Journal of Business Research and Reports
Brought to you by Scientific Research and Community, the Journal of Business Research and Reports is dedicated to fostering knowledge and collaboration in the field of business research. Our platform serves as a vital resource for academics, practitioners, and students seeking to share, explore, and discuss the latest developments in business. Featured Articles Delve into our collection of cutting-edge peer-reviewed articles that illuminate current business challenges and innovative solutions. All type of articles is accepted like Research, Review, Case studies, short communication, Mini Review, Editorial, Letter to the Editor, Commentary, Perspective, and etc., we are proudly announcing that we are advanced in publishing of PPT (PowerPoint Presentations), Video articles, Image articles and Animations. Articles can be submitted through online from https://srcpublishers.com/business-research-and-reports/user/register or can send through an e-mail with attachment for businessresearch@onlinescientificresearch.info 0.35* Impact Factor 84.5% Citations 80% Acceptance
Environmental Issues between the Conflict Over Fossil Energy and the Inevitability of Renewable Energy
This paper attempts to provide an analysis of the relationship between environmental issues, fossil fuel consumption rates, and economic practices. All environmental protection initiatives remain hostage to strategic calculations, the crisis of the transition to renewable energy, and the state’s public policy priorities. Study Objectives:Through an interpretive and methodological approach, this study aims to: First: shed light on the relationship between environmental practices and the environment through the concept of economic growth rates and fossil energy consumption, and analyze the relationship of influence and impact between the environment, economy, and energy triad. Second: employ a political-economic approach through countries geostrategic calculations to provide an explanation for current wars and conflicts. Theoretical Framework and Methodology:The methodological and theoretical framework adopted to analyze the study topic includes the following: First: The descriptive-analytical approach, which helps describe, analyze, and predict by identifying its characteristics and dimensions, describing the relationships between its variables, and their correlation symbols, with the aim of arriving at a comprehensive scientific description. This approach is considered one of the most important scientific approaches adopted in studying phenomena. Second: The interpretive approach: To build a logical structure to describe and explain the relationship between the environment and energy, we relied on the economic-political approach, based on the realism of the concept of state interests and conflicts over energy resources. Results and Discussion: From the approach used, it can be concluded that countries are unable to overcome the dominance of fossil fuels over their economies, which drives them to conflict over oil and gas resources, at least in the foreseeable future. Despite the environmental crisis, countries’ geostrategic calculations drive them to exploit the environment to achieve their interests and ensure their influence. Therefore, environmental issues in securing energy resources are evident as one of the most significant obstacles to reaching a comprehensive and binding agreement between major powers. Each country seeks to negotiate with the least possible responsibility and cost. Therefore, countries view environmental negotiations either as a means to weaken their economy, thereby diminishing their influence and role, or as an opportunity to weaken other competing powers regionally and internationally. Research Content: Using a political-economic approach, the study focuses on statistical data to examine the relationship between economic growth and energy consumption, and countries’ economic calculations for maintaining their influence. Accordingly, energy resources influence the orientations of their foreign policies and the limits of this influence. By energy resources, we mean traditional energy sources, specifically oil and natural gas, which constitute a significant axis of economic growth and foreign policy, making them clearly influential in countries’ geostrategic calculations. Originality/Value: The originality and value of the study lie in establishing an explanatory correlation between fossil energy consumption rates, economic growth, and the contradictions in the use of environmental issues within geostrategic calculations.
Fossil Energy, Economic Growth, Renewable Energy, Geostrategic Calculations
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Business Research and Reports
An Innovative Paradigm of Cross-Border Financial Education Based on Reverse Engineer Perspective - A Case Study of Big Data Credit Scoring
Addressing the cognitive challenge of the algorithm black box faced by business students in the context of the New Liberal Arts, this study proposes a novel experiential learning paradigm based on reverse engineering. Leveraging the Zhima Credit scoring modeling project, the study employs parametric scaffolding instruction to guide 27 business students with no programming background through the reverse deconstruction and value reconstruction of credit models. The results indicate that this model significantly enhanced students’ sensitivity to unstructured data and comprehension of risk control logic, while effectively awakening their ethical consciousness regarding the mitigation of algorithmic discrimination. This study confirms that Reverse Engineer Learning effectively breaks disciplinary barriers, providing a pedagogical paradigm for cultivating composite financial talents who possess both technical rationality and humanistic care.
