Online Baseline Assessment in Mathematics: Initial Teacher Education Entry-Level Student Performance

This article describes a part of an online and technological intervention at a rural South African Higher Education Institution focused at improving the mathematical knowledge of first-year Senior Phase and Further Education Training (SP& FET) Bachelor of Education student teachers. As part of the interventions in an ICT integrated Mathematics Education and Research Centre, the student teachers were subjected to write an online baseline assessment on the content knowledge in Grade 7 mathematics, which is the first year in Senior Phase in South African Schools. A total of 193 student teachers wrote the online baseline test with 20 items in an invigilated computer laboratory environment. The test items were from the online Computer Aided Mathematics Instruction (CAMI) program which is aligned to the Grade 7 CAPS curriculum of South Africa. The data were analysed by the CAMI system and were further analysed using Microsoft Excel 2016. The result of the test showed an average performance of 38,67% (Variance: 0,66% and SD: 0,81%). This sheds light into the disturbingly limited mathematics subject content knowledge the student teachers enter the HEI with. The programme structure of the Senior Phase mathematics content module of the HEI was also analysed. The authors of this paper recommend that student teachers need to be thoroughly engaged in learning the content during their training as future mathematics teachers. This paper contributes to the ongoing research on ITE programmes at HEIs that prepare teachers for their mathematics teaching role in the senior Phase classrooms. Received: 21 September 2021 / Accepted: 11 December 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

When Brand Image, Perceived Price, and Perceived Quality Interplay in Predicting Purchase Intention: Developing a Rhombus Model

Rhombus model is a theoretical framework to measure consumers’ particular behaviour. It consists of three predictor variables that can swap places. This study employs a brand image, perceived price, and perceived quality as predictor variables, and purchase intention as a predicted variable. The study cohort was the consumers of mobile phones with a water proof feature and they were chosen using a convenient sampling technique. In total, 238 participants completed a survey. Data were analysed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to validate data and structural equation model to test hypotheses. We calculated three models with variables that exchange positions. This study provides a new option for presenting data. Received: 4 September 2021 / Accepted: 7 November 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

Development Strategy of Palu Bay Marine of Sustainable Tourism with the A'WOT Hybrid Method

Sustainable development has become one of the strategic issues in the tourism industry. Sustainability is an action that combines environmental, sociocultural, and economic concepts. The tourism industry has had good benefits on economic and social growth. Still, if it is not adequately planned and managed, it can have harmful consequences on the environment. This research aims to present a sustainable development strategy for Palu Bay Marine Tourism following a natural disaster. The A'WOT hybrid method (AHP-SWOT) was used to achieve the research objectives. The A'WOT method is a combination of a SWOT analysis and the AHP method. This research was done on Palu Bay tourism, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. This research resulted in a sustainable development strategy for Palu Bay tourism related to the diversity of products and improvement of event management, an improved image of Palu Bay tourism, improvement in the visitor management system to minimize environmental impacts, and efficient and effective promotion and branding. Received: 14 October 2021 / Accepted: 29 November 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

Mindfulness and Sustainable Consumption: Evidence from Students in Istanbul

We are consuming more resources than ever, exceeding the planet’s capacity for coming generations. This shows the important role of sustainable consumption for the planet. To understand consumption patterns mindfulness may be regarded as an indicator that helps people gain insight into their true selves, which leads them to stay away from materialistic tendencies. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore the effects of mindfulness training on the sustainable consumption perceptions of university students. In this qualitative study, a two-month mindfulness training is given and two focus group studies are conducted. Results suggest that mindfulness training has an impact on people’s perceptions related to consumption. The findings of this study can serve as proof for the transformational effect of mindfulness on people’s overall mood and subjective wellbeing. Received: 23 September 2021 / Accepted: 22 November 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

Effective Planning and Achieving the Comprehensive Development: Al Ain University as a Model

This study aimed to identify the role of effective planning in achieving sustainable development in Al Ain University, through illustrating the relation that links the integrative theoretical framework of each of the effective planning and sustainable development. The researchers applied the descriptive survey method to investigate the non-quantitative variables and analyze them through the questionnaire into measurable quantitative variables. The study population and sample comprised all the academic leaders in Al Ain University, to whom the researchers delivered (150) copies of the questionnaire. The study relied on secondary resources such as related books, studies, magazines, and periodicals. The primary resource was constructing a questionnaire related to the study subject, and based on the theoretical framework of the study as well as the previous studies. Two statistical software were used to process the obtained data namely, SPSS and AMOS, by applying the field study on the sample to analyze the correlational and causal relationships among the study variables. The results showed that there is a medium level of strategic planning in Al Ain University as seen by its Academics and that the university achieves a medium level of sustainable development as seen by the academic leaders. The results further showed statistically significant effects at (α≥0.05) level for the dimensions of effective planning in achieving sustainable development as a whole. The correlation coefficient (R) was (0.70), which is a statistically significant value that indicated a statistically significant correlation between the independent and dependent variables. Received: 11 May 2021 / Accepted: 24 November 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

