Academic Landscape Research Articles

Research Assessment – Navigating Pitfalls and Promoting Change

This is a podcast version of the closing panel discussion at The 18th Munin Conference on Scholarly Publishing (Tromsø, Norway, 8–10 November 2023). The main theme of the conference was scholarly communication in its myriad of forms. The push for a reform of research assessment argues for precisely the need to recognize and reward a wider set of research activities and competencies, not least in order to ensure that science – and scientics – remain in close contact with society. The demands for change will surely impact how and where research is disseminated and communicated. A key question then is how to evaluate research activities and outputs beyond academic publications. The panelists reflected on questions such as: how do we measure the impact of citizen science, or document quality in innovative research practices and scholarly outputs? And how to ensure consensus on assessment methods for a wider and more inclusive range of research activities within a diverse academic landscape? The panel consisted of champions of research assessment reform (Yensi Flores Bueso, University of Washington / University College Cork; Kirstie Whitaker, The Alan Turing Institute) and university leaders (Hervé Dole, vice-president for arts, culture and society at Université Paris-Saclay; Jan-Gunnar Winther, pro-rector for research and development, UiT). Questions were prepared by Tanja Larssen (open science adviser, UiT) in collaboration with Per Pippin Aspaas (head of library research and publishing support, UiT), who chaired the panel on the day. First published as a podcast: December 19, 2023. A video recording of the same session – with metadata providing more detailed information on each panelist – can be found at https://doi.org/10.7557/5.7276.

The psycho-emotionally disabling impact of academic landscapes of exclusion: experiences of a disabled postgraduate in perpetual lockdown

Whilst increasing literature elucidates academic ableism and its impact upon faculty and PhD students, far less attention is paid to aspiring academics who are excluded from academia altogether. Through a first-person narrative, this article explores the experiences of a disabled postgraduate seeking a PhD placement, who is largely unable to leave home owing to the interplay between ‘rare’ and neglected health conditions and an ableist society. The impact of academic exclusions, notably institutional resistance to providing remote access, is explored through the lens of psycho-emotional disablism. It is contended that, for all the talk of equality, diversity and inclusion, the academy represents yet another landscape of power and exclusion where disabled people struggle to be recognised as fully-fledged citizens. The emergence of long Covid and persistent threat of infection adds urgency to the academic and wider social need to include disabled people who are unable to leave the home.

The Academic Landscape and Development of City Brand Image Research in China: Visualization based on the CiteSpace Scientific Knowledge Map

The Academic Landscape and Development of City Brand Image Research in China: Visualization based on the CiteSpace Scientific Knowledge Map

Mapping the Landscape of ESG Strategies: A Bibliometric Review and Recommendations for Future Research

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) together comprise what is regarded as a metric system that can be used to gauge a corporation’s performance in various facets of social responsibility. The increasing urgency for businesses to contemplate and proactively address ESG issues, due to their immediate relevance, underscores its importance in contemporary business landscapes. In the current academic landscape, scholars across various disciplines have thus been engaged in rigorous investigations of ESG. This research aims to present an overarching comprehension of the theoretical foundation of ESG by reviewing existing research and highlight the latest trends in ESG literature in the field of management. We have engaged in a comprehensive bibliometric examination, supplementing our research with the application of co-citation and bibliographic coupling methodologies. Based on co-citation analysis, this study elucidates four theoretical foundations of ESG research: Sustainability of competitive advantage; compliance of social construction; alignment of governance accountability; and allocation of sustainable capital. We then employ bibliographic coupling to assess current research trends, revealing five groups of research trends correlated with the topics: ESG activities and economic outcomes; ESG reporting and non-financial disclosure; ESG performance and corporate sustainability; ESG attributes and investment market; and ESG practices and board diversity. Furthermore, this study summarizes future research directions in the ESG domain.

