Journal of Social Review and Development

Management of experience activities and career guidance according to competence-based approach for high school pupils in Ho Chi Minh City

Bui Minh Tam — 2025-07-02

In the context of fundamental and comprehensive innovation of general education according to the 2018 General Education Program, experiential activities and career guidance are identified as one of the important components to develop students' capacity comprehensively. This article focuses on examining the current situation and proposing solutions for managing experiential activities and career guidance based on a competency-based approach in high schools in Ho Chi Minh City. A mixed research method was used, combining a quantitative survey of 121 subjects, including teachers, managers and parents, with semi-structured interviews with 10 individuals representing schools, businesses and education management agencies. The research results show that, although the majority of the surveyed subjects acknowledge the important role of career guidance activities, the organization is still formal, lacking clear capacity orientation and lacking effective coordination among stakeholders. The main barriers identified include: inadequate awareness, lack of specialized human resources, activity content not linked to practice, lack of assessment tools and unsustainable inter-sectoral linkage mechanisms. On that basis, the article proposes 05 groups of solutions, including: raising awareness, establishing a specialized department, innovating activity content, building a career guidance capacity framework, and promoting a multi-sectoral linkage model. The article not only has practical significance in educational innovation in Ho Chi Minh City but also contributes theoretically to competency-oriented educational management in the context of digital transformation and integration.

Foreign capital and misery index in Nigeria

Briggs David Theophilus — 2025-07-07

The study examined foreign capital inflows and misery index in Nigeria from 1981 to 2022. The objectives of the study are to; examine the impact of foreign direct investment inflow (FDI), foreign portfolio investment (FPI), diaspora remittance (DRM) and multilateral debt (MLD) on, misery index (MSI) in Nigeria. Secondary data were sourced from World Development Indicators and Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin and the technique of Auto Regressive Distributed Lag modelling was used. The results showed that, while FDI, FPI and DRM reduces MSI, MLD increases MSI in Nigeria during the period of study. The policy implication is that foreign capital inflows to some extent attracted appreciable level of economic prosperity in Nigeria. Based on the findings it was recommended that, government should encourage friendly investment condition and trade policies to boost inflow of capital such as foreign portfolio investment into Nigeria. Also, the study recommends that fiscal planning should take an account of the inflow of remittances when curbing unemployment and inflation rates.

Key barriers and enablers of women’s access to and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs): A desktop review

Sarah Gwayi Tembo — 2025-07-09

Objectives- The main objective of this paper was to examine key barriers and enablers of women’s access to and usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

Methods- This study employed a desk review approach, analyzing literature focused on the gender digital divide, with particular attention to reliable sources detailing women’s access to and use of technology. The review also included case studies of initiatives with both successful and adverse outcomes, and examined strategies that have addressed the associated risks. Using Google Scholar, 25 relevant articles were identified and screened to extract key themes and insights. These themes, aligned with the research objectives, formed the structure for the systematic presentation and discussion of findings.

Results- Literature has shown that women face a number of challenges in their access and use of Information and Communication Technologies. The prominent ones are lack of time, lack of skills, and lack of expertise in ICTs and low income by women. Furthermore, the study has shown that there are various enablers that cause women to use and access ICTs. These include among others computer access at a young age, availability of bursaries and knowledge of family members about the Information Technology careers. Finally, the study has revealed that different organizations globally and scholars have devised strategies to mitigate the digital divide.

Conclusions- This study highlights the critical role of ICTs in enhancing the livelihoods of women and girls. It has revealed both barriers and enablers to women’s access to and usage of ICTs. The findings show that while ICTs offer important opportunities, digital divides and gender based challenges continue to impede women’s full participation in the digital economy. Case studies from various sectors demonstrated how targeted initiatives can close these gaps and promote women’s empowerment, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal number five (5), thereby offering a solid foundation for informing future policies and programs that aim to harness the transformative potential of ICTs in promoting gender equity and sustainable development. The study recommends that stakeholders should urgently address the barriers identified in the literature.

The impact of environmental degradation and financial development on agricultural productivity in selected African countries

Aminu Hassan Jakada — 2025-07-14

The influence of financial development and environmental deterioration on agricultural output in a few African nations between 2000 and 2023 is examined in this study. Through the use of panel data methodologies, such as panel unit root, cointegration, and Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimate methods, the study offers empirical insights into the dynamics of these variables over the short and long term. The findings show that pollution, deforestation, and stress from climate change have a negative impact on farming production, since environmental deterioration dramatically lowers agricultural productivity over the long and short terms. Financial development, on the other hand, has a positive and statistically significant impact on agricultural production, indicating that increased farm performance is a result of financial inclusion, investment in modern inputs, and loan availability. The correlation between environmental deterioration and financial development is noteworthy and favorable, suggesting that financial development helps to lessen some of the negative consequences of environmental degradation. Rainfall and trade openness are control factors that boost agricultural output, while increased temperatures and pressure from the rural population have a detrimental impact on productivity. The necessity of coordinated policies that support environmental preservation, sustainable farming practices, and financial inclusion is highlighted by these findings. As essential steps to boost agricultural output while preserving environmental sustainability in Africa, the report suggests focused green finance programs, strict environmental laws, and easier access to rural borrowing options. In addition to providing useful insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and development partners seeking to advance sustainable agriculture and food security on the continent, the study adds to the expanding body of research on the environmental-economic relationship.

An empirical analysis of natural resource rent, bureaucratic control and sustainable development in Nigeria

Al-Bashir Jamil Suleiman — 2025-07-17

This research addresses how bureaucratic control as well as the rent from natural resources influence Nigeria's sustainable development between 1990 and 2023. The study uses the method known as Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL to control for trade openness, capital formation, and foreign direct investment while analyzing the long-term and short-term relationships between natural resource rent, institutional quality (as determined by bureaucratic control), and sustainable development. The findings show that, both in the short and long term, natural resource rent significantly promotes sustainable development. Additionally, bureaucratic control improves development results, highlighting the significance of institutional effectiveness in resource management. Furthermore, there is a strong positive correlation between resource rent and bureaucratic control, indicating that better bureaucracy amplifies the advantages of resource riches for growth. Additional factors that promote sustainable growth include openness to trade, gross formation of capital, as well as foreign direct investment. A long-term equilibrium that is stable is confirmed by the error correction term. The model's stability and robustness are confirmed by diagnostic testing. The results highlight how important it is to have efficient governance in order to convert the riches of natural resources into sustainable growth. For Nigeria to grow in a way that is inclusive, long-term, and ecologically sustainable, policy initiatives should concentrate on enhancing bureaucratic effectiveness, encouraging good governance, and directing resource income into profitable ventures.