Advances in Social Sciences and Management

Route or Root?: Towards the Creation of the Third Space in Imbolo Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers

Yvonne Iden Kana Ngwa — 2025-12-09

In the the present global context, the international flow of human beings from one nation to another in search of greener pastures has attained unprecedented proportions. And both creative writers and literary critics have respectively captured this reality and critiqued it in their works over time, highlighting the contours of this phenomenon that is characterised by ambivalence. Communities and individuals succumb to the flux of change, yet they feel the need to militate for cultural preservation. This paper attempts to investigate immigrants’ predicament as they are torn between the home and host countries in Imbolo Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers. The paper hinges on the hypothetical premise that Mbue’s migrant characters in Behold the Dreamers create a Third Space as a route of escape from the tensions they experience as they are torn between the changes brought about by globalisation, and the desire to remain rooted in their culture. Postcolonial theory is handy as the frame of analysis of Mbue’s novel as it sheds light on characters’ dilemma and these characters’ efforts at creating the Third Space through negotiation, subversion, transgression and resistance. Mbue’s choice to make her characters come back to Cameroon as heterotopia is evidence that the characters’ dystopic perception of Cameroon is corrected, a suggestion that the millions of Cameroonians in the diaspora and those that are still leaving the country today to find an utopia elsewhere can come back home, or stay home, and create their eldorado here.

The Effectiveness of Fermi Problem-Based Learning on Improving Communication Skills among United Arab Emirates Cycle Two Students

Adwan Mohammad Hasan Bani-Hamad — 2025-12-16

Communication skills are necessary for students to empower them in facing new global challenges. Thus, this study employed Fermi Problem-based Learning to improve communication skills in teaching Science among the Cycle Two students in United Arab Emirates. It also examined the effectiveness of this strategy between grade 7 and grade 8 students. This study used quasi-experiment design. The instrument for research was pre and post-test using Communication Skills which was prepared by the researcher. The participants purposively selected according to a certain criterion, then divided for the experimental group, consisting of 15 grade seven and eight students, from Ramah Primary and Secondary School, they were taught Science units using the Fermi Problem-Solving method for 6-weeks, Whereas the control group consisted of 15 grade seven and eight students who were taught the same science units using traditional methods. The data were analysed using the Two Way ANCOVA to determine the effectiveness of the strategy on improving their communication skills and to determine the variation in the effectiveness of the strategy between grade 7 and grade 8 students. The findings revealed the effectiveness of the Fermi problem based learning strategy in developing the communication skills in teaching Science among the United Arab Emirates Cycle Two students. The findings also demonstrated that there were no significant differences in the effectiveness of the strategy amongst grade 7 and grade 8 students. Thus, Fermi Problem-Based learning is considered an effective strategy in teaching Science and in improving students’ communication skills and suitable for all Cycle Two students. In addition, this strategy can help teachers to integrate Fermi Problem-Solving into their teaching practice in order to achieve the objective of teaching science in the 21^st century.

The NCAA and Antitrust: Guardians of Amateurism to Guarantors of Continued Chaos? Part II: The NCAA, Antitrust, and Reform

Richard J. Hunter — 2025-12-19

This article is Part II of a comprehensive study of NCAA. Part I addresses issues relating to the organization, structure, finances, enforcement powers, and history of the NCAA. Part II focuses on legal issues as the NCAA interfaces with antitrust law in such areas an NIL rights, revenue sharing, eligibility, and other issues. The article also analyzes several proposals for major reforms of the NCAA that have been introduced in the United States Congress in a closing commentary on “NCAA at a Crossroads.”

The NCAA and Antitrust: Guardians of Amateurism to Guarantors of Continued Chaos? Part I: A Focus on the NCAA

Richard J. Hunter — 2025-12-19

The NCAA is a massive organization, employing around 3,165 individuals, with about 500 working at its national office in Indianapolis. Since its founding in 1906 in response to the crisis in American football, the power of the NCAA over college athletics, largely based upon the principle of amateurism, had been unchecked. That is, until universities and athletes began to “fight back,” arguing that NCAA policies denied them the right to receive compensation for broadcast rights, or for the use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL), or for a share of the massive revenues generated by college sports. This article is Part I of a comprehensive study of the history, organization and membership, enforcement powers, and revenues of the NCAA. Part II analyzes several major cases decided on the basis of the relationship between NCAA policies and antitrust law in such areas an NIL rights, revenue sharing and other issues. The article also analyzes several proposals for major reforms of the NCAA in a closing comment on “NCAA at a Crossroads.”

