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

Haidong Sun — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

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

Job Zion D. Lualhati — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

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

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0700

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

Quehong Chen — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0700

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

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0700

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

Sithonh Sisombat, Toulakone Souliya — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0700

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.

Secondary School Students’ Perceptions about Parent-School Partnership in District Swabi, Pakistan

Noor Khan, Rui Huang — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The study investigates secondary school students’ perceptions about parent school partnership in District Swabi.Convenient sampling technique was utilized to obtained information from 90 secondary schools students of class 8^th, 9^th and 10^th. Data was analyzed through univariate analysis by frequencies and percentages distributions. The findings indicate that the parent-school partnership is largely reactive rather than proactive. Specifically, two primary patterns emerged: 1) Reactive measures are prevalent. A majority (66.60%) of respondents agreed that teachers send home folders of students’ weekly or monthly work for parental review and comments, and 55.50% responded that teachers contact families of students having academic or behavior problems. 2) Proactive measures are lacking: A majority of students reported schools do not provide sufficient information for parents on child development (54.40% No), arrange workshops for parents (52.20% No), or produce information linked to children’s success (55.50% No). Furthermore, an overwhelming majority (77.7% No) reported the school does not have an active Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) or similar formal council. The major recommendations focus on the revival and establishment of formal parent-teacher councils, arranging capacity-building programs for parents, and involving parents in school planning and decisions.This study fills a gap by providing context-specific, student-voice evidence from a developing region where parent–school partnership practices often lag global “family engagement” paradigms. It also pinpoints that work review and problem-triggered contact are present, while parent learning opportunities and structured councils are missing, offering a practical baseline for upgrading partnership frameworks.

The Impact of ESG Investments in Polluting Industries on Environmental Performance: An Empirical Study Based on A-Share Listed Companies in China

Chen Qian — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Against the backdrop of China’s “Dual Carbon” objectives and the global imperative for sustainable development, this study investigates the environmental implications of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investments in heavily polluting industries in China. Drawing upon a sample of A-share listed companies between 2015 and 2024, the Huazheng ESG Rating Index, and key environmental performance indicators including air pollutant emission intensity, clean energy consumption ratio, and carbon emission intensity a fixed-effects model is employed to examine the relationship. The empirical results demonstrate that ESG investments significantly mitigate both air pollutant and carbon emission intensities, while simultaneously fostering the adoption of clean energy. Quantitatively, a one-unit rise in the Huazheng ESG score is associated with a 0.178-log-point (~18%) reduction in SO₂ emission intensity, a 2.298 percentage-point increase in the clean-energy consumption ratio, and a 0.210-log-point (~21%) reduction in CO₂ emission intensity (all p < 0.01), with stronger effects under tighter environmental regulation and greater industrial upgrading. Furthermore, the moderating roles of governmental environmental regulation and industrial upgrading are found to reinforce these effects. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting ESG as a mechanism for advancing pollution reduction and carbon abatement, and it offers actionable implications for policymakers and corporate stakeholders in guiding China’s transition toward a green economy.

Film-Induced Image Model for Promoting Behavioral Intention of Chinese Screen Tourists: Post Covid-19

Supaporn Wichaidit, Chunlin Wan — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Film-induced tourism plays a growing role in shaping destination choices, yet limited studies have examined its influence on Chinese tourists in Thailand’s post-pandemic context. To fill this gap, this study investigates how exposure to Thai films and television dramas shapes the film-induced image and subsequently affects tourists’ behavioral intentions. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to analyze data from 420 Chinese tourists, as it effectively tests complex causal relationships among latent variables. The results indicate that film exposure significantly enhances the film-induced image of tourist destinations, positively influencing Chinese tourists' behavioural intentions. These findings highlight the potential of leveraging film media as a strategic tool for destination marketing, particularly in reviving tourism in the post-pandemic era. Furthermore, the study contributes to academic knowledge on media-induced tourism while offering practical insights for policymakers and marketers seeking innovative approaches to attract international visitors.

