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Sustainable and Future-Oriented Urban Development in Vienna & Barcelona
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
25-32
Received:
11 February 2022
Accepted:
7 March 2022
Published:
14 April 2022
Abstract: The current situation in urban areas and the increasing proportion of the world's population living in cities are leading to massive sustainability problems, which is why buzzwords such as sustainability, environmental protection, global warming, the Internet of Things and smart cities are omnipresent. Taking Vienna and Barcelona as examples, this paper tries to find out, how modern cities deal with these current challenges. The basis for this quantitative content analysis are the so-called "Urban Development Plans" (UDP), which record not only the current situation but also future developments. The UDP can thus be used as a basis for advising politicians by urban planners and serves the political leadership as an instrument or as a decision-making or orientation aid. It can ultimately be concluded that modern cities have a crucial role in sustainable development and thus play a central position in the application of advanced technologies to support sustainable urbanisation. In short, urban growth raises a variety of issues that threaten the sustainability of cities, as it places a huge burden on urban systems and ecosystem services. Clearly, major advances in urban design are needed to address these problems and specific issues. In this regard, modern cities are required to develop or implement more innovative solutions and sophisticated approaches, as this is necessary not only to monitor cities, but rather to understand, analyse and plan them. Ultimately, this work tries to find out whether there are differences in the smart city strategies of Vienna and Barcelona, or whether both cities - although spatially separated - have the same points on their agenda.
Abstract: The current situation in urban areas and the increasing proportion of the world's population living in cities are leading to massive sustainability problems, which is why buzzwords such as sustainability, environmental protection, global warming, the Internet of Things and smart cities are omnipresent. Taking Vienna and Barcelona as examples, this ...
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Challenges Ahead to Sustainable Development in Bangladesh: A Concern for Future Generation
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
33-40
Received:
10 March 2022
Accepted:
1 April 2022
Published:
26 April 2022
Abstract: ‘Sustainable Development’ is such a desiring reality, unquestionably, which costs much at the same time it returns back with fuller. The durability of any establishment, project or development undertaking makes human life easy and speedy. The country is now looking forward to accelerating its overall development modules. ‘Sustainable development’ as a legitimate expectation on the part of the common people deserves overriding importance to be perceived by the highest executive body of the country. It should have been the state’s responsibility whereby the state will be holding a non-compromising approach towards negligence, corruption, manipulations or anything like these in any development projects of the country. Any Sustainable development of today will make the life and living standards secured for the upcoming generations tomorrow and that has been an unconditional obligation of the present generation as well. This research paper has been designed to explore the sustainable development plan of the country and the challenges ahead thereto. Sincerity, accountability, transparency, and effectiveness on the part of various departments of the government is still a dream than a reality. The concerted effort may change the entire scenario and bring everything to light. The durability of current development works in different parts of the country is highly questionable due to the poor work plan, acute corruption and absence of accountability. Moreover, the common people are not satisfied with the quality of the various infrastructural developments across the country. Ensuring quality works in the development process is a big challenge for a newly developing country like Bangladesh.
Abstract: ‘Sustainable Development’ is such a desiring reality, unquestionably, which costs much at the same time it returns back with fuller. The durability of any establishment, project or development undertaking makes human life easy and speedy. The country is now looking forward to accelerating its overall development modules. ‘Sustainable development’ a...
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Methodological Agility for Doing Transformative Transdisciplinary Research on Sustainability Transitions in the Context of the Anthropocene
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
41-51
Received:
30 March 2022
Accepted:
19 April 2022
Published:
12 May 2022
Abstract: Undertaking sustainability transitions during the Anthropocene entails complex processes, since it implies co-producing transformative knowledge for many different kinds of socio-ecological contexts that are not just different in degree, but different in kind – i.e. ontologically different. Transformative knowledge is not only about co-producing strategic knowledge of how to navigate different future scenarios practically, taking us from where we are to where we want to be in future. Inextricably linked to this are ethical questions and choices related to the many different ways to act appropriately, fairly and justly on the journey (processes) of transitioning. Inaction in the Anthropocene is arguably the most unethical response imaginable. From a methodological perspective, this is a truly trans-disciplinary challenge. However, trans-disciplinarity is by no means as a methodological panacea. It is much better to imagine trans-disciplinarity as one amongst a number of context- or domain-relevant methodological responses – including mono-, multi- and inter-disciplinarity – on the understanding that trans-disciplinarity is much more specifically focused on and interested in tackling societal challenges that are considered too complex to be addressed strictly from within discrete boundaries of the single disciplines. The methodological agility implied by this should not, however, be confused with the much more onerous Kuhnian notion of ‘paradigm switching’, which is simply too arduous an undertaking for the nimbleness required when facing ever-changing problem situations in the Anthropocene today. In view of the above, the fundamental focus of this paper is on developing such an agile transdisciplinary methodology – with an explicit interest in contributing to the understanding of ways of facilitating the sustainability transitions in the context of the Anthropocene today.