Impact of Student Leaders’ Participation in School Management Meeting Programs on Learners’ Discipline in Public and Private Secondary Schools in Machakos Sub-County, Kenya

Rose Mueni Luti-Mallei — 2025-12-19

The paper focused on student leaders’ participation in school management forums as an effective policy of student leaders’ integration in school governance. In-depth involvement of student leaders in school management meetings is a valuable link between the students’ body and the school management. It is a worthwhile chance for the student leaders to interact and share with the school Management their perspectives and concerns on academic and discipline issues in the school. Utilization of the information gathered during management forums by both the student leaders and the school management in decision making translates to impressive learning environment, learners’ discipline and academic performance. The study was carried out in Machakos sub-county, Machakos County, Kenya. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of student leaders’ participation in school management forums on learners’ discipline in public and private secondary schools in Machakos sub county. The study was guided by two objectives; to establish the status of student leaders’ participation in school management meetings and establish the impact on learners’ discipline. The study embraced a descriptive survey design. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling were employed to get a representative Sample size. Data were collected using questionnaires for the students and teachers and interview schedules for the deputy principals, principals, Board of Management (BoM) chairpersons, and directors of private schools. Further, relevant documents were scrutinized for triangulation of the information provided by the sampled respondents. The data collected was processed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21. The statistics were tabulated and subjected to regression analysis using ANOVA and coefficient models.

The study established student leaders’ participation in school management meeting programs as a golden chance for student leaders to interact with the school management as they express views and suggestions on school routine, rules and regulations. Action on gathered information created a peaceful school environment suitable for mentoring learners. The result was improved learners’ discipline. In contrast, student leaders who did not actively and openly interact with the school management missed an opportunity to gather information and share the students’ body thoughts and hence did not identify the real feeling of the school managers for integration and action. The outcome was emergence of misconceptions resulting to unwarranted behavior among the learners. The study concluded that participation of student leaders in school management meetings was significantly higher at (p) 0.003 than student leaders not participating in school management meetings programs (p) 0.047. Hence the null hypothesis was rejected. The study recommended that school principals and the school Board of Management should organize frequent interactive forums with the student leaders to gather relevant information on various issues in the school, hence ensure informed decisions.

Social Capital and Sustainable Graduate Employment in Vietnam’s Digital Economy: Evidence from Trade Union University

Dang Xuan Giap — 2025-12-19

The rapid expansion of the digital economy is reshaping labour markets in Vietnam, creating new employment opportunities while intensifying competition and deepening inequalities in school-to-work transitions. Although employment rates among graduates of the Trade Union University exceed 96% in both 2022 and 2023, substantial challenges persist regarding job-major mismatch, modest early-career income, and uneven labour-market outcomes across academic disciplines. Drawing on classical and contemporary social-capital theory, this study investigates how four forms of social capital-bonding, bridging, linking, and digital-shape sustainable employment outcomes, defined as employment attainment, job-major fit, and career stability. Using a mixed-methods design, qualitative interviews were conducted to refine constructs and contextual mechanisms, followed by quantitative analysis based on a large-scale graduate survey. Descriptive results from institutional datasets reveal high employment attainment but low alignment between academic training and job roles, as well as income clustering in low-to-middle wage bands. These patterns suggest that immediate employment may be driven by bonding networks, while sustainable, high-quality employment may depend on bridging and linking capital. Digital social capital emerges as an increasingly relevant resource, though its impact appears contingent on broader offline networks. The study contributes a multidimensional conceptual framework and proposes testable pathways through which social capital influences employment quality in a digitalising labour market. Implications for theory, higher education institutions, employers, and policymakers are discussed, highlighting the need to strengthen diverse social networks to promote equitable and sustainable graduate employment in Vietnam.

