Asia Social Issues

Teachers’ Role in School Decision-Making Process: A Case Study of Teachers and School Leaders Perceptions in Rwanda Public Secondary School

2023-12-12T10:31:38+07:00

The significance of decision-making in educational institutions is widely acknowledged as a pivotal element in school leadership and administration. The school decision-making process involves selecting and determining crucial concerns that benefit the school’s and its constituents’ overall welfare in Rwanda. All secondary public schools in Rwanda’s community are expected to participate actively in this process. This research examines the role and contributions of teachers in the decision-making process and their level of engagement. It also investigates their lived or felt experiences while executing school choices in which they were not involved. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 8 teachers and 2 school principals from 2 public secondary schools in Rwanda. It was concluded that in the context of Rwanda’s school teachers’ extended invitations to engage in the processes and conversations around school decision-making, their actual desire or willingness to participate needs to be higher, suggesting a limited degree of engagement. The promotion of collaboration and collectivism is enhanced among the school community members. It plays a significant part in augmenting instructors’ work happiness and motivation. Nevertheless, instructors argue that following instructions without engaging in decision-making may lead to inflexibility and difficulties. They emphasize the need to integrate teachers’ perspectives into every decision made by school management.

Expanding the International Role of China’s Educational Soft Power

2023-06-08T14:05:29+07:00

The objectives of this research are as follows: (1) to study China’s concept of using soft power to expand its role in international education; (2) to study the mechanisms and operational models used to expand China’s role in international education; and (3) to study the successful outcomes and negative impact of China’s expansion in this field. This is a qualitative research study that utilizes Joseph S. Nye’s concept of soft power in conjunction with document analysis. The research findings indicate that China’s expansion in international education is a tool for using China’s soft power. The mechanisms include establishing branches of the Confucius Institute, recruiting volunteer teachers, setting standards for Chinese language proficiency tests, promoting academic personnel exchange, and providing scholarships for international students. Additionally, China has raised the quality of its domestic educational institutions to meet international standards. China has also established an agency tasked with promoting Chinese language and culture at the international level, namely the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), previously known as Hanban. The success of these efforts is evidenced by the number of Confucius Institute branches and classrooms, volunteer teachers, and international students receiving scholarships to study in China. These efforts have resulted in an improved image of China and a reduction in negative perceptions towards China from abroad.

Sexy Jaosue: Consuming Hindu Deities and Homoerotic Materiality in Thailand

2023-11-21T11:25:29+07:00

In this article, I describe the material and objectified conditions that occur with Jaosue Watcharakorn’s complex operations that take Ganesha’s divine sanctity in Hinduism to reconstruct a sexy and attractive masculine body that attracts gay people. I found that religious spatiality and temporality were not separate from secular matters, but they broke the disciplined order and created the unconventional form of embodiment. Jaosue’s self-manifestation is conducted upon the interacted complexity of religious objects, sexual desire, and consumption of luxury goods. However, the study of materiality must also be considered in the context of the relational powers arising in the operations of various objects organized by capitalist commoditization. I understand daily material practices as a reflection of Thai society, where the disadvantaged are struggling to achieve financial success under the inefficiency of the Thai government. Only people with strong power networks can access opportunities and success within such struggles. Jaosue’s story indicates that to make himself a possible material entity he must constantly strive and attempt to gain sources of power.

The Visibility of Disabled Cross-Border Migrant Workers in Thailand in Migration Research

2023-06-22T15:14:31+07:00

Migrant workers contribute significantly to Thai economic growth. Their importance attracts the attention of scholars around the world. Many researchers have investigated their lives before and while living in Thailand and when they return home. However, it is still questionable to what extent disabled migrants are included in these studies. This paper intends to answer this question by reviewing works conducted in Thailand related to migration and disabilities that appear in Thai and international journal citation databases. The results show that disabled migrant workers in Thailand are not yet clearly visible in migration research or migration data collection. This investigation suggests that the government, scholars, migration research institutes, and non-profit organizations should put disabled migrant workers on their research agendas. This can make them visible and raise society’s awareness of them, as with other groups of disabled people. The information can be used to support disabled migrants throughout the migration process to give them a better quality of life and prevent them from suffering human rights violations.

