The Journal of Innovation in Academia is a peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly publication committed to advancing innovation in higher education through interdisciplinary research, reflective inquiry, and transformative academic practices. Published by Star Scholars Press in collaboration with Kathmandu Model College, the Model Institute of Technology (MIT), and the International American University, this journal provides a dynamic platform for scholars, practitioners, and institutional leaders to explore forward-thinking ideas that enhance teaching, learning, and academic leadership—both within Nepal and globally.
Upon publication articles are immediately and freely available to anyone, anywhere, at any time. All published articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Unported License. All articles are permanently available online. The final version of articles may be posted to an institutional repository or to the author's own website as long as the article includes a link back to the original article posted on OJED.
The study aims to identify the determinants of commercial health insurance purchase intention among uninsured school teachers in Nepal. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey study of 412 uninsured school teachers. PLS-SEM approach has been adopted for the analysis. Purchase intention for commercial health insurance among school teachers is primarily affected by perceived usefulness and attitudes, along with the norms, literacy, and the service quality influence as supporting factors. This suggests that for enhancing adoption and long-term engagement, benefit-focused communication and product designs, added with trust and retention efforts, are essential. While male and female teachers differ somewhat in average views, these differences do not meaningfully change how the key drivers relate to intention.
Copyright (c) 2025 Interdisciplinary Journal of Innovation in Nepalese Academia https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
This study explores whether the value chain (VC) is primarily a theory or a practical tool for sustainable development. Using the qualitative analytical approach based on thematic analysis of academic literature, institutional reports, and purposively selected global cases between 2010 and 2025, enabling cross-comparative analysis of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions shaping VC as tools for sustainable development. The findings indicate that VCs operate as practical instruments for achieving sustainable development rather than solely economic models or just a theory. Evidence across global cases shows consistent improvements in income generation, social inclusion, environmental performance, and governance coordination when VCs are formally structured and supported. This study offers a unified framework that demonstrates how VCs can drive inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development, offering strategic insights for practitioners, policymakers, and industry actors for designing inclusive and climate-resilient interventions following the triple bottom line theory and the concept of circular economy.
Green Microfinance and Women’s Empowerment
This study examines the influence of green microfinance (GMF) on women's empowerment (WE) through the mediating role of financial literacy (FL), integrating human capital theory, capability approach, and experiential learning theory. Based on a survey research design, data were purposively collected from 250 women affiliated with three leading microfinance institutions (MFIs), each having at least a minimum participation period of six months. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. The findings revealed that GMF significantly influenced FL but did not have a significant effect on WE. Moreover, the relationship between FL and WE was supported, and the mediating role of FL in this relationship was also confirmed. This indicates that GMF fosters empowerment primarily by enhancing women’s financial knowledge and decision-making abilities. The study extends microfinance and feminist empowerment theories by introducing the environmental dimension of GMF and positioning FL as a key mediating factor.
This study explores the narrative techniques of unreliable narration in Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories “Ligeia”, “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and “Manuscript Found in a Bottle.” It investigates how Poe’s narrators distort time, space, and psychological perception to construct narrative ambiguity and disorientation amongst the readers. Drawing upon Wayne C. Booth’s theory of rhetorical narration and Gerard Genette’s narrative structural analysis, this study demonstrates that Poe’s narrators do not just merely mislead readers but rather actively immerse them in psychological disorientation and narrative ambiguity. Ultimately, Poe’s strategic use of unreliable narration emerges not as a narrative flaw but as a deliberate technique that deepens thematic complexity and reinforces Gothic conventions of instability and uncertainty. The findings contribute to broader discussions on the evolution of unreliable narration in psychological and Gothic fiction and reaffirm Poe’s pioneering role in shaping modern narrative practices.
Economics of Digital Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
This study examines the economic relationship between traditional academic resources and digital learning tools, including generative artificial intelligence (AI), among higher education students in Kathmandu, Nepal. Using cross-sectional data from 439 urban students and an ordered logistic regression framework, the study tests substitution and complementarity effects. Results show that e-learning platforms significantly substitute for physical library visits, reflecting reduced transaction costs, while also enhancing academic performance and research participation. In contrast, generative AI use shows no significant association with library demand or academic outcomes, indicating an early stage of adoption. Core library services continue to deliver distinct benefits and cannot be fully replaced by AI or digital tools. The findings support an integrated policy approach that combines strategic investment in library infrastructure and staff quality with the promotion of high-impact e-learning platforms and ethical AI tools to strengthen academic achievement, research engagement, and human capital development.
