Inclusive Approach Research Articles

Integrating fintech and innovation in microfinance: Transforming credit accessibility for small businesses

The integration of fintech in microfinance is transforming credit accessibility for small businesses, especially those traditionally underserved by conventional financial institutions. Fintech solutions offer innovative pathways for microfinance institutions (MFIs) to streamline lending, reduce operational costs, and enhance credit risk assessment, making it easier and faster for small businesses to obtain funding. This review explores how digital lending platforms, blockchain technology, mobile wallets, and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the microfinance landscape. By leveraging digital platforms, MFIs can simplify loan application processes and expand financial services to remote or unbanked areas, where small businesses often lack the collateral or credit history required by traditional lenders. Blockchain and smart contracts enhance transparency, security, and trust in transactions, while AI and machine learning provide advanced methods for assessing creditworthiness using alternative data. These innovations enable MFIs to adopt a more inclusive approach, reaching small businesses with customized financial solutions and enabling responsible lending practices. This review examines case studies from diverse regions to highlight the transformative effects of fintech integration on credit accessibility for small businesses, demonstrating tangible improvements in financial inclusion and economic resilience. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, including data privacy concerns, regulatory issues, and technological barriers in under-resourced areas. Addressing these issues through collaborative partnerships, regulatory frameworks, and digital literacy programs can maximize the impact of fintech-driven microfinance. Ultimately, integrating fintech into microfinance has the potential to drive sustainable economic growth, empowering small businesses to thrive and fostering a more inclusive financial ecosystem. This review advocates for continued innovation and supportive policies to strengthen fintech's role in advancing credit accessibility for small businesses globally.

CEO political ideology and risk factor disclosure

AbstractWe examine whether and how CEO political ideology affects risk factor disclosure. Using CEO political contributions to proxy for ideology, we find that firms with Republican‐leaning CEOs provide less risk factor information than those with non‐Republican‐leaning CEOs. Our findings are robust using a propensity score‐matched sample, entropy balancing, and a two‐stage residual inclusion approach. The impact of political ideology on risk factor disclosure is stronger when the CEO has more power over corporate decision‐making and is mitigated by higher litigation risk. Our results suggest that politically conservative CEOs prioritise certainty and security, leading them to safeguard confidential information or avoid negative publicity by being transparent about company risks.

Exploring the Role of Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence in enhancing Teaching Competency: A Study on the Influence of Personal Growth and Interpersonal Skills on Educator effectiveness

This study examines the role of emotional intelligence (EI) and spiritual intelligence (SI) in enhancing teaching competency, emphasizing the mediating influence of personal growth and interpersonal skills on educator effectiveness. Emotional intelligence, which encompasses self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and social skills, enables teachers to manage classroom dynamics, foster meaningful relationships, and create supportive learning environments. Similarly, spiritual intelligence, defined by purpose-driven actions, ethical alignment, and resilience, equips educators to inspire students holistically while maintaining balance and moral integrity in their professional roles. The interplay of these intelligences with personal growth, characterized by self-reflection, adaptability, and continuous learning, further enriches teaching practices, enabling educators to respond effectively to evolving classroom challenges. Interpersonal skills, including communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution, are integral to building constructive relationships with students, colleagues, and parents, amplifying the impact of EI and SI on teaching effectiveness. Employing a mixed methods approach, the study combines quantitative measures of EI, SI, and teaching competency with qualitative insights from interviews and focus groups to provide a comprehensive understanding of these dynamics. Findings highlight the transformative potential of integrating EI and SI into teacher training programs, fostering a holistic approach to professional development that prioritizes emotional and spiritual dimensions alongside technical expertise. The study underscores the importance of fostering these intelligences to empower educators to navigate the complexities of modern education with resilience, empathy, and purpose. By advancing a framework that integrates emotional and spiritual intelligence with personal and interpersonal development, this research contributes to the growing body of knowledge advocating for a more inclusive and value-driven approach to enhancing teaching competency and improving educational outcomes.

