Knowledge Exchange Research Articles

Acceptability and feasibility of pre-exposure prophylaxis for bacterial STIs: a systematic review

Background A recent resurgence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is placing a major burden on high-risk populations, physicians, and the healthcare system. Treatment in the form of antibiotic pre-exposure prophylaxis (STI PrEP) is a potential solution. However, little is known about the acceptability and feasibility of this approach in high-risk populations. Methods A comprehensive search strategy was developed and executed in October 2024 across six databases adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Results Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were all conducted in high-income countries, used various methods, and all focussed on sexual minority men. Findings consistently identified moderate to high levels of acceptability among GBMSM (54.3% - 67.5%). Factors such as engagement in perceived ‘high risk’ sexual encounters, and past diagnosis of STIs strengthened acceptability, while others (e.g., antimicrobial resistance concerns and stigma) act as barriers. Only one study included the perspectives of healthcare workers, indicating a moderate willingness to prescribe, which would increase under governing-body endorsement. Discussion Overall, while there is some promise of STI PrEP acceptability among GBMSM, vast gaps in knowledge remain. Knowledge transfer and feasibility and, hence, the sustainability and capacity needed for the success of STI PrEP is yet to be examined and understood. However, for STI PrEP to be successfully adopted, it is essential not only to assess its acceptability and feasibility but also to focus on knowledge transfer. Knowledge transfer is a dynamic and iterative process, involving the synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and application of knowledge in an ethically sound manner. This process supports the improvement of health outcomes, strengthens healthcare systems, and ensures that healthcare interventions, such as STI PrEP, are effectively understood and implemented by both healthcare providers and at-risk populations. Similarly, the perspectives of populations beyond GBMSM have been omitted, and there is little understanding of the impact of their differing socio-cultural contexts around sex-related behaviour and Western pharmaceutical healthcare interventions on their acceptance and uptake. Conclusion Further research into acceptability, feasibility and knowledge transfer among diverse high-risk groups, healthcare professionals, and policymakers is necessary to create a strong foundation for implementing STI PrEP.

The role of the Project Management Office (PMO) in knowledge management and transfer: A systematic literature review and future research agenda

The Project Management Office (PMO) has evolved to become central in addressing challenges related to communication, control, competence, and culture within project-based organisations (PBOs). This paper presents a systematic literature review aimed at synthesising current research on the specific role of the PMO in knowledge management and transfer (KM/KT). Fueled by three major academic databases, 55 peer-reviewed articles from the past decade are analysed. The review identifies key themes, including PMO implementation and maturity, governance and stakeholder management, and the mechanisms of knowledge management. Findings reveal the fragmented nature of existing literature and highlight the strategic importance of the PMO in facilitating knowledge flow and managing project uncertainty. The paper identifies gaps in current research, particularly regarding PMO maturity measurement, governance in Agile contexts, and adoptive culture, and proposes directions for future studies to enhance the PMO's role in diverse organisational settings. Keywords: Governance, Literature Review, Organisational Design, Pmo, Project Management Office, Transformation.

Enhancing cognitive metrics in supply chain management through information and knowledge exchange

PurposeThis research primarily aims to investigate the impact of organizational implants on knowledge transmission, process innovation and security integration in intricate supply chains.Design/methodology/approachThe research utilizes a mixed-method approach, employing a stratified sampling strategy to get a representative sample of 1,284 enterprises from various sectors within the logistics industry within the European Union. Data were gathered by computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) and analysed utilizing structural equation modelling (SEM) to evaluate hypotheses concerning cognitive congruence, process diffusion and security integration.FindingsThe results indicate that while task interdependence clearly improves face-to-face communication, excessive cognitive congruence can hinder process innovation, resulting in what the article terms “cognitive rigidity.” The study suggests that achieving a balance between cognitive congruence and cognitive flexibility is crucial to improving the safety diffusion and integration process.Originality/valueThis study presents an innovative conceptual framework that synthesizes cognitive congruence, cognitive flexibility and cognitive rigidity to examine their combined influence on knowledge transfer and process dissemination throughout supply chains. It presents cognitive stiffness as a boundary condition, contesting the conventional belief that more cognitive congruence is invariably advantageous.

