United Nations Educational , Scientific And Cultural Organization Research Articles

Digital competencies: perceptions of primary school teachers pursuing master’s degrees from eight African countries

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) highlights the relevance of using information and communications technology (ICT) in education for improving the quality of education. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to extend research on digital competences in education. To advance the development of digital competencies it is necessary to take account of how teachers perceive these. In addition, systematic reviews of the literature on ICT and education show an imbalance regarding the amount of research from Africa compared to other regions of the world. In this sense, the objective of this study carried out between March 2019 and April 2020 was to analyse the perceptions of primary school teachers from 8 African countries about their digital competences. The teachers were master’s students in teacher training on virtual platforms. A mixed methodological perspective (quantitative-qualitative) was adopted and a questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions was applied. The quantitative and qualitative analyses show that the teachers recognised their digital competence at all 3 levels. The needs highlighted by teachers were in developing their knowledge of how to create content with the support of technology. However, the available resources, which differed in the participants’ work contexts and did not enable the equal use of ICT in all African countries, was an important issue highlighted by the participants. It is recommended that teacher training in digital competence is prepared using instructional design that promotes innovation and contact with real teaching-learning situations.

Ocean negative carbon emissions: A new UN Decade program

Ocean negative carbon emissions: A new UN Decade program

Sport heritage in VR: Real tennis case study

Traditional Sports and Games (TSG) are as varied as human cultures. Preserving knowledge of these practices is essential as they are an expression of intangible cultural heritage as emphasized by UNESCO (General Conference of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, at its 25th session, 1989). With the increasing development of virtual reconstructions in the domain of Cultural Heritage, and thank to advances in the production and 3D animation of virtual humans, interactive simulations and experiences of these activities have emerged to preserve this intangible heritage. We propose a methodological approach to design an immersive reconstitution of a TSG in Virtual Reality, with a formalization of the elements involved in such a reconstitution and we illustrate this approach with the example of real tennis. Real tennis is a racket sport that has been played for centuries and is considered the ancestor of tennis. It was a very popular sport in Europe during the Renaissance period, practiced by every layer of the society. It is still practiced today in few courts in world, especially in France, United Kingdom, Australia and USA. It has been listed in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in France since 2012.

Planning policies for transition from historical quarters of the global city of Yazd to urban creativity, a case study: Fahadan quarter

PurposeThe inscription of Yazd historical fabric in United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world heritage list has provided the city with the opportunity of international competence and to achieve a global identity. Fahadan is one of the nine historical quarters and the core of formation of the Yazd city. Fahadan is one of the nine historical quarters and the core of formation of Yazd city. The article intends to provide suitable policies for converting it into a sample creative quarter in Yazd historical fabric.Design/methodology/approachThe article benefits from qualitative research and the strategic planning method based on a creative city approach, uses SWOT technique (a technique for finding an organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) for situation analysis and the Oregon model for visioning.FindingsTwo categories of hard and soft factors play a role in transitioning Fahadan quarter into a creative quarter. By expanding the scope of jobs related to jewelry, and creating its supporting activities in the food and leisure sector, a creative economy can be discovered in Fahadan quarter which alongside reinforcement of unique physical features of the area, forms a creative place. Its goal will be viewed as the place where artisans pave their way for reaching a creative quarter with new management.Originality/valueThe research presents policies to realize soft and hard factors required for creativity in the quarter, and shows step by step a small-scale pattern in the context of urban creativity planning, that can be used in historical fabrics with similar situation.

Governing Open Science

ABSTRACT In November 2021, Member States unanimously adopted the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Recommendation on Open Science. As attention now turns to the implementation of the Recommendation, time is ripe for the science community to take an active role in governance of the evolving science system if a new era of open science is to serve the global public good. This paper discusses open science in terms of the paradigm shift needed, the potential and directions for the evolution of global science, and governance arrangements in the broader perspective of Anthropocene-related challenges, with the hydrological entry point at its core.

Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Obstacle Factors Analysis of Tourism Ecological Security in Huanggang Dabieshan UNESCO Global Geopark.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Geoparks (UGGp) and geotourism activities not only improve people’s scientific quality by popularizing geoscience knowledge, but also play important roles in protecting precious geoheritages and promoting the development of regional economies. However, tourism activities also have a negative impact on the local ecological environment, placing the regional ecological system under great pressure. Therefore, this paper constructed a tourism ecological security evaluation indicator system suitable for geoparks by using the “Driving-Pressure-State-Impact-Response” (DPSIR) model. The spatial autocorrelation and obstacle degree model are used to analyze the spatio-temporal characteristics and influencing factors of the tourism ecological security index (TESI) of Huanggang Dabieshan UGGp in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2018, respectively. The results indicate that the TESI of the study area has gradually improved from 2000 to 2018. Spatially, the level of TESI presents a gradient distribution from the townships where the main scenic spots are located to the surrounding townships. The main obstacle factors affecting TESI include: per capita tourism income, proportion of comprehensive tourism revenue in GDP, per capita net income of rural residents, proportion of tertiary industry in GDP, coverage of nature reserves, planning integrity of geopark, informatization of geopark, growth rate of tourists, comprehensive utilization rate of solid waste, etc. The influencing factors of TESI varied from time to time. Balancing the conflict between local tourism activities and environmental protection, encouraging the participation of local communities, and strengthening science popularization for the local public will effectively improve the tourism ecological security of geoparks.

The politics of World Heritage Sites: city planning, bird shit architecture and European impunity

ABSTRACT Liverpool holds the unenviable distinction to be the first UK city to lose its United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site status. It was inscribed in 2004, placed on the ‘in Danger’ list in 2012 and de-listed in 2021 due to the perceived negative impact of extensive waterfront regeneration. Planning permission for the £5.5 billion Liverpool Waters project and Everton Football Club's £500 million stadium sealed the city's fate. This is both interesting and unusual. First, very few properties appear on the ‘in Danger’ list, and before Liverpool, only two other sites had been de-listed since the mid-1970s. Second, extant knowledge indicates that European states enjoy ‘impunity’ from World Heritage Committee decisions. However, this was not the case with regards to the UK State Party and Liverpool. Through an analysis of city planning and the ‘politics at the site’, this article problematizes how and why Liverpool was controversially de-listed as a World Heritage Site. Beyond the case study, this article contributes to, and drives forward, international debates on World Heritage Sites.

Design and Implementation of a Blended Learning System for Higher Education in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a Response to Covid-19 Pandemic

Until now, the higher education system in the Democratic Republic of Congo has relied on the traditional face-to-face teaching method, which consists in the real physical presence of students and teachers during classes and lectures. Thus, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is currently advocating e-learning as the only alternative for education in the COVID-19 era. It goes without saying that this requires specific frameworks and appropriate resources, including access to a good quality internet connection. Several countries around the world have implemented this recommendation since the first quarter of 2020 to protect their populations from the significant risks of Covid-19 contamination. In educational environment however, given the disadvantageous realities of the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the cost and quality of internet, the low rate of electrification, and the lack of experience of the educational stakeholders involved, the migration to e- learning remains a challenge. Thus, we propose in this paper a blended learning model that can smoothly introduce e-learning through a platform specially designed to integrate with the traditional way of delivering courses in Congolese higher education by combining the old method and e-learning based on ICT.

REVIEW ON THE HISTORY AND EMOTIONAL BEHAVIOR CHANGES OF R&D HUMAN RESOURCES IN JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND SINGAPORE