Job Autonomy and Innovative Work Behavior in Nepalese Service Industry
This study investigates the mediating effect of creative self-efficacy in the relationship between job autonomy and innovative work behavior within the Nepalese service sector. A quantitative approach was used, and the data were collected purposively from 409 employees in the diverse Nepalese service sector. The data were analyzed using PLS-SEM in R software to examine the structural paths. Findings reveal that job autonomy positively influences innovative work behavior, with creative self-efficacy partially mediating the relationship. The results contribute to organizational behavior literature by highlighting psychological mechanisms underlying innovative work behavior in hierarchical contexts. Practical implications include fostering creative self-efficacy through training and structured autonomy to drive organizational innovation. Thus, the study emphasizes that strengthening both autonomy and creative self-efficacy is essential for enhancing employee innovation in service-sector organizations.
Remittances, Export Performance, and Policy Frameworks in a Developing Economy
This study purpose to test whether larger remittance inflow supports or weakens Nepal’s export competitiveness. Annual data from 1994-2024 were used in this study, applying the export-centric ARDL bounds model with ECM and full diagnostics, modelling aggregate exports against remittance, GDP, import, and CPI. The data series are mixed I (0)/ I (1), cointegration is confirmed, and the error-correction term is found to be strong, indicating rapid adjustments. The result shows remittances have a positive but statistically insignificant effect on exports in the short and long run, providing macro-level insight into Dutch-Disease type crowding out. Export moves together with GDP and depend on imported intermediates. Remittance Granger causes imports but not exports. Stability, normality, and specification tests are stable. Thus, it concludes that Nepal’s challenge is not remittance-induced harm to tradables, but rather its failure to convert household savings into exportable capacity.
Influence of Financial Knowledge and Attitude on Financial Behavior of Working Women
Grounded on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Self-efficacy Theory, this study examines the influence of financial knowledge (FK), financial attitude (FA), and financial self-efficacy (FSE) on the financial behavior (FB) of working women through the mediating role of FSE in this relationship. Using the purposive sampling technique, data were collected from 309 working women working in different sectors. Data were analyzed using Smart PLS 4.0v. The findings revealed that FK did not support FB, whereas the FA and FB relationship was supported. Similarly, the relationship between FSE and FB was supported as well, and the mediating role of FSE was established in the relationship between FA and FB. FA and FSE emerged as significant predictors of FB of women, indicating the importance of psychological and motivational factors in shaping financial decisions. Policymakers and financial institutions should design targeted interventions that combine knowledge dissemination with confidence-building strategies.
This study re-examines how setting operates as an active narrative force by analyzing Stacy Aumonier’s “The Perfect Murder” and W. W. Jacobs’s “The Interruption.” While existing narratological frameworks have theorized Bakhtin’s chronotope and anticipation as separate components, they have not sufficiently explained how environmental conditions produce anticipatory pressure within the storyworld. Using qualitative close reading and an interdisciplinary synthesis of Bakhtin’s chronotope, phenomenological accounts of mood and atmosphere, and temporal theories from Genette and Brooks, the study argues that the lateautumn environments in both stories function as fused narrative chronotopic fields rather than descriptive backdrops. The analysis identifies a shared “harvest-before-death” chronotope in which November atmospheres externalize psychological instability and render outcomes feel inevitable by constraining character agency. Building on these findings, the article advances narrative gravity as a theoretical model that pulls the storyworld towards its endings long before events unfold.
This study explored quality assurance practices in Ghanaian Colleges of Education, highlighting challenges and proposing solutions to improve teaching and learning. Using a phenomenological approach, data were collected from 15 participants across five Colleges of Education, including principals, quality assurance officers, and student leaders. Findings revealed that internal quality mechanisms, academic counseling, and staff workshops enhance teaching quality. However, issues such as delayed result releases, curriculum irrelevance, and outdated resources persist. Participants recommended updating curricula, improving infrastructure, and strengthening professional development. The study provides context-specific insights into educational quality enhancement in resource-limited settings.