From a Wretched Past to an Uncertain and Undignified Future: The Open Secret of Manual Scavenging in India

India promises liberty, equality, justice and fraternity with dignity of life through the Constitution to every citizen without any discrimination. However, a particular section of society has been deprived of these promises due to their birth, gender and occupation. This section happens to be part of the generically termed ‘Dalits’ who are the lowest of the lower castes among the Hindus. They are known as manual scavengers who carry human excreta and clean dry latrines, sewers, and septic tanks more often with bare hands. This practice of manual scavenging is involuntary in nature. The scavengers not only suffer from extreme forms of social exclusion but also gross violations of human rights and dignity. However, ironically, despite several efforts as well as denial of its existence by the government, this inhuman practice still continues to exist in India. In fact, it has given birth to a new subtle form of untouchability which is an anathema to the constitutional promise. Therefore, the main aim of this article is an investigation of the nexus between caste and occupation. This article, in fact, suggests that for the annihilation of this practice, there is the need for an inclusive approach and overall behavioural change.

Are Brothels Markets? Situating Consumer Research at the Nexus of the Essential, the Embarrassing and the Exception: A Viewpoint from Sociological Traditions

This essay critiques the trend in consumer research that deliberately excludes subjects considered exceptional. Drawing from multiple traditions in sociological literature, we analyse the interaction of factors that create persistent paradoxes in social imaginaries - paradoxes that have also impacted the academic community. While the majority of scholarly publications tend to take a reductionist view of consumer concerns, the vulnerabilities faced by queer groups and sex workers are largely ignored, with sex workers being pushed to the absolute margins. The relentless pursuit of tokenism, quantified by novel contributions or citations, has further marginalized invisible narratives of hope and resilience. The article advocates for a more inclusive approach in the development of new areas of consumer research, particularly in the domains of macro marketing, public policy, and transformational consumer research.

Exploring the role of Artificial Intelligence in Acute Kidney Injury management: a comprehensive review and future research agenda.

This study reviews the studies utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-driven tools and methods in managing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). It categorizes the studies according to medical specialties, analyses the gaps in the existing research, and identifies opportunities for future research directions. PRISMA guidelines were adopted using the three most common databases (PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO), which resulted in 27 eligible studies, published between 2012 and 2023. The study showed significant heterogeneity in the design of the models, with variations in clinical settings, patient characteristics, cohort regions, and statistical methods. Most models were developed for AKI in hospitalized patients, particularly those undergoing surgery or in intensive care units. Compact models with a subset of significant predictors were deemed more clinically applicable than full models with all predictors. The findings suggest that AI tools, such as machine learning (ML) algorithms, have high prediction capabilities despite the dynamic and complex association among the influencing factors and AKI. Based on these findings and the recognized need for broader inclusivity, future studies should consider adopting a more inclusive approach by incorporating diverse healthcare settings, including resource-limited or developing countries. This inclusivity will lead to a more holistic understanding of AKI management challenges and facilitate the development of adaptable and universally applicable AI-driven solutions. Additionally, further investigations should focus on refining AI models to enhance their accuracy and interpretability, promoting seamless integration and implementation of AI-based tools in real-world clinical practice. Addressing these key aspects will elevate the effectiveness and impact of AI-driven approaches in managing AKI.

Co-Teaching: Are We There Yet?

ABSTRACT Over the past three decades, states, districts, and schools have introduced co-teaching as a means of educating students with disabilities, even though it is not included as a placement option in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the law governing special education. Cultivated by evolving federal legislation, regulation, and policy, co-teaching can address the intersection of the least restrictive environment, general curriculum access, and improved school outcomes. In this systematic review of co-teaching research published between 2010 and 2024, we found that empirical studies remain sparse and inconclusive. Confounding factors include ill-defined and uneven implementation likely affecting the fidelity of the model, lack of evidence regarding the amount and impact of administrative support, and inattention to contextual differences across elementary and secondary school settings. Looking to the future, research on co-teaching is likely to focus on specially designed instruction (SDI) and student outcomes. We suggest the use of the co-teaching framework to ensure fidelity in future research and encourage the use of mixed methods to clarify ambiguous results. Further, co-teaching applications are likely to expand, suggested by its nascent use as a model for an inclusive approach for educating multilingual learners (MLs) and those from other marginalized groups.

