ABSTRACT In the context of internationalised doctoral education, the oral defence remains an under-researched academic practice. This article presents a comparative case study of two doctoral defences – one in Portugal and one in China – drawing on semi-structured interviews, document analysis and direct observation. It examines how the purpose of the defence is interpreted by participants and institutional regulations, and how interpersonal relationships influence the selection of examining committee members. The findings reveal a discrepancy between formal expectations and participants’ perceptions: ‘unknown’ examiners tend to emphasise assessment and judgement, while ‘known’ examiners highlight formative and ceremonial functions. Supervisors’ influence over examiner selection shapes both the conduct of the defence and the candidate’s experience. These dynamics raise important questions about transparency in doctoral assessment. Universities should consider how committee composition affects the rigour of the defence, and whether revisions to regulatory frameworks are warranted.

Purpose This paper aims to introduce and theorize the concept of “complex digital bureaucracy” to explain the paradox of Qatar’s digital transformation: the coexistence of advanced digital infrastructure with persistent bureaucratic inefficiencies and limited participatory governance. Design/methodology/approach This study draws on 38 semistructured interviews with government officials, private sector representatives, third sector actors and citizens. It uses qualitative thematic analysis to examine how institutional fragmentation, legal ambiguity and restricted civic engagement constrain Qatar’s shift from e-government to integrated digital governance. Findings The findings reveal that, rather than dismantling hierarchical structures, digital systems often reproduce them by centralizing control, entrenching siloed practices and excluding third sector actors from co-production. This paper demonstrates that digital governance requires more than technological adoption; it demands structural, legal and cultural reforms. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to qualitative interviews conducted in Qatar between February and March 2025, which may constrain generalizability. While findings offer rich insights into digital governance in rentier states, they may not fully capture experiences in more pluralistic or low-capacity contexts. Future research could use comparative case studies and quantitative measures to assess whether “complex digital bureaucracy” applies across diverse political economies. Despite these limitations, this paper provides a valuable conceptual tool and highlights the need for integrated approaches to digital governance that move beyond technology-centric explanations. Practical implications For policymakers, this study underscores the necessity of addressing institutional fragmentation, clarifying legal frameworks and promoting interagency interoperability to achieve effective digital governance. Recommendations include developing unified regulatory bodies, enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration and embedding participatory mechanisms for citizens and civil society. By reframing digital transformation as an institutional rather than purely technological project, the paper provides actionable strategies for governments seeking to maximize the benefits of digital tools while avoiding the reproduction of bureaucratic inefficiencies. These insights are particularly relevant for rentier states undergoing rapid modernization. Social implications This research highlights how digital governance models shape citizen–state relations in high-capacity contexts. In Qatar, restricted civic participation and limited inclusion of third sector actors reduce opportunities for public accountability and co-production, contributing to a perception of top-down modernization. The persistence of bureaucratic silos in digital form risks reinforcing social distance between state and society, particularly among youth and civil society groups. By emphasizing participatory reform, the study suggests pathways toward more inclusive digital governance that can strengthen trust, responsiveness and social cohesion in rapidly modernizing states. Originality/value In offering a new theoretical lens and empirical evidence from a high-capacity state, the study contributes to international debates on digital bureaucracy, platform governance and rentier state modernization. The analysis highlights how digital transformation can either reinforce or reform bureaucratic power, providing lessons for digitally ambitious states seeking participatory and accountable governance.

Purpose Quality assurance (QA), once considered a means of evaluation and measurement, has become integral to reputational and managerial issues in universities. This paper aims to examine how four universities in Chile and Colombia internalize quality assurance in response to managerial and market needs. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a comparative qualitative case study design. The authors reviewed institutional documents and interviewed 33 senior managers from two Chilean and two Colombian universities. Findings The translation of quality assurance is increasingly constrained by shared managerial rules, assumptions and practices. The analysis shows that, despite discursive differences in public and private universities, operational practices converge around strategic planning, performance monitoring and indicator-based evaluation. Research limitations/implications The study focuses on the perspectives of senior managers and excludes the views of middle managers, faculty and students. Practical implications Introducing QA schemes with greater flexibility regarding the unique context of different universities, fostering frameworks that recognize institutional diversity and social missions, and creating spaces for open discussion of performance metrics. Social implications Development of QA as an instrument of reflexive governance that reconciles accountability with research and education as public goods that generate public benefits. Originality/value This paper shows how quality assurance has evolved from an evaluative tool into a mechanism of market-driven university governance. It explains this by drawing on academic capitalism, specifically the market and market-like behavior of universities to obtain external resources, as well as the concepts of organizational isomorphism and translation theory.