Socio-Cultural Determinants of Emphasizing Marks Culture in Matric and FA/FSc Level: A Case Study in Dir Lower

The emphasis on marks culture is intricately linked to socio-cultural determinants that shape educational priorities. The socio-cultural determinants play a pivotal role in reinforcing the significance attached to marks, impacting educational systems, and shaping the experiences of students as they navigate the academic landscape. The research delves into the complex web of socio-cultural factors that underlie the pervasive marks culture in Dir Lower's matric and FA/FSc education. This study underscores the significance of academic grading in shaping the educational landscape, policies, and societal perspectives on education. Within the unique socio-cultural milieu of Dir Lower, where the fixation on marks is deeply rooted in the cultural and social fabric, this research explores how these determinants interact with and influence the marks culture. This study employed quantitative research methods and Social Capital theory to explore the correlation between independent and dependent variables. The sample size of 326 high and higher secondary school teachers was done through stratified random sampling, and data were gathered utilizing structured questionnaires. Information was examined with SPSS, which includes univariate and bivariate, to grasp the singular variables and their interaction. The study shows the popularity of educational achievement as a cultural norm, inclined by family and socioeconomic status of individual and societal prospects. The study points out the subsidiary impact of cultural values on education and assessment practices where teacher and student relations, parental participation, and peer effect are recognized as arbitrating influences sandwiched between socio-cultural determinants and the marks emphasized in Dir Lower. This study underlines the importance of socio-cultural factors in determining students' attitudes and offers valuable insights for educational stakeholders. As an outcome, the research affords prized insights for educationalists and commends fostering social awareness, assisting different students, engaging the community, and implementing context-specific policies to create a more balanced educational environment in Dir Lower.

Unveiling the impact on corporate social responsibility through green tax and green financing: a PLS-SEM approach.

In today's global business landscape, the concepts of green financing and green tax have become pivotal instruments for fostering environmentally responsible practices. The purpose of 20this study is to comprehensively assess how green financing and green tax collectively influence CSR through various dimensions, including employees, customers, and communities. This research employs a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach, which allows for a rigorous analysis of the complex relationships between the variables involved. Data is collected through surveys, enabling a quantitative evaluation of the impacts and interdependencies. The results indicate that green financing has a positive and significant impact on CSR through customer (β = 0.609), employee (β = 0.522), and community (β = 0.509) dimensions. The results also show that green tax has a positive and significant impact on CSR through customer (β = 0.183), employee (β = 0.182), and community (β = 0.296) dimensions. The findings of this study provide a deeper understanding of how green financing and green tax practices correlate with CSR, both separately and collectively. The implications of this research extend to multiple stakeholders. For businesses, the results offer strategic insights into how environmentally conscious financial practices align with CSR objectives. Policymakers can draw upon the findings to craft effective regulatory frameworks that incentivize sustainable business behavior. Additionally, stakeholders gain valuable insights into how businesses can harmonize economic success with environmental stewardship, promoting engagement with socially responsible entities. This research marks a distinct contribution to the academic landscape by delving into the synergistic impact of green financing and green tax on CSR, particularly within the distinctive context of Bangladesh. In doing so, it successfully addresses a noticeable void within the existing literature, providing fresh insights into the intricate dynamics and opportunities confronting businesses in developing nations.

Work Will Not Save Us: An Asian American Crip Manifesto

Drawing together disability justice, Asian American studies, and feminist/ queer-of-color labor analysis, this collaboratively authored essay forwards an anti-work manifesto shaped by our lived experiences as sick, disabled and queer Asian American scholars laboring in the academic-industrial complex. This essay offers a two-part intervention: first, it aims to expand nascent conversations on disability politics and its relationship to racial capitalism, and second, it puts forth a critique of the Asian American emphasis on achievement as an instrument of belonging and potential inoculation against racialized violence. It also unfolds in two parts: first, a section on why we refuse work, and second, a section on how to perform this refusal.
 
 As we come to this essay from our respective positionalities in contingent, tenure-stream, and tenured academic loci, as well as from our shared investments in feminist and queer frameworks, the first section mobilizes feminist and queer disability analysis to interrogate the fraught investments in work shared across Asian American and Disability Studies, addressing the complexities of gendered, contingent, care, and service work within the academic landscape (and particularly as we have experienced them). The second section offers a survival guide for navigating the labor demands placed on racialized, queer, and/ or disabled scholars, channeling Asian American rage to move beyond saying “no” and toward saying “fuck off.”

From Social to Mathematical Science: Transforming Economics at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, 1956–85

Within the French academic landscape, the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) stands out as the only institution exclusively devoted to the social sciences. Since its creation in 1947, it has claimed a scientific agenda based on interdisciplinary approaches. Originally, economists had a prominent place within the institution. The so-called realist economists endorsed an empirical and interdisciplinary approach and rejected mathematical and abstract approaches. Yet, in the past fifty years or so, most EHESS economists have conducted model-oriented research and adopted international standards. That transformation was accomplished despite strong opposition from noneconomist social scientists. This article follows the chaotic journey of economics at the EHESS and shows that local institutional configurations shaped the shift in economic methods.

