Policy Practice Research Articles

Why Has Migration Research So Little Impact? Examining Knowledge Practices in Migration Policy Making and Migration Studies

Scientific and expert knowledge on migration is often disregarded in policy making and plays only a minor role in public debates - despite the massive growth and institutionalization of migration research in recent years. This article interrogates the limited impact of migration research(ers) by examining knowledge practices in both policy making and academia. We first look “outwards” at migration policy making. Revisiting and integrating the hitherto separate scholarship on knowledge use and knowledge production, we identify the main mechanisms that characterize knowledge practices of policy actors, such as individual and institutional self-preservation, issue politicization, or unequal power dynamics. We then mobilize these insights to look “inwards” at our own knowledge practices in migration studies, showing that similar mechanisms shape how migration scholars produce and use knowledge. In particular, we identify a fragmentation of migration studies into ever-more fine-grained sub-fields, each with their own knowledge practices and impact strategies - and with little dialogue across them. In fact, rather than acknowledging their complementarity, these sub-fields tend to delegitimize each other's knowledge and efforts to achieve socio-political change. We argue that such “academic tribalism” creates a self-sabotaging dynamic that undermines the field's wider credibility and impact. Ultimately, we hope that this paper empowers migration researchers to act upon this diagnosis and inspires a collective discussion on how to foster more mutually-reinforcing knowledge practices that strengthen the field's role in political debates and public life.

Review of best practices for global cogeneration policy: Benchmarking and recommendations for Malaysia

Despite the Malaysian government's efforts to promote cogeneration technology, it constitutes a mere 4.2 % of the country's total electricity generation. To address this issue, this review article aims to identify and benchmark global best practices for bolstering cogeneration implementation in Malaysia. While previous studies in this domain have centered on examining government policies within the specific regions, this paper underscores the imperative for an updated and comprehensive literature review to systematically collect and categorise best practices from around the world. This work examines the adoption of cogeneration energy systems within nations characterised by a substantial presence in their energy composition, simultaneously exploring the roles of regulatory frameworks in promoting their uptake. The scope of the literature review includes statistical data, reports, and other relevant scholarly works on cogeneration policies. Based on the findings, the review paper concludes that well-crafted policies are instrumental in encouraging rapid technology advocacy. The legislative landscape pertaining to cogeneration implementation in Malaysia is scrutinised, followed by a comparative analysis against global best practices to identify opportunities for improvement. Three crucial elements emerge as paramount to expediting the adoption: (i) administrative recognition, (ii) financial initiatives, and (iii) regulatory improvements. Several recommendations for the Malaysian cogeneration roadmap are presented. Overall, this paper offers insights into the chronological evolution of cogeneration policy development and provides actionable guidelines for developing effective policies in Malaysia and other South-East Asian countries.

Collective autonomy through school leader unions (2006–2021): Comparative case study from Sweden and Norway

For several decades, there has been a global trend of the devolution of autonomy to local leadership levels. The topic has consequently gained attention in educational research, showing the complexity and multi-layered nature of the phenomenon. Nevertheless, empirical research has focused largely on individual leadership or institutional school autonomy, overlooking school leader unions’ collective autonomy at the intersection between leadership levels and as a link between policy and practice. This paper aims to explore the communication and formation of collective autonomy through school leader unions in their mediating role between policy and practice, under shifting national policy contexts with increased global policy influence. Attention is drawn to union magazines and how they have depicted the issue over time, analysing texts on assessment from nearly 300 issues through a two-fold conceptualisation of collective autonomy as the capacity to influence policy and control individual professionalism. The results highlight the possibility of unions functioning as mediators between policy and practice, national and local, when collective autonomy is not too restricted. The study calls for further empirical research on collective autonomy, paying attention to the intricate relationship between policy, collectivism and individual leadership practice.

Investigating the factors affecting outward FDI of Vietnam: Does political index matter?