A Narrative Systematic Review of the Mental Toughness Programme Offered by the National Youth Development Agency

The rapid increase of poverty, crime, and unemployment in South Africa results in youth vulnerability. Youth not in employment, not in education, and not in training are most vulnerable to life setbacks, find it difficult dealing with criticism, rejection, and failure. Thus, youth workers responsible for the coordination of youth service programme need to design an autonomy-supportive programme that can prepare youth mentally before youth are placed in a youth development programme that seeks to enhance youth employability. The National Youth Development Agency in South Africa under the National Youth Service Programme has developed a mental toughness programme curriculum that NYS volunteers undergo before participating in youth skill development programme or community service programme for a minimum of five days. The aim of the study is to explore the impact of the Mental Toughness Programme on the positive development of youth through youth lived experience in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. This study made use of a qualitative research approach, non-probability sampling to sample eight youth who participated in the Mental Toughness Programme offered by the National Youth Development Agency. In this study, we recommend that the National Youth Development Agency knowledge and research division should conduct a longitudinal study that can evaluate the impact of the Mental Toughness Programme on positive youth development in South Africa. The National Youth Development Agency should revise the mental toughness programme curriculum in a way that the programme goes beyond five days and physical toughness should be cooperated in the curriculum to enhance social cohesion. Received: 27 July 2021 / Accepted: 6 October 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

Study Abroad and Student Exchange Experiences of International Students: The Sociocultural and Psychological Racism Perspective

Malaysian students like to study abroad and experience the international exchanging programmes during their university voyage. Due to the technology and entertainment developments, South Korea is one of the popular education destinations for many international students, particularly Malaysian students. Based on the Sociocultural and Psychological-Racism perspective, this study's purpose focused on describing their challenges, academic experiences, and living experiences in South Korea. The results indicated that Chinese-Malaysian students experienced significant negative experiences, including discrimination based on their place of origin, cultural characteristics and social behaviours, and special background and status as non-traditional students. Although Malaysia and South Korea share similar East Asian practice, all participants regretted their study abroad experiences in South Korea. The findings of this study will contribute to the knowledge about the study abroad experiences of Malaysian students, overseas learning experiences, managerial developments of international students’ services, and the governmental policies for global views for the South Korean communities. Received: 6 August 2021 / Accepted: 7 October 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

Ideal Concept of Traditional Justice in Solving Criminal Case

Customary law is an unwritten rule that lives in the customary community of an area and will continue to live as long as the community still fulfils the customary law that was passed on to them from their ancestors before them. Settlement in criminal cases through customary law that produces results is a form of legal certainty. This study aims to determine the ideal concept in resolving criminal cases through customary courts in Merauke Papua. The method used in this study is a combination of normative legal research and empirical legal research with the reason that the author wants to examine the norms related to the problem of resolving customary criminal cases and seek direct information on the implementation of customary justice in Merauke Regency which is presented descriptively. recognition of customary courts must be stated in writing in the law on judicial power so that this institution has a clear legal basis and its decisions can be recognized so that it does not need to be tried again through national courts, criminal threats under five years must be resolved through customary courts and are final decisions Received: 23 August 2021 / Accepted: 25 October 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

Post-Islamism in Indonesia: Analysis of Islamic Political Party Programs in the 2019 National Elections

Although most Indonesia's population is Muslim, the Islamic parties' votes do not show a significant general election. This tendency encourages Islamic parties to develop post-Islamism to win the sympathy of majority Muslim voters in Indonesia. Ahead of the 2019 election, identity politics or sectarian politics had strengthened in the 2017 DKI Jakarta Regional Head Election, and even identity politics had long ago emerged with the proliferation of Sharia regulations in several regions, as well as the issuance of the MUI Fatwa regarding the illegitimacy of secularism, liberalism, and pluralism. This study aims to see whether Islamic parties maintain Post Islamism in political programs in the 2019 election. The research uses a library research method by collecting data from books, journals, national print, and online media. The study results explain that Islamic parties remain consistent in using the Post Islamism approach in the 2019 election, even though their vote acquisition is stagnant as a middle board party. Received: 4 September 2021 / Accepted: 15 November 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

Social Mix, A Living Together Through Public Space: Case Study

This article proposes the study of social mix evolution of through the public space. To that end, attention is focused on the “Frères Fisli” neighbourhood in Azzaba city as a case study. A social space, which, is considered as an adequate place, that promotes social mix and living together between Algerian inhabitants of different types of habitat that exist. The main objective of this article is to quantify the impact of public spaces to achieve the goal of social mix and its management, in order to promote living together. In order to carry out our survey, the study uses two survey tools: the mind map and the questionnaire. The choice of these two tools is not fortuitous. It has been studied in order to carefully check whether the constraints for the public space development are dependent on the evolution of inhabitants ‘social relations. Received: 21 September 2021 / Accepted: 15 November 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022