Introduction Past studies have shown that the lack of diversity among STEM faculty is not due to the lack of qualified applicants, but to failures in strategies used to recruit and retain underrepresented faculty. Native peoples remain the most severely underrepresented group among engineering faculty in the United States, yet institutional hiring practices affecting their representation are rarely studied. This study examines institutional hiring practices related to Native faculty representation in engineering education. Methods We interviewed 22 deans and associate deans in engineering colleges across the United States to understand barriers to Native faculty hiring and institutional engagement with tribal communities. Using social capital theory and thematic analysis, we analyzed administrators’ perspectives on faculty hiring, diversity, and institutional relationships. Results Most administrators attributed underrepresentation to a limited applicant pool, while few acknowledged structural biases within hiring practices. Despite operating in states with large Native populations, most colleges lacked formal relationships with tribal communities and did not advertise positions in Native-serving outlets. We identified inconsistent diversity policies, overreliance on institutional reputation in hiring, and the absence of Native-centered research as systemic issues shaping faculty hiring. Discussion This study offers a framework for institutional change based on culturally responsive hiring, regional partnerships, and rethinking how Indigenous knowledge is valued in engineering education. Our findings suggest that reframing diversity as an institutional responsibility rather than a pipeline problem can help decolonize faculty hiring practices in STEM fields.

Purpose This paper introduces the KINoS framework—an integrated theoretical model that positions knowledge creation, knowledge diffusion, and social capital as interdependent mechanisms for sustaining educational change. It responds to the need for a more dynamic and networked understanding of change, highlighting the critical role of professional collaboration, trust, and shared meaning in enabling change that is not only initiated, but embedded and sustained. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper synthesizes three complementary strands of literature: the SECI model of knowledge creation (Nonaka and Takeuchi, 1995), diffusion of innovation theory (Rogers, 2003), and social capital theory (e.g. Lin, 2009; Nahapiet and Ghoshal, 1998; Putnam, 2000). Together, they offer a relational and knowledge-based view of sustainable educational change, emphasizing the importance of professional capital and community. Findings The KINoS framework conceptualizes educational change as a non-linear, social learning process. It highlights how bonding, bridging, and linking forms of social capital—and their structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions—create the social conditions under which knowledge is co-constructed, negotiated, and shared across professional communities. Together, these processes support educational change that is sustained in length (over time), breadth (across people and places), and depth (in beliefs and routines). Originality/value The KINoS framework offers a new lens to understand how professional relationships and knowledge dynamics interact to shape lasting educational change. It contributes to the field by offering theoretically grounded and practical insights for educators, leaders, and researchers seeking to build the professional capital and collaborative conditions necessary for meaningful, scalable, and sustainable change.

This study examines how virtual social capital on short video platforms drives Generation Z’s online disposal of idle clothing in China. Based on social capital theory and social network analysis, we focus on three dimensions: network structural embeddedness, emotional connection, and value consensus. Using mixed methods—interviews (N = 26) and a survey (N = 1,474) analyzed via PLS-SEM and logistic regression—we find that value consensus is the key driver, mediated by peer influence and perceived information value. Value-driven behaviors reflect internalized norms, while donations rely on information credibility. The study advances HCI research and offers practical strategies for platform design to promote sustainable consumption.

Community gardens and the cultivation of social capital.

"Empower and be empowered": Unveiling how community engagement influences residents' perceived health in high-density high-rise housing.

Purpose This study examines how the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into journalism shapes public perceptions of news credibility. It examines differences in credibility toward news authored by AI, human journalists and human–AI collaborations. It also investigates whether AI-related public discussion serves as a mediating mechanism and social trust as a moderating factor. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on communicative and social capital theories, the study tests a conceptual model linking AI-related news consumption, public discussion and social trust to perceived news credibility across three authorship types. Using data from a nationally representative US panel (N = 1,252), structural equation modeling was conducted to assess both direct and moderated relationships. Findings News co-produced by AI and human journalists is perceived as more credible than AI-generated news and comparably credible to human-written news. AI-related public discussion serves as a key mechanism that enhances the perceived credibility of AI-generated content. Crucially, social trust moderates these relationships: at higher levels of trust, the positive association between discussion and credibility is stronger across all authorship types, especially for AI-only and collaborative news. Originality/value Using data collected in April–May 2022, prior to the public release of ChatGPT, this study offers a pre-generative-AI baseline for understanding audience responses to AI-generated news. It advances a socio-technical framework that integrates public discussion (communication) and social trust (social capital) to explain credibility perceptions across AI-, human- and human–AI-authored news. The findings highlight the roles of human–AI collaboration and community-level trust in sustaining credible and socially accepted uses of AI in journalism.

