Diverse Viewpoints Research Articles

Engaging the public in decisions about emergency vaccine deployment strategies: Lessons from scenario-based discussions in Sierra Leone

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified discussions on emergency vaccine deployment strategies, with current perspectives often neglecting extensive community involvement in ethical, logistical and political aspects. Existing social science literature predominantly delves into factors influencing trust, overlooking the untapped potential for community engagement. Our study examines community preparedness in Sierra Leone’s Kambia District, exploring diverse viewpoints on vaccine deployment strategies, emphasising Ebola and COVID-19 vaccinations. Utilising extensive ethnographic research from the Ebola vaccine trials (EBOVAC Salone) conducted in Kambia District from 2015 to 2021, including participant observation and tailored focus group discussions, we investigated various deployment scenarios with community leaders and citizens. Our findings underscore the multifaceted contributions of social science research with communities in shaping emergency vaccination strategies. These contributions span logistical insights, aligning campaigns with local livelihoods and social structures, and grounded ethical concerns assessing social justice outcomes across epidemic scenarios. This study emphasises the imperative of integrating discussions on vaccine confidence and deployment. It highlights communities’ proficiency in epidemiological reasoning and their ability to bring this in conversation with salient socio-cultural, economic and religious dimensions. We therefore promote the cultivation of public dialogue, collaborative creation of impactful vaccination initiatives alongside relevant communities in recognition of their invaluable perspectives .

INSIGHTS INTO YOUNG MINDS: UNVEILING THE SPECTRA OF MARRIAGE PERSPECTIVES

Marriage, a complex social institution, undergoes dynamic shifts influenced by societal, cultural, emotional, and economic factors across different times and regions. The process of mate selection involves a multifaceted interplay of factors, including physical attributes, socio-economic status, and societal norms. The study delved into the marriage perspectives in Bangladesh, examining the attitudes of unmarried young individuals toward marriage and mate selection. Employing a mixed-method research approach, the study collected information from a sample of 319 unmarried young individuals aged between 18 and 35 years, from Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Brahman aria and Camilla districts of Chattogram division in Bangladesh. The study analyzed varied viewpoints on marriage, highlighting it as a bond where individuals live together or as a social, religious, or familial unit. Preferences for love and arranged marriages entailed considerations like mutual understanding, family satisfaction, societal acceptance, and personal desires. Diverse viewpoints emerged regarding traits prioritized when choosing partners. While gentleness, education and beauty were highly valued, socio-economic factors such as economic stability, job status, and religiousness also held significance. Furthermore, participants emphasized differing characteristics when selecting grooms versus brides, demonstrating a distinct set of preferences for each gender. Understanding these perspectives offered valuable insights for policymakers, suggesting initiatives like educational programs on healthy relationships, cultural sensitivity training for matchmakers and advocating for open communication to ensure satisfactory decision-making in marriage. These insights would be helpful to contribute to a deeper comprehension of evolving marital paradigms in Bangladesh, laying the groundwork for informed social policies and a better understanding of the future societal landscape.

Classification and evaluation of the methodology in human capital analysis at a company level

The purpose of the study is to explore the concept of human capital and its inherent factors, as well as to classify various approaches and methodologies for assessing human capital both within individual companies and in the national economy as a whole. This study aims to explore and consolidate methodologies used to assess human capital, offering valuable information for strategic decision making in an organizational context.Research methodology. The study primarily uses a qualitative research approach based on a comprehensive review of both domestic and international literature. Scientific methods such as comparative analysis, systematic analysis, and classification are used.Originality/value of the research. The importance of this research is in the amalgamation of diverse theoretical viewpoints and methods, leading to a holistic comprehension of evaluating human capital and its effects on both organizational effectiveness and societal advancement.Findings. The methodology employed in this study enables organizations to make well-informed choices regarding the allocation of resources, employee growth initiatives, and talent retention strategies. Moreover, the incorporation of the Human Capital Index (HCI) emerges as a pivotal instrument, offering a thorough evaluation of workforce capabilities and their influence on organizational effectiveness. The HCI's capacity to measure the outcomes of human capital investments on productivity, innovation, and the enduring sustainability of the organization underscores its crucial role in shaping strategic decision-making processes.

