Community and Social Development Journal

The Impact of Higher Education Enrollment on Per Capita GDP in the Yangtze River Delta: An Analysis Based on BCC-DEA and Spatial Econometric Models

2025-08-18T09:05:21+07:00

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) is a key driver of China's economic growth, with higher education playing a critical role in fostering regional economic development. This study uses the BCC-DEA model and spatial econometric methods with 2022 data to evaluate the efficiency of regular higher education enrollment in contributing to per capita GDP and explores its spatial distribution. The results reveal significant regional disparities in resource allocation, with some cities being DEA-efficient, such as Zhoushan, Wuxi, and Xuancheng (TE = 1), while others exhibit inefficiencies, including Shanghai (TE = 0.15; SE = 0.338) and Hefei (TE = 0.032; SE = 0.934). Spatial correlation between higher education resources and per capita GDP is weak, with Moran’s I = −0.073, and OLS regression shows a mismatch between educational resources and economic development, with the coefficient of enrollment (−0.017, p = 0.694) and low explanatory power (R² = 0.094; adjusted R² = −0.359). This study provides theoretical insights and policy recommendations for optimizing resource allocation and promoting coordinated development between higher education and the economy in the YRD region.

Exploring Coaching Strategies, Techniques and Team Dynamics towards a Winning Volleyball Team

2025-06-07T11:39:16+07:00

This study explores effective coaching strategies, techniques, and team dynamics essential for achieving success in volleyball. Conducted with all 32 student-athletes from a private university in Batangas, Philippines, this research utilizes qualitative exploratory methods and thematic analysis to uncover insights into coaching effectiveness and team cohesion. The total number of participants reflects the entire population of student-athletes at the university, ensuring comprehensive representation. Key findings highlight the significance of personalized training programs tailored to individual needs, detailed performance feedback, innovative skill development drills, and strategic game simulations. Effective team dynamics, including strong communication, mutual trust, and resilience, are crucial for maintaining high performance and navigating competitive challenges. The study also identifies challenges in coaching, such as conflict resolution and role balancing. Recommendations include implementing tailored training plans, providing regular feedback, using innovative techniques, and fostering a supportive team environment. Future research may investigate the long-term effects of personalized training on player development across various competition levels.

Fostering Cross-Cultural Understanding Through Southeast Asian Multicultural Literature: Insights from Preservice ESL Teachers’ Learning Experiences

2025-09-03T16:47:08+07:00

This study investigated the relationship between culturally diverse learning experiences and cross-cultural understanding in the teaching of Southeast Asian multicultural literature among preservice teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL). Guided by the framework of culturally responsive teaching, it examined how specific instructional activities such as creative dramatics, visual arts projects, graphic organizers, writing workshops, and research tasks relate to the critical, empathic, and conceptual dimensions of cross-cultural understanding. The study employed a quantitative descriptive-correlational design and gathered data from 107 preservice ESL teachers enrolled in a state university in the Southern Tagalog region of the Philippines through a validated researcher-made questionnaire. The results indicated that all five learning activities were perceived as highly relevant, with research tasks and creative dramatics receiving the highest mean scores. Cross-cultural understanding was also found to be highly manifested, with empathic and conceptual understanding registering higher levels than critical understanding. Statistical analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between the relevance of culturally diverse learning experiences and the level of cross-cultural understanding. The findings affirm the pedagogical value of integrating culturally responsive strategies in literature instruction to promote intercultural awareness and appreciation. These results suggest that ESL teacher education programs should strengthen the integration of multicultural literature in the curriculum to enhance both literary competence and intercultural competence. Incorporating such approaches in teacher training may better prepare future educators to design inclusive, culturally sensitive learning environments, thereby contributing to the broader goals of equity, respect for diversity, and global citizenship in education.

A Narrative Review on the Impacts of Digital Literacy and Social Capital on the Innovation Performance of Cultural Enterprises

2025-09-05T09:55:04+07:00

Amid the rapid global growth of the cultural and creative economy, China’s cultural industry has emerged as a key driver of regional economic transformation, fueled by policy support, digital technology, and consumption upgrades. Small and micro cultural enterprises, now accounting for over 84% of the sector, play a critical role in cultural innovation but face persistent structural challenges that hinder their innovation performance. This narrative review, based on Web of Science and Scopus literature, integrates Resource-Based Theory and Social Network Theory to propose a “Resource-Network-Platform” framework, revealing how digital literacy and social capital dynamically interact to enhance innovation performance within cultural industry clusters. Based on the dual logics of resources and networks, this study proposed an integrative theoretical model of innovation in SMEs of cultural enterprises so as to build foundation for future empirical studies. Findings highlight a dynamic coupling mechanism between internal capabilities and external networks, offering theoretical insights and practical guidance for cluster governance, platform development, and enterprise digital capacity building, while paving the way for cross-theoretical research in cultural industries. Unlike previous studies solely stand from a single perspective, this study emphasizes the dynamic, systemic value of theoretical intersections in explaining innovation mechanisms in SMEs.

Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers’ Preparedness in Incorporating Digital Math Tools

2025-10-07T11:48:03+07:00

The integration of technology in mathematics education has become essential in preparing future teachers to foster higher-order thinking skills. However, little is known about the readiness of pre-service mathematics teachers to effectively employ digital tools in classroom practice. This study examined the preparedness of pre-service teachers to integrate three types of digital mathematics tools: open math tasks, rich math tasks, and simulation tools. Using a descriptive–correlational design, data were collected from 88 respondents at Batangas State University through a validated researcher-designed questionnaire. Findings revealed that participants were moderately prepared overall, with the highest preparedness in rich math tasks and the lowest in simulation tools. Preparedness significantly varied by year level and socioeconomic status, while sex showed no significant association. These results underscore the need for targeted training on simulation-based instruction and equitable access to digital resources. The study contributes to the literature on digital readiness in Philippine teacher education and offers evidence-based insights to inform curriculum design and policy initiatives aimed at strengthening technology integration in mathematics teaching.

Demand for Chinese-Speaking Staff in Luang Prabang’s Hospitality Sector: Trends, Challenges, and Workforce Implications

2025-11-03T12:17:44+07:00

The rapid growth of Chinese outbound tourism has significantly impacted the hospitality industry in Southeast Asia, particularly in Luang Prabang, Laos a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its cultural and natural attractions. This study investigates the increasing demand for Chinese-speaking staff in Luang Prabang’s guesthouse and hotel sector, driven by the rising influx of Chinese tourists. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combines qualitative interviews with hospitality stakeholders and quantitative surveys of Chinese-speaking tourists to analyze trends, challenges, and implications for the local workforce. Findings reveal a substantial demand for bilingual staff, with hotel and guesthouse managers emphasizing the importance of Chinese-speaking employees in enhancing customer satisfaction and service quality. However, challenges such as a shortage of qualified candidates, limited access to language training, and financial constraints particularly among smaller establishments hinder the sector’s ability to meet this demand. Survey results indicate that a large proportion of Chinese tourists prefer accommodations with Chinese-speaking staff, and their satisfaction levels are significantly higher when served by such employees compared to non-Chinese-speaking staff. The study highlights the critical role of language proficiency in improving guest experiences and fostering repeat business. It also underscores the need for workforce development initiatives, including government-supported language training programs and partnerships with educational institutions, to address staffing shortages. The findings align with global tourism trends that increasingly prioritize multilingual staff to cater to international travelers. Overall, this research provides valuable insights for policymakers and industry practitioners, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the linguistic and cultural needs of a diverse clientele to ensure the sustainable growth of Luang Prabang’s tourism sector.