International Journal of Education Economics and Development (28 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Entrepreneurial Attitude: A Gender Study Among Management Students in India  
  by Mona Chaudhary, Ruchika Jeswal 
  Abstract: India has made progress on various social indicators as an emerging economy, with a growing workforce and education rate. However, gender equality is an area that still requires development for economic and social advancement. Entrepreneurship is considered essential for this development, and research has identified factors that affect entrepreneurial attitudes. This study aims to explore the impact of business and entrepreneurial education on the entrepreneurial attitude of management students in Delhi and the NCR region, as well as the influence of gender on this attitude. The study used a quantitative research design and a questionnaire to collect data from 117 undergraduate and postgraduate management students. The results show that education significantly affects entrepreneurial attitude, with a notable difference between levels of business education and specialisation. Gender had no significant effect on entrepreneurial attitude, and no moderating effect was observed.
  Keywords: entrepreneurship; business education; entrepreneurial education; gender equality; entrepreneurial attitude,.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10056341
   
  
• Factors affecting student motivation to study and their retention in online business programs  
  by Lucie Depoo, Jirí Bohácek, Markéta Snýdrová, Gabriela Jezková Petru, Ivana Snýdrová, Roman Zuzák 
  Abstract: This paper provides reflection on preferences in online education by students in business higher education. This case study is based on survey of 1,184 students of a business university. The aim is to identify students’ preferences in online education that impact their motivation to study. Analyses were to test the theoretical construct of factors that impact student preferences to continue their studies. Students’ reflection on their experiences brings factors crucial to retain students. Results show preferences and motivation of students. Majority is oriented on new technologies, using modern features and education applications; women are oriented on flexibility of online delivery, but otherwise prefer standard contact with the school. All students need to stay in contact with the university as it brings numerous positive effects.
  Keywords: distance teaching-learning; attitudes; motivation; online; business.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10057176
   
  
• Digitalization, Education and Economic growth in the Mediterranean countries  
  by Benjilali Mohamed, Azhari Mourad, El Chikhi El Mokhtar 
  Abstract: Technology and education are significant factors in the economic growth of countries. This study examines whether digitalisation and education contribute to economic growth in the Mediterranean region. We use a panel data sample of 14 countries from 2003 to 2020 and apply the generalised method of moments (GMM) dynamic panel data model. The choice of this approach is not arbitrary and not trivial. It outperforms other models in terms of endogeneity, autocorrelation, heterogeneity issues, and mitigating potential estimation biases. The results show that education, internet and broadband access contribute positively to economic growth. We note also the significant relationship between the internet and cell phones.
  Keywords: economic growth; education; digitalisation; Mediterranean countries; dynamic panel.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10057421
   
  
• Education and Opportunity in Spain and the United States: Evidence from Youth Labor Market Entry  
  by Jennifer L. Steele  
  Abstract: Using large random samples of young adults ages 24 to 30 in Spain and the United States, I examine socioeconomic mobility in each country and how vocational education options may enhance or detract from such mobility. In Spain, the socioeconomic status of young adults is less dependent on that of their parents than in the U.S., but educational attainment is strongly related to family background in both countries. What differ are educational returns. In Spain, educational attainment strongly predicts job satisfaction, but in the U.S., it predicts employment and earnings. Yet, if the distribution of average adult skills by education level in the U.S. matched that of Spain, inequality by education level in the U.S. would be roughly halved, all else remaining equal. Regarding the role of vocational education, young adults in Spain with non-tertiary vocational credentials show an employment advantage that does not translate to higher earnings.
  Keywords: social mobility; comparative economics; labor force entry; returns to education; vocational education; propensity score stratification; instrumental variables.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10057537
   
