Promoting sustainable living across seventeen essential areas throughout the planet has been the agenda that was adopted in 2015 by the United Nations with a deadline of 2030. After nine years into the future since 2015, most nations still need to gear up to their full potential to fulfill the targeted development. Although the United Nations has been publishing its annual SGD progress reports since 2016, along with a list of portals where the parameters can be measured for individual nations for each one of the seventeen goals, the perspective of researchers, and practitioners provides a unique perspective on the progression. Despite the rigorous attempts from the United Nations, regulatory authorities, and government initiatives, the gap remains, and the fulfillment of the targets for all seventeen goals till the end of 2023 remains uncertain. The book “Sustainable Development Goals: A Handbook Based on Media Perspective” offers a collection of concepts and perspectives on areas like effective administration, media advocacy, digital literacy, responsible usage, integrating inventory management, greening efforts, digital citizenship, revival of tribal culture, green products, sustainable urbanization, pastors as social media influencers for sustainable development, agrarian sustainability, programs on sustainability, influencers of sustainability, social media activism, women’s health, representation & empowerment, sustainability in films and entertainment, sustainable living, mindful consumption, climate advocacy, public awareness, waste management, sustainable communication, green practices, environment-friendly technology, multiculturalism, environmental communication, democratic governance, health communication and many more. Collectively, the chapters would help in understanding the different perspectives of sustainability through the lens of media and communication.

Social media applications have emerged in the last 20 years to meet the different needs of individuals, and private sector and public organizations have not been indifferent to these technologies. Social media tools help public institutions and organizations communicate directly with citizens as well as enable two-way communication and enable citizens to participate in all stages from agenda setting to evaluation of policy processes. Central and local governments, which use innovative methods to involve citizens in this process, attach significance to the development of e-participation tools. Ensuring the participation of citizens in policy processes not only determines the wishes and priorities of citizens but also uses scarce resources effectively and efficiently. Global Perspectives on Social Media Usage Within Governments reveals the best practices of various countries regarding the use of social media by central and local governments according to public administration models. The book presents various case studies on the impact of public administration models on social media use in order to contribute to public administration and social media use. Covering topics such as climate action, knowledge behaviors, and citizen participation, this premier reference source is an essential resource for government officials, public administrators, public policy scholars, social media experts, public affairs scholars, students and educators of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

Take a journey to 2030 where Visionary Evaluatives abound and link with one another in actively bringing about a sustainable, equitable future. Utilizing a creative storytelling approach, Visionary Evaluation for a Sustainable, Equitable Future brings forward the centrality of values in conjunction with the role of evaluation in building a future of well-being for people, nature, and planet. Visionary Evaluatives are guided by six principles. Those principles highlight a commitment to equity and the sustainability of nature as core values. They emphasize an orientation of humility, compassion, and transparency as Visionary Evaluatives engage with others in a world of living, entangled systems with both obvious and hidden intersectionalities. They require Visionary Evaluatives to engage in deep praxis—mindful and challenging reflection on what is being learned through the intersection of values, iterative action and inquiry, theory, outcomes, and vision. A diverse group of chapter authors share their wisdom through envisioning 2030 and what it might mean to move in the world applying aspects of the Visionary Evaluative Principles. Through Visionary Evaluation for a Sustainable, Equitable Future, you will learn about how you can contribute to a sustainable, equitable future not only in evaluations, as either users or practitioners, but also in your daily actions and lives. Praise for Visionary Evaluation for a Sustainable, Equitable Future What might the world be like if it was inhabited by people imbued with evaluation? Here's a very interesting exploration of such a world. And it will additionally enrich your thinking about how to vote in 2020. Michael Scriven Founder, Faster Forward Fund The core values and principles of visionary evaluatives read too good to be true: envisioning a world of humility, sustainability, equity, compassion, respect, understanding, and engaging deeply, toward iterative action. What a tall order and request this book is making for those of us in the field of evaluation! Bravo to the authors for pushing us. Their book is compelling and futuristic, written as a story that helps us imagine and re-image our field, our lives, and our world. Rodney Hopson Professor, University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign A fascinating journey into the future. The heroes, “Visionary Evaluatives", catalyze forces including the UN Sustainable Development Goals movement. In their innovative blending of evaluation designs and daily living habits, the heroes demonstrate the strong beliefs in the value of the sustainability of the planet and equity for all its inhabitants. Deborah Rugg President, Evaluation Consultants LLC; Former Chair, UN Evaluation Group Humanity's current trajectory on Earth is unsustainable. Transformation is needed at every level and in every arena of action. The alternative may be no future at all. This book and its Visionary Evaluation Principles envisions evaluation as part of the transformation. Embrace the vision. Act on it. How? Start by reading Visionary Evaluation. Michael Quinn Patton Author of Blue Marble Evaluation

Digital communication has become increasingly prominent in numerous disciplines throughout society due to the high usage levels of interactive systems. Professionals continue to apply trending technologies to their traditional practices as social interaction becomes more computerized. As new innovations are continually being discovered, researchers and practitioners in various areas of work need to stay up to date on the latest findings within interactive communication systems. Innovative Perspectives on Interactive Communication Systems and Technologies is a collection of innovative research on the interdisciplinary methods of internet-based social interaction technologies and their impact on communicative practices in various professional fields. While highlighting topics including health communication, small group settings, and design philosophies, this book is ideally designed for industry experts, researchers, engineers, scientists, policymakers, practitioners, academicians, and students seeking research on modern advancements of interactive communication technologies through real-world applications.

