the Impact of Organizational Learning on the Change to the Use of Free and Open-Source Software at a South African University | 1085-1104 |
| Integrating Ubuntu Philosophy in Promoting and Communication of Mental Health Through Traditional Healing Practices | 1105-1116 |
| Reimagining Capitalism in Post-Apartheid South Africa: Elite Capture, Institutional Reform, and the Politics of Inclusive Development | 1117-1138 |
| Enablers and constraints of channeling mature talents into workforce: insights from Nova Scotia, Canada | 1139-1148 |
| Digital Governance and the Rule of Law in Haiti | 1149-1164 |
| Knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer, HPV, and the vaccine among students of a higher education institution in South Africa: A qualitative study | 1165-1172 |
| The Role of Digital Financial Inclusion in Promoting Sustainable Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa | 1173-1184 |
| Sustainable Common-Pool Resource Management Through Community-Based Enterprises: A Pathway to Community Resilience in Bangladesh | 1185-1206 |
| Fostering Eco-Conscious Consumerism: The Impact of Customer Education on Sustainable Purchase Intention | 1207-1222 |
| Empowering Women in Tech: A Comprehensive Examination of Female Employee Engagement in Thiruvananthapuram’s IT Sector | 1223-1238 |
| Developing a Green Skills Integration Algorithm for Sustainable Workforce Development in the Hospitality Industry | 1239-1248 |
| Intelligent Learning Analytics for Adaptive Curriculum Design: A Multi-Modal Behavioural Study of Student Engagement | 1249-1260 |
| An Exploration of Biometrics Payment Technology to Combat Online Banking Fraud and Digital Identity in the South African Banking Industry | 1261-1276 |
| Employees protest actions: Policing dilemmas in Southern African countries | 1277-1288 |
| The Role of Bank Subject Matter Experts in the Investigation of Mobile Fraud in South African Banking Industry | 1289-1304 |
| Perishable commodity trading by informal traders: A South African conundrum | 1305-1316 |
| Exploring Corruption in the Public Procurement Systems in South Africa: Towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (10 Reduced Inequalities) | 1317-1328 |
| The Importance of Forensic DNA Investigative Leads in the Investigation of Serial Rape Casework | 1329-1348 |
| Implications of procedural justice on police legitimacy in South Africa | 1349-1368 |
| Determining Factors of Successful Commercial Banks in Implementing Sustainable Finance Policy in Indonesia | 1369-1388 |
| A Systematic Literature Review on Strategic Energy Policy for Enhancing Renewable Energy Investment to Support Economic Growth, Environmental Sustainability, and Energy Resilience in Indonesia | 1389-1406 |
| Fiscal Decentralization and Welfare Economics: The Linkage | 1407-1422 |
Resilience of Coastal Communities to Climate Change, in Thiruvananthapuram Region, Kerala State, India
Adinarayanane Ramamurthy 1, Aswinth G Chandran 2, Faiz Ahmed Chundeli 3
1,2,3 Department of Planning, School of Planning and Architecture Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, Government of India, India.
1 Corresponding author: adinarayanane@spav.ac.in
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 989-1008, 2025.
Abstract: Climate change poses a significant threat to coastal communities worldwide, particularly those in developing countries. The Indian coastline, amongst the world’s most vulnerable to climate change impacts, spans over 7,500 km with almost 3.5% of the world’s population residing within 50 km of the coast. People living in the coastal region in India are continually experiencing the adverse impact of climate change, such as extreme temperatures, changes in precipitation, sea-level rise giving rise to coastal flooding and erosion, increased risk of drought, and more, leading to loss in the productivity of fisheries, agriculture and aquaculture. Coastal communities are often disproportionately affected by climate change due to their geographic vulnerability and reliance on marine resources. The population living in coastal areas, the infrastructure, and the economies are at risk from storm tide flooding, shoreline erosion, and sea level rise. This climate-induced phenomenon is a direct consequence of ongoing environmental changes. Erosion, a natural geological process shaped by forces like wind and water, continues to play a significant role in shaping landscapes over millions of years. As sea levels rise, the increased frequency of coastal flooding further underscores the vulnerability of coastal areas, necessitating a thorough assessment of the potential impacts on communities and ecosystems. Coastal districts of India being diverse in nature are under constant vulnerability to hazards. High population density, low nearshore bed slope, low coastal elevation, high erosion rates, built-up areas, and roads near the coastline are some of the factors contributing to very high vulnerability in coastal districts of Kerala.
Keeping the aforesaid knowledge in mind Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, having a coastline length of 27.40 km has been selected for the detailed investigation. The research study aims to assess the differential impact of climate change. This coastline has experienced different issues in the last two decades, especially storm tides, flooding, and coastal erosion, with an eroded area of 650 acres from the mainland affecting the livelihood of coastal communities. The district-wise statistics indicate the maximum shoreline erosion is in the Thiruvananthapuram district, with 23% of its coastline being vulnerable. The study deliberates analytical tools such as Shoreline Detection-Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), and Socio-Economic and Infrastructure vulnerability by employing weighted overlay analysis to generate the Composite Vulnerability Map (CVM) using Geospatial techniques. Based on the results of the findings, the study explores the high-risk vulnerable zones, to evolve policy framework through spatial interventions which can aid resilience spatial planning in the study region. The study concludes with integrated climate-adaptive livelihood strategies towards the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities for inclusive climate adaptation.
Keywords: Coastal Communities; Climate Change; Coastal Erosion; Coastal Vulnerability; Community Resilience; Inclusive Climate Adaptation.
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An Integrated Conceptual Framework for Understanding Continuance Usage Intention of Online Course Platforms in Indonesia
Fauziah 1*, Astrid Puspaningrum 2, Fatchur Rochman 3 , Raditha Dwi Vata Hapsari 4
1,2,3,4 Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia.
* Corresponding authour: fauziahhasan@student.ub.ac.id
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1009-1018, 2025.
Abstract: The rapid expansion of online course platforms in Indonesia has transformed access to education but has also raised a persistent challenge—how to sustain learners’ continued usage over time. Although prior studies have investigated continuance usage intention using single theoretical perspectives such as the Technology Acceptance Model , Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, or Expectation–Confirmation Model, fragmented approaches have limited comprehensive understanding of post-adoption behavior. This conceptual paper proposes an integrated framework that synthesizes four theoretical foundations to explain the psychological, technological, and social determinants of continuance usage intention in the Indonesian online course platform. The proposed framework highlights the mediating roles of attitude and satisfaction, driven by perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived enjoyment, and social influence. It further posits that users’ intrinsic motivation and flow experience are critical for sustaining engagement beyond initial adoption. This integrated model contributes to educational technology literature by bridging cognitive evaluation, social influence, and affective engagement dimensions into a unified structure. The framework also provides actionable insights for platform developers, educators, and policymakers to design strategies that enhance learner retention and long-term participation in online education. Future empirical studies are recommended to validate and refine this model within diverse e-learning ecosystems in Indonesia.
Keywords: Continuance Usage Intention, ECM, Flow Theory, Online Course Platform, TAM, UTAUT
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The Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) Approach to Sustainability Education and Practice: The Administrative Challenge
Michael A. Reiter 1*, Richard C. Smardon 2, Paul A. Barresi 3
1 Department of Integrated Environmental Science, College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics, Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL, U.S.A.