Abstract: Undertaking sustainability transitions during the Anthropocene entails complex processes, since it implies co-producing transformative knowledge for many different kinds of socio-ecological contexts that are not just different in degree, but different in kind – i.e. ontologically different. Transformative knowledge is not only about co-producing st...
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Using Synergic Methods for Being Methodologically Agile (SM4BMA)
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
52-65
Received:
17 May 2022
Accepted:
6 June 2022
Published:
16 June 2022
Abstract: Methodological agility refers to a new meta-level research strategy of switching between mono-, multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinarity when facing the global societal challenges in the context of the Anthropocene today. When imagined in complexity terms as a polycrisis – consisting of multiple interconnected planetary crises – the Anthropocene cannot be approached in terms of any one of the said four methodologies only. This is so for two important reasons: firstly, there is not just one dominant crisis to which all the other crises can be reduced, and, secondly, not all the planetary crises we are facing today are necessarily complex problems. Some challenges are indeed complex; others complicated; still others chaotic. As a caveat, this new research strategy of methodological agility employs the construct of synergic methods, which is related to but different from synergistic or using methods synergistically in the mixed methods sense of the word when referring to the practice of using many different methods reciprocally. Herein, synergic is taken to mean a one-to-many relationship of using single methods for achieving multiple epistemological ends simultaneously. By combining some of the main features of action research and narrative theory, narrative action research (NAR) is presented in this paper as an example of how a particular synergic method can be used in transformative transdisciplinary processes (TTDR) for co-producing systems, target, and transformation knowledge – epistemologically speaking three very different kinds of knowledge each with their own (internal) logics, principles, practices, and research questions (epistemic objects).
Abstract: Methodological agility refers to a new meta-level research strategy of switching between mono-, multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinarity when facing the global societal challenges in the context of the Anthropocene today. When imagined in complexity terms as a polycrisis – consisting of multiple interconnected planetary crises – the Anthropocene can...
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Effects of Climate Extremes on Cereal Production in the North China Plain During 1950–2015
Ju Hui,
Zhang Di,
Zhang Xinyue,
William Batchelor,
Lin Erda
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
66-75
Received:
12 April 2022
Accepted:
31 May 2022
Published:
16 June 2022
Abstract: The North China Plain (NCP) is a cereal production base in China. However, the understanding of how climate extremes affect cereal production during past decades in the region is limited. Based on the statistical data of climate disasters and cultivated areas during 1950-2015, the relationship between regional cereal production and four meteorological disasters was examined. The results showed that during 1950-1980, the cultivated area for cereal production increased, accounting for 80-85% of the total cultivated area, but gradually decreased in the second 30 years after 1980. Flood disaster was the greatest in intensity compared with the other three meteorological disasters; drought was the most widespread and impactful. The effects of the four disasters became more noteworthy after 1980, and the spatiotemporal trend in the NCP was similar. Flood and drought had significant effects (P < 0.01) on cereal yield with path coefficients of -0.355 and -0.344, respectively. The harvest areas declined slowly and the yield increased slightly during the 7 disaster window years, suggesting that technology advancement offset the decline in cultivated areas and increased the yield. The effect of climate extremes on cereal production could be addressed through technology improvement and the implementation of preventive measures in the NCP.
Abstract: The North China Plain (NCP) is a cereal production base in China. However, the understanding of how climate extremes affect cereal production during past decades in the region is limited. Based on the statistical data of climate disasters and cultivated areas during 1950-2015, the relationship between regional cereal production and four meteorologi...
