Search Results (366)

This study addresses the integration of Spanish for Specific Purposes in Agriculture (SSPA) into the curricula of English-speaking veterinary and animal sciences students at three collaborating universities (Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, and Tarleton State University), to bridge communication gaps in agricultural settings. We designed and implemented three SSPA courses focused on key areas such as animal health, welfare, and food safety, using insights from industry professionals. The courses incorporated contextualized language instruction, including vocabulary, grammar, and practical communication scenarios relevant to the field. Teaching materials including interactive resources and metacognitive strategies were developed to enhance learning and engagement. The results showed that while the courses improved students’ communication skills, challenges such as technical issues and balancing academic commitments required adjustments to course delivery. Significant differences in performance were observed between institutions, with a considerable impact on the course completion rates and final test scores. The study concludes that SSPA courses significantly enhance the ability of veterinary and animal sciences students to effectively communicate with the Hispanic workforce, providing a model for similar language integration efforts in specialized fields. Full article

Purpose: Mental health care is limited worldwide, especially for children and adolescents. Moreover, there are barriers to using mental health services for children and adolescents, including a shortage of standardized training programs and the subsequent workforce. To solve this problem, Japan adopted problem-based learning (PBL) to enhance standardized medical education about child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP). This preliminary study aimed to evaluate online CAP studies at Nagoya University (NU), Japan, with a focus on PBL materials. Design and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional preliminary study was carried out at NU with a questionnaire developed under the Trondheim–Nagoya (TroNA) project by NU and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The questionnaire, measuring students’ perceptions and understanding of the PBL curriculum and PBL in the CAP, consisted of 15 questions answered on a three-point Likert scale. To compare the PBL CAP delivered online (2021) with the established PBL CAP carried out in person (2019) at NU, an identical questionnaire was used both in 2019 and 2021. Results: The majority of medical students in both in-person (82.5%) and online (91.2%) classes agreed that PBL helped them develop clinical problem-solving skills. In addition, 53.6% of the students in the in-person class and 75.8% of the students in the online class thought PBL enhanced their understanding of CAP. In terms of specific case scenarios, the majority of students in the in-person class (59.8%) and online class (74.7%) agreed that the PBL case helped them understand the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in CAP. Conclusions: Most of the NU medical students were generally satisfied with CAP’s online PBL curriculum. The online PBL CAP curriculum with specific case scenarios can provide medical students with suitable educational means. This preliminary study can to a certain extent provide information relevant for the development of online PBL education in CAP patients and for planning to attract more future doctors to CAP. Full article

Plant stress detection involves the process of Identification, Classification, Quantification, and Prediction (ICQP) in crop stress. Numerous approaches exist for plant stress identification; however, a majority rely on expert personnel or invasive techniques. While expert employees demonstrate proficiency across various plants, this approach demands a substantial workforce to ensure the quality of crops. Conversely, invasive techniques entail leaf dismemberment. To overcome these challenges, an alternative is to employ image processing to interpret areas where plant geometry is observable, eliminating the dependency on skilled labor or the need for crop dismemberment. However, this alternative introduces the challenge of accurately interpreting ambiguous image features. Motivated by the latter, we propose a methodology for plant stress detection using 3D reconstruction and deep learning from a single RGB image. For that, our methodology has three steps. First, the plant recognition step provides the segmentation, location, and delimitation of the crop. Second, we propose a leaf detection analysis to classify and locate the boundaries between the different leaves. Finally, we use a Deep Neural Network (DNN) and the 3D reconstruction for plant stress detection. Experimental results are encouraging, showing that our approach has high performance under real-world scenarios. Also, the proposed methodology has 22.86% higher precision, 24.05% higher recall, and 23.45% higher F1-score than the 2D classification method. Full article

This paper identifies skills required for workers in Industry 4.0 in France and provides insights to guide the development of a future research agenda. The research draws on a bibliometric analysis of 80 papers, mapping the technical and interpersonal skills needed for professionals to adapt and thrive in the evolving industrial landscape. The results highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach integrating competences in information technology, automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, data analysis, project management, interpersonal skills, adaptability, and collaboration. This holistic approach to skills development reveals six major domains: Technical, Flexibility, Inter-Agency, Soft Skills, Innovation, and Information Technology. The conclusions emphasize that the interconnection between these domains is essential to prepare a workforce capable of meeting the challenges and seizing the opportunities of Industry 4.0 in France. The research shows that there is a need for a multidisciplinary and integrated approach that combines technical and interpersonal skills in Industry 4.0 activities. It provides a solid foundation for formulating talent development strategies and educational curricula aligned with the demands of Industry 4.0. By proposing a future research agenda, this study not only highlights key areas for further exploration—economic impact, public innovation policies, and curriculum adaptation—but also contributes to the evolution of human resources in the digital transformation era. Full article