The Place of Europe in the Global Political Economy: The Perspective of Evolutionary Political Economy

Hardy Hanappi — 2025-12-16

This is an ugly paper. It does not cover a well-defined problem area and it ignores all conventional rules usually prescribed to make a text an easy reading. The only excuse for this is that its topic - Europe - is in an ugly situation too. In most papers the goal to be reached is kept at a modest level, if it is mentioned at all. The goal of this paper is rather all-embracing: It starts by distinguishing the two old enemies: the racist vision of society and the humanist vision of society. So, before bringing Europe into focus the paper unveils its ground colour - humanism. To determine this starting point the text already has to stretch out into many transdisciplinary directions. Then Europe’s immediate past - which events brought it into its current situation? - is interpreted. The interpretation does not pretend that it can disentangle facts from speculative issues - no interpretation can, another ugly fact. But it tries hard to make sense. The following largest part of the paper works with metaphors to bring home an idea of the dangers Europeans are currently confronted with: Skylla and Charybdis. A wide variety of themes are touched upon. In the last chapter, the unavoidable feeling that the free-wheeling arguments and metaphors left too many open ends is to be healed by an explicit return to pragmatics: What should we do? And this - finally - is the necessary root of the ugliness of this paper: It was written years before the dust of theoretical and pragmatic battles was set to let a better hindsight get ground.

The Effect of Sales Promotion on Customers Loyalty: A Case Study of the Hayat Market in Mogadishu, Somalia

Samira Ahmed Ibrahim — 2025-12-13

This study uses the Hayat Market in Mogadishu, Somalia, as a case study to investigate the impact of sales promotion on customer loyalty. The study examines the effects of three important aspects of sales promotion—tools, frequency, and quality—on consumers' long-term loyalty and repeat purchase behavior. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from 109 respondents as part of a quantitative research strategy. Cronbach's Alpha, Composite Reliability, and AVE reliability and validity tests verified that every construct satisfied recognized statistical thresholds. The proposed correlations were tested using structural equation modelling, or PLS-SEM. The results show that the model has significant predictive potential, explaining 77.4% of the variance in customer loyalty. Customer loyalty was most strongly and significantly impacted by sales promotion frequency (β = 0.446, p < 0.001), followed by sales promotion tools (β = 0.307, p = 0.001). The effect of sales promotion quality was positive but not statistically significant (β = 0.187, p = 0.055). These findings imply that while sales quality supports—but does not independently drive—customer retention, consistent and appealing promotional activities are crucial in fostering loyalty. According to the study's findings, increasing consumer loyalty in cutthroat retail settings requires consistent promotional involvement and a variety of marketing tactics. The study highlights the significance of strategic promotion planning to improve customer retention and market success, offering retail managers in Mogadishu and comparable markets useful insights.

Violence, Poverty and the Global Security Dilemma in the Sahel Region

Orhan Göktepe — 2025-12-13

The Sahel region, stretching from Senegal to Sudan, is caught in a spiral of chronic poverty, ethnic and religious tensions, and pervasive armed violence, despite its vast reserves of oil, gold, uranium, and other natural resources. The interests of Western states and multinational corporations in these resources intersect with local dynamics, helping to sustain conflict. This study aims to analyse, within a theoretical framework, how climate change, rapid population growth, rural–urban inequalities, failed state structures and governance crises generate instability in the Sahel. It employs a qualitative approach based on recent academic literature, reports of international organisations and policy documents. Findings indicate that oil, gold and uranium revenues in peripheral areas beyond effective state control finance jihadist organisations and local militias. Western actors’ exploitative interventions further entrench this chaotic environment. Violence and humanitarian crises in the Sahel undermine the stability of neighbouring countries, fuelling irregular migration and terrorism. In conclusion, it is argued that poverty and conflict in the region are driven less by internal dynamics than by the interest-driven manipulation of external actors, and that comprehensive, security-and-development-oriented support from the UN and AU is urgently needed.