This book explores sport communication in Africa and the African diaspora. Drawing on multidisciplinary perspectives, it deepens our understanding of the importance of sport in African society as well as the profound and growing influence of the African diaspora in world sport, as athletes, scholars, leaders, and business and media professionals. Including contributions from leading African researchers and experts on sport in Africa across the fields of sociology, history, business, communication studies, media studies, and education, this book examines sport communication across a wide variety of contexts and countries, from the role of radio in developing awareness of the Olympic Games in Nigeria to the impact of Colin Kaepernick’s protest on journalistic practices in Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the USA. Presenting fascinating case studies such as print media and the historiography of football in Cameroon, racism in European football, and the relationship between sport, communication policy-making, and sustainable development in Africa, this book shines new light on key themes in the study of sport communication. This is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in social-cultural issues in sport, the business and management of sport, sport and the media, African studies, or development studies.

This handbook reflects on quality-of-life in societies on the continent of Africa. It provides a widely interdisciplinary text with insights on quality-of-life from a variety of scientific perspectives. The handbook is structured into sections covering themes of social context, culture and community; the environment and technology; health; education; and family. It is aimed at scholars who are working towards sustainable development at the intersections of multiple scientific fields and it provides measures of both objective and subjective quality-of-life. The scholarly contributions in the text are based on original research and it spans fields of research such as cultures of positivity, wellbeing, literacy and multilinguism, digital and mobile technologies, economic growth, food and nutrition, health promotion, community development, teacher education and family life. Some chapters take a broad approach and report on research findings involving thousands, and in one case millions, of participants. Other chapters zoom in and illustrate the importance of specificity in quality-of-life studies. Collectively, the handbook illuminates the particularity of quality-of-life in Africa, the unique contextual challenges and the resourcefulness with which challenges are being mediated. This handbook provides empirically grounded conceptualizations about life in Africa that also encapsulate the dynamic, ingenious ways in which we, as Africans, enhance our quality-of-life.

The challenge of achieving sustainability is complex and multifaceted, with varying approaches and policies across different countries and industries. This lack of universal standards poses a significant obstacle to the global transition towards a sustainable future. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these disparities, highlighting the urgent need for cohesive and practical sustainability strategies. What sets Green Transition Impacts on the Economy, Society, and Environment apart is its comprehensive and unique solution to this pressing issue, offering a unified framework for sustainability that can be applied across diverse contexts. By gathering insights and approaches from researchers worldwide, this book provides a holistic view of sustainability, addressing critical issues such as climate change, energy security, and social responsibility. It offers practical solutions and case studies demonstrating effective strategies for achieving sustainability goals. Through this approach, the book aims to equip policymakers, practitioners, and researchers with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complexities of sustainability in the 21st century.

This book examines the extent to which social media marketing influences the customer-based brand equity of higher education institutes. Higher education institutions operate in a strong competitive environment due to the homogenous nature of their services and always look for new marketing strategies to be competitive in the marketplace. Therefore, building customer-based brand equity has become crucial for higher education institutions to differentiate themselves from others to attract prospective students. Social media-based marketing facilitated prospective students to communicate and collaborate to gather information relevant to higher education institutions and their respective brand equity. However, many models on customer-based brand equity received limited support in the higher education sector, particularly in emerging Asian countries. As such, drawing from social information processing theory, this book empirically investigates how higher education institutions can develop customer-based brand equity by using social media marketing and subjective norms mediated by brand credibility, taking cross-country comparisons between Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The book goes on to examine the applications and implications of the findings for higher education institutions in developing branding strategies through social media.

Modern organizations confront an array of existential challenges encompassing environmental volatility, resource scarcity, workforce recruitment woes, employee burnout, and technological disruption. These uncertainties, coupled with the call for sustainability as exemplified by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), necessitate adept management and visionary leadership. Nevertheless, deciphering these intricacies proves formidable, exacerbated by societal shifts and rapid behavioral transformations. The demand for proficient management and comprehensive leadership has never been more pressing as we stand on the cusp of a transformative era. Contemporary Management and Global Leadership for Sustainability, emerges as a remedy for present challenges. This book delves into the core of modern management science and global leadership, offering a roadmap to navigate multifaceted issues across various sectors. Beyond theoretical insights, it bridges the gap between theory and application, equipping a diverse audience with actionable approaches for sustainable triumph. Tailored for academics, professionals in public and private spheres, and students, the book serves as a reservoir of knowledge. Touching industries from hospitality to education and exploring the fusion of religious philosophy with sustainable leadership, provides invaluable guidance. As organizations worldwide seek direction amid contemporary challenges, this book shines as a beacon, guiding the way toward resilience, innovation, and enduring triumph.

Handbook on ICT in Developing Countries: Next Generation ICT Technologies is the second volume of the Handbook of ICT in Developing Countries. The first volume was on the potential implementation and service delivery of the forth-coming 5G networks. Here the focus is on the new technologies and services enabled by 5G networks or broadband Internet networks including artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, augmented reality, Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous driving, blockchain solutions, cloud solutions etc. Some of these are already globally experiencing growth in the existing networks and all of them are expected to grow substantially in the future. Examples: currently, 5% of global organizations have fully adopted AI, but the penetration is expected to increase rapidly before 2025. IoT with 20.35 billion devices connected in 2017 is estimated to show 75.44 billion devices connected in 2025. The expected growth is based on delivering of new value to businesses and citizens. It is, however, not obvious that this growth will also occur in developing countries. Currently, the digital divide between developing countries and developed countries is widening. This is mostly due to the lack of infrastructure and low level of awareness by the businesses and citizens of the value made possible by the new technologies for developing countries. The book discusses the potentials of the new technologies for developing countries and the need for market interventions that will facilitate the demand and supply side of the market. It is designed for a broad audience including practitioners, researchers, academics, policy makers and industry players and influencers. The language and approach to the handbook is a combination of the academic writing style and professional reviews.