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The aim of this report is to provide stakeholders in the public, private and community sectors with key insights into patterns of rural land ownership in the Northern Transect based on analysis of land titles data from January 2004 to January 2020, supplemented by a series of focus group discussions and interviews with regional decision-makers in November 2020, January 2021, and July 2022. Three separate visits to the transect region were required because of delays and interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirteen LGAs (Moree Plains, Gwydir, Inverell, Glen Innes Severn, Tenterfield, Kyogle, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Richmond Valley, Ballina, Lismore, Byron, and Tweed) representing a continuous 480km stretch from the coast to New South Wales’s northwest, were selected for analysis. These LGAs represent a large diversity of rural landscapes. Unlike the other regional reports in this series (Hunter, Riverina and the Central West), this report is therefore not framed around a discrete biophysical and social region. It goes without saying that Byron Bay is very different from Boomi (in Moree Plains). For this reason, parts of the text here discuss the transect not as a single region but divide it into ‘Coastal’, ‘Hinterland’, and ‘Inland’.

Objetivo – Investigar e medir possíveis relações que poderão influenciar o uso e a mudança para a aprendizagem online pelo estudante, tendo presente a influência do fenómeno da COVID-19. Metodologia – Pesquisa empírica, de corte transversal, descritiva e quantitativa confirmatória, a partir da identificação de um modelo teórico, suportado pela revisão da literatura, concebível de estudar relações entre variáveis latentes. A recolha dos dados foi realizada pelo instrumento de medida questionário online, obtendo-se uma amostra de 117 respostas válidas. As hipóteses foram testadas por um modelo confirmatório de equações estruturais. Resultados –A utilidade e facilidade de utilização percebida demonstram influenciar a atitude do aluno quanto à mudança para a aprendizagem online. Igualmente, a atitude e a capacidade de autoaprendizagem afetam significativamente a mudança para a aprendizagem online, assim como a COVID-19. Foi assegurada adequada qualidade psicométrica e validade convergente e divergente. O estudo confirma todas as relações e hipóteses identificadas, com interessantes níveis de correlação e capacidades preditivas entre as variáveis, com destaque para a variável CH, explicada em 71,5% pelas variáveis SA, AT e COVID. Limitações/implicações – Os resultados necessitam de ser analisados com precaução devido ao tamanho da amostra. A pandemia trouxe entraves ao processo de recolha de dados, assim como a ausência de mais estudos sobre esta temática em Portugal para efeitos de discussão comparativa. Em contexto pandémico, a adoção de ferramentas e tecnologias de fácil utilização na aprendizagem online, estimularam uma atitude positiva quanto à mudança do paradigma educativo, assim como a importância da autoaprendizagem para este. A transição do ensino presencial para o digital trouxe implicações e desafios nunca experienciados. Originalidade/valor – Esta pesquisa produz conhecimento, que poderá servir de ponto de partida para as IES, quanto ao que fazer e o que evitar na aplicação do digital nos seus planos de estudo. Purpose - To investigate and measure possible relationships that may influence students' use of and change to online learning, keeping in mind the influence of the COVID-19 phenomenon. Methodology - Empirical, cross-sectional, descriptive and confirmatory quantitative research, based on the identification of a theoretical model, supported by the literature review, conceivable to study relationships between latent variables. Data collection was carried out by the measurement instrument online questionnaire, obtaining a sample of 117 valid responses. A confirmatory model of structural equations tested the hypotheses. Results - The perceived usefulness and ease of use are shown to influence student attitude towards switching to online learning. Likewise, attitude and self-learning ability significantly affect the shift to online learning, as does COVID-19. Adequate psychometric quality and convergent and divergent validity have been ensured. The study confirms all the relationships and hypotheses identified, with interesting levels of correlation and predictive abilities between the variables, especially the variable CH, explained by 71.5% by the variables SA, AT and COVID. Limitations/implications - The results need to be analysed with caution due to the sample size. The pandemic brought barriers to the data collection process, as well as the lack of further studies on this topic in Portugal for the purpose of comparative discussion. In a pandemic context, the adoption of easy-to-use online learning tools and technologies stimulated a positive attitude towards the change of the educational paradigm, as well as the importance of self-learning for this. The transition from face-to-face to digital teaching has brought implications and challenges never experienced before. Originality/value - This research produces knowledge, which could serve as a starting point for HEIs, as to what to do and what to avoid in applying digital in their study plans.

