Book roundtable on The Duty to Secure: From Just to Mandatory Securitization , for the Journal of International Political Theory

Rector of Imperial College London resigns

The available research on COVID-19 implications and prospects for recovery often fails to rise above the impacts of the pandemic to also consider other equally problematic factors that slow down the recovery rate. One area in which research provides a narrow view is food systems. This article explores other key global challenges that stifle Africa's food system’s quick recovery from COVID-19. Drawing from critical document analysis of secondary literature, this article found that climate change, the global energy crisis, and political factors are among the key problem factors. It concludes that these factors deserve to be prioritised because they preceded COVID-19, and therefore, their problematic role should not be subordinated to a pandemic which is already subsiding and for which vaccines have already been discovered. Received: 26 July 2024 / Accepted: 29 August 2024 / Published: 7 September 2024

Introduction to the Challenge Gender inequality pervades the world. In considering the dimensions of economic gender inequality, women still make less than men in the formal work sector, are more likely to live in poverty, are less likely to participate in the formal work sector, and do a larger share of work in the household sector. The dimensions of political gender inequality include women’s lower representation in elected office and lower representation in political and corporate appointments. Social gender inequality has numerous dimensions, some of which are less favorable to men while others are less favorable to women: men are more prone to violence, imprisonment, and disability, while women are more likely to be the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; in some countries men have lower educational attainment than women, while the pattern is reversed in other countries. Demographic gender inequality includes the fact that men live shorter lives on average than do women (65 years for men, 69 years for women) (CIA 2010), but there is also concern that many women are never given the chance to be born, and in the younger generations men now outnumber women, by large numbers in China and India in particular (with gender ratios respectively of 113 men and 117 men per 100 women in the under-15 age range) (CIA 2010). While many of the costs of gender inequality are ultimately borne by particular individuals, they can also be calculated at a society or even worldwide level. If individuals of different genders are not given equal opportunity to develop their potential, then societies forgo the increased level of output and ultimately well-being that would derive from their higher productivity. If societies do not invest equally in educating and training men and women, do not give them equal opportunities to engage in more productive forms of work, and do not give them equal opportunities to advance to more productive positions over time, then the societies do not harness the full potential of their members.

Over the last 20 years the European Association for Education in Electrical and Information Engineering (EAEEIE) has proven itself to be a strong organization aiming to support Electrical and Information Engineering (EIE) education across Europe. EAEEIE members participated in several EU projects (i.e. ELLEIEC, THEIERE) with recognized contribution to EIE education process. Its new Strategic Alignment of Electrical and Information Engineering in European Higher Education Institutions (SALEIE) EU supported project aims to provide higher education models in the EIE disciplines that can respond to the key global technical challenges. This paper deals with the last results within the SALEIE project work package WP3 (Global Challenges). After defining the global challenges that the EIE graduates may face, a survey has been conducted to identify existing models in EIE higher education and their degree of response to key global technical challenges.

For the last two decades The European Association for Education in Electrical and Information Engineering (EAEEIE) has been dedicated and continue to support the Electrical and Information Engineering (EIE) education in Europe. SALEIE (Strategic Alignment of Electrical and Information Engineering in European Higher Education Institutions) is one of its new EU projects which coagulate a global team aiming to provide higher education models in the EIE disciplines that can respond to the key global technical challenges. The SALEIE project's work package WP3 (Global Challenges) is related to: state-of-the-art in implementation of the Bologna recommendation for Bachelor and Master, EIE connected technical, existing models in EIE higher education and their degree of response to key global technical challenges as well as some examples of curriculum models which see the day light during the SALEIE workshops. That is the subject that the proposed paper deals on.

