International Journal of Sustainable Development (23 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• An evaluation method of English teaching quality based on Markov chain  
  by Lifeng Li 
  Abstract: Focusing on improving the accuracy and comprehensiveness of teaching quality evaluation results, a Markov chain-based English teaching quality evaluation method is proposed. Construct a teaching quality evaluation index system and calculate the specific weights of different evaluation indicators in the system through an analytic hierarchy process. Based on the weight calculation results, the state-transition matrix is established using the Markov chain method, and more states are introduced to construct the state-transition matrix. According to the state-transition matrix, the residual sequence with the same position is obtained under the original data sequence, and the upper and lower boundary values of different residual sequences are obtained. Combined with the steady-state distribution vector, the teaching quality evaluation results are obtained. The experimental results show that the evaluation results of the proposed method have lower errors and are more comprehensive.
  Keywords: teaching quality evaluation; analytic hierarchy process; AHP; residual sequence; Markov chain.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2023.10061894
   
  
• An online English teaching quality assessment method based on PCA-SVM  
  by Siyuan Yuan 
  Abstract: In order to scientifically evaluate the quality of English online teaching, this study propose an online English teaching quality assessment method based on PCA-SVM. This method first selects evaluation indicators, and then uses PCA algorithm to extract the main components of the evaluation indicators. Next, the SVM algorithm is introduced to obtain its optimal classification hyperplane, so as to determine the category of the evaluation index. Finally, hyperplane segmentation is performed on the samples of evaluation indicators to obtain the classification results of main component indicator data. Based on the classification results, complete the design of an English online teaching quality classification evaluation model. The test results show that the correlation coefficient of the proposed method's indicators can reach 0.99, and its multiple evaluation noise is only 0.55dB, which is superior to the comparison method and has certain feasibility.
  Keywords: PCA-SVM; online English teaching; quality assessment; evaluation function; hyperplane segmentation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2023.10061895
   
  
• The educational quality evaluation method of college online teaching mode under the background of big data  
  by Yang Yang, Zhencun Wang, Zhanlei Shang, Zhan Li, Irving Domingo L. Rio, Merle L.Junsay 
  Abstract: Evaluating the educational quality of online teaching mode is of great significance for improving teaching level. Therefore, this article designs an education quality evaluation method for online teaching mode in universities under the background of big data. Firstly, analyse the online teaching mode in universities and build an evaluation system. Secondly, clustering similarity is calculated based on attribute distance to complete the clustering division of education quality. Then, use the association rule algorithm in big data technology to determine the impact of indicators on the evaluation results. Finally, construct an evaluation function, calculate the weight of the function using a consistent matrix, and solve the function to achieve education quality evaluation. The results show that the evaluation accuracy of the proposed method can reach 99%, and the evaluation time is less than 0.2 seconds, effectively improving the effectiveness of education quality evaluation.
  Keywords: online teaching mode; attribute distance; consistent matrix; big data technology; association rule algorithm.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2023.10061896
   
  
• The impact of multimedia mobile terminal devices on students' comprehensive learning quality  
  by Jing Li, Lifen Hu 
  Abstract: In order to improve comprehensive learning quality of students, this study investigates the impact of multimedia mobile terminal devices on comprehensive learning quality of students. Firstly, analyze the characteristics of multimedia mobile terminal devices, including high-performance and powerful multimedia functions, excellent human-machine interaction performance, portability, openness, and privacy. Secondly, analyze the impact of multimedia mobile terminal devices on students' learning from seven aspects. Finally, set up experimental and control group classes to analyze comprehensive learning quality of students. The research results show that 66.35% of students believe that their listening ability has been significantly improved, 67.78% of students believe that their knowledge accumulation ability has been significantly improved, and 63.72% of students believe that their autonomous learning ability has been significantly improved. Therefore, it indicates that the reasonable use of multimedia mobile terminal devices in the classroom can improve comprehensive learning quality of students.
  Keywords: multimedia mobile terminal equipment; quality of students' comprehensive learning; human machine interaction function; multimedia features.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2023.10061897
   