Beyond Echo Chambers: Unraveling the Impact of Social Media Algorithms on Consumer Behavior and Exploring Pathways to a Diverse Digital Discourse

Purpose: This study delves into the intricate dynamics of how social media algorithms cultivate echo chambers, with a focus on their profound influence on consumer behavior. Methodology: Through an exhaustive review of existing literature and detailed case studies, we explore the mechanisms by which personalized content delivery systems on social media platforms not only reinforce users' pre-existing beliefs and preferences but also significantly impact their consumption patterns, decision-making processes, and overall perception of reality. Findings: Our analysis reveals that while these algorithms are designed to enhance user engagement and satisfaction, they inadvertently foster digital polarization, diminish exposure to diverse viewpoints, and contribute to the spread of misinformation. The paper further investigates the broader societal implications of these echo chambers, including decreased public trust in traditional information sources and the erosion of democratic discourse. To counteract these effects, we propose a multifaceted approach encompassing increased algorithmic transparency, user empowerment through digital literacy education, and policy interventions aimed at encouraging content diversity. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Our recommendations are designed to mitigate the echo chamber effect and foster a more inclusive and well-informed online public sphere. By addressing these challenges, we underscore the need for a concerted effort among stakeholders—including policymakers, educators, and technology developers—to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape and ensure a more diverse and resilient digital environment.

Improvements of complex post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms during a multimodal psychodynamic inpatient rehabilitation treatment – results of an observational single-centre pilot study

ABSTRACT Background: Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) describes chronic disturbances in self-organization (i.e. affect dysregulation; negative self-concept; severe difficulties in relationships) which are frequently observed in survivors of prolonged, repeated or multiple traumatic stressors. So far, evidence of psychodynamic treatment approaches for CPTSD is scarce. Methods: In this single-centre observational pilot study, symptom change during a 6-week psychodynamic inpatient treatment in a multimodal psychosomatic rehabilitation centre was evaluated using repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs). Patients completed questionnaires on PTSD and CPTSD symptoms (ITQ), anxiety, depression and somatization (BSI-18), functional impairment (WHODAS) and epistemic trust, mistrust and credulity (ETMCQ) before (T1) and at the end of treatment (T2). A hierarchical linear regression analysis was calculated to identify factors associated with improved CPTSD symptoms. Results: A total of n = 50 patients with CPTSD were included in the study, of whom n = 40 (80%) completed treatment. Patients reported a significant reduction of CPTSD symptoms during treatment with a large effect size (−3.9 points; p < .001; η 2 = .36), as well as a significant reduction of psychological distress (p < .001; η 2 = .55) and functional impairment (p < .001; η 2 = .59). At the end of treatment, 41.0% of patients no longer fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for CPTSD. Changes in epistemic stance included improved epistemic trust (β = –.34, p = .026) and decreased epistemic credulity (β = .37, p = .017), which together with lower age (β = .43, p = .012) and lower depression levels at baseline (β = .35, p = .054) were significantly associated with baseline adjusted mean change of CPTSD symptoms during therapy and explained 48% of its variance. Discussion: In our study, patients reported a significant reduction of CPTSD symptoms and comorbid symptoms during a multimodal psychodynamic inpatient rehabilitation treatment. Improved epistemic trust may facilitate the establishment of a trusting therapeutic relationship, thus fostering an environment of openness for knowledge transfer (i.e. social learning) and the exploration of diverse viewpoints and perspectives in the therapeutic process.

ShapeAXI: Shape Analysis Explainability and Interpretability.

ShapeAXI represents a cutting-edge framework for shape analysis that leverages a multi-view approach, capturing 3D objects from diverse viewpoints and subsequently analyzing them via 2D Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). We implement an automatic N-fold cross-validation process and aggregate the results across all folds. This ensures insightful explainability heat-maps for each class across every shape, enhancing interpretability and contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the underlying phenomena. We demonstrate the versatility of ShapeAXI through two targeted classification experiments. The first experiment categorizes condyles into healthy and degenerative states. The second, more intricate experiment, engages with shapes extracted from CBCT scans of cleft patients, efficiently classifying them into four severity classes. This innovative application not only aligns with existing medical research but also opens new avenues for specialized cleft patient analysis, holding considerable promise for both scientific exploration and clinical practice. The rich insights derived from ShapeAXI's explainability images reinforce existing knowledge and provide a platform for fresh discovery in the fields of condyle assessment and cleft patient severity classification. As a versatile and interpretative tool, ShapeAXI sets a new benchmark in 3D object interpretation and classification, and its groundbreaking approach hopes to make significant contributions to research and practical applications across various domains. ShapeAXI is available in our GitHub repository https://github.com/DCBIA-OrthoLab/ShapeAXI.