2 Department of Environmental Studies, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, U.S.A.
3 Department of Social Sciences, School of Arts, Sciences, and Education, Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH, U.S.A. * Corresponding author: reiterm@cookman.edu
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1019-1024, 2025.
Abstract: The adoption of a novel approach to education at any college or university is likely to pose equally novel administrative challenges. In the context of the Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) approach to sustainability education and practice, these challenges are likely to fall into three categories: how to support SHES faculty, how to support SHES program design, and how to ensure broader institutional support and recognition for colleges and universities that incorporate the SHES approach into their curricula. The challenge of supporting SHES faculty is likely to play out differently in different types of colleges and universities. In particular, the very high degree of bureaucratization typical of large universities is likely to weigh more heavily on efforts to support SHES faculty than the more flexible institutional environments more common in smaller universities and colleges. Notwithstanding this likely variation, the most important thing that any college or university could do to support SHES faculty is to be explicit about its commitment to the SHES approach to sustainability education and practice. Implementing the SHES approach in the design of degree programs presents at least one crucial design challenge. At its core, the SHES approach to sustainability education and practice is a holistic one. For that reason, it is also supradisciplinary. Yet disciplinarity remains the pedagogical touchstone for the design of degree programs worldwide. Five basic program design models exist, which differ in their perspectives on disciplinarity. Some of these models are more conducive to the implementation of the SHES approach than others. Hovering above the issues of supporting SHES faculty and SHES program design is the challenge of how to ensure broader support for and recognition of colleges and universities that choose to do so. Ideally, that support should come from both inside and outside the institutions in question. The need for external support for and recognition of colleges and universities that embrace the SHES approach to sustainability education and practice is also a pressing one. Although the aspirational goals of the SHES approach are likely to give rise to novel administrative challenges in any college or university, the SHES approach is designed to be universally applicable, regardless of institutional setting or subject matter context, whether by itself or as a complement to educational approaches that colleges and universities are using now. With careful planning, patience, and some creativity, any college or university could become a SHES-friendly institution.
Keywords: Faculty support, institutional support and recognition, program design, sustainability education.
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The Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) Approach to Sustainability Education and Practice: The Pedagogical Challenge
Paul A. Barresi 1*, Michael A. Reiter 2, Richard C. Smardon 3
1 Department of Social Sciences, School of Arts, Sciences, and Education, Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH, U.S.A.
2 Department of Integrated Environmental Science, College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics, Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL, U.S.A.
3 Department of Environmental Studies, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, U.S.A.
* Corresponding author: p.barresi@snhu.edu
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1025-1034, 2025.
Abstract: The Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) approach to sustainability education and practice embraces the education of students, practitioners, and whole societies as a prerequisite for transforming unsustainable societies into sustainable ones. It is suitable for use not only with students who are enrolled in academic or pre-professional courses and programs in colleges and universities large and small but also by practitioners in the field. The SHES approach is also inherently well suited for use across a full spectrum of courses and programs—not just in stand-alone “sustainability” courses and programs but also in others as a complement to content defined by reference to discipline-dependent criteria, such as in environmental science or studies, political science or sociology, ethics, or business administration. The signature feature of the SHES approach to sustainability education and practice is the use of holistic thinking (especially but not exclusively systems thinking) to reveal complexity holistically in a stepwise fashion as an alternative to the use of reductionist thinking (especially but not exclusively discipline-dependent thinking, including interdisciplinary thinking) to engage in analysis. Yet the SHES approach is not just a conception of sustainability education. It is also a cognitive strategy—in two senses. First, it is cognitive strategy for acquiring essential competencies through the use of certain holistic thinking strategies in the context of the steps of the SHES approach. Second, it is a cognitive strategy for diagnosing, prescribing, and implementing sustainable responses to the challenges posed by situations that are inconsistent with a sustainable society. The steps of the SHES approach as a cognitive strategy may be depicted in either of two ways. First, they may be depicted as a sequence of steps applied recursively as each situation of concern in a society is transformed into a sustainable alternative. Second, they may be depicted as a non-recursive sequence applied to all situations of concern in a society in the aggregate, without regard to the relative timing of the transformation of each situation. In either case, the SHES approach regards ten competencies as essential: holistic thinking; systems thinking; supradisciplinary thinking; complexity thinking; future thinking; adaptive thinking; diversity thinking; collaboration; stakeholder engagement; and project planning, implementation, and outcomes evaluation. The SHES approach also regards certain pedagogical strategies as essential to enabling students to acquire these competencies: competency-based education (if properly conceived and implemented), backward design, the flipped classroom, and project-based learning.
Keywords: Cognition, competencies, pedagogy, sustainability education.
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The Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) Approach to Sustainability Education and Practice: Program Evaluation, Transformation, and Recognition
Paul A. Barresi 1*, Michael A. Reiter 2, Richard C. Smardon 3, Kimberly D. Reiter 4
1 Department of Social Sciences, School of Arts, Sciences, and Education, Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH, U.S.A.
2 Department of Integrated Environmental Science, College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics, Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL, U.S.A.
3 Department of Environmental Studies, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, USA.
4 Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences, Stetson University, DeLand, FL, U.S.A.
* Corresponding author: p.barresi@snhu.edu
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1035-1044, 2025.
Abstract: The Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) approach to sustainability education and practice embraces the education of students, practitioners, and whole societies as a prerequisite for transforming unsustainable societies into sustainable ones. Yet the SHES approach is not just a conception of sustainability education. It is also a cognitive strategy—in two senses. First, it is a cognitive strategy for acquiring essential competencies though the use of certain holistic thinking strategies in the context of the steps of the approach. Second, it is a cognitive strategy for diagnosing, prescribing, and implementing sustainable responses to the challenges posed by situations that are inconsistent with a sustainable society. As this multi-pronged focus suggests, the SHES approach to sustainability education and practice has many novel features, among which are the fundamental features that set the SHES approach apart from the educational approaches on which existing sustainability-focused degree programs typically rest. Similarly, the administrative settings in which these existing programs were designed and are delivered often diverge in ways large and small from the administrative setting in which SHES programs are most likely to thrive. Sustainability-focused degree programs that have not embraced the SHES approach could provide students with some of the competencies that the SHES approach regards as essential but are highly unlikely to provide students with others—the ones that students need to engage in holistic thinking (especially but not exclusively systems thinking) to reveal complexity holistically in a stepwise fashion. The extent to which sustainability-focused degree programs that have not embraced the SHES approach rely on the pedagogical strategies that the SHES approach regards as essential is likely to vary as well. These discrepancies between sustainability-focused degree programs as they are and the SHES ideal highlights the need for tools that proponents of the SHES approach could use in evaluating existing programs, charting strategic pathways for transforming existing programs along SHES lines or building new SHES programs from scratch, and recognizing progress in either regard as it occurs. This article offers three rubrics for use in doing so.
Keywords: Program assessment, program evaluation, program recognition, program transformation, sustainability education.
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The Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) Approach to Sustainability Education and Practice: From the Classroom to the Workplace
Richard C. Smardon 1*, Paul A. Barresi 2, Michael A. Reiter 3
1 Department of Environmental Studies, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, U.S.A.
2 Department of Social Sciences, School of Arts, Sciences, and Education, Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, NH, U.S.A.
3 Department of Integrated Environmental Science, College of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics,
Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL, U.S.A.
* Corresponding author: rsmardon@esf.edu
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1045-1052, 2025.