The development of gluten-free (GF) bakery items is a technological and nutritional challenge due to the absence of gluten, a significant structural protein in conventional bakery products. Plant-derived hydrocolloids have appeared as functional additives capable of substituting for the role of gluten by enhancing dough rheology, water-holding capacity, texture, and shelf life. This review comprehensively categorizes and evaluates major plant-based hydrocolloids such as xanthan gum, guar gum, psyllium, flaxseed, chia, and locust bean gum. Their individual and collective effects on dough behavior, crumb texture, and sensory attributes are examined. Further, emerging patterns in hybrid hydrocolloid systems, clean-label product development, and sustainable sources are discussed. Constraints such as cost, formulation complexity, and low consumer acceptance of certain gums are also taken into account. Comparative tables and case studies describe the functionality of each hydrocolloid, giving practical details on formulation strategies. Future research must be directed toward application-specific optimization, safety regulations, and sensory acceptability to optimize the functionality of GF baked foods.

Laboratory teaching assistants (TAs) crucially shape undergraduates' chemistry learning experiences. However, akin to the Gordian knot metaphor ( i.e. , an intractable problem near impossible to solve), TA pedagogy is intricate and difficult to support by conventional means. More attention is needed to discern the complexities of enacted TA pedagogies and their alignment with equitable and effective teaching. Using Teacher Noticing, Multidimensional Noticing, and teaching for Meaningful Learning, this study involved two focal TAs, Alexandra and Bred, as a comparative case study. We used video research principles and video-stimulated recall interviews to qualitatively investigate how participants' teach acid–base titrations. Our findings indicate that TA efforts related to equitable and effective instructional moves can be both complementary and conflicting. Surprisingly, TAs may actually be the ones meaningfully learning in place of their students. Implications include suggestions for long-term training programs (video club and instructional coaching) that invite TAs to analyse students’ learning via enacted pedagogies. We offer specific, accessible, and practical suggestions to foreground particulate-level interactions, sensemaking, local agriculture, nutrition, and university life when teaching acid–base chemistry. We thus invite our community to interrogate and reimagine what we want as evidence of learning and of teaching to inform shifts in instructional laboratory culture.

Alcohol-impaired driving in Tunisia: Forensic insights and population-level data for North African public health and road safety.

Purpose This paper aims to examine how disruptive presidential leadership reshapes the business–government nexus by analyzing the Trump administration as a critical case of political and economic transformation. It explores how unilateral governance, policy volatility and weaponized interdependence compelled firms to adopt short-term, defensive and state-contingent innovation strategies. Through a comparative analysis of the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations, the study seeks to clarify how differing leadership styles influence corporate behavior, policy uncertainty and long-term institutional resilience. Ultimately, the paper reframes presidential power as a structural force shaping corporate adaptation, innovation trajectories and the stability of capitalist governance. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a comparative qualitative design, integrating theoretical analysis with empirical evidence across the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations. It combines insights from presidential power theory, institutional economics and business strategy to construct an analytical framework linking leadership style to corporate adaptation under policy uncertainty. Data sources include policy documents, economic policy uncertainty indices and secondary literature on trade, innovation and regulation. Comparative case analysis is used to trace causal mechanisms connecting disruptive governance to firm-level strategic responses. This multi-level approach allows for identifying both short-term adaptive behaviors and long-term institutional consequences within the evolving business–government nexus. Findings This study finds that the Trump administration’s disruptive leadership produced policy chaos that often operated as administrative incompetence, forcing firms into defensive, opportunistic and state-contingent innovation. Executive orders, tariffs and regulatory reversals aimed less at creating opportunities than at protecting existing hierarchies. Short-term gains in sectors like semiconductors came alongside fractured supply chains and declining predictability. Firms either aligned with shifting state priorities or diversified abroad to manage volatility. Ultimately, chaotic governance accelerated adaptation, but eroded the coordination, regulatory stability and institutional trust needed for long-term competitiveness. Originality/value This paper reframes presidential power by linking disruptive leadership, and the chaos that signals Trump’s administrative incompetence, to firm-level strategic behavior. Instead of treating policy uncertainty as external, it shows how leadership style and governance design actively produce it. Integrating theories of presidential power, business influence and institutional resilience, the study bridges political science and corporate strategy. A comparison of the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations reveals how politically generated chaos becomes a structural force shaping innovation, exposing the trade-offs between short-term adaptability and long-term institutional stability.