On the Rise of Bansada Agri-Eco Adventure Park in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat: Voices of the Tboli Tribe

This descriptive-qualitative study delves into the multifaceted perceptions of the Tboli indigenous community regarding the establishment of the Bansada Agri-Eco Adventure Park in Titulok, Bangumbayan, Sultan Kudarat. Through in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, the research elucidates the diverse viewpoints encapsulating cultural significance, land contribution, economic prospects, environmental concerns, and community interactions. Ten purposively selected participants voiced a profound pride in showcasing their cultural heritage at the park, seeing it as a platform to preserve traditions and educate visitors about their ancestral practices. Their contributions to ancestral land were deeply intertwined with a sense of responsibility and cultural legacy. Economic empowerment emerged prominently, reflecting transformative shifts in livelihoods and economic prospects for the community, while environmental concerns underscored the delicate balance between development and conservation. Moreover, community interactions highlighted the pivotal role of the Tboli's engagement in decision-making processes, cultural integration within park initiatives, and their emphasis on sustainable development practices. Despite these insights, limitations in sample size, long-term impact assessment, and contextual generalizability were identified. This study offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between indigenous perceptions and local development initiatives, underscoring the need for culturally sensitive, inclusive, and sustainable approaches in such endeavors.

The Relationship between Political Ideology and Social Media Echo Chambers

Purpose: The general purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between political ideology and social media echo chambers. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to political ideology and social media echo chambers. Preliminary empirical review revealed that echo chambers exist on social media platforms, with individuals predominantly exposed to information aligning with their political beliefs. Social Identity Theory and Selective Exposure Theory were instrumental in understanding how users' political affiliations influenced their interactions online, reinforcing echo chambers. These echo chambers, driven by users' desire for ingroup solidarity and selective exposure to like-minded content, posed challenges to democratic discourse and societal cohesion. The study emphasized the importance of addressing these challenges by promoting media literacy, critical thinking, and exposure to diverse viewpoints on social media platforms to foster a more inclusive and deliberative public sphere. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Social Identity theory, Selective Exposure theory and Dual Process theory may be used to anchor future studies on the relationship between political ideology and social media echo chambers. The study provided valuable recommendations that contributed to advancing theoretical understanding, informing practical interventions, and shaping policy responses to the challenges posed by echo chambers in contemporary political discourse. It emphasized the integration of social identity theory and selective exposure theory into theoretical frameworks, highlighting the psychological mechanisms driving the formation of echo chambers. Practically, the study underscored the importance of promoting media literacy and critical thinking skills among social media users, while suggesting that social media platforms play a pivotal role in shaping users' information environments. On the policy front, it emphasized the need for evidence-based interventions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of echo chambers on democratic governance and societal cohesion.

Increasing Trust in Climate Vulnerability Projections

AbstractProjecting future trends is emerging as a key focus of community‐based climate vulnerability assessments. In these mostly qualitative studies, understanding of current vulnerability processes is used as a basis for identifying who and what are vulnerable to future changes, where, and why, and characterizing the key drivers of vulnerability and how they might change. Few, if any, of these studies engage with approaches for validating findings, reflecting the difficulties of validating mostly qualitative projections of highly uncertain futures, absence of directly measurable vulnerability outcomes, and lack of data on vulnerability drivers. Given the challenges of projecting future trends, this absence undermines trust in such work and limits opportunities to learn. This paper illustrates, with examples, how validation can be incorporated into the study design of community‐based climate vulnerability assessments through: (a) examination of retrospective projections to assess projection skill, (b) evaluation of projections made for future time periods which have since passed for consistency with what actually happened, (c) comparison of projections with empirical research that attempts to understand and constrain the effects of climate change using observed effects of weather variation, and (d) incorporation of demonstrated “best practices” into projection development, such as acknowledgment of areas of uncertainty, integration of diverse viewpoints, and utilization of multiple sources of information.

