The Role of Traditional Pottery Production in Sustainable Community Development in Uganda: (A Case Study of the Ankole Sub-Region)

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Traditional pottery production is a significant but not broadly researched area in sustainable community development in Uganda, especially in rural areas where the economy is generally based on the crafts industry. This study aimed at the investigating socio-economic, cultural, and environmental impacts of traditional pottery production in sustainable community development in the Ankole Sub-Region, Western Uganda. The study was guided by the sustainable livelihood framework and the perspectives of culture-based development. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional case study design. This study used a sample size of 20 respondents, comprising 8 master potters, 4 long-term traders, 2 elders, 4 clay extractors, and 2 transporters. The researcher used a multistage sampling technique in areas with concentrated, accessible pottery activity in the Ankole sub-region. Semi-structured interviews and observations, together with structured interviews, were employed in data collection. Thematic data analysis, as described by Braun and Clarke (2006), was employed in analyzing the qualitative data, while descriptive statistics summarized the basic livelihood and production data.

The findings showed that traditional pottery-making is an important economic activity for diversifying income and minimize poverty level by empowering women economically, passing on skills to the next generation, preserving cultural identity, heritage, and improve community ties through working together, and helping the development of the circular economy through the availability of local resources such as clay and organic matter for firing, and the simple technology for pottery-making.

However, the sustainability of the traditional pottery is also limited by factors such as less access to the market, insufficient production facilities and modern kilns, reduced access to suitable clay materials, health risks from inhaling smoke and dust, and less institutional backing for the value steam. These findings also confirm previous evidence suggesting that pottery production results in employment and alleviates poverty in Ankole, while also emphasizing environmental and technical concerns related to production methods. The study concludes that enhancing pottery value steams through technological innovations, collaborative marketing strategies, heritage tourism partnerships, and targeted support from local government can promote sustainable community development outcomes aligned with Uganda’s national development goals and the increasing recognition of crafts within Uganda’s creative economy.

ESP Students’ Perceptions of the Use of Technological Devices in Assessing English Listening Skills

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Nowadays, technology plays an increasingly vital role in language education. Recently, more and more educators and researchers have explored how technological devices can support the assessment of English listening skills. This study, therefore, aims to explore students’ perceptions of the use of technological devices in the assessment of listening skills in an ESP course, namely ‘English for Logistics’. More specifically, the research was conducted at Ho Chi Minh City College of Transport with the participation of 80 second-year ESP students majoring in Logistics. A mixed-methods research design was employed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data through the employment of a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and content analysis were used. The findings revealed that the main purposes of using technological devices in assessing English listening skills include enhancing students’ listening skills and giving feedback to students via formative assessment. Besides, most students had positive perceptions of the use of technological devices in assessing listening skills in the course of English for Logistics, such as having convenience, increasing interest, saving time, and giving immediate feedback. In addition, the findings showed that distraction, anxiety, security, and technical problems were several major challenges of using technological devices in English listening.

Developing EFL Students’ Communicative Performance Through Experiential Cross-Cultural Interaction with International Tourists: A Mixed-Methods Study at TSES English Club

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The disconnect between formal language instruction and real-world communicative competence remains a core challenge in global EFL education. This convergent mixed-methods study examines an innovative experiential learning model at the TSES English Club in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where university students practise their English skills via structured, authentic interactions with international tourists in public spaces. The quantitative data, collected over an 18-week intervention period, comprised pre/post-test scores of 11 students assessed using a 100-point rubric, alongside student post-intervention perception surveys from 71 students and 7 expert facilitators. The qualitative data, gathered via semi-structured interviews with 3 facilitators and 5 students, underwent reflexive thematic analysis and were supplemented by ethnographic observation. Findings reveal significant practical communication score gains (t(10)=24.06, p<.001, d=7.25), indicating an extremely large effect. Post-intervention surveys indicated over 77% of students improved across all criteria. Thematic analysis revealed three primary catalysts: authentic communicative pressure, intrinsic motivation from meaningful cross-cultural exchange, and peer scaffolding with emotional support. Three principal barriers emerged: accent-triggered anxiety, cultural and pragmatic misunderstandings, and environmental noise. The study theoretically operationalises experiential learning and intercultural competence frameworks within this non-institutional, tourism-driven context. Practically, it offers ten evidence-based, actionable recommendations to maximise pedagogical impact for language clubs.