Internet Finance, Reverse Engineer Learning, Big Data Credit Scoring, Algorithmic Ethics
Global Palm Oil Trade in Q2 2026: Navigating Geopolitical Disruptions, Energy Transition, and Supply-Demand Challenges
This literature review examines the prospects and challenges facing global palm oil commodities in Q2 2026. Palm oil is the world’s most widely traded vegetable oil, supplying roughly 40% of global edible oil demand. By 2026, Southeast Asian producers (Indonesia and Malaysia) will continue to dominate production, while market forces will be shaped by tightening supply chains, energy policies, and geopolitical shifts. Key factors include Indonesia’s ambitious biodiesel mandates (B40, planned B50) and Malaysia’s phased blending targets, which affect domestic demand and export availability. Geopolitical disruptions – notably Middle East conflicts that are pushing up crude prices-may boost biodiesel-driven demand and raise logistical costs. Climate variability (ENSO-related drought risk) and aging plantations will also influence output. On the demand side, strong growth is expected in emerging economies (e.g., India and China). In contrast, developed regions (e.g., the EU) tighten sustainability regulations (e.g., Deforestation Regulation), which limit market access and raise compliance costs. This review applies a thematic, qualitative synthesis of academic literature (2020–2026) to analyze these drivers. We identify five major themes: (1) global trade networks and geopolitical risk; (2) biofuel policy and energy transition; (3) production constraints (climate, replanting); (4) shifting consumption patterns; and (5) regulatory and sustainability issues. Our analysis highlights that while demand remains robust, supply constraints and policy uncertainties will create volatility. The Q2 2026 outlook calls for adaptive policies: balancing biodiesel expansion with export commitments, investing in yield improvements, and deepening international cooperation on sustainability. Policy implications include flexible blending mandates, targeted support for smallholders, and strategic stock management to navigate the complex palm oil market environment.
Palm Oil, Global Trade, Biodiesel Policy, Geopolitical Risk, Climate Impact, Sustainability, Supply Chain, Indonesia, Malaysia, Energy Transition
Designing Land Use for Climate Mitigation: When and How Oil Palm Plantations Can Contribute to Carbon Emission Reduction
Oil palm has become emblematic of tropical land-use change, often associated with deforestation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time, emerging biophysical and policy research indicates that oil palm is a highly productive perennial crop with a substantial capacity to sequester and store carbon under appropriate land-use configurations and management regimes. This article develops a qualitative narrative literature review to synthesize recent evidence (primarily from 2020 to 2026) on the conditions under which oil palm plantations can contribute to net carbon emissions reduction within broader land-use planning frameworks. The review integrates biophysical studies on net primary production and carbon stocks with life-cycle assessment and analyses of land-use change, spatial planning, and climate policy, with a specific focus on Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil producer. The findings indicate that oil palm’s mitigation contribution is conditional on (i) the initial land cover and land-use history, (ii) site biophysical characteristics (mineral versus peat soils), (iii) adoption of low-emission management and processing technologies, and (iv) alignment with low-carbon spatial planning and agrarian governance. When oil palm replaces degraded lands rather than natural forests or peatlands and is managed with best practices, the net greenhouse gas balance moves towards a carbon sink rather than a source. The article concludes with policy recommendations for land-use planning, regulation, and monitoring to enable oil palm development to support national climate targets while sustaining its economic and rural development roles.
Oil Palm, Land Use Change, Carbon Sequestration, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Spatial Planning, Peatland, Degraded Land, Life Cycle Assessment, Climate Mitigation, Indonesia
Vertical Integration as a Driver of Investment Efficiency: Evidence from China’s Food and Beverage Sector
Vertical integration is widely used in China’s food and beverage sector to secure supply and quality control, yet evidence on its financial benefits remains mixed and the mechanisms linking integration to stock-market outcomes are underexplored. Using a 15-year panel of 50 Chinese listed food and beverage firms (2008–2022; 750 firm-year observations), this study examines whether vertical integration affects stock yield directly and indirectly through firms’ investment behaviour. Employing firm and year fixed effects and mediation analysis, we find that higher vertical integration is associated with greater investment intensity, and that investment intensity is positively related to stock yield. Once the investment channel is accounted for, the direct effect of vertical integration on stock yield becomes statistically insignificant, suggesting that the stock-market relevance of integration primarily operates through investment. These results refine Transaction Cost Economics and the Resource-Based View by showing that integration creates shareholder value not automatically, but when translated into disciplined capital allocation in a regulation-intensive, perishable-goods industry. The study offers a mechanism based empirical framework for evaluating integration strategies in emerging-market settings.
Vertical Integration, Investment Intensity, Stock Returns, China, Food, Beverage Industry
Neuro-Computational Synergy: Bridging Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience for Next-Generation Cognitive Decision Systems
The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), neuroscience, and cognitive science has catalyzed a paradigm shift in understanding and engineering decision making systems. This comprehensive review examines the bidirectional relationship between brain-inspired computational models and neuroscientific insights, focusing on how reinforcement learning, prefrontal cortex mechanisms, and basal ganglia circuits inform the development of advanced cognitive architectures. We synthesize findings from 218 peer-reviewed studies spanning computational neuroscience, cognitive modeling, and AI applications, revealing that brain-inspired approaches not only enhance AI performance in complex decision tasks but also provide testable hypotheses about neural computation. Key themes include dopamine-modulated learning, meta-reinforcement learning in prefrontal networks, hierarchical cognitive control, and the integration of model-based and model-free decision strategies. We identify critical gaps in current understanding, including the challenge of scaling biologically plausible models to real-world applications and the need for unified frameworks that bridge multiple levels of analysis. This review demonstrates that neuro-computational synergy offers transformative potential for developing adaptive, context-sensitive AI systems while simultaneously advancing our understanding of human cognition. We conclude by outlining future research directions that emphasize cross-disciplinary collaboration, neuromorphic computing, and the ethical implications of brain-inspired AI systems.