Green Banking Practices and Perceived Bank Performance
This study examines the impact of green banking practices (GBP) on perceived bank performance (BP), with a specific focus on the mediating role of green financing (GF). It analyzes four GBP dimensions, namely employee, operation, customer, and policy-related, using data from 269 banking professionals. Results show that GBPs and GF positively affect both environmental and financial performance, with GF partially mediating this relationship. Among GBP components, customer-related practices have the strongest impact, followed by employee and policy-related efforts, while operation-related practices show no significant influence. The findings provide strategic insights for banks and policymakers: strengthening green financing tools, integrating environmental policies into operations, and boosting customer and employee involvement are essential for sustainable outcomes. This study contributes to the evolving discourse on green finance by highlighting actionable pathways for improving both environmental and financial performance in the banking industry.
This study employs a mixed-methods approach to investigate the integration and impact of formative assessments in MBA programs across Nepal. Using stratified purposive sampling, 211 faculty members from 28 institutions under six universities participated. Quantitative findings reveal that while formative assessments are incorporated into curricula, their implementation varies widely. Faculty generally hold neutral views on their effectiveness, with more experienced educators being more positive. These assessments are associated with improved competencies in decision-making, critical thinking, and leadership. Qualitative findings highlight innovative practices like reflective journals, case studies, and collaborative projects that support student learning. However, challenges such as limited institutional support, insufficient digital infrastructure, and a lack of faculty training hinder optimal implementation. The study emphasizes the transformative potential of formative assessments and recommends policy reforms, professional development, and enhanced technology. Its integration of theory and practice offers a model for similar contexts globally.
The Transformative Role of AI in Advertising and Marketing
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has fundamentally transformed advertising and marketing by enabling data-driven hyper-personalization and predictive capabilities. This systematic literature review, based on 98 peer-reviewed studies (2018–2024) and guided by PRISMA, explores AI’s evolving role, from analyzing consumer behavior to enabling automated ad creation, dynamic segmentation, and real-time optimization. Findings reveal that AI enhances conversion rates while reducing costs by leveraging tools like generative AI for text/visual ads and predictive analytics for customer insights. The study highlights AI's shift from transactional to relational marketing, emphasizing its capacity to foster long-term customer relationships through personalized messaging and immersive Metaverse experiences. However, challenges such as algorithmic bias, privacy concerns, and SME adoption barriers persist, necessitating ethical frameworks like Explainable AI (XAI) for transparency. The study extends Relationship Marketing and Resource-Based View (RBV) theories to AI-driven environments and offers practical guidance on integrating AI while preserving human creativity.
Artificial Intelligence, customer segmentation, explainable AI (XAI), hyper-personalization, metaverse, predictive analytics
Organizational resilience is essential for businesses, especially in uncertain environments like Nepal. However, there is limited understanding of how different leadership styles influence resilience and the mediating role of organizational learning culture in this relationship. This study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between transformational and transactional leadership styles, organizational resilience, and the mediating effect of organizational learning culture within the Nepali manufacturing and service industries. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 340 employees across 40 diverse Nepalese organizations. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test the hypothesized relationships. The findings revealed that neither transformational nor transactional leadership styles had a direct significant impact on organizational resilience. However, organizational learning culture fully mediated the relationship between both leadership styles and resilience. This highlights the importance of cultivating a learning- oriented culture to strengthen organizational resilience, regardless of leadership style.
Webrooming and Pure Online Shopping Behavior of Skincare Consumers in Indonesia
Based on social cognitive theory, this study examines the influence of content marketing and electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM) on the purchasing decisions of skincare consumers. It also investigates whether the effects of content marketing and e-WOM on purchasing decisions differ significantly between pure online shoppers and webroomers. A quantitative approach was used to examine the causal relationship among the study variables. Likewise, cross-sectional data were purposively collected from 298 skintific users in Sumenep Regency, Indonesia. SmartPLS 4.0 was employed for analysis. This study found that both content marketing and e-WOM significantly influence skincare purchasing decisions, with no notable difference between pure online shoppers and webroomers. The results suggest that digital content and peer-generated reviews have become central touchpoints in high-involvement product decisions, transcending the physical-digital shopping divide. Findings reveal converging digital consumer behaviors, urging brands to adopt consistent, credible, and engaging digital strategies to build trust and drive purchase intentions.