  
• Stakeholders’ Satisfaction Level of Service Quality of Certificate Equivalency in Higher Education: a UAE Case  
  by Sameera Almulla, M.S. Bawaaneh 
  Abstract: The quality of services provided by the Certificate Equivalency Department of the Ministry of Education in the UAE is investigated by addressing the customer satisfaction level of the departments services. The body of the study is divided into three categories according to the type of provided service, employment status of the customer, and time required to accomplish the requested service, and descriptive and inferential statistics are used to analyse data. The satisfaction level showed statistically significant difference in the mean between the Student group and the Employee group in favour of employees being more satisfied with the service. Results also show that the time of accomplishment of the requested service was the decisive factor in the overall feeling of satisfaction from the customers’ perspective. Our findings represent the first study of its kind conducted on the quality of services offered by the Ministry of Education in the UAE.
  Keywords: customer satisfaction; performance evaluation; service quality; higher education; certificate equivalency; certificate attestation; human resource management.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10057946
   
  
• Understanding e-book continuance intention among students in a developing country: the role of relative advantage, satisfaction and e-reading habits
  by Duong Luu Thi Thuy, Van Nguyen Thi, Binh Do Thi 
  Abstract: Regarding as a cutting-edge, digital reading method and as a teaching tool for students, e-books are increasingly invested by several of Vietnam’s higher educational institutions in the effort to encourage students to switch to and continue reading e-books in light of the 4.0 revolution. This study proposes a research model that integrates. The hierarchy of effects model (HEM) and diffusion of innovation theory (DIT) to examine e-book continuance intention among students in a developing country. The partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) method validates the causal model. This study confirms the mediating role of satisfaction and reading habits in the relative advantage and continuance intention relationship and a significant direct impact of relative advantage on e-reading habits. The study’s findings substantially impact students’ behaviour with reference to future book utilisation and highlight several implications for Vietnam’s publishers.
  Keywords: e-book; continuance intention; satisfaction; relative advantage; e-reading habits.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2025.10059243
   
  
• The application of the technology acceptance model (TAM) to determine students’ intention to adopt online teaching and learning in South Africa  
  by Khathutshelo Makhitha, Thanyani Mbedzi 
  Abstract: Most open distance learning (ODL) institutions are embracing technology to deliver their teaching and learning (T&L) activities. The rapid growth of internet-based technological innovations and the COVID-19 pandemic have further influenced the T&L adopted by ODL institutions. This study aimed to apply the technology acceptance model (TAM) to determine students’ attitudes towards online T&L and to establish whether attitude towards online T&L influences intention to adopt online T&L in an ODL environment. A survey research method was considered appropriate to achieve the research objectives of the study and to test the hypotheses developed. The study targeted marketing students registered for undergraduate and honours marketing qualifications at an open distance electronic learning (ODeL) university. Perceived ease of use (PEU) and perceived usefulness (PU) were found to influence students’ attitudes towards online T&L platforms, while their attitude towards online T&L was found to influence their intention to adopt online T&L. The findings present several reasons why academic leaders should consider PEU and PU when designing online T&L curricula and learning management systems.
  Keywords: online T&L; students’ attitudes; perceived ease of use; PEU; perceived usefulness; intention to adopt online T&L; South Africa.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10059548
   
  
• Human Capital and Job Seekers: Which is faster to work, Vocational Colleges or University? Indonesian Experience
  by Padang Wicaksono, Debrina Ferezagia, Ida Ayu Wayan Regita Iswari Puri 
  Abstract: Students can continue their studies at vocational colleges or universities after graduating high school. Which is faster to work, an associate’s or bachelor’s degree? It is ironic when vocational education aims to produce a skilled and competent workforce, but the unemployment rate in Indonesia is dominated by vocational education. The non-absorption of human resources from vocational education graduates can trigger employment problems. This study compares the duration of time getting a job among vocational and university graduates. The analytical method used is multilevel survival analysis and two-step Heckman. The reason is the demand for high wages and specific types of work. Based on the results of the multilevel survival analysis and Heakman’s two-step, it can be concluded that fresh graduates with associate degrees have a longer duration of looking for work than fresh graduates with bachelor’s. The reason is the demand for high wages and specific types of work.
  Keywords: human capital; job seeker; vocational colleges; universities; bachelor’s degree; associate’s degree; Indonesia.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2025.10061204
   