Artificial Intelligence, Neuroscience, Cognitive Decision Systems, Reinforcement Learning, Prefrontal Cortex, Basal Ganglia, Brain-Inspired Computing, Meta-Learning, Computational Neuroscience, Cognitive Architectures
Digital Empowerment and the Rise of Youth Entrepreneurship: Opportunities, Challenges, and a Framework for the Next Generation
The convergence of digital technology and entrepreneurial activity has created both unprecedented opportunities and persistent structural challenges for young people seeking to establish ventures. This review article examines four interrelated dimensions of youth entrepreneurship in the digital era: the enabling and disruptive effects of digital transformation, the persistent gap between traditional educational systems and the competencies demanded by digital entrepreneurship, the psychological foundations of an entrepreneurial mindset, and the role of inclusive ecosystems and supportive policy frameworks. Drawing on a systematic review of recent empirical literature and global data from 2020 to 2025, including evidence from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, OECD, UNDP, and peer-reviewed scholarship, this paper synthesises a coherent framework for empowering youth entrepreneurs across diverse geographic and socioeconomic contexts. The paper identifies key structural failures-including the digital divide, inadequate pedagogical approaches, and equity gaps-and proposes a coordinated policy and ecosystem agenda to address them. Results suggest that unlocking youth entrepreneurial potential requires simultaneous investment in digital infrastructure, experiential education reform, inclusive programme design, and multi-stakeholder ecosystem building.
Youth Entrepreneurship, Digital Transformation, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Digital Divide, Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Entrepreneurship Education, Inclusive Innovation, Policy Reform
Indra in the Global High-Tech Economy: Anatomy of A Strategic Transformation (2005–2025)
This article analyses Indra’s trajectory as a Spanish high-tech company in the defence, transport and information technology sectors, from one of its turning points in 2005 to its consolidation as a multinational company present in more than 140 countries in 2025. The aim of the study is to examine how the interaction between the state, markets and private actors determined its evolution, highlighting the phases of birth, restructuring, growth and internationalisation. The methodology combines the analysis of corporate reports, sustainability reports, investor presentations and secondary sources, which are certainly scarce, allowing us to reconstruct a detailed picture of the business and institutional dynamics.
Indra, High-Tech Industry, Internationalisation, Innovation, Joint ventures
From Dogme 95 to Dogme 25: Cinema’s Ontological Resistance to the Domination of Digital and Artificial Intelligence Technologies
The promulgation of the Dogme 25 Manifesto during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival precipitated significant discourse within the global cinematic community, positioning itself as both a heir to and a transcendence of the Dogme 95 movement. Both manifestos serve as critical defenses of cinema’s ontological essence and creative autonomy in their respective technological epochs: digital technology for Dogme 95, and artificial intelligence for Dogme 25. Through the implementation of stringent creative protocols, Dogme 25 presents formidable resistance to technological alienation in the era of artificial intelligence, while simultaneously reaffirming cinema’s ontological value through the praxis of media primitivism. Moreover, Dogme 25 engendered a reconfigured notion of auteurism within the AI-dominated landscape, emphasizing the resurgence of human subjectivity within a post-human paradigm. Ultimately, this movement elucidates the theoretical contributions and practical implications of preserving and enhancing the ontological and humanistic value of cinema in the age of artificial intelligence
Dogme 25, Dogme 95, Artificial Intelligence, Media Primitivism, Neo-Auteurism
Women-Led FinTech: A Comparative Analysis Between the Western Balkans and Western Europe Toward Inclusive Digital Finance
The accelerated digital transformation of the financial sector—driven by artificial intelligence, open banking frameworks, blockchain applications, and data-enabled credit assessment—has generated unprecedented opportunities for innovation and financial inclusion. However, the pace, accessibility, and socio-economic impact of these technological advancements vary significantly between the Western Balkans and Western Europe. This keynote presentation examines the strategic role of women-led FinTech enterprises as catalysts of inclusive digital finance, economic empowerment, and structural modernization in emerging economies. The study employs a comparative mixed-methods research design, integrating: secondary data analysis of FinTech ecosystem indicators, gender-disaggregated digital finance metrics, regulatory maturity indices, and innovation capacity benchmarks (sourced from the World Bank, OECD, EIF, AFI, and regional financial authorities); policy and regulatory mapping, contrasting the advanced PSD2/GDPR-aligned frameworks of Western Europe with the fragmented and evolving regulatory architectures of the Western Balkans; qualitative case studies of women-led FinTech initiatives operating across both regions, with emphasis on digital lending, microfinance solutions, payment systems, and ed-tech platforms supporting financial capability and inclusion. Findings reveal considerable disparities in digital maturity, access to venture capital, technological readiness, cybersecurity infrastructure, and institutional trust. While Western Europe benefits from consolidated FinTech ecosystems and high levels of regulatory coherence, the Western Balkans demonstrate substantial potential for inclusion-driven innovation, particularly within underserved markets where women entrepreneurs are effectively positioned to design community-centric digital financial services. Women-led FinTech ventures in emerging contexts tend to produce disproportionately greater socio-economic impact by narrowing gender gaps in financial literacy, digital adoption, and access to finance for micro-enterprises. The presentation proposes a strategic framework to accelerate inclusive FinTech development, emphasizing: gender-responsive regulatory sandboxes; cross-regional knowledge-exchange mechanisms; AI- and Big-Data-driven credit models suited to data scarce environments; dedicated financial instruments for women innovators; and the establishment of a “Western Balkans–Western Europe FinTech Corridor” to enhance regulatory harmonization, talent mobility, and innovation scalability. This analysis underscores that empowering women entrepreneurs in the FinTech sector is not solely a matter of gender equity but a structural imperative for sustainable economic transformation, financial inclusion, and the modernization of digital financial ecosystems across diverse European markets.
