Issue #1 (Volume 9 2025)

This study aims to identify challenges in the training of scientific personnel in the field of social sciences and humanities at the doctoral level in Kazakhstan. It proceeds from the assumption that successful completion of a Ph.D. program is conditioned by internal and external factors that influence the educational process and may lead to challenges in Ph.D. thesis defense. The study employs an explanatory-sequential approach within a mixed-methods design, incorporating economic-statistical, regression, and content analysis. Data were gathered through questionnaires from 61 current students and graduates of Ph.D. programs in the social sciences and humanities. Findings indicate that having a job made it more challenging for respondents to study and complete their Ph.D. programs, as employment requires time and effort; however, the additional monthly income besides scholarship helped reduce financial stress, thereby supporting their academic progress. Women found studying easier than men, while married respondents experienced fewer challenges than single ones. Although 36.1% of respondents expressed high satisfaction with Ph.D. training quality, the majority reported challenges, with 65.65% noting issues in the educational process, 52.5% identifying problems in scientific supervision, 33% raising concerns about teacher qualifications, and 25% highlighting infrastructure needs. Key factors influencing Ph.D. completion rates included an unstable study environment, characterized by frequent changes in regulations, and students’ difficulties in meeting government-imposed requirements, especially publication in a Scopus database journal. The study’s practical value is developing measures to enhance Ph.D. thesis defense rates by improving admission requirements, restricting external employment, increasing supervisor accountability, and adjusting publication standards.

Acknowledgments
This research has been funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (AP19680246 “Building up highly intelligent human resources in the conditions of digitalization of the economy of Kazakhstan: problems and prospects”, 2023–2025) and supported the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (program “Advancing data-driven solutions by strengthening partnerships between the scientific, academic and civil sectors in Central Asia”, 2023–2024).

Developing countries generally have a poor tax culture, and in this context, university social responsibility plays an important role in knowledge management with an impact on tax collection. This study aims to determine the level of perception of University Social Responsibility (USR) by internal stakeholders (teachers, administrative staff, students) participating in the Accounting and Fiscal Support Nuclei (NAF) program (Latin American training program for university students on the tax and customs system, to provide free assistance to micro-enterprises and low-income people). The methodology applied was a quantitative, cross-sectional, non-experimental study; the sample consisted of internal stakeholders of the Northern Private University, (Peru); the sampling was probabilistic; the population was 220 people and the survey was applied to 136 people. Judges validated it using Aiken’s V and Cronbach’s Alpha reliability test, obtaining a result of 0.921. These results were processed using the IBM SPSS statistics. The results show that stakeholders attribute the USR efficiency in 88.22% to program implementation; 96.3% to the priority axes, for considering a culture of inclusion; 90.40% to management levels, for having committees, implementation of plans, projects, and management indicators; 89% to the record of actions carried out, such as the storage of evidence; 72.8% to the communication of results and impact; 92.6% to the implementation of strategies. It is concluded that the USR level of internal stakeholders based on the NAF program is efficient. The main factor is the strategies implemented by the university, with the active participation of all who contribute to improving students’ competencies.

This study investigates the impact of Knowledge Management (KM) practices, enhanced by smart technologies, on organizational performance within public pharmaceutical organizations in Cairo Governorate, Egypt. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, the study targeted employees from five public pharmaceutical companies in Cairo Governorate, including Memphis Pharmaceuticals, Arab Pharmaceuticals, Cairo Pharmaceuticals, Nile Pharmaceuticals, and EIPICO. These companies were selected based on their public listing and accessible workforce data. Respondents included administrative and technical staff, ensuring a representative sample of the sector. The sample size of 372 was calculated using a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error, proportionally distributed across organizations and roles. The results of the study reveal that KM practices significantly enhance operational efficiency and foster innovation, with quantitative evidence showing that KM positively influences operational efficiency (β = 0.42, p < 0.01) and innovation (β = 0.35, p < 0.05). The analysis also indicates that strategic leadership plays a moderating role in the relationship between KM practices and organizational performance. Specifically, the moderation effect of leadership strengthens the impact of KM on operational efficiency (interaction term: β = 0.18, p < 0.05) and innovation (interaction term: β = 0.21, p < 0.05). These findings underscore the critical role of leadership in aligning KM practices with strategic goals, highlighting the potential for public pharmaceutical organizations to achieve higher efficiency and innovation. Organizations operating in highly regulated sectors can drive continuous improvement and achieve sustainable performance outcomes by integrating KM frameworks with advanced technologies and strategic leadership.

Acknowledgment
The authors are thankful to the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at the University of Bisha for supporting this work through the Fast-Track Research Support Program.

