Institutional Resilience Research Articles

Risk management, digital technology literacy, and modern learning environments in enhancing learning innovation performance: A framework for higher education

Abstract This study aims to explore the influence of risk management and digital technology literacy on learning innovation performance, with a particular focus on the moderating role of modern learning environments. The research employs a quantitative approach using data collected from 385 Indonesian university students, analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to validate the proposed framework. The results demonstrate that effective risk management significantly enhances institutional adaptability and fosters success in implementing innovative learning strategies. Moreover, higher levels of digital technology literacy empower students to engage more effectively with modern learning technologies, leading to improved performance outcomes. The findings also highlight that the moderating effect of modern learning environments strengthens these relationships, underscoring the importance of robust digital infrastructure and adaptive pedagogy. This study provides theoretical contributions by integrating risk management, digital literacy, and innovation within the context of education. Practical implications include recommendations to optimize risk management frameworks, enhance digital literacy programs, and invest in modern learning ecosystems to support academic success and institutional resilience.

Crisis response strategies of universities during the ongoing war: Beyond experience and responsibilities

Extraordinary threats of the large-scale stage of the Russian-Ukrainian war challenged the resilience and capability of all higher education institutions. However, their influence varied with location, infrastructure damage, internal capacity for changes and academic community resilience, external support, and solidarity initiatives. The purpose of this study is to assess the implementation of crisis management decisions and the formation of a crisis response strategy for a university in wartime (on the example of Kherson State University). The assessment draws on thematic analysis, the case method, statistical data analysis, and a survey of academic community members in 2023 (664 students and 150 staff), which focused on identifying a vision of the university’s values and strategic priorities. It showed the priorities of ensuring education quality and research, expanding international cooperation, diversifying funding, and strengthening cooperation with external stakeholders, including employers. The analysis of the university management’s actions in 2022–2024 demonstrated that the university transitioned from a resistance strategy (2022) as the first situational response to the large-scale invasion and occupation to a resilience strategy and the return to progressive development in the years ahead. The paper concludes that successful crisis management follows the key principles: flexibility, value orientation, and scaling up. It offers management guidance for developing a crisis response strategy that can be adapted to the unique needs of other universities: a comprehensive analysis of the crisis situation, crisis communication, planning of resource maintenance, and transparent and participatory decision-making for crisis management based on values and ethical implications. AcknowledgmentThis study is part of project No.101129236+DigiUni-ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE). The research was partly supported by the 2024 BridgeUSA Ukrainian Academic Fellows Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), with additional funding provided by Harvard University and administered by the American Councils for International Education. The opinions expressed herein are the authors’ own and do not necessarily express the views of either the Bridge USA or American Councils.The authors express their gratitude to the vice-presidents, deans of faculties, and academic and non-academic staff of Kherson State University who participated in the development of institutional documents that implement crisis management decisions presented in this paper and form a crisis response strategy for the university during martial law.

Organizational Immunity and its Role in Institutional Excellence: An Exploratory Study from Employees' Perspectives at the Oil Products Distribution Company / Ministry of Oil

This research study investigates the impact of organizational immunity on the attainment of institutional excellence at the Oil Products Distribution Company of the Iraqi Ministry of Oil. The components that encapsulate organizational immunity include but are not limited to organizational learning, organizational memory, and organizational DNA, which together empower the organization for adaptive response in the face of challenges and the resilience to bounce back. From here, an institution is expected to demonstrate excellence in leadership, in human resources, in service quality, and in organizational culture. The study further states that there is a positive significant relationship between the tenets of organizational immunity and institutional excellence. Thus, enhanced institutional immunity creates institutional resilience, which enables taking care of stability, adaptability to the environment, and sustainable competitive advantage. Results show that organization learning and memory contribute significantly to institutional excellence in building the retention and adaptability of knowledge in the pro-active response to challenges. The study, therefore, emphasizes the need for improving organizational learning through continuous development programs and using organizational memory to ensure consistency within decision-making and operational success. It also underscores the importance of culture-building on resilience and adaptability toward creating institutional excellence sustainable over time and positioning the organization for competitive advantage and growth.