FinTech, Women Entrepreneurship, Digital Inclusion, Artificial Intelligence in Finance, Western Balkans, Western Europe, Regulatory Innovation, Financial Technology Ecosystems
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Business Research and Reports
The Future of Global Fintech: a Powerhouse for Inclusive Financial Services
The Future of Global Fintech: a Powerhouse for Inclusive Financial Services Abstract: The global fintech industry remains robust as it transitions to a more sustainable growth phase The industry maintains positive performance metrics, though at more moderate rates than during the COVID-19 pandemic surge. Average customer growth from 2020-2023 was positive, however, with a significant decline from 2020-2021, reflecting natural market normalisation as the industry matures beyond pandemic-driven digital acceleration. Encouragingly, revenue and profit growth are strong at, indicating that financial inclusion remains central to fintech value proposition, with traditionally underserved segments comprising significant portions of customer bases and tailored products of fintechs, mainly in EMDEs
Explainable AI in Financial Workflows: Blueprint for Scalable Digital Transformation
As financial institutions accelerate digital transformation, the convergence of AI, automation, and business process management (BPM) is redefining core operations from customer onboarding to risk governance. This session explores the next generation of intelligent financial systems that embed explainable AI directly into BPM workflows, delivering transparent, regulatory-aligned decisions at scale. The talk presents applied strategies for integrating machine learning models into real-time business process pipelines for fraud detection, loan underwriting, and compliance tracking. Drawing from field implementations, it showcases how BPM-driven orchestration enables traceability, modular governance, and policy-driven automation. Attendees will learn how to design systems that not only optimize throughput but also maintain explainability, audibility, and ethical integrity, critical for navigating financial compliance and consumer trust in the AI age. This session targets FinTech leaders, solution architects, and AI researchers aiming to operationalize AI responsibly within digital banking ecosystems.
Blockchain and Finance: Opportunities, Risks, and Real-World Applications in 2025
This presentation explores how blockchain technology is reshaping the financial sector in 2025. It provides a practical understanding of blockchain fundamentals, examines its real-world uses in banking and financial services, and highlights both the opportunities and challenges associated with its adoption. Key topics covered • Introduction to blockchain: principles, security, and blockchain types • Cryptocurrencies and digital assets: roles, trends, and market evolution • Decentralized Finance (DeFi): smart contracts, lending, exchanges • Real financial applications: payments, auditing, tokenization, traceability • Risks and limitations: volatility, security issues, regulation • Future perspectives: CBDCs, Web3 innovation, and the convergence of AI and blockchain
How RDH Uses Entanglement Emulation to Protect Smart Cards, POS Terminals and Digital Banking from AI and Quantum Threats
The global financial sector faces a perfect storm of emerging threats. Artificial intelligence is accelerating malware development and code decompilation, allowing attackers to reverse-engineer wallet apps and clone digital payment systems. At the same time, quantum computing is rapidly approaching the capability to break conventional encryption algorithms. Together, these forces threaten the very foundation of trust in online banking and e-commerce. The Randomized Data Handshake (RDH) introduces a new defense model for FinTech: a quantum-resilient, zero-trust encryption protocol designed specifically for mobile banking, e-commerce, and POS transactions. RDH wraps around lightweight ciphers such as ASCON and AES, enabling two parties to authenticate and create identical session keys without ever transmitting those keys or any sensitive account data. In practical terms, RDH can process a credit card purchase without ever transmitting the credit card numbers or data—eliminating the most common point of theft in financial systems. Unlike traditional software-based methods, RDH executes entirely within tamper-resistant hardware—smart cards, NFC tokens, or secure biometric dongles—ensuring that every cryptographic operation occurs only under explicit user control. A physical tap, button press, or fingerprint scan is required to activate a transaction. This architecture renders malware, spoofed apps, and relay based fraud attempts useless because the handshake cannot be initiated or cloned without verified user presence. For banks and payment providers, RDH offers a deployable path to quantum-safe, AI-resistant authentication that integrates directly with existing EMV, PCI-DSS, and ISO 7816 infrastructures. Benefits include: • No transmission of sensitive card data or session keys • Resistance to AI-based decompilation and code imitation • Post-quantum resilience using existing symmetric algorithms • Hardware-anchored two-factor authentication for wallets, POS, and banking apps RDH achieves these protections with minimal computational overhead—using 160 to 256 bytes of bandwidth per handshake— making it ideal for real-time financial transactions and IoT payment systems. As the industry prepares for the quantum era, RDH provides an immediately deployable bridge between today’s infrastructure and tomorrow’s threats. By removing data transmission from the encryption process itself, RDH restores what digital finance urgently needs most: trust without exposure
Stopping Crime in the Era of AI: How Compliance Can Stay Ahead