Image Captioning with Multi-Context Synthetic Data

Image captioning requires numerous annotated image-text pairs, resulting in substantial annotation costs. Recently, large models (e.g. diffusion models and large language models) have excelled in producing high-quality images and text. This potential can be harnessed to create synthetic image-text pairs for training captioning models. Synthetic data can improve cost and time efficiency in data collection, allow for customization to specific domains, bootstrap generalization capability for zero-shot performance, and circumvent privacy concerns associated with real-world data. However, existing methods struggle to attain satisfactory performance solely through synthetic data. We identify the issue as generated images from simple descriptions mostly capture a solitary perspective with limited context, failing to align with the intricate scenes prevalent in real-world imagery. To tackle this, we present an innovative pipeline that introduces multi-context data generation. Beginning with an initial text corpus, our approach employs a large language model to extract multiple sentences portraying the same scene from diverse viewpoints. These sentences are then condensed into a single sentence with multiple contexts. Subsequently, we generate intricate images using the condensed captions through diffusion models. Our model is exclusively trained on synthetic image-text pairs crafted through this process. The effectiveness of our pipeline is validated through experimental results in both the in-domain and cross-domain settings, where it achieves state-of-the-art performance on well-known datasets such as MSCOCO, Flickr30k, and NoCaps.

DeepAccident: A Motion and Accident Prediction Benchmark for V2X Autonomous Driving

Safety is the primary priority of autonomous driving. Nevertheless, no published dataset currently supports the direct and explainable safety evaluation for autonomous driving. In this work, we propose DeepAccident, a large-scale dataset generated via a realistic simulator containing diverse accident scenarios that frequently occur in real-world driving. The proposed DeepAccident dataset includes 57K annotated frames and 285K annotated samples, approximately 7 times more than the large-scale nuScenes dataset with 40k annotated samples. In addition, we propose a new task, end-to-end motion and accident prediction, which can be used to directly evaluate the accident prediction ability for different autonomous driving algorithms. Furthermore, for each scenario, we set four vehicles along with one infrastructure to record data, thus providing diverse viewpoints for accident scenarios and enabling V2X (vehicle-to-everything) research on perception and prediction tasks. Finally, we present a baseline V2X model named V2XFormer that demonstrates superior performance for motion and accident prediction and 3D object detection compared to the single-vehicle model.

Synergistic Anchored Contrastive Pre-training for Few-Shot Relation Extraction

Few-shot Relation Extraction (FSRE) aims to extract relational facts from a sparse set of labeled corpora. Recent studies have shown promising results in FSRE by employing Pre-trained Language Models (PLMs) within the framework of supervised contrastive learning, which considers both instances and label facts. However, how to effectively harness massive instance-label pairs to encompass the learned representation with semantic richness in this learning paradigm is not fully explored. To address this gap, we introduce a novel synergistic anchored contrastive pre-training framework. This framework is motivated by the insight that the diverse viewpoints conveyed through instance-label pairs capture incomplete yet complementary intrinsic textual semantics. Specifically, our framework involves a symmetrical contrastive objective that encompasses both sentence-anchored and label-anchored contrastive losses. By combining these two losses, the model establishes a robust and uniform representation space. This space effectively captures the reciprocal alignment of feature distributions among instances and relational facts, simultaneously enhancing the maximization of mutual information across diverse perspectives within the same relation. Experimental results demonstrate that our framework achieves significant performance enhancements compared to baseline models in downstream FSRE tasks. Furthermore, our approach exhibits superior adaptability to handle the challenges of domain shift and zero-shot relation extraction. Our code is available online at https://github.com/AONE-NLP/FSRE-SaCon.

The Influence of social media on Human and Social Communications: A Sociological Study

The study investigates the impact of social media on human communication and societal dynamics through a survey-based approach involving 200 participants. Through the survey, participants' social media usage patterns, perceptions of its influence on human interaction, self-concept, and societal norms were explored. Additionally, qualitative insights were gathered via semi-structured interviews to enrich understanding. Results revealed diverse viewpoints among participants, with a significant acknowledgment of social media's influence on human interaction and societal norms. The study identified varying degrees of behavioural changes attributed to pervasive social media usage, highlighting implications for individual well-being and societal dynamics. Notably, while a substantial proportion agreed on the platform's positive impact on fostering connections and community engagement, dissenting opinions were also observed, indicating a nuanced perspective. In conclusion, the study underscores the complex interplay between social media usage and human behaviour, emphasizing the need for nuanced approaches in understanding its impact. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of contemporary communication patterns and societal norms shaped by social media. The study's implications extend to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, informing strategies for navigating the evolving landscape of digital communication.