Reflections-on-Action: Using Critical Disability Studies to Reconceptualize the Net Work of Social Work Students in Interprofessional Simulations

This article demonstrates how an analysis of the net work of medical social work students in an interprofessional Standardized Patient Program (i.e., healthcare simulation) reveals the productive potential of a Critical Disability Studies orientation to writing studies and workplace research. Standardized Patient Programs were created as a method for uniformly assessing healthcare students’ interpersonal interactions with patients. In practice, they evolved to additionally standardize the professional attitudes and behaviors of students. Structured around three emergent claims, this article uses novel and established technical-rhetorical concepts to unpack how social work students comprehend and navigate issues of power, collaboration, and knowledge exchange within a Standardized Patient Program. And when these claims are further analyzed through a Critical Disability Studies lens, they reveal how disability-related disruptions can constructively challenge medicalized stances toward disability as well as understandings of collaborative labor, workplace/simulation-based writing, and professional discourse.

Challenges and Opportunities for Implementing Green Chemistry in Nigerian Universities: Educational and Policy Perspectives

This study examines green chemistry's emergence in Nigerian universities through analysis of perspectives from an 8-member focus group of experts in nanochemistry, green chemistry, and chemistry education. The 6-hour discussion evaluates awareness levels, implementation barriers, and future prospects. While participants recognize green chemistry's importance, several challenges impede its adoption in developing nations, primarily funding constraints, resource limitations, and insufficient awareness. The study identifies key advancement areas: incorporating AI and advanced material science, fostering academic-industrial partnerships, and implementing systematic curriculum reforms. Recommendations emphasize comprehensive green chemistry education, enhanced international collaboration, and improved sustainable chemical practice policies. The research highlights green chemistry's role in addressing 21st-century challenges like climate change, pollution, and resource scarcity, while emphasizing the need for context-appropriate solutions in developing regions. Success in implementing green chemistry principles requires coordinated efforts from academia, industry, and government. Special emphasis is placed on developing human capital in developing nations and facilitating knowledge exchange through international research collaborations. These findings underscore the importance of tailored approaches to green chemistry implementation in developing countries while maintaining global cooperation.

Citizen science and the nexus approach: unlocking synergies for sustainable development

Abstract This article explores how citizen science can contribute to achieving the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) by focusing on the complex and sometimes interrelated nature of sustainability challenges. Citizen science presents a unique opportunity to ethically engage communities in research by actively involving them in defining sustainability targets, gathering data, and analysing results, thereby generating actionable insights that directly inform both local and global sustainability efforts. The authors advocate for integrating citizen science with the nexus approach to environmental resources management, which examines the interrelatedness and interdependencies that are inherent within complex systems, emphasising the relationships among water, energy, and food systems. The nexus approach proposes strategies to enhance the role of citizen science in addressing sustainability challenges. These include strengthening collective interaction and knowledge exchange between the five subsystems described by the quintuple helix innovation model, namely policy, science, industry, society and environment. The article also highlights the importance of inclusive participation, co-defining localised sustainability indicators, and co-creating citizen-led actions. By empowering communities to engage in participatory knowledge production and promoting multi-actor collaboration, citizen science not only has the potential to contribute valuable data to monitoring progress on the SDGs but also to help deliver on the UN’s pledge to ‘leave no one behind.’ Ultimately, creating an inclusive environment for the participation of diverse societal actors in nexus-oriented research and innovation can unlock the full potential of citizen science in advancing the SDGs and ensuring a sustainable future.

Studentmobilitet for kvalitet i høyere utdanning

Student mobility has long been a desired form of internationalization in higher Education in Norway. Previous research shows increased personal, professional and intercultural competencies after their stay in Zambia and Tanzania. In this paper, we shed light on how cooperation partners in Zambia and Tanzania, through equal knowledge exchange and positions, can contribute to strengthening the quality of student mobility from Norway. We conducted qualitative interviews with six coordinators in Zambia and Tanzania to learn from their reflections regarding student mobility from Norway. The themes discussed in the interviews are student mobility, global justice and de-colonial awareness. The theoretical framework is critical pedagogy and de-colonialization, which analyses power, positions, and pluriversity in international cooperation. Our findings indicate the reproduction of colonial structures and more academic responsibility to colleagues in Zambia and Tanzania, and they suggest adequate preparations with particular learning outcomes to increase the quality of student mobility.