240-260Criminals are using artificial intelligence to scale money laundering in ways that were not possible only a few years ago. Synthetic identities built from fragments of real documents, deepfake onboarding videos that pass liveness checks and automated networks of mule accounts allow bad actors to move funds faster and hide their tracks more effectively. Traditional compliance systems, based on static rules and manual review, struggle to keep up. This presentation looks at how the AML landscape is shifting and why financial institutions need more adaptive technology. The industry is moving from simple red-flag detection toward richer behavioural analysis that understands how legitimate customers behave so anomalies become clearer. Graph intelligence is helping compliance teams uncover hidden relationships between accounts, wallets and devices that would never appear suspicious on their own. AI can reduce false positives and highlight the real threats that matter. The future of AML is not about replacing compliance teams. It is about equipping them with smarter tools that learn from new fraud patterns, integrate global sanctions intelligence and provide confidence at scale. With Singapores ambition to lead regional fintech innovation, the region is well positioned to adopt these capabilities early and set a benchmark for safer digital finance in Asia. Drawing on real-world implementation experience in high-risk sectors, this talk explores what is working today, how the technology must evolve and what forward-leaning financial institutions can do to stay ahead as criminals increasingly think and operate like algorithms.
Artificial Intelligence, Metaverse and FinTech
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Metaverse are transforming our world. Fintech is no exception. On the one hand, AI and the Metaverse can drive productivity enhancements, create new financial opportunities, and enable new business innovations. On the other hand, AI will transform work and the workplace and change the ways financial systems work and business functions. In this talk, we will discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by AI and the Metaverse for FinTech and how AI and the Metaverse will transform the future of work and humanity.
Calling for a Paradigm Shift in Higher Education in the Age of AI -Education as We Know it is Dead – Long Live Education!!
Recent years have seen an unprecedented evolution of technology with artificial intelligence (AI) proliferating every sphere of life, including Higher Education (HE) institutions. This rapid evolution has necessitated a paradigm shift as HE institutions navigate around fully utilising AI benefits while mitigating potential challenges within the teaching and learning context. On one hand, HE institutions stand to benefit from the advancement of AI capabilities through effective utilisation of AI tools’ ever-increasing abilities to replicate and automate complex cognitive, administrative and analytical tasks previously attributed to human capabilities. On the other hand, this presents challenges as many longstanding pedagogical models are rooted in developing leaners’ content mastery which subsequently translates into their ability to meet the requirements of standardized assessments. The proliferation of AI presents challenges to these longstanding pedagogical methodologies. This paper argues that “education as we know it, is dead,” not in its purpose, objectives and relevance, but in its prevailing ‘form’. Therefore, the paper calls for a reconceptualization of higher education which is aligned to the new, inescapable realities of an AI-driven landscape. While HE stands to benefit from leveraging AI’s transformative opportunities in areas such as personalization of learning, enhanced access to learning opportunities, efficiency of teaching and learning as well as opportunities for global collaboration; all of which are key to success in the 21st century, simultaneously, HE institutions are faced with profound challenges. Academic integrity concerns, data privacy risks, as well as digital divides are part of the challenges that are likely to be exacerbated within HE institutions in an AI era. Therefore, a central issue explored in the paper is the widening gap between digital-native learners, who are adept at leveraging AI and emerging technologies on one hand, and their educators, many of whom lack equivalent technological fluency on the other hand. This imbalance presents challenges to traditional teaching and assessment practices. It highlights the risk of producing graduates who present artificial competencies evident only on paper but lacking authentic competencies and skills in practice. It is in this context that the paper reviews the new challenges of existing curriculum and assessment methodologies and emphasizes the urgent need for a shift towards a focus on human-centred competencies such as critical thinking, contextual reasoning, ethical judgment, creativity, collaboration and emotional intelligence; skills that AI cannot easily replicate. To this effect, immersive, problem-based and competency-based approaches are highlighted as essential strategies to meaningfully engage digital natives, encouraging ethical utilisation of the wide array of functions that AI has to offer, while at the same time, discouraging over-reliance and unethical use of generative AI for academic shortcuts. Ultimately, the paper contends that the future of higher education hinges on its ability to integrate AI responsibly while redesigning curricular structures and pedagogical approaches that prioritize higher order thinking human capabilities. To achieve this, a collaborative effort is required from all key stakeholders including educators, HE institutions, policymakers and technology experts to ensure that AI augments and enhances learning, rather than working against it. This will result in robust, meaningful, ethical, adaptive and deeply-human HE offerings capable of preparing future leaders who can thrive alongside intelligent machines and remain able to navigate the complexities of the 21st-century world.
