International Scholars Research Articles

International criminal law as a catalyst for environmental peacebuilding

This paper examines the intersection of peace, justice and sustainability by exploring the potential of international criminal law to contribute to environmental peacebuilding goals, which include sustainable governance of natural resources and cooperation to establish lasting peaceful relations within and between States. Despite the merits of existing studies in shedding light on the concept of environmental peacebuilding and investigating its relationship with international law, little attention has been paid by international legal scholarship to the nexus between international criminal law and environmental peacebuilding. Therefore, this paper aims to fill a scholarly gap by providing some reflections on the harmful interconnection between armed conflict and the environment, arguing that the norms and institutions of international criminal law can contribute to the achievement of environmental peacebuilding goals at every stage of the conflict cycle: before, during and after a conflict. After introducing the concept of environmental peacebuilding and highlighting its connections with international criminal law, the paper examines how the latter can promote environmental peacebuilding goals in the pre-conflict phase by preventing the misuse of natural resources; during conflicts by preventing and reducing damage to the environment; and in the post-conflict phase by promoting reparation and reconciliation as prerequisites for lasting peace and justice. The last section discusses the main findings of the paper, which uphold the hypothesis that international criminal law can act as a catalyst for environmental peacebuilding processes.

Strategic Learning Alliances and Cooperation: A Game Theory Perspective on Organizational Collaboration

This study explores the dynamics of international strategic learning alliances through the lens of game theory, incorporating complexity and cooperative game theories to develop a model of organizational evolution. Using simulations and network resources, we examine 1200 cases to assess the costs and benefits of inter-organizational cooperation, with a focus on mutual payoffs and strategic decision-making. Our research addresses key gaps in the literature by analyzing how game-theoretic structures impact the success of alliances, providing actionable insights for firms aiming to enhance strategic partnerships. The findings offer valuable guidance for international partners involved in learning alliances, emphasizing the importance of aligning institutional responses with perceived risks and opportunities. By identifying the motivations and success factors behind strategic alliances, organizations can better formulate optimal strategies for collaboration. This paper contributes to the discourse on inter-firm cooperation by highlighting the complexities of strategic learning alliances and offering new perspectives for future research.

A Research on The Economic Consequences of The Implementation of Dual-Class Share (DCS) Structure: A Case Study Based on Kuaishou Technology

Following the abolition of the dual-class share structure in 1989, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited re-launched the "Weighted Voting Right" mechanism. In February 2021, Kuaishou Technology listed in Hong Kong with a dual-class share structure, which has been regarded as the initial public offering of “the first stock of short video” drew the attention of many investors. Particularly, numerous international scholars have examined the performance of the dual-class share structure. This paper examines the economic consequences of the three dimensions based on the IPO of Kuaishou Technology. Taken together, by adopting a dual-class share structure, managers are more likely to face lower unsystematic risk and firms are less likely to face acquisition risks, as well as higher innovation performance and thus greater growth potential with a particular emphasis on operation capacity and profitability, even if the performance is not obvious in the short term. The contribution of this paper is to provide practical experiences for other Internet companies with the aim of promoting dual-class share structure and corporate sustainability.

Addressing the role of technology in internationalization at a distance: Voices of students' in international distance learning from Ghana—sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractThe past two decades have witnessed a surge of distance learning in higher education across the world. Scholars have argued that this is due to the increasing use and recognition of technologies to act as a means, channel and source for internationalization of knowledge. Further, internationalization at a distance (IaD) has seen a rapid increase in universities in Ghana, sub‐Saharan Africa, due to increased use of digital technologies and high demand for foreign education. Yet, there remains limited research about the role of technologies in facilitating and mediating IaD in countries in sub‐Saharan Africa. Moreover, few studies have explored students' experiences in IaD regarding prospects and challenges in Ghana, sub‐Saharan Africa. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to explore students' experiences and voices regarding the role of technologies in facilitating and mediating distance learning including students' critical reflections on the technological shift of IaD in higher education (including the COVID‐19 pandemic period) in Ghana. Data were collected following a qualitative research design via an in‐depth semistructured interview of 28 students (16 females and 12 males) enrolled in IaD learning program in three foreign universities (two in the United Kingdom and one in the United States). Data analyses were done via a constant comparative approach. Findings showed that students experienced enhanced quality of learning through the varied use of technologies such as Zoom, Team and Google Hangouts. However, students faced challenges such as unequal access to technologies, intermittent Internet connections/outages, high cost of tuition and lack of social and teaching engagement. These findings in many ways contribute to a new understanding and knowledge building of students' experiences and challenges of IaD in sub‐Saharan Africa. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic? The number of students in internationalization at a distance (IaD) education programs is increasing alongside the development of digital technologies and the expansion of digital infrastructure. Increasing demands for higher education in sub‐Saharan Africa have led to an increase in the number of students from Ghana in IaD. What this paper adds? Ghanaian students in IaD benefited from the use of various digital technologies, improving their engagement and facilitating the acquisition of digital skills. They faced barriers in accessing digital technologies and Internet connectivity. Implications for practice and/or policy Pretraining programs and workshops to enhance students' digital skills before starting distance education could be beneficial for Global South students in IaD. Education provider should support the access to digital technologies and Internet connectivity of Global South students in IaD.