Digital transformation of relocated higher education institutions in Ukraine under martial law

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has profoundly disrupted the higher education landscape, compelling numerous institutions to adapt to unprecedented challenges. This study investigates the resilience and adaptive strategies of relocated higher education institutions under martial law, focusing on Berdyansk State Pedagogical University. The analysis emphasizes the critical role of digital transformation in sustaining academic operations amidst displacement. Methodologically, the study integrates qualitative interviews and quantitative analysis, exploring how cloud technologies, learning management systems, and AI-driven chatbots contributed to continuity in education. The results reveal that digital platforms ensured accessibility to educational resources, increased student engagement, and enhanced institutional resilience. Over 85% of surveyed participants identified learning management systems’ platforms as pivotal in maintaining educational quality, while AI chatbots were instrumental during crises, offering real-time communication and support even during power outages. Additionally, cloud-based solutions enabled the preservation of critical data and ensured uninterrupted access to academic resources, facilitating smooth transitions for both faculty and students. The findings underline that digital transformation not only mitigates immediate disruptions but also fosters long-term innovation in higher education institutions operating in war zones. This study offers valuable insights into how relocated institutions can leverage digital tools to build resilience, sustain educational quality, and adapt to evolving challenges in war-affected regions. AcknowledgmentsWe are grateful to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for allowing us to engage in scientific research. This work was supported by the project “Supporting the cooperation of the University of Opole with Ukrainian universities within the FORTHEM Alliance 2024.”

Post-COVID educational leadership: Emerging models and styles for a new era

Modern educational leadership is a cornerstone of institutional effectiveness, requiring a compelling vision, clear goals, and strategic planning. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education systems worldwide, exposing significant weaknesses in leadership models and crisis preparedness. Many institutions struggled to adopt effective strategies to address the challenges of sudden shifts in teaching modalities, technological demands, and stakeholder concerns. While crisis management has been widely studied in other contexts, there is a distinct lack of empirical research focusing on educational leadership during crises. This study aims to bridge that gap by employing the PRISMA methodology to systematically review scholarly articles published between 2019 and 2022. It explores the challenges faced by educational leaders, the crisis management strategies implemented, and the personality traits that contributed to effective leadership during this disruptive period. By synthesizing these findings, the study highlights critical lessons in leadership and crisis management, offering practical recommendations for fostering resilience and adaptability in educational institutions to face future challenges.

Exploring the Dimensions of Academic Human Capital: Insights into Enhancing Higher Education Environments in Egypt

The performance of higher education institutions is significantly influenced by their academic human capital (AHC), which encompasses research competencies, dynamic capacity, working capacity, critical thinking, social capital, and external relations. This study aims to investigate the interrelationships among these dimensions and their collective impact on institutional performance. Utilizing a comprehensive literature review and empirical analysis, we identify key factors that enhance AHC and propose strategies for optimizing these dimensions to foster innovation, adaptability, and organizational effectiveness. The quantitative study with a descriptive design uses a questionnaire, collecting 302 responses from university professors and researchers in Egypt. The findings highlight the pivotal role of research competencies and dynamic capacity in driving academic excellence and institutional resilience. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of external relations and social capital in enriching academic environments and facilitating knowledge transfer. By providing a nuanced understanding of AHC, this research offers actionable insights for policymakers and educational leaders aiming to bolster the performance and sustainability of higher education institutions.