Abstract: The Sustainable Human and Environmental Systems (SHES) approach to sustainability education and practice seeks to provide students in higher education with the knowledge and skills needed to meet the existential sustainability challenges that plague the modern world. Colleges and universities that use this approach to prepare students for sustainability-focused careers will find that it has both pedagogical and administrative implications. One way of looking at these implications is as features of the supply side of a marketplace for SHES professionals. On the demand side of this marketplace are two groups of actors. The first is the public and private sector organizations that hire college and university graduates in relevant fields. The second is the professional associations on which those organizations rely to validate the competence of those hires and to guide their workplace activities by means of standards of practice and codes of ethics. Evaluating the current state and future prospects of the demand side of the marketplace for SHES professionals requires answering at least two questions: 1) to what extent are the competencies that the SHES approach regards as essential just as essential to the work of sustainability professionals; and 2) to what extent have the professions themselves recognized these competencies as essential in their standards of practice and codes of ethics? The competencies that the SHES approach regards as essential are of ten general types: holistic thinking; systems thinking; supradisciplinary thinking; complexity thinking; future thinking; adaptive thinking; diversity thinking; collaboration; stakeholder engagement; and project planning, implementation, and outcomes evaluation. Academics and practitioners alike increasingly recognize, at least implicitly, that most if not all of these competencies are essential to the work of sustainability professionals. Unfortunately, the standards of practice and codes of ethics for professionals who work in the sustainability field embrace the SHES essential competencies unevenly or incompletely and usually do so implicitly if at all. One way of looking at this gap is as a distortion of the demand side of the marketplace for sustainability professionals. Rectifying this distortion is among the most important challenges facing the sustainability professions and the societies that they serve.
Keywords: Competencies, professional codes of ethics, professional standards of practice, sustainability education.
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Impact of Land Use types on the Spatial Heterogeneity of Extreme Heat Environments in Jaipur City, Rajasthan, India
Adinarayanane Ramamurthy 1*, Vanya Mathur 2, Faiz Ahmed Chundeli 3
1,2,3 Planning and Development, School of Planning and Architecture Vijayawada, Government of India, India.
*Corresponding author: adinarayanane@spav.ac.in
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1053-1074, 2025.
Abstract: Rapid urbanization has been accompanied by the construction of large amounts of impervious surfaces, artificially built environments, and transportation systems and has further resulted in extreme heat events in urban core areas, which are much warmer than the surrounding areas. Urbanization strongly correlates with land use land cover (LULC) dynamics, which further links to changes in land surface temperature (LST) and urban heat island (UHI) intensity. Each LULC type influences UHI differently with changing climate, therefore knowing this impact and connection is critical. Local climate changes due to urbanization are epitomized by the UHI, which is characterized by temperature differences between urban and rural areas. The UHI is a critical factor for energy consumption and air quality, resulting in higher peak electricity demand in summer because of air conditioning, increased emissions of primary pollutants associated to power production, and increased generation of ozone. However, planners need a better understanding of the relationship between the UHI and land-use patterns to reduce the UHI and promote more sustainable urban development. Keeping the aforesaid knowledge in mind, Jaipur City, Rajasthan State has been chosen as study region for further detailed investigation. The study has been carried out on two levels viz., one is City level and another at Planning zone level to get better understanding of the existing scenario of the study region. At City level, Spatial Autocorrelation followed by multiple regressions using ArcGIS software has been established. Multiple regressions using geographically weighted regression tool gave a mix of parameters which are affecting the temperature and thermal comfort of the study city. On the other hand, at planning zone level, the land uses considered are commercial, residential, and industrial level which had a dominant land use among the different land use compositions. Fishnet analysis with grid size of 250m by 250m was run leading to different sets of factors contributing to UHI in the Jaipur Municipal Corporation. The findings of this research also provide important insights for city planners, urbanist and policy makers to examine urban climate resilience through the lens of land use dynamics and UHI intensity in the system. Based on the results and findings, recommendations were made at city level as well as at the planning zone level. This research study demonstrate that it is possible to reduce temperatures in residential and urban areas through judicious sitting of green areas to navigate towards sustainable urban development.
Keywords: UHI; Land Surface Temperature; Urban Energy; Land Use Planning; Sustainable Development.
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Trade Facilitation and Non-Tariff Barriers at Regional Economic Community Level of the African Union
Sello Selelo 1, Thabelo Prayers Muleya 2
1 College of Law, School of Law, Department of Public, Constitutional and International Law, University of South Africa, Preller Street Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria, South Africa.
2 Tutwa Consulting Group, Ebene, Mauritius, Johannesburg, South Africa
*Corresponding author: eselels@unisa.ac.za
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1075-1084, 2025.
Abstract: Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) remain one of the most persistent and costly obstacles to free trade across Africa, undermining efforts to promote regional and continental integration. These barriers, ranging from restrictive regulations and licensing requirements to burdensome administrative procedures and discriminatory practices, significantly raise the cost and complexity of cross-border trade. While often employed to protect domestic industries or regulate trade volumes, NTBs frequently lead to inefficiencies, reduced competitiveness, and fragmented markets. Despite progress on tariff liberalisation through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), NTBs continue to disrupt business operations and constrain intra-African trade. Recognising this, both the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have implemented initiatives to address these challenges. The AfCFTA builds on REC-level efforts by introducing structured mechanisms for identifying, monitoring, and eliminating NTBs, such as institutional frameworks, online reporting platforms, and multi-stakeholder engagement processes. However, the elimination of tariffs alone will not be sufficient. The long-term success of the AfCFTA depends on the AU and RECs coordinating effective, enforceable NTB elimination strategies that are consistently implemented across member states. Only by addressing these barriers systematically and collaboratively can Africa unlock the full potential of its internal markets and create a truly integrated, efficient, and competitive continental trading system.
Keywords: African Union, Export, Import, Intra-African Trade, Non-Tariff Barriers, Regional Integration, Trade Facilitation.
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Enhancing Sustainability with the Impact of Organizational Learning on the Change to the Use of Free and Open-Source Software at a South African University
Johnson Olumuyiwa Dehinbo
Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Information & Communications Technology, Tshwane University of Technology, Soshanguve, 0152, South Africa.
Corresponding author: Dehinbooj@tut.ac.za
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1085-1104, 2025.
Abstract: Information Systems development have undoubtedly contributed towards development and sustainability in advanced countries. Development typically can simply be explained as positive change over certain period of time. While change is evident in our daily life, an example of positive change is technological change which has taken humankind from the primitive era to the level of civilization existing today, becoming necessary for organizational survival. If so then, why do people and organization however usually feel reluctant to embrace even positive prospective beneficial change? An example of such change involves the introduction of the Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS). FOSS presents certain benefits and freedoms in the use of software. Such include freedom to access and enhance software source code at low or free cost, thereby demonstrating high potential to enhance the impact of ICT in the society, but some higher education institutions are yet to utilize the full benefits of the FOSS phenomena. The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and some other higher education institutions in South Africa are yet to really embrace and derive the benefits of the FOSS change phenomena. It thus seems like being unable to make sense of the FOSS phenomenon and generally in need some framework or perspective to deal with the change to FOSS. Dealing with change, according to literature and practice, requires a conducive organizational learning and culture. But to what extent is organizational learning being taken into account in the management of technological changes like FOSS at TUT? How then do we facilitate organizational culture and learning to enhance the management of the change to the use and adoption of FOSS at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)?