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Strategic Marketing Approaches for Improving Finance in Public Universities After Decreasing Government Funding in Tanzania
Jaraj Kikula,
Robert Makorere
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
76-81
Received:
31 March 2022
Accepted:
17 May 2022
Published:
27 June 2022
Abstract: The article aims to investigate strategic marketing approaches in higher education institutions (HEIs) in a bid to support public universities to generate funds sustainably after the government decreased funding to public universities in Tanzania. To achieve this objective, the study was governed by the theory of responsive leadership model for attracting funding. The study was conducted in the United Republic of Tanzania (URT). A cross-sectional survey research design was used in this study. The study sampled twelve public universities in the country. Data were collected using interview guide and questionnaire and analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods respectively. The findings show that apart from decreasing government funding, decreasing of students’ enrolment, failure to implement cost cutting strategies properly, the lack enough funded projects, dwindling research grants, and the lack of international collaborations contribute to poor financial position experienced by many public universities in the country. The study concludes that strategic marketing approaches in public universities can be used to support financial sustainability of the universities. Strategic marketing entails increased students enrolment, cost cutting approaches, increased funded projects, increased international collaboration, and increased development partners’ projects. The study recommends that universities management should adopt the right strategic marketing models for attracting funding so as to improve their cash flows sustainably.
Abstract: The article aims to investigate strategic marketing approaches in higher education institutions (HEIs) in a bid to support public universities to generate funds sustainably after the government decreased funding to public universities in Tanzania. To achieve this objective, the study was governed by the theory of responsive leadership model for att...
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The Rocky Road That BodaBoda Drivers Experience in Delivering Transport Service in Tanzania: Empirical Evidence from Morogoro Municipal
Jaraj Kikula,
Robert Makorere
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
82-91
Received:
9 May 2022
Accepted:
7 June 2022
Published:
27 June 2022
Abstract: This study explored the rocky road that faces bodaboda drivers in delivering transport services in Tanzania. The study employed a cross-sectional research design and convenience sampling method to obtain a sample size of 86 respondents. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study findings show that bodaboda theft, passengers refusing to pay a fare, passengers refusing to wear helmets, poor road network, frequent road accidents, the unfair fine imposed by traffic police, lack training of in road safety, and stiff competition are among the major rocky road experience bodaboda drivers go through in the transport services delivery, hence affect business performance. The study concluded that bodaboda as taxis play an instrumental role in facilitating passengers’ movements in many parts of the country. The role of the bodaboda has a strong impact on many people’s lives, particularly in terms of instituting easy movement of people but more so bodaboda aid in transporting commodities from one place to another including carrying merchandise to the markets or from the market to others locations. This study recommends that the government should intervene specifically in improving the institutional environment to reduce rocky roads and risks of doing business in the bodaboda sub-sector. Also, the government should design a training curriculum oriented to bodaboda riders. If this recommendation is implemented, then improvement in the fresh vegetable sub-sector would ultimately be realized.
Abstract: This study explored the rocky road that faces bodaboda drivers in delivering transport services in Tanzania. The study employed a cross-sectional research design and convenience sampling method to obtain a sample size of 86 respondents. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study findings show that bodaboda theft, passe...
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Development Implications of Chieftaincy Conflicts in Bawku Traditional Area, Ghana
Lawrence Opoku Agyeman,
Justice Kufour Owusu-Ansah,
Matilda Ayeltige
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 2, June 2022
Pages:
92-98
Received:
30 May 2022
Accepted:
17 June 2022
Published:
30 June 2022
Abstract: Several decrees and laws by the new nationalist government have disrupted the customary processes of selecting chiefs from the original family lineage hence contributing to chieftaincy conflicts in Ghana today. This study explores the wide range of development implications of the protracted chieftaincy conflicts between Kusasis and Mamprusis in the Bawku Traditional Area. The study employed systematic sampling techniques to select 200 householders in five spatial locations in the Bawku Traditional Area which have had significant impacts on the conflicts. The data gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The Bawku Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee, Belim Wusa Development Agency, and the Police were selected for in-depth face-to-face interviews to affirm the quantitative data. The Bawku conflict has created social mistrust and fear, economic, physical insecurity, and infrastructural destructions with undesirable consequences on socio-economic development. This has created a pang of severe hunger in Bawku and its environs. This can affect the realization of the sustainable development agenda. The study recommended that the Ghana government through the National Peace Council should embark on intensive media campaigns on the development implications of the conflicts in the Bawku Traditional Area. Besides, the Bawku East District Assembly should create employment opportunities for the youth and assist the victims to overcome the cost incurred on them through the conflict.
Abstract: Several decrees and laws by the new nationalist government have disrupted the customary processes of selecting chiefs from the original family lineage hence contributing to chieftaincy conflicts in Ghana today. This study explores the wide range of development implications of the protracted chieftaincy conflicts between Kusasis and Mamprusis in the...
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