  
• An online teaching quality evaluation method based on improved entropy method in the context of sustainable development  
  by Ye He, Wenbin Li 
  Abstract: The evaluation effect of online teaching quality not only affects the development of teaching models, but also has an impact on the learning quality of students. Therefore, a method for evaluating online teaching quality based on improved entropy method in the context of sustainable development is proposed. Firstly, under the principle of sustainable development, K-means clustering algorithm is used to cluster and mine online teaching data. Secondly, based on the excavated online teaching data, establish an online teaching quality evaluation index system. Finally, the standard transformation method is used to improve the entropy method, and the improved entropy method is used to calculate the comprehensive index of online teaching quality evaluation, completing the graded evaluation of online teaching quality. The test results show that the proposed evaluation method can accurately and efficiently evaluate online teaching, with a maximum evaluation accuracy of 99.84%.
  Keywords: sustainable development; improved entropy method; online teaching; quality assessment; standard transformation method.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2023.10061898
   
  
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of graded English teaching reform in a mixed learning environment  
  by Danting Yin 
  Abstract: The effect of English graded teaching reform is still unclear. In order to study the practical application effect of English graded teaching reform, the evaluation method of English graded teaching reform effect in blended learning environment is proposed. Firstly, the characteristics of blended learning environment are analysed, and the time series analysis method is used to collect the data of English graded teaching reform. Secondly, through the optimal cluster analysis criterion, an index system for evaluating the effect of English graded teaching reform is constructed. Finally, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is used to obtain different levels of the effectiveness of English graded teaching reform and complete the evaluation of the effectiveness of English graded teaching reform. The test results show that the highest evaluation accuracy of the proposed evaluation method is 99.03%, and the highest evaluation time is 0.5 hours.
  Keywords: mixed learning environment; English level teaching; teaching reform; effect evaluation; fuzzy comprehensive evaluation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2023.10061899
   
  
• Evaluation method of online education sustainable development effect based on data mining  
  by Zhanqiu Yu 
  Abstract: A data mining based online education sustainable development effectiveness evaluation method is proposed to address the issues of low evaluation accuracy and efficiency in traditional methods. Firstly, analyse the four elements of sustainable development in online education; secondly, the decision tree method is used to decompose the similarity of online education data to obtain the similarity between different data, and probability statistical methods are used to mine online education data. Then, combine the data mining results with the four elements to construct an evaluation index system; finally, based on the principle of fuzzy set transformation, a fuzzy evaluation matrix is established to conduct fuzzy evaluation on the evaluation indicators and obtain the evaluation results. The experimental results show that the proposed method has high evaluation accuracy, fast efficiency, and a small gap between the evaluation results and actual performance.
  Keywords: data mining; online education; sustainable development; probability and statistics; fuzzy set transformation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2023.10061900
   
  
• Evaluation method of English teaching reform effect based on GWO-SVM  
  by Kun Li 
  Abstract: Evaluating the effectiveness of English teaching reform can effectively improve the quality and effectiveness of English teaching. Therefore, the paper proposes an evaluation method for the effectiveness of English teaching reform based on GWO-SVM. First of all, build a multiple evaluation index system with schools, teachers and students as the main body, and use fuzzy theory to mine the data of reform results; Secondly, the mined data is processed to achieve data standardisation; then, a sample classifier is constructed by SVM to classify the reform effect data. Finally, the evaluation function is constructed based on GWO, and the function is solved, and the final evaluation effect of English teaching reform is input. The results show that the evaluation result of this method is of high accuracy, less than 2.3 s in time, and up to 0.97 in comprehensiveness, effectively improving the reform effect.
  Keywords: fuzzy theory; GWO algorithm; range transformation; English teaching reform; support vector machine; SVM.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2023.10061901
   