The Contribution of ADR Schemes in Ghana’s Adjudicating Landscape

Appiah Dwomoh — 2025-12-09

Alternative Dispute Resolution has become an integral part of the adjudication landscape in Ghana, reconfiguring the scope of the justice delivery system in Ghana and bringing it into the fold of best practice at the international level. Globally, ADR is known for advancing timely, cost-effective, and relationship-saving alternatives for disputants outside the courts. Ghana’s adoption of ADR has been influenced by both international influences through the instruments of UNCITRAL and the New York Convention, as well as customary traditions that are based on principles of consensus in community dispute resolution. At the regional level, a culture of ADR has been promoted through ECOWAS and continental initiatives as an instrument of peacebuilding and commerce. Ghana domesticated these ideals through the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 798), and through the Judicial Service’s Court Connected ADR programme, which began as a pilot in 2005 and expanded thereafter. Concomitantly, these initiatives have yielded measurable dividends: court referrals to mediation and arbitration have reduced trial times for many civil and commercial matters; customary arbitration continues to resolve land and family disputes at the community level. A number of arbitrations involving state and corporate actors have revealed both the promise and fiscal risk associated with arbitration. While successes have been recorded relative to case diversion and user satisfaction, Ghana’s ADR ecology remains beset with challenges relating to consistency in enforcement, public awareness, and mediator capacity. Improved training, public education, investment in ADR institutions, and streamlined enforcement are recommended to consolidate ADR’s role in justice delivery and national development.

The Smallpox Plague in Tumuku-Kom, North West Region of Cameroon, 1941-1942

Linda Ankiambom — 2025-12-09

During the British colonial rule in Cameroon, the British colonial authority implemented various policies and programs aimed at modernizing this part of their mandate’s infrastructure, economy and healthcare system. Tropical diseases in general and smallpox in particular were significant public health concerns in Africa during the early 20^th century, with outbreaks experienced in several parts of the continent. The smallpox disease was a highly infectious disease with a high mortality rate, particularly among populations with limited access to modern healthcare services and vaccinations. The Kom kingdom, a tribe found in the North west Region of Cameroon was not exempted from this epidermic. The people of Kom were subject to British colonial rule and was influenced by Western culture, education and healthcare practices. The struggle to treat and eradicate this this deadly ailment became a collective effort by both the local and colonial administration within the study time frame. It is based on this backdrop that this study examines the outbreak of the smallpox plague in Kom from 1941 to 1942. This research explores the historical context of the outbreak, the impact on the local population and the responses of the local and the colonial authorities. Through archival research and oral testimonies, this study sheds light on the experience of the Kom people during this period and highlights the significance of the outbreak in the context of Cameroon historiography. This research equally provides valuable insights into the experiences of African communities during a period of significant social, economic and political change.

Community Colleges and the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement

Carol White — 2025-11-24

This study examines the practices of U.S. community (two-year) colleges earning the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement. Community colleges are not widely represented in the Elective Classification. In keeping with each state’s charge of workforce and economic development and training, community colleges focus on teaching as compared to four-year universities conducting research. Using thematic analysis, the study found four themes across the 26 colleges earning the prestigious designation from 2006-2024. The study documents the practices of institutionalized service-learning and community engagement at community colleges achieving the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement and interprets the findings through a conceptual framework of Institutional Logics focusing on Bureaucratic/State and Market Logics as key obstacles to expanded participation by the colleges. A much-needed future research agenda on service-learning and community engagement within the two-year college sector is proposed framed in Institutional Logics.

Culture as a Backdrop to Language: Idioms and Mindset

A. Hovhannisyan — 2025-11-25

Idioms are the unpredictable elements of language, often confusing both speakers and linguists. They are expressions whose meanings go beyond the literal definitions of their individual words, making them tricky to understand and use correctly. Defined as fixed groups of words with a special, often figurative meaning, idioms are treated as single linguistic units. They are stable in form, regularly reproduced in speech or writing, and cannot usually be altered without losing their meaning. The richness of a language also becomes palpable when we take a close look at the idioms, since idioms are first and foremost associated with cultural mindset. It’s a well acknowledged fact that idioms frequently reference shared cultural practices, historical events, or beliefs that may not be immediately recognizable outside that culture. The relationship between idioms and culture is profound, as idioms often carry embedded cultural values. They offer insight into the values and worldview of a particular culture, and thus studying idioms is essential for understanding not just language, but the cultural context from which it originates. Translating idioms can feel like solving a puzzle, but with pieces from different places and languages. Idioms are tricky because they don’t always make sense when you translate them directly. They often have hidden meanings or funny cultural references that don’t work in another language. The paper reports research findings, from cross-cultural study of food idioms through the lens of translation. The paper also seeks to underline the pivotal role of translator as mediators between the two different cultures.