In an era characterized by rapid technological advancements and shifting workforce demands, higher education institutions must continuously evolve to foster lifelong learning and career adaptability. This paper presents an updated framework for integrating microcredentials—such as digital badges, certificates, and other forms of recognition—into traditional academic programs. By acknowledging and validating specific skills and competencies, microcredentials can enhance student motivation, engagement, and employability in an increasingly dynamic job market. The updated framework emphasizes a more integrated, personalized, and agile approach to learning, addressing emerging challenges in assessment, quality assurance, and institutional adaptation. Moreover, this study investigates the perspectives of employers and students regarding the value and effectiveness of microcredentials. It explores how employers perceive microcredentials as valuable tools for skill verification and hiring decisions, while students view them as critical for enhancing their employability and advancing their careers. This paper examines recent advancements in microcredentialing, discusses the evolving landscape of lifelong learning, and offers insights into how these innovations can bridge the gap between formal education and professional practice. With strategic implementation, microcredentials can significantly contribute to a more responsive and effective higher education system, preparing students for success in a continually changing environment. Full article

The preservation of heritage buildings is a crucial endeavour for countries worldwide. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the latest trends in smart applications for heritage building preservation within the context of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0, covering the period of 2020–2024. A total of 216 peer-reviewed journal articles obtained from the Scopus database were subjected to analysis using RStudio and VOSviewer. The methodology was based on a dual analysis, including surface-level examination and in-depth exploration. Consequently, a new conceptual framework is presented for achieving smart preservation of heritages. It is structured based on two pillars: the physical methods pillar, including smart devices and smart processes, and the digital methods pillar, involving smart technologies and environments. Also, the results revealed that the dominant portion of literature publications (61%) emphasize specific topics such as interoperability, monitoring, data management, and documentation. However, training and community engagement represent an insufficient fraction (2–6%), and more research is needed in the future. This paper concludes by discussing a future innovative vision for policy and industry through urging policymakers to promote interoperability standards; address data security; and fund innovative, low-cost technologies, as well as advocating the industry sectors for public engagement, sustainable preservation, and prioritizing skill development programs and workforce. Full article

As industries and organizations become greener, the demand for workers with green expertise will rise, making education, training, and skill development for the green transition more essential than ever. With an emphasis on local green skills shortages, our study focused primarily on qualitative insights from a specific sample of industry practitioners to explore emerging trends in green skills training, providing effective steps in curriculum improvements for teaching and learning in support of greening jobs and enterprises. It addresses the increasing demand for green skills in the workplace and offers practical insights on how to reinforce the workforce training process, through needs assessments, curriculum objectives, specific learning outcomes and targeted green skills, training components, and working methodologies. The feedback from the pilot process highlights the strengths of the training curriculum in enhancing green practices in enterprises, particularly in terms of content quality, communication methods and online interaction, workload and the practical application of green knowledge, and feedback mechanisms. Our study provides several theoretical and practical implications for various stakeholders (i.e., researchers, academics, trainers, and practitioners) interested in advancing the adoption of green practices. Also, universities and training institutions can benefit from this study by incorporating its findings into their curricula, thereby improving the relevance and impact of training and education programs. Full article

Background/Objectives: In the UK, significant and rising numbers of children arrive in schools with marked deficits in key skills such as oral language. This rise has been further negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this, the foundation phase of primary school education is a necessary environment for targeting language deficits. There is evidence to suggest that teaching assistant (TA)-led interventions can be effective when adequate training and support are provided. This study explored the feasibility of providing a brief, online dialogic book-sharing training to TAs, and whether this training would be effective in upskilling TAs and enable them to improve the language outcomes of children aged 3–7 years in a school context. Methods: North Wales primary schools were invited to nominate TAs for the two half-day training sessions. Five schools responded, and eleven TA–child dyads participated. Data were collected on recruitment, training acceptability and baseline, and post-training measures from TAs and children (2–3 weeks after the final training session) and 4–6 weeks after the first follow-up. Measures of TA competence and behavior were collected, along with measures of child language and behavior. Results: Schools and TAs were recruited; TAs reported positively to the training, and the results showed small to large effect size benefits on all TA skills and child expressive language with significant positive post-training effects on TAs’ use of reflections and child language abilities. However, these effects were somewhat reduced at follow-up. Conclusions: Overall, the results of this feasibility study provide positive evidence for this training as an accessible way for schools to strengthen their prevention infrastructures by professionalizing a growing, but relatively untrained, group within the school workforce. Full article