What Affects Citizens’ Perception of Public Infrastructure Decision-Making in a Disaster Setting?

This study examines citizens’ views on public-private partnerships (PPPs) and their sector-based preferences between private or nonprofit organizations as partners with government entities in providing public services for local infrastructures. Using survey data collected in Texas, this study finds that risk awareness and trust in institutional actors significantly influence citizens’ perceptions of public service delivery models, while a variety of information sources differently affect their perceptions. This study highlights citizens’ perception of nonprofits’ role in cross-sector collaborative governance, suggesting their involvement in implementing community resilience policies based on citizen preferences. Empirical findings provide insights for policymaking, advocating inclusive approaches in resilience planning and engaging diverse institutional actors, including citizens, in critical infrastructure development.

Socially Equitable Public Service Provision: Towards Inclusive Coproduction of Public Infrastructure

ABSTRACT The challenge of building and maintaining public infrastructure in the face of climate change and natural hazards necessitates greater citizen involvement in decision-making processes. Coproduction aims to ensure equitable service distribution by engaging a diverse range of citizens. However, the literature highlights disparities, with certain citizens having greater resources for participation. This study explores how individual socioeconomic factors and risk perceptions influence citizens’ willingness to engage in coproduction. Coproduction has been criticized for excluding marginalized populations, we analyze how multilevel factors shape willingness to participate in two modes of coproduction: co-planning and co-investing. The results indicate that risk perception is the most significant factor driving citizens’ willingness to coproduce. Furthermore, well-educated or wealthy citizens are more inclined to participate. This study proposes an inclusive approach to coproduction, aiming to ensure equitable public service delivery regardless of socioeconomic status.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PENSION SCHEME IN NIGERIA AND UNITED KINGDOM: BRIDGING THE GAP

Objective: This study conducts a comparative analysis of pension schemes in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, examining key dimensions to provide a comprehensive understanding of each system. Theoretical Framework: The research objectives focus on comparing the structural frameworks, types of pensions available (state, occupational, and personal), and adequacy of pension benefits. Method: Utilizing a non-doctrinal methodology, the study assesses investment strategies, administrative efficiency, and risk management practices to identify strengths and weaknesses. Research and Discussion: The findings reveal that the pension scheme in the United Kingdom is more robust than Nigeria's. Notably, the UK's pension scheme exhibits a gender bias, with males receiving higher income accruals than females. In contrast, Nigeria's contributory pension scheme neglects the informal sector, unlike the UK's more inclusive approach. The study's implications suggest that collaboration between Nigeria and the UK can bridge the gaps in their pension schemes. Research Implication: This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting areas for improvement in Nigeria's pension scheme. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of pension systems. Originality and Value: The comparative analysis offers a unique perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of each system, informing potential reforms. Ultimately, this study aims to promote dialogue and cooperation between Nigeria and the UK to develop more equitable and efficient pension schemes. By addressing these gaps, both countries can better ensure the financial security and well-being of their citizens in retirement.

The Great ReenVisioning: Reframing, Recruitment and Retention in Libraries

Libraries and organizations across all sectors are still grappling with the staffing impacts of The Great Resignation, as well as the longstanding need and increased calls to diversify their staff. The growing adoption of more inclusive approaches toward doing so is providing an encouraging path forward; yet we must still be careful that these efforts and the language used to push them forward actually address the inequitable systems that continue to impact historically marginalized populations. This presenter discussed the narratives around diversity recruitment and retention and how we might reframe these conversations to center equity, organizational accountability, and community care.