Strengthening Higher Education Governance for Local Development: Insights from the Upper Northern Rajabhat Universities

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study investigates the implementation outcomes of the 20-Year Strategic Plan for Local Development (2017–2036) and the governance mechanisms of Rajabhat Universities in Thailand’s Upper Northern region. The research pursued three objectives: 1) to evaluate the effectiveness of administrative and governance systems in supporting local development, 2) to identify approaches for strengthening participatory and adaptive governance, and 3) to classify universities according to their local development performance across key domains. Data were collected from 177 purposively selected stakeholders—including university administrators, government officials, private-sector representatives, and community leaders—through a mixed-methods design integrating surveys, interviews, and focus-group discussions. Findings indicate that while the universities have established formal committees and strategic offices that facilitate coordination and collaboration, systemic challenges persist, particularly rigid budgetary procedures, limited project continuity, and insufficient faculty incentives. Quantitative and qualitative analyses reveal strong short-term outcomes in teaching integration, collaboration with local agencies, and technology transfer, but only moderate long-term impacts on household income, community well-being, and educational innovation. Governance flexibility, cross-sectoral partnerships, and continuous monitoring emerge as decisive factors influencing effectiveness. The study deepens existing knowledge by demonstrating how participatory and networked governance arrangements mediate the relationship between national policy mandates and localized development outcomes in regional universities.

Negotiating Cultural Identity: Fusion and Innovation in the Luolong Lion ‎Dance of the Sichuan-Tibet Tea-Horse Road

Qian Wen, Phakamas Jirajarupat, Qianqiu Jin — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This qualitative research examines the Luolong Lion Dance, a culturally hybrid folk performance that originated along the Sichuan-Tibet Tea-Horse Ancient Road. The study aims to explore how the Han Chinese lion dance evolved through interaction with Tibetan religious, aesthetic, and musical traditions. Data collection was conducted through literature review, field observation, and interviews with local performers. Using the theory of cultural integration, the study found that the dance developed through three stages: contact, selection, and integration. The lion dance was initially brought to the Tibetan region through trade and migration. It was then selectively adapted to include rhythmic patterns from Tibetan pot dance and costume elements reflecting local beliefs. Eventually, a fully integrated form emerged, combining Han lion dance structure with Tibetan symbolic and stylistic features.

The research reveals that the Luolong Lion Dance is not a simple borrowing but a new cultural creation reflecting the dynamic coexistence of ethnic traditions. This offers new insights into how folk arts evolve as tools of identity negotiation and cultural sustainability. The findings contribute to performance studies and heritage preservation, and they highlight the potential of traditional dance to promote social cohesion in multiethnic communities. While statistical data was not the focus due to the qualitative nature of the research, the study emphasizes the frequency and consistency of cultural elements shared across communities. This work provides valuable knowledge for scholars, cultural practitioners, and policymakers interested in intercultural understanding and community-based cultural preservation.

Restoring Life Balance through Lanna Rituals: The Symbolic Power of Apology and Healing

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The present study aimed to analyze the forms, meanings, and healing mechanisms of Lanna holistic and apology rituals as cultural systems for restoring relational and spiritual balance in Northern Thailand. The research focused on understanding how these rituals, such as Tan Chedi Sai (Sand Pagoda Offering), Khan Tang, Suma Kaew Sam, Suma Phra Kaew Ha Jamphuak, and Suma Krua Tan, function to relieve guilt, fear, and spiritual instability through structured acts of apology, offering, and community participation. A qualitative approach was employed, incorporating in-depth interviews, participant observation, and symbolic content analysis across three provinces: Chiang Mai, Lamphun, and Lampang. Data were analyzed within the frameworks of medical anthropology and symbolic healing theory. The findings revealed that Lanna apology rituals operate as relational healing systems that transform human suffering, particularly moral distress and relational imbalance, into meaningful experiences of reconciliation. These ceremonies integrate symbolic actions, language, and rhythmic participation to restore life force, mindfulness, and ethical balance. The results indicate that such rituals complement biomedical and psychological care by addressing spiritual and relational dimensions of suffering often beyond the reach of modern health systems. The study suggests that the incorporation of Lanna rituals into community mental health and wellness initiatives could strengthen culturally grounded approaches to mental health promotion and collective strength in Thai society.