  
• Financial Literacy in a Buddhist Monastic Setting - Evidence From a Field Study  
  by Andreas Hecht 
  Abstract: Financial education can contribute to more sustainable societies and the United Nation’s sustainable development goals, with international organisations striving not to exclude any group from measures to enhance financial literacy. But is financial knowledge even relevant in a monastic context? This paper explores this question and provides unprecedented insights into the financial literacy of monks in two Tibetan Buddhist monasteries with remarkable differences in their curricula. It becomes evident that monks are not completely isolated from the realities around them but are increasingly engaging in (digital) financial transactions. The unique evidence shows that financial issues play a role in the lives of monks, with the results regarding the level of financial literacy comparing favourably to the underlying reference study of the Standard & Poor’s Global Financial Literacy Survey.
  Keywords: financial literacy; financial education; sustainability; sustainable development goal; SDG; monastery; monks; mathematics; social finance.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2025.10061301
   
  
• Government financial assistance in higher education: An empirical analysis of efficiency in Australian universities  
  by Thi Thanh Dung Tran, Jerrie Ngoc Nhu Binh Tran 
  Abstract: Government financial assistance (GFA) plays an important role in higher education to facilitate the process of teaching, learning and research of staff and students. However, very little has known about efficiency of using GFA in higher education. This paper aims to investigate efficiency of using GFA in Australian universities in the context of substantial variation in public funding distribution. The stochastic frontier input requirement model was developed to measure efficiency of using GFA for 2009-2016. The findings reveal that the overall efficiency of using GFA on average at 0.956, implying a high level of efficiency in using public funding. However, bigger is not better in the performance of universities through using GFA. In addition, contextual factors potentially influence temporary transient efficiency (0.974), other than long-term managerial efficiency (0.982) decomposed from the overall efficiency index of GFA. Some suggestions are made for more appropriate solutions to funding distribution in Australian universities.
  Keywords: Australia; higher education institution; long-term efficiency; transient efficiency; government financial assistance; GFA; stochastic frontier analysis; SFA.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2025.10061451
   
  
• Assessing the students’ digitalization at country level by building a composite index based on PISA 2018  
  by Maria Veronica Alderete 
  Abstract: This paper contributes to measuring ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) adoption by students and compares it among different countries. A composite index named students digitalisation index (SDI) is built based on the 2018 PISA database and by applying multivariate statistical techniques. The index assesses ICT adoption beyond equipment acquisition (ICT access) and activities performed by using ICT (ICT use) and includes students’ perception of their digital skills and competencies (ICT engagement). A digital gap between countries was detected. Statistically significant mean differences are observed in terms of type of country, household income, gender, grade repetition, and parents’ highest education. There are no other composite indexes to compare students’ digitalisation among countries. The SDI index is useful to explain the consequences of mass quarantine due to COVID-19 in the educational field. Countries with a low SDI are expected to suffer more as they are less prepared for virtual education.
  Keywords: digital gap; students’ digitalisation; education; ICT adoption; PISA; composite index.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2025.10061452
   
  
• The current state and long-term development forecasts of doctoral education: a case study of Armenia  
  by Ruzanna Shushanyan, Maria Ohanyan, Anush Sargsyan, Shushanik Sargsyan 
  Abstract: Across a wide variety of global contexts, the role of higher education is exceptionally important for sustainable economic development Therefore, the implementation of educational reforms to support integrative and internationally-oriented doctoral studies is one of the most important challenges for policymakers. This study aims to investigate the current state of doctoral education in Armenia and trends found within, touching upon the socioeconomic disparities, gender inequalities, and policy issues of doctoral education in Armenia for the last decade following the collapse of the Soviet Union mainly focusing on 2012-2021 period. The results of this study indicate the need for the implementation of long-awaited reforms regarding R&D growth, flexible management of doctoral research, student assessment, licensing, and international accreditation in doctoral education. This study may be useful for scholars, policymakers, and experts who investigate the issues of scientific and educational systems across the state and global contexts.
  Keywords: education policy; Europeanization; doctoral education; PhD; R&D; thesis; Armenia.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2025.10061514
   