Artificial Intelligence in Education, Higher Education Transformation, Digital Natives, Academic Integrity, Competency Based Learning, Personalized Learning, Inclusive Learning
Digitalization and Environmental Sustainability: Evidence from Selected BRICS Economies
Information and communication technology (ICT) has become a dominant tool for disseminating information and knowledge in the 21st century by enabling faster communication, making research easy, facilitating skill acquisition, making international collaborations much easier, and acting as a catalyst for business operations. However, the use of ICT has raised environmental concerns, due to the increased consumption of ICT. This study examined the effect of ICT on carbon emissions in selected BRICS economies between 2009 and 2022. To adopt the appropriate estimation techniques, panel unit tests (LLC and IPS) were conducted. The tests revealed a mixed sequence of integrations between the variables, i.e. I (0) and I (1). This necessitates the use of panel ARDL estimation techniques. Using the PMG (pooled mean group) estimator, the panel ARDL was selected as the appropriate model for this study. The FMOLS (fully modified ordinary least squares) and FE (Fixed effects) methods were also utilized in this study as part of the robustness assessment. The findings from the panel long-run ARDL reveal that ICT, national output, and financial development increase emissions, while innovation reduces them. Furthermore, the findings from FMOLS and FE confirm the results obtained from ARDL. Therefore, this study recommends using green technology to achieve net-zero emissions, reducing our digital carbon footprint on an individual and societal level, and scaling adaptation while reducing global emissions as a means of improving environmental sustainability within BRICS nations.
ICT, Innovation, GDP, Financial Development and BRICS
The Strategic Importance of Palm Oil Exchange Development to Support the Empowerment of the Palm Oil Trade in Indonesia
Indonesia, as the world’s largest producer and exporter of crude palm oil (CPO), plays a central role in the global palm oil market. However, its trade is highly susceptible to price volatility, dependence on external markets, and a lack of domestic price-setting mechanisms. The absence of a national palm oil exchange limits transparency, weakens producer bargaining power, and exposes the industry to policy shocks and international pressure. In response to these challenges, this study explores the strategic significance of establishing a palm oil exchange in Indonesia to enhance trade stability and national competitiveness. This qualitative study employs the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method, guided by the PRISMA framework. Data were gathered from the ScienceDirect database using refined keyword searches, yielding 1,425 initial records. Through a structured screening process focusing on publication years (2021–2025), article types, and open-access status, 32 relevant peer-reviewed articles were selected for analysis. Data were coded and thematically analyzed to synthesize critical insights. The results show that a national palm oil exchange can serve as an essential instrument to improve price transparency, promote inclusive stakeholder participation, and reduce dependence on foreign exchanges such as Bursa Malaysia. It also aligns with digital innovation and sustainability initiatives in the agribusiness sector. In conclusion, palm oil exchange development offers structural advantages for stabilizing trade mechanisms. Future studies should examine regulatory readiness, institutional design models, and integration with sustainability certification systems.
Unlocking Indonesia’s Oil Palm Productivity Potential: A Strategic Analysis of Germplasm Diversity and Seed Quality Enhancement through Advanced Breeding Research
Indonesia’s position as the world’s largest palm oil producer is increasingly threatened by a persistent productivity gap, with actual yields of 3-4 tons CPO/ ha significantly trailing technical potentials exceeding 10 tons CPO/ha. This qualitative literature review examines the strategic role of germplasm diversity and seed quality improvement in bridging this productivity chasm. Through thematic analysis of recent scholarly literature (2020-2025) and industry reports, this study reveals that Indonesia’s limited genetic resource base-sourced from only four countries compared to Malaysia’s eighteen-represents a critical bottleneck. The recent 2024 Tanzania germplasm expedition, yielding 82,000 seeds from 102 accessions, exemplifies emerging multi-stakeholder collaborations involving government agencies, industry associations, and research consortia. Our synthesis demonstrates that integrating marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS) with conventional breeding can accelerate varietal development from 15-20 years to 10-12 years, while DNA tracing technologies enhance the integrity of seed certification. Thematic findings highlight three critical pathways: (1) international germplasm enrichment through Nagoya Protocol-compliant exchanges, (2) molecular breeding technology adoption with 0.33-0.66 prediction accuracies for clonal selection, and (3) policy frameworks strengthening seed certification and distribution systems. We identify systemic challenges including weak enforcement of seed standards, limited smallholder access to certified seeds, and inadequate research infrastructure. This review concludes that achieving productivity targets requires a paradigm shift toward germplasm-led innovation, supported by enhanced R&D funding, strengthened public-private partnerships, and regulatory reforms prioritizing genetic resource conservation. Evidence-based recommendations emphasize establishing a national germplasm bank, accelerating molecular breeding programs, and implementing targeted subsidies for certified seed adoption among smallholders.