BackgroundIn order to pay attention to the observation of R & D personnel, especially the changes of emotion, attitude and behavior in the process of R & D, most Asian countries will provide their own strength to improve the quality and quantity of R & D personnel. This study tracked the deviation of R & D personnel and total R & D revenue in GDP in Japan, South Korea and Singapore from 2002 to 2007. Technology is developing rapidly in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore, as many researchers and educators obtain master's and doctoral degrees from western countries and then return to Asian countries to teach new technology, which brings rich human resources. This is why the four little dragons (Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan) have strengthened high-tech and economic development.Research Objects and MethodsThe percentages of R & D personnel in the total population in Japan, South Korea and Singapore are expressed in full-time equivalent (FTE) and total employees (HC) respectively. The correlation between gross R & D revenue per GDP (GERD) and FTE and HC is studied. The data for this study are from the open database of the Institute for statistics of the United Nations Educational, scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This study also used DASS-21 to conduct a questionnaire survey on the samples. Subjective perceived social support questionnaire the subjective perceived social support questionnaire was revised by Zhao Xia based on the social relationship network questionnaire (NRI) compiled by Furman (1985) and others and revised by Zou Hong in 2003. The scale consists of 27 items and 5 dimensions: emotional support, instrumental support, companionship, affirmation and intimacy. The scale adopts 5-level scoring, “never” is recorded as 1 point, and “almost always” is recorded as 5 points. The higher the total score of the scale, the higher the individual's perceived level of social support. The internal consistency coefficient of the scale in this study is 0.94.ResultsThe results are as follows: (1) statistics show that language policy is conducive to reducing the cost of education and science and technology in Singapore. (2) From 2002 to 2007, the correlation coefficient between “R & D full-time personnel in total R & D revenue per GDP (rdftep)” and “R & D personnel in total R & D revenue per GDP (rdhcp)” in Japan exceeded 0.9. In addition, the correlation coefficients of “rdftepv. Sgerd / GDP” and “rdhcpv. Sgerd / GDP” in South Korea are both 0.99. All variables are positive, i.e. R & D professionals play an active and beneficial role in these countries.ConclusionThis study tracked the R & D personnel in Japan, South Korea and Singapore from 2002 to 2007 and their correlation with the total R & D revenue of each FRP. The findings are as follows: Singapore is a member of the Commonwealth. English is the first official language, which makes it easier to communicate with developed countries. The language policy has enabled her to benefit from lower costs of education, science and technology. R & D personnel in industrialized countries are very important. The study shows that R & D professionals were very valuable between 2002 and 2007, because from a statistical point of view, R & D professionals accounted for 2.44 to 7.10 of GDP per capita. The further impact of R & D personnel should be greater than the statistical data. R & D output is usually ahead of industrial technology. In short, we should pay full attention to the important role of R & D personnel in design elements, actively pay attention to the changes of their psychological emotion and behavior, as well as the impact of R & D effect and healthy behavior, and be good builders, managers, coordinators and collaborators of design methods. According to the psychological characteristics of these groups, we should actively and flexibly organize colorful activities, strive to create a relaxed and harmonious living atmosphere, create a friendly and mutually beneficial R & D relationship, encourage and guide these groups, adjust their psychology to the best state, and promote the healthy development of their good cognition and life.AcknowledgementsThis work was jointly supported by Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province under Grant 2019A1515010830 and Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology under Grant 702-519244, Guangdong, China.

The Triple Helix and its Intervention in the Research and Development of Products for International Security and Defense


 
 
 
 This article aims to analyze the concepts and relationships of the Triple Helix Model (THM) proposed by Etzkowitz & Leydesdorff as applied to international security and defense and the contribution of THM to the development of knowledge-based economies. The method used was a qualitative, descriptive analysis, reviewing reliable scientific sources and official web pages of countries and organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU). The results showed that the generation of capacities in Science, Technology, and Innovation lead to assets in security and defense and the systemic development of products and innovative initiatives, creating a virtuous circle that allows universities, states and firms, to evolve basing their growth on the development of knowledge. Finally, as a conclusion it was found that investment in research and development in defense and security, articulated with the actors of the Triple Helix, is a driver of technological change that strengthen the concept of knowledge-based economies in the countries that achieve this articulation, as evidenced in the cases analyzed.
 
 
 

Cardio Taiji for Wellness

The concept of Taiji (Tai-chi), consisting of Yin and Yang, originates from the ancient Yijng (I-ching), the Book of Changes. It is the traditional metaphysical Law of China, and has been described as Dao (Tao) or “The Way." Two years ago, in December, 2020, Taijiquan (the fighting system of Taiji) was recognized and accepted as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This study reviews the Taijiquan technique for assisting in life and wellness, and presents a brief review of the effect of Cardio Taiji on blood pressure.