For a long time, B2B companies have been moving towards digital transformation, adopting new technologies to meet the needs of more demanding and empowered customers. This challenging movement is transforming the sales force and impacting the salespeople on many levels. Thus, the purpose of this study is to understand how the B2B sales force is being affected by digitalization, especially e-commerce. Using the multiple case study methodology, we conducted in-depth interviews with sales managers from four B2B companies, two traditional and two startups, and analyzed several dimensions initially found in the literature review. After analyzing the data, results demonstrated that when comparing the sales force of traditional and startup companies, there are significant organizational differences. Overall, the three companies with online sales have been dealing with the challenges of a multi-channel sales force, although the evolution has been distinct for all of them. These differences have proved that factors such as management commitment and investment, a clear e-commerce strategy, transparent communication, and proper training, are enablers for successfully selling online, as it also lessens job insecurity, one of the main consequences of digitalization within the sales force. In terms of technology, it was not surprising to find that the startups are using more recent digital tools than the traditional companies, investing in sales automation, and data analysis, which is something that the traditional companies also aim for but are still not prepared for. Finally, findings also showed the distinct impact that the Covid-19 pandemic had on the case studies, with traditional companies’ businesses slowing down, and startups booming, thanks the ecommerce. Overall, we were able to understand that B2B companies are dealing with changes caused by Digital Transformation within their sales force, which can have a different impact on similar companies, and that hybrid sales forces bring benefits and challenges that affect the structure, but mainly the salespeople. Findings add new insight to the existing academic research, and B2B sales managers should find guidance on our recommendations on to deal with the challenges of a multi-channel sales force.

Peer reviewed: True Here researchers have the disposition to engage in the scholarly discourse on how the pandemic adversely influenced individuals' mental health and what remedies should be exercised in response to the mental health challenges. There is a shortage of scholarly discussion about who benefitted from the occurrence of the pandemic. Mancini et al. argued that the pandemic benefitted the social and mental health functioning of a subset of the population, despite the pandemic causing considerable risks of harm to mental health. In this perspective, the author summarizes relevant findings and arguments to present which subsets of the population benefitted at school, at home, and in the workplace during the pandemic. Although COVID-19 is no longer deemed a pandemic, many by-products of the public health crisis, including the encouragement of remote work and studies, remain. In this perspective, by understanding who benefitted from the pandemic and why, the author can evaluate if any public policies formed in response to the pandemic should be kept in the long run in order to maximize individuals' mental health.

Estudi dels impactes de les mesures de reactivació econòmica impulsades pel Centre de Coordinació de la Resposta Econòmica (Cecore) 2020-2021

African economies are facing a series of challenges to their post-pandemic recovery. Economic activity in the region is slowing to 3.3 percent amid global headwinds, including weak global growth and tightening global financial conditions. Elevated inflation rates and resulting policy tightening, as well as the rising risk of debt distress, are also impacting economic activity. While food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa was increasing before the onset of Covid-19, the pandemic and the food and energy crisis have contributed to the recent steep increase in food insecurity and malnutrition. Climate shocks, low productivity in agriculture, lack of infrastructure also contribute to rising food insecurity in the region. The economic fallout from the multiple crises affecting the region has lowered household incomes, increased poverty, widen inequality and heightened food insecurity. This report discusses short-term measures combined with medium- to long-term policy actions that can strengthen African countries' capacity to build resilience and seize opportunities to unlock productivity-enhancing growth while protecting the poor and vulnerable.

