Society Engagement Research Articles

Human in Xunzi’s Socio-Political Thought: Implications for Educational Reform in Vietnam

This study examines Xunzi’s philosophy on humanity and its relevance to contemporary educational reform in Vietnam. Xunzi, 荀子 (316– 237 BCE), a prominent philosopher of ancient China, is known for his assertion that “human nature is inherently evil.” His socio-political philosophy emphasizes the role of education in shaping human character and fostering social order. Through a materialist perspective, Xunzi proposed methods such as self-cultivation, adherence to moral principles, and active engagement in society as pathways to achieving individual and societal harmony. The study highlights the historical significance of Xunzi’s ideas in addressing modern educational challenges in Vietnam, including the identification and development of talent, the prioritization of moral education, the central role of teachers, and the implementation of diverse and dynamic teaching methods. The findings suggest that Xunzi’s philosophical insights offer valuable lessons for building an education system that aligns with the principles of equity, innovation, and moral integrity in a rapidly changing society.

Implementation of STEM Education in Schools: A Bibliometric Analysis (2003-2024)

STEM education offers significant benefits, including improving students' ability to solve problems, think critically and innovate. It not only prepares students to enter the workforce, but also facilitates their engagement in society at large. The main objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of STEM education research from 2003 to 2024. It will identify the most prolific affiliations, sources, authors and documents as well as key research themes and trends in STEM education. This research is a bibliometric study with a PRISMA design that will help the authors to map the Scopus database. From the results of the above analysis, it can be concluded that the implementation of STEM education in schools shows a significantly increasing trend over the period 2003-2024, with a surge of publications starting in 2018 and peaking in 2020 and 2021 with 18 publications per year each. Asia was the most productive continent, with 47.52% of articles published by affiliates from this region, dominated by seven affiliates from countries such as Vietnam, Hong Kong, Turkey and Malaysia. Europe and Australia also showed high productivity with significant contributions from universities in countries such as Germany, Ireland, Greece and Australia

The COVID-19 pandemic and young people's civic engagement: A scoping review.

This scoping review summarizes evidence regarding the impact of civic and community engagement of young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing that the global pandemic not only brought challenges but also new opportunities to take a stance and to actively engage in communities and society, this review assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people's civic engagement across different cultural contexts and identifies key factors and processes that enable young people to engage with their community or society at large. We summarize evidence from 27 original research papers, one thought piece, and four reports conducted by global organizations such as the United Nations and OECD. Relevant research was conducted in the United States, Europe, China, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and New Zealand, addressing the development of leadership skills, civic responsibility, critical consciousness, civic and community engagement, as well as social integration. Key factors that facilitated civic engagement include national investments in online learning facilities, support for basic needs (such as education, health, and employment), and promotion and encouragement of local initiatives. The studies differed in their focus depending on the socio-cultural context encountered and future research needs to consider cultural variations and different demands on young people to inform effective practices for supporting young people's active engagement in society.

Do Social Trust and a Sense of Community Matter for the Engagement of Australian Migrants?

Previous studies have shown mixed results regarding the potential association between trust and community participation. Only a few studies comprehensively investigated the relationship between different forms of social trust. Most of the previous studies distinguished the different forms of social trust separately. This article investigated trust and a sense of community with a more comprehensive framework in a rarely investigated population, migrants in Australia. The increasing social capital approach has been gaining importance in studying the social/political participation of (ethnic) minorities as this has primarily been seen to suit 'ethnic' social capital. The article aims to fill the theoretical gap by including trust and a sense of community and examining their associations with civil engagement in society using the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey data, a longitudinal survey in Australia with a particular focus on bringing the heterogeneities among groups of migrants. There has been an increasing number of people born overseas-a third of the population, according to the latest Australian Census in 2021. The results show that it is likely that the Australian-born population requires trust to engage in the community, particularly, in the case of volunteering, but this is not significant in the case of migrants. A high sense of community matters for both types of participation, political and volunteering, among Australian-born and the first generation of migrants. The results for the second generation of migrants in the context of trust and sense of community are limited, and other factors may influence their community engagement.

