Competition is a driver of innovation and creativity in any sector of the economy. However, where a public good like education is concerned, it is ideal that competition be regulated and controlled. This paper analyzes the key drivers of competition in the tertiary education sector of Botswana. The tertiary education sector of Botswana has been experiencing rapid growth over the past fifteen years due to the huge investment in education and skills development by the government. From the year 2006, the government of Botswana has been sponsoring leaners to study locally in both public and private tertiary education institutions. This has led to the establishment and growth of many private tertiary education institutions over the past decade and half. Consequently, the sector has grown to a level causing intense competition among institutions in the sector. Data was collected from reports published by BQA and HRDC as well as published journal articles. The study established that, the flexibility of regulatory policies, the growth rate of the sector, the size, scope and behavior of institutions and the homogeneity of programmes offered by institutions are the key drivers of competition in the sector. As private institutions face intense rivalry in the sector, they are forced to adopt survival strategies. The paper also examines survival strategies that tertiary education institutions are implementing in the light of intensive rivalry. The study also proposes regulatory interventions that may be instituted to control the level of competition in the tertiary education sector of Botswana.

This study investigates the potential of leveraging traditional historical and cultural values to develop distinctive souvenir products, aiming to contribute to the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of the Hung Kings Temple Complex in Phu Tho, Vietnam, while fostering sustainable tourism. Through an analysis of relevant scholarly literature, the cultural significance of the Hung Kings’ heritage, and the current state of souvenir production, this research proposes a framework for designing and developing culturally authentic souvenirs. The findings highlight the importance of integrating local narratives and symbols into product design to enhance the visitor experience, support local economies, and ensure the sustainable management of heritage sites. This paper offers practical implications for heritage managers, policymakers, and tourism stakeholders in developing unique cultural products that resonate with the cultural identity of the destination.

The primary objective of this study was to examine the impact of general budgeting constraints on the efficiency of institutional performance (financial and administrative). A purposive sampling method was used, selecting a population of 150 individuals from the General Company for Electricity Distribution in the North/Salah al-Din Branch, comprising engineers, accountants, auditors, and administrative leaders. Descriptive methodology and statistical analysis were employed to process the questionnaire data. The most significant findings revealed a strong inverse relationship (r = -0.742**) and a statistically significant negative impact of central constraints (planning, allocation, disbursement, and control) on institutional performance efficiency. These central constraints explained 55.1% of the variance (R² = 0.551), and this negative impact was amplified with increasing central constraints, particularly those related to disbursement and control, This underscores the importance of adopting a controlled decentralized approach as a strategic alternative to the traditional model, thereby giving local administration the operational flexibility to enhance performance efficiency.

The transformation of India’s external economic engagement through the Act East Policy has positioned the North Eastern Region, particularly Assam, as a strategic gateway to Southeast Asia. While infrastructure development, trade corridors, and connectivity have received significant policy attention, the role of rural financial systems in enabling inclusive participation in this transformation remains underexplored. This paper examines the critical linkage between financial inclusion and the effective realization of the Act East Policy in Assam. Using a conceptual and descriptive analytical framework based on secondary data, the study argues that inadequate access to institutional credit constrains rural households, small producers, and micro-enterprises from leveraging emerging economic opportunities. The paper highlights the role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), microfinance institutions, and formal banking systems in bridging this gap. Empirical evidence from Assam shows persistent gaps in banking infrastructure, low credit flow, and weak credit–deposit ratios, particularly in rural areas. The study concludes that financial inclusion is a necessary precondition for translating regional integration policies into inclusive rural development and recommends a credit-integrated policy approach.

This paper examines the perception of smart city services in Shanghai in the context of international city marketing. The main objective is to analyze how digital urban technologies are accepted by users and which factors play a central role in this process. The study is based on survey data collected in March 2026 and analyzed with Excel. After data cleaning, the analysis focuses on respondents who are familiar with the concept of smart cities and currently live in Shanghai or the greater Shanghai area. The theoretical framework combines the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Product, Price, Place, and Promotion (4P) model, the Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning (STP) strategy, and a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. These models help to explain both user acceptance and the strategic positioning of Shanghai as a global smart city. The results show that Shanghai is perceived very positively in several smart city dimensions, especially in Smart People, Smart Mobility, Smart Economy, Smart Governance, Smart Environment, and Smart Living. The findings suggest that perceived usefulness, daily convenience, institutional trust, and system integration are key factors behind the high acceptance of smart city services. At the same time, the study also shows that high acceptance does not necessarily mean that all potential risks are fully reflected by users. Issues such as data privacy, transparency, and public participation remain important challenges for the long-term development of smart cities. Overall, Shanghai can be seen as a strong example of how digital technologies, urban governance, and city branding can be combined in international city marketing.

The goal of this study is to examine the effect of social and emotional skills on organizational performance through psychological resilience at the International Development Bank On a sample of 50 employees. The current study used descriptive analytical method to investigate “relationships” between the study variables. data was collected using a structured questionnaire that distributed to employees of the organization. Researchers measured social-emotional skills, psychological resilience, and organizational success using validated measures adapted from past studies. Statistical techniques, like correlation analysis, regression analysis, and mediation testing, were employed to analyze data and test the research hypothesis. The study found that social and emotional skills have a positive and significant impact on organizational success. The results also show that the psychological resiliency from these skills significantly contributes to organizations becoming successful skills. Also, the study validated the mediating power of psychological resilience that strengthens the link of social and emotional skills with organizational success. The findings further indicate that employees who are highly socially and emotionally competent show resilience to better cope with workplace challenges and achieve organisational objectives. To attain sustainable success, organizations must develop employees who are competent in social and emotional skills and exhibit psychological resilience, through proper training, practices and sound environmental support. The study provides theoretical and practical contributions as it highlights emotional, social and psychological aspects need to take into consideration by the top management of organizations for making effective use of resources which will eventually make the organization effective and succeed in the long run.

This study examines the impact of the determinants of poverty in Pakistan. This article uses five independent macroeconomic. that are public expenditure, budget deficit, unemployment rate, exchange rate and inflation rate are studied. The methodology used is the Ordinary least Square (OLS) method. It uses time series data consisting of 19 observations, compiled from different sources such as (WDI) and (The Global Economy.Com). Using this model, we investigated the effect of public expenditue, the budget deficit, the unemployment rate, exchange rate, and the inflation rate on poverty in Pakistan. Public expenditure and the budget deficit have an inverse relationship, while the OLS has a direct relationship with poverty in Pakistan. Furthermore, in this model, we examine the impact of inflation rate and exchange rate, which helps us demonstrate a negative relationship with poverty, while inflation also has a direct relationship. Five variables were used in this thesis; three of each has a negative relationship and the other two have a positive relationship with poverty. Theoretically, we demonstrated the relationship between these macroeconomic variables with the help of reference articles and historical data collection, using Pakistan's perspective on these variables.