Islamic Spiritual Education and Increasing Elderly Happiness

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The phenomenon of the increasing elderly population in Indonesia raises various challenges, one of which is how to ensure their emotional well-being and happiness. Siti Khadijah Nursing Home in Kesambi, Cirebon City, seeks to provide solutions through an Islamic spiritual education program. This study aims to explore the concept, implementation, challenges, responses, and impacts of Islamic spiritual education on increasing the happiness of the residents of the nursing home. The method used is descriptive qualitative, with data collection techniques through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document studies. Data analysis was conducted using triangulation techniques of sources, methods, and theories to ensure the validity of the findings. The results showed that the Islamic spiritual education program involving congregational prayer, reading the Qur’an, praying together, and spiritual counseling significantly increased the happiness of the elderly. The main challenges in implementing the program were limited human resources, facilities, and support from the residents’ families. The residents’ responses to the program were very positive, with active participation in every activity carried out. In conclusion, Islamic spiritual education has proven effective in increasing the happiness of the elderly, but improvements are still needed in terms of resource management and family involvement. Recommendations are given to strengthen external support and optimize spiritual-based programs to achieve sustainable elderly welfare.

An Analysis of Three Narrative Spaces in Young Goodman Brown

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This paper provides an analysis of three narrative spaces of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Young Goodman Brown, focusing on Gabriel Zoran’s spatial criticism theory. The above three narrative spaces include topographical space, chronotopic space and textual space. The topographical spaces refer to the Salem Village and the forest, which play a vital role in shaping the characters and expressing the “original sin” theme of the story. The chronotopic spaces reveal the rest state of Faith in synchronic relation and the motion state of Brown in diachronic relation, which show the double-side of humanity. The textual spaces like imagery and omniscient perspective increase the artistic charm of the story’s language. The study highlights how the three narrative spaces collectively enhance the thematic impact of Young Goodman Brown, showcasing the evil nature of human beings. The paper concludes by discussing the broader implications of the above findings for understanding Hawthorne’s narrative techniques and suggests directions for future research in this field.

The Ethnomathematics in Farming Activities on Halmahera Island, Waidamo Village, East Sahu District

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Ethnomathematics is an exploration of mathematics in the activities of people’s lives, especially culture. Mathematics is part of culture and is universal, as well as concrete ethnomathematics objects that can support and help students understand mathematics that is abstract in nature. Therefore, learning mathematics based on culture will be more interesting so that it can make students more active and think creatively in exploring their findings. Method This type of research is qualitative research with an ethnographic approach. The methods used to obtain data are field study methods, exploration, observation, interviews and documentation. In this study, it focused on the crafts of farming activities on farmers in Waidamo Village and involved two lecturers, 3 lecturers with various expertise and 2 students to assist researchers in exploring the geometric elements found in the crafts of farming activities. The purpose of this study is to explore ethnomathematics in farming activities. The data analysis technique used is triangulation, namely data reduction, data presentation and drawing conclusions. Data reduction is used to sharpen, classify, and discard data that is not needed in the study. The data obtained from the results of interviews, observations, and documentation are reduced by selecting the information needed to obtain valid data. Based on the results of the study, the ethnomathematics found were counting activities, rituals and comparing.

Reliability and Exploratory Factor Analyses of Social Support Rating Scale

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The measurement of social support adopts the social support rating scale developed by Ye Yuemei et al（2008）., which consists of 17 items and is based on Xiao Shuiyuan’s（1987） three factor model of social support. It includes subjective support, objective support, and utilization of support. The subjective support scale has 5 items and measures the perceived social support material and spiritual resources of the respondents; The objective support scale consists of 6 items, measuring the various forms of assistance that the respondents have truly received. The support utilization scale consisting of 6 items measures active utilization of social resources by respondents. This study aims to investigate the reliability and exploratory factor analysis of the Social Support Rating Scale.

“Ricardo Tacuchian” – A brazilian composer ahead of his time

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Ricardo Tacuchian (1939-) is one of the most performed Brazilian composers today. Starting since the 1960s, his work has about 250 titles, according to the book Ricardo Tacuchian e sua obra: catálogo e notas biográficas (2014) edited by FBN (Fundação Biblioteca Nacional) and organized by Elizeth Higino and Valéria Peixoto. Tacuchian’s catalog also contains 23 titles for voice and piano, written throughout his compositional career. They constitute a significant portion of his compositional universe and, therefore, deserve further reflection. The music-poetry complicity is evident in his production and, according to him, “a third is formed by music with texts. The choice to use poetry as the guiding thread of my music reflects the reading habit that I acquired in childhood and that accompanies me to this day” (TACUCHIAN, 2009). The very important brazilians poets like Manuel Bandeira (1886-1968), Cecília Meireles (1901-19640), Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1902-1987) and Vinicius de Moraes (1913-1980) were set to music by him. Perceiving this interaction and the way the composer constructed it, manipulating the rhythmic, harmonic, melodic and musical expression elements, demands from the performer an analytical study that is configured as an initial stage for its interpretative elaboration.

