1745 Views | 4026 Downloads
Editor's Foreword and Introduction to Vol. 6 (1) Jul. 2024
Nayan Deep S. KANWAL
Welcome to the first special issue issue of Horizon Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research (JHSSR) for 2024. JHSSR (eISSN 2682-9096) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal committed to delivering innovative research to both academia and practicing professionals. Independently owned and published by BP Services, we operate on a not-for-profit basis to benefit the global social science community. Find out more here.
In this issue, we present a diverse collection of 14 articles, encompassing a broad spectrum of topics and research methodologies.
The first paper, an invited piece by Distinguished Professor Kirpal Singh from Singapore, titled “The Imperative for Integrating Creative Thinking into Higher Education: A Call for Transformation,” explores the necessity of incorporating creative thinking in education amidst the rise of Generative AI. Singh emphasizes the need for a shift from traditional analytical approaches to foster genuine innovation and address the complexities of the modern world.
Our second paper, “Indian and Vietnamese Buddhism: Similarities and Differences” by Dr. Trần Thị Vân Dung from Vietnam and Professor Nayan Deep Singh Kanwal (USA), provides a comparative analysis of the historical and doctrinal evolution of Buddhism in India and Vietnam. This study highlights the cultural exchanges and unique adaptations of Buddhism within Vietnamese society.
The next nine papers are original research articles, starting with “ESL Teachers’ Perspectives on Differentiated Instruction for Quality Inclusive Education” by Melanie Khor Wei Chen and Professor Gurnam Kaur Sidhu (Malaysia), which examines the implementation of differentiated instruction in the Malaysian ESL context.
This is followed by Dr. Devinder Pal Singh’s “Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Science-Religion Dialogue” (Canada), which discusses how AI influences the interaction between science and religion.
Tian Jie (China) and Professor Ng Soo Boon (Malaysia) present “The Impact of Critical Thinking Disposition on University Students’ English Writing Proficiency,” exploring the correlation between critical thinking and writing skills.
Xi Yang (China) and Professor Nooreiny Maarof (Malaysia) delve into “Influence of Post-Method Pedagogy on Chinese EFL Teachers’ Perception of Teaching Approach,” highlighting the practical application of post-method pedagogy in underdeveloped regions of China.
Karishma Agarwal and Nishant Ketu (India) contribute “Anthropogenic Impact on the Lake Ecosystem,” emphasizing the need for conservation and management of urban lakes.
Heng Si Yun Bethany, Anna Phang Wai Leng, and Siew Siew Kim (Malaysia) discuss sustainable development in preschool education in “Preschool Teachers’ Perceptions on Classroom Practices to Sustain Environmental Education Development.”
Ali Mohammed Ali Al Breiki, Serge Gabarre, and Cecile Gabarre (Sultanate of Oman) investigate the use of Google Docs in peer assessment in “The Effect of Peer Assessment Using Google Docs on Omani Grade Ten Students’ Writing Performance.”
Associate Professor Tania Afrin Tonny (Bangladesh) and Oluwakemi Favour Bayewu (Nigeria) explore gender inclusivity in entrepreneurship in “Women’s Entrepreneurship Development in Bangladesh: A Gender Perspective.”
Waseem Ahmad Bhat and Shazia Majid (India) analyze bureaucratization and religious freedom in Southeast Asia in “Mapping Bureaucratization of Religion in Southeast Asia: Historical Trends and Contemporary Implications.”
Professor Brij Mohan (USA) presents an opinion piece, New Intolerance: Dialectic of Freedom, exploring societal tensions and the rise of exclusionary authoritarianism.
Associate Professor Jade Charon Robertson (USA) offers practical solutions for underfunded predominantly Black institutions in “Empowering Dance and Technology Education: 10 Vital Steps for Implementation in Underfunded Spaces within Predominantly Black Institutions.
