This hermeneutic phenomenological study delved into the lived experiences of school heads in the Department of Education, Region IX, Philippines, as they navigated the dual imperatives of instructional leadership and school administration. Framed by the MATATAG Agenda and the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH), this research addressed a gap in understanding the personal, emotional, and meaning-making aspects of educational leadership in the Philippine context, using a hermeneutic-phenomenological research design. Through in-depth interviews with 7 school heads from DepEd Region IX, the study uncovered the essence of their leadership as a dynamic, often tense, process of orchestrating harmony. Three constitutive themes emerged: (1) The Duality of Role and Identity: A Constant Tug-of-War; (2) The Moral Compass: Navigating Pressures Through Foundational Values; and (3) The Hermeneutics of Policy: Translating Abstract Directives into Lived Reality. The findings revealed that effective leadership transcended mere compliance with standards; it was an interpretive, value-laden practice that created coherence and fostered growth in the face of systemic challenges. Recommendations were offered for refining policy, developing leadership development programs, and conducting future research.
This article examines how African news media construct Donald Trump’s leadership during the first year of his renewed presidency (20 January 2025–20 January 2026). Drawing on a qualitative, multi-site design, the study analyzes a multilingual corpus of nine African outlets using a two-track framework that combines discursive scenography and narrative regime analysis. The findings identify six recurrent scenographies—Executive Mediation, Sovereign Restoration, Conditional Supervision, Strategic Deterrence, Institutional Negotiation, and Ambivalent Disruption—and six narrative regimes, including Escalation–Resolution and Security–Protection. Results show that leadership legitimacy is stabilized when enunciative centrality aligns with coherent narrative closure and becomes conditional when monitoring and uncertain aftermath dominate follow-up coverage. The study concludes that African media do not passively reproduce Western frames but actively recontextualize global leadership within mineral geopolitics, sovereignty concerns, and security priorities. By articulating scenography and narrative regime, the article advances a transferable framework for analyzing mediated legitimacy in multipolar communication environments.
This study examines the implementation of work-from-home (WFH) arrangements in Indonesian immigration public service delivery through the lens of street-level bureaucracy. The study is situated within the 2026 policy context, in which WFH was introduced as a crisis-responsive governance measure to reduce mobility, support energy efficiency, and maintain public-sector productivity amid global energy uncertainty. Using a qualitative descriptive-analytical approach, this study combines document analysis of national and sectoral WFH regulations with non-participant observation of frontline immigration service practices in five Immigration Offices in Jabodetabek. The findings show that WFH in immigration services cannot be applied uniformly because immigration work combines administrative service, legal authority, identity verification, public interaction, and state security functions. Remote work is suitable for administrative and document-based tasks, while biometric capture, passport interviews, detention management, immigration checkpoints, and enforcement functions require physical presence. The study concludes that WFH should be governed as a controlled hybrid mechanism supported by task classification, digital supervision, data protection, output-based accountability, and service-continuity safeguards.
Climbing the academic ladder poses substantial challenges for many of the academicians in the Tanzanian higher learning institutions. Yet, research on promotion barriers remains scarce. Using Bourdieu’s Capital Theory, this qualitative case study aims to explore the barriers that impede academic staff promotion in Tanzanian higher learning institutions. Using purposive sampling, data were collected via in-depth interviews, document reviews, and observations. The findings show multiple, interlocking constraints. Heavy teaching and postgraduate supervision drain time capital and reduce research productivity and networking. Resource shortages and poor infrastructure reflect limited economic capital and restrict access to research tools and support. Lengthy, opaque promotion procedures and repeated re review of work already published in reputable journals undermine symbolic capital. Low intrinsic motivation points to gaps in embodied cultural capital and a misaligned habitus. Through Bourdieu’s lens, these dynamics block the conversion of time and funds into publications, recognition, and collaborative networks, hindering staff advancement. Policy recommendations: protect dedicated research time; allocate research funds more equitably; upgrade physical and digital infrastructure; accept publications from preapproved reputable journals without redundant re review. Future research should quantify these effects across more institutions and examine staff perceptions of repeated re review and its impact on morale, timelines, and career progression.