Exploring Success Factors as an Online Solopreneur: A Case Study in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

2023-09-08T10:53:29+07:00

The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to the emergence of new online solopreneurs throughout Thailand. With the increased accessibility of the internet for both buyers and sellers, consumer shopping behavior has shifted towards online purchases made from the comfort of home. The pandemic has also forced existing solopreneurs to transition online. To succeed as an online solopreneur, effective management is crucial. Additionally, experience and knowledge in management are vital to achieving business success. This research aims to investigate the impact of age, education, and experience and to identify and analyze the specific business activities, based on the value chain, that significantly influence the success of online solopreneurs in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. Data was collected from 400 online solopreneurs using a questionnaire and employing the Cochran’s sampling method to ensure representation from an unknown population of online solopreneurs in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Statistical analysis, specifically ANOVA, was conducted to address research questions concerning the impact of age, experience, and education on online business success. Additionally, multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the relationships between business activities and their influence on business success. The study found that solopreneurs of different ages, experience levels, and educational backgrounds have varying impacts on business success. The business activities that have the greatest impact on online business success are human resources management, procurement, marketing and sales, and technology development. This research contributes to the understanding of the varying impacts of demographics and business activities on the achievement of business success by solopreneurs. Solopreneurs can utilize these findings to enhance their business activities and achieve success.

Sociolinguistic Survey of the Chin Speech Varieties Spoken along the Dalet Stream, Ann Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar

2023-08-11T10:55:30+07:00

This report presents the results of a sociolinguistic survey fieldwork trip to the language groups along the Dalet Stream in Ann Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar. The primary purpose of this survey was to determine the need for additional language development among these speakers. A secondary purpose was to investigate how ready these groups are for language development and how unified they are. The third purpose was to determine how many and which varieties might best be selected for additional literature development among these groups. The survey team investigated these questions through wordlists, questionnaires, participatory tools, and recorded text testing (RTT). The team learned that the Dalet Stream people are not adequately served by Burmese literature. There is a need and desire for additional vernacular language development. The Dalet Stream people are interested in literature development; however, promotion is needed. Language vitality is robust among most speech varieties, and there is a sizable population of speakers. Some educated people are interested in helping develop literature to maintain their people group’s culture and language. However, interest in language development and literacy must still be built in the broader community.

Purchasing Behaviour of Tourism Cultural Creative Clothing Products Based on The Brand Sensitivity

2023-06-30T11:44:47+07:00

Integrating the cultural and tourism industries has become the era’s mainstream. This study focuses on consumers’ brand sensitivity behavior within the context of cultural tourism and deeply analyzes its influencing factors. Firstly, we sort out consumer perceived value, brand sensitivity, and purchasing behavior. Then, using SPSS, we collect and analyze a large amount of data. Based on the Howard-Sheth model, we construct a model treating the consumer psychology of brand sensitivity as an intrinsic variable to study the consumer behavior of cultural and creative tourism apparel products. Empirical research reveals significant factors influencing brand-sensitive behavior and how these factors impact the degree of consumer purchasing behavior. This study assists in better understanding consumer behavior, shaping cultural and creative tourism brands, and further promoting the upgrade and comprehensive development of the cultural tourism industry.

Competency Modeling at an International Freight Forwarding Company in Bangkok, Thailand

2022-08-17T09:52:19+07:00

This study presents a competency modeling exercise conducted at a company located in Bangkok, Thailand. The company provides international logistics and freight forwarding services. The findings of this study include the key competencies and competency gaps, as well as the organization development methods to fill those competency gaps. The study identifies the need for competency modeling and management based on the company’s strategic plan. Based on the review of the literature and the identification of one in-depth interview and multiple focus groups as the data collection method, a competency modeling process is devised. Referring to the data collected from the in-depth interviews and focus group discussions; the authors present the competency modeling process and identify the gaps for each job category. In the latter part of the study, the authors present the organization’s development methods, recommend ways to fill the competency gaps, and indicate the relevance of updating the competency scorecard every year. This study will be helpful for human resource managers, line managers, and supervisors in the logistics and supply chain industry. Moreover, the findings of this study will be helpful for the employees of such companies and their leadership and management alike. Considering the changes brought about by the pandemic, this study can be used by other logistics service providers as a benchmark for competency management.