Impact of Conservation Agriculture Techniques on Community Livelihoods in the Central Dryzone of Myanmar

Within the context of Myanmar, extensive research has been undertaken to examine various facets of agricultural sector advancement, encompassing economic, social, environmental, and diverse viewpoints. However, limited attention has been directed towards investigating the domain of conservation agriculture (CA), indicating a gap in the existing knowledge. The exploration of indigenous wisdom and methodologies related to CA is of utmost significance. This research employs a combination of descriptive and inferential analyses, supplemented by regression analysis. The research cohort comprises 130 agricultural households actively engaged in diverse CA methodologies within the central dryland area of Myanmar. The results of this study reveal a dual-sided influence of CA practices on local livelihoods, contingent upon the nature of the specific practice as well as the livelihood dimensions under consideration. Notably, CA practices yield advantageous outcomes in terms of both economic prosperity and environmental preservation. However, it is noteworthy that these practices tend to exert unfavorable effects on the social dimensions of livelihoods.

Nudges to Mitigate Confirmation Bias during Web Search on Debated Topics: Support vs. Manipulation

When people use web search engines to find information on debated topics, the search results they encounter can influence opinion formation and practical decision-making with potentially far-reaching consequences for the individual and society. However, current web search engines lack support for information-seeking strategies that enable responsible opinion formation, e.g., by mitigating confirmation bias and motivating engagement with diverse viewpoints. We conducted two preregistered user studies to test the benefits and risks of an intervention aimed at confirmation bias mitigation. In the first study, we tested the effect of warning labels, warning of the risk of confirmation bias, combined with obfuscations, hiding selected search results per default. We observed that obfuscations with warning labels effectively reduce engagement with search results. These initial findings did not allow conclusions about the extent to which the reduced engagement was caused by the warning label (reflective nudging element) versus the obfuscation (automatic nudging element). If obfuscation was the primary cause, this would raise concerns about harming user autonomy. We thus conducted a follow-up study to test the effect of warning labels and obfuscations separately. According to our findings, obfuscations run the risk of manipulating behavior instead of guiding it, while warning labels without obfuscations (purely reflective) do not exhaust processing capacities but encourage users to actively choose to decrease engagement with attitude-confirming search results. Therefore, given the risks and unclear benefits of obfuscations and potentially other automatic nudging elements to guide engagement with information, we call for prioritizing interventions that aim to enhance human cognitive skills and agency instead.

Divergent Views and Common Values: Comparing Sustainability Understandings Across News Media, Businesses, and Consumers

ABSTRACT Sustainability has become a widely used term in public discourse, yet it is connected to a variety of meanings with diverging implications for possible societal, political, and economic solutions. This study identifies and compares how sustainability is constructed by news media, businesses, and consumers to reveal gaps that may hinder mutual understanding when striving for sustainable development. A quantitative content analysis of 282 Dutch news articles, 74 business websites, and 5473 consumer responses finds that news media fails to host a variety of different sustainability understandings. While businesses and consumers appear to mainly follow a sustain-centric view and acknowledge a long-term perspective, news articles are unspecific about their understanding of sustainability or focus on the aspect of energy. The ethical value of caring potentially unifies the diverging worldviews. The article discusses the implications if mainstream news media fail to provide an arena for diverse viewpoints on sustainability. Key policy highlights In the Netherlands, sustainability understandings diverge between news media, businesses, and consumers. Yet, this variety is not reflected in news coverage on sustainability, which implies that mainstream news does not provide an adequate picture of the public debate. Environmental aspects of sustainability are overall more prominent than societal concerns, which are only addressed by businesses. Consumers and businesses acknowledge a long-term perspective on sustainability, showing the influence that political definitions of such a complex public issue can have over decades. The results pertain to the Dutch context, but the diversity of viewpoints on sustainability is expected to be observed in other Western democracies with a pluralist media system.

Signifying unity: exploring the interplay of semiotics, universalism and pluralism in information science