An interpretive research approach which is qualitative in nature is adopted to investigate this problem. A case study of TUT is conducted using questionnaire and interview triangulated with document review. By conducting a case study involving the use literature study, observation, semi-structured questionnaires and interviews, this study uses various theoretical and practical ideas on change management to analyse, explain and plan towards managing the adoption and use of FOSS at TUT. The findings indicate the need for enhancing organizational learning towards a conducive the organizational culture which will further imbibe the principle of continuous learning and continuously adjusting to new effective cultures in managing technological changes at TUT. Universities in developing countries need to adopt both single-loop learning that promotes “doing things better” as well as double loop learning that promotes “doing things differently” perspectives. This implies the need for management to encourage, participate, monitor and evaluate learning progresses and direct the attendant change appropriately. The study concludes organization could benefit with properly managed change initiative enhanced by a conducive organizational learning and culture at the University in which the management, staff members and students have various roles to play. Proactive actions and decisions need to be taken for universities in developing countries not to be left out of sustainable development. This will include seriously striving to benefit from the open-source initiatives saving costs and enabling learning through the openness of software programming codes, thus encouraging in-house development of information systems. And critical to this is continuous “learning and doing” leading to entrenched organizational learning culture to effect “small wins” in using Information Systems for competitive advantage towards enabling sustainable development.
Keywords: FOSS, Free and Open Source Software, Organizational learning, Information systems development, programming tools, sustainable development.
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Integrating Ubuntu Philosophy in Promoting and Communication of Mental Health Through Traditional Healing Practices
Wellington Mthokozisi Hlengwa
University of Zululand, South Africa
Corresponding authour: hlengwam@unizulu.ac.za
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1105-1116, 2025.
Abstract: The present study focuses on exploring the perceptions of mental well-being and how alternative traditional healing modalities are effectively communicated. A qualitative study approach was used to explore members of community of uMbumbulu, south of Durban. This qualitative enquiry, purposefully utilised 20 participants. They were subjected to semi-structured, open-ended, one-on-one interviews, and these interviews were recorded using an audio recorder with their permission. The collected data was analysed using thematic content analysis. The Eurocentric methods of treatment such as Psychotherapy and the medical model have been reported as treatment modalities that lack the understanding of an African person living inclusive of external and supernatural forces believed to play a role in maintaining physical and spiritual well-being. Afrocentric models such as traditional healing methods have been identified as a useful treatment modality in rural communities as they are believed to be embedded within the concept of
ubuntu. However, communication and promotion of alternate modalities in formal informal media platforms is limited. This is believed to be deliberate, preventing traditional healing growth and crating the perception of inferiority to western modalities.
Key words: Mental Health, Beliefs, Culture, Ubuntu, Communication, Miscommunication
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Reimagining Capitalism in Post-Apartheid South Africa: Elite Capture, Institutional Reform, and the Politics of Inclusive Development
Marc E. Oosthuizen 1*, Thato Mazwe Madibo 2
1 IC Lecturer in Humanities and Social Sciences, The Independent Institute of Education, Varsity College Pretoria, South Africa.
2 Second Year BSocSci Student – Humanities and Social Sciences, The Independent Institute of Education, Varsity College Pretoria, South Africa.
* Corresponding author: maoosthuizen@iie.ac.za
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1117-1138, 2025.
Abstract: Even though South Africa achieved significant political transformation post-apartheid, entrenched economic inequality and persistently high poverty levels remain unresolved. Moeletsi Mbeki critiques the country’s governance model, arguing that redistributive policies like Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and its broad-based variant (B-BBEE) have primarily enriched only a politically connected elite while failing to deliver meaningful inclusion, exacerbating, rather than alleviating, structural disparities. His call for reimagining African capitalism aligns with Mariana Mazzucato’s advocacy for mission-driven state investment in strategic sectors (renewables, agriculture, technology) and Acemoğlu and Robinson’s thesis on inclusive institutions. Comparative analysis with Rwanda’s developmental state model and Kwame Nkrumah’s Pan-Africanist vision further underscores the urgency of institutional reforms to dismantle elite capture and enhance accountability. To do this research, the authors utilised a qualitative research methodology, including a comparative case study approach and discourse analysis of policy frameworks, economic data, and key scholarly contributions. The study concludes that South Africa’s crisis stems not from policy scarcity but from implementation failures and elite predation. A paradigm shift, prioritising broad-based participation over narrow enrichment, has now become vital in order to break the low-growth, high-inequality trap the country is in. Without urgent structural reforms, the nation risks irreversible economic decline.
Keywords: Economic inequality, Elite capture, Institutional reforms, Redistributive policies, South Africa, Structural disparities.
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Enablers and constraints of channeling mature talents into workforce: insights from Nova Scotia, Canada
Bishakha Mazumdar 1 , Maya Giorbelidze 2*, Kevin McKague 3
1,2,3 Cape Breton University, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
2 * Corresponding author: maya_giorbelidze@cbu.ca
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1139-1148, 2025.
Abstract: As global populations age, the challenge of integrating older adults into the workforce becomes increasingly urgent. Nova Scotia, with one of Canada’s oldest populations, offers a critical lens into the systemic and institutional readiness to engage mature talents in economic activities. Drawing on the conceptual framework of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), this paper presents an integrated analysis of two complementary studies: a survey of 302 small and medium enterprise (SME) owners and managers, and a survey of 187 older adults. By triangulating data from both employer and mature worker perspectives, the study identifies significant misalignments between supply and demand. It further uncovers the interplay of structural policy gaps, workplace culture, and digital readiness in shaping opportunities for economic engagement. The findings reveal a mature workforce that is highly motivated, digitally competent, and eager to contribute beyond financial incentives, yet faces persistent stereotyping, limited job opportunities, and ad hoc accommodations. The paper concludes with a set of policy and programmatic recommendations to unlock the potential of older adults in addressing regional labour shortages, especially within Nova Scotia’s dominant SME sector.
Keywords: Aging workforce; Economic engagement; Mature workers; Nova Scotia; Small and medium enterprises.
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Digital Governance and the Rule of Law in Haiti
Pierre Caleb Deshommes
Faculty of Law and Economics (Faculté de Droit et des Sciences Économiques)
State University of Haiti (Université d’État d’Haïti), 103, rue Oswald Durand, Port-au-Prince, Haiti (W.I.)
Corresponding author: caleb.deshommes@ueh.edu.ht
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1149-1164, 2025.
Abstract: The rule of Law in Haiti is in a dismal situation. In the 2024 rule of Law Index published by the World Justice Project, Haiti ranks 139th out of 142 states. While the world is currently undergoing a digital revolution, Haiti is lagging far behind in this area. It is therefore worth considering how digital technology can contribute to improving the rule of law in the country. This study aims to determine how e-governance can help strengthen the rule of law in the country. This paper highlights the limitations and obstacles in the application of the concepts of e-governance and rule of law in Haiti, while identifying possible solutions. It shows how public administration practices in Haiti do not meet the requirements of these two concepts. Analysis of available data on Haiti shows that the Haitian government can use digital technologies to promote better access to the law for citizens. Indeed, the country does not yet have an official website for publishing legal texts, and until now, apart from a few laws published on the websites of various public institutions, citizens must pay fees to the country’s official Journal to access laws in paper format. Furthermore, it has been noted that the country’s public and private institutions are not sufficiently exploiting digital technologies to popularize the law and thus help citizens better understand their rights. The country’s judicial archives exist mainly in paper format. They must be digitized to strengthen their protection and allow legal professionals to have better access to them. Based on the observation that corruption is a factor hindering the strengthening of the rule of law in Haiti, the article examines how e-governance can contribute to the fight against corruption. In this sense, digital public services can help stem corruption by significantly reducing the opportunities for racketeers to exploit their corruption channels. Haiti therefore has an interest in digitizing its public services as much as possible. Given that the requirements of an open government are far from being met in the country, this paper examines how digital technologies can be used to help the country better comply with them.
