Nurse educator education: Quo Vadis?

• Firms’ experiences with corruption outside tax authority have significant adverse spillovers on tax evasion. • Bribes for operating licenses raise firm tax evasion by up to 24.2 percentage points. • Bribes for government contracts increase tax evasion by 2.1 percentage points per contract value percent. • Working capital depletion mediates the corruption–tax evasion link in firms. • Anti-corruption in tax only is insufficient; multisectoral action is needed to curb tax evasion. This study examines the direct and spillover effects of corruption on firms’ tax evasion in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region plagued by both phenomena. Firm-level data on 17 SSA economies spanning 2008–2014 were sourced from the World Bank’s Enterprise Survey. I instrument for endogeneity of corruption using five variables, namely the number of days it takes to (i) clear exports, (ii) clear imports, (iii) obtain an operating license, (iv) time spent by senior management on regulatory compliance, and (v) the extent to which business licenses and permits are an obstacle the firm’s operation. I implemented a battery of endogeneity-correcting estimators: traditional instrumental-variable two-stage least squares (2SLS), Lewbel’s 2SLS, Oster’s bounding analysis, propensity score matching, and Kinky Least Squares. I find that corruption of tax officials (i.e., bribe expected/requested in exchange for a favourable tax inspection) significantly increases tax evasion. More critically, this study challenges prevailing assumptions from European and Central Asian contexts by demonstrating that corruption outside tax authorities—specifically bribes expected/requested in exchange for operating licenses and government contracts—also exerts substantial adverse spillover effect on tax compliance. Firms that perceived/experienced bribe requests in exchange for obtaining operating licenses evaded taxes at rates 24.2 percentage points higher than their counterparts who did not perceive/experience bribe requests in exchange for obtaining operating licenses. In contrast, a percent increase in perceived bribe rates for government contracts corresponded to a 2.1 percentage-point increase in tax evasion. Mediation analysis identifies working capital depletion as a key transmission channel. These findings underscore the need for multisectoral anti-corruption strategies to effectively combat tax evasion and enhance domestic revenue mobilisation in SSA.

Our commentary critically examines whether the widely accepted projection of a global myopia epidemic, most prominently proposed by Holden et al. (2016), adequately reflects the European context. These projections assume that most regions outside Africa and Oceania will follow an East Asian-type trajectory, implying that Western populations with prolonged formal education are on a similar path. By reviewing recent European epidemiological evidence, including meta-analyses, we highlight that myopia prevalence in European young adults remains approximately 20-30%, substantially lower than the 70-90% levels reported in East Asia. We further examine how differences in educational systems, lifestyle patterns, and environmental exposures, particularly time spent outdoors, may contribute to this divergence. Importantly, this commentary evaluates the extent to which methodological factors influence reported prevalence, particularly in pediatric populations where most epidemiological data are generated. Variation in age structure, sampling strategies, and especially the use of non-cycloplegic refraction can inflate prevalence estimates and contribute to the perception of increasing trends. When analyses are restricted to comparable age groups and cycloplegic data, evidence for a substantial temporal increase in Europe becomes less consistent. Through this analysis, we question whether current global projections may overestimate future risk in Europe by extrapolating from fundamentally different populations. Finally, we propose that monitoring strategies combining pragmatic school-based screening with standardized cycloplegic assessment may provide a more accurate and context-specific understanding of trends. Overall, this commentary suggests that a myopia epidemic is not inevitable and that Europe represents a critical test case for understanding how environmental, educational, and cultural factors shape myopia development.