Exploring Students’ Academic Success in English at Schools of Rural Area: A Case Study

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Understanding the factors that contribute to students’ academic success in English is crucial, especially in rural schools where educational resources and opportunities may differ significantly from urban settings. This case study explores the unique challenges and successes experienced by students in rural areas, shedding light on the educational strategies that foster academic achievement in English. By analyzing these dynamics, this research aims to explore the learning experiences of high-achieving English students, identify the factors influencing their success, and examine the challenges they face while learning English in rural areas. This research employs a qualitative case study methodology, focusing on nine high-achieving students from SMPN 4 South Bungku. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and open-ended questionnaires and analyzed using the Interactive Model of Data Analysis. The findings revealed that students experienced four types of learning: individual, group, direct, and indirect. Two primary factors influencing their academic achievement were the role of teachers and the lack of truancy. However, students faced external challenges such as inadequate teaching and learning facilities, significantly impacting their academic performance. The implications of the study suggest the importance of providing diverse learning experiences, supporting personalized learning strategies, fostering strong parental and teacher relationships, and addressing infrastructure issues in rural schools. Policymakers should consider these findings to create inclusive and resourceful learning environments that cater to diverse student needs and address specific rural challenges.

Strategic Adaptation in Focus: Unfolding Stories of Novice Principals

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Being novice principals is a transformative experience that entails effective leadership principles. Their ability to adapt to varied circumstances can yield excellent outcomes in the educational setting. This study explored the experiences of novice principals in strategic adaptation to the newly assigned schools. It utilized qualitative research design, particularly phenomenological approach. In-depth Interview was used to generate responses from the participants. There were ten novice principals involved in the study selected through purposive sampling.  Based on their experiences in strategic adaptation, there were six themes emerged: strong support and collaboration with stakeholders, building good social relations and open communication, teacher empowerment, difficulty in adjusting to deeply rooted culture, shortage of budget allocation, and constraints on implementation of instructional delivery and maintenance of physical facilities. On the other hand, their collaborative planning practices were captured in four dominant themes: conducting interactive dialogue and consultation through regular meetings, practicing transformational leadership style, empowering teachers and stakeholders, and developing strong sense of commitment and shared responsibility. However, they adopted coping mechanisms to address the challenges by establishing democratic and consultative work environment, identifying priority improvement area, instituting generation of financial resources, adopting clear scientific approach to problem solving, and lobbying support from DepEd authorities and multi-stakeholders. The findings have implications on stressing the need to promote or develop more the principals’ leadership dimensions: educational, people, and strategic leadership especially in dealing with instructional delivery, financial management, collaboration with stakeholders, and instituting planning in schools.

Implementation of Regent Regulation Number 47 of 2020 Concerning Integrated Acceleration of Stunting Prevention in Suruh District, Trenggalek Regency

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Stunting is a major nutritional problem that affects the social and economic life of the community. There is clear evidence that people with stunting have higher mortality rates and increased morbidity for several reasons: stunting impairs physical performance, and mental and intellectual functions are impaired. The form of commitment to reducing stunting in Trenggalek Regency has actually been stated in the Implementation of Trenggalek Regency Regent Regulation Number 47 of 2020 concerning the Acceleration of Integrated Stunting Prevention. One of the focuses of this study is Suruh District, where Suruh District has the highest Stunting rate in Trenggalek Regency.

The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze the Implementation of Trenggalek Regency Regent Regulation Number 47 of 2020 concerning the Acceleration of Integrated Stunting Prevention in Suruh District, Trenggalek Regency.

This qualitative research explores the Stunting Reduction Policy. Data collection in this study used interviews, documentation and observation. The results obtained were then collected, reduced, presented and conclusions were drawn.

The results of this study according to Van Metter Van Horn’s Theory and based on the results of the analysis of indicators and the findings of the discussion of the previous chapters, the researcher concluded that the implementation of Trenggalek Regency Regent Regulation Number 47 of 2020 concerning the Acceleration of Integrated Stunting Prevention in Suruh District has not been carried out optimally. However, in the variable of Communication between organizations and implementing activities in the Implementation of the Stunting Reduction Policy, the Trenggalek Regency Government only coordinates with related agency units and this is carried out together, it is indeed carried out, one of which is through the variable of communication between organizations, namely between Bappelitbangda, the Health Office and the Suruh District Health Center. But it is not carried out to the lowest level, namely the community.