Hispanics have the highest disparities in education and economic outcomes. To better understand lagging education rates, social capital theory is used as a framework to explore the relationship between parental involvement, social initiative, and educational aspirations. Data were collected from the Youth and Family Project (West Texas) with 785 Hispanic adolescent participants. The method section includes a structural equation model to explore relationships. AMOS 29 is used to test indirect relationships as well as multigroup analysis. The findings demonstrate an indirect positive association between parental influence on academic aspirations through the social initiative for males and females, accounting for 22% and 24% of the variance, respectively. Parental peer influence was significantly related to male's and female's social initiative. Social initiative for males and females was significantly related to academic aspirations. The findings show how parental involvement and social initiative both influence academic aspirations of Hispanic adolescents through gendered pathways, inferring that the school experience is different depending on gender.

Urban agriculture (UA) is increasingly acknowledged as a critical component in enhancing food security, sustaining livelihoods, and fostering sustainable urban development across African cities. This paper adopts a qualitative case-study approach to examine the motivations, operational dynamics, land access challenges, and legislative contexts of UA in two contrasting urban settings: Cape Town (South Africa) and Norton (Zimbabwe). Guided by the social capital theory and interviews with key stakeholders and policy analysis, the study reveals divergent trajectories. In Cape Town, UA is semi-institutionalised, supported by governmental and civil society actors, and framed within broader agendas of food justice and community development. However, practitioners face significant constraints related to land access, urban policy fragmentation, and competition over space. In contrast, UA in Norton is largely informal, operating as a survivalist strategy in response to persistent socio-economic challenges, with minimal formal support but relatively flexible regulatory conditions. Here, land-tenure insecurity and the threat of eviction are pressing concerns. The study highlights the role of context-specific legislative frameworks, secure land rights, and inclusive urban planning in enabling UA. By situating UA within broader debates on land governance and urban informality, this paper contributes to understanding the institutional and spatial conditions necessary for advancing UA.

In this study, I explored how high school-aged youth experiencing homelessness navigate racially and geographically stratified spaces to access the educational and physiological resources necessary to complete high school. Drawing on comprehensive interviews with 23 youth in Los Angeles County, I investigated how systemic inequities in spatial resource distribution shape student mobility, access to school supports, and the role of institutional and community actors. Using social-capital theory and the American Human Development Index (HDI) as guiding frameworks, results reveal how youth traverse neighborhoods with varying levels of opportunity, often engaging in what I term resource hopping; that is, strategically traveling between underresourced and affluent areas to meet basic needs. Although schools and community-based organizations can act as critical bridges, disparities in identification, transportation, and access persist, particularly in suburban and low-HDI communities. The findings illustrate four distinct strategies youth employ to meet their needs and highlight the importance of spatially informed policies and locally grounded interventions. Study results call for a rethinking of how people conceptualize homelessness across urban and suburban geographies and urge educational and housing systems to align supports in ways that reduce the burden of navigation on youth.