Breaking Barriers: Unveiling SME Resistance to Strategic Accounting Practices-A Three-Phase Analysis
This study employs Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to explore the key factors hindering the adoption of strategic accounting practices among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Gombe metropolis. The analysis identifies three critical components accounting for 60.61% of the total variance: skill and manpower challenges, financial and administrative inefficiencies, and workforce instability. The findings highlight the significant role of human resource limitations, inadequate financial management, and high employee turnover in impeding SME performance. The results align with previous studies and theoretical perspectives, such as the Resource-Based View, Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, and Schumpeter’s Innovation Theory, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of these challenges. Policy recommendations include investment in skill development programs, financial literacy initiatives, and employee retention strategies to enhance SME resilience and competitiveness.
Principal Component Analysis, SMEs, Strategic Accounting Practices, Skill Development, Financial Management, Workforce Stability, Resource-Based View, Herzberg’s Theory
Compliance Challenges in the Renewable Energy Sector
The transition to renewable energy is critical for achieving global sustainability goals. However, the renewable energy sector faces significant compliance challenges due to evolving regulations, international trade policies, and the complexity of cross-border supply chains. This paper explores the primary compliance hurdles, including adherence to environmental standards, labor laws, and cybersecurity requirements, while highlighting strategies to address these issues. By understanding these challenges, organizations can better align their operations with regulatory requirements and promote sustainable growth in the energy sector.
Compliance Challenges, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Regulatory Uncertainty, Environmental Compliance, Cybersecurity, Supply Chain Ethics, Developing Countries, Solar Energy Projects, Governance Frameworks, Blockchain Technology, Labor Practices, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Cybersecurity In Rural Electrification, Stakeholder Collaboration, Sustainability
Exploring the Influence of Blue Ocean Strategy and Niche Marketing on the Growth of SMEs in Gombe Metropolis
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the challenges of competition have driven organizations to seek innovative strategies to secure their survival and growth. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of many economies, are particularly vulnerable to these challenges. As global markets expand and customer preferences diversify, traditional approaches to business management often fail to address the dynamic nature of competition, leading to stagnation or decline in enterprise performance.
Implementing Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Resource Management in the Hospitality Sector of Southeast Nigeria
This study explored the influence of artificial intelligence on the sustainable development of the hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria. Specifically, the study determined the influence of Alexa software on community engagement in the hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria. Also, it ascertained the influence of chatbot applications on capacity building of the hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria. The study is anchored on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) theory by Klaus Schwab in 2016. The study employed descriptive survey research design and random sampling probability techniques. The population of the study was 304. Hypotheses were tested with Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 27). Research hypothesis one indicates that the use of Alexa software positively impacts community engagement of the hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria. The Pearson correlation result is confirmed when r = 0.782, n = 304, and the p-value of 0.000 (p<0.05). Hypothesis two revealed that the use of chatbot applications positively influences capacity building of the hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria. The Pearson correlation result is confirmed when r = 0.923, n = 304, and the p-value of 0.000 (p<0.05). The study concluded that artificial intelligence positively influences the sustainable development of the hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria. The study recommended that the hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria, needs to leverage chatbot technology to support and enhance capacity-building initiatives, leading to improved skills and performance. Also, the government needs to prioritize the design and development of user-friendly and interactive technologies to enhance community engagement and participation of the hospitality industries sector in Southeast, Nigeria.
A Literature Review of the United States of America’s Reliance on Imported Covid Personal Protective Equipment During the Pandemic
This paper provides a literature review of United States of America’s reliance on imported Covid Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) during the Covid pandemic. The abstracted and cited articles show that the United States was too reliant on imported PPEs, primarily imported from Asia which led to shortages as the cases of Covid surged at various points during the waves of Covid cases. This supply and demand imbalance was not just an inconvenience such as the toilet paper shortage and other supply chain disruptions of basic commodities; this supply and demand imbalance had life and death impacts for many first responders, health care workers, nurses, doctors, and the general public in the US. There was a US Congressional Report prepared on US reliance on imported PPEs due to the national impact of overreliance on imported PPEs. Also, Federal Covid Pandemic policymakers, like Dr. Fauchi, one of the lead members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force were questioned during Congressional Hearings on the matter. This paper presents key graphs to visually display the changes in supply and demand over the duration of the pandemic. As many health professionals predict the possibility of future pandemics, there is a continued need to have US self-reliance on domestic produced PPEs. The paper concludes with an assessment that the US still needs to make further changes in federal manufacturing and health care public policy to become less reliant on imported PPEs for the next pandemic occurrence.