Migration and Border Management System in Ghana: The Contribution of Ghana Immigration Service

Appiah Dwomoh — 2025-11-24

Migration and border management remain central to Ghana’s national security, human mobility, and development discourse. As a key institution mandated to regulate and facilitate migration, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) plays a critical role in safeguarding territorial integrity while promoting lawful and humane mobility. This paper examines the evolving relationship between migration governance and border management in Ghana, focusing on the contribution of the GIS within the broader national and regional migration architecture. Drawing on recent policy developments, including the GIS Strategic Plan (2023–2029), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development’s (ICMPD) Strengthening Border Security in Ghana Project (2023), and the 2021 Population and Housing Census Thematic Report on Migration, the paper analyses the institutional, legal, and operational frameworks that shape border management. It identifies persistent challenges such as porous borders, resource constraints, and coordination gaps among agencies, and proposes reforms anchored in technology, inter-agency collaboration, and regional cooperation. The study concludes that strengthening migration governance and border management requires not only enhanced GIS capacity but also integrated policy frameworks aligned with ECOWAS and AU protocols on mobility and security.

Factors Influencing Persistence Toward Graduation of Generation Z African American Male Students in Higher Education

Sharendra L. Evans-McClendon — 2025-11-19

This study explored the lived experiences of first-generation African American male Generation Z students and the factors that influenced their persistence toward graduation at two southern colleges. Using a qualitative research design grounded in Tinto’s student integration theory, the study sought to understand how pre-college characteristics, institutional experiences, and academic and social integration shaped the educational journeys of these students. Eighteen participants were interviewed, offering rich narratives that revealed both challenges and sources of resilience. Key themes that emerged included the importance of family expectations, financial and academic support, mentorship, a strong sense of belonging, and teacher-student interactions. Participants also emphasized the role of technology as a critical tool for academic success and connection. The findings indicated that institutional agents such as faculty, staff, and support services played a vital role in fostering persistence by creating affirming environments and addressing students’ academic, financial, and emotional needs. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on student persistence by centering the voices of a historically marginalized group whose educational outcomes are often overlooked. The results have implications for higher education policy, institutional practice, and future research aimed at improving retention and graduation rates among first-generation African American male students.

Identity Construction in the Digital Age: The Impact of Social Media on American Cultural Dynamics

Anne Nathalie Jouvencia Agossi Aguessy — 2025-11-17

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have significantly influenced identity formation and cultural change in the United States. This study examines the role of these platforms in shaping personal and collective identities, particularly among adolescents and adults. It also explores their contribution to social movements such as ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Me Too’. The research investigates the impact of social media on American youth culture, consumer behavior, and political engagement. Data were collected through content analysis and interviews, focusing on user self-presentation and its influence on social and cultural experiences. The findings suggest that while social media enables self-expression, it also creates pressures to conform to idealized identities. This study highlights the complex relationship between identity construction and the cultural influence of social media, providing insights into its broader implications for American society.

Responsibility to Protect, with the Example of Kosovo Case

Arfi — 2025-11-12

The purpose of this article is to to provide insights into the complexities of international law, diplomacy where R2P plays an important role in responding to many international crises such as war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. The reason of writing this article is to emphasize the role of R2P which is to allow the individual to explore many critical humanitarian issues and contribute to discussions on protecting vulnerable populations. This article helps every individual to understand the role of R2P that is an interdisciplinary topic that includes fields such as political science, sociology, ethics, and history and that is why offers many opportunities for scholarly inquiry, research and theoretical analysis contributing to academic understanding and knowledge production. This concept contributes by making efforts to promote awareness and support for the principle among civil society, organizations, and the general public. The article has an importance because by raising the awareness of R2P and its implications everyone can contribute to efforts to prevent mass atrocities and promote human rights globally. The methods that are used for wrıtıng this article are many resources from internet such as online books, journals, newspapers and official websites.

