Policy-making Institutions Research Articles

9.L. Round table: “What” and “How” for building competencies for effective policy making in and for public health

Abstract Policymakers operating within the field of public health must regularly draw on their skills or competencies to facilitate engagement in and between policy sectors and with the public, to navigate the larger landscape of public health institutions and governance levels across the policy cycle, to generate, understand, and apply evidence for decision making, as well as to negotiate the demands of diverse stakeholders. What exactly are the competencies needed and how can they be cultivated to enhance the collective capacity of policymaking institutions? The increasing strain placed on public health systems worldwide, owing specially to challenges in population ageing, the burden of non-communicable diseases, and the exigencies introduced by pandemics, environmental disasters, and geo-political instabilities push us to expand the scope of public health. A look to the policy environs and outcomes seen within and across countries demonstrates that the quality of policy is both highly variable and exceedingly subject to the quality of public health leadership itself. These developments shed light on the need for greater investment in the development of competencies needed by policymakers to engage in effective decision making on key issues impacting population health and the resilience of public health systems. This includes efforts to strengthen the abilities of policymakers to identify problems, recognize opportunities, and put forth solutions in line with robust data and evidence, principles of public health ethics, gaps and priorities in public health needs, and in accordance with financial and political realities. The proposed roundtable will examine the state-of-the-art on policymaking competencies in public health, and how to build them by examining the barriers and opportunities. The panel will convene leading experts in the field of public health research and practice to explore: 1) the conceptual definition of competencies for policymaking at different levels of governance and across the policy cycle; 2) the strengths and limits of competency frameworks and their utility in guiding assessment and training tools, as well as policy practice; 3) the challenges associated with developing, maintaining and transferring competencies in fast-changing, multi-level policy making environments; 4) the challenges for public health experts and institutions to be trusted advisors both by policy makers and other stakeholders and the population; and 5) the opportunities to harness the unexploited power of professional networks in some countries of Europe. Key messages • An enhanced research agenda and investment are needed for the development of competencies - individual and collective - for effective public health policy-making and stronger governance. • Innovative approaches to policy-making are needed, and this requires building competencies, including leadership, for addressing the complex nature of public health.

Unveiling the Layers of Faculty Burnout in Canadian Private Universities during the post-COVID Pandemic Period

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the employment landscape, including educational institutions, creating long-term effects for college and university employees. One of the major implications of the pandemic is the systemic transformations in employment and organisational dynamics, that resulted in effects on working conditions and workplace responsibilities. Emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion accompanying these changes have heightened the risk of faculty burnout. This qualitative research, reports on the multifaceted phenomenon of faculty burnout within Canadian private universities amidst the post pandemic. A phenomenological approach was used to conduct indepth interviews with participants, resulting in narrative responses regarding experiential aspects of participants’ workplaces, daily routines, social interactions, and perceptions of organisational support. Notable findings included burnout in eleven distinct categories: technology and tools, career development, intrinsic motivation, psychological factors, social worth, unmet individual expectations, mental and physical health, time constraints, task management, workload, and professional role. The findings were categorized into three overall themes, including organisational factors, individual factors, and work-specific factors. A comprehensive conceptual model was developed to provide a snapshot of the value alignment of these factors to the overall concept of faculty burnout. The results highlight the significance of the intricate interplay of various elements contributing to burnout and offer significant insights into the lived experiences of faculty members within the context of burnout among Canadian private universities during and after the pandemic. The study informs academic researchers and institutional policymakers of the need for adaptable and responsive interventions to support the faculty, especially in the post-Covid context.

US Higher Education's Civic Responsibility to Educate for Informal Political Representation

AbstractIn this paper, Caitlin Murphy Brust and Hannah Widmaier begin with the assumption that highly selective institutions of higher education in the United States have a duty to promote civic equality. They employ Wendy Salkin's theory of informal political representation to examine how highly selective institutions should go about promoting civic equality. According to Salkin's theory, someone serves as an informal political representative (IPR) when they speak or act on behalf of others, without having been selected to do so via a systematized selection procedure. Brust and Widmaier argue that as part of their civic educational missions, highly selective institutions should educate their students for informal political representation, and this includes equipping students to (1) serve as effective IPRs, (2) be responsible audience members to others' informal political representation, and (3) deliberate carefully and with open‐mindedness about when they should or should not take on the role of IPR. Brust and Widmaier examine two types of injustice that students from marginalized communities face at highly selective institutions, and they explore how education for informal political representation might ameliorate those injustices. The authors conclude by offering some practical suggestions to institutional policymakers and educators.