Keywords: corruption; digitization; electronic governance (e-governance); open government; Rule of Law
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Knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer, HPV, and the vaccine among students of a higher education institution in South Africa: A qualitative study
Keabetsoe Oleboheng Manini Motuba 1, Bukola G. Olutola 2*
1,2 The Independent Institute of Education (IIEMSA), South Africa.
*Corresponding authour: bolutola@iiemsa.co.za
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1165-1172, 2025.
Background: Commonly contracted sexually transmitted infections, including genital warts and cervical cancer are brought on by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer is still prevalent worldwide, even though screening can prevent it. Immunization against HPV has the potential to lower the incidence of HPV-related diseases in young adolescents who have not yet been exposed to HPV. However, not much of this information is known by higher institution students in South Africa, who are known to be more involved in sexual activities than other categories of students. Therefore, this study sought to determine the knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer, HPV, and the associated vaccine among students in a private higher education institution in South Africa.
Methods: The study was conducted on the campus of one of the private higher education institutions in South Africa over a period of two months in 2024. A qualitative approach and case study design were adopted. Using convenience sampling method, a total of ten students were recruited for the study. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted to obtain an in-depth understanding of cervical cancer, HPV and HPV vaccine. Data analysis was conducted using thematic data analysis method.
Results: The findings of this study were organized into the following themes- awareness of cervical cancer, HPV and HPV vaccine, knowledge of cervical cancer, HPV and HPV vaccine and Barriers to vaccination. According to this study, most students were not aware of the HPV vaccine and that HPV was a sexually transmitted disease affecting both men and women. While some students were aware of the vaccine’s existence, few understood the full range of its benefits, which include preventing various types of cancers associated with the virus, such as cervical cancers. Compared to female students, male students knew less about the HPV vaccine since many believe that HPV was largely a female problem.
Conclusion: The study showed that students did not have awareness and knowledge about cervical cancer, HPV and HPV vaccine. The findings highlight the need for health education programs within higher education institutions to address misconceptions, promote healthier lifestyles, and enhance preventive measures against HPV and cervical cancer. This research provides valuable insights into student perceptions and suggests that more comprehensive interventions are necessary to raise awareness and prevent HPV-related health issues among young adults. A distorted understanding or lack of understanding may negatively impact the uptake and efficacy of HPV vaccination among students. Therefore, clear and population-specific information needs to be provided to students, explaining the importance of HPV vaccination. Targeted educational programs need to be developed to address the knowledge gap among students about cervical cancer, HPV and HPV vaccine.
Keywords: Cervical Cancer, Higher Education Institution, Human Papilloma Virus, Human Papilloma virus vaccine, South Africa
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The Role of Digital Financial Inclusion in Promoting Sustainable Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
Motadi Masa Sylvester
Department of Public and Development Administration, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
Corresponding author: Masa.motadi@univen.ac.za
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1173-1184, 2025.
Abstract: This study investigates the role of digital financial inclusion in promoting sustainable economic development across Sub-Saharan Africa. The research was motivated by the growing importance of digital finance in driving inclusive growth, reducing poverty, and fostering social transformation in a region characterized by significant disparities in access to financial services. Through a comprehensive analysis of secondary sources and content synthesis, the paper examines three core dimensions: the necessity of adaptive regulatory frameworks and robust consumer protection, the significance of institutional quality and governance, and the transformative potential of public-private partnerships and stakeholder engagement. The findings demonstrate that regulatory clarity and proactive consumer protection are essential for building trust and expanding participation in digital financial ecosystems. Moreover, the effectiveness of digital financial inclusion initiatives is significantly conditioned by the strength and inclusivity of institutional structures, with transparent governance facilitating greater reach and sustainable impact. Collaborative efforts among governments, financial institutions, fintech enterprises, and civil society have been pivotal in accelerating the adoption and scalability of innovative financial solutions. The research further highlights persistent challenges such as infrastructural gaps, digital literacy deficiencies, and unequal power dynamics within partnerships, which continue to limit the full realisation of digital finance’s benefits. The study concludes that digital financial inclusion has emerged as a transformative force for sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, its long-term impact depends on ongoing regulatory evolution, institutional strengthening, and inclusive stakeholder collaboration. The results provide actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners, underscoring the need for context-sensitive strategies and capacity-building initiatives to ensure that digital financial inclusion contributes meaningfully to economic growth, social equity, and resilience.
Keywords: digital financial inclusion, economic development, institutional quality, Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Sustainable Common-Pool Resource Management Through Community-Based Enterprises: A Pathway to Community Resilience in Bangladesh
Raisul Millat Safkat 1*, Md. Abu Jafor 2
1, 2 Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, Modhubagh, Moghbazar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
* Corresponding Author1: s-2017818193@econ.du.ac.bd
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1185-1206, 2025
Abstract: Community resilience has become a central concept in disaster risk reduction and sustainable development discourse, especially in countries like Bangladesh that face recurring environmental, social, and economic shocks. Despite its increasing prominence, empirical evidence remains limited on how community-based enterprises (CBEs), as collective management mechanisms, can bolster resilience by sustainably governing common-pool resources (CPRs). This study explores how the community-based enterprise model, like the Community-based Enterprise Approach (CEA), contributes to community resilience, thereby bridging the gap between resource governance and the broader discourse on sustainable development. This study adopts a mixed-methods design and incorporates a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to assess the impact of the Community-based Enterprise Approach (CEA) model on community resilience. Communities in the Laksam subdistrict were randomly assigned to either a CEA-implemented intervention group or a non-CEA control group. Due to the absence of a community-scale census in Bangladesh’s national statistical framework, we relied on secondary data sourced from the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD). Drawing on these data, we constructed a Community Resilience Index (CRI) comprising seven dimensions: resource robustness, social capital, economic development, information and communication, community competence, leadership, and collective action to systematically compare resilience outcomes across the two groups. The analysis reveals a significantly higher CRI score in the CEA area (0.79) compared to the control area (0.47), demonstrating notable improvements in social capital, community competence, and leadership. These results highlight that participatory resource governance, collective decision-making, and local knowledge-sharing under the CEA model contribute to enhanced adaptive capacity. Aligning with Ostrom’s design principles and adaptive capacity theory, the findings show that well-managed CPRs can simultaneously promote sustainable livelihoods and resilience building.
Keywords: Sustainable Development; common-pool resource management; Community Resilience; Community-based enterprise.
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Fostering Eco-Conscious Consumerism: The Impact of Customer Education on Sustainable Purchase Intention
Husna Mohamed 1, P. Easwaran 2
1 Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, India.
2 Department of Management, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, India.
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1207-1222, 2025.
