Neapolis University Pafos

This paper draws on a selected case study to examine how discretionary decision-making in development control can benefit from operational guidelines so as to become more transparent, consistent and accountable. Adopting an outcomes-centred approach, it investigates a series of discretionary approvals that have permitted the development of 107 tall buildings in Limassol, Cyprus, since 2007. The study analyses the spatial characteristics of the approved developments and situates them within the broader planning and policy framework under which the permissions were granted. In the absence of a local framework regulating the exercise of discretion in development control, the assessment turns to international planning practice and adopts the framework developed in Western Australia as a reference model. The findings reveal that a combination of outdated planning policies, vague provisions, and the absence of development-control guidelines enabled a pattern of decision-making that deviated from the strategic intent of the Limassol Local Plan. The study offers broader lessons for discretionary planning systems, emphasising the need for up-to-date policy frameworks and clearly defined regulatory tools to guide discretion. It also highlights the challenges of ex post evaluation of discretionary decisions and demonstrates the effectiveness of Western Australia's guidelines in supporting informed and consistent decision-making.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping instructional processes by providing new opportunities for personalized learning and enhanced classroom support. Although its potential is widely acknowledged, further investigation is needed into K-12 teachers' attitudes and perceptions towards integrating AI applications into educational practice, as well as the factors that shape these attitudes and influence their intention to adopt such tools. Addressing these issues, the present study explores the integration of AI in education by focusing on educators' perspectives. Data from 494 educators collected via a technology acceptance model-based questionnaire, assessed attitudes, perceived usefulness (PU), ease of use, and behavioral intention. Data analysis indicates that teachers' attitudes and perceptions are significantly influenced by various demographic variables-including gender, academic qualifications, subject area, age, and teaching experience-as well as school-related factors such as institutional context and engagement with information and communication technologies (ICT). The results show generally positive attitude towards AI, but a neutral stance in terms of its ease of use, suggesting a gap between general acceptance and practical readiness. Four key predictors of teachers' intention to integrate AI into their educational practices were identified: (a) PU, (b) positive attitude, (c) perceived ease of use, and (d) ICT training. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing teachers' digital competencies and providing targeted professional development opportunities to facilitate the effective adoption of AI within the K-12 educational context.

The 2022 Russia–Ukraine war has created a new and intense energy crisis. This crisis, which followed the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to have a major impact on the economy, society, and the environment. It brought transformative change to the energy system amid crises, challenges, uncertainty, and opportunities. EU Member States were most affected because of their high dependence on Russian fossil fuels. The complexity of the energy crisis, its impacts, and the emerging energy landscape create the need for a systematic literature review that serves two objectives: capturing the existing knowledge on the impact of the energy crisis after the start of the Russia–Ukraine war and identifying future research avenues that will adequately and effectively illuminate aspects of the energy crisis. More specifically, this review compiles knowledge across three areas: the food market sector, the energy transition sector, and, lastly, the energy poverty sector. The results of this systematic review demonstrate that the energy crisis triggered by the Russia–Ukraine war has reshaped these sectors in different ways. While the crisis provided the necessary impetus for a faster transition to renewables, it also triggered significant inflationary pressure in the global food supply chain and intensified energy vulnerability for low-income populations.

ESG criteria have become central to corporate sustainability, reshaping governance, reporting, and the accounting profession. This study investigates how chartered accountants engage with ESG by combining micro-level survey evidence from Greece with macro-level bibliometric analysis of global ESG scholarship. The survey explored accountants’ knowledge, practices, and perceptions of ESG indicators, revealing significant generational differences: younger professionals reported higher familiarity and stronger implementation of ESG practices, while older respondents demonstrated more limited engagement. Training emerged as a decisive factor, with formally trained accountants applying a broader range of ESG criteria and perceiving greater strategic benefits in credibility, competitiveness, and adaptability. Complementing these insights, the bibliometric analysis of 861 articles published between 1993 and 2025 demonstrated exponential growth in ESG-related research, particularly after 2019, with sustainable development emerging as the conceptual anchor of the field. Thematic mapping highlighted climate change, decision-making, and corporate governance as central concerns, while collaborations between countries such as China, Italy, and the United States underscored global research dynamics. Overall, the study shows that accountants are increasingly positioned as gatekeepers of sustainability reporting, but their effectiveness depends on continuous training, regulatory alignment, and integration into global ESG frameworks.

This research focuses on the effects of leadership styles on the implementation of Green Human Resource Management (Green HRM) initiatives in hotels in Greece by staff members, and it recognizes the lack of sustainability research in the Mediterranean hospitality sector. Employing the Full-Range Leadership Model, we explore the impact of transformational, transactional, and passive leadership on the implementation of environmental HR practices. The data for this study were obtained from 216 employees in 29 hotels in Greece, who completed the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ-5x) and a Green HRM instrument. Several regression analyses showed that transformational leadership was the most robust positive predictor of Green HRM practices, followed by leadership outcomes and transactional leadership. On the other hand, passive leadership was significantly inversely associated with Green HRM implementation. Demographic variables, such as gender, age, and experience, had a substantial impact on both perceptions of leadership and involvement in Green HRM as well. The results offer significant theoretical implications and practical directions for improving environmental performance in hospitality organizations through the strategic use of leadership development and human resource management intervention.