This paper investigates female-to-female power dynamics in male-dominated workplace environments of Pakistan. Thus, challenging the global rhetoric that surrounds female empowerment as defined by global feminism and neoliberal development. By employing ethnographic methodology, I collected the data through in-depth interviews of interlocutors conducted during my PhD research and field notes of participant observation from three gender-sensitivity training workshops I conducted with government employees in various sectors. I have explored with this data how women working within the male-dominating government workplace navigate authority and legitimacy. The study finds that women use the internalization of patriarchal masculinity to gain access to authority, legitimacy, and social capital within the hierarchy of bureaucracy. Through this analysis, the study identifies new emergent femininities resulting from the dual forces of internalized masculinity and selective adoption of feminine care ethics. These emergent femininities are characterized by women adopting masculine behaviour as a means to create opportunities for themselves within the institutional hierarchy. At the same time, by perpetuating Patriarchy through their own choices, women create additional forms of inequality between female workers. As a result, two groups of women emerge, the first are empowered women with internalized masculinity who often view themselves as self-made women or saviours of other female workers However, the other group of working women has care-oriented responsibilities at home are often excluded from access to power. The theoretical framework of this paper is built on Kandiyoti's concept of "patriarchal bargains" and Bourdieu's theory of social capital. The paper demonstrates that toxic masculinity permeates women's everyday behaviour through their own practices within male-dominated organizations. This paper further demonstrates the ways women have internalized patriarchal masculine notions of empowerment at workplace undermine feminine perspectives of empowerment built on ethics of care. It explores practices through the lens of three themes a) women bargaining patriarchy to gain power position at workplace as a social capital; b) different needs of women with care-giving roles and their ways of becoming empowered and accumulating social capital vary from the women who either do not have these obligations or do not choose to have these responsibilities; c) Lastly, the priorities of women who prioritize or have only office-based duties to perform conflict with the ideals of some women with feminine responsibilities related to domesticated duties.

ABSTRACT Research Question/Issue This study investigates the impact of board networks with previous green bond issuers—hereafter referred to as green networks—on the propensity of green bond issuances relative to conventional bonds across 45 economies. Research Findings/Insights The analysis provides robust evidence that firms with boards embedded in green networks exhibit a greater propensity to issue green bonds as opposed to conventional bonds. The effect is particularly pronounced for firms that obtain favorable green bond related information via their green networks and for those firms motivated to strengthen their environmental reputation. These findings suggest that board green networks function as an important mechanism for information diffusion and for signaling environmental commitment, thereby fostering the spillover of green financing practices across firms. Theoretical/Academic Implications Grounded in resource dependence and social capital theories, the study highlights the critical role of board‐level networks in shaping financing choices. Specifically, board green networks help mitigate information asymmetry and signal environmental reputation. Practitioner/Policy Implications The findings on green networks have direct implications for both corporate practice and public policy. Firms can leverage these networks to learn from peers' experiences, reducing risks in their own bond issuance. Policymakers could support this process by facilitating network‐building and creating platforms for sharing best practices in green bonds and other sustainability initiatives. Strengthening transparency in environmental disclosures could further stimulate green bond issuance by reinforcing the credibility and spillover of such practices across firms.

Informal networks are essential for professional and social integration in South Korea’s collectivist context, yet their exclusivity often creates significant barriers for self-initiated expatriates (SIEs). This study explores how SIEs navigate South Korea’s hierarchical and culturally embedded informal networks, such as Yongo (regional ties) and Yonjul (educational connections). Drawing on qualitative interviews with 30 self-initiated expatriates, it identifies strategies for accessing these networks and addresses gaps in understanding adaptation within the South Korean cultural context. The findings extend Social Capital Theory by highlighting the dual role of bonding and bridging capital—with bonding capital reinforcing exclusivity, and bridging capital enabling access through alternative pathways. The study also refines Berry’s Acculturation Framework by introducing a behavioral typology—Survivors, Politically Savvy Actors, Isolated Individuals, and Cultural Assimilators—which captures how relational and cultural dynamics shape adaptation. These insights demonstrate how SIEs combine strategic behaviors with cultural sensitivity to overcome exclusion and foster belonging in South Korea. The study offers actionable implications for expatriates, organizations, and policymakers seeking to support integration in Korea’s exclusive, high-context social environment. By bridging theoretical frameworks with practical strategies, this research advances our understanding of self-initiated expatriate adaptation within South Korea’s informal network systems.

This study evaluates the impact of Community Development Fund Committees (CDFCs) on project planning and management within local communities, focusing on the Zambian context. Recognizing CDFCs as pivotal in fostering local development, the research investigates how these committees facilitate community engagement, measure the effectiveness of their projects, and address challenges impacting their functionality. Guided by Social Capital and Integral Theories, the study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews to capture both measurable data and nuanced insights. Findings indicate that while CDFCs play a critical role in promoting community participation and addressing localized needs, their effectiveness is often undermined by challenges such as inadequate resources, political interference, and limited technical expertise. Despite these hurdles, communities report moderate satisfaction with project outcomes, particularly in areas directly aligned with their priorities, such as infrastructure and service delivery. However, sustainability remains a concern, as many projects lack long-term viability due to resource constraints and governance issues. The study highlights the importance of strengthening community engagement mechanisms, enhancing transparency, and providing targeted training for CDFC members. It also highlights the need for policy interventions to address systemic barriers, such as political patronage and funding inadequacies. By offering a comprehensive analysis of CDFC operations, the research contributes to the broader discourse on community-driven development and provides actionable recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of CDFC-led initiatives in Zambia and similar contexts.

