Achieving Peace and Development in Post – conflict sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through the Access and Participation of Girls and Women in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)

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This is a desk review-based paper intended to incite debate within education and related fields, regarding the stance that girls and women who participate in TVET are likely to increase their chances of contributing to peace and development in post-conflict societies.  Peace and development are inextricably intertwined. TVET plays an important role in the development of any nation, so its role in peace building and conflict prevention in the community can hardly be contested. On this account, the paper argues in support of the ‘notion of educating for a culture of peace through refocusing technical and vocational education and training’ programmes for the sustainable economic development of SSA; and calls on TVET institutions to do a reality check on their programmes to ensure that they are capable of delivering for girls and women the skills they need to integrate themselves in the community, and make a difference. This is important because the TVET of girls and women is essential, not only for girls and women to attain gender equality (a laudable and achievable goal!); but beyond that, to become leaders of, and contributors to, peaceful change in their countries and local communities. It is hoped that at the end of it all, this paper would have succeeded in stoking a debate on this important but often underdiscussed subject – and in the process the TVET of girls and women would have been accorded its rightful place in policy discussions in the region, and by extension, other regions of the world. The TVET system envisaged in this paper is that which is well- designed, managed and funded.  This is because a poorly- designed, managed and funded TVET system should not be expected to have the same impact on its graduates and their communities. The paper’s theoretical underpinnings are derived, to varying extents, from the Social Learning Theory, the Human Capital Theory, the Sustainable Development theory and the Capability Approach.

Development of Biological Science Learning Modules for Class VII SMPN 21 Palu

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The instructional resources employed in the educational process at SMP Negeri 21 Palu consisted of teacher’s handbooks and students’ books. Nevertheless, the efficacy of the learning process has been lacking. The students’ learning outcomes were found to be low, particularly in the field of Science, as indicated by the researchers’ observations. The results revealed that the Minimum Completeness Criteria (MCC) for Science was 65. Approximately 55% of the pupils in the class attained standard scores. The utilization of students’ textbooks necessitated the provision of explanations and a teacher’s guide. However, due to time constraints, the students’ learning process was hindered, resulting in instructors being unable to offer optimal explanations and guidance to the students. Therefore, it encompasses the development of novel instructional resources that learners may effectively utilize. One of the available options for students to utilize is the renewal of modules. Science modules have the potential to foster home-based learning among students due to the inclusion of supplementary resources, such as student guides, that facilitate the study of the module content.

The Effectiveness of Social Media as a Marketing and Promotion Tool to Increase Consumer Purchase Intention in the Food and Beverage Industry Burger Garage Jakarta

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This study develops a new social media strategy for Burger Garage.

Three years have passed since the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the market for Food and Beverage has been changing. This study will help Burger Garage develop its Social Media Strategy to reach its yearly target. Burger Garage has been active in its social media but has yet to reach its full potential. This is due to an underdeveloped marketing channel that needs a clear plan to succeed.

This study analyzes their social Media using external and internal studies. External analysis uses 5 Porter analysis and competitor analysis, while internal analysis will explore using the capabilities of the study. The research also used questionnaires to understand the customers; it targeted Burger Garage customers and gathered 200 respondents to give their thoughts on their marketing strategy, social media promos, and their activities in social media. This research included in-depth interviews and observation with Burger Garage owner. To conclude, this paper analyzes Burger Garage’s business approach and suggests improving its marketing and social media to succeed in the Food and Beverage market.

Drivers of Customers Advocacy in Support of Subscription-based Digital Entertainment Services (NETFLIX)

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Subscription business models are increasingly gaining attention in recent year, especially entertainment services such as music subscription, streaming TV/movies and video games. One of the service platform that comes to mind is Netflix, a subscription-based video streaming service. Video on demand streaming service currently competing each other quite aggresively where these provider competing by providing different series that exclusively only available on their services or with different versatile pricing package in hope to attract new subscribers while retaining it’s existing subscribers. This call for new strategy for Netflix to maintain it’s position in competition. This research examines the relationship between customer empowerment values and customer advocacy in relation to a digital platform subscription-based consumption. A quantitative approach was employed by conducting a survey of 110 user of Netflix in Indonesia. Data collected was subsequently analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in order to test the formulated hypothesis. The research resulted in an understanding that value-for-choice, value-for-knowledge and value-for-involvement are significant predictors of customer advocacy of the platform. The findings suggest that Customer advocacy is primarily influenced by the level of product choice and convenience also reliable information and privacy security also constitute important elements for providers to deliver in order to promote advocacy behavior from customers using the platform.