The impact on organizational innovation and university performance: The mediating role on employee performance of private universities in Mogadishu

Scholarly research shows that in traditional business settings, organizational innovation and employee performance greatly improve the performance of universities. Globalization has caused major changes in the environment, creating many challenges that require new organizational approaches. The researchers wanted to explore whether this effect could also be found in the academic sector. Therefore, the main goal of this article was to conduct an empirical study to examine this issue. The study used a quantitative method, collecting data through an electronic structured questionnaire. A random sample of 120 academic staff from private universities in Mogadishu, Somalia, was selected for the survey. The data was analyzed using SPSS v23 software and SmartPLS 4. The results show a strong positive relationship between product innovation and both employee and university performance. Process innovation had a significant impact on university performance but negatively affected employee performance. Overall, the study found that employee performance negatively affected the relationship between organizational innovation and university performance. Despite its limitations, this study provides valuable insights for scholars, researchers, and policymakers in academic institutions.

Harnessing science and technology policy to drive innovation in India: A conversation with Dr. Parvinder Maini

MIT Science Policy Review spoke with Dr. Parvinder Maini about the role of science and technology (S&T) policies in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in India. Dr. Maini is the Scientific Secretary at the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India. In her current role, Dr. Maini is responsible for enlarging the R&D ecosystem in the country, formulating policies, and forging three-way industry-academia-government collaborations. A scientist-turned-policymaker, Dr. Maini has been instrumental in the launch of several critical national programs including the National Research Foundation and the National Deep Tech Policy among many others. An expert in meteorology and oceanography, Dr. Maini spent 20 years in the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) where she was instrumental in the development and implementation of statistical dynamical models for providing location-specific forecasts. She also spearheaded the Atmospheric Science and International Cooperation programs at MoES Headquarters. We spoke with Dr. Maini about how the Office of the PSA synergistically works with other governmental policymaking institutions to achieve India’s S&T goals.

Can legislative majorities shape budgets? A comparative analysis of presidential systems in Latin America

AbstractIn separation of powers systems, in theory, legislative and executive branches must concur for policies to be enacted. However, empirical research, especially on Latin American cases, suggests that rather than reaching a compromise, it is common for the executive to make unilateral decisions, leaving the legislature marginalized in the policymaking process. Contrary to this trend, I argue that understanding important policy choices, including the national budget, requires considering the formal powers assigned to the president and the assembly, in interaction with their ideological divergence. Examining 12 presidential democracies for the past 20 years, I investigate the legislative majority's success in determining government expenditures under various policymaking institutions. I identify a number of institutional scenarios where legislative majorities are highly likely to succeed, while in other configurations, their success depends on their ideological divergence from the president.

Daily Prison Fiqh: A Practical Solution of Islamic Law to The Problems of Prisoners in Tembilahan, Riau

The article aimed to answer the daily fiqh problems of prisoners in Correctional Institutions (Lapas) class II Tembilahan. The fiqh problems related to Islamic law relating to individuals, relationships with God and prison society. The structured interviews with prisoners and the study of relevant documents were used to answer the research questions. This research uses a qualitative approach and literature by referring to classical and contemporary fiqh books. This research resulted in the findings of the formulation of daily fiqh of prisoners in Class II Tembilahan Correctional Institution, namely: First, related to fiqh laws that concern individual issues such as masturbation, tattoos, vital organs installed with roles to becoming prayer leader (imam), paying debts from drug money, anxious between farting or not at the time of bowing or prostration, the law of not providing maintenance for the wife for a long time, and apologizing to parents who have died. Secondly, there is the issue of fiqh rulings between the servant and Allah. In this case, one issue is the law of the zuhur prayer being performed before the Friday prayer. Third, issues related to relationships with society. In this case, there is one issue, namely maintaining tolerance for non-Muslims in prison. This research contributes to providing Islamic legal solutions to the daily problems of Muslim prisoners to continue to carry out religious obligations in correctional institutions and as a reference for policymakers in correctional institutions to continue to present legal benefits for Muslim prisoners.