Navigating Parenthood in the Pandemic: Revealing the Trade-offs of Childcare Choices Through Conjoint Analysis

Inequalities that emerged during COVID-19 pandemic highlight the need to examine parent constraints in their decision-making around work and early childhood education and care (ECEC). This paper draws on conjoint survey data from a representative sample of 976 parents from the four largest Canadian provinces to examine the trade-offs parents made regarding their child’s care during the pandemic. Demographic differences in parental income, employment status, and having a child with special needs shaped childcare preferences in different ways. Our analysis finds that the most important factor in parent decision-making was type of ECEC (with a strong preference for licensed arrangements), followed by choices related to health and safety during the pandemic. The conclusion considers policy implications, including the need for more targeted and inclusive approaches that address the varying needs and circumstances of parents to enhance the overall quality and accessibility of care services post-pandemic and beyond.

Factors hindering the implementation of urban planning tools in Central Africa: Case study of reference urban plan for Sarh Town (Chad)

The reference urban plan is an urban planning tool often used to orient the development of Chadian cities. However, expanding Chadian urban centers, such as Sarh, face challenges in implementing urban planning orientations of their urban plans within the set deadlines. The objective of this study is to identify the factors impeding the effective implementation of the reference urban plan for Sarh town. The methodology employed encompasses a literature review, individual interviews with urban planning experts, geographic information system (GIS) data, household surveys and statistical analysis. The results revealed that less than a quarter (19.72%) of the households surveyed were aware of the reference urban plan. The applied logistic regression model identified age, occupation and level of education as the main factors influencing public participation in the preparation of the reference urban plan. On average, 33.33% of the urban planning guidelines and 21.74% of the projected urban projects were implemented, with a difference of 1631.28 hectares (ha) between the projected plan and the actual plan for the town. Five factors were identified as contributing to the failure to implement the reference urban plan for Sarh town, including low funding, inadequate land management, a lack of political will, weak governance and poor communication. Consequently, participatory and inclusive planning approaches, effective financial mobilisation, strong governance, and the use of modern technologies such as GIS tools are recommended to enhance the implementation of urban planning tools.

Significance, gaps, and prospects of foresight – lessons from Indonesia

Purpose This study aims to explore some significance, gaps and prospects of foresight both for and as policy in planning and decision-making, as well as an instrument for enhancing the capacity of planners and decision makers in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach This study deploys a case study method deriving from the authors’ experience in conducting a series of foresight workshops and trainings in Indonesia. The workshops, which involved government officials from the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) and the Coordinating Ministry of Investment and Maritime Affairs (KemenkoMarves), were designed with two agendas. First, to apply foresight in the actual process of policy cascading for the formulation of the national long and mid-term development plan (Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Panjang Nasional (RPJPN) and Rencana embangunan Jangka Menengah Nasional (RPJMN)). Second, from the process itself, to improve the capacity of government officials in decision-making by using a more explorative method of planning. Findings The result shows that foresight proves to be a useful method that enables a more systematic exploration of events, trends and eventually drivers with which plausible future scenarios could be explored, thus leading to more adaptive policies. With regard to the prospect, foresight is seen as a more inclusive and participatory-based approach, which embraces a robust democratised process of policy construction. However, the practice is also challenging in its nature. Government officials have been prolongedly familiar with positivistic methods, hence considering the application of foresight as an endeavour of a new academic culture of planning, which requires them more time, resources and pondering. Research limitations/implications Considering the methodological prospect and the intrinsic uncertainty of the future, this paper argues the need to nurture planners and decision makers to have the capacity to design more adaptive policies as offered by explorative methods like foresight. Consequently, this is also a call for the Indonesian Government to recognise the significance of the method and to provide relevant institutional support for wider practice, or exploration at the least. However, as a note of limitation, the workshops were conducted only with government officials, thus the result should only represent the point of view of the public sector. Originality/value This paper contributes to the progress of foresight studies by presenting an original case study of the practice in Indonesia. The foresight workshops were facilitated by the authors, thus the insights brought in this paper derive from the first-hand experience of the authors. Moreover, as foresight is considered as a new endeavour in Indonesia, this paper helps provide a key novelty unfolding the reliability and prospect of foresight as an instrument for planning and decision-making.

What It Means to Be Human: A Response to Harzheim.