ABSTRACT The rise of ‘dadvertising’, campaigns featuring emotionally engaged, nurturing fathers, highlights how commercial media commodifies masculinity. While studies have accumulated in Anglo-American and Northern European contexts, and a growing body of Turkish scholarship has examined advertising and masculinity, the intersection of paternal emotion work and dadvertising remains underexplored in Turkish scholarship. This paper addresses that gap by examining paternal emotion work in Turkish Father’s Day advertising (2020–2025). Drawing on Hochschild’s distinction between organizational emotional labour and domestic emotion work, Connell’s theory of hegemonic masculinity and Gill’s postfeminist sensibility, the study identifies four discursive formations. First, selective and bounded emotion work stages paternal care as episodic rather than routine. Second, emotional exceptionalism renders fathers’ caregiving heroic. Third, the commodification of paternal affect converts emotional expressiveness into brand capital. Fourth, postfeminist displacement uses individual-choice narratives to obscure the gendered care gap. Ultimately, Turkish dadvertising produces a modernized image of fatherhood that simultaneously reinscribes care inequality by framing men’s emotional participation as exceptional rather than quotidian. The findings contribute to feminist media studies by demonstrating how postfeminist advertising logic operates within a patriarchal, semi-peripheral context and by clarifying crucial conceptual boundaires between emotion work and emotional labour.

ABSTRACT This article examines how religious education in schools shapes the construction of collective religious memory among minority groups, focusing on the Alevis as a religious minority community in European contexts. With increasing migration and official recognition of Alevis in European countries, different conditions for teaching Alevism in public schools have arisen regarding the standardisation and incorporation of Alevi teachings into school curricula. Using a comparative qualitative case study of Turkey, Germany, Austria, and England, the article analyzes how different governance regimes of religious education structure the visibility, standardisation, and legitimacy of Alevi religious knowledge. The findings indicate that while institutional inclusion enhances recognition, it also generates pressures towards standardisation that reshape internal diversity. By advocating for the promotion of common religious values in education, this research seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the role of religious education in shaping collective memory and identity formation and to shed light on the challenges and opportunities for minority religious groups in Europe.

Self-mention clearly establishes the writer’s presence in the text and may enhance the persuasiveness of their arguments. Although widely researched in L2 student and expert academic writing, relatively little attention has been given to self-mention in doctoral writing in European contexts. This corpus-based study compares the use of self-mention in 30 English-medium PhD theses by Czech doctoral students and 30 published research articles by Anglophone scholars in linguistics. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the frequency, forms and functions was conducted in Sketch Engine. Overall, self-mention occurred approximately twice as frequently in the student corpus and was more frequent in every rhetorical section. While students primarily employed self-mention to organise the discourse and project a confident stance, experts tended to use self-mention to put forward claims and justify their methodological decisions. The findings may inform future academic writing instruction for L2 doctoral students in similar contexts aiming to publish their research internationally.

ABSTRACT This study investigates risk-taking behavior among contestants on the TV show Do You Want to Be a Millionaire?, contributing to a literature that has largely focused on Western European and North American contexts. To reduce the influence of contestants’ factual knowledge on observed choices, the analysis focuses on decisions made immediately after the use of the 50/50 lifeline, where the decision environment more closely resembles a binary risky choice and the role of factual knowledge is reduced. Logistic regression is applied to a sample of 200 contestants. The results reveal statistically significant relationships between risk-taking, marital status, and the number of children. The relationship between the number of children and risk-taking appears non-monotonic. Contestants with one child and those with three or more children show significantly higher odds of taking risks, while the coefficient for two children is not statistically significant. Gender does not have a statistically significant effect in any of the model specifications.

This study explores the psychological mechanisms underlying Gaming Disorder (GD) among Polish gamers, situating its findings within broader European and global contexts. Data were collected from a representative sample of Polish gamers (N = 2738; 18-65years, 55.6% women) via an online survey. Participants completed validated self-report measures. Structural equation modelling was used to test a hypothesised model examining these factors as potential predictors and protective variables of GD. Central to the analysis is the role of Desire to dissociate, which significantly influenced all examined variables, particularly Desire Thinking and gaming motives. Desire to dissociate, a form of avoidance, emerged as a core factor, contributing to maladaptive cognitive and motivational processes associated with problematic gaming. Desire Thinking had the strongest association with GD symptoms, supporting theoretical models such as S-REF and I-PACE, which frame it as a perseverative cognitive process sustaining addictive behaviours. Additionally, gaming motives-especially enhancement and social interaction-were linked to GD risk, with online games often replacing traditional social interactions. Importantly, Resilience was identified as a protective factor against both GD symptoms and dissociative tendencies. The study highlights a conceptual overlap between Desire to Dissociate and Immersion, suggesting that excessive Immersion may evolve into dissociative gaming, increasing vulnerability to addiction.