Philosophy is Lucid, Not for Thinkers Alone, Adopts Practical Ethics, Makes Better Individuals, and Helps Tolerate Uncertainties: An Incisive Review of Bertrand Russell’s ‘Philosophy for Laymen’

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Philosophy has always had two different objects: to arrive at a theoretical understanding of the structure of the world; and to discover and disseminate the best possible way of an ethical life. Some philosophers have left no stone unturned so as to make their philosophical ideas quite accessible for a cosmopolitan audience, no matter whether they are called common people or laypeople; young or old. One of them is Russell who proves philosophy should no longer be confined to decorate the discussion tables at academic establishments and within the research university settings. It is not full of high sounding words, lengthy sentences and Jargon which can only be made out by intellectuals. It is no unattainable arcadia for commonality nor is it a serious discipline of study because it is strictly institutionalized. Bertrand Russell, a multi-faceted genius, has turned the table and dispelled the illusions and delusions and spilled the beans that philosophy is for everyone, as everyone is compared to a builder by HW Long Fellow in his poem, The Builders. The poet says that people need to be careful in spending their time on good things as what they do now affects their lives and others lives later. So they should use their time and thoughts to make their lives more meaningful. Here they build their lives, it may be individual, but individual contributions ultimately become collective contributions as personal ethics become interpersonal ethics and personal discipline leads to interpersonal discipline.

Physical Analysis of Rosella Flower, Beetroot, and Red Fruit for Sausage Colorant

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This study aims to determine the physical analysis of rosella flower, beetroot, and red fruit for sausage colorant based on pH, EC, TDS, and Color L*a*b*. The material used is rosella flower, beetroot, and red fruit which has been dissolved. The method used in this research is experimental laboratory using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 5 treatments and 4 replications. The concentration used in red fruit and beetroot is 1% (P1), 3% (P2), 5% (P3), 7% (P4), 9% (P5) and ponceau red 0.1% (P1), 0.2% (P2), 0.3% (P3), 0.4% (P4), 0.5% (P5). Parameters observed were pH, EC, TDS, and Color. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). If the data showed a significant difference, continued with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The average pH value is 6.73-7.14 on rosella flower, 5.34-5.67 on beetroot, 6.40-6.77 on red fruit; EC value is 2.23-3.13 on rosella flower, 2.40-3.03 on beetroot, 2.65-3.79 on red fruit; TDS value is 66.50-73.00 on rosella flower, 68.25-74.25 on beetroot, 61.50-65.75 on red fruit; Color L* 17.54-18.48; a* 5.26-6.01; b* 0.67-1.06 on rosella flower, L* 36.34-38.08; a* 12.55-15.51; b* 2.68-3.32 on beetroot, L* 18.35-20.17; a* 6.47-10.81; b* 1.71-2.64 on red fruit. The results showed that rosella flower, beetroot, and red fruit had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the pH, EC, TDS, and color. But the beetroot colorant is the closest to the commercial sausage color on brand x.

The Effect of Fear of Missing Out on Buying and Post-Purchasing Behaviour toward Indonesia’s Generation Z Online Shoppers (Case study: E-Commerce Indonesia)