Abstract: Customer education is an important communication strategy that can be used to promote sustainable purchase intentions. This paper explores the factors that can be enhanced by customer education to ensure sustainable consumption of green products. The study is able to analyze the current customer education practices and identify the main areas that should be addressed to create sustainable purchase intentions. The research conducted is based on the research model and the survey was administered to 480 consumers within Cochin City. The regression and mediation test outcomes show that customer education has a strong influence on sustainable product intentions. In addition, the mediating role is played by the awareness in terms of food waste, environmental issues and subjective product knowledge in terms of connecting customer education with sustainable purchase intentions. The findings have immense implications on the marketer of sustainable products, sealing loopholes that have been identified in the preceding literature reviews. This paper is original research undertaken in the Indian setting.
Keywords: Environmental, Food awareness, Product knowledge, green products, Sustainable purchase, Customer education.
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Empowering Women in Tech: A Comprehensive Examination of Female Employee Engagement in Thiruvananthapuram’s IT Sector
Rahanaz K N 1*, Sudha V. 2
1 Department Of Commerce, Karpagam Academy Of Higher Education, Coimbatore, India.
2 Department of Commerce, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, India.
*Corresponding authour: rahanaz.navaz@gmail.com
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1223-1238, 2025.
Abstract: The context of this research is to analyse the multidimensional dynamics of female employees working in the Information Technology (IT) sector in Thiruvananthapuram. The research questions in details by closely scrutinizing the relations between career integration, career development opportunity, work– life balance, and job satisfaction and to explore if any of my study has a mediating effect using resilient statistical approaches to contribute towards the knowledge for these complete predictors and for women career development among the I.T. sector Impact. These findings highlight the need for an inclusive workplace culture and emphasize job satisfaction as a key enabler of productivity and work-life balance. These insights can serve as aa working base for organisations, policymakers, and stakeholders to make IT companies in Thiruvananthapuram an equitable and lucrative working atmosphere for women.
Keywords: Workplace Inclusivity, Career Advancement Opportunities, Work-Life Balance, Job Satisfaction.
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Developing a Green Skills Integration Algorithm for Sustainable Workforce Development in the Hospitality Industry
Ni Nyoman Parmithi 1, Made Wery Dartiningsih 2, Agus Made Yoga Iswara 3, I Wayan Eka Mahendra 4*
1,2 PGRI Mahadewa Indonesia University, Indonesia.
3,4 International Institute of Tourism and Business, Indonesia.
*Correspong Authour: ekamahendra@ipb-intl.ac.id
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1239-1248, 2025.
Abstract: The Green Skills Integration Algorithm for Hospitality (GSIAH) is a new approach to integrating green skills in the hospitality industry. It streamlines the definition, execution, and assessment of essential ecological skills in various sectors of hotels, restaurants, and event management companies. The GSIAH model integrates operational and environmental goals using empirical data, enabling hotels to implement green policies while enhancing staff engagement and productivity. The research emphasizes making environmentally conscious abilities a strategic hotel business objective and suggests a scalable and replicable approach for global roll-out. The GSIAH model can achieve long-term environmental, financial, and social returns through case studies and real-world implementations. This study demonstrates the importance of green talents in the future hotel industry and highlights the need for industry-wide cooperation and constant innovation to address environmental damage and climate change. The GSIAH model helps the hotel sector embrace sustainability, create a lasting impact on the environment, and build a workforce qualified to negotiate the needs of an eco-conscious market.
Keywords: economic development, environment, sustainability, energy, waste management, consumers, hospitality, industries, water consumption
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Intelligent Learning Analytics for Adaptive Curriculum Design: A Multi-Modal Behavioural Study of Student Engagement
M.P.Ganesan 1, R. Vasanthan 2, C. Govindaraj 3, Mohamed Suhail Mohamed Nabi 4, Seng Tong Chong 5
1 PG and Research Department of English, Sourashtra College (Autonomous), Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
2 Department of English, Nagaland University, Kohima Campus, Nagaland, India.
3 Department of English, Periyar University, Centre for PG and Research Studies, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, India.
4 Department of Computer Applications, The New College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
5 College of Continuing Education, Universiti Tenaga National, Malaysia.
Corresponding authour: nifaz33@gmail.com, mmohmedsuhail@thenewcollege.edu.in
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1249-1260, 2025.
Abstract: Significant differences in the quality and accessibility of education exist between regions, with rural and less developed areas not always having good infrastructure, trained teachers, and supporting curriculum standards. They are obstacles to social mobility and regional development potential, causing an uneven distribution of opportunities. In response to this, the current research introduces the Intelligent Learning Analytics-based Adaptive Curriculum Design, which synthesises multi-modal behavioural data to combine with spatial and socio-economic indicators. The system reviews engagement patterns, performance trends, and location-based development metrics to proactively adapt content to curriculum content, teaching approaches, and delivery methods to reflect diverse regional realities. The approach is relevant due to its incorporation of geography and planning aspects, which make the curriculum relevant, resources optimized, and urban and rural learning divided. Pilot outcomes in diverse districts show better engagement, lower dropout rates, and less unequal learning. This is a direct solution to Sustainable Development Goal 4 of Quality Education, as it encourages inclusive and region-sensitive learning, promoting balanced regional development and sustainable community development.
Keywords: intelligent learning analytics, adaptive curriculum design, regional educational disparities, spatial planning, Sustainable Development Goal 4
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An Exploration of Biometrics Payment Technology to Combat Online Banking Fraud and Digital Identity in the South African Banking Industry
Mokopane Charles Marakalala
College of Law, School of Criminal Justice/Law Department of Police Practice, University of South Africa, Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria, South Africa.
Corresponding author: Marakmc@unisa.ac.za
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1261-1276, 2025.
Abstract: The biometrics payment technology to combat online banking fraud and digital identity is offered by the South African Banking Industry to give its clients quick and simple access to banking services. Nowadays, the majority of banking services are done online, which leads to concerning fraud every day. The frequency and severity of online banking fraud and digital identity are rising worldwide, and they harm both banks and consumers. Investigating problems with online fraud detection in South Africa banking industry was the aim of the study. In the South African context, the study found that the banking industry lacks specialists in online banking fraud and digital identity. The results show that banks’ detection systems may be inadequate due to a lack of experience with online banking fraud and digital identity. From a South African standpoint, the study found that there is a high risk due to a lack of legal regulation. Banks are encouraged to acquire and develop online banking fraud and digital identity expertise because the banking industry lacks these specialists. Since online banking technology is advancing more quickly than traditional transactions, rules and guidelines must be updated frequently to reflect the swift advancements in technology. Given the importance of international online banking, the study made recommendations for potential research topics that the banking industry could look into in order to create and improve online fraud detection models and stop online fraud. To achieve the study’s goals, a literature analysis was used, and secondary data was evaluated and deconstructed. This paper major goal was to look at the causes and motivations behind online banking fraud and digital identity. The study made recommendations for potential research topics that the South Africa communities could look into in order to create and improve online banking fraud and digital identity.
Keywords: Biometric, Payments, Technology, Combat, Online Banking, Fraud, Digital Identity.
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Employees protest actions: Policing dilemmas in Southern African countries
Godfrey Thenga
University of South Africa, South Africa.
Corresponding author: tshabg@unisa.ac.za
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1277-1288, 2025.