Factors Influencing the Quality of Cultural Tourism Experiences: Integrating Don Ca Tai Tu and Cai Luong Performing Arts in the Mekong Delta

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This article presents a conceptual framework and research protocol for investigating the factors that influence the quality of cultural tourism experiences associated with Đờn ca tài tử (Southern Vietnamese folk music) and Cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Recognised by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013, Đờn ca tài tử embodies the cultural soul of Southern Vietnam. Despite its heritage significance and the growing global shift toward experience-based tourism, the integration of these traditional performing arts into tourism offerings remains underdeveloped and empirically understudied. This article addresses three critical research gaps: the absence of an integrated theoretical framework combining Experience Economy Theory, Authenticity Theory, Co-creation Theory, Memorable Tourism Experience (MTE), and the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model; the lack of quantitative studies employing structural equation modelling in this context; and the scarcity of comprehensive research on cultural tourism experiences tied to these art forms in the Mekong Delta. The proposed research employs an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, combining qualitative interviews with artisans, managers, and tourists, followed by a quantitative survey of 400-500 respondents analysed using PLS-SEM. This article contributes to the theoretical advancement of cultural heritage tourism research and offers practical implications for sustainable tourism development in the Mekong Delta.

Service Quality, Citizen Satisfaction, and Citizen Participation: Evidence from Independent (PBPU) Members of Indonesia’s National Health Insurance Program

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Universal health coverage schemes in developing countries face a recurring sustainability problem: keeping voluntarily enrolled members active once they have joined. This study investigates how the five dimensions of service quality proposed in the SERVQUAL framework, namely tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy, shape the satisfaction of independent participants (Pekerja Bukan Penerima Upah/PBPU) of Indonesia’s Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) programme administered by BPJS Kesehatan, and whether this satisfaction subsequently drives citizen participation. Data were obtained from 180 PBPU participants who had used BPJS Kesehatan services at least twice, selected through purposive sampling, and analyzed with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS. All five service-quality dimensions were found to exert a significant positive effect on citizen satisfaction, with responsiveness and empathy showing the strongest influence, while citizen satisfaction in turn had a strong positive effect on citizen participation and fully mediated the link between each service-quality dimension and participatory behavior. The measurement model satisfied established criteria for convergent and discriminant validity, and the structural model showed adequate explanatory and predictive relevance. The findings extend the SERVQUAL framework and expectation confirmation theory into the domain of participatory behavior and provide BPJS Kesehatan with practical direction for strengthening service delivery to sustain long-term member engagement.

Validation and Reliability of the Questionnaire for Assessing the Effectiveness of The Reverse Whole Brain Model

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The use of appropriate teaching methods for students in the classroom is a challenge. The effectiveness of teaching is determined by what methods the teacher uses when teaching. Reverse Whole Brain Model is the result of Sianipar’s thinking in his article in 2025. Sianipar states that the Whole Brain Model has the necessary things for Aphasia students (Sianipar, 2025). The research method is quantitative, using questionnaires as a measurement tool to determine the effectiveness of the Reverse Whole Brain Model. Questionnaires were created by researchers using the Theory of Effective Instruction from Slavin (1994). The data analysis technique is Aiken’s V to test the validity of experts who have assessed existing instruments. The calculated r value of all statement items has a value above 0.304. The calculation of sig. (2-Tailed) of all items has a value of 0.000, which is smaller than 0.05. All items in the questionnaire meet the requirements to be declared valid and suitable for use as a data collection tool. In terms of the validity test, it is greater than 0.60. All items have a value not far from 0.989. From the calculation of this reliability test, it can be concluded that all statement items in the questionnaire are declared reliable to be used.

Job Demands, Resources, Occupational Burnout, And Individual Work Performance Among Commune-Level Civil Servants: Evidence from Gia Lai, Vietnam

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The operation of Vietnam’s two-tier local government system, comprising the provincial and commune levels, has heightened the requirements placed upon commune-level civil servants in relation to initiative, coordination, digital casework, and accountability for outputs. This study examines the associations among personal resources, the work environment, job demands, new-task demands, occupational burnout, and individual work performance. Data were collected in 2026 from 563 non-managerial professional civil servants working at commune level in Gia Lai Province. The scales were assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and covariance-based structural equation modelling in SPSS and AMOS; indirect effects were evaluated using 5,000 bootstrap resamples. The model demonstrated a good fit to the data (χ²/df=1.280; CFI=0.978; TLI=0.976; RMSEA=0.022; SRMR=0.034) and explained 42.6% of the variance in occupational burnout and 59.3% of the variance in individual work performance. Job demands and new-task demands were positively associated with burnout, whereas burnout was negatively associated with work performance. Implementation competence exhibited the strongest direct association with performance, followed by digital adaptability and public service motivation. Although the work environment did not demonstrate a sufficiently robust direct association with performance, it contributed to lower burnout. Both indirect paths, JD→BO→IWP and DQ→BO→IWP, were statistically significant. The findings indicate that strengthening administrative performance at commune level requires an integrated approach combining competence development, work design, digital support, and the prevention of sustained occupational depletion.

