The paper examines the influence of intellectual capital and board idiosyncrasies on Islamic banks’ profitability in nine Asian countries over the period 2018 to 2022. We use the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) and Prais-Winsten panel corrected standard errors to estimate the baseline and interaction models. Additionally, the Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation approaches were used to address endogeneity concerns. To verify the consistency of results, we also employ alternative variable measurements for estimation. Further, the three-way interaction analysis was performed to investigate if Islamic banks with high intellectual capital, board independence, and foreign directors would be more profitable than other Islamic banks. To enhance clarity, the interactions are also visually depicted through two-way and three-way interaction plots. The results indicate that intellectual capital enhances Islamic banks’ profitability. We also document that independent directors strengthen the influence of intellectual capital on Islamic banks profitability, such that Islamic banks with independent directors and intellectual capital have higher profitability. Furthermore, we find that foreign directors strengthen the influence of intellectual capital on Islamic banks profitability, implying that Islamic banks with foreign directors and intellectual capital have higher profitability. Finally, the three-way interaction results suggest that profitability will be further enhanced when Islamic banks with intellectual capital induct both independent and foreign directors on the board. The study provides several insights for improving the strategic governance and profitability of Islamic banks in Asian countries through focused interventions by senior management and policymakers. The research also contributes to the literature by exploring the complex nexus between intellectual capital, board idiosyncrasies and Asian Islamic banks’ profitability using the two-way and three-way interaction approaches.
Given the diverse missions of nonprofit organizations (NPOs), which result in varied organizational structures that influence governance approaches, this study serves as a crucial first step in examining the organizational dynamics and governance structures of Yemeni NPOs operating in crisis contexts. Specifically, it investigates the relationships between NPO age, board size, board performance, and organizational performance. Additionally, the study introduces organizational scope as a moderating variable to assess how operational focus—single versus multiple domains—shapes governance outcomes. Using a multi-level analytical framework and data from 287 Yemeni NPOs, the study employs regression analysis to test six hypotheses. The results reveal that NPO age positively influences board size, which in turn enhances board performance and overall organizational effectiveness. Organizational scope significantly moderates these relationships, with multi-domain NPOs benefiting more from larger and high-performing boards than single-domain NPOs. These findings remain consistent across robustness tests. The study contributes to nonprofit governance literature by integrating contingency theory and providing empirical evidence from a crisis context. It also offers practical insights for policymakers and practitioners, emphasizing the need for adaptive governance structures to enhance NPO resilience and performance in resource-constrained settings. This research advances understanding of governance dynamics in crisis contexts and highlights the importance of aligning governance structures with organizational scope to optimize outcomes.
This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of research on student social entrepreneurship, focusing on trends, key themes, and collaborative networks. Using 84 Scopus-indexed articles published between 2009 and 2024, the analysis maps the intellectual landscape of the field and highlights influential themes such as “social entrepreneurship value,” “entrepreneurship education,” and “educational innovation.” Findings reveal a shift from conceptual discussions to more applied topics, reflecting the field’s response to evolving educational practices and societal needs. Co-authorship and institutional networks indicate strong research hubs in Malaysia, China, and the United Kingdom, with evidence of growing international collaboration. The study offers insights into the structure and evolution of this field, identifies gaps for future research, and provides practical implications for higher education institutions seeking to strengthen programs that cultivate socially responsible entrepreneurs. This study also aligns with global development priorities by contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), as student social entrepreneurship serves as a pathway for fostering socially responsible, inclusive, and innovation‑driven competencies. This study advances theoretical understanding by clarifying how educational innovation, social support, and intention‑based constructs collectively shape the intellectual architecture of student social entrepreneurship. Methodologically, the study contributes a transparent and replicable bibliometric design grounded in Scopus‑indexed data and supported by established analytical tools, enabling a rigorous mapping of thematic evolution and collaborative networks. Practically, the findings offer actionable insights for higher education institutions and policymakers by highlighting pedagogical, structural, and ecosystemic elements that strengthen student engagement in socially oriented entrepreneurial activity.
This study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) of 406 peer-reviewed studies on sustainability in higher education published between 2014 and 2025. Guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework and the PICo criteria, this review identifies thematic patterns, institutional enablers, and barriers shaping sustainability integration. Data were manually screened and thematically coded using a structured extraction template. The findings reveal a conceptually active yet uneven field, with curriculum and pedagogy dominating discourse, while leadership, policy coherence, transformative learning, and global citizenship are less examined. Barriers such as institutional inertia and fragmented policies persist, but enabling factors, including digital agility, collaborative governance, and community partnerships, are attracting attention. Resilience and climate change education remain underexplored, indicating a gap between institutional strategies and sustainability goals. This review contributes by (i) identifying critical under-researched areas, (ii) refining a keyword framework to guide future inquiry, and (iii) introducing the Sustainability in Higher Education (SHE) Institutional Maturity Matrix (SHE-IMM), a conceptual model categorising institutions into foundational, transitional, and transformative stages of sustainability integration. The review received no external funding, and the authors declare there are no competing interests.
This paper examines how the disaggregated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) pillars influence bank financial performance (FP) in the ASEAN-5 region through the mediating role of bank risk-taking (BRT). It aims to clarify whether ESG activities serve as risk-disciplining mechanisms that improve market-based performance outcomes, addressing the empirical ambiguity surrounding ESG-FP linkages in emerging banking systems. The analysis uses dynamic panel data of 62 listed banks across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand from 2015 to 2024. To control for endogeneity and unobserved heterogeneity, the study applies the Windmeijer-corrected two-step System Generalized Method of Moments (SYS-GMM) estimator, complemented with Least Squares Dummy Variable Corrected (LSDVC) estimation for bias correction. Mediation is tested using the Baron and Kenny (1986) procedural framework. Results show heterogeneous mediation patterns across ESG pillars. The Environmental pillar exhibits no significant direct or indirect impact on FP, indicating its weak financial materiality in ASEAN banking. The Social pillar provides marginal but consistent evidence of full mediation through BRT, where improved stakeholder relations and community engagement appear to reduce risk-taking and enhance performance indirectly. The Governance pillar exhibits partial mediation, suggesting that board quality and compliance controls influence FP both directly and through risk moderation. These results position BRT as an important behavioural channel linking ESG discipline to financial outcomes. This study is among the first to employ dynamic panel estimators to test the mediating role of BRT in the ESG-FP nexus for ASEAN banks. It contributes to sustainable finance literature by reframing ESG integration as a risk-discipline mechanism rather than a mere compliance tool. The findings offer practical insights for regulators, compliance officers, and bank executives seeking to embed ESG metrics within prudential supervision, credit risk models, and governance frameworks.