Risk Management in Education: A Systematic Literature Review of the Last Five Years

Objective: This article aims to analyze current strategies and practices in risk management in education over the past five years, with a particular focus on identifying the types of risks faced by educational institutions. Theoretical Framework: Risk management in education has gained relevance in a global context marked by natural disasters, health crises and social inequalities. This approach focuses on identifying, evaluating and mitigating risks that may affect the functioning and quality of learning in educational institutions. Method: The methodology used is based on the PRISMA method for systematic reviews, which ensures a rigorous and transparent process. An exhaustive search was carried out in databases such as Scopus, SciELO and Redalyc, applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria to filter relevant studies published between 2020 and 2024. Boolean operators were used to optimize the search and the information was organized using a matrix of data extraction. Results and Discussion: The results indicate a diversity of risk types that include natural, financial, psychosocial and health crisis-related risks. The strategies implemented by educational institutions have evolved towards more proactive approaches, integrating risk management into their strategic plans. The active participation of students and teachers has been identified as key to fostering a culture of prevention. In addition, it was found that adequate management contributes to minimizing interruptions in learning and improves the general well-being of students. Implications of the Research: This study highlights the urgent need for educational institutions to develop and implement effective strategies to manage identified risks. It is suggested that increased ongoing training and a collaborative approach can strengthen institutional resilience and ensure a safe educational environment. Originality/Value: This systematic review provides a comprehensive view on current practices in risk management in education, highlighting the importance of addressing these challenges from a multidimensional approach. The findings can serve as a basis for future research and for the development of more effective educational policies.

Reforming Bangladesh: Ecological and Societal Change in Democratization

The current political transition in Bangladesh since the end of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule has led to reformation, marking a new turning point in the political landscape. This short commentary analyzes the journey to democracy in Bangladesh from its independence in 1971 to the transition from the Hasina regime. This commentary delves into the potential political and ecological aspects of the democratization process, starting from describing the relevance of the current political and ecological crisis. It then recommends the next step forward, which involves ensuring a democratizing environment, building resilience in political institutions, and implementing more substantive democracy.

Women's Empowerment and Vulnerability to Climate Change: An Econometric Analysis of South Asian Countries

This research paper analyzes the impact of women’s empowerment (WE) on vulnerability to climate change (VCC) in South Asian countries from 1995-2023. To the best of our knowledge, no study has empirically examined the importance of WE in resilience strategies following a climate shock. This article contributes to the literature by employing the second-generation econometric analysis of the gender-climate nexus and exploring the significance of gender in adaptive policy. We use a Cross-sectional Autoregressive Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) model’s co-integration technique which shows; (i) WE along with its components (women’s civil empowerment, social empowerment, political empowerment, and economic empowerment) reduces VCC by the inclusion of women in climate leadership and decision-making processes. (ii) Gender intersectionality significantly impacts the relationship between WE and VCC in climate adaptation through the transmission channels of human resource development, governance, and social and economic resilience. The robustness of these findings has been tested through the Wester Lund cointegration test, and the Dumitrescu Hurlin Granger causality test has been used to explore causality among the variables. The study highlights the significance of institutional resilience and Gender-responsive climate policies. Furthermore, the participation of women in civil, economic, political, and administrative decisions may improves adaptation to climate change.

Reimagining higher education: identification of opportunity areas and innovative post-pandemic strategies

The purpose of this work is to present to readers the result of the analysis of different texts to achieve the objective: Analyze and determine the most significant areas of opportunity that emerged in higher education due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the purpose of develop innovative strategies that improve educational quality and institutional resilience in the face of future global challenges. The logic of a methodology based on a qualitative approach with a hermeneutic orientation for the analysis of texts is followed, based on their semantic analysis. This work provides elements to identify areas of opportunity and innovative post-pandemic strategies in Higher Education

СОЦИАЛЬНАЯ ОТВЕТСТВЕННОСТЬ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЦИФРОВИЗАЦИИ ВЫСШЕГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ: КИБЕРБЕЗОПАСНОСТЬ КАК КЛЮЧЕВОЙ ФАКТОР ИЗМЕНЕНИЙ

