Corporate Policy, Male Breadwinners, and Their Family Care in Aging Japan

A rapidly emerging set of carers are men who combine care for older relatives with employment. In Japan, a 2015 government initiative aimed at reforming work to make employment and care compatible by 2020 failed to reduce the approximately 100,000 annually quitting employment mainly due to care for older relatives. This paper aims to evaluate the initiative’s limited impact through a multilevel understanding of the roll-out of the family care policy. Stakeholder views, based on 32 interviews including with employers, the Japanese Business Federation, local care providers and NPOs, are juxtaposed with the perspectives of employed male family carers drawn from 37 qualitative in-depth narrative interviews complemented by participant observation in the Tokyo area in 2019. The ethnographic fieldwork evidences informants’ diverse engagement with care for older relatives underpinned by strongly held cultural views of care provision being a ‘private’ issue, which contrasts with government attempts to make family care a ‘social’ issue by broadening stakeholder participation. Further, corporates tend to have tacit reluctance to transform working practices to accommodate care. Thus, employed men’s devotion to work competes with the culturally embedded notion that carers should be committed to care provision. In conclusion, such a disjuncture is a major factor in the government initiative’s failure. Although cultural values and meanings in policy evaluation theories are often neglected, this research points to the significance of ongoing (re)construction of the socio-cultural notions congruent with social policy enablement.

Current Status of Cardiac Rehabilitation in the Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers in Korea

Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers (RCCs)—a Korean government initiative—seek to reduce medical gaps across regions, and their cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs are expected to model post-acute care for the Korean CR program. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the current status of CR programs in the RCCs. We distributed surveys on the CR condition, activity, and barriers to 12 RCCs in different provinces. The results revealed significant gaps in the annual number of acute myocardial infarction admissions, and CR candidates, capacity, and density across the 12 RCCs. The CR capacity (50–500) and density (0.42–7.36) indicated particularly large gaps. Twelve RCCs had the necessary facilities, equipment and personnel for CR assessments and management, with high CR referral (97%) and patient education (78%) rates. However, the inpatient CR exercise training (56%) participation rate was inadequate, with much lower enrollment (47%) and adherence (17%) rates to the outpatient CR program and large differences across centers. Therefore, this study’s results will provide the evidence required to establish special national health strategies to overcome the CR barriers of patient, doctor/hospital, and policy factors for activating Korean CR programs.

Methodology for Nexus Approach Toward Sustainable Use of Geothermal Hot Spring Resources

This study has developed a methodology for the nexus approach by integrating interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary concepts and qualitative and quantitative mixed methods into the process of the systems thinking approach. The nexus approach was institutionalized in two projects using the location specific case study of Beppu, Japan where a set of interconnected issues in using geothermal hot spring resources have emerged due to the promotion of geothermal energy development under low-carbon policies at global and national levels. The interlinkages among geothermal hot spring resources, including heat, steam, nutrients, and drainage between land and coastal systems were analyzed to improve decision- and policy-making. This study discusses (1) how different discipline-oriented methods and data are integrated, (2) how much of the targeted water-energy-food nexus systems are understood using the nexus approach, and (3) how far does the nexus approach influence changes in the policy agenda and human behavior regarding sustainable geothermal hot spring resources use. The nexus approach facilitated the sequential integration of individual methods and data to better explain the causal linkages focusing on water-energy-food resources in the human-nature systems in Beppu. The proposed policy recommendations are based on the local government initiative for continuing to conduct citizen participatory surveys on geothermal hot spring resources. Transferring the developed methodology will help to effectively develop geothermal hot spring resources and compliment the current national renewable energy and natural resource policies and management.