Analyzing the Relationship Between Housing and Social Engagement Among the Elderly

Utilizing a large-scale public health survey in Sweden, this paper analyzes the relationship between the fraction of elderly above the age of 80 who live in various tenure forms, and their social engagement. Social engagement is a measure of both social interaction with others, and overall engagement in society. This measure has an established relationship with mental and physical health, even as the causal mechanism are still understudied. Across 130 municipalities, we find that a higher fraction of elderly living in elderly housing is associated with a lower fraction of elderly classified as having a low level of social engagement. We also find that a higher fraction of elderly living in single-family houses is associated with a higher fraction of elderly classified as having a low level of social engagement. The results support that closer proximity to neighbors, and potentially the engagement offered through services in elderly care, increases overall social engagement among the elderly, thereby also assumably promoting better mental and physical health. We elaborate on the relationship between the findings, and housing policies toward elderly populations.

Threats to Democracy: A Theological Response

This paper adopts a theological perspective to reflect on the question of what a response by Christian churches, and individual Christians, should be vis-à-vis current threats to democracy. The paper proceeds in three steps. First, an analysis of the problem, with a particular regard to the European context, is provided by exploring some examples of the contemporary threats to democracy. Second, a number of approaches are outlined based on theological resources in order to address the problem constructively and to build resilience. Finally, an argument is made that hope represents the criterion that should give orientation and sustain Christian deliberation on and engagement in society, including political life. While shaped by the Protest background and affiliation of its author and written from the post-communist, Central European context, this paper strives for a wider ecumenical outlook and engagement, seeking a broader relevance and implications beyond the boundaries of Christian churches.

Civil Society's Role in Shaping Political Discourse: Comparative Analysis


 
 
 This comparative analysis explores the pivotal role of civil society in shaping political discourse across different socio-political contexts. Through a qualitative approach, this study delves into the dynamics of civil society engagement and its impact on political discourse through an extensive review of literature and library research. The study examines various case studies and empirical evidence from diverse regions to elucidate the multifaceted nature of civil society's influence on political discourse. The findings reveal that civil society organizations play a crucial role in promoting pluralistic and inclusive political discourse by fostering dialogue, advocacy, and civic engagement. Moreover, the comparative analysis highlights the significance of contextual factors such as historical legacies, institutional frameworks, and socio-cultural dynamics in shaping the effectiveness of civil society's engagement in political discourse. The study underscores the need for further research to explore the nuances of civil society's role in different political environments and to identify best practices for enhancing its contribution to democratic governance. By shedding light on the comparative dynamics of civil society's engagement in political discourse, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which civil society can promote democratic values and foster informed and inclusive political debates.
 
 

“Being a Global Citizen”: Australian Secondary Teacher Librarians in the Changing Information Landscape

Teacher librarians (TLs) play a central role in developing students’ information literacy capabilities, which are vital for effective participation in formal education and active engagement in society. This research enhances insights into information literacy instruction in Australian secondary schools, by investigating the perceptions of practicing TLs regarding the information literacy needs of teachers and students. This article presents the groundwork for this investigation, employing a phenomenological approach and discussing findings from an initial survey. The study will inform TL education and improve current information literacy education practices, addressing the demand for nurturing 21st century skills embedded in the Australian Curriculum.

Missionary Dilemmas in Times of Persecution Case Ethiopia

Under the Communist regime in Ethiopia, 1974-1991, the evangelical churches were subject to severe persecution, with more than 3,000 church buildings closed and pastors imprisoned, tortured, and killed. In this situation a group of missionaries was asked by the leadership of the Lutheran church to pass on information to the Lutheran World Federation. This was a politically charged request and, therefore, a risky undertaking. At the same time the harassment of the churches constituted serious breaches of human rights. This article explores the dilemmas of conscience of the missionaries and how the dilemmas were solved. At the same time, the article sheds light on dilemmas of missions and churches, locally and internationally, in relation to brutal dictatorships. It also shows how a church is forced from a position of critical engagement in society to submission and silence.

РОЛЬ ІНФОРМАЦІЙНО-КОМУНІКАЦІЙНИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ У ПОЛІТИЧНІЙ КОМУНІКАЦІЇ: ВПЛИВ ЦИФРОВИХ ПЛАТФОРМ НА МАНІПУЛЮВАННЯ ГРОМАДСЬКОЮ ДУМКОЮ