Considering the important role of foreign direct investment (FDI) in economic growth and integration, this paper seeks to thoroughly analyze the outward FDI pattern of Vietnam to its 15 major FDI recipients (accounting for approximately 94% of Vietnam's OFDI) using the gravity theory and a robust panel data approach for the comprehensive annual data over the period of 2007 – 2022. By determining the main destinations of Vietnam’s Outward FDI through the creation of social, economic, and political indices via the principle component analysis (PCA), the empirical results conclusively prove the positive impacts of the political index, social index, the existence of a common border, and accession to the WTO on the Vietnamese OFDI volume, while geographical distance is found to negatively impact the flow. As the main practical policy implications, issuing policies for sustainable economic growth, creating the novel strategy of FDI neighborhood policy, and fostering regionalism through FTAs (Free Trade agreements) are highly recommended.

Selection and re-selection throughout a national talent pathway: Exploring longitudinal relative age effects in Northern Ireland male soccer

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal prevalence of relative age effects (RAEs) across playing levels and positions in Northern Ireland international male soccer. Birthdates of U17 (n = 276), U19 (n = 320), U21 (n = 331), and senior (n = 108) international players between 2011 and 2023 were recorded. Chi-square tests and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to compare observed and expected birthdate distributions. A selection bias toward relatively older players was evident at U17 and U19 playing levels as well as defensive and midfield positions. In contrast, more relatively younger senior and forward players were selected. Longitudinal analyses revealed that of those players who were initially selected at U17, more relatively older players were re-selected at subsequent playing levels, but there were no birthdate asymmetries amongst new players added after U17. The results of this study demonstrate RAEs are prevalent across Northern Ireland international male soccer and are influenced by playing level as well as position. These findings have important implications for policy makers and practitioners as relatively older players are overrepresented at youth but not senior level, which questions the efficacy of this (un)conscious bias in the talent pathway.

Nostalgia, Scapegoating, and Alterity Politics. An analysis of the Albatross Undercutting Zimbabwe’s Leverage of Bilateral Relations with China

The article explores the interplay of nostalgia, scapegoating, and alterity politics within the context of China–Zimbabwe relations. Grounded in postcolonial critique, constructivism, and psychology, the paper grapples with how identities, historical narratives, memory, and the legacy of colonialism shape state behavior and policymaking. Therefore, this study interrogates the contradictions, continuities, and discontinuities surrounding the ideological frameworks, histories, and power structures as they impact Zimbabwe’s postcolonial policy praxis and maneuvers with China. Pursuant, I foreground the agency of domestic political dynamics in shaping the nature, impact, success, or failure thereof, of China–Zimbabwe relations. Overarchingly, the study brings nuance to the broader salience of identity politics in shaping the Global South relations with emerging powers either as a source of leverage or hindrance.

Post-Cold War Era UN Collaboration with Non-UN Military for Conflict Management in Africa

Abstract This research explores the factors associated with the success or failure of European Union (EU) military bridging operations supporting United Nations (UN) peacekeeping in Africa. This study defines the success of eufor bridging operations as those in which a subsequent UN mission was able to continue operations after assuming responsibilities from eufor. This raises two factors associated with success and failure: integration and adaptation. Two hypotheses are formulated regarding the respective parameters for achieving bridging operations goals that lead to their success. To examine the hypotheses, this study conducts a comparative analysis with two EU bridging operations, one in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a success case and the other in Chad and the Central African Republic as a failure. This study aims to produce new knowledge in the field of peacekeeping operations, practical policies, and general considerations on the ground. It also seeks to further understanding of bridging operations and develop better opportunities for designing future operations.

Cross-National Analysis of Opioid Prescribing Patterns: Enhancements and Insights from the OralOpioids R Package in Canada and the United States

Background: The opioid crisis remains a significant public health challenge in North America, highlighted by the substantial need for tools to analyze and understand opioid potency and prescription patterns. Methods: The OralOpioids package automates the retrieval, processing, and analysis of opioid data from Health Canada’s Drug Product Database (DPD) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) National Drug Code (NDC) database. It includes functions such as load_Opioid_Table, which integrates country-specific data processing and Morphine Equivalent Dose (MED) calculations, providing a comprehensive dataset for analysis. The package facilitates a comprehensive examination of opioid prescriptions, allowing researchers to identify high-risk opioids and patterns that could inform policy and healthcare practices. Results: The integration of MED calculations with Canadian and U.S. data provides a robust tool for assessing opioid potency and prescribing practices. The OralOpioids R package is an essential tool for public health researchers, enabling a detailed analysis of North American opioid prescriptions. Conclusions: By providing easy access to opioid potency data and supporting cross-national studies, the package plays a critical role in addressing the opioid crisis. It suggests a model for similar tools that could be adapted for global use, enhancing our capacity to manage and mitigate opioid misuse effectively.