Indonesian Migrants and the Development of the Halal Tourism Industry in Taiwan

Abstract This paper examines the pivotal role of Indonesian migrant communities in shaping Taiwan’s halal tourism sector, analysed through a transnationalism lens. Despite Taiwan’s predominantly Buddhist and Taoist culture, the island has become a prominent destination for Muslim travellers, ranking second among non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries in halal tourism. However, the contributions of Indonesian Muslim migrants—comprising workers, students and professionals—remain largely overlooked. This study employs a qualitative approach, including semi-structured interviews with Indonesian migrants, business owners and halal certification experts, complemented by field observations and secondary data. Its findings reveal that Indonesian migrants introduce halal food, bridge cultural gaps between local businesses and Muslim tourists and facilitate the halal certification process. The paper highlights how migrant communities, through transnational networks, contribute to the global exchange of cultural practices, tourism knowledge and business models.

Migrants’ digital skills development: Engaging with and creating digital cultural activities on the ENACT web app

Abstract Migrants encounter multiple challenges, such as learning new languages and adapting to a new life. While digital technologies help them learn, limited research has been conducted on their digital skills development. In this article, we report on migrants’ digital skills development while learning language through culture using a web app developed by an EU-funded project that aimed to promote social cohesion through a two-way exchange of knowledge and skills. Forty-six migrant and 43 home community members in Finland, Spain, Türkiye, and the UK participated in intercultural and intergenerational pairs to engage with and co-create interactive digital cultural activities in multiple languages. Participants’ digital, linguistic and cultural gains were measured before and after the workshops. We report on participants’ digital skills, measured by a digital competence self-assessment tool developed based on DigComp, and interviews with the participants. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data were analysed deductively using the categories of the DigComp framework. Findings indicate statistically significant improvement in migrants’ self-reported digital skills. Highest gains were in the competency area of digital content creation. Comparison of migrants’ digital skill development with that of home community members did not show any statistically significant differences, supporting our argument against the deficiency perspective towards migrant populations. Interview data suggested overall positive evaluations and highlighted the role of the web app instructions for content creation. We conclude with suggestions for further research and argue for inclusive pedagogies, emphasising how both community members learned from and with each other during the workshops.

A twinning initiative between midwife associations in Ghana and Sweden -A process evaluation study

ABSTRACT Background This study describes the evaluation of a twinning initiative between the Ghana Register Midwives Association and the Swedish Association of Midwives. Recognising the importance of midwives being supported by a national midwife association, the initiative was to strengthen the professional association in Ghana as a labour union and to inspire Swedish midwives to involve themselves in international work. Objective The study aimed to evaluate a twinning initiative between the Ghana Registered Midwives Association and the Swedish Association of Midwives. Method Two focus group discussions and four individual interviews were held with nine midwives from the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (n = 6) and the Swedish Association of Midwives (n = 3). The interviews and analysis were guided by a process evaluation framework using content analysis. Results The twinning initiative was successfully implemented regarding fidelity, dose, and reach, despite adaptations to the original project plan. Both associations gained visibility, with the Ghana Registered Midwives Association growing its paid membership by 97%, from 631 to 1,245 members during the twinning initiative. The results suggest that the Swedish Association of Midwives enhanced its understanding of international midwifery, promoted knowledge exchange, and raised awareness of midwives’ global roles in improving care. Conclusion The Ghana Registered Midwives Association and the Swedish Association of Midwives had a positive experience with the twinning initiative, despite deviations from the original plan. Midwives from both associations benefitted from sharing best practices and mutual support in their roles as newly formed labour trade unions. These findings could benefit other midwife associations in future twinning initiatives.