The continuous growth of coastal populations increases the complexity of social and economic problems in fishing communities, particularly related to dependency on patron-client relationships. This study aims to analyze the pattern of dependency in patron-client relations within the fishing community of Dawi-dawi Subdistrict, Pomalaa District, Kolaka Regency. The research uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. Informants were selected purposively, consisting of fishermen as clients, fish dealers as patrons, and community leaders. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, and then analyzed through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing with triangulation techniques to ensure data validity. The results of the study show that patron-client relations are formed due to unequal access to capital, markets, and means of production. Fishermen’s dependency is reinforced through debt mechanisms, obligations to sell catches below market price, and informal socio-economic support from patrons. In the context of fluctuating income due to uncertain seasons and weather, patronage functions as an informal social safety net that fills the gap in access to formal financial institutions. However, this relationship also reproduces structural inequalities that limit the economic independence of fishermen. This study affirms that patron-client relations are not only an adaptive strategy but also a social structure that has the potential to hinder the empowerment of coastal communities. Therefore, strengthening formal institutions and community-based empowerment strategies are needed to reduce dependency and promote the independence of fishermen.
This paper assessed the nature and strategies used for revenue knowledge development to support the management of public revenue mobilization (PRM) in Pallisa District, Uganda. A descriptive case study design, which was purely qualitative, was adopted, with a diverse mix of study participants. Data was collected using an in-depth interview guide, a key informant interview guide, a focus group discussion guide, and a document review guide. Findings revealed the existence of both informal sources of revenue knowledge (conversations, vendor networks, or families and formal sources of revenue knowledge (books, magazines, brochures), and the existence of the Taxpayer Registration Expansion Program (TREP) arrangement between Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), and Local Governments (LGs). The study concluded that building the capacity of the technical (revenue) officers, political leaders and the business community to obtain, refine and utilize revenue-related knowledge/information; ensure that technical (revenue) officers undertake sensitization efforts through training, meetings, ‘barazas’, and workshops to enlighten and provide revenue information pertinent to the business community and the Government of Uganda ensure that the Taxpayer Registration Expansion Program (TREP) arrangement between URA, URSB, KCCA, and LGs is strengthened and mandates harmonized to promote cooperation, coordination and implementation would support the management of the public revenue mobilization in Pallisa district and Uganda.
The primary objective of this study is to analyze the tendency of educated youth in Bangladesh to disengage from agriculture and the underlying factors contributing to it. Data were collected from scientific journals, published research papers, and reports from government and non-government organizations. The study was conducted using a qualitative, survey-based approach with thematic analysis. Data were coded into thematic categories, and interrelationships among themes were examined to develop an integrated interpretation. The study covers the period 2015-2026 within the context of Bangladesh. Primary data were obtained from participants, complemented by secondary data, to evaluate the perceptions of educated youth towards agriculture. Findings indicate that disengagement from agriculture among educated youth is multi-dimensional, influenced by social, cultural, financial, structural, technological, and policy-related factors. The education system is predominantly non-agricultural and oriented toward government and private-sector jobs, making agriculture appear risky, low-status, and physically demanding. Land distribution, technological limitations, financial uncertainty, urban migration, and gender-based social barriers further affect participation. Therefore, integrated policy measures, including curriculum modernization, technology-driven agricultural expansion, financial security, and positive shifts in social perceptions, are essential to re-engage educated youth in agriculture.
The present article investigates the life, political contributions, and historical significance of Khnata Bint Bakkar, a prominent female figure in Moroccan history. The study addresses the problem of women’s historical underrepresentation in political narratives and examines how Khnata Bint Bakkar navigated and exercised agency within a male-dominated political sphere. Based on a qualitative research approach, the study employs content analysis of the documentary episode on Khnata Bint Bakkar from the series Ten Women from History (2M, Morocco) and corroborates the documentary’s accounts with secondary historical sources. The research objectives are to identify her political and diplomatic roles, assess her influence on decision-making and governance, and analyze her mentorship of successive rulers. Findings reveal that Khnata Bint Bakkar played multifaceted roles, namely advisor, diplomat, military manager, and mentor, all of which contributed to the consolidation and stability of the Moroccan kingdom during the reigns of Sultan Moulay Ismail, Sultan Moulay Abdellah, and Sultan Sidi Mohamed. Moreover, her later withdrawal from politics did not diminish her legacy, as she continued to impact society through humanitarian work and religious practice. The study highlights her strategic acumen and leadership, demonstrating the critical role of women in Moroccan political history. These findings have implications for historiography as they emphasize the importance of recognizing women’s agency and contributions in shaping political and social structures.