The article examines the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on modern social, political and economic processes, as well as on political processes and public administration. Olso,analyzes the development of ICT’s, in particular the convergence of media and their impact on public opinion, the growing role of social media and online communications, as well as the risks associated with manipulative technologies and social control. Considerable attention is paid to the development of e-governance in Ukraine, in particular the mobile application “Diia” and its newest features that emerged during the war, which facilitate the provision of public services online and support citizens. The author emphasizes the importance of ICT implementation for effective public administration, consolidation of society and transparency in relations between the state, citizens and business.The author analyzes how digital technologies are changing the way the state and citizens interact, stimulating public participation in democratic processes. The paper presents various models of e-democracy that contribute to the activation of civic engagement and improvement of transparency of public administration. In addition, the main challenges and opportunities that arise in the process of integrating ICT’s into public administrations are discussed. The active use of digital platforms can significantly improve the quality of public services, increase the level of public trust in the authorities, and contribute to the sustainable development of society.It is determined that the development of information systems and the introduction of the latest information technologies into the activities of public authorities and local self-government bodies of Ukraine is recognized as one of the priority areas of state policy. The effectiveness of civil servants, their professionalism and competence is based on the ability to use various information technology tools, universal office programs, etc. The results of the study confirm the significant potential of digital technologies to improve the efficiency of e-governance and enhance civic engagement in society.

Volunteer programs, empowerment, and life satisfaction in Jordan: mapping local knowledge and systems change to inform public policy and science diplomacy.

Volunteering in the community is thought to provide unique benefits to people who experience limited engagement in society. In the global South, volunteer programs are often framed as empowering women and benefiting the poor, without empirical evidence or systematic investigation of what this means from a local perspective. For this reason, it is critical to represent stakeholder knowledge, understand how change happens systemically, and reduce cultural bias in scientific inquiry and public policy. As such, efforts to respect diverse narratives and problem-solving approaches are key to science diplomacy - they help us understand cultural relevance, program efficacy, and for whom a program is considered transformative. This study shows how Syrian refugee and Jordanian women, living in resource-poor families, articulated (i) concepts of empowerment and life satisfaction and (ii) the benefits of engaging in community-based volunteering programs. Through engaging in a participatory methodology known as Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping, women generated visual representations of these constructs and cause-and-effect reasoning. They identified several dimensions of empowerment (e.g., cultural, financial, and psychological empowerment) and several meanings of life satisfaction (e.g. adaptation, acceptance, and contentment). They also mapped connections between variables, identifying those that might catalyze change. We were specifically interested in evaluating understandings of We Love Reading, a program that trains volunteers to become changemakers in their local community. In simulations, we modelled how employment, education, money, and volunteering would drive system change, with notable results on cultural empowerment. Through visual maps and scenarios of change, the study demonstrates a participatory approach to localizing knowledge and evaluating programs. This is key to improving scientific enquiry and public policy.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Practice of Environmental Education in the Amazon Context: a Legal-Constitutional Approach

This work aims to analyze the challenges and opportunities encountered in the practice of environmental education in the Amazonian context, adopting a legal-constitutional approach. The methodology used consists of a literature review and critical analysis of studies, laws, and legal documents related to environmental education and environmental protection in the Amazon region. The originality and relevance of this study lie in filling a theoretical gap by investigating how the legal-constitutional approach can contribute to the effectiveness of environmental education in the Amazon. Furthermore, the addressed theme holds great academic and social significance, considering the importance of the Amazon region for global biodiversity and the fundamental role of environmental education in awareness and environmental preservation. The main results indicate the need for greater integration between legal-constitutional aspects and the practice of environmental education in the Amazon region. The legal approach contributes to strengthening legal instruments for environmental protection and promoting greater awareness and engagement of society in preserving the Amazon. The theoretical and methodological contributions of this study are related to understanding the importance of the legal-constitutional framework as a fundamental support for the effectiveness of environmental education. Additionally, the social and environmental implications are significant, as effective environmental education can promote public awareness and encourage sustainable practices, thereby contributing to the preservation of the environment and sustainable development of the Amazon region.

“When you are a parent of an autistic child, the responsibility is put on you a lot” - Learning from parents’ experiences and expectations of speech and language therapy services for autistic children in Ireland.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviours. Historically framed within the medical model paradigm, there are increasing calls from the autistic community to reframe autism, using the social model paradigm and embracing neurodiversity. Autistic individuals account for 1-2% of the population and access a variety of services, such as Speech & Language Therapy (SLT), which support autistic individuals' engagement in society. 
 There is a disparity of SLT services available for autistic people in Ireland and parents’ perceptions of services have not been investigated before. We aimed to investigate the parental experiences and expectations of SLT services for autistic children and make recommendations for stakeholders of autism service provision. This presentation is relevant to anyone interested in researching service users’ / parental perceptions and how they can guide the provision of care.
 This research formed a part of a Master’s degree. It was developed by a team of researchers representing SLT and social care services. The initial idea originated from clinical practice, where parents often voiced their concerns and expectations of care. 
 Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used as a methodological framework for this study. Participants were parents of autistic children living in the Munster province of Ireland, and they were not previously known to the research team. Individual, semi-structured interviews were carried out to identify participants’ understanding of how they made sense of their experiences. Data was analysed in depth at an individual level before group analysis took place. 
 