  
• Employer Perception on Graduate Employability: Evidence from Uttar Pradesh  
  by MOHD MALIK, Kulsoom Raza, Irsad ., Ranjana Singh 
  Abstract: The current paper is an attempt to understand the skill gap and foreseen job market skills needed. Thus, following the set of objectives and review of the literature, 13 types of skills relevant to employment were identified and classified into three categories: technical skills, non-technical skills, and behavioural skills. Out of the 13 talents chosen by businesses, technical skills in graduates were deemed the most significant, followed by skill flexibility. Students and HR executives were asked to rate all talents on a Likert scale of 1 (least essential) to 5 (most important) using structured questionnaires (most important). There is a gap between the required and apparent abilities of graduates, resulting in poor performance of employees in new workplaces. Graduate foreign language skills have a 0.45 gap, while conceptualising skills have a 0.44 difference. Academic excellence and numeric skills have the smallest difference, with a 0.11 index value. This highlights the importance of identifying the most crucial talents for employers.
  Keywords: behavioural skills education; employability; non-technical skills; skills gap; technical skills graduate employability.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2025.10061882
   
  
• Job discrimination or false wage gap in the current century? An analysis of graduates of the Faculty of Agricultural Economics.  
  by Rina Bucaram, Victor Quinde, FRANCISCO ANTONIO QUINDE ROSALES, Pamela Vera Pianda 
  Abstract: Wage equality continues to be a problem to be solved in the world and an utopia in most Latin American countries, including Ecuador, which considers and establishes gender as a conditioning factor in labour market insertion. In this regard, the present study aims to analyse the salary differences among graduates of the Faculty of Agricultural Economics based on the observable characteristics of individuals. Using the Mincerian equation, together with the Heckman bias correction and the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, we intend to demonstrate the existence of wage disparities. The results indicate the existence of a salary difference between graduates of around 52% in favour of the male gender, of which only 44% of the disparity is explained by factors attributable to human capital endowment.
  Keywords: discrimination; wage disparity; labour market.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2025.10061921
   
  
• Sustainable development and blended learning in accounting education  
  by Chara Kottara, Dimitra Kavalieraki-Foka, Fragiskos Gonidakis, Sofia Asonitou, Apostolos Zaridis, Vasiliki Brinia 
  Abstract: In recent decades, the scientific community has focused on sustainable development, as there are concerns about economic, social, and environmental resources. One of the key sustainability goals is Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4) focusing on the quality of education both lifelong and university education where it is oriented towards free access, non-discriminatory, increasing the prospects for enhancing employment, entrepreneurship, and the acquisition of skills through new educational teaching methods that promote sustainable principles. The exploration of sustainable teaching approaches is inextricably linked to blended learning practices, which promote sustainability through the management of educational resources and the reduction of educational costs. Even today there is a limited number of published studies, where this academic study attempts to elucidate and reduce this gap by investigating blended learning in accounting courses through a literature review in order to identify any potential for sustainable development in academic environment.
  Keywords: sustainable development; blended learning; accounting education; university; sustainability perspective.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2025.10062903
   
  
• Impact of ethical social financing on the development of socio-economic status of a developing country like Indonesia  
  by Akhmad Affandi Mahfudz, Toseef Azid, Rusyda Afifah Ahmad 
  Abstract: COVID-19 outbreak, has many negative impacts on economy, especially for rural communities The objective rules explains that if each region has adopted social institutions by establishing social institutions in the form of baitul maal (treasury), mosques (worship place for Muslims), waqf (trust endowment) institutions and so on, then the area can improve the economy of its people So, in this research to analyse the influence of philanthropic institution program on ethical social funds disbursement as part of developing rural society through its financing as intervening variable This paper employs SEM using structured questionnaire circulated to 165 baitul maal in East Java Indonesia. This study unveiled the fact that model of ethical social funds disbursement from baitul maal has significantly influenced the development of marginalised areas through philanthropy using qardh hasan (benevolent loan).
  Keywords: philanthropy; social funds; poverty alleviation; destitute; socio-economic status; Indonesia.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10063057
   