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Some things related to a person’s behaviour and preferences will be linked to his behaviour as a consumer. Technological improvements in this era, such as the internet and social media spread, have become an addiction and formed an understanding that social life is needed. However, unfortunately, what is produced on social media does not all have good results. One of them is the phenomenon of FoMO or Fear of Missing Out. This study aims to get a picture of Consumer Buying and Post-Purchase Behaviour, which in this case is Generation Z shoppers on E-Commerce, as the impact of the FoMO phenomenon. This study uses 14 variables in it, namely social self-efficacy, consumer susceptibility to interpersonal influence, social media addiction, social media self-control failure, novelty seeking, self-esteem, FoMO, the theory of planned behaviour, purchase intention, buying behaviour, and post-purchasing behaviour.  The methodology is quantitative research, with the analysis method used being PLS-SEM with SmartPLS 4.0. Data analysis shows that all indicators and variables are valid and reliable. The prediction accuracy of the existing models is also good. Based on the survey data, most respondents feel that FoMO has affected their lives, with a score of 5-6 on a Likert scale of 6, indicating a high effect. Also, based on the analyzed data from questionnaire responses, four paths have the most substantial influence, buying behaviour towards post-purchasing behaviour, fear of missing out on subjective norms, purchase intention on buying behavior, and consumer susceptibility to interpersonal influence on FoMO.

Welfare Packages and Staff Performance in Polytechnics in Anambra State South East, Nigeria

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 The study examined welfare packages and staff’s performance in selected polytechnics in Anambra state, Nigeria. It identified the types of employee welfare packages that are being enjoyed by staff of the polytechnics, it explored into the relationship between welfare package and staff’s performance, and  determined ways in which adequate employee welfare can enhance the performance of  staff of the selected polytechnics in Anambra state. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The study was guided by three research questions. The population of the study consisted of 1,600 Academic and Non-teaching (non-academic) staff of Anambra state Polytechnics Mgbakwu, Federal Polytechnics Oko, Grundvig Polytechnics Oba.  A sample size of 280 was obtained from the population using Borg and Gall’s formula. Data was collected from primary and secondary sources. A questionnaire structured on 5point Likert scale was used for data collection. The data collected was analyzed using percentage count, frequency and mean based on data related to the research questions and the Pearson Correlation. The results of the study showed that the employee welfare packages enjoyed by the staff of the selected polytechnics in Anambra state are Educational promotion programmes, Capacity building Programmes and Subsidized transport fare. The study revealed that adequate employee welfare packages could enhance staff performance by promoting staff job commitment and satisfaction as well as enhance productivity and efficiency in the utilization of resources. The study recommended that there should be continuous provisions for staff welfare packages such that could be so motivating to increase work morale and increase employees’ work efficiency among staff of Polytechnics in Anambra state.

Credit Risk Research on Chinese Real Estate Enterprises Based on Modified KMV Model

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This paper first analyses the current situation of credit risk in China’s real estate industry, and then compares the traditional and modern credit risk measurement models. On this basis, the KMV model is selected, and the artificial intelligence model Genetic Algorithm (GA) and GARCH model are introduced to improve the accuracy of the KMV model. Secondly, the annual financial data and stock trading data of 24 real estate listed companies for 2018 – 2022 are selected for empirical research. By analyzing the total default distance of the 24 companies and the actual economic development of China, it is proved that the results of the GA-GARCH-KMV model are 8% more correct than the classical KMV model, which indicates that the model has better applicability.

Antecedents Affecting Behavioral Intention Involving UTAUT Variables, Internet Shopping Anxiety, Herd Behaviour and Covid-19 Fear (Empirical Study on Online shopping Users in Bandung City)

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This study aims to measure the influence of behavioral intention involving UTAUT variables, Online Shopping Anxiety, Herd Behavior, and COVID-19 Pandemic Fear on online shopping users in the city of Bandung. The research method employed is quantitative, used to test the cause-and-effect relationships among variables that form the structural equation model. This is done using empirical data collected through a survey with a five-point Likert scale for 23 questionnaire items. The indicators of each variable obtained from the survey data were tested for validity and reliability. The data was collected from 331 respondents who are online shopping users in the city of Bandung. The collected data were analyzed using SmartPLS 3.2.9 software. The results of this study show that Performance Expectancy has a positive influence on Behavioral Intention, Facilitating Conditions have a positive influence on Behavioral Intention, Internet Shopping Anxiety has a negative influence on Behavioral Intention, Imitating Others has a positive influence on Behavioral Intention, Discounting One’s Own Information has a positive influence on Behavioral Intention. Moreover, COVID-19 Fear has a negative influence on Imitating Others, and COVID-19 Fear has a positive influence on Discounting One’s Own Information.