  
• BIM-based full lifecycle management and sustainability optimisation of water conservancy engineering  
  by Sha Li 
  Abstract: This paper conducted in-depth research on water conservancy project lifecycle management and its sustainability optimisation based on building information modelling technology. The experiment took a specific sewage treatment plant as the research object. The experimental results showed that the minimum error of the paper’s method in building modelling was only 0.001 cm, and the average error of each point was much smaller than that of other modelling methods. At the same time, it performed excellently in predicting the effectiveness of sewage treatment, achieving zero error in predicting the total phosphorus content. The error in the total cost prediction was only 0.3%, indicating that building information modelling can play a good role in resource allocation. This study has particular value for the entire lifecycle management and sustainable optimisation of water conservancy engineering and provides direction for subsequent research.
  Keywords: BIM technology; hydraulic engineering; 3D laser scanning; storm water management model; SWMM; particle swarm optimisation; PSO.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.10063033
   
  
• Exploring the effect of BERT and attention mechanisms on predicting futures prices in the green finance market  
  by Yue Liang 
  Abstract: As the green finance sector develops, there is an increasing demand for forecasting future prices. To investigate the influence of futures prices on green financial markets, an innovative technique is suggested that uses BERT and attention mechanisms. The foundations of futures price prognostication are primarily strengthened by a feature amalgamation methodology using an attentional strategy. Then, to facilitate deft deduction, a BERT-grounded approach is suggested for predicting future prices within the context of the green financial market. The empirical findings demonstrate that the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) value obtained by the proposed methodology stands impressively at 0.653, reiterating the suggested paradigm’s clear efficacy. The study lays the foundation for implementing ecological fiscal stewardship and creating sustainable market strategies.
  Keywords: green finance; futures price prediction; feature fusion; attention mechanism; mean absolute percentage error; MAPE.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.10063103
   
  
• Development strategy of transnational e-commerce logistics and distribution based on artificial intelligence and big data  
  by Zhenhua He, Liang Chen, Bin Liu 
  Abstract: This article combines artificial intelligence with e-commerce delivery to conduct in-depth research on the development strategy of cross-border e-commerce logistics delivery. On the basis of analysing the current situation and existing problems of logistics development, big data technology is used to provide database information queries, demonstrate how to achieve actual positioning, and propose business logistics distribution development strategies through asymmetric hybrid algorithms. Finally, experimental analysis is conducted. The experimental results show that compared with traditional delivery methods, the digital delivery of cross-border distribution construction has improved delivery efficiency by more than 25%, improving the overall performance of the distribution system. The conclusion indicates that the development strategy of cross-border e-commerce logistics distribution based on artificial intelligence and big data can effectively improve the efficiency of logistics distribution systems, and help provide a new perspective for the development of e-commerce logistics.
  Keywords: AI and big data; cross-border e-commerce; artificial intelligence; big data analysis; cross border e-commerce delivery distribution.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.10063473
   
  
• Managerial myopia and low-carbon transition development: evidence from listed companies  
  by Fake Ma, Huili Li 
  Abstract: Perception of management holds paramount importance in guiding the metamorphosis and advancement of enterprises. Drawing upon a fresh research perspective centred around managerial myopia (MM), this paper delves into the profound impact of such myopia on the low-carbon total factor productivity of enterprises. The study reveals several noteworthy findings: firstly, the influence of MM on enterprise low-carbon total factor productivity exhibits a pronounced negative trend, signifying that myopia acts as a hindrance to the progression of enterprise low-carbon transformation. Secondly, the effect of MM on enterprise low-carbon total factor productivity displays distinctive heterogeneity, with myopia particularly prominent in its hindering effect on state-owned and mature enterprises. Thirdly, the impediment posed by MM on the development of enterprise low-carbon endeavours stems from declining R&D intensity, reduced environmental protection investments, and weakened human capital. Lastly, the key to breaking free from the constraints of MM in fostering low-carbon transformation lies in the proactive disclosure of environmental information and the fortification of internal control mechanisms.
  Keywords: managerial myopia; MM; low-carbon transition; total factor productivity.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.10063615
   