  
• Determinants of relational marketing in customer satisfaction and loyalty: a study applied to products of mass consumption in Portugal  
  by Adriano Costa, Joaquim Antunes 
  Abstract: This research aims to identify the factors that precede consumer satisfaction and how this influences brand loyalty in the Portuguese consumer products and services market. The methodology used was based on a literature review on relationship marketing, brands, satisfaction and loyalty. Subsequently, an online survey was carried out, distributed via social networks. A total of 513 valid responses were obtained. The data was processed using SPSS, version 27.0. The results show that there are three factors that precede satisfaction and that two of them influence it positively, while one factor influences satisfaction negatively. It was also found that there is a very strong and positive relationship between satisfaction and loyalty, as in other studies. The results of this research could be useful for the academic community, particularly in marketing education, as well as for marketing professionals interested in studying loyalty factors.
  Keywords: relationship marketing; customer relationship management; CRM; brands; satisfaction; loyalty; Portugal.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2025.10063578
   
  
• Role of education human capital in ICT-trade relationship  
  by Md. Shariful Islam, Md. Ziaul Haque, Syed Nazrul Islam, Abir Hassan, Md. Mahbubul Alam 
  Abstract: The study investigates how ICT affects trade because of prior effect of education human capital on ICT using gravity panel model for the period 2000-2018 including 130 countries. First, we find positive and significant relationship between ICT use and bilateral merchandise exports flows. Second, the findings indicate that higher ICT use by both the exporting and importing country has a positive impact on exports of countries with higher education human capital. The effects of interaction between ICT and human capital on exports flows from low-and middle-income to high income countries as well as trade between low and middle-income countries are positive and significant for the exporter country. The interaction terms on trade flows involving high-income countries as exporters, in contrast, are negatively significant. For importers, interaction has positive and significant effects except trade flows from high-income to low-and middle-income countries, where it asserts positive but insignificant effect.
  Keywords: education human capital; ICT; gravity model; panel data; bilateral exports; high-income countries; low and middle-income countries; Poisson pseudo maximum likelihood; interaction effects.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10051654
   
  
• The influence of marketing skills, entrepreneurship education, and entrepreneurial motivation on the entrepreneurial intention of the students of Universitas Jambi  
  by Suratno Suratno, Kuswanto Kuswanto, Yantoro Yantoro, Hidayatul Arief 
  Abstract: This study examines the effect of entrepreneurship education, marketing skills, and entrepreneurial motivation on students' entrepreneurial intentions. The population in this study were undergraduate students at Jambi University in the final semester of the academic year 2020-2021. Data were collected using a questionnaire and then analysed using the SEM-PLS model approach. The results of the study indicate that marketing skills and entrepreneurship education directly and indirectly affect entrepreneurial intentions through entrepreneurial motivation. The analysis of the structural equation model that has been determined can be the basis for policymakers at Jambi University to create an entrepreneurial climate through the learning process and other programs to increase student entrepreneurial interest.
  Keywords: marketing skills; entrepreneurship education; entrepreneurial motivation; entrepreneurial intention.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10052043
   
  
• The impact of green human resource management on employee green behaviour in higher education institutions: the mediating role of green self-efficacy
  by Chetna Sachdeva, Tripti Singh 
  Abstract: The paper uses ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) theory and social cognitive theory (SCT) to explore the effects of green human resource management (GHRM) on employee green behaviour (EGB) and green selfefficacy (GSE) and examine a mediating effect of GSE in the relationship between GHRM and EGB in higher education institutions in India. An empirical study is undertaken using questionnaires amongst academics (n = 175) working in higher education institutions (HEIs) in India. Subsequent hypothesis testing is done through structural equation modelling in AMOS 22.0 version. The findings indicate that GHRM is a significant predictor of EGB and GSE. Furthermore, GSE demonstrated partial mediation in GHRM-EGB relationship. The results suggest that policymakers in higher education institutions must introduce and appreciate systems to promote green behaviour in individuals. This study contributes to GHRM and EGB literature in the context of HEIs in India and is the first to consider GSE as a mediating instrument.
  Keywords: green human resource management; GHRM; green self-efficacy; GSE; employee green behaviour; EGB; higher education institutions; HEIs.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10062760
   