2021 was an exciting year for ICNAP: despite the COVID-19-related challenges, the community managed to hold its ground with its 24 partners from the indus­try. Now it is taking big steps towards 30 partners. At ICNAP, we are convinced that only a strong coopera­tion between research partners, producing companies and digital enablers can meet the challenges of today. Even more, this is relevant when regarding the inter-disciplinary topic of Networked, Adaptive Production. ICNAP is the ideal platform for networking and collabo­ration within this area. A great response from industry confirms this view. Particularly noteworthy are the five ICNAP studies that were conducted in 2021. When deciding on the topics of these studies, we rely on the competencies and necessities of our industrial partners: all topics are exclu­sively determined by a voting process including all com­munity members. This ensures the industrial relevance of the ICNAP research topics. After a short introduction, this report presents the results of those studies, realized in a collaborative effort within the ICNAP community. With this report we hope to bring ICNAP a little closer to you. More information can be found at www.icnap.de.

2021 was an exciting year for ICNAP: despite the COVID-19-related challenges, the community managed to hold its ground with its 24 partners from the indus­try. Now it is taking big steps towards 30 partners. At ICNAP, we are convinced that only a strong coopera­tion between research partners, producing companies and digital enablers can meet the challenges of today. Even more, this is relevant when regarding the inter-disciplinary topic of Networked, Adaptive Production. ICNAP is the ideal platform for networking and collabo­ration within this area. A great response from industry confirms this view. Particularly noteworthy are the five ICNAP studies that were conducted in 2021. When deciding on the topics of these studies, we rely on the competencies and necessities of our industrial partners: all topics are exclu­sively determined by a voting process including all com­munity members. This ensures the industrial relevance of the ICNAP research topics. After a short introduction, this report presents the results of those studies, realized in a collaborative effort within the ICNAP community. With this report we hope to bring ICNAP a little closer to you. More information can be found at www.icnap.de.

O presente documento descreve, articula e sistematiza um processo investigativo dedicado às problemáticas e implicações inerentes à digitalização e mediatização das artes performativas, com enfoque na dança contemporânea/performance, no contexto pandémico e pós-pandémico associado ao SARS-COV-2 em Portugal. Após o decreto de encerramento de todos os espaços de apresentação de espetáculos a 12 de março 2020, companhias, artistas e entidades culturais iniciaram uma partilha e difusão de conteúdos sem precedentes. O processo que se iniciou com a distribuição de obras, maioritariamente em formato vídeo, através de redes sociais e plataformas online, complexificou-se de forma não linear, passando por diversas transmutações ao longo dos dois confinamentos que pautaram os anos 2020 e 2021. Partimos de uma contextualização histórica e estudo da relação da dança com o vídeo e os seus diferentes modelos de relação — registo, vídeo-dança e hibridismo — recorrendo a exemplos de obras de artistas como Loïe Fuller, Maya Deren, Merce Cunningham e Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker. Esta dissertação visa explorar o papel dos instrumentos e recursos digitais enquanto substitutos e/ou complementos do “palco” histórico, durante a pandemia de COVID-19, fazendo uma análise detalhada das estratégias adotadas a nível nacional, e questionando a sua eficácia de difusão assim como a sua continuidade no período pós-pandémico. The present document describes, articulates, and systematizes a research process concerned with the issues and implications of the digitization and mediatization of performing arts, focusing on contemporary dance/performance, within the pandemic and post-pandemic scenarios prompted by the SARS-COV-2 in the Portuguese context. After the decree to close all venues on March 12, 2020, numerous companies, artists, and cultural entities began an unprecedented sharing and dissemination campaign of programmatic content. A process that began with the distribution of works, mostly in video format, through social networks and online platforms, became more complex in a non-linear way, going through various transmutations throughout the two confinements that defined the years 2020 and 2021. We start from a historical context and study of the relationship between dance and video and its different models of interaction — record, video-dance and hybridism — using examples of works by artists such as Loïe Fuller, Maya Deren, Merce Cunningham and Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker. In this sense, the present dissertation explores the role of digital instruments and resources as either substitutes and/or complements to the historical “stage”, making a detailed analysis of the strategies adopted at a national level, and questioning their diffusion effectiveness as well as their continuity in the post-pandemic period.