  
• Path of the impact of digital trade on accelerating the transformation and upgrading of green industry development  
  by Yao Gu, Xiao Liu 
  Abstract: In the past trade model, most industrial structures still relied on high carbon emission production methods, leading to resource waste and low trade efficiency, which hindered the development of green industries. This article aims to explore the impact of digital trade on the development, transformation, and upgrading of green industries. This article uses a projection optimisation model under real number encoding accelerated genetic algorithm to measure the level of digital trade development, quantify the transformation and upgrading of digital trade development, and the level of green industry development. The average production time of the five green products in digital trade is 39.8% less than that of traditional human trade, indicating that the efficiency of digital trade is higher. Through the research in this article, it can promote the development of digital trade and green industries, and achieve a reasonable balance between the economy and the environment.
  Keywords: digital trade; green industry development; real coding accelerating genetic algorithm; transformation and upgrading.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.10064579
   
  
• Evaluation method of rationality of urban landscape facility design based on neural network  
  by Fanglong Wang, Qianda Zhuang, Xiaoni Sun, Dengfeng Lin 
  Abstract: Urban landscape facilities not only enhance the quality of life for residents and promote social interaction but also add bright elements to the display of urban culture and image. Therefore, this study formulates a scientific and reasonable evaluation index system for the rationality of urban landscape facility design and uses a neural network to carry out intelligent evaluation, in order to obtain optimal evaluation outcomes. The simulation results presented in the research demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique in evaluating the soundness of landscape facilities. Specifically, our work encompasses the following key aspects: 1) Introducing the relevant theoretical knowledge and research progress in urban landscape facility design. 2) Elucidating the basic principles and structures of the backpropagation neural network (BPNN), along with the proposal of an improved genetic algorithm-back propagation neural network (GA-BP) to address the limitations of BPNN. 3) Conducting experiments to determine the optimal parameters for the GA-BP model once training is finished. The trained model is then tested with the experimental data, and the results are compared to those obtained by expert reviews. The experimental findings prove that the GA-BP model is effective in evaluating urban landscape facilities and it holds certain reference and application value for research in urban planning, architecture, landscape, and other related fields.
  Keywords: urban landscape facilities; evaluation index; design rationality; neural network.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.10064855
   
  
• Construction and practice of BOPPPS + hybrid teaching mode supported by 5G smart classroom  
  by Su Song, Yiuchi Lai 
  Abstract: Education is a key tool to help college students develop a correct world outlook, as well as an outlook on life and values, and the fundamental responsibility of teachers is to help them realise this and put it into practice. However, the politics and ideology of the traditional classroom have been unable to keep up with the requirements of the times, so a new teaching method is needed. In the information age, the educational environment and teaching materials are undergoing major changes, the next standard of teaching will be an intelligent learning environment with individualised courses, and BOPPPS + blended provides creative suggestions for intelligent education. This paper used the framework of the BOPPPS+ blended teaching model three-level, six-ring and four-point. The use of the BOPPPS + blended teaching mode for ideological and political learning was conducive to improving students learning efficiency.
  Keywords: BOPPPS + hybrid; 5G smart classroom; teaching mode; intelligent learning.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.10066275
   