Creating a bridge between ESG and firm's financial performance in Asian emerging markets: catalytic role of managerial ability and institutional quality

PurposeThe study is aimed at examining the impact of ESG on the financial performance (FP) of firms and determining the difference between the impact of ESG on market-oriented financial performance measure (Tobin’s Q) and internal productivity-based financial measure (ROA). The study has also explored the influence of managerial ability and institutional quality as moderating variables on the relation between ESG and the financial performance of firms (both measures of FP: Tobin’s Q and ROA).Design/methodology/approachThe study is quantitative exploratory and uses panel data of 687 publicly listed companies from the year 2013–2023. Data has been acquired from the reputed data providers and OLS regression has been used for panel data analysis with fixed effects.FindingsThe study reaffirms the positive impact of ESG on the financial performance of firms. Each pillar of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) has been found positively related to both measures of financial performance (Tobin’s Q and ROA). The study reveals that managerial ability and institutional quality, acting as supplementary variables, moderate the relationship between ESG and financial performance of firms.Research limitations/implicationsA limited sample comprising data from only 687 firms was used for the analysis. The latest data was not available, therefore, data from 2013 to 2023 was used in the study.Practical implicationsThis study indicates that ESG practices, which are mostly discretionary in Emerging Economies, can be induced through institutional pressures and ensuring higher quality managers. Policymakers in government institutions have to determine the inefficiencies, corrupt practices, and inconsistencies in policies that lower the effectiveness of institutions making them business-unfriendly. At the organizational level, policymakers need to ensure that responsible positions in the organization are held by managers with higher managerial ability. It is also to be ensured by shareholders that managers do not over-invest in ESG-related projects, particularly in organizations with weaker financial status. For managers, it is important to understand the positive benefits associated with ESG, even though they are in the long term.Social implicationsIn Emerging Economies, the official monitoring and regulatory mechanisms are weak, and lack a supportive attitude toward ESG initiatives. Voluntary and proactive firm-level environmental and social initiatives need to be encouraged and rewarded by institutions with public acknowledgment. ESG should be given priority by organizations for improving the quality of services and better social impact of businesses on society.Originality/valueMost of the past research explored the impact of ESG on financial performance in advanced countries or in emerging markets in a single/limited number of countries or industries. Also, past studies investigated the impact of institutional quality and managerial ability on ESG/financial performance in separate models. Conversely, this study has used a multi-country and multi-industry sample for more generalizable findings. Against the backdrop of the institutional environment of Emerging Economies, the study extends Institutional Theory and Upper Echelon Theory to include the role of managerial ability and institutional quality in the relationship between ESG and firms’ financial performance.

An activity theory inquiry into emotional vulnerability and professional identity construction of language teacher educators

ABSTRACT Despite the growth of research on language teachers’ emotion and professional identity in the past decades, little is known about the emotional life of language teacher educators (LTEs), much less about their emotional vulnerability. Accordingly, the present study drew on activity theory and explored 14 Iranian LTEs’ emotional vulnerability and professional identity construction. Drawing on data from narrative frames and semi-structured interviews, our study demonstrated how context created tensions that profoundly shaped the LTEs’ emotional vulnerability and identification processes. Specifically, we found that LTEs’ emotional vulnerability results from others’ malpractice and/or their own lack of autonomy, leading to further identity investment. Although they faced a myriad of challenges serving as sources of emotional and professional identity tensions, the LTEs adhered to ethics in maintaining their identity standards to positively contribute to teachers’ professional growth. We provide implications for institutional policymakers to better acknowledge the professional status of LTEs so that they become less emotionally vulnerable.

College Student Sex Work: A Qualitative Content Analysis of U.S. Higher Education Sex Work Policies

ABSTRACT Using content analysis methodology, we explore sex work policies at 255 U.S. colleges and universities as articulated in codes of student conduct to understand the potential impact of those policies on college student sex workers. The findings indicate U.S. colleges and universities largely do not articulate clear policies for students involved in sex work. However, many policies include language and framing that potentially governs some sex work. These articulations often rely on flattening differences in sex work, trafficking, and carceral logics, which result in misalignment between research, rhetoric, and policy at some institutions. Such ambiguities in institutional policy may result from the conflation of sex work with sex trafficking at the federal or state policy level. In addition to the marginalization imparted to student sex workers, unjustified exposure to stigma and shame on their respective college campuses negatively impacts students’ well-being. We recommend the current laissez-faire approach by institutional policymakers be replaced with a more intentional approach whereby the well-being of all students is maintained at its core and unclear policy language clarified.