Chronically ill patients’ perspectives on support services and activities of patient organizations

BackgroundPatient Organizations (POs) are an important support factor in helping chronically ill patients cope with their illness. Patient involvement in the management of their disease helps to achieve the best possible care for the patient, streamline the work of healthcare providers, shape healthcare policy, and even influence the structures of healthcare systems. The perspective of chronically ill patients on the activities and services provided by patient organizations has not been evaluated yet. This study aimed to identify and map the services and activities of all types of non-profit patient organizations from the perspective of chronically ill patients so that they can be integrated as an integral part of the healthcare system.MethodsNineteen services and activities of patient organizations were sampled from Israeli patient organizations and scientific literature. These services and activities were evaluated by chronically ill patients in Israel. Patient-Oriented Questionnaires (POQ) were distributed among patients with chronic diseases (N = 1395) using snowball sampling.ResultsExploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed, followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for convergent and discriminant validity. Findings showed that twelve services and activities suggested by patient organizations were found to represent chronically ill patients’ needs and categorized into three groups: Interpersonal support (five items), patients’ rights (four items), and medical information (three items). CFA showed a good fit for the observed data. CFI = 0.98, NFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.058.ConclusionsWell-organized patient organizations are an important pillar in reformed healthcare systems. They can serve as the social arm of the healthcare system and as an intermediary between patients and healthcare institutions. We narrowed down twelve services and activities given by patient organizations that were important to chronically ill patients in Israel. patient organizations can utilize patient needs or preferences into clinical practice and influence health policy planning, patient-caregiver relationships, research and even healthcare costs. patient organizations recognition by the healthcare system, and establishment of a national patient council will help to realize these processes.

‘찾아가는 평생교육’ 정책의 동형화와 탈동형화 현상 분석: ‘D자치구’ 사례를 중심으로

Objectives The purpose of this study is to reveal how the ‘visiting lifelong education’ policy is accepted, settled, and changed and developed in the region from the perspective of the isomorphism theory of sociological institutionalism. Methods To this end, the case of D Autonomous District, which introduced the nation's first “visiting lifelong education” policy in 2009, was selected, focusing on the “visiting lifelong education” policy adopted and promoted by most lifelong learning cities as a major policy, and the phenomenon of isomorphism and decoupling of policies was analyzed. As a research method, in-depth interviews (FGI) were conducted with public officials and lifelong educators who worked from the introduction of the ‘D Autonomous Region’ policy until recently, and internal and external policy data were collected and analyzed to understand policy performance and changes. Results As a result of the analysis, the ‘visiting lifelong education’ policy of ‘D Autonomous Region’ was forced isomorphism according to institutional pressure and resource dependence pursued by the lifelong learning city policy to realize a learning society, and imitative isomorphism occurred while benchmarking Japan's lifelong learning city case. In addition, within the organization in charge of policy projects, a normative isomorphism pattern was also found through networking between lifelong educators and external experts. On the other hand, as policies were stabilized and systematized, decoupling phenomena such as compromise on the imbalance between supply and demand, strategic avoidance to maintain the current system and operation method, and refusal to demand social change appeared. Conclusions Through the isomorphism theory, this study was able to find out how lifelong education policies are accepted, changed, developed, and stagnated in the region in social, institutional, and organizational interactions. In the process of policy implementation, strategically selected isomorphism and decoupling strategies according to internal and external influencing factors create new policy practices and lead to policy regression and stagnation. Therefore, strategic policy choices and changes that respond quickly to changes in the historical and social environment are necessary to ensure flexible policy operation and sustainability in response to the demands of the new era.