Influence of the COIL methodology on the development of intercultural competence and sustainability in Latin American business students

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of an collaborative online international learning (COIL) program on student behavioral satisfaction and community engagement, with a focus on diversity and sustainability. Explore how these changes affect students’ perceptions of the impact of these activities and their motivation to use sustainable practices in their future careers. Design/methodology/approach A combination of research methods combining qualitative and quantitative methods was adopted. Quantitative data were collected through satisfaction surveys that included Likert scale to measure various aspects of the COIL experience. Qualitative data were obtained from students’ open statements and semi-structured interviews. Analysis uses statistical and literary techniques to identify key themes and patterns in the student’s understanding. Findings Results showed overall high student satisfaction with COIL’s activities; this highlighted the positive impact of multicultural leadership and integrating sustainability into the business. Statistical analysis revealed a positive relationship between the relationship quality created by COIL and the perception of safety-related factors. In addition, students have the desire to apply the principles they have learned in their future work. Originality/value This study contributes to the understanding of sustainability education within COIL by examining three critical dimensions: the promotion of sustainable practices in future professional environments, the development of sustainability competencies and the impact of sustainability topics on students’ perceived relationship quality and safety within collaborative international projects. Through this lens, the author investigates how COIL-based activities shape students’ commitment to sustainable practices, enhancing their intercultural competence and readiness for a globalized workforce.

Insights from Glocal Educators

This study explores the impact of individual dimensions in Internationalisation of Higher Education (IHE) on educational developers in a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) teacher training program. Focusing on 10 educational developers, the study utilizes narrative interviews to delve into their personal and professional growth. Through storytelling, transformative processes emerge, revealing shifts in perspectives, pedagogical approaches, cultural humility, and professional practices. Using a narrative inquiry approach, the study highlights facets such as cultural humility, global citizenship, and a sense of belonging. Inductive thematic interpretation underscores the course's role as a crucible for understanding internationalisation dynamics. The research contributes valuable insights into educational developers' growth, positioning them as pivotal in the global transformation of higher education.

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) for Healthcare Studies Students

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) for Healthcare Studies Students

Engaging an international professional learning community to support underrepresented educators in sports leadership

Engaging an international professional learning community to support underrepresented educators in sports leadership

Russia’s Discourse on Democracy in International Law

This article explores Russia’s official discourse on democracy in international law, addressing the following questions: When Russia speaks of democracy in the context of international law, what precisely does it mean and what does it advocate for? What do these discussions truly signify regarding Russia’s understanding and interpretation of democracy in international law? What are the potential consequences of Russia’s interpretation for the discourse on democracy in international law? The central hypothesis of this study suggests that Russia strategically leverages the counter-Western democratic discourse within international law to secure its position as a great power rather than offer a meaningful alternative to the Western “hegemonic” ideas of democracy. This study is novel, as Russia’s discourses on democracy have received little attention in international legal scholarship. It is relevant in light of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which is often framed within the broader context of the struggle between autocracy and democracy. The main analysis is construed around the official discourse of Russia’s high-ranking officials. The research highlights that although Russia’s discourse is directed against the Western liberal “hegemonic” idea of democracy, it does not offer any substantive alternative to it and aligns with the paradigm of realpolitik. Instead, it inadvertently reinforces the fundamental principles of Western liberal democracy.