  
• EExploring the relationship between ESG, CSR, sustainability reporting and financial performance: a bibliometric analysis using VoS-viewer  
  by Prashant Debnath, P. Chellasamy 
  Abstract: This research conducts a bibliometric analysis of ESG, CSR, sustainability reporting, disclosures, and financial performance literature from 2003 to 2023, identifying key contributors, journals, organisations, articles, and countries. Data were gathered from Scopus and analysed using VoS-viewer software. Techniques such as co-citation networks, co-authorship patterns, bibliographic coupling, and keyword co-occurrences revealed significant growth in research since 2010, peaking in 2022. Key trends included CSR disclosure’s impact on forecast accuracy, sustainability integration in financial reporting, and the link between CSR and financial performance, especially in the GCC Islamic banking sector. Authors like A. Buallay, N.V. Khuong, and M.S. Sial made substantial contributions. Ahlia University emerged as a top contributor, with research interests spanning Malaysia, India, China, and the UAE. Influential journals included Sustainability (Switzerland) and the Social Responsibility Journal. The study highlights the positive link between sustainability reporting and firm performance, though CSR’s impact on financial performance varied.
  Keywords: environmental social governance; ESG; sustainability reporting; corporate social responsibility; CSR; financial performance; bibliometric analysis; disclosures.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.10067695
   
  
• The use of water in the Seine Estuary River basin by the regional economy in 2050: a multisectoral prospective approach  
  by Jeremy Pantet 
  Abstract: This article examines the prospects for growth in economic activity along the Seine estuary in 2050. The impact of climate change on this estuary would potentially increase its attractiveness, particularly for service-related activities, due to a warmer and less rainy climate. Consequently, we identify the boundaries of such increased attractiveness in order to maintain water use that protects the estuary from the risks of hydric stress. These limits are identified using an input-output model extended to water resources. We show that the potential for growth before reaching the defined environmental limit is significant, but still achievable, even for an economy adhering to the National Low Carbon Strategy.
  Keywords: input output modelling; water resources; climate change.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.10067908
   
  
• Corporate sustainability strategies: insights, innovations and future directions  
  by Ângelo Roucos, Leandro Ferreira Pereira, Álvaro Lopes Dias, Vânia Patrício 
  Abstract: In a world increasingly concerned with environmental sustainability, this study addresses the growing need for effective green business practices. This research aims to identify and analyse strategies that enable companies to improve their environmental performance. Through a systematic literature review and a series of in-depth interviews with companies of varying sizes from different industries, followed by analysis of the interview data to identify patterns and commonalities, this study examines the practices that can contribute to environmental sustainability and assesses their impact. The main findings of this study highlight the importance of organisational commitment, leadership, effective communication systems, and the use of technological advances, as well as employee engagement in driving sustainable initiatives. The study also identifies challenges in assessing progress over time and prioritising sustainability within organisations and provides valuable insights into corporate sustainability practices. Future research could explore the integration of emerging technologies, such as blockchain and AI, in enhancing sustainability efforts and examine the long-term effects of these practices on both environmental and financial performance.
  Keywords: environmental performance; environmental management; green initiatives; corporate sustainability.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.10068587
   
  
• Unveiling poverty patterns: a multimodal approach using textual and visual data in Madhya Pradesh  
  by Pragati Khare, Dipti Jadhav 
  Abstract: In order to effectively address the poverty issue in regions like Madhya Pradesh, India, which have diverse socio-economic conditions, combining textual and visual data acts as a promising technique for accurate poverty prediction and understanding. This paper presents a detailed study that combines textual details and visual indications to corroborate poverty indicators in Madhya Pradesh. Deriving from various data sources, including district-level textual data comprising demographic details and socio-economic and infrastructural indicators, and satellite images capturing both poor and economically developed areas, our research uses advanced feature engineering and extraction techniques to find the meaningful insights. Feature engineering presents a diverse range of derived features, including economic activity, living conditions, and environmental sustainability indices, each providing a view point on the poverty conditions. Our study also highlights the limitations of isolated data usage, underlining the necessity of an integrated approach for accurate poverty prediction. The textual and visual data integration is achieved through a multimodal analysis, wherein textual details are merged with visual features extracted using the VGG16 model for feature extraction.
  Keywords: poverty prediction; textual data; visual data; multimodal analysis; feature extraction; socio-economic indicators; exploratory data analysis; predictive modelling.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2025.10069595
   