This paper introduces an experiment performed as part of the key global challenges design work package of the European Union funded SALEIE Project. It formally ‘tests’ the value of considering job advertisements in the design of curricula and what employers are seeking in terms of technical, professional and generic skills. It presents the general methodology using results of job advertisements from the renewable energies sector that can be used for comparison against sample Higher Education curricula in the same technical area. A number of jobs advertised on the internet in the area of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) are used as the dataset for this experiment. The full text of each job advertisement has been manually downloaded into NVivo software. Amongst other things, job title and essential or desirable technical/professional and generic skills are coded. These declared essential and desirable technical skills are shown in matrix form across the range of job titles and together both show the required graduate attributes as well as within industry sector career development or progression pathways. Viewed as a sector whole, the analysis also shows those skills that cross sub-areas and hence may be better suited to foundation modules within a programme with the skills more specific to a sub-discipline being the optional or ‘programme aligning’ modules. The results will help Higher Education develop curricula more aligned to industrial needs and will help different industries see the way skills are expressed in existing curricula. Through these two benefits the qualified graduate supply/demand balance may be improved.

Food science has evolved from traditional practices of preservation and nutrition improvement to a multidisciplinary field addressing global challenges in health, sustainability, and technological innovation. This chapter provides an overview of the historical milestones that shaped modern food science, including advances in preservation, safety, and nutritional understanding, and highlights the transition toward contemporary priorities such as functional foods, nutraceuticals, and sustainable production systems. It discusses the role of interdisciplinary integration—spanning biology, chemistry, engineering, social sciences, and policy—in developing resilient and efficient food systems. The chapter further explores emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nanotechnology, smart packaging, and 3D food printing, emphasizing their impact on food quality, safety, and supply chain efficiency. Key global challenges such as climate change, food security, and resource management are examined alongside innovative solutions like alternative proteins, personalized nutrition, circular economy approaches, and regenerative agriculture. Additionally, the chapter sheds light on evolving consumer trends, cultural influences, and the importance of regulatory frameworks in ensuring safety and transparency. Finally, it underscores the growing need for education, research collaboration, and industry partnerships to bridge knowledge gaps and support future advancements. Overall, this chapter establishes a comprehensive foundation for understanding current perspectives and future directions in food science.

The ability to address land degradation and biodiversity loss while maintaining the production of plant and animal products is a key global challenge. Biodiversity decline as a result of vegetation clearance, cultivation, grazing, pesticide and herbicide application, and plantation establishment, amongst other factors, has been widely documented in agricultural ecosystems. In this paper we identify six ultimate drivers that underlie these proximate factors and hence determine what native biodiversity occurs in modern agricultural landscapes; (1) historical legacies; (2) environmental change; (3) economy; (4) social values and awareness; (5) technology and knowledge; and (6) policy and regulation. While historical legacies and environmental change affect native biodiversity directly, all six indirectly affect biodiversity by influencing the decisions that land managers make about the way they use their land and water resources. Understanding these drivers is essential in developing strategies for sustaining native biodiversity in agricultural landscapes into the future.

The development of strategies to encourage more sustainable approaches to resource consumption is a key global challenge. This is particularly the case within rapidly developing countries such as India, due to rapid urbanisation, population growth and resource consumption. Using households in the Southeastern Indian city of Chennai as the case study, this study sought to examine the extent to which lifestyles could be categorised into groups and the role of the concepts of sustainability on these groups. Five lifestyle groups were identified, ranging from 'dedicated environmentalists', to non-environmentalist'. Conservation of electricity and water were key sustainability behaviours. Various key factors were found to impact upon the behaviours of individuals in these groups including perceived limitations in time, levels of awareness, as well as values. The implications of the findings for facilitating improved policies and practices are discussed.

Sustainable agriculture is an important conception to meet the growing food demand of the global population. The increased need for adequate and safe food, as well as the ongoing ecological destruction associated with conventional agriculture practices are key global challenges. Nanomaterials are being developed in the agriculture sector to improve the growth and protection of crops. Among the various engineered nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of the most promising carbon-based nanomaterials owing to their attractive physiochemical properties such as small size, high surface area, and superior mechanical and thermal strength, offering better opportunities for agriculture sector applications. This review provides basic information about CNTs, including their history; classification; and electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties, with a focus on their applications in the agriculture field. Furthermore, the mechanisms of the uptake and translocation of CNTs in plants and their defense mechanisms against environmental stresses are discussed. Finally, the major shortcomings, threats, and challenges of CNTs are assessed to provide a broad and clear view of the potential and future directions for CNT-based agriculture applications to achieve the goal of sustainability.

