Search

Our descriptive survey assesses the possible alternative educational opportunities for female students deprived of formal education in Afghanistan. Our sample comprised 94 female participants, with 36 (38.3%) being high school students, 32 (34%) being high school graduates, and 26 (27.7%) being university students. Based on the results, the great majority, 89 (87.2%) were participating in at least one alternative educational program; seven of these were already married and involved in their married life; and five others could not participate because of financial problems. Islamic religious schools, tailoring training, English language courses, and some free online educational programs were the main alternative educational activities and programs that participants were involved in. These alternative educational programs are provided by the private sector, with participants required to pay a monthly fee. The Taliban did not provide any alternative educational programs for female students in Afghanistan. Based on the results, more than half (58) of the participants participated in more than one alternative educational program. Their participation in alternative educational programs helped them to be connected with other female students, escape from loneliness, and improve their overall wellbeing. However, in 2024 the Taliban banned female students above 12 years old from going to English language and modern sciences courses. Currently the only options for them are religious courses and Internet-mediated online programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review assessed the requirements and importance of intercultural communication competence (ICC) in human life in the 21st Century, focusing on its practical aspects and elements. The results reported in the current study are from a review of 45 papers published from 2000 to 2023 in 16 different Web of Science and SCOPUS-indexed journals. To record and select the related and required papers, an online search was done using two key terms, "intercultural competence" and "intercultural communication competence," and through the use of WoS and SCOPUS databases. A total of 87 items were recorded from the online search, and after a quick review of all records, 45 papers were selected and reviewed thoroughly. Based on the results from the reviewed papers, ICC is one of the main requirements of human life in today's globalized world, especially in modern education and international business. Findings indicate that the absence of ICC is a crucial reason for failure in many modern professionals. Based on the results, cultural awareness and intercultural sensitivity, language proficiency, empathy, flexibility, and some other traits and skills are among the main components of ICC. The results indicate that staying and studying in multicultural environments, participating in cultural programs, observing felling and emotions, flexibility, and other factors, discussed in the current work, help individuals improve their ICC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work assessed different aspects, steps and conditions that help people communicate appropriately in the current globalized world deeply affected by modern technologies, such the Internet and artificial intelligence. The results reported in this manuscript are based on an analysis of eight studies in different aspects of human communication and a review of 70 papers published from 2000 to 2023. An online search using WoS and SCOPUS databases was done to record the related published works. A total of 186 items were recorded, and after excluding 116 duplicated and irrelevant items, 70 papers were selected and reviewed thoroughly. According to the results, communication initiation, self-disclosure, overall well-being, positive attitudes, language proficiency, communication competence, and technical skills are among the main factors that affect interactions among individuals from different cultures. Based on the results, cognition, knowing different norms and values, and accommodation in the current diversified environments are the main aims and outcomes of daily interactions among people. The current work introduces communication initiation, disclosure, cognition, and accommodation as the four main steps, and self-knowledge, positive attitudes, selfregulation, heart coherence, cultural awareness, intercultural sensitivity, openness, purposefulness, respect differences, language proficiency, technical skills, communication competence, and effectiveness as the main conditions of effective human communication in the age of the artificial intelligence in the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated factors influencing interpersonal communication among local and international students of a Malaysian public university. The embedded design of mixed methods was applied to conduct this study. This study had 220 participants from both local and international students of the mentioned university. Based on their agreements, 12 participants were interviewed to strengthen the survey data. Based on the results, the participants were using the English langue as the primary means of their daily interactions with their peers from different nationalities, and the levels of their English language proficiency and their daily interpersonal communication had mutual effects on each other. According to the results, around 80% of the participants had experienced some interactions with students from other nationalities at the university campus. Based on the results, their daily interactions helped the participants to improve their English language proficiency and to gain some new social and cultural information about different people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature has established the effectiveness of self-regulatory techniques using Heart Rate Variability (HRV)-Biofeedback Technology in improving individual's heart coherence. The current study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Quick Coherence Technique, a self-regulatory technique, through the application of HRV-biofeedback technology on the level of heart coherence among university students. A total of 20 students of a technical public university participated in the study. The Quick Coherence Technique (QCT) and the emWave device and software of the HeartMath Institute were used to collect the data. According to the HRV power spectrum, the HRV data is divided under very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF) frequency ranges. Based on the results, the use of HRV-biofeedback technology and the QCT had helped to increase the levels of HRV scores and heart coherence of the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between English language proficiency (ELP) and intercultural communication competence (ICCC) of Arab students in Malaysia. This study included both of the quantitative and the qualitative data sets to further the information. The participants of this study were 108 Arab students from nine different Asian and African nationalities. Based on the results of this study, English language was the main means of education for the participants, and the main means of their communication with students from other cultures. The results from this study found some significant correlations between the attributes of ELP and ICCC. The good levels of ELP encouraged and enabled individuals to be involved in daily interactions with their peers from different countries who speak different languages, and their interactions helped them to improve the levels of their ELP. Moreover, the participants who obtained higher scores in English language proficiency test got higher mean scores in ICCC as well. Based on the results, in some cases, their personal characteristics and the low levels of their ELP had negative effects on the process of interactions among Arab and other students. The results of this study may add some interesting information in the literature regarding the relationships between ELP and ICCC of Arab students in an Asian multicultural collegiate environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to assess the characteristics of interpersonal communication competence among postgraduate students from different cultures at a Malaysian public university. This study applied the mixed methods research design with the participation of 130 postgraduate students from 18 different countries. The Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (ICQ) was used as the main instrument of this study. Based on the results from this study, their interactions with their peers from different cultures helped the participants to improve the contact initiation, disclosure and conflict management skills of their interpersonal communication competence and gain some new personal and cultural skills and information. However, the participants were struggling to learn how to manage probable conflicts during their interactions with their peers from different cultures. The results from this study illustrate that the level of education variable affect interactions among individuals from different cultures in the Asian context of communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]