Towards new modes of knowledge exchange for sustainability transformations: an exploration of multi-sited dialogue as conferencing practice

Actors working on global climate and sustainability challenges are faced with two competing imperatives: first, there is an ever-expanding body of knowledge, networks and initiatives generating new insights that should be shared. Second, we see a growing recognition that fly-in, fly-out conferencing practices are an insufficient and unsustainable model for learning, boundary crossing and collaboration towards sustainability transformations. Against this backdrop, we argue that knowledge exchange for societal transformations needs to consider three interrelated dimensions: (1) equity and inclusion – access to and representation in both process and content for all, (2) low carbon – limits the ecological burden produced by the exchange, and (3) impact – outcomes at individual and collective levels that enhance our ability to act. How we navigate the tensions that may emerge from these dimensions is a matter of pressing importance. This research article examines the potential of multi-sited dialogues as an approach to co-producing transdisciplinary solutions by using the three dimensions as the analytical framework. We report on a series of dialogue-focused conference sessions convened at three international conferences in 2023. Our findings describe the contributions that the multi-sited dialogue process brought to knowledge co-production across space and time, and the contribution of facilitation practices to the outcomes of these dialogues. We also introduce and discuss the set of principles for transforming sustainable conferencing practices that were co-produced over the three dialogues.

Bridging Intellectual Traditions Through a Bi/Multi-Cultural Intellectual Mind

This article examines why and how scholars could bridge intellectual traditions in research by developing the notion of “a bi/multi-cultural intellectual mind”. It begins with outlining the historical emergence of Western-centric dominance in global academia and its consequential unequal worldwide knowledge flows. Drawing on elements from the model of bicultural competence, including attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviors, this study suggests research directions for examining individual scholars to bridge intellectual traditions. It emphasizes that individual efforts can bridge intellectual traditions in research truly effectively. This article then highlights research pathways of examining intermediaries in global intellectual history, who successfully navigate Euro-American and their own intellectual traditions. In doing so, it proposes an analytical framework for the study of a bi/multi-cultural intellectual mind. Finally, this study calls for diverse and inclusive approaches to research on bridging intellectual traditions, while encouraging an equal dialogue between Euro-American and other intellectual traditions in the global higher education landscape.

Digitalization of health care in low- and middle-income countries.

The rising incidence of noncommunicable diseases, combined with the costs of mitigating climate change, sovereign debt and regional conflicts, is undermining global health security and threatening progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. The negative impact of these polycrises is disproportionately borne by low- and middle-income countries, which have the highest disease burden and lowest health-care spending. Health digitalization is emerging as a promising countermeasure, accelerated by artificial intelligence (AI) software and quantum computing hardware. We provide a multisector critical analysis of the three key enablers - governance, infrastructure and security - of the responsible AI-enabled digitalization for safe, affordable, equitable and sustainable health-care systems in low- and middle-income countries. We consider leading use cases in public-private partnerships, democratized sovereign AI and embedded human security. Our analysis proposes that these use cases demonstrate how digital AI-accelerated global health may be advanced as human-centred managed strategic competition. We conducted our analysis through an inclusive range of theoretical perspectives and practical experience spanning academia, industry and practice across the world. We provide recommendations for the responsible management of the key enablers to accelerate global health for all. We anticipate that this paper will be useful for public health decision-makers, both in low- and middle-income countries leading local health digitalization, and in high-income countries supporting this transaction through their technologies, funding and knowledge exchange.

Using damage functions to map heritage climatology at a global scale.

This paper investigates heritage climatology through global analysis of damage functions for collections, aiming to learn about the reliability of these functions and the field itself. It addresses the growing interest in geospatial analysis of climate hazards for cultural heritage, proposing parameters that refine climate-related deterioration processes. Using global daily climate data from 1991 to 2020, the study assesses damage functions reliant on temperature and relative humidity inputs, including damage functions for paper and metals, alongside indices for humidity fluctuations and mould growth. The coarse spatial resolution of the dataset means that conclusions are only indicative, however this global approach to understanding climate hazards can be the basis of international collaboration and knowledge exchange, as it indicates which areas share similar risks. Since most damage functions are calibrated for materials common in Europe and North America, their application to tropical materials requires careful interpretation. Finally, this paper advocates for future research to expand and refine heritage climate indicators, which can be the basis of a comprehensive heritage climatology and the definition of climate zones that are useful to understand risks to heritage.

Patient participation-18 months of patient and staff perspectives in kidney care: A mixed methods study addressing the effects of facilitating staff person-centredness.