Conserving an underappreciated heritage resource: The rural landscape

Rural landscapes make up a significant percentage of the planet’s lands and waterways and must be included in any efforts to address climate change and habitat loss. However, the contribution of these landscapes to cultural heritage and nature conservation is not always appreciated. While there are multiple international designation programs and state-sponsored heritage landscape initiatives, these have a relatively small impact around the globe. This is also true for international programs that attempt to take a holistic perspective to conserving rural heritage. There are some promising community-based and collaborative programs in Australia and the United States, although in both countries, overall agricultural policies are not supportive of these approaches. The lack of recognition of cross-disciplinary practices is a barrier to integrated land management as is the failure to understand that a key factor is the role of people and their relationship with the land. The challenge is how to reach out and incorporate culture and natural heritage into the larger field of land policy and conservation practice.

Collaborative Governance dalam Mewujudkan Kota Singkawang Sebagai Kota Tertoleran Tahun 2023

Tolerance is one of the essential pillars in creating a harmonious and inclusive society, particularly in a city with ethnic and cultural diversity like Singkawang. Collaborative Governance, as an approach involving various stakeholders in the decision-making process, is key to achieving this goal. This study aims to explore how Collaborative Governance plays a role in making Singkawang a Tolerant City in 2023, using Ansell and Gash's (2007) theory of Collaborative Governance as an analytical framework. The research method used is a qualitative study with a descriptive approach. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and related document analysis. The results show that there are 13 main stakeholders involved, with the Singkawang City Government as the primary facilitator. Each has a specific role in facilitating cooperation, conducting dialogues, preserving culture, and supporting activities that promote tolerance. The study also found that the roles and contributions among stakeholders have not yet been fully integrated into a structured legal framework, and there are still challenges in aligning interests and long-term commitments. Collaborative Governance in Singkawang is effective in enabling better coordination among stakeholders, but there are still shortcomings in dialogue participation, consensus on mutual understanding, and accountability mechanisms that need improvement. This study provides important insights for the development of public policy and collaborative practices in Singkawang.

The impact of local content curriculum on students’ cultural awareness and identity in Indonesian elementary schools

ABSTRACT This study investigated how local content curriculum (LCC) affected students’ cultural awareness and identity in Indonesian elementary schools. LCC lets schools tailor 20% of the instruction to local contexts and needs. The study used a mixed-methods approach with 200 students from 10 schools in Banten, a diverse province. The data collection and analysis methods involved a questionnaire, a test, a portfolio, an interview, statistics, and thematic analysis. The study found that LCC improved students’ cultural awareness and identity significantly and was implemented in different ways with various partners. However, the study also uncovered that LCC clashed with the national standardised examination (NSE), which neglected LCC. The study suggested that LCC had potentials for enhancing students’ cultural competence and readiness for the globalised world. The study contributed to the literature on LCC, NSE, cultural awareness, and cultural identity, and offered some recommendations for policy makers, practitioners, and researchers.

Investigating building permit processes across Europe: characteristics and patterns

ABSTRACT Building permit processes serve as crucial gatekeepers for urban development, regulating compliance with building codes, land use policies, and safety and environmental standards. However, their complexity can lead to inefficiencies and hinder economic growth. While existing studies have made significant contributions to building permit process research, they often focus on individual countries or specific aspects, leaving a gap in comprehensive comparative analysis. Characteristics, and patterns of building permit processes vary widely across jurisdictions due to legal, cultural, technological, and institutional factors which makes a comparative analysis of these variations beneficial. To address the lack of building permit process studies, our research focusses on from an extensive comparative study of building permit processes in 17 European countries. Through semi-structured interviews and process diagrams, we investigate the differences and provide a comparative overview summarizing key characteristics. The findings have the potential to be used by policy makers and practice to better understand and compare the evolution of building permit systems in a broad international context. By bridging research gaps and providing a comprehensive view of these processes, we contribute to the awareness of the diversity of the processes and to fostering greater understanding of building permit processes.