Cultivating the Professional Resilience in University Academics During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

This study examines professional resilience among university academics during the COVID-19 pandemic by utilising Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of interviews conducted with a diverse group of university academics in EduCity Iskandar, Malaysia. In the academic landscape, resilience holds immense importance, particularly during disruptive events like the global pandemic. While previous research has broadly explored resilience, this study focuses specifically on the under-researched profession-related dimension of higher education. The methodology employed semi-structured interviews guided by IPA principles, involving ten university academics, to gain a comprehensive understanding of their experiences. Data collection and analysis were conducted iteratively, revealing three central themes in their narratives. The results highlight the essential aspects of professional resilience among university academics in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. First, participants exhibited an unwavering commitment to their work and students, driven by a profound sense of responsibility. Second, they displayed adept problem-solving skills and sought innovative solutions to navigate challenges. Third, creativity played a pivotal role as university academics harnessed technology to enhance teaching methods and engage students effectively. These findings propose that higher education institutions should prioritise supporting their academic staff through professional development programs that emphasise commitment towards students, problem-solving and technology integration. Encouraging mentorship and promoting collaboration can further enhance the resilience of the academic community. Future research could explore the impact of interventions based on the identified themes and delve into students' experiences during the pandemic, offering a holistic perspective on resilience in higher education. In conclusion, this research underscores the enduring relevance of resilience in higher education, extending its significance beyond exceptional circumstances to the routine challenges faced by university academics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data Stewardship – Austrian National Strategy and Alignment

Within the FAIR Data Austria project, supported by the Federal Ministry for Education, Science, and Research (BMBWF), a national strategy has been established to advance the creation of tailored Data Stewardship solutions for the Austrian context. The strategy, formalized as a toolbox, delineates various Data Steward models, corresponding competencies, and accessible training resources. Despite the crucial role of Data Stewardship in supporting data-driven scientific research, Austrian universities encounter challenges in its implementation. Issues include lack of consensus on the skills, roles, and responsibilities of Data Stewards, coupled with insufficient funding for these positions. This article explores these challenges and emphasizes the importance of addressing them to promote effective Data Stewardship within the Austrian academic landscape.

A Bibliometric Analysis of the Development of Research on Social and Economic Inequality in Developing Countries

This bibliometric analysis explores the landscape of research on social and economic inequality in developing countries, employing a comprehensive approach that integrates co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence patterns, journal mapping, and geographical distribution maps. The study draws on a vast repository of scholarly publications, shedding light on key themes, influential authors, and global research trends. Co-authorship networks reveal collaborative patterns, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding inequality. Keyword co-occurrence patterns identify central themes, highlighting the multifaceted dimensions of social and economic disparities. Journal mapping showcases pivotal platforms shaping the discourse, aiding researchers in navigating the academic landscape. Geographical distribution maps unveil regional concentrations and gaps, prompting nuanced explorations of inequality within specific contexts. The synthesis of these results provides a comprehensive understanding of the field, guiding future research endeavors and informing evidence-based policy interventions for inclusive development.

Where is our way? A collaborative autoethnography of overseas‐educated Chinese female PhDs' academic career decision journey

AbstractGiven the intricate and competitive global academic landscape and Chinese female PhDs' critical situation of being marginalized and otherized, this study aims to examine the academic career decision‐making experiences of three unmarried and childless Chinese female PhD graduates. Collaborative autoethnography is employed to delve into the three authors' experiences and reflections regarding the influential factors impacting their job‐seeking and decision‐making process as recent graduates, who earned their PhD degrees in 2022 from three popular destinations for international students in East Asia, namely Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. Research findings indicate that various contextual and individual factors have shaped the authors' decision‐making and diverse career options were adopted to strike a ‘happy medium’ between long‐term career aspirations and increased competition for academic positions. This study provides implications for policymakers and university administrators to attract highly skilled female international professionals and overseas‐educated Chinese female PhDs considering a professional career in academia.

