Abstract: This paper sought to reaffirm the urgent need for criminal justice reform in sentencing practices in the United States of America. According responses of thirty participants in this paper and numerous studies and findings, “a clarion call to action in criminal justice reform for African Americans needed now” (CFES, Inc). African Americans have suffered the greatest atrocities than any other people on earth; and yet they are hopeful in freedom and democracy. The social unrest of 2020 following the death of George Floyd on May 28, 2020 by a racist police officer in Minnesota; along with countless other unjust killings and sentencing of Africans American attest to the need for a clarion call to justice in America. More needs to be known today’s public views on racial inequalities and social injustices and the need to eradicate system racism in the United States against African Americans. Now is the time for action. African Americans are hopeful that with the newly elected Biden/Harris Presidential team in the White House on January 20, 2021, that the ‘soul of America’ may truly able to begin the healing process for all people, especially those who have suffered so much.

Abstract: This paper describes policies and initiatives to foster gender equality in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)-related education and employment in Greece. Various Greek government authorities are responsible to issue and implement policies for promoting gender equality and non-discrimination. Many initiatives aim at empowering women with digital skills. National and European Union (EU) statistics show that there exists a wide gender gap in STEM-related higher education participation, employment, and salaries in Greece. Although there exists a gender gap in STEM education participation and graduation, the gender gap in digital skills is narrow. Furthermore, the gender gap in STEM unemployment, employment, high rank job positions, and salaries is wide. Finally, the paper recommends both specific actions to be taken in order to increase women participation in STEM and specific indicators to monitor them.

Abstract: The current study aims to contribute to the discussion of the social dimension of the Higher Education Area under crisis (economic debt crisis, pandemic crisis), regarding the debate concerning social cohesion and the quality of the democratic characteristics of modern western states. Higher education systems all over Europe have been going through considerable changes because of the recent European economic and health crisis (Covid-19). The changes because of the crisis were substantial in Greek Higher Education too. The remaining strength of the structures of the welfare state and specifically of education will be particularly tested by the looming pandemic of COVID-19. A key aspect of the changes because of the crisis is being related to the transformation of the modern welfare state. Respectively in the Amphitheater, the subjective strategies have to face the lack of resources, but also the increase of the cost of the necessary resources that the ‘professionalization’ of the studies introduces, while the State recedes and new organizational forms emerge, as part of a new socio-economic crisis environment.

Abstract: Recent events in elections throughout the world have illustrated how quickly people dig in their heels and refuse to consider positions from others they treat as outsiders. This role-modeling will take its toll on students who already seek to be agreeable to a favored group without reflecting on the group’s shared ideologies. Too many see schooling as truth-providing. Yet this is a time when truth-seeking and slow thinking ought to be featured as the heart of educated deliberation.

Abstract: The objective of this study is to explore the predictive relationship of perceived social support and depression in trainee nurses in Karachi, Pakistan. It was hypothesized that perceived social support would predict depression in Muslim nursing trainees in Pakistan. The sample was comprised of 294 trainee nurses from various nursing school situated in Karachi. The Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale and Siddiqui-Shah Depression Scale were administered. Results showed that perceived social support (r= -.249, p< .000) significantly predicts depression in trainee nurses. It was further revealed that support from family (r= -.285, p< .000) and friends (r= -.262, p< .000) predict depression in trainee nurses significantly, however, support from significant others found to be insignificant (r= -.076, p> .191) determinant of depression in current study. The findings showed that having supportive family members and friends are more pertinent areas in support system to protect nursing trainees from depression in Pakistan.

Abstract: Industry 4.0 is a vision spelled out in high-tech strategy of the developed countries. The technologies envisioned to see industrial growth are based upon information and communication technologies to achieve higher production rates, flexibility in production, real-time fault diagnosis, and a lower wastage rate in production. Such high-end enabling technologies require relevant professional skills of graduates from academia. The task of governments of developed countries is to adapt the curriculum of engineering institutions to skills perceived as necessary to meet demands of industry 4.0 compliant industries. This work, first, discusses necessary components in engineering, in general, and electrical engineering in particular. A literature review is conducted to highlight current research, identify studies that are focused on engineering education especially electrical engineering. Later, industry 4.0 outlook in United Arab Emirates is investigated regarding industry 4.0 technological challenges. After that, electrical engineering curriculum in most of the well-known UAE universities is surveyed to identify depth and breadth of computer courses, and weakness are identified to build a two-way path to meet skills requirements of industry 4.0 technologies. Future directions are discussed.

Abstract: Literacy is critical to the overall development and growth of humanity. Literacy is essential to the academic success and future of all students enrolled in educational public and private sectors. The following paper takes on an exploratory approach on the importance of literacy at the secondary level and within content areas with a specific emphasis on music education. Extensive research over the years has focused on literacy at the elementary levels with limited research or pedagogical recommendations focused at the secondary levels. More recent research indicators suggest that secondary educators must participate in the roles and responsibilities involving literacy instruction shifting the focus towards content area literacies. The following presentation 1) explores the many facets of literacy 2) reexamines secondary literacy within content areas 3) and proposes literacy at the secondary level through music education.

Abstract: Colleges and universities are recording an upsurge in the number of cases involving students and mental health challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This investigation explores complex issues pertaining to mental health among low-income, LGBQT+, and international students. Recognizing the urgency and current impact on students seeking support and mental health services, digital technologies, web-based and computer-delivered interventions are being considered as ways to improve students’ mental health. The findings reveal that innovative strategies and comprehensive policies have given rise to expanding support to students with increased mental health issues not only now but post-COVID-19-pandemic.

Abstract: The year 2020 has had its challenges in the field of education at all levels. This paper highlights a developing framework with protocols to a collaborative university faculty model to facilitate community partner and service to community projects from combined course learning outcomes. Key educational technology and collaborative partnering frameworks are presented and woven into the team’s progressive goal of integrating technology standards throughout educator preparation and related degree programs. This study’s data was comprised from a collaborative review of literature and sharing of reflective journals with partnering faculty in a college of education and human development with a nursing educator program. The resulting model is based upon the team’s comparative reflective journals and progressive experiential learning developments.

Abstract: This study explored the personal experiences of three Black female academics (a lecturer, a reader and a professor) to examine how Eurocentrism has impacted their lives, and how their knowledge and positionality in British universities can challenge the Whiteness ever-present in Eurocentrism. This study adopted Critical Race Theory as the theoretical perspective to conduct research. Via online semi-structured interviews, the narratives of the three participants were obtained as primary data for the chosen method of Thematic Analysis to be applied. The four key themes that emerged from this study were: Whiteness; Presence of Black Female Academics in Higher Education (HE); Supporting Black Female Academics; and Supporting Black Students. This study concludes that Whiteness is detrimental to Black female academics and therefore ought to be provided with effective mentoring. Additionally, Black female epistemes challenge Eurocentrism as does the mentorship of Black students.