A Study on the Effectiveness of English Drama Acquisition in Middle School Classrooms from the Perspective of English Glocalization: A Case Study of a Bilingual Patriotic Education Club Course

Yujie Su — 2025-11-09

In the process of globalization, English remains an international language, while the international status and influence of Chinese are also increasing with the enhancement of China's economic strength. Strong bilingual proficiency in Chinese and English plays a crucial role in telling China's stories well and effectively communicating China's voice. From the perspective of English glocalization and based on the teaching practice of a bilingual patriotic education club course, this study adopts a combination of classroom tests and questionnaires to explore the acquisition effectiveness of English dramas based on Chinese myths and idioms in middle school classrooms. The research finds that the teaching of English dramas based on Chinese myths and idioms has achieved significant results in middle school classrooms. During the process of rehearsing and performing English dramas, students need to continuously practice pronunciation, intonation, grammar, and other language knowledge, thereby improving their English oral expression and listening comprehension skills, i.e., enhancing their language ability. Presenting traditional Chinese myths and idioms through the form of English drama not only allows students to learn English but also deepens their understanding and identification with excellent traditional Chinese culture, enhancing their national pride and cultural confidence. English drama teaching involves multiple aspects, such as teamwork, role-playing, emotional expression, etc., all of which help to improve students' comprehensive qualities and abilities. The combination of excellent traditional Chinese culture with modern English learning can stimulate students' interest and enthusiasm for learning, making them more actively participate in English learning.

Impact of Foreign Financial Inflows on Economic Growth of Tanzania

Mohammed Salim Ahmed — 2025-11-06

This study analyses dynamic relationships between foreign financial inflows specifically external debt and foreign aid with economic growth in Tanzania from 1990 to 2024 using Granger causality, Johansen cointegration tests, and a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The unidirectional causality of economic growth to foreign aid according to the Granger causality test indicates that GDP growth enhances the ability of Tanzania to receive foreign aid due to perhaps increased donor confidence. But foreign aid and external debt hardly affect short-run economic growth, suggesting their effects on GDP during the short run are negligible. Support for long-run equilibrium of the macroeconomic variables being considered comes from Johansen cointegration results, warranting the use of VECM for both short- and long-term analysis. VECM results further suggest inefficient use of capital is a bane to short-run GDP growth, whereas foreign aid and external debt remain statistically insignificant in the short run. Sustained foreign aid inflows and their positive response to lagged GDP underscore the role of long-term growth in bringing aid. Moreover, the study finds a high correlation between foreign aid and external debt, with environmental degradation as a leading cause connected to increased debt levels, depicting the complex interplay between economic, financial, and ecological conditions. Robust diagnostic tests establish the validity and reliability of VECM estimates. In conclusion, the findings underscore the significance of policies that are geared towards promoting the efficiency in capital, effective management of debt, foreign aid sustainability, and environmental integration to achieve Tanzania's long-term stability and growth in the economy.

Customization, Connection, and Control: Reimagining Intimacy in the Age of Artificial Partnership

Maja Jerrentrup — 2025-12-09

This study explores anticipated implications of wide-spread romantic relationships between humans and AI robots. Drawing on an interdisciplinary scientific dialogue, followed by qualitative interviews with media-savvy young adults in Germany, it examines perceptions of intimacy, authenticity, and self-determination in human-AI partnerships. Findings indicate that while participants recognize potential benefits – such as customization, availability, and emotional safety – they also express concerns about authenticity, empathy, and the erosion of interpersonal competence. Notions of “imperfection” and “realness” emerge as central values, suggesting that AI partners, however human-like, remain perceived as ontologically distinct from humans. Gender differences were notable, with female participants emphasizing autonomy and security, and males expressing greater skepticism. Overall, the study highlights the ambivalent interplay between technological idealization and human emotional complexity in shaping future intimate relations.