Patient participation should encapsulate the individual's resources and needs, though such standards remain rationed for people living with a long-term health concern like kidney failure. To illustrate what patient participation signified to patients and staff in kidney care, and whether an agreed or disagreed conceptualisation occurred over time, evaluating the influence of two study-specific interventions to facilitate more person-centred participation. By convergent mixed methods design across 9 units in Sweden, we repeated the following data collection at 3 time points over 18 months: semistructured interviews with patients and staff (n = 72), and structured reviews for accounts of participation in patient records (n = 240). Data were subjected to content analysis and descriptive statistics, respectively. The outcomes were appraised for changes over time besides the interventions to enhance attention to patients' participation: a clinical tool and guidance distributed to management, and additional local support, respectively. Both patients and staff described patient participation as a comprehension of the disease and its management in everyday life. Yet, patients accentuated participation as one's experiences being recognised, and mutual knowledge exchange. Instead, staff emphasised the patients managing their treatment. The health records primarily represented what staff do to support their notion of patient participation. No influence of the interventions was noted, but what signified patient participation was maintained over time. Both patients and staff stress the importance of patient participation, although they focus on different elements. Further person-centred conduct warrants a shared conceptualisation and strategies addressing and scaffolding patients' preferences and means.

Main characteristics of French farms adopting cereal–legume intercropping: A quantitative exploration at the national and local levels

CONTEXTCereal–legume intercropping is a diversification practice that offers many advantages, especially in low-input systems. However, its adoption remains low on European farms, as technical and economic barriers hinder its development. In recent years, an increase in the proportion of arable land cultivated with cereal–legume intercrops has been observed in France. Three areas in particular – in Western, Eastern and Southern France – seem to be particularly dynamic. OBJECTIVEThis study aimed (i) to identify the main farm characteristics associated with the presence of cereal–legume intercrops at the national level in France and (ii) to highlight more specific characteristics that could explain the particular dynamics observed in each focus region. METHODSWe analysed data from the 2020 French Agricultural Census for 43,968 farms representative of the French arable crop, livestock, and mixed crop–livestock farming systems. Through a literature review, we identified key factors linked to the presence of cereal–legume intercrops and related them to 42 variables in the census. At the national level, the most important of these variables were identified and interpreted using a balanced random forest and a classification and regression tree (CART). We tested the CART obtained at the national level in the Western, Eastern, and Southern areas and conducted a random forest analysis for each area to identify local particularities. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONAt the national level, the presence of cereal–legume intercropping was strongly linked to organic farming and the presence of livestock, especially ruminants. These intercrops were prevalent on farms with high feed autonomy for the cattle and sheep. Additionally, they were commonly observed on farms with grain storage, possibly indicating feed autonomy, on-farm transformation, or marketing outside of agricultural cooperatives. The belonging to a farm machinery cooperative was also strongly associated with cereal–legume intercropping, likely because these cooperatives give farmers access to specific machinery and provide opportunities for knowledge exchange regarding their practices. Similar characteristics were identified at the local level; organic farming was pivotal in the Western and Eastern areas, followed by feed autonomy for cattle. In the Southern area, however, on-farm grain storage capacity was dominant, likely due to longstanding efforts to achieve feed autonomy. SIGNIFICANCEThis exhaustive study on French farms identified key farm characteristics strongly linked to cereal–legume intercrops adoption. This insight is critical for promoting this practice, whether through national public policies or local farming support services. The methodology proposed can be easily reproduced to investigate other farming practices at different spatial scales.

Synergistic governance efficiency of industrial pollution and CO2 emissions under the digital economy.

Using panel data for 284 Chinese cities, this study explores the nonlinear relationship between the digital economy and the synergistic governance efficiency of industrial pollution and CO2 emissions (SGEIPCE). The study also investigates the transmission mechanism of two-way knowledge flows within this relationship using the double fixed effect model and two-stage least square method. The results show that the digital economy has a significant U-shaped relationship on the SGEIPCE: the impact first decreases and then increases. When the level of digital economy exceeds infection point, the SGEIPCE increases. The marginal effect identified through the heterogeneity analysis indicates that Chinese cities with high innovative talent agglomeration and low industrial Internet level are the first to cross the inflection point of the U-shaped relationship, and the promoting effect of the digital economy on the SGEIPCE is greater in these two types of cites. Further, when the digital economy crosses the inflection point, it indirectly improves the SGEIPCE by increasing the level of knowledge absorption and knowledge overflow. Knowledge overflow is the most critical transmission mechanism by which China's digital economy affects SGEIPCE. These results provide empirical support and a decision-making basis for promoting the mutually beneficial cooperation between digital economy and industrial synergistic governance.