Between Accountability and Reconciliation: The Making of “the Victim-Centered Approach” at the International Criminal Court

Abstract The International Criminal Court is the first international court to have incorporated the newly recognized right of victims to redress. However, there remains considerable skepticism about how the ICC and, more broadly, international criminal justice serve the purposes of victim redress. This article examines the development of the ICC’s reparations policy from the standpoint of how constitutive rules of international criminal justice have been changed. It illustrates how conflicting views regarding victim reparations have formed different preferences within the institution, even among the judiciary. Unlike existing studies that tend to regard the ICC as a monolithic law enforcement institution, this article demonstrates that the victim-centered approach to reparations at the ICC is a compromise between two models: an accountability model that tries to confine the scope of reparations within the clearly defined liability of the convicted person; and a reconciliation model that aims at reaching a large number of victims to facilitate the rehabilitation of the community. The finding has two implications. First, although the study reveals severe tensions between individual accountability and social reconciliation, the tensions can be reconciled through creative judgments. Second, related to the first implication, the ICC is not just a law enforcement institution, but also a policymaking institution, which has considerable leeway in designing reparations policy.

The role of human resources management in the development of total quality management in the public and private sectors in Jordan

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of human resources management (HRM) in the development of total quality management (TQM) in Jordan's public and private sectors. This study used a quantitative research technique to assess the study sample's characteristics and investigate the link between HRM practices and TQM in Jordan's public and private sectors. There were 235 Jordanians in the research sample who were used by the public and private sectors in the HRM department. . A simple random sampling method was applied to ensure that every participant had a similar chance of being included in the research. A questionnaire with elements relating to HRM practices and total quality management was used to collect data. The results indicate that human resources planning, training, and performance evaluation play significant roles in the development of TQM in both the public and private sectors in Jordan. However, organizational bonuses demonstrate a weak relationship with TQM. As a result, institutional policymakers may greatly benefit from HRM and TQM by achieving strategic objectives and enhancing overall performance. This entails creating standards for quality, identifying risks, streamlining processes and guaranteeing customer satisfaction. The study recommendations can be made based on the mutual relationship between HRM and TQM to improve integration and make the most of this relationship such as by developing integrated training programs and integrating individual goals with quality goals.

From Intent to Impact: Enabling Transdisciplinary Research for Responsible Scientific Stewardship

Global challenges are complex and must be tackled in a holistic manner. Understanding and addressing them requires collaboration across disciplines, often uniting the humanities and social and natural sciences, to ask better questions and identify practical and revolutionary solutions. Universities can be excellent vehicles for transformational change as they educate the next generation of civically-motivated thinkers to create meaningful action and impact. Too often systemic, artificial barriers exist within these institutions that prevent meaningful transdisciplinary collaboration from succeeding. We recommend that universities identify grand challenges and foster a culture of cross-department collaboration with appropriate internal and external resources to enable broader impacts. Together, funders and institutional policymakers play a critical strategic role in fostering civic scientists and transdisciplinary researchers to solve multifaceted global problems.

Preface

Disaster Research Center Universitas Sebelas Maret successfully held the 2nd International Conference on Disaster Management and Climate Change 2023 (ICoDMC 2023) via the online Zoom system on August 12 2023. ICoDMC 2023 aims to disseminate research results and various ideas regarding controlling environmental damage and disaster management for a better life and provide input to the government and other policy-making institutions in the environment and disaster management field. The theme for 2023 is Climate Changes and Hydrometeorological Disaster Mitigation.ICoDMC 2023 invites great speakers who are highly competent in natural disasters and disaster environments, and they are Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc. PhD (Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency), Prof. Christopher Andre Gomez (Department of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University, Japan), Ahmad Marzuki, S.Sc. Ph.D (Sebelas Maret University, Indonesia), Prof. Dr. Martin Coy (Institut Für Geographie, Universität Innsbruck, Austria), and Dr. Annisa Triyanti (Utrecht University, Netherlands).The topic of this seminar is Climate Changes and Ecology, Disaster Mitigation, Disaster Risk Reduction, Environmental Risk Assessment Infrastructure for Disaster, Natural Resources, Natural and Non-Natural Disaster, Oceanography and Coastal Problems, Water and Hydrology, and Spatial Planning for Disaster. There were 198 articles submitted according to the topic above, and after selection, selected 135 articles were presented and submitted to the IOP-EES Proceedings. The article’s authors include lecturers, practitioners, teachers, and students. Two hundred twenty-six participants joined the seminar.Thank you to all speakers, authors and participants. See you at the third ICoDMC.RegardsProf. Dr. Chatarina Muryani, M.SiChairman of the committee Committee 2nd International Conference on Disaster Management and Climate Changes (ICoDMC 2023) List of Steering Committee, Conference Chair, Conference Vice Chair, Secretary, Editor are available in this pdf.