  
• Education and economic growth in Morocco: a causal analysis approach  
  by Hicham Goumrhar 
  Abstract: This work aims to establish the nature of the long and/or short term relationship as well as the causal inference between human capital and economic growth in Morocco. In this respect, we adopted an appropriate methodological approach, in particular the dynamic ARDL model, in multivariate analysis, the Cointegration test (Pesaran et al., 2001) as well as the Granger causality test according to the Toda-Yamamoto approach (1995). The results show that investment in human capital, through education, does not seem to have an immediate effect on economic growth in the case of Morocco, but rather is represented as a positive and significant factor for long-term economic growth. Moreover, the causal relationship for the case of Morocco is expressed from production (or growth) to education and that it is not simply a mutual causality relationship.
  Keywords: education; economic growth; GDP per capita; ARDL model; Granger causality; Toda-Yamamoto approach.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10052881
   
  
• Does financial education act as a catalyst for SME competitiveness?  
  by Mukul Bhatnagar, Sanjay Taneja, Pawan Kumar, Ercan Özen 
  Abstract: Small and medium-sized enterprise plays a significant role in economic development by creating jobs, increasing wealth, and reducing poverty. The present study was conducted in the industrial area of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula (India). Data was collected from entrepreneurial and managerial classes of the SME sector through a questionnaire through direct personal investigation. The survey was conducted using the questionnaire's non-probability purposive sampling method. The findings indicate that financial education is the most significant factor affecting SME success, followed by access to financing, which considerably affects SME performance. The data suggests that financial risk has a negative effect on SME performance, although the impact is not statistically significant. Furthermore, the significance of a variable's power may be determined by examining whether the sample means fall within confidence intervals. SMEs should be well educated to access alternative funding channels to the banking system that provide feasible alternatives for accomplishing value creation objectives.
  Keywords: small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; financial literacy; access to finance; financial risk.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2023.10053629
   
  
• How to recruit students - students' expectations and employer opportunities in Serbia  
  by Tatjana Cvetkovski, Ana Langović Milićević, Violeta Cvetkovska Tomanović, Zlatko Langović 
  Abstract: Organisations need to have continuity in knowledge development. This means that they have to engage existing staff, who unfortunately retire or leave the organisation due to better job opportunities. This is especially true for Serbia. From the other side, negative population growth, high brain drain and not so great educational structure of working-age population are reality. This can lead to knowledge risks associated with the organisations inability to reach competent staff in the future. Therefore, a solution could be found in recruitment of final year students. We conduct student surveys at two universities in Serbia, one privately-owned and one state-owned and found that students in Serbia have clear expectations of future employers in terms of recruitment and job characteristics. They pretty much rely on new technologies in the recruitment process and want similar things to their colleagues from abroad. Research gave us opportunity to provide insights in students' expectations and employer opportunities in Serbia.
  Keywords: students' expectations; recruitment; employer' labour market; human resources; Serbia.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10054059
   
  
• Higher education and national governance: comparison of their relationship with talent  
  by Ricardo Chacón, Suhang Fan, Patricio Maturana-Russel 
  Abstract: In the information age and era of globalisation, it is crucial that companies attract, develop and retain workers. However, this issue is not only a matter for companies; nowadays, governments and societies compete for talent at a global level. Several dimensions shape this macro talent environment: investment in education, employee training, and health infrastructure, among others. In this study, we focus on higher education (rankings and participation rates by level of education) and the country's governance according to the talent-relative position of countries in the Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Ranking (WTR). If the median of governance indicators rises by four parts, the country's world talent ranking will improve by one place. On the higher education side, a strong relationship exists with the proportion of students attending top 200 universities. However, the talent ranking of the country is more positively affected by improving participation rates at the masters and doctoral levels.
  Keywords: higher education; university rankings; human capital; talent; governance; labour markets; public sector.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10055147
   
  

Special Issue on: Digital Transformation in Education A Paradigm Shift in Teaching Learning Methods