Lastly, Chen Haixia (China) and Professor Ng Soo Boon (Malaysia) examine the impact of innovation and entrepreneurship education on student entrepreneurial intentions in “Evaluating the Impact of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education on Sustaining Student Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Case Study in Chongqing, China.”
We hope this diverse collection of research enriches your understanding and inspires further inquiry in the fields of humanities and social sciences.
In conclusion, this issue of JHSSR offers a wealth of knowledge and insights across various disciplines, reflecting the journal’s commitment to fostering diverse and impactful research. We encourage you to explore these articles, engage in critical discussions, and share this valuable resource with your peers and students.
As we celebrate the journal’s accomplishment of surpassing 1,289 submissions, with only 236 accepted and published, we acknowledge the rigorous standards maintained in the review process. This high acceptance rate reflects our commitment to ensuring the publication of high-quality research that aligns with the journal’s scope and contributes significantly to the academic community.
Our Quality
All the papers except the book-review published in this edition underwent a rigorous yet relatively rapid double-blind peer-review process involving a minimum of three reviewers comprising internal as well as external referees, which translates to benefits such as timeliness of publication, widespread dissemination, high visibility, and likelihood of high citations and broader impacts. This was also to ensure that the quality of the papers justified the high ranking of the journal, which hopes to be one at par with one of the renowned and heavily-cited journals not only by authors and researchers in Malaysia and America but by those in other countries around the world as well.
While I hope this issue will have particular appeal to new readers across this region and beyond, I am confident that the articles published will raise interest among our regular readership of scholars and postgraduate students elsewhere, thanks to the relevance and diversity of contributions on a region whose future bears central importance to us all.
I would also like to express gratitude to all the contributing authors for their trust, patience, and timely revisions, who have made this issue possible, as well as the reviewers and editors for their professional contribution. Last but not least, the assistance of the journal’s editorial office in Texas, particularly Jessica Whitsitt, Lucy Fernandez, and Judy Meester—my adorable assistants, is greatly appreciated.
The Editorial Board of JHSSR welcomes your contributions and looks forward to many years of fruitful research to come. We continue to welcome submissions in all fields of humanities and social sciences. Horizon JHSSR is currently accepting manuscripts for its second 2024 issue based on original qualitative or quantitative research that opens new areas of inquiry and investigation. Empirical articles should demonstrate high rigor and quality. Original research collects and analyses data in systematic ways to present important new research that adds to and advances the debates within the journal’s fields. The editors hope that the authors publishing in this journal can support the noble cause of JHSSR in reaching its goals.
JHSSR also invites call for proposals for 2024-25 Special Issues. Our journal aims to provide a platform for researchers and technical experts to publish original papers, reviews and communications on all aspects of humanities and social sciences research. We strive to maintain a high standard of scientific objectivity, and we ensure that all submitted articles undergo a stringent yet relatively rapid double-blind peer-review process, which translates to benefits such as timeliness of publication, widespread dissemination, high visibility, and likelihood of high citations and broader impacts. Alongside a mission-driven Editor-in-chief, the globally diverse Editorial Board works with prominent scientific community to create a fast moving and rigorous editorial reviews. JHSSR follows code of conduct stipulated by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Proposals can be submitted directly via email to [email protected]
Let me conclude by saying that with the publication of this issue, we are now completing six years of continuous and successful scholarly publication of Horizon JHSSR. Changing publishing norms and expectations have given rise to a new wave of publishing standards that we’ll be riding into 2024 soon and beyond. I am confident that the upcoming year will bring yet another challenging year of emerging scholarly articles.
Only time will tell what the next decade has in store, but one thing for sure is we will likely see greater innovation in all areas of scholarly publishing with emphasis on A.I. If you are observing other scholarly publishing trends, please do share your thoughts with the Chief Executive Editor!
Thank you for your continued support. We hope you find these articles thought-provoking and valuable in your academic pursuits, and look forward to further enriching the scholarly discourse in future issues.
Download Full PDF