ABSTRACT This article examines how Holocaust remembrance, migration, and postcolonial critique have reshaped history education in Germany. Situating the German case within a wider European context, it reconstructs three pedagogical orientations – liberal-integrative, pluralist, and reflexive – and analyses tensions between ritualised commemoration and critical reflection in plural classrooms. It argues that reflexive pedagogy, though institutionally demanding, offers the most promising framework for democratic learning.

Surgery represents a profound life event rather than merely a clinical procedure, yet comprehensive accounts of the entire perioperative journey remain scarce, particularly in Southern European contexts. This qualitative study explored how adult patients experience perioperative care in a Portuguese hospital, interpreting findings through Meleis' Transitions Theory. Eighteen elective surgery patients participated in semi-structured interviews postoperatively. Thematic analysis revealed that participants experienced surgery as interconnected transitions in which emotional, informational and relational care dimensions proved as vital as technical competence. Eight themes emerged across the surgical journey: preparation, information processing, safety protocols, recovery room awakening, home transition, staff connections, waiting and uncertainty, and postsurgical reflection. Empathetic communication, consistent nursing presence and personalised support fostered security and control, whereas rushed explanations and inadequate follow-up amplified vulnerability. Conceptualising perioperative care as transitions reveals critical nursing intervention points. Structured communication, emotional support, carer engagement and tailored discharge planning are essential components of quality surgical nursing, transforming uncertainty into readiness and facilitating smoother recovery.

ABSTRACT Educational innovation has gained significant traction in the global education reform movement in recent years, with international organizations actively pursuing it. This paper examines the role of the discourse of a network in advancing educational innovation reforms in a Southern European context. Specifically, we explore how the New School 21 network (in Catalan, Escola Nova 21, EN21) has promoted these reforms in Catalonia (Spain). EN21 operated in Catalonia between 2016 and 2019, with two objectives: advising schools and lobbying regional administrations to pursue innovation-oriented educational reforms. Our analysis, grounded in Critical Discourse Analysis, reveals that EN21 propagated discourses of educational crisis, positioning educational innovation as a self-evident policy solution, both in classroom learning practices and school-level organizational arrangements. We conclude by examining the political implications of philanthropic governance within Southern European contexts, focusing on educational reforms, privatization ‘of’ and ‘in’ education, and the broader issues of participation and democracy.

The European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act introduces a novel regulatory category of "unacceptable risk," prohibiting specific AI practices that are deemed fundamentally incompatible with human rights and ethical principles. While much attention has focused on the regulation of high-risk AI systems, particularly in medical contexts, the AI Act's outright bans under Article 5 have received far less scrutiny. This paper addresses that gap by examining how these prohibitions apply to healthcare and public health, which are domains defined by rapid technological uptake, structural vulnerability, and ethically sensitive decision-making. Drawing on the European Commission's 2025 interpretative Guidelines, the paper argues that several health-related AI applications, such as emotion recognition tools, biometric categorisation systems, and technologies that influence or target vulnerable populations, may fall within the scope of the bans. It also shows that the Act's medical and safety exceptions risk weakening the vulnerability protections that the prohibitions aim to secure. By integrating legal analysis with real-world health examples, the paper offers a framework for interpreting these prohibitions and assesses how they should guide the ethical boundaries of AI in healthcare, within and beyond the European context.