Abstract: The right to protest is one of the fundamental rights that democratic countries guarantee their populace. In South Africa, the right to protest is enshrined in the Constitution and labour laws. Some protests and riots in this country have turned violent, and the policing of these was met with the use of maximum force and unwarranted abuse of power by the police. This study explored the policing of employees’ protests in South Africa, and assessed the capabilities and abilities of law enforcement to police protests and riots. In this study, a qualitative desktop perspective was adopted, utilising a literature review. The increasing number of protests in South Africa makes a case for immediate increased policing. Private and public law-enforcement officials are overwhelmed and struggle to maintain law and order. The study revealed that the policing of protests often becomes violent, and private and public law enforcement members are not sufficiently well trained to control and manage riots. By identifying gaps in current policing strategies on policing protests and strikes, and proposing potential solutions, this research will contribute to reforms aimed at addressing the policing of protests and strikes. The police should use intelligence sources to assist in policing, and strive to defuse tensions rather than fomenting violence.
Keywords: employees, human rights, intelligence, policing, protest, technology
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The Role of Bank Subject Matter Experts in the Investigation of Mobile Fraud in South African Banking Industry
Mokopane Charles Marakalala
College of Law, School of Criminal Justice, Law Department of Police Practice,
University of South Africa, Preller Street Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria, South Africa.
Corresponding authour: Marakmc@unisa.ac.za
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1289-1304, 2025.
Abstract: Online banking is offered by the banking industry to give its clients quick and simple access to banking services. Nowadays, the majority of banking services are done online, which leads to concerning fraud every day. The frequency and severity of online banking frauds are rising worldwide, and they harm both banks and consumers. Investigating problems with online fraud detection in South Africa’s banking industry was the aim of the study. In the South African context, the study found that the banking industry lacks specialists in online fraud. The results show that banks’ detection systems may be inadequate due to a lack of experience with online fraud. From a South African standpoint, the study found that there is a high risk due to a lack of legal regulation. Banks are encouraged to acquire and develop online fraud expertise because the banking industry lacks these specialists. Since online banking technology is advancing more quickly than traditional transactions, rules and guidelines must be updated frequently to reflect the swift advancements in technology. Given the importance of international online banking, the study made recommendations for potential research topics that the banking industry could look into in order to create and improve online fraud detection models and stop online fraud.
Keywords: Bank, Consumer, Experts, Fraud, Investigation, Mobile, Models, Technology
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Perishable commodity trading by informal traders: A South African conundrum
Godfrey Thenga
University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
Corresponding author: tshabg@unisa.ac.za
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1305-1316, 2025.
Abstract: The right to venture in trade is enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa, national legislation and various international policies. This right is vested in everyone within the borders of South Africa, whether a South African or a migrant. Trading involves transacting in imported or locally manufactured goods alike. In the context of the South African informal trading, during trading, the issue of trading in counterfeited products and expired products continues to ignite hatred between communities and small business traders. Spaza shop owners are not known, and the profits are expatriated and used to fund terrorist organisations. The migrants become a soft target and often receive a backlash from a section of the community. This study explored hatred and hate by community members towards the selected migrants who are informal shop traders in Gauteng province, South Africa. The study will also assess the competency of public and private law enforcement and environmental health inspectors in enforcing the laws. A desktop qualitative approach was adopted using a systematic literature review. The increasing nature of violence towards migrants in South Africa makes a case for immediate increased enforcement of the laws and for equipping the intelligence agencies. The public law enforcers are understaffed and overwhelmed to maintain law and order in the informal business sector, where migrants operate. There is poor coordination of private and public intelligence to assist in defusing tension and halting violence. The findings revealed that foreign-run Spaza shops benefit the communities. The informal traders and largely selected migrants become a scapegoat for trading in poisonous goods and contributing to the death of innocent people. There is a growing fear of competition by selected community members that spaza shop owners are engaging in uncompetitive behaviours that are taking them out of business. There is a concerted effort to displace informal businesses that are owned by foreign nationals in the townships and villages to allow local communities the opportunity to run them.
Keywords: Hatred, human rights, informal business, intelligence, Law enforcement, migrants, violence.
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Exploring Corruption in the Public Procurement Systems in South Africa: Towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (10 Reduced Inequalities)
Elvin Shava 1, Shikha Vyas-Doorgapersad 2*
1, 2 School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy; College of Business and Economics;
University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
2* Corresponding author: svyas-doorgapersad@uj.ac.za
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1317-1328, 2025.
Abstract: Government corruption has been the root of poor service delivery in developing countries. This article focuses on corruption, its causes, and effects on procurement systems in South African local government. The paper argues that corruption is widening the economic gap between the rich and the poor, which reverses the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 10, which aims to reduce inequalities. The paper adopts a literature review analysis to establish the existence of corruption in local government procurement systems, which have caused socio-economic disparities in communities. The paper observes that the lack of good ethical conduct, the legacy of apartheid, the lack of knowledge and skills on procurement, lack of monitoring and evaluation structures, and political appointments trigger corruption in local government procurement systems. The paper concludes that corruption in the local government procurement systems is ever-growing, leading to further impoverishment of many citizens in communities. Corruption further increases socio-economic inequalities, which is a step backwards towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 10.
Keywords: Good governance, inequalities, procurement systems, public sector corruption, sustainable development goals
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The Importance of Forensic DNA Investigative Leads in the Investigation of Serial Rape Casework
J.H. Smith 1, J.S. Horne 2
1, 2 Department of Police Practice, School of Criminal Justice, College of Law, University of South Africa, Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Pretoria, South Africa.
1 Corresponding author: hornejs@unisa.ac.za
Volume 18, Issue 100, Chapter 3, Pg. 1329-1348, 2025.
Abstract: This study reports some aspects and findings of an exploratory study on identifying and processing forensic investigative leads in investigating crime. This study highlights the findings relevant to investigating rape casework. Forensic investigative leads (FILs) play an essential role in aiding law enforcement in investigating and resolving crimes such as serial rape cases. The South African Police Service (SAPS) dedicates substantial resources to analysing trace and forensic databases that contain critical forensic biometric data. Through comparison searches within these databases, Forensic Investigative Leads (FILs) are produced and shared with detectives to support further investigations, enhancing detection and conviction rates. This study aimed to investigate and characterise FILs and identify pertinent factors influencing the use of FILs in crime investigations within the South African Police Service. A qualitative research approach was adopted in this study. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview schedule to conduct in-depth interviews with 30 detective participants from various police stations in the Gauteng Province, South Africa. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic content analysis. This study revealed the potential for increased utilisation of FILs; however, detectives experience high workloads and significant resource challenges, hindering the effective investigation of crime.
Keywords: deoxyribonucleic acid, forensic investigative leads, investigation, serial rape, serial rape offenders
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Implications of procedural justice on police legitimacy in South Africa
Jacob T. Mofokeng 1, Mmabatho Aphane 2*, Moitsadi Zitha 3
1 Independent Senior Researcher, South Africa.
2 College of Law, School of Criminal Justice, Department of Police Practice, University of South Africa , South Africa.
3 College of Law, School of Criminal Justice, Department of Criminology and Security Science, University of South Africa, South Africa.
*Corresponding author: aphanmp@unisa.ac.za
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1349-1368, 2025.