Abstract: This comparative case study compares the experiences of low-income student-mothers living in Democratic- versus Republican-controlled states to interrogate the impact of state aid on their trajectories. Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory as a guide, we argue that liberal aid policies and the state context in which they are enacted facilitate student-mothers' access to and success in college. Findings underscore the critical function that states can serve in implementing policies and programs, particularly for those most in need of support, and point out the inequities facing low-income student-parents shaped significantly by the ruling political parties in different states.

In school settings, language plays a crucial role in the transmission of knowledge. This case study describes and compares the Pedagogical Scientific Language Knowledge (PSLK) of a novice and an experienced junior high school chemistry teacher. Data were collected from 40 classroom observations, as well as semi-structured and post-class interviews. Using the PSLK framework, we evaluated the teachers’ performances across PSLK elements. Results revealed distinct PSLK characteristics and teaching differences between the two educators. The experienced teacher demonstrated effective integration and adaptive optimization of scientific language strategies, including multimodal scaffolding, conceptual-language synergy, and contextualization in real-life situations. In contrast, the novice teacher adopted fragmented and formulaic approaches, characterized by inconsistent terminology use, superficial connections between concepts and language, and limited adaptability in teaching strategies. These findings underscore the need for teacher education programs to explicitly foster the systematic integration and adaptive use of PSLK to support the professional growth of novice teachers.

The enactment of Law Number 27 of 2022 on Personal Data Protection Law (PDP Law) has significant implications for the authority of the Audit Board (BPK) to obtain audit documents. This study employs a normative legal analysis to examine the legal implications of the PDP Law for BPK’s authority, drawing on statutory and comparative legal analysis. The findings indicate that the principle of the “Right to Be Forgotten,” which grants data subjects the right to request data controllers to erase, deactivate, or remove their personal data from electronic systems, is not absolute, as it is subject to statutory limitations and exceptions. This study argues that, although the BPK has attributive authority stemming from the constitution, audit activities related to the management and accountability of state finances are not explicitly covered by the PDP Law's exceptions. Through comparative analysis and case law, this article proposes key suggestions, including the reconceptualization of exception frameworks and the development of a regulatory roadmap, to ensure the effectiveness of audit functions while safeguarding data subjects’ rights.

Objective. This scholarly publication aims to analyze international experience in preparing libraries for emergencies and to highlight the efforts of the V. I. Vernadskyi National Library of Ukraine (NLU) in this area. Methods. To achieve the stated objective, the study employed methods of comparative analysis, systematization, generalization, and case study. Results. The main outcome of the research is the identification of the current level of library preparedness for emergencies. The majority of institutions lack formalized emergency response and cultural heritage preservation plans, or their plans are outdated. This finding is supported by international surveys and the analysis of practices in Southeast Asia and the United States. The case of the V. I. Vernadskyi National Library of Ukraine revealed the implementation of a multi-level system of measures aimed at minimizing risks and ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage under emergency conditions, particularly during wartime. This system has proven effective in countering contemporary threats and has positioned the NLU as a leader in emergency response in times of war. Conclusions. International practice demonstrates that effective emergency planning is a critical factor in minimizing risks for libraries, ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage even in the context of armed conflicts and other disasters. The experience of the V. I. Vernadskyi National Library of Ukraine serves as an example of an integrated approach to emergency preparedness. Such a comprehensive strategy enables not only the minimization of cultural heritage loss but also enhances the resilience of the library system in the face of multidimensional crises. To enhance the effectiveness of libraries' responses to emergencies, particularly in safeguarding cultural heritage, it is essential to implement flexible plans adapted to local realities, ensure continuous staff training, and undertake digital modernization, which should become a standard in contemporary library practice.