Analysis of the E-Government Initiative at Local Government Level in Bandung City, Indonesia

This research aims to analyze aspects affecting the implementation of electronic parking, a digital- based public services provision in parking. The concept of digital divide, workforce, regulation, and infrastructure were used to conduct the analysis. This study employed a qualitative research methodology with qualitative data collection techniques through interviews with two officers of the Parking Technical Implementation Unit (TIU) - the Department of Transportation Bandung City Government, 4 parking attendants, and 100 people as the roadside parking users. To enrich the data, observation and study documents were also conducted. The research used a descriptive analysis combined with simple descriptive quantitative data. It is evident from this study that four primary aspects hindered the implementation of the electronic-parking initiative. Those aspects are a large gap in the digital divide, low workforce quality and quantity, the absence of the proper regulations, and futile infrastructure. Adding to these four barriers, we also found other significant aspects: the investment that has not been strategically designed, the lack of leadership, and the low quality of education and marketing. All these three additional aspects also contribute to the failure in meeting the objective of the electronic parking initiative. This finding suggests that any new initiatives in public service provision, mainly using ICT, need to be well communicated and consulted with the implementing units. Furthermore, the initiative needs to be complemented with an acceptable set of policies to ensure its sustainability.

Promoting moderate Islam in a global community through the ‘English for Ulama’ programme

The rise of religious conservatism following the 1998 reformasi has altered the face of Indonesian Islam, which has historically been regarded as peaceful and inclusive, which is why the Indonesian government has advocated for moderate Islam on a regional, national and even a global scale. Using West Java as a case study, this article presents the 2019 ‘English for Ulama’ (EFU) initiative, which intends to train ulama in West Java about the concept of moderate Islam before sending them to the United Kingdom to promote moderate Islamic discourse in a global setting. This study demonstrates that the EFU programme is a strategic project that not only benefits West Javanese ulama regionally, where they may develop networks with other Muslims on a worldwide scale, but also benefits from the national development of moderate Islamic discourse. On a global scale, this programme is one of the best examples of moderate Islamic discourse diplomacy as the nature of Indonesian Islam. Furthermore, supporting moderate Islam on a worldwide scale is likely to influence Western society’s view of Islamophobia.Contribution: Although the EFU programme is a local government initiative, it has contributed to the promotion of moderate Islam at the world level and is framed as global diplomacy.

Autonomy and Community in Learning Languages Online: A Critical Autoethnography of Teaching and Learning in COVID-19 Confinement During 2020

During COVID-19 confinement in 2020, there has been a massive increase in learning languages online via a variety of apps, short courses, and as part of higher education on-campus degrees converted to online learning. This study argues that attention to the balance of autonomy and community is vital to successful language learning online. An initial exploration of recent scholarship on autonomy and community in learning languages online validates this approach to evaluating the situation. The specific phenomenon of online language teaching and learning during 2020 at the University of Melbourne is then presented as an autoethnographic case study and analyzed in the context of this research. In 2020, the author participated in online language learning experiences from several different perspectives. As Head of Languages, she led development of a new undergraduate certificate in languages in response to an Australian Federal Government initiative to offer significant subsidies for online language certificates in 2020. As a keen language learner, she enrolled in one of these certificates to study Italian. As a French lecturer, she converted Matters of Taste—French Eating Cultures, a highly interactive and sensory oriented on-campus subject for advanced French students, to online delivery. The autoethnographic work undertaken in this article aims to examine critically the author’s experiences of teaching and learning in 2020, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of learning languages online from positions of both teacher and learner. These experiences are triangulated with the academic and administrative leadership and coordination required to produce a schema that relates intentions to outcomes in this particularly challenging context. This study is intended to offer insights that may help language educators reflect on their various roles during COVID-19 confinement. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that negotiating the balance between autonomy and community is (still) the key to learning languages online during COVID-19 confinement in 2020.

