Abstract This study presents a bibliometric analysis of research trends on regulatory frameworks on Financial Technology (Fintech). This review is to identify key trends, influential authors, leading journals, and emerging themes in this dynamic field. Using the Scopus database, we extracted relevant publications from 1998 to 2024 and employed bibliometric techniques to examine citation networks, co-authorship patterns, and keyword co-occurrences. The results illustrate the evolution of research topics over the years, highlighting significant transitions from traditional regulatory issues to contemporary challenges such as digital currencies, blockchain, and regulatory sandboxes. The analysis also reveals regional and institutional collaborations, demonstrating increased research output from developed and emerging markets. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the current state of the study. It makes recommendations for future avenues for research into the regulation of Fintech, making it a helpful source for academics, lawmakers, and industry practitioners.

Abstract Although the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has passed, and universities have returned to their pre-pandemic routines, the long-term effects of lockdowns and virtual learning continue. This study employed a qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews of 84 university students in Thailand, including national and international students in their third and fourth years of university. Purposeful sampling was used to identify students in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. A pre-interview focus group identified major themes related to the lockdowns and virtual learning, while inductive thematic analysis was used on interview data to identify subthemes. Attending university is an important milestone, and its disruption for students who experienced two years of online learning was a unique and almost universally negative experience. Understanding how this event affected students in Thailand provides another piece to the overall picture of how pandemic policies impacted young people globally at a critical time in their lives.

Abstract Nigeria’s development challenges remain deeply rooted in factors such as poor education funding, inequalities, corruption, human underdevelopment, and identity politics. These problems have perpetuated disunity and hindered national progress. Fundamentally, the issue is human underdevelopment, which necessitates a renewed focus on inclusivity and holistic growth. This article employs a critical approach to examine the root causes of Nigeria’s underdevelopment, despite its abundant human and natural resources. Gynist epistemology, an African gender theory advocating inclusivity, gender equality, and cooperation, will serve as the analytical framework. Through prioritizing the involvement of both men and women in shaping national development, gynist epistemology offers a pathway to addressing human underdevelopment, fostering optimism, and establishing the foundation for realizing a modern and sustainable Nigeria.

Abstract The purpose of this study is to uncover universal methods for enhancing the effectiveness of volunteer activities. Various aspects of volunteering are examined, and the current state of volunteerism is explored. The research findings indicate that volunteerism is actively evolving under the influence of socio-cultural and economic factors. It is adapting, often unconsciously, in response to its participants’ changing interests and values and to challenges such as competition between different volunteer organizations for participants and resources and the need to increase response speed in crisis situations. The role of technological innovations in volunteering is also analyzed, revealing that technology is a key method for modernizing volunteerism. The study also explores the influence of cultural, economic, and social contexts on volunteer activities, which helps to uncover the complex and multifaceted nature of motivation for volunteering.

Abstract The study examines the nuanced effects of virtual social comparisons on university students using 401 surveys and 18 interviews. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study rigorously examines variables such as gender, place of residence, type of faculty, and academic level. The investigation aligns with the ‘social comparison theory,’ emphasizing how cultural resilience, gender dynamics, communal support structures, living conditions, and developmental stressors shape the effects of virtual social comparisons. Findings reveal an overall minimal impact, yet highlight significant gender-based differences in favor of male students. Despite diverse academic disciplines, the absence of differences based on faculty type underscores shared cultural resilience. Distinct impacts emerge based on the place of residence, with students in camps experiencing heightened effects due to socio-political and economic factors. Variations across academic levels correspond with developmental stressors, elucidating a dynamic relationship between academic advancement and the impact of virtual social comparisons. This research contributes nuanced insights for future studies and interventions, recognizing the multifaceted influence of cultural variables on students’ experiences in the digital age.

Abstract This study investigated whether UK higher education academics had adjusted their assessment strategies in response to the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically focusing on the influence of AI tools like ChatGPT. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, integrating structured online questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to comprehensively analyze ChatGPT’s role in shaping assessment strategies in UK institutions of higher learning. Descriptive statistics were used to explore the extent of ChatGPT’s influence, while inferential methods, including chi-square tests, were used to assess variations in its impact across different academic disciplines. Thematic content analysis of interview data further elucidates educators’ perceptions and experiences concerning ChatGPT’s integration into assessment practices. Therefore, this research recommends that academics and learners harness AI’s power and continuously update their skills to effectively and ethically navigate and apply AI tools. This approach will ensure their continued relevance within the dynamic realm of education.

Abstract Automation is rapidly transforming industries and redefining the global labor market. While these changes promise increased efficiency and innovation, they also create challenges such as job displacement and labor inequality, underscoring the critical role of social insurance systems. This study explores how social insurance can adapt to the realities of automation by analyzing the experiences of China, Japan, and Germany. Through a comprehensive literature review and the application of analytical methods, including system analysis, synthesis, and comparative legal approaches, the research identifies key strategies for improving social insurance frameworks. The study emphasizes the importance of retraining programs, equitable policy design, and innovative funding mechanisms to ensure economic stability and social justice in an increasingly automated world. Practical recommendations are provided to address the challenges posed by labor automation while ensuring inclusivity and resilience in social insurance systems.

Abstract Using the qualitative methodology for the textual analysis of primary and secondary sources, this study examines the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) cultural diplomacy strategies aimed at achieving soft power and their attendant challenges. The study reveals that the UAE has heavily invested in a diverse cultural diplomacy program such as flagship museums, iconic religious buildings, hosting major sporting events, and serving as an international educational hub. These initiatives’ objective is to harness influence, brand the nation positively, and burnish its regional and global reputation. Nevertheless, the UAE’s cultural diplomacy strategies face numerous challenges: concerns about motives for cultural infrastructural investments; cultural appropriation and authenticity of the cultural projects; balancing foreign cultural projects against Emirati cultural and Islamic values; and the cost and sustainability of the cultural investments in the face of competing domestic needs. Furthermore, cultural infrastructure construction depends heavily on migrant labor, which has attracted international human right criticisms about workers’ treatment. Left unchecked, such criticisms can overshadow the UAE’s goals of cultural diplomacy. Finally, the UAE needs to intensify its ongoing domestic cultural promotion to overcome integration challenges associated with attracting buy-in from its multicultural population.