Policy Learning for National Advantage and Sovereign Governance in Non‐Western Contexts: Comparing Public Management Reforms in Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan

ABSTRACTPolicy transfer literature as a strand within policy studies highlights “national context” as crucial to understanding processes of transfer, convergence, and diffusion across contexts. While the policy transfer framework associated with it more specifically identifies “facilitators” and “constraints” of such national context as key to international policy learning based on doctrines such as NPM (New Public Management) and the like, policy scholars and practitioners have been struggling not only with the puzzle of “who learns what from whom” but also “how are policy lessons learned?” Based on these underpinnings, this paper attempts to compare public management reforms in Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan, three “upper/middle‐income” countries situated respectively in South Caucasus, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, which share in common features including post‐Soviet/post‐colonial legacy, relative economic prosperity, and Muslim‐majority populations. Relying on the policy transfer framework and ethnographic empirical research in Baku, Kuala Lumpur, and Astana during July 2022 to August 2023, the findings reveal an increasing “creativity” of these regimes in terms of adopting “policy learning” to fit their “sovereignty” agenda, often masking their autocratic nature and likely causing policy communication gaps between political principals, bureaucrats, and the citizenry. The latter coupled with evidence of an increasing influence of ethno‐religious dynamics on reform implementation might as well be interpreted as transfer constraints likely to undermine the effectiveness of lesson‐learning based on global administrative doctrines in order to sustain their national competitive advantages in the long run.

A Review of the Pharmacological Effects and Clinical Potential of Angelica sinensis

As one of the widely used medicinal herbs with both medicinal and dietary applications in China, Angelica sinensis offers the advantage of “nourishing without causing stagnation” and has a variety of pharmacological effects, making it commonly applied in clinical practice and research. In recent years, as both domestic and international scholars have delved deeper into Angelica sinensis, its extensive pharmacological effects have garnered attention across various sectors of society. To date, Angelica sinensis has been shown to possess functions such as hematopoiesis, anti-inflammation, pain relief, anti-tumor effects, and immune enhancement. It is frequently employed to address conditions like intestinal dryness, constipation, vertigo, and palpitations. Additionally, Angelica sinensis has demonstrated significant potential and distinct therapeutic advantages in disease intervention, functional food development, and drug innovation. This review focuses on the pharmacological effects of Angelica sinensis, aiming to provide valuable scientific insights for its clinical application, drug innovation, and target development.

Postdocs should receive relocation benefits from the universities that hire them.

Postdocs are essential to microbial science and STEM academic workforces but are underpaid and receive little-to-no relocation benefits. PhDs foregoing postdoctoral training for lucrative industry and government jobs exit the academic pipeline, which imperils current scholarship and the future professoriate. Relocation to postdoc jobs is expensive, especially for recent graduates and international scholars, but academia rarely provides support. Solving this short-term liquidity pressure can increase productivity, job satisfaction, and the likelihood they remain in academia.

Internationalization of teaching and research in Higher Education

Internationalization as a result of globalization is a focus in higher education institutions to develop and implement strategies at institutional level to stay competitive in the global market. While internationalization is usually measured with student mobility whether it is in terms of international and exchange, there has been a shift and a push to internationalize in other areas of higher education such as staff and faculty recruitment and retention, cross-culture collaborations and partnerships in research, teaching and learning, and curriculum. Internationalization of teaching and research is now even more needed because the number of international students, exchange, and scholars have been increasing around the world, bringing equity between Global North and South, and to equip current students and future generations to intercultural understanding and awareness through education medium. There are recommendations given towards the end of this paper to implement strategies to internationalize teaching and research practices for faculty, scholars, and practitioners within higher education.

Forgotten alliances: Japan’s role in World War I and its enduring impact on Southeast Asian geopolitics