Ecosystem service supply-demand coupling for multifunctional agroforestry landscape planning: A case study of Yunnan, China.

As climate change has emerged as a key global challenge over the last decade, the international community is now increasingly unified in a call to action. It is a challenge that not only jeopardizes the sustainability of our planet; it poses significant, long-term threats to the global economy. According to former UK Government and World Bank Chief Economist Lord Stern [1]: “If no action is taken, the overall costs and risks of climate change will be equivalent to losing at least 5% of global gross domestic product (GDP) each year. Not acting now would incur a wider range of risks and impacts and the estimates of damage could rise to 20% of global GDP or more. The Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) industry is estimated to contribute 2% to 3% of global Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions, a share that is quickly rising.

The article explores methodological approaches to analyzing contemporary challenges, threats, and prospects for the development of the hospitality and restaurant industry (HRI) within the context of global transformations and Ukraine’s wartime realities. It reveals the essence and multifaceted nature of HRI as an object of scientific research, encompassing not only the material aspects of service provision (accommodation and catering) but also significant non-material components related to consumers’ emotional experiences, the ambiance of establishments, and the quality of interpersonal interactions. Key global challenges and threats impacting HRI development are classified, including technological shifts, growing demands for sustainable development, geopolitical instability, workforce shortages, and others. Special attention is given to the analysis of specific problems and threats faced by Ukraine’s hospitality and restaurant industry under military aggression, such as infrastructure destruction, labor migration, and constrained consumer demand. The study underscores the practical necessity of updating the methodology for HRI research, emphasizing its fundamental distinction: augmenting traditional scientific principles with flexibility, interdisciplinarity, technological integration, and practical orientation. A range of contemporary methodological approaches is identified and substantiated, grounded in the active use of digital technologies, big data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and other innovative tools. Prospective directions for advancing the methodology of HRI research in Ukraine are outlined, focusing on adaptability, localization of tools, and integration into the European scientific sphere. Proposed strategies include leveraging digital platforms for infrastructure restoration, adopting green technologies, adapting European best practices in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibility, developing tourist clusters, and emphasizing the social role of HRI.

Functional food for prevention of chronic diseases is one of this century's key global challenges. Cancer is not only the first or second leading cause of death in China and other countries across the world, but also has diet as one of the most important modifiable risk factors. Major dietary factors now known to promote cancer development are polished grain foods and low intake of fresh vegetables, with general importance for an unhealthy lifestyle and obesity. The strategies of cancer prevention in human being are increased consumption of functional foods like whole grains (brown rice, barley, and buckwheat) and by-products, as well some vegetables (bitter melon, garlic, onions, broccoli, and cabbage) and mushrooms (boletes and Tricholoma matsutake). In addition some beverages (green tea and coffee) may be protective. Southwest China (especially Yunnan Province) is a geographical area where functional crop production is closely related to the origins of human evolution with implications for anticancer influence.

Purpose Advancing sustainability and fostering Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are key global challenges. Higher education, especially through university mission statements, plays a critical role in addressing these issues. The purpose of this study is to analyze the most important regional differences and/or similarities between the emphases of mission statements of Western and Eastern European universities in relation to the SDGs. Design/methodology/approach This paper compares the SDG-related content of mission statements from 100 business universities in Eastern and Western Europe using content analysis. Findings Both regions emphasize social sustainability, particularly Goal 4 (Quality education). However, Eastern European universities focus more on regional development and workforce training, while Western European institutions prioritize societal development and economic goals (Goals 8 and 9). Eastern Europe also highlights cooperation (Goal 17), while Western Europe shows slightly more attention to environmental sustainability (Goal 13). The findings underscore the need for higher education institutions to enhance their mission statements to better reflect sustainability goals, serving as both indicators and motivators for institutional practices. Originality/value This study is unique in its comparative analysis of these two European regions.