Gender-based agrarian inequality remains a structural constraint that limits women farmers’ access to resources and recognition of their labor, particularly among landless women. This study examines how landless women farmers understand agrarian exclusion and develop resistance within unequal rural agrarian structures. Using a critical qualitative approach with an ethnographic–narrative case study design, the research involved ten landless women engaged in agricultural and rural livelihood activities. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, document analysis, and thematic analysis. The findings show that the absence of formal land ownership does not negate women’s agency. Instead, women interpret agrarian inequality as a structural issue and respond through contextual, everyday resistance practices. These include strategic management of agrarian labor, mobilization of community-based social capital, use of local knowledge, and the rearticulation of identity from invisible farm laborers to household livelihood managers. This study contributes to feminist agrarian scholarship by foregrounding women’s agency and challenges dominant narratives that frame landless women farmers as merely passive and vulnerable, underscoring the need for gender-responsive agrarian and rural development policies.
The digitalisation of public financial management in Indonesia has progressed through the development of integrated financial information systems, including the Sistem Aplikasi Keuangan Tingkat Instansi (SAKTI) at the work-unit level. This article analyses the implementation of SAKTI at the Immigration Polytechnic as part of public financial management reform through e-government. The study aims to examine how SAKTI is implemented in financial management practices, identify technological and organisational challenges affecting its effectiveness, and formulate strategic measures to strengthen its contribution to efficiency, transparency, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making. This study employed a qualitative single case study approach using semi-structured interviews and document analysis. The DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model was used as an analytical framework to organise findings related to system quality, information quality, service quality, system use, user satisfaction, and net benefits. The findings indicate that SAKTI has improved the integration, standardisation, traceability, and auditability of financial transactions. However, the implementation still faces socio-technical challenges, including unstable internet connectivity, system slowdowns during peak workload periods, limited continuous training, uneven digital literacy, and the need for more responsive technical support. The study suggests that SAKTI implementation should be strengthened through improved technical infrastructure, tiered and continuous capacity-building, responsive support mechanisms, stronger leadership commitment, and more strategic use of financial data for institutional decision-making.
This qualitative research aims to obtain data on the meaning of prayer for young Catholic religious of the Congregation of Blessed Virgin Mary of Amersfoort of Samarinda Province. The data collected included three things that were formulated in three questions as research instruments. First, what kind of prayer atmosphere is experienced? Second, what are the benefits of prayer? Third, what are the fruits of prayer experienced? The three questions became research instruments used to collect data using the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) method. The data were analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) theoretical framework. An important finding of this study is that the dominant atmosphere of prayer is silence, calm, full of gratitude, and close to God. The benefits of prayer are felt as a blessed experience to relate, communicate, and be with God. Prayer is also felt as a graceful experience that is very helpful for processing personal struggles and affirming steps in living life in fulfilling vocations and missions as a religious. The fruits of prayer include deeper self-knowledge, the experience of being loved by God, the experience of being supported by God's grace, the spiritual support of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the spirit of life renewal, and experiencing the figure of God as a Father who treats longing for a male figure or a father.