Abstract. In the context of digitalizing the educational process, universities face new challenges regarding ensuring cybersecurity, which has become an integral part of their social responsibility. The increase in data volume and growing dependence on digital technologies make educational institutions particularly vulnerable to cyber threats such as phishing, ransomware, and human-based attacks. The study used a mixed method of analysis, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative analysis was carried out using thematic analysis methods, which allowed us to identify key topics and trends related to cybersecurity and social responsibility. The quantitative analysis was based on the results of the questionnaire, which made it possible to statistically process the data and draw conclusions based on numerical indicators. The study revealed that the level of digital literacy, especially in terms of information literacy, is a critical factor affecting the cybersecurity of universities. Insufficient knowledge and awareness of modern cyber threats create additional risks that can lead to data leakage and financial losses. The article discusses possible measures to improve the level of cybersecurity in universities through the integration of relevant practices into social responsibility policies. Particular attention is paid to the importance of raising awareness and digital literacy among staff and students to reduce human risks and ensure the resilience of educational institutions in the digital age. Keywords: social responsibility, cybersecurity, digitalization of higher education, digital literacy, information literacy, cyber threat, cyber attack

Designing for mental health in higher education: a collaborative approach to digital interventions

ABSTRACT Mental health concerns significantly impact one-third of university students, with digital tools increasingly recognised as potential support for prevention and treatment. However, few studies adequately address the transition from research to practical application in mental health-related interventions, integrating multidisciplinary design methodologies and understanding students' sociocultural contexts within real-world healthcare environments. Here we present the outcomes of a process of co-design and validation of a digital mental health intervention in a university setting. We draw on findings from (1) design cycles and (2) validation workshops of a digital intervention to identify preferences of engagement and ethical responsibility for real-world applicability. Our findings emphasise the importance of involving end-users and clinicians throughout the process to improve existing support systems for students' well-being, challenge stigma, and promote context-sensitive mental health care in academia. This approach highlights the importance of designing digital mental health interventions that are both ethical and inclusive, thereby enhancing individual, community, and institutional resilience. We build on prior research by proposing design opportunities to enhance receptivity to digital interventions in university settings, contributing to responsible innovation in this field.

A community resilience index for place-based actionable metrics.

Community resilience measurement to natural hazards is becoming increasingly relevant due to the growth of federal programs and local and state resilience offices in the United States. This study introduces a methodology to co-produce an actionable resilience metric to measure locally relevant and modifiable indicators of community resilience for the state of South Carolina. The "actionable" metrics, based on the Baseline Resilience Indicators for Communities (BRIC) index, are calculated at the county and tract scale and then compared to "conventional" versions of BRIC. Actionable BRICs perform better in reliability testing than conventional BRICs. Correlations across the two scales of BRIC construction show a stronger relationship between the actionable BRICs than conventional, though all are highly correlated. When mapped, actionable BRIC shows a shifted region of low resilience in the state when compared to conventional BRIC, suggesting that actionable and conventional BRICs are distinct. Scale differences show dissimilar drivers of resilience, with county-level resilience driven by community, social, and environmental resilience and tract-level resilience driven by social and institutional resilience. Actionable tract-level BRIC appears to be the best representation of modifiable resilience for South Carolina, but it comes with trade-offs, including calculation complexity and changing geographies over time. Regardless of scale, the resulting actionable indices offer a useful tracking mechanism for the state resilience office and highlight the importance of integrating top-down and bottom-up resilience perspectives to consider local drivers of resilience. The resulting methodology can be replicated in other states and localities to produce actionable and locally relevant resilience metrics.

RISK MANAGEMENT AND INTERNAL CONTROLS IN MICROFINANCE ACCOUNTING: ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY AND COMPLIANCE IN UZBEKISTAN'S FINANCIAL SECTOR

This study analyzes the changing dynamics of risk management and internal control frameworks in Uzbekistan's microfinance industry, focusing specifically on accounting methodologies and operational viability. The study highlights key risk variables and recommends improved management mechanisms adapted to Uzbekistan's economic climate through a thorough investigation of sector-specific data and industry practices. The study illustrates how integrated risk management strategies, coupled with strong internal controls, can enhance institutional resilience while preserving operational efficiency. Research demonstrates that the incorporation of technology, uniform methodology, and flexible control systems is crucial for sustainable microfinance practices in Uzbekistan's dynamic financial environment.