The Secretary of Public Health (SSP) faces a looming skills gap due to retirements and rotations of civil service staff. Critical knowledge retention is crucial across all generational cohorts due to the retirement and turnover of workers. This study develops a protocol that addresses the knowledge retention needs of the four generations (Baby Boomers, X, Y, Z) that coexist in the workforce to ensure the continuity of the Public Health Secretariat. The objective of the study is to develop a protocol for the management, transfer, and retention of critical knowledge. A scoping review is conducted in Scopus and Web of Science to develop the protocol, to identify critical knowledge workers through tool scores. The instrument developed in this research includes two pilots on Baby Boomer and Millennial workers. Both workers had critical and essential knowledge for the continuity of the organisation. The Baby Boomer worker presented a higher amount of tacit, operational, and individually owned knowledge, while the Millennial worker showed a predominance of tacit technological knowledge. This protocol provides a practical and adaptable approach to identifying and prioritising critical knowledge holders, allowing organisations to map and determine the amount of essential knowledge within the workforce. An important limitation of the study is the small sample of workers who participated in the pilot test of the protocol. Further research is therefore recommended in other public administrations and across all generations in employment. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to the care economy, including commodified early childhood education and care (ECEC). While there is some literature about the low paid, invisible, and undervalued skills among the predominantly female workforce in the ECEC sector, there is little research into what these educators do in their working day and how this contributes to quality education and care for young children. This article provides a detailed examination of ten defined domains of ECEC work tasks, derived from data generated by educators’ use of ‘intensive hour’ time-diary methodology. The results reveal that the outstanding characteristics of this occupation are multi-tasking and the rapid switching of tasks as educators manage diverse expectations arising from work with groups of very young children, families, other staff, and meeting legislated responsibilities. Drawing on William J. Baumol’s economic theory, we consider the implications for productivity and cost tensions in ECEC. Full article

This study examines the impacts of high-performance work systems (HPWS) on employee career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) and service performance with regard to the theory of reasoned action in the hospitality industry. Recognizing the critical influence of human interaction and service quality on customer satisfaction, this study demonstrates that HPWS can lead to a motivated and skilled workforce, enhancing CDMSE and service excellence. Employing a quantitative research design, this study analyzes data collected from hospitality employees to assess the relationship between HPWS, CDMSE, and service performance. The findings reveal that HPWS significantly enhance employee service performance by boosting CDMSE, which in turn leads to proactive service behaviors. Furthermore, this study highlights the moderating role played by service climate, showing that a supportive environment amplifies the positive effects of HPWS on employee service outcomes. These insights contribute to an improved theoretical understanding of HR practices in the hospitality sector and offer practical implications for organizations aiming to improve service quality while supporting sustainable hospitality development. Full article

Urban informality, often viewed negatively, is not solely the product of the urban poor but also reflects the failure of formal systems to adapt. Informal workers, who make up about 61% of the global workforce, operate outside formal labor laws and significantly contribute to urban development. Understanding and harnessing community capitals are vital for sustainable urban development. This qualitative study explored the community capitals framework (CCF) in an urban context, addressing the limitations of quantitative data on CCF, which often overlooks critical social factors. This study team conducted in-depth interviews with 36 informal service providers from the education, healthcare, water, sanitation, and solid waste management sectors. Additionally, four local leaders from two urban informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, were interviewed. The data from the transcripts were analyzed using thematic framework analysis, guided by the community capitals framework. We identified seven forms of community capital that benefit informal workers: natural, cultural, human, social, political, financial, and built. Human capital, which focuses on skills and qualities, was the most frequently utilized, followed by social capital, which centers on connections and relationships. Next in importance were financial and political capital. Although cultural capital was the least implemented, it was described as important for reflecting community knowledge and traditions. Examples of these capitals in action included solid waste workers, manual pit emptiers, education providers, health workers, and water service providers, who all contributed to urban development and well-being through waste management, sanitation, education, healthcare, and access to clean water. In conclusion, service providers use community capitals as a planning tool to understand dynamics, refine strategies, and build trust for urban development. Each capital functions like a community bank account, containing strengths and opportunities. Although cultural capital was ranked last, it warrants further research to explore its drivers. Additional research is needed to fully grasp the relationships among the various capitals and their impact on service delivery. Full article