Knowledge management is a ‘know-how’ expression through which companies can access and apply their shared knowledge to achieve innovation, improve performance, and attain long-term competitive advantage. The present study investigates the association between knowledge management and organizational performance measurement with innovation capability mediating in the Jordanian Telecommunication sector. Descriptive and inferential statistics, such as regression analysis and structural equation modeling, were used to analyze 575 responses from employees working in major telecommunication companies like Zain, Orange, and Umniah. The performances of knowledge management impact on organizational performance measurement results were positive, with the R-square amounting to 0.803. The change of each predictor variable in terms of B was: Knowledge Creation, 0.179; Knowledge Storage, 0.196; Knowledge Sharing, 0.399; Knowledge Application, 0.221; and Knowledge Evaluation, 0.234. Further, Innovation capability positively mediates the impact of knowledge management on organizational performance measurement. Overall, the study’s findings emphasize that an enterprise should effectively handle its intellectual assets and enhance its innovation capabilities since it may have the potential to hold a competitive advantage and overall performance in an advanced era.

Acknowledgment
The author is grateful to Middle East University, Amman, Jordan, for the financial support to cover this article’s publishing fee.

The welfare of farmers and agricultural productivity are significantly influenced by challenges in business and financial management. This study investigates how knowledge management, knowledge sharing, and mental accounting impact farmer performance within the unique context of Sasi culture in Maluku Islands, Indonesia. Knowledge management provides farmers with the tools to acquire, utilize, and apply agricultural insights, while mental accounting shapes their financial decision-making and resource allocation. Using a mixed-method approach that combines WarpPLS and ethnomethodology, data were gathered through questionnaires distributed to 65 respondents and in-depth interviews with selected participants. The analysis revealed that knowledge management significantly impacts farmer performance with a path coefficient of 0.717 (p < 0.001), while mental accounting also has a positive effect with a coefficient of 0.164 (p = 0.050). However, knowledge sharing did not significantly affect performance (coefficient = 0.372, p = 0.382). The results suggest that Sasi culture, deeply rooted in local wisdom, helps integrate knowledge management and mental accounting to improve farmer welfare and agricultural income. Despite the ineffectiveness of formal knowledge sharing, the cultural practice of Sasi inherently promotes the sharing of knowledge within the community, enhancing the overall management of agricultural practices. This study emphasizes the role of local wisdom in creating sustainable agricultural practices and highlights the potential of Sasi culture to synergize modern knowledge management with traditional financial behaviors.

During the pandemic and russia’s war against Ukraine, higher education shifted to hybrid and distance learning, with some universities forced to adapt or relocate from occupied territories. This article analyzes the institutional, spatial, and financial aspects of Ukraine’s higher education market (1990–2023), focusing on financial data from 2020–2023 across 24 regions and Kyiv, excluding occupied territories. The calculated results based on concentration levels and the Herfindahl-Hirschman index for the number of educational institutions, students, and postgraduate students showed that the higher education market is highly competitive, with an uneven geographical distribution between regions. The analysis of the level of concentration of financial resources among higher education institutions, calculated based on state funding, showed that the distribution of financial resources among universities is relatively even (in 2023, the 20 largest higher education institutions accumulated more than 43.5% of total state funding). The share of state resources aimed at developing the scientific potential of higher education institutions decreased for the 20 largest higher education institutions from 58% in 2020 to 55% in 2022. Non-parametric correlation analysis revealed a low correlation between the amount of general funding for higher education institutions and the amount of revenues to the special fund for research, which indicates insufficient support and prioritization of the scientific sector in the country. These conclusions can be used in implementing the reform (balancing and optimization) of the existing educational network in Ukraine, which has been actively pursued in recent years.

This study examines the impact of knowledge management systems on the performance of universities while considering the mediating role of intellectual capital and the moderating effect of human capital. In today’s knowledge-driven economy, improving university performance through effective knowledge management is essential. The study collected data through an online survey targeting academic and administrative staff at 18 accredited private universities in Jordan. These participants were selected for their involvement in knowledge-related activities within their institutions. The survey was conducted via email between July and September 2024, yielding 273 valid responses out of 384 invitations, ensuring a relevant and representative sample for the analysis. The study analyzed the data using structural equation modeling, focusing on partial least squares. The results show that knowledge management systems have a significant direct effect on university performance (beta = 0.317, p < 0.001) and a strong effect on intellectual capital (beta = 0.714, p < 0.001). Intellectual capital also significantly affects university performance (beta = 0.310, p < 0.001) and mediates the relationship between knowledge management systems and performance (beta = 0.221, p < 0.001). Additionally, human capital positively moderates this relationship (beta = 0.104, t = 2.201, p = 0.006). These findings highlight the need for universities to invest in both intellectual and human capital to fully realize the benefits of knowledge management systems and enhance institutional performance. The study provides valuable evidence that strengthening knowledge management systems, along with intellectual and human capital, is key to driving meaningful performance improvements in universities.