This article explores how Mulk Raj Anand, through Untouchable, redefines the aesthetics of beauty and ugliness by challenging caste-based hierarchies in 1930s colonial India. Anand critiques the idealization of upper-caste purity by exposing the moral decay of Brahmins and Chhetris, while attributing ethical and humanitarian beauty to untouchables like Bakha, who embody honesty, humility, and labor worship. Employing Bakhtin’s concept of grotesque realism, Mukarovsky’s idea of socially constructed beauty, and Raymond Williams’ critique of aesthetic idealization, the study frames Anand’s politics of aesthetics within the discourse of social justice. It also draws on B.R. Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste to contextualize the novel’s anti-caste ideology. Anand ultimately destabilizes binary notions of beauty and grotesqueness, portraying the oppressed as morally beautiful and the so-called pure as ethically corrupt. The novel becomes a powerful critique of caste orthodoxy and a celebration of the dignity and humanity of the marginalized.
Impact of Role Conflict and Role Ambiguity on Emotional Exhaustion among Non-Managerial Employees in Boutique Hotels in Nepal
This study investigates the impact of role conflict and role ambiguity on emotional exhaustion experienced by employees working at a non-managerial level in different boutique hotels operating inside the Kathmandu Valley. Non-managerial employees are an essential part of the boutique hotel segment and its overall functioning, efficiency, and effectiveness. This study applies a cross-sectional survey design along with descriptive and multiple-regression analysis. According to data analysis, role conflict among non-managerial employees in boutique hotels is positively and significantly related to emotional exhaustion, while the link between role ambiguity and emotional exhaustion is positive but not statistically significant. Importantly, to reduce the stressful experiences germinating from role conflict and role ambiguity, which contribute to the prevalence of emotional exhaustion, this study implies that boutique hotels need to implement efficient HRM policies and practices that provide job descriptions, areas of specialization, job specifications, and performance agreements to their non-managerial employees.
The rapid growth of digital platforms in Nepal has reshaped democratic participation but also intensified misinformation, undermining informed citizenship and electoral trust. This qualitative study uses in-depth interviews and phenomenological analysis to explore how Nepali citizens engage with digital political content. Four major themes emerged: Digital Literacy as Situated Competence, Interpretation of Political Content, Misinformation and Democratic Trust, and Informal Misinformation Detection Strategies. Findings show digital literacy is deeply contextual, influenced by socio-cultural norms, gender gaps, and informal learning rather than formal education. Participants often respond emotionally to political information and depend on trusted social networks for validation. Misinformation erodes trust, leading to political disengagement or polarization. Yet, communities develop adaptive strategies to identify falsehoods. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive digital literacy initiatives, stronger platform accountability policies, and community-based civic education to bolster democratic resilience.
While the adoption of digital banking continues to rise, research on how digital service quality affects customer retention is limited. This study applies an E-S-QUAL-based framework to assess how dimensions of digital banking service quality (DBSQ) influence customer satisfaction and their mediating role in customer retention within commercial banks in Kathmandu Valley. A cross-sectional design was used, collecting data from 426 respondents through structured questionnaires and analyzed through SmartPLS 4.0. Results show that among the five DBSQ dimensions, efficiency, ease of use, and security significantly affect customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction, in turn, has a significant impact on customer retention and partially mediates the relationship between service quality and retention. These findings highlight the critical role of digital service quality in enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. The study offers valuable insights for banks and policymakers aiming to improve digital banking experiences to foster stronger customer retention.
Authenticity of Identity in Lauren Oyler's Fake Accounts
This study explores authenticity in Lauren Oyler’s Fake Accounts through the lens of Goffman’s self-presentation theory, Baudrillard’s simulacra and hyperreality, and Turkle’s insights on digital disembodiment. It analyzes the protagonist’s negotiation of online and offline identities, revealing how digital personas operate as curated performances detached from an underlying “real” self. Using Goffman’s dramaturgical model, the study shows how social media fosters continuous impression management similar to theatrical role-playing. Baudrillard’s concept of hyperreality further exposes these digital identities as simulacra, self-referential images that supplant authenticity. Turkle’s framework highlights the alienation and fragmentation arising from fragmented digital selves. Together, these theories illuminate the novel’s critique of performative pressures and the crisis of authenticity in hyperconnected, postmodern digital culture. Ultimately, Fake Accounts questions the possibility of genuine selfhood amid pervasive simulation and digital disembodiment.