A well-prepared public health workforce is essential for reducing disease burdens and improving population health, necessitating an education that addresses global and complex challenges. This paper explores the integration of the Relational Employability Framework in public health education as a tool to foster critical reflection and cultivate global citizenship among students and graduates. Global citizenship encompasses the social, political, environmental and economic actions of globally conscious individuals and communities, recognising that individuals operate within diverse local and global networks. Relational employability expands traditional notions of graduate employability, incorporating not only foundational career development and human interactions but also connections with more-than-human elements, including ecologies, technologies and materials. Our research, conducted at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia, involved two case studies using qualitative interviews. Case Study 1, drawn from the Cook’s doctoral research, explored student experiences with the Relational Employability Framework within an undergraduate capstone unit. Case Study 2, a school-funded project, gathered graduate perspectives to inform ongoing curriculum development. The findings indicate that the Relational Employability Framework can help support the development of global citizenship through critical reflective practice, as students reported improved ability to engage with diverse perspectives and societal challenges, and graduates highlighted the framework’s role in supporting ethical, evidence-based practice in professional contexts. Additionally, the framework supported the development of a reflective mindset, which graduates said helped them make informed, value-based career decisions, thus advancing their professional growth. This study suggests that adopting a relational employability approach can prepare globally competent and reflective public health professionals and recommends its implementation across health and higher education. Full article

The construction industry plays a crucial role in the development of emerging economies; however, project constraints can pose significant challenges to achieving social sustainability. Therefore, this study investigates the nexus between project constraints and social sustainability factors within Pakistan’s construction industry. The study adopted a quantitative approach and analyzed the collected data through descriptive and inferential tests. Data were collected from 100 civil engineers registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) through structured questionnaires. Analysis methods included the mean, standard deviation, Relative Importance Index (RII), and multiple regression tests. Cost (mean = 3.98) and time (mean = 3.90) emerged as the most significant project constraints, while poor safety on sites had the lowest means (3.49). In social sustainability factors, improving quality of life (mean = 3.73) ranked highest, with diversity in the workforce scoring lower (mean = 3.35). RII revealed cost (RII = 0.796) and time (RII = 0.780) as top constraints, while safety ranked lowest (RII = 0.698). Multiple regression showed that cost (slope = 0.390, p = 0.027) and unskilled workforce productivity (slope = 0.312, p = 0.073) significantly affect client social sustainability. Consultants prioritized poor productivity (slope = 0.623, p = 0.003), and contractors showed positive trends in cost and planning. The study highlights challenges like workforce skill gaps and safety enforcement, stressing the need for interventions to enhance social sustainability outcomes in Pakistan’s construction sector. Full article

Background/Objectives: The increasing rates of nurse turnover pose significant challenges to healthcare systems, negatively impacting patient outcomes and increasing operational costs. Despite the recognized importance of retaining nursing staff, factors contributing to turnover intentions, such as job dissatisfaction and burnout, remain inadequately addressed. Developing job crafting skills among nurses can be a proactive strategy to mitigate these issues, leading to a more engaged and committed workforce. The aim of this study was to analyze nurses’ job crafting and its relationship with the intention to stay at their working hospitals or to leave the nursing profession. Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted with a sample of 284 registered nurses using a self-reported online questionnaire with the standardized Spanish version of the Job Crafting Scale. Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric tests were used to determine statistically significant differences between two or more different groups for the job crafting variable, respectively. The Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated to explore the relationships between variables. Results: Mean scores obtained for the Job Crafting Scale indicated that nurses in the study had a high level of job crafting. Nurses with lower scores for the ‘Decreasing hindering job demands’ subscale had a significantly lower intention to stay at their workplace. Greater ‘Decreasing hindering job demands’ scores were significantly associated with a lower intention to leave the nursing profession. Lower nurses’ intention to leave the nursing profession was significantly associated with a greater intention to stay at hospitals. Conclusions: Improving ‘Decreasing hindering job demands’ job crafting skills to “decrease hindering job demands” through workload management, time management training, supportive supervision, resource availability, autonomy encouragement, promotion of team collaboration, and mental health support. It could lead to greater retention of nurses in their workplaces and in the nursing profession. Nursing managers and leaders should consider improving the job crafting skill “Decrease Hindering Job Demands” among nurses as a potential strategy for effective retention of nurses to address the challenges of the global nursing shortage. Full article