Climate governance in rural Zimbabwe confronts multifaceted challenges as communities grapple with intensifying climate impacts, namely irregular rainfall and extended droughts, each of which undermines livelihood security, agricultural output, and food availability. This paper examines the synergies between IKS and state climate policies in the Mutoko District, illuminating the transfer of indigenous wisdom across agricultural planning, ceremonial observances, and adaptive practices. The paper employed an exploratory qualitative framework anchored in participatory inquiry and grounded theory. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews, focus group dialogues, and key informant interviews with a diverse sample of farmers, elders, traditional leaders, and extension officers. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze data, and the findings established that traditions such as rainmaking ceremonies and the veneration of ancestors cultivate social unity and validate the authority of indigenous governance, while youth-led collectives increasingly intertwine traditional ecological wisdom with mobile and digital media, generating hybrid frameworks that elevate adaptive capacity. The analysis therefore articulates that an authentically inclusive climate governance framework in Zimbabwe necessitates the formal legitimization of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, the establishment of deliberative platforms that facilitate co-learning, and sustained, directed investments in educational initiatives that ensure cultural and technical continuity across generations. The research concludes that addressing epistemic divisiveness and integrating participatory, culturally relevant governance procedures in semi-arid rural areas is essential for enhancing resilience and supporting the communities impacted.
This paper aims to describe the digitalization in Educative system in Côte d’Ivoire according to the Education 4.0 paradigm to promote digital appropriation and build social resilience in a challenging context. Through a multisite ethnography case study in Côte d’Ivoire, a West African country, observation, interviews, and focus groups were used to collect data from a convenience sample of 20 participants (students, educators, parents, administrators) settled in 3 cities of the country. Based on Education 4.0 lenses, findings underlined the benefits and challenges of techno-pedagogy and technology integration according to Educative institutions' capacities in terms of Competencies, Learning methods, Information and communication technologies (ICT) categories, and Infrastructure levels. Moreover, participants show the integration of 21st century learning as an approach to support digital as a tool of educative resilience. As recommendations, an educative system approach including techno-pedagogy and 21st century pedagogy is a strategic approach for an effective educative system in Côte d’ Ivoire in this changing world, according to SDGs and internationalization of education trends.
Immigration control at key ports of entry, such as Durban Harbour, does not occur in isolation; it is shaped by how well government agencies communicate, coordinate, and cooperate in practice. The researchers examined the dynamics of stakeholder management and inter-agency cooperation in the implementation of immigration policies at one of South Africa’s busiest harbours. Using a qualitative case study design, in-depth interviews were conducted with senior officials from the South African Police Service (SAPS) to explore how stakeholder relationships influence policy execution. Although formal arrangements, such as Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and the Local Seaport Core Command (LSCC), are in place, the findings reveal persistent institutional silos, weak enforcement of collaborative frameworks, and limited accountability mechanisms. Agencies were found to prioritise internal organisational objectives over collective action, undermining the effectiveness of immigration policy enforcement. The researchers call for a national framework to strengthen inter-agency coordination and establish clearer operational roles for enhanced national security. The research contribution lies in offering empirical insights into how cooperation, or the lack thereof, shapes immigration governance, with broader implications for public management and stakeholder theory in complex, multi-actor environments.
The graduate dissertation is a crucial milestone in academic studies, serving as a definitive demonstration of a student's research maturity. However, recent research reveals that many graduate students face significant challenges during the writing process. Drawing from the personal experiences of two supervisors from Tanzania and the Philippines, each with years of experience in higher education, this study provides essential, experience-driven tips to help post-graduate students navigate this complex endeavor. The study synthesizes systematic observations of recurring challenges, misconceptions, and struggles that students encounter across diverse academic disciplines. It offers practical guidance on key aspects, including familiarization with institutional guidelines, strategic topic selection, effective proposal writing, coherent data presentation, analysis, discussion of findings, and proper citation and referencing. By following the tips outlined in this study, post-graduate students can enhance their chances of producing high-quality work that meets institutional standards and showcases their academic abilities, ultimately improving their success during the dissertation writing process. This research addresses a critical gap in existing literature and suggests that future studies should explore the applicability of these strategies in various institutional contexts.