پائيدار ترقی کے ليے قدرتی وسائل کا محفوظ استعمال: عہد نبوی کی روشنی ميں خصوصی مطالعہ

Abstract:Sustainable development means that human societies survive and meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It is as if existing resources are to be preserved for future generations and the resources that we are running out of are to be reduced or used in such a way that they remain usable for a long time. In modern times, due to population expansion and overuse of natural resources, resources are dwindling day by day and the world's population is not benefiting from these resources. Therefore the concept of sustainable development has become very popular globally and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also introduced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030) to ensure the balanced and sustainable economic and social development of human society. We find in the Qur'an and Sunnah the basic concept of the proposed measures for sustainable development to protect and augment the resources of the state. Many verses in the Holy Qur'an draw attention to the best management of resources. While some verses are clearly related to natural collective resources and directly or indirectly call for proper arrangement of natural collective resources. This article will explain the concept of safe use of natural resources in the light of the Qur'an, Sunnah, and Sīrah of the Prophet (S.A.W). Keywords: Safe Use of Natural Resources, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development and Islamic point of view, Sustainable Development in light of Sirah, Use of Natural Resources in light of Sirah

CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE DESTINATION BRANDING FOR PENANG TOURISM

As the economies of Southeast Asian countries continue to develop at a faster pace, the opportunity to preserve and promote indigenous heritage and culture is critical. While the heritage buildings and culture of Malaysia may appear familiar and unpopular among locals, they continue to be in greater demand among foreign tourists. The purpose of this study is to examine the local attractions in Penang, which has been perceived as an unpopular tourism destination in recent years due to a lack of creative destination branding but has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its historical heritage. Historical destinations should be rebranded through the creation of brand histories, as each heritage structure has a unique backstory. To summarize, innovative destination branding strategies were used to accomplish the objective. The foundation of destination branding is to promote the destination and attract new tourists. Observation and questionnaires were used to generate concept proposals. Three critical aspects of a heritage destination can be improved through this research project: the reputation, identity, and perception of the local attraction. Local historic structures should be maintained and protected for aesthetic and safety reasons. This proposal may be accepted as a viable solution for reviving Penang's tourism industry through a creative and innovative approach to destination branding.

Creative Hubs in Hanoi, Vietnam

Creative Hubs in Hanoi, Vietnam

Reconciling the Conservation of Cultural Heritage with Rural Development

Reconciling the Conservation of Cultural Heritage with Rural Development

Perspectives on COVID-19 Vaccines and Its Hesitancy Among Jordanian Population.

BackgroundSince the spread of the COVID-19 virus, governments are putting significant resources into ending the pandemic. Vaccination arises as the best solution to get back to our everyday lives. However, we are now facing vaccine hesitancy, which is a critical problem.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted between December 15, 2020, and March 1, 2021, using a validated online-based questionnaire; participants were compared using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program based on multiple factors.ResultsA total of 1607 participants throughout Jordan have responded to the questionnaire, among which 880 (54.8%) have bachelor's degrees, 236 (14.7%) have a high educational level (master and doctoral), and 491 (30.5%) have a diploma or less. Although this is a non-probable sample, it is not a representative sample as, according to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), only 33.6% of the Jordan population have a tertiary education.Overall, 892 (55.5%) of the studied subjects had the intention to take the vaccine, distributed as follows: 156 (66.1%) of the high educational participants wanted to take the vaccine, compared to 512 (58.2%) of those who have bachelor’s degree and 224 (45.6%) of those who have diploma or less (p < 0.001). Reading scientific articles talking about the vaccines and their effects (55.6%, p < 0.001), knowing the mechanism of action (45.2%, p = 0.007), getting proper medical advice (27.2%, p < 0.001), encouraged by the increasing number of infections and deaths (39.7%, p < 0.001), and the number of people who received the vaccine (16.1%, p < 0.001) were the most critical factors that played a role in taking the vaccine by all of the studied groups.Male gender (OR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.54-2.64; p < 0.001), high income of more than 1000 JDs (1400 USD) (OR = 3.23; 95% CI = 2.21-4.71; p < 0.001), having an educational level of either high education (OR = 3.39; 95% CI = 2.07-5.55; p < 0.001) or bachelor degree (OR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.25-2.24; p = 0.001), and being encouraged by the increasing number of infections and deaths caused by COVID-19 (OR = 1.97; 95% CI = 1.46-2.66; p < 0.001) were all significantly associated with the willingness to take the vaccine.ConclusionAs the world rushes toward vaccination to end the pandemic, efforts are needed to end this phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy by enlightening people with the precise knowledge regarding the vaccine's mechanism of action, side effects, and efficacy focusing mainly on people with lower educational levels.