To change or not to change. The evolution of forecasting models at the Bank of England

ABSTRACT Why do policymakers and economists within a policymaking institution choose to throw away a model and to develop an alternative one? Why do they choose to stick to an existing model? This article contributes to the literature on the history and philosophy of modelling by answering these questions. It delves into the dynamics of persistence, change, and building practices of macroeconomic modelling, using the case of forecasting models at the Bank of England (1974–2014). Based on archives and interviews, we document the multiple factors at play in model building and model change. We identify three sets of factors: the agency of modellers, institutional factors, and the material factor. Our investigation shows the diversity of explanations behind the decision to change a model: each time, model replacement resulted from a different combination of the three types of factors.

The effects of policy rate announcements on the exchange rates

Purpose- Exchange rate is the value of a country's national currency against foreign national currencies. In this context, the exchange rate is considered an important macroeconomic indicator in evaluating the country's economy. The failure to control the exchange rate may damage economy significantly. It is possible to understand this from the 2001 crisis in Turkey, known as 'Black Wednesday', and the foreign exchange crisis that started in Thailand in 1997 and affected many East Asian countries. Interest rate is one of the critical determinants affecting the exchange rates. Therefore, changes in interest rates are expected to affect the level of exchange rates. When there is an increase in interest rates, foreign capital flow is expected for that particular country. Hence, a decrease in exchange rates is expected for the excess capital flows. This study aims to analyze the relationship between exchange rates and interest rates, considering the last 10 announcements of the interest policy of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkiye. These announcements are between January 19, 2023 and October 26, 2023. The study used the TL/USD exchange rates and 10-year government bond interest rates to measure the relationship in between these two variables. Methodology-The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between the dollar exchange rate and government bond interest rates for Turkiye. For this purpose, data is collected for the days when the last 10 policy rates published by the CBRT were announced. Data is obtained investing.com. Vector Autoregression (VAR) is used to measure the relationship in between two variables. The VAR system is based on empirical regularities embedded in the data. The VAR model may be viewed as a system of reduced form equations in which each of the endogenous variables is regressed on its own lagged values and the lagged values of all other variables in the system. Vector Autoregressive models are widely used in time series research to examine the dynamic relationships exist in between variables that interact with one another. In addition, VAR models are viable forecasting tools used often by macroeconomic or policy-making institutions. . In this study first, the stationary levels of the variables are determined by using Unit Root Test. Second, pre-tests of autocorrelation, heteroscedasticity and normality are conducted for the validity of the VAR model. Third, the short-term relationship between variables is tested by using VAR Granger Causality Test. Fourth, VAR analysis is utilized by applying Impulse-Response Analysis and Variance Decomposition Analysis . And finally, the long-term relationship between variables is tested by using Johansen Cointegration Test. Vector Autoregressionmodel is employed in this study. Findings- According to the results of Granger Causality test, government bond interest rates strongly affect the changes of exchange rate. However, there is no causality from exhange rates to interest rates. Therefore, the changes of interest rates are the main determinants of the changes of exchange rates in this short period. The results of Impulse-Response Test show that an unexpected shock (an unexpected increase) in government bond interest rates affects the exchange rates and increases it significantly. More, an unexpected increase in the exchange rates causes the interest rates on government bond to increase. The results of the variance decomposition test show that 50% of the change in the variance of the exchange rates in the first period is explained by changes in bond interest while 30% of the change in the variance of bond interest rates is explained by the changes in exchange rates. The results of Johansen cointegration test support that there is a stable long-term relationship between dollar exchange rates and government bond interest rates. Conclusion-This study focuses on the relationship between government bond interest rates and the dollar exchange rates in Turkiye for the last 10 policy interest rates announcements by Cenral Bank of Turkiye. In summary, the changes in interest rates on bonds affect the changes in exchange rates more. Data for the days that the CBRT issued the last ten policy rates is gathered for this purpose. The association between two variables is measured using Vector Autoregression (VAR). According to overall results, the changes in interest rates on bonds affect the changes in exchange rates more. Keywords: Policy rate, exchange rate, interest rate, Turkiye, Granger Causality, VAR model JEL Codes: E40, E50, C10, C58