This response engages critically with Harzheim's review of Thomas Fuchs' In Defense of the Human Being: Foundational Questions of an Embodied Anthropology. Fuchs' work offers a profound exploration of embodied cognition, arguing that human cognition and existence are deeply shaped by our physical interactions. Harzheim's critique highlights significant aspects of Fuchs' framework, including his critique of functionalist models, the impact of transhumanist technologies, and ethical concerns in healthcare technology. This paper extends Harzheim's review by proposing an integration of functionalist and embodied cognitive models, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive evaluation of technological impacts, and advocating for a more robust ethical framework that considers social equity. Additionally, it addresses the is-ought distinction and explores the implications of technological advancements on human identity and mental health. Doede's critique is also discussed, underscoring the importance of integrating diverse cognitive models and addressing technological determinism. Overall, this response calls for a more nuanced and inclusive approach to the discourse on embodied cognition, aiming to enrich the scholarly conversation and address the complexities and implications of Fuchs' analysis.

What does it take to co-create place brands? Learnings from an academic-practitioner exchange

Purpose This paper aims to report on the insights from an international workshop entitled Co-creating place brands: sharing research insights and practical experiences towards more inclusive cities and regions hosted by the Erasmus University Rotterdam. The authors outline their collective reflection and the learnings for place branding theory and practice. Additionally, this paper discusses the need to build practitioner-scholar relationships in a co-creative style, to co-develop more inclusive models for co-creating place brands. Design/methodology/approach The report details key learnings of a whole-day interactive workshop featuring academic and practitioner presentations and discussions around inclusive approaches to co-creating place brands. The report is structured around key emerging themes and their associated learnings. Findings The workshop yielded six important learnings: 1) a key obstacle to co-creating place brands is that co-creation is often misunderstood among decision-makers; 2) all place stakeholders need to be taken seriously if co-creation is to shape a place’s identity and foster cohesion; 3) broad stakeholder inclusion in place branding can be problematic, but it is a necessary condition to the practice of place brand co-creation; 4) co-creating place brands requires going beyond marketing tools and deep into the levels of community life and place’s social and cultural construction; 5) co-creation at all stages of the branding process from conceptual development to performance measurement and sometimes unconsciously; 6) politics of place must be observed (this is crucial yet easily overlooked in co-creating place brands). Originality/value The micro-format of the workshop facilitated valuable interactions between academics and practitioners, effectively blending practical, “on the ground”-knowledge with academic ideas, concepts and models. This approach not only generated key learnings with the possibility to advance the field but also highlighted important future research directions.

More-than-Human Net Zero Futures

From industry through policymaking to academia, much prevailing sustainability discourse focusses on transitioning to a so-called ‘Net Zero future’. Central to this vision is mitigation of human-driven climate change through the decarbonisation of industrial society, principally via increased innovation and adoption of emergent technologies. This paper argues Design Research must pivot from these reductive, solutionist narratives, and develop a disruptive yet inclusive approach towards designing for Net Zero. In response to the complexity of climate change, this paper proposes a novel conceptual frame that helps designer-practitioners to challenge the unsustainable technocentric status quo. Built upon a confluence of Speculative, Participatory and More-than-Human-Centred methods, the paper outlines how this approach can stimulate close collaboration between designers and stakeholder networks. The paper asserts that, through this scaffold, designer-practitioners can reimagine responsible technological Net Zero futures which are inherently More-than-Human, that is, sustainable and equitable for our planet’s human and non-human stakeholders alike.

Time for Care: Male and Female Voices Based on Their Caregiving Experiences

Background/Objectives: To understand the lived experiences of the informal caregivers of people with chronic noncommunicable diseases and their interpretations of the significance of that care. The perspectives of men and women interacting with people in a situation of chronicity are examined. Methods: This qualitative, phenomenological, hermeneutic study was based on Van Manen’s comprehensive and interpretative vision. Criterion-oriented non-probability random sampling was used. In-depth interviews were used to collect the information. Twenty informal caregivers participated in the study. Results: The following five themes emerged: transformation of the caregiver’s world; uncertainty of care; tireless guardianship and unwavering devotion; isolation and emotional exhaustion; and imbalance between caring for others and the self. Conclusions: The experience of informal caregivers reveals that both men and women face significant challenges, albeit from gender-differentiated perspectives and experiences. Men and women elaborate different meanings of caregiving, reflecting their gender roles and expectations. Therefore, an inclusive and equitable approach that recognizes and addresses these gender differences is essential in order to improve the support and quality of life for all informal caregivers, respecting and valuing their unique voices and experiences. An inclusive and equitable approach that recognizes gender intersections is required to improve support and the quality of life for informal caregivers.