This study aims to investigate the impact of knowledge-hiding behavior on individual creativity and academic performance through the mediating role of academic self-efficacy. Using a quantitative approach with questionnaires and convenient sampling offers insights into fostering a more open learning environment. This study examined a sample of 3,466 undergraduate students, with 3,232 valid responses from various universities in Vietnam. This study utilized a two-stage, second-order partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach to evaluate the proposed hypotheses. The findings demonstrate that knowledge-hiding behavior adversely affects academic performance (β = –0.054, sig. = 0.000), individual creativity (β = –0.153, sig. = 0.000), and academic self-efficacy (β = –0.109, sig. = 0.000). Furthermore, academic self-efficacy has a positive and significant effect on academic performance (β = 0.501, sig. = 0.000), and mediates the impact of knowledge-hiding behavior on academic performance. Based on the results, this study proposes several measures to encourage knowledge sharing and improve educational outcomes in educational institutions.

Postgraduate education plays a key role in developing skilled human resources and advancing knowledge. With increasing competition among universities in Indonesian cities such as Bandung, understanding the factors that influence students’ choices of master’s programs is crucial. This study aims to critically examine the role of student experience and perceived quality of higher education in shaping students’ decision-making processes regarding the selection of postgraduate institutions. This study was conducted at 14 private universities in Bandung, Indonesia. The study population consisted of 70,284 students, with 400 respondents selected across 29 study programs that offered master’s degrees. A proportional random sampling method was used. The research hypotheses were tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS. The findings indicate that student experience significantly impacts perceived quality (ß = 0.662, p = 0.000). Perceived quality also has a positive and significant effect on college preferences (ß = 0.366, p = 0.000). In addition, student experience significantly influences college preferences (ß = 0.148, p = 0.006). Furthermore, student experience indirectly affects college preference through perceived quality (ß = 0.242, p = 0.000). These results highlight that perceived quality is a major factor influencing college preferences. This study underscores the importance of student experience and perceived quality in shaping students’ preferences for postgraduate institutions. By enhancing positive student experiences and ensuring high educational quality, universities can strengthen their appeal and support students in making informed decisions about their postgraduate education.

Acknowledgment
To support the seamless operation of this PhD study, the author would like to thank STIE Ekuitas Bandung-Indonesia for providing tuition aid for 3.5 years.

Innovative work behavior among lecturers is essential for promoting creativity and academic excellence in higher education, especially during rapid technological and pedagogical changes. This study examines the influence of growth mindset, organizational climate, and digital leadership on innovative work behavior, with creative process engagement as a mediating variable. A quantitative approach was employed, involving 200 lecturers from social sciences and humanities faculties at six major private universities in Surabaya, Indonesia. The sample was selected due to its diverse academic backgrounds and active involvement in institutional innovation. Data analysis using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) confirmed both direct and mediated effects of the independent variables on innovative work behavior. The results indicate that growth mindset (T = 3.21, p < 0.05) and digital leadership (T = 4.02, p < 0.01) have significant direct effects. Most importantly, creative process engagement significantly mediates these relationships. Sobel test results confirm strong mediation effects (T = 4.910 for digital leadership, 4.683 for growth mindset, and 2.951 for organizational climate; all p < 0.01). Creative process engagement accounts for 47.94% of the effect of digital leadership, 43.53% of organizational climate, and 31.84% of growth mindset on innovative work behavior, explaining 76.1% of its variance. These findings highlight the transformative role of creative process engagement in enhancing innovative work behavior. They suggest that fostering a growth mindset, supportive organizational climate, and strong digital leadership – alongside active creative engagement – can significantly boost innovation among lecturers in higher education institutions.

As education gains prominence in sustainable development strategies, assessing the effectiveness of public education spending has become essential, particularly in Southeast Asia. Despite being seen as a driver of economic growth, its actual impact remains debated due to differing outcomes across countries and stages of development. This study aims to analyze the impact of public education expenditure on economic growth in nine Southeast Asian countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, during the period 1998–2022. The study employs secondary data sourced from the World Development Indicators. Econometric techniques used include Ordinary Least Squares, Fixed Effects Model, Random Effects Model, and the Generalized Method of Moments to ensure consistency and robustness in the estimations. The findings show that public spending on education in Southeast Asia during the studied period did not produce a clearly positive effect on economic growth. In several models, the coefficient of education spending on GDP growth was statistically insignificant or even negative. For instance, in the GMM model, the coefficient was –0.031 (p > 0.1) – a negative, though statistically insignificant, impact. Meanwhile, the institutional quality variable exhibited a positive and statistically significant effect, suggesting that the effectiveness of public spending depends strongly on the quality of governance and fiscal management. The study concludes that public education spending is unlikely to be effective without strong governance. Therefore, in addition to increasing budgets, countries should focus on institutional reform and improving education quality to ensure long-term economic benefits.