TRIBAL EDUCATION IN INDIA: GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE

India is a country of multi-racial groups which is reflected by different cultures, religions, languages and racial groups. These social groups are at different levels of development. The Scheduled Tribe is one of the principle groups which have a history of discrimination. They are economically, politically and educationally backward. Right from independence Government of India has taken many progressive initiatives for the holistic developmental of the tribal. In this endeavour, the Right to Education bill 2009 was a landmark step in realizing the cherished goal of universal elementary education which will also certainly help tribal community. It is a well established fact that there is a close relationship between level of education and economic prosperity. An educated person is given more respect and than an uneducated. So receiving education is essential for every individual. Education is considered as one of the important tool for the socio-economic development of tribal. This paper attempts to highlight different constitutional safeguards and promotive schemes undertaken by the Government India for empowerment of education among tribal .

Evaluating the Economic Impact of the E-Government Project, Analytical Study on the E-Government Initiative in Syria

This study aimed to introduce the importance of implementing the e-government project in general and in Syria in particular, in addition to clarifying the economic impact on the implementation of this strategic project, and thus clarifying the necessity of the financing and directing this project. Accordingly, the study used the most important recent periodic government reports issued by the government regarding the implementation of this project. This paper relied on an analytical approach whereby the economic impact of e-government was analyzed in general, and then the same effect was studied on the Syrian side, and the study took into account the analysis of the return on the basis of value. The study showed that e-government initiatives improve labor productivity in the public sector, provide meaningful services, save costs, and achieve growth in GDP. Where the study confirmed that the application of e-government has a positive impact on the Syrian economy by studying the return, whether on the government as an implementing agency or on the citizen as a beneficiary. Syria is currently going through a transitional phase and economic progress and is striving for success. This requires re-engineering the infrastructure and managing all official bodies that deal with beneficiaries through the application of e-government in most of its institutions, and based on the results of this study, future analytical studies must be conducted. About statistical analysis to know the impact of implementing the e-government project inside the institutions on the beneficiary citizens and on the performance of employees. Accordingly, this study provides a methodology for analyzing the financial and economic benefits of projects within the e-government strategy, it can be said: This paper helps shed light on the goals of e-government and spread public awareness as a result of implementing this project and show its economic impact. Also, this study may serve the researchers as input for future research.

Determinants Influence on Green Purchase Intention among Young Consumers in University of Sri Jayewardenepura

The purpose of this study is to measure the determinants influence on green purchase intention among young consumers in University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Based on the prior studies, the study identified determinants of green purchase intention such as environmental knowledge, environmental attitude, government initiative, green advertising and price. A quantitative study was conducted to address the research objectives. The survey was done among young consumers in University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The used sample method was convenient sample collection. Primary data were gathered through a questionnaire and evaluate the questionnaire through five-point likert scale. There were 254 usable questionnaires from undergraduates of University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics 23. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis were used to evaluate the gathered data. Five hypotheses were developed to conduct this research and those were tested using Spearman’s Correlation Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis. The results of the research indicated that price has the much significant influence on green purchase intention among young consumers in Sri Lanka. Also environmental attitude and government initiative have significant influence on green purchase intention among young consumers in Sri Lanka. In contrast, environmental knowledge and green advertising have no significant influence on green purchase intention.

SOFT POWER STRATEGY OF CHINA IN 21ST CENTURY:STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Generally speaking, hard power refers to the coercion and payment through military and economic means, while soft power refers to attraction through cultural diplomacy. This paper aims to analyze how Chinese state policies are being influenced by soft power strategy of government. Further the paper focuses on four areas such as health, culture, Human Rights and Information and technology to analyze Chinese governments soft power strategy globally.The paper confines the concept of the soft powerwhich has followed four consecutive sections analyzing Chinese soft power strategies in 21st century based on government initiative during the spread of COVID 19, usage and policiesregarding television shows and movies, consideration of Human Rights and last of all strategies in controlling of Information and communication technology. The paper concludes discussing some strengths and shortcomings of Chinas soft power and suggests measures that can be taken to improve Chinas soft power practice while West has disclosed the idea of sharp power contesting Chinas authoritarian attitude towards freedom of expression and human rights as well.