Background/Objectives: Population aging has increased the demand for comprehensive and coordinated care for older adults, placing primary health care (PHC) nurses at the forefront of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) implementation. However, limited evidence exists regarding nurses' experiences and educational needs related to CGA across different European healthcare contexts. This study aimed to explore the experiences, perceived challenges, and educational needs of PHC nurses regarding the implementation of CGA in five European countries. Methods: A qualitative study design was employed using five focus groups, one in each participating country: Greece, Iceland, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia. A total of 29 PHC nurses participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Three overarching themes and nine subthemes were identified in relation to good practices in CGA: (1) embracing the complexity of holistic assessment; (2) balancing consistency with flexibility in clinical practice; and (3) advancing professional expertise through structured learning. Participants highlighted the importance of standardized assessment tools and effective multidisciplinary collaboration. At the same time, they reported significant gaps in formal education, limited organizational resources, and insufficient training in cultural competence, which hinder consistent CGA implementation. Conclusions: PHC nurses recognize the value of a holistic and structured approach to CGA but require clearer educational pathways and evidence-based training to address the complex needs of older adults. Strengthening curricula that emphasize interprofessional collaboration, practical competencies, and contextual adaptability may support more effective and sustainable implementation of CGA in primary care settings across Europe.

This study aimed to develop a European definition of Community Health Centres (CHCs) as a model of primary care, assess the acceptability and feasibility of this model among experts, and propose a common framework to guide CHC implementation across European countries. CHCs have existed in Europe for more than five decades and are increasingly recognized as effective models for delivering comprehensive, equitable and integrated primary care. Despite their established global presence, there remains a need to contextualize and define CHCs within Europe's diverse healthcare systems. Building on the International Federation of Community Health Centres (IFCHC) definition, a refined version comprising 35 key statements was developed through expert consultations. A two-round Delphi study was conducted with 31 experts from 16 countries, using five-point Likert-scale questionnaires to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of each statement. All 35 statements were rated as acceptable and feasible (average value >3 on the five-point Likert scale). The most highly rated elements included respect for human rights, accessibility irrespective of socioeconomic status, interprofessional collaboration, and integrated, people-centred care. Although feasibility ratings were slightly lower than acceptability ratings, they improved in the second round, indicating increased consensus. Statements concerning governance, community participation, and responsibility for specific population subgroups received lower feasibility ratings. Overall, the findings demonstrate broad expert consensus on the relevance and adaptability of the CHC model within Europe. While some implementation challenges persist, particularly regarding governance, interprofessional collaboration, and intersectoral coordination, the proposed definition offers a robust foundation for strengthening primary care across diverse European contexts.

Abstract The Toraja cultural landscape represents a living system that unites people, land, and ancestors within an ecological and spiritual continuum transmitted across generations. Tongkonan Sa’pang, one of the traditional settlements within Tondok Lepongan Bulan Tana Matarik Allo , exemplifies this unity through a spatial order grounded in kinship, cosmology, and customary ecological management. In recent decades, however, modernisation, economic pressures, land-use changes, heritage codification, and tourism have begun to disrupt this balance, threatening the continuity of both physical structures and intangible cultural meanings. This condition reflects a broader global trend of heritage commodification, where living traditions risk being reframed as performative heritage products. These challenges highlight the need for preservation strategies that protect not only material integrity but also the symbolic and spiritual values sustaining indigenous life systems. To address this need, the study applies a modified Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) framework designed to capture both tangible and intangible dimensions of the Toraja landscape. This modification is essential because conventional LCA methods, developed within European contexts, focus mainly on visual and morphological aspects, often failing to represent ritual symbolism, kinship-based spatial logic, and cosmological order that underpin indigenous landscapes. The research demonstrates how the LCA method can be reinterpreted and locally adapted to support preservation strategies that respond to ongoing socio-ecological change. The study integrates physical and symbolic data through GIS-based spatial mapping, ethnographic fieldwork, and participatory validation with customary leaders. The findings identify seven landscape character units (LCU(s)) structured into three main zones, reflecting the interconnection between ecological, spiritual, and social systems in the Toraja cultural landscape. The research advances a decolonial perspective that redefines LCA from a technocratic tool into an interpretative framework grounded in indigenous knowledge. Its main contribution lies in developing a community-based, value-driven preservation model that can be contextually applied to other indigenous territories across Southeast Asia.