An Experimental Study on the Development of a Training Program for Psychological Traits and Skills to Enhance Socially Ethical Behaviors in Thai Youths

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This experimental research aimed to examine the effectiveness of Thai youths who underwent the different levels of training intensity. The sample had 120 Thai youths, who were randomly assigned to one of four groups without bias under a 2 × 2 factorial design, with two types of independent variables: 1) training in psychological traits, 2) training in socially ethical skills. Three phases were evaluated: before training, after training immediately, and three-month after training. Seven measurement tools were used by Likert-type rating scale with reliability coefficients from 0.810 to 0.860. The statistical method to test the hypotheses was Analysis of Covariance.

The findings revealed that 1) For the phase after training immediately, Thai youths who underwent the trainings in psychological traits and socially ethical skills had a higher mean score in moral reasoning compared to those who trained only the training in socially ethical skills or no any training. Additionally, they exhibited more positive attitudes toward socially ethical behaviors than those who did not train any training. Their socially ethical behaviors were higher than Thai youths who only underwent in socially ethical skills, 2) For the phase of three-month after training, Thai youths who underwent the trainings in psychological traits and socially ethical skills had a higher mean score in moral reasoning than those who trained only the training in socially ethical skills or no any training. Moreover, their positive attitudes toward socially ethical behaviors remained higher than Thai youths who only trained in psychological trait or no any training.

Public Trust in Political Leadership During COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand

Sakda Nasongsi — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This research aims to 1) study the desirable political leadership attributes that enable effective leaders to manage COVID-19 crises in Thailand, 2) survey and identify the level of public trust in 2 Thai political leaders. The prime minister and the minister of public health. The data was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand between march – may 2021. The qualitative data was collected via semi-structured interviews with 20 persons; including university professors, politician, official servants, and analyzed by domain analysis and taxonomy. The quantitative data was collected by the online questionnaire distributed to 200 samplings; measured by means and standard deviation analysis. The research instrument was statistical analysis consisted of percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, One-way anova, least significance difference test and pearson product–moment correlation coefficient. The level of significance for statistical testing was 0.05. The reliability test was cronbach’s alpha at 0.70. The research findings suggest that, to be an effective leader during a crisis, political leaders need to be: visionary; courageous; calm; inspirational; ethical; empathetic; authentic; integrity; decision maker and resilient. For aspect of levels of public trust in political leadership, the average of public trust in the prime minister (PM) was at moderate level, visionary, clam and inspirational characteristics were at the lowest level. The minister of public health was at the lowest level, political leader’s integrity and visionary were slightly low. The implication of findings led to political policy-making about the public communication of policians.

Rethinking the Vietnam War: Vietnamese representation and the Limits of Superpower Narratives

Wang Yung Yi — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study re-examines the Vietnam War through an agent-centered analytical framework, challenging dominant Cold War historiography that positions Vietnam as a passive battleground for superpower competition. Drawing on political science, postcolonial theory, and international relations, the research integrates diplomatic archives, oral histories, and cultural memory studies to recentralize Vietnamese agency and foreground Sino-Vietnamese interactions. The analysis reveals how indigenous political movements, postcolonial state-building imperatives, and small-state survival strategies shaped the conflict's trajectory and outcomes.
Findings demonstrate that while U.S. containment policies and Sino-Soviet rivalries provided structural constraints, Vietnamese political elites, civil society actors, and ordinary citizens actively negotiated, redefined, and ultimately determined the war's meaning and legacy. The study contributes to international relations theory by advancing a decentered geopolitical framework that reconceptualizes minor states and local actors as co-architects rather than passive recipients of global order. Contemporary implications include strategic lessons for small states navigating great-power competition and methodological innovations for writing inclusive, multi-vocal histories of conflict.