Purpose: This article focuses on the transformation from democratic discontent to modern digital dissent as seen in the 2025 uprising led by youth in Nepal, culminating with the election of an interim Prime Minister on Discord as an early example of media activism, and beginning the process of transitioning toward a technocratic order from an actual change through mass protests. The investigation also covered the #ENDSARS protest in Nigeria in 2020 to understand why it failed to achieve the same success enjoyed by the Nepal protests despite both being orchestrated using digital media applications. Methods: A systems comparative case study design was employed to investigate the phenomenon of youth-driven digital disruption in Nepal and Nigeria. This research combines academic sources with proof from global news, policy papers, and studies of digital media about hashtag campaigns and memes on platforms like Discord, TikTok, and X. Findings: The findings attribute Nepal's success to a few things: anti-corruption issues coming together, smart Discord use for command, and an unstable political leadership. On the other hand, even with its digital strength, the #EndSARS movement in Nigeria suffered. Several factors explain the lack of stronger action, most importantly the absence of a clear plan after the protests and the disruption of the protests because of ethnic, sectarian, and religious divisions. Originality: This paper provides a novel comparative framework by juxtaposing Nepal’s successful 2025 ’digital coup’ against Nigeria’s arrested #EndSARS movement to isolate the specific political opportunity structures required for digital dissent to produce tangible change.

Top Elite Rearrangement during Political Succession in the Authoritarian Regime: A Comparative Case Study of Two Successions in North Korea

Environmental sustainability and green technology development is an international need that has driven major developments in environmental technology especially on biodegradable items development and environmental surveillance. It is a critical review of how industrial innovation and policy frameworks can be amalgamated towards the promotion of sustainable environmental management practices. This paper examines and discusses the role of environmental awareness as a foundational element of encouraging the adoption of green technology through systematic study of the environmental education programs of secondary schools in the region of Owerri and Mbaise of Imo State Nigeria. The study is done using comparative case study methodology where data collected on 210 students in six schools are examined to determine the levels of environmental awareness, attitudes, and engagement in environmental activities. Results indicate that 83.7% of the respondents in Owerri and 71.2% in Mbaise exhibit the level of environmental concepts awareness, and the education exposure and pro-environmental behavior have significant correlations. According to the study, the gaps in the content delivery of environmental education are critical with half of students being satisfied with the existing curriculums. The assessment of the development trends in biodegradable materials suggests that there is significant advancement in polymer science, and the focus is on the principles of a circular economy and waste reduction plans. Monitoring systems regarding the environment have also changed considerably with Internet of Things integration and smart city projects, where real-time data can be collected and analyzed. It is observed that industrial innovation should also be seen as a key contributing factor to the development of green technologies, which is sustained by the policy frameworks that promote sustainable practices. The study shows that effective environmental education along with technological innovation and conducive policies have synergistic effects in promoting the environmental sustainability objectives.

Comparative case study of suburb establishment in rapidly growing regions demonstrates the importance of technology assisted decision making in local governance

This article contributes to research on youth democratic engagement by examining Youth Participatory Budgeting (YPB) as a process shaped by institutional, political, and cultural contexts. Based on a comparative case study of Espoo, Finland, and Lublin, Poland, it analyzes the motivations for adopting YPB, its implementation, and perceived outcomes from the perspectives of youth, teachers, civil society actors, and city officials. The analysis utilizes 29 individual and group interviews alongside documentary data and engages with theoretical frameworks concerning youth participation and participatory budgeting. While both cities aim to empower youth and foster civic engagement, Espoo's centralized, city-led model aligns with the Nordic welfare state, whereas Lublin's school-based approach reflects decentralization and NGO involvement. In both cases, YPB promotes youth agency and civic learning but is constrained by limited deliberation, symbolic inclusion, and uneven institutional support. Without long-term commitment to inclusivity and co-ownership, YPB risks remaining symbolic.