ABSTRACT This paper develops a conceptual framework to examine how regional football clubs may be leveraged for their tourism and hospitality potential. Existing scholarship has largely concentrated on globally recognised clubs and mega-events, while limited attention has been given to the professional teams located in peripheral and economically disadvantaged regions that often function as community anchors. The framework integrates insights from actor network theory, stakeholder theory, social capital theory and the concept of leverage in order to explain how facilities, brands, stakeholder networks and communities can interact to shape tourism and hospitality outcomes. SC Cambuur and the regional context of the Dutch city of Leeuwarden (Friesland) are introduced as an illustrative case to demonstrate how these dynamics can be situated within a peripheral setting. The study contributes conceptually by extending the examination of sport tourism leverage into contexts where resources are constrained but where authenticity and embeddedness are central assets. It offers a heuristic device through which clubs and municipalities can consider facilities and brands as leverageable resources. The analysis is indicative rather than empirical and provides a platform for future comparative and longitudinal research into the role of regional football clubs in supporting wider development objectives.

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the dual nature of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) social capital in shaping firm sustainable development performance (SDP). Drawing on social capital and upper echelons theories, we propose that CEO networks generate both resource-enabling effect that fosters sustainability and governance-cost effect that constrains it. Using panel data from Chinese listed companies spanning 2010–2022, we employ feasible generalized least squares estimation to test our hypotheses. We also used fixed effects models, instrumental variable methods, and Heckman two-stage models for robustness testing. Our analysis reveals context-dependent U-shaped and inverted N-shaped relationships between CEO social capital and firm SDP. Furthermore, CEO power amplifies the governance-cost effect of social capital, while media attention mitigates it. Similarly, financing constraints strengthen the resource-enabling effect, whereas regional market completeness weakens it. This study contributes to social capital theory by unveiling the dual-pathway mechanism through which CEO social capital influences sustainability, and provides practical guidance for optimizing leadership network management in the pursuit of excellence and sustainable development.

This paper aims to review the literature on resilience and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Grounded in a thorough review process, a systematic analysis of 109 papers – included in the Web of Science and Business Source Premier databases – in the fields of business, management, economics, and related areas is conducted and presented. The research identifies four distinct strands of discussion, each drawing on a specific conceptualisation of resilience in the context of SMEs. These four conversations set the stage for refining the understanding of SMEs’ resilience and identifying shortcomings in the literature and avenues for future research. Drawing on broad perspectives, we categorised SMEs’ resilience as an inherent attribute of business, then delved into the phenomenon in the face of crises, both during and after a disturbance. Diverse influencing factors/enablers have been outlined and summarized. Generally, the present research highlights that the contributing factors are industry-specific and region-specific. In recent research, sustainability has received particular attention alongside other influencing factors. Additionally, we uncovered theoretical and conceptual frameworks to underpin research on SMEs’ resilience. The dynamic capabilities view, the resource-based view, social and human capital theories, sustainability theory, and crisis/risk management frameworks are among the most prominent approaches in research on organisational resilience. Thus, by offering a timely review of the literature (2010 – the first quarter of 2025), we characterise the current state of knowledge and integrate diverse strands of scholarship on SMEs' resilience and its factors, aiming to provide a systematic overview.