Despite having a high tax rate, tobacco products in Bangladesh are purchasable at lower prices due to tax evasion and avoidance compared to the rest of the world. Therefore, this study intends to explore the ways of tobacco tax evasion and challenges within the current tax system to prevent tax evasion in Bangladesh. A qualitative approach has been adopted, involving 30 in-depth interviews with retailers and 10 key informant interviews with key stakeholders. While conducting IDIs, tobacco products were also observed to identify tax-evaded products. Secondary data was gathered from relevant reports and journal articles. These were analyzed employing a thematic analysis approach. The study reveals that tax evasion in Bangladesh primarily occurs through the use of counterfeit tax stamps, illicit trade, fraudulent financial reporting, and illegal production. It also highlights the misuse of the tax tier system and the weak enforcement and monitoring system as key challenges of the current tax system in Bangladesh. These findings underscore the importance of a centralized digital monitoring system using tools such as digital tax stamps or QR codes and scanners to detect tax information to enhance tobacco tax compliance and prevent tax evasion in Bangladesh.
Technological advancements have ushered in significant changes in the way activities are carried out across the world, including within the research domain. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly being applied to support a range of research tasks, such as data analysis. This has received both enthusiasm and skepticism. The purpose of this scoping review was to explore the benefits and drawbacks of using AI tools in analysing psychological qualitative data to establish if there is a balance between efficiency and human originality. Eight studies formed the sample, as there is limited research that utilised AI tools in analysing qualitative psychological data. Findings show that AI tools have the potential to make data analysis accurate, efficient, and scalable, improving behaviour prediction and giving nuanced and objective analysis. On the other hand, it was noted that these tools may perpetuate inherent biases, raise some ethical concerns, lack transparency, and may generate misinformation. To create a balance between efficiency and human originality, cognisance must be given to the fact that these tools must not come as a substitute for traditional qualitative analysis of psychological data, but must be used in a hybrid form of approach. Of importance, training data for these tools should always be updated to avoid bias and possible violation of human rights.
Many studies have identified the relationship between corruption and the socio-economic life of society. Generally, the results of research indicate that corruption is detrimental to the economy and society. Corruption can create burdens for society, companies, and the government. Therefore, the impact of corruption is calculated as a state loss. Corruption in the form of embezzlement occurs frequently in both the public and private sectors. Bribery and extortion are common in the public sector. Several studies related to corruption have identified the effects of corruption on social and economic life. Other studies have identified the implementation of corruption in the public and private sectors. This study will discuss the law enforcement of corruption. It identified decisions of law enforcement at the Supreme Court, specifically regarding corruption in the forestry sector. This study used content analysis to identify Supreme Court decision documents. The results indicate that a significant amount of corruption results from illegal land transfer and forest land ownership. The content analysis indicated that the Supreme Court's judicial system, particularly regarding corruption in the forestry sector, is quite fair. However, further analysis is needed regarding the sentences given to the defendants to decrease corruption.
This study examines protest dynamics in Indonesia from 2014 to 2024, analyzing patterns of collective action across five distinct actor categories: political parties, societal groups, labor unions, civil society organizations, and students. Drawing on comprehensive protest data from the Indonesian National Police, we identify key temporal patterns, triggering events, and actor-specific mobilization trends. Our findings reveal three significant protest waves (2014, 2016-2017, and 2020) corresponding to electoral cycles, economic reforms, and contentious legislation. Analysis demonstrates that different actor groups respond to distinct mobilizing factors: political parties to electoral opportunities, labor unions to economic reforms, students to democratic concerns, and civil society to governance issues. The study contributes to social movement theory by providing empirical evidence of how political opportunity structures, resource mobilization, and frame alignment manifest in an emerging democratic context. These findings enhance understanding of contentious politics in Indonesia and offer insights into the evolving nature of democratic participation in Southeast Asia.
The study explored the benefits of the online learning approach as a new setup of teaching modality. Specifically, it examined the benefits as experienced by the students. Qualitative in-depth interviews were utilized in this study, and purposive sampling was used to select the participants. The participants were students invited from one of the universities in the Philippines. Thematic analysis was employed to extract themes from the transcribed interviews of the participants. The study revealed six themes: Self-Directed Learning, Breaking the Culture of Being a Dependent Learner, Online Learning Broadens Academic Horizons, Online Learning Improves Academic Performance, Online Learning Offers Students the Accessibility of Time, and Opportunity to Pursue a Degree from Home. The findings suggest that this new setup of teaching should be adopted by all universities to cater to the needs of students who are unable to attend school due to certain circumstances and who wish to complete their college degrees.