Dignity at Work: A Critical Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda

This article provides a narrative review of the literature on dignity at work with a focus on social justice perspectives, which informs the development of a conceptual framework to guide future theory, research, practice, and public policies. Dignity at work encompasses earned and inherent dignity; the capacity for autonomous action; the affirmation of diversity; access to decent and humane work conditions; freedom to organize and resist; and opportunities for contribution, meaningfulness, and achievement. The literature review highlighted the diverse disciplinary and conceptual frameworks that inform how dignity at work is defined and understood along with a review of relevant empirical literature exploring the nature, antecedents, and outcomes of dignity at work. We presented a critical conceptual model that includes macro-level, work-based and relational conditions, systems of oppression, and resistance as the context for understanding dignity at work and its outcomes. The paper concluded with directions for future research and implications for practice and public policy.

Impact of early-stage cooperative vehicle infrastructure systems on traffic and energy consumption under various traffic conditions: From application to policy

Cooperative Vehicle Infrastructure Systems (CVIS) play a crucial role in promoting sustainable transportation. Existing studies have primarily focused on the theoretical algorithms of CVIS, with insufficient research on energy consumption evaluation using practical data, particularly under diverse traffic conditions. This study addresses this gap by collecting long-term sequential application data (2.19 million) of CVIS across a wide region, analyzing the performance trends of CVIS under various traffic conditions, and offering practical policy recommendations for optimizing and deploying CVIS effectively. The data from drivers using CVIS are categorized into passive CVIS (P-CVIS) or active CVIS (A-CVIS) based on the utilization of the speed guidance function. The study reveals that drivers with insufficient proficiency in A-CVIS tend to engage in more aggressive driving behaviors, characterized by higher acceleration rates and greater variability in acceleration distribution in response to recommended speeds. These behaviors lead to increased acceleration energy consumption for both vehicles (2.7 % and 9.0 %) and road networks (65.2 % and 24.7 %) during peak and off-peak hours, respectively. While A-CVIS can still play an optimizing role during peak hours, the majority of optimization metrics are slightly lower compared to off-peak periods. The study concludes by offering recommendations and regulatory measures to enhance A-CVIS.

Soil erosion responses of cropland uses in contrasting slope in the Abay basin, Ethiopia

Cultivated land is the primary source of runoff and soil loss in a watershed. Quantifying the soil erosion response of dominant cereal crops at different slope gradients is vital to sustainable land use, crop management, and conservation options. This study evaluated the runoff loss (Ro), runoff coefficient (RoC), and soil loss (SL) responses of teff (Eragrostis tef), maize (Zea mays), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropland use under different slope conditions. During 2020 and 2021, 18 experimental erosion plots (3 m × 10 m) having 3 crops × 3 slope gradients (8%, 18%, and 32%) with two replicates were installed. Soil loss and runoff analysis were made and the significance variation among land uses and slopes was tested using ANOVA. On average, the highest Ro is recorded from teff land use (700 mm) followed by wheat (651.2 mm), and maize (570 mm) land uses. The Ro generated from the teff crop land use exceeds 18.5% and 6.9% compared to maize and wheat crop land uses (P < 0.05). The lower proportion of the rainfall was converted to runoff (RoC = 38%) under the maize crop land use, however, nearly half of the rainfall (RoC = 46.6%) became runoff in the teff crop. The average (three slope gradients) rate of SL in teff, wheat, and maize crop land uses was found to be 54.86, 45.61, and 38.27 t ha−1 year−1, respectively. Although the result shows high soil erosion in all cereal crops, cultivation of the teff crop in general and on steep slopes in particular leads to a high Ro and SL. Therefore, sustainable land management practice and setting land use policy are recommended, particularly for teff cultivation.

Integrating Nursing Practice and Policy in Opioid Overdose Prevention: Analysis of the Opioid-Overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach Practice Guide.