 Five themes emerged during group analysis: 
 1) The journey of parenting an autistic child, 
 2) The journey of experiencing services for autistic children, 
 3) The journey of navigating SLT services, 
 4) The journey of evolving therapeutic relationships and desirable clinical qualities,
 5) The journey of evolving parental expectations of changes to services for autistic children.
 Parents’ understanding of SLT services for autism was fraught with doubts about the public health system and the financial burden of accessing private services. Parents’ searches for services revealed significant wait times and barriers to access supports. Parents desired speech and language (SLTs) with clinical experience and understanding of parents’ roles in SLT. The need for reduced waiting periods for services and compassionate support for families of autistic children was also reported.
 Findings provide insight into parents’ evolving expectations and suggested changes for services for autistic children, which are important for autism service providers. Future research should focus on autistic individuals’ and SLTs experiences of SLT services for autism.

Peningkatan Literasi Kewarganegaraan dan Kesadaran Multikulturalisme pada Masyarakat Papua Selatan

Civic literacy is something that comes along with civic learning in formal education, but this limits people's understanding of how to implement their civic engagement in society. This community service focuses on two main things, namely, civic literacy and also multicultural awareness. This service activity was carried out on the South Papuan community involved in various youth organizations as many as 24 people consisting of various demographic representations. The results of this service show a change in behavior patterns and perceptions presented in the results and discussion section.

The Significance of Primary Social Studies Content Organization in Fostering Knowledge, Skills, and Values for Cohesion and Integration in Kenya

The field of Social Studies (SS) plays a crucial role in nurturing students' knowledge, intellectual abilities, and democratic disposition, all of which are essential for active engagement in society. The SS curriculum is designed to address the demands, challenges, and aspirations of society, aiding students in developing appropriate and virtuous values. This study aimed to explore the structure of primary Social Studies content and assess its potential for cultivating the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to promote national cohesion and integration. It adopted a descriptive survey design, employing stratified and random sampling methods to select 1,195 participants, including 940 students, 188 social studies teachers, 47 head teachers from primary schools, and 12 Curriculum Support Officers from six sub-counties within Uasin Gishu County. Data collection involved the use of questionnaires for teachers and CSOs, observation guides for social studies teachers, interview schedules for head teachers and CSOs, and focus group discussion guides for pupils. The data was analyzed descriptively and presented in the form of tables, percentages, means, and figures. The study findings revealed that the primary school Social Studies curriculum is well-structured with a systematic breakdown into smaller units that promote social cohesion. Moreover, it aligns with eight national education goals, six of which are closely linked to interpersonal relationships. However, there is room for improvement, and the study recommends the inclusion of areas that have been omitted, particularly citizenship education, to enhance the curriculum's comprehensiveness in educating students about peaceful coexistence. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the necessity for a more holistic approach that encompasses all facets of citizenship education to better equip students for peaceful and harmonious coexistence in a diverse society.

Riding the waves of discomforts: Reflecting on the dialogue of hydrologists with society

Although there is a deep historical relationship between hydrology and society, the relationship has considerably evolved in the last three decades. Hydrologists, in particular those involved in designing of decision-support tools, are experiencing a widening gap between an academic discipline which has progressively moved away from field-based applied natural science to computational hydrology, and the multiplication of stakeholders involved in the water-related issues addressed by research. The challenge for hydrology is now to negotiate this shift and to rethink its engagement in society. This paper provides a description of a planned process designed to improve hydrology-society interactions and to foster reflexivity in socio-hydrology. Based on an interdisciplinary reflexive process undertaken in Tunisia from 2016 to 2020, we identified three types of discomforts in the dialogue with society, inviting scientists to lucidly engage with these discomforts. We formulated four key reflexive propositions to achieve a better alignment of scientific stance, research practices and discourse. The first proposition concerns the need to explain more clearly the value systems scientists engage in and with society. The second concerns the need to position hydrology in society and not outside it, by reconsidering the functions that research fulfils in society. The third is an invitation to redefine the perimeter of the research interlocutors and the way to reach them. The fourth is to revisit scientific practices to build on the strengths of the dialogue between field-based natural science and computational hydrology. The paper concludes that adopting a reflexive posture towards these four dimensions of the dialogue between hydrology and society is an effective way to overcome discomforts and to refocus research stance, practices and discourse. It is a way to renew hydrology's place in society and to contribute to the current thinking in socio-hydrology initiated by hydrologists.