A cancer diagnosis can impose a financial burden on patients and their families, defined as socio-economic impact (SEI) within a framework of the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI). The Socio-Economic Consequences of Cancer (SEC) study assessed SEI in 25 European countries using the Canadian Financial Index of Toxicity (FIT) instrument, showing substantial variation and supporting the need for a validated Europe-specific instrument. We examined the FIT instrument's validity and reliability in a secondary analysis of the SEC study, exploring whether the SEI framework supported its validation. Factor analyses were performed on the largest subgroup sharing cancer type, language, and country. The aim was to test whether the Canadian model could be replicated or a SEI-based model fit better. Reliability and construct validity were analyzed, followed by configural invariance and Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analysis for cross-country comparability. We used data from Bulgaria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain. The original FIT-instrument failed to replicate in the Spanish sample, leading to an SEI-based model with better fit (CFI = 0.975, RMSEA (90% CI) = 0.104 (0-0.278), χ2 = 18, p = .60). The instrument was reliable. Construct validity was partly confirmed. Configural invariance testing suggested that the SEI-based model's factor structure fits better in Europe, while DIF was identified, implying that direct score comparisons across countries should be done with care. In conclusion, the original FIT-instrument could not be fully validated in Europe whereas the SEI-framework improved score interpretation, supporting its use in developing a validated instrument tailored to the European context.

Erasmus in undergraduate nursing students: A scoping review of mobility experiences.

This study conducts a comparative analysis of the urban regeneration processes in Łódź, Poland, and Yazd, Iran. Despite the fact that both cities share a common historical background in textile manufacturing, they are characterised by distinct political, cultural, and socio-economic contexts. This research synthesises the findings of six doctoral papers to explore the values associated with textile manufacturing heritage, the role of post-industrial functions in urban management, and the determinants influencing urban regeneration. The methodology employed semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, complemented by fieldwork and observational analyses of textile manufacturing heritage sites, with a particular emphasis on revitalisation projects. While the Historic Urban Landscape framework examines the principles of spatial integration, the critical heritage studies approach evaluates the representation of heritage and the construction of meaning. By integrating comparative perspectives from Central European and Middle Eastern contexts, this research provides transferable strategies for policymakers, urban planners, and heritage managers aimed at fostering equitable, culturally informed, and sustainable urban transformation within industrial districts.

ABSTRACT Temporary urbanism has gained prominence in urban studies and planning practice, yet most research focuses on the Global North, particularly Europe, while less attention has been paid to the Global South. This article addresses this gap through insights from Latin America, where temporary urbanism reflects socio-spatial conditions shaped by high levels of informality and distinct urban imaginaries. The paper examines how temporary urbanism takes different forms and meanings across European and Latin American contexts, with particular attention to its role in implementing public spaces in informal neighbourhoods.

Regular physical activity is essential for preventing noncommunicable diseases and benefits both employees and organizations. Although small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) employ most of the European workforce, they are often underrepresented in research on workplace health promotion. Most existing evidence from initiatives to promote health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) focuses on large organizations and lacks insights into feasibility within SMEs. This study aimed to identify real-life HEPA initiatives perceived as most feasible for SMEs and to explore expert consensus on transferable features. We conducted a three-stage hybrid e-Delphi study including a grey literature review, an expert survey, and expert panel discussions, integrating both quantitative scoring and qualitative discussion. Experts independently rated the feasibility of workplace HEPA initiatives and participated in moderated sessions to interpret the findings and identify transferable elements. A total of 714 real-life HEPA initiatives were identified and categorized according to behaviour and intensity. Of these, 390 were evaluated by 17 international experts using predefined criteria, including feasibility by company size. No initiative-level consensus was reached across the WHO European Region. Panellists identified transferable features (most frequently in active-living and exercise/fitness domains) and emphasized adaptability, low-threshold approaches and enterprise size as an indicator. This study contributes a structured analysis of feasible workplace HEPA initiatives for SMEs, using a Delphi-based consensus process. The findings provide guidance for developing practical tools tailored to the needs and capacities of SMEs in the European context.