Compliance Level of Junior Staff to Work Ethics in Delta State Tertiary Institutions

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This study examined compliance level of junior staff to work ethics in Delta state tertiary institutions. A descriptive survey research design was used to investigate the study. To guide the study, three research hypotheses were raised. Questionnaire tagged “junior staff compliance to work ethics questionnaire” was used to collect data needed for the study. The population of the study was made up of 1,598 junior staff in the selected tertiary institutions out of which a sample of 799 junior staffs representing 50% made up of male and female junior workers was drawn from the population. Data collected were analyzed using ANOVA statistical tool to test the stated hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The researcher’s findings revealed that the level of compliance of junior staff to work ethics is poor in studied tertiary institutions. It is therefore recommended that institution management should ensure that the work environment for their junior staff is conducive and make available working equipment/tools, good working conditions, regular promotion and training of junior staff be organized by institution administrators and heads on the importance of ethical compliance to the organization for junior workers.

Sustainability, Profitability and Challenges Encountered in Income Generating Projects of University of Rizal System

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In today’s educational landscape, financial constraints are common among institutions. However, income-generating projects (IGPs) offer a sustainable solution, as noted by Boqueo (2023), providing both financial stability and valuable learning experiences for students. State universities and colleges (SUCs) particularly see IGPs as a vital income source, reflecting a shift towards collaborative funding efforts between the government and development partners (Adan & Keiyoro, 2019).Insights from Adora and Ultra (2022) highlight IGPs’ effectiveness in securing additional resources for schools, supporting various programs and bridging funding gaps. Embracing IGPs, as emphasized by Battad (2019), offers solutions to various challenges by integrating research, instruction, and extension while fostering job creation and supplementing school budgets.

In this context, this study was conceived to determine the level of profitability, level of sustainability, and challenges encountered in income generating projects of University of Rizal System. The study utilized descriptive-correlational research design. Copeland (2022) stated that the aim of descriptive research is to describe a phenomenon and its characteristics. Correlational research refers to a non-experimental research method which studies the relationship between two variables with the help of statistical analysis. In particular, this study described level of sustainability, level of profitability and challenges encountered in income generating projects of University of Rizal System.

The respondents of the study composed of the 130 admin and finance officials  of University of Rizal System . The actual sample of 98 was computed using the Raosoft Calculator and were chosen through the random sampling method (Rahi, 2017) with a confidence level of 95% and 5% a margin of error. A stratified sampling technique was in the study.

The findings revealed that the overall weighted mean of 3.37 indicates that there was a “Very High” level of sustainability in income generating projects of University of Rizal System . More so, the overall weighted mean of 3.25 indicates that there was a “Very High’  level of profitability in income generating projects of URS .The University of Rizal System faces several challenges in its Income Generating Projects (IGPs) based on survey responses. Major hurdles includes lack of funding for initial investments, insufficient project execution infrastructure, and resistance to change among faculty and staff, and difficulties aligning projects with academic goals. The level of sustainability significantly correlated with the level of profitability as shown by the Pearson r values of market demand and level of profitability along revenue generation (r=0.832; p=0.000) and financial and cost management (r=0.781; p=0.000) level of sustainability; Community engagement  and level of profitability along revenue generation (r=0.738; p=0.000) and financial and cost management (r=0.731; p=0.000), level of sustainability; Legal laws and regulations  and level of profitability along revenue generation (r=0.622 p= p=0.000)Financial and cost management (r=0.609 p=0.000) level of sustainability environmental and social impact and level of profitability along revenue generation (r=0.635 p=0.000) which were all less than the 0.01 and 0.05 level of significance. A value of 0.000 indicates a high level of prediction of the dependent variable (Level of Profitability). The obtained R square of 0.723 shows the independent variable ( market demand, Community engagement, Legal laws and regulations, Environmental and social impact)explain the variability of the dependent variable (level of profitability). Further, the ANOVA shows that the independent variable (level of Sustainability) being statistically significantly predicted the dependent variable Level of Profitability with an F-value of 47.922 and a probability value of 0.000which is less than the 0.05 significance level.

In conclusion, the Income Generating Projects (IGPs) at University of Rizal System (URS) achieved a very high level of sustainability. This is a manifestation that the IGPs are not only meeting legal requirements but are also making positive contributions to the environment, society, and community. The high level of profitability in Income Generating Projects (IGPs) of University of Rizal System (URS) signifies outstanding performance in terms of revenue generation and financial management. The Income Generating Projects (IGPs) at University of Rizal System (URS) reveals a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced in their implementation. The predominant challenges include a lack of funding for initial investments, insufficient project execution infrastructure, and resistance to change among faculty and staff. The higher the level of sustainability along with market demand, community engagement, legal laws and regulations and environmental and social impact, the higher the level of profitability along with the revenue generation and financial and cost management. The independent variable level of sustainability is the driver of level of profitability, hence, the proposed action plan may be implemented to address the challenges encountered in income-generating projects at the University of Rizal System.