  
• Reducing CO2 emissions in Africa: does governance matter?  
  by Fanougbo Avoce Viagannou, Dramane Abdoulaye 
  Abstract: This paper aims to analyse the effects of governance on CO2 emissions in Africa. For this purpose, 43 African countries were considered over the period 20002020. After performing principal component analysis and unit root and panel cointegration tests, the estimates of the long-term relationships between CO2 emissions and the governance variables and then those of the control variables are made via the FMOLS and DOLS methods. The results show that in the long term, general governance, from unconditional and conditional effects through trade, induces net negative effects on CO2 emissions. The analysis by groups of countries reveals that the net negative effect due to general governance is more pronounced in middle-income countries (4.99) than in low-income countries (0.07). Therefore, it appears necessary to reduce emissions to strengthen all governance indicators or general governance.
  Keywords: CO2 emissions; governance; Africa.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2025.10069976
   
  
• The Impact of full/productive employment and decent work in achieving sustainable development goals: a study on United Nations member states  
  by Sergen Gürsoy, Nuri Çeliker, Ali Osman Uymaz, Serdar Arslan 
  Abstract: This study examines the connection between in-work poverty, worker rights, unemployment rates, education, working hours, labour productivity, and sustainable development goals within the context of full and decent employment. Data from three databases (the Sustainable Development Goals Index, World Justice Project Data, and ILO reports) covering 111 countries were analysed using a hybrid methodology that combined PLS-SEM and fsQCA. The findings indicate that working time, youth unemployment, and in-work poverty impede sustainable development goals, while fundamental labour rights have a positive relationship with them. The most effective way to achieve these goals is by reducing the number of working poor. The study has identified various facilitating and hindering factors for accomplishing sustainable development goals.
  Keywords: sustainable development goals; decent work; in-work poverty; basic employee rights; unemployment rate; labour productivity.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2025.10070233
   
  
• Tourist travel decision-making in response to climate events: the case of the French West Indies  
  by Eric Kamwa 
  Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between environmental, situational factors and the decision-making processes of tourists in the French West Indies. Using field survey data and a multinomial logistic regression we assess the impact of climatic events on tourists' choice of travel dates and destinations. Our results highlight the importance of visit frequency, accommodation type, age, and income in shaping travel decision-making. First-time visitors, younger individuals, and those staying in hotels are more likely to change their destination, while older individuals, those staying with family or friends, and higher-income earners are more likely to stick to their plans or adjust their travel dates. These findings provide valuable insights for travel planners and policymakers aiming to understand and cater to the diverse preferences and constraints of travelers. Our findings highlight the need to develop tailored strategies to meet the needs of tourists in order to promote a resilient and sustainable tourism sector.
  Keywords: tourist decision-making; climate events; French West Indies; tourism management; resilience.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2025.10071202
   
  
• Ecotourism and sustainable development: impacts on communities near nature reserves  
  by Fabiola Gomez-Chambi, Maria Jeanett Ramos-Cavero, Claudio Rojas-Flores, Franklin Cordova-Buiza 
  Abstract: Protected areas remain our best tool in the fight against mass extinction and environmental degradation. The objective of the research is to determine the extent to which ecotourism is related to sustainable development in communities surrounding a protected natural area in the South American rainforest. The methodology presented a study with a quantitative approach, correlational scope and non-experimental design; the sample size was 180 people who completed a Likert-type survey; ecotourism emphasised economic, environmental and socio-cultural factors and sustainable development emphasised community assessment, environmental education, conservation of natural resources and political participation. As results, the inferential data presented a Spearman’s rho = 0.816, affirming the correlation. It was concluded that there is a significant relationship between both variables and that the objective of disseminating environmental knowledge and information for the practice of ecotourism should be to empower citizens and build a just society within the framework of sustainable development.
  Keywords: sustainability; tourist attraction; tourism development; environment; community; ecology; tourism; protected natural area; Peruvian jungle; Peru.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2025.10071583