PurposeThis paper investigates Japan’s significant role as an Allied power during World War I, exploring its motivations, military contributions and postwar geopolitical ambitions.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a meticulous analysis of primary sources such as historical documents and personal accounts, alongside secondary sources including scholarly articles and books, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Japan’s decision-making processes during the war. A comparative examination of Japan’s military contributions to the Allied Powers, particularly in securing sea lanes across the West Pacific and Indian Oceans, is conducted to assess their impact on the overall war outcome. Additionally, diplomatic records and negotiations are scrutinized to unravel Japan’s postwar geopolitical objectives, with a focus on its efforts to expand its influence in China.FindingsThe research reveals the multifaceted engagement of Japan in World War I, highlighting its motivations, military actions and postwar ambitions. Japan’s contributions to securing sea lanes and its postwar endeavors to enhance influence in China emerge as significant findings.Research limitations/implicationsThe study’s reliance on historical documents and secondary sources may entail limitations in accessing comprehensive data, potentially impacting the depth of analysis. Furthermore, interpretations of events and motivations may vary based on different scholarly perspectives.Practical implicationsThis study has practical implications for understanding the political and geopolitical context of Japan’s involvement in World War I and its aftermath. By recognizing Japan’s motivations and actions during this period, policymakers and international relations scholars can gain insights into the complexities of imperial ambitions, nationalism and power dynamics in global politics. Understanding these historical implications can inform contemporary discussions about regional stability, alliances and nationalism’s impact on international relations. Furthermore, this research encourages critical analysis of historical narratives and promotes a nuanced understanding of the consequences of imperialistic pursuits in shaping present-day dynamics.Social implicationsThis study fosters a deeper understanding of the historical context and the impact of imperialism on society. By examining Japan's involvement in World War I and its subsequent imperialistic ambitions, the study sheds light on the complexities of nationalism, racial superiority and ideological justifications for expansion. This understanding can help societies reflect on the dangers of chauvinistic nationalism and its potential consequences. By critically analyzing historical events, societies can develop a more inclusive and empathetic perspective. This will promote dialogue, tolerance and the appreciation of diverse cultures in the pursuit of a more harmonious and equitable world.Originality/valueBy combining a thorough examination of primary materials with a comprehensive review of scholarly discourse, this paper offers a nuanced and well-rounded perspective on Japan’s involvement in World War I and its enduring geopolitical consequences. It contributes to the understanding of Japan’s role as an Allied power and its postwar ambitions.

Police-Perpetrated Domestic and Family Violence: A Scoping Review of Australian and International Scholarship

The perpetration of domestic and family violence (DFV) by police officers is a serious abuse of power and has generated a growing body of scholarship in Australia and internationally. Police are uniquely positioned to draw on their expertise, training, and access to weapons to perpetrate DFV while often evading accountability and leaving victim-survivors with limited options to seek protection and redress. This paper sets out findings from a scoping review of 54 scholarly articles, chapters, theses, and other papers which address police-perpetrated DFV (PPDFV). The review generates insight into the methodological, theoretical, and critical implications of PPDFV scholarship across policing, criminology, psychology, sociology, and gender-based research. We identify gaps in jurisdictional coverage and understandings of the rates, prevalence, and nature of PPDFV. The importance of intersectional and critical research, which considers the impacts on PPDFV of gender, race, and sexuality, is also signposted.

A comparative study of Chinese and foreign research relevant to the diffusion drift model in the last decade

Abstract. This study evaluates the differential research approaches of Chinese and international scholars regarding the drift diffusion model in mental processes through a literature review from the last decade. The application of DDM theory in cognitive research varies between Chinese and foreign study methodologies. The differences in decision-making mechanisms among cultural groups result in this outcome. Inconsistency has been identified in international academic research. They cover reward rate optimization, decision thresholds, decision time, and more. On the contrary, advancements in Chinese studies involve the development of innovative models. They are Bayesian and semi-parametric. These are designed for mixtures combining drift-diffusion processes and the inverse Gaussian distribution. In addition, they encompass elucidating the neural processes and implementing DDM techniques. This use of DDM reveals the rewarding perception and decision-making linked to depression. It also reveals the brain patterns of social anxiety. These comparisons aim to summarize the differences between Chinese and foreign studies. They also analyze them. It will find the causes of these differences. Moreover, it will determine how Chinese clinical care can use them. The DDM studies show its importance in decision-making patterns. Scholars have the opportunity to apply these tools in a variety of scientific fields, including neuroscience, psychology, artificial intelligence, and cognitive research.

Strengthening international mutual learning in food and nutritional security: the role of Brazil’s G20 presidency