Innovative strategies for capacity building in financial institutions: Lessons from successful microfinance models

Capacity building in financial institutions is crucial for enhancing financial inclusion and ensuring the sustainable delivery of financial services. This journal examines innovative strategies that have contributed to successful capacity building in financial institutions, with a focus on lessons learned from microfinance models. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have pioneered unique approaches to financial inclusion, providing crucial insights into capacity building. This journal discusses key concepts, methodologies, and the impact of capacity-building strategies on institutional resilience, financial performance, and community empowerment.

Institutional resilience of club sport in an extreme context: collective dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic from an institutional work lens

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has been an enormous challenge for individuals, organisations, and institutions as a collective of actors that constitute a field, such as club sport. In our paper, we define institutional resilience as a field’s capacity of collectively and successfully responding to the challenges of an extreme context. Following a qualitative empirical approach (content analysis of 19 interviews) and an institutional work lens, we aim at analysing of how club sport uses institutional work to enable institutional resilience for responding to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, we show, which actors of club sport (who?) use which institutional work activities (how?) for enabling institutional resilience in the face of the pandemic’s challenges (why?). Results indicate that institutional resilience of club sport in the COVID-19 pandemic had an emergent and dynamic nature with an iterative passing through the phases of resilience. Sport clubs were the lead agents, but also unions and associations as non-profit-organisations applied manifold cultural, technical, and political work activities. Beyond the refinement of institutional work activities for club sport, we identified COVID-19 pandemic specific activities. These are visioning as a new cultural activity and reinterpreting (transforming) core operations for the digital space and legal networking as new technical institutional work activities. Hence, the novelty of the paper consists in advancing the conceptualisation of institutional resilience by illustrating the nature of institutional resilience (its characteristics) and by depicting institutional resilience as an outcome of institutional work.

From Conquests to Epidemics in 18th-Century South America: A Reflection on Social Resilience and Reconstruction: Review of the Literature.

This narrative review examines resilience and social reconstruction strategies implemented during the 1742-1743 plague along the Royal Road between Buenos Aires and Lima. The study explores how colonial authorities managed the epidemic and its long-term effects, providing insights into historical crisis management and public health governance. A systematic analysis of primary and secondary historical records was conducted to identify public health measures, such as quarantines, hospital construction, and administrative reforms. Sources were retrieved from archives and databases, focusing on resilience strategies and institutional responses to the epidemic. The findings highlight key public health interventions designed to contain the epidemic and mitigate its impacts. These included the establishment of quarantines, the construction of temporary hospitals, and administrative adaptations. Religious practices, such as novenas and community prayers, complemented institutional responses. The study underscores the role of colonial governance in adapting under epidemic pressures, illustrating an emergent institutional resilience. The 1742-1743 plague along the Royal Road serves as a case study for understanding the intersection of health crises and institutional adaptability. The review emphasizes the importance of coordinated public health measures and governance in addressing pandemics, offering lessons on resilience and social reconstruction applicable to contemporary health crises. This historical perspective enriches current discussions on crisis management and public health policy.

