There are certain points in the history of humanity when everything changes and a new version of what we do, who we are, how we relate to each other and how we live, emerges. These moments are usually triggered by a significant event that rocks the earth’s very foundation. We are living in one of those moments, right now. It’s called a new normal, where old ideas that ruled the day are being replaced by new ones that are more efficient, more effective and more appropriate for the time. But the start of a new normal is not a static moment. When things change, there is a state of flux where the new normal is still seeking to be established.This book provides clarity as to the challenges and the potential of this moment.This paradigm shift is a rare event, so it is important for us to know what’s happening and how we can thrive and succeed in this time. Using forestight, intuitive knowledge, collective data and indigenous wisdom, we have provided a blueprint on what’s possible and the tools we’ll need to leverage the gifts of this time.

2020 saw changes both in our homes, our individual nations, and globally. Everything we knew that was the norm changed. Now as we move into the post Covid-19 pandemic era, there is an opportunity to gain control and balance over what we want our new normal to be. We can now look forward and plan for our future success.Shaping Your New Normal will provide you with an instant personal life coach. You will be taken on a journey of self-exploration, helping you to truly understand who you are, what motivates you and how you can find satisfaction in your current life. The second part of the book will guide you in visualising your future, your perception of being successful, and your hopes and desires. You will then turn your dreams into goals that will result in you creating an action plan towards achieving the life you want. Your dreams can become a reality and you can choose how you want to live your life.

It is a common saying that “Necessity is the mother of Invention”, but what the entire world has witnessed since December 2019 it would not be wrong to state that “Necessity is not only mother of Invention but Innovation also”. Business practices across the globe have undergone a massive phenomenal transformation. Where on the one end the world has faced and witnessed disruption, challenges, and downfall in business, while meeting the same end world has also witnessed explorations of new forms of business practices from thoughts to actions. The book “Shaping the Next Normal: Rebound, Reimagine, Reinnovate, Rearchitect” is an attempt to record innovative and novel manuscripts, research-based articles, case studies, conceptual outcome-oriented business models, and practices from the innovative minds of researchers and academicians. The book encompasses 18 Chapters with research-based perspectives in the area of Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Commerce, and Technology. The book can be offered as a handy compendium of readings of the dynamic business environment. Editors

Amitai Etzioni argues that societies must find a way to balance individual rights and the common good. This point of balance may change as new technologies develop, the natural and international environments change, and new social forces arise. Some believe the United States may be unduly shortchanging individual rights that need to be better protected. Specifically, should the press be granted more protection? Or should its ability to publish state secrets be limited? Should surveillance of Americans and others be curtailed? Should American terrorists be treated differently from others? How one answers these questions, Etzioni shows, invites a larger fundamental question: Where is the proper point of balance between rights and security? Etzioni implements the social philosophy, “liberal communitarianism.” Its key assumptions are that neither individual rights nor the common good should be privileged, that both are core values, and that a balance is necessary between them. Etzioni argues that we need to find a new balance between our desire for more goods, services, and affluence, particularly because economic growth may continue to be slow and jobs anemic. The key question is what makes a good life, especially for those whose basic needs are sated.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Blended Learning, ICBL 2022, held in Hong Kong, China, in August 2022. The 31 papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 80 submissions. The conference theme of ICBL 2022 is Blended Learning: Engaging Students in the New Era. The papers are organized in topical sections named: Game-based Learning and Augmented Learning Environment; Computer Supported Collaborative Learning; Enriching Learning Experience with Blended and Online Learning; Content Development and Practice for Blended Learning and Beyond.

This book sets out the theme of a world that is changing rapidly and higher education being an important agent in shaping that change through knowledge generation, transfer and innovation. The chapters in this book focus on this shaping role of higher education along a number of key areas: governance, sustainability, teaching and learning, student agency, quality and internationalization. From these different topics, this volume presents ways in which higher education helps dealing with and shaping the educational and societal changes that we are facing in the aftermath of the pandemic and challenges that we are expecting in the near future. Contributors are: Victor M. H. Borden, Bruno Broucker, Edel Cassar, Bárbara Coelho Gabriel, Cindy Cogswell, Julia Draghi, Brigitte Ecker, Pınar Eldemir, Klaus Feldmann, Cláudia Figueiredo, Anne Gannon, Jussi Kivistö, Manja Klemenčič, Theodor Leiber, Nandarani Maistry, Sara Moreno Pires, Takalani Muloiwa-Klenam, Darlington Mutakwa, Erna Nairz-Wirth, Ruaidhri Neavyn, Jessica Nooij, Mark O’Hara, Beate Pawle, Alexandra Polido, Maria Pöschl, Silke Preymann, Verena Régent, Lotte Scheeren, Kateryna Suprun, Robertt Valente, Floris J. N. van Berckel Smit, Annemieke van der Horst and Sabine Weiss.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Technology in Education. Innovations for Online Teaching and Learning, ICTE 2023, held in Hong Kong, China, during December 19–21, 2023. The 30 full papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 74 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: keynote papers; online and innovative learning; personalized and individualized learning; smart learning environment; artificial intelligence in education; and institutional strategies and practices.

Considering behavioral norms in their cultural contexts, this book arrives at a fully operational international leadership theory – and makes it accessible to academic and professional readers alike. Shaping the Global Leader fundamentally covers eight cultural dimensions gleaned from acclaimed international leadership scholars such as Geert Hofstede and the GLOBE study authors. Each cultural dimension is followed by interviews of renowned organizational leaders who relate their experiences in that area and each section underscores strategies for moving forward. The authors highlight critical lessons from classic behavioral psychology experiments and apply these findings to the international organizational context. This book serves as an eminently readable and enlightening handbook for those working, leading or studying interculturally. Both students and professionals in international leadership or business will be provided with clear and actionable organizational insights for an increasingly complex global landscape.

The book Shaping a Humane World through Global Higher Education: Pre-Challenges and Post Opportunities during a Pandemic, is a series of empirical studies and essays originally presented in the 2020 Virtual Star Scholar conference: The Humane World hosted by the University of Kathmandu, Nepal. The authors represent five countries: Australia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, and the United States. Their voices represent issues important in both the Global North and the Global South and what in particular is needed to design essential policies and training required to achieve success. Editors Edward J. Valeau, Ed.D. is Superintendent/President Emeritus of Hartnell Community College District in Salinas, California, USA. Rosalind Raby, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer at California State University, Northridge, in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Department of the College of Education, USA. Uttam Gaulee, Ph.D., is a Professor in the advanced studies, leadership, and policy department at Morgan State University, USA.

The future of work will largely be shaped by demographics and technology. Essentially, how we work determines who gets to work. The more flexibility that exists, both in timing and workspaces, the more people can join the workforce. In this regard, policymakers, employers and industry bodies need to come together and create a new ecosystem to foster tech-enabled work models across the country. This book not only addresses the challenges of building an inclusive human capital framework for India but also highlights some unconventional ideas around work and models of employment which can create this much-needed inclusion. It is imperative that we adapt and shape the future of work possibilities around flexibility. By doing so, we can considerably address India’s jobs and employment challenges.