Abstract: It is argued that procedural justice is intrinsic to every police action, a dynamic coefficient that shapes legitimacy and trust, and an elementary determinant of community satisfaction with the police. Legitimacy and trust can be built if this ethos drives the everyday interactions of officers and citizens. If these traits are not present, they can easily and quickly erode The aim of this study was partially to describe to what extent individuals have (dis)trust in institutions of law enforcement, such as the police, a key institution of a democracy, that form part of the criminal justice system (CJS). Procedurally, just policing is essential to the development of goodwill between police and communities and is intricately linked to improving community perceptions of police legitimacy, the belief that authorities have the right to dictate proper behaviour. This study utilised a qualitative research method with a descriptive qualitative approach, which aims to reveal events or facts, circumstances, phenomena, variables, and circumstances that occur when research takes place by presenting what happens. The data collection techniques used in this research were observation, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs) with 37 participants, following purposive sampling and documentation. Six themes emerged from the findings, namely 1) the level of safety in the cluster areas; 2) the role of the police and communities as partners in fighting crime in the areas; 3) the level of trust between the police and the community; 4) the current strategies in place and their effectiveness in building a relationship of trust between the police and the community; 5) the effects of mistrust on the relationship between the police and the community and 6) the strong working relationship of trust between the police and the community.
Keywords: Community, procedural, justice, police, legitimacy
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Determining Factors of Successful Commercial Banks in Implementing Sustainable Finance Policy in Indonesia
Edi Setijawan 1, Muhammad Zilal Hamzah 2, Eleonora Sofilda 3
1 Financial Service Authority, Republic of Indonesia.
2,3 Universitas Trisakti, Indonesia.
1 Corresponding authour: e_setijawan@ojk.go.id
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1369-1388, 2025.
Abstract: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the implementation of a long-term policy, namely the Sustainable Finance (SF) policy made by the OJK (the Indonesia Financial Services Authority), especially in the initial phase of implementation. This study tries to answer whether an increase in a bank’s perception of SF policy will be followed by a positive attitude towards the policy. Furthermore, this positive attitude will also be followed by proper actions to implement policy. This study also looks at whether the consideration of the size of the bank’s business moderates the bank’s perception of the bank’s attitude and the bank’s attitude towards the bank’s actions to implement sustainable financial policy. This research also explores the bank’s perception of the determinants of bank success in implementing SF policy. The combination method was used in this study. The quantitative method approach with one sample test and Structural Equation Model-Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS) and the qualitative method approach with Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were analyzed using NVivo. The results of statistical tests show that the level of bank perception of OJK’s sustainable financial policy positively influences bank attitudes. Likewise, the bank’s positive attitude towards SF policy positively affects the bank’s actions. Bank size is not proven to moderate the positive influence of perception on attitudes and attitudes toward bank actions in implementing SF policy. A descriptive analysis of the bank’s sustainability report shows that both large- and small-scale banks have a balanced response quality. The survey and FGD results show the bank’s top management support, strengthening bank human resources, and appropriate incentives from the OJK and the government are very important to ensure the successful implementation of SF policy.
Keywords: Sustainable Finance, long-term, perception, attitude, action, bank size
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A Systematic Literature Review on Strategic Energy Policy for Enhancing Renewable Energy Investment to Support Economic Growth, Environmental Sustainability, and Energy Resilience in Indonesia
Ali Sundja 1*, Muhammad Zilal Hamzah 2, Eleonora Sofilda 3, Dwi Atty Mardiana 4
1 PT Pertamina (Persero), Indonesia.
2,3,4 Universitas Trisakti, Indonesia.
*Corresponding authour: ali.sundja@gmail.com
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, Pg. 1389-1406, 2025.
Abstract: The urgency of transitioning to renewable energy (RE) is intensifying in response to escalating climate change risks, energy security challenges, and volatile global economic conditions. As one of the largest energy consumers in Southeast Asia, Indonesia stands at a pivotal juncture in its efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels while meeting growing domestic energy demands. Despite its abundant renewable energy potential, investment and infrastructure development remain significantly below expectations, hindering progress toward national energy objectives. To address these challenges, this study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of peer-reviewed publications from Scopus-indexed journals published between 2019 and 2024 to examine the impact of renewable energy investment on three critical dimensions: economic growth, environmental sustainability, and energy resilience. Guided by the PRISMA framework and applying structured inclusion and exclusion criteria, 56 high-quality articles were selected for in-depth analysis. The literature is categorized into three thematic areas: (i) Renewable Energy Investment (REI) and Economic Growth, (ii) REI and Environmental Sustainability, and (iii) Energy Resilience and Investment.
Renewable energy (RE) investment plays a vital role in driving economic growth, especially in developing and emerging economies. It supports job creation, technological innovation, and attracts foreign direct investment (FDI), contributing to macroeconomic stability. Studies highlight a strong positive correlation between RE investment and GDP growth, particularly in OECD and BRICS countries, with greater benefits observed in nations with stable governance and regulatory frameworks. Environmentally, while solar and wind energy help reduce emissions, challenges such as biofuel-related deforestation, land use conflicts, and limited lifecycle assessments persist. Green finance and strong environmental governance are crucial to maximizing these benefits. In terms of energy resilience, REI enhances energy security by diversifying sources and reducing reliance on fossil fuel imports. However, high initial costs, weak infrastructure, and limited domestic technology capacity hinder rapid implementation, particularly in developing regions.
Based on these findings, this study proposes a strategic policy framework to accelerate Indonesia’s renewable energy transition. Key recommendations include regulatory reforms to streamline licensing, targeted financial incentives such as green subsidies and tax exemptions, investment in local R&D to reduce technological dependence, and the promotion of Public-Private Partnerships to bridge funding gaps and foster innovation. Strengthening community engagement and improving grid infrastructure are also essential to enhance the acceptance and feasibility of RE deployment. Integrating renewable energy investment into national development strategies requires robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to support effective implementation and adaptive policymaking. Based on Indonesia’s Net Zero Emissions (NZE) target by 2060, a comprehensive policy framework is needed to balance economic growth, environmental sustainability, and energy resilience. A just transition must ensure equitable energy access, capacity building, and support for communities affected by the decline of fossil fuel industries. This review offers valuable insights for policymakers, planners, and investors by contextualizing global best practices within Indonesia’s unique socio-economic landscape. With aligned policies, financing, and innovation, Indonesia can realize its renewable energy potential and lead a sustainable energy future in the region.
Keywords: Economic Growth, Energy Policy in Indonesia, Energy Resilience, Environmental Sustainability, Renewable Energy Investment.
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Fiscal Decentralization and Welfare Economics: The Linkage
Eleonora Sofilda 1*, Muhammad Zilal Hamzah 2, Dida Nurhaida 3, Tasum 4, Renny Risqiani 5
1,2,3,5 Universitas Trisakti, Indonesia.
4 Krisnadwipayana University, Indonesia.
*Corresponding author: eleonora@trisakti.ac.id
Volume 18, Issue 12, Chapter 3, 1407-1422, 2025.
Abstract: This study examines the link between fiscal decentralization and welfare economics using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis, drawing data from Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus. It identifies a growing trend in fiscal decentralization research, frequently linked to welfare topics. The key focus, “Welfare State + Fiscal Decentralization,” highlights its role in improving public goods provision. Another theme, “Pareto Efficiency + Public Goods,” explores how local tax policies and Marginal Fiscal Cost (MFC) influence efficiency. Findings suggest that fiscal decentralization enhances welfare by optimizing public goods allocation under Pareto Efficiency principles. However, fiscal disparities must be addressed to ensure equity, as regions with stronger fiscal capacities are better positioned to meet Welfare State objectives. This research innovatively applies bibliometric analysis to track thematic trends, offering insights into the evolution of fiscal decentralization studies.
Keywords: fiscal decentralization, welfare economics, pareto efficiency, public goods, systematic literature review
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