• Enhancing Innovation Performance in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Region: Evidence, Proposals, and Improvement Strategies from the Case of Brazil.  
  by PAULO VINICIUS PETRIZ MONTEIRO, Fabio Paula, David Resende, Branca Terra, Carlos Eduardo Da Rocha, Jorge Da Silva, Murilo Oliveira 
  Abstract: The Global Innovation Index (GII) serves as a benchmark for assessing an economy’s innovation performance and systems, as well as informing policies. Despite recent post-pandemic progress, the literature highlights Brazil’s unsatisfactory innovation performance that needs improvement. This research investigates the factors that significantly impacted Brazil’s innovation performance from 2011 to 2020 (pre-pandemic period), examining GII ranking data. The study highlights significant weak and strategic points for growth, outlined across four pillars, ten sub-pillars, and 34 indicators, emphasising the need to invest in enhancement across ‘institutions’, ‘market sophistication’, ‘creative outputs’, and ‘human capital and research’. These insights guide stakeholders and policymakers, not only within Brazil’s innovation system but also for others seeking to replicate this approach. Ultimately, the study recommends and suggests strategies and improvement actions aimed at fortifying and fostering a more conducive environment for innovation in the economy, as well as addressing relevant topics for future research.
  Keywords: Brazil; Global Innovation Index; GII; innovation performance; innovation systems; Latin America and Caribbean; policymakers; public policies; pandemic.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10061053
   
  
• Credible and non-credible sources of information: students' perception of their skills  
  by Olinda Gil, Cesar Freitas, Joao Pascoinho, Estrela Paulo, Rosa Martins, Sofia Gonçalves, Joana Cavalcanti, Teresa Macedo 
  Abstract: The study aimed to: 1) get to know the students’ perception of their abilities to identify and distinguish credible information from non-credible information; 2) understand if there are differences between 3rd cycle and secondary school students regarding their ability to identify and distinguish credible information from non-credible information; 3) to understand if there are differences between students of regular education and professional education regarding their ability to identify and distinguish credible information from non-credible information; 4) to identify the students’ perception of the role of the school library in the development of skills to distinguish between credible and non-credible sources of information. The results allow us to conclude that students reveal essential knowledge to distinguish and select, in part, in-formation for their research work, although they still need training to develop these skills.
  Keywords: information literacy; media literacy; digital literacy; reading; information sources.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.10061656
   
  
• Necessary skills for teachers towards digital information and communication technologies in the current era  
  by Victor Borges Canella, Maria Batista, Áurea Sousa, Maria Rocha, Luisa Borges Canella 
  Abstract: The study aimed to: 1) get to know the students’ perception of their abilities to identify and distinguish credible information from non-credible information; 2) understand if there are differences between 3rd cycle and secondary school students regarding their ability to identify and distinguish credible information from non-credible information; 3) to understand if there are differences between students of regular education and professional education regarding their ability to identify and distinguish credible information from non-credible information; 4) to identify the students’ perception of the role of the school library in the development of skills to distinguish between credible and non-credible sources of information. The results allow us to conclude that students reveal essential knowledge to distinguish and select, in part, in-formation for their research work, although they still need training to develop these skills.
  Keywords: information literacy; media literacy; digital literacy; reading; information sources.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2025.10062378
   
  
• Actors involved in the acquisition processes of higher education institutions in South America  
  by Juan Carlos Armijos, María De Miguel Molina, Carlos Ripoll Soler 
  Abstract: University acquisitions usually have two main reasons or characteristics. Firstly, they may be related to the absorption of universities (large versus small) and, secondly, to the growth, expansion or positioning of these institutions. To determine its main characteristics and describe these processes in detail, the research proposes - as an analysis tool - the implementation of mixed research methods, whose main objective is to analyse in detail what are the causes that led higher education institutions to the implementation of these processes, their characteristics and importance, what has been the role of the state, international private groups and accreditation and quality assurance systems? Based on information from primary and secondary sources, articles from scientific and written press, reports and information from institutional websites are analysed, the result of which reflects that these processes are carried out for various reasons (commercial, financing, quality, political), being, in most cases, problems related to quality and institutional management.
  Keywords: acquisitions; mergers; higher education institutions; interest groups; university management; students; academics; universities; accreditation systems; South America.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2025.10063261