The Global Alliance against hunger and poverty launched by Brazil’s Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency builds on a long history of G20 efforts to address global food and nutritional insecurity. However, unlike previous initiatives, which focused primarily on the G20’s contribution to addressing hunger in low-income countries, the Global Alliance has the potential to innovate significantly, strengthening mutual learning for domestic policy action within G20 countries, while enhancing North-South, South-South (SSC) and Trilateral Development Cooperation (TDC). Hunger and poverty are not limited to lower-income countries. Severe food insecurity increased in every region in 2021, including in high-income areas and across all G20 countries. With reference to the experience of the United Kingdom, we argue that given the universal framing of the Sustainable Development Goals, the fact that the world is currently off track to achieve the goal of Zero Hunger should encourage G20 countries to support multilateral action at the global level while intensifying policy learning to support their own domestic efforts to tackle these challenges. In recent decades, TDC and SSC enabled many Global South countries including Brazil to engage in knowledge-sharing around effective policies to tackle hunger and poverty. We draw on two examples that build on Brazil’s experience with strong civil society and academia engagement; and propose a strategy for enhancing TDC’s potential to foster mutual learning on hunger and poverty reduction among G20 countries, as well as action by G20 members to support other countries and strengthen United Nations (UN) led multilateral efforts. We also discuss risks and opportunities for the Alliance to support scaling up local and national innovations to address entrenched and intersecting inequalities.

Distributed leadership mirrors teacher professionalism via collaborative learning and relational trust: evidence from China

PurposeThe study seeks to unpack the effect of distributed leadership on teacher professionalism, and the mediating roles of collaborative learning and relational trust in the Chinese cultural context.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed framework was examined based on the questionnaire data from 522 primary and secondary school teachers in China using structural equation modeling.FindingsIt was found that distributed leadership had a direct positive impact on collaborative learning and relational trust, which also exerted the direct positive impact on teacher professionalism. However, distributed leadership cannot directly affect teacher professionalism in China. Only through the full mediation of collaborative learning and relational trust, could distributed leadership facilitate teacher professionalism in an indirect way. The proportion of sequence mediating effect was the highest, followed by the single mediating role played by relational trust.Originality/valueWe have demonstrated to international scholars the indirect value of distributed leadership in enhancing teacher professionalism in China. The results not only enrich the existing influencing mechanism framework of professionalism, but also provide valuable implications that school leadership does not have a completely positive effect on teacher professionalism. Only when the empowering leadership style is truly perceived by teachers and strengthens their collaborative learning and mutual trust, can a team of capable educators be formed to promote teacher professionalism. It also indicates that teacher professionalism becomes a systematic and structural process requiring support from multiple parties, such as schools, leaders, colleagues and self.

Nurse Managers' Experiences in Organisational Adaptation During Public Health Emergencies: A Qualitative Study.

To elucidate strategies for improving organisational adaptation during public health emergencies from the perspectives of nurse managers. This study utilised a qualitative approach, incorporating complex adaptive system theory within a phenomenological tradition. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from May 2022 to June 2022. Participants included core members of the Shanghai Public Health Emergency Teams-Nursing from 12 tertiary hospitals in Shanghai, all of whom had substantial experience as nurse leaders impacting health systems. Data obtained were coded and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Seventeen frontline nurse managers participated, leading to the emergence of three key themes related to complex organisational adaptation: seeking institutional support for environmental adaptation, building intrateam support for structural adaptation and activating individual support for behavioural adaptation. A conceptual framework of organisational adaptation was proposed, displaying the interconnections among these themes. The study provides valuable insights into managing nursing teams involved in public health emergency preparedness and response as an adaptive system. Identified managerial strategies offer guidance to ensure effective organisational assembly and optimal utilisation of the nursing workforce within the healthcare system. Recognising the crucial role of nurses in managerial positions, who leverage leadership, adaptability and decision-making skills to coordinate frontline teams, is vital for effective public health emergency response. Their involvement in administrative roles underscores the importance of nursing perspectives in strategic planning, organisational adaptation and enhancing health system resilience during crises. The organisational adaptation strategies effectively adopted by nurse managers provide a reference for international scholars seeking to enhance the function and performance of nursing staff in healthcare system during public health emergencies. Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. No Patient or Public Contributions.

A new initiative in synchronous international learning

This paper outlines the initial development and delivery of a Global Classroom (GC) experience using COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) pedagogy for students studying in health and health sciences, that capitalises on the opportunities for interdisciplinary health humanities experiences using the campus museums and galleries of participating partners at The University of Melbourne, National University of Singapore, and The University of Hong Kong. The goal of the curriculum is to enhance students’ intercultural capabilities, including effective communication and effective teamwork skills, and to develop an understanding of different cultural and global perspectives on healthcare. The innovations of this project relate to the transplantation of museums-based interdisciplinary pedagogy for students studying in health into a virtual learning environment, using digital surrogate objects and collections. Technology-enhanced learning is integral to the project design, in the creation of shared digital collections in synchronous online learning.