Digital Finance Adoption, Emerging Trends, and Customer Satisfaction
The rapid advancement of digital finance has transformed global financial systems, making it critical to understand emerging research trends and customer satisfaction. This study employs a bibliometric analysis using data from the Dimensions database to examine the research trend, collaborative patterns, and thematic focuses in digital finance adoption. The analysis reveals a steady growth in publications over the past decade, with key themes including trust, security, convenience, and service quality. Highly cited sources include top-ranked journals such as the International Journal of Information Management, emphasizing the academic interest in user-centric digital finance research. The co-authorship analysis shows that research in this field is largely collaborative, with an average of 2.56 authors per document. However, international collaboration is limited (7.45%). The findings offer useful information about enhancing customer-centric strategies and emphasize the necessity of collaboration, as well as a focus on data security, privacy, and regulation in future research.
Allegory of impunity in Vijay Malla’s Pattharko Katha
Written in 1971, the one-act play Pattharko Katha by Vijay Malla (1925-1999), staged by the student artists from Tribhuvan University, embodies the state of political helplessness that Nepalis had to go through right after the then King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (1920-1972) dismissed the historically significant democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Bishweshwor prasad Koirala (1914-1982) in 1961. This paper aims to read the play as the political allegory of the period when the Rana rulers and their cronies were left unpunished, and most of the victims of the autocratic regime had no choice but to swallow the bitter pills. It points out that the action taken by the King as part of installing a partyless Panchayat regime did pave the way for the state of helplessness among people. Malla, someone who had played an active role in the 1950 historical revolution.
Copyright (c) 2024 Interdisciplinary Journal of Innovation in Nepalese Academia https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
There is a bifurcation between philosophy and science: a derogative word, impractical and dead discipline; and a laudatory term for objectivity, and utmost necessity of the modern world respectively. Many articles highlight higher paying jobs and enrollment in STEM fields indicating it has a solely existing discipline for a long; however, philosophy makes it possible for science to exist, including language and communication a lineage. This paper shows before science, philosophy came into play with objectivity facts; and applications, meaning philosophy was the first science. The fallacy of science as empirical and superior for its attainability measurement is countered through backings. The rebuttals and qualifiers expose such fallacy, failure of Newtonian science (three-body problems), and quantum emersion, for instance, break its objectivity and truth; which occur is the interplay of time and relevance like philosophy; however, unlike pure science, philosophy holds its ground firm for more than two millennia.
Exploring Eastern philosophy in Radha by Krishna Dharabasi
The Eastern philosophy, deeply rooted in the cultural and intellectual traditions of South Asia, provides profound insights into the human condition, addressing themes of duty, action, and liberation. The novel Radha by Krishna Dharabasi offers a modern reinterpretation of the mythological Radha, challenging traditional portrayals by focusing on her existential and philosophical struggles. The paper examines how Dharabasi weaves together Hindu concepts such as dharma (duty), karma (action), and moksha (liberation) with Buddhist and Jain teachings on suffering, non-attachment, and self-realization. The study employs a qualitative textual analysis and comparative approach to explore Radha’s recontextualization of ancient philosophical doctrines, addressing contemporary debates on identity, agency, and autonomy. The portrayal of Radha as a multifaceted character navigating personal and societal expectations bridges traditional philosophies with modern existential concerns. The research aims to deepen understanding of Eastern philosophy’s relevance in contemporary literature and contribute to interdisciplinary discourse.
