THE JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

Factors of Students’ Pro-Environmental Behaviour towards Sustainable Development

Rizwan Anwar — 2024-01-26

This study aims to determine the impact of certain environmental factors on the pro-environmental behavior of students in Higher Education. A plethora of literature already exists on this subject; however, there is a significant gap in such research in the context of Pakistan’s Higher Education Institutions. Along with that, the combination of the variables chosen for the research had yet to be studied in detail, especially in the context of Educational Institutions in Pakistan. The study analyzed the impact of environmental consciousness, green lifestyle, and green self-efficacy on university students’ pro-environmental behaviour, with the mediating
role of environmental commitment. Data was collected using a standardized questionnaire on a 372-person sample of university students using convenience sampling via web interface. The sample of 372 students, from both private and public higher educational institutions, was chosen from whom to collect data, develop analysis, and draw results for our findings. Multiple statistical techniques were applied through SPSS Statistics 21 to analyze the data, and these included correlation analysis,
regression analysis, and exploratory factor analysis. The hypotheses were tested through the simple mediation model, using the Hayes Process. Our findings fill a gap in the research by demonstrating that individuals can indulge in green self-efficacy, a green lifestyle, and be environmentally conscious, which promotes their pro-environmental behaviour, when they are committed to the environment. The study provides useful insight for researchers and higher education practitioners/policy

The Impact of Online Learning on Visual Learners in the HEIs for Sustainable Development and Well-Being

Shorena Gogiashvili — 2024-01-26

This article examines the impact of online learning on visual learners- individuals who prefer to learn using visual aids such as diagrams, images, videos, and interactive simulations. With the rise of online education, it is crucial to understand how this mode of learning affects different types of learners, including visual learners. The article provides a literature review of existing research on visual learning in online environments and identifies the advantages and challenges associated with this approach. Additionally, the article highlights effective strategies for optimizing the online learning experience for visual learners, such as the use of multimedia resources and providing opportunities for social interaction. Ultimately, this article aims to provide insights into how online learning can be tailored to meet the needs of visual learners and promote their academic success.

Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights in Decisions of the Constitutional Court of Georgia

George Goradze — 2024-01-26

The article deals with the problem of using the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) case law by the Constitutional Court of Georgia. For this purpose, the place of the international treaty in the hierarchy of the legal system of Georgia is first reviewed, whereby it is shown that this issue lies in a gray area. In addition, decisions of the Constitutional Court of Georgia are analyzed, where it is found that in their decisions, the ECtHR case law is rarely interpreted. It is also found that since 2012, the Constitutional Court of Georgia has not interpreted the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms or the ECtHR case
law at all, even though in many cases at least one side used the ECtHR case law in its argument. In such cases, it seems the Constitutional Court of Georgia would simply state the position of the party but not indicate its own opinion - whether the court shared it or not, or why.

Sustainable Development: Educational Initiatives for Well-Being (Vocational Education in Georgia)

Manana Darchashvili — 2024-01-26

Resolution 70/1, Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, implies the ability of forthcoming generations to meet their needs for the future of mankind, needs that are being significantly challenged in these modern times. Resolution 70/1 has outlined 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and one of them is high-quality education, seen as essential for gaining progress in the other 16 goals. Keeping in mind those challenges, we think issues on education are important and relevant at both the international and local levels. In the given research, we discuss aspects of professional education and teaching techniques in Georgia. This case study is based on the desk research of official documents and an analysis of secondary data. The main goals of the research are to explore the challenges and difficulties in the Georgian reality and to define the system’s compatibility with the Western educational space with a view to integration, and what support may be needed in this regard. It is worth mentioning that the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the world new educational realities by having students switch to online study or hybrid models of learning and seeing Georgia’s traditional teaching process go
online, was a wide-scale experiment Georgia was simply not ready for. The given issue also has a social character. The existing realities in the professional educational field have been under the watchful eye of various spheres of expertise. Since 2005, reforms have been implemented in the professional educational system, most of which concentrated on the preparation of highly competent personnel. It must be mentioned that Georgia’s European partners in particular bring a meaningful contribution, especially in the process of experience-sharing. Still, considering the progress of Georgian professional educational development, it is a fact
that the country needs to do more to keep up with modern tendencies.

Some Aspects of the Historical Connection between Traditional Hydrothermal Public Baths and the Modern Spa Industry

Gigi Kuparadze — 2024-01-26

The volume of wellness tourism in the world was rated at 639.4 billion US dollars in 2017. This is one of the fastest-growing segments in tourism, and it grew by 6.5% annually from 2015 to 2017. In 2017, 830 million wellness trips were made, which is 139 million more than in 2015. Throughout the millennia, numerous different cultures have used the power of water and warmth for cleanliness and treating their ills. In ancient times, both water and warmth were considered luxuries and were scarcely available.
On the outskirts of Dzalisa village in Georgia, an ancient settlement was found, where a bath made with hewn stones was discovered within part of a palace complex. The Roman-type bath was constructed at the beginning of the 3rd century and consisted of three sections, with cold, warm and hot water tubs, and a well-preserved heating hypocaust system. The floors of the cold and warm baths and the dressing room were covered with mosaics. The origin of Roman thermal baths, Turkish hamams, Finnish saunas,
Japanese onsens, and other hydrothermal spa procedures led to the custom of body cleaning and cleansing. Today, however, the health and aesthetic benefits of hydrothermal bathing are more widely recognized. In recent years, medical scientists have been researching the effect of cold action on high temperatures and the body, and have determined that a key benefit of such a temperature change is detoxification. Body heat and sweating rid the body of toxins, and the extreme change in temperature improves blood circulation and gives a positive boost to organism function.

Aspects of Green Transition in Georgia

Nino Tsikoridze — 2024-01-26

In the 21st century, the issue of sustainable development has taken on a key role in every field of the economy and business. The development of a green economy can play an important part in the sustainability of environmental protection, being an economic model that focuses on human health and the environment in parallel. Sustainable development involves protecting the environment and ensuring community well-being, having the world’s citizens living in ecological cleanliness and health. The growth of sustainable development and green economy contributes to overcoming the risks related to environmental pollution and the reduction of ecological problems. As such, green transition has been set as a goal by many countries today. Yet, it is a multi-faceted process that needs the broad-reaching involvement of numerous stakeholders in a focused network for collaboration. The main direction of
the green concept in the process of economic activity is to reduce the use of natural resources and protect the principles of ecological health and sustainable development. Much attention is given to the prevention of natural disasters and, in the best case, to their complete avoidance. The article covers the challenges faced by Georgia in its own process of green transition, and touches on issues related to green business development, air pollution, waste management, energy efficiency, and other sustainable development issues that provide an overview of aspects of the green transition.