To present a comprehensive analysis of the Opioid-Overdose Reduction Continuum of Care Approach (ORCCA) Practice Guide 2023, evaluating its alignment with Russell and Fawcett's conceptual model of nursing and health policy and highlighting the implications for nursing practice and policy. This paper employs a policy analysis framework to evaluate the ORCCA Practice Guide, using Russell and Fawcett's conceptual model as a lens to assess the policy's structure and implementation. The analysis is framed by Russell and Fawcett's conceptual model, focusing on the dimensions of efficacy, effectiveness, equity and justice. This framework assesses how well the ORCCA's strategies align with these dimensions in the context of nursing and health policy. Key findings indicate that the ORCCA's strategies are integral to nursing practice, particularly in frontline interventions such as education, naloxone distribution and Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) delivery. The integration of these strategies demonstrates a significant impact on the opioid crisis, enhancing the roles nurses play in opioid overdose prevention. The ORCCA Practice Guide represents a multifaceted approach to addressing the opioid crisis, with strong alignment to the conceptual model used for analysis. It underscores the essential role of nurses in implementing and refining opioid overdose reduction strategies. The study highlights the critical need for nursing involvement in policy formation and practice implementation, suggesting that nurses are key to advancing comprehensive opioid overdose prevention measures. This study addresses the problem of opioid overdoses and the need for effective interventions. The main findings show the importance of nurse-driven strategies in opioid crisis management. The research impacts public health policy and practice, particularly influencing how nursing approaches are integrated into overall health strategies for overdose prevention. No patients, caregivers, or members of the public were involved in conducting this analysis.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in a privately funded program in Ghana: A qualitative case study

ABSTRACT HPV vaccination is one of the safest and most effective interventions against HPV-related cancers. From 2013 to 2018, HPV vaccination was piloted in Ghana in preparation for a national program. Yet, at the time of this study, there was no publicly funded HPV vaccination program in Ghana. We explored an existing privately funded HPV vaccination program in Ghana to identify challenges and gaps and to gather insights to inform vaccination practice and national policy. This study used a qualitative case study research design. We conducted semi-structured interviews on experiences, barriers, and challenges in HPV vaccination at the Greater-Accra Regional Hospital between October 1 and November 26, 2023. Participants (N = 16) included HPV vaccinators (n = 8) and program/policy leaders (n = 8). Our thematic analysis focused on HPV vaccination processes, practice challenges, and policy interests. Four main themes emerged from our analyses. Our findings revealed many challenges faced by the HPV vaccination program. These include a lack of guiding policy/framework for the HPV vaccination program, an emphasis on sexual history, cervical screening, and HPV DNA test in determining vaccination eligibility by vaccinators, and a lack of formal provider and recipient HPV education programs. Although many vaccinators advocated for a universal HPV program, some policy/program leaders were reluctant to prioritize HPV vaccination advocacy due to their focus on acute health concerns. A vaccination program without a policy can be limited in quality and efficiency, as there will be no accountability and sustainability measures. We recommend the need to develop standardized guidelines to support evidence-based HPV vaccination practice.

The State of the Art of Academic Research on Non-performing Loans: A Structured Literature Review

This study aims to conduct a Structured Literature Review (SLR) on Non-Performing Loans (NPLs), defined as distressed credits or deteriorated loans, to explore their historical developments and prospects. NPLs played a prominent role in the global financial landscape post the 2007 economic crisis and, nowadays, their volume is managed thanks to regulatory intervention. However, academic research on this topic is limited and sparse, particularly in relation to market volume and prices trend, as well as emerging management strategies and sustainability’s perspective. Therefore, our objective is to fill this gap and observe how the academic literature has responded to the development of this instrument. The SLR, and its associated bibliometric analysis, conducted using the Biblioshny package available on R-Studio, were performed on a sample of 1.236 academic documents (Articles, Book Chapters and Conference Papers) available on Scopus and published from 2010 to 2023. The sample, selected through a rigorous and validated screening procedure, was then studied across variables defined in the Analytical Framework: Topics, Research Methods, Research Area and Geographical Area. Based on this analysis, as explicitly stated in the findings section, we observe specific trending topics and geographical areas of study related to NPLs. This study not only helps fill a significant gap in academic literature concerning NPLs, but also provides important implications for financial practice and economic policy conducted by professionals, aiding in a better understanding of how to address and manage NPLs in various economic and geographical contexts. The originality of this research lies in its structured approach and use of bibliometric analysis, to examine a wide range of academic publications over an extended period, serving as a potential base for further insights and future studies.