Factors Regulating Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Efficiency in Legume Crops: Mechanisms, Environmental Constraints, and Future Perspectives

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Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is a fundamental biological process that enhances legume productivity while reducing dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. However, its efficiency varies considerably across production systems because it is regulated by complex interactions among plant genetics, rhizobial compatibility, physiological processes, environmental conditions, and agronomic management. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the mechanisms regulating SNF and critically examines the biological, environmental, and management factors that determine its effectiveness. The review integrates evidence from the literature on the molecular basis of legume–rhizobium symbiosis, physiological regulation of nitrogen fixation, the influence of soil properties, nutrient availability, climatic stresses, and agronomic practices, and evaluates emerging technologies and future research directions. The synthesis demonstrates that SNF performance is inherently context-dependent and cannot be optimized through a single intervention. Instead, successful nitrogen fixation requires coordinated management of host genotype, rhizobial inoculants, soil fertility, water availability, and crop management while accounting for local environmental conditions. The review also identifies important knowledge gaps, including limited long-term field validation, insufficient integration of multidisciplinary approaches, and challenges in translating emerging genomic, microbial, and precision agriculture technologies into practical farming systems. Overall, this review emphasizes that integrated, site-specific management combined with continued advances in biofertilizer development and multidisciplinary research is essential for maximizing SNF efficiency, reducing reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, and supporting sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural production.

Organic vs. Inorganic Fertilizers: A Review on Sustainable Mung Bean Production under Kabul Semi‑Arid Conditions

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Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) is a short‑duration legume of high nutritional and agronomic importance, particularly suited to semi‑arid regions such as Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite its potential, mung bean productivity in Afghanistan remains below global averages, constrained by poor soil fertility, limited varietal development, and inadequate crop management practices. This review synthesizes Kabul University research and global literature, focusing on the comparative impacts of organic and inorganic fertilizer practices on mung bean yield attributes. Organic fertilizers such as farmyard manure, compost, and humic‑acid enriched biomass enhance soil structure, microbial activity, and long‑term fertility, whereas inorganic fertilizers supply rapid nutrient availability but risk soil degradation if used exclusively. Evidence from Kabul trials demonstrated that humic‑acid enriched organic fertilizer (OF2) produced superior plant height, grain number per pod, seed yield, and biological yield compared to NPK and control treatments, underscoring its relevance for semi‑arid Kabul conditions. Integrated nutrient management (INM), combining organic and inorganic inputs, offers synergistic benefits by balancing productivity with sustainability. However, adoption in Afghanistan is constrained by economic limitations, weak extension services, and limited varietal testing. This review concludes that INM represents the most sustainable pathway for mung bean cultivation in Kabul’s semi‑arid environment, while highlighting research gaps in varietal response, soil fertility restoration, and farmer adoption strategies.

Effects of Irrigation Intervals on the Growth and Yield of Flax under Kabul Climate Conditions

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Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is an important oilseed and fiber crop with significant economic value. Efficient irrigation management is essential for improving crop productivity under the semi-arid conditions of Kabul, where water resources are limited. However, information on the optimum irrigation interval for flax production in this region is scarce.

This field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kabul University, during the spring season of 2025.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation intervals (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 days) on the growth and yield of flax, Badakhshee variety. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments and three replications across two sites.

Data were recorded on plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, 1000-grain weight (g) and total yield per hectare. The results showed that irrigation intervals significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected all measured parameters. The highest plant height (68.67 cm), number of pods per plant (189), and grain yield (1856.67Kg ha⁻¹) were obtained under the 12-day irrigation interval, which increased yield by approximately (27.87%) compared to the 20-day interval. In contrast, the lowest values for most traits were recorded under the 20-day irrigation interval.

These findings indicate that irrigation every 12 days provides optimal moisture conditions for flax growth under Kabul agro-climatic conditions. Therefore, this interval is recommended for maximizing yield while ensuring efficient water use.