Governing anticipation: UNESCO making humankind futures literate

PurposeThis paper explores practices of foresight within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) program Futures Literacy, as a form of transnational governmentality–founded on the interests of “using the future” by “emancipating” the minds of humanity.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on ethnographic material gathered over five years within the industry of futures consultancy, including UNESCO and its network of self-recognized futurists. The material consists of written sources, participant observation in on-site and digital events and workshops, and interviews.FindingsBuilding on Foucault's (1991) concept of governmentality, which refers to the governing of governing and how subjects politically come into being, this paper critically examines the UNESCO Futures Literacy program by answering questions on ontology, deontology, technology and utopia. It shows how the underlying rationale of the Futures Literacy program departs from an ontological premise of anticipation as a fundamental capacity of biological life, constituting an ethical substance that can be worked on and self-controlled. This rationale speaks to the mandate of UNESCO, to foster peace in our minds, but also to the governing of governing at the individual level.Originality/valueIn the intersection between the growing literature on anticipation and research concerning governmentality the paper adds ethnographically based knowledge to the field of transnational governance. Earlier ethnographic studies of UNESCO have mostly focused upon its role for cultural heritage, or more broadly neoliberal forms of governing.

How to feed a culturally sustainable development plan over time: evidence from the Tuscan Mining UNESCO Global Geopark

PurposeThis research explores the community's role in feeding a culturally sustainable development project over time and the practices which operationally allow the bridging of cultural heritage management and sustainable development according to the approach of “culture as sustainability”.Design/methodology/approachThe primary and secondary sources relate to nearly 20 years of life of the Tuscan Mining Geopark case belonging to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) European and Global Geopark Networks. Textual analysis was applied to the dataset. The interpretative approach was aligned with other investigations within this research field.FindingsThe results highlight how a bold project in an uncertain context harnessed bottom-up mobilisation and accountability to stimulate a sustainable community empowerment. The ability to experiment and learn from experience depicts an organisational logic far from the top-down and predefined design practice widely contested in the literature.Research limitations/implicationsDespite a single case study was analysed, it enables researchers to craft a conceptual model for culturally sustainable development projects, and it fills the literature gap on how to operationalise culture as sustainability under the managerial perspective.Practical implicationsThe model assembles an organisational process view and practices that can be tailored to a cultural context with insights for developing culturally sustainable projects.Originality/valueThe research increases the observations of community empowerment within culturally sustainable development projects. It demonstrates how the “incompleteness of the design” was not a weakness but rather a trigger of effective organisational practices.

Experimenting with a global panacea: UNESCO’s Fundamental Education programme in China, 1945–1950

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was set up in the aftermath of World War II with the mandate of safeguarding global peace by promoting international intellectual cooperation across national boundaries. UNESCO’s first flagship educational initiative, launched in 1946, was the Fundamental Education programme, which ran until 1958. This article traces the role of China in the history of this UNESCO project, both in terms of inspiring the initial concept and in terms of piloting it. The author maps out a transnational network of concepts, ideas, people, institutions, funds, etc. that shaped the programme. Informed by scientific experimental methodology, the design of UNESCO’s ambitious Fundamental Education initiative was to implement long-term, systematic and comprehensive schemes addressing illiteracy, public health, civil education and livelihood, etc. While the actors collaborating in this project shared some beliefs, their group as a whole reflected a divergent ideational spectrum, represented multiple interest groups, and was intertwined with both local and international politics. In the case of the interventions designed for piloting in China, these circumstances, as well as the multiple challenges of post-World War II reconstruction, the Chinese civil war and the Cold War had the effect of reducing the original concept to a small snapshot pilot project, limited to a specific subject (“the healthy village”). The article concludes with a consideration of the historical legacy of the cooperation between UNESCO and China in later decades.

Arabic Christianity between the Ottoman Levant and Eastern Europe

Arabic Christianity between the Ottoman Levant and Eastern Europe