Under the Veil of Tolerance: Critics on Tolerant City Index

Religious tolerance in Indonesia has become phenomenal in the last decades after Setara Institute was established alongside other NGOs such as Wahid Foundation. There is an annual index of tolerant and intolerant cities in Indonesia conducted by the Setara Institute. Other religious indexes are also mentioned, such as the index of Freedom of Religion and Belief (FORB) by Wahid Foundation and the Religious Harmony index by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This index shows the interreligious relations within society and measures tolerance from the FORB index. To some extent, this index led to the competition of cities in Indonesia to be the most tolerant. This research examines the problem within the index from a philosophical perspective. Furthermore, the effect of the religious tolerance index on local government policies and everyday engagement in society will be addressed. This research uses a qualitative analysis method and collects data through library research. This research shows some problems in the index, such as binary opposition and generalized intolerant action with religious motives. In addition, the tolerance tends to move into pragmatic tolerance instead of mutual tolerance after the index emerges.

Senior Immigrant Women and Participation in Voluntary Services in Norway.

In Norway, there is a rising trend in the number of senior immigrants. Engagement in society is known to be crucial to their well-being and health, with participation in voluntary activities being one way of partaking in a community. A qualitative study was conducted, involving 12 immigrant women aged 50 years and above. Semi-structured interviews were utilized to gain insight into their experiences of participation in activities, aiming to identify both facilitators and barriers to their engagement in activities provided by voluntary organizations. The analysis resulted in two main themes and five sub-themes. According to the women's experience, learning Norwegian was important for successful integration. They also emphasized the importance of social relationships for improved self-perceived health and a sense of belonging in a community. Language challenges and limited social integration were barriers negatively impacting their participation, with health being a crucial factor determining their capacity to engage in voluntary services. Since most of the women talked about their health, this became an important topic of further investigation. This article is a contribution towards gaining further insight into the experiences of senior immigrant women participating in voluntary services and explores the challenges faced by voluntary organizations in improving information dissemination and minimizing barriers to participation. Public health competence can improve knowledge regarding facilitating health-promoting participation in voluntary services.

Does Active Aging Reduce Mortality Risk Among Older Adults? A Survival Analysis in Malaysia.

Active aging is important for promoting the health, wellbeing, and participation of older adults. This study investigated the association between active aging and mortality risk among 2 230 respondents aged 60 and older. Principal component analysis extracted a five-factor structure from 15 indicators of active aging. The mean active aging score was 55.57 and the median was 53.33. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that individuals with active aging scores of 53.33 and above had significantly longer survival than those below the median. Cox regression analysis indicated the significance of active aging in reducing mortality risk by 2.5% after adjusting for sex, marital status, age, ethnicity, chronic diseases, and risk factors. The active aging approach comprising health, economic, and social factors is crucial in improving survival among older adults. Hence, policies and programs that promote active aging should be encouraged to enhance the health and wellbeing of older adults and their engagement in society.

For what it’s worth: European Arts & humanities graduates’ employability and their engagement in society

How do European Arts and Humanities (A&H) graduates contribute to their economies and societies? This paper aims to answer this challenging research question by analysing data from the 2018 pilot Eurograduate survey of graduates. The article explores the monitoring of employment dynamics and considers the labour market outcomes of A&H graduates compared to other graduate groups. Our analysis enables an understanding of the utilisation of A&H graduates’ knowledge and skills in the current employment market (job-qualification match) and more specifically, their contribution to legal, social and cultural occupations. The dataset variables enable an exploration of the multiple contributions made by A&H graduates to other aspects of contemporary society. Specifically, we examine graduates’ volunteering activity during and after their degree, alongside other forms of civic engagement, including political and social action. The findings contribute to the broader debate on the value and impact of A&H degrees beyond measurements of graduate earnings.