Study on the Relationship between Research Incentive Mechanisms and Research Outcome Commercialization in Private Higher Education Institutions

This research delves into the intricate relationship between research incentive mechanisms and the commercialization of research outcomes in private higher education institutions (PHEIs). Private higher education institutions have emerged as key players in the global academic landscape, and understanding their strategies for motivating research activities and translating them into real-world applications is paramount. Our study investigates the impact of various research incentive mechanisms, including financial incentives and academic recognition, on research productivity within PHEIs. Through a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys, interviews, and document analysis, we uncover the nuances of these mechanisms and their influence on faculty members, researchers, and administrators. Furthermore, we assess the effectiveness of technology transfer offices (TTOs) in facilitating the commercialization of research outcomes. TTOs serve as critical intermediaries, bridging the gap between academia and industry. We analyze their performance, challenges, and potential strategies for improvement. Case studies from private colleges offer valuable insights into the practical aspects of research outcomes commercialization. These real-world examples highlight the strategies employed and the impact on regional economic development and societal progress. Our research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of how PHEIs harness research incentives to enhance research productivity and drive successful commercialization outcomes. This knowledge is pivotal for policymakers, institutional leaders, and researchers aiming to maximize the impact of research conducted within private higher education institutions.

Religious History in Portugal from Lusitania Sacra (1720) to the Enciclopédia de História Religiosa (2023): An Overview

The religious history in Portugal remains fragmented despite the progress made, especially in the last four decades, compared with other European historiographies. This article intends to identify factors that explain the Portuguese religious history landscape through an exhaustive diachronic presentation of the main works and authors. It aims to present the fundamental milestones of the field’s evolution, both thematically and institutionally. The ambiguous relationship between national memory and the hegemonic Catholic religious tradition, the ideological and political debates surrounding the late modern reset of national identity benchmarks, and the impacts of a dictatorial experience that conditioned the academic landscape for almost 50 years are the reasons for the late emergence of religious history in Portugal and its discreet presence in the academy. After establishing the essential chronology and underlining the main results, this article will outline Portuguese religious historiography’s most pressing tasks and challenges.

Intersecting Traditions and Modernity: Perceptions of Quality Assurance in Outcome-Based Education among Vietnamese University Lecturers

In the continuously evolving landscape of global education, the role of Quality Assurance (QA) in fortifying and maintaining the relevance of teaching and learning processes has grown ever more critical. In this context, Vietnam—a country delicately balancing its rich traditions with a strong push towards modern educational paradigms—offers a unique vantage point. The primary aim of this study was to delve deep into Vietnamese university lecturers’ perceptions regarding the intersection of QA and Outcome-Based Education (OBE), particularly focusing on its ramifications on their academic practices. Adopting a qualitative methodology, we engaged with ten lecturers from two distinct universities in the Mekong Delta. Through semi-structured interviews, participants shared their narratives, which were subsequently analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. This analysis was enriched and contextualized through the lens of established theoretical frameworks. The emergent themes painted a multifaceted picture. While recognizing the transformative potential that QA can bring within the OBE framework, lecturers often found themselves grappling with the challenges of seamlessly integrating traditional teaching methodologies with the demands of OBE. Adding to this complexity were concerns about the potential erosion of the ‘human touch’ in teaching as technological interventions become more pervasive in QA processes. Another intriguing dimension was the interplay of deeply rooted Vietnamese cultural norms with contemporary QA practices, serving at times as barriers while at others as catalysts for innovation. The revelations from this study underscore the imperative for establishing culturally resonant QA systems, crafting comprehensive and contextual training modules, and ensuring a judicious blend of technology and traditional pedagogical practices. While resonating with universal themes in education, the findings also spotlight the nuances specific to Vietnam’s academic landscape, making a case for contextually tailored educational interventions.

Unveiling the gender gap: exploring gender disparities in European academic landscape.

Unveiling the gender gap: exploring gender disparities in European academic landscape.

Revealing the Trends in the Academic Landscape of the Health Care System Using Contextual Topic Modeling

ABSTRACT The health care system encompasses the participation of individuals, groups, agencies, and resources that offer services to address the requirements of the person, community, and population in terms of health. Parallel to the rising debates on the healthcare systems in relation to diseases, treatments, interventions, medication, and clinical practice guidelines, the world is currently discussing the healthcare industry, technology perspectives, and healthcare costs. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare systems research paradigm, we offered a novel contextual topic modeling approach that links up the CombinedTM model with our healthcare Bert to discover the contextual topics in the domain of healthcare. This research work discovered 60 contextual topics among them fifteen topics are the hottest which include smart medical monitoring systems, causes, and effects of stress and anxiety, and healthcare cost estimation and twelve topics are the coldest. Moreover, thirty-three topics are showing in-significant trends. We further investigated various clusters and correlations among the topics exploring inter-topic distance maps which add depth to the understanding of the research structure of this scientific domain. The current study enhances the prior topic modeling methodologies that examine the healthcare literature from a particular disciplinary perspective. It further extends the existing topic modeling approaches that do not incorporate contextual information in the topic discovery process adding contextual information by creating sentence embedding vectors through transformers-based models. We also utilized corpus tuning, the mean pooling technique, and the hugging face tool. Our method gives a higher coherence score as compared to the state-of-the-art models (LSA, LDA, and Ber Topic).