Is Creativity-Based Urban Development Possible in Turkey? An Evaluation of Small Cities on the Aegean Coast

Contemporary urban development policies require a thorough understanding of local dynamics. It is crucial to comprehend the roles played by all actors and mechanisms involved in the process, including policy-making institutions, to ensure effective policy making. Understanding the concept of creative industries and cities is also necessary for contemporary urban development. Turkey needs a clear strategy for developing a creative economy on both the national and metropolitan levels. Progress has been limited so far, with no sign of significant improvement in the near future. Recent developments show that small cities have started to play a role in initiating the development of creative economies. Migration to small- and medium-sized cities changes human geography, and urban development policies are becoming more flexible to accommodate these conditions. This paper focuses on three small coastal cities with similar climatic, economic, and socio-cultural characteristics and agriculture and tourism-based economies in Turkey (Avyalik, Bodrum, and Urla) and evaluates the local dynamics to understand what fosters creativity-based development. These cities possess significant potential for the development of cultural industries; however, in addition to the lack of awareness, interestingly, their suitable environment does not have a direct impact on triggering this development.

Embedding deliberation: guiding the use of deliberative mini-publics in climate policy-making

ABSTRACT The use of deliberative mini-publics (DMPs), such as citizens’ assemblies, is becoming more common in climate policy-making across many countries. The upsurge of these methods reflects an acknowledgement of the need to engage the publics in policy choices that significantly impact their lives. Many DMPs to date have focused on the general challenge of decarbonization, across a range of policy areas. In this article, we first situate DMPs within the wider field of public engagement methods. We then draw from deliberative democratic theory and practice to argue that the next step for climate DMPs is to focus them on specific climate policy challenges and to embed and routinize their use in existing policy-making institutions. We present a case study of the targeted use of a climate DMP, which we designed and ran in partnership with the UK Climate Change Committee, focused on home energy decarbonization. We use this case study to explore barriers and challenges to embedding such an approach in climate policy-making institutions. Finally, we suggest ways that such challenges can be overcome and identify a number of tensions that must be navigated as DMPs become embedded in climate policy-making.

Student Expectations in Hebrew Teacher Training: On the First Cohort of Palestinian Female Students from East Jerusalem

The study focused on the first cohort of Palestinian female students from East Jerusalem to enroll in a “Hebrew for Arabic speakers” teacher training program at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. This novel curriculum is designed for Hebrew teachers in Arab schools, particularly in East Jerusalem. The research examined the students’ expectations from the curriculum and instructional staff. The study’s main argument was that students’ expectations from the program were impacted by a variety of historical, sociocultural, and political factors specific to the context of Jerusalem, as was their ability to become Hebrew teachers in East Jerusalem schools in accordance with the Israeli curriculum. Analysis according to Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory indicated that students’ expectations pertained to: the development of personal and professional identity; the need for lecture support on academic and occupational issues; command of the Hebrew language as a stimulus for academic, occupational, and social development; integration in the Jerusalem employment market; and social mobility. The findings contribute to the little existing research on Palestinian Jerusalemites’ academic integration by conceptualizing a minority population’s aspirations in Israeli higher education. In this way, they may help policymakers in Israeli academic institutions to develop training programs targeted at specific populations.

Understanding and Bridging Gaps in the Use of Evidence from Modeling for Evidence-Based Policy Making in Nigeria's Health System.

Despite the use of modeling by Nigeria's disease control agency in containing the COVID-19 pandemic, modeling remains poorly used in the country's overall health sector.Although policy makers recognize the importance of evidence in making decisions, there are still pertinent concerns about the poor research culture of policy-making institutions and communication gaps that exist between researchers/modelers and policy makers.Nigeria's health system can be strengthened by improving the value and usage of scientific evidence generation through conscious efforts to institutionalize research culture in the health sector and bridge gaps between researchers/modelers and decision makers.