Self-compassion and spiritual well-being among employees in educational institutions
This study investigates the relationship between self-compassion and spiritual well-being among employees of educational institutions in the Kathmandu Valley. A descriptive research design was adopted, utilizing convenience sampling to collect cross-sectional data from 171 respondents via an online Google Form. Data analysis was performed using correlation and chi-square tests in SPSS version 23. The results indicated that most respondents demonstrated high levels of self-compassion and spiritual well-being, with no significant differences across demographic factors. A moderate positive correlation of 0.514 was found between self-compassion and spiritual well-being. In terms of self-compassion, mindfulness ranked highest, followed by self-kindness, with common humanity ranking lowest. Regarding spiritual well-being, the communal domain ranked the highest, followed by the environmental, personal, and transcendental domains, respectively. It is recommended that educational institutions focus on these high-ranking factors to enhance employee satisfaction
Cognitive dissonance in university choice among graduate students
In the context of higher education, students face a critical and often irreversible purchasing decision, leading to significant post-purchase evaluation and potential cognitive dissonance. This study investigates the impact of perceived service quality dimensions academic aspects, non-academic aspects, reputation, access, and program issues alongside consumer-organization identification on cognitive dissonance among graduate students. Employing an exploratory and descriptive research design, primary data were collected from 294 respondents through a structured questionnaire. The analysis utilized the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), applying descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlation and regression analyses. Key findings indicate that all five dimensions of perceived service quality significantly negatively influence cognitive dissonance, with academic aspects exerting the most substantial effect. Furthermore, consumer-organization identification was found to have a greater impact on cognitive dissonance than overall perceived service quality. These insights underscore the importance of service quality in mitigating cognitive dissonance in university selection processes.
Effect of occupational stress on turnover intentions among young employees in Nepalese commercial banks
Occupational stress in the banking sector, particularly among younger employees, contributes to turnover intentions, challenging employee retention and organizational productivity. This study, based on the Job Demand-Control model and Social Exchange Theory, examines the impact of occupational stress on turnover intentions among young employees in Nepalese commercial banks. It also examined the impact of different demographic profiles, including gender, age group, work experiences, and responsibility level on turnover intention. It also analyzes demographic factors, including gender, age, work experience, and responsibility level. Data were collected from 357 managerial and operational-level employees across ten banks selected using purposive sampling, including the top five and bottom five performers. SPSS version 23.0 was used for data analysis. Regression analysis revealed that workload, role ambiguity, and poor working conditions significantly increased turnover intentions, while supervisor support reduced them. Demographic analysis showed higher turnover intentions among younger employees, males, mid-career professionals, and operational staff.
Policyholder surrender behavior in the Nepalese life insurance market during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Nepalese life insurance industry is facing a significant challenge due to its high surrender rate, which became particularly alarming during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, this study aims to explore the different reasons behind the life insurance policy surrenders and examine the association between the policy holding period and the demographic characteristics of policyholders. Primary data were collected during 2020-2021 through a questionnaire survey from 445 policyholders who had already surrendered the policy. The survey was conducted in eight major cities in Nepal. The findings reveal several key insights into policyholders’ surrender behavior. The most influential factors contributing to surrender include advice from family and friends, lack of knowledge about the policy, and insufficient information provided to policyholders. The study concludes that economic factors are the most significant driver of surrender behavior, followed by knowledge gaps, social influences, company-related factors, and, to a lesser extent, agent-related factors.
This study explores the cultural heritage conservation practices and challenges in Kathmandu employing a cross-sectional descriptive and explanatory design. Data was collected through surveys using structured questionnaires and interviews. Systematic random sampling was employed to select local community members, while purposive sampling was used for interviews with government officials, cultural experts, and tourism authorities. The study’s sample size is 395 with valid responses from respondents. Latent class analysis indicated three main visitor types: heritage enthusiasts, spiritual seekers, and urban explorers. Thematic analysis of seven interviews with key stakeholders revealed seven major impediments to effective heritage conservation: inadequate management, insufficient monitoring and evaluation, lack of financial resources, minimal stakeholder involvement, the pressures of urbanization, weak governmental commitment, and the impacts of vandalism and illicit trafficking. The findings from the multi-method analysis suggest that the cultural heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley are at risk unless supported by robust conservation strategies.
Voters’ perception and women's electoral success in Nepal
This research explores the socio-cultural and institutional barriers to women's electoral success in Nepal, focusing on voter perceptions of female leadership. It aims to estimate the likelihood of voting for women candidates in the existing socio-economic and political dynamics. The study employed a quantitative research design. An ordered logistic regression model analyzed responses from 385 individuals from the Rupandehi district, utilizing a structured questionnaire. Findings reveal surprising trends, notably that female respondents exhibit a lower likelihood of supporting female candidates, indicating internalized biases and societal expectations regarding gender roles. Male respondents show varied biases influenced by education and occupation. The research highlights those patriarchal norms significantly hinder women’s political support, while positive factors like social media engagement can shift perceptions over time. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions, such as expanded gender quotas and awareness campaigns, to address systemic biases and enhance women’s political representation.