Download eBook   | Order Print Copies | Other Distributors This edited volume, Advancing Local Knowledge for a Brighter and Sustainable Future, foregrounds the importance of local knowledge as a vital source of insight for addressing global educational, cultural, technological, social, and sustainability challenges. While locally grounded knowledge is often rich in context and practical relevance, its broader impact depends on its visibility within international scholarly conversations. This volume responds to that need by providing a multilingual, interdisciplinary, and globally engaged platform for knowledge exchange. Contributions explore themes related to education, intercultural communication, cultural diplomacy, governance, sustainability, language, technology, and leadership. Together, the chapters demonstrate how locally produced scholarship can inform global understanding, strengthen academic collaboration, and support a more inclusive and sustainable future. The volume is intended for scholars, educators, institutional leaders, policymakers, and practitioners interested in advancing equitable knowledge production and global academic engagement. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/dsza7f33 ISBN (Hardcover): 979-8-89524-093-9 ISBN (eBook): 979-8-89524-094-6 Recommended citation (APA 7th edition) Gültekin, O., & Uyar, Ç. (Eds.). (2026). Advancing local knowledge for a brighter and sustainable future . STAR Scholars Press. https://doi.org/10.32674/dsza7f33 CONTENTS Front Matter Title Page and Editorial Team — i Conference Leadership and Committees — ii Preface and Acknowledgements — iv Legal Disclaimer and Statement of Responsibility — vi CHAPTERS 01. English as Foreign Language Instructors’ Perceptions of and Attitudes Towards Teaching World Englishes and Cultures in Higher Education in Türkiye Seda Bozkır Elmalı; Saeed Mehrpour Pages 1–20 02. Exploring Chatbots, Adaptive Systems, and Beyond: AI in Foreign Language Teaching Eyyüp Yaşar Kürüm Pages 21–26 03. The Role of Adopting Artificial Intelligence into Architectural Design in Promoting Urban Sustainable Development Safa A. Alhusban; Ahmad A. Alhusban; Mohammad A. Alhusban Pages 27–34 04. Transforming Higher Education in Ibero-America: Empowering Global Change Agents Through COIL and the SDGs Marina Falasca Pages 35–42 05. Learning by Doing: Using Role-Play Simulations to Enhance Project Management Education Thomas Neubauer; Andrea Schlacher; Anja Pfleger-Landthaler; Birgit Phillips Pages 43–52 06. Role of AI and Metaverse in Revolutionizing Health Care and Medical Training Abdallah Dwikat; Zafer Aslan; Dilara Arslan; Rafet Akdeniz Pages 53–68 07. Integrating Wildlife into Forest Europe Process: A Critical Gap in Framework Çağdan Uyar Pages 69–86 08. Legal Regulation of Water Use: Lithuanian Experience Dalia Perkumienė Pages 87–96 09. Assessing Period Poverty and Menstrual Issues: A Descriptive Analysis from an Online Survey of College Students Joyvina Evans Pages 97–100 10. Navigating Inclusive Excellence: Centering International Student Voices for a More Equitable Campus Marcia Sun Pages 101–104 11. Student Engagement with AI Writing Tools: Benefits, Challenges, and Ethical Considerations in the Rural Development Program of Tribhuvan University, Nepal Tirtha Raj Timsina; Nirajan Rijal Pages 105–118 12. Exploring Nepalese Teachers’ Perceptions towards the Effectiveness of the PTE Test in Improving English Language Skills Hiranya Lal Lamsal Pages 119–132 13. Impact of Integrating Local Knowledge Systems (LKS) into the Basic Education Curriculum as a Strategy for Decolonizing Education and Enhancing Students’ Engagement and Cultural Identity in Public Secondary Schools in Anambra State, Nigeria Njideka Gloria Ikegbusi Pages 133–150 14. Women’s Political Participation through the Lens of Feminist Theory: The Case of Türkiye after 1934 and Comparisons with Afghanistan and Denmark Serra Uslu Pages 151–160 15. Sustainable University Campus Design: Case of Istanbul Aydin University Gökçen Firdevs Yücel Caymaz; Yaman Aniss Pages 161–178 16. Evaluation for Children Hospital Environmental Design Criteria Gökçen Firdevs Yücel Caymaz; Mahammad Mammadov Pages 179–194 17. The Effects of the New Metropolitan Law No. 6360 on Forest Villages and Villagers: The Example of Aydin Province in Türkiye Ahmet Tolunay; Seda Dilek; Ayhan Akyol Pages 195–200 18. Environmental Sustainability in the Sports Industry: Negative Impacts and the Importance of Green Environmental Policies Ahmet Atalay Pages 201–212 19. Tarihi, Kültürel ve Siyasi Bağlamda Sözsüz Türk Dünyası Devlet Sembollerinin Söylem Çözümlemesi: SSCB Dönemi Türk Cumhuriyetleri Örneği, Yılmaz Büyükkutlu              213- 251 Print copies are available in the following countries and through multiple vendors: US , UK , DE , FR , ES , IT , NL , PL , SE , BE , IE ,

Advancing Local Knowledge for a Sustainable Future: Selected Abstracts from the STAR Global Conference 2025 brings together scholarly abstracts presented at the conference in İstanbul, Türkiye. Reflecting the conference theme, this digital volume highlights diverse perspectives on the role of local knowledge in addressing contemporary global challenges and advancing sustainable development. The collection features contributions from researchers, educators, practitioners, policymakers, and graduate students representing institutions across multiple countries and disciplines. Topics include higher education, artificial intelligence, educational innovation, sustainability, indigenous knowledge systems, community development, cultural heritage, language learning, leadership, social justice, health, architecture, and international collaboration. Download eBook Highlights Global Perspectives: Research and insights from scholars, educators, and practitioners representing diverse countries and disciplines. Local Knowledge for Sustainable Futures: Innovative approaches that connect indigenous, community-based, and local knowledge with global challenges. Emerging Trends and Innovation: Contributions exploring artificial intelligence, educational transformation, sustainability, and social development. Interdisciplinary Scholarship: A rich collection of abstracts spanning education, technology, culture, leadership, health, architecture, and community engagement. How to cite: Gültekin, O., & Sharma, S. (Eds.). (2026). Advancing local knowledge for a sustainable future . STAR Scholars Press. https://doi.org/10.32674/a2ecr316