A Cohort Study of Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers VA Medical Center Patients with Positive FIT and Incomplete GI Evaluation during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The reasons for and incidence of delay in screening colonoscopies during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are of major public health interest. The risks and reasons for delay likely vary between public and private institutions. This research sought to analyze data regarding the completion of screening colonoscopies after a positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the reasons for a delay in obtaining these results at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The goals were to evaluate the institutional resilience and analyze the problems associated with this major healthcare crisis. This closed cohort study included all positive FITs from our local Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center from October 2019 to January 2020 and July 2020 to May 2021. A total of 115 VA patients with a positive FIT prepandemic and 157 VA patients with a positive FIT during the pandemic were included. Completion rates within 180 days were measured, and charts were reviewed to identify the reasons for lack of completion. Both community and local VA procedures for veterans were included. Univariate and multivariable analyses were applied to calculate odds ratios (ORs). The Pearson χ2 test was applied to calculate P values. VA patients' percentage of timely completion was lower pre-COVID-19 than it was during the pandemic, and the percentage of delayed completion was higher pre-COVID-19 than it was during the pandemic. Comparing patients who completed a colonoscopy with those who did not, increasing age had an OR of 0.947 (95% CI 0.920-0.975), and White race had an OR of 0.504 (95% CI 0.291-0.873). Evaluating delays in colonoscopy completion, VA colonoscopies versus referral to the community had an OR of 4.472 (95% CI 1.602-12.483), and pre-COVID-19 completion versus during COVID-19 had an OR of 4.663 (95% CI 1.727-12.594) with multivariable logistic regression. There was a statistically significant increase in timely colonoscopy completion during the study period when compared with the pre-COVID-19 period. The completion rate was higher at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center than a large population average in 2020, possibly related to community colonoscopies and an aggressive case management system. In addition, increasing age and White race were associated with decreased colonoscopy completion. Predictors of an increased delay in colonoscopy completion included a pre-COVID-19 positive FIT and colonoscopies performed within the VA rather than being referred to providers in the community. A common reason for delay in all of the groups was patients declining intervention and delay/lack of referral.

An Impact-Based Flood Forecasting System for Citizen Empowerment

This work addresses the critical issue of flooding, a significant natural hazard, consistently ranked highest in the 2023 World Risk Index. The annual onslaught of tropical cyclones and the associated abnormal rainfall threaten lives, and destroy crops and property, thereby causing great economic damage, demanding urgent and science-based decision-making. We introduce an impact-based flood forecasting system as a proactive anticipatory action (i.e., AA) measure, linking climate services and disaster risk management to mitigate extreme weather impacts. Developed by the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute, the National Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) Center, and Gerry Bagtasa of the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, this system advances disaster resilience efforts, leveraging science-based forecasts to prioritize vulnerable barangays (villages). Unlike traditional early warning systems, the proposed automated system predicts flooding one day in advance and assesses exposure levels based on population distribution. By utilizing global weather forecast models locally calibrated for Philippine conditions and 100-year rain return flood hazard maps for the Philippines, the system forecasts river inundated areas, enabling local government units (LGUs) and humanitarian organizations to prioritize preparations for communities and allocate resources during flooding events effectively. This system enhances the efficiency of disaster response planning, fostering a proactive and impactful strategy to address the recurring threat of flooding in the country. The system also underscores the role of open data in disaster resilience, exemplified by NOAH’s system to disseminating big data, which aligns with open governance principles. By encouraging transparency and stakeholder collaboration, data exchange is promoted, providing actionable information that fosters collaboration between the LGUs, humanitarian organizations, and other stakeholders. Cognizant of the importance of community engagement in disaster resilience, the newly developed impact-based flood forecasting system encourages community involvement by providing easily accessible information, which can be used to validate the forecasts based on local knowledge and experience. This research contributes to the urgent call for anticipatory action in the face of escalating extreme weather events globally.

A Review on University-Industry Collaborations from an Institutional Theory and Institutional Resilience Perspective

Institutional theory posits that organizations are in a reciprocal relationship with their environment, and in this sense, organizations are both shaped by their environment and reconstruct the existing environment with their actions. In an environment where actors mutually and reciprocally influence each other, there are substantial literature studies showing that the institutional effects may be an important factor for determining interfirm collaborations. However, the literature on institutional explanations for the establishment or non-formation of collaborations between university and industry in such environmental settings is relatively limited. In that regard, we employ institutional approach as a conceptual basis for the understanding of the processes of university- industry interactions. In our conceptual study, we aim to extend the institutional perspective by focusing on interorganizational collaborations in terms of university-industry collective interactions where the actors mutually concerned with the normative, coercive, and mimetic pressures. We introduce the concept of institutional resilience to Triple Helix Model to propose some new research avenues.