The Contribution of Artificial Intelligence to Stimulating the Innovation of Educational Services and University Programs in Public Administration

In the new contemporary pandemic paradigm, higher education in public administration and beyond knows challenges, barriers, and opportunities for the academic process. Shocks, environmental changes and physical distancing in recent years have led to the implementation of efficient solutions in educational services, based on artificial intelligence (AI). Thus, in the global academic landscape, many international universities have adopted a ‘chatbot’, a digital interface designed to stimulate conversation with people. Modern algorithmic communications have effects, such as: increasing the number of enrollments in public administration programs, improving academic experience and active student participation, while reducing administrative tasks on university staff. This paper aims to provide a glimpse on the perceptions of the potential impact of conversational artificial intelligence on public administration (PA) programs from universities and to reflect on its implications for university leaders and staff work and also on students’ engagement. The paper will focus on how AI tools will help university programs to be more effective, and how technology will support the limited human resources in this sector. In order to gather the data for this research, the interview was used as well as case studies from international universities that have implemented a chatbot. The research findings capture technological and digital advances that will continue to shape the higher education landscape and its curricula, especially in PA programs. As a result, leaders will need to monitor how artificial intelligence, in particular conversational agents, influences universities’ images; attraction and retention for students in PA programs and other important partners; staff productivity, and how to be more proactive in initiating pilot projects. This is one of the few publications that looks at the expectations for conversational AI in higher education today. In this sense, implementing a chatbot can be a competitive advantage in a market where modern technologies weigh heavily and make a difference.

A Holistic Perspective: Investigating the Links between Workplace Spirituality, Organizational Commitment, and Well-Being among Higher Education Professionals

This comprehensive review paper investigates the intricate relationships among workplace spirituality, organizational commitment, and well-being in the distinctive context of higher education institutions. With the overarching goal of cultivating a supportive and spiritually nurturing workplace environment, this study rigorously explores the presence and impact of spiritual support practices in higher education. Employing a systematic research methodology, 25 pertinent articles were meticulously selected from an initial pool of 130 publications, sourced from platforms such as “Google Scholar,” “Scopus,” “Web of Science,” and “Research Gate.” The discussion section critically examines the interplay between workplace spirituality and organizational commitment, underscoring the crucial distinction between organizational and personal spirituality. It further delves into the implications of workplace spirituality on the well-being of higher education professionals, particularly in light of the evolving challenges and opportunities within academia. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic is acknowledged as a transformative force that has highlighted the pivotal role of academic staff in distinguishing educational institutions. In conclusion, this review paper accentuates the transformative potential of workplace spirituality within the competitive academic landscape. It posits that workplace spirituality engenders positive outcomes for individuals, groups, and organizations, playing a pivotal role in enhancing overall effectiveness. The paper underscores the imperative for higher education institutions to nurture agile and motivated teaching staff, prioritizing their well-being and professional growth. By integrating spirituality into the academic milieu, institutions can foster healthier workspaces, attract and retain top-tier talent, and contribute significantly to the holistic development of their faculty members. In summary, this review paper offers a holistic perspective on optimizing the academic work environment by exploring the complex dynamics of workplace spirituality, organizational commitment, and well-being within higher education institutions.

Research Assessment – Navigating Pitfalls and Promoting Change

Watch VIDEO. The main theme of the Munin conference is scholarly communication in its myriad of forms. The push for a reform of research assessment argues for precisely the need to recognize and reward a wider set of research activities and competencies. The demand – and initiative – for change will surely impact how and where research is disseminated and communicated. A key question then is how to evaluate research activities and outputs beyond academic publications. With this panel we welcome a discussion on research assessment that brings together perspectives from all the topics of this year’s Munin conference. We invite you to add your insights and diverse expertise to this panel that will reflect on questions such as: how do we measure the impact of citizen science, or document quality in innovative research practices and scholarly outputs? And how to ensure consensus on assessment methods for a wider and more inclusive range of research activities within a diverse academic landscape?