Responding to AI

The influence of artificial intelligence “has enormous implications for higher education” (Bearman, Ryan & Ajjawi, 2023, p. 369). Those of us teaching in the higher education sector have felt this profoundly: after the rapid uplift in digital teaching and learning practices in response to COVID 19 we are required, yet again, to respond to a new set of challenges brought about by the impact of AI. As an example, chatbot technology is calling into question the reliability of the traditional essay as a valid assessment tool (Stokel-Walker, 2022), requiring significant critical reflection and reevaluation of assessments from teaching academics to ensure course learning outcomes are met. This presentation outlines how a teaching specialist academic working in an initial teacher education (ITE) programme at a South Australian university carried out one such redesign. The focus of the re-design was a ‘unit/year plan’ assessment task for a final year curriculum specialization topic. The redesign aligned with the two guiding principles from TEQSA’s Assessment reform for the age of artificial intelligence (Lodge et al., 2023). The first of these guiding principles: ‘Assessment and learning experiences equip students to participate in a world where AI is ubiquitous’ (p. 2) points to the importance of educating students around AI use relevant to their learning. The second guiding principle: ‘Forming trustworthy judgements about student learning in a time of AI requires multiple, inclusive and contextualised approaches to assessment’ (p. 3) underscores the ongoing necessity for universities to have effective means by which to measure student learning outcomes, especially in accredited courses. The redesign of the assessment task both acknowledged the potential of AI for use in the professional space, and simultaneously sought to ensure assessment validity through the inclusion of an interview with the pre-service teachers. Overall, the redesign of the assessment task incorporated three components. Firstly, a brief introductory module about discipline-specific uses of AI was incorporated into the online course content. Secondly, pre-service teachers were ‘permitted’ to utilise available AI platforms in the creation of their planning task. Thirdly, the assessment process was adapted to include an oral presentation (Gulikers, Bastiaens & Kirschner, 2004) conducted as a panel interview in which each pre-service teacher could provide evidence of the pedagogical perspectives underpinning their plan and subsequently demonstrate the successful achievement of topic learning outcomes. The purpose of the panel interview was to assist assessors in forming a judgement about pre-service teachers’ pedagogical understanding and application, in line with relevant criteria from Matheis and John’s Comprehensive Authentic Assessment Model (CAAM) (Matheis & John, 2024). Autoethnographic reflections on the first delivery of the redesigned assessment are provided, including alternative approaches for future iterations. The learnings from the teaching initiative outlined in this presentation contribute to the growing discussion about how we can develop the capacity of our pre-service teachers as skilled and critical practitioners who can utilize AI as a valuable tool for their ongoing professional practice.

Advancing terrestrial ecology by improving cross-temporal research and collaboration

Abstract Ecology spans spatial and temporal scales and is inclusive of the history of life on Earth. However, research that occurs at millennial timescales or longer has historically been defined as paleoecology and has not always been well integrated with modern (neo-) ecology. This bifurcation has been previously highlighted, with calls for improved engagement among the subdisciplines, but their priority research areas have not been directly compared. To characterize the research agendas for terrestrial ecological research across different temporal scales, we compared two previous studies, Sutherland and colleagues (2013; neoecology) and Seddon and colleagues (2014; paleoecology), that outlined priority research questions. We identified several themes with potential for temporal integration and explored case studies that highlight cross-temporal collaboration. Finally, a path forward is outlined, focusing on education and training, research infrastructure, and collaboration. Our aim is to improve our understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes by promoting an inclusive and integrative approach that treats time as a foundational concept in ecology.