International University of Batam

While English for medical purposes (EMP) is indispensable for the advancement of global healthcare, empirical investigations into its application within Indonesian medical vocational schools (MVS), which serve as a pivotal contributor to the national labor force, remain limited. In order to address this gap, the present study explores EMP within a strategically selected MVS in the Riau Islands through a mixed-methods research design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with both administrative personnel (n=2) and educators (n=3), in addition to a perception survey administered to students (n=111). The findings indicate a pronounced disjunction between policy and practice. Despite the institutional strategy emphasizing English as a tool for enhancing employability, operational deficiencies are evident, including an absence of proficiency-based student categorization and an excessive focus on passive, assessment-centered learning. The survey findings further substantiate this observation: while students indicate a degree of skill enhancement, the domain of speaking is perceived as the weakest, which corresponds with classroom observations that predominantly feature monologic presentations rather than interactive dialogues. The study concludes that without a pedagogical transition toward fostering active communication, the strategic objective of cultivating globally competent graduates is risked. Limitations of this research include its reliance on a single-institution sample. Practical implications suggest the necessity for curricular reform that emphasizes authentic, interactive tasks and the establishment of internal proficiency standards. Future research endeavors should investigate the longitudinal effects of such reforms across various MVS environments.

This study explores the implementation of the merdeka curriculum in English language teaching at a senior high school in Batam, with particular attention to teaching strategies, classroom management practices, and challenges experienced by both teachers and students. Employing a descriptive qualitative research design, data were collected through classroom observations and semi-structured interviews involving two English teachers and three students who actively participated in the learning process under the merdeka curriculum framework. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and key themes. The findings reveal that teachers employed various student-centered strategies, including language games, group discussions, presentations, and the integration of digital tools such as Kahoot and Liveworksheet to enhance student engagement. However, the effectiveness of these strategies was constrained by several factors, including diverse student proficiency levels, limited access to digital devices, unstable internet connectivity, and students’ insufficient readiness for independent learning. Classroom management also emerged as a challenge, particularly in maintaining student focus during group activities and ensuring smooth transitions between learning tasks. The study concludes that while the merdeka curriculum provides flexibility and opportunities for innovative teaching practices, its successful implementation depends on adequate teacher training, strong institutional support, and sufficient technological infrastructure. The findings imply that schools should strengthen professional development programs focusing on differentiated instruction and independent learning skills to optimize the effectiveness of the merdeka curriculum in English language learning contexts.

In the context of increasing global awareness of environmental sustainability and the growing pressure on corporations to adopt responsible business practices. This study examines the effects of CSR performance and ownership structure, specifically insider ownership and institutional ownership, on environmental innovation, while also considering the moderating effect of CEO narcissism in Indonesian listed companies. Using purposive sampling, this study focuses on firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange between 2019 and 2022 that published sustainability reports. The results show that CSR performance has a significant positive effect on environmental innovation, indicating that higher CSR engagement leads to greater environmental innovation, while insider ownership and institutional ownership have no significant direct effects on environmental innovation. In terms of moderation, CEO narcissism does not significantly moderate the relationship between CSR and environmental innovation, but it significantly moderates the relationship between ownership structure (insider and institutional ownership) and environmental innovation. Environmental innovation is primarily driven by CSR performance, whereas the influence of ownership structure depends on CEO narcissism as a key moderating factor. This study contributes to the literature by integrating CSR, ownership structure, and CEO behavioral traits in explaining environmental innovation in an emerging market context.

This study assesses the factors influencing blockchain technology acceptance among young developers in Batam, Indonesia, with a specific focus on comparing two distinct behaviors: using blockchain-based applications and engaging in blockchain development. Data were collected through a survey of 215 young developers and analyzed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The main outcomes reveal two fundamentally different adoption pathways. The intention to use blockchain applications is primarily driven by personal engagement and social influence, reflecting a "hype-driven" interest, and this intention strongly translates into actual usage behavior. Conversely, the model demonstrates a complete failure to explain development behavior, revealing a significant intention-behavior gap where the intention to develop shows no significant effect on actual development activities. The study concludes that for this demographic, hype-driven interest is sufficient for superficial application adoption but wholly inadequate for fostering development capabilities. Substantive adoption requires more than social trends; therefore, industry and educational focus should shift from promoting hype to enhancing technical literacy and demonstrating tangible use cases to bridge the gap from interest to competence.

Every existing traditional settlement contains culture-specific identity or elements that can be tangible and intangible, one of which, if integrated, is the formation of cultural landscape. According to 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development, it is essential for every state or community to safeguard their cultural heritage in achieving sustainable settlement and community while embracing modernity. This study aims to explore and unravel the key biocultural characteristics of vernacular landscape within a rural, traditional Malay settlement on Batam Island. Theoretical framework based on Nature based Solutions (NbS) and cultural landscape principles are constructed as the basis for this study. Adopting an exploratory research design, qualitative fieldwork methods were employed for real-time data collection with Kampung Melayu in Batam, Indonesia selected as the case study. Findings highlight the undocumented local ecological practices and hidden roles of certain landscape elements shaped by Batam Malay community. Direct observation of twenty dwellings’ current landscape identified six typological variants useful to implement NbS into modern landscape planning through Malay practices. Ultimately, this study provides substantial insights that not only conceptualize the vernacular landscape architecture of Batam Malay dwellings, but also expand the role of NbS in heritage preservation, in this context, preserving the Malay cultural landscape. Keywords: Batam; cultural preservation; Malay landscape; nature-based solutions; traditional settlement