PurposeThe purpose of this study is twofold: first, to provide a nuanced understanding of the information concept that encapsulates both its universal foundations and context-dependent intricacies, and second, to propose a theoretical framework that integrates these diverse viewpoints, thereby contributing to the theoretical discourse and practical applications in information science/studies (IS).Design/methodology/approachThe aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between universalism and pluralism in connection with semiotics. The paper adopts a conceptual approach based on semiotics to address the long-standing debate over the definition of information in IS. By engaging with two foundational semiotic theories—C.S. Peirce's pragmatic semiotics and Ferdinand de Saussure's structuralist semiotics – the research seeks to bridge the conflicting perspectives of universalism and pluralism within the field.FindingsThe findings reveal that Peirce's semiotics, with its universalist core, views information as dynamic and shaped by context, while Saussure's approach, which is rooted in linguistics, emphasizes the relational aspects of sign systems and connects them to pluralism. This comparative analysis facilitates a broad understanding of information that transcends the limitations of singular perspectives. In conclusion, the paper seeks to demonstrate that the integration of universalist and pluralist perspectives through semiotics offers a more holistic approach to the study of information in IS. It contributes to the field by suggesting that the tension between these perspectives is not only reconcilable but also essential for a richer and more complete understanding of information. This theoretical foundation paves the way for future research and practical advancements in IS and advocates for approaches that recognize the complexity and multifaceted nature of information.Research limitations/implicationsThe study engages with theoretical frameworks, predominantly semiotic theories by C.S. Peirce and Ferdinand de Saussure. While this provides a deep conceptual understanding, the lack of empirical data may limit the practical applicability of the findings. The research focuses on two semiotic perspectives, which, although foundational, do not represent the entirety of semiotics or information theory. Other significant semiotic theories and perspectives could provide alternative or complementary insights. The concepts of universalism and pluralism in information science are highly intricate and multifaceted. This study's approach to synthesizing these concepts, while comprehensive, might oversimplify some aspects of these complex paradigms.Originality/valueThe paper's originality lies in its unique integration of semiotic theories into the discourse of IS. This integration offers a novel perspective on understanding the concept of information, bridging the gap between universalist and pluralist approaches. The study presents a new conceptual framework for understanding information that combines elements of universalism (consistent, objective understanding of information) and pluralism (context-dependent, subjective interpretations). This dual approach is relatively unexplored in IS literature, providing fresh insights into the complex nature of information.

Tourism academia: a Horizon 2050 paper

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to chart the history of tourism academia and offer observations as to its future development in the 21st century. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a limited review of the literature and the personal reflections of the authors as its main approaches. Findings In reviewing the multi-generational history of tourism academia, it became apparent that whilst we have become a more scientifically rigorous community of scholars, a challenge for the academy going forward will be how best to cultivate a spirit of understanding among different parts of the academy when presented with viewpoints that do not appear to coalesce with one’s understanding of “truth”. Originality/value This paper contributes to scholarly debates over the history and future of tourism academia by challenging the academy to reflect critically on its increasing diversity and how to incorporate diverse viewpoints into the tourism knowledge canon.

Nurturing multiculturalism in Iranian EFL teacher education: an in-depth scrutiny of experts’ and teachers’ perceptions

Given that Iran is the host of a variety of cultures characterized with diverse languages, viewpoints, and customs, the empty place of multiculturalism in its ELT system is deeply felt. The present study sought to tackle multiculturalism in EFL teacher education in the context of Iran by exploring Iranian EFL experts’ and teachers’ perceptions. The participants of this study consisted of the two groups. The first group included 15 male and female multicultural education experts. The second group of the participants included of 60 (30 males and 30 females) Iranian EFL teachers. To collect the required data, a demographic information scale, two semi-structured interviews and an audio-reflective journal were used. Data analysis was done via qualitative thematic analysis by MAXQDA. As revealed by the results, several themes were extracted as the components of the multicultural EFL teacher education, as uncovered by the experts’ views some of which include Eliminating Race-Related Inequalities, Eliminating Gender-Related Inequalities, and Eliminating Social Class-Related Inequalities. Moreover, the Necessary Communicative Skills, Positive Thinking, Difference Acceptance, and Multicultural Content, Various Evaluation Methods were found as some of the extracted EFL teachers’ perceptions of multicultural EFL teacher education. The findings have some implications for different groups of stakeholders including EFL teachers, teacher educators and teacher education material developers who can take useful insights from the findings in teaching EFL, educating student-teachers and developing future curricula, respectively.

Conceptualising arts entrepreneurship education: bridging the arts and entrepreneurship within higher education settings

Despite the rise of entrepreneurship education within higher education, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education remain overlooked in the arts discipline. Existing research in arts entrepreneurship education is scarce. The current study aims to investigate stakeholder perspectives towards conceptualisations of arts entrepreneurship education within higher education, including that of first and final year undergraduate students, educators and industry professionals in the arts discipline. A questionnaire was administered for preliminary insights towards how arts students understand entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education. Individual interviews were then conducted for in-depth investigation in how arts students, educators and professionals conceptualise and define arts entrepreneurship education. The findings revealed arts students’ perceptions of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education. Moreover, diverse stakeholder viewpoints shed light upon understandings of arts entrepreneurship education, roles of relevant stakeholders and the relationship between entrepreneurship education and arts. This study highlights the value of arts entrepreneurship education, contributing to discussion on addressing gaps between arts and entrepreneurship education, and between higher education and the industry.