Do scientific knowledge flows inspire exploratory innovation? Evidence from US biomedical and life sciences firms

Do scientific knowledge flows inspire exploratory innovation? Evidence from US biomedical and life sciences firms

The role and impact of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry in Thailand

This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the pivotal role and profound impact that the MICE industry plays in the beautiful country of Thailand. An attempt has been made to give significance to this multi-billion-dollar industry, which has not only been boosting the economy of the nation but also shaping and enriching its tourism landscape. It broadly defines the concept of the MICE industry primarily going deep into the understanding of the multi-composites involved within it and meeting its diversity-strength of incentives, conferences, and exhibitions. Thus, a framework has been developed from this process, important to the ensuing analysis of Thailand's unique positionality as a Southeast Asia leader for MICE destinations. Against this background, the richness of the culture of Thailand, trademark hospitality, and the strategic geographical location are seen as major driving elements toward its success as a favorite destination for events related to MICE. The next section highlights the economic impact of the MICE Industry in Thailand. It also describes in detail, through voluminous data and rigorous analysis, the immense generation of revenue, creation of jobs, and infrastructure development in direct relation to MICE activities. This quantification acts to attest to the huge potential and transformative power that the MICE industry can bring about in the overall economic growth and prosperity of Thailand. While the paper acknowledges the astonishing success of the MICE industry, it never fails to discuss its challenges. It gives light to various challenges that are, or may be, threatening for the continued success of the industry, such as political instability and emerging competition. Additionally, environmental considerations are given due to the research, with an emphasis on the need for sustainable practices within the MICE sector. In the process of identifying these challenges, the study further identifies a set of opportunities that exist for the sustainable growth and innovation of Thailand's MICE industry. It identifies various effective strategies that could be adopted to enhance the position of Thailand within the global MICE market. This includes strategies related to increased collaboration between the government and private sectors in substantial investment in infrastructure, and a focus on promoting and implementing sustainability throughout the industry. In all, this meta-research study sends across that the MICE industry plays an important role in knowledge exchange, economic growth, and global connectivity. Thus, it creates a sense of optimism and exuberance from the comprehensive outlook toward the future potential of the MICE industry in Thailand and continued growth and success within this vibrant and diverse nation.

Long-term engagement in smoking cessation campaign: A mixed methods randomized trial.

A long-term engagement (LTE) intervention was embedded in a social marketing campaign aimed at motivating quit attempts among Canadian adult commercial tobacco users 35 to 64 years of age. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness and appeal of LTE within a marketing campaign. 3,199 Canadians who smoked cigarettes aged 35-64 recruited using Facebook and Instagram advertisements were randomized into Intervention and Control groups. Over the course of two years, Intervention Group participants received monthly emails connecting them to campaign news and activities, Mini Surveys to inform campaign refinement, feedback opportunities via focus groups and interviews, financial incentives, and proactive knowledge exchange presenting study findings. Both groups responded to a baseline and follow-up surveys every six months. LTE Intervention Group participants engaged frequently with emails (unique opens, open rates, click rates, and total clicks). Compared with Control Group members, they had significantly higher rates of: unaided and aided campaign awareness; engagement with the social marketing campaign (website visits, social media visits, likes/shares); actions towards making quit attempts; quit attempts. Many participants expressed feelings of motivation, support, and a sense of belonging. When embedded in a social marketing campaign, meaningful long-term engagement of adults who smoke cigarettes shows promise as an intervention to promote quitting behaviors. Active long-term engagement can significantly amplify the effects of social marketing campaigns aimed at promoting quit smoking behaviours among adults. The active engagement approach applied indicates that frequent long-term engagement is more effective when done in a more holistic, empathetic manner. The intervention also allows for real-time learning to support campaign development. ISRCTN94797633.