A Literature Review of the United States of America’s Reliance on Imported Mechanical Ventilators During the Pandemic
This paper provides a literature review of United States of America’s reliance on imported mechanical ventilators during the Covid pandemic. The abstracted and cited articles show that the United States was too reliant on imported mechanical ventilators, primarily imported from Asia which led to shortages as the cases of Covid surged at various points during the waves of Covid cases. This supply and demand imbalance was not just an inconvenience such as the toilet paper shortage and other supply chain disruptions of basic commodities; this supply and demand imbalance had life and death impacts for many first responders, health care workers, nurses, doctors, and the general public in the US. There is continued interest in this topic area in Congress as The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing in 2024 titled “Examining the White House’s Role in Pandemic Preparedness and Response” to discuss the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy’s (OPPR) role in responding to and preventing future pandemics. This paper presents key graphs to visually display the changes in supply and demand throughout the pandemic. As many health professionals predict the possibility of future pandemics, there is a continued need to have US self-reliance on domestic produced mechanical ventilators. The paper concludes with an assessment that the US still needs to make further changes in federal manufacturing and health care public policy to become less reliant on imported mechanical ventilators for the next pandemic occurrence.
The Rise of Moral Risks: How Major Sports Organizers Can Capitalize on The Decline of Journalism
Journalism, but especially sports journalism, is in a deep crisis. Functional, structural and organizational deficiencies can be observed worldwide. Editorial offices are being outsourced, staff cut, travel costs minimized. These profound disruptions are resulting in inferior coverage of numerous sporting events and sports. Some sporting events and types of sport, for example, are no longer covered by established editorial teams due to cost-cutting constraints. This has far-reaching consequences for sports organizers and players. Important information is not disseminated and some information is passed on incorrectly and inadequately. Such tendencies can also be observed in the Olympic Games. As this downward spiral can have serious consequences for sports organizations such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic Movement has long since reacted to this. This paper will show how the Olympic Movement has built up its own media structures and has now (cleverly) strategically positioned itself in recent years with so-called vertical media structures. It will be shown how the IOC has managed to make itself largely independent of sports journalistic reporting and to provide its stakeholders with high-quality reporting through its own media and public relations work, while at the same time protecting the Olympic idea/movement. The increasing integration of AI technologies will most likely reinforce the trend of sports organizations establishing their own media houses and increasingly refining their media structures.
International Trade Policy Restrictions: Ethics, Pros, and Cons
International trade is the purchase and sale of goods by companies in different countries. Consumer goods, raw materials, food, agricultural products, pharmaceutical products, energy, vehicles, and machinery all are bought and sold in the international marketplace. International trade allows countries to expand their markets and access goods and services by importing them, otherwise may not have been available domestically. International fair-trade policies and trade restrictions are the set of agreements, regulations, and practices by a government that affect trade with foreign countries, which is a combination of standards, laws, and practices that influence imports and exports. Trade policies can include regulations, devaluation of currencies, dumping, tariffs, and quotas, with which they want to restrict trade and set policies that protect local industries from foreign competition. Fair and ethical trade policies must have a number of benefits, including economic growth, employment, attracting domestic firms that operate abroad to produce locally more efficiently at lower costs of production, and to lead countries to autarky, prosperity, and to maximization of their social welfare. These trade policies are effective only if the price elasticities of exports and imports are high (elastic).
Provision and Effects of Welfare Program
Analysing Negative Campaigns Against Palm Oil
T he palm oil industry has increasingly become the target of sustained negative campaigns launched by environmental NGOs, international media, and policy actors in the Global North. These campaigns often frame palm oil as a major driver of tropical deforestation, biodiversity loss, and human rights violations. While some concerns may be grounded in evidence, dominant narratives tend to simplify complex realities and overlook the socio-economic importance of palm oil in producing countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. This article conducts a qualitative literature review of 60 peer-reviewed sources published between 2015 and 2024. Using a thematic and interpretive approach, supported by discourse analysis, the study examines how anti-palm oil narratives are constructed, framed, and disseminated. It identifies key actors, campaign strategies, and the role of media channels in shaping public perception. The review also highlights counter-narratives promoted by producing countries and stakeholders through mechanisms such as RSPO and ISPO certification. T he findings reveal that many negative campaigns are influenced by geopolitical interests and trade competition, leading to power asymmetries in global sustainability discourse. This review concludes that current debates on palm oil require more balanced, inclusive, and evidence-based perspectives that consider environmental concerns alongside economic and social dimensions in the Global South.
A Consensus Review on the Evolution of Digital Direct Marketing
Direct marketing, often perceived as an old-school marketing tool, involves direct communication with targeted customers to generate a response or transaction. This method has undergone a significant transformation in the digital age, integrating emails, personalized ads, and social media campaigns into its arsenal. The challenge, however, lies in cutting through the noise of a crowded digital marketplace to reach potential customers effectively. In the 2000s, advertisers started investing in digital direct marketing think targeted ads through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter and digital ads across multiple media channels. This ecosystem has continued to grow more complex, and recently with additional privacy restrictions that are continuing to be defined and redefined, the challenges for marketers continue to expand. However, direct digital marketing offers opportunities for personalization, quicker insights into your audience engagement, and endless testing opportunities. This must stem from rich insights beyond basic demographic and lifestyles in order to be done well and at scale.