This study provides an exploratory analysis of the effects of circular materials and components on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) within the construction industry. With circular economy (CE) principles increasingly integrated into construction, there is an emphasis on resource optimization through reuse, recycling, and waste minimization. These practices support sustainability and economic efficiency but simultaneously bring about unique occupational risks. The transition towards CE in construction necessitates an adaptive approach to safety protocols, ensuring both environmental benefits and worker safety are prioritized.The research evaluates how circular materials such as recycled plastics, reused steel, and innovative composites introduce non-traditional hazards that may compromise worker safety if unaddressed. Traditional OHS practices require modification as these materials may exhibit unpredictable characteristics under stress or deteriorate differently than virgin materials. The potential risks range from respiratory issues due to particulate exposure during material cutting to chemical hazards from residuals in recycled content. This research argues that proactive risk management and detailed material traceability are critical for enhancing OHS in a CE framework.The work adopts a mixed-method approach, including literature review and comparative case studies from four construction companies that integrate CE principles. Data collection incorporates interviews with project managers and OHS officers, accident report analyses, and safety audit reviews to identify safety impacts related to circular materials. Findings highlight a correlation between higher circular material usage and the need for enhanced safety measures, suggesting that comprehensive training on new material properties and risks is essential. Material traceability emerges as a pivotal factor, enabling the identification of hazardous components and facilitating the design of targeted OHS protocols.The findings indicate that CE practices, although beneficial for the environment, introduce complexities to OHS management that require regulatory updates and innovative safety measures. Addressing these challenges would ensure that the construction sector not only meets sustainability goals but also advances worker protection in line with new material technologies. Consequently, the research underscores the importance of aligning CE strategies with robust OHS frameworks, fostering a construction industry that is both resilient and responsible. This dual commitment to sustainability and safety can enhance sectoral competitiveness, particularly in light of growing environmental regulations and resource scarcity.

Climate change presents growing threats to infrastructure in South African municipalities, making it essential to incorporate climate factors into local budgeting activities. Climate-responsive budgeting seeks to align financial resources with priorities for resilience and adaptation to promote sustainable infrastructure development. This research examines how municipalities in South Africa integrate climate responsiveness into their budget distributions and the effects on infrastructure development focus areas. Employing a comparative case study method, the study explores various municipalities to grasp the degree and characteristics of budget changes focused on climate resilience. Data gathering included discussions with municipal officials, review of documents, and consultations with stakeholders. Results indicate a steady rise in investments for climate-resilient infrastructure initiatives, like flood protection and green infrastructure, amid difficulties such as budget limitations, conflicting social demands, and constrained technical expertise. The research finds that although climate-conscious budgeting has favorably impacted infrastructure priorities, reconciling climate and social needs continues to be challenging. It suggests enhancing the effectiveness of climate-sensitive budgeting through institutional strengthening, capacity building, inclusive engagement with stakeholders, and aligning policies. These actions can assist municipalities in promoting resilient, fair, and sustainable infrastructure growth in the face of increasing climate threats.

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the integration of Financial Technology (FinTech) into the Islamic financial ecosystem in Indonesia, focusing on the paradox between its massive market potential and its still-low inclusive realization. The convergence of the world's largest Muslim population, a rapidly growing digital economy, and a developing sharia finance industry places Indonesia in a strategic position. However, behind the positive macro indicators, structural challenges are hindering widespread adoption, primarily due to low levels of Sharia financial literacy and inclusion. The key research gap identified is the lack of a systemic analysis linking the fragmentation of the regulatory framework, specifically the dualism between the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and the fatwas of the National Sharia Council-Indonesian Ulema Council (DSN-MUI), with the public trust deficit that hampers inclusion. Using qualitative methods through a comparative case study approach with Malaysia as a benchmark, this research finds that legal uncertainty arising from an incohesively integrated regulatory framework is the root cause of the low trust and effectiveness of literacy programs. These findings lead to strategic policy recommendations centered on regulatory harmonization to create legal certainty, a fundamental prerequisite for building a sustainable and inclusive Sharia FinTech ecosystem.

This article analyses Vietnam’s concept of “bamboo diplomacy” as a pragmatic instrument of statecraft in an era of intensifying great-power competition. Through qualitative document analysis of official policy statements, party congress reports, bilateral communiqués and contemporaneous media, together with a small set of comparative case studies, the paper traces how Hanoi operationalises resilience, adaptability and selective alignment to defend sovereign interests and expand diplomatic room for manoeuvre. Examining episodes in Vietnam–China maritime interactions, evolving security and economic ties with the United States, and Hanoi’s initiatives within ASEAN, the study identifies three mutually reinforcing pillars of bamboo diplomacy: tactical flexibility to seize strategic openings; principled firmness on core issues such as territorial integrity; and networked multilateralism that leverages diversified partnerships. The evidence indicates that bamboo diplomacy constitutes a calibrated form of soft balancing — avoiding formal military coalitions while deepening partnerships that collectively raise the costs of coercion. The article situates this indigenous diplomatic idiom within contemporary international relations theory and assesses its limits, notably economic dependence on China and constrained defence capacities. It concludes by reflecting on the potential applicability of Vietnam’s approach for other middle powers navigating an increasingly multipolar order.