This study examines a zakat governance model that aligns with the socio-cultural context of Minangkabau by integrating ABS–SBK values, traditional nagari institutions, and the state’s administrative framework. Although Indonesia’s zakat system is centralized and emphasizes formal accountability, this approach often fails to accommodate the strong social capital and adat-based deliberative traditions that characterize Minangkabau society. Through a literature review and analysis of documented ethnographic studies, the research identifies key mismatches between formal zakat mechanisms and nagari-based practices, particularly in terms of social legitimacy, the accuracy of mustahik identification, and the administrative capacity of local institutions. The findings indicate that nagari institutions possess cultural legitimacy and deep community knowledge, yet require state support to strengthen administrative procedures and reporting systems. Synthesizing governance, decentralization, ABS–SBK, and social capital theories, this study proposes a hybrid zakat governance model that includes formal recognition of nagari roles, establishment of Nagari Zakat Offices, coordination through Regional Zakat Forums, adaptive accountability, and digital transparency tools. This model is expected to enhance the effectiveness, legitimacy, and sustainability of zakat governance in Minangkabau

Digital transformation in the fisheries sector has brought fundamental changes to the social relations and trust systems among fishermen. This study aims to understand how digitalization through blockchain technology reconfigures social networks and shapes new forms of social capital among fishermen in Sumenep Regency. Using a phenomenological approach, this research explores fishermen’s subjective experiences in adapting to digital systems that demand transparency, accountability, and technology-based trust. Grounded in Robert Putnam’s social capital theory, the findings reveal that blockchain implementation not only enhances economic efficiency but also creates a new social arena that fosters digital trust and hybrid social networks between humans and systems. Traditional trust, previously built through patronage and informal relations, is transforming into a systemic form of trust governed by algorithmic mechanisms. This process generates digital social capital that extends fishermen’s networks beyond local communities, yet also produces ambivalence toward the erosion of traditional collective values. Thus, the digitalization of trust through blockchain represents a complex sociotechnical process that reshapes social structures and the collective identity of coastal communities.

This study examined the influence of community support on the job performance of teaching staff in remote schools within Muleba District Council, Tanzania, grounded in both Social Capital Theory and Pragmatism philosophy. Social Capital Theory suggests that community networks, relationships, and local support systems contribute significantly to organizational success and individual performance, particularly in settings where resources are limited. In this context, community involvement comprising contributions from parents, local leaders, and organizations is seen as a critical factor in enhancing educational success and supporting teachers’ motivation and effectiveness. Pragmatism as a guiding research philosophy emphasizes mixed data for practical solutions and actionable insights, aligning with the study’s goal of generating real-world applications and recommendations for fostering community engagement in educational settings. This research addresses the often inconsistent or absent community engagement in remote and resource-limited areas. A mixed methods approach was employed, gathering data from 81 participants through structured surveys completed by 73 teachers and in-depth interviews conducted with 8 participants, including 6 school heads and 2 ward education officers were involved. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis, while qualitative data were thematically analyzed to capture the perspectives and experiences of educators and administrators. The findings reveal that teachers working in schools with active community involvement report higher levels of job satisfaction, motivation, and improved performance in areas such as classroom management and student engagement. Conversely, limited community support is associated with increased stress, decreased morale, and higher absenteeism and turnover among teachers. These results highlight the practical value of fostering strong community school partnerships as a pragmatic solution to enhance educational outcomes in remote regions. This study recommends that policymakers, community leaders, and educational stakeholders strengthen community involvement through targeted engagement strategies and supportive policies.

Objectives The aim of this article is to present the concept of building state resilience in the social dimension, with an emphasis on the role of communities and institutions in crisis management processes. The authors analyze how the modern approach to public security incorporates society’s capacity for adaptation, recovery, and cooperation in crisis situations. The is aims to identify key factors supporting the development of social resilience, particularly in the context of Poland's security policy. Material and methods The article is baased on analysis and qualitative methods, integrating various theoretical and practical approaches in crisis management and resilience theory. It also applies theoretical comparison concerning concepts such as social capital theory, constructivism, resilience theory, and crisis management theory. Strategic documents and legal acts are also analyzed. Results State social resilience depends both on institutional actions and civic engagement. A crucial factor is the integration of social initiatives with the crisis management system and support for citizen involvement in crisis planning and response. Civic education also plays an important role, enhancing social awareness and readiness to act in emergency situation. Conclusions Security policies aimed at building resilient societies should focus on effective crisis management systems, critical infrastructure protection, and civil defense mechanisms that support, rather than replace, individual citizen responsibility. Accordingly, these efforts must go beyond traditional military, legal, or diplomatic tools and extend into education and training systems. Through this, it becomes possible to reshape public awareness and even redefine national identity in terms of how security is perceived and enacted.